I’ve targeted ten people and their blogs to read every day and make thoughtful comments, help promote their stuff, retweet them, etc.

At first it went well. I was able to find some great posts that I could recommend via Twitter and make comments on. But after several days I ran out of content. These folks were simply not posting enough.

So I moved into reading and commenting on some more general blogs. But then something else struck me.

Most of these blogs are very news focused or general in nature. I’m looking for content that’s helpful. Something I can share with my audience that will help them market or build their personal brand online.

After working through this over the past two weeks here are some thoughts and advice to help you market and build your personal brand online.

- Post every day. Or at least post every weekday. It is critical that you pump out consistent content on a regular (daily) schedule.

- Write specific, helpful, how-to style articles. These are much better for people to share with others.

- Help your audience find other useful content online. Be helpful and promote other’s stuff too.

Now go take action.

Side note: They shot the outdoor Harvard scenes about a block from my house last year on the Johns Hopkins campus here in Baltimore.

What do you think? Look any good?

Here are some things you can learn from junk mail and what NOT to do.

Thoughts?

Hello.

Knock knock. Anyone home?

Not sure what parallel universe you live in – but if you think for one second that ANYTHING you do online is private you are delusional and should probably go off-grid right now.

People are freaking out about Facebook and its eroding privacy policy. Some are calling for users to quit Facebook all together. Some are even staging protests.

Come on people. I understand privacy. This is why we have doors on bathroom stalls (in the US) and we pull our shades down at night.

But you know that everything you post on the internet can be public. Just accept it and only post things you wouldn’t care if your mom sees.

Once you join the online world you are an open book. Period.

Here’s my advice.

Go the opposite direction. Instead of trying to hide and privatize the information you put online -make it even more public. Be more in the open and live your life online and “out loud.” You’ll be more careful what you post in the first place and your worry will slip away.

Of course you might invite some unwanted intrusion or ogling. But if you couple a public presence with integrity you really have nothing to fear.

Do you agree? Thoughts?

I heard recently that some Amish are putting solar panels on their houses.

If you don’t know about American Amish – they basically live an 1860’s lifestyle. No running water – no tractors – and no electricity.

But it seems that some Amish don’t have a problem with technology – just the DEPENDENCE on the outside world.

Seems logical.

In fact this is why I love Internet business. It gives us sovereignty over our lives. We don’t HAVE to show up at a desk every morning unless we want to.

I’m convinced that the more people wake up and see the true opportunities online they will create a more fulfilling and purposeful life.

Don’t like to work a day job? You really don’t HAVE to. Ask any bum on the street. They don’t have to show up at 9am every morning.

You don’t either.

Sorry to tell you this – but everything you do in life is YOUR CHOICE.

I know – you don’t want to become a bum – but stick with me for the sake of my argument. Bums aren’t secure – but they are free. I think bums are misguided in their “career” choices – but at a core level they have a better mindset than most cubicle slaves when it comes to freedom vs. security.

So I like the mindset of the Amish and the homeless. I probably resonate with them more that other colleagues. Let’s see if we can apply this.

Don’t be a poor bum – be a rich Amish bum

How do you become a rich Amish bum?

First, adopt the basic premise of a bum. Freedom is more important than money – security – or material possessions. If you stop here you’ll end up poor and homeless. So…

Next, start installing “solar panels” in your life. Build streams of income that can allow you to keep the bum mentality of freedom – but also put cash in your pocket. Now you begin to build sovereignty over your life. You’ll have independence to go with your freedom.

Finally, look to add value and live a life of purpose around your passions.

Happy Amish bumming.

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*photo by Darcy Johnson

Late night television host, Conan O’Brien appears on a 60-min interview.

I don’t know why I find his story fascinating – but it is to me.

Two stories.

First, I passed a middle aged woman sitting on the step outside the 7/11 today with a huge wad of scratch off lottery tickets. She was feverishly scratching off the numbers in quiet desperation. You could tell that she was poor. I’m not talking about poor in money – but poor in mindset.

And this isn’t the first time I’ve seen her doing this.

She would rather spend time on a Saturday afternoon scratching off lottery tickets hoping to WIN money – than an hour online or in the library studying how to MAKE money. She’s probably back home right now watching another mindless night of TV.

I don’t say this to judge her. I honestly felt sad for her. I’m sure she feels that her condition is hopeless and she’ll be working hard for money well into her twilight years. But it’s not a matter of her living conditions, job, talents, or skills.

This woman is poor in mind and she will continue to be stuck in the same situation unless she changes the way she thinks.

But that’s actually very hard to do. It means that she can’t be mentally lazy, will have to spend a lot less time watching TV and focus on changing her social circle.

Which brings me to story two.

I was on Twitter tonight and noticed a friend of mine being very negative. I started to realize that this friend and I are on VERY different paths in life. He’s smart, has his own business and probably knows more about social media than I do. But his business doesn’t grow and he feels stagnate in his life.

I’ll jump out on a limb and say he’s got the same problem as the lottery woman. Poor in mind and dwelling on the negative. Not good.

So these two stories have led me to a decision point. Because I’m changing my life in some big ways and am focused on success and helping people realize their full potential – I’m going to stop “hanging out” online with some of my social media friends who aren’t on the same path.

I’m not looking down on anyone – it’s just a change of perspective. I want to associate with others who want to help make a difference – add value – create positive energy – and make a fortune in the process.

So if you are like that – let’s hang out. If not – that’s cool. To each his own. But just don’t expect to become wealthy or enjoy the finer things of life. These go to the people who take control of their thoughts, behaviors and who they hang with.

Meaningful lives don’t happen by accident.

Leave your thoughts below.

*Photo by marfis75