Starting out I decided to use Linkedin’s “Answers” service.  Here I posted the following:

Who could recommend a motivational speaker that is be both inspiring and entertaining?

I then listed this question in: Business Development, Communication and Public Speaking

I then proceeded to ask the same question on Google+ on my main profile as well through Twitter.

To date these are the results:

Linkedin: 15 answers

Google+: 1

Twitter: 2

Frankly I was shocked.  However, in hindsight this probably shouldn’t come as a surprise to me and I’ll explain why.  On Linkedin, I network as an Open Networker.  In other words, I connect with all professionals that request to connect and try to help individuals connect with one another so as a whole, everyone can benefit from the expertise and professional services that we all have at our disposal.  This as garnered me to date with 811 direct connections on Linkedin and more than 8.2 million in my extended network.  Comparatively here’s what I’m working with to date on Google+: I have 303 people in my circles, but only 145 people have me in their circles.  And with Twitter, I follow 1,416 with 751 people following me.

What I found frustrating, was even though I posted my question publicly on ever network mentioned, I only got answers on two of the networks and of those only people I hadn’t had any connection with before answer my question.  Let me clarify and say that on Google+ one of my friends from Michigan answered me with a link to Chris Farley’s – Motivational Speaker skit.  As much as the video clip didn’t help in what I was trying to accomplish it had me crying with laughter and a lot less frustrated.  Thanks Loren Michael!

In closing from everything I’m seeing I think that Google+ has a lot to offer but with a 145:1 ratio of people who have me in their circles to answers I think I like the numbers of 54.07:1 much better from LinkedIn and Twitter for that matter.  Do I think that Google+ can and will do better in this area of helping people to crowdsource answers and solutions within their own networks and publicly? From everything I am reading on Google+, I do.  Will Google be able to get it right before the buzz for the general public is gone completely?  I believe the jury is still out.  What do you think and what have been the results from your own attempts at crowdsourcing on these and other networks?

Crowdsourcing on Google+, Linkedin, and Twitter is a post from: domingo rogers

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Watch my full review of Tony Hsieh’s book – Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose!  Please leave your comments below and let me know what books you’d like me to review.

Book Review: Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose is a post from: domingo rogers

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Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Read This Book (according to Tony Hsieh)

10.  You want to learn about the path that we took at Zappos to get to over $1 billion in gross merchandise sales in less than ten years.

9.  You want to learn about the path I took that eventually led me to Zappos, and the lessons I learned along the way.

8.  You want to learn from all the mistakes we made at Zappos over the years so that your business can avoid making the same ones.

7.  You want to figure out the right balance of profits, passion, and purpose in business and in life.

6.  You want to build a long-term, enduring business and brand.

5.  You want to create a stronger company culture, which will make your employees and coworkers happier and create more employee engagement, leading to higher productivity.

4.  You want to deliver a better customer experience, which will make your customers happier and create more customer loyalty, leading to increased profits.

3.  You want to build something special.

2.  You want to find inspiration and happiness in work and in life.

1.  You ran out of firewood for your fireplace.  This book makes an excellent fire-starter.

A Book Preview – Delivering Happiness is a post from: domingo rogers

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Definitions and Acronyms for me to remember:

NR = New Rich

DEAL & DELA

D for Definition

E for Elimination

A for Automation

L for Liberation

W4W = Work for work’s sake

Dysphoria is the direct opposite of Euphoria

Eustress is a term coined by endocrinologist Hans Selye which is defined in the model of Richard Lazarus (1974) as stress that is healthy, or gives one a feeling of fulfillment or other positive feelings. Eustress is a process of exploring potential gains. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eustress)

Key thoughts for me to remember that strike a cord with me:

D:  To retire early or young.

NR: To distribute recovery periods and adventures (mini-retirements) throughout life on a regular basis and recognize that inactivity is not the goal.  Doing that which excites you is. (Ferriss 22)

D:  To make a ton of money.

NR:  To make a ton of money with specific reasons and defined dreams to chase, timelines and steps included.  What are you working for? (Ferriss 23)  For many years this had been my focus to simple make a ton of money.  Now though, because of personal and spiritual changes that have gone on in my life, my focus is still to make a ton of money but it is to accomplish specific goals in the area of giving, starting charities or non-profit organizations and pursue activities alone, with my wife and with our kids that we haven’t and can’t do now.

D:  To have freedom from doing that which you dislike.

NR:  To have the freedom from doing that which you dislike, but also the freedom and resolve to pursue your dreams without reverting to work for work’s sake… (Ferriss 23 and 24)

Money is multiplied in practical value depending on the number of W’s you control in your life: what you do, when you do it, where you do it, and with whom you do it. (Ferriss 24)  This is the freedom multiplier!

Let the hard questions begin!

2. How has doing what you “should” resulted in subpar experiences or regret for not having done something else? (Ferris 37)  My attending college immediately after graduating high school and attending the college that I felt my parents wanted me to attend has been something I have definitely had regretted.  I do have to admit though if it had not been for me to attend where I did, I would now be married to my wonderful wife and we wouldn’t have our awesome inspiring kids.

3. Look at what you’re currently doing and ask yourself, “What would happen if I did the opposite of the people around me?  What will I sacrifice if I continue on this track for 5, 10, or 20 years? (Ferriss 37)  This is a hard question.  I am in some ways already doing the opposite of what the people around me are doing, though I know I can do more.  I have already proven to myself that I can have a professional career while only having attended one year of college.  Do I want to ever get a college degree?  Defiantly, but on my terms and where I want to attend!

At the age of twenty I had already gotten married to a woman with two children.  At age twenty-one we had three children.  In the process of fighting against current of what others do I have been all of the following: Call Center Representative (four  times), truck driver, pizza delivery professional, electronics store stock person and sales person, part of a mall cleaning crew, retail associate at two different clothing stores, insurance sales person for three different companies, an outside sales professional at one computer support company, a Regional Account Manager, an Inside Sales Professional twice, and have joined and quit two MLM companies.

I have been on the verge of ending my marriage more than I like to admit.  I have dealt with suicidal thoughts.  Overcoming a particular destructive addictive behavior is a daily fight for me.

“What would happen if I did the opposite of the people around me?”  When I do it against God’s principles it destroys me and those around me.  When I do it and I am aligned with God’s principles, I am more blessed than I know how to express!

“What will I sacrifice if I continue on this track for 5, 10, or 20 years?” If I were to sacrifice and fight against God’s will and principles I would be miserable.  If I continue to only trust marginally in God and His will and not continue to fight the current of mediocrity I too will be miserable.

So, why the sarcasm for “vacation” at the very beginning of this post?  Simply for the fact that over this next year I am going to strive to enjoy my vacations with as little drama as possible from outside forces – Here’s to the beginning of an awesome year!

The 4-Hour Workweek – Beginning the Journey is a post from: domingo rogers

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My normal 15 minute commute takes about an hour walking. It snowed about three-quarters of the way but overall aside from stepping into a puddle I didn’t see, it was a good walk to work.

Why did I walk to work? Well, the forecast today is calling for 15-20 per mile an hour winds so I figured walking would probably be harder overall. Is it worth it, we shall see this afternoon!

Friday, the 21st of November is a post from: domingo rogers

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