Snow Day Memories w/ Dallas

I remember having a great time with my son Dallas, playing in the 36 inches of snow that dropped on us one morning in January, 2011.  For that one morning at least, I set all my cares aside, and I felt 20 years younger.  My mind goes back to that day from time to time, so I thought I would remember it here in pictures.

Misc images to get the ball rolling...

My Daughter, Noel - practice shots

"Big Boy" Pants

After years of (barely) maintaining a fragile love/hate relationship with Social Media in general, I have chosen to embrace the responsibility and the potential learning value of this form of communication.  My natural introversion and narrow-minded view of Facebook et al was fueled by what I saw as rampant abuse by immature people who just didn't know when to shut up.  It seemed like this media gave them a stage to spew all sorts of verbal trash upon the rest of us without any sort of regulation.  Fortunately, I now know how to regulate the content I receive a bit better.  I also have been greatly helped by the web tools, forums, and other professional resources one can access by interacting online with the global community.  Like a child who becomes too old to rely on diapers, I now have to abandon old ways, join the global community on a regular basis, and put on the proverbial Big Boy Pants in order to grow up, professionally.

I enjoy my current work in the Workforce Development Department of the IMPACT Community Action Agency (www.impactca.org) , but I am committed to take my photography career to the next level.  I have lucked into a number of weddings, events, and other paid photo gigs, and my shooting calendar is starting to get more and more entries.  So, I want and need to be the best I can be.  I also think this forum gives me a chance to clarify my thoughts, and injects a measure of accountability into my vocational life.  Now that I've put it out there, I have no choice but to succeed!  Writing in a public forum also (I hope) helps me to overcome the crippling shyness that often holds me back in my photography work. 

I will soon start to post at least one photo per week on this blog and open myself to critique.  It will also serve as a sort of visual diary of my life journey in the world of visual communication.

Check out this link!

Photographers
FreelanceDesigners.com

Reading "The 4 Hour Work Week"

Very interesting book by Tim Ferris.  Just starting now, but I believe this book has great life changing potential. I am joing his blog. I will keep you posted on the results.

Vote for Jay!

As most of you know, the RCLC Director, Jay Caponigro, is a candidate for First District Trustee for the South Bend Community School Corporation.  All you folks in this class from the 46617 zip code, who have benefitted from his leadership and superb stewardship of the Robinson Community Learning Center, should turn out to vote on Nov 2, 2010 to at least weigh in one way or the other.  The winner of this race will directly impact your children's education.  See what he is about on this link:  http://voteforjay.net/

My opinion on this matter is my own, and does not necessarily reflect that of any organization or institution.

How to get Celebrities to Endorse Your Product

Go to the Toilet Paper Entrepreneur blog and find out how!

Is Your Blog bogging down?

Guys,

Another great article link from my Notre Dame LinkedIn Group! Click here and check it out if you are not happy with the success of your blogging efforts.

http://www.chrisbrogan.com/50-ways-to-take-your-blog-to-the-next-level/

Engaging Your Brand Community

Guys!  Someone in my Notre Dame LinkedIn group shared this great article and website, and I wanted you guys to benefit from it as well, since we have been spending a lot of class time on branding:
http://www.leapfroginteractive.com/lfiuniversity/engaging-your-brand-community.php

After you read this article, take some time to browse around the rest of the site.  Its great.

Will Smith lays it DOWN in this video!

Check it out!  I got it off the The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur blog.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLN2k0b3g70&feature=player_embedded

Avoid Being typecast as simply "the Techie" or other narrow label

I HIGHLY recommend this article!  It is written by Georgina Laidlaw and she really lays it out for you.

http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2010/02/05/the-one-thing-my-best-clients-want/

I enjoyed reading The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur!

I stayed till 4 am reading the book, but you can also go to the website, http://www.toiletpaperentrepreneur.com/home/index.php

It is dead on, with great advice for the new business builder.

Don't skip the exercises!  Dont overlook all the information websites and freebies he hooks you up with in every chapter.

Engaging your FaceBook Fans

Adding to the earlier post, someone else in the group provided a link to a post about how to engage your FaceBook fans.




http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-to-better-engage-facebook-fan-page-fans/

Web Communication Tools - Very Cool

Someone in my LinkedIn group shared this powerful collection of web communication tools.  I strongly urge you to explore as many of them as you have time for, and learn how to employ them in your online communication.

A wiki page with TONS of neat tools http://cogdogroo.wikispaces.com/StoryTools

"Men Wanted for Hazardous Journey" Entrepreneurship lessons from Shackleton, a true heroic adventurer.

In 1914, Sir Ernest Shackelton set out on an expedition to cross Antartica via the South Pole.  He did not accomplish his goal.  Instead, he became the center of one of the most incredible stories of survival, leadership, perseverance and faith I have ever seen.  PBS has a fabulous multimedia account of his exploits.  This link, http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/shackleton/1914/endurance.html is only the tip of the iceberg. 

Check out this newspaper recruitment ad, placed by Shackleton in 1914:

Men Wanted For Hazardous Journey. Small wages. Bitter cold. Long months of complete darkness. Constant danger. Safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success.

More than 5,000 answered the call, but only a couple dozen were chosen.  What they went through would have stopped most of us dead in our tracks.  Literally.  For all entrepreneurs, its a reminder to keep going in the face of adversity.  Be absolutely committed to your own success.  If you have a solid plan, stick to it and don't let fear dictate your actions.  Most of all, when the [you-know-what] hits the fan, be prepared to "take massive action" as Tony Robbins (author or "Awaken the Giant Within") would put it.  Check it out and tell me you've had worse problems in your venture.  I dare you.

Start getting the Web 2.0 benefits from Slideshare.net

See some cool presentations and LEARN a lot in a short time!  Start with this one on Personal Branding.  http://www.slideshare.net/kristianandersen/brand-you-personal-branding

"Today is the First Day of the Rest of Your Life"

As cliche as it sounds, it's very true.

You, as a world changing entrepreneur, must see every day as a day to start anew. Forget any failures, forget any successes that might puff your ego, just get on with your Life Mission. a very good way to devise a Life Mission Statement can be found in one of my favorite books, Wealth Without a Job, by Phil Laut and andy Fuehl. Check it out! You will find it to be very eye-opening.

Good Luck!

Don't leave this blog without commenting. (Try to say something interesting).

LT