Dave

Sep 19 2013

Tired of Giving? Give More!

I read a book that changed my outlook on life. And on business.

First Church Tittle Chapel — Photo of First Church, Evanston, IL Tittle Chapel. Feel free to use it; CC License to share freely.

On a recent trip to the Library, I picked up a book that quickly took over my weekend.

First, a little about me, so you can put this all into perspective. I’ve been described as an “interesting” reader. I’m not sure if that’s a compliment, actually…In all seriousness, I move back and forth from topic to topic, and I have been known to devour magazines. (Time Magazine arrives weekly, but it doesn’t speak to me like the Economist or New Yorker used to when I was in my 20s, or like Bloomberg Businessweek did in my “late 30s,” which have seemed to continue for a few years.)

I rarely read fiction. Rarely. So if you’ve sent me your fiction download, apologies for not getting to it yet.

My book reading habits are much different – I try to be a polymath, so who knows what I’ll find interesting at the library.

[NOTE: I am on still on a break from traditional marketing and social media books.]

What’s funny is that I had only casually heard of the book that changed my outlook: “The Go-Giver.” No one had personally recommended it to me, and I had yet to actually meet someone who said “this book will change your life.” But it will…if you let it.

Mumbo Jumbo. The Secret. Yada Yada.

Don’t worry, I’m not here to sell you something. I’m not here to tell you about the trick to making a fortune, and I’m not here to ask you to listen to a webinar so I can get you to buy a $97 program that will help you maximize your social media marketing.

In fact, I haven’t read “The Secret” and I don’t plan on reading “The Secret” and I don’t buy in to that self-help mumbo jumbo.

I run a business. I can’t waste time chasing my tail, and I don’t “get it” when someone says there’s a system, a key to success, a magic formula. Because there isn’t, and the work is hard, and just around the corner is the discovery that could change your fortune, your path, your journey…

Wait…What the heck am I talking about?

Tired of Giving? Give More!

I used to keep score. And that’s probably the biggest takeaway from this book – “Go-Givers Don’t Keep Score.”

I was downright mad at the karma bank. It seemed like I was sharing my knowledge over way too many meetings, pitching my business to way too many companies that couldn’t afford to work with me, putting out blog posts almost religiously over a two-year period…only to find my business bank account sorely lacking in funds.

“The Karma Bank Owes Me!”

I used to say that all the time. But I don’t say it anymore. Because it doesn’t.

Please Read the Book!

Part of the joy in the book is that it’s told as a fable. But it’s a relatable one – you can actually feel what “Joe” is going through, you can sense his desperation at the beginning, and feel his grasp of the concepts at the end.

No spoilers here – you have to read this to fully grasp it, but the general concept I’m focusing on is the art of giving.

It doesn’t mean that rolling down your window and handing a five to the homeless guy will automagically give you a bag of money. It doesn’t mean that you should then go buy a lottery ticket because your luck will turn around eventually.

But my takeaway was this: I have not given enough.

Time. Talents. Energy. Knowledge. Skills. Creativity. I’ve got these things…YOU HAVE THESE THINGS.

Share them with the world.

Tired of Giving? Give More!

Aug 01 2013

How to Find an Extra $10,000

So we wrote another book!

First, a little background for y’all. Earlier this year, we whipped up a site called “10KaYear,” with the goal of sharing money-saving and money-earning tips, big and small, that can help put an extra $10,000 in your pockets each year.

Well, thanks to gremlins, hackers, and whatnot, the site disappeared. But the content didn’t. So we decided to “bookify” it. (That’s a word.)

How to Find an Extra $10,000: A Stealth Guide to More Money, Better Health, and Living the Lifestyle You’ve Imagined

Okay, the title is a mouthful – but that’s what happens in this Google, Amazon, Keyword-friendly world we live in. And yes, we did just link to the book on Amazon.

We took our posts from10KaYear, refreshed some of the content, and broke it down into four categories:

Basics
Personal Finance
Saving & Investing
Unconventional Methods

It’s written in the snappy style you’ve come to expect from these “pages” on the Area 224 site, and it’s not just a little old e-book whipped up overnight – word count is in the five figures! Your investment is $7.00 (different price in places like the UK, Germany, and Brazil). I think it’s actually less in Canada.

We think you’ll enjoy it – and, if you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can borrow the book for free. Cool, eh?

Jun 30 2013

Social Media Institute Names Top 25 Most Powerful Marketers

Another list? Yes: this list of the Top 25 Most Powerful Marketers is hot off the presses.

This is an experiment. We’re coming up with an entirely subjective list, and we’re doing so just for the linkbait. Let’s see if anyone takes this seriously.

We’re midway through 2013, and it’s time to see who are the most powerful marketers, according to the Social Media Institute*.

This list was created using a proprietary formula, taking into account Twitter and Facebook presence, as well as a “Concentric Circle Measurement” that factors in things like positivity and reach.

Here’s the July 1 ranking, created by the Social Media Institute.

Top 25 Social Media Marketers.

25. Jason Falls

Jason Falls is currently the VP of Digital Strategy at CafePress, and he blogs at Social Media Explorer.

24. Michael Stelzner

Michael is the guy behind Social Media Examiner.

23. Scott Stratten

Have you heard UnMarketing speak? Read his books? Certainly you’ve seen him on Twitter!

22. Shelly Kramer

Shelly runs a shop called V3 in Kansas City.

21. Sam Fiorella

He has a book called Influence Marketing, with the guy listed below…

20. Danny Brown

Danny is part of ArCompany, and blogs at Danny Brown.

19. Olivier Blanchard

Olivier is considered one of the sharpest marketers out there, and his site is called The Brand Builder.

18. David Armano

Works at Edelman as EVP of Digital.

17. DJ Waldow

Wrote a book with Jason Falls (#25, above) AND runs a firm called Waldow Social.

16. Amber Naslund

Amber is part of the team behind Sidera Works.

15. Christopher Penn

Christopher works at Shift, a PR firm. Don’t confuse them with the Shift platform.

14. Chris Brogan

Chris just appears to be everywhere. President of Human Business Works.

13. Gary Vaynerchuk

First he created Wine Library TV, then he launched a multimedia empire.

12. Sean McGinnis

Before starting at Sears, Sean was in charge of 312 Digital. They have a really powerful post on Link Building.

11. Marjorie Clayman

Marjorie works for the family business – Clayman Marketing Communications.

10. Jason Konopinski

Jason has a great blog and podcast.

9. Ken Mueller

Ken is part of the team at Inkling Media.

8. Mitch Joel

One of the most influential authorities on blog marketing, Mitch also has a new book out.

7. Seth Godin

Can’t say enough about Seth Godin.

6. Jay Thompson

Jay works at Zillow, and was formerly the Phoenix Real Estate Guy.

5. Dave Van de Walle

Dave is the author of a book on real estate social media, and is Managing Principal of Area 224.

4. Pete Cashmore

Created Mashable.

3. Ev Williams

Created Twitter.

2. Mark Zuckerberg

Created Facebook.

1. Jack Jones, America’s Social Media Consultant

A legend in his own mind.

So, what do you think…should you take lists like this seriously? Do you know they’re entirely written for linkbait? Are you in on the joke?

This is a subjective list – even though the list avoided first-person pronouns, it’s still one guy’s opinion. Clever, no?

By the way…

Dave from Area 224 is working on another launch – Metasip. Real wine, beer, and spirits reviews by real people.

*- Last we checked, there is no Social Media Institute.

Mar 05 2013

Best Exit Ever?

Memo from Dave: If you’re focusing on the Groupon CEO’s exit letter, you’re missing the point.

It’s been shared so many times that we’re not going to do it here.

Andrew Mason was fired from his post as CEO at Groupon, and the Internet was soon ablaze with commentary about how Mason’s parting shot was the “best exit letter ever.” (Chicago Tribune, Phil Rosenthal, Sunday, March 3. Article still behind a paywall, so here’s a link to the front of the site.)

He admitted that he was fired.

He used the word “Love.”

He was forthright and not bitter.

You’re missing the point. And, to explain the photo of Chuck D, “don’t believe the hype.”

Allow me to pick on Tribune’s Rosenthal, since his paean to Mason was entitled “This is the way to exit the stage right.” Rosenthal interviews Chicago workforce staple John Challenger – he is the only workplace expert interviewed – and proceeds to say that Mason “nailed the landing.”

I’m left with the impression that this was a combination of Johnny Carson’s farewell show with Bette Midler, combined with Ronald Reagan’s last address to America, with a dash of one of those full-page ads that retiring sports figures take out in newspapers to thank all their fans.

Let’s talk about leadership

The “best exit ever” is not about knowing how to say you were fired – the best exit ever is knowing when to (borrowing from Mason’s letter, which, I guess, will be made into a Broadway Show) “get out of the way.”

We’ve been critical on these pages of Groupon – and, dare we say we told you so…check out this article.

A true leader – which, for all of Mason’s successes as a business builder, I’ll go out on a limb and say watching your company IPO and then have 75% of its shareholder value disintegrate does not a leader make – doesn’t worry about how graceful his or her exit looks.

A true leader gets the right people in place and gets the heck out of the way.

“Nailed the landing.” And missed everything else.

The peanut gallery should focus not on what was said and when it was said – it should focus on the rest of the business, and fixing the business model. Or, we too, should get out of the way.

Feb 08 2013

A Quick Hello From 10KaYear

The busier we get, the less we blog. Unless we are launching a blog. Then, the less we blog…here.

Announcing a new site: 10KaYear.com!

So Dave from Area 224 has been on a variety of breaks lately. Either it’s contract work, or other work, or launching yet another project.

And that was part of the inspiration for the new site – what if some of the things I’ve learned over the past (oh my goodness…) 7 years can be distilled into something you can put to good use?

Okay, that wasn’t all of the inspiration…

In the beginning of 2012, we partnered with a couple friends on the launch of NewFrugality.com – and that continues to go pretty well, thanks. But the tone over there is quite a bit different from what we’re envisioning for 10KaYear. For instance:

Find an Extra $10,000?

That might push the envelope just a little bit – or not far enough. At Area 224, we have focused on working with businesses that are a little bigger than just a mom and pop. And it’s a B2B-focused business we have – strategic communications advisors to emerging brands was our tagline before, and that’s pretty much true today. So if you’re the Area 224 client, $10,000 probably doesn’t seem like a lot of money.

But what if you’re everyone else?

Solopreneurs – the people who work by themselves, maybe occasionally tapping a colleague on the shoulders?
Small businesses that are doing six-figures but may never find themselves doing seven-figures?
And – this is probably the biggest group that will benefit from 10KaYear – the family, the single Mom or Dad, the retirees, the unemployed, the underemployed.

This is the money-saving and business advice site for everyone else.

Just a few days in, we think what we’ve talked about already is a good preview of what we’ll talk about in the days to come:

The Publishing Business Model – heck, everybody says they want to write a book, but does it really make sense? AND, the social media gurus who appear to always be launching their own book – can you replicate their “success?”

Finding Money in the Couch Cushions – we don’t really think that you can find $10,000 in your couch. But…well, we think we’ve got some cool tips in that post.

“Congratulations, Your Loan Has Been Extinguished” – it happens to some homeowners and it could happen to you. Really.

So there you have it…

Now you know a little about the absence from regular blogging here, and the tone and tenor of the 10KaYear.com site.

We’d love to have you “pay” us a visit. (Get it? It’s about money? I used the word “pay!”)

See you there.