Transparency vs Authenticity in Professional Social Networks

According to Wikipedia, transparency used within the context of business and behavior is defined as: a metaphor—implying visibility in contexts related to the behavior of individuals or groups. Likewise authentic is described as a particular way of dealing with the external world, being faithful to internal rather than external ideas.

With the onset of Blogging and Social Networks such as MySpace and Facebook, the word “transparency” has become akin to revealing all in public. Sometimes casually referred to as “over sharing,” early bloggers talked about everything including their deepest, most private feelings. Photos were being posted on social web sites that revealed drunkenness, partial nudity, or people depicted in violent situations.  Now we have “tagging,” where information can be randomly added to someone’s photo, with or without his or her knowledge.

All is done in the name of being and remaining “transparent.”

How does “transparency” come back to haunt you as an entrepreneur or new college grad looking for a good position at a worthwhile company? (more…)

The Ultimate List of 2008’s Most-Read Numbered Lists

istock_000002893840xsmall.jpg

Here are the 12 Most-Read Numbered Posts in 2008 at Slow Down FAST:

12.    5 Tips for Becoming a Better Listener
11.    5 Qualities of Successful Relationships
10.    6 Ways for Effecting Change in Your Life
9.      6 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Busting Out of the Rat Race
8.      5 Signs It’s Time to Slow Down Fast
7.      6 Ways to Be a Friend Without Involving Money, Gifts or Obligation
6.      5 Ways to Reconnect to Your Inner Child
5.      10 Great Productivity Web Sites
4.      5 Signs You’re a Pleaser and What to Do About It
3.      5 Simple Tricks To Make You Smarter
2.      8 Essential Ingredients to Master Your Time
1.      The Causes and Cures of Procrastination

Thank you all for your support throughout the year, and best wishes in all your future endeavors.

Top 12 Posts of 2008

I know it isn’t year-end yet, but experience and observation have shown that not many people want to begin the heavy lifting of reflection and self-assessment near the Holidays.

So, after 700+ posts in 2008, I’m publishing the 12 Most Read Posts at Slow Down FAST so we can all get a jump on the new year.

Thank you all for your support throughout the year.

Here they are:

  1. The Causes and Cures of Procrastination
  2. Mindhacks: 5 Ways to Increase Creativity, Productivity and Intelligence
  3. How to Overcome the #1 Fear: Public Speaking
  4. 8 Essential Ingredients to Master Your Time
  5. Do Not Wage Psychological Warfare
  6. Stuck in a Rut? Fire Up Your Creativity with These 7 Steps
  7. What Are You Passionate About?
  8. See How Easily You Can Handle Change
  9. How to Maintain Professional Boundaries
  10. 5 Simple Tricks To Make You Smarter
  11. 5 Signs You’re a Pleaser and What to Do About It
  12. From Greedy to Grateful – Appreciating What You Have

Please subscribe to the Slow Down FAST RSS feed:    feed_icon_28×283.png

Anything is Possible With the Internet!

by David Bohl – Personal Coach and Lifestyle Designer

I don’t even know where to begin to explore the kind of impact the Internet has had on life as we know it in the last several years. You might find some people who feel the impact has been negative, that it has posed threats to our privacy, corrupted youth, and hurt traditional business by competing with price and speed.

Yet, I feel, overall the Internet has offered so many more positive opportunities than negative ones, and has impacted more people than any other technological innovation this century. And you know with me, everything is perception. You can choose to see the detriments or you can see the benefits. I choose to use the Internet for the powerful medium that it is.

Because I believe just about anything is possible with the Internet, I make the most of it. I use it to improve all areas of my life and those of my coaching clients.

Below, I’ve summarized 6 Ways the Internet can help you live smarter, happier, and better!

(more…)

Slow Down FAST Hits Top 5 of Personal Effectiveness Blogs

WHAKATE – Life Design Matters blog has picked Slow Down FAST as its #3 Personal Effectiveness blog.  Thank you!

Please subscribe to my RSS feed: feed_icon_28×28.png

Lifestyle Coach Puts His Money Where His Mouth Is – Offers FR.EE Teleseminar: How the Average American Can Weather the Financial Crisis Without Becoming Emotionally Overwhelmed

WEBCAST REPLAY NOW AVAILABLE – Sign up below.

Down Economy Got You Way Down? It doesn’t have to!

Join me for a FR.EE teleseminar THIS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15th, 2008 – 7:00 PM Central.

We all see what’s going on in the world.  It sure isn’t pretty.

The markets and economy are in the tank. Foreclosures, hiring freezes, salary cuts, and layoffs are a given.

We’re hunkered down in our bunkers waiting for the storm to blow over.  Is that the right approach?

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

Think about this:  When businesses feel the heat of the bad economy and decreasing sales, do they hunker down?  No!  They get very proactive.  They look for ways to cut costs and increase efficiencies.

AS INDIVIDUALS, WE SHOULD DO THE SAME THING.

  • Take this time to engage in some self-assessment instead of using all your energy for self-preservation.
  • Build some self-confidence, self-equity, and a foundation for your future – so that you can handle good times and bad.

Now is the best time to engage in a concentrated period of personal evaluation.

1.   Figure out where you are and where you want to go.
2.   Add things to your life that are important to you.
3.   Get rid of the things that just aren’t working anymore.

You don’t have to take it on the chin and allow the bad economy to control every aspect of your life.

Come out of the basement.  Take control.  Empower yourself!

Join me for a FR.EE teleseminar THIS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15th, 2008 at 7:00 PM Central.

WEBCAST REPLAY NOW AVAILABLE – Sign up below.

SIGN UP HERE:
Name:
Email:

Technology is Your Friend: Now How to Manage it All?

womanoncell.jpg

Technology can seem like your best friend or your worst enemy. The truth is that technology is always your friend–you just have to know how to manage it. By taking control of the technological tools available to you, you can streamline your life, effectively manage your time, and essentially get your life back. This article provides some of the technology tools you can use and the ways you can manage the technology in your life better.

All-in-one systems

There are several all-in-one technology systems to help to streamline and organize your life. For example, many cell phones now have multiple features such as calendars, contact systems, email, notes and more. Imagine all this functionality, packed into a little device that fits in your purse or pocket. The drawback of an all-in-one system is that if something happens to the device then all of your information goes with it, right? Not exactly. Sync this device with your computer and create an automatic backup file that will protect your precious data.

Taking it one step further, you can also sync this with your email system (Outlook, Yahoo!, Gmail, etc.). Most email systems have a calendar, notes section, and contact system, which creates an additional backup of all your information. This prevents you from having to double-enter information like email addresses and appointments, and provides anytime, anywhere access from any computer or mobile device.

Let’s use Mary as an all-in-one device user example…..

(more…)

The ABC’s of Business Networking

istock_000003289230xsmall.jpgBusiness is all about getting to know other people. Whether it’s meeting clients, finding a business partner or making connections in your own field, sooner of later you’re going to need to do some networking. But if you’ve ever been to a networking event, you know that not everyone who shows up is really prepared for action.

Here is a quick ABC primer on the basics of effective business networking to keep your networking strategy ready for action at any time:

A is for Act, as in Getting It Together. (more…)

What Does Your Digital Footprint Say About You?

istock_000000663965xsmall.jpgIf the recent news has been any indicator, we are becoming an increasingly digitized and virtualized culture, with one glaring and fatal flaw: our inability to realize just how vulnerable our real lives are to the impact of our digital footprint.

Look at Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, whose life has been turned upside down by the discovery of text messages he sent to a romantic partner (who just so happened not to be his wife). Or consider Arlington mayor Carmen Kontur-Gronquist, “…who was voted out of office last month after she left unrestricted lingerie-clad images of herself up on her MySpace page,” according to New York Times writer Susan Dominus. (When asked why she posted such personal photos of herself on such a popular public website, she replied, “It’s my space,” indicating a naiveté regarding the internet that is at once quaint and frighteningly out of touch for someone in a public office.) (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/21/nyregion/21bigcity.html)

If there is one modern catchphrase that all of us should take to heart in this matter, it’s this: The internet is forever.

Unfortunately, that’s something that a lot of us – especially anyone over 20 – doesn’t quite internalize. (more…)

BIZRemedies Group to Lunch and Learn Their Way to Self Empowerment on May 23

Lifestyle Coach David Bohl to speak about how to live a more productive and empowered life at Susan K. Wehrley’s Lakeview Center in Pewaukee, WI on May 23.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
HARTLAND, WI, May 20, 2008–

David Bohl, owner of Slow Down FAST ( www.slowdownfast.com ) will present “How to have a more empowered life, making the choices that are in alignment with your heart’s desires, for greater life fulfillment and effectiveness!”‘ at Susan K. Wehrley’s Lakeview Center on Friday, May 23, 2008. The address is 161 West Wisconsin Ave. Pewaukee, 53072 and the cost to attend is $10 in advance or $15 at the door…

 

Click here to read the rest of this press release.