I think Jim Rohn said it best “Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.”

I myself growing up was an avid reader.  My parents were very strict growing up and believed in an early bed time, 8 p.m. until I was almost in High School.  I missed out on a lot of cool 80′s TV shows until the re-runs. However, my mother made me a deal, if I was in bed reading, I could stay up until 8:30. WOOHOO!!  What kid doesn’t want that opportunity to stay up later. It was one of the best things my parents could have ever done for me. So I read.

As a kid I’d read whatever I liked at the time.  There was a series of books about a dog named Mush I vaguely remember. Early on in Junior High I remember reading a series of books called Firebrats about 2 teenagers surviving a nuclear holocaust, was always upset they only did 4 books.  By the end of Junior High I had finished “Yeager” an auto-biorgraphy about a great American Hero and until this day remember the majority of the book.

I then moved on into Stephen King until I bored of his writing style and his ability to spend 3/4′s of the book on character generation before getting to the meat.

By the time I was on my own I was reading books of interest, anything that I was curious about, and became a wealth of various knowledge that makes it hard to challenge me at times in trivia. However, as I got older and life started to become more complex I left that urge of reading behind.

Now I regret that time wasted, but even as hard as it might be at times, I make the time to read now.  There are too many things out there to learn about to improve yourself.  Self-education I think is by far one of the most important educations you can ever have, and often more valuable and a better return on investment than any Ivy League education.  Some of the most successful entrepreneurs out there dropped out of college or had a minimal traditional education at best, yet they rose to the occasion and learned what they needed to be that successful.  I wouldn’t call these people stupid or ignorant at all for not having finished college, they just chose a different path.  Even if you’ve attended college, think about it.  Did you learn everything you always wanted or needed to be successful or do what you want? Through the aid of reading you can become the person you want to be.

Reading stimulates the brain and is exercise therefore for it.  Many of you have no qualms about spending an hour or 2 at the gym several days a week to keep your body in top shape, why wouldn’t you do the same for your brain.  Your brain will be with you long after your body starts to break down.  You’ll get a rush just as much from reading something inspirational and enlightening as you do from that work-out.  Don’t think just because you get older your brain has to go.  I’ve met many in their 80′s and 90′s who are quicker witted and sharper than I ever hope to be, and many still very viable producers utilizing their intellect to aid society.

I had a personal mentor who was 78 years old when she came into my office to work.  She didn’t want to retire, she knew she’d be bored at home and could still work focusing on her intellect.  She knew she could still be a producer.  She had attended college to teach health and aspired to be a great translator and teacher of translation.  One of the best I’ve ever had the joy to work with and learn from. At 82, I believe, she finally retired, not so much because she wanted to or was tired, but due to office politics and outside influences.  That was 4 years ago, she still spends her time teaching and volunteering. She does what she wants because she enjoys it, but everything she learned and read helped and still helps her to keep going.

All your reading doesn’t always have to be serious either.  Many great authors used stories to get their point, views or teachings across. Just because the story is fictional doesn’t mean you can’t learn something from it. One of the most recent books I’ve read was complete science fiction, yet was extremely inspirational. Robert Heinlein was known for using science-fiction to get his political views across.  I learned a lot about the ails of socialism through “Faith of the Fallen” the fifth book in Terry Goodkind’s Sword of Truth series.

“The Traveler’s Gift” by Andy Andrews is a science fiction account on the seven steps to success.  I highly recommend this book for anyone.  If you want to see about some of the other books I’ve recently read, I’ve posted the highlights here in my blog in other articles, many with links for more information on the book to help decide if it’s a book you’d like to read or not.  As most authors do a much better job discussing their book than I could ever do for them.

My point is don’t let your college education be the “be all end all” of your education, keep reading and learning as much as possible.  Self-educaiton is the greatest gift you can bestow upon yourself and others.  You never know when that book you just read will come into use to aid yourself or someone else.  When others start seeing and are aware of this knowledge that you’ve gained it will magnetize them to you.  It will start to open more doors of opportunity in your life and your business and will have a resounding affect. So I encourage you to read.

This was a great book on many levels.  Gary basically points out that you should do what you love and what you’re passionate about. Keep up the never say die attitude and do all you can to promote your passion and you’ll be successful.  You don’t have to impress the world, just those that agree with your passion.

It’s also a great look at how to do personal branding.  He also offers many examples on how to get the word out about you, your product and your passion.

His 3 basic rules are:

Love your family

Work Superhard

Live your passion.

If you’re doing any type of personal branding and self marketing I highly suggest you take a look.  His own story is inspiring amongst itself, but he does a great job at motivating the reader as well to set out on their own trail.

Here’s a link to his page, there he also offers Chapter 7 for your to take a look inside.

http://crushitbook.com/

There’s a forum on the webpage as well with a lot of good information on how you too can Crush It!

Been wanting to write this for a while now, been really sick the last couple of weeks.

I run into people all the time that are shocked and amazed  when I tell them how I’ve saved most of my cable bill, and still get to watch all the shows I want, moreover I can legally share all this content to my other devices like iphone, ipod, etc for the whole family.

Not too long ago I cut all television portion of my cable bill and just because I spend so much time on the internet I opted for the faster internet service.

Here’s what I realized, I personally was spending about $130 per month on my television portion of my cable bill, but was only watching about maybe 5 shows a year. At an average cost on iTunes of $30 per season pass per show that equates to $150 that covers the whole year for all 5 shows. I also gain the ability to watch the show whenever I like and without commercials.  The lack of commercials alone saves me approximately 20 minutes per episode.

Unlike buying the DVD box sets that you have to wait until the entire season is finished, you can purchase the season pass through iTunes and the episode is generally available within 2 hours of it’s PST air date.  You can then watch the shows at your leisure on whatever day you like at whatever time.  Because you’ve purchased the shows in a soft style format, there’s no need to illegally convert the files then if you would also like to watch them on your iPhone, iPod etc…

Now I know some of you are saying that you don’t want to watch the shows on your computer.  I worked around that by purchasing the Apple TV.  The Apple TV is like an iPod for your TV and will convert any purchased content for iTunes to be properly and clearly displayed on your Hi-Def television at home.  The content is transferred via your home wi-fi network. The other bonus is that the Apple TV has a standard definition up-convert built in and brings many of your standard definition programs to near Hi-Def quality.

This up-convert also brings me added savings as then I can decide what content I want to purchase in iTunes in either standard definition or High Definition, as High Definition costs more.  My own personal rule is content, if I’m watching for the story line, I’ll stick to standard definition.  If I’m watching for graphic intensive special effects than I might go for the High Definition.

This has all carried over into my movie purchases as well.  Brand new DVD’s now cost me $19.99 or more at the store, they take up space and it would be illegal for me to convert them to be able to watch on my iPhone or iPod. iTunes movies however debut at $14.99, so I immediately save $5.oo and by pass the hassle and legality issues of conversion. iTunes Hi-Def movies are only $19.99 as opposed to many Blu-Ray at $34.99. Granted the Hi-Def on iTunes is only 720p vice 1080p, but it’s a known fact that unless your TV is over 60 inches you can not tell the difference with the human eye between 720p and 1080p, so again why waste the added money. I’ve also saved the gas and time spent at the long lines in the store.

So I’ve sacrificed my cable television, but I haven’t sacrificed any of my viewing pleasure. The amount of money gained, however, keeps growing.  Many people also still don’t realize that every week on Tuesday, Apple offers up usually 3 new free songs and 1 music video for free, and that they generally pick 3 movies a week to offer at only $4.99.  They run a myriad of other sales as well, always running from Tuesday – Monday.  For example this week prior to Valentine’s day the added quite a few romance movies that they made available for $4.99 as well.  There are often good sales available even on TV shows, so you just have to check back.

I know this all seems like some big advertisement for Apple, but I assure the only money I make from them is that that I’ve saved by using their products together in the fashion that I’ve shown above.

If you’d like more info on how to do this for yourself feel free to contact me.

via Google leaps language barrier with translator phone – Times Online.

Been sick the last few days, and been hard to stay focused or even be able to concentrate at times. I hope everyone else is well.

This has allowed me a small opportunity however, to take a small step back from everything and do a little internal review of myself and where I’ve come from as well as where I’m going. I believe I keep hitting a mindset wall, and I’m slowly pushing through it.

Some items that have helped me along my path:

A video by Aaron Parkinson “When to say Screw You to yourself” http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1325671

Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk a great book on branding and its importance to the future of business and how it will relate to you.

And I’ve currently accepted an opportunity to attend The Alpha Networker course. Soon to be released by Magnetic Sponsoring

I believe mindset will be a struggle for sometime, but doesn’t mean things are impossible until it’s fully obtained. I have been struggling with it for months, and I’m sure many of you out there are as well.  I also believe that many probably would have given up with as long as I’ve been battling it.  Sometimes it’s hard to change, but with out that change, realization and control you will end up stuck and unable to reach your full potential.

I encourage you all that are struggling in your business or life to take a look at your mindset. Are you constantly being negative or surrounded by others that are? Are you numb to certain aspects and believe you’re above them. Do you think you’ll be able to reap the rewards with none of the effort?

Often times the struggle means there’s something wrong from within and very easily could be the mindset of you or those around you influencing you. Until you’re fully aware of this you’ll never gain that control and power of the situation to infect a change.

Hope everyone else is well and healthy.  Even as I’m not fully recovered, I’m trying to push forward in order to help myself and others.

The patents range from a method to deliver, target and measure advertising over networks to an overlay for advertisements in video content. For a company that attempts to stay away from the word “targeting” comes an update on a patent originally filed on July 24, 2009. The filing, updated on Jan. 28, 2010, provides a method to deliver ad targeting and measuring tools over networks.

Continued at  MediaPost Publications Printer Friendly.

The world is changing around us and the world of business is no different. Why do you need to learn marketing, because if you do not you will be left behind.  With the proven strength of the internet and how it is changing communication it is affecting a change in everything. You will need to learn marketing to be able to find a job in the future.

From a consumers standpoint, have you noticed how you rarely you pay attention to commercials anymore?  You are more likely to patronize a store on the service you have received or on a recommendation of a friend or confidant, than go somewhere because you saw a commercial.

Have you noticed how the good jobs to be found are hired from within, from recommendations from within the company and often filled before they are posted? If the job is posted it is written with only one specific person in mind?

Have you noticed that certain people are always receiving job offers or immediately find a job if they are let go?

I’m sure you are asking what this has to do with marketing.  It’s because word of mouth, connections, and reputation are all apart of marketing.  It’s a term called branding.  Now you are probably asking what does any of this have to do with you.  The reason being is that we have seen it already, but it will become more and more relevant.  Resume’s are going to go away, haven’t you already heard that they’re merely a formality.  The old ways of applying for jobs, submitting resume’s and hoping you’re discovered is slowly going away as technology and society changes.

The good jobs are hired based on reputation, on work done, on proven experience, and whether or not the company feels they will benefit from you.  Moreover, regardless if the company has an opening or not, if they are familiar with you and your work, they will find a way to create a position.  Companies want to move forward, they won’t wait around for someone else to quit or retire if they really think they can benefit from your service.

In addition, a lot of companies are going to start hiring by project.  The traditional long-term pension available positions are going to start going away.  If you’re not marketing yourself and viewing yourself as a valuable commodity that needs to be promoted, you’re going to be dealing with what’s left over.  The jobs that no one else wanted or that any layman can fill.  Do you think these positions are going to be the top paying jobs?

With learning marketing techniques and learning Web 2.0 and 3.0 style marketing techniques in addition to social media, you’ll be able to showcase your unique skills, talents, accomplishments, knowledge and personality.  Companies will be able to find you easier.  Why do you think companies will be searching for you?  Think about it, in today’s society, most of the time if you have a question, what do you do to answer it? How many times are you using Google to find out your answers or more information? Do you think companies and their HR departments are any different?

Traditional companies are probably not using Google or social media to fill their positions, but then how much longer are these traditional companies going to be around.  How many business did we see not make it through the current and last recessions? How many more will be gone if there’s another recession?  If you’re not positioning yourself towards the future trends, where is that going to leave you when it is time to look for a new job or a better position?

If you’re positioning yourself now, learning to market, and starting to promote who you are and what you do, you offer a good layer of protection in tomorrows business world, and possibly be found for specific niche that a company needs even now.  Don’t be left behind in the next recession.  Even now, there are many people out of working looking for work, the job market is flooded. Why did some people find jobs almost right away? They had a reputation, they had personal branding and many were found through social media and the new communication that the internet has brought about.

I grew up feeling so proud of a country that gives such great opportunity to individuals. That opportunity is called the American Dream.  It is where anyone with the desire and effort can accomplish anything they set their mind to.  To be able to live up to your full potential and live the life of your dreams.

As I grew older I saw more and more inference that the American Dream was dead or dying, that such great things could no longer be accomplished.  At the same time though I still saw many cases that made me believe that it was still alive.  Many immigrants that come here legally still find ways to make their dreams come true and live the dream.

So why is it that many who grow up here do not believe in that dream anymore? American’s are born with many advantages that are the envy of much of the world.  I say more people need to realize those advantages to make things better for themselves which in turn more than likely will benefit those around them.  If you believe it is dead then it is dead. If you believe it’s possible then it’s alive and thriving.

I fully believe that the dream is not dead, and personally know of many born and raised American’s living or working towards their dreams.  I also know many that do not live here and were not born here that believe in that dream as well.  They inspire me daily to work towards mine as well.  They empower me to live up to my potential to be a better person, to work towards my goals and to live the life that I want.  I also believe you can accomplish your dreams.

Do not let your friends, family, education, or media tell you otherwise.  The American Dream is still very much alive.  It is, however,  not going to be a hand-out or a stimulus package.  No one understands your dream better than you do.  It is not something you wait for when everything is ideal.  It’s something you decide to do and find your own way to work towards your goals.

Anything that is every given is rarely respected or appreciated. No, the American Dream is lived and earned through effort and hard work.  That is part of the joy of the dream though.  You get back what you put into it, to see your accomplishments create a reality for what once was only your dreams and wishes.

Entrepreneurs and Small Business have been the back bone of this country since its conception and has always been what spurred the concept of the American Dream.  An individual or small group of people working towards a common goal with ideas to make things better through service or innovation.  It is still very possible.

You too can live your American Dream. You only need to start working towards it. Start moving forward with what you have.  Do not wait until you have more money, time, or better opportunity.  If you wait now you will always be waiting.

VPNs designed for secure Internet use in offices have spread over the past half year among expatriates and tech-savvy Chinese since the popular social networking website Facebook was blocked.

Twitter and YouTube are also blocked in China, which uses a filtering “firewall” to block Internet users from overseas website content that challenges the Communist Party.

via China Internet users use VPN servers to cross firewall | Reuters.