Friday Menagerie: Collection #25

This week’s Menagerie includes:
★ Links from Brenna Ehrlich, Henri Junttila, Willie Jackson, Formstack, David Cain, Seth Godin & Laura Roeder
★ Tweets from Josh Pais, Nathalie Lussier, Colin Beveridge, Hiro Boga, Justin Lukasavige, Danielle LaPorte & Vevice
★ And a jukebox time machine back to January, 2001.
Please to enjoy!

Links Don’t Cost A Thing

• We all know the importance of backing up our data (not that we all actually do so as often as we should, but at least we know we oughta be). But we still often exclude the data not stored on our own harddrives–our data at Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, our websites, Flickr, and the like. If you’re not backing those up and the thought of losing any of the information there makes your stomach do a flip-flop, check out Brenna Ehrlich’s helpful guide to backing up your social media.
• The consistently brilliant Henri Junttila serves up a shift in perspective, worth-pondering thoughts, and some actionable tips for dealing with too many ideas. This combination of thoughtful analysis, out-of-the-norm perspectives and practical, actionable steps is precisely why Henri is brilliant: he doesn’t just ponder (though he does that well) and he doesn’t just spout tips (though the ones he gives are great). He shows you the why, the context and the issues, and he offers ways of moving forward. If you haven’t subscribed to his blog, I highly recommend doing so. It’s worth a spot in your feedreader or email inbox.
• I so enjoy Willie Jackson‘s “Just Me” post. He says he “missed the conformity indoctrination growing up” (haha + woo-hoo) and that he “take[s] comfort in the fact that I’m uniquely suited to fulfill my destiny here on earth based on the person I am. Not the person I feel like I should be. Not the person I envisioned myself growing up to be. Just me.” Great reminder for all of us (because that same thing is true for you and me, y’know).
• Speaking of Willie, he shared a link to Formstack’s anatomy of a perfect landing page, which is a great primer on what elements are useful on landing pages, why they’re useful & tips to consider when setting up your next landing page.
• David Cain dug around and came up with the straight dope on Kiva. How Kiva actually works is quite a bit different than how most people think Kiva actually works, which is, as David notes, by design. I especially liked the article because he doesn’t slam Kiva for the sleight-of-hand, but acknowledges why it’s probably essential to its survival that it do so. It results in an informative and thought provoking article that may not change your decision on whether to give through Kiva (David closes by saying he’s still on board & believes Kiva’s doing good, so this isn’t an article designed to dissuade giving), but will at least give you the full picture of what’s happening when you’re giving.
• “Even if you’re a pop star, you don’t need everyone to be a fan or a customer. And especially if you’re not a pop star, worrying about whether everyone laughs at your jokes, buys your product or even likes you is counterproductive.” –Seth Godin on why it probably doesn’t bother Lady Gaga that he doesn’t listen to her music
• Laura Roeder has a good reminder: Do not treat your hired help like “the hired help.” It’s really a reminder about The Golden Rule, but putting it in the context of the people you hire is worth two minutes of consideration.

With Tweets Wide Open

• Note To Self: You want to be an artist? Make art. You want to be an emailer? Make email. @JoshPais
• Sometimes you think you lost a sock, but it turns out you just found a sock. #TrueInLifeAndBusiness @NathLussier
• Challenge for the day: I bet I can have more fun than you. @icecolbeveridge
• When you invoke the spirit of transformation, you are extending an invitation to your unfolding future to come and meet you. @HiroBoga
• Knowledge is knowing tomatoes are fruit. Wisdom is not putting them in a fruit salad. @pastdue
• Passion will always move you in the direction of your authentic self. @DanielleLaPorte
• For a moment, I thought, “Man, I wish my oven was self cleaning.” Then I thought about scrubbing it. Then I realized I don’t give a shit. @vevice

This Week’s Jukebox: Time Machine Edition – Flashback to January 2001

If you’re viewing this in a feed reader or email, you may need to click through to see the videos.

I love going “back in time” through music. Listening to a playlist of music from a particular time takes me right back to what was happening then in my life, in the world in general. Here’s what was happening (on the Top 40 charts) ten years ago.

01. Love Don’t Cost A Thing by Jennifer Lopez

02. With Arms Wide Open by Creed

03. Independent Woman Part 1 by Destiny’s Child

04. Again by Lenny Kravitz

05. By Your Side by Sade

06. He Loves You Not by Dream

07. If I Am by Nine Days

Image credit: SF Brit | CC License