Hunting and Gathering in the Information Age
April 30, 2008
By: Shama Hyder
Back in the caveman days, our ancestors survived by hunting and gathering food. Today, we have obviously evolved. Thanks Martha Stewart! However, when it comes to making sense of the online world- our business survival still depends on hunting and gathering. Here’s how:
1) It’s Impossible to Learn it All- …first hand that is. It is, however, completely possible for us to function as a community and learn from each other. Even when our ancestors started farming, they didn’t give up hunting. Their survival depended on the variety of strategies they used to get food. Today, our businesses are like that. We can very much plant our own gardens of information and service. But, more importantly, we also have to seek out information. We have to hunt for the best.
2) Eat What You Gather/Hunt- What would happen if back in the day people gathered the best crops and didn’t eat them…they would rot. Knowledge is like that today. You can read a million blogs, attend hundreds of seminars, and purchase thousands of books. But if you don’t put those concepts into action-it rots.
3) Tribes Rule- Species that gathered together survived. Loners usually died out. The same concept applies to today’s business. What does your personal support team look like? Do you belong to Mastermind groups? Have coaches? How often do you participate in joint ventures? How is your business supported? In the Hunting and Gathering age of information, you have to pull together your resources.
4) Timing Matters- Gather information before you need it. If you go looking for answers at the last moment, you are more likely to make impulsive decisions. People took risks when they were starving-like going out to find food in the middle of winter. We have evolved. Make sure your business isn’t starving for help before going after it.
Twitter: Why it Should Matter to You
April 21, 2008
By: Shama Hyder
If you haven’t already heard of Twitter, you are probably hiding out in a cave! Twitter is the social media site which allows you only 140 characters at a time to convey your thoughts. Think of it like a huge ongoing chat room. Doesn’t sound too appealing you say? Keep reading!
1) Why Twitter?- Twitter is like having your own personal search engine. Once you build up enough followers, you can use Twitter to:
• quickly mastermind with others
• find resources and make friends
• share links to interesting articles (your own and others)
• learn what’s hot and relevant in your industry
• people watch online! (think e-cafe)
• drive traffic to your site (20% of After The Launch’s traffic comes from Twitter)
2) Get started!- Go to Twitter.com and setup an account. This takes less than a minute. Then add me as a friend by clicking "Follow Me." I will follow you back. This way you will have your first Twitter follower. You can follow whoever you like, but also have the option of keeping your own updates private. Meaning: you get to approve who follows your "tweets" (or messages). Then, watch and learn. See who is saying what and contribute your own two-bit when relevant.
3) Manage your Time- It’s easy to get carried away with Twitter, but that’s not the best use of your time. When starting out, give it 15 minutes twice a day. Log on, see what’s happening, and have your say. Eventually, you will be able to find your own rhythm for tweeting. At first it can seem like noise, but over time (a few weeks), you will be able to start making connections and finding value.
Book Reviews-Guidance, Giving and Inspiration
April 20, 2008
By: Shama Hyder
Aside from marketing, all business owners need one thing: motivation. This round of book reviews covers books that I have personally found inspirational and motivating. They aren’t mainstream but fall under the category of hidden gems.
Inner Guidance and the Four Spiritual Gifts- Howard Wimer proposes that we all have some inherent spiritual gifts that serve as the foundation of our being. He also shows how to use your personal gifts to become better communicators. Great read!
The Power of Inner Guidance- Quick read with a powerful message. It takes you back to the basics of sound decision making: balance, acceptance, and inner strength. Dr. Pam Garcy has packed quite a punch in this book.
The Giving Zone- There are a lot of books out there on the power of giving, but every once in a while I will stumble upon an author who seems to be living his work. This book by Bruce Painter is a great example of that.
Talking with Giants- Scott Schilling interviews some big hitters (Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, T. Harv Eker) on what drives them. Though some questions are fairly straightforward, some you will want to earmark for future reference.
Got any hidden gems of your own? Share below!
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