I can say that I am very pleased with the new capabilities of the phone. The Push email, contacts, and calendar seems to work fairly well. I no longer have to sync with my computer to get my contact over. The programs available have been hit-or-miss. Some have worked wonderfully (the games, etc) while others were a tad glitchy for my tastes (AP MobileNews and Facebook). Updates are still being released around-the-clock, so I am waiting to cast a final judgement on these little widgets of joy (not a manly comment, I know).

Thusfar, I would have to say that my productivity has increased since the update. I did have some time to make up for, however. To be truly honest, I have to say that (right after telling my readers to wait), I got up early the next morning and went to the AT&T store to get a 3g iPhone. I wastes 3 hours of my life only to get turned away and told that they were out. Oh, well, what are you going to do? Because of this, I ‘may’ me boycotting the 3g. Not sure yet.

I have come up with some interesting possibilities for the budget/success minded entrepreneurs out there with the new software. For those of us that can’t afford an Exchange server (or those that don’t want the hassle), it is possible to use the Push capabilities on a group setting. Set up one main account at MobileMe or GMail (yes, even Google is on the Push bandwagon) and sync your computers and phones to the account. Now, whenever you make a change to your contacts, it changes for the rear of your counterparts, as well. Same applies to the calendar. This is only for close-knit teams, however, and will take away much of your phone’s personal-use capabilities (unless you want your partners to know your granny’s phone number and email). Give it a try, see if it helps, and tell yourself that it is all on the name of looking cool to save a buck. Then again- it would be an interesting way to message each other– paste a message into the notes of a contact, and set the name as Frodo Baggins to be discreet.

That’s about it for this post, and until next time- Think Smart, and Live Smarter!!

It is hard to live in this tech-savvy world without hearing (over and over) about the two computer giants- Microsoft and Apple. So far, one has been hailed as the “Dark-Side” (Microsoft), while the other sits up in a cloud and bestows its’ blessings of goodwill and virus-free web surfing from afar (Apple).

Almost one year ago, I decided to make the leap from the “Dark-Side” to the brighter side of things. I was instantly hooked. It took a few days to work out the kinks and get everything ported over (to be honest, I still haven’t gotten everything I need ported over), but I could see right away that, well… It just works!

I have been an avid Mac user since then, and very grudgingly return to my Windoze desktop to do the few things that I haven’t yet ported over to the Mac (Multiplayer FPS- the bane of many an existance). I have noticed that I now have more time to worry about my business ventures, and need less time to figure out how to reinstall and setup my Exchange server due to the latest viral plague. This is one of my tips to success- If your business is in any way computer-based, make sure that you do your best to eliminate potential downtime.

Today, and the next 48 hours, will be very important in the Mac world. As I am writing this post, the .Mac service (Email, Hosting, etc from Apple) is being transformed into Mobile Me. It is being labeled as Exchange for the rest of us. What does this mean to the success-minded individual? It means that you will not have to spend a ton of money and time setting up an Exchange server to get Enterprise-grade email and contacts support. More or less, every time that you change a contact or make an appointment on your iPhone, Mac, or Windows computer, it is automatically synced with all of your other services. In addition, the Web 2.0-styled Mobileme.com web service will be providing a desktop-like atmosphere for you, anywhere in the world!

The old .Mac service has helped me more than once- there have been instances when I really needed to get ahold of a file that was on my laptop.. while my laptop was happily at home. What did I do? I went to mac.com, logged into my 10gb storage slot, got the file that I had synced up earlier that afternoon.. Simple as that! MobileMe is supposed to only make this process easier. Yes, many people are griping about the $100/year charge (Less if you purchase along with an Apple computer or iPhone), but it is well worth the price in the long run. In addition to the email and everything else, Apple also provides free hosting for a site up to 5gb in size. All in all, you get great business services for a great price.

** Edit: So far, this launch of MobileMe, iTunes 7.7, and all of the other updates has been a fiasco. I have been checking (along with around 15k-20k other MacRumors users) the status of Me.com, and it has been off and on for about the last 8 hours. I was only able to log in once, and got stuck with a “Loading” prompt at the mail screen. Now, remember- dotMac was taken down late last night. This means that many users that typically use a web-browser to check their mail won’t be able to do so until they work out all of the kinks. When will this happen? No one knows. Hopefully it will be sometime soon, because the apprehension is killing us!! Then again, maybe that is the point! By playing this yo-yo game of on-again, off-again, Apple is definitely catching the attention of a large number of user and potential users. Apparently, if it’s taking Apple this long to get it up, it must be worth it! (That, or they hired too many Microsoft Techs…).

One MacRumors user mentioned the possibility that they are using Microsoft Exchange servers to get all of this to work. I don’t think so, as it would be an ultimate hypocrasy on the part of both companies, but it would definitely make for some great Apple PR- “We tried making Microsoft work, but failed. We had to go back to our Mac solution, and it was up within an hour!”. Well, let’s keep watching the drama unfold!

- End Edit  **

3g

Now, on to the next item on the agenda: the iPhone 3g. It looks like Apple has succeeded in yet another marketing extravaganza. The iPhone 3g is probably not going to live up to the hype, but they did pretty well on getting the hype up there. For those of you that have not been keeping up with all of the hype- the iPhone 3g is the next and newest indoctrination of the fabled iPhone. What’s new? Well, first of all, they have enabled 3g wireless speeds, meaning MUCH faster internet connections when you are out of range of a WiFi hotspot. Two problems: At&t’s 3g coverage is meager, at best.. and the little chip that enables 3g is a notorious battery-gobbler. They say that Apple has increased the battery life of the 3g model vs. the original, but even this is not going to protect you. Why? Because they have also added GPS to the phone. Yes, I know, this makes it Vunderful, No? Well, yes, and no. The combination of the GPS chip and the internal antennae just takes away from the battery life, and the GPS isn’t exactly as reliable as an off-the-shelf navigation unit. It will tell  you where you are (and everyone else, for that matter), but it won’t give you the turn-by-turn navigation that a Garmin or TomTom would provide.

Personally, I am probably not going to be trading out my gen1 iPhone for the 3g anytime soon. Then again, we’ll see. I was a late adopter of the original iPhone (used my Crackberry 8800 until it went out), but I have been happy so far.

To be honest, I may go ahead and wait until I hear some more substantial rumors about the iPhone Nano/Mini/X.. whatever they will be calling it. A smaller form-factor phone with all of the same features (and potentially more)… This will by more up my alley.

U?

What is my recommendation as your Success Guru? If you haven’t succumbed to the hype of the original iPhone, go ahead and take a look at this model. It is pretty, shiny, and has plenty of features. The iPhone is not for everyone- my wife had one for about 3 weeks, and got rid of it for a Blackberry Pearl. If you are already a hard-core Crackberry user, then you may not be as impressed with the business-oriented features. If you have been using a Razr or otherwise non-Smart phone (I would hate to call them dumbphones).. then you will probably be fairly happy with your choice. Plus- the new phones are cheaper, making them even more attractive to the savvy success-minded person like you! Now, if you are on a service other that At&t, then you are out of luck. The old iPhone was fairly simple to unlock for carriers like T-Mobile. The 3g has to be activated in-store, prior to purchase. This means that you can’t have your At&t-using buddy pick you up a phone and have it running on an un-supported carrier.

Now, for those of you that “Need” the extra image boost, go ahead and stand in line and pick one up. Brag to all of your friends, family, and associates that you got the phone on day one. Also- buy the 16gB White version. Why? Because that way everyone will know that you payed for the best! (Both the 8gb and the 16gb Black versions look the same). Milk it for all it’s worth! Remember, this is a $300 investment into you future! (Well, about $3600 total investment, after two years of service, plus any apps that you might purchase along the way).

]]> http://poorasgold.wordpress.com/2008/07/10/istravaganza/feed/ 0 poorasgold MobieMe logo http://poorasgold.wordpress.com/2008/06/30/epic-fail/ http://poorasgold.wordpress.com/2008/06/30/epic-fail/#comments Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:48:09 +0000 poorasgold http://poorasgold.wordpress.com/?p=18 ]]> What happens when you fail? Is this a negative indicator on your chances for leading a life of success?

To be honest, if one didn’t fail at some point, then one could not be categorized as human. Look at the story of Adam and Eve. The ‘parents of all humanity’, as they are categorized in some religions and cultures, were part of what was probable the most epic of all failures!

I will admit it. I myself failed once. Tragic, I know. To be honest, I have failed in the traditional sense of the word ALOT. A large majority of my ideas and ventures do not make it past the “napkin” stage. Truthfully, that’s probably a good thing. If all of my ideas bore fruit, then I would never have time to work on new concepts and plans. Limited Failure, to a degree, helps weed out all of the negative aspects of a business or individual’s personality.

Traditional Failure

We are taught to “Learn from our Mistakes”. Is this truly the right policy? Society tells us that it is ok to fail all the time, because we are learning. I believe that we should cut our failures to a minimum. Honestly- are you a failure just because you didn’t take an idea written on a napkin to fruition? I don’t really think so. In our minds, we cannot let ourselves think that we constantly fail. This will not only take away our “success-minded” outlook on life, but drain away the ‘mojo’ that is within every one of us. No, not that mojo. I am talking about that spark that is within all of us, that bright light begging to get out. Many of us have allowed that light to flicker and fade. By focusing upon any perceived failures, we further dim that light of potential. By changing our outlook, however, we are able to get away from worrying about any small failures, and focus the positive things going on in our lives.

Looking back, there are a few things that I wish I had known back in High School. These are things that you often hear about, but never take seriously. More often than not, teenagers choose to believe that they are the first ones to go through the problems that arise in their lives. They ignore the advice of those older than them, believing that it no longer applies. I have kicked myself in the shins sooo many times for not following the suggestions and advice of others that have ‘been there’. Lately, however, I have come to appreciate the fact that I decided to make my own path through life. If I had listened to the advice and guidane of every that I met, i would have ended up following their path through life. Mistakes or not, I would much rather blaze my own path through the universe.

Here are a few tips for those of you that may actually be open to advice. These are things that may seem simple or elementary at first, but give them some thought. These tips will help you enter the mindset of Success that I am so heavily promoting. (Whoops, let it slip!)

1. Act like you own the place.

Self assurance is like a homing beacon to the mindless ‘followers’ out there. A man or woman that is sure of him/her self has their run of the place. The teenagers around you are, in essence, mindless zombies. They allow themselves to be influenced by the media, by their surroundings, and by their friends. Rather than becoming yet another mindless zombie, why be the one influencing them? I’m not saying that you necessarily have to be the captain of the football team or cheerleading squad (actually, that is one of the deterrents to success that I listed in the Success Junkies blog)… I am saying that no matter what crowd or ‘clique’ you are in, make sure that you are the one influencing what is going on.

From my personal High School experience, this works. I was involved in the Powerlifting/Weightlifting team at my High School for about three years. I competed every season, and did fairly well. Because I had been doing it for so long, I had the great opportunity to help coach my teammates. By helping them reach new levels, I was able to raise my own self-awareness and drive for success. This, in turn, made them respect me more. The better I did in competitions, the more I was able to help my teammates. It was a circle of success that helped us grow (physically, psychologically, etc) into better teammates and more success-minded individuals.

2. Diversify your portfolio.

Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. This applies both to the stock market, and your life in general. Never limit yourself in what you do. Guidance counselor picking classes based on what you want to do in life? Don’t let them. Take a class that you never would typically have considered. Hate ‘artsy-fartsy’ things? Take Art Appreciation, and learn what exactly that ‘stuff’ really means. Can’t sing a note for the life of you? Take a music class to teach you how to read that note. This will only help you in the future. You will meet all sorts of people. The more you know about their respective interests, the higher the chance is that they will respect you, and be interested in what you say or do.

Along with diversifying you knowledge-base, never let yourself get sucked into the trap of the ‘clique’ (click, cliq, etc). A ‘clique’ is a group of people with the same interests, mutual friends, or otherwise binding category. People that stick to a crowd just like themselves leads to social in breading. This is one of the reasons that close-minded racists and sexist bosses are so proliferate in society today. If you are considered a ‘geek’, make friends with some jocks and cheerleaders. Believe it or not, I have known quite a few cheerleaders that went ‘geek’ and never went back . If you are a goth, visit a country club with the preppy kids, and help them shock their parents into giving them a raise in their allowance. Try to meet people from every type of background, and do your best to find or make a common ground. By standing on the shoulders of 5 or 10 different groups, you will get much further up the social ladder than just getting pushed by your little group of 5 or 10 individuals.

3. Live it like you Stole It

Don’t stress yourself out. High School is fun. Trust me- the biggest problems that you will have (other than teen pregnancy and STD’s) are tiny compared to what is out there in the real world. Have a good time, and Live your life like you only have a few days left with yourself. Don’t ignore your grades or studies, by any means. Just don’t stay up until three A.M. every night trying to finish your AP or IB work. I had friends and acquaintances that got so burned out trying to excel in High School that they didn’t even finish college. I was one of them. I got sick of the stress of trying to perform based on someone else’s standards. I knew more about some of the topics I was being taught than my own teachers.. yet they were the ones grading me based on their own opinions!

School is important. Finish High School, do well in College, and you will get a good job, right? Eh, not necessarily. Of course, you have a higher chance for success. Then again, why are there so many people with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees flipping burgers or waiting tables? They wasted 4-8 years of their life to learn things that are now doing Nothing to help them. Well, that last math class will help them calculate how much of a tip they just got stiffed on. Quit focusing on School. Focus on what you can get out of school. Learn things that will help you in life, instead of rememberizing just enough to pass the next test. Ask your teachers questions that mean something, instead of hypotheticals that will never help you in the workforce.

4. Start Young

Learn, Learn, and Learn Some More! After you learn something, practice it. Once you have read about how to start a business, go ahead and ask your parents to help you start one. Once you figured out how to program Facebook to text message you every time that you have a friend request.. do it! There is no way to succeed without making yourself susceptible to failure. It’s better to risk failure in the beginning than when you have the fate of a family resting on your shoulders. This is the time to come up with ideas before school. This is the moment to work up sample business proposals after you come home. Do your best to make use of the opportunities you have to make even bigger, brighter opportunities for the future.

5. Forget the Opposite Sex

(Or same sex, if you swing that way).. At this age, wanting girls or guys is just going to push them away. Unless you are so attractive you have people dropping at your feet, don’t stress about them. The boys and girls that you typically meet in High School are nothing like what they will be in the future. Many of the “hotties” usually turn out to be.. well, not so hot. In addition, it is in our nature to want what we can’t have. If a man or a woman that you may be interested in knows that you are, they may respond in turn. During the teen years, it is usually the opposite. Make them think you don’t care, and you’ll get their attention. Shower them with affection and pathetic attempts at flirtation, and you’ll get their scorn.

This is something else that applies to me directly. All throug school, I was the ‘nice guy’. I was the one that my girlfriends turned to for help. I knew all of the popular girls.. but also knew about how fragile and empty they really were. I would try, of course, to be the guy that they wanted.. But being nice just didn’t get me anywhere. The moment that I quit caring, I started getting more attention. For girls that would tell me all about their guy problems, I was becoming their guy problem. This is actually about the time that I met my wife-to-be. She was the only one that was able to turn my head once again, and man am I happy she did. Anyways, the moral of this short-story is that if you are unaccessible, you will be desired. Give it a try, and when it doesn’t work, keep waiting. Trust me, it never works on the first day.

In Summation

Good Luck, and Keep On Truckin’! Once again, Have Fun during your school years. Meet new people, learn new things, and abstain from sex until you are older. (Had to add that to appeal to the parents). Seriously though, Live Life, but don’t make mistakes that can affect the rest of your life. Don’t make babies. Don’t do drugs, and most of all — Don’t let anyone tell you who you are or who you are going to be.

How does one become a Success Junkie?

I went ahead and took an excerpt from Kirsty Dunphey’s website. According to her bio, Kirsty is a self-confessed Success Junkie. Reading about other’s successes gets her inspired and ready to take on new challenge. This is one example of how one becomes a Success Junkie:

Humble Beginnings

I don’t believe that an overabundance of ambition is a condition that one is born into. It is, however, something that can be fostered from early childhood. When a child get’s all A’s on their report card, parent’s shouldn’t be overjoyed. Ask the child what else that they have done, beyond just their grades. Tell them that their report card is but the beginning- they are being graded in life, as well.

Once High School rolls around, it becomes easier and easier to get lost in a sea of busy work. Clubs, Teams, and other extracurriculars can be healthy for a child, but they can also prove to be a detriment. Teamwork is an important skill to have in a workforce, but is it all that necessary when fostering the development an entrepreneur that can and will try to do everything on their own? Of course not! Becoming the Team Captain, Head Cheerleader, or President of the Honor Society may be good for the ego, but it will take away in the long run. How many of us know such “rising stars” that never made anything of themselves? The sense of accomplishment when reaching the top of such a small ladder can be enough to deter further pursuits. For a future success junkie, enough should never be enough. Once they reach the top, it is time to branch out and continue on in life.

Knowledge

Never stop trying to learn things about things. Nothing in specific. Even if you’re not all that interested in a topic of conversation, get interested. Ask questions. There is nothing better than learning from people that have been there and done that. (Why else would you be reading this? Knowledge is power, and power leads to success.

Even at a young age, I would strive for more. In the third grade, I came across a teacher’s guide to a college history book. It belonged to my uncle, who was happy to lend it to me once the semester was over. To be honest, in the third grade, I didn’t have enough of a vocabulary to understand half of what was in that book. What did I do? I read, and read, and read again. I read other books, more in the middle-highschool level, until I understood much of what I was reading in the teacher’s guide. I would do the questions and quizzes, and could then check the answers myself. What did this teach me? I could overcome a difficulty, and do it completely on my own. I didn’t need to answer adults’ questions as to why I was interested in reading this. I didn’t have to question others about the meaning of the words I was reading. I learned, and it felt great. Because it wasn’t something that I could completely master, it made me want more.

Evalutation

Once you are able to overcome the initial hurdles in attaining success, it is time to start reaping the benefits. An entrepreneur is typically not in it for the long run. That is for other classes of business people. After every accomplishment, reevaluate whether or not what you have done to get to that point was worth it. Has it made you happy? Are you content with what you have done, or should you have done better? Hindsight is 20/20- then use it! They say that we learn from our mistakes. Well, why not try our best not to make mistakes and simply learn from our success?
In school,  pat yourself on the back for good grades, but strive for more. If you are taking Algebra, start learning Trig. Taking Gym? Win the next basketball or volleyball game that your coach organizes, remember what you did, and do it again the next time. At work, learn what it is that you are expected to do, and do better. Learn the jobs of those around you, and help them out when they need it. Your boss or supervisor going on vacation? Ask to help fill in. Every step up the ladder takes you closer to that glass ceiling.

Walk the Walk

When you are living the life of a Success Junkie, those around you are going to think one of two things: Either you’re another dreamer, thinking that you’re going to make it big… Or you’re the ‘next big thing’, destined for greatness. Which would you rather be? To be considered the latter, you have to learn to Walk the Walk, and Talk the Talk. I am going to have a post dedicated to this, but I can summarize it here for the impatient ones in the audience!

Walking the Walk means that those around you know that you are successful. It doesn’t take much money to look successful. You simply have to cover a few bases — Attitude, Attire, and Accessories.

Attitude:

If you feel like a loser, no amount of money spent on clothes or nice cars is going to help. You have to feel the way you want to look. Have you ever met that outgoing person that seems to be the life of the party. Seen that women that turns heads, even though she may not be a size 2? It’s all in the attitude. Before going anywhere, take a look in the mirror. Look at yourself, and be impressed by what you see. You are successful. No matter what happens around you, you are the one that will be the one to benefit. You are not vain, but you are sure of yourself. A good self-esteem doesn’t cost you anything, but it is priceless.

Attire:

Nice clothes can make a man or woman. Nice clothes can also break the bank. If you are looking for designer labels on a budget, stay away from the malls and department stores. Go to Ross, TJ Maxx, or other discount stores. You will get the same labels, for a quarter of the price. Always wear clothing that works for your body type. If you need a suit, find a tailor that is inexpensive. Burlington Coat Factory stores often have suits at great prices, along with a tailor on hand that can make it look great. Women- wondering what to wear? Gauge it on the situation. If you are meeting new clients for the first time, wear something inviting yet professional. Harsh masculine clothing can make you look unapproachable, while flirty and colorful clothes can lead to you not being taken as seriously.

Accessories:

A great attitude and clothes to match may not be enough to seal the deal. Jewelry can be a great accessory to facilitate the image of success. Men- stay away from something too flashy, as it can be tacky. Never wear more than one necklace or bracelet at any given moment. Stick to something that is thick and masculine, but not gaudy. Designers such as Russell Simmons have been making an effort to introduce new lines of Stainless Steel jeweelry targeted specifically at upscale men. These lines have something for almost anyone, and the prices are much lower than something comparable in gold.

Another key accessory (albeit a more expensive one) is the vehicle. Nothing can tell you more about a person’s taste and status than their vehicle. Is it a family sedan? Is it a heavy-duty pickup truck? Is the business owner driving a brand new $100,000 Mercedes S550? While this indicator can often be deceiving, it is still good to make sure that you present the right image. If all you have to work with is a beat-up old vehicle, find a friend with a nice car, and ask to borrow it. Another alternative is rent- many large rental chains are offering premium vehicles for much less than a lease payment would be. If your business has started running smoothly, and there are no foreseable reasons not to, feel free to look into purchasing a nicer vehicle for the use of the business. Make sure it is something at least moderately practical, however. Last year I purchased a sporty roadster convertible, and have been pleased to watch the reaction on potential client’s faces when I would arrive for lunch or dinner meetings. Outside of work, I have had people ask me what I do to drive a car like that. This provides me with an opportunity to tell them more about myself and what it is I do.

Tomorrow and Beyond

What happens when you realize that you have become a Success Junkie? What steps do you have to take to make sure that you ‘get a fix’? Well, follow the following steps, and you should be on your way to the top in no time!

1. Maintain a positive outlook regardless what is going on around you.

2. Look for opportunities around every corner.

3. Meet new people, and learn from them.

4. Study your environment, and make decisions accordingly.

5. Learn the importance of networking.

6. Share in your knowledge with others, for the more you teach the faster you will learn.

7. Never stop believing that your ‘big break’ is almost here.

8. Ask questions, and question authority.

9. Find newer and better ways to things. Teach those ways to someone else.

10. Work hard no matter what it is you do.

]]> http://poorasgold.wordpress.com/2008/06/22/success-junkies/feed/ 0 poorasgold http://poorasgold.wordpress.com/2008/01/21/hello-world/ http://poorasgold.wordpress.com/2008/01/21/hello-world/#comments Tue, 22 Jan 2008 01:49:15 +0000 poorasgold ]]> Welcome to PoorAsGold, the blog that will help you reach your true potential. How does such a simple, down to earth blog acheive so much? Easy – I have been there, done that, and all with little to no money starting out.

More or less, this is for the “po’ folk” out there that don’t have the bankroll to be a high-roller, but still dream of living the life. This is for the small-time entrepreneurs that dream of playing in the corporate big leagues. This is for the ‘losers’ that want to make it big, and rub it in everyone else’s faces! Learn to Want Success. Recognize that you Need Success. Teach yourself to Live Success.

Vain? Yes, I am.

Full Of It? Most Likely

Don’t know what I’m talking about? You betcha! Hold on, trick question…

Anyways, you want to live it big, then follow my tips, make a million bucks, and give me half of it as commission. Look at it this way – if it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t have any of it! Technically, I would be doing you a favor just by taking the money!

All jokes aside – I am hoping that this will become a great resource to help those just  starting out in the business or social world to make their stand, on a budget. It takes money to make money, as they say, and this is doubly true when it comes to maintaining the appearance of success.

If you like what you read, let us know. If you don’t, let us know. Either way, let us know. Let all of your friends know. Give them the name of the website. Tell them it is full of information that they have only dreamed of. Want It, Need It, LIVE IT!!!