Hello World... Again!

I finally registered alvinreyes.net (.com was $450, a little much for my budget of $0).

It only has a class project on there for now. And the template is hand-made! (that's why it doesn't look as nice, haha)

Updated Template

I changed the blog's color scheme and layout using Artisteer. Enjoy and let me know if the font is too small.

Update: I've recommended Artisteer enough times that I signed up for their affiliate program. I'll earn a small % of purchases made through advertising links to them like below:

#1 Wordpress Theme Generator. Instantly create great looking and professional Wordpress Themes.

Social Networking Links

I was working on a class assignment to design a website and searched for social networking icons.

I found creative common-license examples at sites such as:

• http://www.komodomedia.com/download/
• http://icondock.com/free/vector-social-media-icons and
• Comparison of Komodo on the left and Icon Dock's version:

The icons could be used either to link to your site's profile. Alternatively, the icons could be used to let an end-user share your content to their profiles. This can get your "market buzz" and maybe have some awesome content of yours go viral.

You can also use a service or option to aggregate a several sharing options into a small widget on your site.

The following article covers add this, add to any, share this, and tell a friend. And this is only a short list of the aggregation tools, I won't go into the hundreds (thousands?) of different types of social networking sites plus their user-created communities.

http://www.labnol.org/internet/sharing-widgets-for-websites/9249/

What do you use to (and how do you) share your content? And do you use icons to link to your profiles?

Leadership = Solving Problems and Communicating Solutions?

I'm finally completing my first bachelor's degree years after graduating high school. Though not the most prestigious of institutions, University of Phoenix is working out for me. The coursework and homework is amazingly similar to my duties and deliverables at work.

Work (IT department in corporate setting):

• Team environment
• Deadline- and deliverable-driven schedule
• Request for Proposal
• Technical writing such as memos and reports
• Competitor Website Analysis
• Project Management documentation

School (BS IT, night school):

• Team environment
• Deadline- and deliverable-driven schedule
• Request for Proposal
• Technical and APA writing such as reports, memos, and research papers
• Website Analysis
• Project Management documentation

One of the take away points that's keeps coming up in class is that good leaders solve problems and communicate solutions effectively. It's cliche but true.

After a few years at the San Diego State and a few more years of work, I've gained the biggest returns from being able to communicate. It's about technical excellence, the quality of the content, and professional presentation. And that's true whether it's martial arts, ballroom dancing, or the corporate workplace.

It's all connected. Big and varied interests plus some motivation and willingness to learn has rewarded me well. I'm having fun now and looking forward to the next things I can create and break.