Update - It's been a while

Quick Update:

- Just held another successful Salesforce.com Vancouver User Group Event at the Opus Hotel
- Prepping to attend the Search Marketing Expo Advanced SEO conference next Monday and Tuesday
- Hiked the Grouse Grind on Saturday Morning for the first time this year. Time: 53 Minutes (personal best: 38 minutes)
- Attended a birthday party this past weekend at tracymylesevents.com and had a blast
- Signging up for several rounds of Salesforce training for when I get back from SMX
- Working on multiple client projects including one to promote a book / author's blog
- Just completed "The Four Hour Work Week" by Timothy Ferris and am now working on completing "The World is Flat"

The World is Flat

Huh? Flat you say? That's right, I am reading "The World is Flat" by Thomas L. Friedman.
I've barely been able to put down this 500+ page text since I bought it several days ago.

This is an important book to read for anyone interested in where the world is heading in regards to the India / China phenomenon and globalization. It also speaks to the empowerment of individuals through new media like blogging as well as the power of collaboration.

If you follow world news you may be aware that our world is rapidly changing. If you're scared of the implications and have ignored what's going on outside your community, your city and country, this book will be a major wake up call. But don't let that ominous sounding sentence scare you. The book provides one with insight into the changes taking place as well as a look into how as a business or individual you can prosper rather than be left behind in the new "flat" world.

page 125 and counting...

Association

On the topic of online reputation management....

Online or off, who you invest time with, who you're close to, and who you associate with has a huge impact on who you become and how others perceive you.

Businesses have been aware of this for eons. Take sponsorships as an example. A smallish company can sponsor a large event and by way of doing so become associated with the size, quality and people involved.

The web works in a similar way. Your online reputation, who and what you're associated with, will play a big role in how others perceive you. If someone finds your personal blog and the writing is focused and of good quality great. You might score a point. But if that same person comes across your name as a volunteer for a charity or organization they support or say in an online article in the Globe and Mail, so much the better.

The take away: give some though to who you want to be known as, the people, businesses and organizations who you respect, and learn how you can associate your name with them. The pay-off will be an enhanced image online and off and the new opportunities that will come as a result.

Focus

I'm re-thinking the purpose and content of this blog.
As my day-job, freelance, and other blogs and hobbies are all becoming integrated, I'm thinking this blog should join the fold.

No one really cares about your day to day stuff anyways right? :)
So, there may be a change here soon. Stay tuned.

Ideas thus far: combine this blog with the killam&co online marketing blog
or I may focus on an interest of mine such as Crossfit or online reputation management or Salesforce.com...time will tell.