The Power of Social Media
Thursday, March 11th, 2010The power of social media is truly amazing and the blazing trail of transparency ensuing is both exciting and frightening. If there is one common thread, it is CHANGE and understanding those changes and learning how to use the power of the Web and social networks is key to the success of your career or business. The following are some of the most influential people on the Web today and the information they share is proof of their expertise.
Canadian Business Magazine presents, Rahaf Harfoush: An Inside Look at How Social Media Built the Obama Brand,
Trust Agents, Using the web to build influence, improve reputaiton, and earn trust, written by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith is an exceptional guide providing a wealth of knowledge, understanding and step by step lessons. Whether you are brand new to the scene or a seasoned Web user you will benefit from this book. Excerpt; “Those who are active on the Web now realize that they need to embrace this new transparency, that all things will now eventually be known. Companies can no longer hide behind a veneer of a shiny branding campaign, because customers are one Google search away from the truth. …..Companies must acknowledge that they are as naked on the Web as individuals are.”
Six Pixels of Separation, Everyone is connected. Connect your business to everyone, written by Mitch Joel. “The truth is, we no longer livein a world of six degrees of separation. In fact, we’re now down to six pixels of separation, which changes everything we know about doing business.”This is a terrific how to book on connecting with others and gaining an understanding of digital marketing, social media, personal branding and entrepreneurship.
Crush It!, Why now is the time to cash in on your passion, written by Gary Vaynerchuk. You will learn how to harness the power of the Internet from one of the best and most successful pioneers on personal branding and transparency. Describing the change as the evolution of building word of mouth to ”word of mouth on steroids”! A step by step guide to using all of the social networking tools on the Internet.

What job search strategies are you utilizing? Since we know that networking is the most effective and successful job search tool available have you made it your top priority? If so, are you prepared to network in person and online?
Stop and smell the roses, a change of scenery, or a series of inspiring and thought provoking quotes; whatever it takes in our busy and sometimes stressful lives, it is important to take a break and create an opportunity to look outside the box. Discover new ideas, re-visit old beliefs and perceptions, seek avenues for rejuvenation, revitalization and re-invention and inspire emotional, intellectual and physical well-being. Here are a few quotes to think about:
A job search can be an extremely discouraging experience for many people. Sending out a resume over and over again to recruiters, companies and job boards and waiting beside a phone that never rings. Of course you’re left to wonder, what is wrong with my resume?
What an opportunity to see
Searching for jobs online is a common occurrence and just as common are the number of organizations that require you to submit your resume online. Mailing a paper resume or hand delivering it are two options that may never be an option again. Although the jobs posted online represent a very small percentage of those available and many may be posted to boost traffic to a website or the job was filled months ago, it is still a fact of life. For that reason, you must have a properly named and formatted, professional resume that is ready to upload on any site at any time with the press of a button.
Taking a break and curling up with a good book is good advice for maintaining a positive, psychological outlook during a career transition. This is a time when knowledge, the resulting confidence and an optimistic outlook will be key to influencing decision makers, friends and colleagues to generate new leads and opportunities.
Any job search can be challenging, emotional, time consuming, stressful and depressing, which is why keeping it positive is the most important asset to achieving success. A job search made positive is necessary to keep you motivated with the strength and determination needed to continue along a career path that can sometimes become a very rocky road. It is a positive mind set during a job search that produces the resilience to continually rise up from a stumble or a fall along the way. A positive outlook will also ensure you never lose sight of your value to a potential employer even when it seems that no one else is recognizing the talents you possess. 

