Google+ is Google’s foray into social networking and how to use it for business is the topic of Google+ for Business by marketing expert and social media evangelist Chris Brogan. In the book, which I read on my Kindle Fire, Chris overviews Google+ with a focus on business. Considering the challenge of writing a book during the infancy of the social network I thought the book capably reviewed the features of Google+ while teaching principles that are applicable to any social network.

Be Friendly

Chris writes, “People do business with people they like.” To succeed with social network it is paramount to be friendly, personable, and share content that matters to your audience. Finding the right mix of business and personal probably depends a lot on the industry, audience, and product.

Key Points

The points that Chris reinforced with examples and interviews throughout the book were:

• Share links, videos, articles, and updates that are interesting and relevant to your audience
• Listen to the conversation about your market and product
• Add value to the conversation with insights and expertise

Have a Set of Rules of Engagement

Chris advocates for a set of rules of engagement for employees that are going to be using Google+ and other social networks for business. “Rules of

Engagement” is another way of having a policy. I recently wrote on the whether the rules of engagement should permit fire and EMS personnel to post photos in uniform or with department vehicles or equipment.

The rules of engagement will vary for your industry or organization and should trend towards sharing, connecting, and focusing efforts. I am regularly fine tuning my personal rules of engagement for social media usage. After reading I have renewed focus for my online activities. I want to ensure my online identity matches with my self-identity. I see myself as a content creator, educator, paramedic, and marathon runner. I want to ensure that is the identity my online connections are seeing as well.

Are you on Google+? I would be glad to add you to my EMS Circle. 

Links

• Greg Friese on Google+
• Chris Brogan Google Plus
• More books for the Everyday EMS Reader

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Thanks to Dey Pharma I received the new EpiPen training materials. You can visit their website to view a training video on using the new and improved EpiPen.

Training Materials for the new EpiPen

I also received this splendid hoodie and matching set of wine glasses from my friends at Road ID. Thanks!

Hoodie!

Most of the books I read in January arrived on my Kindle, rather than the mail. A new site feature in January is an Everyday EMS reader bookstore. Enjoy.

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Last week I contributed a guest post to the FireGeezer blog about my experience with the Kindle Fire. My post was one of several about the Kindle ereader, Kindle Fire, and Kindle Apps. Check them out.

Product Review – the Kindle E-Reader
Product Review – the Kindle Fire Tablet
Kindle Apps for Laptops
Product Review – Kindle Apps for Smartpones

Share you Kindle experiences, appreciation for other ereaders, and suggestions for the Everyday EMS Tips EMS book store in the comments.

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I was fortunate to receive a review copy of Three Cups: a lesson in life and money for children (Amazon affiliate link) from booksneeze.com just before Christmas. In a quick and easy to understand parable, Three Cups introduces children to some foundational money management principles. Any household or personal budget needs to begin with spending, saving, and giving equal to what you make. The Three Cups in the parable are Give, Save, and Spend.

My son, age six, has read Three Cups several times on his own and I asked him to share what he learned. He writes, “I learned that you should give to families in need things that they might need.” He also shared, “I can give my money to the bank and they will save it.” Of course these are good lessons for him to learn by watching and hearing our conversations about how we save, spend, and give and Three Cups does a nice job reinforcing those lessons.

Three Cups Book Review

For the adult version of Three cups I highly recommend the Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey.

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I am convinced that in the workplace any incident of wrong doing – cheating, stealing, etc. – is always witnessed or realized by a co-worker. The part I have never understood is the lengths individuals will go to either pretend what they know is happening is not happening or protect someone that is clearly violating rules, ethics, or individuals. I just don’t get it.

Paramedic Bob Sullivan, at the EMS Patient Perspective, reminded us early in the month about how important it is to Do the Right Thing.

Brandon Otto shared a great set of notes and observations from the Western Massachusetts EMS Conference. As a speaker I would be thrilled to see if an attendees notes matched the key points I was trying to make.

The Rogue Medic uses his impressive skills in medical illustration to explain Why CPR Doesn’t Work for Trauma.

Jamie Davis, the Podmedic, interviews author Sandra Crowe about her book, Since Strangling is Not an Option. Oddly the holidays often remind us and lead to encounters with the most difficult people in our life. Get some tips from Jamie and Sandra.

David Konig, the Social Medic, shares 6 tips for EMS coverage at special events. I want to know if the wrestlers are really hurt of if that is part of the act. Do you know?

BetsyDuck at the Rescue Digest Blog explains how Keynote presentations at EMS conferences helps us know who we are and know about the group we belong to.

Do you know what you want to do after being a paramedic? This EMS1.com article shares 9 Reasons Why Nursing Should be Your Next Career Move.

Remember one of the best places to find blogs by paramedics is Paramedic.Alltop.com.

What were your favorite blog posts from November? What would you like to read more about? 

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Poke the Box is the first manifesto published by Seth Godin’s new venture the Domino Project. The premise of the book is:

1. You have ideas.

2. Start working on an idea.

3. Ship the results of your idea.

4. Repeat.

You can do this.

Go. Ship. Now.

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Did you take advantage of the Living Social deal of the day yesterday – a $20 Amazon gift card for $10? I did and now I have the urge to spend. The genius of this deal is that the more than 1.3 million gift card holders will certainly spend more than $20.

My recommendations for a book, an appliance, and a gadget.

1. Book. Rescuing Providence by Lt. Michael Morse. Listen to a Medical Author Chat interview with Lt. Morse.

2. Appliance. Immersion Blender. I use my immersion blender all the time for homemade smoothies. Yum!

3. Gadget. Put your $10 of free Amazon money towards a Kindle Wireless Reading Device
e-reader. A Kindle or a Kindle smartphone app can go wherever you go without having to actually carry books around with you.

How are you going to spend your Living Social Amazon deal?

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The guys in the brown truck are running lots of calls to Everyday EMS Tips Headquarters. I am stockpiling books, clothing, and other gear for an after Christmas giveaway. More details to come.

Books: Rescuing Providence and Flesh Mechanic

I just received two new books from EMS authors. Rescuing Providence is from Lt. Michael Morse. Flesh Mechanic is from Russ Reina.

I am scheduling Medical Author Chat podcast interviews with both authors in 2011. Have you read either book?

Reflective Apparel

I received an impressive collection of high visibility ANSI compatible outerwear from the Reflective Apparel Factory. A couple of jackets, several different types of vests, and a mesh, neon green reflective vest.

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Duct Tape is Not Enough

Reaching Home

Dr. Breazeale explains how Reaching Home is a book about reslience and how storytelling can be used for teaching. We dug into the importance of resilience for overcoming adversity and dealing with hard times.

The workbook, Duct Tape is Not Enough, teaches 11 skills and attitudes, including the importance of conectedness, flexibility, and optimism. Duct Tape is Not Enough is a six hour training program for group or individual study. Two of the DVDs feature stories told by a mix of people including a firefighter and a health care professional. We discussed the application of resilience training to health care professionals.

We concluded our conversation with advice from Dr. Breazeale for aspiring writers. He emphasized the importance of how a good editor helped him improve as a writer.

You can learn more at ReachingHome.com

Have you read the novel Reaching Home or participated in a Duct Tape is Not Enough workshop? Please share your experiences in the comments area.

Amazon.com editors have selected their top books of 2010. My personal reading efforts have picked up steam in 2010, especially when the weather was cold and dark. I thought I would share my top books of 2010 … at least so far.

1. Scent of the Missing (Amazon link, Everyday EMS Tips Review – coming soon)

2. Frantic (Amazon link, Everyday EMS Tips Review)

3. Rework (Amazon link, Everyday EMS Tips Review)

Also if we are connected at LinkedIn.com we can share reading lists.

What is on your list of Best Books for 2010?

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