I had a meeting tonight with a friend I see about once a month. We met at her office, and I noticed a vase with these gorgeous red flowers with long stems. I commented that they were beautiful. My friend then told me that her husband brings flowers to her office every single Tuesday. I asked what was so special about Tuesday. She said it’s the first day of the week she’s in the office, and her husband always brings her flowers that will last her the entire week. He thinks it’s important that she has a beautiful vase full of flowers to brighten up her office every week.

Call it cheesy, corny or over the top, but I see it as devotion and love in their purest forms. Think about the small amount of time it takes my friend’s husband to go to the florist, buy flowers and drop them off at her office. An hour, tops. That small gesture brings rewards that last the entire work week.

Think about the things you can do for others that only take a fraction of time out of your day but will make a lasting impact. Then, do those acts of kindness and love whenever you can.

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Success on the social Web can be measured in a variety of ways. This is not one of those “here’s how you measure social media efforts” posts. You can learn loads about ways to measure over on the Brass Tack Thinking blog. This post stems from me thinking a lot lately about how we represent ourselves online, and in turn, the various ways we define personal success online.

There is plenty of debate about whether or not personal branding is a viable concept. Shannon Paul argues in this post, Having a Personal Brand is Fine, But Making an Impact is Better, that personal branding “trivializes the human experience”. However, some people have built solid reputations, both online and offline, as personal branding experts, such as Dan Schawbel and Michigan’s own Hajj Flemings.

I want to examine one small piece of the online branding puzzle – Twitter handles. There are no set-in-stone rules for what a person should choose for a Twitter handle, but it seems in the past year or so more people have chosen to use their full name or a variation of their name for Twitter handles versus an alias. I’ve noticed more recently that people who previously did use alias names switched to their real names.

When I signed up for Twitter three years ago, it was much more common for people to not use their names as their handle. People ask me all the time why I chose @EstrellaBella10. Long story short, @EstrellaBella is a name I used for an MSN Messenger account when I was studying abroad in Chile, and it stuck with me once I got home and started experimenting with social networks. I had to add the “10″ for my Twitter handle because someone already claimed @EstrellaBella.

Clearly, my Twitter handle has zero association with my name. My initial reasons for choosing @EstrellaBella10 were because it’s unique and it ties into the fact that I speak Spanish. I’ve debated internally many times over the past three years on whether or not I should switch my handle to my name. I claimed @nikkistephan and @nikki_little for when I’m married. But here’s my problem: My last name will change in less than a year. I don’t want to switch to @nikkistephan now just to switch to @nikki_little in a year. So, even though a part of me feels like I’m ready to make the switch, I’m sticking with @EstrellaBella10 for at least another year.

I have worried that using an alias name on social networks might hurt my credibility or how I want people to think of me as a professional. I include my full name on social networks even if my profile name is EstrellaBella10, so anyone who wants to connect with me knows my real name. This is personal preference, but I’m less likely to follow someone back if they use an alias name and don’t include at least a first name.

I’ve never once had someone tell me that they think my Twitter handle is unprofessional, or that it’s detrimental to how I represent myself online. In my opinion, the information I share on Twitter is a more accurate representation of who I am, both as an individual and a professional.

Here’s a good test to see what your Twitter followers think about you: Look at the lists you’re on. I’m happy to see that I’m on several PR, marketing and social media lists because I make a concerted effort to share info related to those three topics.

Maybe I’ve missed the potential to gain new followers because people prematurely assume I’m either a spammer or a robot when they receive an e-mail saying @EstrellaBella10 is now following them on Twitter. But, looking at the lists I’m included on and the relationships I’ve built through Twitter, I’m confident my Twitter handle choice has not negatively impacted people getting to know who I am and what I’m all about through this online channel.

For some varying opinions on this subject, check out Gini Dietrich’s post about Twitter handles.

So, what do you think? Is it a bad idea from a branding perspective to use anything other than your name for your Twitter handle (put aside your thoughts on personal branding)? Are people who use an alias for a Twitter handle just as successful in the Twitterverse as those who use their real names?

The weeks fly by so fast that sometimes we just go through the motions without really living life. Sometimes we are oblivious to what’s happening around us or how long it’s been since we’ve done something we have deemed as important. It’s incredible how six months can feel like six hours when we’re caught up in a whirlwind of activities week after week. It’s easy to lose focus on what truly matters.

I was talking to my great aunt on the phone the other day about work, wedding planning and all the other activities I’m involved in. She told me it’s great to stay busy, but to always be sure I’m dedicating time to the important things in life. She used to work so much that she would forget what day it was. She also said that decades of her life went by too quickly, and she ended up looking back and realizing too much time had passed since she had done certain things. I remind myself constantly that I never want to get to that point.

I started thinking about the small things that we can easily forget or dismiss when we’re busy and how life can become monotonous when we live on autopilot. I put together the following list of 22 questions that I think we should ask ourselves every so often, particularly during busy/stressful times.

Have I…

Complimented someone for doing a great job?
Called a friend or family member who I haven’t talked to in awhile?
Read something unrelated to my job or industry?
Had lunch away from my desk?
Sent a handwritten card or thank you note?
Participated in an activity that I love doing?
Reminded a loved one why he/she is important to me?
Recognized a coworker for his/her achievements?
Told someone I was proud of him/her?
Took advantage of a sunny, warm day?
Allowed my mind to go blank so I think about absolutely nothing?
Had a long, in-person conversation with a friend or family member?
Listened more than I’ve talked?
Recognized when I’ve done something wrong and apologized?
Taken a vacation (no it doesn’t count if you check your e-mail multiple times a day when you’re supposed to be on vacation)?
Been getting a good night’s sleep at least a few times a week?
Realized when I need to slow down and/or take a break?
Learned from a mistake?
Taught someone something new that I’ve learned?
Engaged in some type of physical activity (walking to and from the kitchen and bathroom at work doesn’t count)?
Laughed so hard that my stomach hurts?
Done something out of my comfort zone?

I won’t even pretend like I have accomplished everything on this list lately, so this is a good gut check for me, too. I need to do a much better job of getting away from my desk more often, and I need to push myself to do more things that are out of my comfort zone.

I did follow my own advice the other night, though. I tend to shoot down MAL’s offer to get ice cream or frozen yogurt after dinner (which he attempts at least a few times a week) because there’s too much to do. Ice cream on a warm summer night is a stellar combo, and sadly those days are numbered as we continue creeping closer to fall. It felt pretty good to hit the pause button and let the laundry and e-mails wait just a tad longer while we enjoyed something fun that we don’t do often enough.

So, where do you stand? Are there any questions you would add to my list?

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Summer is starting to wind down, and that means it’s almost back to school time for many children. I remember how much fun it was to go shopping for all the new school supplies I would need for the upcoming year. I loved picking out a new backpack and finding folders and notebooks with cool designs that matched my personality (many were pink and glittery…go figure!).

Unfortunately, starting a new school year is not always a happy time for kids because many parents cannot afford all the necessary school supplies. You might be thinking, “How much can a few pencils, pens and notebooks really cost?” But trust me, it adds up.

I joined a group of volunteers this past Saturday and helped put a smile on many kids’ and parents’ faces. We volunteered with Operation: Kid Equip (OKE) and passed out backpacks stuffed with school supplies and books to families in Oakland County. Just like when we handed out dictionaries to third graders, it was an amazing experience to see how something as simple as backpacks and books could bring so much joy to a child.

Each child who received a backpack made thank you letters for donors. Some were extremely heartfelt and difficult to read because many children wrote that if it wasn’t for OKE, they wouldn’t have school supplies this year. Another child expressed gratitude because his parents couldn’t afford everything he needed to start the new school year.

Want to lend a hand? OKE will have its final backpack distribution this Saturday, August 21 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Warren City Hall. There will be a ton of other activities, like a visit from Yak, the furry mascot for a kid’s publication called Yak’s Corner, a book signing by local children’s book author Tara Michener and free obesity screenings from Henry Ford Macomb Hospital. Find all the details here.

I fully realize that many of us are bombarded with “help us” requests from charities, but if you don’t have time to volunteer and want to help OKE continue giving free school supplies to kids, you can donate through the Chip In button on OKE’s home page.

Disclosure: I am an OKE board member. But I previously did, and would continue to support this organization, if I weren’t on the board because I believe in its mission.

When Jeff Pulver, 140 Characters Conference founder, visited Detroit a couple weeks ago to meet with our team about  140conf Detroit on October 20, he asked us all to make a short video to share our thoughts about the conference.

The main point I want to get across about this conference is that just because it’s taking place in Detroit doesn’t mean it’s a Detroit or Michigan conference. We really want support and participation from all across the country, particularly the states in the Midwest. Midwesterners can drive a few hours to spend a day meeting new people and hearing inspirational stories. Yes, I’m looking at you Chicago, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Columbus, Toledo and Cincinnati. To help rally the troops in the Midwest, Jeff is venturing on a road trip August 22-28 to stop in a few cities, meet the community and hopefully encourage people to attend the 140conf Detroit in October. So, if you know of anyone from Michigan, the Midwest, across the country, or heck, even across the world, who has a story to tell about the real time Web impacting the real world, please spread the word.

Here are my thoughts about the conference. I encourage you to do something similar…whether it’s writing a blog post, creating a video or tweeting nonstop about 140conf Detroit for 48 hours straight (OK, that might be extreme!).

Can’t get enough of 140conf Detroit? Check out our blog, Facebook event and LinkedIn group.

Darren Rowse, aka ProBlogger, recently challenged bloggers to a seven link challenge post – linking to seven posts that fit into seven themes, which mostly relate to your blog. This seemed more like a fun exercise instead of a challenge, and I welcomed the opportunity to dive back through my almost three year’s worth of posts. So here goes…

1. Your first post. I originally used Blogger for my blog before I moved my posts over to WordPress earlier this year. I wrote my very first post on Aug. 19, 2007, and it was titled Who Knew? I basically say that I finally gave in to blogging and can’t believe how social media obsessed I’ve become in the short amount of time that I’d been out of college. My how my blog writing has matured! I went from rambling about everything and anything to focusing on six main themes.

2. A post you enjoyed writing the most. This one is a tie because I couldn’t decide between Collaborate With Metro Detroit’s Creatives at Tweetea and Five Important Lessons Learned at My First PR Job. The Tweetea post marks the beginning of me becoming heavily involved in my local interactive community. I remember how happy I was when I came home from my first Tweetea because I met some amazing people and knew this group would grow to be a staple in the community. The post about my first PR job was nostalgic for me because it was an opportunity to reflect on what I learned during my first three years at a PR agency. I distinctly remember enjoying the experience of writing both of these posts.

3. A post which had great discussion. One thing I want to work on as my blog continues to grow and evolve is writing posts that elicit more discussion. A guest post from Tweetea founder Hubert Sawyers about why it’s NOT a race to the finish generated a great discussion about each person being responsible for his/her community and its condition.

4. A post on someone else’s blog you wish you had written. The Sex and the City Guide to Blogging on Copyblogger. The title itself is fantastic, and the copy is gushing with creative quips. Most importantly, it’s full of great advice about blogging.

5. A post with a title you are proud of. Detroit Takes off its “Motor City” Title and Tries on “Fashion City” During First Ever Fashion in Detroit Event. Yeah, yeah. So it’s a tad long. But I like the play on words with “tries on” a new title because it’s about a fashion event…that was very fun and successful! I originally wrote this post as a guest blogger for Positive Detroit.

6. A post you wish more people had read. One Last Wish for Happiness. This post is about an 11-year-old boy named Adrian who was terminally ill with leukemia. His last wish was to have people send him greeting cards because they make him happy. I know Adrian received a ton of cards, but I wish I could have reached more people in my community with this post.

7. Your most visited post ever. My Exciting News and Why I’m Grateful For Pure Michigan is a more recent post about my experience getting engaged in Glen Arbor, Mich. Our trip there is a result of me wanting to stay and travel in Michigan thanks to the Pure Michigan campaign.

I’ve come a long way in three years. I can’t see myself ever blogging for the sake of making money or gaining hundreds of thousands of subscribers, but my days of blogging are nowhere close to being over.

Now it’s your turn! For more inspiration, check out Becks Davis’ post about the seven link challenge over on Detroit Moxie. Again, look at this more from the perspective of an opportunity to review your growth as a blogger versus an intimidating challenge.

If you’ve already done your part and wrote a post about the seven link challenge (or read one that you really like), please feel free to share in the comments.

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Meet Mallory Underwood, a Colorado resident and native Michigander who I met during my college days at Central Michigan University. I’ve been receiving updates from Mallory during the past six months while she was training for a triathlon and raising money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), which is where she worked in Indiana prior to moving to Colorado. Her story is inspiring and motivational and deserves to be shared with the world. Continue reading to learn more about Mallory and what pushed her to train for a triathlon.

What and/or who inspired you to sign up for the Elkhart Lake Triathlon?

My older brother, Matt, is an ALL leukemia survivor and in early December 2009, he celebrated being 15 years cancer free! This is the exact month I signed up for this event. But, his journey to that anniversary was long, and, through working for LLS, I understand more and more what our family went through — what Matt went through. From the diagnosis when he was nine years old, to the chemotherapy, the hair loss, his remission, his relapse and then ultimately his bone marrow transplant followed by 11 weeks in the hospital and problem after problem, he has carried on with a smile and a playful personality. I was inspired by his struggle to do this event for him, for the struggles our family went through and for the hope that one day we will find a cure for these diseases!

After signing up, I decided I wanted to also honor two others, six-year-olds Luke and Lauryn, who are also ALL survivors. I’ve gotten to know both of these little kids and their families and feel like they are part of my extended family. Their spirit, laughter and maturity both make me smile and bring tears to my eyes. I wanted to represent them as I trained and participated in this event because in summer 2010, they will both finish their long-term maintenance treatment. I call the three of them my TNT trio, and they are who inspired me to sign up for the event.

Were there times during your six month training when you felt like giving up?

There were times during the training where I would ask myself and my teammates if we were crazy for signing up to do this event. We made a serious time commitment by signing up for this event – we gave up late Friday nights because of early Saturday morning training sessions and numerous hours during the week before or after work just for training. Our first training was in four inches of snow, and for the first several months we were running and biking in the bitter cold. We pushed ourselves through workouts that were long and hard. I also had a decent bike accident during a training ride in April which made me wary on the bike and forced me to take a week off. However, every time I asked myself a question along the lines of, “Why am I doing this?” it would make me think of my trio and I knew why I was doing it. I also knew if they could endure years of treatment, I could endure the rest of my workout. They, along with my more than 40 teammates who were there with me training, were my constant motivators.

What did you do during the training to keep yourself motivated and on pace to compete in the triathlon?

I kept a training journal that helped me stay on track. I could look back and see how much I had already put into this so that I wouldn’t allow myself to offer anything less than my best effort. With that being said though, I listened to my body and took time to rest! You can’t build on your workouts if you don’t allow your body and mind to rest sometimes, too.

I also tried to take advantage of my team. I would plan as many workouts with other people as I could so we could hold each other accountable to get moving and to complete the workout. It is amazing what a connection you can make with someone when you make it through something physically and mentally demanding.

What did you learn from this experience?

I learned so much and will take many memories from this experience, but the one thing that sticks out in my mind is what comes from pushing individual boundaries. When you test your limits you are really expanding them so that as you continue in life, when other issues arise, you know you can handle them because you’ve already been in a hard spot and survived.

Another wonderful thing I saw happen during this experience was the power of a group of dedicated individuals – a team! I had a support group who cheered for me and empowered me. Those I am referring to were obviously the others participating in the event with me, but they were also my personal supporters. They generously gave up time with me, financially supported my fundraising efforts and emotionally helped me through the journey. My supporters were so generous with words of encouragement and funds to collectively give more than $2,800 to LLS’ mission. Because I was passionate about the cause, they became passionate with me. To learn your family and friends will support you in such an experience is a wonderful thing.

What words of wisdom can you share with others from what you learned during your journey?

In life I think the more you put into something the more you benefit from it. You could easily go through the TNT program and do the minimum, but when it came to the event, you wouldn’t feel connected to your team or the mission of LLS and the experience would lack luster in all ways. By putting an immense effort into something, you’ll get immense results.

In that mind set, here is one of my many favorite quotes to leave you with: “If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere worthwhile.”

Working in a creative industry is great because aiming high is encouraged and finding ways to successfully pull off wild ideas is invigorating. Approaching each new project with creative freedom is fantastic…except when you’re in a creative lull. You know what I’m talking about. It’s when your creative side forgets to show up to the party. Everything else is in place, but it’s like your creativity is stuck in a serious rut and needs help to get free. Sound familiar?

After the July 4th holiday this past weekend, some of my followers on Twitter who returned to work tweeted about having a hard time getting back into the office routine, or feeling like their brains were mush and it was difficult to get back in their groove. This seems to frequently happen after a vacation (which is ironic, because vacations are supposed to refresh us, right?). It’s hard to kick start our brains and get our creative and motivated sides pumping again when we just come off a relaxing few days of no work. Lack of creativity also happens when we get burnt out or become too accustomed to one way of doing things. Sometimes we get so stuck in our routine that it’s hard to look at something with a fresh set of eyes.

Those tweets got me wondering about the different approaches people take when they get into a slump and need to re-energize and refocus. I asked my networks on Facebook and Twitter and got some pretty interesting answers. I hope you can take a few of these suggestions and try them the next time your creative side is being stubborn.

“Learn something about a subject you know nothing about. You’ll walk away smarter.” - Brandon Chesnutt, Identity Marketing & Public Relations

“Talk to someone who you know can inspire you. Choose someone outside of your field or industry…just a creative or thought-provoking person in general. 30 minutes will do the trick.” - Ben Smithee, Spych Research

“Eat the frog – do the thing you hate or dread doing most. Get it out of the way and you’ll open up space for more creative thought.” - Joni Hubred-Golden, Michigan Women’s Forum

“Meditate.” - David Murray, re:group

“Iced Americano from Biggby to refuel. Also, something that makes me laugh.” - Kelly LaVaute, Quicken Loans

“I like to mix it up with a delicate combo of TED presentations, creative works on Vimeo and snacks.” - Ryan Bateman, Compuware

“I spend time with my nieces and nephew. Kids have such great imaginations, it’s amazing what comes out of their mouths. Also, kids are a great reminder to Keep it Simple. That’s why a balloon or an empty box is more fun than an expensive toy.” - Rita Sitto, Stratacomm

“For me, it’s about doing something I haven’t before, like going to a new park or restaurant. Change of scenery/routine.” - Mark W. Smith, Detroit Free Press

“I usually grab my camera and go for a walk. Or I go to a craft store for inspiration for new projects.”- Sarah Withers, Gale

“I keep a file of things that I think are cool – ads, posters, invitations, brochures, articles, etc. Great for inspiration.” - Rachel Esterline, AGP & Associates

“I do something away from the computer, like photography, origami, or listening to a different genre of music.” - Jenni Murray, Creative Breakthroughs, Inc.

“I find taking a long lunchtime walk plugged into my iPod helps.” - Mike McClure, The Yaffe Group

“I recharge by watching hockey fights on YouTube.” – Eric Younan, Pulte Homes

“I read something completely outside my usual echo chamber on topics like neuroscience, history or good fiction.” - Mike Pilarz, Burson-Marsteller

Thanks to everyone who chimed in with suggestions.

For me, blogging helps because it’s writing (which is tied directly to my job), but my voice gets to shine through. I also like to look back through photos I’ve collected throughout the years. Going off what Ben Smithee said, it often helps to talk it out with a trusted friend. Sometimes just vocalizing the thoughts in your head helps you get rid of whatever is holding you back from producing amazing work.

What would you add? What do you do when you need to reignite your creativity?

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Bettye LaVette is a survivor (cue Survivor by Destiny’s Child). I wouldn’t be surprised if your response was “Bettye La-who?” Although she’s finally reached the fame she’s been seeking all her life, I don’t know many people outside of MAL and myself who have heard Bettye’s music. Here’s a little background info…

Bettye is one of the greatest soul singers in American history who fought for 40 years to gain mainstream recognition. She was born in Muskegon, Mich. and grew up in Detroit. Although she was discovered at 16 in the heart of the Motown era, legendary artists like Aretha Franklin overshadowed her. What Bettye describes as “buzzard luck” continued for 40 some years. Bettye kept churning out songs, but only six of her forty-fives managed to make the R&B charts. None of them broke into the pop Top 100. To make a long story short, it took Bettye about four decades before her hard work finally paid off. She is now 64 years old. Check out her full biography for more details.

Stop and let that sink in for a minute. Think about waiting 40 long years before you find success doing what you love. Imagine how many times Bettye must have thought about giving in to the angst and frustration and turning her back on her music career. Would you keep pushing on for 40 years if you weren’t getting the credit you deserved for the amazing work you created? I’d like to think I would, but it’s easy to say that from an outsider’s perspective.

If you take a good hard look at Ms. LaVette’s life story, you’ll find plenty of advice on how to achieve success. Here’s what Bettye has taught me:

• Perseverance pays off. You know that old adage about picking yourself up and continuing on after you fall? Well, Bettye epitomizes that. You may have to find new ways of doing things the next time around, but you won’t get anywhere on the path to success if you don’t keep moving forward.

• Tying into that last point about tweaking your style, that’s fine and all, but always stay true to yourself. Bettye talks about her life a lot during her concerts, and one thing she mentioned both times I saw her play live is that she has always remained true to who she is. One of the reasons why she’s such an amazing artist is because she injects her unique musical style into every song. Bettye’s latest albums called “Interpretations” features her renditions of various British rock songs. Many are unrecognizable because she makes them her own. She knows who she is as an artist and she embraces that in every single song.

• Be damn good at what you do. If you want to succeed in whatever it is you set out to do, you must be insanely good at it. Some people are blessed with raw, natural talent; others have to work hard to become great at something. To go along with that, I think it’s important to know when you shouldn’t force yourself to be someone who you aren’t. If you ever have the chance to watch Bettye perform live, you’ll know what I mean about being damn good at what you do. You’ll get a good idea of it from the below video. Incredible doesn’t even begin to describe her vocal talent. Bettye sings with such emotion that you don’t know whether to cry or stand in applause when she finishes a song. You’re left wanting more after each concert. Imagine if your customers felt that way after every time they do business with you.

• Love what you do, and have fun doing it. How can you expect to succeed at something if (1) you don’t absolutely love it and (2) you don’t have a blast doing it? It’s obvious Bettye has a ball when she’s performing on stage. She’s constantly smiling, laughing and joking with the crowd. She dances like she’s still in her 20′s.

• Constantly show gratitude. I can’t count the number of times Bettye thanked people during the two shows I’ve attended. She thanks her band, her family, her friends and producers/musicians who helped her along the way multiple times throughout the show. Thanks yous matter a great deal. When you achieve success, you deserve all the credit in the world. But, don’t forget about those who helped you get there. Perhaps there are rare instances when an individual succeeds without help from a single soul. But, that’s unlikely. Giving thanks and showing gratitude is vital.

If you want more lessons on success from music artists, check out three lessons on success from Lady Gaga.

Care to share any lessons learned on achieving success (doesn’t have to be from a musician)?

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A guest post is a long time coming on this blog, and I am honored that my first is from a friend, colleague and all-around awesome dude – Hubert Sawyers. I met Hubert more than a year ago at Startup Weekend 2009. When I first attended Tweetea last year, I immediately knew it would become a staple in our community. Tweetea has grown tremendously in the past year-and-a-half, from one prime location at Goldfish Tea in Royal Oak to additional locations in Detroit, Grosse Pointe and occasionally Pontiac.

We have more ideas up our sleeves to keep this group growing and to attract people from various cities. The official Tweetea website will launch soon, but you can sign up for the future newsletter today. And now, the stage belongs to Hubert…

It is NOT a race to the finish… as there should be no end if you care about the condition of others.

As someone who believes in knowing thy neighbor and helping his fellow man, it is hard for me to not worry about how others are coming along in their happiness quests. There are many who are in similar career paths as I am who probably do not spend a lot of time worrying whether or not folks are keeping up with them. If anything, they would rather they do not have any competition inching at their heels.

Well today, I am here to make a declaration that I feel responsible for my community and its condition. As a digital marketing professional, I see people who are doing things that I feel is bad for overall business. Snake oil salesmen make it hard for everyone. When someone sells a small company on SEO work that does not help its business, any self-respecting CEO loses a little bit of his/her own credibility. That is why I look to support those who are willing to educate others about the right way to do things.

In the social media space, there is a lot of talk about standards. Everyone seems to have their own opinion on the right or wrong way to communicate through the various social networks. Some practices are becoming commonplace the longer we use the tools, but there are still countless n00bs that enter the spaces and muddy up the floor we just finished mopping. Sure, we can get angry and passive-aggressively heckle/berate offenders, but most times this ruins a perfect opportunity to teach.

In Detroit, there are initiatives taking place that are set to try to get the current tide to flow, instead of ebbing like it is. It is not in my best interest to question any of them. All I know is it is good that folks are actually working toward solutions. I feel like I am doing my part with #tweetea – the weekly meetup of avid social media users – in making sure we continue to break down silos and use our resources to help positive and productive efforts in our communities. Not to mention, my work with iDetroit has been very fulfilling in helping to bring together the tech and digital professional communities.

People seem to appreciate what we have done with #tweetea and iDetroit. Some seem to look up to the folks who are really active in the events we host as if we are gaining benefits they cannot attain. Truth be told, we are not doing anything that someone else cannot do. That is the reason we are looking to expand, so we can share our energy with our areas. You could see this as a push for regional domination, but you could not be more wrong. I do not want to conquer anything; I just want to do my part to help my community. If our efforts penetrate first, then that does not mean we need to rest.

I can only speak for myself. As someone who believes in hard work and commitment, I take pride in what I accomplish, but I do not want to be out here alone trying to succeed. I hope my neighbors are interested in being successful ALONG with me. The way that can be ensured is if I make sure I do my part to help out those who desire to learn. Hopefully, someone will look out for me as I progress in my entrepreneurial efforts in the same fashion. If you feel the same as me, I hope you will join me, I mean US, in working together to rebuild our region.

What do you think? Should responsibility for one another be something we push to see more of? Or am I being too ideal?

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