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 It is thanks to ActiveRain that I have my friend Clint Miller. We both live in the Missoula area and started blogging on the site in early 2007. We "met" initially through blog comments on each others blog posts. Then when Twitter became popular, we started communicating via "tweets", Facebook, and blip.fm and became friends.
In April of 2009, we finally met "IRL" or in real life at a Twitter class we gave for our community. I noticed immediately that Clint is "the real deal", his real-life personality is just like he portrays online, a fun-loving guy with a heart of gold. His blog and his Twitter stream give you a glimpse into what a unique and amazing person and friend he is.
One of Clint's heartfelt blog posts especially is a must read: Thankful for Everything
Not long after meeting in person, Clint told me that he and his wife Angela were looking to buy their first home and that they wanted to work with me in that capacity also. Through this homebuying adventure, and it was an adventure, I got to know and love his family like my own.
When my daughter was missing last year, Clint and his wife Angela were there for me, bringing meals to my house, manning the phones, getting the word out using social media, and Angela even slept on my couch a few very long nights. That is true friendship.
Now, my friend Clint is in the hospital in ICU in Missoula fighting for his life against an aggressive cancer that has spread into his lungs and liver. His wife Angela has been sitting tirelessly by his bedside, barely sleeping. Clint is no stranger to adversity and has had his share of challenges to overcome but he has always come out on top. We are optimistic and praying for him to beat this horrible disease but it's not going to be an easy road.
Clint has a huge amount of support from his family, co-workers and social media friends that are spread out across the country but he could still use your help and prayers.
 There is a Clint Miller Prayer Board on Facebook that also provides updates on Clint's condition.
- You can join and follow the supportive messages for Clint on Twitter through the hashtags #WeloveClint and
- You can also visit the website that his company Real Estate Client Referrals set up: http://clintmillerbenefit.wordpress.com/ where you can donate to help this family.
If you'd like to send Clint a card:
Community Medical Center – Clint Miller
2827 Fort Missoula Rd Room 301
Missoula MT 59804
Or Donations by check:
The Miller Family
238 St. Johns
Lolo, Mt 59847
 Thank you to ActiveRain for connecting me to Clint Miller and for helping to bring attention to his current struggle by featuring him in today's newsletter and providing support.
Other blog posts:
When Bad Things Happen to Good People on The Phoenix Real Estate Guy
Thinking of Clint
Cancer, Clint Miller, and Friendship on RERockstar
Prayers Requested for Our Good Friend Clint Miller by Jason Crouch
Home - Where A Community Rallies for Another by Diane Brooks
On Friendship, Social Media and Power in Numbers by Leslie Lambert
 Join me for the Run Through the Holidays Challenge on DailyMile.com.
Fact: We're gonna eat a lot during the holidays. Let's not wait until New Year's to commit to exercise. Run, walk, or hit the elliptical and track your mileage starting NOW!
I don't know about you, but it's easy for me to get lazy this time of year. It's getting chilly here in beautiful Western Montana - great weather to curl up next to the fireplace under a blanket, and of course, to eat with all of the holiday goodies around.
I've just been on the DailyMile for a few days, but it's a great incentive to stick to my workout routine, and I've already gotten a few motivating comments from some of my friends on the site.
It's free and they make it easy to sign-up, you can even login with your Facebook account. Check it out and stay in shape this holiday season.
Run Through the Holiday Challenge
Here's a great post on using social media effectively, it all starts with having a strategy or "game plan" and working smart. Social media can provide great benefits when used effectively or a huge time waster if you don't have a clear purpose. Via Pam Moore -Social Media Coach, Speaker & CEO (FruitZoom, Inc. ):
 Today my kids have a half day off of school. My oldest already has his entire day planned. From what he wants to eat for lunch when I pick him up to who will be the team captain for their kid run and managed lacrosse game this afternoon. As he shared his day of plans with me his eyes were lit up. He is selling me on the fact that he needs to be outside half the day. As I watched his face light up with excitement it made me realize that spark is inside all of us, somewhere.
We spend our life wanting to be accepted, wanting to be liked. We like having friends. We like being a friend. We like planning, and organizing. We like communicating and sharing our best to help another person. We want to be on the team and play the game in a big way.
When most entrepreneurs or business leaders start a job they have big dreams. They have plans to achieve great things. They dream of a better life. Their WHY is right before them and in the center of everything they are doing.
However, over time most get pushed down. They may start to lose belief in themself. They hop on Twitter and are lost. They try to figure out Facebook but have a hard time getting fans. Or they might even setup their account wrong without knowing only to have to start all over with a real official business page versus the profile page they just made that breaks Facebook rules. They get frustrated because they don’t feel they can manage it all. They feel the mountain is too big to climb. They may even run into bullies along the way pushing them down the mountain and feeding doubt to their belief in why they started the business in the first place.
Before most entrepreneurs know it they lose sight of their why. They are stuck at the bit and byte level trying to make ends meet. They are following others who really aren’t reaching their goals any faster either. They start to look and feel like a hampster in a wheel running for something but who knows what. Only difference is instead of a wheel it looks like Tweets, Facebook pages and random acts of marketing. A wheel making you feel busy will do just that, make you feel busy. However, it will do little to move your business forward. Will do little to move you closer to living your WHY, not just dreaming about it.
Our lives as adults will never be as simple as it is for the kids headed to the park for a Lacrosse game this afternoon. However, life is what we make of it. Our business is what we make of it. Our relationships are based on what we put into them. Our social media and business results are based on how we play the game.
We need to reach down inside and find that kid in us that wants to play the game. Find the dreamer inside your heart again who knows, understands and wants to live your WHY!
10 Tips To Stay in the Game
1. Develop a game plan. What is your game. Why are you playing? How will you build a team? What are the plays you need to win? Who needs to be on your team? Goals and objectives are critical and a must have for any business. If you don’t have a plan for your social media efforts and don’t know how to build one, find someone who does. Hire a coach and your ROI can be exponentially higher. Start right from day one. Don’t waste cycles on guessing.
2. Work smart. Remember your time is your most valuable asset. Social media isn’t free. Be wise in how you spend your Tweet, Facebook and learning time. Ensure your efforts, tasks and tactics map back to your WHY, as well as your goals and objectives. Don’t get over caught up in tools. Yes, you need to learn tools but knowing why you’re using them and what your objectives and goals are should come first. You don’t need to know how to run a twitter auto follow tool to set objectives!
3. Build yourself a team. Surround yourself with believers who also have a why. Rid yourself of the parasite type who only want to complain. You need team captains and go to people. People who have your back. Coaches who can lead you. When building your network using social media focus on conversation that helps you learn and grow. Conversation that can help others. Keep a focus on connecting with an objective to build your team, your tribe.
4. Learn the drills. Research smart. Don’t waste hours a day on Twitter learning with no objectives. Set objectives for every phase of your social media starting day one. If you are in early stages and are listening then set objectives for listening. Who are you listening to and why? Are you sure they are the right people you should be learning from. Set goals each day for what you want to learn. Listening all day with no outcome will do nothing to get you closer to your why.
5. Show up for practice. Don’t just go thru the motions. Engage and truly show up with hands, feet and heart. Be ready to put in the effort to learn, tweak and grow. Accept the fact you don’t know everything and that you will make mistakes. Practice doesn’t have to make perfect. It just needs to make you better each day. When you make a mistake, learn from it. Stand back up fast, wipe off the hurt and don’t head to the bench. Head back to the practice field with a positive outlook.
6. Be real. Don’t let your fear or insecurities keep you from letting people know the real you. Don’t be afraid to share your WHY with others. You’ll find the more you share of yourself, the more you put yourself out there, the more you’ll attract like kind.
7. Seek joy. Don’t look for trouble. Don’t worry about the competition. Don’t let only dollars keep you up at night. Focus on the joy, the people that bring you joy. Focus on what will bring you joy in life, joy in your business. If you do this then you’ll find yourself bringing joy to others. If a potential client doesn’t bring you joy then it may be the right decision not to work with that client.
8. It’s not all about winning. Yes, we all like to win. We all want the medal at the end of the season. However, we don’t have to come in first place. Set a plan with goals and objectives and you’ll have something to celebrate.
9. Celebrate the milestones. As you reach a milestone, win a point, celebrate! Take your team to lunch or dinner. Order a cake and share for an afternoon break. Take time to thank those who helped you get there. Make time to celebrate and relish in the greatness of what you’ve accomplished.
10. Don’t give up. Just because you hit a wall, run out of money or become over tired, do not give up! If you’re an entrepreneur, what is your alternative? Go back to corporate? Is that really what you want? Set your plan A and tweak it if you want. However, don’t fall back to a Plan B if it has the word “Quit” in the first paragraph. You can and will succeed if you work smart. Be dynamic and respond to the market but don’t quit!
Your Play
What is your role in the game? Are you a good team player? Are you showing up but not really a true team member? What tips can you offer to coach and mentor others that are just joining the game.
As many of you know, I started a company called JAM Media Group back in January. JAM Media Group is a New Media Marketing Company that provides:
- Wordpress Blog/Website Design,
- Social Media Strategy Development and Training,
- Custom Facebook Pages,
- Graphic Design, Logos
- Professional Video Production and Editing
- Blog & Social Media Coaching
- Search Engine Optimization
- Pay Per Click and Online Advertising
- General Internet Marketing
Custom Wordpress Blog/Websites by JAM Media Group Recent studies show that businesses that blog get 55% more traffic to their websites.
If you’re ready to become a Blogger, we can help! We will help you get a Custom Domain Name, set up your WordPress site, and train you on how to use it. WordPress sites are easy to use, easy to change, and will provide you with great Search Engine Optimization.
Our Blog/Website Setup Includes:
- Custom URL (Domain Name)
- Wordpress Set-Up Wordpress Theme
- Establishing Static Pages (Home, About, Contact Us, and Up to 2 Other Pages- You provide the content),
- Includes 1 revision
- Setting Up Categories for Your Blog Posts
- Feedburner account and RSS setup
- Set up of a Google Analytics account
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO) plugin
- Creation of a blog header using your logo and/or artwork
- One hour training session on how to use your blog
- Submitting your Blog to Google, Technorati and other search engines
- Personalized email set-up
For more information, contact Monica at 406-544-3098or visit us online at www.JAMMediaGroup.com.
 As many of you know, I started a company called JAM Media Group back in January. JAM Media Group is a New Media Marketing Company that provides:
- Wordpress Blog/Website Design,
- Social Media Strategy Development and Training,
- Custom Facebook Pages,
- Graphic Design, Logos
- Professional Video Production and Editing
- Blog & Social Media Coaching
- Search Engine Optimization
- Pay Per Click and Online Advertising
- General Internet Marketing
Custom Wordpress Blog/Websites by JAM Media Group Recent studies show that businesses that blog get 55% more traffic to their websites.
If you’re ready to become a Blogger, we can help! We will help you get a Custom Domain Name, set up your WordPress site, and train you on how to use it. WordPress sites are easy to use, easy to change, and will provide you with great Search Engine Optimization.
Our Blog/Website Setup Includes:
- Custom URL (Domain Name)
- Wordpress Set-Up Wordpress Theme
- Establishing Static Pages (Home, About, Contact Us, and Up to 2 Other Pages- You provide the content),
- Includes 1 revision
- Setting Up Categories for Your Blog Posts
- Feedburner account and RSS setup
- Set up of a Google Analytics account
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO) plugin
- Creation of a blog header using your logo and/or artwork
- One hour training session on how to use your blog
- Submitting your Blog to Google, Technorati and other search engines
- Personalized email set-up
For more information, contact Jon at 406-531-8605 or Monica at 406-544-3098 or visit us online at www.JAMMediaGroup.net.
 If you've spent much time on ActiveRain, you're bound to have encountered Clint Miller and his popular and fun blog posts.
Clint's birthday is Monday, March 8th and to celebrate, we've set up a Community Birthday Blog on Posterous.
If you're a Clint Miller fan or friend, please join us in wishing him a Very Happy Birthday.
Send your Happy Birthday wishes by email to:
post@therealclintsbirthday.posterous.com
Your posts will appear shortly, there is a moderator on the front.
You can send text, stories, videos, or photos and they will be posted to the Birthday Blog.
You can also view the blog.
Thanks and a big Happy Birthday to @TheRealClint!
NO LONGER LISTED
Dream Custom Montana Log Cabin For Sale on the Kootenai River - Peace and Tranquility Can Be Yours
Your Dream - Just Listed!
This Beautiful custom log home is quality craftsmanship at its best with stunning views & amazing Kootenai River frontage. You will enjoy this home's spacious and open floor plan with three bedrooms and three bathrooms. Its vaulted ceilings create a grand statement that accent the awe inspiring views of nature's brilliance and the Kootenai River from your windows.
Amazing Brazilian cherry hardwood floors, master tile work, custom cabinetry, and a finished daylight basement make this home a masterpiece in it's own right. And there's room for all of your guests in the over-garage guest quarters with a separate kitchen and bath.
Enjoy the peace & tranquillity of your surroundings as you enjoy fishing from your property while watching the big horn sheep playon your lawn. This is Montana living at it's finest.
Just listed at $649,500
- 3 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms
- 2,880 square feet
- 1.1 Acres
- Kootenai River Frontage
- Built in 2005
 
Speechless Sunday: Yaaaawwwwwnnnn!
As many of you know, our daughter Kelsey, or Krayphish as she's known on her blog and on Twitter, is an avid photographer and living in our house, a pet lover. Our pets are among her favorite topics for photographs and our cat Sherman provides plenty of material. Here he is in mid yawn, he must have been really tired!
As many of your know, we're big fans of Twitter, and here's 40 reasons why from Mickey O'Brien.
Via Mickey O'Brien (Certified Business Coach):
Posted on 23. Jan, 2010 by Mickey O'Brien in Business Tips
This week on Facebook I asked “Who should I follow on Twitter” and surprisingly only a few people responded, one in which is an amazing photographer that you may want to follow twitter.com/@steffoush By asking for who should I follow I was opening up opportunities for businesses to connect with me and my large network. I have many biz owners say “What can Twitter do for me?” so I’m laying it all out right here…
Build Credibility
1. Share your opinion and expertise
2. Pass on interesting links/posts
3. Strengthen relationships with client, competitors and jv partners
4. Tweet often to keep your brand on top of your customer’s mind
5. Share quality content that addresses your clients needs, frustrations, fears & dreams
6. Promote friends and colleagues
7. Promote upcoming events
Market Your Business
1. Talk about your company believes in and is committed to
2. Offer special offers to customers who find you via social media
3. Talk about what you’re doing, who you are, and what you do
4. Direct people to your blog/website
5. Find & Give referrals
6. Hold contests and give aways
7. Promote your latest blog posts and newsletters
8. Tweet when you see or do something cool or funny
Listen To What’s Being Said
1. See what others are saying about you (use TweetDeck.com)
2. Listen to what’s being said about your industry
3. Conduct Twitter polls to quiz consumer opinion
4. Learn about what’s working/not working & next for your competitors
5. Find your competitors clients (Read: Sun Tsu’s Art of War, i.e. do not neglect the use of intelligence.)
6. Identify Twitter trends or hot topics related to your industry
7. Ask people for their opinions. Listen to them
Expand Your Network
1. Build relationships instead of selling
2. Use Twellow, We Follow to find clients & people with common interests
3. Meet POI’s (People Of Influence) and talk to them
4. Connect your Twitter account to your website, Facebook, LinkedIn and other medias you use.
5. Give and receive testimonials on Follow Friday and connect with new people
6. Use services like bit.ly to see how people are interacting with your content
Build Your Offline Network
1. Hold/Attend meetups/tweetups and meet your online network offline
2. Use TweetDeck to track when potential customers mention a competitor…and then reach out to them
3. Find new employees
4. Ask Twitter followers to leave testimonials on your site
5. Tweet about products and services on Twitter before offering to general public
6. Create special events around holidays for your Twitter followers
Meet People, Celebrate Life & Have Fun
1. Share content that you enjoy
2. Get inspired and motivated by others
3. Learn new things
4. Make friendships, not just professional relationships
5. Be part of a community (your industry or personal)
6. Find new ideas for your business or just for fun
What are your Twitter tips or advise?
Ps: You can connect with me on Twiter at twitter.com/mickeyobrien
 We recently received a letter and window decal in the mail from Google Maps stating Access Realty Missoula is a Favorite Place due to the number of searches for our business listing and the number of times people requested directions to our office.
"Because you're so popular, we're enclosing a window decal that shows customers you're a 'Favorite Place on Google'. The sticker includes a special bar code that potential customers can scan with cameras on their phones. Then they can see your business listings on Google, read and write reviews, and add you as a favorite right there."
Access Realty on Google Maps
If you want to increase traffic to your Google business listing, Google suggests three things:
- Use your Google account to login at google.com/localbusinesscenter.
- Keep your hours, website, and other details up to date. Stand out with photos, videos, even coupons - all for free.
- Keep checking your personalized business dashboard to see how many hits your listing is getting, what zipcodes people are travelling from to reach your door, and more.
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