Justin G. Roy

Lately we have been talking a lot about Twitter, its use, why to use, and how to use the program.  Based on your feedback about Twitter, I am happy to include the article below in our newsletter this week.

The article was forwarded to me and was written by Jeanne Meister of New Learning Playbook:

New Learning Playbook™ is a blog tracking innovations and trends in corporate learning and talent management among corporations, universities and government agencies. New Learning Playbook is targeted to a diverse community of chief human resource officers, senior learning and development officers, human capital officers, chief talent officers, as well as senior executives who are exploring usage of the latest tools and technologies in learning to address business issues such as, attraction and retention of talent as well as development of high potential Net Generation managers.

The New Learning Playbook blog will examine innovations in building social networks, using digital media technologies such as weblogs, RSS, podcasting, vodcasting and wikis as well as integrating the latest methods of “action” learning and “metaphorical” learning in the “playbook” of attracting, developing and retaining Net Generation talent.

In the article, Meister discusses ways Twitter is being used on-the-job:

1.  Think Before You Tweet. Yes it’s informal and only 140 characters but it is searchable and, yes, it can be googled.

2.  Answer the Question: “What Is Interesting/Innovative” rather than just “What Are You Doing Now?” – Embed links to interesting content so all your followers learn what you are reading and what influences your thoughts on a topic.

3.  Approach Twitter as a Social Learning Tool. It is participatory, collaborative and, at its heart, contextual. It may in fact be one of the best ways to instantly share knowledge among your network.

4.  Explore how best places to work use Twitter to build their brand. Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos, was one of the keynote speakers at HCI event this week. He is a big user of Twitter with 218,906 followers. Zappos made the list in Fortune Magazine’s annual “100 Best Companies To Work For” list, and Fortune began and ended the article by talking about how Zappos uses Twitter to build more personal connections with people. Zappos came in at #23 on the Fortune list making the company the highest ranking newcomer for 2009.

In fact in Zappos Corporate Employee directory they have all employees ranked by the number of followers they have on Twitter. Now that’s an incentive to start sending tweets. Tony even created a beginners guide on how to get onto Twitter. You can find this at: http://twitter.zappos.com/start

5.  Explore how your company’s public relations, marketing communications and customer relations departments are using Twitter. What can you learn from these departments in order to experiment with your own learning department? In the case of Zappos, they have transformed their public relations and marketing departments to use Twitter as the first way to connect to customers.

6.  Join the dialogue. Follow me at www.twitter.com/jcmeister

Join “Social Learning Question Of The Day” on Twitter. We have 447 followers. A pdf of all the questions asked prior to February 2009 can be downloaded as a pdf. Thanks to Kevin Jones and Dave Wilkins for moderating this group.

7.  Learn from “THE” social media analyst on this topic. As mentioned previously, one of the most qualified individuals on this subject is Jeremiah Owyang, Senior Analyst at Forrester Research covering social computing.

The article talks more in depth about Twitter, experiences, and has some wonderful links.  Click here to view the full article.

Click here to connect with me (Justin G. Roy) on Twitter.

Chris Brogan had some great advice on his blog the other day on what to do to prepare before a conference. 

I won’t publish all of them, so make sure you read the full article, but here are my top/favorite 5:

• Visit the prospective attendees or business people’s blogs and Twitter streams for ideas of how things are going in their lives or in their businesses
• Scour your LinkedIn contacts for the city where you’ll be visiting and send some personal emails to people that you might want to meet in the target city.
• Practice believing in yourself.
• Remember to give your family a bit of extra love before leaving for the event
• Check via Google Blogsearch and Technorati for any references to the event. See whether any companies are announcing anything. Look for signs of business opportunity ahead of the experience, and if you find some, do more homework with search and research.

Click here to read all 27 Things To Do Before a Conference.

I received the following from a Political Philosophy Professor I had at Assumption College.  Not only was he a tremendous professor who was well-liked and really cared about his students (though, he may say other wise), he taught his students how to look at something and not just take the facts from the surface; how to analyze what the situation was and look at it from different points of view.

When you left Assumption, he continued to keep in touch through email.  Of course, not individual emails, but the option to get onto his mailing list.  His mailings include jokes, quotes, and his own rants and thoughts about a specific topic.  These mini-lessons to [thousands] continue our education and call for anybody to challenge him.  Someday I will have to repost his emails, but this paste is quotes that made me chuckle.

Thought I would share them with you.

When I die, I want to die like my grandfather–who died peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming like all the passengers in his car.”
–Author Unknown

Advice for the day: If you have a lot of tension and you get a headache, do what it says on the aspirin bottle: “Take two aspirin” and “Keep away from children.”
–Author Unknown

“Oh, you hate your job? Why didn’t you say so? There’s a support group for that. It’s called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar.”
–Drew Carey

The problem with the designated driver program, it’s not a desirable job, but if you ever get sucked into doing it, have fun with it. At the end of the night, drop them off at the wrong house.”
–Jeff Foxworthy

“If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant’s life, she will choose to save the infant’s life without even considering if there is a man on base.”
–Dave Barry

“Relationships are hard. It’s like a full time job, and we should treat it like one. If your boyfriend or girlfriend wants to leave you, they should give you two weeks’ notice. There should be severance pay, the day before they leave you, they should have to find you a temp.”
–Bob Ettinger

“My Mom said she learned how to swim when someone took her out in the lake and threw her off the boat. I said, ‘Mom, they weren’t trying to teach you how to swim.’”
–Paula Poundstone

“A study in the Washington Post says that women have better verbal skills than men. I just want to say to the authors of that study: “Duh.”
–Conan O’Brien

“Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant?? I’m halfway through my fish burger and I realize, Oh my God…. I could be eating a slow learner.”
–Lynda Montgomery

“I think that’s how Chicago got started. Bunch of people in New York said, ‘Gee, I’m enjoying the crime and the poverty, but it just isn’t cold enough. Let’s go west.’”
–Richard Jeni

“If life were fair, Elvis would be alive and all the impersonators would be dead.”
–Johnny Carson

“Sometimes I think war is God’s way of teaching us geography.”
–Paul Rodriguez

“My parents didn’t want to move to Florida , but they turned sixty and that’s the law.”
–Jerry Seinfeld

“Remember in elementary school, you were told that in case of fire you have to line up quietly in a single file line from smallest to tallest. What is the logic in that? What,……. do tall people burn slower?”
–Warren Hutcherson

“Bigamy is having one wife/husband too many. Monogamy is the same.”
–Oscar Wilde

“Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress.. But I repeat myself.”
–Mark Twain

“Our bombs are smarter than the average high school student. At least they can find Afghanistan .”
–A. Whitney Brown

“You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, ‘My God, you’re right! I never would’ve thought of that!’”
–Dave Barry

Do you know why they call it “PMS”? Because “Mad Cow Disease” was taken.
–Unknown, presumed deceased

“Everybody’s got to believe in something. I believe I’ll have another beer.”
- W. C. Fields

And lastly: Why should I have to Press 1 for English?

Networking For A Cause is having a Boston Launch Event!!

Date:  Thursday, March 26, 2009
Time:  6:00pm – 8:00pm
Location:  Red Sky Restaurant & Lounge
Street:  16-18 North Street (near Faneuil Hall Marketplace)
City/Town:  Boston, MA

Attendance is limited to 150 people, so make sure to sign up as soon as possible!

Networking For A Cause is an organization that helps non-profits create word of mouth marketing by connecting them to socially conscious young professionals. NFAC does NOT collect money or donations; we create the opportunity for people to connect in a comfortable social setting and network. Hope to see you all there!

Click here for the invite!

By: Mark J. Carter, One80  & Saving The World

How do you connect with people at professional networking events?

How do other people connect with YOU in similar situations?

Many people use (traditional) “elevator speeches”, “personal infomercials” and other related tactics. Which are ultimately designed you get you interested in buying their product or service.

If you don’t enjoy being sold something new every week or feeling like a sales person when introducing yourself to other people…what can you do instead?

When you meet a business professional you might be able to work with in the future (maybe an architect, developer or business owner) BUT have no immediate reason to do business together—how can you fuse that connection anyways?

Get involved with a CAUSE (a non-profit, a community organization or other professional group). That way you always have something to talk about besides “what you do” and you can create a common ground without an immediate business transaction.

Getting involved with non-profits and cause-related organizations helps your networking world in many ways, including:

• You meet like-minded people in “non-sales” environments ; which creates a comfortable and interesting common ground.
• You have more than “elevator speeches” to talk about—”how did you get involved with (the cause/organization)?”
• You double your chances for networking opportunities—while most people are at the usual business events you can build an additional network through organizations you’re passionate about helping.

Here’s an example of an organization, Networking For A Cause, which connects professionals with a variety of non-profits they can get involved with (and we have an event in Boston this week):

The Boston Event: http://www.networkingforacause.eventbrite.com

THE KEY: Be sure to get involved with a cause that you are genuinely passionate about; your sincerity (or lack of) will clearly show while you’re talking about it.

My older sister has two children, who just so happen to be my nieces (ha), who I think the world of.   

These kids are the smartest children I have ever met.  Bar none.  I don’t mean that to offend anybody who has smart children, or plan to have smart children or who plan to have dumb children. 

Perhaps I am biased? 

Madison continues to amaze me every day.  For Valentines Day, she begged her mother to call me because she wanted to say Happy Valentines Day.  She asked over and over for a few minutes, until my sister gave in.  After she wished me a happy day, she then went into telling me other stories about her parents, daycare, and Mia (her young sister).  This girl is a gossip and a tattletale.  After talking with Madison, I spoke with my sister and could hear Madison singing Old McDonald had a farm – apparently on that farm there was an Uncle Justin.  Did not know that until then. 

At daycare, the providers husband asked the provider if she had lost his keys again.  Simple statement.  Later that night, during dinner, Madison told her parents that Robin lost his (insert husbands name here – I forget what it is) keys. 

6 months ago, Madison started knowing when she had to use the Potty.  She would go into the bathroom and hit the toilet.  A couple months ago she was asking to go onto the potty.  So, a Dora the Explorer small toilet seat later, and she was doing her business.  Minimal accidents (liquid) led to a few “undies” changes, but all in all a fast learner.  When I was visiting, after days of no accidents, I think Madison thought she was a dog and I was a fire hydrant.  I like to think she was having so much fun, that she did not want to have to stop to use the bathroom.  I also think I am probably not the best person to leave her with during any sort of serious training phase.

Madison is 2 years old.  I cannot wait until I can see her again.

I’ll post about Mia in the near future.  She has some good stories too.

Tim Sanders posted an interesting article on his blog, Sanders Says, the other day: Don’t give up the game until it is over.

Sanders talks about a basketball game but compares it to the current state of the economy and doing better business today.  He brings up some terrific points in regards to how easy it can be to throw in the towel and give up. 

I am reminded of a quote I once heard from the movie, Catch Me if You Can, where Frank Abagnale, Sr. was accepting his rotary award:

Two mice fell into a bowl of cream. The first mouse quickly gave up and drowned. The second mouse wouldn’t quit. He struggled so hard that eventually he churned that cream into butter and he crawled out. Gentlemen, as of this moment, I am that second mouse.”

Click here to view the full article.