by Walt Carvalho

It’s quite amazing to watch the growth and abundance of ideas, once tools become commonplace in our society. We are becoming more and more mobile tech connected, with technical and human connection opportunities definitely on the rise. The status quo with their methods of operation, which they may have used for decades are now being challenged in a big way. Having your head in the sand pretending everything will be OK is probably not the best strategy in these changing times.

Smaller communities have used the model of “I will take care of you if you take care of me”. Although that is trustworthy and quite noble approach, there looms a great threat to that protection mechanism and it’s in the hands of the mobile app consumer.

An extensive period of comfort in their familiar method of doing business has caused a problem. For many of these business owners, their lack of awareness as to the magnitude of this new  market shift beginning to take place is placing them in a tough and maybe irreversible position. So many businesses today are ill equipped to compete with interactive online competitors.

The belief, even in smaller communities, that their customers share the belief of the business owners by remaining loyal (no matter what happens in a digitally enhanced marketplace) can prove to be a fatal observation.

Online relationships are necessary in today’s marketplace. They can produce rich interactivity as well as becoming a great communication environment for both businesses and their customers. It’s a great way for loyalty to grow despite the lure of new digital enticements.

The world of business today is an evolution of new ideas and technical innovation. It takes a sound online strategy for companies to set solid goals today to be able to stay abreast of the different opportunities and challenges which continue to evolve.

If your business has an ostrich mindset, you might want to reconsider its direction. It’s probably a good time to pull your head out of the sand and get busy getting yourself caught up with what your customers are already finding useful and exciting!

It’s time to build your very own, strong and vibrant online presence!

Get Creative. Get Social.

Photo: Sean Hickin – Special thanks to Creative Commons

by Walt Carvalho

Sitting and listening to people share in a rich and productive environment fascinates me.

It seems that whenever people are given the opportunity to share dreams, ideas or life experiences in a discussion directed at the betterment of those attending, there appears that something quite special usually takes place. It’s the by-product of lessons learned, visions of great possibilities and the potential of achievement beyond previous comprehension. One of the group’s members says it’s like magic. Others share her feeling as well.

Our meetup group Reaching Full Potential has doubled in size by it’s second meeting. It’s attracted some truly remarkable people with a wide variety of skill sets. They are all willing to share and discuss great topics in a very open and free-flowing format.

There has been a lot of attention by television, internet and newspaper media sources placed on the negative aspects of recent economic trends. The members of Reaching Full Potential however, share a common focus of building on all of the opportunities, which exists today. This great steadfast mindset has been the driving force behind all of the innovative discussions so far. These group members are people who are determined to succeed and are willing to help others do the same.

Although I speak at the beginning of each meeting, I’ll also invite a guest, as I did with Jason Reedy at our last meeting, to speak as well. It’s a person who I feel has information, which is pertinent to helping the group succeed. The energy produced by the group following the talks has been phenomenal. I’ve enjoyed listening to great minds sharing great ideas.

Surround yourself with positive people. Achieve you dreams!

Get Creative. Get Social.

Photo: nicola romagna Special thanks Creative Commons

by Walt Carvalho

I had the great opportunity once in my life to be able to walk beside some of the incredible sculptures and paintings created by the great renaissance artists Michelangelo and Rafael. That was an evening I’ll never forget.

A few years later I also had the opportunity to meet and listen to two great coaches, Bill Walsh of the San Francisco 49ers and Bo Schembechler, former Head Football Coach for the University of Michigan. Both men shared insight and ways of thinking which gave me an appreciation of their depth and vision. There are some important lessons I’ve learned from all of them.

Many would say that trying to make a comparison between renaissance artists and modern football coaches is impossible. I totally disagree. They share a common bond that separates them from their peers. Each one of them reached a level of greatness not because of conforming to a template but instead their genius came from their originality.

Although Michelangelo used hammers and chisels for sculpting while like Rafael they used brushed and oils for their paintings, their brilliance truly came to light from their imagination, creativity and vision. Their tools simply assisted their ability to create.

So many men have walked fields with clipboards and whistles, Bill Walsh however designed teams to be where others weren’t. He broke the mold that all of the other teams were in. He demanded precision and perfection. His play calling thrived on uniqueness. He mastered the creation of open space in the game.

Bo Schembechler on the other hand was a man known for a gruff exterior with more Rose Bowl appearances than any other coach of his time. His strength however was his ability to be himself as a man who cared deeply about his players and their development as young men. His unique leadership created other leaders by osmosis. His teams success were the results of the unique bond and leadership he provided.

Social media success today is not a template activity either. It actually provides tools for people and business to flourish and prosper. It’s fertile ground for imagination and creativity to accomplish remarkable things. Just like the examples of those mentioned above, just having the tools is not enough. It’s combining and utilizing those tools with a creative strategy and a view of a larger picture.

Those who are willing to let go of old ideas and restrictions and make use instead, of the new opportunities surrounding them can accomplish great things today. These accomplishments are the result of not only our tools today but also our imagination, creativity and vision.

Get Creative. Get Social.

Photo: lauren special thanks to flickr.com / creative commons

by Walt Carvalho

Your online presence is becoming an issue that is now determining your employment opportunities. It is one of the many ways in which things are changing around us. Human Resource personnel are now searching online to discover talent from such places as Linkedin, Razume, VisualCV, Emurse and Xing to name a few.

If you are in the creative field, you better get to posting! Behance.net hosts many individuals who’s work meets their standards. They display accomplishments from Art Directors, Creatives and Designers. Conventional resumes are sometimes overlooked by those looking for contemporary talent. Sites like Behance.net showcase the experienced as well as the up and coming artists who display a wide range of skills and vision.

If you haven’t noticed yet, we are moving into a mobile society based on digital communication and information. It’s transforming the way we’ve done things for generations, at a pace we haven’t witnessed before. It is no mystery why Apple has had such good earnings this last quarter, since they lead in the mobile communication and information arena. The iPad presents the tablet option, again, ease of use and visibility for the mobile digestion of information.

In comparison, July 20,1969 saw the first manned landing on the moon. That mission, Apollo 11, included an earth launch, a moon landing, a moon launch, three separate orbit paths and a re-entry. Today’s hand held iPhone is more versatile with greater memory than the onboard computer used on that mission.

Many in the business world hold on, waiting for the right time to make their move, at the same time, their competition has been building their online presence to meet the new needs of our changing society. One farmer plants his seeds while the other doesn’t.

The wheels have begun to turn. The new industry is made up of innovation, creativity and ideas. The rapid pace of mobile devices, the apps that run on them and the new experiences these devices enable will only make our world more mobile and informative than it already is today.

It’s time to plant your seeds for the harvest that this new industry will bring!

Get Creative. Get Social.

Photo: Gant Robertson

by Walt Carvalho

I had the opportunity to participate in a wonderful experience last Thursday night. There were eight of us that got together as the inaugural group of the first meeting of Reaching Full Potential.

While being the speaker at our first meeting I decided to touch on a few previous articles, which I had written for the Carvalho Group website. I talked about history and how it relates to these times, I expressed the importance of finding your creative source which I feel lies between fear and comfort, I also spoke of the difficulties which historically always matched transitional periods in cultures. The focus however was what really lies before us. Opportunity is everywhere today and as we discover ourselves with an extensive look within, we can see the possibilities, which may have been unseen all this time.

I talked a little about the importance of finding whatever it is that makes you unique. We have such flexibility with the tools available today in this new era of information yet so many simply check into the Return Box (a term I use to describe rebuilding an old idea on a new platform, usually where people herd together instead of developing their unique self).

Finally I shared my belief that our perception of the workplace will change as people become more aware of their newly found independence. There is no coincidence as to the reason iPhones, Droids and iPads have sold at such a phenomenal rate.

The Information Age is upon us and it’s in full gear!

The group had a discussion following my twenty minutes of sharing. It was astounding!

I was amazed by the insight and candidness as to people related to each other with experiences they’ve had as well as dreams and ideas they share.

I was the speaker that evening yet left their feeling as though I had gained so much from those I had shared with. It was remarkable how such a diverse group in regards to professional experience, could relate in human terms to produce such insightful ideas.

I am very excited with what I’ve seen thus far. I can see this group accomplishing great things together.

We’re in it together Reaching Full Potential!

Get Creative. Get Social

Photo: Dedecek

People Who Inspire

By Walt Carvalho

While sitting on a tableside chair at an event one evening, I noticed a tall, thin man walk over to the table next to me. He placed his laptop case on the table, looked over at me and said, “hello.”

I immediately reached out to shake his hand and exchange the greeting. There was no shaking of hands. Instead there was a hug. You see, as I found out later, Don doesn’t shake hands. He hugs…Everyone!

I knew that evening that Don was someone special. There was no doubt.

Don told stories of his past and shared his dreams of the future. The time was well spent as we waited for the speaker to arrive. He talked about his business partner Tricia, and how I just had to meet her! He talked a little about the events in his life, which led him to meet her, thus presenting him with the opportunity of taking on his present vocation. It’s work that he truly loves and it shows.

Don is a writer, a very good writer. His stories are smooth, seamless and real.

He studied Education and Computers while a student at Michigan State University. He was there for his PhD. There is a story about his thesis, however I think I’ll let Don tell that story someday.

Don has a baccalaureate degree and two masters degrees in Biblical Studies. He has a DD from Golden State University.

Don became a minister after his schooling. He talks about it in one of his speaking engagements, “I was a pastor to the cowboys and school ma’ams in the badlands of Eastern Montana for four years and a missionary in the wilds of Mindanao for another four years.

“I really wanted to be an effective minister but I wasn’t any good at the preaching business. I have a gift of gab and people always liked to hear me talk but they never wanted to do what I would tell them to do.

“Which was really no big deal, since I didn’t particularly do what I was telling them to do either.

“I wasn’t really a hypocrite; I just didn’t realize what kind of human being I actually was.

“Eight years of preaching and missionary-ing convinced me to look for another profession.”

That was the beginning of his writing career. He wrote award winning tech manuals for high tech firms while not understanding exactly what the terminology meant. Which I still find hard to imagine.

Don then became a ghostwriter with a gift of being able to tell other peoples stories, as if looking through their eyes. Don is a ghostwriter till this day.

Don is now the Editor In Chief of 110 Magazine. Tricia Piquero is the publisher of the magazine and Don’s partner in their business.

I’ve been able to share some time, as well as enjoying a lunch with both of them. It was nice to finally meet Tricia after hearing Don say so many good things about her. Don’s description of Tricia was correct on all accounts. I found it interesting how much their lives changed because of their meeting. Life has a tendency of doing that.

Don is very excited about his new project of increasing his Public Speaking as well as the printing of his own book. Don and Tricia are both looking forward to good things with their business, 110 Magazine.

Life is good for Don Huntington today. His goodness truly comes from within.

Get Creative. Get Social.

by Walt Carvalho

We started a meet-up group on June 25th, 2010 called “Reaching Full Potential”.

It is a continuation of our website; theCarvalhoGroup.com, where we discuss the impact social media is having in our lives, as well as the potential it provides. There are many social media sites which talk strictly about social media tools. I feel the power of social media lies mainly in strategy and mindset while using the tools. Therefore; many of my articles deal with topics which are more diverse. That is the reason I invite others to join us with their own set of skills and experiences to build a network of opportunity and knowledge.

The launch of this meeting group has come about after writing many articles as well as having numerous discussions with readers, for which they felt many of these topics would make interesting and worthwhile discussions in a live meet-up venue. This combining of social media with live meeting venues should vitally enrich what we have started.

In the process of designing the format, I looked at many options. I think considering the situations many people are finding themselves in recently, a great option would be to create a network of people sharing their experiences to uplift others as well as giving them tools and missing skill sets to accomplish their own personal goals. The benefits of this alone could prove to be huge in many members ability to succeed.

This group is a meeting of individuals, which in turn will learn from, as well as be able to share with others. The members will potentially have an opportunity to become a speaker as well in this informational environment.

I would love to see a few innovative start-ups as well as personal success stories evolve from “Reaching Full Potential”. From talking with some of the people interested in participating, I see that as a definite possibility.

We are starting our meet-up group in Contra Costa County in the San Francisco region of California. Although all meetings will be held there for now, you may still become a member of the group to be updated on events as well as having a schedule of upcoming meetings which you may be able to attend in the future.

Please consider our invitation for you to join us.

You can visit our “Reaching Full Potential” site by clicking here.

Get Creative. Get Social.

Photo:

by Walt Carvalho

Graeme McDowell won the 2010 US Open, while wearing Callaway Golf’s latest headwear design. Brand placement is powerful and many times it happens without the viewer even realizing its existence.

It’s quite simple. Callaway Golf decides on an identifier, such as Graeme McDowell, who they pay to wear their apparel and headwear as well as getting his endorsement by him using their equipment.

Visibility is the key. The positioning of this information always determines outcome.

As Callaway Golf releases their new line of headwear, Graeme McDowell by simply wearing it in competition, validates it as a fresh, new and acceptable option to what consumers have been using previously. The strategy really pays off as Graeme reaches the top position in the tournament. Every shot he takes exposes the brand to new exposure.

By winning the US Open at Pebble Beach this week, Graeme McDowell became a good choice to carry the message for Callaway Golf.

You don’t have to win the US Open to find the positioning to create dramatic growth in your brand. Properly designed video content presented to an eager audience can present desired results.

The world is now at your fingertips.

Get Creative. Get Social.

Photo: Callaway Golf

by Walt Carvalho

I’ve been noticing some recent movement in television writing and direction. There appears to be a move in the works to minimize the relevance of social media in our lives. Fear has been a guaranteed trigger point for the networks to build strategies around. Producing fear in the viewer is obviously an attention getter before the agenda is delivered, however, with issues such as facebook security questions arising, the tactics have increased.

I find it very interesting, as I watch network news broadcasts, that the use of sites like twitter is irrelevant in their eyes, as a source of breaking news. While we are constantly being reminded of twitters insignificance, they are running their facebook and twitter icons at the bottom of the screen. I guess it’s their decision that the only reliable twitter site is theirs.

Regular programming has joined the force, as writers construct messaging hidden within storylines to project social media as “an experiment for the largest form of anarchy the world has ever seen”, as it was recently described in a story line expressed in a current popular series.

These power tactics are becoming less relevant as the reach of sites like twitter and facebook continues to grow. Television has enjoyed a very long season of control. Their message has been unquestioned and revered by so many, for so long, because of their authoritive positioning. Never has broadcast messaging been challenged as they are today.

It looks as though this trend of fear and demeaning projection directed at the viewer is a continuation of an attitude of superiority. It is however, more of a lack of understanding.

They simply don’t get it.

Get Creative. Get Social.

Photo: Artiii

by Walt Carvalho

Excitement usually grows as summer nears.

We’ve been sharing ideas dealing with social media, positive mindsets, creativity and inspiration with you. Now, we are introducing something new on theCarvalhoGroup.com. website leading into the summer.

We are very enthusiastic about our plans to bring some real life stories to you.

It’s about people, who even in rough times, figured out ways to succeed. It’s about thinking in creative ways to become unique. It’s about dreams and following them.

We look forward to sharing these stories with you.

Get Creative. Get Social.