This isn’t a how-to or a list of reasons why you should make time for your own projects. It’s a simple, yet very direct statement. Make time for your own projects. It’s too often that we put time and effort into working on client projects (and rightfully-so), while our own personal project thoughts and ideas own sit on the sidelines. It’s time to make time for you.
I recently joined a new social networking site that is more of game/social media ego stroke than anything, but it’s caused me to spend more time on the various social connections that I take part in. Welcome to Empire Avenue, a social media stock exchange.
With Empire Avenue, which actually launched last year, you’re rewarded by your contributions to your networks. Each tweet, post, like, comment, all factor into your share price along with other aspects of your social persona. As with any good social game, you receive rewards and badges for specific achievements (such as being mentioned on Twitter, posting amounts in a given span of time, etc). The core of the game thought, is the ability to invest in your friends and in brands that you follow. The currency used is the “Eave”, which you’ll both earn and spend when buying selling your social stock.
Some observations.
I’m not a (big) player of the traditional stock market, so I wasn’t sure how I’d be impacted by Empire Ave. Much to my surprise, the way the reward system works has made me post more since signing up while being mindful of over-sharing. No gameplay should be worth the price of losing followers.
I’ve also noticed other people that participate in Empire Avenue have stepped up their posting habits as well. Whether or not this trend stays the course will be worth watching. And I’m not complaining about this either. The more content I can see from the people that I follow and friend, the better!
Get your shares in Tiglu!
If you’ve become involved in this network, I invite you to check out my profile and purchase some shares (if you’re so moved).
If you're looking to master the craze that is social media, good luck. Fortunately, there are experts around every corner (and even more being born each minute) that are ready to help you out. I say that with my tongue firmly planted in cheek. All kidding aside, one true leader in not only social media, but the business of people and relationships is Chris Brogan. That leads me to my first Geeky Gift Idea: Trust Agents by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith (affiliate link).
I've been fortunate enough to listen to Chris engage an audience on the topic of human connections and have taken many of his ideas to heart throughout the year. He and Julien partner to write a book that speaks to anyone that is interested in making connections. This is a great choice for the social geek in your life!
Since social networking has become mainstream you see more and more people extolling it's virtues and shouting that it is the future of marketing, communication, and even civilization. That last item might be a stretch, but I do know one thing. It works.
I've also become a believer in "it's not what you know, rather who you know" with one caveat; you need both to succeed. Now measuring success is a belief system within itself, so I won't touch on that right now, but I can say that I've experienced both personal and professional successes by getting to know more people.
I've always felt that I need to make myself as knowledgable as possible in the topics and areas of life that interest me. I continue to keep my ear to the ground and my head in the stream of ever flowing information, just to stay current and in top of the game. But that's not enough.
All of the knowledge in the world won't help you if you can't share, debate, and collaborate over it. It's all about connections and I see that now.
Finding "the right people"
Who are the people you feel you need to know? Finding the right people, or should I say the people that you might find that are right, could be completely different than those you think you need to know. This year I've been very fortunate (and that is the greatest understatement I've ever made) to have met a variety of people, from all walks of life, and all types of professions. By forming these bonds and doing things as simple as getting to know them personally, professionally, and everywhere in between, opportunities have arisen that I never would have imagined.
A few tips to get started:
Update your social bios with as much information about yourself as possible.
Join conversations, both online and in real life. Don't be afraid to jump in and contribute.
Make connections, however you can and however it's comfortable for you. If you're more comfortable communicating online more than face-to-face, then stick with that method, but try an in-person meetup from time-to-time as well. You might surprise yourself
I recently joined a new social networking site that is more of game/social media ego stroke than anything, but it’s caused me to spend more time on the various social connections that I take part in. Welcome to Empire Avenue, a social media stock exchange.
If you're looking to master the craze that is social media, good luck. Fortunately, there are experts around every corner (and even more being born each minute) that are ready to help you out. I say that with my tongue firmly planted in cheek. All kidding aside, one true leader in not only social media, but the business of people and relationships is Chris Brogan. That leads me to my first Geeky Gift Idea: Trust Agents by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith (affiliate link).