Thursday, December 31, 2009

Out With the Old, In With the New: Looking Forward to a New Year.

On the eve of a new year, there is plenty of buzz going around about what we all plan to do tonight and in the days that follow. On Facebook, I have friends that are listing places to go and things to do. Me, I haven't any plans to go out. With three kids, I look forward to the simplicity of watching an acorn or ball drop from the comfort of my own home.

However relaxed I may appear to be, inside I am going through my own checklist of new year tasks. Yesterday, as an example, I sat down to review my workout routine and the progress I have made since August. While there were only a few minor adjustments to the routine, I realized that my nutrition had gone awry. No, it wasn't terrible, but I wasn't keeping track of what went in my mouth. Fortunately, that problem is easily remedied with the use of SparkPeople.

Another task that will not go unnoticed, is the cutting of my hair. This is probably the most dramatic manifestation of renewal I will do for the new year, but it symbolizes the shedding of the old in order to make room for the new. Truthfully, I have had the urge for a few weeks but held off until I just couldn't take it anymore. I didn't go bald, but it is pretty short.

Needless to say, having an afro one day and a military buzz cut the next is cause for stares and gasps. My three year old daughter woke in the morning and immediately yelled, "Daddy, yur haaare!" She proceeds to point and smile. I let her rub the stubble and she said that she liked it. That was probably the only positive comment I received in the house. There is something about family and their need for complete honesty.

For me, I kind of like the cut. It is light and easy to maintain. I do acknowledge that my scalp is pale and it is a huge difference from the dark curls, but I think I just needed a change. Not surprising to most, I often change things in a dramatic fashion. Today, it is the hair and tomorrow it may be something else.

In the end, I guess these small changes are just my way of looking forward to a new year. I am not alone. I know this because people talk about resolutions, goals, losing weight, and just being better in every area of their life. For me, I look forward to an opportunity of change and this time of year represents a renewing of the body, mind, and soul.

In the new year, I have my own list of goals and resolutions. I have things that I would like to finish and advancements I would like to make. By recognizing my own thoughts on the subject, I am readying myself for what is to come.

Resolutions
In the following section, I would like to list my own laundry list of things to do in 2010.



  • Earn the Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA): The terminal degree and I are separated by my final assignment, the dissertation. In 2010, I plan to complete the proposal and finish my research strong.

  • Lower bodyfat between 6-9 percent: The way my body looks has been an issue for me since college. Up and down my weight goes, but never quite reached my goal of 6-9% bodyfat. 2010 is the year. I am focused, armed with a plan, and building an online support group, so this time it will happen.

  • Strengthen number of readers on damondnollan.com: I read an article recently that outlined a natural progression of bloggers. Based upon my own assessment, I am in the building phase. At this time, I have a solid foundation of posts, but need to focus on increasing readership. To do this, I will continue to write articles that seek to help others and focus on engaging more with my on/offline community.

  • Establish on-going training program for Middle Eastern Province of Kappa Alpha Psi: At the time of this article, the training committee is working hard to launch an online training program pilot for its members. Using Moodle, we seek to help province members become better leaders and men. My goal is to move past the pilot program and establish the online training as an on-going program.

  • Strengthen the Smithfield Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi to at least 15 members: Smithfield Alumni is a small chapter, when you compare it to some of the larger chapters across the province. As Polemarch (president), I want to lead the chapter back into prosperity. To do that, we must rebuild the organization one brother at a time. The chapter must return to a time of fulfilling needs and upholding expectations. 2010 is the year for growth.
Tell Me About Your Resolutions
These are just a few of my main goals for the year. However, I am extremely interested in reading yours. So, if you have a blog, website, note (in Facebook), a Google Wave, or even a Google Doc that you would like to share, please post the URL below. If you do not have any of the above, no worries, feel free to share some of your thoughts below in the comment section. I believe, as a community, we can help each other achieve in 2010.

Until next time...

Image via Jeff Masamori

Monday, December 28, 2009

War of the Toolbars: Wibiya Strikes Back

It was only a few days ago that I published an entry on toolbars. The article compared Meebo to Wibiya, with Meebo winning the battle. In the end, I found Meebo's chat feature a major factor that quickly produced results. In fact, immediately following the installation of the Meebo bar, six Facebook friends initiated online conversations. The experience was overwhelmingly positive.

Later, Dror Ceder, the CEO and founder of Wibiya, responded to the article and informed us that we could expect "a big surprise before the year ends" and it was "something that a lot of people have been waiting for." Well, ladies and gentlemen, today is that day.

Moments ago, I learned that Wibiya just released their newest toolbar. You will not be disappointed.

According to the Wibiya web site, the new platform is merely the beginning. The team has streamlined the application so it runs "faster and smoother." The release also includes a number of new apps. Most notably is the addition of the website/webpage chat, real time statistics, and the YouTube channel.

Featured Apps In Greater Detail

Website/Webpage Chat
One of the things that sold Meebo for me was its ability to chat with friends and visitors. At the time, Wibiya relied solely on interactions within the Facebook Community, which never really took off for me. So, to see the company partnering with TinyChat is a huge plus in my book.

Depending upon the size of your audience, Wibiya offers both a website and webpage chat. The difference comes down to choice. With a website chat, visitors can access a single chat room from anywhere on your site. For smaller sites like mine, I would probably begin with this option so as to make the chat more engaging.

Larger sites may find the webpage chat extremely useful. This application will create a room for each page on the site. Assuming I had the numbers, this feature would be great for conversations surrounding popular blog posts.

If that was not cool enough, let me inform you that visitors can log into the chat using their Twitter or Facebook accounts. This is huge in my eyes, because Wibiya does not require visitors to create another account in order to chat. Another advantage to connecting with these popular social networking sites is that the toolbar will send notices, upon request, to friends using a shortened URL. This application will help site owners keep visitors longer and even attract new readers. It is a marvelous concept that I am anxious to use.

Real Time Statistics
Another cool addition is the use of whos.amung.us real time stats. With this tool, site owners can see, in real time, the number of visitors, popular pages, and location of users on a geolocation map. I really like this tool because it lets me know when someone is actually on the site and what they are reading right now. For small sites like mine, every visit is important and the service will help feed our need for immediate gratification.

My only criticism with the real time stats is that it appears to be limited. Who.among.us, the real time service provider, offers a pro subscription for a fee ranging between $5 and $50 per month. Based upon your subscription level, site owners can obtain additional reports, widgets, and personalized pages. Until one purchases a paid subscription, the application will only show a basic page filled with adds and whos.amung.us banners.

Overall, the real time stat app is a huge plus for those of us interested in this kind of information. Having played with Woopra and other real time services, Wibiya has made it really easy to have the bells and whistles.

YouTube Channel
Similar to Meebo, Wibiya now offers a YouTube channel. Site owners that use YouTube can pull their videos into an attractive 3-D wall for easy browsing and viewing. Serviced by Cooliris, this upgrade should help lower bounce rate while increasing the length of time visitors hang around the your site.

Other Noticeable Changes  

The aforementioned upgrades are more than I was expecting, which makes me a very happy camper. In the process of rolling those changes out, Wibiya has enhanced other areas as well.



  • Add hyperlinks in 'Live Notification'
  • Rearrange buttons on toolbar
  • Translate web content into numerous languages
  • Advertise social networking tools with easy-to-use badges
  • Add/remove toolbar apps with user-friendly interface

Final Thoughts

By now, there should be no doubt that I am impressed with Wibiya's enhancements. I believe the heavily equipped toolbar will help engage readers, lower bounce rate, and make new friends.

Strategic Partnerships
I applaud the company and its strategic use of service providers, which ultimately empowers site owners with a set of tools to compete. Hopefully, in a future iteration, those third-party apps will better align themselves with the Wibiya experience. When I write about the Wibiya experience, I mean each app should look like it was made to accompany the already attractive product.

Facebook Community vs. Facebook Fan Page
In the previous toolbar, Wibiya developed the Facebook Community. Initially, I was excited about this feature, but soon realized it has the potential to confuse users with its similarities to the Facebook Fan Page. As I understand it, the community is yours, but it uses Facebook to authenticate users. As a result, your community members can talk to each other through the shoutbox. Additionally, members can update their Facebook status, read member profiles, view photos, and add members as friends. All of this can be done without ever leaving your site.

Similarly, the Facebook Fan Page app shows a list of  fans and displays site activity. I personally like this app over Meebo's because it shows comments, which does a better job of attracting new fans and increasing activity. However, it gets confusing when joining the Facebook Community does nothing for my Facebook Fan Page, or vice versa. Therefore, users would have to know that signing up for the community has no effect on the Fan Page, which could affect the Fan Page/Community numbers.

All in all, I am very pleased with Wibiya. Dror and his team should be proud of all the hard work and forethought delivered in this upgrade. As of this post, I have returned to Wibiya as my toolbar provider. I believe the service offerings are useful and it should help me offer readers a more dynamic user experience.

If you have not had the opportunity to try Wibiya on your site, I strongly recommend you take this opportunity to install it. For most of the major blogging sites (Wordpress, Blogger, Drupal, etc.), installation takes no more than a few minutes. For custom pages, Wibiya offers alternative solutions, which I imagine, takes little to no effort.

For those who currently use a toolbar, I am interested in hearing your thoughts on the subject. What do you like, dislike, or need in a toolbar? What has your experience been with Meebo or Wibiya? Let's get together and discuss it further in the comment section below.

Until next time...

Sunday, December 27, 2009

What Is The Value Of A Mentor?

For years, I have been fortunate enough to find really smart and talented people to help guide me. Looking back, I believe I am a better person because of their on-going support and open displays of leadership.

Most recently, I received positive feedback from someone I respect in the technology industry. The gentleman informed me that his support was not random. He knows what I am doing and encouraged me to continue. If you have ever been in a similar situation, you must know that this kind of support goes a long way and has lasting effects.

While we never formally acknowledged a mentor/mentee relationship, I value his leadership, as he provides a real life model to follow. Because of his experience in the industry, I have the opportunity to avoid certain pitfalls and capitalize on his successes.

To me, these are a few signs of a mentor. In life, I think we can have many mentors. There are some that are only around for a short time and then there those who guide us for life. Some help us in our careers while others lead us in more personal areas.

How Do I Find A Mentor?
Potential mentors are everywhere. From the leadership at work to the computer geek next door, guides surround us all the time. The question is who do you admire? By starting with people you know and look up too, you can begin the journey simply by asking for their advice.As time goes on and your relationship grows, you will find it easier to talk about the details and issues of the day.

What Role Do I Play?
As a mentee, I believe it is your responsibility to be the very best that you can be. People want to help those who help themselves and I think this applies to mentors as well. Remember, good people with something to share are often busy and highly engaged. This means their time is short and they seek to use it wisely.

Out of respect for their time and the years of experience they have acquired, one needs to be prepared and have a willingness to work. As an example, try taking the initiative to start a project and build it the best way you know how. If the project is good and shows sign of potential, the odds of getting attention from a mentor is good.

The important thing to remember is that a mentor/mentee relationship is a two way street. The person seeking a mentor wants to soak up knowledge, while a mentor seeks someone to share his/her experiences with. It is a mutual agreement that requires an investment from all involved. Therefore, as a mentee, carry the weight and do what is required, which allows the mentor to observe and offer support or guidance along the way.

Overall, I think the idea of mentoring is a worthy endeavor that everyone should experience. In the following video, I briefly talk about mentoring and share a few ideas on how to initiate the process. But, I would also like to hear from you. What are your experiences with mentoring? How has mentoring affected you? What tips would you offer? Let's talk about mentoring and the benefits it brings in the comment section below.



Until next time...

Image via Okinawa Soba

Has Feedburner Dropped Friendfeed For Good?

A few days ago, I noticed the number of readers reported in Feedburner had dropped dramatically. As of this minute, the Feedburner widget on my front page shows only 99 readers, but days ago it was around 500. My guess, as I have not been able to find any statements from Feedburner, is that the company stopped showing Friendfeed followers as subscribers.

This massive removal of Friendfeed followers from Feedburner has happened before. However, we received word that the error was only temporary and Friendfeed was soon restored.

At this point, I have heard nothing from any official source but notice there is plenty of chatter on Twitter. So far, the word on the street is that Feedburner has dropped Friendfeed. Some believe it is due to Friendfeed's loss of members. Although, we recently learned Friendfeed is still getting plenty of usage.

Another potential reason for dissolving the relationship could be Facebook's ownership of Friendfeed. I'm not sure why the change has happened now, but it has indeed happened.

The loss of Friendfeed followers from the Feedburner site is not entirely bad. While the loss of readers in the widget is dramatic, I must say it is at least accurate. As others have pointed out, I doubt many Friendfeed followers are in fact reading the blog anyway. So, all we can do is continue to build our readership as if nothing has happened.

Assuming the change is permanent, how do you feel about Feedburner dropping Friendfeed? Has this change affected you or your business in any way? If so, please share your story in the comment section below.

Until next time...

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Get More Feedback From Your Readers With Get Satisfaction

Out of no where, it dawned on me that I could use Get Satisfaction on damondnollan.com. I don't remember what I was doing or reading when the idea hit me, but I think it is an excellent way to keep in touch with my readers. In fact, we at North Carolina Central University have been using the service for over a year.

What Is Get Satisfaction?
In a nutshell, Get Satisfaction is a tool to receive feedback from your customers and readers. Through the use of a widget (see the orange and white feedback button on the right hand side), users can easily click the feedback button and provide ideas, ask questions, offer praise, or report a problem.

For Bloggers
As a blogger, I need a place where users can go to offer feedback without tying it directly to a blog entry. My hope is that readers will ask questions or offer ideas that will help me build a better site. Before today, there was not a designated place, so I hope this tool will help.

Get Satisfaction and Twitter
A cool feature within Get Satisfaction is the "Overheard" section. As an administrator, you can follow a hashtag on Twitter, say your company for example, and respond via Get Satisfaction. What the application will do is create a post, which you can then answer or address from within your dashboard. Upon completing a response within Get Satisfaction, the system will tweet a message to the user telling them about the new post.

The few times I used "Overheard", I found the Twitter message to be quite professional and inviting. It can serve as a great customer service tool.

Closing Notes
How much does it cost?
If you know me at all, you must know that I am frugal and often look for free solutions, where applicable. Fortunately, Get Satisfaction does provide a free plan with limited functionality. If you find that the product serves you well, there are paid plans that range from $19 on up to $900 per month.

Is the widget easy to install?
Yes. For me, it only took a matter of minutes to copy and paste the code into my template. Much of the work is done from within the Get Satisfaction web site. Essentially, you will need to customize the community to include products, services, employees, logos, and descriptions.

Give it a try!
The best way to understand what the feedback tool can do is to simply give it a try. So, take this opportunity to click on the feedback button or follow this link to my Get Satisfaction community. Once your there, feel free to offer some suggestions on topics or ways to make damondnollan.com a better place. If you have questions about technology, social media, parenting, higher education, management, or healthy living, go ahead and ask. I will make sure to read every response given and offer help where I can.

For those with a blog or web site, what feedback solutions do you currently use? How effective has it been thus far? What changes would you make? Let's discuss these questions and others in the comment section below.

Until next time...

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Lifting Weights With A Pump And Burn

Going to the gym means something different to each of us. For me, I go to lose weight, build muscle, and return to a more healthy lifestyle. In this entry, I would like to spend a few minutes talking about my latest experience with lifting weights. More specifically, I would like to address the pump and burn.

What Experiences Do I Have Weight Lifting?
While I am not a licensed physical trainer, I have logged numerous hours in the gym over the course of my life. My first experience was between the fourth and fifth grades. I started boxing at the local Boys and Girls Club after watching Rocky Balboa knock out the Russian in Rocky IV.

I played football, ran track, and a short stint wrestling in high school. Each of those sports required considerable time in the weight room. Looking back, Lincoln High School had a nice facility with plenty of serious equipment. While I would not say I was huge, by any stretch of the imagination, I can say I had packed on a few pounds of muscle. By the time I graduated from high school, I weighed around 215 lbs.

After college, I returned to the gym with pounds of extra fat. I dibble dabbled with a number of different strategies. Depending upon the level of my dedication, I lost and gained weight like a yo-yo. With each gain, I became heavier and heavier.

For much of this time, I worked out at home. I amassed an impressive set of free weights for both upper and lower body exercises. I had a bike machine and jump rope for cardio.

When I was focused, I did really well. I could lose weight and pump up pretty quickly. Much of what I know today comes from books and magazines. A few years ago, I began targeting my education on understanding the muscles and the finer points of nutrition.

In 2007, I eventually sold all of my equipment and returned to training in a gym. Looking back, I think it was one of the best moves I could have made.

The Pyramid
Now that you understand my experience with weight lifting, I would like to share my old routine and then introduce you to the new.

Since high school, I have been aware of the pyramid. Essentially, the pyramid set is where you lift a weight a number of times and then decrease the number of repetitions each subsequent set. As an example, consider starting with a 12 repetition set. Once complete, one would do 10, 8, 6, and 4. In each set, increase the weight.

For years, I used this method to build muscle and definition. However, I never really experienced the pump and burn that many bodybuilders talk about. As a result, I sought to find out what I was doing wrong.

What Is The Pump & Burn?
Without trying to sound all scientific or anything, I am going to keep the explanation pretty simple. A muscle pump is when blood gets forced into the muscle and creates a feeling of fullness and swelling. The pump feels so good that many athletes compare it to an orgasm. Arnold Schwarzenegger actually described it as such in the movie, "Pumping Iron."

The burn, on the other hand, is a strong and uncomfortable sensation in the muscles caused by acid build-up during an exercise. The burn is more common in exercises with a high number of repetitions. In the end, both the pump and burn are positive signs of an effective workout.

What Has Changed?
The particulars of an "effective workout" can be debated. There will be some that say a pump and burn means nothing to a solid workout, where the focus is on lifting heavy. For me, I find that the pump and burn serve many uses. For one, they allow me to gauge how well I'm doing at hitting a particular muscle. Two, both the pump and burn feel incredible, which only encourages more lifting.

So, "what has changed?", you ask. I began by realizing it was a time for something different. Below is a list of changes that I made.





  • 10-12 Reps
    I changed from a pyramid approach to a straight 10-12 repetitions in each set. Generally speaking, I do four working sets for my upper body and five working sets for my legs.

  • Warm Up Set
    I was never into warm up sets because I was afraid it took away from my working sets. While this may still be true, warm up sets get blood circulating in the muscles. Additionally, it helps me focus on the specific muscles I intend to work that day.

  • Shorter Rest Periods
    I have shortened my rests periods to 30-60 seconds. This allows me to exhaust my muscles faster while keeping a good pump.

  • Let The Weight Stop You
    In keeping with the 10-12 repetitions, lift enough weight that will cause muscle failure in this range. If I can do more than 12, then it's time to add more weight. If I cannot reach 8-10 reps, then dropping weight may be in order.

  • Less Weight, More Control
    Lifting weights is about lifting heavy. By causing muscle failure, they are forced to grow. Unfortunately, lifting heavy without proper control has severe risks. Therefore, by dropping the weight to meet the 10-12 rep range, I get a solid workout with more control over my form.

  • Heavy Days
    While the 10-12 range is suitable for most exercises, there are times that a 4-6 range is appropriate. To help build muscle mass, experts recommend at least one workout a month devoted to heavier weights. By focusing on 4-6 repetitions versus the 10-12 reps, individuals can lift more.

As a result of these minor changes, I find my workouts to be more intense. I feel the muscles are getting a better workout in addition to increased cardio.

If you are looking for a couple of ways to get that pump and burn, try these out for size. Once you do, come on back and tell me about your workout. What works? What doesn't? Let's talk in the comment section below.

Until next time...

Monday, December 21, 2009

War of the Toolbars: Meebo vs. Wibiya

This evening I learn that Meebo finally released its Meebo Bar to the world. For months, the cool little toolbar was only available to large businesses and well-known blogs. At first glance, it looked a tool we could use at North Carolina Central University. I assumed it was similar to what Facebook has done for its internal pages where it provides a chat for members. The more I examined the toolbar on Mashable, the sooner I realized it didn't have the same capability.

While I waited on Meebo's public release, I decided to check out Wibiya's toolbar. Wibiya, another toolbar provider, seemed to offer similar features as Meebo. Specifically, it had connections to Facebook, Twitter, and RSS Feeds. As an added bonus, site owners could also post announcements that would pop up upon a visit.

Overall, I have been pretty happy with Wibiya, as it has allowed me to connect to my Facebook Fan Page. However, with Meebo finally releasing its bar, I had to give it a test run and compare it to Wibiya's offerings.

What Is A Toolbar?
Let me first go back and explain the toolbar idea. Based on my limited experience, Meebo and Wibiya are two companies that offer site owners a free gadget to interact with visitors. If you are on damondnollan.com, you should see a gray bar floating at the bottom of this page.

First Reactions
Set Up
Both Meebo and Wibiya were easy to set up. Maybe its because I'm on Blogger, but for me it only took a matter of seconds before I was up and running. My first reaction, after using Wibiya for a while, is that I'm missing something with Meebo.

Twitter
For starters, I cannot post to Twitter from the Meebo toolbar. With Wibiya, I can see my Twitter posts and respond to tweets directly from the application. Meebo only allows me to follow a user or hashtag. While its cool, I feel like I'm missing the functionality. Although, I must admit I barely used the Twitter tool when Tweetdeck is open.

Facebook Fan Page
Meebo offers a Facebook fan page, but so does Wibiya. The only difference I see between the two, outside of the layout, is that Wibiya allows visitors to see Facebook comments while Meebo does not.

Extras
Wibiya provides a number of extra stuff like games and a search bar, but I never really used those features. For me, I stuck with Facebook's fan page, Twitter, RSS feed, and the announcement box. Wibiya's announcement box (Live Notification) is a neat tool that allowed me to write a message to my visitors. When they arrived, the box would open and display my announcement.

Chat
The Meebo bar's most notable feature is the chat. Through Meebo, users can connect Twitter, Facebook, AIM, Yahoo, Google, and a few other chat clients. So, when friends are online, you can start a conversation while sitting on the site. Additionally, visitors can initiate conversations through a Meebo chat window.

Sharing
Both Wibiya and Meebo offer some kind of share functionality. Wibiya provides a longer list of social networking sites while Meebo only uses Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo, and e-mail.

Statistics
As with most web applications today, both toolbars provide some form of user statistics. This feature is available through the company's web site. Once logged in, site owners can view which feeds were clicked, how many visitors one has had, and even visitors to the Facebook fan site. I think they do a fair job of showing user behavior. Do understand that they are not providing Google Analytic type reports, but at least you have an idea of what your visitors are doing.

YouTube
The last tool I found useful was on Meebo's toolbar. Using YouTube, site owners can display videos from a single YouTube account. I like this offering because it allows visitors to search and view videos without leaving the web site.

And the Winner Is...
While I find Wibiya provides a number of wonderful functionality, Meebo really shines with the chat feature. Since installing the Meebo bar a few hours ago, I have been in five chat conversations with Facebook friends.

At any point in time, I can easily log out of chat and focus on completing tasks without being disturbed. In the event I am not available, visitors can leave a message.

Finally, Meebo makes it very easy to share links, videos, and pictures with friends through a cool drop and drag function.

What are your thoughts on Meebo vs. Wibiya? Do you have a preference? Do you use a bar on your site? How has it helped you stay connected? Share information? Let's talk in the comment section below.

Until next time...

I'm Stuck in DOC 733 Because The Dissertation Doesn't Write Itself

It has been a few weeks since I last completed DOC 733b at the University of Phoenix. At this point, I am still not ready to submit my proposal but I'm optimistic that I can finish before my one year-old daughter graduates from college.

What is the problem? You ask. For starters, the dissertation doesn't write itself. No, I actually tried leaving it alone for awhile. I thought that a little quiet time would help. Unfortunately, I realized the dissertation was in the same spot it was when I left it a couple of days earlier. I am a little disappointed in its progress.

Seriously, the dissertation is not an overnight task. It's not something you do in a weekend or even in a month. For me, the dissertation is turning out to be a long road of reading and writing. Sure, that is what one is supposed to do, right?

I know, I know. Set goals, tasks, and milestones to help move through this tedious process. Honestly, it sounds much easier than it is and I'm not complaining. I just wanted to spend a few minutes sharing with you the challenges I am now experiencing as I move through the final steps of this doctoral degree.

Finances
In one of my last entries on the dissertation, I may have introduced the issue of finances. As I understand it, the Federal Government has provided enough money for me to complete the final two courses. That would be DOC 733 and DOC 734. Upon completion, I would be eligible for graduation.

Unfortunately, to progress through DOC 733, the student (which is me) needs to successfully submit and receive approval for the proposal. In the same way, DOC 734 is complete once the dissertation is defended and signed. Until each one of those steps are complete, we keep taking the final two courses over and over again.

For those who have never watched the movie Groundhog Day, it tells the story of a man who repeats the same day, over and over again. In some ways, I feel similarly. I have this feeling that I am forever trapped in limbo where I am done with classes, but not done with the degree.

Fortunately, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I have some classmates who are moving right along and near the end of the first leg, submitting the proposal. If they can do it, so can I.

Well, that's really all I wanted to report at this time. Although, I'm curious to find if there are other people in this situation. If so, drop me a line and tell me your story. How do you feel? What keeps you moving? Let's chat in the comment section below.

Until next time...

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Friday, December 18, 2009

The Middle Eastern Province of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Plans to Train Leaders Online

Beginning in the Spring of 2010, the Middle Eastern Province of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity plans to use Moodle, a course management system,  to offer leadership training to its members.

For years, Kappa Alpha Psi has offered its membership on-going leadership training through face-to-face workshops and conferences. While successful, this form of training requires members to sometimes drive hours away and stay in costly hotels.

With the online approach, members can participate in engaging courses designed to strengthen leadership skills for all ages and levels of experience. Knowledgeable facilitators will guide members through established curriculum and challenge them to learn from current issues and solutions.

In the early part of 2010, the training committee will launch its pilot program with 7-10 members. The goal is to fully test the online model and receive feedback on ways to make the program more effective.

Based on time-tested best practices from across the fraternity, the training committee will add more courses as the need arises. Ultimately, the committee seeks to offer members a valuable resource for developing current and future leaders.

If you know or have experience with building online courses, I would love to hear your thoughts. Have you seen many fraternities or sororities training their members online? If so, what are the results? Challenges? Successes? Let's talk more about this in the comment section below.

The First Steps Toward Social Media In Higher Education

A few days ago, I met with a group of educators and early adopters of Social Media from North Carolina Central University. The purpose of the meeting was to initiate a discussion on Twitter in higher education classes. As the informal conversation evolved, we found ourselves talking about Facebook, Lazyfeed, LinkedIn, and the best practices surrounding their use.

As the meeting came to an end, we agreed to come back together after the holidays and hold a brown bag lunch. The idea is to begin bringing social media into the forefront of our university and identify other supporters and active participants.

My homework assignment was to create a Facebook group and invite the other three people. From there, we would begin connecting other supporters on campus.

In order to create a Facebook group, I would have to have a group name. Unfortunately, we didn't have one yet. I asked for some ideas during the meeting, but it was obvious that none of us thought that far ahead.

In my mind, I was already thinking about the Triangle Social Media Club and all the work they've been doing in the area. I thought we could make a connection with them and save ourself some time trying to establish something new. Additionally, there might be a naming convention for higher education.

To my surprise, the Social Media Club was already working on connecting colleges and universities. As of today, there are only a handful of schools listed but the dialog is well on its way. So far, there have been a number of online chat sessions between the Social Media Club and university representatives.

Many of the issues and ideas shared between university representatives were focused on educating decision-makers and implementing curriculum within the classroom. For me, the first order of business was to create a name. So, for the time being, assuming everyone agrees, I created a Facebook group named Social Media Club Education - North Carolina Central University (SMCEdu-NCCU).

If you're interested in supporting the cause, feel free to stop in and join us. Additionally, I would love to hear your thoughts on developing a social media user group in a university setting? What are your issues? Ideas? Recommendations? Talking points? Successes? Let's talk in the comment section below.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Twitterfeed No More, Google's Feedburner Can Tweet Your RSS Feed Today

Google has been releasing a number of new and interesting updates. Today, I find out that Feedburner has the capability of sending your RSS Feed directly to Twitter.

Before today, many individuals and companies used Twitterfeed to spread news and blogs to the world. Unfortunately, Google's shortened URL and Feedburner enhancements may serve a hefty blow to the small start-up company.

For those unfamiliar with Feedburner, the web-based tool helps bloggers and content providers track subscribers. Not only does it offer reader statistics, but Feedburner also helps optimize, publicize, and monetize published feeds.

If you are not using Feedburner, I would strongly recommend it. Once complete, let me know what you think about it in the comment section below.

Get More Friends, Followers, Hits, and Readers Using Google Sidewiki

In a previous entry, "The New Google Toolbar Allows You to Share, Shorten, and Sidewiki" , I talked about some of the cool things you can do with Google's latest enhancement. Today, I would like to continue the discussion and look specifically at Sidewiki. To my knowledge, Sidewiki has been out since the summer of 2009. Few of my friends seem to be using it at this time, but I hope to change that.

What Is Sidewiki?
That is a very good question. In fact, it is one that I pondered on since I was made aware of the feature. Initially, I thought of Sidewiki as merely a commenting tool for page visitors. With the Google Toolbar installed, users would be able to visit and leave notes on just about any web page.

For web site owners, reading the thoughts and suggestions of Sidewiki entries would empower them to make changes for the better. Additionally, owners have an opportunity to leave instructions, tips, and ideas on how to interact with the site.

Sidewiki For Bloggers
The more I played with Sidewiki, the more inquisitive I became. What is the real use of such a tool? Why would anyone care enough to annotate on web sites?

The answer came once I realized that any Sidewiki posts also show up on my Google Profile. I asked myself, "Do I really want a bunch of simple comments and half-written instructions on my profile?" The answer was, "No!"


Whatever I post in Sidewiki must be substantial enough to share on my profile as well as earn votes for helping others.

Posting to Blogger
Later, I discovered that Google Sidewiki has the capability to also post an entry to Blogger. This is really an added bonus, because I can hit two birds with one stone. Essentially, I can write a blog from a Sidewiki entry.

What would happen if I wrote the blog first and then posted it to Sidewiki? It was at that moment that it clicked for me. As a blogger, I am already writing entries about products, people, and events. Instead of writing an entry in Sidewiki first, how about writing in my blog and then copying it into Sidewiki?

After a few trial runs, I found that it is a perfect solution for getting additional page views on my blog entries. I already composed an entry about the Google Toolbar, so I copied my blog and posted a new Sidewiki entry on the Google Toolbar page. I also wrote and posted another blog entry about Seth Godin' "What Matters Now" project and posted it as a new Sidewiki on Seth's front page.

Now, anytime someone visits SethGodin.typepad.com or Google Toolbar, you can see my blog/entry. To make the Sidewiki entry more useful, I included links to my RSS feed, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Friendfeed, and Google Reader pages in the footer.

Closing Thoughts
There are some additional things to know about Sidewiki.





  1. There is a limit on the amount of characters used within a Sidewiki entry. I estimate the limit to be somewhere around 2,660 characters (450 words).
  2. HTML is acceptable, however images are not.
  3. You can always go back and edit, delete, and share an entry. 
  4. Helpful Sidewiki entries will raise to the top while less helpful ones fall down the list, so consider writing something that people will find useful. 
  5. Consider posting old blogs as Sidewiki's to extend its life and get more hits. 
Feedback
In the comment section below, let's talk about other useful ideas for the Google Sidewiki. What kinds of entries are most helpful for you?

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

The New Google Toolbar Allows You to Share, Shorten, and Sidewiki

In a recent announcement, Google unleashed an updated toolbar that makes sharing information and favorite websites even easier.

Sharing Web Pages
The first enhancement to the Google Toolbar is Shareaholic. Personally, the Shareaholic application gets a lot of use from me. In fact, it is one of my must have extensions.

In short, Shareaholic allows users to share web pages with others via a number of social networking sites. For example, if I want to provide the latest news to all my Twitter friends, I simply click on the share button and select Twitter. From there, I am transported into Twitter with the title of the page and a shortened URL. At this point, I can either edit the message or just hit update. It's all very simple.

Not only can I send it to Twitter, but I can also send similar information to my friends on Facebook, Digg, Google Reader, and more. Therefore, the tedious process of helping others find good information is now a click away.

URL Shortener
The second update to Google's Toolbar is a URL shortener. Available only in Feedburner and the toolbar, this enhancement makes long web addresses a thing of the past.

The advantage of using a URL shortener is to conserve space within sites like Twitter, where the number of characters conserved is important. This new feature will be in direct competition to services like Bit.ly.

When released, I hope Google will take advantage of its analytic tool and provide statistics on shared URLs.

Sidewiki
The showstopper for this update is Google Sidewiki. Released earlier this year, Sidewiki is a neat little tool to comment on just about any web page. Users will now have the opportunity to leave notes and videos about the page and its content.

For page owners, Google Sidewiki gives you the opportunity to leave highlighted notes for visitors to read. Additionally, Sidewiki sheds light on what users think about the content. For bloggers and content contributors, that type of feedback can aid in making user experience better.

An added benefit to feedback is that other visitors can vote on responses. Comments with higher number of votes will raise to the top while less helpful comments fall down the list.

This seems like an exciting feature with tons of opportunity for enhancing site design, content, and overall usefulness. With that written, go ahead and install the latest Google Toolbar or, for those using Chrome, download the Sidewiki extension. Once you have Sidewiki in place, make a new entry to see how it works.

Let's talk about your experience and feedback in the comment section below.

Until next time...

Monday, December 14, 2009

Get Involved With "What Matters Now"

Over the past few months, I have noticed how blogging changes people. I, for one, have been changed. Similar to leadership, I was under the impression that writing was about me, my wants, and my needs. Fortunately, I have found good people like Chris Brogan who inspired me to rethink my position.

It's Not About Me
In both leadership and blogging, the position requires that I take the emphasis off me and focus it on helping others. As a manager, I have authority over positions, but my job is to serve the team of talented developers. I am here to help the team, as well as North Carolina Central University, overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. As a writer, the goal is to use my experience and knowledge to achieve the same for you.

In a free e-book entitled, "What Matters Now," I find a treasure of 72 essays that highlight important issues in under 200 words. Each page, inspired by Seth Godin, will challenge you to think and ultimately act positively toward bettering the world in which we live.

Take a moment to download this free gift. Read it, print it, and even share it with anyone you think can benefit from it. Once complete, stop back through and let me know what you think about it.

Until next time...

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Google's New Mobile Phone Is Called 'Nexus One'

I just learned that Google has plans to release a mobile phone in January 2010. The phone, named 'Nexus One', is gearing up to be a major competitor of the iPhone.

Additionally, the phone will not come equipped with a service plan, which means users will have the option to select a carrier. I'm not sure how this will work, but Google's move is an exciting one for those of us interested in gadgets.

The purchase price is also unclear at this time. I have read that it could cost up to $600, but that information comes from an unofficial source.

Overall, we should take this opportunity to think about the future of the web and technology. We see wireless, netbooks, and mobile devices growing in popularity. Not only does it help serve our personal needs, but they aid to address business functions as well. As one involved in web development, I am seriously considering how I might help North Carolina Central University ready itself for the change.

Let's Talk
For those interested in mobile devices, what are your thoughts about Google's phone? How do you think this revelation will change the industry? Web development? Higher education? Business? How might the Nexus One win over the iPhone?

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Is Online Openness A Bad Thing Or Does It Make Us Better?

Earlier this morning, I wrote a blog asking people's opinion on Foursquare and whether it is a good idea to put your home address out there. This led into another question about online privacy.

The phenomenon of showing where you are and what you're doing has me asking why? Why would anyone want other people to know what they're doing and where they're going?

In a playful sense, I can see how close friends and family may use Foursquare to keep tabs on each other. As a concerned parent, I see value in knowing that my son or daughters (assuming they are teen aged) are located where they should be. The service could potentially save a phone call or unnecessary trips home.

However, the flip side suggests that even those less close may end up knowing more about you than they should. Would I really want a stalker to know where my daughters live or where they're going? The answer is "No!"

This line of thinking leads me to ponder how deep the rabbit hole really goes. Remember, many crimes are crimes of opportunity. If I were a robber (which I am not) and I knew a certain family would be away camping, I might use this information to gain entrance into the home and clean the place out.

I suppose with each positive invention, there are those who may use it for evil. But then, I wonder if transparency (or better yet 'visibility') is a form of protection. Let's take for example the news media. In a number of movies, we learn that by revealing a terrible crime to the press, a certain level of protection surrounds you.

Does visibility on social networking sites deliver a level of protection? Is Robert Scoble, Louis Gray, Jesse Stay, or Wayne Sutton more protected because of their online status? Does popularity make you immune to certain crimes or just a bigger target?

For me, online visibility is happening whether we like it or not. Today, one can Google any number of facts about another human being. We can find phone numbers, email addresses, employers, and even our own online activities.

I believe we can take control over our online lives or become victims of it. By using social networking tools, we can create an identity that either benefits us or hurts us.

Knowing that we are being watched, means that we can lead by example. We can focus our energies on bringing attention to issues, causes, businesses, people, and products that others cannot. It also means being on ones best behavior even when we think nobody is looking. That's a good thing, right?

Sure, deciding when to turn it off may get hard when you're on celebrity status, but for the rest of us, we can decide how much to show and how much to keep private. In each of the most popular tools, there are ways to control what information is shared with others.

However, as we find in Tiger's case, the weak link may not be in our hands at all. What are other people willing to do, say, show, and share about you? Once leaked to the world wide web, pictures, movies, and even words are hard to get back in the bag.

Let's take this opportunity to discuss the pros and cons of online visibility and transparency. Knowing that our society is changing and everything we do is at risk of exposure, does it make openness bad or good? As a result of this, are we destined to change and become more wholesome or just create new ways to hide?

Until next time...

Putting Your Home Address on Foursquare, Is That a Good Idea?

Over the past few weeks, I have grown more excited about playing the game of Foursquare. Through the mobile phone, users can update their current location and earn points. The number of points available depends on a number of factors. For instance, I can earn points for visiting places that I have never been before.

Repeat visits to a single spot may earn you the title of Mayor. Going out to ten different venues will secure a badge that adorns your site. Finally, you may even take tips from friends and challenge yourself to explore new adventures.

Foursquare has grown in popularity over the past few months. Many of my early adopter friends are using the service to share interesting places, good food, and their love for traveling. In a few cases, I have noticed some checking in to their home addresses.

My initial reaction is one of opportunity. I can earn more points by checking in at home, where I spend a great deal of time. Fortunately, I am also cautious about sharing too much information. Do I really want people to know when I get home or when I leave?

Having conducted a Google search on myself, I found that there is a lot of information out there on me. In fact, I found my phone number and home address out there, but is that bad?

For years, I have been listed in the white pages of the local telephone book. Today, one can even Google Map my neighborhood and see pictures of my house. Not that it is real-time, but there it is.

So, let me ask you the question. Is putting personal information on the Internet a good or bad idea? How do you feel about sharing your whereabouts online? Let's talk about it in the comment section below.

Until next time...

Friday, December 11, 2009

Google Asks for Help to Improve Quality of Voicemail Transcription

One of the most exciting features of Google Voice is its transcription service. Assuming all is working as it should, users can read voicemail messages like one reads an e-mail. Unfortunately, the service does not work as expected. In fact, I find the transcription is practically worthless. At times, the message is so riddled with errors that I end up ignoring it all together.

Google must realize this weakness because in the latest Google Voice blog, the company asks its users to go beyond rating the message quality. Today, you can donate your voicemail, which "may be listened to, manually transcribed by us and/or used to gauge transcription improvements over time, but they will never be made public or used for any other purpose than improving the transcription quality."


What do you think about Google's transcription service? What concerns would you have with donating your voicemail to improve overall quality?

Until next time...

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Use Lazyfeed's Treadmill to Follow Multiple Topics In Real-Time

If you like following Twitter in Tweetdeck, Seesmic, PeopleBrowsr, HootSuite, or any other similar application, that you will love the latest update to Lazyfeed. Earlier this year, I wrote about a pretty cool web-based tool that allows you to follow keywords in real-time. Unlike the RSS reader (Google Reader, for example), Lazyfeed makes it easy to follow stories on topics you find interesting.

This small difference between an RSS reader and Lazyfeed means I can read exactly what I want to read at the speed of now. Pretty cool, huh?

To make things even more exciting, I can follow multiple topics from within the same page. This functionality is what makes Tweetdeck (and others) so useful. I can simply view a single window and watch the latest updates flow across my screen. That should explain the name Lazyfeed for those who were wondering.

What's New?
I'm glad you asked. Recently, Lazyfeed rolled out a new feature. It's called the "treadmill." Essentially, it takes being lazy to the tenth degree.

For those individuals with Friendfeed experience, Lazyfeed's treadmill feature works similar to Friendfeed's news feed. Any new posts in Friendfeed will populate the news feed running down the page. Older stories move automatically down the screen, giving way to newer posts. In addition, older stories with updates (say, comments) will jump back to the top. This is one of my favorite features in Friendfeed and something I wish Facebook would implement.

Therefore, Lazyfeed uses the treadmill feature to move new updates back to the top of the screen, which makes it easier for you to stay up-to-date.

If you haven't given Lazyfeed a try, I would recommend you stop by today. By adding a few favorite topics, you can sit back and allow information to come to you.

One other cool addition is a recommendation tool. Every so often, most likely based on your activity, Lazyfeed asks you if you are interested in other topics. By acknowledging the topic, it automatically adds the term to your list.

Overall, Lazyfeed is worth a peek. I'm not sure if I will sit idly by and watch the screen for long, but assuming I run out of things in my Google Reader, I definitely have options.

Until next time...

How Does Facebook's Privacy Tool Affect You?

There have been plenty of discussions concerning Facebook's recent change in privacy settings. Early on, when I first read about the company's decision, there were comments that Facebook was trying to be more like Twitter. The issue was the private nature of the site.

Unlike Twitter, users could not read other people's status updates unless given permission. Sure, the same is true with Twitter, but the culture is more about visibility than privacy.

Upon my latest Facebook visit, I received a pop-up box asking me to review my privacy settings. From my name down to images, I have the ability to keep things the way they are (private) or open up the page to everyone, friends of friends, or just friends.

Personally, I am ok with sharing. As a result, I have made much of my public information, public. The question that I have now is, "What next?" Now that I've opened my site and status updates to the world, what happens now? What does all of this mean for Facebook, Twitter, the world?

In the section below, I am interested in reading your thoughts. What do you think about the latest privacy changes in Facebook? What choices have you made? Why? How will this affect you?

Until next time...

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Is It Time to Switch From Firefox to Google Chrome?


Changing web browsers is not one of my favorite things to do. In fact, I recall the move from Microsoft Internet Explorer to Firefox was done kicking and screaming. Not that I was the last guy to migrate, but my friend Minu Nianda had to convince me it was a good idea. Come to think of it, he did the same for Gmail.

Today, I find that Google Chrome has released its latest beta version. Along with the beta comes extensions. Yes, Google Chrome now provides a number of browser extensions.

A quick visit to the Chrome Extensions page reveals a decent list of noteworthy apps. A few of my favorites are Delicious, Shareaholic, Zamanta, Picnik, and Aviary. To see the complete list of available extensions follow this link.

At this point, we are left asking the question. Is it time to switch from Firefox to Google Chrome? Early reports say that Google Chrome is faster and does a better job of managing JavaScript. In Windows, it is THE fastest.

For me, I am a fan of Firefox. However, I must admit that I am not happy about the delay to open, which seems to take forever.

When asked whether or not I would make that move, I initially stated that I would not migrate until Chrome got extensions. Well, today it does.

Mike Render, a skilled graphic designer at North Carolina Central University, is adament, like Minu before him, that Google Chrome is a good idea for me. At this point, it is becoming harder and harder to say "No!"

Although, Zotero, the tool I use for holding dissertation resources is not yet available on Chrome. Therefore, until Google Chrome can accommodate all of my extension needs, I cannot, will not, must not let go of Mozilla's Firefox.

What About You?
What are your thoughts on Google Chrome's new browser and extensions? Have you made the transition yet? If not, what are your reservations?

Until next time...

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Google Adds Annotations in Analytics

In midst of the growing hype around Google Goggles and real-time search, Google has released another exciting update. This time, it is within Google Analytics. The feature is called annotations and it will help to explain changes within your web page statistics.

For those that do not use Google Analytics, let me quickly explain. Google Analytics is a web-based tool used to track activity on web sites. In the old days, people were happy with a page counter. Each morning, we would race to our site in order to find out if anyone has paid us a visit. Today, we have grown more sophisticated and are able to track tons of information. With Google Analytics, developers can identify site visitors, but we can also see where they are, what pages they go to, how long they stay there, and how often they return. We know the most popular browsers, screen resolutions, and even how they found us. It is a great tool that I encourage all site owners to use.

With annotations, developers can keep notes regarding major changes to the statistics. As an example, imagine everything is going great with the site. All of a sudden, the server crashes. For a couple of hours, users are unable to access the site. Looking at the numbers, we see a huge dip in site visits. With annotations, we can explain the phenomenon so as to jog our memory in the future.

All in all, this should be a very useful addition to an already valuable tool. To see more, take a look at the video clip below.


Google Unveils Real-Time Search

This morning we learn that Google unveils their real-time search feature. In the short video clip, provided below, you can see that users will be able to search for information and get up-to-the-minute results. Based upon what I know right now, this will include results from Twitter, blogs, and the like.

Take a few moments to review the video and let's talk about what this means and its affect on our business and personal lives.



Update
(9:19 am) Google has not released the real-time search to everyone as of yet. According to sources, it will be out within the next few days. For those who cannot wait to see it in action, simply add the following text "&esrch=RTSearch" to the end of the search URL.

I just finished playing with it and it looks pretty cool. Google returns a plethora of real-time resources based upon your keyword search. Enjoy!

Monday, December 7, 2009

Make Your Bed: The Secret To Finding Balance

One morning, while riding to work with my carpool partner, I listened to a motivational speaker on CD. The lady was most likely a Mary Kay consultant and she seemed pretty passionate about the topic. While I cannot remember the topic or name of the speaker, I do recall something she said. The woman said everything is connected. If one area of my life gets out of sync, eventually everything else falls victim as well.

The message was intended to aid Mary Kay consultants in their pursuit of business success, but I think it has merit in whatever one plans to do in life. For me, it was just what I needed to get back on track.

The concept, as she described it, was that everything is connected. One's personal life can affect one's business life. Therefore, if one intends to successfully build a strong empire, one should control the personal area as well.

As she continued to talk about life's balance, I was mentally unavailable. My mind raced with ideas. How would I use this valuable information to succeed in my own life?

The answer was to make my bed. Yep, it was that simple. The secret to finding balance in life began by a few shakes of the sheets and pillows.

Like a child's game of dominoes, I found that an organized bed led to an organized bedroom. The well kept bedroom led to a less stressful morning. A less stressful morning led to a manageable day at the office. A manageable day at the office resulted in a relaxing evening. A relaxing evening led to a well rested night.

With each day, my life grew more organized and productive. Productivity affected my attitude, which now affects my altitude.

Indeed, everything is connected. To find balance in our personal, professional, and even spiritual lives, we need to start by doing something right. What better way than to begin with an organized bed. Wouldn't you agree?

Until next time...


Related Posts

Image via Eastvold Custom

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Learning to Write Blogs Like Dave Winer and Chris Brogan

Over the past week or so, I have struggled with getting my blog entries out more quickly. Each day, I schedule an hour for writing. Unfortunately, I find I need more time than an hour to develop deeper articles. But, why? I asked myself.

Within minutes, I Googled an article that I wrote back in August of this year. It is entitled, "How often should I post a blog?" Basically, I laid out similar feelings that I hold today. I am busy and have smaller amounts of time to write. Also, with the number of things going on in the world, I feel like I'm missing opportunities to chime in and share my own experiences because I am off writing a "masterpiece".

What's the problem? You may ask to yourself. I suppose I forget that this is a personal blog, not a business. Thanks to Madhav Tripathi, I am once again reminded that I can do and say whatever I like here.

While that is true, I also recognize that I have some constraints. Like Jay-Z said, "I'm not a businessman, I am a business, MAN!" Well, that is what I see when I look in the mirror. As a business, I need to act like one. This means being selective about what I write, as well as how.

In any case, I am using this entry as a jump off point to return to writing more often using smaller entries like I notice Dave Winer and Chris Brogan do from time to time. Of course, I maintain the right to write something longer, should the bug bite.

Until next time...

Image via Linda Cronin

Thursday, December 3, 2009

People Connector Series: Strategy for Staying Engaged With Others

Yesterday, I began a new series entitled, "People Connecter: Taking Notes to Build Stronger Relationships." In that article, I introduced a strategy that builds an information database on your contacts. Today, I would like to continue talking about becoming a people connector by focusing on an organization method to keep up with your friends, family, colleagues, and clients.

Engage With Contacts Often

Once you have developed a system to manage your contacts (see yesterday's blog for assistance), it is time to start using that information to engage with them. Connecting people with opportunities and resources does not happen by itself. Behind each "miracle" there is a responsible angel.

To be that angel, you need to initiate a conversation with people and listen for ways to be of assistance. If you find a friend is in need of a new job, car, or house, consider your contacts. Can you recall any friend or colleague offering a related service or deal? If so, make the connection.

Starting out, it may not seem like a simple task. Additionally, depending upon the number of people in your database, you may not be in the position to talk with everyone every day, but make an effort to connect with people as often as you can. Consider making a schedule on the calendar as a reminder.

Remember the Number Two
Anabel Barbosa, a friend building her Mary Kay business, recently instructed me on her stay-in-touch strategy. I think it is a pretty neat idea.

Upon the sale of an item, Anabel will place the receipt in a manila folder bearing a number. The number represents a day of the month. The strategy is to place the receipt in the folder representing a date two days from today. So, if she sold an item on the first of December, she will place the receipt in a folder bearing the number three.

On the third of December, she will open the folder with the number three and call everyone with a sales receipt. Upon completion, she will move the receipt from the third of December to the 17th of December, which is two weeks away.

On the 17th of December, Anabel will open her manila folder make calls to everyone with a sales receipt. After a successful call, she will move the receipt two months ahead. When that day comes, she makes another call.

From this point on, Ms. Barbosa keeps a two month cycle. Overall, I think this is a pretty cool system.

Closing Thought
Any scheduled call, e-mail, text message, or tweet, should never feel like a scheduled call. The process is just a way to remain organized. The interaction should always be genuine.

Remember:
Reach out to people because you care for them, not out of obligation or selfish pursuits.

Discussion Questions
In the comment section below, let's talk.


  • What strategies do you use to remind yourself to call clients, friends, family, and colleagues?
  • What are the strengths/weaknesses of that strategy?
  • For those that haven't adopted a strategy, what are your thoughts?
Until next time...

Image via Leo Reynolds

Damond L. Nollan, M.B.A.

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E-mail: Contact Me

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