Moments of Clarity

My Wife Is Not Google

I've had a lot of ponderous moments lately after listening to the audio version of "The Shallows" by Carr and starting into "Cognitive Surplus" by Shirky, I've been asking myself, "What has the Internet...and more specifically Google..done to MY brain?"

1. The Internet has made me a great party favor among my less digerati friends, "Hey iphone boy...what year did Diver Down come out?" (seconds later...the answer via google)
2. The Internet has enabled the thought stream pouring from my mind to outpace the ability of my fingers to to keep up when typing.
   
3. The Internet has given me awareness of just how fast things are moving and how difficult it is for businesses to keep up.  If you aren't immersed...how COULD you keep up?
4. The Internet has taught me that more information is not what makes one more valuable.  What makes one valuable is the ability to filter the vast yet growing torrent of available attention grabbers (data/media/information) into meaningful trends, analyses, and decisions.

There are more items too numerous to list that I can attribute to the web.

But I think what's most important is that I've learned that my wife is not Google.  I have over the last few years increasingly applied the same "Google Modalities" to interactions with my wife. 

1. Give me instant answers.
2. Be efficient.
3. Be always on.
4. I Always find what I'm looking because I'm a good searcher.
5. I rarely pay attention to page 2.
6. The answers to any question about me, my schedule, and my thoughts are out there in the cloud for you to see.

What I'm learning is that the more I treat my wife like Google...the more like the Google Algorithm I become.  The cold mechanized assimilation of bits to create a self-aware consciousness is no way to cultivate wonder with your mate.

I'm making some changes to be less connected and more "available and engaged" vs. just "being there"...not because I've been asked to...but because I'm certain it's the right thing to do. 

Posted via email from Doug's posterous

Navy Seal Leadership Training. Gimme all you got!!!

Would you be willing to train hard just so you could live through a Navy Seal inspired leadership training bootcamp?  (Authors note:  If you train all the time you'd be ready on a moments notice)

This program is about $5500 and pushes the attendees beyond the brink of exhaustion.

“You’re beyond tired,” says Mr. Wrocherinsky, who recently turned 49. “You’re accessing areas of your brain that you’ve never done before. But the amazing thing is, I had more energy than I ever had.”

The Power of Networking, Relationships, and Referrals

Last night I attended a talk given by Tom Steen over at Bank Iowa.  (notice the feedback in the right column if you click into that site link...it's excellent!)

During our self-intros around the room, someone mentioned the possibility of franchising their business.  From the tone and big exhale when it was mentioned, I could tell that the concept of franchising...while exciting and invigorating...was also a nightmare of what-ifs.

I sought this person out afterward intentionally to refer her to my attorney and franchise specialist Rush Nigut.  Rush's expertise in this area is undeniable and documented.

I told her I knew the right one for the job, she said, "Oh wow you're about the 6th person in the last few months who's referred me to him...wow!"  (nice work Rush)

There were other attorney's in the meeting.  I overheard them approach her as well with referrals to lawyers in MN, etc.  While I'm sure those attorneys are excellent, she said, "You know I already have someone right here in Des Moines who's widely recommended." 

That's the POWER of relationships that spawn referrals during networking events. 

(She's never met Rush by the way...but I bet she feels like she has)

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Blogging for Business - class 4 (the last hoorah...for now)

I had a great time teaching Blogging for Business in Des Moines.  We had a wonderful class filled with robust QA and fantastic people.  Our last class was held at Mars Cafe on University where we had wifi drinks, and a much cooler environment to conduct class. 

A special thanks to Rush Nigut for stopping by and impressing the class with his #1 business blog talk and pointers for our newly indoctrinated students.

It was a pleasure and privilege to teach the class. It was very pleasing to hear those "aha moments" and some oohs and ahhs :)

We can probably lobby for a 201 level course or simply make this one longer if we build some momentum.

Thanks to all!

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Des Moines Blogging For Business Class

If you're one of the 5....yes 5 people that registered for the Blogging for Business class in WDM, I apologize.  They will only launch a class with 10 people and we didn't make the cut.  Apparently, the class concept was not  embraced in WDM. 

However, the Des Moines class IS happening. 

It starts next Tuesday at 6:30PM-8:30PM.
It's at Roosevelt in room 102
It's $50
You can register online here.

This is going to be a small and intensive class with tons of personal attention.  I hope you can join us.

In true www.createWOWmedia.com fashion, we'll be recording audio and video during class.

When you get busy, do you stop reading?

A couple of weeks back, I ran into Mike Wagner of the White Rabbit Group / Own Your Brand Blog and had a quick conversation.  Mike is one of those listeners who make you jealous. He can get deep into the core of your conversation quickly and relate just about anything your conversation contains to a book he's read. 

We started chatting about value based pricing for services and working with small businesses and Mike recommended "Let's Get Real or Let's Not Play:  The Demise of Dysfunctional Selling and the Advent of Helping Clients Succeed"  I went home and purchased the book on iTunes immediately.

The bigger point here is the Mike reminded me that I'd essentially stopped reading books.  Over the last 3 months, we've been extremely focused and busy at createWOWmedia thank the maker.  My fitness goals took a more prominent role in life recently too.  So my own personal and professional "enrichment" has suffered. 

Balancing all the elements of a successful life takes discipline and I'm convinced...early rising.  Every day I get up at 5AM or earlier I get exponentially more done.  Maybe it just feels that way because by 10AM your hyper-productivity even surprises you!  It's hard not to sacrifice something that's good for you when you get busy and immersed in life's work.

Take the time.  Find a way to carve out segments of the week for activities are essential to your overall well being and success.  Exercise.  Read.  Sleep. Relate.  Embrace.  Play. 

Blogging For Business Class now being offered in Des Moines also

Image via Wikipedia

Starting Oct 21 - Nov. 14, I'll be in front of another group of progressive business leaders eager to understand the key aspects and tools used in social media marketing in Des Moines.  (West Des Moines class starts on September 24).  The Blogging for Business class is offered through the Des Moines Community Education program and it's VERY affordable. (Most likely $50).

Spread the word to friends, blog lurkers, and business leaders you know if they'd like to get a great lay of the blogging land...along with a great quiver full of other tools to become findable on the web.

The class will take place Tuesdays from 6:30pm-8:30pm and will last 4 weeks. 

Watch for the catalogs to show up in your newspapers and/or mailboxes. 

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RentalMetrics Interactive Learning Environment Goes Live

It's been 8 months in the works.  Countless thousands of hours have gone into its creation.  Now, RentalMetrics has officially launched its Interactive Learning Environment (ILE). 

To sign up for a the free trial and poke around, visit http://signup.rentalmetrics.com.  Select the FREE TRIAL subscription.

The business can best be described as "Insourced E-Learning for the Construction and Equipment Rental Sectors".  It's a virtual online consultant.  So...no suits...no flights...expensive dinners.  Just fantastic content delivered in rich media formats (audio, video, screen casts, etc.). 

We're providing the resources, tools, analysis for every equipment rental company to have the kind of personnel firepower to execute technology solution deployments (and get the most out of them) like their well resourced larger cousins.  Of course the big guys will find quite a bit to use as well.  I'm guessing our Marketing & Promotions category will get some attention from the larger companies since they're still contemplating "that whole blog thing" or this new "social media revolution".  We'll see.

The bottom line is that we're open for business.  Most of my readers are probably not associated w/the Construction Equipment Rental sector.  However, if you're a consultant, business coach, or just operate any kind of "Information Based Business", think about how this Interactive Learning Environment platform could work for you.

How would you like to offer your clients rich content for sale?  Maybe you could offer your intellectual property to the world...while you sleep?  Have you ever woken up to new sales and new bank deposits each morning?  Maybe it is time to stop traveling so much and remove your income cap because you're "maxed out".

Lucky for you we built the platform for RentalMetrics so anyone can use it.  If you want to get global overnight, shoot me an email and I'll share more details.  I'd like to put out a special thank you to Andy Brudtkuhl and Paul Gratton for making all of this happen behind the scenes. 

Here's a video tour of the site in case you're interested.  Until we meet again. 

Insulin Resistance - Do you have trouble losing weight?

I have a good friend in Alabama who shared with me that he was really having a difficult time since he:

1. Was eating a very low calorie diet of perhaps 1500 cals per day.
2. Was exercising like a mad dog (really he'd always done that and used to run marathons, etc.)
3. Was gaining weight and could barely maintain 215lbs on a sub-6 foot frame. (some might say pocket sized frame...but I digress :)
4. Had decreased energy and felt exhausted constantly for the last 15 years.

He'd gone from svelte runner to middle aged expanse while busting his butt.  Very depressing.  This situation wore him out by Christmas of 2007.  He was mentally and physically at the breaking point.

He looked inside himself and did some consultation with the big guy upstairs and hit the web hard for some help.  Ultimately, he began diving into the topic of INSULIN RESISTANCE.  He compared the "20 blood test markers for this condition" against his own blood work.  Bam.  20 of 20. 

He's now following a low glycemic index diet (just like a diabetic would) and here are the results in his own words and pictures.  I know MANY people who suffer the "eat right most of the time and workout a lot but can't lose weight" syndrome.  I hope they look toward this example and keep after the answers.  Talk to your doctor and if he/she won't help you understand this...then find a community online. 

I think we discount the affect food has on our entire being.  We aren't meant to take in all of the processed sugars and crap that prepared food has in it. Good luck and comments welcome.  In his own words:

Bottom line, I can't process starches. When I ate a piece of broiled fish on rice, it was not 'good' like I thought, but killing me slowly. I cut out all starches, and as much sugar as possible. No potatoes, rice, pasta, or bread. Seems I was trying to burn 2500 cals a day, taking in 1500, but all the starches went to fat and my body was struggling to find enough fuel from the rest of the food to function. Which meant I was tired, lethargic, and constantly sleepy because my metabolism was trying to shut down.

Since Jan 10th, I've lost 35 lbs. My energy level shot through the roof, and I'm running well enough to do the half-marathon in 8 days.

I share this, because I suffered for 15 years without any answers. I'd have given a lot if someone had given me a clue, pointer, anything to get me in the right direction. Just in case you run across someone you know with a similar problem, I'm sharing with you.

Nice work buddy and good luck in the marathon!

 

 

Founder's Day - Sigma Alpha Epsilon

I just attended an SAE (Sigma Alpha Epsilon) Founder's Day event hosted by the Central Iowa Alumni Association this past Friday.  It never ceases to amaze me how many quality folks are drawn to SAE in college...only to produce productive members of society.

I was one of those guys that poopoo'd fraternities as beer guzzling excuses for inferiors during my freshman year of college.  Then, during rush week sophomore year, I was passing by a booth and someone approached me and asked me to read something on a plaque.  He said, "This is what our fraternity is all about",

The True Gentleman

The True Gentleman is the man whose conduct proceeds from good will and an acute sense of propriety, and whose self-control is equal to all emergencies; who does not make the poor man conscious of his poverty, the obscure man of his obscurity, or any man of his inferiority or deformity; who is himself humbled if necessity compels him to humble another; who does not flatter wealth, cringe before power, or boast of his own possessions or achievements; who speaks with frankness but always with sincerity and sympathy; whose deed follows his word; who thinks of the rights and feelings of others, rather than his own; and who appears well in any company, a man with whom honor is sacred and virtue safe.

—John Walter Wayland (Virginia Omicron Chapter 1899)

Shortly after this encounter, I pledged and joined what was at the time a "Colony" of SAE at CSU Pomona.  We would later earn our national charter and I'd become a charter member of the Cal Alpha Beta Chapter of SAE. Sure there were the beer guzzling debauchery times....but there were plenty of times when we young men were faced with becoming responsible True Gentlemen in the face of adversity and challenge.  Those moments shape the fortitude of men...and we shined.  Most of the closest bonds of friendship I've formed are with those fraternity brothers.  Their wives became my wife's friends...their kids raised with ours, etc.

Thank you to the Central Iowa Alumni Association of SAE for putting on a nice event and welcoming me.  It was great to sing and revel in the honor and tradition of our great fraternity together.