GREAT ADAPTATIONS

In the classes I teach on new media, I have learned that one of the biggest hurdles people face is coping with the avalanche of options for their new web presence.

That’s why I guide my participants toward the simplest, most reliable tools. You see, it really doesn’t matter which tools you use. What matters is that you can understand them, access them, and direct people to your own little kingdom online clearly and easily.

The Google profile is one of those simple tools we now can access. I love it because it is super clean, super simple, and gives me one web address that I can send people to. From my profile there, everything else I’m doing online has its own pretty little link.

When newer users of modern media ask me what they should do first, this is what I tell them:

Relax, take a breath, and do one thing at a time–

~>Single Task – Multi Outcome. That’s what you want.

1. Get a gmail account. Make your gmail name as short as possible.

2. Create a Google profile. Don’t worry that it’s a bit thin at first.

3. Start a simple, free blog on either Blogger or Wordpress. Use your first one as a “play-and-practice” blog, knowing you can delete it. Remember you can have as many as you want, for free.

4. Open a Twitter account and start following a few reliable people. (If you don’t know how to do that, then follow me, and start exploring who I’m following. Let yourself meander and find people, posts and links that reach out to you. Follow those people.) Use your Google profile as your link out of your Twitter profile.

5. Go back to your Google profile and create the links to your new blog and Twitter account.

Relax, play, and do NOT overdo it. You are creating a new brain area. Spend about an hour a day for five days. Do NOT keep trying when you are frustrated – that blunts your new brain area.

Get a blog buddy. Find someone local you can meet with and share this process. There is no substitute for face-to-face interaction.

Keep playing and realize that each of these processes is a new world with its own language and culture. Do you expect to learn French and understand Paris in a week? Of course not. But you can read about it and begin to love it, a little bit at a time.

See all of the above as your entry into a whole new world. Your new skills will grow. Your new brain capacity will grow. You will use these skills the rest of your life. It is an important investment in modern communication. It will get easier.

For many of you, it will become part of your daily life. The benefits of connection and engagement as you continue to show up will expand into untold new opportunities, new fantastic relationships, empowerment, and a growing sense of belonging.

That’s what it’s all about — boom-boom.

Welcome! Follow me on Twitter at

twitter.com/brainmaker. See my Google profile at

Google.com/profiles/imaginecreating.

Now relax, get a glass of water, and spend some time with the dog.

Suzanna Stinnett

Listen to audio here: Spoken For You

See local classes here: Twitter for the Trees

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It was my extreme privilege to attend the 14^th Anniversary gathering of the Brain Exchange last night, in El Cerrito, CA.

I have to say this may be the easiest Alchemy Lab I’ll ever write. The connection and chemistry arose intact and it just wants to flow right onto the page. All I’m doing is keeping my hands on the keyboard.

You can learn more about the Brain Exchange on the website. What I want to convey here is the profound sense of connectedness I have today.

A call from the distant past

You know I’m always talking about connectedness and the tremendous tools we now have for building community, solving problems, and innovating. I can clearly see a thread here, a calling-out from the distant past through women’s work and women’s way of connecting community, going back for thousands of years.

What happened

At the Brain Exchange, we were led through a practical process which brainstormed the heck out of a few of our challenges. There’s only time for 6 or 7 questions to be worked on. The brainstorming was like an avalanche. The individual who had the challenge had a new challenge: to sit and receive ideas. (Not as easy as it sounds.) This group of 30 plus women at last night’s meeting has about a thousand years’ worth of resources to offer to almost any problem. This is pure, heart-fueled, brain-based innovation.

So my second point is about diversity. Last night, we brainstormed with a 16 year old on innovative ways to stand out on her college applications. I wonder how she’s feeling today. We also brainstormed on an older woman’s extreme situation having suffered stroke, and now facing surgery, six weeks of recovery, and a home that is about to enter foreclosure. I’ll refrain from further details, of course, to preserve the confidentiality of our gathering. But I think you’ll get from this example what I’m about to say.

My reflection: Twitter came from women’s legacy

While I sat and looked around the room during the avalanche directed at my question (how lucky was that?) I realized, with a flush of emotional joy, “This is exactly like Twitter!”

Like Twitter, if you know how to use it.

Like Twitter in that people continue to gather by the hundreds to pour helpful solutions and connections on every problem they can spot.

Like Twitter in that strangers meet, open their hearts, give all they can, and go away deeply connected.

Maybe this is one reason why Twitter has a difficult entry portal for many people. It’s almost instantaneous intimacy.

That thread I see is women connecting and informing each other how to connect. It’s deep work. And I imagine (oh, I do imagine), that Twitter is what it is because we have known how to do this for millennia. And we’ve brought it forth and made it digital. And the wholeness of it is spreading exponentially now.

It’s spreading organically: In living rooms, among strangers, through laptop screens and iPhone apps and on into a vast global-brain ecosystem made of kindness.

I hope you’ll consider participating, if you are not already.

Blessings galore,

Suzanna Stinnett

What’s an “Alchemy Lab?” Cloud Alchemy: A Thinking Heart

Follow me on Twitter: Brainmaker

Listen to my audio about your web presence: Spoken For You

Come to a Twitter class – and plant trees! Twitter for the Trees

While I’m enjoying the rest of her book (”Now What?”) I want to pass on this article which the author, Laura Berman Fortgang, has generously shared. These are powerful, meaty tips and exercises. Enjoy!

10 Tips to Creating a New Life Direction
By Laura Berman Fortgang,
Author of Now What?: 90 Days to a New Life Direction

1. Make a list of all you can’t stand about work/life
Those who are really stuck may complain that they don’t know what they want. Not true. Make a list of all you do not want or like about your current situation and you will find on the flip side, something you DO want! Write it down.

2. Recognize that ALL change (good or bad) means loss
The ‘evil’ we know is sometimes less scary than the ‘evil’ we don’t know. It is normal to be afraid to make a change because of what you stand to lose. However, the only way is forward, so you might as well accept whatever perceived loss of status, money or identity and realize that more happiness awaits. In fact, if everyone else is telling you you are crazy for making a change, you are on the right track!

3. Reframe ‘I can’t!’ to ‘I can!’
“I’m not good enough.” “I’m too old.” “I’m not qualified.” NOT TRUE! Look for examples in your life, your surroundings, in the media or in books of people who have done things against the odds and use those examples as symbols of what’s possible for you. Change your vocabulary and watch your results change.

4. Understand how the past got you stuck today
Many of us make vows when we are young that get us stuck as adults. “I’ll never be like my parents!” “I won’t be poor!” “I’ll show them!” Whatever it is, the motivation you chose at some early point worked but is no longer working now. Determine what your old motivation for your life was, decide if it still serves you and if not, CHANGE it. Fast!

5. Realize that discovering your ‘purpose’ does not have to be hard or grand
Many people, when searching for direction in their life may also be putting their life’s purpose into question. Most make the mistake of thinking they have to have a Mother Teresa-level of purpose to rate. It’s just not true and that likely keeps you stuck or suffering. Who you are everyday and what you do naturally (whether it fits your job description or not) is your purpose. How you affect others positively is your purpose. What you contribute that is uniquely you is your purpose. It’s right under your nose. Recognize it and try to make it central to whatever you do next.

6. Gain a criteria for happiness
Most people know they are not satisfied but really lack clear criteria for what will make them happy. Humans feel satisfied when their needs are met and they don’t have to compromise their values. Write down what you truly need (emotionally, not financially) and value. Do you need stability? Honesty? Recognition? Do you value spirituality? Adventure? Education? These are not optional. Get purposeful about getting these things in your life and new directions become clear.

7. Research ALL that interests you
List all fields, jobs, careers, or areas of interest. Choose no more than three at a time to research. Besides the internet, try to talk to people who will let you have an informational interview or give you the real scoop on the areas you are interested in. A process of elimination will begin and one particular area may get traction through luck and coincidence that starts to feel like the front-runner.

8. Tell the truth about your money life
Money is usually the first thing that stops people from pursuing what they truly want. Don’t let it stop you. Get straight with your money. Even if it’s painful to see, know what you have and don’t. Don’t let it stop you. Moonlight, borrow or barter to move toward your new direction.

9. Put Yourself in Opportunity’s Way
It’s time to push the envelope. Take risks, get out of your comfort zone and get out there. See opportunity where it is — everywhere — and don’t be shy about asking for favors or things that seem pushy. There are great rewards out there when you put yourself on the line.

10.Create a Plan and Get Support
Make a timeline for how you are going to cross over into something new. It usually takes 1-3 years to fully transition into a new direction. Don’t fret. Make a monthly plan and get plenty of cheerleaders around you. No naysayers! Hire a coach or get a group of like minded folks around you and you will be settled in a new, satisfying direction before you know it.

And note: Unbearable situations seem more bearable when you know you are on your way out. Hang in there!

©2009 Laura Berman Fortgang, author of Now What?: 90 Days to a New Life Direction

Author Bio
Laura Berman Fortgang, author of Now What?: 90 Days to a New Life Direction, is a pioneer in the life-coaching profession. A renowned speaker and the president and owner of InterCoach, Inc., a full-service life-coaching business that works with individuals, small businesses, and corporations, she is also the author of The Little Book on Meaning, Living Your Best Life and Take Yourself to the Top. She lives in Montclair, New Jersey.

For more information please visit http://www.nowwhatcoaching.com

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Many thanks to Laura for offering to share these incredibly useful tips with my readers.

Cheers,

Suzanna Stinnett

The news: Reporters Euna Lee and Laura Ling escorted out of North Korea via the intervention of Al Gore and Bill Clinton – and don’t forget —  Facebook, Twitter, and blogs.

Also the news: The attention directed at Euna Lee and Laura Ling, by their testimony today, was felt and drawn upon to sustain them.

Could we have a huge round of applause for the love that Lee and Ling claim sustained them in their darkest hour?

Yes. This is the global brain functioning as a thinking heart. This is another beautiful example of what new media (or social media) is designed to do.

Euna Lee and Laura Ling must not yet know the extent of the love, concern, promotion of interest, the outright screaming committed on their behalf through blogs and new media. But it will dawn quickly. Now they return to a life changed irrevocably by their ordeal and by the sheer inner strength they drew upon during their challenging days.

See, we know this love every day

Those of us who participate fully in the creation of the global brain – that is, the millions of willing minds dismissing the mental limits of location and sharing the job of thinking globally – can also participate fully in a celebration of the love we helped to further.

We’d like you to participate too

Those who are still watching from the sidelines, confused by difficult entry points and clinging to past views of online communication (which are now total misconceptions), cannot understand what we are truly celebrating.

A powerful triumph of an athlete, say, winning the gold at the Olympics, indelibly stamps the brain with the value of everything it took to get there. Just as an individual’s brain is galvanized by victory, the global brain now has an even stronger, more motivated “brain area” to draw from. The brain area has these qualities:  Send love. Use the tools. Rally to help others. Participate in the thought power we have in our hands – on our desks – in our smart phones.

The global brain is only as great as the individuals who feed it. Today, that greatness is worth cheering.

Welcome home, Euna and Laura.

Suzanna Stinnett

I call this Cloud Alchemy. Read the manifesto and build a global brain area.

The global brain is pulsing with intelligence, and my mind reels with the potential.

Potential. Do I misuse that word? What I mean is that I see a vast landscape of possible outcomes, possible paths, possible triumphs, and what gives me that view is something quite simple. Connectivity.

You know I talk about the global brain all the time, and that I latched onto the concept in the mid 80s when Peter Russell put out a film by that name. He described this dynamic global ability before it existed. My brain just about had a blowout when I realized what he meant. I really, really “got it.”

Now here we are. In a world of crisis which means a world of opportunity. And nearly all of that opportunity is carried in the big wide net or the world wide web. So how are we accessing it? By using new tools of communication. In a nutshell. What tools? To me, maximum accessibility with optimum productivity means using:

1) A simple blog and 2) Twitter.

So I preach, and try to be better at ministering to those who don’t quite understand the potential here. Yes, we have plenty of smelly hype that we’re having to step around carefully. We have hucksters and scammers and spammers at every turn. That does not change the fact that we have in our hands this sparkling jewel of a moment, and by golly, I want you to experience it. Here we go.

I hope you can handle a few more new terms, because I’ve got one for you. It’s “cloud alchemy.” Simplest definition: “Connecting thoughts in the global brain.” You can read what I’m up to in precise detail by getting a copy of the manifesto by the same name. (No charge, just join my website.) You can learn more about how it works by reading these posts. I demonstrate cloud alchemy by performing “alchemy labs.” This is the second one. (The first one, Cloud Alchemy: A Thinking Heart, was kinda long. I’ll work on that.)

Alchemy Lab #2

Today I’m thinking about Valeria Maltoni, of the site Conversation Agent. I’m also thinking about Betsy Burroughs, who has FocusCatalyst.com. Because these two women are right up front in my cerebral cortex there, I’m going to bring them into this Alchemy Lab and see what we can mix up.

(Okay, picture a woman in a white lab coat, humming, pouring steamy fluids into a beaker, and glancing up with a really wild look in her eyes.)

The Ingredients

Valeria

I’ve followed Valeria’s work for at least two or three years. She knows me only through some comments I’ve made on her site and a few Twitter moments, but I’m not a stranger to her. Hi Valeria! Valeria writes about, well, the conversation. Her articles are deeply informed, broadly connected, and worthy of some sort of Internet Ambassadorship award. She promotes thought on a high level and attracts a conversation through comments on her site that is often as informative as the posts. That’s a gift, to be able to do that.

Betsy

Betsy Burroughs, I just discovered. Betsy wrote a book called Focus: The Catalyst for Creativity. Well. If you have read my manifesto, you know I place a pretty high value on focusing. Betsy’s book isn’t really about that, though, it’s about taking a special route into your own brain and planting some rapid-growing high-yield productivity seeds. Some of them you can even harvest in moments. The blurbs about her book are great but they are really not doing it justice. I’m going to risk another too-long post here, but you should also know that Betsy is the catalyst bringing together some amazing brains, at her loft in San Francisco, and through the Internet. You really better get to know her. She’s redesigning her site, so just start here and read about the salons she does, who comes, and what happens.

Why Valeria and Betsy in Alchemy Lab #2?

Just one reason, really. They are both in the front of my own brain right now. More reasons – the work they are doing is changing the global brain.

Do they really need to connect their thoughts?

That’s not for me to say. My job is to throw it out there. Cloud alchemy is simply “I am thinking about these two people and I’m all fired up about life because of them.” For now, that’s enough.

Valeria, meet Betsy. Betsy, meet Valeria.

The mind reels.

With love and neurotransmitters,

Suzanna Stinnett

Get the manifesto here on Great Adaptations (upper right column)