Twitter Time

April 24, 2009

Twitter is truly going global these days. If we look at the rate they are growing. Amazing! What’s happening?Twitter

Many startups, like StockTwits, are basing their entire company on Twitter’s infrastructure. StockTwits is an open, community-powered investment idea and information service. Just eavesdrop on what other traders and investors are talking about in real time.

Recently Twitter grew at an incredible rate. As the graph of comScore shows, Twitter increased 95 percent in the month of March from 9.8 million to 19.1 million.

Twitter Growth March 2009 (TechCruch)

You also probably heard of Ashton Kutcher’s stunt on getting 1 million followers on Twitter? If you want to follow him too, he’s now at 1.3 million followers :-) By the way, mrs Kutcher (Demi Moore) is attracting people herself with 750K followers! Also a must read is Simon Dumenco’s article. He’s putting things in the right perspective.

What probably made the biggest difference is the appearance of Oprah (@Oprah) on Twitter (16th April). Read Heather Hopkins’ article on the Oprah Effect on Hitwise. Or is it coincidence that Twitter made it in the Top 40 most visited websites by Australians, according to Alan Long.

And then there is the Cisco Fatty or how to ruin a “Fatty Cisco Job” with 1 tweet. You must of heard of it by now, right?

Anyway, let’s share a great comic byNitrozac & Snaggy (Joyof Tech)

Twitter Etiquette

Oh, if you were still wondering where to find me, I am also on Twitter : http://twitter.com/bertverdonck

I know, I don’t have Ashton’s number of followers (yet), but fun in progress :-)

Enjoy your weekend,

Bert Verdonck
Lifehacker & Life Coach


Is Gawkk “Twitter for Videos”?

April 9, 2009

We all know Twitter, right? Twitter is a micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read other users’ updates known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length. Just to make sure you know :-) Oh, by the way, you can also follow me on Twitter via http://twitter.com/bertverdonck if you like.

Twitter has its limitations, because it’s text only. Gawkk seems to become the  “Twitter for Videos”. It was launched by Gary Culliss and Thomas Mango.

www.gawkk.comWhat is it? Gawkk.com is like a “Twitter for videos” where you can discover, share and discuss videos from around the web with your friends and followers by answering one simple question: What are you watching?

To start a conversation, Gawkk incorporates video from thousands of media sources across the Internet, but you also can add a video from any website and then share and discuss it with your friends and followers on Gawkk.  By combining a powerful video discovery engine with a social messaging platform, Gawkk provides a simple and effective resource for finding and discussing the most interesting videos from around the web.

So, Gawkk seems like the video shortcut you’ve been waiting for :-) Gone are the days of scrolling, searching videos on all those platforms like YouTube.

I hope you like it too and let me know what you are watching, ok? :-)

Have fun, always,

Bert Verdonck
Lifehacker & Life Coach


Use LinkedIn

March 5, 2009

How to REALLY use LinkedInHow to REALLY use LinkedIn is Jan Vermeiren’s new book. And it’s a great book! I have read it and encourage you to read it too…

Why did Jan write this book? Well most people are asking the same question over and over again :  “I  have a Profile on LinkedIn and some connections, but I don’t know why I should use this website and how to use it in an effective and efficient way.” As the title suggests, Jan gives profound insights on how to really use LinkedIn :-)

So what’s this book really about? Next to expert talk about networking Jan also gives you basics stategies on how to build your network fast. On top of that he shares several advanced strategies and little know, but very interesting features and behaviour of LinkedIn.  Of course, he trows in several extra tips and tools to get the most out of your LinkedIn experience! Table of Contents?

Here is my testimonial : How to REALLY use LinkedIn” is stimulating, enjoyable and informative. Jan excels at sharing valuable, pragmatic knowledge in this book. I found it to be very helpful, even for seasoned networkers or experienced LinkedIn users, like myself. I recommend this book to better understand the sound principles of networking and to learn more about the amazing power of LinkedIn. It truly is the best LinkedIn book on the planet!”

The book will be launched on the 17th of March, but here’s additonal good news : you can enroll for a FREE webinar on “How to REALLY use LinkedIn” in Dutch or in English. Enroll now! Yes, I’ll be hosting both webinars, so that Jan can really focus on delivering maximum value for you! You can even ask questions “LIVE”!

If that is not enough, you can also download a “light” version of “How to REALLY use LinkedIn for FREE!

Happy reading,

Bert Verdonck

Lifehacker & Life Coach

PS: In case you were wondering : here are the LinkedIn profiles of Jan and me. Let’s connect :-)


Afscheid van Ecademy Antwerp

November 26, 2008

Gisteren was het dan zover, mijn afscheid als voorzitter van Ecademy Antwerp. Na een bijzonder geslaagde avond (vraag maar aan de andere deelnemers!), was het moment aangebroken om officieel mee te delen dat ik een stapje terugzet.

Waarom? Mijn andere activiteiten zijn de laatste tijd zo aan het boosten dat het mij dwingt om keuzes te maken. Helaas!

De club is in uitstekende handen bij Erwin & Steven. Zij zetten de ingeslagen weg verder…dus blijven komen hé ;-)

Ook mijn rol als clubleider van de Belgian Blackstars heb ik ondertussen doorgegeven aan GeertEcademy Mumbai gaf ik over in de capabele handen van Nikhil Wad. In het kader van Ecademy, run ik nu nog enkel “The Lifehacking Club”. Of course :-)

Ik wil hierbij iedereen bedanken die de afgelopen jaren heeft bjigedragen tot het succes van Ecademy Antwerpen, de Belgian Blackstars en Ecademy Mumbai.

Geert, Erwin, Steven en Nikhil, ik wens jullie heel veel succes met de verder uitbouw en kijk uit naar toekomstige activiteiten.

 
Enjoy every day,

Bert Verdonck
Lifehacker & Life Coach


In Shape for September?

July 7, 2008

Kom op 26 augustus naar dé work-out voor Vlaamse professionals!

In-Shape-for-September 2008Goeroes van eigen bodem, excellenties in hun vakgbied, worden in het Kasteel van Brasschaet uw personal trainers voor één dag. Zij geven u extra kracht om dit laatste
trimester ijzersterk in te zetten en 2008 met brio af te ronden…

Na het succes van vorig jaar, wordt In Shape for September opnieuw een top event! Ik ben uiteraard van de partij, dit jaar met een verfrissende lifehacking workshop. Ik werd zelfs gevraagd om 2 workshops te doen! Schrijf dus tijdig in!

Laat u verder ook inspireren door de direct bruikbare tips, workshops en presentaties over:
• Ingrijpende innovatie in sales en marketing
• Hoe tijd vinden en ermee omgaan
• Everlasting referrals, en hoe prospecteren zonder
• Onconventioneel & Slim : Life Hacking
• Transformatie als bron van motivatie
• Hoe stress omzetten in energie
• Positieve psychologie
• Technieken om krachtiger te presenteren

U ziet het, een fantastisch programma… Zie ons aan het werk op 26 augustus! Schrijf nu in voor 20 juli, want dan krijg je een vroegboekkorting!

Geniet elke dag,

Bert Verdonck
Lifehacker


Go Bananas!

July 3, 2008

Actions speak louder than words!

Hoe ver zou jij gaan om een kind te redden?
De meesten onder ons zouden tot het einde van de wereld gaan én terug om een geliefde te redden.
Maar hoe ver zou JIJ gaan om een wanhopig kind te redden?

Go Bananas!Wij stappen alvast 100km voor de Banana Man! Doe zoals onze huidige sponsors en doneer een bedrag per afgelegde kilometer. Gewoon een bedrag naar keuze storten mag uiteraard ook!

Vandaag werd de nieuwe website van Go Bananas gelanceerd. Binnenkort volgen nog updates…

Stay tuned,

Bert Verdonck
Create, Connect & Contribute


Lifehacking boek

June 20, 2008

Mijn Nederlandse vriend en berucht lifehacker Martijn Aslander heeft samen met een aantal lifehackers een schitterend boek uitgebracht! Lees het nu!

100 Lifehackingtips

“100 Lifehackingtips om prettiger en efficienter te werken” is de titel en je kan ‘m online bestellen bij Van Duuren Management voor slechts 19,90 €.

Voor wie is dit boek bedoeld? Voor iedereen die in zijn werk gebruikmaakt van een computer, maar geen idee heeft hoe je met een kleine inspanning een hoop dagelijkse taken veel makkelijker voor elkaar krijgt. Voor iedereen die veel op het web werkt, maar nog nooit van RSS heeft gehoord. En voor mensen die de schoonheid van een slimme vondst kunnen waarderen en er hun voordeel mee doen.

 En nu komt het : je kan het boek gratis downloaden! (save as …)

Verder is Martijn te gast bij Ecademy Antwerpen op 24 juni vanaf 19u in L’étage. Dus als je Martijn life aan het werk wil zien, moét je gewoon komen…

Enjoy every day,

Bert Verdonck
Lifehacker


India Induction Course!

May 12, 2008

I would like to introduce you to a very interesting and exclusive event : the Induction Course by India Business Support

Doing business in or with India might seem a far-fetched idea at first, but once you have had the chance to gain some insights into the Indian manners and customs, and into how the Indian business community operates, you are bound to find out that the Indian connection might turn out to be your opportunity of a lifetime!

In a series of three Saturday morning sessions, Francis Laleman invites the participants to join him on a thrilling discovery journey through the Indian subcontinent. Each session is followed by an Indian lunch, during which the attendees have ample opportunity to connect to each other and to discuss with life-long India aficionados Michaela Broeckx, Francis Laleman and myself.

Session 1 : India, a Land of Many Faces
Session 2 : India, a Land of Cultural Diversity
Session 3 : India, a Land of Business Opportunities

Dates : 14th, 21st and 28th June 2008

Price : 600 €, excl. VAT.

Place : Bayt al-Andalus, Antwerp, Belgium

For more info, go to www.india-business-support.com!

Enjoy every day,
Bert Verdonck
Network Creator


Entrepreneur Business School?

April 17, 2008

Roger Hamilton’s Entrepreneur Business School (EBS) is one of the best events I have ever attended! Next to creating a magical atmosphere with world-class mentors, I connected with likeminded entrepreneurs from around the globe. These strangers at first became intimate friends for life. They share my passion to contribute to make this world a better place. On top of that, we experienced lots of fun, reflected on intimate, critical moments and learned an incredible number of lessons for life! Everyone wins at EBS! It’s definitely the next step forward in my life…

This is how my summary or quote if you like about EBS in Bali would sound like in case someone would ask me :-)

I can recommend this event to every entrepreneur who is looking for an extra edge. It doesn’t matter if you are looking to grow your business or network, or need extra people, maybe a sounding board, target new countries or markets, it’s all there if you want to…

Next to the business stuff, this WOW-event made me grow as a person too! Magic happens at EBS! I’ll be back :-)

Roger, you ROCK!

Enjoy every day,

Bert Verdonck
Create, Connect & Contribute


Entrepreneurs Business School in Bali?

April 1, 2008

Yes, I am in Singapore writing this blog…I am on my way to Bali for a well-deserved vacation and a very promising Entrepreneurs Business School (EBS) with Roger Hamilton. As an XL Life Member, this is definitely the place to be :-)

I will be attending his 4-day program, not only to learn more about better business models, but also more importantly to network and create the foundations of a fruitful partnership(s) with entrepreneurs from around the world.

Of course, you are entitled to my feedback later on!

In the meantime, enjoy every day!

Bert Verdonck

Create, Connect & Contribute