Susan Boyle - Mind Mapping - Facebook - Internet Travel
- Upcoming Classes
Well, everyone, it's time for Spring to come to an end and Summer to come grab us (okay we have a few more weeks to go!). It's heating up here in California. So this month, we reflect on Susan Boyle, look at some cool mind mapping tools, dream about Facebook having an IPO and discovering some new travel sites.
Enjoy,
Susan Boyle - When did we start listening with our Eyes?
Here's the smash sensation Susan Boyle.
Here are both songs she sings - so far - in 2009 (I Dreamed a Dream) and in 1999 (Cry Me a River). She makes me feel so great every time I listen to both of these songs. As of 4/20/2009, the youtube video has had 100,000,000 hits!
Susan Boyle's final performance for Britain's got Talent:
For the younger set - Justin Timberlake's Cry Me A River
Featured Products
We now have a section on the ITM Computing website called "Featured Products." We update this site at least 4 times/week with great "buy now" deals. We rarely make a commmision on these sales. We just want you to get the best deal on the day you're ready to buy a new piece of technology. Check it out at www.ITMPartners.com.
Mind Mapping - Free Online - On Computer
Just found this way cool mind mapping software, called Bubbl! We've all done diagramming, flow charting, free association, and mapping the inner sanctum of our mind. But, Mind Mapping? What the heck is it?
No, it's not the next Internet Quiz Maker/Taker monster. No, it's not the latest internet-Rorschach-Psych craze either. It's an updated way of communicating or presenting ideas: its "think bubbls" for your brainstorms and business ideas (you know those little bubbles over characters' heads in cartoons?
My first thought when I started tooling around with Bubbl was, "Wish I had this in the College Years. That woulda been a great way of taking notes. Man, college kids these days got it so easy compared to 10+ years ago!"
A couple of examples of Mind Mapping from MindTools for Time Management. Look how creative these can get!
Then, I started thinking about a website that I'd been working on. I realized I can use this as a model for developing this site, and expressing all of its links.
Then I remembered that I was in the middle of another project that might be better organized by using the bubbl technique. Suddenly, it's "Goodbye, Flipcharts!" and "Goodbye, Power Point!" "Good Night, little red cursor, jumping over the moon!" Hello, Bubbl. I can use this new tool for seminars, speeches, product introductions, marketing collateral, etc, etc...I keep coming up with ideas for new uses. It's easy to collaborate with my team, or to include other teams.
And, oh yeah. It's free.
You can make as many new "Sheets" for different projects as you need. Here's a generic one a friend of mine shared with all of her staff for an upcoming Board Meeting.
If you're not into having it online, here are some alternatives:
Stephen Pierce demonstrates how to mindmap a book while reading it using a flip chart. Of course, we'd read book with our computer near buy so we can use our favorite mindmapping software!
Facebook is Shakin' the Money-Maker
Facebook's fast growing popularity has only been hindered by one small flaw: the lack of cash flow the company brings in. It's a safe bet that Mark Zuckerberg, the young entrepreneur that began one of my favorite sites is probably more famous than rich. The struggle that the company faces is all-too common on the world wide web: How to turn this great idea into something profitable?
Two years ago, it was reported that Zuckerberg turned down a $1Billion offer from Yahoo! and a $2.3B offer from Google for the site. Even more recently, users protested the possibility of FaceBook becoming a pay site. (The FB group, "If Facebook Becomes A Pay site--I'm Gone" has over 453,000 members...and counting, even though the mere possibility is old news. The other group that will pay has 9 members).
Usually when we think of online classifieds, we think of CraigsList (another favorite, with a grassroots entrepreneurial history, which has actually made millions). Facebook Marketplace might be the next big thing to happen to the ethereal world of online classifieds. Imagine this scenario. You clean out your garage and find that pair of roller blades that never fit, but were non-refundable. You go to the FB Marketplace and post all about it. Now all your friends instantly know, and so does the rest of the world, especially those who are shopping for roller blades. What's different? Well, your friends can make comments ("Dude, I remember when you bought those. You were so psyched! What happened?"), ask questions ("What size? Is that in European sizing or US?"), and call dibs ("DIBS!") You don't have to answer 40 different emails about the details that you forgot to post. Those questions will get answered right there and can be viewed by anyone.
Likewise, if you are purchasing something, you can see how many people might be interested in the same thing.
Shopping with friends and shopping online simultaneously! Women everywhere must be ecstatic.
A second way Facebook is making money is through their online ads which appear next to their posts. Unlike the Google ads which are text-based, I find the Facebook ads quite annoying, but hear from colleagues they're quite profitable. If you've tried Google Adwords in the past, might be time to give Facebook ads a chance.
Top 10 Travel Sites--Clyde Style!
1. PriceLine: The best thing to happen to online haggling since E-bay. Seriously, travelers get to negotiate their own price on air-fare. No joke. William Shatner's kung-fu karate chop endorsement doesn't hurt either.
2.SouthWest: OK, so sometimes you really can get a great deal on an airline's website. No really, you can. And since you know you're going to be getting on a Southwest jet, you know you're getting Southwest's service--which is famous in the industry (hence, the reality show that aired on A&E a few years ago).
3. YELP!: If you want the real low-down on the car rental agency, the spa, the hotel, or the restaurant scene at your destination, check out yelp for actual consumer's reviews. (And after your trip, you can rave about your new favorite places...or warn the rest of the world about what to avoid at that funky Indian restaurant.).
4. CraigsList: Maybe you're not looking for the typical hotel experience. Ever heard of housing swap? Maybe you want to see what it's like to live in the town and away from the tourist trap.
5. Travelocity: Convenience is king. One site, three services (flight, hotel, and car), no sticker
shock.
6. Travel Advisor: Get a mini travel guide for any city you go to. Get restaurants, sites, hotels, all in a neat pdf you can print and take with you.
7. Fare Compare: Compares prices with more airlines helping you find the best fare fast.
8. OneSky Private Charters: Arrive in style on San Jose's private jet charter. And we're not talking about those little Cessna island-hoppers with room for four. Rock-star sized jets. (I haven't done this yet personally, but it's definitely on the bucket list.)
9. ReserveAmerica: If you're thinking about turning off your computer for a week and heading out to the great outdoors this summer. ReserveAmerica is THE official site for all National and State parks.
10. Cheap Tickets: I'm a sucker for a good bargain. This is certainly worth checking out if you need to get somewhere on a dime.
Upcoming Classes
Our tentative schedule is:
Facebook for Life 2009 - June 17th
Decoding Your Computer's Secrets, Pt. I - June 24th
Decoding Your Computer's Secrets, Pt. II - July 15th
Look for full class announcement in the next week or so.
Be In The Moment - it's the only moment of the moment.
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