A Story of Love…a man and his dog.

Celebrating this Valentines Day can come in all forms:

Dental Teams are using Social Media Successfully

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A Partnership Approach is the Root of Local Dentist’s Practice

At the intersection of cutting edge dental technology and a holistic approach to health care, one Sterling Heights dentist is finding solid footing for his growing practice. Patient visits involve state-of-the-art tech like laser decay detection and LED mini-cameras, served up with a human approach that recognizes the link between dental issues and overall health.

“Ideally, our patients want to be active partners in their own health. Dental health is a vital piece to overall wellness,” explains Dr. John Artemenko, DDS. Likening his role to that of a sherpa on the journey to wellness, he continues, “My goal is to be the best guide for the patient’s journey to a healthy mouth.”

Part of that approach involves an active social media presence; Dr. Artemenko often blogs about dental health. He stays in touch with patients and their families via Facebook, and even Twitters about new ideas and methodology in the dental industry.

This approach to “patient centered technology” means better communication, less discomfort and often less invasive procedures for his patients. For example, new computer designed milling of crowns and inlays means that patients can be scanned and fit with their new dental fixtures in the same visit, instead of waiting days or even weeks for traditional crowns to be built offsite.

Likewise, Dr. Artemenko’s office now uses a digital x-ray procedure that reduces radiation exposure by up to 90% over traditional methods. “We see these new technologies being made available, and we are always among the first to adopt them. The implications for a patient’s health are huge,” explains Dr. Artemenko.

Explaining the link between oral health and other issues, Dr. Artemenko points out that cardiac disease, diabetes, and other chronic issues often manifest as unhealthy gums. Even some common medications can needlessly aggravate mouth issues. Helping patients to understand this can be rewarding work. He will often work with a patient’s primary care physician to suggest treatment alternatives and approaches that can improve not just their dental health, but their general well-being.

At seminars, training and classes, Dr. Artemenko works hard to stay on top of what’s new, and create new ways to integrate it into his practice. Truly knowing the science behind the methodology used, he has a leg up over many in his field. “I look to the science behind the product or method,” says Dr. Artemenko. For example, while there are many bleaching products available on the market, he uses the only one that is accepted by the American Dental Association (ADA) for safety and effectiveness.

To become a “partner” with Dr. Artemenko, visit the website, www.drjohnart.com, or call his office for more information and learn how your health starts with a beautiful smile. Dr. John Artemenko, DDS, offers full family and cosmetic dentistry at 34210 Ryan Road in Sterling Heights. Call his office today at (586) 939-8000 to learn more about his partnership approach to dental health and overall wellness.

How Twitter Changed My Life

Todd List

We recently asked some of our members for their take on Social Media. Here’s Todd’s take on Twitter:

I took advantage of an unplanned week off in February 2009 to meet a friend at a tea shop on a late Thursday morning. I was working on a side project (long since put on hold) at the time, and I talked to my friend about it. Henry (@balanon) listened to what I was doing then said, “You should be on Twitter.”

I created my account a few minutes later. I took a Twitter class at InSights Group a few days after that. I learned about “@-replies,” RTs, #hashtags, how to connect my (non-smart) phone to my Twitter account, and how to use a few tools outside of Twitter.

I began by following the few people I knew on Twitter. Then I started following people my friends were talking with. Guess what? Some liked to complain, some were smart, some were funny, but they were all people. And they were interesting!

I broke away from the limitations of Twitter’s web interface and started using other tools (I still like TweetDeck).

I attended my first #Tweetup, and I was hooked. Here were people who wanted to make new friends.

I shared my newly acquired Twitter addiction with a friend. I sat down with her for a few minutes and showed her some of the things I had learned. She played with it, and a few days later she said, “I see why you like Twitter. There are all these people, and they’re right there, smiling at you!”

As of this writing (18 months after my first tweet), I follow 794 people and I have 1242 followers, but I don’t measure success by these numbers.

Twitter has changed my life. No, I didn’t gain 30,000 followers or become a millionaire, but my life is much richer for it.

How? Here are some ways that engaging people on Twitter has directly enhanced my life:
* Attended scores of Tweetups, Meetups, Eatups, and assorted gatherings.
* I have seen at least five movies with a group of at least 5 or more other people.
* I went on two Photo Walks.
* Joined a couple of networking groups.
* Found several people who can help me with hard-core technical aspects of my fledgling business.
* Met a man who became my business coach for more than 6 months.
* Attended Karaoke 3 or 4 times. And I liked it.
* I found (and donated to) charities that I would not have known about otherwise.
* Had a Skype conversation with someone around the world. Olivia gave me advice and I gave her material for her blog.
* I found like-minded people to work on improving our sales skills.
* Tweeps (friends) have sent me funny stuff to make me laugh when I had a bad day.
* I have gone dancing.
* Adding Foursquare to Twitter helped me meet friends for an unexpected drink on three occasions.
* I have attended events at crowded bars and felt comfortable because I knew at least 20 of the people there.

The friendships I have made have challenged my thinking, broadened my horizons, and stretched my limits.

What is my “secret” for Twitter “success?”

Engage in conversation with other people. Read what they write, retweet things you find something funny, fantastic, or noteworthy, and reply to people. Jump into a conversation. People won’t bite.

In short, do the same things you would do when meeting somebody new at a party. You won’t mesh with everyone. That’s OK. You will have more in common with some than with others. That’s OK. You will follow some people who tweet three times then never log in again. That’s OK. You will follow some people who tweet Way Too Much and create a separate column for them in TweetDeck. That’s OK.

If you haven’t tried it, give Twitter a chance. You might have to ask for help at first. That’s OK. I did. I don’t regret it.

Meet Salathiel and help her Kickstart her Tea Room

The InSights Group is all about spreading a message via social media. We’re also super excited when someone with drive and passion comes along. Meet Salathiel. She’s got a dream of a Steampunk Bookstore in Farmington Hills, MI, and she is making it happen. Demolition is well underway, and the bookstore will be opening in the beginning of October. We’ll be hosting a “steampunk bookstore warming party” as soon as she tells us it’s ready.

On October 1, 2010, I am opening Off the Beaten Path Books & Cafe, the first and only Victorian Steampunk themed book store in Michigan that specializes in new and used speculative fiction (fantasy, sci-fi, horror/mystery/thriller, and children’s books). The store is a literal and literary experience. There are several features of the store that customers can interact with.

For the more hands on types, we have a roster of classes and workshops from belly dancing and contact juggling to car maintenance for girls and how to create a steampunk outfit for $50 or less. There will also be live music, author signings and readings, poetry slams, children’s activities, and gallery showings in the space. Plus much, much more! We want it to be a kickass home away from home for the community. We are the anti-big box book store!

My original 1st pick location fell through, but I found an even better one and it has a cafe space already apart of the building. I wasn’t planning on a cafe, so I want to make sure that it gets the same awesome steampunk treatment as the rest of the store. We already have wonderful coffee (roasted at a carmelite monastery in Wyoming) and tea (Queen Elizabeth uses it at Buckingham Palace) suppliers and scrumptious nibbles. All we need now is you!

In the meantime, she could use a little help. Let’s show some social media enthusiastic help. There’s a pretty cool site that helps track donations for a cause. Check out the service while you are there, and support one of InSights Excited Entrepreneurs.

Why You Have to Do Your Own Social Media

We’re all busy. One of the top complaints from small businesses is they don’t have enough time to do social media and run their business. I think the problem is right there. Being on social media should be part of running your business. You network, right? You help customers out and build relationships in order to increase sales. Guess what? That’s what social media is all about (or should be, if you’re doing it right).

Sometimes we get asked if we can do social media for a client. We certainly can help clients understand which social networks to use and some strategies for using them (including training), but the whole point of social media is that it puts YOU directly in contact with your customers (and potential customers). So, while you may hire a salesperson to help, you’re probably not outsourcing your sales outside of your company. The same goes for social media. In order to capture the true power of it, you have to do it yourself (or at least someone in your company does).

Chris Brogan had a good outline of what to spend your time on if you’re pressed for time. If you have 3 hours to spend time on social media (and this can scale with whatever you can spare), spend 1.5h listening (reading blogs, twitter, facebook, etc.), 0.5h commenting and 1h creating your own content (video, audio, blog, tweets, whatever). Figure out how much time you can spare, and try to divide it up similarly. Even an hour or 30m a day is better than nothing.

How do you find time for social media?

This is a guest post by Sarah Worsham, CEO & Web Strategist at Sazbean Consulting and blogging at Sazbean.com. Sarah is passionate about creating Internet strategies to help companies reach their business goals. Sarah provides guidance through Internet Marketing, Strategy & Business consulting. Connect with her on Twitter, Facebook or the Sazbean Facebook Page.

The You You are Afraid to Be – Five ways to change your self image

I recently came across this note from Natalie Brundred of Spark and enjoyed reading it. I thought I’d share it with you, so with Natalie’s permission, here you go:

“The You You are Afraid to Be
Five ways to change your self image

Years ago, I went to a Halloween party called Boo Here Now: Come as the Person You’re Afraid You Really Are.

I won 3rd prize for best costume. That in itself is not surprising – I’ve always been creative. The scary part was that my costume was composed of items I wore every day!

I went dressed as a Librarian. Now, you know I’m no librarian – but underneath, I was afraid I really was – and I had to hide it and put up elaborate pretenses so no one would know that part of me.

Somewhere deep inside most of us is the person we were meant to be. But we worry that who we are will not be accepted or approved of by others… and that scares us down to our toes.

How often do you find yourself suppressing or ignoring parts of yourself that call you to something so much greater than the life you are living right now?

We all have those parts. Just think about the times you have said, “A part of me feels… but another part of me says…” We all do that – it’s very human.

But when you give the people around you nothing but the surface, the “safe” you, all they really get of you is pretense. And, all you get of yourself is a shadow — and you know it. That’s why you are frequently dissatisfied with yourself. And that’s no life.

Many of us live the Boo Here Now party every day – pretending to be one person while hiding our fear that we’re really this other way. And longing to be something else, but scared to take the steps that will get us there.

So how do you stop attending the BOO Here Now party and live instead in the BE Here Now party? Here are five steps to get you started:

Five Things to Practice to
Help You Be the Authentic “You”

1. Acknowledge who you are afraid to be every time you see it arise within you. Awareness is 95% of winning the challenge!
2. Look for your pretenses — the smoke that points you in the direction of the fire. Start to identify the particular ways that you cover up to divert people’s attention from what you don’t want to see about yourself.
3. Forgive yourself — you’re human, after all. We all cover up our heart’s desire at one point or another. You can’t move in a new direction — with or without your perceived faults and quirks — until you can forgive yourself for being human.
4. Visualize who you “want” to be. Dress up that skeleton. You have a bare-bones idea, now flesh it out and make it real for yourself.
5. Take one small action to start expressing that part of yourself. Then take another, and another. Before you know it, you’ll be living a different life, an authentic life, a life on purpose.”

Natalie Brundred
Spark Coaching
P.O. Box 70905
Rochester Hills, MI 48307

248-390-4191

www.TheSparkSite.com

Natalie@TheSparkSite.com

InSights Group

We are doing company launches, brand management, running companies, and in general trying to keep up with you in changing the world!

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A Story of Love…a man and his dog.

The You You are Afraid to Be – Five ways to change your self image