Joel-Mark-Witt.com

Shot this on the iPhone 4 – edited using the iMovie app – posted to YouTube from the phone – and now I’m writing this post from the Wordpress app on the iPhone.

This opens a whole new world of mobile content creation. The whole content creation process happened entirely on my mobile device.

Imagine if you had a small town newspaper. You could give each reporter an iPhone with iMovie and get rich video content posted from the field.

I think this is a game changer. What are your thoughts? Leave a comment below.

Over the past two weeks I’ve been very focused on what I’m calling my “target 10″ strategy.

I’ve targeted ten people and their blogs to read every day and make thoughtful comments, help promote their stuff, retweet them, etc.

At first it went well. I was able to find some great posts that I could recommend via Twitter and make comments on. But after several days I ran out of content. These folks were simply not posting enough.

So I moved into reading and commenting on some more general blogs. But then something else struck me.

Most of these blogs are very news focused or general in nature. I’m looking for content that’s helpful. Something I can share with my audience that will help them market or build their personal brand online.

After working through this over the past two weeks here are some thoughts and advice to help you market and build your personal brand online.

- Post every day. Or at least post every weekday. It is critical that you pump out consistent content on a regular (daily) schedule.

- Write specific, helpful, how-to style articles. These are much better for people to share with others.

- Help your audience find other useful content online. Be helpful and promote other’s stuff too.

Now go take action.

I’d actually like to see this since David Fincher directed. The music under the trailer DRIVES ME INSANE.

Side note: They shot the outdoor Harvard scenes about a block from my house last year on the Johns Hopkins campus here in Baltimore.

What do you think? Look any good?

Make no mistake – I love my iPhone. It’s changed how I do business.  But I’ve found something better :-)

Junk mail is everywhere. I actually call it junk marketing.
It really has nothing to do with the product being bad. Most people
don’t know the difference between their bottom and a bullet hole
when it comes to marketing. Here are some things you can learn from
junk mail and what NOT to do.

I like Michael Dell’s advice of failing fast and experimentation. This is a 3 minute video that is worth watching.

What is it in your life that you haven’t done or started because the idea of of doing it is more powerful than the action itself? Sounds like a riddle doesn’t it. Watch this TED talk by J.J. Abrams (film director and creator of LOST) and let me know what you think your mystery box is.

Thoughts?

Hello.

Knock knock. Anyone home?

Not sure what parallel universe you live in – but if you think for one second that ANYTHING you do online is private you are delusional and should probably go off-grid right now.

People are freaking out about Facebook and its eroding privacy policy. Some are calling for users to quit Facebook all together. Some are even staging protests.

Come on people. I understand privacy. This is why we have doors on bathroom stalls (in the US) and we pull our shades down at night.

But you know that everything you post on the internet can be public. Just accept it and only post things you wouldn’t care if your mom sees.

Once you join the online world you are an open book. Period.

Here’s my advice.

Go the opposite direction. Instead of trying to hide and privatize the information you put online -make it even more public. Be more in the open and live your life online and “out loud.” You’ll be more careful what you post in the first place and your worry will slip away.

Of course you might invite some unwanted intrusion or ogling. But if you couple a public presence with integrity you really have nothing to fear.

Do you agree? Thoughts?

I heard recently that some Amish are putting solar panels on their houses.

If you don’t know about American Amish – they basically live an 1860’s lifestyle. No running water – no tractors – and no electricity.

But it seems that some Amish don’t have a problem with technology – just the DEPENDENCE on the outside world.

Seems logical.

In fact this is why I love Internet business. It gives us sovereignty over our lives. We don’t HAVE to show up at a desk every morning unless we want to.

I’m convinced that the more people wake up and see the true opportunities online they will create a more fulfilling and purposeful life.

Don’t like to work a day job? You really don’t HAVE to. Ask any bum on the street. They don’t have to show up at 9am every morning.

You don’t either.

Sorry to tell you this – but everything you do in life is YOUR CHOICE.

I know – you don’t want to become a bum – but stick with me for the sake of my argument. Bums aren’t secure – but they are free. I think bums are misguided in their “career” choices – but at a core level they have a better mindset than most cubicle slaves when it comes to freedom vs. security.

So I like the mindset of the Amish and the homeless. I probably resonate with them more that other colleagues. Let’s see if we can apply this.

Don’t be a poor bum – be a rich Amish bum

How do you become a rich Amish bum?

First, adopt the basic premise of a bum. Freedom is more important than money – security – or material possessions. If you stop here you’ll end up poor and homeless. So…

Next, start installing “solar panels” in your life. Build streams of income that can allow you to keep the bum mentality of freedom – but also put cash in your pocket. Now you begin to build sovereignty over your life. You’ll have independence to go with your freedom.

Finally, look to add value and live a life of purpose around your passions.

Happy Amish bumming.

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*photo by Darcy Johnson

Late night television host, Conan O’Brien appears on a 60-min interview.

I don’t know why I find his story fascinating – but it is to me.