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The Opportunity Show Newsletter
From PerformXcellence |
Issue 4 Social Media July 2009 |
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Greetings!
The average person today interacts with more people and does more things in one year than our great grandparents did in a lifetime. With Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, DVR, email, iPhones and blackberries, podcasts, surfing the net, changing the health care system, dealing with your demanding job and, your more-demanding spouse and kids- there just isn't enough time to attend to everything. If you are dazed and confused about how to live and work today, this issue is for you.
Whether you've dived into the new social networking apps already or are somewhat scared of it, we have the information you need to be connected at the level that is right for you. Mark Monchek writes on Living in the Age of Twitter, Facebook and a Lifetime of Distractions. Andrew Levine gives you The Skinny on Social Networking-What You Need to Know at Any Level.
Our new feature this issue is Profile in Opportunity, where we share inspiring stories about remarkable people that know how to spot and harness opportunity. This month's feature is on Michael Blake, at age 26, the youngest Deputy Associate Director for Intergovernmental Affairs ever. Michael's path to the White House is an inspiring story, and we at The Opportunity Show will be in attendance when Ed Norton's film, By The People: The Election of Barack Obama premieres on Saturday, August 8th at NYC's Sunshine Theater, 143 East Houston Street on the Lower East Side. Mark will be leading a talk-back with Michael after the screening so please come down and join us for this special event. As always, have fun, learn a little each day, and let us know what kinds of Opportunities you're looking for! And here's something you can help us with. We want to grow our list of subscribers to 100,000 passionate people who want to create opportunities to improve their life, and in turn, make the world a better place . Know someone? CLICK HERE AND SHARE THIS WITH A FRIEND |
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Living in the Age of Twitter, Facebook and a Lifetime of Distractions
By Mark Monchek
 Today it is harder than ever to pay attention to any one thing for very long. Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, DVR, email, iPhones and smartphones, podcasts, surfing the net, changing the health care system, dealing with your demanding job and, your more-demanding spouse and kids- there just isn't enough time to attend to everything. The average employee works nine more weeks a year than they did in 1970. The average person today interacts with more people and does more things in one year than our great grandparents did in a lifetime.
Your life is what you pay attention to. Think about that for a moment. If you are Tweeting, Facebooking, thinking about your afternoon plans and have the TV on in the background- stop and focus on this one concept: your life is what you pay attention to. It might be the most important idea you think about today, or ever. In fact, it is such a powerful and daunting notion that your unconscious may just resist and cause you to pull away. Decide to stick with me and you just might get something done.
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The Skinny on Social Networking: What You Need to Know at Any Level
 No matter where you fall in the spectrum of social networking, we're going to help you get to the next level.
Maybe your business already has a blog and Twitter and Facebook accounts but you're not quite sure how to use these applications effectively? Listen to a podcast with Susan Bratton of Personal Life Media, and Kyra Reed, co-founder of L.A. media agency, Markyr. Susan and Kyra will help your company create dynamic conversations with your customers and help your marketing teams "write once and distribute many times".
Maybe you're standing on the sidelines, wondering what all the fuss is about Twitter. Watch this video designed for beginners on how to get started using this new social networking phenomenon.
Speaking of Twitter, learn a bit more as you read Al Harrington's blog post about Twitter's founder, Biz Stone, and his conversation with Fortune's Adam Lashinsky. The last item on Al's post is a question about doing well by doing good in the world. Hmmm. Now where have I heard that before? Worth checking out.
Finally, read about a single marketing campaign that took home a Grand Prix award in three categories of the Cannes Advertising Festival simultaneously--direct, cyber and PR-- something that had never happened before in the 50+ year history of the show. Integrating a number of social media platforms was critical to their success. |
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Profile in Opportunity: Michael Blake - 26 Year Old Member of the Obama Administration
by Andrew Levine and Rich Jones
 Michael Blake is a real success story, the kind we love to hear about. In December of 2007, Time Magazine said, "Michael Blake may have more to do with Barack Obama's chances of becoming President than anyone besides the candidate himself." Blake now works at the White House, as the Deputy Associate Director for Intergovernmental Affairs and is one of the subjects of Ed Norton's documentary, By The People: The Election of Barack Obama".
Nine years ago, the now 26 year old Michael was a high school senior struggling to put together the funds to attend Northwestern University, the first in his family ever to attend college. Fate would bring him together with the future founder of The Opportunity Show.
"Michael was volunteering for a community-based organization in the Bronx, and spontaneously, he decided to sing a capella for members of the board of a foundation I was consulting for. I was very appreciative of his generosity to the community and asked him to call me if there was anything I could do for him. I say that to at least 100 people each year and never hear from them. Michael was different. "
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Whopping Mega Deal
by Demetrius Lewis
HowCast.com: Your Own How-To Video Library
Have you ever spent time wondering how to change a bike tire, register a domain name, or even train yourself to be on time? Our WMD for this month has all the answers in one place, from simple fixes to more complicated do-it-yourself projects. There's even information on relationships and self-improvement. HowCast.com is a veritable melting pot of useful videos and how-to wikis that cover an incredible range of subjects.
HowCast combines user-created and professional content that cover practical concerns, including "How to Plant Tomatoes," while more lighthearted videos offer advice on topics such as "How to Make Someone Fall in Love With You." The videos tend to keep things simple but are great for gaining a working knowledge on a wealth of subjects. They also list the tools necessary to follow along so you won't be caught unprepared. Two we found especially useful were "How to Prepare an Emergency Fund" and "How to Prevent Identity Theft." Be careful, though-the "Related Videos" that appear after every segment finishes can easily pique your curiosity and it can be fairly easy to lose track of time exploring the site.
For more portable advice, HowCast even offers content available in a podcast format (available for free on iTunes). In closing, we recommend HowCast, especially during these economic times. Follow this Opportunity and become a little bit of an expert on just about anything, and take solutions to everyday problems into your own hands. HowCast says: 'Want a better life? You can create it yourself!'
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Thank you for taking the time to read The Opportunity Show newsletter. Look for our upcoming August issue, and please forward a copy of this newsletter to your friends and colleagues by clicking on the link below.
Sincerely,
Mark Monchek and the staff at PerformXcellence
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The Opportunity Show is a newsletter meant to help you think differently about opportunity.
We will show you how opportunities show up everywhere, even in these tough times, and how you can become a master at finding opportunity and making it work for you and your business. And, in turn, make for a better world. To learn more about The Opportunity Show, PerformXcellence, or Mark Monchek, please visit www.performx.net
PerformXcellence
545 Eighth Ave.
Suite 401
New York, NY 10018
ph: 212-420-0570
fax: 212-420-0574
The Opportunity Show is brought to you by:
Mark Monchek, Publisher · Andrew Levine, Editor in Chief · Jenn Bardong, Office Manager · Rich Jones and Demetrius Lewis, Associate Editors
· Designed and built by Richard Berman and Jake More of VerbFactory
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Are You Smarter Than a Fourth Grader?
Lets see how many readers of The Opportunity Show can get this right.
Which language has the most number of blogposts?
Answer to our last issue's question:
What well- known author was collaborating with Michael Jackson on a song at the time of the singer's death?
Deepak Chopra.
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