Social Networking: Old Game, New Tools

Social Networking and the Art of Building your networks has never been easier. Today, we have all the tools to help us build our networks online, quick and easy. It is still an old game with new tools, but we must choose the right tools to build our networks.

Social Networking sites are blooming and are gaining momentum online. There are so many of them and you will need to pick the right one for your niche. These sites have brought down the boundaries and geographical locations as to how people may communicate and interact with one another. Making friends and building your social or online networks is just at the click of the button, where you can request someone to be your 'friend' and whether you have anything in common with them.

You should never underestimate the power of these social networking websites, as they can really boost your credibility and your presence internationally. At the click of the button, you are making new contacts and friends online and these 'friends', may sometimes invite you to events and functions, where you can meet them face to face and further build your network. You may be invited to conferences, parties, and even weddings and these are some of the events that you should consider attending, if you wish to build your network and meet new people.

But, then again, online social networking is nothing compared to the good old way of meeting people and making friends face to face, as there is more interaction and you get to see how the person is able to relate to you physically. You are able to build better rapport with the person face to face than meeting them online. I am not saying that online networking is bad, but rather, it is a starting point for making friends and building your list and at the same time you are breaking the local barriers and boundaries and interacting with people on a global scale.

As a result of my 'online social profile' and network, I have been invited and attended many events that has enabled me to build my contacts on a global scale. I would suggest that if you haven't got an 'online social profile' perhaps you might want to consider creating one. You may create a profile that suits your needs and niche. You will never know how your 'social profile' may benefit you in the long run. What have you got to loose anyway? Only friends to make!

Read More

New Look, New Beginning and Let's Educate

It's been sometime since I posted anything here. I decided to
give the blog a new look, feel and deleted all the previous content.

Well it has been a busy period for me and I have been travelling
a lot lately and haven't had much time for myself. But, along the
way I have experienced a lot more, by observing the people,
businesses and organizations around me.

It really mystifies me at times. Last year in 2007, a close friend
of mine applied for his post graduate degree at a public university
and they told him that he was "under qualified" to pursue the
programme that he wanted to do. He then, applied to another
private university and gained entry and since, he has now completed
his Masters Degree.

I have always had the intention to pursue my Masters/Phd
as part of my professional development, and lately I decided to do so.
I made an application in January 2008, to the same public university
that my friend applied to, and I was declined the offer to carry out my
postgraduate degree on the basis that "I didn't have the
qualifications/experience to do so," and I was shocked.

I had all the relevant qualifications and experience for the research that I proposed and they had the cheek to say that to me. However, while waiting for their reply, I applied to another Private University and I submitted my research proposal to them. Guess what, they accepted it! And it took them only 3 weeks to decide and get back to me, compared to the former that took them 6 months.

It's gets better now... Since the completion of his first Masters Degree, my friend, intends to pursue a second Masters Degree. We spoke about it and decided to write back to the same public university that declined him earlier on. This time, they said that he is "overqualified" and that he should do his Doctoral Degree, rather than a second Masters Degree. When I heard this, I started to laugh.

My friend, told me that he would prefer to do a second Masters Degree rather than a Doctoral (this was based on his personal preference), and I agreed to his argument. He then applied to another private university and gained entry for his second Masters Degree.

Now the point is this: I am just curious about the manner that some of these institutions make and what are their decisions based on (or could it be that just that particular "one" public university was just to choosy). I find that they (Public Universities) are just losing out on all the potential candidates and income that they could get from these candidates. At the same time they are also depriving individuals who wish to further their education and career plans.

Why? What is wrong with the system? I always believe that to EARN more you must LEARN more, and I am a keen learner and I always read and learn about anything that interests me. The world that we live in is no longer what it is some 10-15 years ago. Times have changed and it has become far more competitive than before. The cost of living is rising and we must do more so that we can sustain and live a better quality of life. It is time that we all educate ourselves and eradicate poverty and the mindset of mediocrity.

People are being more aggressive and are those who take action, that will usually reap the results. These individuals should be good decision makers and not just people who will screw things up (like those in the public university referred to earlier on), as these decisions can leave a lasting impact and impression of what people will thing about you and your organization.

I just can't wait to see how the future will be in time to come, but it will all depend on the things that we do today, which will be the effect of tomorrow.

Don't you think we should all do our bit today for a better tomorrow?

Read More