This is a part of a continuing series of posts on the topic of how to be taken seriously. And if you wonder why a post about how to live your life while having fun is part of a group of posts on being taken seriously, think about it – If you can be a professional, while having fun and enjoying your life, there’s nothing more respected than that. Before you read this post, read this one first. Chances are, if you’re gonna leave a snarky comment, it’s already been left there. Now then: I’m writing this blog post on a flight back from Frankfurt, a connection to end a trip that started four days ago at Newark Airport, led [...]

This is the first in a series of posts on how to be taken seriously. Each post will focus on a specific concept, and the five ways to be taken seriously within that concept. This post has to do with backup plans and timing. Last week, during the 854th NYC storm of the month, I had to get out to San Diego to keynote a conference. Knowing there was going to be a storm, I made a backup plan. I booked the Continental 8:45 EWR-SAN, then booked the Continental 2:45 EWR-SAN as a backup, pretty sure the 8:45 would be cancelled. And of course, it was, and I was all like, “It’s cool, I’m on the 2:45.” And it was [...]

Which do you think is cooler, more fun, and would generate a higher response/action rate?” “I saw a cool launch at NASA the other day” Or this? It’s really not a question. Yet people are STILL afraid to include video in their day to day online lives! With all the tools at your disposal to do it, if you’re not including video on your blogs, websites, or even social media updates, you’re missing out, big time. No, you don’t have to do it all the time – But yes, it’s important to do, and good video should be one of the cornerstones of your social media (and online as a whole) strategy. DISCLOSURE: I’m an angel investor in one of [...]

Have you seen something like this floating through your social media data stream recently? “Who wants to sponsor me to go to Overrated Conference 2011?” “I need a sponsor for my blog. Anyone?” “Who wants to send me to ABC for the WXY meetup?” Just look around. They’re everywhere. Seems that everyone with any social media presence, no matter now small, has glommed onto the “Sponsor me!” bandwagon. Unfortunately, 99.9% of those requests won’t ever get looked at, let alone acted on. Why? It’s simple, really. You want to be sponsored? You better damn well be sponsorable. What does that mean? What do you mean “I’d better be sponsorable? That’s not even a real word, Peter!” It’s a real word, [...]

So it’s 2011. Welcome to the new year. I’m not going to bore you by telling you what BS resolutions you should try, since we both know none of us will keep them. I’ll simply tell you what I’d like to do. I’d like to make more money. I’d like to have several sources of revenue, all working for me 24/7, even when I’m not. I’d like to look good naked, when standing in front of a mirror, or in front of another person, or when I’m in a triathlon swimsuit before a big race. I’d like to become faster in my athletic pursuits. I’d like to make sure that I have time for myself, even if that means working, [...]