Archive for the ‘Information’ Category
- In: Civil Society | Communications | Information | Politics | Society
- 4 Comments
- In: Civil Society | Communications | Information | Politics | Society
- 4 Comments
The following is a guest post by my friend, Scott Young. Please note: the material is emotionally charged.
- In: Communications | Information | Society
- 2 Comments
Hi, friends!
Summer’s nearly in full bloom and many of us will have a little extra time to spare. If you haven’t found a job or an internship, fret not. This is an opportune time to prepare yourself even further for the next best opportunity. If anything, it’s a great time to improve your personal knowledge. So here’s 5 ways to what I call, PPP (Personal and Professional Progress).
1. Watch a TED video
Many of you know of TED. In their own words, they are ideas worth spreading. Watch at least one video a week. You will learn something knew. And the remaining 6 days will allow you to internalize what you have learned. Make an active effort to think about the implications of the ideas that are discussed.
Recommend, “Pattie Maes and Pranav Mistry demo SixthSense.”
2. Follow a Tweet Chat
I’m a big advocate of twitter. I have only recently begun using it, and already I have gained significant benefit from it. To gain the most benefit, follow a tweet chat. It’s where people with like minded interests come together and interact. Try to follow at least one, but no more than three. Don’t overwhelm yourself with an excess of information. Steady flow of information is good for you to be able to process it. This isn’t a race.
Recommend, #PRStudChat. Also follow #HAPPO (or #HappoCAN if you’re in Canada).
3. Volunteer
Giving of your money is generous. It’s wonderful! Keep doing it. But giving your time and knowledge is greater. This summer, participate in at least one charity event. Whether its a walk, a hike, or otherwise. Volunteer your skills and experience to the cause.
Recommend, World Partnership Walk in Montreal on the 6th of June, 2010.
4. Meet with old friends
It’s important to have a good time. To go back to those roots which at one time refreshed and rejuvenated you. There are high chances that you will recall those emotions and feelings of joy and contentment connecting back. This will definitely allow you to view things with a rekindled perspective. Equally importantly, the old friends that you meet might be your lead in to the industry you want to work in. They will not only be your gateway to goodness past, but also your progressive future. Follow up.
Recommends, A day long excursion at the Old Port in Montreal and/or a barbecue atop Mont Royal.
5. Treat yourself to solitude.
Some people call this meditation. Spending time alone with yourself in an active manner is necessary for an even healthier progress. The best communicators to respond effectively are the best listeners. Listen to your body and to your spirit. You will be armed with knowledge and will be able to respond appropriately. It is also good for your physical body. Furthermore, it is good to build patience, concentration, and persistence.
Recommends, a minimum of 15 minutes daily learning to relax your body by mentally stating to each body part to relax. Follow this with any visualization of achieving a personal or professional goal. Always imagine the goal in the here and now. Something done is better than something in the process of being done.
Do these things and you’re one step closer to self-actualization.
- In: Civil Society | Information | Society
- 25 Comments
Al Gore was referring to accomplishing the Millenium Development Goals in the recent Montreal Millennium Summit whose slogan was Learn, Talk, Act.
And it was through learning, talking, and consequently acting, that we will be able to accomplish the eradication of global poverty, and move towards a society of an all-inclusive global economic upliftment. 
“People sometimes don’t like to hear it described this way, but ladies and gentlemen, this is a moral issue. It is a challenge to our understand of who we are as human beings,” Gore said addressing the question on many people’s minds: why should we care?
Why Should We Care?
As Canadians, the question isn’t why should we care, but rather, why do we care. There are thousands of Canadians who join hands day in and day out to keep the momentum building, to make sure that we make a difference within our lifetimes: a difference that is sustainable, and long-term. And we have seen this difference: about 50% of people previously living in extreme poverty, have made their way up. Change is sometimes slow, but evident. It is an irrefutable fact, that as Canadians, we have brought hope to tens of millions of people.
“Shared Sense of Common Purpose”
“How did you rise to solve a crisis that so many said was impossible to solve?” the future generations will ask of us, said Al Gore. He was referring to this evident change and accomplishment that we have achieved, and continue to achieve.
“I want part of the answer to be that on the 40th anniversary of Earth Day in Montreal in the Palais, men and women from all over came together to lift the struggle against extreme poverty…and rally the forces of conscience and common sense.”
How You Can Keep The Momentum Building
It’s being done. Right before our eyes. And we are doing it.
Learn about the issue. Go to the World Partnership Walk website and learn about the issue. But more importantly, learn about
how these issues are being overcome, and how you (yes, you) have played a major role in bringing an end to extreme poverty.
Talk about the progress. Those days are long gone when people could talk about problems inconsolably. We are now in the era where we can be confident about our abilities and future as a collective global village. Because we truly are a global village. Share your personal stories of hope and change with your friends, and invite them to participate and learn about the World Partnership Walk. Also follow the Twitter hashtag, #WPW
Act in any way that is possible. Sign up for the World Partnership Walk (Montreal has an exclusive, fully-functional, bi-lingual portal) as a fund raiser, an ambassador, a volunteer. Sign up on a team that already exists, or create your own. Take the leadership position. Donate any amount that you can, and ask your friends and family too. If someone can’t donate, ask them to donate collectively as a Family. Remember, 100% of the funds raised go to the development work, and you get tax receipts.
Because Canadians Can!
Pete Codella: Online Newsroom
Posted on: March 30, 2010
- In: Communications | Information | Media | Society | Technology
- 2 Comments
Pete Codella, of Codella Marketing has an interesting video up on MyRaganTV about online newsrooms:
What Every Media Site Should Have
I am a very strong advocate of online newsrooms and I understand that generally having a presence online is one of the best things you can do. Why is this? Well, One of the reasons is that it costs close to nothing to build your brand online, specially with free social media services. This is especially great for students attempting to stand out for prospective employers.
There’s many other reasons that Pete Codella himself highlights in the video as benefits of having an online presence, and no wonder he has a successful, unique service, called NewsCactus. Just look at what NewsCactus clients are saying (navigate the website, as you learn more about the service).
However, there’s some things I disagree with. For one, Codella says,
“the more baskets your information is in, the more opportunities you have to rank high…”
It’s marvelous if a company can put its eggs in multiple baskets. But it only works when the company has enough eggs to show. More baskets mean less eggs per basket, and the less visible they are.
If a company uses all the social media and uses their website or other online presence as a center point of consolidation, this is good. But there are two issues that one must take into account:
- Can you keep up with the need to constantly update your various presences with relevant information?
- Is it feasible, or even necessary? In other words, do you have a following, or a target market that you can reach by expanding across the multiple networks.
It should go without saying, that a company must build its multiple networks one by one (or simultaneously if it is affordable, and meets the conditions mentioned above.
It is a really progressive idea to get involved in all facets and be everywhere, but in a situation of crisis, it may become much more unmanageable.
A simple example is the very prominent Australian bank, BankWest. BankWest has multiple YouTube accounts. EverydayOlympics has been stagnant for over a year now, and HappyBanking has been quiet for an equally long time. This is the same with their Twitter account.
The idea is, if it doesn’t need to be done, don’t do it. It’s Ockham’s Razor of sorts. And while I admire Pete Codella’s unique online newsroom service, I believe that being ubiquitous doesn’t work all the time.
Perception Is Reality 