Kyle Thomas

The Website of Kyle Thomas (KyleWith)

Seek out subject matter experts

This is a very simple step that many of us overlook for various reasons. We might fear that it is inappropriate. Or think that person is competition. Or feel it is a sign of weakness. Yet I have found this action of seeking out people who are experts or knowledgeable in the subjects I want to know more about to be a huge asset for many reasons.

It is not inappropriate. People love talking about themselves. I know I do. If someone wants to meet with me I definitely take the opportunity. If the person you are asking is smart enough, they will also recognize it as an opportunity to learn something themselves. It is human nature to want to help. Even in the smallest of ways.

So go and ask that person for a coffee and see where it takes you.

Since the day I started my own business I’ve thrown the notion of competition out the window. I don’t have time for that pettiness and neither should you. Those other people or businesses that have similar goals should be allies. You should be able to lean on each other with the end goal in mind. Period.

And never think you are showing weakness. Wanting to further your knowledge is not shameful. By wanting to meet others in your industry you are displaying a higher level of investment in it. No one will ever know everything and we can all learn something from one another. Even if the other person has a giant ego. You can still learn from them.

Overall you should strive to meet as many people as possible in whatever field or industry you want to be in. Most people are happy to talk but the worst they’ll say is no. Connecting with your competition can lead to bigger things. And seeking out established industry people will show your willingness to continue to learn. It will show you are willing to grow.

These simple actions will benefit you by way of straight knowledge. They will also put you in front of thought leaders and subject matter experts. It will plant a seed in their minds for future opportunity. It might not happen right away but you’ll be there in their subconscious. When the moment is right your name will come up in conversation. In the planning of a new product, as a person to collaborate with or in a recommendation to someone else.

Thus, the universe will present you with an opportunity.

Now, go. Get out there. Meet someone new.

This post is post is part of a bigger series called Let The Universe Know What You Want. See the other posts below:

• Seek Out Subject Matter Experts
• Let Your Passion Drive You

Brent Hodson my Informant

I would have to say that Brent Hodson is my informant. As it appears and as he so gleefully pointed out this morning my previous two posts were information from him. He knows the know of Fort St John, you know. So naturally I need to point that out and point out his bloggidy, so maybe he’ll use it more often.

Brent’s Blog: Well it reads like a book, no seriously, go look at it his WordPress theme looks like a book. Not my first choice but cool nonetheless. Brent is all over the Social Media scene, but I would like to see more from his blog. Further developed thoughts on the World of Fort St John, Pop Culture, Music and Politics. What’d you say Brent can we expect that?

Brent's Blog BrentHodson.ca
Brent's Blog BrentHodson.ca

Government Vs. My MacBook

I’m not going to get in to the details as to what I was doing but I will give you a quick recap.

I was going through parts of the Fedral Government website in the Business section or whatever it might be called looking for information on starting a business. The thing that drives me nuts about the government site is all the linking. You read one article which links to 10 other articles and each of those links to another 10 and so on. Call me stupid or challenged but that is confusing. I hate being directed around in circles by big websites. Did I find what I was looking for, No.

The next little issue that was pushing me over the edge was a form I was filling out online on the Government site. The form was for a business number but it seemed to be taking forever to respond to the server it was pulling and sending the information to. On top of me becoming impatient so was my computer because it started to freak out. It all of a sudden started to get glitchy and freeze up for 2 or 3 seconds at a time. At that point the fan was spinning at worp speed and sounded horrible. Then as if the computer said that’s it I have had enough and flicked an internal off switch, it dropped the Wireless connection and froze up. I was so mad I actually said “I want to throw you(my macbook) at the government” whatever that means.

I did not throw the computer. I did although let it cool down while I did the same. I then plugged it in and all was good again except I did not go back to the Government site. I didn’t think I will worry about it for now.

That was how 5 minutes of my evening went, how did yours go?

Join Twitter Through Facebook

It seems that a lot of people don’t want to bother with Twitter because all they see it as is a site with just Facebook status’. But this couldn’t be more incorrect.

Somethings Twitter offers:

  1. News – A lot if not all major news station are on Twitter tweeting new stories when they happen. So instead of waiting for the evening news you are able to here about them when they happen. Some celebrities (ie Lance Armstrong) aren’t talking to the media anymore and just tweeting what they have to say.
  2. Marketing  – Have something to sell and promote. Twitter is the place to do it. You are able to share your product with the world.
  3. Answers – Many times I have had a question that I just can not figure out and Google doesn’t have the right answer so I just tweet it. Believe it or not with in 10 minutes I normally have an answer.
  4. Meeting people – Unlike Facebook you can follow people with out them having to approve you or following you back. This is a great resource for finding information in your field or moving to a new place. For example I started following someone who lives close to where I will be attending school in the fall and they are helping me find a place to live. It is like the ultimate networking.

Those are just some I can think of off the top of my head.

If you are still unsure that Twitter is really for you I have an idea for you. If you are on Facebook, which I would assume most of your are and update your status there every once and a while there are many option for you to also send those status’ to Twitter at the same time. It wouldn’t make anymore work for you but it will allow you to dip your toes into the Twitter world while in the comfort of your Facebook Page.

To see the 5 solution from transfering your Facebook status to Twitter check out the post Masable put up.