From the monthly archives:

February 2011

A Few Tips to Make the Most of Your Tweet

I used to think tweeting was for the birds, but now I’m tweeting just about every day.

Of course, I’m talking about using Twitter.

I really can appreciate Twitter now that I have a better understanding of what it actually is. Whenever you hear the words “social media,” you likely think almost immediately of Facebook, because it is the current titan when it comes the amount of general users in the world of social commerce. Being an Internet Conversational Marketing Expert (iCME) for Incept gives me the chance to view and use Twitter as much more than a social network. It can be summed up as one giant conversation going on between users about (almost) anything and everything.

A tweet is not just a tweet. A tweet can be anything. It can be a useful piece of information, an opinion and also a question or other conversation starter. I encourage people to tweet what they feel, but also implore them to use a little foresight and consider how your tweet will be responded to. What is your main objective in posting that certain tweet? Are you looking to drive interaction among your followers? Are you simply expressing your viewpoint on a topic? Are you simply looking to spread a piece of knowledge?

Whatever the case may be, here are a few tips to tweet successful, thought-provoking tweets to your followers:

Tweet about something you love

While I do tweet about topics pertaining to Incept, I also tweet about motorcycles, cars, pop culture, rock music, fine arts, awesome food, current breakthroughs in science and really anything I find of interest. As a result, I frequently interact with like-minded people. Tweeting about personal interest from time to time, instead of just business-oriented subject matter can go a long way towards being personal with your followers. It can make you seem more real rather than just someone who is interesting in pushing their own agenda,which, in turn, will make you more likable and follower-friendly.

Make your tweet a question

We all love to tweet about the awesome sub we had for lunch, or how we are jammin’ out to our favorite tunes. That’s nice and all, but people will generally pass over tweets that do not relate to how they are feeling or what they are interested in. An easy way to overcome this is to make a statement and then ask a question. Here’s a basic example. Brian_Incept: Just got done watching Spartacus. I love that show! What is one of your favorite shows? When tweets end in a question, they are easier to respond to.

Include your followers in your tweets

Probably the best part about Twitter is all the cool people I’ve met. I’ve met social media gurus, CEOs, doctors, musicians, race car drivers, artists and many other enjoyable human beings. Everyone likes to be mentioned on Twitter, and I’m no different. Whenever I’m tweeting about content that might be relevant to one of my followers, I’m sure to mention them along with it. If you do this, not only are you interacting with them as your follower, but you are interacting on a more personal level.

Whatever it comes down to, no matter how technologically-advanced the human race tries to be, there will always remain the constant need to be human. If you are more interested in talking and interacting with me personally then follow me on Twitter! I do practice what I preach!

How do you tweet?

Photo Credit: http://www.epherielldesigns.com

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Rita Frances Dove: Modern American Poet

February is Black History Month, a time when some of the most historically influential African-Americans are honored for their achievements and celebrated for the changes they’ve made in this country.

It’s impossible to think about Black History Month without coming across such iconic individuals as Martin Luther King Jr, Langston Hughes and Harriet Tubman, but there are a lot of other noteworthy individuals out there who are sometimes overlooked. Rita Dove is one of them.

Rita Frances Dove

Rita Frances Dove was born in Akron, Ohio in 1952. She was ranked among the top one-hundred high school students in the country in 1970 and was named a Presidential Scholar. After graduation from Buchtel High School, she attended Miami University in Ohio, graduating in 1973 summa cum laude (with highest honors).

She then began teaching creative writing at Arizona State University. As it turned out, academics was not her most remarkable feat. It was her poetry that set her apart. In 1987, she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in poetry. In 1993, Rita was named Poet Laureate of the United States by the Librarian of Congress. Not only was she the youngest person appointed to the position, she was the first and is still the only African-American to date to serve in that office.

One of my favorite poems of hers is Exit, written in 1995.

Exit
Just when hope withers, the visa is granted.
The door opens to a street like in the movies,
clean of people, of cats; except it is your street
you are leaving. A visa has been granted,
“provisionally”-a fretful word.
The windows you have closed behind
you are turning pink, doing what they do
every dawn. Here it’s gray. The door
to the taxicab waits. This suitcase,
the saddest object in the world.
Well, the world’s open. And now through
the windshield the sky begins to blush
as you did when your mother told you
what it took to be a woman in this life.

Rita Dove Speaking at the Library of Congress

It’s a poem I feel I can definitely relate to and really illustrates the feelings of growing up and moving away. All of her poems are very moving, and you can tell she draws from her own personal experiences. Rita Dove doesn’t just write poetry, she also has a collection of short stories titled Fifth Sunday.

She has continued on with her work, serving as the Consultant in Poetry at the Library of Congress in 1999 and 2000 before being appointed as the Poet Laureate of the Commonwealth of Virginia. She is currently a chancellor of the Academy of American Poets and lives in Virginia with her family. She also continues to write, and her most recent book, Sonata Mulattica, came out in 2009.

In my opinion, Rita Dove is a great example of someone who took what they love to do and made it into something more than just a hobby. She has blazed a trail for other aspiring poets to follow and continues to raise awareness of the importance of literature. In my opinion, she is one of the great modern american poets. What do you think of her poetry?

Photo Credits:

http://www.afropoets.net/ritadove.html

http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/photocredit/achievers/dov0-016

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How I Started Donating Blood

Donating blood in high school is a great way to start.

“Brian! Wake up! It’s a quarter ’til seven!”

All throughout high school, I had the pleasure of having a mother who doubled as my alarm clock. I recall one day – a crisp fall day during my junior year back in 2007 – in particular. Looking back, I fondly reminisce about those “glory days,” you know? Hanging out in the hallways before class with your favorite buds, scoping out all the cutest girls in the morning and occasionally taking it upon myself to make things a little more “interesting,” my time at Lake High School was nothing short of a blast – a contemporary, rock ‘n roll upbringing in middle America.

I was never meant to be a chemist. God bless my former chemistry teacher, Mrs. Duncan, for understanding that too. All the equations involved baffled me and just looking at the Periodic table of Elements would give me a headache (and an even worse case of discouragement). I heard the local blood bank was coming to host a student blood drive at school in the next week. Conveniently enough, it was the week of a very important chemistry test to close out the grading period. Now I’m not saying that I never studied in high school, I just never really studied chemistry. I tactfully coordinated my first-ever blood donation to take place during the time of my test, in turn, buying me a whole extra weekend to attempt to study.

When the day came to give blood, I ended up giving an automated red cell donation. One of the nurses on site explained to me that this type of donation actually had the potential to help and treat more people. From that point on, every time my school held a blood drive, I always participated and gave red cells. It was actually a really enjoyable experience. I don’t remember the pinch of the needle, but I do remember the humongous stack of Oreo wrappers and juice boxes that I left in my wake.

I never really understood the importance of my past actions until I came to Incept. A lot of kids like myself do donate to get out of class for a bit. However, when you finally realize that your donation has the potential to save a human being’s life, it makes it easier to do (without hesitation or required incentives). I can honestly say if it wasn’t for my high school hosting blood drives, I probably never would have donated blood.

At Incept, we also practice what we preach. We are actually having a blood drive tomorrow, and you better believe I’m signed up. I’m always curious how people started donating, so I have to ask:

How did you start donating blood? If you haven’t donated and are physically able, what’s holding you back?

Photo Credit: http://www.episd.org

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Incept’s Spotlight on Nonprofits: World Wildlife Fund

At Incept, we believe in helping others, and not just by donating blood. Lately we’ve been

looking at nonprofit groups who go the extra mile to help others. One of my favorite nonprofits is the WWF or World Wildlife Fund.

The WWF is a group of conversationalists who work to protect the lives and habitats of wild animals. For the past 50 years, they have been educating people on the importance of protecting the environment and studying animals in their natural habitat. This year marks their 50th anniversary.

The WWF works all over the world, but there are certain areas with a higher density of endangered wildlife that make them high-priority areas. Some of the main places the WWF focuses on are the Amazon Rainforest in South America, Chihuahuan Desert in Mexico, the Congo Basin in Africa, and the Northern Great Plains here in the United States. These are just a few of the places that need protecting; there are others just as beautiful and exotic spread all over the world.

As you’d expect, covering that much area can be a lot of work. The WWF coordinates with 100 different countries and has about 1.2 million members here in the U.S. alone and about 5 million worldwide.

Like any nonprofit, though, they can’t do it alone. They rely on government funding, as well as the support of others (via fundraising and donations). Last year, it took $224,260,469 to help fund the conservation projects the WWF was working on. These funds helped to make great strides toward protecting the most endangered animals and environments.

I was surprised to see that the WWF even has conservation efforts going on close to home. I’ve lived in northeastern Ohio for most of my life and never had to go much farther than my own backyard to find wildlife.

Hach-Otis Sanctuary in Willoughby Hills, Ohio.

The Southern Great Lakes Forests, which cover 94,400 square miles in Ohio, as well as parts of Michigan, Indiana, southwestern Ontario and western New York, are home to a lot of diverse wildlife. We have red foxes, white-tailed deer, grey and red squirrels, screech owls, green herons and mourning doves, just to name a few. The habitat itself is considered critical or endangered in many places. I was happy to find an article from 2001 mentioning the region and the animals I am familiar with.

Hillsboro, West Virginia

There is also the Appalachian Mixed Mesophytic Forests nearby in southeastern Ohio and Pennsylvania. They extend into most of West Virginia, eastern Kentucky, east-central Tennessee, northwest Alabama and western North Carolina. Like the Southern Great Lakes Forests, this habitat is also considered a critical or endangered region.

You don’t have to be a biologist or ecologist to be a member of the World Wildlife Fund and help out. Simply by making a donation or adopting an animal, you can make a difference. Even something as small as cleaning up litter or making your backyard more suitable for wildlife can play a huge role in helping these creatures thrive.

So the next time you are outside for a walk, take a look around and pay attention to the creatures out there. You’ll be amazed how much wildlife is around us every day that we take for granted. Do your part and help keep their habitats healthy.

Photo Credits:

http://www.layoutsparks.com/1/244955/wwf-panda-bear-animal.html

http://www.eoearth.org/article/Southern_Great_Lakes_forests

http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/photos/na/na0402a.html

http://wwf.worldwildlife.org/site/PageServer?pagename=wallpapersignup

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Taverns: The Original Social Networks

Taverns – or bars, as they are known today – were social gathering spots long before the dawn of the internet.

They were places where one would go to meet up with friends and discuss various topics from their day or what they plan on doing in the future. Or, if one were so inclined, they would go to the tavern by themselves, have a drink (or two) and share details of their life by confiding in the bartender. Some probably just talked about what type of issues they had with their home; others probably shared more intimate life details. Whatever the case was, people went to taverns to network. There they would meet up with other people and wax intellectually about clandestine events that could happen in the future (as in the case of Paul Revere and his famous “Midnight Ride“).

The Dawn of the Internet

The timeline of social media...

With the burst of the internet bubble in the early 2000s, social media sites rose from the ashes and created online virtual worlds where anyone with access to the internet could set up a profile and “network” with the others on the same network. Today this is done primarily through Facebook and Twitter. There are others, of course. For example, there is Quora, which is a large question and answer forum – essentially, if you have a question, someone will have an answer. Then there is Tumblr, “the easiest way to blog.” It’s fully customizable to your taste(s) and quite user-friendly. There are many, many other sites out there -far too many to list – so I have provided an infographic on the history of social media courtesy of Skloog.

The Red Coats are Coming

Had it not been for the Green Dragon Tavern, and its owner, Paul Revere would not have known about the proposed movement of British soldiers and their march into Lexington, MA, prior to the Revolutionary War. Granted it took a short while for the owner to get to Revere’s house, and then Revere to paddle across the Charlestown River and ride into Lexington on his horse warning everyone. Nonetheless, it did get done. The “Sons of Liberty” were known for meeting at the Green Dragon Tavern, discussing ways to counter Stamp Distributors, which eventually led to the Stamp Act. Also meeting in taverns and discussing intelligence was the Committee of Correspondence, who discussed diplomacy and covert operations (among other things).

Where Would You Have a Conversation?

Different social platforms and their relationship to marketing...

In today’s modern world, you can have multiple conversations at once without even leaving your couch. You likely have a mobile device, which, in some cases is like a mini-computer. There are also desktop computers, laptop computers, tablets and even now your television might even connect you to the plethora of social networks available. This infographic, courtesy of Brian Solis and JESS3, is a detailed view of the multiple social platforms available and how they are utilized in the social world.

Where do you want to have a conversation?

Photo Credits:

http://blog.skloog.com/history-social-media-history-social-media-bookmarking/

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Creativity vs. Logic: How Do You Approach A Solution?

I love being left-handed.

It’s something that has set me apart from a lot of people in the things I do every day, such as playing my bass guitar, drawing a picture or even using a fork and knife. I also love the fact that a few of my favorite musicians - Jimi Hendrix , Kurt Cobain, and Tony Iommi – are famous, left-handed rock-and-roll idols. Being left-handed is also a sign that the right side of my brain plays a huge role in how I deal with solving problems and the world around me.

Which side are you more like?

A few characteristics found in people who tend to be dominant with the right side of their brains include being more musically and artistically creative, extremely imaginative and someone who tends to look at the whole picture rather than the individual parts. What can I say? Since I’ve been researching this topic, I’ve made a lot of self-comparisons. And more times than not, I find myself nodding along in agreement with the information I’m finding on those who tend to be right-brained. I’m someone who runs on pure imagination. I try to make my daydreams into my reality, and I do so in a “think-outside-of-the-box” type of way.

If you aren’t right-brained, then you must be more of a left-brained type of person. I was always jealous of my left-brained peers throughout high school. They approach things in a very logical manner. Things such as problem solving and organization seem to almost instantly make sense for a left-brained person. Left-brainers are usually good at math and other arithmetic and are almost always focused on the task at hand.

So why are we talking about brains? We’ve been talking an a lot on the blog and around Incept about how to analyze efficiently. There are almost seven billion people in the world, and, naturally, that means a great number of very different individuals. With that diversity comes many different personalities and many different ways and methods to address problem solving.

Whether you are someone who looks at things in a more logical, realistic and organized type manner or a person who views situations with a more philosophical, creatively unorthodox mantra – left-brained and right-brained aside – we all have to use our whole brain when it comes to making a well-analyzed and well-informed choice. I do not have any tips, but am rather curious as to how you would answer the following questions:

Does overbearing logic ever hinder potential creativity?
When does creativity need to be checked by logic?
Do you agree with the characteristics of being left-brained vs. right-brained?
How much creativity or logic do you use in solving your own problems?
Does being imaginative initially mean “the sky’s the limit?”
Does being realistic have to mean you are faced with limited options?

All this talk of logic vs. creativity talk makes me want to play a good game of chess and exercise both of the hemispheres inside my head. I look at the brain as a muscle, even though it is not. If you work out, then you know that in order to keep muscle, you have to keep exercising. The same goes for your brain. You can either use it or lose it. Take some time today to think outside of the box. If you have any suggestions, you know what to do! Post them here!

Photo Credit: http://gigamaster.blogspot.com

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Are You My Type? A Note on Blood Typing

If you’ve ever needed to receive blood, you know that getting the right type is very important. You may also know that there are 8 different blood types (O+, O-, A+, A-, B+, B-, AB+ and AB-), but what is it exactly that makes blood one type or another?

While all blood contains red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma and platelets, the type of antigen the blood has determines its type. Antigens are sugars or proteins that make the body’s immune system act a certain way. Antigens found in the body’s own cells are called “self-antigens,” and the immune system does not usually attack them. If an outside antigen gets into the body, however, white blood cells will attempt to destroy it.

There are two main blood groups: ABO and Rh. In ABO blood groups, the antigen is a sugar that dictates which letter your blood type falls into (A, B, AB, or O).

AB blood types have both A and B antigens on red cells.
A blood types have only the A antigen on the red cells.
B blood types have only the B antigen on the red cells.
O blood types have neither A or B antigens on the red cells.

The second group – the Rh group – is determined by either the presence or absence of a protein antigen called the D antigen. Whether or not you have this antigen determines if you have a positive or negative blood type.

What happens, though, if you receive the wrong blood type?

While the chances of that happening in a hospital are very rare, getting the wrong blood type transfused can be fatal. The immune system of the person receiving the transfusion will attack the donor’s blood, frequently causing the body to go into shock. Symptoms of a transfusion reaction are flu-like: chills, fever, shaking, headache, chest or back pain, and body aches are the most common. Usually, the symptoms show up during the transfusion, but sometimes it can take several days.

By donating blood, you can help ensure there is enough blood available at hospitals for those who need it. It’s also a great way to find out your own blood type! So stop by a blood drive or blood center and help your local hospitals. Who knows? You may end up saving the life of someone you know.

Photo Credit:

http://www.facebook.com/delmarvabloodbank

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/9125.htm

http://www.sean-tucker.com/Inspiration___Charity.html

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Throwin’ It Into Overdrive

Feeling Swamped?

Man, it’s just been one of those days.

You know, the kind of day where you plan things to go smoothly, but inevitably it just seems like Murphy’s law is making you its living example. The great thing is that it’s days like this that provide the opportunity to be your best, punch procrastination in the face and grab life by the horns. Leaders excel in these moments. What can I say? I also tend to produce my personal best in the middle of confusion and disarray.

When it seems like your workload is crashing down around you, and your laundry list of responsibilities is growing to epic proportions, keep your head up. “A positive attitude will create positive results,” proclaims one of my Incept coworkers, Crystal. She is absolutely right. Negativity will only hinder your performance at anything.

Tonight I saw a blog post by Nate Riggs, entitled 5 Survival Tips for Work Overload (Please Add More). It hit the spot for me, mentally speaking, and I can definitely relate. Here are some more ways to deal with work overload:

Know exactly the tasks that need your immediate attention.
Stay off of Facebook and Twitter if you do not need them open.
Remember why you like your job.
Remember your own personal goals and what you are working for.
Take a step outside for a minute of fresh air.
Make sure you get enough sleep when not working.
Remember positive persistence and tenacity is the key to producing excellent results.
Give yourself a final reward for completing your tasks.

It is always good to have a plan to follow. However, sometimes things can get crazy, and you’ll need to revise your current plan or create a new one. When that happens, do not fear. Instead, take a leader’s stance on things. Do not go with the flow, control the paddle! We are all in charge of our own success!

Also check out Nate Riggs’ blog. He’s a cool guy. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go treat myself to my reward for the day: a big Chipotle burrito.

What else would you add to the list?

Photo Credit: www.thebigrocks.com

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Incept Saves | Little-Known Rules About Blood Donation

When I talk to blood donors as a Conversational Marketing Expert (CME) at Incept, most of them know the common rules of giving blood:

drink water and eat before and after donating
don’t donate if you’re ill
double-check your eligibility if you’ve traveled out of the country
and a few others… (check out Stephanie Stanley’s Handy Dandy Med Book )

Here are some rules few have heard of:

Don’t smoke cigarettes for 30 minutes after donating blood! LifeSource, Chicagoland’s blood center, recommends not smoking for a whole hour both before and after giving blood. Even if the donor has enough iron, food and fluids in his or her system, smoking could increase the likelihood of dizziness or even fainting.

Don’t eat candy or mints or chew gum immediately before or during the blood donation. In fact, it’s good to avoid eating any fatty foods at all for 24 hours prior. Blood centers provide plenty of snacks after the donation!

Donating blood doesn’t hurt as much as people assume. Yes, the initial needle puncture stings, but it’s a slight pain that many people find is worth it. I mean, you’re helping save up to three lives with every pint of blood! Also, the pain subsides quickly. The sensation of having the needle in your arm for 5-10 minutes is not painful.

Can you think of other little-known facts?

Photo Credit:
www.sayheyy.blogspot.com/2010_05_01_archive.html
www.yorkblog.com/teentakeover/misc
www.askfitnesscoach.com/2010/06/celebrity-fitness-secrets/

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← Previous Entries

February 2011

Rita Frances Dove: Modern American Poet

How I Started Donating Blood

Are You My Type? A Note on Blood Typing

Throwin’ It Into Overdrive

Incept Saves | Little-Known Rules About Blood Donation

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February 2011

The Dawn of the Internet

The Red Coats are Coming

Where Would You Have a Conversation?

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