Geoff Livingston is our latest Huggable Person. From his bio: “He is an author, public speaker and marketing strategist who has dedicated his career to helping mindful companies and nonprofits achieve social change.” He’s also a husband, a dad and an all around good guy. I sat in on a talk of his at my first social media event in PodCamp Philly 2007, and he made a great impression then. He knows his stuff, and communicates it with ease. I heard him speak this fall at #PodCampEast and he’s still a dynamic speaker with a new book out, Marketing In the Round (co-authored with Gini Dietrich*), and new social change projects up his sleeve including Hunger to Hope this Tuesday, October 16, 2012.

• He’s working with Razoo and Yum Brands to feed children on World Hunger Day this October 16. The week afterwards, he’s hosting a Punish Geoff fundraiser and run a Tough Mudder to help stop child trafficking globally.
• Hunger to Hope, the URL is http://hungertohope.razoo.com/p/world-food-day-2012 -
• https://www.facebook.com/WorldHungerRelief; and on Twitter @WldHungerRelief #hungertohope

Q1 Cathy Larkin: What drives you to help people or to reach out to others? You’ve often been involved in cause marketing or “social good” projects in addition to your small business marketing & PR work. What motivates this part of who you are and what you do?

A1 Geoff Livingston: Well, I have had a troubled past, and I think a good part of what drives me  is regret for that past and a desire to make amends.

Now, today I feel like I have done that, but I continue to move forward, become a better man,  and invest in our society. In large part, I continue to act because I am grateful for what I consider to be a second chance, and the many good things in my life. Other people deserve second chances, too. We all do.

It’s also important to stay on the edge of life and remember that fortune and fate are not always generous, and that we, too, can suffer as those whom we are helping suffer. We all put our pants on one leg at a time. Working for social change keeps me humble and reminds me of this.

Q2 Cathy Larkin: How has having your daughter affected what you do…has it informed your work on projects that make a difference in the larger world? Please tell us about it briefly.

A2 Geoff Livingston: Well, I am much more inclined to work with children’s causes.  Having a child helps you see how great life can be because everything to them is so amazing and new.  Even pain is pure, falling down and scratching your knee is tragic when you are two years old!

So, this purity makes me feel that we have to fight for children and our youth to give them the very best opportunities possible.  They may not rise to the occasion, but they certainly deserve to have the chance.

In today’s world fewer and fewer people have an equal chance to experience greatness, instead suffering from the moment they are born. That really upsets me.

Q3 Cathy Larkin: I understand you are involved in a social good project that culminates soon, October 16th, World Hunger Day (on Twitter: #WorldHungerDay). Tell us a bit about it, what is happening and why it is important? What actions you hope readers will take, and if there is anything that you, personally, have learned from this project that you feel the people really need to be aware of?

A3 Geoff Livingston: Some projects are better than others. Anytime I get a chance to engage in a little social good for work, I’m thrilled, and as a Dad even more so when it helps children. That’s why I am so pumped to work on the World Hunger Relief Project.

It’s a project to help Razoo and Yum! Brands support the World Food Programme’s World Hunger Day effort this October 16. Our goal is to get 10,000 people to raise $200,000 and impact tens of thousands of children’s lives globally.  The money helps kids get fed so they can be attentive and succeed in school. Yum! has already contributed to the effort.

The philanthropic goal encourages people to participate in small acts like a social share or a $10 or $25 donation.

These small acts do make a big difference. To give you an idea of how that plays out here:

• Just $10 feeds 40 children.

• Just $25 feeds a child in need during school for a half year.

We are also looking for people to blog or donate tweets to the effort.

While more crass online pundits dismiss the value of expending social equity for a giving day, we know differently. Georgetown University’s Center for Social Impact Communication released a significant study earlier this year that demonstrates social sharing does impact charitable actions and giving.

If you like the idea, please check the sites above, and join me in this effort.

Q4 Cathy Larkin: Give our readers a link to a fav blog post of yours from the past that gets lost on your site, and why this link?

A4 Geoff Livingston: I really like this post “How a Child Changes You”

I think this really explains that profound change that happens when a child enters your life.  It is that love, that primal switch that turns on when you become a parent. Almost every parent I know who read it, agreed, and said something to me privately or online.

Q5: A favorite quote of yours:

A5: “In the woods, we return to reason and faith.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Q6 Cathy Larkin: When you take break from work, where will we most likely find you, or what will you most likely be doing:

A6 Geoff Livingston:  Either travelling to a cool city, spending time in some incredible wilderness, or breathing at a Zen retreat.  The latter two tend to be more refreshing, and I just love taking photos in the wild, so to speak.  My favorite vacation of all time was to Patagonia. It was just a surreal, meditative trip that I hope to retake again sometime in the future.

Q7 Cathy Larkin: If you could take 50 to 100 people, who you’ve met or interacted with via social media or your business, anyplace in the world for a long weekend (at no cost, and with no loss of business) – where would take them? and why?

A7 Geoff Livingston: Barcelona. Great spirit, good times, fantastic food, and beautiful sites. What better place to meet and be social?

Q8: Is there a site or person that you want to nominate for a feature/interview on HuggablePeople.com?

A8: Geoff Livingston: Yes, my co-author for Marketing in the Round Gini Dietrich* (spinsucks.com). Gini is one of the most likeable people you have ever met, and she is absolutely 100% committed to changing and reforming the public relations sector. She also helped me personally when my house was hit with a flood and when I was struggling with my blog. [Editor’s Note: I’ve met Gini & really respect her opinions, so we’ll queue her up for a feature in the future].

Kathy Korman Frey, founder of the Hot Momma’s Project has created an award-winning process using a dynamic online site and in-person events to create a global leadership movement – linking strong women, and their stories, to mentor Generation Y and X women and girls. The results? Measurable increases in confidence and key success factors of 66 percent in three hours, and up to 200 percent in a semester/full program. I love this concept, and her passion and personality come through in the Q&A, and in Shashi Bellamkonda’s world and mine – that makes Kathy Huggable People. By the way, their new digital classroom launches Wednesday, June 13, 2012 be sure to check it out.

The Hot Mommas Project is the recipient of a National Case Award from Coleman Foundation and has been featured in The Washington Post Magazine, Wall Street Journal, Inc, Forbes, Scholastic, MariaShriver.com, NPR, among others.

What is the Hot Mommas Project? In Short, A Way to Create Dynamic Women.

According to their site: “We’ve cracked the code, and we bring it to you.” Eyebrow-raising name, eyebrow-raising results: We increase confidence of Gen Y, Gen X, and beyond, and can *prove* it. How?

1. “Exposure to role models and mentors. We are the world’s LARGEST women’s case study library…”
2. “Award-Winning curriculum. The Hot Mommas Project learning tools and events reflect the decade-long effort of testing, measurement, and refining….Professor Frey is a Harvard Business School case author, published in Prentice Hall textbooks, and her entrepreneurship curricula are taught to 40,000 high schoolers each year. Now we bring that expertise to women and girls around the world through our learning tools.”

You can also connect with Kathy and her crew via social media too:

• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Hot-Mommas-Project/271263526045
• Twitter:https://twitter.com/#!/HotMommasProj or https://twitter.com/ChiefHotMomma

Q1 Cathy Larkin: What drives you to reach out and help others?

A1 Kathy Korman Frey: Service is a big value in my family. I started working for the Virginia Senate when I was about 13 and really haven’t stopped with various service projects since. I’m pretty tired actually, now that I think about it. (Can someone bring me a margarita or something?) Second, I have a strong sense of justice. It’s one of the reasons I got involved in the senior citizen’s market – my second career – for about 20 years. It’s what brought the Hot Mommas Project to me. Plugging the hole in the boat is not enough. I like to get involved in things where exponential value can be provided. We believe part of what is at the root of everything from the wage gap to fewer women in corner offices to whether girls feel good about doing math is one thing: Confidence. So, give them that, and you give them the ultimate advantage. The Hot Mommas Project measurably increases confidence. So, when you ask what drives me….bottom line, it’s that there is a need, and my venture can produce results to fill that need. When it makes a difference in people’s lives and careers, that’s the cherry on top.

Q2 Cathy Larkin: Was there a moment of change, an incident or interaction with a young woman, when you knew you had to create this project or when you saw the potential effect this work could have on a larger audience?

A2 Kathy Korman Frey: When I was teaching at GW, female students would pull me aside every semester and ask, “How do you do it all? I mean, working, and having a family and serving on boards and all the things you do?” I realized, there was really nothing out there showing authentic role models with the personal and professional integrated. The professional is presented, but we are really left to figure out the personal for ourselves. For women, this is like falling off a cliff because there’s research that shows it’s one of the top two factors influencing our career success. What’s the other factor? Exposure to networks and mentors. I thought I’d kill two birds with one stone with the Hot Mommas Project and build a mentors library, if you will. Teachable stories by women – about their lives and careers – that would teach other women and girls. There was a lot more that went into it, but this is the basic idea. Bottom line:

1) Women in school reading about career-only information.

2) Women in school need to learn about family/personal information to succeed.

3) This gap needed to be filled, so, we did that.

I wrote the first case myself, called it “Hot Mommas” (this is what I called the consultants in my first company as an inside joke). We won some awards, got some recognition, and next it was time for the software. This is when the floodgates opened. We had no idea the impact we would have. Women from Egypt to Eastern Pennsylvania were writing their own case studies, and we were teaching them how. After year two we were the world’s largest women’s case study library. Mentors and role models, free, online that women and girls could read anytime, anywhere.

Q2b Cathy Larkin (optional question): What has being a mentor meant to you, or how did women mentors and role models help you in your life; help you get to where you are today?

A2B Kathy Korman Frey: The very nature of our work is about mentoring. But, I would like to share how mentors and role models have helped me get where I am today. The truth is, I’ve always had great relationships with mentors throughout my life. A lot of storytelling went on in my family. I’m not sure if it was a sneaky technique for getting me to hear advice without saying, ‘You should do this,” but, as a result, I literally can sit around and listen to someone’s experiences and stories for hours. I find it fascinating, almost like a class. This is THE key skill to develop. Oftentimes people say “be a good listener” but I take it a step further: “Work on finding people fascinating!”

Q3 Cathy Larkin: What would you like to tell young women about believing in themselves, about being different in a good way, or about any aspect life?

A3 Kathy Korman Frey: Take off the blinders, plain and simple.There is a study that shows women of all ages often engage in what’s called “self-limiting behavior.” The visual on this could be imagining having blinders on, with no peripheral vision. Sure, you can see pretty well – but, you could see so much BETTER. Some have had them on so long, you just don’t even know if you’ve got them on – right? Because it can start in our early teens. It’s kind of messed up, frankly. And, because we are crushing it with all of our Master’s Degrees and PhDs (women get the majority of those now), we could STILL have blinders on, and mask it quite effectively. Bottom line: Do a check-in. ”Am I self-limiting? Am I holding myself back in any way? If so, why?” It’s a good gut-check. When you eradicate the challenges in the way of what’s holding you back, the blinders can come off. You’ve got full range of vision. You’ve got a REAL equal playing field. We can be our own worst enemy in this way, but we can also be own best source of empowerment. There are other factors that may hold us back, but we don’t have to be one of them. I’ve actually been the opposite of the wage gap, literally turning it on it’s ear. I took the blinders off (see value spreadsheet below, started doing this when I was in my early 20s).

Q4 Cathy Larkin: I like giving our readers blog posts they can learn from. I picked these two – can tell us about them? http://hotmommasproject.com/2010/12/5-power-plays-for-women-5-mentors/

or this one: http://hotmommasproject.com/2011/01/7-power-plays-for-women-value-and-honor-yourself/

A4 Kathy Korman Frey: These ideas [sic in the posts] can make you more money. The first one is about mentors. Seeking out mentors – when done the right way – is correlated to higher pay and status. The next is a trick I teach my students at GW and Hot Mommas Project digital classroom attendees: The Value Spreadsheet (see the second link above). It’s a fantastic negotiating technique wherein you quantify your value on a spreadsheet and I’ve had students make more money using this tool, alone.

Quick, Easy and Fun Questions

• Fun Question #1: If you could take your organization, mentors/role models, and Gen Y/X women/girls anywhere for a long weekend (at no cost & with no loss of business), where would you take them? and why?

• Fun answer #1: I would go to Grasmere Lodge in the South Island of New Zealand, Locanda dell’Amorosa outside of Sienna, Italy or Green Valley Spa in St .George, Utah. These are three of my favorite places in the world, and you need only click on the pictures to see why.

• Fun Question #2: What’s one website or blog you read just because you like it; or what might we find you doing when taking a break?

• Fun answer #2: Every now and then at the end of the day people may see me detoxing on Twitter withwww.Twitter.com/TheOnion and www.Twitter.com/DeathStarPR.

new digital classroom launch

Anita Campbell, CEO and Publisher of SmallBizTrends.com, makes our huggable people list because she loves entrepreneurs and everything I have seen her do supports small business owners, usually in both a useful and creative way. Whether it is launching her Small Business Book Awards four years ago (the 2012 awards garnered 55,000 votes) to ensure that books on small business (and their authors) get a chance to shine, or writing her own tweets and speaking at conferences directly to entrepreneurs – you can tell she loves what she does. I have also seen her be generous with both praise and assistance to well-known individuals and just regular folks; she excels at building authentic relationships and win-win opportunities. Her site’s tagline is: “small business success … delivered daily,” is a promise on which I think she delivers well. To me that makes her “huggable people.”

What is Small Business Trends?

Taken from her site… “From its humble beginnings as one of the first business blogs on the Web, using the free Blogger.com blog platform, Small Business Trends has grown and evolved into an influential source of information — while still retaining a conversational and authentic format. Small Business Trends was founded in 2003 by Anita Campbell, in Cleveland, Ohio. Our content is syndicated through Newstex, BusinessInsider.com and to other sites around the Web.  Small Business Trends currently reaches over 4,000,000 readers annually, via direct visits, RSS feeds and social feeds. Anita is widely regarded as an expert in small business issues.  She is the co-author of Visual Marketing: 99 Proven Ways for Small Businesses to Market with Images and Design (Wiley 2011).

Disclosure I have done some PR work for SmallBizTrends.com in the past.

A Few Fun and Useful Questions I asked Anita:

Q1 Cathy Larkin: What drives you to help small business owners and entrepreneurs? You obviously love what you do, it really shows in all you do.

A1 Anita Campbell:  I think being a small business owner is a high calling.  When you consider the “food chain” of people who rely on even the smallest businesses for their livelihoods and their families’ welfare, you realize that small business ownership is about much more than just commerce.  That’s what drives me.

Q2 Cathy Larkin: Was there a moment of change, an incident, or interaction with a  business owner, or at an event, or when you changed your site… when you saw that what you were doing could reach a larger audience, and really have an effect? If so, can you tell us about it briefly?

A2 Anita Campbell:  There have been times when I’ve questioned what we do on Small Business Trends and whether we are adding value. But then someone will email me or come up to me at an event, and tell me how they read the site everyday or always find something of value to pass along to a co-worker, and I feel gratified.  And I feel gratified not just for me, but for everyone on the Small Business Trends team.  It’s an accomplishment for all.

Q3 Cathy Larkin: What would you like to tell small business owners about believing in themselves, about being different in a good way, or about any aspect of small business ownership that you feel they need to remember/be aware of?

A3 Anita Campbell:  I’d say to them: be guided by a gut feel for doing what’s right for your employees, your customers, your stakeholders.  If your business is like most, it probably isn’t perfect.  Your products and services could no doubt be better (whose couldn’t?).  And chances are you would like to pay your employees more.  But if you are guided by a mission of serving others you will eventually resolve those  issues and pull away from the competitive pack.

Q4 Cathy Larkin: Would you share a link to a fav blog post of yours from the past that gets lost on your site, and why this link?

A4 Anita Campbell: ”Successful Small Business Owners are Like Roombas;” reason:  the title says it all.

Q5 Cathy Larkin: Favorite quote?

A5 Anita Campbell’s Fav Quote:  ”Inspect what you expect.”  It means that as a leader, you must pay attention to your business and signal to employees and team members what you expect out of them by asking and by actively engaging as a manager and leader.

Q6 Cathy Larkin: When you take break from work, where will we most likely find you, or what will you most likely be doing:

A6 Anita Campbell:  In my garden trying to make something grow.  :-)

Q7 Cathy Larkin: If you could take 50 to 100 small biz owners, whom you’ve met or interacted with via social media or your website, anyplace in the world for a long weekend (at no cost, and with no loss of business) – where would take them? and why?

A7 Anita Campbell:  I’d take them on a cruise so we could all kick back and enjoy ourselves, and find time to get to know one another.

Frank Warren had an interesting, off-the-wall idea in 2004…he handed out a few pre-addressed postcards asking people to mail him a secret that was true and had never been spoken before. Called the PostSecret Project*, the site he built to share those secrets has turned into the largest advertisement-free Blog in the world: PostSecret.com, and a book series, 7 Webby Awards and an upcoming play. The site is simple, no “about” page, nothing to buy, nothing but a few sentences on the home page to tell people what the site is about, a visitor count – as of May 2012 – 529,040,867; and a half a million secrets shared, with more on the way.
The site description: “PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard. PostSecret, 13345 Copper Ridge Road, Germantown, MD 20874, USA.” Each Sunday, Warren posts a selection of secrets he’s received. Although many of the secrets are sweet and touching, others are more edgy. They are after all “secrets,” so the site is definitely not PG*, but it is thought-provoking. It made me smile, frown, shake my head and laugh.

Check out Warren’s recent TedTalk for a brief walk through on how the site came about and how people have connected with these messages from strangers http://www.ted.com/talks/frank_warren_half_a_million_secrets.html.
since being put up on the Ted Talk site this April, it already has 738,494 Views. His off-the-wall idea has netted him a lot of secrets…and they are touching lives. P.S. watch through to the very end of the video – after the audiences claps. Here is his bio from the Ted Talks page if you want to know more:

Huggable Quotes from Frank Warren: “Secrets can be walls or bridges,” and  “Secrets can take many forms. They can be shocking or silly or soulful. They can connect us with our deepest humanity, or with people we’ll never meet.”

Q 1) Cathy Larkin: What drives you to reach out to others? What makes you “different” as we are defining it…different in the way you treat others, take on projects or take actions that are larger than yourself, or that make a difference in the larger world etc?

A 1) Frank Warren: I feel uncomfortable working within large groups of people.  This handicap has pushed me throughout my life to more solitary entrepreneur type projects.  I think what made the difference was the faith I had in the idea initially when everyone else thought it was a crazy idea.  My handicap that pushes me to be independent in this case allowed me the freedom to pursue an idea no large group of people would support.

Q 2) Cathy Larkin: Was there a moment of change in your life, when you were touched by compassion, connection or sadness – that led you to where you are today, or that has made you want to continue this project? The volume of postcards you receive must be overwhelming at times.

A 2) Frank Warren: It’s tough to single out any one moment like that.  I think the accumulation of my suffering and struggles, more than my past successes, has brought me here.  The project which started like a prank now feels like a purpose, a calling, it will be very difficult to leave it someday.

Q 3) Cathy Larkin: What would you tell someone who has an idea that seems “off the wall” or “crazy?”

A 3) Frank Warren: In my view, crazy ideas that give voice to the unheard are the most valuable.  And try to find an idea that has a deep enough resonance with you that if no one else appreciates it you will still see your efforts as successful.

Q 4) Cathy Larkin: Can you share with our readers a favorite secret or two from the site?

A 4) Frank Warren: “I serve decaf to customers who are rude to me” [mailed to me on a Starbucks cup] & “We are all part of something bigger and we are all part of it together” [mailed to me on a dollar bill]

Q 5) Cathy Larkin: Will you tell us something fun or surprising people might not know about you?

A 5) Frank Warren: In a secret location I have a pile of postcards taller than me.

Q 6) Cathy Larkin: What’s one blog that you read for fun, enjoyment, or just because you like it?

A 6) Frank Warren:  Boing Boing.

If you’re looking for a brief break from your workload or your day (wherever that day might be taking you) and need a smile, try this week’s Huggable Stuff. I’ll be willing to bet that you can’t check out these sites, or take one of these actions, without cracking a smile, or laughing a bit aloud, or even learning just a little something. This Week’s info moves from hugs to leadership and back again.

Video/Sound warning: If you are at work, or somewhere you need to be quiet, before clicking the Huggable Site link – if it’s to a video – turn down your computer or device volume as a precaution, some of them have cool background music that starts low then ramps up, or is sappy, but sweet; but might be surprising coming from your office.

This Week’s Huggable Site #1:
Check out the Hug Don’t Hate (now called I Embrace You) inspirations page. At the top, a short video is embedded of the Free Hugs campaign. It starts slowly, but by half-way through I realized I couldn’t stop grinning – I think it was the leaping hug that got me, or the young guy and woman his grandma’s age who…well, I don’t want to spoil it.

The video is about Free Hugs Friday, started by Juan Mann in Australia, which now happens other places in the world including weekly at Boston University. More details on the IEmbraceYou.org site.

If you know of a huggable site, please let us know in the comments or via our contact us page.

This Week’s Huggable Fact #1
Hugs are Healthy for the mood and the body: “Hugs have been shown to reduce heart rates, improve overall moods, lower blood pressure…and increase nerve activity and circulation,” according to a post on Yahoo Voices.

This Week’s Leadership Post Link #1
This Post “The World Needs More Mentors” by Mark Blevis, @MarkBlevis on Twitter, whom I think I met briefly at Podcamp Philly 2007 or 2008. I think it fits with our site of people who have made a difference for others.  Besides, I’m a sucker for short, well-written, thought-provoking posts – that have geeky images & analogies like Mark’s Star Wars references.

This Week’s Huggable Action #1
Give someone an actual hug. If you are at work, choose the person and the time carefully, and do it in a respectful manner (don’t run afoul of your company’s regulations). But if you see an office mate, family member or friend who is having a worse day than you are, or celebrating a success, offer a hug. Notice I suggest you “offer” a hug – Always ask first – not everyone is comfy with hugging, but you will often elicit a smile at least. Seeing them brighten up, often brightens up your day as well. I read somewhere a few years ago, that older people don’t get touched very often. So I make sure to hug my mom hello and goodbye almost every time. For tips on how to hug respectfully, check out the list on the “IEmbraceYou” site above.

Every week’s Huggable Action #2 (optional, but much appreciated)
Nominate your huggable person – someone who has made a difference in your life, and/or who is making a difference in the world around us by their difference, by their actions. Let us know in the comments, then head on over to our contact us page and drop us a note.

We’ll need who you are, who your huggable person is, 100 words or so why you are nominating them, and if you have it contact info (or be willing to put us in touch with them/them in touch with us if you know the person – and help us get a photo of them for the post), or at least a website link if it is a public person! Disclaimer, we reserve the right to decide if a profile fits our site, and be aware, we’ve also found that sometimes folks are too busy to lend us their time for a profile, even though we think they’re huggable, but we’d really like to have your ideas in any case.

Since you can’t give either Shashi or I a hug, if you like our content, leave us a comment below. what was your reaction to the Free Hugs Day? Did you ever receive or give a hug at a time when you really needed it, or that made a real difference for someone else? Or Have you had a mentor who helped you lighten your load by giving you what it was you needed – understanding, support, a gentle shove in the right direction?

Cathy Larkin, Editor – HuggablePeople.com

photo: Stephanie Canciello, unali artists

We have nominated Craig Newmark as our newest Huggable Person. While he is most known for founding craigslist.org, with its business model of “doing well by doing good,” we are also impressed by the work he is doing with non-profits through craigconnects: “Using technology to give the voiceless a real voice and the powerless real power.” Launched in 2011, craigconnects is, “his initiative to link up everyone on the planet using the Internet to bear witness to good efforts and encourage the same behavior in others.” And he plans to take the next decade to seeing where this project will lead us.

Who is Craig Newmark?
He calls himself a nerd, but he is a nerd with a purpose. Did you know that although he founded craigslist, he is not its CEO…he is a customer service rep, yes…really. This line in his bio drew me in, “I’ve done customer service from the beginning and am committed to it forever. It keeps me anchored to reality. Beyond that, I’ve learned a lot that can be applied to the common good and I’m doing that on this site [craigconnects.org].”

Among the almost 100 or so non-profit projects he’s been involved with include donorschoose.org – teachers can put their classroom project on-line and people can fund it over time; The Sunlight Foundation which fosters a network of websites that help keep governments accountable to the people, especially regarding money; and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America to help ensure that veterans get the educational benefits they deserve.

Qu) Cathy Larkin: What does philanthropic public service mean to you? What do you hope to accomplish by getting involved with non-profits?

An) Craig Newmark: It means standing up for the causes I believe in, and for the nonprofits and people doing good work for those causes.

My focus in on the grassroots level, helping people getting on with their lives.

For example, I support the people who give a break to military families and veterans.  Less than one per cent of Americans volunteer to go overseas to protect us all, and a guy like me needs to stand up for them.

Qu) Cathy Larkin: What do you hope people do when they visit craigconnects.org? What do you want people to “get” or understand? What actions do you want them to take when they visit the site?

An) Craig Newmark: In the short-term, I hope they support the efforts I support. That could be volunteer work, cash or other contributions, or even social media like Facebook Likes.

Longer term, I’d like to inspire people to support the efforts that they believe in.  Everyone has their own idea what the common good is, and I’m happy if people act in good will even if I’d disagree.

Qu) Cathy Larkin: What drives you to want to reach out and help others and make a difference in the larger world through helping non-profits? Or in other words…what makes you “different” as we are defining it…different in the way you treat others, take on projects that are larger than yourself – that make a difference in the larger world etc.

A) Craig Newmark: My motivation is some sense that this is the time in human history where everyone can have a voice, via the Internet, and we should use it to help everyone else out.

Usually, that means supporting some nonprofit, but there are other means, like politics, or just helping someone like by opening the door for them.

Nothing makes me different, except maybe my focus on the mundane, the down to earth the practical.

Hear about Craig Newmark in His Own Words:

Click here to see a brief video that tells Criag’s story from nerd, to founder of craigslist.org, to founder of craigconnects.org. He also includes some useful tips for non-profits and social entrepreneurs, plus tips for regular folks urging us to use social media for good and to help those doing good in the world to get the word out. If you know of a non-profit doing good out there, he urges us to get involved or at least to…share, tweet, blog or pin your experience and let others know about it.

On to the Fun Questions:

• Give us a link to a  favorite blog post of yours that might be of interest to our readers:
• [Cathy: I actually chose this one]: Share Your Experience About a Nonprofit to Help Others Learn About It.

• Favorite quote and from whom?
• Answer:  Oscar Wilde: “If you want to tell people the truth, make ‘em laugh. Otherwise, they’ll kill you.”

• When you take break from work, where will we most likely find you where or doing what?
• Answer:  What is “a break from work”? Is it like “time off”?
• If you could take your staff, company or friends and family anywhere in the world for a four-day weekend (at no cost and with no loss of business), where would you take them?
• Answer: (See above)
• Something fun or surprising people might not know about you.
• Answer:  I don’t do “fun,” but surprising… I still have scars and prosthetics from trying ballet in my twenties, to meet women.

• A website/blog, or item/product that you consider fun, intriguing or “huggable?”
• Answer:  Well, I’m real fond of squirrels, and there was a Washington Post item recently about the language of squirrels.  I can dig up a video I shot of a squirrel letting folks know what’s what.

• What’s one blog that you read for fun, enjoyment, or just because you like it? 
• Answer: I like io9.com, relating to science fiction. I’m a nerd, after all…

And  a “huggable” one at that!

Connect with Craig on one of his sites, or on Twitter @craignewmark

Connect with us on Twitter @huggablepeople

I first met Caroline Di Diego AKA @CASUDI over 3 years ago when I introduced her to Twitter chats, and told her the “facts of Twitter life.” What makes CASUDI huggable people is I have seen her give back many times over; reaching out to help Social Media newbies and Entrepreneurs – and as she says, “building bridges between people, which translates into connecting approriate individuals with fruitful & lucrative endeavors and visa versa;” as she dubs it “Designing Success.”

CASUDI, CEO/Partner of esse group, is a multi-faceted Entrepreneur and is on my huggable people list for many reasons, but the one that stands out for me is her non-profit, Bank-On-Rain, which she co-founded with Mike Williamson. Bank-On-Rain is a small and nimble non-profit consultancy, which helps other larger (perhaps less efficient) organizations implement projects related to solving the shortage of drinking water in developing countries.

Q) CATHY: What drew you to get involved with Bank-on-Rain project – was it a business proposition or did it feed a passion of yours?

A) CASUDI: It all started when an Entrepreneur (inventor) friend, Mike Williamson said to me ~ when I sell my company I want to take rain harvesting (collection & storage) and bring it to developing countries. It was not a business proposition unless you consider a non-profit as such, and the passion it fueled was helping Entrepreneurs be successful; in this case helping Mike fulfill his non-profit dream. Well, I got hooked and became a co-founder and have been passionate about using social media to gain credibility and funding for Bank-ON-Rain ever since.

Q) CATHY: What does it do, and who does it benefit?

A) CASUDI: Bank-On-Rain is focused on rain collection & storage systems and designing & manufacturing products which make water related installations more efficient. Our first product is a FULSTOP™ water faucet that saves water & lives. Both water systems and the products benefit people in developing countries who are in need of drinking water.

Q: CATHY: What is the mission/vision/goal?

A: CASUDI: I wrote a blog post on this “Do You have Vision?” which answers your question on Bank-On-Rain quite well.

Q: CATHY: What does Bank-On-Rain need to take it to the next level?

A: CASUDI: Everyone will expect me to say funding; and yes, funding for initial set up and manufacture of our FULLSTOP™ water faucet is important. We plan testing it by summer 2012 (depending on funding) in many of the water installations implemented by the 91 Peer Water Exchange members. If funding (already in the works) comes through then our next focus will be funding and helping local entrepreneurs in a sustainable manufacturing business (one or several) in developing countries; to make the faucets and sell them locally at an affordable price.

Q) Cathy: What drives you to reach out and help others?

A) CASUDI: I think this is in my DNA and has always been there. However, my greatest reward is seeing others be successful and if I can contribute to that, it’s a great big HIGH for me.

A Quick Couple of Fun Questions:

Q) Cathy: What is your favorite board of yours on the new social site Pinterest?

A) CASUDI: My favorite board is my #Bizarre4home, showing some “different or bizzare” items, designs and ideas for homes.

Q) Cathy: If you could take your staff, company or friends and family anywhere in the world for a long weekend (at no cost and with no loss of business), where would you take them and why to that place?

A) CASUDI: THE GREAT WALL outside Bejing (where I have visited) ~ until you physically stand on THE GREAT WALL (and spend a day navigating it) you have no conception of it’s history, the length, the people who built it and the purpose. Here is another of my pinterest boards with photos of my Great Wall visit.

Q) Cathy: What’s a blog post of yours that our audience might find useful or interesting?

A) CASUDI: Here’s a link to a recent guest post for 12Most 12 engaging Reasons Brands Embrace Social Media.

To Sum it Up, Who is CASUDI our number 6 Huggable Person?

Caroline writes and or edits four blogs, recently managed the restoration of an amazing antique & classic Italian Speedboat, designs unique residences for international clients with her business partner of 22 years James Ferris, is very active in Social Media, mentors small biz to become sustainable, and consults for start up & early stage companies. In other words a very busy and “huggable” lady.

In 2011, Shashi Bellamkonda launched a site called huggableman.com to honor people “who are different and want to make a difference for others.” In March 2012, Shashi brought on Cathy Larkin as editor and they re-branded the site huggablepeople.com.  We will be expanding to feature men AND women, well-known AND less-well known people, companies (big and small), non-profits as well as technology and business folks.

Who Are Huggable People?
“All of us meet such people who instruct, inspire and initiate us into a new way if life. On a regular basis we want to feature such “huggable people” who have a vastly different mission than just doing a job,” Shashi Bellamkonda. (To see who we are click here to check our about page)

We are defining as “Huggable” those people who act differently and who go out of their way to help others. The new site will feature both men and women whom we admire, who are mentors for others, who are doing good work in all it’s forms. We will be adding a non-profit section to highlight not those just in business and technology, but those who are also working for the good of society. So far we have featured fairly prominent people, at least in the on-line realm, but we also plan to feature the less well-known folks who are still doing their thing to make a difference for the people around them.

Please join us. In the comments – Let us know who is your “huggable person.” Who have you seen that is doing something different that helps others, who is leading by example, who do you admire, and those who just make you smile when you come across their activities in person or online. You can also head over to our contact page and nominate your huggable person, tell us why in 250 words, and we will consider them for a post, if it’s a fit, we’ll give you credit for the nomination too.

–Cathy Larkin, Editor HuggablePeople.com

I got connected with Brian Solis on the internet( Twitter most likely)  but the connection came when I met Geoff Livingston. Geoff and Brian so-authored the book “ Now is Gone“. We met at conferences and also at his book signing in the DC area along with Geoff Livingston organized by the Social Media Club DC

Another book that I read and admired was “Putting the Public Back in Public Relations” which Brian co-wrote with Deidre Breakenridge ( another friend) and then came Engage and I used the book in my class on New media Platforms and Techniques at Georgetown University.

My reason for nominating Brian is not all the above reasons. He may be a good author but how he interacts with other humans is what gives  him a “huggable”  honor.  I have watched Brian really engage with people he meets and offering guidance and advice. I am pretty sure he leads a busy life and along with fame comes a time crunch, yet he seems to manage it pretty well. His blogs http://bub.blicio.us/ and http://www.briansolis.com offer good content.

While teaching my class I asked him if he would spare a few minutes to talk to the students on Skype and  the entire class was thrilled to speak to him. Almost like their textbook coming to life.

Wishing Brian the best and looking forward to his new book he is writing. When friends flourish and take their friends along with them it is a win-wing for all. Brian is now with the Altimeter Group and is among friends there as well.

Official Bio :

Brian Solis is principal at Altimeter Group, a research-based advisory firm. Solis is globally recognized as one of the most prominent thought leaders and published authors in new media. A digital analyst, sociologist, and futurist, Solis has studied and influenced the effects of emerging media on business, marketing, publishing, and culture. His current book, Engage, is regarded as the industry reference guide for businesses to build and measure success in the social web.

Related articles

• Brian Solis Heads to Altimeter Group (mediabistro.com)
• Social Media Author Brian Solis Joins Altimeter Group As Analyst (socialtimes.com)
• FIR Speakers and Speeches: Brian Solis at Dell B2B Social Media Huddle (nevillehobson.com)

Huggableman.com is all about recognizing people who are exceptional and make a difference. Crowd sourcing is encouraged and I am happy to get this nomination from Ramon Ray ( Our Huggable #1) and editor of SmallBizTechnology.com.

Here is Ramon Ray’s Huggable Nomination :

Marc Sherer is President of Event Management an event production company located in Connecticut. NY XPO produces big trade shows for businesses, such as the New York Expo.