This is similar to what must have happened when Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone.  It must have been exciting to own the first phone in your neighborhood, but who in the heck were you going to call?

Now there are over 160 million of us on LinkedIn with two new people joining every second.   But most people still don’t grasp its power.

So here are four basic concepts that prove LinkedIn’s value.

Your LinkedIn profile is your personal website. No modern-day business would consider operating without a website. The same could be said for an individual. LinkedIn is your personal website.

If you’re not on LinkedIn, you don’t exist. When most people meet a stranger or if they hear about someone they want to learn about, they most likely Google the name. Your LinkedIn profile will usually pop up on the first page of Google. So, if you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, you might not be find-able.

The line between business and personal is blurring and LinkedIn allows you to build a personal brand. People want to do business with people—not with companies. They want to know about the individuals behind the company. What is their expertise; their values; who are they connected to?  You control the content on your LinkedIn profile and you get to build your own brand.

LinkedIn allows you to connect with others. In business we’re always trying to locate the decision maker—whether it’s to make a sale or apply for a job. Before LinkedIn, your only option was to inquire randomly. Not any more. LinkedIn allows you to know everyone your friends know. You are much more likely to succeed if you have an introduction and recommendation than making a cold call.

LinkedIn allows you to be found, to build your reputation, and to find others.

A pretty powerful benefit since most of this functionality is free with a basic LinkedIn membership.

David Sher is a partner in Buzz12 Content Marketing. You can read more of his posts by looking for the “David Sher Posts” category in the sidebar of Buzz12’s website.

My daughter, Melanie, with her son, Hayden

(Love your Mom… while you can.)

My daughter, Melanie, works at the Alys Stephens Center. On the nights she works late, my wife and I watch our two grandchildren–four-year old Hayden and two year-old, Aly.

Tuesday night was one of those baby-sitting evenings.  As  I walked Hayden upstairs to go to sleep, suddenly the front door swung open and my daughter walked in.

Hayden looked down through the banister and exclaimed, “Mommy, I’m so glad to see you.” When Melanie reached the top of the stairs, Hayden hugged her leg and repeated with enthusiasm, “Mommy, I’m so glad to see you!”

Unexpectedly my thoughts rushed back to my childhood when I was a little boy and I thought of those many times when my mom came home.

I had a momentary rush of emotion as I remembered my mother’s beautiful smile, her warm embrace, and the touch of her lips on my cheek.

There was no one like my Mom. She’s the one person in my life who loved me no matter what. She picked me up when I fell down; talked me through my problems, and cooked me hot chicken soup when I wasn’t feeling well. She gave real meaning to the words, “unconditional love.”

When you get older you expect that one day you will lose your mother.  But there’s no way you can be prepared for it when it happens. And you will miss her always.

Wouldn’t it be great if this Mother’s Day, the door would swing open and my mom would walk into the room.

I certainly know what I would say. I would say “Mommy, I’m so glad to see you.”

David Sher is a partner in Buzz12 Content Marketing. You can read more of his posts by looking for the “David Sher Posts” category in the sidebar of Buzz12’s website.

My mother’s father passed away at 49.

My father’s father died at 65.

Staying alive has always been one of my top priorities.

Then within the last couple of months I lost three friends—all of whom were 65 or younger.

Ironically I ran into Harold Ceitlin, a friend of mine, at one of those funerals. I’ve known his dad most of my life because I grew up with Harold’s sister, Bonnie, but I hadn’t seen Eddie, his dad, in a really long time.

Since his father’s getting up in age, I cautiously asked Harold if he was still alive.

Harold said, “Absolutely, he’s 105 ½ years old. He then explained that you count the half’s when you are older than 100 or younger than six.

I know that’s true since I have grandchildren who are 2 ½, 4 ¼, and 5 ½.

So I explored further. I asked, “How’s he doing?”

Harold said, “Unfortunately he can’t see very well and he’s lost a lot of his hearing.”

So I inquired, “How’s his disposition?”

Harold responded, “Great!—How do you think he’s lived so long?”

Well, there you have it.

Want to live to be 105 1/2 or older? Don’t’ worry…be happy.

David Sher is a partner in Buzz12 Content Marketing. You can read more of his posts by looking for the “David Sher Posts” category in the sidebar of Buzz12’s website

Many years ago she asked a middle school student to answer the question, “What planet do you live on?” The child responded, “Woodlawn.”

I was amazed that a twelve-year-old had been unable able to differentiate his neighborhood from a celestial body.

Thirty years later, I’m a bit surprised with my naïveté.

My daughter, Melanie, works for UAB and the Alys Stephens Center. UAB has a program called ArtPlay, an outreach initiative to bring the arts to disadvantaged children in some of our poorer neighborhoods.

This past weekend, Melanie asked my wife and me, to attend a program for some of these kids sponsored by ArtPlay at YWoodlawn. (Part of YWCA)

Food and snacks were provided and the children sang songs, played musical instruments, and performed before an audience of family members and friends.

Some of the children were asked to recite poems they had authored. My first thought, was, “Oh, no, this is going to be boring.”

I was not prepared for some of the presentations. The first young man immediately broke into a rap.  And why not–a rap is a poem with a beat.

But his words really startled me. His lyrics were filled with his observations of the police, handcuffs, and, squad cars—scenes he had obviously witnessed personally.

I couldn’t help but imagine how different the poems would have been from more affluent children who might describe sandy beaches, ski vacations, and happy times.

But I was not prepared when a group of younger children were asked to come to the microphone to answer a simple question, “What makes you happy?” A little girl responded, “Playing.”; a second said, “Throwing a ball”; but a third, a young boy, without a second thought, said, “Having my dad get out of jail.”

Maybe my wife’s middle school student was correct thirty years ago. Maybe he did live on the planet, Woodlawn.

It’s really a shame that after all these years that some children who reside in our inner city may still live on a different planet than those of us who live on the planet Trussville, Mt. Brook, or Vestavia.

David Sher is a partner in Buzz12 Content Marketing. You can read more of his posts by looking for the “David Sher Posts” category in the sidebar of Buzz12’s website.

Mickey Gee, Retailer & Educator

What is the meaning of life? Why are we here?

I found an ordinary man who discovered the answer.

I had just finished making a presentation to an MBA class at UAB when I mentioned to the professor, Dr. Allen Johnston, that I really missed Mickey. Mickey Gee, who recently passed away, was the owner of the Pants Store retail chain and a business instructor who taught along with Dr. Johnston.

Dr. Johnston said he couldn’t believe the vacuum that Mickey left.  He said Mickey performed so many duties that it’s been nearly impossible to fill in the pieces. He said, “I don’t think any of us realized how much Mickey did. We really miss him.”

Elizabeth Fisher, instructional design manager for the UAB School of Business, told The Birmingham News, “He was one of the most dedicated instructors I’ve ever worked with and I don’t think anybody has a clue the impact this will have, not just in the UAB School of Business but on the community as well. I’ve heard people say he is one man that truly has no enemies.”

I’ve known Mickey most of my adult life—long before he became an educator. I didn’t see him every day, but I felt his presence through his business and his civic involvement.

He was kind, generous, and a good person. He always made me feel good when I was around him.

We are on this earth a short time. But Mickey figured out why we are here. His goal in life was to make a difference in the lives of others—whether it was his students, his friends, or his family. And those of us who knew Mickey—and even many others who didn’t–will miss him.

It may be an impossible goal to achieve, but when I grow up I want to be like Mickey.

David Sher is a partner in Buzz12 Content Marketing. You can read more of his posts by looking for the “David Sher Posts” category in the sidebar of Buzz12’s website.

Israeli invention that allows paraplegics to walk

Four guys are standing on a street corner; an American, a Russian, a Chinese man, and an Israeli.

A reporter comes up to the group and says, “Excuse me, what’s your opinion on the meat shortage?”

The American says, “What’s a shortage?”

The Russian says, “What’s meat?”

The Chinese man says, “What’s an opinion?”’

The Israeli says, “What’s excuse me?”

This joke was published in Dan Senor’s fascinating book, The Start-up Nation, a book about Israel’s amazing business accomplishments.

Israeli’s are often characterized as aggressive and pushy—and understandably so. With terrorists and Arab neighbors constantly at their throats, they don’t have the time or the convenience of being laid back.

Coincidentally, I just finished reading both Start up Nation and Walter Isaacson’s Steve Jobs.

Steve Jobs and many Israeli business people are eerily similar—opinionated, aggressive, and in your face.

Jobs completely transformed personal computers, music players, books, mobile phones, apps, tablet computers, journalism, movies, and the recording industry’s music model.

Israel, the 100th smallest country in the world

• Is second to the U.S. in number of start-up companies
• Is second to the U.S. in number of venture capital funds
• Is second to U.S. in the concentration of hi-tech companies
• Produces more scientific papers per capita than any other nation
• Has the highest per capita rates of patents filed
• Has the highest ratio of university degrees to population in the world

When I first read about Steve Jobs, I thought he was over the top. Now I think his driving personality was integral to his success. Maybe the same could be said about the Israelis.

It appears  a little “chutzpah” goes a long way.

David Sher is a partner in Buzz12 Content Marketing. You can read more of his posts by looking for the “David Sher Posts” category in the sidebar of Buzz12’s website.

I was engaging in some small talk with one of these guys and he was griping about the economy. He said “Grocery and gasoline prices are going through the roof—and it’s killing me.”

I agreed but told him there didn’t seem to be much we could do.

He responded by saying, “We just need to get rid of that “black” President.”

He caught me flat-footed.

What did the fact that President Obama is black have to do with anything?

I felt I should have responded accordingly, but I didn’t. I just told him I had to go and I walked away.

When I heard the words, “black” President, my immediate reaction was that I wasn’t going to change his mind so what was the point of saying anything. I would have created an awkward situation.

However, I felt badly about my lack of response and mentioned it to one of my good friends.

After thinking about it for a moment or two my friend said, “You should have told him that there have been plenty of bad white Presidents.”

I’m not sure that would have been a good response and my friend had the benefit of some time to think.  I had zero time to consider my comments and I just punted.

But my lack of response still troubles me.

Should I have said something? And if so, what?

David Sher is a partner in Buzz12 Content Marketing. You can read more of his posts by looking for the “David Sher Posts” category in the sidebar of Buzz12’s website.

But as we started adding clients, we determined we weren’t really in the social media business, we were in the “content creation” business and we changed our name to Buzz12 Content Marketing.

Anyone can create a Facebook or Twitter page, a blog, or a website. But if little or poor content is created, the end result is failure.

Would you be excited if someone gave you a television station for free? Sure you would.

But your TV station would be irrelevant if you didn’t  produce the quality programming necessary to get anyone to watch.

Companies today are being given all types of new communication platforms, but most are not saying anything that anyone cares about.

We’re all overwhelmed with information. Does anyone want to go on-line to be sold something?

Businesses must publish compelling, engaging, contagious content.

Content is an information annuity; it’s the ultimate gift that keeps on giving.

Content has no expiration date and once created will be on-line and searchable forever

Great content allows companies to show their expertise. It makes them thought leaders.

Whoever has the best content wins.

David Sher is a partner in Buzz12 Content Marketing. You can read more of his posts by looking for the “David Sher Posts” category in the sidebar of Buzz12’s website.

I jumped at the opportunity to comment with my usual YMCA joke, “It’s not easy being a sex symbol.”

He startled me with his response.  Instead of laughing, he replied, “You know, when you get old, you just disappear.  No one pays attention to you any more. Thank goodness for my senior friends here at the Y—we always support one another.”

What a sad comment.

Is it true that when we age no one pays attention?  Do we become irrelevant–or is this an individual thing?

I mentioned this to a good friend of mine whose approaching seven decades and he commented, “That’s not going to happen to me.  When I walk into a room, I open my big mouth and get everyone’s attention.”

I have to admit, however, that the comment of my new YMCA friend made me uncomfortable.

One of my biggest goals in life is to live to be old.  Maybe getting old is not such a good thing?

So although it  may be difficult to be a sex symbol it might be even more difficult to be old.

So why don’t we all take on this homework assignment?

Next time we see an elderly person, let’s assume he or she may be lonesome and give ‘em a really big hug.

David Sher is a partner in Buzz12 Content Marketing.  You can read more of his posts by looking for the “David Sher Posts” category in the sidebar of Buzz12’s website.

Thank goodness, most of the time it’s not that important.

But even inconsequential news has a tendency to create stress, angst and fear.  We’ve all have had many a day ruined over trivial problems.

It can particularly be upsetting at bed time or the middle of the night when our minds have a tendency to run wild.

So what’s the solution?

When I hear something that’s distressing, I ask myself three questions.  Here are the first two…

1.  Is anyone dead or gravely ill?

2.  Will it matter a year from now?

Fortunately, the answer is almost always “no.”   This gives me perspective.

Your spouse calls to tell you she’s okay but wrecked the car.  Your child calls to say he’s flunking a class.  Your client calls to say she’s decided to do business with a competitor.  The list of negative events is endless, but most of it won’t matter next week—much less next year.

Let’s face it; we’re all going to have the same outcome.  We’re all going to die.  (That’s a cheerful thought)

So here is my third question…

This is the only day I’ve got.  Why would I want to have a bad one?

 David Sher is a partner in Buzz12 Marketing.  You can read more of his posts by looking for the “David Sher Posts” category in the sidebar of Buzz12’s website.