April 15, 2009, talkhousemag.com

Earlier this week I gave 5 Quick Tips for Entrepreneurs and now I am going to relay 5 ways to get the most out of your Social Media/Networking accounts for business purposes.  I came across these tips on Examiner.com.  They are delivered by self-proclaiming social networking guru, Nathan Egan.  As a former manager for LinkedIn, he's learned the ins-and-outs of optimizing Web2.0.  

5. Control Random Acts of Social Media: It doesn’t matter what industry you are in, chances are very good that your employees are using their individual social media accounts for business AND personal use. When and where they cross the line directly reflects back on your corporate image. While it may not feel comfortable at first, it is critical that your organization embraces these new communication mediums and takes control by creating standards the same way you have for phone, email, and in-person meetings. 
 

4. MBM = Monitor, Build, Manage: One of the most powerful and underutilized functions of these new platforms is the ability for your organization to observe & manage your internal and external resources while building valuable databases. For example, use Tweetdeck to track what your customers saying about you and LinkedIn to manage employee data and better utilize their skill sets. There is so much untapped power here, figure it out and build a competitive advantage!
 

April 1, 2009, talkhousemag.com

My friend Hakim and former banker always keeps me filled in on the financial turmoil.  I admit it's hard to keep up with the changing/trying times we are going through together.  That's why it's always good to stay in the know and watch your back.  I often look to literary and historical quotes for inspiration.  One can never go wrong with The Great Gatsby right? 

"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."

Whatever way you look at it imagine a pendulum instead of a boat.  The recession and us will forever go back and forth.  Soon, we'll be going forward instead of back.  Have faith in yourself and others.  MLK said it best when he affirmed that we will only reach the promise land as a people.  

Check out these articles and reflect.  

 How and why athletes go broke

The decade for global banks

The quiet coup 

February 24, 2009

talkhousemag.com

TMZ reported earlier today that Northern Trust Bank from Illinois spent millions this past weekend in L.A. on music, golf, and etc. The bank, however, received bailout money to the tune of $1.6 billion.  The bank has since said that they did not need the bailout money and did not use any of it for its extreme partying.  

Northern Trust shouldn't be spending money like this at all when they just fired 450 workers last December due to cutbacks.  This is loony tunes.  

Now Congressman Barney Frank, the Chairman of the House Committee on Financial Services, is issuing a letter demanding the bailout money back.  

February 20, 2009

talkhousemag.com

Fortunately, the millions of users on Facebook won't feel the affect when its bubble bursts.  I predict, however it's just a hunch, that Microsoft and the other companies and VC firms that "invested" will not reap a strong ROI.  How can they?  The market is abysmal.  What will their investment be worth then?  They'd have to get quite a few companies to participate in advertising on the social networking site.  Will companies