The presentation went okay [always the perfectionist].  I wanted to text my social media expert on some of the questions, but I was able to answer most of them.  What types of social media are there?  Social Network [facebook, linkedin], Bookmarking site [delicious, stumbleupon], Social News [Diggs, Reddit], Media Sharing [Youtube, Flickr], Micro-blogging [twitter, tumblr] and Blogging [wordpress, blogger].  How can I keep fans from posting inappropriate items on my page?  How can I eliminate spam?  How many times should I post something?  Bang! Bang! Bang!…the answers were flowing.

I have a meeting later this week with a potential client and my social media expert.  We are shoring up a new client set to launch later this month.  I also need to begin designing my monthly newsletter.  Work! Work! Work!  And YES…we are available for any new business.

Speaking of social media…I had the greatest conversation with my oldest son today.  He had a poor batting performance over the weekend, probably because his dad was out of town.  We went and worked on some hitting.  He was not shifting his weight properly.  I had him do a couple of drills…bang out to left field! bang out to right field! bang out to center field!  As we was leaving the batting cage, my son asked me if there was a way for us to communicate when I am out of town.  Yes…text, Skye, and/or cell.  He was not interested in texting or phoning…but when we talked about Skye.  He was very interested.  I pulled out my phone and Skye  his god-father, who lives about 700 miles from us.  He loved the ability to chat with his god-father.  He discussed last weekend’s game, batting practice with his dad, his school work and grades, what he wanted to do for the summer…go visit his god-father and of course the up coming baseball tournament.

Onward and Upward,

I was able to put up my monthly newsletter on line…click here to see our April’s Newsletter.  I am in discussion with a faith based organization located on the East Coast.  I am just waiting for the contract and initial payment.  The web product is second to none…and it even includes a social media package.  I am also in conversation with a non-profit organization located in the mid west.  The CEO has indicated that the design and price is on point.  He is waiting to receive grant money…potentially client in May. Lastly, I received signed contract for a financial based client.  The initial payment should be coming real soon.  This is going to be a complete design…logo, web site, content management system, ecommerce on-line store plug in, social media package and print [business cards].

The best part of the week…was meeting with my social media expert, Jazz Boykin.  We had a great conversation…discussing what her role would be and how we would integrate social media into our products.  I need to get her some business cards, and a list of marketing events to build up her network.  We discuss a blog and some networking conferences to attend.  It was a great meeting and yes…it was at one of my favorite watering holes, Rev’s Coffee Cafe.

I have been invited to give a presentation about the importance of social media to a Faith Based Organization…very excited !!!  I have a couple of print jobs which need to be completed by Monday.  I am not working on the weekend or at least working mandatory.  I might draw up some layouts after Church on Sunday, if I am bored!!!  Otherwise…I am going to created the layout and design on Monday.  The prices have been submitted…the clients have seen my work.  I am going to provide my paypal account and keep it moving.  The products are due by next Saturday…keep it moving!!! Love my job and career.

Onward and Upward,

I am looking at my home office and it really needs a make over.  I wish that I could get HGTV or IKEA Specialist or someone to give me a FREE Makeover.  I found a great article on line and will repose a photo of the new home office around mid-summer.  I am going to purchase a new desk, maybe a bigger monitor, clean up my wires…cables are everywhere, upgrade my phone and cd/ipod player…got my juices flowing this morning.  I need some plants, maybe a small bar…for those mid-day celebrations, better storage for my web and graphic design books…by the way, if you visit a designer and they have no books…you need to run away quickly, a few more lamps and a nice coffee machine…I hate walking downstairs to get a fresh cup of coffee in the middle of designing a project.  Can you tell that I am going to begin limiting my time in the office?  I am just not as productive…most of my staff work from home.

The brick and mortar is good for folks to know that I am in business, but I am finding myself and staff are in there less and less.  My administrative assistant is present every day from 8 – 4pm,  but my graphic designer might show up once or twice…to pick up projects and drop off results, my layout and content designer…she only comes in on Monday for assignments or when she has secured a new client…she is a marketing monster, love her…and my new social media expert has been in the office all week, but I think she will begin to work from home in the near future…being a parent of a couple young kids.  I do not make it mandatory to come in the office, as I do not care.  Getting the project done correctly and on time is my only requirement.  Sometimes, we do have to work in office…especially on a big project with a quick turnaround.  That is when we order a couple of pizzas…hit Chili’s for a couple of rounds after the project is done…however, these projects are become less and less…probably cost has factor into my clients decisions.

Check out the article by clicking here.

Onward and Upward,

I need to finish my social media site by the end of the week.  I need to get out the 7 proposals.  I need to check on a couple of websites, which I sent a proposal and was not awarded the project.  I like to see the finish project.  I like to analysis the project…is the interactive architecture functional? does the links work? is a seo package present? could my design have been better and how could I have presented a better proposal?  I do not spend a lot of time on this exercise, because most of the time it was an economical decision.

As I am browsing several blogs,  I ran across on in which it gave reason to have a blog.  A really good article…check it out by clicking here.

http://freelanceswitch.com/freelance-writing/6-reasons-why-freelancers-should-have-a-niche-blog/

Onward and Upward,

Well I  received a call from my social media expert, who is so upbeat and happy.  We chatted about kids, spouses, vacations and favorite watering holes.  I totally forgot about the disappointing news from this morning.  As I was leaving my office for lunch, my administrative assistant stop me and express her apologies for the two miss clients.  I have got to get some thicker walls or speak softer.  I advised her that we have one on board for 4/20 or Friday.  We will be okay.  She gave me a cup of coffee [yes, she knows my weakness] and told me that I was the greatest boss ever…nothing makes me angry.  I told her that was because …I have a great staff.

I found an great article, which I am going to share.  The six ways to relieve stress…check it out below or click here.

http://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/6-easy-ways-to-reduce-stress.html

Onward and Upward,

At 4:30am, my oldest son woke up and came into my office.  He wanted to see the end of the Yankee v. Angel game.  It was  being replayed…I saw it last night, but could not pass up the option of spending some quality time with my son.  We saw the Yankees win 11-6.  We discussed his game over the weekend…I gave him a couple of pointers.  Later, we went out in the back yard and was playing catch at 6:00.  We was greeted by my youngest son at 7:00am.  He asked if school was closed today…darn, I forget this is a school day.  I checked my watch…it was 7:10am.  No…we are just playing some catch, but you and your brother do need to get ready for school.  The boys went back into the house…I put a couple of bagels in the toaster oven, pours some milk, make a fresh cup of coffee for me, and scrambled a couple of eggs, cut up some fruit and made my boys a really good breakfast.  They came downstairs…eat a healthy breakfast and we discuss what was on their agenda for the week.  My oldest son has three games, a couple of test and is in need of a hair cut.  My youngest son has a couple of karate practices, few quizzes and has to get ready for State Test next week, he also needs a hair cut…

The laughter and smell of a good breakfast woke up my daughter and wife…we all eat breakfast and gave thanks for another year together.  My boys and me had to rushed to school as we was having too much fun!!!  I stopped by one of my favorite watering hole for a cup of coffee and some good conversation.  I had about 30 minutes to reflect on my business and family.  It was a nice time to reflect…then off to take my daughter to school.

I have to clean up my home office, stop by my work office, hold a small conversation with my staff [they are the greatest] and begin working on getting some prospective clients to forward contracts and payments.  Like the Mamas and Pappas’ songs…”Monday Monday, so good to me, Monday Monday, it was all I hoped it would be”…

Onward and Upward,

I make my favorite drink…sit out on my patio.  Thinking about how my business has change in less than one year…hired full time social media expert and administration assistant.  Secured a business address…which I love.  Not that working from home was not great, it is just better for me to get out of my pj on most days.  I have developed some great relationship…developed my 1st church site [was so nervous about this one...did not want to disappoint my client or GOD], created a school based site [received so many compliments and refer from this one], worked on a cyber bullying site [it was not pro bono, but was really close] and got to finish my a social media site.

I am working on a couple projects, which I got from several job boards…the key word is I am working.  My business is surging.  Life is good.

Fast forward 10 hours later, my CPA did not give me great news.  I have had worst…went to lunch with my wife.  She asked me if I was disappointed.  I reflected and said “Naw!!!”.  My door are still open and I just have to add my favorite uncle to my list of creditors for the next couple of months.  I am good…life is good.  Wishing everyone a great one…

Onward and Upward,

http://tympanus.net/codrops/2012/04/10/successful-web-design-its-all-about-the-details/

or click here, if link is not downloading.

Onward and Upward

I meet with my social media expert…she is awesome!!! We chatted for about 30 minutes.  Now I am in my office waiting for a call from my latest project.  Roll call on Wednesday…I got to work on my designer’s site, beginning work on another social media site, finalizes monthly newsletter, follow up with another client and clean the mind for some little league baseball tonight.

Today was an awesome day after a somber moment this morning, dropping off the kids to school.  I spoke to a potential client, who recently purchased a minor league sport team.  He is a minority owner, but this could be huge for my company.  My fingers are cross on this one!  Then I spend the afternoon discussing some social media techniques and strategies with my new social media expert.  She will begin working on my social media links, both facebook, twitter, linkedin and google + next month.  Yea!!! I am really enjoying passing that to someone else…do not get me wrong, I like to post links, and tweet sometimes…just not all the time.  Next I completed the design layout for this months E-Newsletter.  If you have not subscribe, then you need to click here. After a great lunch with an existing client, I had a meeting with another head hunter.  We had a great conversation…hoping for some leads!

After such a busy morning, I took my wore out back to my chiropractor…who cracked and twisted me like a pretzel.  The back is feeling so much better…I might have a couple more sessions, then I will be back on the links.  My grass is soo long, and my wife refuses to cut it.  My oldest son cut his foot in the garage over the weekend…might have to wait a day or two before I can cut the grass.  Oh well…no spoiled milk over here.

I am hoping for a great week…would like to get in a contract or two!!!  Back to my daily grind…

Onward and Upward,