The John Tesh Blog

You Don't Need Hollywood To Become Famous

Face it, we all want our fifteen minutes of fame . . . or perhaps thirty minutes or more.  The traditional route to fame includes having an artistic talent, getting your 8 x 10 photos, finding an agent to represent you, going out on auditions and then maybe . . . getting discovered.

However, with the advent of the Internet, there are now other ways you can achieve overnight celebrity status without going out on one casting call. According to AmericanWay magazine, there are other ways to find success - the Internet.  The Internet has a way of taking individuals - everyday people - and skyrocketing them to fame.

Trisha Walsh Smith is a bitter divorcee socialite who has made headlines by publicizing her marital problems on youtube.com. Currently, she is seeking donations through paypal to help her with her divorce legal fees.

Scott Steinberg's recent book Get Rich Playing Games cost him little money to make, but the book has landed him guest spots on NBC, Fox and CNN. For $17.95 he'll teach you everything you need on how to go from rags to riches in the videogame industry. 

One of the keys to success lies in your willingness to write a book on an issue most people would love to know about and present yourself as an instant expert.  You can publish your book for $500 to $600 on print-on-demand services such as iUniverse, Lulu.com and Worldclay.com. They will help you ship your finished, bound product to Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.  Who knows . . . you just might be invited to speak on your area of expertise on a national informational news program.  Of course, you still have to sit down and do the hard work of writing the book.

Rock bands and musicians are promoting themselves using myspace.com pages. 

Even clothes you design could lead you to name recognition.  CafePress, PrintMojo and Spreadshirt are websites you can use to design and sell clothing - hats, jackets, tees and more.  If you can come up with a catchy slogan, and a great looking design, you don't know where your talents could lead you. 

I don't need to inform you about film sharing sites like youtube.com or Metacafe, where you can upload your personal videos and potentially attract millions of viewers.  You never know if something you posted will get discovered and lead to a Hollywood contract.

The potential for success via the Internet is greater than ever.  Generations before us never had these kinds of opportunities, but had to rely on traditional methods to gain attention and notoriety.  Stand up comedian Dane Cook who starred in the feature film, Dan In Real Life with Steve Carell used MySpace to attract fans and was soon on his way to success.

My favorite use of the Internet is Podcasting - homemade digital audio clips that any computer user can create with any Mac or PC.  You can create your own show about any topic or become a  DJ playing your favorite Podsafe music from unsigned bands and artists in your local area.  Check out Accidenthash with C.C. Chapman in the Boston area for a great example.  You can help musicians become discovered by featuring them on your show.  iTunes or Zune Marketplace are excellent distribution resources to get your podcast out there before the public eye. 

Don't forget that you can create your own music using GarageBand or a comparable program, and then place your song or even an entire album on various Internet sales outlets like CD Baby or Audacity. 

The chances for making it big using the Internet are as big as your personal dreams. The world of media has become limitless as the Internet grows each day.  Try some of these suggestions listed here and perhaps I'll see you in a feature film or watch you getting interviewed on a morning news show.

John
Email John:   johnsblog@teshmedia.com

You'll find additional ideas on how to achieve your goals described in my new book, Intelligence For Your Life:  Powerful Lessons For Personal Growth.  You can purchase your copy of my new book at your local bookstore or online at Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.

Are You An Internet Addict?

When was the last time you picked up the phone to find information on a company?  Why should I?  I just go on line, find the right website and have everything I need to know about a specific organization . . .  right at my fingertips.

As helpful as the internet it, in today's excerpt from my new book, Intelligence For Your Life:  Powerful Lessons For Personal Growth, I expose some of the darker sides to the world wide web. 

Are you an Internet addict? If so, you’re not alone. There are a growing number of people out there who can’t live without multiple daily visits to cyberspace. In fact, it’s so bad that they neglect their appearance, their wives and husbands, their kids, and their jobs.

Dr. Diane Wieland treats patients with computer addictions, and she says the Internet can promote addictive behaviors and pseudo-intimate relationships. That can lead to online infidelity, out-of-control gambling and other compulsive behaviors. It’s serious stuff. And because pretty much everybody has access to the Internet, Dr. Wieland says 5 to 10 percent of Internet users will experience addiction. There’s even an organization called The Center for Online Addiction! They say that it’s easy to become so engrossed in the web that hours and hours pass by before we know it.

The experts say anonymity is the biggest reason people get hooked on the Internet. In fact, 83 percent of web addicts say that’s the reason. No one knows who they are, so they can take more risks—in chat rooms, gambling, playing violent video games, even bidding on eBay.

Most online addicts deny they have a problem. But Internet addicts may get agitated if kept off the web, lashing out at those around them. And people who have addictive tendencies in other areas are more susceptible. If you’re not sure whether you’re addicted, there’s a test on www.NetAddiction.com.

Here are some of the questions from the online test. Have a look; if you answer “frequently,” or “often,” or “always” to one or more of these questions, you might have a problem.

1. How often do you stay online longer than you intended?

2. How often do you neglect other things in your life to spend more time online?

3. Do you often form relationships with other users?

4. Do you find yourself snapping at people who bother you while you’re online?

Visit www.NetAddiction.com, or check out the book Caught in the Net by Kimberly Young to find out more about Internet addiction.

John
Email John: johnsblog@teshmedia.com

You can read more about the impact of high tech communications on our personal lives in my new book, Intelligence For Your Life. The book can be purchased at your local bookstore or online at Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.

Are You Suffering With Fragrance Sensitivities?

You cannot escape the smell of fragrances or cologne. They're everywhere you find people.  However, the most aggravating issue is for individuals who are sensitive or allergic to certain fragrances.

According to an article by June Russell, studies have shown that shortness of breath or asthma-like symptoms have been caused by fragrances. Being a chemical receptor the nose can also be affected with sneezing and sinus problems.  Studies also reveal that inhaling fragrances can cause circulatory changes in the brain that can trigger migraine headaches, inhibiting the ability to concentrate, dizziness and fatigue.  Other symptoms can include watery eyes, nausea, sore throat, cough and chest tightness.

What do you do if you're a person sensitive to perfume and work with people whose fragrance is affecting your ability to do your job effectively?

Here are some suggestions you can try to make others aware of the fact you have a fragrance sensitivity.   

Change the location within the office where you're working.
You have the option of moving away from the person whose fragrance you find to be offensive.   You could also stay away from common areas where people congregate - foyer or break room.  Of course, this option may be almost impossible in your job situation. In addition, some workers really pour on the cologne so that it permeates the entire workspace and there's no escape. 

Work away from home a few days a week.  You may be able to work offsite and spend time outside the environment where you're being affected.  When you do have to show up at the office, you may not be affected as much by the fragrances of others since you've been away.  Not all offices allow virtual workers.  On some jobs fellow employees need to be in contact with others face-to-face.

Change your work schedule. Some people have opted to show up at work at 6 a.m. to have less contact with co-workers.  You could also work out an arrangement where you leave earlier in the day so you reduce the time you're exposed to offending fragrances.

Try using an air purifier.  If you are in a private office where you can shut the door and turn on an air purifier, then you've got it made.  Choose a system with a carbon or gas filter.  A system that simply filters dust won't be of much use to you either.

Use a portable fan.  A small fan would be effective to blow away stagnant air and blow away any odors lingering in your personal workspace.

Develop different but acceptable methods of communication.  In this day of high-technology, there's little excuse why we cannot work via email, phone, text messaging or faxing as much as possible to cut down our contact with those whose perfumes are making it difficult for you to perform your job effectively.

If none of the above suggestions offer you any improvement, here are two more ideas that take a more direct approach:

Approach your fellow employee in a positive manner. Tell your co-worker about your concern with the scented product he or she is wearing in the area where you work together.  Be as specific as possible informing your co-worker how your health is affected by their cologne: headaches, runny nose, watery eyes, trouble breathing and concentrating.  Share how at times you have to take an anti-allergy medication such as Benadryl to relieve your symptoms. 

Supervisors should speak to all employees about the fragrance problem.  Rather than singling out one person, ask your supervisor to discuss your concern in a non-threatening manner with the entire staff.  The supervisor must inform his employees that it is his responsibility to provide employees with a safe environment which does not compromise their health or their ability to focus on their job.  One effective alternative is to declare the workplace a scent/fragrance free environment.   

John
Email John:   johnsblog@teshmedia.com

New health issues are a part of our world everyday.  In my book, Intelligence For Your Life:  Powerful Lessons For Personal Growth I share a lot of the latest information about how to stay healthy.  You can purchase your copy of my new book at your local bookstore or online at Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.