From Anne Clelland:

Mansi Trivedi of digital services agency Modea explains with clarity and creativity the business use of Twitter in her slide show Twitter 101.  She combines thought-provoking statistics, defintions, and how-to advice effectively and attractively for all to access on SlideShare. Mansi graciously gave me permission to post my favorite slide:

I just did that!

You can learn more about Mansi Trivedi in our Handshake 2.0 profile and more about Modea on Handshake 2.0.  You can follow Mansi Trivedi on Twitter, @media_reveries , and Modea, @Modea.

From Z. Kelly Queijo:

I am a social media experiment.

Aren't we all?  Once we engage in social media - create an account on Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, or Twitter and open ourselves to communication exchange - we have crossed the threshold into the realm of the social and public datasphere where what we post has the potential to be read, shared, and commented on by anyone who discovers us.

I was recently discovered by the Olympus PR team.  It's kind of scary and yet exciting to find out that I, a blogger in Blacksburg, Virginia, wrote something that caught the eye of someone representing a power-house company like Olympus.

What triggered their response? My blog post, Market to Me, Mother of Kids which I wrote as a reaction to the photographs used on the Olympus web page to promote the Stylus Tough Camera.

While I was greatly impressed that Olympus had made a camera that was shockproof, waterproof, and freezeproof, the image of a guy climbing a glacier was not an image to which I could relate. As a mom who often is witness to the torture kids can inflict on cameras, cellphones and iPods, I felt a more realistic, my-world kind of imagery would make me more likely to want to buy.

Turns out Olympus was of the same mindset and, in one of those unplanned, the planets-must-be aligned-moments in life, the day I wrote my post was also the day the PR team released the first episode of a 10-segment video series for the Stylus Tough. Their rep contacted me by email and sent the link to the video. I watched it, then I wrote about it, and I continued to write my own take on how these videos relate to my life as a mom.

Once the social media door is open, how far in we go is up to us.  I opted to continue to engage, and a dialogue and interview with an Olympus Visionary ensued, as did the promise of a loaner Stylus Tough to test myself. So, stay tuned. This journey is not over. I've just crossed the threshold.

Z. Kelly Queijo writes about business and technology, people and their passions.  She is a frequent contributor to Handshake 2.0. You can follow her on Twitter, @zkellyq.

Added 3/10/10:  Eclipse Winery has a new name - Attimo Winery!  We've changed the post's title to reflect Attimo's new name.

From Anne Clelland:

He's a microbiologist.  She's an architect.  They fell in love and bought a vineyard.

And they brought people together.

That could be a movie.

At a thank-you gathering given by Rik and Melissa Obiso for those who have been part of the start-up of Eclipse Winery, I was reminded frequently of films such as A Good Year and French Kiss where miracles of humanity and nature happen in a vineyard.

Besides an architect and a microbiologist, present were an extension service agent, a pro golf official, an art teacher, an inventive mechanic known as MacGyver, a university professor, a grandma, the neighbor from next door, the neighbor from over the hill, and running children (through grapevines).

Eclipse Winery belongs to the Obisos, of course, and yet...

"These are the vines I planted."  "When was bud break?"  "We have voles.  Do you have voles?"

Each person has a literal and figurative stake in the vineyard.  Each has planted grapevines, weeded grapevines, given knowledgeable or semi-knowledgeable advice on grapevines, fixed grapevine-tending equipment, or in some way joined Rik and Melissa Obiso in believing - not in a movie version - but in a real vineyard.

And not on a movie set, either.  In rural, southwest Virginia.

Each was drawn to the inexpressible magic, romance, and possibility of a vineyard. 

And to a young couple who, with love and belief, bought a vineyard.

The wine grapes grow at Eclipse Winery.

Guest columnists Rik and Melissa Obiso, co-owners of Eclipse Winery, LLC, a new winery located in the New River Valley of Virginia, write Today's Eclipse, a weekly wine recommendation for Handshake 2.0.  Eclipse Winery, LLC plans to open to the public as early as 2012.  The Eclipse Winery story, Couple hope grapes will yield dream business was featured in The Roanoke Times.  You're invited to read all the Today's Eclipse recommendations, more about Eclipse Winery, and about Rik Obiso on Handshake 2.0.  You can follow Eclipse Winery on Twitter @eclipsewinery.

Connecting you through wine

Product packaging and image are key ingredients for businesses with a consumer-driven product.  No matter what's inside, the consumer must first be drawn to the façade before they give it a try. 

The Voga Pinot Grigio, 2008, is a full-bodied white wine from the Northern regions of Italy.  The modern packaging of Voga Italia wines makes it stand out on the shelf, but the wine inside is what makes it a favorite spring white. 

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Guest columnists Rik and Melissa Obiso, co-owners of Eclipse Winery, LLC, a new winery located in the New River Valley of Virginia, write Today's Eclipse, a weekly wine recommendation for Handshake 2.0.  Eclipse Winery, LLC plans to open to the public as early as 2012.  The Eclipse Winery story, Couple hope grapes will yield dream business was featured in The Roanoke Times.  You're invited to read all the Today's Eclipse recommendations, more about Eclipse Winery, and about Rik Obiso on Handshake 2.0.  You can follow Eclipse Winery on Twitter @eclipsewinery.

From Anne Clelland:

Using my Twitter account, I posted this update:

"I make errors occasionally with retweets and URLs, but I don't want to use a Twitter tool. I want to READ the tweets of people I folllow."

I currently follow about 100 people.  I find myself able to read almost all of their Twitter updates - their tweets - each day.

On Twitter, I follow, and am followed by Z. Kelly Queijo.  With her account on Twitter, ZKQ apparently uses a tool to add 2/3 more followers than I do AND to read their tweets. 

She must have read mine because she sent me an email with this screenshot from her current tool of choice, TweetDeck:

You can click the image to enlarge it.

Well, that's cool.  But I like the people I follow.  I don't want to miss any of their tweets.

I will be forever influenced by the indominatble Virginia Tech economics professor Al Mandelstam, in times of indecision:  “What to do, kiddies?  What to do?”

Cameron Nouri calls Twitter an "essential app" for Rackspace.   Hmm.  I wonder what Twitter tool he uses...

Added 3/10/10:  Eclipse Winery has a new name - Attimo Winery!  We've changed the post's title to reflect Attimo's new name.

From Anne Clelland:

My company is a member of VT KnowledgeWorks, a business acceleration center for both start-ups and established companies. We talk entrepreneurship all day long, differentiating an entrepreneurial business model from a lifestyle business in terms of anticipating high-growth.

Those businesses look a lot alike at start-up.  They're very small.

Rik and Melissa Obiso, co-founders of start-up vineyard Eclipse Winery are entrepreneurs.  Not only do they anticipate high growth through international sales of their one-of-a-kind wines, but, like the most passionate entrepreneurs, they're already seeking investors to expand their operations for a teeny, tiny product, definitely still in development.

The start-up product
in development mode:
Cabernet franc grapes grow at Eclipse Winery

Did I mention the first bottle is expected in 2012?  Or that Eclipse Winery is determinedly located in Riner, Virginia?  That would not be in NoVa - Northern Virginia, near D.C. - but in what Mike Drzal, a leading attorney in venture capital with LeClairRyan, terms "RoVa - the Rest of Virginia."

I love entrepreneurs.

***

Wistfully, I disclose that I am not an investor in Eclipse Winery.  All of my investment dollars are currently funding another start-up - you guessed it - Handshake 2.0.  Eclipse Winery is not a client of Handshake 2.0, either.  They're currently buying grapevines.  I'm a fan.  And there's something about a vineyard...  

Entrepreneurship runs in the family at Eclipse Winery

***

As guest columnists, Rik and Melissa Obiso, co-owners of Eclipse Winery, LLC, a new winery located in the New River Valley of Virginia, write Today's Eclipse, a weekly wine recommendation for Handshake 2.0.  Eclipse Winery, LLC plans to open to the public as early as 2012.  The Eclipse Winery story, Couple hope grapes will yield dream business was featured in The Roanoke Times.  You're invited to read all the Today's Eclipse recommendations, more about Eclipse Winery, and about Rik Obiso on Handshake 2.0.  You can follow Eclipse Winery on Twitter @eclipsewinery.

Thanks to Denmark-based Thomas Baekdal, author of Baekdal.com: Online Magazine About the Great Experiences, for permission to post these fascinating graphs from his article, Where Is Everyone?, "a little tour through the history of information, or more specifically, where to focus your efforts if you want [to] get in touch with other people."  This thought-provoking article has over 100 comments and counting.

In the future, Baekdal predicts,"The information stream will be a natural part of every second of your life. It is not something you get, it is something you have."  He defines the "Targeted" future as you "in control over every single bit of information that flows your way."

In order to connect with others, Baekdal asks, "Are you making yourself a natural part of people's stream of information?"

Baekdal's conceptual graphic of the history of how people received information
and a prediction of how they will receive it in the future

Graphic with a linear timeline

We think this adds an interesting piece to the discussion of the "thought stream," the "information stream," what TechCrunch terms "nowness," and what Z. Kelly Queijo likened to an old-fashioned party line.

From Beth Barnett-Boebel:

Exciting news....The Fresh Palate  has a guest chef this week, Jang, who will create authentic Thai dishes especially for The Fresh Palate's customers.

For The Fresh Palate's menu, Chef Jang has selected Green Curry with Vegetables & Chicken (or Tofu), Spicy Beef Salad (Yum Nuae) and Pad Thai.

Haven't tried Thai food before? These dishes are the perfect entry into this cuisine. 

Not into Thai food?  May we suggest our freshly prepared Red Beans & Rice with Cornbread or Cheese Grits smothered with Shrimp & Cherry Tomatoes?  Perhaps you would prefer Spinach Walnut Gorgonzola Salad & Black Bean Grilled Cheese, or a Grilled Turkey & Cheddar Sandwich?

We invite you to place your order by midnight on Thursday,  May 28, for home delivery during the afternoon on Sunday, May 31.  We look forward to you savoring a fresh taste of Thai from The Fresh Palate.

***

A fresh home meal delivery service preparing home-cooked food for busy business people and their families in the New River Valley of Virginia, The Fresh Palate offers entrées and accompaniments created by Beth Barnett-Boebel, founder, Giovanni Guarini, Head Chef, and the culinary staff of The Fresh Palate. The Fresh Palate features local and organic ingredients whenever possible, a menu that changes weekly, and weekly delivery in environmentally conscious packaging.  You can read Fresh Ideas and Food and An Evening with The Fresh Palate on Handshake 2.0, follow The Fresh Palate on Twitter @TheFreshPalate, and become a fan on Facebook.

The Fresh Palate is a client of Handshake 2.0.  Photo credit:  Zane Queijo

A look at the events list for the Virginia Triathlon Series shows a race named differently from all the others:  Appalachian Power Smith Mountain Lake Triathlon. 

On the Subject of Regional Economic Development noted the benefits of hosting a local triathlon for the sake of regional economic development.

Appalachian Power sponsored a high-attendance, well-regarded sprint triathlon, gained the goodwill that rewards sponsors of charity events, and distinguished itself as a corporate brand associated with health and recreation on behalf of its home region.

Corporate sponsorship - including named sponsorship of the event - is available to benefactors of the New River Valley Triathlon 2010 with proceeds benefiting the Mental Health Association of the New River Valley.

Dear Getting a Grip:  I recently won an industry award and my co-workers chided me for not letting more people know.  What am I supposed to do in an age that values self-promotion when I was raised with the values of modesty and humility?

Dear Letting People Know:  What to do about self-promotion depends on which “self” and which “promotion.”

If you’re talking about a grandiose, arrogant, narcissistic "self" that seeks notoriety for its own needs, that’s probably not a self to put in the news.  If you’re talking about an accomplished, ethical, award-winning, expert self, that’s a self the world needs to know more about.

If you’re thinking about one meaning of “promote,” which is to attempt to increase status, that’s probably about power-seeking and begs the question, “What for?” 

If you’re considering another definition of “promote,” which is “to contribute to progress,” that one has merit.

Getting a Grip:  A reliable question to ask ourselves in ethical dilemmas is, “What am I doing and why?” 

Asking that question can help us make principle-based judgment calls - such as protecting us from false modesty that robs others of our much-needed gifts.  It can also limit arrogance-plus-status-seeking that can make us pretty tedious company. 

The synergy that comes from joining an accomplished, ethical “self” with “promotion” dedicated to progress - that self-promotion makes the world a better place. 

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Need to start “Getting a Grip” on a personal problem at work?  Need workplace advice?  E-mail your question to grip@handshake20.com.

Getting a Grip, a workplace advice column for Handshake 2.0, is written by Anne Giles Clelland.  Getting a Grip regrets that not all questions can be answered, personal replies are not possible, and questions may be edited for brevity and clarity.

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Getting a Grip appears monthly in Valley Business FRONT.