Here’s an interesting concept. Is it possible that an application as simple as Twitter could replace the need to read the tabloids  and view the photos and videos captured by the bold and brash paparazzi? This came to mind after seeing Sean “Diddy” Combs speak to this very topic on The Ellen Show. Take note that he mentions that if there is a rumor about a celebrity, that particular celebrity can take control back by participating in the Twitter world (Twitterverse). They can set it straight for their fans. They can feel empowered. Let’s face it, wouldn’t it be better to hear the truth from the celebs rather than pay the price for the tabloids and read the non-truths and exaggerations?

We all remember the unbelievable tragedy of Princess Diana and the paparazzi. Some of you might have seen this video with Julia Roberts turning the tables on the paparazzi and chasing them down, angry that they were endangering the lives of young school children. And musician John Mayer wrote a very compelling testimonial on his website that he actually read at Los Angeles City Hall on July 31, 2008 regarding the blatant carelessness of the paparazzi.

One of the most popular celebrities on Twitter, with over 600,000 followers is Ashton Kutcher (you can follow him @aplusk). He and his wife, the lovely Demi Moore (@mrskutcher), are more than generous in sharing information with their fans through Twitter.

They both post spontaneous photos (twitpics) and real time information on their whereabouts and goings on. Ashton is currently filming a movie in France and he has videos as well as photos immediately available to view if you are following him. There is no way the paparazzi or any tabloid can get the info out before he does.

Something that @mrskutcher posted to a fan the other day brought to mind the comments Sean “Diddy” Combs made on Ellen. A fan sent her a tweet concerned about something she had read in a tabloid and Ms. Moore’s response was “please do not ever trust or believe the tabloids check out our twit posts twitpics and videos posted here for the real deal!!!” The honesty and openness she and her husband share with the Twitterverse is so much more interesting than what is written in the tabloids. Twitter may well be the new medium.

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In January 2005 a fascinating short film about the future of the news was released and brought to my attention. It really blew my mind at the time. When I mention it to people today I’m surprised at the number of those who have not had the opportunity to view the film. The reason why I’ve been thinking about it lately is because of the recent news concerning newspapers around the country that are dying. These include the LA Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Miami Herald, the Chicago Sun-Times and the list goes on. Some of these are award-winning publications and you have to wonder what the cause of their demise really is.

The second reason I’m thinking of the film is because of the current massive growth of the Social Network platforms Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc. Do people have the time to do both: socialize on the Internet as well as read newspapers? Or are they getting their news while they socialize on these sites?

The film, by Robin Sloan and Matt Thompson is fictional and was based on a presentation they gave at the Poynter Institute. Take a look at this film and keep in mind it was made in 2005. Everything it presents as happening after that time is based on speculation. How much is happening now and how much will be happening by 2015?

Welcome to EPIC 2015

Let me know what you think.

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Take into consideration the following: In April 2008 a UC Berkeley student was arrested in Egypt for photographing an anti-government protest. He used his mobile phone to send the message “Arrested” to his 48 followers on Twitter on the way to the police station and continued to send updates about his condition to his followers while being detained. They, in turn, contacted UC Berkeley as well as a number of press organizations. The US Embassy in Cairo was contacted and he was released from jail the next day.

During the devastating Victorian bushfires in Australia in February, 2009 the Country Fire Authority (CFA) used Twitter to send out regular alerts and updates. The Prime Minister also used his Twitter account to send out information on the fires, how to donate money and blood, and where to seek emergency help.

As a tragedy unfolded during the 2008 Mumbai attacks in India, eyewitnesses sent an estimated 80 tweets every five seconds . Twitter users on the ground helped in compiling a list of the dead and injured. In addition, users sent out vital information such as emergency phone numbers and the location of hospitals that needed blood donations.

And then there’s the celebrity side of everything. When I checked out Lance Armstrong’s followers last Friday he had 195,000. Today he has close to 234,000. The numbers are growing daily. CNN has 384,000. President Obama has 367,000. Britney Spears has 288,000. And then Shaq, yes the one and only Shaquille O’Neal, has 231,000. Free tickets anyone? He’s got ‘em and he’s a ton of fun to follow!

So why don’t you take a few minutes and watch Evan Williams give a brief presentation at TED. Think about what he says and let me know if you think Twitter might be responsible for a Global Community.

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Have you found TED yet? About a year ago I was talking to a friend and she suggested I might be interested in this fascinating website. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. It was founded by Richard Saul Wurman and Harry Marks in 1984, and this conference has been held annually since 1990. Wurman left after the 2002 conference and Chris Anderson now hosts the event. The TED website launched in April 2007.

What a think tank! TED brings together some of the greatest minds and inspired thinkers of our time. They definitely leave their egos at the door as they have approximately 18 minutes to give the talk of their lives and everyone participates in the same way. There are no Q&A’s, no round table discussions and no selling from the stage. There are currently 341 speakers listed as having participated in TED Talks including former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Tipping Point author Malcolm Gladwell, author Richard Dawkins, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, musician Paul Simon, former V.P. of the U.S. Al Gore, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, cellist Yo Yo Ma and Tony Robbins.

The annual TED Conference takes place over four days in Long Beach, CA and the event sells out a year in advance. If you are fortunate enough to get invited the standard registration cost is $6,000 which includes attendance of the conference, club mailings, networking tools and conference DVDs.

I recommend you do yourself a favor, take 20 minutes out of your day and click here to be inspired, intrigued and perhaps motivated to think beyond your own self limitations.

This quote is from the talk Barry Schwartz presented on the paradox of choice:

The good news: You don’t need to be brilliant to be wise. The bad news: Without wisdom brilliance isn’t enough.

His thought provoking talk happens to be my favorite this week and you can click here to view.

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I’ve been following Alexandria (Ali) Brown for a number of years and I’ve watched her go from a small town girl to an uptown girl in a very elegant way. I don’t use the term elegant lightly. She is a very classy woman and I would like you to have the opportunity to learn from the best of the best.

Are you worried about your business? Are you looking for more income streams? Do you want to start a business but are afraid this isn’t the right time? Or are you doing great right now?
For myself, I’m always interested in looking for more ways to take charge of my OWN life and my OWN business. That’s why I was intrigued by Ali Brown’s new free teleclass on Thursday, March 5, called “How to Create Your OWN Strong Economy This Year…With Online Information Marketing.” Here’s the link to sign up:

Sign Up For The Call Here

And don’t forget to share your thoughts and questions below. I’d love to know what you really think about your business and the economy right now.

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By the way, why the car? Oh, I have so much to tell. But for now I will stay on topic. The sub-title of my edition of Psycho-Cybernetics (there have been many since) reads “A New Technique for Using Your SUBCONSCIOUS POWER”…hmm. Some people in today’s world (now, I’m not naming names) would have you believe that their version of this “New Technique” really is new and unique and the funny thing is that people believe them. There are a ton of marketers out there who are cashing in on this very thing. BIG time. More on that at a later time, too.

So, the early days of MLM. What was it about those meetings? It was almost as if they had a cult like feeling to them. The positive energy in the room was very contagious because everywhere you looked people would be nodding their heads in agreement. People heard what they wanted to hear, that they too could be successful no matter what. All it took was perseverance and a strong will and they would be at the top of their game more quickly than they could ever imagine. When I think of Mark Hughes, the founder of Herbalife the one word that comes to mind that has stuck with me throughout not only my MLM experience, but probably throughout my life is conviction. Without it, in this business, you are lost. You must believe in what you are doing so much that you eat, sleep and breathe it. It is such an integral part of your life that you can’t fall asleep at night. And once you do you wake up and can’t stop thinking of new ideas, ideas that you want to share with everyone in your business. Why and what is it that drives you this hard? In one word, success.

Take a glance at the Table Of Contents of Psycho-Cybernetics. You will see that it’s not a quick fix but it sure is an interesting read.

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When I started with Herbalife years ago I was a Multi Level Marketing virgin. I knew a big fat zero about MLM, Network Marketing, Home Based businesses, Pyramid schemes and the likes. I ran into someone who knew someone else who was promoting this healthy stuff and since I was into health and nutrition I decided to listen to the pitch.

Ever hear this, “Hey, will you go with me to this meeting at a hotel which Joe told me about. It’s an awesome new product?” or “I heard of this great opportunity where we can make tons of money from home and it costs hardly anything to get started.”
Have you heard this one, “I have a friend who is having a meeting at their house tonight about this new really great idea. Want to come?”

So, did you do it? Did you lose your virginity? If so, how was it for you? If not, why not and how are things for you now? You must wonder what life would be like if you had really listened to the message of the day back then, if you had followed the “plan”.

The founder of Herbalife was Mark Hughes. At the company conventions he had a very evangelical and charismatic way about him during his keynote addresses. People flocked to him with admiration. They believed the story he told because his delivery was compassionate. What about the message today in the MLM industry? It hasn’t changed that much. The way the message is actually delivered has changed immensely but the messenger really hasn’t. I guarantee if you walk in on an MLM convention during the keynote address you will find a CEO on stage with more excitement and enthusiasm than this kid who got exactly what he wanted for Christmas.

So what’s different then? And how has it been a benefit to me? See you on the next post…

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