CircleCount helps you better understand Google+

2013-05-25 15:51:56 (3 comments, 2 reshares, 11 +1s)

Do the 'Get Lucky' dance
This is the proper way to dance when you listen "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk :-D

#GetLucky   #DaftPunk   #70s  

2013-05-25 15:22:21 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

Fantastic lunch this week with my social media buddy +April Heavens-Woodcock!

It's so nice to see green after the long winter. 

2013-05-25 12:57:27 (3 comments, 3 reshares, 15 +1s)

Have a great weekend everyone.

2013-05-25 12:52:41 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 13 +1s)

Big-Wave Surfing Teahupoo, Tahiti
Photograph by Fred Pompermayer



http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/extreme-photo-of-the-week/#/mark-healey-tahiti_67647_600x450.jpg

2013-05-25 12:44:25 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

African Lion Panthera leo

Today "only 32,000 lions remain out of 100,000 roaming Africa in the 1960s." 

"Lions are the only cats that live in groups, which are called prides. Prides are family units that may include up to three males, a dozen or so females, and their young. All of a pride's lionesses are related, and female cubs typically stay with the group as they age. Young males eventually leave and establish their own prides by taking over a group headed by another male.

Only male lions boast manes, the impressive fringe of long hair that encircles their heads. Males defend the pride's territory, which may include some 100 square miles (259 square kilometers) of grasslands, scrub, or open woodlands."

Source: National Geographic
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/african-lion/

#Caturday... more »

2013-05-25 00:43:47 (3 comments, 2 reshares, 13 +1s)

Amazing.

2013-05-24 21:56:07 (4 comments, 4 reshares, 15 +1s)

One thing a leader must to do succeed

Sadly, 25% of businesses fail within their first year and an astonishing 70% of businesses fail within ten years. So, if you’re thinking about starting a business or you’ve recently made the leap, how can you optimize your chances of success? What is the single most important factor in determining your success?

1. Build a strong leadership team

2. Have a great mindset

3. Execute

4. Create value

Most important: focus

Full article on LinkedIn by +Dave Kerpen 
http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130516122636-15077789-the-1-thing-a-business-leader-must-do-to-succeed

#Leadership #leadershiptips

2013-05-24 20:50:37 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 9 +1s)

Have you thought of hiring a professional writer?

We all type, and most of what we type is meant to be seen by just a few people… an email here, a text there, maybe a PowerPoint presentation for the department. Then, there’s the internet. It’s a combination soapbox-printing press-megaphone. It demands content, and a lot of it. Between updating a website frequently (you do that, right?), writing blog posts, crafting email marketing campaigns, and publishing e-newsletters, that’s a bunch of keystrokes.

1. Writing takes time
People are busy and most of us are overloaded. What are the odds of sitting down to write a thoughtful, well-researched article for a blog?

2. Most people hate to write
Writing on demand can feel a bit like that 7th-grade English assignment. “Give me three pages on…” Yikes.

3. Writing is hard
Correction: goodwriting is ha... more »

2013-05-24 13:37:29 (2 comments, 3 reshares, 20 +1s)

Socially awkward photography with Google Glass. This would be me
File this one under humor

2013-05-24 12:44:31 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

5 branding tuneup tips

How is your social media presence? When’s the last time you gave it an overall tuneup?

Being consistent throughout your social media presence is very important but one of the things that happens when you’re busy is that you lose touch of the overall picture when you are focusing on the smaller details. Today’s fab five Friday will be a little brush up for your social media brand.

Tip 1 You already have a personal brand

What is a personal brand?

It is you. Your story. This intimate story is portrayed via an overall message that weaves throughout your communications and social media platforms.

Tip 2 Check your personal brand consistency

It is smart to present the best possible version of yourself while remaining true to who you really are. Don’t create a personal branding mask,create ... more »

2013-05-24 02:19:58 (7 comments, 5 reshares, 24 +1s)

6 Tips to Create GOOD Social Media Content

Make your content:

1. Visually appealing 
2.  Informative
3. Entertaining
4. Different
5. Relevant
6. Convenient

See the full infographic here: http://pinterest.com/pin/159526011773683855/

2013-05-23 20:30:11 (3 comments, 2 reshares, 20 +1s)

23 dreamy art installations you'll want to live in

Rainbows, prisms, water...interesting and inspiring art!


Full article on BuzzFeed
http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/art-installations-you-want-to-live-in

2013-05-23 15:00:54 (7 comments, 1 reshares, 9 +1s)

Who is your writing hero?

via +Kelsye Nelson  on the Writerly Facebook page 
https://www.facebook.com/Writer.ly

Mine is Nora Ephron. (and +Guy Kawasaki  but don't tell him)


#writing   #writers  

2013-05-23 14:34:57 (3 comments, 2 reshares, 14 +1s)

How To Make Love Work - It's A Matter of Choice Not Chance

Want to know how to make love work? Understand the diference between chance and choice.

Too many people think they fall in love by choice, but fall out of love by chance. This is backwards -- we fall in love by chance and fall out of love by choice.

Choice is the key ingredient in how to make love work. Staying in love takes work -- that doesn't happen by chance, it happens by choice. When people fall out of love -- that doesn't happen by chance, that happens by choice (choice not to work and choice to leave).

Understanding (and accepting) when we have choice verses chance is the key to how to make love work.

#loveadvice   #howtolove   #relationshipadvice  Image: http://goo.gl/VXTtS

2013-05-23 13:19:11 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 13 +1s)

What New Graduates Need to Know

"If you suspect that your 20-something employee is sneering at you from behind the stack of copies you asked him to collate, research suggests you might be right. Three-quarters of professionals under age 30 think their skills exceed those of an entry-level job, a survey released today by LinkedIn shows.

But workers over 30 were wary of this attitude, saying they doubted the younger generation’s work ethic. Perhaps more shockingly, 64 percent of all adults — young adults included — are nervous about millennials leading the workforce.

The season for commencement speeches — the annual ritual designed to bridge this ever-widening gap — is underway. Typically an admired leader, often with decades of work experience under her belt, imparts wisdom to a crowd of hopeful youth in polyester robes on the day of their collegegraduatio... more »

2013-05-23 03:46:43 (9 comments, 4 reshares, 50 +1s)

Monet's Garden in Giverny, France

2013-05-22 22:05:09 (3 comments, 6 reshares, 26 +1s)

Earth

2013-05-22 16:24:28 (7 comments, 1 reshares, 7 +1s)

Share a snap of your writing desk! Just pin it on Pinterest and put the link in the comments. We love to see where the magic happens. 

Are you going to be at Book Expo America (BEA) next week? If so, come meet the Writer.ly team (+Kelsye Nelson & +Abigail Carter) and the APE team (+Guy Kawasaki & +Shawn Welch )!


via +Kelsye Nelson of  Writerl.y 
{Disc. I advise Writer.ly and they are fabulous!}

2013-05-22 15:14:15 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 20 +1s)

Top ten pet owner mistakes. Are you guilty of them?

Avoid common errors, and keep your four-legged pal healthy and well-behaved.

1. Spontaneous pet purchases

Why this is a mistake: That doggie in the window may be darling, but he might not be the right fit for your family or lifestyle.

2. Skipping obedience training

Why this is a mistake: Bad habits can be difficult to train out of a pet. So unless you have the know-how to school an animal, you need the help of a pro.

3. Being inconsistent with rules

Why this is a mistake: If one child lets Fifi on the bed and another punishes her for it, the animal will be confused. Bad behavior is inevitable.

4. Too many "free" treats

Why this is a mistake: If one child lets Fifi on the bed and another punishes her for it, the animal will be confused.Bad ... more »

2013-05-22 12:53:24 (18 comments, 23 reshares, 51 +1s)

This could be GOOD!
 Everypost is a new app that +Dustin W. Stout found.

http://www.everypost.me/

Everypost is a mobile application that allows you easily create multimedia content and post it simultaneously to your preferred social networks. Express more. Better. Easily.

Share to

• Google+ PROFILES
• Pinterest (by board)
• Twitter (with @mentions)
• Tumblr
• LinkedIn
• Facebook

You can attach photos or links and it has some photo filters.

What do you think?

#SocialMedia   #socialmediatips   #timemanagement  #apps 

2013-05-22 11:53:57 (6 comments, 4 reshares, 19 +1s)

Vital Daily Tasks of a Freelancer by +Allison Herzog 

"Ahh freelancing. For writers and creative types, freelancing can offer the option to earn a living while working on your own terms, controlling your own schedule and still doing what you love. With the ever-growing opportunity for telecommuting and remote work these days, freelancing can be a welcome career change for the right person. But if the thought of working from bed in your PJs, with no chatty coworkers and no boss in sight sounds more terrifying than fabulous, you might just need a little encouragement.

Read on for some tips to help ease your transition to the freelance life!"

1. Establish a presence on freelance websites
2. Keep (and stick to!) and daily to-do-list
3. Don't forget about social media 
4. Organize your invoices and make sure you are getting paid for yourw... more »

2013-05-22 00:42:41 (2 comments, 12 reshares, 17 +1s)

Want to create Pinterest images that get shared? Read my latest post on +SteamFeed! 

http://www.steamfeed.com/4-ways-to-create-pinterest-images-that-get-shared/

#socialmediatips   #pinteresttips   #pinterestmarketing   #socialmediamarketing  

2013-05-21 20:05:44 (19 comments, 7 reshares, 22 +1s)

Reasons it’s Wrong to Steal Other People’s Content
 (I guess it needs to be repeated)

Be a good social media citizen and CITE your sources. This makes you a better person and more respected. Getting caught lifting someone else's content will trash your reputation. Very quickly.

http://bit.ly/10IPFWI

Basic rules: 

You can’t repost content from someone else’s blog without their permission. Period.

It’s unethical to take other’s people’s writing and pass it off as yours. Period. This includes tweets and posts that people write. Cause it's, ya know, writing.

Hit the SHARE button, don't cut and paste. If you do repost, mention the person who shared/created the post.

If you read something and use the ideas for your content, cite your sources. Period.

#Writing  #SocialMedia#SocialMediaTips... more »

2013-05-21 18:25:54 (4 comments, 4 reshares, 22 +1s)

Innovative strategies to succeed at self-publishing by +Guy Kawasaki 

The self-publishing revolution is in full swing because we're at a great time when tablets have reached critical mass, connectivity is ubiquitous, and people want to spread, not horde, their knowledge. Thus, the time for every author to consider self-publishing is upon us.

Here are some strategies to get you started writing your own book:

1. Write for the right reasons
2. Write every day
3. Start with a Kindle ebook
4. Build your marketing platform


More tips and the full article here:
http://bareessentialsmagazine.uberflip.com/i/131228


Photo credit teal typewriter By Amanda Schutz

#Writing   #SelfPublishing  #IndiePublishing #HolyKaw

2013-05-21 12:07:24 (3 comments, 4 reshares, 33 +1s)

Inspirational quotes from Dr. Maya Angelou

Dr. Maya Angelou has healing words and inspiring messages that bring hope when people need it. Through her life's work as a performer, poet, writer, and most importantly teacher, Dr. Angelou is a calming voice in times of need and a spark to the spirit at just the right moment to ignite the flame. Take what you need from her beautiful words and saver them like a tasty tidbit.

Full article on Oprah
http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Maya-Angelou-Quotes-Quotes-By-Maya-Angelou

#inspiration #inspirationalquote #gratitude 

2013-05-21 01:00:17 (9 comments, 3 reshares, 17 +1s)

Going live right now with author Bryant McGill 

Author interview with Bryant McGill and the APE team Guy Kawasaki, Shawn Welch and Peg Fitzpatrick

2013-05-20 16:20:16 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

Yoohoo vs. Yahoo for #MemeMonday  

More details of acquisition here:
http://holykaw.alltop.com/yahoo-acquires-tumblr-promises-not-to-screw-it-up



#tumblr   #yahoo  

2013-05-20 15:54:57 (18 comments, 3 reshares, 31 +1s)

The Powerful Benefits of Coffee!

Why drink coffee? Top reasons you should drink coffee in 2013:


1. Wake up! If you’re not a morning person, coffee helps wake you up and become more alert for the morning commute, early meetings, and responding to questions from your boss, customers, or coworkers.

2. Get an Edge: Even if you are a “morning person”, coffee can still give you an extra edge in dealing with the challenges of the day.

3. When you’re chilled to the bone: Coffee warms you up on a cold day.

4. Fresh Perspective: A cup of coffee gives you a good excuse to take a break, socialize with friends and coworkers, and step away from your work for a few minutes. Breaks can help you approach tasks with renewed vigor and creativity. When the brain starts getting stale, a coffee break can be the perfect way to recharge yourbattery.... more »

2013-05-20 13:28:59 (15 comments, 13 reshares, 41 +1s)

Stop the negative chatter

Are you your own worst critic? If your internal dialog is killing your momentum towards reaching your goals and being happy, it’s time to stop the pattern.

The worst bullies you will ever encounter in your life are your own thoughts.  +Bryant McGill 

Here are a few things that you can do to stop the negative chatter:

1.  *Be aware *  — pay attention to what you are saying to yourself. If you start being negative, stop yourself and move on. Dwelling on negative thoughts is not going to help you.

2. Call a friend  — run the scenario that’s going through your head by your best friend. They’ll either tell you your being silly,  offer a suggestion or maybe just listen.

So, the bad news is that you are your worst bully but the good news is that you can change it. Having the power to changeyour internal d... more »

2013-05-20 12:13:07 (4 comments, 4 reshares, 20 +1s)

Don’t let them steal your happy. by +Jennifer Pastiloff 

There’s this parallel life running alongside yours.

"They usually don’t intersect, except every once in a great while. When your eyes won’t close late at night like someone is holding the lids open for you to look at something, but you’re not sure what, so you just keep looking and looking until you see that parallel life and go Oh My God, there I am, that’s me if I had gone there instead of here or said this instead of that, and then the longer your eyes stay unblinking, the farther back they see into the space before you were born. In that space, which is dark and wet and grey, your eyes notice things like your parents falling in love and laughing in a car, and you’re not even in the picture. You’re not even an idea yet. You’re not even a kiss.

You’re simply a pair of dry eyes who won’tclose in the middle of... more »

2013-05-20 01:03:56 (10 comments, 1 reshares, 26 +1s)

Please join us for an awesome hangout tomorrow with  +Guy Kawasaki  +Peg Fitzpatrick  +Shawn Welch  :)

APE Link:
http://blog.apethebook.com/2013/05/author-interview-with-bryant-mcgill/

Hangout Link:
https://plus.google.com/events/c9127pq4d48li63s41hcdkt7i54

2013-05-19 18:17:21 (5 comments, 7 reshares, 42 +1s)

Never a bad time to have a silly and ridiculously fun day!


#funnypics   #tuesdaymotivation   #quoteoftheday   #sillyhumor  

2013-05-19 14:00:35 (5 comments, 5 reshares, 40 +1s)

Pets are good for you

Did you know that your brain releases oxytocin, "the feel-good" hormone in the brain when you pet your dog or cat?

What is Oxytocin? (http://bit.ly/10NOoy7)
"Oxytocin is a powerful hormone. When we hug or kiss a loved one, oxytocin levels drive up. It also acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain. In fact, the hormone plays a huge role in pair bonding."

This wonderful feeling can come from dogs, cats, and even goldfish! A study showed that having a fish tank at a nursing home improved appetites. 

"Watch a Lassie movie and spit into a cup. It doesn't sound like it, but this is cutting-edge research. By analyzing saliva, researcher Cheryl Krause-Parello showed that merely watching a dog in a movie lowered people's stress. Krause-Parello, assistant professor and director of the Center for Nursing... more »

2013-05-19 05:02:54 (5 comments, 6 reshares, 33 +1s)

"Fear less about how you will be able to do it and work towards doing it." - +Peg Fitzpatrick 

http://simplereminders.com/blog/post/less-about-how
#SimpleReminders   #quote   #success   #fear  

2013-05-18 16:27:19 (8 comments, 10 reshares, 21 +1s)

Tips for Smarter Pinning on Pinterest

There’s more to Pinterest than “just pinning” and learning a few extra tips can maximize your Pinterest activities. While I love to spend time pinning, I also maximize my time there by finding ways to use it for creating content that I can share on other social platforms and learn while I’m there. 

1. Repinly ”helps you find the most popular pins, boards, and pinners on Pinterest. http://www.repinly.com/

2.  *Pinstamatic*  is a fantastic tool that you can use to add Twitter profiles, calendar items, and more to pin boards. I created the two pins with red arrows pointing to them with Pinstamatic.
http://pinstamatic.com/

3. Be creative with your Pinterest board names!

More tips here:
http://pegfitzpatrick.com/2013/01/18/tips-for-smarter-pinning/

#Pinterest #PinterestTip... more »

2013-05-18 14:42:16 (11 comments, 5 reshares, 20 +1s)

6 anger styles. Which is yours?

1. explosive
2. self-abuse
3. avoidance
4. sarcasm
5. passive aggressive
6. habitual irritation

Great tips for each style:  what it looks like, what you do and how to turn it around.

Full article Real Simple
http://www.realsimple.com/health/mind-mood/best-manage-your-anger-00000000009959/index.html



2013-05-18 13:27:25 (131 comments, 286 reshares, 664 +1s)

Cats playing patty cake

Really? Really....

#caturday  

2013-05-18 13:17:24 (5 comments, 2 reshares, 26 +1s)

the King thinks                                                          #caturday  

2013-05-17 17:52:14 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 33 +1s)

A little squeeeee for your afternoon. 

A micro pig!
from Reddit http://i.imgur.com/mG50Wy6.jpg

I think that +Brian Scott still owes me a birthday present so, this pig'll do.

#cutenessoverload   #cutepocalpse  

2013-05-17 16:15:56 (7 comments, 2 reshares, 19 +1s)

35 Modern Media Room Designs That Will Blow You Away

I love these! My fave would be Gone with the Wind...wait no, the Titanic theme...there's something for everyone!

What's your favorite?

"From plush and vivid shades that bring back the retro age to the lovely modern minimalist designs that use neutral shades in a simple, yet effective fashion, from Hollywood-inspired themes to those inspired by nature, here is a fascinating collection of them all."

Full article and very cool photos
http://www.decoist.com/2012-09-13/35-modern-media-room-designs-that-will-blow-you-away/

#InteriorDesign  

2013-05-17 12:41:40 (3 comments, 12 reshares, 39 +1s)

Mark Twain's Top Tips for Living a Kickin' Life

“It’s no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense.”

“Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.”

“When your friends begin to flatter you on how young you look, it’s a sure sign you’re getting old.”

You may know Mark Twain for some of his very popular books like Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. He was a writer and also a humorist, satirist and lecturer.

Twain is known for his many – and often funny – quotes. Here are a few of my favorite tips from him.

1. Approve of yourself
“A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval.”

2. Your limitations might be just in your mind
“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, itdoesn’t matter.”

3... more »

2013-05-17 12:29:10 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 12 +1s)

What's next on your travel wish list?

Ireland might be mine. :)

#Travel 

2013-05-16 19:46:52 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 21 +1s)

Oh. My. Goodness.

A dramatic reading of the Amy' Baking Co. Facebook "event" this week

(warning bad language and you may pee your pants)

Facebook in a nutshell, no?

BTW: Threatening "the Reddit people" is not a good idea. Don't do that.


h/t +Carrie Keenan 

2013-05-16 20:12:32 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 16 +1s)

Looking for ideas for your ginormous cover photo?

+Jaana Nyström  picked some of my faves.

2013-05-16 18:41:13 (1 comments, 6 reshares, 15 +1s)

5 key steps for business social media success by +Dave Kerpen 

“Over 1.1 billion people in the world are on Facebook, including over 175 million Americans, or 1 in 2 adults. Twitter recently surpassed 400 million accounts. LinkedIn boasts over 225 million users. Small business owners are trying to take advantage of these trends, but few are fully reaping the rewards.For many business owners, the temptation is to use social networks to promote themselves and broadcast their messages. But if you stop thinking like a marketer and start thinking like a customer, you’ll understand that the secret to social media is in the “social” more than in the “media” – it’s in being human – being the sort of person at a cocktail party who listens attentively, tells great stories, shows interest in others, and is authentic and honest. The secret is to simply be likeable.”
Here are 5 key fir... more »

2013-05-16 13:12:46 (6 comments, 7 reshares, 20 +1s)

Your approach to mistakes defines your success by +Penelope Trunk 

Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.  ― Albert Einstein

"When things go bad for any business, it’s so easy to feel like a failure.

I understand that feeling. It’s the feeling of wanting to give up when things go bad in your business. There are lots of ways to get past that moment. Each entrepreneur finds one that works for them."

Some tips
1. Focus on the big idea
2. Take action
3. Surround yourself with people making mistakes and SURVIVING

What do you do when you hit a road bump?

Full article on Penelope Trunk
http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2013/04/22/your-approach-to-mistakes-defines-your-success/

#Motivation #Inspiration #HolyKaw  

2013-05-16 00:36:12 (4 comments, 3 reshares, 14 +1s)

My interview with the amazing +Ekaterina Walter,  author of “Think Like Zuck: The Five Business Secrets of Facebook’s Improbably Brilliant CEO Mark Zuckerberg.”

12 Most Surefire Ways Your Business Can Think Like Zuck and WIN!

"What makes a great leader, in my opinion, can be summed up as such: great leaders breed more leaders, not managers (or followers, for that matter). Great leaders share their wisdom and their vision, they inspire, but they empower others around them to lead, make decisions, and drive change. - Ekaterina Walter

(image credit: bookish)

http://12most.com/2013/05/15/ways-business-can-think-like-zuck/

#socialmediamarketing   #socialbusiness   #businesstips   #branding  

2013-05-16 00:12:52 (23 comments, 3 reshares, 42 +1s)

Are you feeling the #GooglePlusLove

Google+ added loads and loads of new features today! What are your new favorite new features? I love the way that the new sharebox works and the communities look fantastic! I'm excited to try a hangout with the update too.

Thanks so much +Vic Gundotra and the whole Google+ team!

A summary of the updates here:
http://pegfitzpatrick.com/2013/05/15/google-gets-pretty/

#Google+ #GooglePlusTips   #googleplusupdate  

2013-05-15 18:11:53 (15 comments, 15 reshares, 21 +1s)

This Kid Was Bullied A LOT. He Could Have Told His Teacher Or His Principal. He Had Bigger Plans.

“11-year-old Caine Smith was choked, beaten, harassed, and was called a long list of names simply because he had two moms and long hair. Instead of staying locked away and hiding, he stood up and did something about it.”

Help Caine’s message make a difference. Kids deserve to be safe at school.

#StopBullies  

2013-05-15 16:55:52 (1 comments, 2 reshares, 27 +1s)

The Best Of First World Dog Problems or — 20 reasons to get a cat.

Sooooo funnny! http://www.buzzfeed.com/copyranter/the-best-of-first-world-dog-problems

#doglovers