DISQUS

Thank YOU Nathalie! What a moving post, your passion is shining so clearly.

"E.g., I am passionate about helping disabled people find jobs and live independent lives. But wait, maybe I could write a book with tips on how they can find work."

That sounds like a fantastic info-product to me!!! Think of all the people you could help with a product like that. From the discussion I'm guessing that you're feeling bad about "taking money" from these people but if your product truly helps them find jobs and lead independent lives you are only helping them!

I think that is a GREAT place to start for your infoproduct. What are some magic bullets that these people need? A list of the most disability-friendly employers in america and instructions on getting a job there maybe?

Thanks everyone for your comments!

Cory I don't know if your comment was for Clay or myself but I'll answer. I find that many people who keep their jobs "because of the insurance" haven't researched the cost of insurance. If you are childless and healthy it is not expensive. I purchased high-deductible coverage for myself for $65/month and paid for dental out of pocket which doesn't add up to more than a few hundred per year. (That statement is in the past tense because I'm now covered under my boyfriend's insurance.)

However, if you have existing health problems or need to insure children I know the rates can be much higher. I'd recommend this site for researching plans: http://www.revolutionhealth.com/insurance/infor...

I think small talk and ambient noise are incredibly important for a brand. I have seen a huge increase in my business since I began doing a weekly mailing. This mailing provides valuable content, but I think more important than that is reminding people that I exist week in and week out. It's the same with twitter, it's mostly just "small talk" but it keeps me and my business on people's radar.

I'm proud to be a part of this, on Team Brea! I think it's a really innovative mix of online and offline fundraising.

This is such perfect timing with the post I just published on problogger about you!

http://www.problogger.net/archives/2009/01/19/h...

I have ALWAYS told people you are triple Z list, haha! Seriously it's really funny how nervous people are about approaching folks like and and Chris Brogan. We are all just people. :)

Definitely sounds like you need an assistant to manage your email. I have been loving your huffpo series, keep it up!

This made me laugh out loud! I am so HAPPY to be out of the agency setting.

Roeder Studios has designed a new model for leveraging the web to create a snowball of brand momentum and transform your tribe into a vibrant, engaged community. Our clients are innovative companies and personalities that are seeking to create magnetic, exciting online experiences for their customers and fans.

Hmm, I agree and disagree. I think as far as the ACT of "pounding the list", social media is doing even more of that. Instead of just pounding the list we are now pounding the list, the twitter, the blog, the youtube and the facebook. We do these things because we learned from old-school marketers that you need to your message in front of people many many times and I think that will always hold true.

What needs to change now is the content. It's getting to know ME, and in getting to know me you get to know my expertise and offer.

Some people think it sounds strange, but I truly don't believe in business competition. The concept of competition stems from the belief that there is a finite number of customers to be had, or money to be made, which isn't true. First of all no two products or services are exactly the same. And secondly customers can and do buy the "exact same" product or service from two different providers all the time. I think worrying about competition is a total waste of time and energy, and will lead you astray because you get stuck copying others instead of being true to your own style.

I think this post is dead-on.

It will be interesting to see how corporate culture adapts to the needs and wants of generation Y. I see a lot of friends get extremely frustrated with workplaces that operate the "old fashioned" way. I fear that there will be a lot of head-butting for a while, but Gen Y is already getting old to be managers/owners of companies. I think we'll see the most significant changes as more Gen Y'ers start their own ventures or take over.

Great post. I have done some work with universities and I was SHOCKED to discover that every department is left to defend for itself, just to get a simple website up!These universities have IT departments that are maintaining the main university site, why they cannot throw each department a template is beyond me.

FANTASTIC idea. I don't have the passion for this project but someone please do it!

Loved this. Starting out as a solopreneur, for a long time I didn't think of myself as a "real business". The more I've been able to mentally separate myself from my business the more successful I've been. The store is a great analogy, it allows you to think in most basic terms: buyer/seller and supply/demand.

I am constantly trying to explain this to people. When I tell people that I work with social media sometimes they think that facebook would be a "magic pill" if only they understood how to use it. Each medium is just another place to stick your message, and another place to form relationships.

Thanks Chris. I think the key theme running through all of this is to always recognize its about your AUDIENCE, not about YOU.

Beautifully said.

I was just thinking about the INCREDIBLE amount of well-intentioned but terrible advice I receive every single day, some of it directly to me personally and a basically unmeasurable amount if I count what I could spend all day reading online. Thanks for this reminder that others are not going to get it, you just have to follow the path you create for yourself.

Bob is a textbook example of someone who is just itching to get out and do their own thing. I was at a conference with hundreds of entrepreneurs this weekend and heard so many stories of people who could never stay in a job because they shook things up too much - they wanted to actually transform the company instead of just going with the status quo. It sounds to me like Bob should go out on his own or find a company that actually values innovative thinking.

I am that "Web-savvy college friend" you mentioned. :) Thanks for your post, I think the twitterview is going to be a big success I have already been watching the questions roll in!

OMG I think reading your fob blog influenced my grammar "I graduated a year early because I so done with school" haha clearly meant to say I WAS so done with school!

College is a fun time socially, but it's not like that totally dies after you graduate. I definitely don't think you'll regret finishing as soon as you can.

I felt the same way when I was in school. I graduated a year early because I so done with school and ready to get to work. I went to the university of texas where doing a "victory lap"( 5th year) was very popular so everyone thought I was nuts. I have never regretted it for a second.

Great advice, I have one more point to add - if you have anything interesting/unusual INCLUDE IT. The potential employer is looking through hundreds of resumes of people who have similar majors and job experience. I studied furniture design in denmark and that was on my resume. When I was looking for jobs the interviewer ALWAYS mentioned that, and pretty much spent more time asking me about that than anything else. It made me unique.

This post got me thinking about ways we might work together - I'm going to email you soon.

Also what is your twitter name?