Happy New Year!!!!

[Jim Turner]

Hello Fellow Networkers,

What a great year 2008 was for me and hopefully, it was a great year for you. But still, I'm looking forward with high expectations of 2009. The past year was one where I learned a lot about Social Media. I did more observing than participating.There were cases where I was more proactive and took the lead on things... for example, forming this community.

But there is much more I could've done, but chose not to because I wanted to to see how this Social Media thingy really works. So now, I'm ready to take things to the next level. There a several products I have on my list of things to create. Plus, I want to really 'push' my social media marketing consulting services.

As far as this group goes, there's a ton more potential here than is currently being manifested. A lot of it falls on me. But, that will all change in 2009.

Let me know what some of your top priorities are for 2009. Since this is a Mastermind Group, we're willing to help you with critiques and give you feedback on some of your ideas you're thinking of executing.

Thanks for being a part of this group and I'm looking forward to this community exploding in 2009.

Cheers!
Jim

[Michael]

Thanks Jim and cheers to you, look forward to a great new year of learning and exploring with you guys here, and through out the web

[Melissa]

Jim -

You have an outstanding group here and yes, there is a great deal of potential. I am looking forward to seeing more growth and exchanging ideas with you and my fellow members....

Melissa

[Kimi267]

Hi Jim and all Others,

I will try to be a better member in 2009. The holidays and other social media seem to garner most of my attention as does writing BLOG entries and HUB pages. Of course there's my full time teaching job also but I do want to be a viable and valuable member here so please keep nudging me. I have posted my 2009 Resolution http://tinyurl.com/7gk2zy Please everyone visit and leave me a comment. You may do the same on my HUB also http://tinyurl.com/8kjcsp Thanks and may we all prosper in this new year!

Kimi267

[Jim Turner]

Thanks Michael, Melissa & Kimi... so glad each of you are part of this group. If you have any ideas you'd like to put forward as things the group should focus on or start a discussion around, either let me know or start a discussion here in the forum.

[Nadine Touzet]

Happy New Year to you Jim!

2008 has provided more than expectations, and hopefully 2009 will be the same, the only change being that I intend to take some real vacations and tend to my surroundings more.

Thank you for your commitment,
Nadine

[Evelyn]

Jim,

I'm raising my glass to all of us maximizing our vast potential in 2009. This is a powerful group you've assembled here and I think with the slightest of prodding and inspiration we could all have a massive impact.

Peace,

Evelyn

[Karen Swim]

Hello and Happy New Year to you Jim and all of the great members of this community. I look forward to interacting more with the community members and sharing and exchanging ideas which will help us all to maximize our potential. I don't believe in resolutions but am huge on goal setting throughout the year. My 90 day experiment for Q1 is to switch to a 4 day work week. I noticed that when I worked shorter weeks and actually took off the remaining days (rather than being "technically" off) my energy levels soared and I accomplished more in less time. To accomplish a shorter work week (and I do mean shorter, I have no intention of working 12 hours per day on those 4 days) will mean that I will really have to become more intentional in the projects and clients I accept and in my communications. However, I will gain more time to live, and appreciate each moment.

[Mark Harai]

Hello Jim,

I am looking forward to learning more about you and the members of this community. The topic of the hour is "social media." There is still much to learn about the various communities out there and which ones are effective for the different desired results. This would a great topic for discussion, teaching and insight. After just a few months of focused concerted effort in social media, I am still trying to figure out how to effectively participate in some of these communities; YouTube for example - what is the best way to get started? How do you make friends here? Can you start by just subscribing to videos or do you have to produce videos to get a base developed? I could go on, but I think you get the point. What about Facebook? FriendFeed? Linkedin? Delicious? Twitter? and all of the others?

I am looking forward to participating, learning and growing with your community in 2009 Jim - Happy New Year!

[Jim Turner]

Mark,
Thanks for your comments. Those are all great questions you ask and form the genesis of several different forum discussions. I'll be commenting on those.
Cheers!
~Jim

Mark Harai said:

Hello Jim,

I am looking forward to learning more about you and the members of this community. The topic of the hour is "social media." There is still much to learn about the various communities out there and which ones are effective for the different desired results. This would a great topic for discussion, teaching and insight. After just a few months of focused concerted effort in social media, I am still trying to figure out how to effectively participate in some of these communities; YouTube for example - what is the best way to get started? How do you make friends here? Can you start by just subscribing to videos or do you have to produce videos to get a base developed? I could go on, but I think you get the point. What about Facebook? FriendFeed? Linkedin? Delicious? Twitter? and all of the others?

I am looking forward to participating, learning and growing with your community in 2009 Jim - Happy New Year!

[Gina Kay]

Hi all,
I thought I had joined this group (password was forgotten among the many many many I have!). So Happy New Year and here's to a great 2009!

Now - top priorities - Helping people in my company with navigating the ever-changing world of social and new media. With unwritten rules abounding, including people against "brands" as such being present on social media such as Twitter, how are brands to exhibit a presence yet have a personal touch? Is it as simple as having a Community Manager versus whomever is interested enough in social media to volunteer to be that presence? Big question of the day for me, because I think many companies may not yet see the potential of social media for their companies.

Jim, I've done both observing and participating. I still feel like somewhat of a newbie. Part of that is managing the time I spend on social media - because I only have maybe an hour a day I should spend on it, I have to be choosy. I think the best thing I've heard about that particular conundrum is from Chris Brogan - he noted you "can't go 'deep' everywhere" - in other words, choose the vehicle that provides the most return and devote most of your interaction to that vehicle.

'nuff for this afternoon - I'm looking forward to hearing from others and helping when I have something to add!

Gina Kay
@ginakay

[Jim Turner]

Hi Gina,
Happy New Year and thanks for stopping in - you're very right in that you can't "go deep" everywhere. So, you have to choose where and when you'e going to 'drop in' and chat. Once you set up a community you really have to spend a considerable amount of time keeping it going and active. That's what I'm planning to do here in this community is come here and do something everyday. Twitter is very easy to get involved in because they conversations are 'real-time' and very interactive.

But anyway, I'm glad you found your password and can pass through now and then.

I'm passing through Ohio today and spending the night in Columbus, on my way back to NY. It's very convenient to tether my BlackBerry to my PC and Network while my wife drives... aren't I terrible? LOL Well not exactly, I'll have my tour of duty coming up soon.

Cheers!
~Jim

Gina Kay said:

Hi all,
I thought I had joined this group (password was forgotten among the many many many I have!). So Happy New Year and here's to a great 2009!

Now - top priorities - Helping people in my company with navigating the ever-changing world of social and new media. With unwritten rules abounding, including people against "brands" as such being present on social media such as Twitter, how are brands to exhibit a presence yet have a personal touch? Is it as simple as having a Community Manager versus whomever is interested enough in social media to volunteer to be that presence? Big question of the day for me, because I think many companies may not yet see the potential of social media for their companies.

Jim, I've done both observing and participating. I still feel like somewhat of a newbie. Part of that is managing the time I spend on social media - because I only have maybe an hour a day I should spend on it, I have to be choosy. I think the best thing I've heard about that particular conundrum is from Chris Brogan - he noted you "can't go 'deep' everywhere" - in other words, choose the vehicle that provides the most return and devote most of your interaction to that vehicle.

'nuff for this afternoon - I'm looking forward to hearing from others and helping when I have something to add!

Gina Kay
@ginakay

[Pittsburgh SEO - Lea Charlton]

Thank you, Jim.

I wish everyone a very joyful, healthy and abundant 2009 New Year.

Sorry that I have not been around much - one of my on going goals is making more time to Live Life, therefore I have been scheduling, planning and spending even more time doing "mommy things" with my boys - they love to cook and bake, so it seems like the holidays are never ending right now ... so, I bought a wii Fit to get my yoga and aerobics on :)

Stop by and say hello :)

Lea C