If you have a wordpress blog, you've probably seen the Hello Dolly plugin. It's automatically installed with every wordpress blog. It's cute, but I've never "got it." It puts the lyrics to Hello, Dolly! in snipits in your admin panel. I've never seen the value in having those lyrics on my screen, so I've always deleted the plugin just to get it out of the way.
Here's what Wordpress.org has to say about it:
"Hello Dolly: This is not just a plugin, it symbolizes the hope and enthusiasm of an entire generation summed up in two words sung most famously by Louis Armstrong. Hello, Dolly. This is, by the way, the world's first official WordPress plugin. When enabled you will randomly see a lyric from "Hello, Dolly" in the upper right of your admin screen on every page but the plugins page."
Today, as I was getting ready to delete this from Julie Ferenzi's plugin folder at LivingInPlainfield.com, I decided to open the .php file. I was just curious. Since this was the original plugin, I just wanted to see how it was written. Well... it hit me as I looked at it, that it's just pulling in the lyrics based on the lyric lines in the hellodolly.php file. I know some of you reading this are probably saying, "Duh, it's just php, Jeff." But it was a light bulb moment for me. "I can change this!" So, why not use it to help "coach" Julie when she's inside her blog? It would be like I'm always right there beside her. :)
Here's what I did. I replaced the lyric lines with this:
// These are the lyrics to Hello Dolly
$lyrics = "people matter
think about how to engage your reader
it's all about relationships
key words are meant to attract consumers, not other agents
kiss your husband
pick one or two categories for a post, not six :)
are you having fun? if not, stop... come back later
your voice is good enough... don't try to be anyone else
hug your kids
how would you say it to a friend?";
Now... when she logs into her account and cruises around the back end, each time she goes to a new page she gets a different message... from me! Here's an example, highlighted in yellow.
You can change it too.
I'm doing this as a coaching tool. And I'm going to add more as time goes on. But if you have a blog built on the Wordpress platform, you can do this for yourself as well. All you need is a text editor. Open up the hellodolly.php file and replace the lyric lines with quotes that you like, or reminders about where your focus should be or hints on how to be a better Dad... whatever you feel will add value.
Hello Dolly! I'm never going to delete you again.
Jeff Turner aka respres
Very cool, and I love the messages you left for her!
Julie is a very lucky apprentice!! Ahem ... Do you need a back-up apprentice, you know, just in case of emergency? ;o)
Hi Jeff,
I second BB & Sarah too! This stuff is all too clever for words! Love it and very grateful to be able to tap into yet another resource from this great group!
LOL! Grasshopper, I have nothing left to teach you. (As if I did in the first place!) I'm just glad you and the others in Project Blogger are letting us all in on the training. I'm playing sponge and soaking it all in.
But seriously, if you DID have need of a back-up apprentice, I know where I could find you one. Just in case.
Very, very clever! I like it. Funny when you said " I know some of you reading this are probably saying, "Duh, it's just php, Jeff."" I was going huh? Oh well. (I am trying to use typepad)
I think inspiration in any format is great. And how neat for Julie to get her coach's wisdom at random moments. How fun.
P.S. to Julie -- Your voice is more than "good enough". Your voice is AWESOME!! Jeff's just trying to keep you from getting a swelled head.
Debi... LOL. I was thinking of the other coaches when I wrote that and some of the folks in the wordpress group where I posted this as well. I think this is a neat little way to keep key thoughts in your mind.
Sarah... :)
Thanks Jeff, I never thought of that either. I's a great way to for me to put little messages in my wifes wordpress blog. HehHe
You Rock, Jeff.
Maureen... this one is certainly not going to change the world, but i thought it was a good way to get some messages across while Julie was in the place where the messages would have the most impact.
Jay... oh do share!
Irina... thank you.
Jeff,
"are you having fun? if not, stop... come back later" That explains why I was having such a hard time today...
You're such a good coach, how do you find time to work?
Jeff,
Yes, that makes sense.
But I think that is a cool idea. Only wordpress, huh?
Jeff
I don't think I ever even noticed Hello Dolly on my word-press account until you mentioned it. That fact that you took the PHP and converted it into a tip of the day- training tool is amazing.. That's Ingenious I don't know how you do it over and over again..
MR
Mary... in this case the Hello Dolly plugin is only in Wordpress. I'm not sure what realtownblogs are built on.
Martin... well, it's at least fun! :)
Monika... do share if he comes up with anything interesting.
Missy... this only works with a self hosted Wordpress blog. Wordpress.com doesn't have the Hello Dolly plugin. Sorry about that. I should have been more clear. My bad! And... never be afraid to link directly in my post comments. Here's Missy's Blog for those who would like to see it. http://missycaulk.wordpress.com/
Wordpress.com is a great options, but they control the plugins and widgets they make available. But it's free, simple to set up and manage and can bring great results!
I'm always a day late and a dollar short, and joining this conversation much too late!
I just wanted everyone to know that I giggle everytime I see those comments in the corner of my screen.
Jeff, I am going to lable you, "hyper-observant". I am seriously amazed with the stuff you come up with! I seriously thougth you were crazy when you told me about the Hello Dolly lyrics in the corner of the screen.
Jeff, slowly but surely i am starting to think that genius and geekiness share common factors, possibly in the form of some type of evolution. this geek hopes to be a genius someday. how old were you when you left your geekness behind.?
"I'm doing this as a coaching tool."
btw, the word coach seems to always to refer to coaching a sports team, etc..
I scrolled down until i found the one that reflects you (or what you are doing)..
A process that involves teaching people how to do something and encouraging them to continue to do it.
thanks coach. ;)
Julie... I am crazy, but not for that reason. :)
Nick... the pleasure is all mine, my friend. All mine!
TLW Was Here...
Talking to a Yack...
Unfortuanately for Her...
The Yack didn't talk Back...
SVVVVW.
TLW...ROAR!
Hi Jeff, I was able to change it and all I really did was change Dolly to Moni and ad-libbed a few words here and there.
Now if I could just change the header color and a couple of minor tweaks I'd be all set.
TLW [SVW]... let's try it again later. I want to test it with someone outside of my company. It works for all of us here.
Jay... don't tease us! Send us the lyrics. :)
I tried to catch up with Julie when we were in Chicago 3-4 weeks ago, but the timing just didn't work out :(
Jeff: I guess I'm the old lady sitting in the front of the bus with the white knuckles. I read your stuff, I believe your genius, and I'm struggling to figger it all out! I'm gettin' there....slowly, but I'm gettin' there! Thanks for sharing all the neat ideas.
Cheers! from DC...
Jaynee (happy owner of a v705, also thanks to you)
Hey Jeff I have a self hosted Wordpress blog that Ive always deactivated the Hello Dolly plug-in too (too cheesy for me!). Check out my Wordpress blog at http://www.sdwrealtyofcapecod.com/wordpress/index.php thanks for the post!