Friday Parade of Random Stuff - Seven Things That Are On My Mind

I used to have a recurring theme on my blog on Friday mornings called "Friday Parade of Random Stuff", where I would write about anything that crossed my mind. It was my personal chance to vent, rant, complain, pontificate and sing from the roof tops.

I woke up early this morning and decided that my blog post today would just be a random stream of thoughts. Seven things from me to you:

1. This was a great week. At work, at home, my speaking business, my new book project.... everything went very well and I advanced the ball down the field on many fronts. I like having a productive week and I love seeing those around me achieving their goals. I observed many things this week that were successful and I wake up today happy about the world.

2. Presidential politics and all the media shenanigan's around the candidates is numbing. I used to love the political process, but I just can't take it any more. The new transparency that exists in our society has made the primary process more like watching sausage being made. It is just icky. I wish someone would smack the leaders of the Republican and Democrat parties with a dose of reality. The people do not like how you are doing things. Please find a way to do them better.

3. Many people who use social online networking and media tools on a regular basis forget that not EVERYONE has come over to embrace the online world. It is actually a small number of people who use sights like Twitter and other internet based communities. Sure, these numbers are growing, but they are not pervasive as of yet. By assuming that all are "in the know" they create barriers and cliques...which makes social online networking much less social and more like the hallways of my high school.

4. My next book, Some Assembly Required: A Networking Guide For Women is now in the final stages of editing. This book, co-authored with business communications guru Marny Lifshen will be available in May. We are excited about the upcoming release of the book, which will be the next in the series of books under the Some Assembly Required brand.

If you have not read Some Assembly Required: How to Make, Grow and Keep Your Business Relationships, it is available on Amazon.com. I always appreciate it when people read my books and then drop me a note telling me what parts of it they enjoyed. Thanks!

It is from your feedback that I am able to improve the products and also come up with new ideas for future books. The book focusing on women came about because of women who approached me with gender specific ideas and tips.

5. Since I now have the opportunity to do more public speaking, I regularly get asked to send a DVD of my presentations to those who want to hire me. I had never been taped nor created a video, so this is a project that is looming over me for the next few months.

I now have an amazing Speaker's Agent who works with speaker's bureaus to help get me more professional speaking appearances, but this also means I have to create new marketing materials, etc..... To date I have built my speaking business on word-of-mouth marketing, but that is changing. Below is a short video clip of me speaking to a group of lawyers on the topic of business development and networking.



6. Those who read my blog regularly know that in February I set out to raise $1000 for the local Children's Hospital in celebration of my daughter's 6th birthday. I asked the readers of my blog, and those I am connected with on Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn and Facebook to donate small amounts via the hospital's "MyFundraiser" software.

The grand total was $1710. WOW. I want to thank everyone who donated.... it was a fun thing to see the goal shattered by so many generous souls. Every February I am going to try to join together with the readers of this blog to support a charitable cause. Again, THANK YOU.

7. Today can be a great day if you make it a great day. Too many people see the glass as half empty. Dang it...don't be one of those people. Search for the good in every person you encounter and realize that most folks are just trying to do the best they can. It is so easy to tear others apart over small issues.

Look at the presidential campaigns. Wouldn't it be fun if we passed a law where on Fridays all the candidates (and everyone who works for them or supports them) could only praise each other. If they had nothing to good to say, or go negative, then they could not have any media coverage for the whole following week. Just one day a week would they need to be nice, but on that day they had to stay "above the line" and positive.

Yes... I know, that could never happen in a presidential campaign...but you can do it in your life and on your blog. No criticism of anything on Fridays (Under this rule I would need to remove my 2nd point in this post, as it is technically a criticism). By staying out of the mud and focusing on what is great around us, we would all prosper.

Look at how often we all go negative, or accept others being nasty, on so many topics. We point fingers, blame and hate far too often for the overall good of society. It irks me (and I am as guilty of this as the next guy!).

Well...there you have it...seven random thoughts that were on my mind when I woke up.

Have A Great Day.

thom
www.thomsinger.com

Friday Parade - The Bionic Woman

Those of us old enough to remember Steve Austin and Jamie Sommers as the super-heros of 1970's television should be excited to know that NBC has announced the return of The Bionic Woman to the fall line up.

Move over Lindsey Wagner, as newcomer Michelle Ryan will be talking on the role as the technology enhanced do-gooder. While Ms Wagner was attractive, she was not nearly as sexy as Wonder Woman's Linda Carter. Ms. Ryan looks like she will be spicing up the role! I feel very old, however, as the actress was born the same year I graduated high school.

I am not too proud to admit that I was a fan of The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman. Although I always was skeptical of the what would the ods be that if you had only one man on the planet (Col. Austin) with bionics (who was almost killed in a test plane crash), rebuilt by the government with mechanical legs, one arm and an eye....that his fiance would later have a skydiving accident and also be maimed to the point of requiring the same parts (albeit and ear, not an eye). That is just statistically one unlucky couple.

Nobody in their forties can forget the immortal words of Oscar Goldman; "Steve Austin, astronaut. A man barely alive. Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to build the world's first bionic man. Steve Austin will be that man. Better than he was before. Better, stronger, faster!!!" (I admit I forget the opening lines of the Bionic Woman, but it was similar). They could run, jump, lift cars. It was all very cool. Now after too many seasons it got weird when they ended up with a bionic dog, but all shows must run their course. The two shows often overlapped, having many stars and story lines that appeared in both shows. It was "cross over episodic television" at its best! I worry about the success of the Bionic Woman without The Six Million Dollar Man. They were really a duo.

Finally, I am curious as to how inflation has impacted bionics over thirty years. The cost to rebuild Austin and Sommers was $6 million. In today's economy that is not nearly as much as it was in the late 1970s. Hmmmm, she had better be a badass crime fighter at what those legs will cost the US taxpayer!

Have A Great Day.

thom
http://www.thomsinger.com/

Austin Tech Happy Hour

There was a time in Austin, Texas when The High Tech Happy Hour monthly events rocked the town. Hundreds of people turned out for the fun of networking with others who worked in and around the booming tech industry. Executives, engineers, programmers, office staff, venture capitalists, service providers and others came together and celebrated the times.

Those times died with bust of high tech.

But now there is again a buzz in the air in Austin. The city is today hustling with innovation. You can't keep the entrepreneurial spirit at bay, and people are again having fun in the technology industry.

Alas, the birth of a new happy hour:

Austin Tech Happy Hour
Molotov Lounge
May 17th from 6-8pm

It’s been a long time since we’ve had a fun happy hour for young professionals in technology. Here’s your chance to come out and enjoy networking on the rooftop of Austin’s leading happy hour spot. About once a month sponsors will support a happy hour where people can relax and mingle with other professionals from the technology industry in Austin. Come and add new contacts to your network, discuss current technology innovations, and perhaps even find a candidate to add to your team.

Have A Great Day.

thom

www.thomsinger.com

Friday Parade - Blog Archive Day!!!

Today I encourage you to go back in history. Select a date in the last year or two (your birthday, perhaps) and click through on the archives (look on the left hand side of the page) of The Some Assembly Required Blog and re-read that post.

Come on, it wont take that much time. Who knows, your karma might be just right and you will discover a nugget of knowledge or inspiration that will effect your whole day in some amazing manner.

As encouragement, if you do this, and then leave a relevant comment on this post telling us what your read, I will enter you in a drawing to receive a free copy of my new book, The ABC's of Networking (New Year Publishing, 2007). You must leave your comment by Sunday, April 22nd. The book has only been available for one week, so be the first on your block to read the darn thing!

Have A Great Day

thom
www.thomsinger.com

The ABC's of Networking - ORDER TODAY!

Now available for pre-order at Amazon.com.

Please take the time to be the first on your block to order my new book. Expected release date is April 1, 2007.

This small but valuable book is designed to be an "Airplane Book" - a fast read full of inspiring ideas that you can read on a flight or while sitting in a Starbucks, Seattle's Best, Pete's Coffee, or you other favorite communal gathering hot spot.

Thank you!

thom
www.thomsinger.com

Friday Parade - Simba Wins

A week ago today I took my five-year-old to see the traveling Broadway production of The Lion King. The original plan was for my older daughter and I to attend the Friday night performance, and Kate and her mom would go to the Sunday matinee. Alas, Jackie had a karate test on Friday night, so we switched.

An evening show is a long night for someone who is five....even a production as amazing as The Lion King. Around 10:30 PM she began to fall asleep. I tried to wake her with the assurance that there was only ten more minutes.

Kate looked me right in the eyes and said, "Dad, I have seen the movie....Simba wins!". With that she fell asleep.

And that he did.

Have A Great Day.

thom

thom@thomsinger.com

Friday Parade - Competition Assault Day

Friday!

End to the work week.

Business casual day.

The weekend has arrived.

All thing are happy on Friday.

It is Competition Assault Day.

What? Competition Assault Day??? Huh??

Yep. Friday is the day each week that your team needs to take action to do something....anything... to out perform your competition. This is the day you call all their clients to schedule an appointment, host an amazing educational seminar, send cupcakes, or drive around and hand deliver ten dollar Starbuck's gift cards to those you want to know better.

I know, you are saying "I should do that everyday!". Yes, you should. But do you? Probably not. Thus, you need to get your whole staff excited about Competition Assault Day. Make it fresh, make it fun, but make it happen.

Creativity on getting noticed is what it is all about. All employees should input ideas that can lead to total market domination.

How fun would Friday be if everyone came to work wearing army fatigues? If that is too wacky for you, then maybe you just print out your competitors logo and put it on a dart board. At lunch everyone gets one shot at the bulls-eye...winner getting a prize. Would everyone go back to their desk with a new feeling of competition that they did not have earlier?

You can't sit and wait for victory, you need to have a tactical plan and then storm the castle.

Go on the offensive, if not all the time, then do it on Friday.

Have A Great Competition Assault Day.

thom
www.thomsinger.com

****Have you read my book? Come on, why not. Buy it now!

Friday Parade - The Tuxedo

Many years ago I was a groomsman in the wedding of a close friend. Rather than giving each attendant in his wedding an engraved flask or shot glass, the groom had the brilliant idea of buying a tuxedo for each of his groomsmen.

A classic black tuxedo. Over a decade later, I still find this to be the most phenomenal idea I have ever seen for a groomsmen gift. I only have the opportunity to wear a tux once or twice a year, but when I do.... I own my own (no renting and having to wear another man's pants!). I have taken great care of this suit, and it still looks great.

Last night was the Real Estate Council of Austin's annual "Knock Out Night" party. It is one of the top networking events of the year in the local business community, and is "Black Tie". Alas, the chance to wear the penguin suit. Each time I wear it I think of my friend and his wedding...and I am reminded that he is brilliant.

I share this story with you because it is the perfect example doing something out of the ordinary....something extraordinary, which forever makes a person memorable. I have been in several weddings, and I have no memory of any other gift. Yet my tuxedo is cool. (Oh, and yes, I am proud that I once again can fit into my tuxedo after a few years of being 25 pounds fatter!)

Be bold today. Do something extraordinary and forever burn yourself into the soul of another person.

Have A Great Day.

thom
thom@thomsinger.com

Friday Parade - Seven Random Airport Observations

I flew to Washington DC this week for a presentation on networking skills to a top tier law firm. I had to change planes in Dallas (From Austin, Texas you cannot die and go to heaven without changing planes). There was a delay, so I had plenty of time in the terminal to people watch. I wrote down the following random observations:

1. People are not friendly. Everyone just looks rushed and grumpy. Even when you try to smile at them, they just look away. This is sad.

2. The health food craze has not found its way into the DFW terminal. I am hungry, but after having seen the documentary "Super Size Me", I cannot ever again eat at McDonalds. I could eat a pretzel, yogurt, or ManchuWok...none of which will do the trick. I will just skip eating.

3. When they make a gate change announcement people run (well, walk fast) to the next gate, even though there will be more than an hour until we board the plane (and it is only from Gate A32 to A 20). Maybe they need the exercise after eating at McDonald's.

4. A young businessman on his cell phone is talking too loudly about the woman he met last night on his business trip. He is wearing a wedding ring, so I am assuming he is not sharing these details with his wife. Jerk.

5. Airports should invest in better PA systems. I cannot understand a damn thing they are saying. Too bad the guy on the cell phone is not talking over the PA...I really don't want to hear about his exploits.

6. I have no fashion sense. All these business travelers have really nice overcoats. Maybe because I live in a warm climate (well, most of the time), I don't need a stylish overcoat, and thus survive with my basic beige coat. Fashion is not my strong suit.

7. Who ever invented the rolling suitcase is a genius. I hope he or she patented this brilliant thing and made billions of dollars. He deserves it. When I was a kid we had to carry suitcases.

Have A Great Day.

thom
thom@thomsinger.com

****Leave a comment in February an be entered into the drawing for a $25 gift certificate and other fun prizes. (other "fun prizes" translates to: copies of my book!"). Comment must be something useful and interesting to be entered.

Friday Parade - Nostalgia

Ahhhhh, we call it the good old days. Here is a look at the year I was born, 1966:

In 1966 (the year you were born)

Lyndon B. Johnson is president of the US As part of nationwide protest against the Vietnam War, demonstrations are staged all over the US In Miranda vs. Arizona, the Supreme Court rules that criminal suspects must be apprised of their rights before interrogation US planes begin bombing of the Hanoi area of North Vietnam Controversial American comedian Lenny Bruce is found dead of a drug overdose in his home John Lennon says, "We are more popular than Jesus" sparking controversy in the US The first black Senator is elected to the United States Senate Cindy Crawford, Janet Jackson, Mike Tyson, Halle Berry, Adam Sandler, and Kiefer Sutherland are born Baltimore Orioles win the World Series Green Bay Packers win the NFL championship Montreal Canadiens win the Stanley Cup The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is the top grossing film Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann is published Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys and Sounds of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel are released Star Trek and The Newlywed Game premiere

What'>http://www.blogthings.com/whathappenedtheyearyouwerebornquiz/">What Happened the Year You Were Born?

Have A Great Day.

thom
www.thomsinger.com

Looking to hire an informative and entertaining business speaker for your next event? I would be happy to customize a program for your organization. Click here to learn more.

Friday Parade - James Bond to The Fifth Power

Todd And's Blog, one of my new favorite blogs, has this YouTube clip that made me laugh.

It is worth watching, it will make you smile.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Friday Parade - Austin Business Bloggers Club

Jason Alba of JibberJobber.com was visiting Texas and invited all his Austin business blogging friends to meet him for dinner. A small group of us met at Guerro's Mexican Restaurant.

A GREAT TIME HAD BY ALL!!!

Wonderful conversation ensued and a variety of ideas and advice flowed freely. The Austin Business Bloggers Club (BBC) was born.

Each month we will meet to share ideas and network. Anyone who writes a business related blog is welcome to join us on the first Monday of the month. Bring cash to pay for your dinner and drinks - AND - bring your best ideas about the blogosphere.

This will be a casual group: No by-laws, no dues, no headaches. Each month we will meet at a restaurant (maybe Guerro's each time???) and determine how many folks are present. Then break up into tables of 4 to 6 for round table dinner conversations.

If you live in Central Texas and are interested in stopping by, drop one of us a line ...we will keep you informed of plans for the February gathering.

(In photo: Jason Alba, Thom Singer, Scott Ingram, Liz Handlin and Scott Allen).

Have A Great Day.

thom
thom@thomsinger.com

Friday Parade of Random Stuff - MyChoice Gift Cards

Last minute holiday gifts? Yikes, we are all plagued by that one person from work, church, or family for whom we forgot to buy a present.

One of my favorite gifts (to give or get) has become the gift card. I have three godchildren who live over 2000 miles away. All three are my nephews and each has different interests. When they were very young it was easy to get them a toy, but now it is harder to figure out the perfect gift. A gift card is easy to mail and allows them to get something they will enjoy.

I also have found that getting a gift card is nicer than some random sweater or CD. Often people will buy something they like without regards for the tastes of the person getting the gift.

At holiday parties this year with a "white elephant gift exchange" the Starbucks, Target, and Barnes & Noble cards were the most popular (and were stolen to the maximum three steals).

An easy way to get a gift card is the MyChoice Gift Cards available from QuickGifts.com. What I like best about quick gifts is that online you can purchase gift card and have it shipped, or you can get a virtual card and have it emailed. Additionally you can either select the retailer ...OR.... you can allow the recipient to choose the retailer from QuickGift's Gift Mall. They have dozens (maybe over 100) brand name stores where the gift card can be redeemed. These stores include: Borders, Old Navy, Eddie Bauer, The Olive Garden, Williams-Sonoma, and many many more.

Why make life more difficult with only two shopping days until Christmas. Give them something they will enjoy. Check out MyChoice Gift Cards.

Have A Great Day.

thom
www.thomsinger.com

**I was NOT paid for this recommendation, I am a customer of QuickGifts! The company is based in Austin, Texas and I do know the owner, but that is not why I wrote this! I like simply like gift cards and would welcome you to send me one!

Friday Parade - Online Networking in the Web 2.0 World

I had the opportunity yesterday to meet with Hoover's, Inc interim president, Paul Pellman, and learn more about Hoover's new online social networking tool, Hoover's Connect. The new product is a joint venture between Hoover's and Visible Path (Visible Path Founder and CEO, Antony Brydon was there too, via conference call) and is the next generation of social networking tools (think Web 2.0)

While MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn, ecademy, Ryze, Friendster and others have been the first movers in this space, to often they are seen as just a connect the dots parlor game (think "The Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon"). Many members of these online communities dilute the services by making huge numbers of "contacts" with people whom they do not really have a personal relationship. Collecting contacts for many is the prize, rather than creating a business development tool.

In the real world a "relationship" is not just a digital link to a stranger. A true contact is some whom you know well and who will happily introduce you to people they know. A "friend" is someone you have come to know well.

On most sites my best friend for twenty years (who is Godfather to my daughter) is an equal link to some random person I have never met, but accepted into my "network" on a whim. There is, in real life, a difference between those two contacts, and Hoover's Connect has the intuition to know that difference.

Their software will analyze the types of communications you have with your contacts by looking at emails, meetings and other functions within Outlook. It will not read the actual correspondence (privacy issues are important to these folks!), but it will examine the frequency and types of interactions, thus being able to rank which contacts are most important in your network.

Their tool is "Trusted, Intelligent and Private". They hope this will appeal to more of the business community than the existing services in this space.

While Hoover's Connect does not solve all the problems of social networking (nor will it provide "world peace"), it does address many of the obstacles that have kept business professionals from embracing online social networks as a useful tool to accelerate sales.

I see their biggest challenge as the re-education of business users, who already have developed strong preconceived opinions about the use of such online tools. However, with the younger generation coming up fast (over 70% of college students utilize Facebook or MySpace on a regular basis), the acceptance of online social services will naturally increase in the next few years.

Their product will not go live until early in 2007, but for now you can learn more at their website and sign up to receive information about the pending release. I will be watching Hoover's Connect closely once it is released to the public, and I will report back on my findings!

Have A Great Day.

thom

Friday Parade - TiE Con Texas 2006

I apologize for being late today in posting the Friday Parade of Random Cool Things, but I was attending an all day conference sponsored by TiE Austin: TiE Con Texas 2006 - Business Without Borders: Entrepreneurship Unleashed.

TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs Group) always does a phenomenal job of drawing in the "A-Team" of local entrepreneurs, investors and service providers to their events....and today was no exception. The groups motto sums up the whole program today, "Fostering Entrepreneurship Through Education, Mentoring and Networking".

The program consisted of a variety of expert speakers and panel discussions. So much good information that it would not do justice to try to report on the whole day. I particularly enjoyed the panel discussion, "Disruption & Convergence - The New Entrepreneur".

The moderator was Paul Hurdlow of DLA Piper, and the panelists were:

Jikku Venkat, CTO - United Devices
Mike Maples, Jr., - Maples Investments
Dave Panos, Co-founder & CEO - Pluck Corporation
Venu Shamapant, General Partner - Austin Ventures

Focusing on how entrepreneurship, venture capital and exit strategies are rapidly changing along with the unprecedented pace of business and technology innovations, these business executives and venture capitalists shared personal experiences of growing businesses in the old, new and new new economies.

"Timing is everything" according to Dave Panos, whose company is now taking the new social media industry by storm. While they have changed directions since inception, they have captured a market segment and continue to grow with a combination of great technology, hard work and the right timing.

My favorite comment came from Mike Maples, Jr, who said that "$500K is the new $5 million" in respect to why it is better for start-ups to establish their formula and eliminate up front risk and then raise growth capital. Taking too much money too early puts too much time and the investors money in jeopardy.

With the costs of being a public company rising, and IPO is not always the best exit strategy, and companies need to examine their options early. Raising less money allows for more exit options down the line.

They also discussed the importance of patents for tech companies, but it was made clear that few companies have ever succeeded because of the patents, rather they are in place for protections down the line. To rely to heavily on the patent wont get them anywhere. Companies need to focus on things they can control (building a large and sustainable business).

Have A Great Day.

Thom Singer
www.thomsinger.com
thom@thomsinger.com

Friday Parade

I was in Los Angeles, California last week. Now some folks may not like that town, but I LOVE L.A. I was born and raised near The City of Angels and to me it will always be home to my wonderful childhood memories. While much has changed, much is still the same.

While I was there for a training class, I also had the opportunity to have dinner with my dad, who just turned 92-years-old last month. He is amazing. He looks 75, and is as active as ever.

While there I got to share with him a copy of the new book, "When Roles Reverse: A Guide to Parenting Your Parents", written by my friend Jim Comer. Jim's book is a packed with information that every family needs to know as they look to caring for aging parents and grandparents. Fortunately for us, my dad is self-sufficient, and lives his life to the fullest every day....but I wanted to share this with him because it has a story about my dad featured in the book.

My brothers and I require my dad to subscribe to the Los Angeles Times daily, even though his busy schedule (he golfs, bowls, plays cards or goes on dates with one of his many girlfriends) does not allow him the time to read the paper everyday. The reason for the subscription is that the neighbors would quickly know if something was wrong if the newspaper is not picked up by noon each day. It is an easy system to monitor that all is okay, and requires those who live across the street to simply glance at the driveway when they come and go.

Jim used this story in the book. Kinda cool.

If you have aging parents or grandparents, Jim's book is a MUST READ. Available at Amazon.com! More information available at www.whenrolesreverse.com.

Have A Great Weekend.

Thom Singer
www.thomsinger.com
thom@thomsinger.com

Speaking of books...My book, "Some Assembly Required: How to Make, Grow and Keep Your Business Relationships" makes a great holiday gift for any person in your business network. Available at Amazon.com.

Friday Parade - The Networking Quotient Quiz

People do business with people they know and like!!! That is the premise of my book; "Some Assembly Required: How to Make, Grow and Keep Your Business Relationships" (New Year Publishing).

So how do your networking skills compared to others?

Please visit The Networking Quotient and take the free quiz.

I designed this free quiz to help others learn about social networking skills for business while letting them see how their skills compare to those of their peers in several demographics. The 30 question quiz takes about eight minutes to complete and the results are calculated immediately. You will see your score and the average scores of those in your categories.

Once you have completed the quiz, please tell others in your company to visit www.networkingquotient.com, then discuss your results and look for ways that your team can improve your networking efforts.

We welcome your feedback on the quiz (it just went live today!), so send me emails with your comments and questions.

Thank you and NEVER STOP NETWORKING!

Have A Great Day.

Thom Singer
www.thomsinger.com
thom@thomsinger.com

***"Some Assembly Required: How to Make, Grow and Keep Your Business Relationships" (New Year Publishing) makes a great holiday gift for business professionals on your list. Available at Amazon.com, or for large bulk orders (25 books or more) please contact me directly.

Friday Parade

Think BIG Revolution

Each Friday I highlight random cool things that I have discovered in the Friday Parade post.

Today is no exception. If you like to think BIG. I mean think really, really BIG.....then you need to discover Michael Port's Think Big Revolution. Michael Port is an author, actor, speaker, consultant, etc... who has a free weekly conference call each Monday where fifty to one hundred people gather to expand themselves and explore the benefits of thinking big.

Michael leads the topical discussions on ways to grow your business, personal life and expand your future. Some calls are good, others are great....but they are always free and full of interesting stuff.

Click here to get on his mailing list and plan now to attend the next "Think BIG Revolution" call on Monday.

Have A Great Weekend.

Thom Singer
www.thomsinger.com
thom@thomsinger.com


***PS- If you have not yet read my book, "Some Assembly Required" you can order it today on Amazon.com. Thank you!!!

Friday Parade of Random Cool Stuff

NANO LEARNING

I have discovered a cool new website that every blogger needs to know about, so be sure to tell your friends!!! It has a lot of very interesting applications for anyone who is a knowledge entrepreneur, and it went live two weeks ago, so there is a lot more to come.

It is called Nano Learning. In the busy world we live in people do not have time for time consuming classes. Instead, people prefer to learn in small chunks. This a site that allows anyone to create short, good looking on-line learning classes without having to be an expert in Flash or have other extensive programming knowledge. Discovering this site early is akin to having been one of the first people to have found Blogspot back in the day.

A friend showed me how easy it is to create an on-line course by creating an eight-page class from a blog post of mine (and Scott Ingram's) posted earlier this week. The creation of the Nano Learning course took about ten minutes. Click here to view the course on Creating Your Signature Story.

If this can be created in ten minutes by cutting and pasting from two blog posts, imagine the cool on-line learning tools you can create with a little effort!

**Late addition: I decided to try writing a course by myself to see if it is really as easy as it was for my friend. Having spent ten years of my life as a wedding photographer, I created a short course on How To Select A Wedding Photographer. From start to finish it only took about twenty minutes. I can go back later and add photos, links, etc... NanoLearning is really cool! Go create a course and see for yourself!

This is the coolest new technology on the internet...and it is just out of the gate. I did not know about E-Bay until it was widely used. Same for Blogger. This is our chance to have uncovered a new on-line sensation before everyone else on the planet.

Nano Learning is the next big thing!!!

Have A Great Weekend.

Thom Singer
www.thomsinger.com
thom@thomsinger.com

Friday Parade of Random Stuff

While I usually avoid politics in this blog...

Former Virginia Governor, Mark Warner, announced yesterday that he was NOT running for President of the United States in 2008. Warner, and democrat, sited the fact that he wanted a "normal" life rather than exposing his family to all the craziness of being a presidential candidate.

This is bad news. Mr. Warner would have made a great president. He was not a fringe candidate, but rather was very much in the middle of the political spectrum (which might have made it difficult to win his party's nomination). Both democrats and republicans could have found common ground with his beliefs, which is what is needed. I would have jumped across the party line to have supported this candidate.

Mr. Warner has both political and business experience (being a former telecom executive). He would have brought a unique and balanced temperament to the oval office. Mark Warner was the cool candidate for the 2008 elections. Now we are left with the professional politicians who will polarize the country with the typical ugliness of right vs. left hate.

It is a shame that the best people for the presidency will not run because of their desire to not get caught in the muck that is politics. It makes me wonder what kind of people we are left with as candidates if they enjoy all the crap.

Best of luck to Mr. Warner.

Have A Great Day.

Thom Singer
www.thomsinger.com
thom@thomsinger.com