My goal is to keep thriving and help as many people as possible do the same. This year has been also one of the toughest years of my life. I have had someone I cherish die and I have had a son who beat Cancer ride his bike 3000 miles to Panama . . . by himself. I have also, like many, suffered from the ups and downs of the economy. But I do have a fantastic support network and I do have faith and I keep looking for those 20% strategies that yield an 80% return.

So although I followed Seth in 2011, I also followed Chris, not as often, but often enough to see that he too has that laser beam, focus strategy. Chris’s #1 focus now and into 2012 is Google+. I highly recommend anyone who wants to know more about Google+ and about Chris and his amazing thought leadership, check out his blog and follow the leader.

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• Chris Brogan on What Google+ Means For Business (forbes.com)
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• Does Google Plus Change Everything (ducttapemarketing.com)
• The Five Business Books That Shaped 2011 (twistimage.com)
• How to Earn Trust and Reputation in Social Media [VIDEO] (mashable.com)
• Top Online Marketing Books for 2012 (toprankblog.com)
• What Chris Brogan and Madonna Have in Common (hubspot.com)
• McKinsey quarterly’s Top Ten Articles of 2011 (serve4impact.com)

What do you think? In the next segment I write I’ll share more as to how I am implementing these tips and  also report on how others are doing the same. It’s all about inspiring others to help you achieve your goals. But how can the top 10 in your network or NetWorld help you if you don’t make them partners to your goal?

One Last Summary

• Find your goal
• Find your “Power of Ten”
• Exchange with your Power of Ten at least once a month
• Keep exchanging and working toward your goal – Don’t forget to promote one another
• Share your successes
• Bonus: Keep on keepin on! Don’t stop! Persistence is key!

Want the Guidebook? Check Out My “Circle of Good”

I receive $10 a book when I sell my guidebooks on Amazon.
I use these do with this money? I use it to help young leaders like Josh my web master and Anne who you will see often hanging around Networlding, grow their businesses. It’s called “Leadershp 12-29″ and it’s an initiative I created to help young people, ages 12-29 get better starts in life. I am so grateful to be of support to these talented young people.

So if you want to order one of the guidebooks (they have helped young leaders at the YMCA, YWCA, The Girl Scouts and more since 1987) just click here to get a Networlding Guidebook and  know that your dollars will help teach young leaders to fish with the goal of feeding them for a lifetime.

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Image via CrunchBase

Being a successful Networlder creates sustainable connections. The social media phenomenon we live in allows us to do that. As this week’s webinar by

Image via CrunchBase

HubSpot on the “5 steps for Awesome Social Media Lead Generation” simply put it, “Follow. Friend. Connect”. Some people may spend less than 30 minutes a day following these steps that are few mere clicks away. Hootsuite and Buffer allow for excellent staged tweets. Others spend a range of an hour to several hours a day engaging on different platforms that include commenting on blogs, writing their own post, mingling on Twitter and questioning others in LinkedIn groups.

The question is, how much time should we devote on a daily basis to build sustainable connections?

I sent a query to the Networlding Group on LinkedIn earlier this week to have them weigh in.  The answers in fact do vary! (See form if you would like to add your two cents which we will update in the comments section or, share you comments, below):

“2 hours per day: half an hour in the morning to re-invigorate yourself; half an hour at the end of your working hours; one hour after dinner and family time so you can participate in forums with the needed tranquility”

Time: 20 Facebook + 20 Linked in + 30 Own Blog + 50 Other blogs = 2 hours/day

-Luís Cochofel of dPe
www.luiscochofel.com
luis @luiscochofel.com

=========

“Maintaining Social Media presence varies based on VALUE Gained from involvement, Business Style and VISION of how you see the importance of your online IMAGE. It’s hard not to spend less than 10 minutes a day leveraging the tools of the internet if you’re trying to Create Powerful Entertainment”

-Deremiah *CPE, Inspirational Speaking Star + Author of “52 GREAT WEEKS”
http://www.deremiahcpe.blogspot.com/
@ Deremiah_CPE

=========

“It is really dependent upon the person and their desired outcomes. You can’t pigeon-hole one set of standards for the masses. Like fitting a square peg into a ROUND hole. Never works! I say for myself, an hour a day is most I could spend. That might change each week, depending on my own personal schedule”

Time: Facebook 10 + Twitter 20 + LinkedIn 30 + Own Blog 15+ Commenting on blogs 5+ Other 5 = 85 minutes/day

-Lisa Day, Physician Financial Liaison, St. Mary’s Hospital
lisaday07 @ comcast.net

=========

“The goal is provide valuable content to those who would gain value from it, highlight individuals making the world a better place, and help connect individuals who would benefit from knowing one another”

Time: Twitter 10 + LinkedIn 10 + Blog (own) 35 + Commenting on other blogs 5 + Other 5 = 85 minutes/day

-Anita Brick, Director of Career Advancement Programs at University of Chicago
abrick15@gmail.com

=========

“The ideal is whatever makes sense for the individual and the goals he / she has set. But, I would expect that 30 to 60 minutes per day would be reasonable. However, what is ideal for me may or may not be ideal for others.”

Time: Facebook 10 + Twitter 10 + LinkedIn 10 + Blog (own) 10 + Commenting on blogs (10) + Other 10 = 1 hr/day

-Gerry Parran, Partner, The Material Source LP
gparran@aol.com
www.thematerialsource.com

==========

“I frequently commit several hours per day to maintain my presence and follow others; however, this is atypical (as I am currently an expat trailing spouse) and would not recommend it as ideal, unless it’s to support your work. Realistically, I think you can/should spend 1-2 hours per day with a focused message and only 2-3 apps to manage (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, etc.). The more applications you use and the less focused your message, the more time you’ll need! It also depends on the number of friends / connections – and their average number of posts. If you write a blog, add at least 1-2 hours or more per week per post.”

-Shawn Haugen, DOX Communications, Independent Consultant/Senior Technical Writer/Editor & Business Analyst
shawnhaugen@hotmail.com

http://ch.linkedin.com/in/shawnhaugen

===========

“When you really want to be present, it is a full time job, engaging everywhere, anytime”

Facebook 30 + Twitter 30 + LinkedIn 30 + Own blog 90 + Other 20 = 3.5 hours/day

-Henk Overbeek, Accountants Bulgaria
http://aidosbg,com
henk  @  aidosbg.com

============

“I view social media as an aspect of continuing education with a dose of personal and professional marketing. Using that approach, 15-30 minutes daily is ideal with a more intense session one time per week.”

Time: LinkedIn 60 + Other 120 = 3 hours

-Steve Silvey, Managing Partner at Athena Attorneys at Law, LLC
www.athena1.com
stevesilvey @ athena1.com

============

Time: Facebook = 30 + Twitter = 20 + LinkedIn = 20 + Blog (own) = 0 + Commenting on blogs = 15 = 85 minutes/day

-Barbara Bentley, Owner, Bentley Business Solutions
barbara _ bentley @ comcast.net

=============

If you or someone you know would be interested in contributing to timely questions I ask in the future, please join the Networlding group here on LinkedIn!

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If you were lucky, you had a teacher like Sandee Kastrul — someone talented enough to make chemistry relevant, accessible and fun. Back in the 1990s, deep in some of Chicago’s poorest and most crime-ridden West Side neighborhoods, Sandee had a gift for engaging her students and bringing concepts like the three states of matter – gases, liquids and solids – to life. Girls found it easy to imagine themselves as flowing liquids, musicians and other artists self-identified as amorphous gases, and even jocks recognized their affinity to stolid solids.

The great thing about Sandee is that she didn’t confine her magic to the classroom. Over the years, she stayed in touch with her students and took an interest in their lives. And when she saw one sharp student after another graduate from high school, excel in college but then settle into low-paying, pink-collar jobs, she refused to accept the status quo; she acted.

In 1999, Sandee co-founded i.c. stars. This is an organization that puts Chicago young adults on a path to soar — as entrepreneurs, as business and IT professionals, and as community leaders. Through project-based learning, full-immersion teaching and strong partnerships with leading corporations, technology services providers, grant makers and individual volunteers, Sandee and her team connect talent with opportunity. During and after the program, i.c. stars interns and alumni benefit from mentorship, critical contacts and relationship building, and merit-based employment.

I find it pretty impressive that i.c. stars has transformed 200 high-potential urban young adults into some of the best technology professionals and community leaders around. But Sandee will tell you they’re just getting started.

In fact, the i.c. stars vision is to create 1,000 such “inner city computer stars” by 2020 – and not just in Chicago.  This is a model that could work just as well in Rockford, Aurora or Atlanta, but it will require people like you and me to contribute time, talent and/or treasure to the cause.

Case in point: If you’re in the Chicago area, consider purchasing a ticket or sponsorship to attend i.c. stars’ Techbash 2011. You’ll have an opportunity to personally meet many of the program’s alumni and network with 40 company CIOs, who will be serving drinks as celebrity bartenders at the event.

Next up: i.c. stars community and alumni success stories

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No matter where you stand on educational reform or character education, there’s no denying the fact that we are currently experiencing a worldwide epidemic of growing anger in youth resulting in violence. Whether propelled by depression, fear of failure, the pain of being bullied, or a host of other troubles young people face today, more and more of them are turning to violence as a way of dealing with the stress of growing up. From the Virginia Tech massacre of 2007 to recent riots in Britain and racial attacks in Australia, it’s easy to see that the problem of youth violence knows no geographical, socio-economical, or ethnic boundaries. It’s a problem we all face together, and if we’re going to solve it, it’s going to take a united effort. So, the question becomes—where do we begin?

If you walk into a public school today, you’ll no doubt see kids who are different. Not different in the sense that they wear different clothes or hang out in odd circles, not the traditional kind of different that normally comes to mind when you think back to high school.

No—these kids are different under the surface. Perhaps they keep to themselves or shy away from making eye contact with others, or maybe they deal with their pain by embracing the other extreme—wearing a fake smile, being the class clown, reaching out to teachers. Whatever their coping mechanisms, if you look closely, you’ll see something similar in all of these kids,  something that screams desperation, even if that scream is sometimes muffled by the roles they play for their teachers and peers.

So, what is it that these kids are desperate for? What do they need that they are not getting at home or at school? The answer is simple—basic human values instruction. These children are desperately seeking someone who can teach them how to get along in this world, how to be happy, peaceful, and successful. They are fed a stream of pocket-lining sales pitches from the media to look a certain way and wear a certain label of clothing. When the bell rings for each school day to begin, they face the scrutiny of their peers, all of whom are also trying to find their way in a world of mixed messages and misplaced values. Perhaps at some point, it all becomes too much.

Often, teachers shy away from imposing their personal values on their students. I suppose some parents think this is a good thing. Maybe I even agree to some extent. After all, would I want a teacher whose values differ from my own teaching those beliefs to my child? Perhaps not. But, what do we do about those kids who aren’t taught worthwhile values by their families or those who don’t have families to teach them anything at all? What do we do when those kids show up at our doors begging to be taught? Do we turn them away? If we do, what will happen to those kids down the road? How will they deal with the stressors that we all face as our lives become increasingly complex and demanding? Will they turn to alcohol or drugs to control their fear and anxiety? Will they fill our streets and prisons with their misguided self-soothing? Will they do something unthinkable? Will it be their fault if they do?

These are all questions we must answer if we’re serious about leaving no child behind in our society, as we say we are. Clearly, becoming a successful, productive, and fulfilled human being is about more than learning how to read and solve math problems. It’s certainly about more than passing a standardized test, yet we continue to place so much importance on what are arguably trivial things, and in the meantime, kids continue to suffer—from the pain of being abandoned, from the fear and confusion of feeling lost, from the ignorance of not knowing any better. As David Light Shields (2011) says in his article Character as the Aim of Education, “we have too often equated excellence of education with the quantity of the content learned, rather than with the quality of character the person develops” (p. 49).

The school system is the ideal place for these seemingly lost children to receive the moral guidance they are craving. Teachers spend a good seven hours a day with these kids and no doubt impose a powerful influence on their lives, for better or for worse. Failing to take at least a small portion of each day to address issues such as social skills, coping mechanisms, life strategies, and character issues is a mistake that frankly, we can’t afford to make. In fact, there are four key values all public school teachers should impress upon their students on a regular basis:

• Love- Students should be taught to love and respect themselves. Only by loving themselves can students ever learn to truly love others. Love, being the opposite of fear, is the one force that truly has the potential to change our world for the better.
• Peace-Teachers need to model and teach conflict resolution so that students learn to peacefully interact with one another even when a problem or dispute arises.
• Compassion-When given the opportunity to communicate with one another and share their feelings, students will learn to empathize and feel compassion for their fellow man.
• Integrity- Teachers should stress the importance of integrity to one’s self-esteem. When students learn to make decisions based on honesty and integrity, they can then feel proud of their choices and empowered to continue making a positive difference in our world.

That is not to say that current curricula and content objectives should be thrown out the window. On the contrary, they should be kept intact and even enhanced. When character education is taught alongside traditional standards and objectives, they complement each other rather nicely just as they do in real life. For instance, when a lesson in English class turns into a debate as to whether or not the main character was justified in his vengeful actions, and students are encouraged to think of other more productive ways the problem could be resolved, they are not just learning about literature or developing critical thinking skills (useful things in their own right), but they’re also internalizing important moral lessons that can serve them for a lifetime. Stiff-Williams (2010) argues this idea eloquently, stating that “rather than adding a new course to an already overloaded school curriculum, character education should be integrated with other subject areas and routinely taught through all classes and by all teachers” (p. 115).

Ideally, values instruction should not be taught in the classroom alone. When students have these ideas reinforced at home, they become even more engrained. As British Prime Minister David Cameron stated in reaction to recent riots, “if we want to have any hope of mending our broken society, family and parenting is where we’ve got to start.” Unfortunately, there’s no way to guarantee that all parents will do their part to help their children develop basic human values. There is something we can do to encourage them, however. By inviting parents, grandparents, and other family members to take part in values-based education through in-class activities as well as enrichment exercises that can be completed at home, teachers can have a positive and transformative impact on the home environment.

What would be the fruits of such a targeted and concerted effort? Would our children get along better with one another both inside and outside of school? Would they, over time, develop their own moral compass and as a result, become confident and empowered young adults? Would they then take on leadership roles in their communities and influence others to do the same? Would we save just one kid from being the victim or perpetrator of an act of violence? Would our world change, if merely a little at a time? It’s certainly possible, and if there’s even a small chance—an inkling of a possibility— that we could really make a difference, one that goes beyond teaching a kid long division, shouldn’t we at least try?

References

Shields, D. (2011). Character as the Aim of Education. Phi Delta Kappan, 92(8), 48-53. Retrieved from

EBSCOhost.

Shipman, T. & Walker. K. (2011). Cameron’s war on feckless families: PM attacks the human rights laws and backs national service. Mail Online. Retrieved fromhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2026163/David-Cameron-UK-r iots-speech-PM-attacks-human-rights-laws-backs-national-service.html#i xzz1VCNAWxlQ.

Stiff-Williams, H. R. (2010). Widening the Lens to Teach Character Education Alongside Standards

Curriculum. Clearing House, 83(4), 115-120. doi:10.1080/00098651003653030.

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When Threadless was started in 2000 it began with just $1,000 in seed money. Co-founders Jake Nickell and Jacob DeHart had a simple idea: let the online community design, vote and buy apparel that was creatively submitted by its own users. They redefined consumerism by pushing away big label brands and and acknowledging that creativity doesn’t always have to come from without: more often then not it’s found from within.

That could be the theme of our city’s social media ventures, actually, because Chicago doesn’t need to look outside of its land to find entrepreneurs who are shaping today’s market through social media. Crowdspring is also a Chicago-based company that offers users the chance to pick and choose solutions from hundreds of designers. The money is shelled out to the one that you think did the best job.

Companies like 37 Signals, a web-based apps company that offer collaboration options, are why the excitement continues to grow for Social Media Week Chicago, September 19-23. Don’t be left on the sidelines while the world is tuning in to discover the unique role our city can play in the future of social media.

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Image via Wikipedia

Laura Linney, star of the huge hit show, The Big C recently shared her insights around the difference between Charisma or Character in Oprah’s O Magazine. I was quickly taken by the juxtaposition of these two words and realized that they have even more profound implications for anyone building a network that is trustworthy and, for that matter, sustainable.

Linney found out that it took some time for her to discern who those people were who held the qualities she had when it came to how she connected with people. It took situations with others–especially men she dated, to start to see things that she didn’t like about how they connected to figure out what kind of people she would like to be with.

Now, as her choice of friends and boyfriends has evolved, she finds that she is much happier with people who espouse similar values.

What’s your criteria for a successful network? Do you consciously look for people who have values like:

• humilty
• courage
• integrity
• loyalty

Are you AWAKE in your networking? Do you care and connect or schmooze and lose? Of course schmoozers are not all bad. I just have seen more bad than good. How about you? Do you agree?

He gives the example of Amazon who has six options listed for those people who bought one book there are six other book options available. He also talks about Chicago’s 37 Signals who offers 4 – 5 options from each of its services.

The important thing to remember here is that people want to choose and they want you to make it easy for them to buy. I can’t tell you the number of times I have spoken to prospects and clients who have dozens of ideas they want to offer their marketplace. This is a big red flag. Take the time to cull your offers down to a few really great offers. Then think about what makes those few offers really unique. It will be all about those personal touches, going the extra mile, the unique differentiators that will draw people to you.

And most of all, realize that we all need help. Ask your colleagues, your advisors, your friends to help you figure out those first three really good offers you can start with if you are in the place of having too much you are currently offering. Do MORE with LESS . . . NOW.

Image by Marit & Toomas Hinnosaar via Flickr

Thinking of creating a mission statement? Rethink that idea.

Opt instead for a Passion Statement. Here is a great example from Argo Tea:

Our passion is to bring teas directly from the growers around the world and blend them into unique and delicious signature beverages and teas. We are committed to being a sustainable conscious business by working with the best local and global tea, coffee, and food artisans and by contributing back to our communities to promote healthy lifestyle and conservation of natural resources.

I’m now sitting and working on my new novel at Argo Tea on Randolph off of State Street. This is the original flagship store where the teas are brewed to perfection before they hit any discerning palate.

You can feel the passion inside this story, from their great teas to the people who serve them to the warm green and brown tables and chairs that circle their floors. Passion is a much better way to grow both your employee loyalty as well as customer loyalty.

What do you think? What places have you visited where the passion was real and contagious? How can you create that in your place of employment or for your company?

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urance and other financial funds for those who worked in his steel mills. In 1901 Carnegie Steel merged with the U.S. Steel Corporation and Carnegie sold out to J.P. Morgan for $480 million, making Carnegie the richest man in the world. He then used his money to further public education, build libraries and lobby for international peace.

Once Carnegie reached the $480 million mark, he decided he had accumulated enough wealth and that it was time to “give back.” Therefore, he set about the business of philanthropy just as passionately as he had set out to accumulate wealth.

What got me thinking about the connection between Carnegie’s autobiography and Seth Godin’s “Poke the Box,” his latest book on building a lifestyle of creating and collaborating, is the simple clarity Godin and Carnegie both have about creating new things and new opportunities. I am sure there are thousands of coaches out there who, if they could share one wish they have for their clients, it would be to give them  unlimited confidence to move them closer to their yet unachieved goals and unrealized dreams.

What makes any of us hesitate? What makes us not believe enough in ourselves to even give ourselves permission to try? Why don’t we know that, no matter what, each of us has at least one if not more gifts to share?

Andrew Carnegie came to the U.S. as a small boy back in the 1840′s. His family lived in a tiny, crowded New York apartment. His father worked in a nearby factory with his uncle. His mother took in ironing and Andrew began working as a messenger boy before the age of 12 to help his family cover their monthly expenses . Andrew started his work life with a strong commitment What do you have to share? If not now . . . when? Poke the Box!