Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Twitter Makes Tweets Pop With Pictures and Videos


Twitter announced yesterday that both mobile apps and Twitter.com will now show more engaging media within tweets.

Prior to this update, users would have to click on a link in order to view.

What makes this exciting is that tweets may now get more attention because of the image or video attached. While I understand that people like Twitter for it's simplistic functionality, mainly text, allowing images and Vines (short videos) to the timeline immediately draws my interest.

Take a look at the following example using Vine.



Feedback


So, what do you think? Do you like the new changes? How do you think it stacks up against Instagram or Facebook? Has it just become the number one most powerful social network? Let me know in the comment section below.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Dexter Streams to Netflix This Halloween


Netflix and the CBS Corporation have recently announced a content licensing deal that will allow Netflix members to watch instantly all eight seasons of Dexter.

Beginning on October 31, the first four seasons will be available for immediate viewing followed by the remaining four seasons on January 1, 2014.

For those that have not seen the show, let me tell you that it is one of my personal favorites.
The SHOWTIME original tells a story about Dexter Morgan, a Miami forensics expert, who is also a serial killer. Thanks to a strict code, he learns to satisfy his need to kill by removing only the "bad" people. Interesting? Well, it gets better when we find ourselves in love with the character and rooting for his survival.

Clearly, Dexter is a man torn and conflicted, but we like it.

So, get ready for the holidays as Netflix and CBS have delivered a wonderful gift. Enjoy!

Thursday, October 24, 2013

What Commenting System Should I Use On My Blog?


There are numerous commenting systems available for a blogger to use. In this article, I would like to share a few of them with you and explain why I have gone to Livefyre.

Blogger's Default System


So, if you couldn't tell, my blog (damondnollan.com) is hosted on Blogger, which is powered by Google. I don't recall why I left Blogger's commenting system exactly (back in 2009), but I'm sure it was far too basic and required a Google account. When compared to the competition, there was little incentive to stay. So, I moved to Disqus.

Disqus vs. Facebook


Based on my previous post, I am going to guesstimate that I switched to Disqus back in January 2010. This was about the time that I added the service to North Carolina Central University's news feed.

My interests were primarily centered on engagement with the community and making it easy to share an article. In addition to those benefits, I found the following features also appealing:
  • Threaded discussion
  • Multiple ways to sign-in
  • Follow a discussion via email
  • Track conversations off-site
  • Easy to moderate
In March 2011, well over a year later, Facebook introduced its commenting system for bloggers. I struggled with the decision to leave Disqus for Facebook. To figure it all out, I outlined both the pros and cons of the decision. 

To summarize, I didn't have a real complaint against Disqus. It worked well for me and I would have recommended it to anyone. Unfortunately, the draw toward Facebook was quite strong. The biggest draw was the two-way engagement between my friends on Facebook and readers on my blog. I wanted to transport the numerous Facebook conversations onto my blog while also introducing my readers to my Facebook community. 

Where Facebook had over 600 million users, it required my readers to sign-on with a Facebook account. What if people didn't want or have a Facebook account? That meant fewer comments. 

So, I just kept both services running simultaneously to see which one would win. To my surprise, I ended up leaving both for CommentLuv.

CommentLuv, IntenseDebate, And The Backlinks Revolution


While the details of the switch are vague, I do remember running both Facebook and Disqus for months. Some articles resulted in heavy conversation in one or the other, but neither were an easy win.

My friend, Ilean Smith, was a huge supporter and early beta tester of CommentLuv premium. By September 2011, she had grown her online community to the point that each blog post had numerous comments, likes, and shares. It was amazing to watch. Because of Ileane and the idea of backlinks, that I made the switch.

What I didn't understand about blogging was how to grow a large community of engaged readers. Creating great content had to be there, but what else? I asked. Ileane showed me that with CommentLuv, other bloggers could read, respond, and also link back to their latest blog post. It was like free advertising. The more people respond, the more they advertised. It was a win/win situation.

The idea of backlinks worked great, but in order to have CommentLuv on Blogger, I had to use IntenseDebate and its CommentLuv plugin. 

It worked but I switched back to Disqus. My best guess as to why I switched back had to do with IntenseDebate's features and the massive amounts of comments that I lost during the migration. 
  

Google+


In April 2013, Google announced that Blogger would receive Google+ comments. The advantage of this move would be similar in nature to what Facebook provided earlier. It would allow bloggers to bring a social network to our blog and our readers back to our social network. It was genius, I thought. 

Not only would comments made on Google+ get ported into my blog post, but the comments were also spidered by search engines. More comments, more eyes, more readers. 

The weakness of Google+ was its users. Most of friends are on Facebook, but few are on Google+.

...And The Winner Is...Livefyre Or Is It Disqus?!


As you can see, I struggle a lot with options. Do I go with this or that? Which solution will provide the greatest return on investment? Which solution will maximize engagement while also bringing in new readers? Isn't that what we all want?

Even as I write this article, I struggle with the ups and downs of this decision, but here is where I am today...

While I have enjoyed the ease, power, and engagement opportunities offered by Disqus over the years, I find that Livefyre has recently offered some features that are not available on Disqus. They include:

SocialSync
This is one of those things that I have been looking for since the beginning, the ability to bring discussions within the various social networks into my blog and vice versa. With SocialSync, discussions happening on Facebook and Twitter are automatically synced with my blog content. Not only does it bring the comments into my blog, but my blog readers can respond back with people on Facebook and Twitter. Neat, right?

Friend Tagging
Along with SocialSync, Livefyre also allows your readers to tag their Facebook and Twitter friends within the comment. Talk about engagement, what better way to invite friends than that? We all do it, but now we can do it from within a blog post. Awesome!

LinkBack
What made CommentLuv so appealing is now available in Livefyre. Readers, bloggers, and other site owners can leave thought-provoking comments on your site while simultaneously sharing their latest article. This feature encourages reader engagement while offering a win/win situation for all.

Media Embedding
What I really enjoy about Facebook is the opportunity to share videos, pictures, audio, and slideshow presentations with my friends. This feature is now available to your readers, too. As your community reads, they can contribute to the conversation with attractive media from across the Internet. 

Final Thoughts


This list of features is by no means an exhaustive one. What I hoped to do was give you enough information to make a rational decision. As it stands today, I am going officially with Livefyre as my comment system. 

What I lose by ditching Disqus are years of comments. While they are important and a valuable part of my site's history, I want to increase engagement on the new articles I write. I believe with Livefyre I can.

What I hope happens is that Livefyre will provide an import feature. Disqus does it and that's a win for them. Until that day comes, I'll just keep moving forward with what I believe will be a new day for damondnollan.com.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject. Please, leave me a comment in the section below. What system do you use? Why?

Update 


On October 30, 2013, only days after writing this article, Livefyre started acting funny. I would visit certain articles and the comment box wouldn't show. I did a search online for a solution and found that this has been a problem for over a year, in some cases. Until I can find a solution, I have rolled my commenting system back to Disqus.

Friday, October 18, 2013

Find Out Which of Your Neighbors Are Giving Halloween Candy With Nextdoor's Treat Map


Nextdoor, the private network for your neighborhood, just announced a Halloween Treat Map that provides an "insider's guide to the best streets for treats in your neighborhood."

How Does It Work?


Step 1: Members sign into Nextdoor

For those who are currently members, it's as simple as signing into your Nextdoor neighborhood. If you don't yet have an account, visit http://www.nextdoor.com and create one.

Step 2: View your neighborhood map

Once you've signed in, click on Map to view your neighborhood map. At this point, you should see your plot of land with a box asking, "Are you giving out treats for Halloween?"

Step 3: Select Yes or No

Once you've decided on whether you're going to give candy or not, click on the Save button. If you select "Yes," then a candy corn icon will hover over your house on the map.

Why Is This A Great Idea?


Easy To Use

I am actually very excited about this option. For one, it's something that our neighborhood can immediately put to use.

Encourage Interaction Between Neighbors

While my neighborhood is pretty technology savvy, we often need a reminder to interact and have fun together. While Nextdoor already provides a ton of neat features, like: A safe way to communicate with just your neighbors, a neighborhood directory, map, classified ads, photo gallary, document library, and a message wall, this will surely invite a little more engagement online. 

Your Kids Will Thank You 

I was always taught that if the house light is on then it's fair game for treats. Wouldn't it be nice to pre-plan your evening so you spend less time walking or driving and more time collecting the loot? With this feature you can.

Mobile Friendly 

Not only can you pre-plan your trick or treat activities, you can take the map with you via the mobile app for iOS and Android.

Well, there you have it. I hope you enjoy the upgrade as much as I will. If you need help setting up your Nextdoor neighborhood, let me know.

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Getting Started With Kris Gethin's 12-Week Body Transformation


Follow the link to read a more comprehensive version of the "Kris Gethin's 12-Week Body Transformation."

This past weekend, I introduced a new workout program called "12 Week Daily Video Trainer with Kris Gethin." While I have had some significant success on my own, I wanted to break through the plateau and continue toward my goals. Enter Kris Gethin, writer and photographer for Bodybuilding.com.

What I like about Kris' program is that he created a video for each day where he does the workout with us. During the course of 84 days, he goes from 230 lbs down to 201 lbs. While his results may not be typical, I believe the program will be extremely beneficial to anyone willing to put in the work.


In this article, I would like to provide some details for the program, mainly nutrition, supplements, and beginning tips. It's important to be ready for this hardcore training. Don't worry, you can do it!

Meal Plan


Before we begin, Kris makes the following statement regarding nutrition:

Nutrition is one of the most crucial components to full body transformation. Making healthy food choices doesn't have to be difficult, but it does have to be deliberate. Preparation and consistency is the key to making this transformation different from all other failed attempts.

Breakfast

  • Egg whites
  • Oats
  • Coffee
Meal 2

  • Lean steak (Eye of round steak, tenderloin, or roast)
  • Brown rice
Mid-Morning

  • Chicken or turkey breast
  • Sweet potato or yam
  • Broccoli
Lunch

  • Fish
  • Brown Rice
  • Broccoli
Mid-Afternoon

  • Chicken or turkey breast
  • Sweet potato or yam
  • Broccoli
Pre-Workout

  • Tilapia
  • Brown rice
  • Coffee
Post-Workout: Protein Shake with Glutamine, Creatine, and Vitargo

Dinner

  • Lean Steak (Eye of round steak, tenderloin, or roast)
  • Broccoli
Nighttime Snack: Meal replacement shake (CNP ProPeptide)

Special Tips

  • Drink 1-2 gallons of water per day. Keep a gallon size jug of water with you.
  • Cook all your meals the night before. This will save you time in the morning.
  • Grill your food. This reduces the amount of fat you consume.
  • Measure your food with a scale or compare it to the size of your fist.
  • If your food is too bland, add some spices like: Ginger, cayenne pepper, and salt.
  • Only use Truvia as a sweetener. No sugar!
  • Use cooking spray to coat pans. Avoid oils of any kind. 

Supplements

  • Multivitamin
  • Protein power. Try for one that contains protein isolate for fast digestion.
  • Omega 3-6-9 fatty acids
  • BCAAs (Branch Chained Amino Acids)
  • Pre-Workout Booster

Initial Reaction

My initial reaction to this list of supplies felt overwhelming. First, I'm not THAT hungry. Second, that seems like a lot of money. I clearly was not ready.

While my intention was to start on Monday, I decided to get prepared, buy all the supplies I needed, and start on the following Monday. Although, I promised that I'd do what I could with that I had. 

The Food

Between eating chicken breast, broccoli, egg whites, oat meal, brown rice, protein, and my Mega Man multivitamins (Sport), I lost about 8 pounds after only a few days. Now, I believe a lot of that was water weight, but it was interesting to see how quickly the nutrition and supplements helped out.

Note: Make sure to get some kind of probiotic to assist with the digestive process. 

Working Out

Unfortunately, I haven't been to the gym this week, as it was a little jolting trying to work it into my schedule, but I'll get it together between now and Monday.

Well, that should just about do it. Make sure to stop by the Bodybuilding.com website for more details on the series, videos, and workout plan.

Stay Connected

Don't miss a single thing! Before you go, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter and I'll deliver more content like this directly to you. 

Carlos Rogers: Making a Difference by Helping Others


You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.~ Zig Ziglar 

I first met Carlos Rogers back in June of 2012. By this time, I was familiar with the name only because my friend and frat brother, Lee Morgan, talked about him from time to time. What initially caught my attention about Carlos was how Lee got really excited about this guy. Under the age of 30, Carlos had already traveled around the world and amassed a considerable fortune. My first question was, "What in the world does he do for a living?"

On this particular day, I found out that Carlos was going to be in Durham, NC to meet with some people. Lee called me up and said that he wanted to introduce me. I'm like, "Sure, let's go!" I wanted to see up close what young success looked like.

Carlos Rogers
Carlos' profile in Success from Home Magazine.
To my surprise, Carlos Rogers was just as normal and down-to-Earth as the next guy. He dressed, acted, and even spoke like one of us. This guy was "Cool!" I thought.

Over the next hour and a half, I quietly observed how confident, happy, and care-free this young entrepreneur was. He just had that charisma and charm about him. I see now why Lee was so excited about having me meet him. I'm glad he did.

As an IT Manager within the higher education field, I felt accomplished. I knew that once I earned my doctorate degree, I'd find another avenue to advance the ranks. I was content.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, talking with Carlos opened my eyes to a world that I didn't know existed. He told me that I can have his lifestyle if I was willing to put in the work. He also said something about having FUN, but the lifestyle he lived was what I wanted. I wanted to live life to the fullest.

Carlos gave me a few pointers and allowed me the opportunity to capture his story on video. Then, he was gone.

Making a Difference

In the latest issue of Voyager magazine, Carlos Rogers received another write-up recognizing his continued achievements. My mouth just dropped when I read this, "I've earned a lot with [the Fun & Money Club] and I've saved most of it...now, I am able to live off the investment of the money that I've already earned." How old is this guy again? He can basically live off the interest from the money he's earned. Wow!

Talking about freedom, Carlos is definitely living the life, but it's his willingness to help other people that I admire most.

I love helping others achieve success and showing that it is possible for people from different backgrounds to make their dreams come true. You have to just plug into the system, follow the leadership and most importantly, just don't quit...don't ever give up on your dreams. 

Carlos, congratulations on your continued success and thank you for showing us that's it's possible for regular people to be "significant and help[ing] others in the process"!

Let's get it!

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

How to Use Square Cash to Send Money by Email

Send money through Square Cash

TechCrunch reported this morning on the formal announcement of Square Cash, a service that allows you to send money through your email account.

This story caught my eye because only moments ago I had to find an ATM in order to pay my portion of a gift. I asked, halfheartedly, if they would accept a check, which would have saved me a trip across campus. Of course, the answer was "No!" Hey, I had to try, right?

As I write that, I can think of other examples where this service would have helped me recently. I have a friend in California who I needed to send some money to. We tried transferring funds from my bank to hers, but it was far too clunky and ended up requiring a bank visit.

For my carpool partners and I, asking them to simply simply email their monthly payments sounds much easier than what we previously discussed. I mean, who doesn't have a debit/credit card and an email account?

Think about it, you can send money from your smartphone, desktop, or tablet. Easy peasy!

How Does It Work?


Step 1

Create an email message that is addressed to the person you want to send money to. Make sure to Cc: cash@square.com and add the dollar amount that you wish to transfer, it can be either in the subject line or message body.

Step 2 

You will receive an email reply from Square asking you to link a debit card. You'll have to initially do this from a web page.

Step 3

The recipient will be emailed a link to easily deposit the cash into their bank account.

Send money through email

While you can do all of this from your email account, Square also offers a mobile application that you can download. Currently, there is an Android and iOS version.

What Else Should I Know?


Sounds simple enough, right? Well, there are a couple of things you should know.

  • It's FREE! There are no transaction fees.
  • It's secure. This service is powered by the same company that food trucks and other vendors use to swipe your debit card. It's made possible by Square, Inc.
  • The deposit usually happens within 1-2 business days.
  • The recipient has 14 days to enter their debit card and receive the money. A reminder will be sent out regularly just in case they forget.
For me, this sounds like a very handy and easy-to-use service. Try it out and let me know what about your experience.

How to Build an Emergency Fund


In the article, 5 Budgeting Tips for Singles, Mary Hiers wrote a section on building an emergency fund. Having experienced a difficult summer of unexpected events, I understand how fragile our personal finances can be in the wake of "emergencies." The mounting debt and overwhelming challenge to maintain even the most basic of needs is a very real thing. Maybe you're in a situation where someone had lost their job, cannot get a job, had a health emergency, or any number of issues that add undue stress to our lives.

In this article, I would like to share a few ideas on how to build your rainy day account.

How Much Should I Save?


For years, I have been told to save at least six months salary for unexpected emergencies. I would still stand by that number. Although, truth be told, anything saved is better than nothing at all.

In the event that one should lose a job or decide to look for something new, the rule of thumb for how long it normally takes to find another job depends upon your salary. According to the Boston Globe, it will take "one month of job searching for every $10,000 of salary that you were earning." So, if your salary was $30,000 a year, then it would generally take about 3 months to secure another job. If you made $80,000 a year, then it would take about 8 months.

Can You Get To It Quickly?


One of the issues that I ran into this past summer was getting to the money quickly. Sure, I had money stashed away in saving accounts, stocks, life insurance, and even in other assets, but when I needed it, my options were few. Outside of the bank account, everything else seemed to take forever to access. While that may be wonderful for long-term savings, it did nothing for the immediate emergency needs. Shoot, I'm still waiting for a couple of options to finish liquidation.

Mint.com recommends putting this money into a money market account and high-interest savings account.

Start Saving NOW!


You never know when a situation will arise in your life. That's why it is important to begin storing some money away right now.

I can hear some of you saying, "...but I don't have any extra money." That may be true, but anything is better than nothing. Consider a few dollars out of each check. Maybe skip a few take-out dinners to begin. Whatever you can do, start doing it now. As you get better at saving, set a goal of at least 10% of your salary and pay yourself first.

Put It On Auto-Pilot


One of the easiest ways to build a substantial emergency fund is by opting into a direct deposit. At Wachovia (now Wells Fargo), there was an option to move money from the checking to savings account as purchases were made. The transfer amounts were minimal, but after a while it really began to add up.

By putting it on auto-pilot, you don't have to remember to do it or stress over the small details.

Well, that's it! Good luck and let me know how it works out for you.

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Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Going Back to the Bahamas in December

Hotel overlooking the ocean in the Bahamas

It has been confirmed. I am going back to the Bahamas this December!

Last year, me and about 350 friends went to South Beach Miami for a couple days. While we were there, we attended a Miami Heat's game, hung out on the beach, ate at some of the best restaurants, and enjoyed a time of relaxation.

A stylized picture of Atlantis in the Bahamas

For many, that would be the whole vacation. Instead, we jumped on the Norwegian Sky and cruised our way from the port in Miami, Florida to beaches in the Bahamas. It's where I had my first full-body massage, raced down the scariest water slides, and met a ton of new friends.

Looking back, I thoroughly enjoyed my trip. This time, I'm taking some people with me. Here's the itinerary:

  • Friday: Ship departs from Miami, Florida
  • Saturday: We hang out at the private beach in Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas
  • Sunday: Enjoy a relaxing swim, visit the aquarium, scuba dive, and go head first down the water slides at Atlantis on the island of Nassau, Bahamas 
  • Monday: Return back to Miami, Florida and attend a Heat's game
A beautiful shot of a gazebo overlooking the ocean in the Bahamas

In between all of that, we get to enjoy a private VIP party on the boat, massages, formal dinners with some of the best food ever, evenings in the casino, and a beautiful view during the entire trip. How awesome is that?

To get an idea of what last year looked like, check out the gallery below:

This year, I'd like to take some time to explore something new. For those that have been, what would you recommend I do? Where should I eat?

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Sunday, October 13, 2013

Taking On The Kris Gethin 12-Week Body Transformation

Kris Gethin 12 Week Daily Video Trainer

It was after my morning devotional that I began thinking on the idea of success. I noticed how God was speaking directly to people like Joshua, Moses, Abraham, and even Adam. When they aligned themselves with God, things worked out. Things that were considered impossible were made possible.

How might we apply this truth to our lives today? While I won't say that God doesn't talk to man anymore, it's probably less rare that the sky opens and a thunderous voice speaks through the clouds. Instead, we have the Bible.

Reflecting back on what I read, I realized that when people followed directions, success was practically guaranteed. However, the opposite would be true when instructions were not adhered to. So, to be successful, we just need to follow directions. Although, I would recommend that you listen to someone with credibility.

Do What Successful People Do


Therefore, to be successful, we should do what successful people do. Whether it is in the gym, office, church, or even living room, we should follow in the footsteps of those we aspire to be like.

To dramatically change our fitness level, we should turn to those who have achieved a level of success in this area. If you want to be fit, follow someone who is fit. If you want to be rich, follow someone who is rich. If you want to have a successful business, follow someone who has a successful business.

What are these people doing with their times? What are they reading? Eating? Watching? Who are they hanging around? What does their day look like? All of these are great questions to ask.


Taking On The Challenge


This leads me to a decision that I've made today. While I've done an exceedingly great job losing weight over the past few years, roughly 50 pounds, I need to have a break through and really deal with these love handles. So, starting on Monday, October 14, 2013, I'm going to follow the leadership of Kris Gethin during his 12-week daily training program.

What's the worst that can happen? I continue to lose weight and gain lean muscle. I can deal with that.

As I prepare my mind for the 12-week workout and meal plan, I am excited about the opportunity to learn something new. For years, I have lost weight doing what I know, but there has to be an even more efficient means of reaching my goals. This program may just be one of those ways.

Alongside my physical fitness, I am also seeking a plan to finish my dissertation and improve production within my business. All of which I believe is doable if I find someone or some plan to follow.

In the end, it's not about my limited perception or experience. Instead, I aim to get around the most successful people I know and simply do what they do. It's worked in the past and it will work now.

Your Thoughts?


Let me ask you, what is something that you would like to achieve? Who will you follow and what plan will it take to get you there? Let's explore it together.

Until next time...

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Saturday, October 12, 2013

10 Keys To Success

A picture of words like success, vision, teamwork, and more.

Key #1: 

“Successful people are simply those with successful habits.” ~ Brian Tracy

Key #2: 

“Successful people are not gifted; they just work hard, then succeed on purpose.” ~ G.K. Nielson

Key #3: 

“Success is a state of mind. If you want success, start thinking of yourself as a success.” ~ Dr. Joyce Brothers

Key #4: 

“The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them.” ~ George Bernard Shaw

Key #5: 

“Success is the sum of small efforts - repeated day in and day out.” ~ Robert Collier

Key #6: 

“I never dreamed about success. I worked for it.” ~ Estee Lauder

Key #7: 

“The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.” ~ Vince Lombardi

Key #8: 

“In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.” ~ Bill Cosby

Key #9: 

“The most successful people are those who are good at Plan B.” ~ James Yorke

Key #10: 

The road to success for 99% of people isn’t a jump, it’s a steady incline from one successful project to the next. - Lee Morris

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Friday, October 11, 2013

How To Overcome Your Fear of Failure

What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?

What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail? Would you talk to that special someone who you've admired from a distance? Would you apply for that job with a substantial pay increase? Would you invite a potential customer to see your business presentation? Would you audition for that competitive part in a movie or play? Would you take that first class in pursuit of a college degree? Would you travel around the world and check off those bucket list items? What would YOU do?

As you review that list of things that you want, let me ask the question, "What's holding you back?" Why aren't you doing it now? Is it the fear of failure? Is is the fear of criticism? Maybe it's the fear of rejection? Why haven't you embraced your destiny of greatness?

In this article, I would like to look at the fear of failure and then provide some tips to overcome them.

Fear of Failure: The Symptoms


Self-Sabotage


I personally know a little something about self-sabotage. In fact, many that know me also know that I can procrastinate like a champion. I'll put off toward tomorrow what I can easily do today. All the while, I know that given enough time I can do some pretty amazing things. So can YOU!

Not only does self-sabotage include delaying action, but it also includes the failure to follow through on important tasks, projects, and goals.

Perfectionism:


Along with procrastination comes the excuse of being a perfectionist. This is when one will only attempt those things that are a sure thing. If I cannot lose, then maybe I'll do it. However, add some competition, hard work, and a slim chance to the equation and these people never even try. 

Low-self esteem: 


The lack of confidence is a huge factor why many fear failure. In fact, I know people who often put themselves down through their words. Have you ever heard someone say, "Oh, I can't do that, I'm not strong enough!" You can switch the word strong with smart, pretty, or talented and the message is still the same. 

Overcoming the Fear of Failure


Take Action


The best way to overcome your fears is by facing them head on. As a kid, I was deathly afraid of speaking in front of people. When given the chance, I would purposely sign up for speaking engagements in order to force myself in front of the very things I feared most. What I found is that the more I did it, the less afraid I became. Remember, take immediate and intentional action. Face what you fear most. Do it NOW!

Attack It From A Different Perspective


When faced with fear that stops you in your tracks or continues to result in delayed success, consider trying a different route. In my life, when doors keep getting slammed in my face, I start looking for windows. There are many paths to achieve success, find yours.

Learn From Failures


In life, we all are going to fail from time to time. Instead of allowing our failures to define us, let's use them to get better. Take a moment to think about the last time you attempted to achieve something and missed the mark. What happened? What could you have done differently? Take the opportunity to adjust your sails and try again.

Fail Faster 


If we take the opportunity to learn from our failures, than we put ourselves in position to win by failing enough times that we find the right combination. So, if you knew that after failing enough times you would achieve your hearts desire, how fast would you fail to find the success? 

In sales, for example, I've heard that a "Yes" is just on the other side of enough "No's." Those no's can come in the form of rejection, criticism, or just a good old error on our part. Whatever the case, face your fears and fail faster.

Think Positively 


The mind is a powerful thing. I've heard all through life that we become like that which we think about most of the time. This means if we think negatively, than we get negative results. On the contrary, if we think positively, than we often get positive results. Why? Because the law of attraction says that like attracts like

To put it another way, you attract into your life that which you are. Positive, negative, good, bad, rich, poor, generous, or a scrooge, we all attract those people and things that are like us. So, if you want to overcome your fear of failure, you have to start by looking at the brighter side of life. 

Closing Thought


Whatever the reason for your fear, you can overcome it. That is if you really want to change your life. Please know that YOU were destined for greatness. You can either allow your fear of failure to overcome you or you can overcome the excuses that you tell yourself.
Before success comes in any man's life, he's sure to meet with much temporary defeat and, perhaps some failures. When defeat overtakes a man, the easiest and the most logical thing to do is to quit. That's exactly what the majority of men do. ~ Napoleon Hill
Let's not be like most people and quit. Let's take life by the horns and go get our heart's desire. Go get that person that you really want! Go get that job! Go talk to your customers! Go be the person that you were meant to become. Let's get it!

Until next time...

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Thursday, October 10, 2013

Faith Without Works: A Lesson on Success


While reading the Bible this morning, I came across this verse from James 2:26 (NKJV)  that reads, "...faith without works is dead..." Even now, that verse continues to echo in my head. What does this mean and how can we apply this lesson to our lives?

As I reflect on the context of this verse, reading James 2:14-26 (NKJV), I immediately think about the areas of my life where I pray for change to happen. The prayer could be about a change in my finances, health, business, personal relationships, or spiritual walk, but whatever it is that I am praying for, I realized that I have do something in order to trigger a response.

During a sermon titled, "Destiny - The Palace Challenge," Pastor Matt Fry made the following statement, "When we are faithful, God says he will add his super to your natural." 

Let's let that marinate for a moment. When we are FAITHFUL, God will add his SUPER to our NATURAL

Define "Faithful"


In the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the word faithful can be simply defined as "keeping your promises or doing what you are supposed to do." To me, this means that if we are to be faithful, then we have to take ACTION within our lives.

To put it another way, we have the opportunity to unlock God's supernatural power toward our finances, health, business, personal relationships, and spiritual walk when we are faithful with our natural abilities.

Applying Faith


The application of faith, as I understand it, is by keeping the Lord's commandments and doing what he says that we should do. To do anything other than what is instructed means that we may get different results. Below are a few ideas on how we can apply faith in our lives:

  • In order to be blessed financially, we should be faithful in bringing our tithes or first fruit.
  • In order to have a healthy body, we should be faithful in eating right and working out.
  • In order to build a strong business, we should be faithful in doing income generating activities.
  • In order to have a healthy relationship, we should be faithful in loving others.
  • In order to have a real relationship with the Lord, we should be faithful in following commandments and spending time with him. 
While this list is not exhaustive, the point is that our blessings come not just by hoping, wishing, and praying for a change, but by taking persistent, consistent, and appropriate ACTION that releases change into our lives. Our actions, right or wrong, is the key that unlocks results. 

As my friend Marc Accetta would often say, let's go "take massive action" in our lives today.   

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

C3 Church Celebrates 9-Months of Service During Project 919


On Sunday, September 29, 2013, C3 Church took to downtown Raleigh to celebrate its 9-month service effort, Project 919. Project 919 is an outreach program that focused on serving someone else for the cause of Christ. Each month, starting back in January 2013, members of the church banded together to do some pretty amazing things like:

  • Free oil changes for single parents 
  • Special needs Easter egg hunt
  • Free haircuts for kids going back to school 
  • Gift packages for public servants 
  • and much more...
In fact, my family was personally blessed during the month of August when all three kids received a backpack filled with school supplies. It was a tough few months for us when circumstance after circumstance put our finances into a less than optimal situation. While we were doing everything we could to maintain our basic necessities, going above and beyond to buy school supplies was not in the budget.

Thankfully, through the helping hands of people like John Cole, Sarah Buss, and others, my kids were able to enter their first day of school with all the supplies they needed. While I'm not accustomed to needing or asking for help, it was so comforting to know that God provided for our needs through the loving outreach from members at C3 Church.

Being on the receiving end of a blessing during our challenging time showed me how loved we really are. As a result of that experience, I am even more excited about paying it forward and helping others in need. Project 919 was a wonderful program that helped affect thousands of lives all across the area, which gave C3 Night Raleigh that little something extra. We like to call it, "Real hope for real people in a real world."

Looking back, it is amazing to see how Pastor Matt Fry's vision of a Dream Center Ministry, first shared during the Super Vision Weekend, is slowly coming to fruition. Remember, Romans 8:31, we are more than conquerors...if God is for us, who can be against us? and Matthew 19:26, Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Here's to making the impossible...possible!

Until next time...

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Changing My Dissertation Topic From 'Organizational Commitment' to 'Web Governance in Higher Education"


I'm currently enrolled in RES/724 at the University of Phoenix where the title of the course is Qualitative Methods and Design. The purpose of the class is to help doctoral learners better understand qualitative research and how to design our research projects according to accepted standards. It is an interesting course that helped shed light on my own study. 

A few weeks ago, one of our assignments was to select a new research topic. Using that topic, we would practice developing a problem statement, purpose, research questions, and defend data collection methods. This week, we're looking at hypothetical themes derived from those methods.

It was during the process of selecting a new topic that I decided to pick something that would benefit my career in information technology and web development. At first, I thought about researching the path to Chief Information Officer (CIO), but realized that I would need to talk with the elusive senior leaders and quickly decided against it. I want like to graduate this year.

I then looked at something more specific to web services. What issues are we having in my field? Without a moments hesitation, the idea of web governance came to mind. 

What Is Web Governance?


According to Lisa Welchman, as cited in Johnathan Khan's Web Governance: Becoming an Agent of Change, web governance consists of four components:
  • Web Strategy
  • Web Governance
  • Web Execution
  • Web Measurement

Web Strategy

The web strategy is a formal document that outlines guiding principles for the web. It involves an alignment with the business objectives and the business strategies. It further establishes authority, funding sources, and metrics based on the aforementioned business strategies.

Web Governance  

Web governance involves the establishment of web policies, procedures, and standards for content, design, and technology. 

Web Execution 

Web execution focuses on staffing and resources in support of the overall web strategy. 

Web Measurement

Web measurement is related to the overall metrics outlined in the business objectives and strategies. While it may involve web analytics, web measurement is more about the performance of the web and its contribution toward organizational success.

Why Is Web Governance Worth Studying?


With over 14 years experience developing web pages and applications for institutions of higher learning, I have personally watched how company web sites transformed from a digital brochure to an important resource for conducting business. According to Welchman, the web is a "digital manifestation of the organization." When the organization is healthy, so too is their web presence. Interestingly, the opposite can also be true, when the web presence is healthy, so too is their organization. Either of the two can lead the way to health.

In my effort to help North Carolina Central University improve its web presence, I believe conducting a study on web governance within higher education will help universities deal with issues like: 
  • Content silos
  • Multiple designs
  • Multiple logins for applications
  • Poorly integrated data
  • Poor navigation
  • Broken links
  • Lack of direction
  • Poor collaboration
  • Power struggles
To many, the company web site is a mess and few know how to fix it. Believe me, it's less about technical prowess and more to do with aligning people, processes, and objectives together. With this study, I plan to explore the idea of web governance within higher education. What are the shared problems? What are the potential solutions? What's working? Where do we go from here?

In Closing


I anticipate writing more posts about web governance and encouraging a healthy conversation, too. As I continue to research the literature and become more involved on campus, I will share those findings here. 

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

How To Unstick The Samsung Galaxy S3 Boot Screen Issue


The Problem


A couple of days ago, I noticed that my phone had randomly powered off. At first, I thought maybe I had accidentally turned it off while it rested in my pocket. So, I turned it back on and went about my day.

Unfortunately, the phone continued to randomly shut down without notice. I knew this was going to be a problem, but when it started affecting my morning alarm clock, it was time to take immediate action.

Unlike the numerous times before, I was able to press the power button and continue forward. However, this morning my phone wouldn't go past the Samsung logo screen. Even after removing the battery, the phone would consistently load the Sprint splash screen, followed by the Samsung Galaxy S III logo, and then resting on the word "Samsung." 

Resolution 1: Reset the Phone


After numerous attempts to restart the phone, I had no other course of action. It was time to do a factory reset. 

Step 1: Take out the battery for about 5-10 seconds and then replace.

Step 2: Hold the Home + Power + Volume Up buttons until you see the Samsung Galaxy S III screen.

Step 3: Once you see the Samsung Galaxy S III screen release the power button, but continue to hold Home + Volume Up until the green Android appears.

Step 4: Using the Volume Up or Down buttons, select "wipe data/factory reset" from the options and press Power to select.
Note: You may also try using the "wipe cache partition."
Step 5: Using the Volume Up or Down buttons, select "Yes -- delete all user data" from the options and then press the Power button to select.
Note: Please be aware that saying "Yes" to this step will permanently erase your pictures, phone numbers, videos, applications, and anything else you hold dear. 
Step 6: Once the factory reset has finished, select "reboot system now."

Resolution 2: Restoring the Phone's Firmware Using Odin   


After attempting the aforementioned resolution, I was still frozen at the "Samsung" logo. What else can I do?

Well, it was time to bring out the big guns and restore the phone's firmware using an application called Odin.

Step 1: Download and install the Samsung USB Drivers on to your computer. Please be aware that this file is the same for all Galaxy S III's and it will require a computer reboot.

Step 2: Download Odin to your computer and unzip the folder to your computer's desktop.

Step 3: Put your phone into Download Mode by pressing Home + Power + Volume Down buttons.

Step 4: Connect the phone's USB cord from the computer into the device and open the Odin application from within the unzipped folder.

Step 5: Make sure Auto Reboot and F. Reset Time are checked. Wait long enough for Odin to connect with the phone. You can tell it's connected when you see something listed under ID:COM and in the Message box. Mine says, "<ID:0/005> Added!"
Note: During my installation, the computer downloaded additional drivers and installed them. It may have taken about 2 minutes before it connected. Your connection time may vary.
Step 6: Download your phone's firmware. My phone is the the SPH-L710 from Sprint. Yours may be different so be sure to search the device listing on http://www.samsung-updates.com for the latest version.

Step 7: Once the phone connects to Odin and you have the most recent version of the firmware, click on PDA within Odin and select the downloaded firmware. It should end in ".tar."

Step 8: Click Start. Once Odin completes its process, the phone will restart. Voila!

I hope this information helps you address any issues that you may have had. A special thanks to the following sites for their assistance: WonderHowTo.comXDA-Developers.com, and Samsung-Updates.com.

Damond L. Nollan, M.B.A.

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