My Lifestyle Career

Book Review: Job Searching with Social Media for Dummies

I read a lot of career books.  So when I was asked to review Job Searching With Social Media for Dummies by Joshua Waldman, I agreed to do so, even though I figured I wouldn't learn much that I didn't already know on this hot topic.  I am happy to report that I was wrong.  Contrary to my initial assumption, I learned quite a bit, and I think you will too.  

There are several reasons why I found this book refreshingly useful:

Comprehensive: Social Media is a BIG topic.  Waldman does an outstanding job of presenting all the major social media platforms: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Google, without overwhelming the reader. While there are already many useful books that cover each of the individual social media platforms, this book covers all the big players in one well-written reference guide.

Easy-to-Understand (Without Making You Feel Like a Dummy): I read articles about this subject all the time but I still have a hard time understanding it all.  Waldman simplified it for me.  He skillfully balances the basics with more advanced tips, strategies and ideas for people ready to ramp-up their social media activities a notch.

Balanced: People who are really into social media often forget that these tools are not the "end all, be all" of the job search process. Waldman understands the importance of having a balanced job search that successfully blends the high-tech with high-touch. While the main topic of this book is social media, the author includes lots of helpful information about the other strategies needed for a successful job search outcome.

Bottom line? I highly recommend this book for both novice and seasoned job-seekers. Practical, timely and easy-to-digest, this one is a winner!

 

GiveBack.Org: A Lesson in Social Entrepreneurship

Many of my clients are interested in doing good while making a living, so when I was recently given an opportunity to be part of a brainstorming group with GiveBack.Org I jumped at the chance.  Some of you might be familiar with GiveBack's Founder and CEO Stephen Paletta, who was the winner of Oprah’s Big Give in 2008, a TV reality show which challenged competitors to be “the biggest giver”.  The prize for winning the competition included $500,000 to give away and the experience inspired (and funded) the launch of GiveBack. 

What is GiveBack?

To better understand how GiveBack works, I urge you to watch the short video posted at the top of this page, but in brief, GiveBack is a new charitable giving platform that empowers you to earn, gather, and give money to the causes you care most about.

Once you join GiveBack (free of charge )and set up your personal foundation account, you fund your account either by making a direct deposit or by shopping online with any of their 400+ online mall partners.  In turn for shopping through GiveBack, their mall partners will donate up to 15% of each purchase into your foundation; you get to do good as you purchase the things you need. You then direct the funds from your account to any charity in good standing with the IRS;  your church, synagogue, children's school, or a favorite charity -- you decide.  The GiveBack Foundation doesn't charge you or the charity anything for the transaction.   

Who knew shopping could be such a philanthropic endeavor?

Beside being an incredible organization, GiveBack is a wonderful example of how technology empowers people to create new business models and opportunities. Thanks to a carefully crafted vision,and lots of hard work, Stephen was able to create a vehicle that allows everyone, whether they have one dollar or one million dollars, to start their own foundation.  

I hope you'll take the time to visit them, set up your account, and begin earning money to donate to your favorite causes.  And if you are involved with fundraising for an organization, please consider working through them to help your fundraising efforts.  It's a win-win for all involved, and if you sign-up before July 16, 2011, you could be the lucky winner (chosen daily at random) of a $1,000 donation to your foundation account.

Please pass this information on to your friends, family and co-workers.  It's a great concept, and together, maybe we can all help make the world a better place. 

 

Want a Million Dollar Business? Count Me In!

Starting a business, and then making it profitable, takes a lot of work.  But if you know where to look, there are some incredible resources you can turn to that will make the job a whole lot easier.  This week I want to tell you about Count Me In, the leading national not-for-profit provider of resources, business education and community support for women entrepreneurs seeking to grow micro businesses to million dollar enterprises.  (although in reality, you don't have to be a woman or an aspiring millionaire, to find their resources immensely useful).

Their site provides access to:

Free weekly webinars: The webinars are presented on Wednesdays, but you can access the archived presentations at your leisure.  The site also hosts podcasts and other informational media. It's a convenient way to get educated on a wide range of important entrepreneurial topics. 

Conferences and Competitions: Make Mine a Million $ Business Competitions are large, live events where women entrepreneurs compete for Make Mine a Million $ Business Award, a package of financing, coaching and marketing, by pitching their businesses to an audience and panel of judges. These events also include speakers from business leaders, panel discussions, and networking with other women entrepreneurs.  Very affordable (currently priced at $49 for a day long event)

Inspiration: If you're thinking about starting your own business, it can be incredibly helpful to read profiles of other successful entrepreneurs.  Reading those profiles is a great way to get new ideas, and learn about winning business models and useful resources.

Opportunities for Networking: Count me In fosters networking opportunities though both their online tehnologies and in-person events.  

I hope you'll find them useful.  To learn more, check them out at MakeMineaMillion.org