"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.