EGO

GOOD THINGS IN LIFE

2010-03-14T07:08:00.000-07:00

I have postponed the "GoodThing in Life" carnival and I will publish the old entries sometime later on. I plan to do it during the spring. [Editor's note: Spring forward & fall back?! Check out this Daylight Saving Time "cloud."] As a "chile head," I want to do something with hot & spicy stuff in the future. Maybe a compilation post with links to "extreme food" things now and then?

I am planning the new chile pepper season and I have to pick seeds to plant in the near future. I will perhaps buy some new varieties, but I have to decide it pretty soon in order to get going. Do you have any chile pepper and paprika favorites?

One of my favorite dishes is spare ribs with coleslaw. I spiced it up with jalapeño sauce, chipotle sauce and Blair's habanero potato chips.

NEW EGO BUSINESS CARD

2010-03-12T20:13:00.000-08:00

Check out my new EGO business card! I have used EGO blog banner logotype by John Cox on one side of the card and on the inside you could find my contact information and a description of my business services. The tweet inspired text with a "cartoon bubble" (What's happening?) is saying:

Martin Lindeskog is a social media enthusiast and a "Trader in Matter & Spirit"

Listen to my thoughts on the creation of the new business card.

Thanks to Intensio for coming up with the idea and the design of the card. Thanks to ABC-Tryck for printing the cards.

PODCAST WITH MORRIS THE CAT

2010-03-12T18:24:00.000-08:00

Listen to an audio podcast with Morris the cat.

UPDATE 03/14/10: Check out Friday Ark #286.

MIDWEEK 10 BOOKMARK LIST

2010-03-10T14:33:00.000-08:00

Here is a new batch of books on my reading list:

Top 10 Blog Posts On Future Branding and Communication from Ronnestam With Love by Johan Ronnestam.

The Fall of PR & the Rise of Advertising by Stefan Engeseth.

Read This First: The Executive's Guide to New Media-from Blogs to Social Networks by Ron Ploof.

Listen to my reading from chapter 1, The Economics of Influence, p. 7-8.

Do More Great Work: Stop the Busywork. Start the Work That Matters by Michael Bungay Stanier.

New Job, New You: A Guide to Reinventing Yourself in a Bright New Career by Alexandra Levit.

Confessions of a Public Speaker by Scott Berkun.

Trust Me: Four Steps to Authenticity and Charisma by Nick Morgan.

Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? by Seth Godin.

Website Owner's Manual by Paul Boag.

Unfolding the Napkin: The Hands-On Method for Solving Complex Problems with Simple Pictures by Dan Roam.

SMARTPHONE APPLICATIONS

2010-03-10T03:12:00.000-08:00

I got an used BlackBerry Curve 8310 Smartphone some months ago, as a backup for my old Qtech 9100 (HTC) smartphone. I agree with Brian Tong that the BlackBerry phone is "über comfortable" to hold in your hand and I like the keyboard. But I must say that the learning curve is a bit steep for my taste, so I haven't really used it to its full potential. I will use it for my regular phone calls, SMS and as an alarm clock.

Fast forward sometime and here comes the iPhone 3G by Apple! I saw a special campaign at Telenor (link to Telenor Trainee Blog) in Gothenburg and went to the store and talked to a service minded salesperson. The phone contract is for two years and I get unlimited mobile surf for circa $28 per month. I think that I will use the iPhone more as a productivity and communication tool, than a regular mobile phone.

I wonder what will happen when the iPad is entering the market. Will it become the new entertainment gadget?

I have added the following applications ("apps") on my iPhone:

Travel planner for public transportation (Västtrafik).

Gowalla - "The easiest way to share places you go with your friends."

Evernote - "Welcome to your notable world."

Facebook

Cinch. Listen to the embedded CinchCast in this post.

PicPosterous - The Posterous iPhone app is out! PicPosterous takes away all the pain from sharing photo sets and video online.

Yr.no - Online weather service from Norway.

Wikiamo - "Wikiamo is an intuitive, Safari-like Wikipedia viewer for your iPhone and iPod Touch."

Simplenote

Todo Lite

SimplyTweet Lite

Echofon - Hat tip to Eva Wieselgren.

"How I use my smartphone" by Eva Wieselgren.

Martin Lindeskog is taking a picture with his iPhone 3G.

Related: The Power of iPhone by Barney Austen.

COMMENTS ON SMALL BUSINESS PODCASTS

2010-03-08T17:19:00.000-08:00

Please listen to the comments on the 100 Best Small Business Podcasts compilation. I have used the Cinch iPhone application this time.

MIDWEEK WRAP 9

2010-03-03T20:38:00.000-08:00

Please check out the following:

Three Keywords for Bloggers in 2010

2010-02-19T04:56:00.000-08:00

The three keywords idea sparked my interest in actually sitting down and defining my keywords, which I went ahead and did, but recently I have been thinking about if there were three keywords that applied to all bloggers. Here is what I came up with ...

Value

It seems many more bloggers are coming into the field now with motivations to make money, become famous, get a better job. This is fine, and in fact I try to help people do those things, but if we go in with selfish motivations only then we will miss out on many of the things that make blogging so cool.

Therefore "value" has to be top of our minds. What are you giving, as well as taking back?

Community

Community leads on from the previous point. We have to serve, include, engage and most of all respect our community.

Few blogs exist in a vacuum, and unlike a broadcast medium, our audience does not just have to passively accept and consume, but they interact and are highly likely to be our peers as much as prospects.

So we have to have discussions, not talk down but across, and hold on to our values.

Balance

This might be a controversial one, as I know many bloggers love a good fight. It seems the snarkiness, attacks, and gossip are not going to go away, but at the same time there seems a growing vigilantism. I fully support people tracking down real bad guys, but I worry people are too willing to go on the attack now, and the consequences one day soon will be irreversible.

Before you go on the offensive, I think it serves everybody better to try and find both sides of a story, show some empathy, and consider your position.

Not only will you pay more respect to the people involved, it will also raise your respect in the eyes of your audience, or at the very least, might prevent you from having egg on your face.

What do you think?

About the author: Chris Garrett is a new media commentator and internet marketing coach living in the UK. You can find him regularly writing for clients such as Cogniview, the PDF to Excel People, and his own blog at chrisg.com

NEW REVOLUTION IN IRAN?

2010-02-11T23:16:00.000-08:00

Here is an excerpt from Melik Kaylan's article, Iran On The Brink:

Iran's turning point might come this week or in a month when the Nawrouz (Iranian new year) celebrations kick in, and no amount of nuclear enrichment claims will change things in the long run. On Bahman or Revolution Day (Feb. 11) the regime appeared to have won the numbers game against protesters, having bribed and bused in street-loads of pro-government supporters and stifled opposition turnout. Even then, according to various sources, protests erupted in disparate neighborhoods and massively in provincial cities. State television had to dub away outbursts of anti-government chanting registered on tape during its own rallies. (Forbes, February 12, 2010.)

Do Not Read This

More cartoons by Cox & Forkum on Iran.

Related: My post, HELP IRAN ELECTION DOT COM.

OPEN MIKE THREAD

2010-01-25T08:47:00.000-08:00

Please listen to my open mike clip on workflow, worklife and workout. Please feel free to follow Meighan Berberich's tip and comment with your own audio clip.

Talking about open mic(rophone), tomorrow I will attend Unplugged Speeches™ by Stefan Engeseth of Detective Marketing. Jack Yan from New Zealand is entering the stage.

BHARGAVA BOOKMARK CLIP

2010-01-24T21:25:00.000-08:00

I am starting a new podcast / audio clip series called "Bookmark Clip." I will read short excerpts from books. First clip is from Rohit Bhargava's book, Personality Not Included: Why Companies Lose Their Authenticity And How Great Brands Get it Back, Foreword by Guy Kawasaki.

I am reading from chapter 2, The Accidental Spokesperson, pages 58 - 59, hardcover.

The Making Of Personality Not Included

View more documents from Rohit Bhargava.

AUDIO AND COPY

2010-01-18T18:52:00.000-08:00

I have to chew Stephen Smith's post, Personal Kanban:

These Open Loops (unfinished actions or commitments, in GTD lingo) are a stressor, causing mental distress and reducing your motivation to actually get things done. (January 13, 2010, www.StephenPSmith.com)

For my new site (www.EgoSoleTrader.com), I will use a new WordPress theme framework. I will reread the following posts before I start with the site.

10 Web Site Musts: Building Business Class Web Sites by Ramon Ray.
How to Make Your Homepage Copy 'Pop' by Lisa Barone.

I plan to start recording short audio clips and add them to my blog. I will use a service called Cinch cast. I learned about this service via a tweet message by Jill Foster. Please participate in the new poll and give me input on what kind of audio clips you are interested in listening to. (Scroll down the right column and go to the section, Pick Your Audio Topics.)

Reading from books.
FAQ
Good things in life.
Rant of the week.
Open thread discussion.
Other stuff...

Kirkwood #39 (Watch Me)

CAT FOOD

2010-01-15T13:43:00.000-08:00

Morris the cat got a big container for his food as a X-mas present. He is contemplating about the pet industry trends for 2010...

Related: Michael Gold's post, Cat is Cat. What does your cat eat?

MIDWEEK 2 WRAP

2010-01-13T17:09:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

I am sorry that I haven't been able to publish the blog carnival yet. I have to rethink the schedule in the future. I have been under the weather for about two weeks and "struggled" with a nasty cold, but I am feeling better now! :)

I will resume my blogging end of this week with a review of the first two weeks of the new year and an outlook for the future, talking about podcasting, my new site (EgoSoleTrader), "Three Good Things," etc. In the meantime, please check out the following:

What’s the Tone of Your Blog Voice? by Tina Hilton.

Friday Readership - New Year's Resolutions for 2010 by Michael "Nozbe" Sliwinski.

The 7 Traits Of Highly Successful Bloggers by Dragos Florin Roua.

YEAR MMX

2010-01-01T22:23:00.000-08:00

It is time to start the new year with a music mix by DJ Steve Boyett of Groovelectric:

The mix that starts the year needs to be optimistic, uplifting, forward-looking. It has to make you want to face the next 365 days. And since this one comes out on the first day of the year, it also has to make you want to face this day. (DJSteveBoy.com)

Cartoons by Andertoons

This first day of the year MMX, I have been contemplating about my three keywords for 2010. Here is an excerpt from Chris Brogan's post, My 3 Words for 2010:

What will your 3 words be? How do you choose?

Pick three words that help you the way a lighthouse helps a ship in a storm. Give yourself a word that guides you towards a powerful new opportunity, and that keeps you focused on what comes of this year. Use these words as starting points for tangible goals, SMART goals that can be measured and have dates to accomplish tasks by. These words sit above the actual goals, and set your guiding principles in place. (ChrisBrogan.com)

I will sit down and create a mindmap as Chris Brogan has done. I will use GoalEnforcer and Pulse Smartpen in order to capture my ideas and goals and put them on paper. I will listen to Dr. Edwin A. Locke's talk from 1985 (cassette tape), Setting Goals to Improve Your Life and Happiness and in the near future get his expanded course.

Here are my three keywords:

Thingies - "Getting Things Done"
Opportunities - "The Land of Opportunity"
Plucking - "Pluck The Day"

I want to state that these keywords entails my personal goals and that I am making a contract with myself.

From Mark Anderson's post, Make a Contract with Yourself for New Year’s Resolutions:

I love a new year. It’s a fresh start, an opportunity to refocus my goals, a chance to try something new. And there’s party hats! (January 1, 2010, www.SmallBizTrends.com)

I want to add some illustrations to the above mentions words.

5...4...3...2...

I need to do the same thing as John Cox and "getting all my ducks in a row." The solution to an organized "zoo" is to get more structuralized. Here is Anita Campbell's comment on Mark Anderson's post:

Happy New Year, everyone! I am working on some of my resolutions right now:

(1) Clean up my desk, and dust my keyboard and monitor

(2) Empty my email inbox (or get as close to empty as possible)

(3) Organize my computer files!

What are your resolutions?

- Anita

I will continue with the evolution of EGO workspace during 2010... I will test out and write about different productivity tools, gadgets and "thingies," but the most important thing is to implement a productive methodology in my worklife.

How to start a to-do list? Go back to basics and use "Hipster PDA" index cards by Stiernholm Consulting.

Now when I have received material from the U.S. Department of State (Kentucky Consular Center) regarding the Diversity Immigrant Visa program for the year 2010, I will intensify my attention, energy and valuable time to the opportunities in the greatest country of the Western world...

From Allen Forkum's post, Stars and Barred:

As I've said here in the past, I advocate open immigration (not "open borders" as some leftists do). So I'm glad to see that The Wall Street Journal continues to strongly argue for open immigration. The editorial notes that immigration is a divisive issue for the right but also asserts that the "conservative silent majority is pro-immigration." In contrast, John Hawkins at Right Wing News recently conducted a poll of right-leaning blogs, and the results by a large majority favored a more restrictive approach to immigration. (July 11, 2006, www.CoxAndForkum.com)

Stars and Barred

As an inspiration, I will continue to read Immigrant, Inc. by Richard T. Herman & Robert L. Smith.

Talking about inspiration, I have recently purchased several new books. They will give me fuel for my soul.

Who's Your City by Richard Florida, could help me in the quest to locate my place in the Melting Pot.

The following books could give me energy to seize the day:

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield.
Meditation in a New York Minute: Super Calm for the Super Busy by Mark Thornton.

Kare Anderson wrote a tweet message that gave me a kick to start writing a diary...

LOVE IS THE KILLER APP

2009-12-28T20:34:00.000-08:00

Have you read my book review (Love Is the Killer App: How to Win Business and Influence Friends by Tim Sanders) over at Small Business Trends?

THREE KEYWORDS FOR 2010

2009-12-28T18:56:00.000-08:00

Time for an open thread post. What are your three keywords for 2010? Here is an excerpt from Chris Brogan's post, Wiring Yourself for Success:

I’m getting ready to write up my 3 words for 2010. If you’re not familiar with the exercise, the object is to come up with three words that you use as compass points for your efforts over the year to come. They’re not resolutions. They’re ways of framing what you plan to do in the coming year. Here were mine for 2009 and 2008. (In my mind, I did okay with 2 of the 3 goals. I’ll make 2010 a redoubled effort on “armies.”) (December 26, 2009, ChrisBrogan.com)

[Editor's note to David Stiernholm: I look forward to hear more about your three keywords: harvest, pleasure and renewal.]

Talking about harvest, please check out my late harvest of chile peppers and paprika.

Related: My post, WRITING DOWN NEW RESOLVING THOUGHTS.

FINE PIX OF MORRIS THE CAT

2009-12-18T16:15:00.000-08:00

Morris the cat wants to inform you that the editor will publish the blog carnival post during this weekend.

[Editor's note: This photo is taken with my brand new FinePix Z30 by Fujifilm.]

UPDATE 12/20/09: The blog carnival post will be published on Wednesday, December 23.

ANOTHER UPDATE: 12/28/09.

Morris the Cat wants to distribute the following bulletin:

I'm sorry for the delayed blog post carnival. I am feeling a bit under the weather at the moment due to a cold. [Editor's comment: Maybe I should have a blackout shot?!] I will try to publish the post on Wednesday, December 30.

OK, back to my hiding place... ;)

TWITTER INTERVIEW BY CINDY KING

2009-12-08T07:14:00.000-08:00

Here is an excerpt from Cindy King's post, Twitter Interview With Martin Lindeskog:

I haven’t had time to update my blog for a couple of weeks, but I will do as Stephen P. Smith and take some time to reflect on my blogging and publish a new post in the near future. I have started a new blog carnival, but the first edition is delayed. I will kick-off 2010 with a new series of podcast interviews, when the producer of Solid Vox has fixed the recording studio and other technical issues. (CindyKing.biz, December 8, 2009.)

BLOG CARNIVAL

2009-11-20T07:46:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

Please read my post, GOODTHING IN LIFE CARNIVAL AND CHAT, and then submit your entry at Blog Carnival.

About this edition: Please send your Thanksgiving recipes. It is time we are commemorating the first official Thanksgiving in Jamestown, Virginia.

If you don't have a recipe related to Thanksgiving, please tell me about your favorite dish, beverage, drink, etc.

As a chile head, I enjoy receiving posts on hot & spicy stuff...

You are welcome to share your "glorious lunch break" (quote by Mary Ann Sures) moments and other good things in your life.

The submission deadline is at midnight (Pacific Time), on November 21. If you have an entry after this date, please send it by email [ LYCEUM at GMAIL dot COM ] before November 28. The carnival post will be published on November 28. I am planning to arrange a Twitter chat [ hashtag # GoodThingInLife ] on Twubs one week after the post is published, probably on December 6. We could then discuss the entries, talk about your Thanksgiving celebration and upcoming carnivals.

BANNED IMAGES OF MUHAMMAD

2009-11-12T11:04:00.000-08:00

Have you seen the "banned images" of Muhammad? For more information, read the following:

Duke Professor Finishes Yale's Job, Prints Mohammed Images in New Book; FIRE Co-signs Statement of Principle by Adam Kissel.

Muhammad: The "Banned" Images: by Eugene Volokh.

In 2008, under the glare of the controversy over the Danish cartoons, one of Flemming Rose’s few appearances on an American campus was sponsored by Dr. Gary Hull, director of the Program on Values and Ethics in the Marketplace at Duke University. Dr Hull has for five years taught and supervised the Power of Ideas, one of Duke’s most popular honors programs. In late 2001, he made national news when he posted an article calling for a strong military response to the 9/11 attacks. Duke pulled his website, but reinstated it after the action gained wide publicity. (About page - MuhammadImages.com)

"If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter." — George Washington

Related: My post, MUHAMMAD CARTOON CONTROVERSY: ONE YEAR LATER.

THE BERLIN WALL

2009-11-09T23:59:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

How did you commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall?

Related: My post, PAN-EUROPEAN PICNIC 1989.

CRUSH IT BOOK AND TEA TIME

2009-10-31T20:02:00.000-07:00

I recently got the question by a former business partner if I had interest in participating in a new project regarding tea. I have been a tea drinker since my childhood. I started to import tea from Hong Kong and Taiwan after my trip in Asia in 1992. [Editor's comment: Here is a different way of brewing your tea...]

I will talk to a former classmate about becoming our tea expert and source of quality teas. She has worked with the promotion of Ceylon tea.

In 2006, I asked a tea shop owner to create Blue Chip Café tea blend (Ceylon, Darjeeling, Lapsang Souchong, blue malva, rum and vanilla).

About a month ago I sent some questions via Twitter to Chris Garrett in time for his interview with Gary Vaynerchuck.

Hi @chrisgarrett my #q4garyvee: Is it correct that you are a tea drinker too? Do you like other types of beverages, e.g. seabuckthorn juice? 12:36 PM Oct 1st from web

@chrisgarrett #q4garyvee: Re. tea & sea-buckthorn. I'm a passionate tea drinker & I will work as a social media enthusiast for a sea-b. co. 12:58 PM Oct 1st from web

Hi @chrisgarrett my #q4garyvee: I recently bought several books on social media and personal branding. http://bit.ly/gSm3a More book tips? 1:10 PM Oct 1st from web

I received Crush It on October 29 and finished reading it the next day.

[Editor's note: If you want to support my blogging in a monetary way, please feel free to click on above affiliate link and purchase the book at Amazon.]

Lo and behold! In appendix b: five business ideas I won't get to - they're yours, you could read the following on page 140:

a tea blog

I think the tea market in the United States is about to blow up, and for the person who wants to educate and entertain the masses there will be enormous opportunity to build a site much like Wine Library TV, Offer a tea-of-the-month club and you'll be in serious business.

Some ideas for the site:

Tea reviews.
Tea and food.
Health studies on tea.
Tea trade.
Activities with tea enthusiasts.

[Editor's note: Here is a video clip and Halloween greeting! Please note the spooky "ghost filter" and the Halloween candle burning in the background.]

Related: My posts, CASH IN ON SOUR GRAPES and GOODTHING IN LIFE CARNIVAL AND CHAT.

A LOVELY KITTY I SAW TODAY

2009-10-23T06:08:00.000-07:00

Hello again to Martin's readers--I thought I'd post a little update from Hungary, where we are celebrating the anniversary of the 1956 revolution. It being a holiday, the traffic has been calm, so I decided to take advantage of it: I put on my inline skates and hit this road, which leads to a secluded little suburb called Pinnyéd. That is where I met this charming young kitty and her somewhat older brother, who were relaxing on a fence and seemed quite happy to provide me with a photo opportunity. Ain't they just cute?

UPDATE:
[Editor's note: Roland, Great catblogging! I have updated this post because I couldn't find the comment field at the moment. Maybe something has happened at Blogger HQ. I will submit your post to the Friday Ark #266 at The Modulator.]

GOODTHING IN LIFE CARNIVAL AND CHAT

2009-10-21T13:58:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

After I read Gus Van Horn's post, Cooking as a Hobby, I have decided to "kick it up a notch" and start something called #GoodThing in Life Carnival & Chat.

I enjoy reading your "good eats" (to use Alton Brown's wording) posts. I haven't been able to find an ongoing carnival of recipes lately and I wanted to participate now and then in this kind of blogging. Maybe it is time to start a Good Life (#GoodThing on Twitter) blog series with recipes? For inspiration, read my post, Food Trip.

From FOOD TRIP:

I will start to write more posts on the culinary industry, gastronomy and other food related topics. My long-range goal is to write an e-book on the Good Life, e.g., tea, wine, chocolate and chile pepper. I am on the quest to find special "hot & spicy" places all around America. (EGO, July 25, 2009.)

The food recipes carnival will be mixed up with other good things in life as described in my post, NOTE FROM EGO EDITOR:

At the end of the week, I will use the odd phrase "Thank God It’s Friday" with posts on the good life, e.g. wine and other beverages, recipes, and "glorious lunch break" (quote by Mary Ann Sures) moments. (EGO, August 27, 2008.)

I am planning to kick-off the carnival during the Thanksgiving weekend. Please send your entries to me by email [Lyceum AT Gmail DOT com] before Sunday, November 22. It would be great to have some kind of chat in conjunction with the carnival. I am thinking of using Twubs or Tinychat. Please come with suggestions on how we could have a live session on this topic. If you are interested in hosting a carnival in the future, please send me an email or write a comment.

Here are some food for thought material and tasty links for your reading / viewing pleasure:

Martini by Hot For Words.

Related: My post, PERSIAN LIME MARTIN(I).

What Wine Pairs With Cereal? – Episode #734 by Gary Vaynerchuk.

Related: My post, CASH IN ON SOUR GRAPES.

What I Learned From the Food Channel About Developing a Niche by Anita Campbell.

Good Things by Amy Mossoff.

My posts, CARNIVAL OF THE DANISH RECIPES and CARNIVAL OF THE RECIPES.

Cheers!

Say What? by John Cox.

EGO

GOOD THINGS IN LIFE

Related articles by Zemanta

NEW EGO BUSINESS CARD

Related articles by Zemanta

PODCAST WITH MORRIS THE CAT

MIDWEEK 10 BOOKMARK LIST

Related articles by Zemanta

SMARTPHONE APPLICATIONS

COMMENTS ON SMALL BUSINESS PODCASTS

MIDWEEK WRAP 9

Three Keywords for Bloggers in 2010

Value

Community

Balance

NEW REVOLUTION IN IRAN?

OPEN MIKE THREAD

BHARGAVA BOOKMARK CLIP

AUDIO AND COPY

CAT FOOD

MIDWEEK 2 WRAP

YEAR MMX

LOVE IS THE KILLER APP

THREE KEYWORDS FOR 2010

FINE PIX OF MORRIS THE CAT

TWITTER INTERVIEW BY CINDY KING

BLOG CARNIVAL

BANNED IMAGES OF MUHAMMAD

THE BERLIN WALL

CRUSH IT BOOK AND TEA TIME

A LOVELY KITTY I SAW TODAY

GOODTHING IN LIFE CARNIVAL AND CHAT