Gary Vaynerchuk has been mentioned several times before on this website – here and here and here – so he needs no introduction. His latest keynote, given at the 2009 Big Omaha conference, as everything else Gary pumps out, does not disappoint.
For inspiration on finding, expanding, and acting upon your passion, dedicate the 50 minutes and watch it here.
Fooducate is one of my favorite food and healthy-eating-for-life blogs. They discuss topics that appeal to everyone, no matter where they fall on the food spectrum, from the most dedicated organic vegans to the average Joe who’s just looking for a bit more information on how awful he’s sure that daily quarter-pounder with cheese is for his health. Plus, you gotta love their tagline; Eat a Bit Better. Fits in nicely with Live Your Best Life Everyday, don’t you think?
One of their latest posts discusses the study just released out of the UK that proclaims organic food to have no additional nutritional value when compared to food conventionally grown/produced. Their summary of the study, their point-of-view, and proposed action steps are a perfect example of why I love this blog. Go check it out…here.
P.S. You can follow Fooducate on Twitter, too.
The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch
Goes without saying that this book is worth the read, albeit a quick one. It gets a little draggy halfway through, but every short chapter promises and successfully delivers a success tidbit in addition to fascinatingly interesting details about Randy’s life. This guy was cool. If nothing else, read it to find out about all of the impressive things he accomplished in his (much too short) lifetime. Read it learn about the wacky stories he shares about his often eyebrow-raising behavior. Buy it to support his now father-less family. The Last Lecture is one to always have on the shelf.
4.5/5 stars
Something I’ve heard many times from newbies (and honestly, many not-so-newbies) on Twitter is, “How do you decide who to Follow?” The answer to this question is easy…
…it depends.
What do you want out of Twitter? Upon reviewing your tweets, what updates would you have seen, what information gathered, conversations contributed to, or relationships sparked would make the time you just spent in front of your feed feel productive upon walking away? For me, the answer is: a little bit of everything. Answer the question for yourself, then determine who you follow from there.
I’m on Twitter to to network and build new relationships, to build my brand, to learn, to stay up-to-date, to be inspired, and to catch up with friends and family.
Therefore, I follow people on Twitter who:
– are my close friends, family
– make me laugh, smile
– regularily provide links to new, informative articles on topics I find interesting (everything from outer space and wine and interior decorating to personal branding and blogging and thinking positively)
– are local to my area
– provide breaking news or updates about the world
– are businessmen and women who have achieved a level of success for which I strive
– spark discussion topics and routinely engage in conversation with their ‘tweeps’
– are authors of books I’ve read or would like to read
Some Twitterers I follow fall neatly into one, specific category. Others span several or all categories. It doesn’t matter. If you find their tweets interesting, informative, and worthy of your precious time, follow away. On the flip side, if you’ve gone several days or weeks and have regularily NOT found a user’s tweets worthwhile, it might be time to unfollow (gasp!). Don’t be afraid to drop a follower or two. It’s YOUR time – don’t waste it.
So you’re on Twitter, now what? Have you thought about the reason you spend part of your day (or many parts!) reading and posting tweets? Does that purpose match up with your Following list? What category or categories of Twitterers do you care to follow? Do you find your Twitter-time worthwhile?
P.S. While you’re perfecting your Following list, come say hello.
Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High, by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler, and Stephen R. Covey.
Crucially conversating doesn’t sound too exciting of a topic, I realize, but I read this book as an adjunct to taking the Crucial Conversations corporately sponsored class and neither disappoint. The book is long and detailed but worth it. Similar to the entirely different viewpoint of the world around you you hold after really beginning to personally develop yourself, the book makes you realize how inefficiently and flat out incorrectly everyone around you communicates. The concepts are applicable to every area of life and would almost be more powerful if applied to personal conversations than business. The ability to crucially conversate is a skillset I never realized I lacked, but am now convinced it’s one every person should posses. Read it.
4/5 stars
A quick highlight of one of the websites on the AnnieSorensen.com blogroll that’s specifically related to my network marketing business with Vemma and Verve, the personal blog of Tyler and Mimi Ford. For those looking for product information, business tips, and corporate updates on Vemma and Verve, the Ford’s site is second to none. It also offers a wonderfully healthy dose of personal wit and wisdom – and fun – that makes checking in with the site a few times a week more than worth your time. Tyler and Mimi are inspiring entrepreneurs who are fiercely dedicated to continual learning and personal development, selfless leadership, and inspiring others. Quite a perfect fit with this site, don’t you think? Whether you’re in need of a Vemma-specific site or wisdom from two Arizona-based outdoor lovers, TylerandMimiFord.com is worth a look.
A round-up of a few favorite quotes from the past several weeks. Once I gathered all of these in one spot I realized that most of them had to do with taking action. Interesting. My schedule has been so busy lately that I’ve been really focusing on taking advantage of every snippet of free time. Love how everything is connected like that! Here we go:
Let him who would enjoy a good future waste none of his present. -Roger Babson
You can’t stay in your corner of forest waiting for others to come to you. You’ve got to go to them sometimes. -Winnie the Pooh
Remember: The world doesn’t pay you for what you know-it pays you for what you DO. -Jack Canfield
If you don’t like something change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it. -M Engelbreit
It’s always good to be reminded that each and every one of us has the opportunity of a lifetime (literally). -Zappos (Tony Hsieh)
Looking for a successful life without knowing your goals is like taking a trip without knowing which direction to go. -Jack Canfield
Today u have an opportunity to create your life exactly the way u have dreamed it to be. Will u take it? -Joseph Ranseth
And as a grand finale…
Success isn’t a result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire. -Arnold Glasow
What an image! I love it! What quotes have caught your eye recently? What do YOU do to keep focus on taking action towards your success, versus getting distracted by fluff?
I had an unplanned opportunity the other evening to sit down and chat with a fellow entrepreneur and had the most fantastic conversation. I love it when that happens. You’re networking away, just like any other day, introducing yourself to those you’ve never met, and saying hello to those you’ve chatted with before when all of a sudden you and a fellow networker run into a specific topic that you’re both passionate about. And after you’ve come out of your conversational cocoon two hours later and re-joined the party you remember, wow, THAT’s why I spend so much time networking! For entrepreneurs and small business owners, researching new topics, keeping up with the latest news, and educating yourself are constants. There’s always some thing that’s occupying the thing-I’m-most-excited-about corner of your brain. Run into someone who’s corner occupant currently matches yours and you’re off to the races. Conversations like that can not only educate, but inspire, too. Our topic happened to have been 20-somethings using social media to build their personal brands alongside their websites, and I walked away from that conversation so motivated and jazzed that my mind was spinning. You know when you have have HAVE to find your computer and get to work or else you might start twitching? Yeah, like that. The motivation you wish you could bottle up and pour out on demand.
Find a networking opportunity with like-minded people. Engage in conversations. It might just provide the spark – or, inferno – of inspiration you need.
Oh, and while you’re there, pay attention to Zach. He knows what he’s talking about.
I'm an author, marketer, and mommy who loves to read, write, and drink coffee. My husband and I live in suburban Kansas City with our two little girls. This site chronicles my world. Thanks for stopping by!
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