The Writer

"A writer writes not because he is educated but because he is driven by the need to communicate. Behind the need to communicate is the need to share. Behind the need to share is the need to be understood." -Leo Rosten

Why do you write? What motivates you to share?


-- Post From My iPhone

Positive Possee

I've been mulling over a blog post on having and maintaining a positive attitude for days now. . . and this morning it feels like it all is coming together.

Like many technophiles the first thing I do in the morning before I get my coffee is reach for my iphone and check in on the world through my social networks. Squinting at the glow of apps, twitter is always first.

It's the water cooler. The break room. The place where my friends gather to share quotes, talk about their travels and children or that favorite restaurant they love to visit. It's where I get my tech news, have a laugh and read the latest and greatest from the Oatmeal.

As I mentioned before - this morning it all came together. @tkpleslie RT'd a touching post from @BostonWriter (read the full post here) which reminded me of just how important attitude is.

Often we get overwhelmed by circumstances and get sidelined from living and enjoying the moment. If we are lamenting how things are not going this way or that way : all too often we miss the way things ARE going and the tremendous experiences and people we are encountering along the way.

Yesterday I read a post by Seth Godin : Amplifying the Lizard Brain, which briefly touches on self-sabotaging behavior. How easy it is for us to focus on that one mis-step instead of the dozens of triumphs when we roll over the days events in our mind. How frequently do we spotlight and obsess over the flaws versus the benefits. Either way you look at it your attitude is contagious.

I am a firm believer that who you are is a reflection of how you treat yourself and who you surround yourself with - so if I am going to be influenced by people . . . thank goodness for the #postivepossee that I wake up to everyday on twitter, my partner @brandonpierce, my family and of course my pup Charlie whose happiness is always contagious. :)

Abraham Lincoln once said "Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be."

Well, my mind is made up.

Did You Know 4.0

Social Networking the Night Away

Catching up with the morning tech news and I come across this statistic ::

Average Time Spent by Social Network Visitors Increases 100% to 6 Hours+ in March

Big surprise right? . . . Wrong.

as Bill Little Said in response to this article by Neilsen : The increase in usage of social media is like a tidal wave. You have to be part of it or drown.

Check out this video by Relevant Social Media full of statistics that highlight how social media is changing the way people connect.

Thunderstorms

I really love thunderstorms.


-- Post From My iPhone

The Facebook Platform Kill Switch, What It Means

Thanks to Nick O'Neill of allfacebook.com we now know

How To Turn Off The Facebook Platform

Today Facebook officially announced the option for allowing users to completely opt-out of the Facebook Platform and prevent applications from gaining access to their information. While many developers are rightfully concerned about the feature, we’d like to take the opportunity to thoroughly address how the new “opt-out button” functions and what it will mean for developers.

READ THE FULL STORY and get step by step instructions at ALLFACEBOOK.COM

Social Media Revolution 2 (refresh)

For those who remember being in awe of the original statistics in the first Social Media Revolution video by Socialnomics author Erik Qualman - the follow up on the growth of social media since then has solidified that it is no flash in the pan.

Let the relationship revolution continue.

Mobile Me

I have been playing around with a few mobile photo editing apps for iPhone and have to say I am quite impressed at the results.


This photo was altered using 3-4 free apps. and took approximately 20-30 minutes to create.

I love the mobile me!

-- Post From My iPhone

Animation Vs. Animator

Social Media 101 : Tactics and Tips to Develop Your Business

This morning I started the first book on my summer reading list; Social Media 101: Tactics and Tips to Develop Your Business Online by NY Times best selling author and fellow tweeter, Chris Brogan.

Did I set out yesterday to buy his latest book? no. I actually discovered it quite by accident as I was sipping my Juice Shop smoothie at Barnes & Noble. . . I found it right up on the top shelf, tucked in a section completely unrelated to social media. (to who ever hid it there- thank you!)

When it comes to social media we all have our own point of view, our ways of using (or abusing) this new medium of communication as well as the unspoken digital etiquette that has developed.
Because social media is so new - writing a book on Facebook for example is outdated before the edits are even completed. That being said I have to give it to Chris for keeping his information relevant and timeless.

Though I just finished reading the first section . . . he had me at "Why in the world should you care?"

Chris is not a self professed "guru" that is selling the social media snake oil that we all roll our eyes over . . . instead he is just a straight up guy who is sharing his passion for communication and reminding us that one of the keys to using social media successfully - is perfecting our ability to listen and to continually learn.

Thanks Chris.

Chris Brogan advises businesses, organizations and individuals on how to use social media and social networks to build relationships and deliver value.

Purchase Social Media 101 : Tactic and Tips to Develop Your Business

Stalk Chris Brogan on Twitter

Check out Chris's Website