We all want to be heard. We all have something to say. Most of us are also searching for our source of income. This gives us a common ground for becoming associates or friends.

The problems only exist when the street is one-way. If we are all going to inhabit this online world, we must learn to share, help, give, listen and learn. We can pick and choose those with whom we are actively involved with a simple click of the mouse. When each of us becomes more discerning in those with whom we choose to climb the ladder of success , I suspect there will be massive changes in the general environment of the virtual world and it’s leaders.

The use of twitter “repurposed” may very well be the first sign of changes to come. Non-human responses to a follow, un-reciprocated retweets, massive following without so much as a visit to profiles or websites are all common behaviors that a slowly developing group of people are beginning to recognize as unbecoming. Those of us still on the front end of the learning curve are willing students, but gradually even we can see the light.

Facebook fan pages and Friendfeed may also feel changes coming soon. Having a presence online means as much to the newcomer as it does to the most aggressive marketers.  A student needs feedback where they live, not only where it counts for the teachers agenda.

I think the tone online is changing rapidly . People in high places are listening.  A kindness and courtesy are invading the environment. I for one, am very pleased to see this. After all, it only takes a moment to leave a comment but it does wonders for the esteem.

Invest your energy in positive things, and let go of things you can not change. Practice enthusiasm. Embrace empathy.

Give up hate. Play games and read books. Expand your interests and explore your thoughts. Sit in silence and really listen to inner self.

Eat well and drink plenty of water. Take care of yourself with exercise and proper rest.

Keep in touch with friends and family. Smile on purpose.

Forgive often an indiscriminately.

Make peace and keep within your own limits.

Sleep well at night and dream often while you are awake.

Take long walks to remind yourself of the beauty around you and trust that the best is yet to come.

Always, always , do the right thing.

Neale Donald Walsch

Marketing to your buyers convenience will earn you additional income. The limited time of many busy men and women makes it worthwhile to create solutions your buyers can download and listen to while they multi-task.

With so many high-tech toys available to the masses, you can create great information products for the iPods and CD players that appear to be professionally produced. Most systems have wizards that walk you through production.

Audio information products are easily produced and downloadable directly to the end users iPod. Burning a CD from your own computer and shipping is equally done with ease these days.

In addition to audio, many marketers assemble amazing information products on video. Using state-of-the-art video software like Camtasia, marketers can now create top quality products for their customers showing them how to put their ideas into action.

A video tutorial helps your customer get the most out of your product. If you have something the buyer should see, like step-by-step instructions to uploading images, then you need to be making videos.

You may want to implement the combination of more than one format for your information product sales. This increases your profits considerably and gives the buyer added value.

If you have created a 75-page eBook on how to utilize forums and chat settings to bring traffic to their website, you could give away a video guide showing them how to set up their signature files and an audio file teaching them how to develop the mindset of social marketing geniuses.

*illustration used with permission from Hiking Artist> and under creative common license

www.hikingartist.com

I choose Gary Vaynerchuk, aka Gary Vee.  Gary is not aware of this and I fear he would balk at the idea when he discovers I am sipping a cheap Sangria! But he is my choice and he is “here” because he allows this to be. His short video about shaking hands with the online world is what prompted me to invite him into my home.

The Virtual Handshake

My take from his short video is that regardless of your level of expertise, purpose or involvement online, we are all humans who can interact with each other. While I may not hear from Mr. V nor anyone else regarding this post, I still extend my hand to you all. We are here, and we share this online world.

So Gary here’s to you! I am sending you a handshake and tipping my glass of Sangria to you. Welcome to my party!

“The Purpose of Life is to Live a Life of Purpose” is the quote Melanie  loved  so much that she stenciled it above a window that looks out over the pastures at Proud Spirit Horse Sanctuary. It is the steadfast philosophy by which she has lived her entire adult life and unwanted, elderly and abused horses became her purpose. One of their visions was to provide as natural an environment for the horses as possible, and they have done that very well.

One of the very few true sanctuaries in the United States, the Bowles do not adopt out any of the horses who find their way to Proud Spirit, “having given enough,” as Melanie would say.

While they share their visions and dreams through this website, they remain transparent and authentic.  I enjoyed my visit as well as I enjoyed her First Book, which you can purchase through their website click here . This is not an affiliate link of mine. It will take you to their own site.

Watch the short video below to see these fabulous horses in all their healed glory.

Having a presence on the internet is an awesome privilege. I have read hundreds of amazing blogs, and taken many lessons on internet marketing, social media and blogging. All in all, I have met some wonderful people and learned some hard lessons.  Most of those lessons made me realize everything I do not want to do with my own website.

My intention is to provide an online account of my journey and share what I have found to be authentic authority, accountability and influence.  For the most part I do not intend to discuss the negative services I may run across.

I also intend to be transparent about any links  I may provide (that I may earn from) during the course of writing for this blog . I realize this may limit or even void my opportunity to earn.  I do intend to have adsense on this blog. With that said, let’s get on with it!

Thanks for stopping by! Please look over the site and leave me a comment. I look forward to hearing from you.