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Featured Image Link to Google
Clicking on the Feature Image will redirect you to Google.
Go, Chris Go
My dear Twitter friend and fellow social media entrepreneur, speaker, and consultant, Chris Husong is participating in the Audi twitter contest. If he win’s he will be awarded $25,000 to a charity on his behalf.
You can read more about this contest at Mashable.
I would love to see my friend win this contest. If we are friends, even if we are not, can you please help him out?
You can help Chris get the money for his cause in 3 ways:
1. Re-tweet his tweets, with the #oldwatch and #progressIs hashtags.
2.View this TwitPic: http://twitpic.com/3zmaem (additional points if people comment on the pic with the #oldwatch and #progressIs hashtags. )
3. Write you own blog about this contest.
Why would you want to do this?
- Because I am asking you as my friend to help a fellow friend.
- Because this is a great cause.
- Because this is a a fun and interesting way for a brand to get people talking, and to do so for social good.
- Because I said please.
Thank you!
My 5 Must Have Books
#1
Almost isn’t good enough by Wayne Elsey.
#2
Branding Yourself by Erik Deckers and Kyle Lacy.
#3
UnMarketing: Stop Marketing. Start Engaging.
#4
Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion
#5
The Thank You Economy
Fine Print: These are in no particular order. I have not received any money for my endorsements. I did receive my copy of Branding Yourself for free because I hassled Erik to death about it:) The Links are to my affiliate Amazon account.
Don’t Wait
Last week, I did a vlog about rushing back into my life. I didn’t plan for this to take as long as it has; I’m supposed to be better by now. My schedule for January was pretty packed by mid-December. I did a bit of rearranging, and was able to clear a few weeks to have my procedures. This past Wednesday was the day that things started appearing on my calendar again. An event Wednesday night, TV spot Thursday morning, followed by speaking at a school, wrapping the day up with private corporate training. Apparently, it was a little too much in such a short amount of time.
That night, when I was telling my best friend about my day, he noticed a huge change in my voice and over all personality. That little glimmer of participating in my life as it was before had made me happy.
What if?
Tonight, a dear friend reminded me that there are others out there who are not going to recover. People with chronic pain, chronic illnesses that don’t get a chance to get their life back. “Could you imagine how it would be?” She said. How committed are you?Do you know if some of the things you’re doing can cause you harm? If you were able to take a glimpse into what it would be like to lose the lifestyle you have now, would you change your behavior? So many of us know that we participate in activities that are detrimental to our health and wellness, but yet we continue along these destructive paths in our lives.
What drives you?
Maybe the reason so many people don’t care about the outcome is because they don’t love what they do. I remember a time when I didn’t love what I did. I took the time to find my true values, and to make sure the work that I do is aligned with those values. Now, because I’m driven with purpose and a reason behind what I do, I have a much stronger desire to take the path of least, or at least, lesser destruction.
Don’t wait
I know what it feels like to love my life, and not be able to live it. If you have a behavior that you want or need to change, don’t wait until your lifestyle is taken from you to put it into perspective, do what you have to do now. Change what you have to change, and hold on to what you have.
“It’s All About the People”
I’ve been reading Almost isn’t Good Enough: The Human Connection Changes Everything. This isn’t a book review. That will come soon. This book is written to people who are running or involved in not-for-profit work. The author is standing the world of not-for-profit on its ear and challenging some long standing traditional view of how a not-for-profit is run, and how it takes on the basic clear task of following a mission.
As stated, this is not a book review. Wayne Elsey is a proven man in the world of for-profit business and not-for-profit organizations. He “gets it” on such a deep level. I’m reading this book because of my interest in both worlds. So let’s look at some takeaways that I’ve gathered so far from this book that can be applied to any business.
Making a difference
When teaching in the corporate world, I ask companies about their philanthropic works. I often suggest that they strategically support those not-for-profits and the community with their online influence.
“Making a difference in the life of someone else, though, is something that everyone has the capacity to do, regardless of where one is in life and career…
It will create energy around you that will attract others, change lives and offer the opportunity to leave a legacy of change in the midst of a culture of access. “
Clarity
“Success, wealth, and impact are not philosophical ideas to be debated within the halls of academia. They are characteristics grounded in a focused effort over a long period of time that lead to transformation.”
Many times we associate the words mission statement with not-for-profit, but a business should have one too. If you’re not clearly focused on achieving that mission, you’re just working. If you find the clarity of your mission and follow it, you will be on the path of success, wealth and impact.
Valuing People
Janet Effron wrote a great post called: Company Policy in there she asked
“Is it your practice to hire stupid people?”
That stuck with me. When I work with companies, I often ask to train, not only upper management, public relations, marketing, and sales people to use the tools of social media, I ask to train support staff, and a variety of other positions within a corporation. Why? Because, people are what make your company strong. It is the people that you have trusted to represent your brand in the real world, that make your company shine. You should trust that they will make you proud online too, with proper training of you policy, goals, and a clearly defined strategy.
It is our “belief that everyone is at the table because they bring something of value. To that end they are expected to bring that value everyday” You want to “create a culture of empowerment…
It’s vital that we not create barriers to conversations but empower the experts we retain to perform at their highest levels.”’
Are you creating a culture of empowerment, and valuing the people you have chosen to be a part of your business? Do you give them a platform in which to express their knowledge of your product or service, and to become branded themselves as an expert in you field of business; and thus your business is branded thru them? Or do you simply let the PR guys get this new media stuff?Wayne “gets it” no matter if you are talking for-profit or not-for-profit :
“It’s all about the people.”
A Day of Rest
I wasn’t as if I had been making the world or anything. I attended two meetings and ran a few quick errands. There was even at least one whole hour of lying down, full-blown rest time in there. But, yesterday completely wiped me out.
As luck would have it, today was a snow day and, even if I hadn’t been so tired, I would have stayed indoors anyway. Even if this had not been a snow day, I would have been stuck here. But I was most definitely not alone.
The Boys
I have two very entertaining boys who were not in school today. We enjoyed some time together, making and eating cookies, and watching Narnia, Prince Caspian.
The Friends
I had texts from concerned friends when they did not see me online. Ok, I’m either an addict or this is my career. I’m standing firm on the career, but there seems to be a slim line.
Twitter Love
I didn’t totally stay off line. I tweeted here and there and made a few Facebook posts. But again, I received both public and private requests asking how I was feeling. I was really hesitant about this Blog-a-thon and my choice to talk about this procedure openly. But it has brought me closer to some friends, brought me new ones, and even brought to light a need.
Finding support
I mentioned in the history of all of this that I have Medullary Sponge Kidney (MSK.) Through my efforts to reach out to others with Kidney Stones, I have found at least one other with this problem. I’m sure there are more, but I found a friend who truly understands the type and extent of my pain. How many people are out there suffering by timing mind-numbing drugs? How many doctors out there treat MSK like other stones and don’t look at other possible treatment options? Is research being done to find better ways to treat this condition? I don’t know any of these answers, but I know @LeeAase , Director, Mayo Clinic Center for Social Media. I’m asking him, and anyone in the medical field, specifically in urology or nephrology to comment on this post and connect with me, with us. We want to find out more. We want to do more. We want to be more than drugged up zombies.
I want to be Like Pooh
…Pooh, the most effortless Bear we’ve ever seen.
“Just how do you do it Pooh?”
“Do what?” asked Pooh.
“Become so effortless.”
” I don’t do much of anything,” he said.
” But all of those things of yours get done.”
” They just sort of happen,” he said.
“Wait a minute that reminds me of something from the Tao Te Ching,” I said, reaching for a book. Here it is, chapter thirty-seven. Translated, it reads something like “Tao does not do, but nothing is not done.”
When I first started doing the blog-a-thon, one of the first writers to pick up the gauntlet and run with me was @YogawithStyle, and one of her very first posts was from the Tao of Pooh. As luck would have it, I even had a copy of it on my desk that very same day. It’s an interesting little book relating to the art of Taoism and its translations to the life of Pooh, and translating them into Pooh-isms.
In reading the above passage, I often wonder if I could ever be like Pooh, and just be. I often catch myself worrying about every detail of everything I’m trying to get done, and wonder, if I just take the time to be, would it all still get done?
Rushing Back to You
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hN9jYQjzsg&hl=en&fs=1]
Now you know why I am itching to be back with you all, enjoying your company, teaching, speaking, laughing and loving the life that is mine.
Just Start / Keep Blogging
Finding inspiration is hard
It’s 8:50 PM and I’m still trying to come up with my inspiration for blogging today. I have blogged every day with the exception of Christmas Day and Christmas eve, including the days of my procedures.
Giving other people courage
There have been more and more people telling me that they’ve been inspired to blog. They’ve seen my dedication to posting daily, but more than that they’ve seen other people, and their dedication to blogging. I don’t think it’s that we’re doing it every single day that’s inspiring these people; it’s that we’re choosing to find things that are meaningful in our lives we feel worthwhile to share. I think because we have the courage to let our guard down, and share intimate thoughts, that gives other people the courage to do the same.
Join us
If you’ve been thinking about taking the blog-a-thon challenge, but you’re too intimidated to do it every single day, just do it. Start today, make that commitment. Maybe it’s not everyday, maybe it’s once a week, or every other day. Whatever it is, make a commitment to YOU. Start up that blog, and share with us the things you need to say. Share the things we need to hear.
You Matter
If you’ve been blogging, please know the things you’re saying are reaching people that desperately need to hear your message. Please continue even if you’re struggling with it. We’d love to hear from you, feel free to share your blog in the comments, or to share another blog that has touched you.
If Today Was Their Last Day by Dan Perez
This blogger is not one of the blog-a-thon participants,
but this post moved me today.