Happy New Year 2009 Tweeps!

This is my first post of 2009 and I wanted to first look back on 2008 and thank the following people who I got to know on Twitter and other social media sites and I look forward to getting to know them even better in 2009...

Everyone in the Social Media Club KC group who I have met to date. Each one of you has been a pillar of support for me in 2008 for many ups and downs I have experienced and you keep me focused on pushing forward into 2009. I cannot thank each of you enough for your friendship:
@lacajag
@kayhaswings
@ZenaWeist
@EdRoberts
@Duckman1221
@TechGuyTom
@ZachIsHere
@chrisculbertson
@BuckSommerKamp
@teedubya
@lqualls4444
@simonkuo
@banky
@chriskovac
@average_jane
@jennbailey
@i_am_me
@derek


For the following people, I know them through meeting on Twitter and even though I have yet to meet you in person, I already know I count you as friends! Many of your tweets to me offered words of encouragement and support in 2008! Thank You!
@JGoldsborough
@saramiller
@chrisbrogan
@justinu84
@AnneHaynes
@mdd044
@dhuett
@brainb
@KyleFlaherty
@JasonWalls
@Marti_L
@michaelgass
@BeverlyMacy
@marcthollander
@PressReleasePR
@astrout
@diannahuff
@Tykerman1
@MissMotorMouth
@TheDLC
@DMASocialMedia
@marketingweasel

For the following people, we are fellow co-workers at the company we all work for and I have the utmost respect for each of you for starting out on Twitter last year and being some of the first risk-takers at our company to see what social media is all about and what it can do for our company. We are the ones who will carry our company into the new year as leaders in what we do. I am honored to know each of you. Rock on into 2009!
@scalden
@ev17389
@hollykm

For the following people I got to meet through the Highlight Midwest conference held in Kansas City, I got to experience firsthand all of the awesome work each of you is doing in the social media space. All of you are taking Omaha or Des Moines by storm and I love seeing innovative, risk-taking people like yourselves with a passion for what you do. Keep rocking into 2009!
@secos
@jjsnyc
@nathantwright
@BrettTrout
@jameseliason
@TheBrandChef
@hillabean
@abrudtkuhl
@aaronwebb
@miketempleton
@dustyd
@LizaK
@danielshipton

For the following person, I met you through Twitter of all places when I was following tweets for "John Deere" and came across your tweet about starting a job there. As we have tweeted and talked via IM, I have got to know you well and I treasure your chats and support.
@planetandrea

For the following people, all of you are involved with agricultue in some manner and for you to be involved on Twitter or other social media sites tells me you are leaders in the ag industry and will continue to be so in 2009. It is leaders like you that will be the influencers for others to get on board with social media in 2009
@JYMATS
@czimmerman
@Tykerman1
@AgJobNetwork
@johnrwalter

For the year 2009, I look forward to meeting many more Tweeps and getting to know you.

Did You Know 3.0: Globalization & The Information Age

I found this YouTube video via a post on the Career Hub Blog site. Truly amazing statistics presented during the 5 minute video.

Some that stood out:

Years it took to reach a market audience of 50 million:
Radio - 38 years
TV - 13 years
Internet - 4 years
iPod - 3 years
Facebook - 2 years

Nature Of Excellence - inspiring video

I originally found this video clip on the www.annehaynes.com website. Thanks Anne for sharing! What an inspiring video!

We don't have to be Excellent to get started, but we do have to get started to be Excellent. Inspiring images and words that will stir your mind and heart.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/613857/nature_of_excellence/

The Interview with God

I came across this amazing, awesome video presentation called "The Interview with God" late last night when I was anxiously still up awaiting my return to work after a long Thanksgiving weekend. I was blessed by it and I pray that you will be too.

I plan on viewing both of the presentations when I am feeling down or stressed. Just viewing the awesome scenery along with the words and music will bring peace and calm to you.

http://www.theinterviewwithgod.com/popup-frame.html

Also, enjoy the Pathways to Peace video presentation:

http://www.pathways-to-peace.com/popframeset.html

May God Bless You!

Freedom and Boundaries - Why God is Allowing this Burden in my life right now

Wow, God always is looking out for me and lately, I have felt wronged when I received my latest performance management review and I was told that I pretty much didn't do much positive things in the last year according to my manager. I thought to myself, Gee thanks boss for nothing. It made me angry and rebellious in nature. I was sent his comments yesterday and as I read through them, I thought how could he say these things to me!! It felt like an attack on me and it made me feel like rebelling. I won't take it anymore is what I thought. Tired of being trampled on by him and others and made to look foolish. Yet, I read this devotional for today and know that God sent it for a reason and for me to read it.

In the devotional, it says the following: "Each of us must have freedom and boundaries in our work life. Whenever you are hired for a job, you must have the freedom to make certain decisions. You must have the authority to manage things within your area of expertise. You must also have limits within your area of responsibility. You need to know where those limits are and stay within them. Both freedom and boundaries are always under the umbrella of God's authority and our authorities at work."

Note the bold text (emphasis mine). I need to know where my limits are in my responsibilities and stay within them. Are you serious, God? So, God, you are telling me that I have limits in what I should be doing in my job and if I go outside of my main job responsibilites, then I am asking for trouble? That sure would explain why I was docked in my year-end review for not listening and obeying what my manager said I needed to do. Wow, I did rebel against what I was told and now I am paying the price. It hurts and it is no fun when we rebel and make a situation worse than what it would have been if we only would have listened to authority and submitted.

Later in the devotional, it says: "You and I are tempted every day to go beyond our God-ordained boundaries. It all represents rebellion toward God." I can relate to this for sure. I mean, come on, I see opportunities for our department to reach out and connect directly with our customers and prospects. Why can't we engage with them on an online community forum? Why do I have to stop when told to do so just because a few people are uneasy about what I am doing? Can't everyone see the benefits looking at us if we only would try new ways of marketing? Why can't I lead this charge into social media? Why do I have to let another group lead this charge? It is just not fair! Come on God, can't you see this decision for me to not talk about or share thoughts on social media with others here at work is killing me? What about ME? What about my wants and needs? What about my career?

Finally, the devotional ends with this statement: "Ask God to show you His freedom and boundaries for your life. These are meant to enhance your life, not hinder it."

So, what I really need to do to find "life" in Christ is to let go of my wants, needs, and selfish ambitions. If I want to live my life like Jesus and be a witness to others through my actions and words, then I need to be broken down by God and stay within my limits at work. That is the only way I am going to find true freedom. Through the cross, I will find grace and freedom. Amen.


Freedom and Boundaries
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman

Wednesday, November 26 2008:

"Now the serpent was craftier than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, 'Did God really say, "You must not eat from any tree in the garden"?'" - Genesis 3:1

God is big on giving man freedom and boundaries-freedom to manage what He has entrusted to us, boundaries to protect us from evil. The boundaries in the Garden of Eden were not set for the purpose of limiting Adam. Man got into trouble when he questioned those boundaries. God had provided everything he would need for life. He also entrusted man with responsibility to manage and work the Garden. God gave him freedom in that responsibility. God knows we were made to express ourselves creatively through our work.

Each of us must have freedom and boundaries in our work life. Whenever you are hired for a job, you must have the freedom to make certain decisions. You must have the authority to manage things within your area of expertise. You must also have limits within your area of responsibility. You need to know where those limits are and stay within them. Both freedom and boundaries are always under the umbrella of God's authority and our authorities at work.

Jesus understood these boundaries. When He was tempted for 40 days by the devil after being baptized, He was challenged by satan to go outside His freedom and boundaries. (See Matthew 4:1-11.) Satan said that He had the power to turn a stone into bread. Jesus was hungry and easily could have justified using His power to feed Himself. However, Jesus understood He could do nothing outside the boundaries of God's will for His life. It was God's will for Jesus to be tempted and to withstand the temptation. God was showing His Son that "man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Mt. 4:4b).

You and I are tempted every day to go beyond our God-ordained boundaries. Whether it is solving financial problems that have arisen through debt, making wrong decisions due to pressure, or manipulating someone in order to achieve our ends, it all represents rebellion toward God.

Ask God to show you His freedom and boundaries for your life. These are meant to enhance your life, not hinder it.

Born to Fly!

This posting is originally from the website Inspire Me Today. I was so inspired (pun intended) by reading it that I wanted to post here for all of you to enjoy:

You can do it! Don’t listen to the naysayers, those that haven’t done what you’re trying to accomplish, or those who never will. You are the only one who knows the dream in your heart. Don’t listen to the voice in your head that doubts the passion of your heart. The heart is always right, even though the head can sometimes appear quite convincing. That passion was put there for a reason. Honor it. Treasure it. Listen to it! Follow where it leads you without question.

The road may be a new trail and the path may appear bumpy. You might be scared and even feel afraid, but you know deep in your heart that the fear isn’t real. It’s just your body experiencing something new and the mind starting to play survival tricks with you all over again. That voice of fear may come in handy if a tiger is chasing you, but not today. Today is the day for the dreamer in you to surface. So wake up your inner dreamer. Give your inner dreamer permission to shout its message to you and shine! Listen to what you hear if you’re scared. For when the passion is louder than the fear, you’ll succeed. You can do this. I believe in you! You’ve done things scarier than this before and you’ve lived through those experiences too. So go for it!

Walk right on up to that ledge, stand on the edge and look down at your knees knocking, your whole body trembling, and don’t mistake the excitement and anticipation of your experience for fear of the unknown. Feel the adrenaline coursing through your body, and then, when your rational mind least expects it, jump! Leap into the unknown knowing that it’s the only way for you to achieve your dream. Jump into your future. The ledge is no place for dreamers. You were born to fly. Jump and let those shiny wings of yours do what they were made to do. Embrace the adventure called LIFE and soar. I know you can do it, for I’ve seen your wings. I know that they’re there waiting to unfold into the glory of who you really are.

Sometimes when you’re not looking I see them try to poke out of the confines your mind has placed around them. Trust me when I tell you that you can fly. If you don’t believe in yourself yet, trust what I tell you and allow me to believe in you until you see it for yourself. And when you believe it, you’ll see it. And if you’re not ready to believe it quite yet, just pretend with me for just a bit, until your own belief grows so strong that no ledge can ever hold you back.

You were born to soar with the eagles. So come with me. Bring your dream into your mind. Feel the excitement. Taste the fear- and jump anyway! I’ll be there to fly with you, wingtip-to-wingtip, soaring over the mundane and the mediocre, the boring and the predictable. Woohoo! Doesn’t that feel good to stretch your wings, your limits and the boundaries of your mind and allow what’s in your heart to just burst forth with enthusiasm and say “YES!” to the dream? Go for it! Dip a little to the left, bank through that turn and whoa, watch out for that thermal. This breeze up here is strong and sometimes unpredictable, but we can handle it. You can do this. After all, it’s your dream and you were born to fly!

Reference: http://www.inspiremetoday.com/gail/2008/11/born-to-fly/

Embrace the Groundswell or Else

I have been going through a tough period in my life recently due to some struggles at work. Mainly has to do with some backlash I received from interacting with some customers online that I was only trying to help and provide a voice to them from my company. I came across this article that spoke volumes about how companies should not be banning or detering employees who want to use social networks to reach out. They should embrace the groundswell.

The typical knee-jerk reaction taken by many organizations when faced with the groundswell is to put a stop to it and tear down the people who embraced it. Sad to see since there are many well-meaning employees who are passionate about reaching out and providing information to customers. If you think about it, customers are the ones who help us have the jobs we have. Why would we not want to interact with them and help?

In the attached link that opens a pdf file of the article, it says the following: " For a start, companies need an attitude adjustment to recognize "symmetrical participation," or the capacity for the receiver to also become a sender of information, as Clay Shirky puts it in his book Here Comes Everybody. In the old media era, information was asymmetrical —from sender to receiver. "

http://tinyurl.com/5qxk88