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Web 2.0 Backpack - Great List Of Online Resources For Students At Read/WriteWeb

I work towards helping student leaders be successful.

One of the ways that is accomplished is by sharing the latest tools which help a student leader be a successful student.

Read/WriteWeb has created a stellar (love that word) list of online resources.

There's no software package I used more in college (or today, for that matter) than Microsoft Office. But who wants to plunk down $150 on office software? You're in college, after all, and I'm sure you can think of better uses for your cash. 5 years ago the alternative was Sun's OpenOffice.org suite, Corel's Wordperfect (still not free), or a handful of even less developed offline tools. But now there are a large number of impressive web apps that can handle your academic needs. The cream of the crop are below.

Of course, having so many choices may be overwhelming to some. So my advice is to find one or two apps that you can try out for awhile.

Also, there are a number of applications that have been listed in the comments of the article as well. Don't miss out on all of this student-focused Web 2.0 goodness.

Link: Web 2.0 Backpack: Web Apps For Students

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: What is the benefit to using online applications to ones that you download to your computer?

SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT: What is your favorite Web 2.0 application?

: : : :

Tim Milburn
Student Leadership Trainer & Tool Maker
www.studentlinc.net

Promises Broken: Why Asking For Forgiveness Often Requires More Than Words

"I realize I let you down."

"...and?"

"I just wanted to apologize."

"...and?"

"I feel really bad about it."

"...and?"

"What do you mean by '...and', I said I was sorry?

"...and?"

"Why do you keep asking that? Isn't enough for me to simply apologize for blowing it?

"No. Not this time."

"Well what do you want me to do?"

We've all been on both sides of that conversation. One person has let another down. One person is hurt by another person's broken promise.

Words like - "I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I won't do it again." - are spoken.

But there still remains this gnawing sense of "...and?" in the mind of the one who's been disappointed.

I was involved in a conversation like the one above this morning. Then I came across an article written by my friend and mentor, Rosa Say at Talking Story. She offered some very insightful guidance for these types of situations.

What is the best way to make it up to someone when you've let them down?

Own up to it.
Apologize.
Take care of it.
Add more value.

Rosa helped me and the person who I was talking to understand that an apology often requires more than the words: I'm sorry.

I would encourage you to read Rosa's article, On Ho‘ohiki: Keeping your promises.

Lead Well & Prosper - The Mantra For Magnificent Management

I imagined what it would be like to report to work on that first day...

I would enter the office with a sense of excitement, anticipation, and curiosity about what kind of environment I would be experiencing. As I walked past rows of busy workers, people hustling from one cubicle to the next with folders, reports, and important papers in tow, I would cast a nervous smile toward anyone who would make eye contact with me.

Then, from out of nowhere, I would see Nick McCormick, my new boss. He would enthusiastically come towards me and offer a handshake with his right hand. With his left, he'd hand me a book. It's not big, nearly 100 pages. As I glance down at the cover, I'd read the words: Lead Well and Prosper.

Nick would quickly speak up, "Tim, as a new manager here, I want you to become very familiar with the principles in this book. It is how I operate and it is how I want you to operate. Take an hour to read through it and then let's sit down to chat."

Now, to be honest, I've never met Nick McCormick. But if he were going to be my boss and I read his book, I believe he'd be a great guy to work for.

Nick has cornered the market on managerial "common sense" in his book, Lead Well and Prosper. It contains "fifteen successful strategies for becoming a good manager." I like Nick's aspiration of helping people become good (many point toward being great, but let's get to good first). If we had more good managers...then we'd have less bad ones.

His topics include familiar territory in such areas as serving others, teach people, offer honest and timely feedback, share information, listen, treat people like human beings, set goals-plan-execute, learn, do the right thing, embrace the uncomfortable, clean up your own house first, persist, do what you say you'll do, always follow up, and plan your week.

Nick offers all of his material in an easy-to-digest format. Each chapter begins with a humorous, yet realistic vignette between the manager and the managee. At the end of each chapter, he offers things to do, things to don't do, and actions to take.

The appendixes at the end provide useful summaries as well as a personal quiz to test your own managerial ability.

The only thing that I think would make this resource an even greater growth tool is a list of questions for study and reflection at the end of each chapter. Perhaps this is something that Nick can add on his website as a companion to the book.

Take the time to order this book from Be Good Publishing or through Amazon.  This is a book that will affirm what you're already doing and confirm your own motivation to be a good manager!

Three Guys Are Looking For People Who REALLY, REALLY Like Their Job

Three guys, traveling across the country in an RV, looking for glimpses of passion in the workplace. They move from community to community. Sometimes they ask questions, often they inspire, but mostly they're consumed with spreading a message: Do something you're passionate about.

I can relate. One of my life motto's has always been: Find something you like to do so much that you'd gladly do it for nothing; then learn to do it so well that people are happy to pay you for it.

So I caught up with Brett Farmiloe, the Founder of Pursue The Passion and asked him some questions (with great passion) over email. Here's what transpired...

Me: Can you briefly describe what Pursue the Passion is all about?

Brett: The message behind Pursue the Passion is simple- everyone should be passionate about their work.  What we do is provide inspiration, guidance, and support for aspiring individuals by interviewing people who love their jobs on cross country roadtrips. 

Me: What have you discovered as you've traveled around the country?

Brett: A lot.  That not all people have life figured out at 22 years old is a comforting conclusion.  That the question of "what should I do with my life" is on the minds of everyone, everywhere.  And that Johnny's Beef in Chicago makes the best sandwich you will ever have.  Period.   

Me: What is your response when you run into passionless people?

Brett: There are two types of passionless people.  People that are simply not passionate about anything and never will be, and the people that aren't passionate at this moment, but genuinely want to be passionate about something.  My response is usually just a personal evaluation of their drive, and their determination to find their passion. 

Me: What do you tell people who find themselves in jobs that they're not passionate about?

Brett: Sometimes people are in a job they aren't passionate about because they have not taken the time to figure themselves out.  I tell people that are not finding fulfillment in their work to look at themselves first.  Find what your interests are.  What are you passionate about?  And then, how does this compare with your current job?  If there's not a match between your interests and your job, then you need to start determining a new direction...but don't quit your day job before you are positive of what that direction is.

Me: Who have been some of the most memorable people you've met along the way?

Brett: Lute Olson, Hall of Fame Basketball Coach at the University of Arizona. Karl Eller, who at age 65 found himself $100 million in debt.  He overcame this debt to build an advertising empire when most people would be retiring. John Freedman, who is like the Indiana Jones of medicine.  He has been to over 80 countries in his lifetime to provide proper treatment to countries that don't receive it.  He has been exposed to some serious disease, including the first and second SARS breakouts, and his passion has propelled him throughout one of the most interesting life paths an individual has paved.

Me: What kind of obstacles have you had to overcome in your travels?

Brett: The RV breaking down on the first day of the trip.  Finding out that the RV only got six miles to the gallon.  That gas prices fluctuate when you get to California.  Not jumping down your friends throat after being in really tight quarters for a prolonged amount of time.  And gathering the courage to ask the questions on your mind to a successful individual in the business world.

Me: What do you hope Pursue the Passion will be in a year? In five years?

Brett: I want Pursue the Passion to be a resourceful destination for an individual to turn to when they need some direction or advice pertaining to life, passion, or careers.  A year from now I would like for one of those resources to be a thriving community, where individuals can receive real time advice from peers and passionate professionals by asking questions concerning their career situation.  Five years from now, I'd like to have a program that sends students out into local communities and on nationwide roadtrips so they can have a similar experience to what we are having.

Me: How can people get involved even if you're not coming through our town?

Brett: Helping promote, plan, and participate.  Tell everyone you know about this.  The more people who are passionate about their work, the better off we all are.  If you know of people we should interview, email me!  I love getting emails.  The most important thing is to participate.  Comment on our interviews, our journey blog because people read the comments just as much as they do the writeups.  Your insight is just as important as the people we interview.  And in the next couple weeks we will be launching a community forum, so you can give and seek advice pertaining to this topic.

I'm going to keep my eye on this project for weeks to come. You can do your part as well and join in supporting Pursue the Passion. Click on the image to the right and find ways to offer your passion to the project.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: What are you passionate about?

SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT: Tell us what it is!

: : : :

Tim Milburn
Student Leadership Trainer & Toolmaker
www.studentlinc.net