You are here: Home / Archives for vuvan

Should I Buy an iPad?

August 25, 2010 By
ipad

Have you asked yourself that question lately?  I sure have and I have been hearing many people ask the same exact question.  I think that the question we should really be asking ourselves is if we really need an iPad at this time.

Now don't get me wrong, the iPad is a really cool gadget and it comes close to being an impulse item or badge of proof of being a gadget geek but when you look at the need for your current situation, I think being  mindful of your budget and necessity of having one should cross your mind.

Living frugally and within our means will help us stay out of debt and being debt free is a much better feeling than ever having any new gadget or product.  When my fiance asked if we should get one, I knew that she will have the high interest and at one point wanted to go head out to pick one up immediately.  I think this is why the iPad has sold so well.  She then put some thought into it and looked at our current situation and asked herself, do we really need an iPad?  So this was what we came up with.  (sorry Apple)

  • We have enough computers in the house that would have made us an information hub back in 1997.  I have a desktop with enough RAM to keep me happy for years on end with a dual screen.  I also have two laptops and my fiance has a mini/notebook laptop.  We each have an iPhone as well.  So do we really need another gadget that allows us to flip the pages versus using a mouse?
  • It is just a big iPhone:  She came to the conclusion that it was just a big iphone and since we really dig the touch screen effect, I think we are satisfied with what our iPhone is providing for us for now.  When I start reading more by computer, I think having a touch screen computer will come in handy.
  • We could save the money we would have spent on the iPad for spending during our vacation.  Memories and vacation is very important to us, and having extra money to spend when on vacation without having to go into debt is a vacation well spent.
  • We decided to purchase an iPad later when we have used up our laptops and when the next generation comes out with more features and lower pricing. 

I am sure there are many happy tech geeks with this new gadget and will call me a late adopter but I am happy to say that I am staying within budget and not getting deeper into debt and spending wisely by using the items I have now to their full life.  When a technology comes along that meets my current needs or when the technology I have has been outdated, then I will decide upon updating.  By that time, it might not even be an iPad.  If you are currently in debt, I do hope you look at your current needs before jumping out to buy the latest and greatest gadget, things like these make the other products that were hot just last month go down in price dramatically.  So be smart and spend wisely.

Filed Under: Money, Personal Innovation Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Build Your Personal Brand by Writing

August 24, 2010 By
suite101

Building authority within your chosen area of focus or topic may help you establish and build your personal brand by connecting your expertise to your name.  A great way to build your authority is to provide useful content and information for people seeking the expertise you provide.  One way is to have your own blog with relevant information and another way to help drive traffic to your blog as well as provide useful information is by freelance writing for online article sites. 

Spreading your expertise through a few select online article/content site will help you reach your target audience when they are browsing the web searching for information.  When your name starts to appear each time they do a search, you start to build upon your authority.  For example, lets say your expertise is in wine tasting.  You establish a blog about wine tasting and update it often and with valuable useful content.  As people search online with the keyword "wine tasting" your blog comes up.  They continue on their search and your name again pops up over and over again on various sites with the same topic.  This is a tactic used by many authors and successful people using personal branding to spread their name and expertise.  If nobody has heard of you, your authority is low, but if all paths lead to you, then your authority within your chosen specialty increases.

I have chosen to write about "Personal Innovation" and if you do a google search for personal innovation, I am sure you will find me on the first page.  You will also find me on other sites where I have chosen to put time into providing content.  This helps me develop my name, my chosen area of expertise as well as develop my personal brand.  Being a freelance writer has many benefits of helping you to achieve this goal as well as have the potential to help you earn some extra income in your spare time. 

One of the sites I have chosen to write for is called Suite101 and here you can:

  • Choose your own topics
  • Set your own hours and work from home
  • Earn lifetime royalties
  • Put your work in front of millions of monthly readers
  • Build your online brand
  • Work with professional editors
  • Learn how to write for the web

The great part about being a freelance writer is that you can truly do it in your spare time or on the weekends.  I enjoy writing, so it helps feed my desire to write and whenever I submit an article, it will be working for me on an ongoing basis to help build my online personal brand and to build my authority.  So if you enjoy writing or want to learn, I think this is a great way to get your feet wet and build your personal brand by writing as a freelance writer.  I suggest giving it a try!  To learn more: Apply to write for Suite101, home to the web’s most useful articles. Get Published, Read and Paid. APPLY NOW!

Filed Under: Personal Branding, Personal Development, Personal Innovation Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Promote Your Personal Brand with Mini Business Cards

August 22, 2010 By
mini business cards

Do you effectively promote your personal brand offline?  The best way to promote your personal brand is by in person interactions.  Promoting your personal brand online is only one channel, but when you interact with someone in person, you establish a relationship.  If you have an online profile, website, blog or social network, give the people you meet with a unique reminder to follow up with you.

I recommend using a mini business card to leave with your new contacts and people you meet during your day to day interactions. 

WHAT IS A MINI BUSINESS CARD

A mini business card is half the size of a regular business card, I like it because it is NOT a business card and is unique.  It stands out and serves as a tool to give to people you meet to continue contact with you or to visit your website.  You can promote your personal brand by giving an extension to your discussions with people or give a means for them to connect with you online. 

BENEFITS OF USING A MINI CARD

  • Conversation Starter:  Using images or quotes on your personal mini card is a great conversation starter.  If you want to be know for your creative skills, place some images of what you created on your mini card to display what you can create and promote your personal brand.
  • Show your Work:  You could mix samples of your work and have it printed on these mini card to promote what you are capable of.  A great example is a web designer or instructor.  You could display sample images of designs you created or place a simple trivia and answer according to your expertise.
  • Promote your blog:  You have a blog or website, a mini card is a perfect way to give as a promotional reminder to people you meet.  It stands out against a business card and serves as a great reminder for people you meet to type in the URL to visit your site for more information on you.
  • Link to your resume:  If you have an online resume, use a mini business card to provide a link to your online resume.
  • Quotes:  Print different quotes you live by along with your contact information.  Sometimes your business card has nothing to do with the many people you meet.  Instead of giving a business card with your company logo, give your personal brand card that has you as the focus.  Quotes are very popular and displays your beliefs and words you live by.
  • Unique:  A mini card is unique and makes you stand out and memorable. 

To Learn More:  NEW MOO MiniCards - great new features available now!

Filed Under: Networking, Personal Branding, Personal Innovation Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Wake Up: Don’t Hit the Snooze Button!

August 14, 2010 By
clocky

Clock TopWhen your alarm clock goes off in the morning, do you hit the alarm clock to get the extra 10 minutes of sleep?  Maybe you hit the snooze button multiple times to where you find yourself 1 hour of "extra" snooze time.

If you want to wake up early, the best thing to do when the alarm goes off is to get right up out of bed and start your day.  When you set your alarm clock the night before, make it a commitment to wake up when the alarm goes off.  If you want to give yourself the extra 10 minutes, then set the alarm to go off at that time, but make sure you get up as the alarm goes off.  Below are some tips to help you conquer the SNOOZE BUTTON lure.

  • Don't train yourself with the self talk:  establish the habit of getting right up and out of bed.
  • Drink Water:  Have some water next to your alarm clock and drink some water as soon as the alarm goes off.  This should help you wake up.
  • Out of reach:  Set the alarm clock out of arms reach but not out of ears reach.  You want to be sure you hear the alarm, but to turn it off, make it an effort to get up.  Once you are up, stay up.
  • No Snooze button:  Buy an alarm clock without a snooze button.  Yes, they make these, this way you will know that when the alarm goes off, its time to get up, no options.
  • Backup Plan:  If you are having a hard time adjusting, set a second alarm on your cell phone.
  • No Value:  The extra 10 minutes of sleep really doesn't do much but make you run late and possibly make you rushed and out of control.  If you need more sleep, its time to schedule your go to bed time.

These tips should do the trick, if not... buy about 4 alarm clocks and set them around your entire room.  This is an extreme but if you cannot defeat the snooze button, then go the extreme route.  Good Luck Monday Morning!

Here are some alarm clocks that should help you wake up:

Clocky Alarm Clock on Wheels in RASPBERRY RED- Alarm goes off as it runs away from you!

Take a look at a bunch more to choose from: Challenging Alarm Clocks

Filed Under: Waking up Early Series Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Subscribe to RSS by eMail and you might Win

August 14, 2010 By

I Love YouEvery month, I select a new book to read as well as an audio book that usually has to do with personal development and provide my personal review.  I wanted to thank my RSS eMail subscribers by automatically entering them in a monthly contest to win the monthly book & audio book I read and listen to.  The products are of course used, because I personally read them and listened to them, so I give no guarantee as to the condition, but I will do my best to keep them in good condition.  I will pay for the shipping/handling within the United States.  If you are an international subscriber, I will give you the option of paying for half of the shipping fees.

No purchase necessary and all you need to do is be an active subscriber on my eMail RSS powered by Feedburner.  You will get all of my posts sent directly to your email inbox whenever I post and will not share, lease, rent or have anyone peek at your email!  You will also be automatically subscribed to my monthly newsletter that is only sent once a month with the option to unsubscribe.  You only need to be an active RSS eMail subscriber to have a chance to win. A total of two winners will be randomly selected per month.  One for the book and one for the audio book.

Winners (2) will be selected each month and if you didn't win, you will automatically be entered in the next month's drawing and even if you win, you still have a chance to win again and again because I will literally throw your email back in the hat to select from for future monthly drawings.

I will contact winners via email, so please whitelist email from vu [at] vuvan.com to ensure you get the notice.

To make sure that this definitely gets through to you, please add the email address [vu@vuvan.com] to your email safe list or white list.

You can find out how to do this here: http://images.ed4.net/images/htdocs/addressbook/

So what are you waiting for?  If you enjoy reading my posts on personal innovation, development, branding and productivity-  Sign up today with the form provided below.  Thank you for being a subscriber!

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Filed Under: Audiobook, Books, Personal Innovation, Reviews, What I am listening to, What I am Reading Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

August Picks: Richest Man in Babylon & Secrets of Great Rainmakers

August 12, 2010 By
richestmaninbabylon

For this month, I have selected, "The Richest Man In Babylon" by George S. Clason as my book choice for August 2010.  I have a full lineup scheduled with school as well as work so I had to select a slim book that I could finish.

It is important to make time for yourself and to give your mind a break and enjoyment by giving it some quality recreational reading.  I love reading and it is fun when I don't "have" to read but choose to read.

Many people have suggested this book to me many times and I have purchased it in the past, but will finish this book by end of month August 2010 and give my review on September 1st, 2010.

My audio book selection for this month is the, "Secrets of Great Rainmakers", by Jeffrey J. Fox.  I listened and also read his previous book, How to become a rainmaker and loved the quick nuggets of information that gives me reminders on how to be successful and provides me with best practices when I go about my day to day activities and how I interact with people.  I will give my review on this audiobook on September 1st, 2010 as well.  To learn more about each of these products check out the links below:

The Richest Man in Babylon: George S. Clason's Bestselling Guide to Financial Success: Saving Money and Putting it to Work for You

Secrets of the Great Rainmakers: The Keys to Success and Wealth


***I have been thinking about the books and audio books I have been buying for each month and would like to start giving them away to people who are subscribers on my rss feed.  This way, my bookshelf will not be overflowing with books and will maintain my organized uncluttered home.  I will post an update announcing this and will give away the products I read/listen to each month for free and select randomly from my list of subscribers.  If you have not subscribed to my blog yet, do so by signing up on the right sidebar.  Thank you.

Filed Under: Audiobook, Books, Business, Money, Personal Development, Wealth & Money, What I am listening to, What I am Reading Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,
« Older Posts