Book review: Trust Agents

Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust, by Brogan & Smith.

I’m not new to social networking but I am far from being an expert. With that in mind, I found Trust Agents to be an interesting and helpful read. I like the Action items because they give me some steps to take to try something new (or at least new to me). On the other hand, I can see why others would want more hands on material that might be found in other books like Social Media Marketing An Hour A Day.

Through much of the book, I felt like I was reading a self-help book more so than a book to help me learn more about using Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, YouTube, etc. I applaud the authors for their approach to how one should interact on the web, as well as in life. I’ve read lots of self-help and motivational type books; nonetheless, I got some good pointers from Trust Agents.

I gave the book four stars: not 5, because I wanted more hands on ideas; not lower than 4 because I have a lot to learn about social media, and Trust Agents was helpful, plus I did like the social skills ideas. You will want to measure where you are and what you want out of the book before deciding if it is for you or not. I bought the book because I knew someone who bought it and found it valuable. After you read some more of the reviews (on Amazon or elsewhere), you may find it valuable to buy Trust Agents. Overall, I recommend it!

Mission Statement: Three Part Mission

Mission #1

to know God and enjoy Him forever, and to see His hand in all His works.

Mission #2

I am a life giver, bringing happiness, encouragement and growth to everyone in many creative and instructional ways.

Mission #3

to use my talents effectively, making the most of every opportunity, according to God's purpose and by where God has caused appeal.

I've shared my 3-part mission statement with you in the text above. However, I hope, more importantly, that I am sharing my 3-part mission statement with you in reality. If what you read above is all you read when you look at my life, then I am not the man I believe I am meant to be. Oh, I know, none of us are perfect and I certainly am far from it - that's why I need the Saviour - but it is my desire to be what I have said in my mission statement.

Blessings!

What are these blogging ventures of my opinions?

How did I come up with Flo's ventures?

My blogging is an undertaking involving chance, risk, or danger. It will be a speculative venture involving, based on, or constituting intellectual speculation. My blogs may be a bit more theoretical rather than demonstrable. And your thoughts about my opinions might be marked by questioning curiosity.

I have something (my reputation) at stake in this speculative venture. I am about to undertake the risks and dangers of blogging about my opinions. My blogging will expose me to hazard. Yet, I will offer my opinions at the risk of rebuff, rejection, or censure. Yes, I will proceed especially in the face of danger.

What is it with all of the italicization above? Every word in italics is from the definition of venture and speculative as found in Merriam-Webster's 11th Collegiate Dictionary. I was trying to create a name for my blog site; I found the definitions helpful - they rang true to me.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

I do think venturing my opinions by blogging them for the world to see exposes me to unintentional consequences: good or bad. I hope my actual intentions are good. And I hope some of the unintentional consequences are good...but what if they are bad?

The beauty of "bad" unintentional consequences is that we grow through the challenges of overcoming them. So, I choose to grow by exposing my opinions to you even if I my reputation is put at risk and in danger of being damaged by those bad unintentional consequences. It is the brave that venture the stormy seas of the blogging world. Thus, I say: Sail on, sail on, and blog away.

Oh...by the way...before I end this blog...I spoke of the good and the bad, but what about the ugly? Just look to the right:

Thanks for taking the time to read my new blog.