The address

Go on over to The Connected Writer and pay me a visit.

What’s in it for you?

Six launch posts are already up, featuring the advice of some amazing people. They’re listed below, just as a heads-up.

• Danny Iny, from Firepole Marketing
• James Clear, from Passive Panda
• Chris Brogan, from Human Business Works
• Sean Platt, from The Digital Writer
• Benjamin Yoskovitz, from Instigator Blog
• Paul Rega, featured here on Amazon

The concept

The Connected Writer approaches writing from the outside in. Hence, writing lessons will be brought to you from other fields, including business, technology and creativity. I’ll also curate noteworthy content designed to make you think, create and live much better than before. Last, I’ll also help you get a handle on technology, by touching on new apps, programs and services designed to make you a better, more productive writer.

What’s coming next

Over the next few weeks, I’ll slowly move my content from this blog to there. What I can’t move will remain here, but I expect that ninety percent will move house, as we all like to say. I hope you’ll join me, and here’s to our continued relationship this year and beyond. Thanks for sticking with me here at Writing Off the Rails, and I hope to bring you even better content over at The Connected Writer.

Book Facts

Ethics of Big Data : Balancing Risk and Innovation
By Kord Davis
O’Reilly Media

Review

I have yet to find a person who actually reads the privacy policies across various sites. I don’t know if it’s because of the legal language, if people just don’t care about how data is handled, or if it’s because we don’t think we’ll be abused by the companies we sign up for.

Even so, the very existence of a privacy policy suggests how things have really changed around the world, especially considering the pervasiveness of the Internet.

Now, I could tell you all about these varied changes, but that would take too many posts. So for this review, I’d like to focus on big data, one of the more significant reasons for why privacy policies abound. 

Big data is a relatively new term, but it basically refers to the volume of information which now exists worldwide. This information is of various types, originating from individuals and spreading out across the services we use.

From an ethical standpoint, big data is inherently neutral, carrying no label of right and wrong, good and bad. Like all technologies, the eventual utilization and effect of big data rests with those who have access to it.

And that, readers, is why this book happens to be extremely significant.

Aside from providing you the basic concepts behind the emergence of big data, it also offers a rather good look into the way data is handled on the Web, along with the associated risks carried by such a large amount of information.

Furthermore, the book also serves as a good call-to-action, prompting companies to set values, and to adhere in the face of decision points about user data.

Personally, I believe this setting and adherence process is especially important.

After all, everyone is made more secure when companies divulge their values, and make their data policies conform to such standards. Moreover, as reiterated in the work, transparency and clear policies are good drivers of customer loyalty and brand value.

All that said, I’m not trying to imply that selecting and sticking to ethical standards is easy. The heavens only know how hard that can be sometimes, especially considering the harsh realities which many have to deal with.

Despite that though, I think we have no excuse not to be ethical, either as individual or as organizations. It’s certainly difficult, but it’s necessary.

Because now, the truth is undeniable. We are already living in the age of big data.

With that comes the possibility of big benefits for companies, or for anyone who has access to such large amounts of information. If those with access don’t learn to balance personal benefit with greater good, then I fear the scales may tip the wrong way.

And when that happens, the consequences may be disastrous for those affected.

Of course, no one wants that, right?

Where to Buy

O’Reilly Media Catalog for Ethics of Big Data

Disclosure

In the interest of Federal Trade Commission guidelines and covering my legal bases, I got this book free of charge via my involvement in the O’Reilly Media Blogger Review Program. That said, this review is entirely my opinion, after my reading of the book. I would also like to assure everyone that I was not paid to give any particular rating to the work, and that my rating is my personal choice.

The first is to announce instructions for how to get notified when my new site is live, and the second is an invitation.

For the first purpose, please read on. For the second purpose (the invitation), you can scroll further down for some details.

Announcement

I am moving to a new site soon, which will be bigger and better than this one.

If you’d like to be notified of when the site goes live, send me an e-mail at beajumarang@gmail.com with the subject line Want A Site Announcement. When the time comes for the site to be opened to the public, you’ll be the first to know, and you’ll get the link to come visit.

I will not be announcing the site or its link here, so don’t miss out. You really need to send me an e-mail if you want to get in on the action. Below are some details, so you guys know what’s in store for you.

Consider it an incentive.

• My new site aims to teach readers lessons about writing, linked to the fields of technology, business and creativity. So don’t be surprised if I connect a writing lesson to the design of a website, or if you get a writing tip that makes you play a Facebook game first. Trust me guys, it’s way more fun to connect the dots.
• I’ll also be offering a massive, info-packed e-book, FREE.
• The e-book teaches you about the writing process, but your teacher will be Steve Jobs. Nope, not Stephen King.
• The book also has tips for staying motivated, an expanded section on failing productively (you probably don’t know how to do this), and some hacks to help you write more. It’s packed with examples too, and yes, some embarrassing awesome lessons from my writing journey.

An Invitation (For techies out there, the business-minded, or my fellow creative types)

Like I said, I aim to link writing to the fields of technology, business and creativity.

If you have experience in those areas, and you’re also a writer/blogger of some sort, please feel free to send me an e-mail about ideas you may have for the posts on the new site.

It should be something from your area of expertise, which can then be connected to writing in some amazing way. Not only will you get credited in the post, but you’ll be talked about in a special feature during launch day.

Same as above, you can send your e-mail to beajumarang@gmail.com with the subject line New Site Ideas.

And yes, you needn’t send anything except your idea, along with a short note on how it can be linked to writing.

When I say writing, I specifically mean fiction or blogging, alright?

I’ll take care of the actual post, so don’t worry about that.

I look forward to your contributions, and if you want to talk more, here’s a link to my Twitter profile.

But the question is, are you living life fully?

If you operate only within your belief set, the answer is likely to be no.

And that my friends, is not alright, so I hope what you’ll do is the opposite. Instead of caging yourself in, broaden your horizons. Learn to take in new perspectives, and to appreciate the insights of those who are different.

After all, this interplay of difference is what animates the universe. Life simply cannot be reduced to the beliefs of one person, and that is as it should be. Because you know, trying to make the world conform is your loss. Should you attempt to typify life with your narrow lens of experience, it will be an unfortunate reduction.

Don’t do it. Don’t be a control freak.

Instead, give up control, and just flow. Happily and humbly, realize that you operate in a world filled with uncertainty and contrast. Revel in divergent rhythms and clear inconsistencies.

Because you know, you’re not meant to control the world anyway. To do so is a fool’s errand that will only get you stressed. Even more damaging, it will keep you living in a self-limited world.

Don’t aim for control – aim for convergence. Be one with the world in all its complex glory.

I guarantee, you’ll be better off.

Book Facts

Enterprise Games : Using Game Mechanics to Build A Better Business
By Michael Hugos
O’Reilly Media

Review

Having recently taken a course on gamification, this book was of very special interest to me. Since I learned many of the conceptual frameworks through my course, I was looking to supplement that knowledge with case studies.

For that purpose, I am glad to say that this book does quite admirably. I’m very glad to count it among my possessions now, and I’m happy to tell you why. 

First, as I mentioned earlier, the book brings together many useful examples. Be it in sales, supply chain management or even data modeling, this book is sure to show how games can be introduced to different settings.

Second, and this seems to be a trend among the books I reviewed, you really will have no trouble reading this work. The organization is great, and the wording is not excessively technical.

So, if you fear that this book will only work for those in the game/gamification industry, you’d be dead wrong. Any layman will be able to understand Enterprise Games, though knowing about certain concepts will bolster that understanding.

Having said that, the last thing I can discuss is the content, and I’m happy to assure everyone that this book has real meat.

You’ll learn a lot, if you care to read it cover to cover. Not only will you discover the solid rationale behind introducing games to an enterprise, but you’ll also understand how games are being utilized to make work a better phenomenon.

As a last note, I’d most like to suggest this book to those involved in the study or practice of gamification. I’m sure you’ll find it useful to deepen your knowledge about the field.

On the other hand, for those who are uninvolved, I still recommend that you pick this up. If you want to be at the forefront of new practices in modern business, this book serves as an excellent resource.

Where to Buy

O’Reilly Media Catalog for Enterprise Games

Disclosure

In the interest of Federal Trade Commission guidelines and covering my legal bases, I got this book free of charge via my involvement in the O’Reilly Media Blogger Review Program. That said, this review is entirely my opinion, after my reading of the book. I would also like to assure everyone that I was not paid to give any particular rating to the work, and that my rating is my personal choice.

First off, for the readers coming from Men with Pens, welcome to my blog. It means a lot to me that you clicked  the link in my byline to check me out. I hope you’ll stay a while and hang out.

Second, for my lovely readers who’ve come to expect this week’s post, welcome back to my virtual home, and I hope the websites listed here offer you something new to learn.

To both groups of readers, you probably know at least one of the sites listed here. That said, I do hope you’ll take the time to check out the others. They all offer amazing value, and I’m proud to share this list with you. 

Section 1 – Publications and Blogs (These sites are where I learn.)

Copyblogger

Who : Brian Clark, Sonia Simone (I love their articles) plus the people of Copyblogger Media

What : Whether you want to learn about headlines, landing pages, copywriting or content marketing, Copyblogger is the place to go. The tutorials here are also very comprehensive, and I can vouch for the fact that they pack a lot of value. If not that, the blog itself is a powerhouse of great information. Don’t miss out.

What to Do : Definitely sign up to the newsletters, and maybe even stay a while. I assure you, you’ll enjoy every second.

ProBlogger

Who : Darren Rowse (one awesome Australian) and a host of guest bloggers (including me!)

What: The name itself speaks of this site’s focus, and I truly associate blogging with this website. The content here is just gold, and the community is very vibrant indeed. Also, if it’s a job you seek, the site has a job board you can visit.

What to Do : Be sure to check out the archives, because almost all the content here is evergreen. Sign up to the newsletter as well, or buy a book if one catches your eye. Remember, the best investment is one in knowledge.

I Will Teach You To Be Rich 

Who : Ramit Sethi (who truly knows his stuff) and some awesome guest bloggers

What : You may notice that it’s the only financial site listed, but that’s because I trust this one the most. Ramit may be a little irreverent when he writes, but he freaking knows what he’s talking about, and that’s what I value. For myself, I love his Ask Ramit videos a great deal. They can be rather short, but the value in them is undeniable.

What to Do : Sign up to the various newsletters and load up on the site’s content. If you want my advice, pay particular attention to the case studies. They are clear proof that Ramit’s lessons work, big time.

Men with Pens

Who : James Chartrand, the MwP team and a host of awesome guest contributors

What : I’m just going to use the general categories on the Men with Pens blog, since it summarizes the site pretty nicely. If you want strategies and tips for better fiction, better business, better blogging or better copywriting, the site is a one-stop shop. Men with Pens also offers awesome business solutions that have proven results, so get on the bandwagon and check them out today.

What to Do : Sign up to the newsletter, read the blog with a smile on your face and remember to take action. If you fail at what you try, don’t worry. Like my  guest post there says, feel free to fail often!

Smashing Magazine

Who : Smashing Magazine team (they rock) and guest contributors

What : The magazine showcases everything from design tools to great typography. The articles can be a little long sometimes, but I’ve always loved how comprehensive the content is. Even more so, I just love how the site looks, since it’s a bloody work of art. True to its name, the magazine is smashingly good.

What to Do : Sign up to the newsletter and download the free e-book, which showcases the best of Smashing Magazine. Additionally, consider being a contributor, and read up on the articles. You can also buy one of their other e-books, if you’re in the mood to get a little in-depth.

Seth Godin’s Blog

Who : Seth Godin (uber-awesome guy behind thought-provoking books)

What : As the top part suggests, this site is his blog. The posts here are often shorter than what you may be used to, but the value is never dictated by the length. In fact, I have grown to love how concisely Seth writes, and I learn a lot from everything he shares. Additionally, he often asks questions that really make me think about the world.

What to Do : Read the posts and smile as you absorb the wisdom. After that, go buy one of his books and subscribe to the blog. If not that, add the feed to your RSS reader so you never miss new content. Trust me, you’ll never want to.

Art of Nonconformity

Who : Chris Guillebeau (he’s the nonconformist I look up to the most)

What : The articles on this blog are as varied as they come, but they all have value no matter what form they take. Whether it’s a post that offers something to think about, or a story about Chris’ travels in Yemen, I assure you that there’s always something to be learned.

What to Do : First off, sign up to the newsletter. It’s a work of art, so please turn on the images when the e-mails hit your inbox. You can also scour the archives, or just admire how well the site is designed. And let me tell you, it happens to be designed really well.

Section 2 – Utilities and Shopping (Just because I love Amazon.)

Timely is the service I use for scheduling my tweets. I previously used Buffer, but I’ve discovered the service here to be better. In particular, I also like the user interface more, and I happen to adore good design.

WeekPlan is my daily companion for planning my work. I like the simplicity of usage, and the fact that it gives you an overview of your tasks for the week. It also has a module for putting in your long-term vision, which I’ve found to be useful for remembering what’s significant in life.

Gmail needs no explanation. I have always been ecstatic with Google’s services, and e-mail is no different. Unlike the other services I’ve seen, nothing even comes close to the power of Gmail, plus the user interface happens to be phenomenal. As many of you know, I’m a sucker for elegant user experiences.

Kindle Cloud Reader is my savior when I’m working on my laptop. Sometimes I don’t have time to reach for my Kindle, so I tend to open Cloud Reader instead. In those cases where the connection is off, such as when I’m fresh from a writing session, I just use the Downloaded feature for convenience’s sake.

Google Drive is the cloud service I trust the most. All of the files that I often update are backed-up using this service, and I like the ease of having a Drive folder on my laptop. I just drag files when I want to synchronize the contents, which is a huge time-saver for me.

Amazon has to be on any self-respecting resource list. Because of this amazing company, I hardly go out to buy stuff anymore. Add to that, I don’t think I need to explain what Amazon means to an author. For me, this site represents so much more than retail, since it has come to mean innovation in my personal dictionary.

Over to you now. You guys know how I love reading your comments, so please feel free to add to the list of sites. Tell me why your choices make you tick, and I’ll check them out for myself. That said, I hope your Monday goes great, and please share this post if you’ve found some value. You never know who you may influence!

Book Facts

The Connected Company
By Dave Gray and Thomas Vander Wal
O’Reilly Media

Review

In this groundbreaking book on business for the new age, Dave Gray and Thomas Vander Wal have succeeded in redefining the way that companies are perceived and led. Unlike the traditional management thinking we all know about, The Connected Company teaches us to embrace synthesis over division, and agility over rigid structures. 

For me, this is a deep change which I’ve seen coming. I see it as an alteration of paradigm, an alteration which has solidified over the past few years. And while I do recognize that not everyone is ready to embrace this new way of thinking, I have great faith that the book will convert people with relative ease.

If you’re wondering why I made that claim, I have three reasons below.

The first one for me is the content of the book. The Connected Company is full of meat, and its points are bound to resonate with those interested in its subject. It provides not only a background for the current emergence of connected companies, but it progresses at a logical and natural pace.

After you understand the background, you are then taught to shift your way of thinking, before any actionable steps are ever presented.

Personally, I feel that this was a good approach to take, as the organization of the book lends itself to intuitive understanding. It doesn’t leave you fragmented at all, and that really speaks to the consistency of the work . It teaches you connectedness, and the content plan delivers on that principle.

That said, my second reason for liking the book lies in the way it was written. I’m happy to report that it reminds me of Malcolm Gladwell, especially considering the wealth of case studies which The Connected Company presents.

I’m a big fan of Gladwell books, and I truly love that this book was written in a similar way.

Lastly, I would be remiss not to mention the actionable nature of The Connected Company. Aside from providing you the framework behind creating connectedness, it gives you practical steps which are of use no matter what state your organization is in.

In fact, it tells you at one point, “You can start next Monday.”

That may seem like a tall order, but the book is completely able to fulfill its promises to readers.

Knowing all that, I really do recommend that you get it as soon as possible. Though you may think that this is exclusively a management book, it is so much more than that. You’ll not only learn about the principles and methods behind connectedness, but you’ll learn to think in entirely new ways.

And when it comes down to it, what could matter more than that?

Where To Buy

O’Reilly Media Catalog for The Connected Company

Disclosure

In the interest of Federal Trade Commission guidelines and covering my legal bases, I got this book free of charge via my involvement in the O’Reilly Media Blogger Review Program. That said, this review is entirely my opinion, after my reading of the book. I would also like to assure everyone that I was not paid to give any particular rating to the work, and that my rating is my personal choice.

Realize that shouts aren’t always the best things, and that sometimes whispers can communicate more. Instead of trying to populate the quiet with a sound, just stay in the silence and see where it takes you.

Remember that epiphanies don’t always mark important events, and that sometimes the truth will come in little nuggets.

The next time you’re tempted to make noise just because nothing else exists, don’t do it. Learn to let the silence permeate your being, and draw calm from the auditory peace. As you learn to reconcile yourself to the lack of sound, you will soon see that silence has much more to teach than noise.

And if ever you may think that it’s getting to be too much, repeat the statement below. It’s a quote that fits perfectly for this post, and it first found expression in the pages of my journal.  It can guide you, if you let it.

Only the fool is preoccupied with noise, because he is blind to the truths of the world. Not seeing that silence is golden, he seeks to tarnish it with the scratching of his words.

When did you last ask a boatload of questions?

And basically, when was the last time you actually saw the world?

If you’re a writer, hopefully the last time wasn’t so long ago.

Because you know, the best writers are the ones who think freely about the world around them. The best writers are the ones who constantly see life with eyes untainted. They’re the ones who stop to admire a small flower, and whenever they look up, they actually see how blue the sky is.

So if you want to be the best writer you can, go back to the mindset you had in childhood. Learn to wonder about your surroundings again, and to see how much of the world is really still unknown to you. Slowly and mindfully, re-frame your way of thinking and learn to listen to life’s melodies again.

Remember, gratefully, that so much still remains to be discovered by you. There’s still a whole world out there, waiting to be immortalized by your words. And to be perfectly honest, that world really isn’t asking much.

All it wants you to do is to stop, look, and listen.