Twittering in the Main

You no doubt heard of Twitter by now. I have been harping about it for awhile but have never taken full advantage of it until just the last few weeks. It’s been around for a bit but it has been popularized now by the cool kids.

Twitter is going to be huge, the great news is that you are basically in at the beginning. That is, the over 6 million people now involved, is nothing compared to where it will be moving forward.
 
 So here’s one of the things going on with Twitter right now…
 
Honest to goodness celebrities are now using Twitter and are showing up at a tremendous rate. While there are a huge number of them, one person that I’ve been watching is Lance
Armstrong. As many of you know I have roots in triathlon and personal development both, so this is no surprise that I am an Armstrong fan. Well check this out, Lance joined Twitter just a few
months ago, and he already has over 233,000
followers.
 
This summer is the Tour de France. His Twitter updates will no doubt be mentioned in the press many times during coverage of the
race… and all of a sudden Twitter will hit the
mainstream.
 
Other celebrities are also picking up the pace.
They are beginning to realize that they can control building a following, away from mainstream media and that they can also develop another revenue stream by monetizing that following in a variety of ways. Do you think we may soon have more celebrities from TV, the big screen, stage, field and track on Twitter.? If so fans will follow.
 
You can follow my thought process here I am sure. I may be wrong though. If so, I haven’t lost much. Twitter is already proving valuable so anything moving forward is just a bonus.
 
Here are a few things to note:
 
If you don’t “get” Twitter, don’t worry. Many of us didn’t at first. I started last April then bailed because I didnt research enough to see the value or how you use it. I just started agian in January. So sign up and start following a few people from a niche you have interest in. It’s free so no big deal. Read a bit about it and watch some video tutorials and find out what the buzz is all about.
 
 
Twitter is a viral tool so you definitely want to stake your claim. Like much of the internet and clearly for social media as a whole, the madness is much like the gold rush in the late 1800’s. It may be short and sweet but it certainly is as much and more profitable. So start now.
Just like the internet, marketing, or business in general Twitter has many different facets. There is not one right way to use it. Find the way that works for you and allows you to be you and be transparent to your followers and congruent to your beliefs. 
After you are on Twitter for awhile begin to look at some of the third party software programs that can be used with Twitter. It can be easier, more productive and more fun if you can engage in a couple of these pieces.
 
Of the many programs available there are two I am currently using. Tweetdeck, tweetergetter, and the search function at http://search.twitter.com - you can use that to track what people are saying about you,  your
company, or your competitors. You also can find a specific topic you may have interest in. It’s awesome,
instantaneous feedback. Ah, OK that’s three I am using, sorry.
  
I did a review of Joel Comm’s new book, Twitter Power. Check out his book. You can purchase it here.

Twitterpower.

Another awesome source of information is Marketing Merge blog a blogsite that specializes in attraction marketing. There are a few short vids that will give you the inside scoop here.
 
Finally, if you get signed up follow me too. There is a ton of info that goes into the tweets I put out just like many others. Here’s the link:         follow Tim

Have a blast and be diligent in learning this awesome social media tool.

True North- A Personal Mission Statement

A Personal Mission Statement will help to keep you focused on why your are working your butt off on your life path journey.  As the adult poster child for dyslexic adults with ADD I know just a tad about focus.  My bride and I have an inside family joke that says I have the attention span of a gnat.  It is truly a gift. I am able to do a ton of things that most people will never do because of it.  It can also be a terrific burden if my attitude and work ethic are not in the proper place.  Usually I just want to play.  As I teach my children,  we have to work before we earn the right to play.  One of the ways I continue to focus is my daily reading of my goals.  Oh yea, you first have to have them, then write them down and finally,  read them.  If you haven’t done that start,  at the article on this site about SMART goal setting.  OK focus Tim, where was I? Yea, ok reading my goals daily…out-loud.  A part of my goals sheet is my personal mission statement.  

We have so much going on is our super-sized supersonic lives that sometimes it is just tough staying on the treadmill.  An occasional look back and look “out” is worthwhile and has a renewing effect and refreshes my confindence that I am in fact heading in the direction I want. An introspective look can also give me feeback on whether I am traveling on the two track dirt road on a mountain bike or if I have boarded the supersonic transatlantic mode of moving forward. It can be hard  to tell if you havent checked the scenery for awhile.   Napoleon Hill, in his famous book Think and Grow Rich, wrote that most people never have or define a goal. In his book he presents is a six step plan to achive financial freedom. Chapter two contains one of the secrets. The key element is first developing a clear statement of purpose, a personal mission statement will be an awesome start so here we go.

A warning though.  You need to spend some time on this.  I suspect that is why people never get it done…because it takes work.  It is critical to your success to craft this personal mission statement to be congruent with your core values.  Here are some of  the elements of a good mission statement.

• Write a statement that is specific and clear 
  What are your core  values? Who are you really?  Does that line up with who you want to be? What do you stand for? Do you have a contribution that you have a burning desore to put out to the world? Your personal mission statement  is a statement of intent,  it’s what is going to happen and how. When the daily drudges hit you, this is the place of joy, relaxation and contentment you will come to. Make your statement meet your needs. Your Personal Mission Statement becomes your True North, it will act as a compass to keep you on track; your decisions and actions will be guided by it. Coming back to your statement will provide you with an overview a peek trough a fisheye lens to see the bigger picture.
• Many big dumb companies (Dan Kennedy’s fine words) produce long rambling mission statements.  Did you ever work for a corporation that wanted you to memorize that thing?  Yea right. No one reads that rot.  Again Napolean Hill suggests you read through your ‘mission statement’ every morning and evening, if you have a 20 page dissertation you wont read it enough.  Short, succint, sweet.
• Fuzz factor.  It should contatain the appropriate fuzz factor for you.  What makes you feel good? Inside. Knowing where you are going and why allows you to begin the day with joyous anticipation.  Knowing you are traveling the route you selected to a destination you desire will give you a brighter view of the journey.

Enjoy your successful journey.  Live-Love-Laugh. Tim