e’s Christmas in Review: Blippy
Posted by Eric Ungs
At the end of each week I will share with you the interesting things I came across through my “e’s Week in Review” post. It could be anything; blog posts, tech products, new apps., quotes, etc. If you have found any interesting tidbits or news, please share in the comments below, I’d love to hear about them.
Happy Holidays!
I had a very relaxing and pleasant Christmas. I was able to catch up with some old friends as well as spend a few days with my family. Though the weather was unpredictable at times my wife and I managed to share time with both families.
Love, Family, and Friends are amazing gifts.
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. Happy New Year!
Short and sweet…
1.) Blippy: This is a twitter like stream of all the purchases you make online (nice writeup by Venture Beat). Your followers can comment on your bought items.
Augmented Reality and the Future with Small Businesses
Posted by Eric Ungs
Augmented Reality has been around for some time now but really created a hype in 2009, but I think in 2010 the kinks will be ironed out and it’s going to go from hype to implementation. By implementation I mean small businesses really utilizing this tool for mobile users and local search.
Augmented Reality (AR) has different interpretations but for the most part it’s taking reality, seen through a camera (mobile), and adding a computer driven layer that includes data and imagery by using the phone’s location-based services, and compass.
The future is now…
With the revolutionized geo location software capabilities already in play on our mobile devices and now augmenting reality with those same devices, makes the “futuristic” AR the next BIG thing for 2010.
For instance, you’re walking down Michigan Ave. and you’re in search of restaurants, whip out your smartphone and point your camera down the street. Not only do nearby restaurants start to appear, but by clicking on a particular restaurant their specials at that very moment appear, menu items, business information, ratings and reviews by other consumers, the latest tweets, etc. The app searches the internet for all relevant information on the restaurant so you can choose the best dining experience based on the data that’s drawn.
This is not only powerful for restaurants, but any small business; dry cleaners, carpet cleaners, auto repair, etc.
A lot of the AR apps available now are more directed towards tourism. For instance, one is viewing a historical building and wants to know a little background on it, just point your phone at the stunning architecture and tons of relevant information is suddenly at your fingertips; Wikipedia entries, tweets, blog posts, news articles, etc. Become knowledgeable of your surroundings instantly.
Smartphone and Touchscreen phone usage is on the rise and quickly…
These types of capabilities on smartphones is going to be around for the long haul. The usage of smartphones has skyrocketed in the last couple of years. ComScore, in November, released a study showing that in August of 2008 Touchscreen phone usage was at 9.2 million users (with a 153% change of increase) to 23.8 million users in August 2009. Smartphone usage in August 2008 was at a whopping 20.7 million users (with a 63% change in increase) to 33.7 million users in August 2009.
Below are a few examples of AR apps found on BusinessWeek’s Best iPhone AR apps for Business post:
Yelp
- The new Monocle feature is activated by pointing your phone at a building and it then compiles data driven from Yelp.com.
Screenshot below provided by Rachael King
Urbanspoon
- This application is based on ratings and reviews for restaurants. Point your phone at a particular restaurant, center it in the cross hairs of your scope, click on the restaurants name and you’ll be able to view the most recent ratings and reviews compiled from various sources.
Screenshot below provided by Rachael King
New York Nearest Subway
- This app allows you to look through your phone’s camera to locate the nearest subway.
Screenshot below provided by Acrossair
Augmented Reality is quite fascinating and it’s going to be interesting to see more players get involved and also how the small business community is going to tap into this.
Have you used any of the AR apps? What were your thoughts?
e’s Week in Review: Stribe, Tripit, Meebo
Posted by Eric Ungs
At the end of each week I will share with you the interesting things I came across through my “e’s Week in Review” post. It could be anything; blog posts, tech products, new apps., quotes, etc. If you have found any interesting tidbits or news, please share in the comments below, I’d love to hear about them.
A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. — Winston Churchill
Two “e’s Week” in a row, I know I’m slacking, my apologies.
1.) Stribe: Is a service that allows you to create a customized social network within any website or blog.
2.) Tripit: Is a travel organizing service — email your itinerary to Tripit and they’ll organize and setup alerts for you. They’ll also notify you of any delays. Your itinerary is easily accessible and sharable. Basically, you do the scheduling and they’ll do the organizing and notifying.
3.) Meebo: Has quite a few nifty services for your website or blog; chat, drag to share, analytics, Meebo bar (just released), etc. I especially am a fan of the drag to share feature. Mashable is currently using this feature, it’s pretty cool!
Last week’s read: I started “Sticks and Stones” by Larry Weber but ended up closing it, not because of the content, my brain was on information overload. I needed a break and will resume after the new year.
This week’s read: I had to get away from the business type for a moment… “Beautiful Boy” by David Sheff.
Safe travels to all and Happy Holidays!
e’s Week in Review: Idea Organizer, Idea Paint
Posted by Eric Ungs
At the end of each week I will share with you the interesting things I came across through my “e’s Week in Review” post. It could be anything; blog posts, tech products, new apps., quotes, etc. If you have found any interesting tidbits or news, please share in the comments below, I’d love to hear about them.
To be a consistent winner means preparing not just one day, one month, or even one year—but for a lifetime. — Bill Rodgers
A week of ideas….
1.) Idea Organizer: Too often I lose great ideas and thoughts because they occur when I’m least expecting them — in your car, bike ride, walk, out-n-about, etc. While doing all of these things you’ll always have your phone handy. This new app allows you to write, snap a photo, or record an idea. It organizes it and you can then email it to yourself to expand on your thought. It seems to be a very nifty tool.
2.) Idea Paint: This is just super cool! I will definitely be applying this to a wall in my home office. Enjoy!
Bring Your Plans to Life with a Personal Branding Snapshot
Posted by Eric Ungs
I’ve recently finished reading Duct Tape Marketing by John Jantsch about small business marketing. It was a very informative read and will be a great resource to come back to. While reading, as I am not a small business owner, I couldn’t help but to substitute the ’small business’ for ‘personal brand’. I always was thinking of ways to utilize the resources between the covers in supporting my personal brand. There are a lot of elements, if not most, that can help an individual form a solid strategy in creating and promoting one’s personal brand.
Though each chapter is filled with great content I want to focus on the epilogue in the back of the book. In the epilogue John lays out five steps in bringing your plans to form a ’small business’ marketing snapshot.
Below is my translation of ‘bringing your plans to life with a ‘personal branding’ snapshot’:
Step #0. State your primary personal branding goals for the year.
Like anything else, you need to have a starting and an ending point. Where do you want to be one year from now? holding what position? with what company? Determine how you want to be perceived and what’s going to make you stand out. Your personal brand is not how you perceive it, it’s the perception others have on you, your actions will define this. Work towards acquiring your dream job for your dream company by first defining your personal brand and setting goals.
Step #1. Describe your ideal work situation (employment).
Everyone has a dream job or are (should be) passionate about something. Let it be known. With the new age of recruiting utilizing social media tools, companies are seeking you out based on the information provided within your social spaces. I think as this social space evolves even further you won’t be looking for jobs, the jobs will be looking for you. If you don’t express your ideal work situation those opportunities won’t be able to find you. Make yourself searchable.
Step #2. Write your core message points.
What is it that makes up you? Why would anybody want you to work with them or for them? This is the heart and soul of your personal branding. You will really need to dig deep and you may even have to ask for help from colleagues, family, friends, etc. — What makes you unique? Define and market these characteristics.
Step #3. Develope personal branding marketing materials.
The sky is the limit with marketing materials for your personal brand. The more creative the more memorable. With thousands of people crossing everyone’s path, being memorable is what matters. Other than printed materials (not a resume) you may include video, blogging, or podcasts. It’s easier for opportunities to seek you out when you’re conversing and sharing valuable content on your expertise or passion. Through utilizing the free social media tools it makes you findable on search engines and within social networks.
Step #4. Outline your platforms of engagement.
A couple of years ago I would have said to always keep an updated resume on hand along with your business cards, but those days are becoming ancient history. It’s only a matter of time before resumes become extinct. Instead, there will be sites like LinkedIn and even Facebook, FriendFeed, and Twitter that will connect you to future employment. This is where your true identity resides, so beware, your career depends on it. Develope a system in how you are going to use all of these platforms. For me, I have LinkedIn, Twitter, and FriendFeed as my primary professional social networks. My Facebook page is more focused on family and friends but will slowly be migrating to include my professional space as well. What purpose will each of these networks serve and how are you going to use them? Create valuable content of your industry.
Step #5. Deliver your personal brand.
The true test comes when an opportunity knocks at your front door. Making the team and putting on a uniform every game with a prestigious name is only half the battle. What are you going to do when it’s your turn to step up to the plate? This is how your brand is truly defined, living up to your message.
What do you think? Is there anything you would add or take away?
Book Review: Crush It!
Posted by Eric Ungs
Gary Vaynerchuk, author of Crush It!, is definitely a unique breed. In this book he tells his story, almost as if this were his business autobiography, which I really enjoyed. I like to get a feel for the individual on where he came from and how he got to where he is today.
His journey is inspiring and the foundation of his success relies on passion.
Everyone wants to be successful and to be making lots of money but most are chasing success in the wrong places and for the wrong reasons. He emphasises on how everyone has to be passionate about something, once it’s found turn it into cash. It may or may not make you a millionaire but the point is to be living your passion.
He is able to paint a very powerful message in only 140 pages. This book is essentially a detailed transcript of one of his speaking gigs with a little more emphasis on his background and the tools he uses (check out this video).
His tools first start with passion, and with the help of technology and the web 2.0 movement you can bring your passion’s business to extraordinary heights. You may not be able to ’hustle’ the way Gary does, but if you have the drive, determination, and the hard work mentality there aren’t too many things that can get in your way. You may already have a passion, but your success relies within you.
Before picking up the book I would suggest to watch a couple of his speaking events, it made my reading experience feel much more connected to Gary. When reading, every word, I could hear the passion in his voice, I could see the enthusiasm in his step and the excitement in his eyes.
I would suggest this read to those who feel lost or unhappy with their current employment or for those who have just recently lost a job. Spend a few hours reading this book and you will find the motivation and message you have been seeking. It will help nudge you to turn your passion for night crawlers (or whatever it may be) into a fulltime gig.
Sometimes when one door closes a brighter and bigger door opens.
Are you uncomfortable with your personal brand?
Posted by Eric Ungs
When you begin to feel comfortable with your personal brand your brand begins to drift backwards from becoming the best, you become satisfied with where you’re at while others are passing you by.
I am never satisfied with where I am at…ever.
I am proud of the things I have accomplished and how I have progressed but I am never satisfied; I always want to do better and to be better. The moment I realize I feel comfortable or content with any aspect of my life (personal, work, health, etc) I begin to draft changes. I don’t replace or take away things I look for ways to build on them. I begin to brainstorm new goals, search for new and greater responsibilities, challenges, projects, etc. I look for something that draws me out of my comfort zone and into a new and uncomfortable place. This allows me to become the best at whatever I do in life.
This way of thinking defines your personal brand. You have to want to sail the uncharted waters. What gets you through this unfamiliar territory is your confidence, your passion, and your thirst for success. But first, you must be willing to be uncomfortable.
“Pursuing perfection requires a willingness to be uncomfortable.” Training Camp by Jon Gordon.
So, are you uncomfortable with your personal brand?
Photo courtesy of Canon Camera
Book Review: The Power of Less
Posted by Eric Ungs
When I first purchased this book, ‘The Power of Less’ by Leo Babauta (blog Zen Habits), I was extremely excited and eager to start reading. The concepts and ideas in the book are things I always think about but never take the time in achieving them. I wanted to read this book to sort of nudge me to get out of this ‘winter is almost here’ rut, and to view these ideas in a new light.
The first part of the book was disappointing for me.
Not because it was bad writing or the content wasn’t valuable, but because the excitement and hype I had created going into this book suddenly dissipated. It was gone. I had lost interest in the topic and got to the point where I almost shut it down.
I gave it another shot…
Upon picking back up where I left off I quickly became enriched in his advice and ideas. I suddenly began to feel motivated and driven in certain parts of my life where it was definitely lacking or non existant all together.
I am a runner and I watch what I eat and it seems every year this time when the air starts to get colder and the days are much shorter, I start to lose focus on what it is that makes me happy. I came to a point in the book where my motivation was at new heights and I took a break from reading to go on a short run. It felt great!
This read encourages you to eliminate the nonessential that takes up your life.
By eliminating, or at least reducing, the nonessentials in your life you are able to give 100% focus and attention on the essentials. It really forces you to focus on what makes you happy and what feeds your passion in both your personal and work life. For me it was eating healthy and just running because I liked the way I felt after successfully accomplishing both.
There are things he touches on to eliminate or cut back on that just aren’t doable for some, but the message he is portraying is crystal clear.
If you are in a rut in finding what makes you happy in life or it is was put on the back burner, this read will reignite that flame. It will encourage you to set personal and professional goals and it lays out a sketch of how to achieve them by simplifying your life, by breaking down goals to sub goals, by breaking down projects to manageable tasks, etc. Concentrating on the important items fully with no distractions or multi-tasking, results in higher productivity.
“If we’re always in a hurry to get places. when will we get to our destination and finally be happy?”
“Life is a journey — make it a pleasant one.”
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