One of the things I love to do more than anything else, is hearing about successful people. Better than that, when these successful people come together and build network that supports them in their efforts. In my area there is such a group known as, Fraser Valley Enterprising Moms Network, if you don’t know anything about them, please visit their website. So why am I promoting this group? Two reasons, firstly, they are doing some cool things, with 10 Chapters now up and running, they hold monthly events with guest speakers. Secondly, they invited me to speak!

From the Enterprising Moms Network Site:

EMN offers you a place to come to remind you that you aren’t alone and that it is possible to be a good mom and a good business woman as well.

We combines topics that are relevant to YOU – from business topics such as marketing, budgeting, loan assistance to health concerns, raising children, and relationships.

In addition, we invite dynamic speakers who are leading experts and successful mom entrepreneurs to share their experiences and knowledge with you.

EMN has it all – including invaluable networking opportunities, extensive resources and an online forum for you to access throughout the month.

Join us online or at a chapter meeting in your area today and see why EMN is the place to be for all mom entrepreneurs!

URL: http://www.enterprisingmomsnetwork.com/

If you are Mom and want to be in business, this group of incredible women can help you, and you will soon find you aren’t alone. Be sure to join a Chapter or better yet, start one in your area.

The location: TBA

The Internet world new this day was coming, Apple was going to make this huge announcement that was going to revolutionize how we use the Internet. Everyone who is anyone in the technology sector has been talking about this for weeks, and the day has come and it will soon be gone. You will read thousands upon thousands of new articles, Blog Posts and Video’s on this new thing called the iPad. It’s priced at $499.00 USD, screen size is 9.7″ and so on, if you have an iPhone you probably won’t want one of this slick machines. In fact, it looks just like a biggie sized iPhone!

Leo LaPorte said that he has never seen so many people at an Apple Announcement, everyone was there were his words. That’s not entirely true because I wasn’t there! I was there via the Internet and I thought I would share with you how these events will be attended in the future.

I sat here in my home office, openned my browser (FireFox), brought up Leo laporte’s Live.Twit.tv and watched Leo’s version of the event via his show. I also had FriendFeed open and watched Robert Scoble’s Stream, plus, Robert did a live UStream.tv stream at the same time! I got everything I need by following the #iPad & #AppleLive HASH on Twitter as well, I am fully informed.

I expect in the future this is how many people will attend Conferences and major announcements, why pay for parking, hotel and so on when you can get LIVE coverage via the NET? I recognize it’s not the same thing as being there, but it’s far more cost effective. I am however, very disappointed that the broadcast of the event by Apple or lack of one was so poor in quality. They have more cash than Microsoft does, they can afford to stream this better, or maybe the CLOUD can’t handle the load? What will happen when more than 10% of the world gets online for FREE?

How did you watch the Apple Event?

The past few months have been interesting to say the least, and in closing out 2009 I have been getting a variety of requests on my Blog, including speaking & consulting opportunities. When I started blogging I was hot and bothered about Nanotechnology, why people weren’t talking about it and how it may or may not impact our lives. That turned out to be a dead horse.

I then shifted energy to my other passion, I.T. Strategic Planning, that has developed some interest from a business perspective.

Lately, the biggest area of interest is Social Media, monetizing a blog, and how to get traffic to it. Go figure.

Anyway, My question for you is, is learning the ropes about blogging and or monetizing your blog important to you, do you want to know how and where I’m having success with it? Late 2009 and so far this year has proven profitable teaching and sharing on these items. Please do not take this as bragging, I’m merely sharing and want to know if you want to learn how I have done it. Or, is there something else you would like to see covered?

Thanks for your time, please let me know so I can discern where to invest my time serving you.

Please send me an e-mail with your input and or request: owen@owengreaves.com

Many Blessings,

Owen Greaves

http://blog.owengreaves.com

It’s Christmas Eve and we are about to enter into a time of Blessing and Family, not everyone will have this luxury. We can however, adopt those less fortunate and make this time of year a time warmth & love. I charge you Bless someone this Christmas, someone you don’t know. You’ve read it here many times, and if you’ve heard me speak, you know my war cry, How Many People Are Better Off Because You Lived?

I pray this message finds you well and that 2010 will be a great year for you & your family.

So, from the Greaves Household, Merry Christmas!

I had to get out of the home office today, I drove down the road to a great little coffee shop called Gourmet Gallery. It so happens I had come down to my church to let the cleaners in so I had an excuse to get out, right next door is the coffee shop, so I brought my Laptop. One of the great things about getting out is you run into people you normally wouldn’t meet during the week, I even got to help setup the Christmas Tree here today!

Here’s a cool pic of the shop:

The tree is tucked way in the back of the shop, they have two already setup and a third back in the left hand corner of the picture. While here I did some research online and hunkered down to a London Fog, have you ever tried one? They are so yummy. Here I am sipping on one:

Owen Greaves

It’s a great day, you should be here! Cya Later.

As I mentioned in my last post, Chris Brogan also brings it and he to has a great message, he just finished his 4th in a serious on “What it takes to be an overnight success”. Just as I have given Gary Vaynerchuk space here on owengreaves.com, I’m giving Chris Brogan more press as well. I what I like about Chris is his more down to earth and very honest, real message.

Rather than read more of my ranting and perspective, listen to Chris’s 1st video on the serious.

Do find yourself sitting at the computer for hours on end chatting, writing, posting, researching and or just surfing the NET? It has occurred to me that I spend roughly 10 – 12 hours a day here online, I like to believe I’m actually getting something done or helping someone with whatever challenge they might be having. What is it that makes me want to be here for you hour after hour. I mean, there are so many things I could be doing but no, I sit here and indulge in my passion. Is this smart or am I missing something?

I spend most of my time on my Blog, then I spend considerable time in Twitter Search, Twitter itself, FriendFeed and it’s Search, FaceBook has been getting more of my time lately with it’s efforts to be more like FriendFeed. If I had to choose one over the other, I would have to say Twitter is the most appealing for me because it’s as Real-Time as you can get. So that got me to wondering, just because a Social Media Network has 50 million or 300 million user accounts doesn’t really mean it’s the favorite or the best does it? You see I’m addicted to Real-Time, therefore I’m online looking for information of value, most of it is more than 24 hours old, but the juicy stuff is current as seconds ago. I use Google Reader to track RSS Subscriptions but Twitter is faster to me, and I get information as it happens for the most part there.

So, if you could only pick one Social Media Network, which one would you pick? As much as it pains me I would have to pick Twitter as of this writing, FriendFeed has been my choice but for effectiveness and real-time information Twitter is it for me today.

I want to hear from you, leave your answer in the comments area below please.

What’s your favorite Social Media Network & why?

For many business is a game, the game has rules that attempt to make it a level playing field. The Internet is changing this game, the rules are being broken and the players are blowing big business away. Don’t kid yourself though, big business is catching on and they are making in roads where early adopters roamed untouched.

The best part of this game, anyone can participate, but it’s not for the weak of heart and get rich quick schemers. If you come to play, be prepared to work hard, study hard, listen hard and search hard. You will need every ounce of passion & desire, all the smarts and energy you can muster up. Why? Because this game only tolerates those willing to pay the price, period. The game never ends, it’s 24/7 and it can last your entire life, do you have what it takes? Billy Chapel lasted 20 years and finished with his head held high, he paid the price, he had nothing left to leave on the field. Is that you? Are you willing to stay and carve out your place in the game?

One thing this game requires, a place you would call home base, a place where you go from and return to, the place where you build community and trust. I would highly recommend that you invest your time there, why, because everything on the Internet keeps changing and you could be left out in the cold. Your Blog or website only changes when you want it too, you don’t have control over the Internet and it’s content, so you best invest at home. If you want to survive and play at a high level you need to start at home, that’s rule #1 in the game.

If you don’t love the game you play hard, you won’t see it through, you won’t dig deep and work for your dreams. You have to do it for the love of the game.