‎"Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher." ~ Oprah Winfrey.

If you want to get better, you have to surround yourself with better people. Seek out the successful people and learn their secrets to success. Hire people who are more knowledgeable in areas where you lack experience. People excel in the things they are passionate about. Draw from their knowledge, passion and energy and you will undoubtedly improve as well.



I truly feel that it is these inherent beliefs that led me to this place. The older I get, the more I trust my instincts. There have been many times in my life when trusting my "gut" has led to positive outcomes and when second guessing myself has proved a costly lesson. Trust your own instincts. They will let you know who you should be attracted to, as well as who to avoid.



Aside from yourself, who has inspired you to do better? Why and how do they inspire you? What have you learned from them that has helped you achieve your desired goals? What goals did their inspiration help you achieve. How did you go about it?



Rick Clark

@rcl4rk @twitfaced1

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Complimentary-Travel-Certificate-and-Special-Offer-Details------.html?soid=1103655070231&aid=OaEO4AIItRM

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Complimentary-Travel-Certificate-and-Special-Offer-Details------.html?soid=1103655070231&aid=OaEO4AIItRM

How Do You Measure Your Personal Social Media Success?

I recently read a post about a college student, interning in Social Media, who expressed doubts about pursuing a career in Social media: http://tinyurl.com/Worthwhile-Pursuit - he made reference to a personal lack of success with Social Media.

The student's major question discussed whether he should focus his attention on (the new)Social Media as opposed to (the old) traditional marketing? In my opinion we should learn both. My belief is that the fundamentals as learned by studying traditional marketing skills will only enhance one's success in Social Media Marketing.

Many people involved in Social Media lack the basics I was fortunate to learn in College (Cornell University, BS-Communication Arts). Those include basic: spelling, grammar, punctuation, proof-reading and word definitions. You don't get a second chance to make a first impression.

My question is: How do YOU measure YOUR (personal) Social Media success?
To me sharing ideas with lots of influential friends and followers is great, but the bottom line ultimately comes down to "MONETIZATION." How is the time invested contributing to your company's (and your personal) bottom line?

If you are a SUCCESSFUL Social Media Marketer, please share your program and/or formula for success for the benefit of those among us who may have doubts about the potential for a future in Social Media Marketing.

Thanks in advance for your positive and constructive feedback.
Rick Clark a.k.a. "twitfaced"
http://card.ly/rcl4rk

Why is EVERYBODY joining Facebook and twitter?

Question: Why do you think EVERYBODY is joining Facebook and/or twitter?

As for myself, I truly ENJOY connecting with old friends and family members
as well as meeting new ones. I like being able to learn new things of interest
to myself and others. I could elaborate on these points indefinitely, but the
point of this blog is to find out why YOU (and others) think Social Media is
taking off like crazy.

Please post your comments here so that I, and anyone else reading this, can
learn from your personal experience, insights and opinions on this subject.

Thanks in advance for your participation,

Rick Clark
"twitfaced"
http://card.ly/rcl4rk

PS-As a future follow-up to this blog, I plan to summarize and post the most
interesting and popular results. Thanks Again!

Branding Youeself Without Offending Others

What are the best ways of "Branding Yourself" through Social Media without running the risk of offending family members and friends (or even new connections who don't know you well)?
Lately, I have been building my lists of friends and followers on the various Social Media sites, simultaneously "Branding Myself" through various associations, connections, tweets and posts. To find new like-minded individuals and groups to connect to (and monitor) I use several free services including: "SocialOomph" Twello and Tweepi.
Invariably, after posting specific comments, links or tweets two things always happen.
First, I gain more new requests for connections, friends and followers. It is the second activity, however that is the subject of this post-that is, simultaneously losing friends and followers as well. To receive e-mail notifications whenever someone stops following me on twitter, I use "Quitter" http://useqwitter.com/
Obviously, if someone loses Social Media friends and followers soon after posting a certain comment or tweet, that person has somehow "offended" the "unfollowers."
I guess, as the song says, "You can't please everyone, so you have to please yourself . . . ."
As my ultimate goal here is to find ways to reduce the number of "Quitters," your comments and suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Please feel free to add any links to helpful articles, groups, apps or services. Thanks. http://card.ly/rcl4rk

YourNight Overview.

Overview Of YourNight.com
YourNight.com, by admin.

. Social networking site with five different user profiles.
Friends profile- Allows you to share with those that are truly within your friend circle.
Family profile- Allows you to share with those that are your family members or close enough to consider them as family.
Professional profile- Allows you to share with like-minded business professionals or whomever you consider for this profile. (Similar to Linkedin professional network that costs $60/month)
Editorial profile- Allows you to use this profile like a blog. You can download videos, photos, or whatever you choose and link them to other sites. Write about anything you choose and with the RSS service anyone can use your material. When someone links to any of your material they will only be able to access it if they are a member of YourNight.com or have the option to join YourNight.com to view your material and will become a direct referral in your network.
Dating profile- For those who have not found their significant other. Download photos and video and create a description of yourself including your habits, likes, and dislikes. Search for others with similar characteristics and build a possible relationship. (Similar to Match.com which costs $30/month)

So when you write on your white board, similar to the wall on Facebook, before you publish it you are asked which profiles you wish to allow viewing. This feature significantly increases your security. Only those that you wish to see your post will actually see it.

2. Your YourNight.com widgets page.
Customize your widgets page with all of your favorite internet sites directly through YourNight.
Access your outside email accounts.
Access YouTube through your widgets page.
Access News sites from your widgets page.
When your widgets page is customized all of your favorite sites will be in smaller frames. When you want to access them just click and enlarge and use the sites directly from inside your YourNight.com account.
3. Your YourNight.com home page. For a still shot of the home page click here.
Check your in-house email account. Receive and send email to those within the YourNight network.
Access your five profiles.
Write on your white board.
Shop major retail sites and thousands of others. If you can buy it on the internet you will be able to purchase it on YourNight.com and receive cash back.
View the number of referrals that are in your network.
View your local weather.
See your YourNight earnings for the month. (Discussed later in article)
Access your YourNight eWallet account.
Access your video and photo galleries.
View possible connections that you may know that are YourNight members.
Purchase YourNight merchandise.
Access YourNight help center.
Change your network settings.
Access games.
Much more to be added as YourNight launches new phases.
4. Your revenue opportunities at YourNight.com.
Gold referral commissions. As you grow your network referrals in YourNight.com you will receive commissions for those referrals that become a gold member.
Browser commissions. These commissions are paid out for the purchases that have been made by all of your referrals through participating online retailers. (Numerous retailers are available and thousands will be added.)
Browser cash back. For all the purchases that you personally make with participating YourNight retailers you will receive cash back up to 20% of the purchase price.
Upgrading to the Gold membership for $10/month will increase your commissions, additional income streams, qualify for health benefits*, free travel packages*, computer merchandise*, other large giveaways*, and allow you to use the professional and dating profiles.
* Must meet qualifiers to receive these benefits.
5. Much more to come as YourNight.com evolves.
Business accounts available during Beta 3.0 launch.
Entertainer accounts available during Beta 3.0 launch.
So join YourNight.com for free and see the site for yourself:
http://join.YourNight.com/RCEnterprises

V.P. Remarks . . .

Today's question:

How do you feel about the remarks made by Vice President Joe Biden just prior to President Barack Obama's Health Care Reform Speech?

In case you missed it somehow you can view a video replay here:
http://thisisabigfuckingdeal.com/

As for myself, I have mixed emotions. On the one hand his blooper could have somewhat tarnished the seriousness of this very important speech. However, on the other hand I find it somewhat humorous in that he was just "keeping it real." And perhaps everyone is making too much of a big deal over something that is really not that important . . . .

What's your take on this subject?

http://card.ly/rcl4rk

Sharing A Letter From President Barack Obama . . .

I’m writing to you on a great day for America.

This morning, I gathered with members of Congress, my administration, and hardworking volunteers from every part of the country to sign comprehensive health care reform into law. Thanks to the immeasurable efforts of so many, the dream of reform is now a reality.

The bill I just signed puts Americans in charge of our own health care by enacting three key changes:

It establishes the toughest patient protections in history.

It guarantees all Americans affordable health insurance options, extending coverage to 32 million who are currently uninsured.

And it reduces the cost of care — cutting over 1 trillion dollars from the federal deficit over the next two decades.

To ensure a successful, stable transition, many of these changes will phase into full effect over the next several years.

But for millions of Americans, many of the benefits of reform will begin this year — some even taking effect this afternoon. Here are just a few examples:

Small businesses will receive significant tax cuts, this year, to help them afford health coverage for all their employees.

Seniors will receive a rebate to reduce drug costs not yet covered under Medicare.

Young people will be allowed coverage under their parents’ plan until the age of 26.

Early retirees will receive help to reduce premium costs.

Children will be protected against discrimination on the basis of medical history.

Uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions can join a special high-risk pool to get the coverage they need, starting in just 90 days.

Insured Americans will be protected from seeing their insurance revoked when they get sick, or facing restrictive annual limits on the care they receive.

All Americans will benefit from significant new investments to train primary care doctors, nurses, and public health professionals, and the creation of state-level consumer assistance programs to help all patients understand and defend our new rights.

As I’ve said many times, and as I know to be true, this astounding victory could not have been achieved without your tireless efforts.

So as we celebrate this great day, I want to invite you to add your name where it belongs: alongside mine as a co-signer of this historic legislation. Organizing for America will record the names of co-signers as a permanent commemoration of those who came together to make this moment possible — all of you who refused to give up until the dream of many generations for affordable, quality care for all Americans was finally fulfilled.

So, if you haven’t yet, please add your name as a proud health care reform co-signer today:

http://my.barackobama.com/cosigner

Please accept my thanks for your voice, for your courage, and for your indispensable partnership in the great work of creating change.

History, and I, are in your debt.

President Barack Obama