Giving Back - Raul Colon - photographer, digital marketer & writer living on the beach in Puerto Rico.

Learning by Investing Time for a Good Cause @soleplus

November 21, 2011 by Raul Colon

A few months ago I read about the awesome effort of Sole Plus by my good friend @ricklipsett since he has been donating his time to help out our youth. Rick is a very talented artistic friend that does a lot with his own resources to promote art.

Last Saturday I was able to spend time with Rick Lipsett while he ran the Sole Plus part of the Converse Open Gym in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

I was able to see how Rick set up the work area where the kids where going to be creating art in the form of the concept of a Converse Sneaker.

For those of you not familiar with Open Gym it is an event sponsored by Converse in which they have a Basketball Tournament and activities around the tournament in which the participants are given free resources such as jerseys, haircuts, and even photos on a blue screen where they appear to be posing with NBA Players.

Overall I was happy to see such a well-organized event in which the community gets really involved.

This also gave me an awesome opportunity to spend time with my good friend Rick and local artists Ivelisse Brigoni and Erick Carreras better known as EKC 4.

If you want to learn more about my experience at the Converse Open Gym Sole Plus event feel free to read my post on the complete experience at PapaHeroes.

11 Puppies Need a home ASAP

March 27, 2011 by Raul Colon

As part of me having a Vegetarian Lifestyle and being a dog lover, it is very hard for me to hear this kind of news happening in Puerto Rico.

These situations happen so often on the Island I feel helpless so I pass along this info as we shared it on @veglatino and provided by our friend @mark_hayward.

Today we were notified by @Mark_Hayward via twitter that 11 puppies were abandoned and rescued by him and his wife Terrie. Here is what Mark stated to us,

“The pups were dumped on the road as you head towards Zoni Beach on Culebra. Terrie brought to the vet in Fajardo yesterday for de-worming and vaccines. There are tons of pics on Animal Welfare of Culebra Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Animal-Welfare-of-Culebra

If people want to adopt we do a very thorough screening process — check with their vet, etc. Also, Animal Welfare of Culebra is 100 percent support by donations so if people want to help out they can donate by following this link – http://animalwelfareculebra.org/support/

This picture touches our heart in a profound way because we have a black labrador at home. Please forward this post to all of those who may be interested.

Photo Credit : @mark_hayward

Sending Positive Vibes Via MP3

February 27, 2011 by Raul Colon

One of the blogs I always have my radar on and try to read it’s refreshing content as soon as its published is brandsavant.com by @webby2001.

Today while reading the tweets of another blogger who I admire @thebrandbuilder I read the following tweet:

[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/thebrandbuilder/status/41261078210027520″]

I hit the link and to my surprise I landed on @webby2001’s blog which had an awesome idea on sending a positive message via mp3 so it could be played to our brothers in New Zealand.

The power of people caring can be very powerful and will help New Zealand get back on their feet. It will not cost you a cent only a few minutes and like me you might even learn a few things:

Here’s what you can do – and it won’t cost you a cent. Ande and the rest of his team aren’t playing commercials right now – no one wants to hear about fast food or shoe sales when so many are homeless, missing and lost. Instead, they’d like to hear you. So I’m collecting your voices – your words of support – to send him, to play on radio stations throughout New Zealand.
All you need to do is record a quick MP3 file that gives your name, where you are from, and a short (5-10 seconds) message of hope, to tell the people of New Zealand that we are thinking of them during this very dark time. Please email those .MP3 files to me at a special email address I’ve set up at help_nz_audio at fastmail.fm (heck, spammers be darned – here it is: help_nz_audio@fastmail.fm) I’ll make sure he gets them, and that your voices ring out across the Land Of The Long White Cloud.

I have to applaud New Zealand radio stations for making it a priority to motivate their listeners instead of trying to worry about making income in such a tragedy. I wonder if Local Radio Stations would do the same in the U.S. or here in Puerto Rico.

Go ahead and send your file with positive vibes to @webby2001. I was a bit resistant to create mine but the motivation of having someone feel they are not forgotten motivated me to do something I was not to familiar with like creating an mp3 file. Are you up for the challenge?

Do you know of any similar stories of how a business or radio station decided to focus on giving to the community in a time of need over making income?

photo credit by ataraxis

Ted Williams is a good example of @jimkukral’s Attention!

January 9, 2011 by Raul Colon

I started reading today Attention! This Book Will Make You Money: How to Use Attention-Getting Online Marketing to Increase Your Revenue
(amazon affiliate link). The book was recommended by @chrisbrogan on his blog yesterday “ATTENTION MATTERS IN 2011“.Given that it was available on the Ipad I quickly bought it.

Attention is one of those books where you start reading and you don’t want to stop. In the beginning the author @jimkukral challenges the reader into practicing what the book is about.

I thought the challenge was very authentic like many of the experiences @jimkukral speaks about in the book. Thinking of the challenge I started thinking of someone who executed exactly what @jimkukral talks about in the book.

If someone did attract attention this past weeks to improve his life was the Story of Ted Williams a homeless man who with a great spirit of hope an determination caught the eye of a local reporter which took a video of him which went viral. If you get a chance to read @jimkukral’s book you can see many similar examples on how something out of the ordinary can bring great benefits.

I was very touched by the story of Ted Williams and how he got the attention of mainstream media using social media. I have seen most interviews of Ted Williams on Youtube (and I have to admit I did cry in a few). Since I don’t watch much TV I created a blog post “Golden Voice = Ted Williams = 2nd Chance” to later realize I was a bit late on hearing about his story.

There where a few points that really stood out from Ted William’s attitude which I think go in Line with @jimkukral’s book.

He never gave up. Listening to interview with he gave the Today Show along his mom he spoke on how he always believed that his God given talent would help him get back on his feet. It was interesting how even his mom did not believe in him. Sometimes we give up on people and sometimes does people we give up on need someone to still give them hope.

He was not afraid to ask for help. Many of us have fallen in many ways and have had our own versions of hardships. The people who are always willing to ask genuinely for help are those that will receive it.

He disappointed a few but gained a lot. Even though his mom was very embarrassed at him panhandling he did get his message across with a sign and his honesty. Sometimes to get what you want you might disappoint even your closest family members. Ted proved that even if his mom is upset at the way he approached his situation. Ted’s intentions where very positive and did work out to his benefit showing once again that only oneself knows the right path go take.

He was vary Grateful. In most of the video I have seen he shows tremendous gratitude to everyone interviewing him and all those who are offering him opportunities. This was the quality that really impressed me since so many people sometimes are not grateful enough for the opportunities they have day by day.

Many of us have been in difficult situations. In my case just a year ago I was struggling to even buy groceries. I handed over my house a few months ago to Banco Popular since they are an organization which tries to profit even in the worst of situations.

Many people did not understand why I did not fulfill Banco Popular’s (@mibanco) ridiculous requests. When I lost my job and set up a business and hardly had enough for groceries they saw an opportunity to hit me with ridiculous fees (attorney, Late fees, and more interest) and expect me to hand them over a huge profit creating by my difficult situation.

Just like Ted I decided that I rather start over again and give @mibanco the house they had given me a mortgage loan (which I paid for several years).

Other than having to move 2010 was great year with ups and downs but many lessons, I can’t wait to see what is waiting for me in 2011 especially with my title as New Dad.

In 2011 I really want to make the best of it. I believe in Ted, in myself, and I believe in you making 2011 and awesome year!

What are you waiting for to land that next deal? Get that job you really wanted?

Go on vacation to that place where you always wanted to go?

Or simply if you feel like things are not working out recently what are you waiting for to start all over again?

What did Ted inspire in you to improve your life a bit more?

How are you going to attract the attention of those who have great opportunities awaiting for you?

If you have some time and want to learn more about @jimkukral watch this video which also was embedded on @chrisbrogan’s blog post:

Golden Voice = Ted Williams = 2nd Chance

January 8, 2011 by Raul Colon

For those of you who are baseball fans this post is about another Ted Williams.

I was reading @chrisbrogan’s blog when I read @danieldecker had sent him [amazon_link id=”1591843626″ target=”_blank” ]The Price of Everything[/amazon_link] (affilitate link) which I am very interested in buying and reading. I went ahead and took a look at @danieldecker’s blog and found “What can we learn from Ted Williams? The homeless man with the Golden Voice” a post written by him. It initially caught my eye thinking he was talking about the great baseball star. But reading the first few lines and watching the following video the post got very interesting.

I read and commented on @danieldecker’s post because on few occasions does someone complement video and text in such a way to take a message and make a good case. I can genuinely say @danieldecker had me thinking on some of the ways we act especially when he ends his post inviting you to watch a second video which once again makes us think on how many of us act.

Their are many Ted Williams on the street which have great talent but a few bumps in the road made them homeless.I really have to applaud @danieldecker for taking the time to write a post on such an awesome story. These are the great stories that would not reach the masses if it was not for the great channels of social media.

Have you ever thought of what would you do, if all of sudden you and your family ended up on the street?

If you have the privilege of having a roof over your head and this year is bringing great things take a minute and visit invisiblepeople.tv and help out a few that are not as fortunate as yourself?

Help @hardlynormal with his battle against people not having a roof!