Susan Boyle

Has been searched more than Lindsay Lohan and Brittany Spears. The overnight sensation has perplexed millions and perhaps changed percpetions of what beauty looks like. The woman who has never been kissed is having suitors lining up. Bravo to her - for getting yourself on the show and stepping onto the stage and owning her power.
But I have to ask, "why now?" With such an amazing voice, why was she only discovered now? She apparently had a vocal coach. He had to know she was a sensation. So why was her talent never noticed? Why was she not already a celebrity, even a local one?
If people could so easily dismiss her gift, what else are we, as a society, as friends, families, co-workers, individuals overlooking in those around us? How are our judgements creating perceptions of others based on snippets of what we observe? Creating stories about people regardless of the fact that we may not know them completely and fully. Even if what we observe is true, it may not be the truth about that individual.
The Susan Boyle phenonomen may have taught us to look deeper, beyond appearances, beyond our biases and find the beauty, the value that each and every one of us brings to this world.
But let me ask you, what if Susan didn't have an amazing voice? What if Susan Boyle took that stage and did not perform well? Then what? Would her new found fans have embraced her as they are now for her courage to audition or would they have turned on her becoming fan-enemies instead, mocking her and never letting her forget her imperfections? Would all of us still see her beauty, and her value? Probably not. But does that mean she's not a talented person because we didn't see it? My answer is no. It may mean that we just didn't look deep enough.
What's your answer?

What's Your Social Media Footprint?

In doing some research via online anthropology for one of my clients, I stumbled upon the online "networker" archetype (you know, the guy that has a social presence almost everywhere you can link to) and realized that creating one's social media presence is serious business, for some. Moreover, it also made me understand that these social media "networkers" create more than a presence, they're creating a social media footprint, which leaves a much longer and lasting impression.

So I ask, what does your online social media footprint look like?

If you haven't thought of your FB or Linkedin pages as such, let me tell you now, it's a beginning. How far you want to take it... the possibilities are potentially limitless.

If creating a social media footprint is important for you or your business, or your clients for that matter, here are some suggestions to create a stronger imprint.

1. If you haven't already, set up a Facebook page and let the world know you're still alive.
2. If you're a professional, freelancer, (interested in working) - Linkedin.com is a must
3. Start to tweet - talk about actually getting people to know you, they'll also follow you!
4. Social bookmarks are a great exchange of social and intellectual capital - sharing your cool finds and areas of interests, ex. digg or delicious or StumbleUpon
5. You may have a Kodakgallery or Shutterfly but try Flickr and join and contribute to like minded groups of your eye's view seen through you photo uploads
Now those are pretty basic these days (for some), but here's some more that also will give your footprint the visual tracks that others' may want to follow more closely.
6. Read blogs that you want to be associated with and COMMENT - sounds too easy - it is!
7. Taking it a step further, blog yourself (and btw, you can have more than one blog on various free blog sites like this one and tailor your blogs around a speciality or specific focus or a specific audience
8. Leverage your Twitter and FB with your blog or links to your postings
9. Join groups or forums and post your affiliations
10. Really take the lead and start your own networking site on ning.com (create your own topic)
11. Write you own post or article as a guest writer, hint: Huffingtonpost.com
12. Become a commenter when needed by signing up with Helpareporter.com - they may just need your expert advice or experience

Well hope this posting inspired your socialness to spread and leave the web a better place.
Must sign off now and go make my footprint about this post on FB :).
If you have any other suggestions or want to share your print-ability, do tell.
Cheers

Are You Tweeting?

Recently through a Twitter algorithm, my 13 tweets were distilled down into twitter time. The result of my tweeting expenditure tallied up to 390 seconds or 7 minutes! I've ONLY spent 7 minutes tweeting?! Surprise was soon followed by disappointment. The amount of time I spend on Twitter is 1000x more, so to boil it all down to ONLY 7 minutes, I felt belittled. All I had to show for the energy, the interest and the pontification I've put into my tweets was 7 minutes?? Now if that's not perspective for you, specifically re: tweeting, then I'll make it more obvious. Tweeting clearly and shouldn't be regarded as a big deal. Tweeting is just that - tweeting - for only a few seconds each time. Tweeting is simple. There are no rules to tweeting. You can tweet whatever it is you want to tweet about from the ordinary to the extraordinary. And, by the way, there's no brownie points for the extraordinary or judgment calls to distinguish between the two. In fact, tweeting or being on the receiving end of someones tweet that clearly answers the question of what you or they're doing right now can be fascinating! I realized this after I read one of the Zappo's CEO tweets about one of his observations of ordinary life happening while walking in the airport. His tweet captured a moment in time, nothing more. Telling me and many of this followers that tweeting does not have to live up to any preconceived standard of what we all think the world wants to hear about. Assuming we know what's best to please others' only creates performance anxiety and procrastination, resulting in tweetlessness. Tweetlessness can lead to other negative effects bc it means we've missed out knowing so and so has been wearing the same socks for 2-days. Although it may seem there's nothing to learn from knowing that - for you, there may be for someone else or it may just bring joy, peace of mind to know that you're not the only one hasn't brushed their hair all weekend. If you don't believe me, and still think you need to post interesting links, or profound statements of proven value, then believe John Scalzi, an accomplished twitterer who was quoted in the WSJ substantiating the fact that it's okay to tweet for tweet's sake. "People just want some whimsy (tweet) or just want to know what you're doing." Mr. Scalzi has 3,380 followers and often can be found tweeting about his cats.
So tweet-it-up tweeties and find the joy. The world wants to hear.

The Wedgie. Why? Find Out!

I know, I know... why in the world would I write about a wedgie? Because it's one of my favoirte conversations? Because I think it's funny as all hell? Because I live among locker room mentality? (You're getting close). I write because my husband and now my sons are part of the Wedgey Dojo club - http://www.wedgeydojo.com/ (mind you, this is run by adult men and btw, its not their intent to cause harm or bully, it's only to say, "I got ya."). Why, who, how does something like this start and become filled with an unstoppable life force? Hence my question, is this normal?
Sitting at the dinner table tonight with my two sons and hubby, the conversation somehow turns from talking about their school day to the various types of wedgies to then my sons brainstorming to come up with new name wedgies. How my 8 and 6 year old know so much about wedgies at those ages makes me realize all the more there's something different in the male wiring. I did think I should stop this indulgence of wasted airtime. If I had daughters instead, we would never talk about anything so ridiculous! And then I thought how genderly judgemental I am. Would I really want to be sitting around a table all the time talking about feelings, dresses, body fat and boys? (Sorry, if I'm offending anyone by the stereotypical remarks). No, not all the time. But do I really want to stay on this topic? No! And then, I began to appreciate their knowledge and the art of the wedgie. So to enlighten you, as I was, here are a few bits about the wedgie for any of you outright enthusiasts or slightly curious minds. To begin, here's Wikipedia's definition:
A wedgie (also known as a snuggie, grundie, gotch pull, or mervin) is having one's underwear or other garments "wedged" between the buttocks. This can occur naturally, due to tight garments or physical activity; this is referred to as the underwear "riding up". It can also be performed as a prank or as a form of bullying; this is referred to as "giving (a person) a wedgie." Wedgies are commonly featured in popular culture works, either as a form of low comedy or as a behavior representative of bullying. BTW, wedgies have been part of Seinfield and featured in several popular movies.
Wait no more, here are some examples of types of wedgies:
The Melvin is a variant of the wedgie in which the victim's underwear is pulled up from the front.
The atomic wedgie entails hoisting the rear waistband of the receiver's underwear up and over their head.
The hanging wedgie is a variant in which the victim is hung from his underwear, elevated above the ground.
The Meat Locker wedgie (spawned from my 8-year old) is similar to the hanging wedgie, hung from his underwear by a hook.
The elevator pitch is when you give a guy a wedgie in an elevator and then when the doors open you hoist him or should I say pitch him out.
The Texas wedgie is when you give a wedgie and then you drop a match thus giving him a hot butt.
My sons' contributions:
The Nedgie is when you go to grab for the underwear but to the wedger's surprise there is no underwear so instead you wedge the pants. There is a risk if to grab on to the belt loops as it may rip it off.
The Yo Yo wedgie is when you grab the underwear and instead of pulling up to pull back, then you release, and then pull back again, then release and keep repeating.
The Twister is when you grab the underwear and start swinging your arm around in a twisting or circular motion.
Now in case this is read by the wrong person. Here are some defensive moves you should be aware of:
Berlin Wall is when you are the last one to enter into a taxi, you put your briefcase down on a seat, thereby creating a barrier between you and the potential wedger next to you.
The Crab is when you hug the wall sidestepping out of harm's way.
The Dipolmat is when you walk around the room with you hands clasped behind you back, thereby creating an immediate barrier to the underwear waistband.
If you have any wedgie stories, information or want to share how the wedgie is just a normal part of your daily life, please do tell and I'll make sure the board members of the WedgeyDojo hear about it. And remember, be careful. You never know if there's a wedger in the crowd.

Quality Seeking?

Whether you've indirectly or directly been affected by the economic downturn, have you found yourself airing on the side of caution? Thinking twice, maybe thrice, before you pull out your wallet; seeking more quality experiences, products and/or services? If you're one of me, I wonder how this collective sentiment of demanding better quality may affect the deliverables from the manufacturers, producers, marketers, and businesses of this world. Will our more determined pursuit of value rid the shelves of superfluous stuff? Will the demand for our attention from marketers and advertisers (for things/experiences we may or may not really need) finally stop the mediocre creativity and herd mentality on website designs and experiences? Will companies really begin to leverage the earned participation of their consumers by listening and respecting their ideas and needs? Excess, inflated costs have been exposed thanks to the downfall, and finally, the eyes of many have been opened. Whether all of the hyper-extending was self-created, the realization that our achievement of success was buying into the fact that we were over paying almost on nearly every item from organic milk to real estate, I think, has provided many of us with relief and the confidence to say, "no thanks" unless it truly meets my needs. In short, will we, the consumers, have the upper bargaining chip? Will the demand for better, produce better goods and services? And yet, will we still operate in the same manner or will we make uber consumerism less of the American dream and find other ways in which we define our pursuit of happiness?
Love to know your experiences. Right size and have fun.

12:30a.m. Blogging, FB is open, and watching NYC Housewives

Addicted, obessessed and doing nothing (well multi-tasking, of course-blogging, checking FB updates and listening/watching NYC Housewives new season kick-off show). Except not wanting to admit how I spend my time - sometime. FB I have now realized can be addicting - checking on your updates and checking on your friends update. It's like having your own personal Page Six amongst all your friends. Very highschool, and that's just why the lot of us can't stop - each of us are creating our own personal community. And since it is our very own page - we're the center of all the action.
Now for the catty-ness of the OC and NYC Housewives - I've yet to figure out why I constantly watch or let it stem as my background noise. Ponder on that one?!

Making It Mean Something...

That's right - Valentine's Day! There's so much hoopla and festivities these days that it has taken the romance (for the most part) right out of of its sole intent.

I realized Valentine's Day has become commercialized to no end when I started receiving cards very reminiscent to Christmas Day cards (not to say they were not appreciated and cute) but really? It's hard enough managing the annual Christmas/holiday cards, now I need to get on this bandwagon as well or... or what? No one will think I care?

This is just an example of the irony of Valentine's Day - it's the official day to stop and show those you love that you do indeed love them, but because it is "the day" to do so it can seem a bit contrived. Why are you showing your love on this day as opposed to others, some may argue -because you're supposed to or because you really do mean it and today is just an official reminder? At the same time, let's face it, when those that you love do show their love for on you this day, you love it (regardless if you may question the sincerity of it).

Bottom line, showing your love for someone does mean something even if it happens to be on Valentine's Day.