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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
How To Get Involved With Your Passions Printable Version PRINTABLE VERSION
by Tiara, Australia Jul 22, 2007
Media , Culture , Education   Opinions
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(original post: http://educatedeviate.wordpress.com/2007/07/01/how-to-get-involved-with-your-passions/)

How does a passionate person get involved with other passionate groups and people?

The main answer is that you have to go and look for those groups and people - expecting them to look for you will not yield much. You may be lucky and get discovered, but - like being rich, being famous, or finding the love of your life - a lot of it requires effort. Along the way you’ll also need to earn trust, work on communications skills, and do the work without blame or worry on someone holding you back.

Fortunately it isn’t that difficult to get started. Here are some starting points (as posted by me to jmnugent’s question) on getting involved with other passionate people:

FOLLOW EVERY LEAD

The thing about opportunities for passionate people is that once you find one, you end up finding a million more. All you really need to do is follow their lead.

Use Google (http://google.com/) (and other search engines) to the fullest - you can search blogs (http://blogsearch.google.com/), books (http://books.google.com/), and scholarly articles (http://scholar.google.com/) too. Find websites related to your passion, then find out who they link to and who links to them. A lot of those websites are communities, with members and resources, so you’re already in luck. Look for related discussion on blogs - often, the referenced websites and the websites of the commentors can also be useful sources. Look for Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/) articles on your passion, and follow links to referenced websites and related topics - more sources! Also, join email lists for your interests; often a lot of opportunities get passed around their members first before reaching the public.

A big thing that organizations and people with passion are doing is setting up a presence on social networking sites such as Facebook (http://facebook.com/) and MySpace (http://myspace.com/). Get an account at either website, add your friends, and start investigating for related groups and profiles. Plenty of passionate people and organizations have created their own MySpace profiles to promote and network - add all that interest you, and keep up with their activities through their bulletins and blog posts. There are also groups you can join, and you can find related profiles by going through their Friends list. While personal profiles on Facebook are meant to link people that know each other (random adding is discouraged), various groups are available to connect people with similar interests together - from a group created by an NGO to promote its activities, to a special interest group on an issue like conservation or public health. LiveJournal (http://livejournal.com/) is primarily a blog host; however, one of its strongest draws is its Communities, which are essentially a cross between a forum and a shared blog (depending on how the group owners and members use it) and can encompass many topics. Get an LJ and join some communities - if there isn’t one, start one!

The Internet, though handy, is obviously not the only source for information. Scour magazines and newspapers for related news reports or events. Most community publications would have some sort of a What’s Happening section for their area; read and check out some events, even if they don’t seem directly related. Academic journals are a very good way to stay informed on the latest research in your passion, as well as the people involved (more leads!).

Keep an eye out for fliers and posters in your community. Independently-owned shops are an especially good source for promotional material on communal activities. If you can’t afford to buy books, papers, or magazines, head to your local library - besides free reading material, they often have plenty of information about community activities and local issues. The librarians can also direct you to related resources if you ask.

Once you find one lead, follow all connecting leads - you’ll be surprised where you’ll end up.

PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE

If you want people to notice you, you need to make yourself available for noticing. There’s no shame in blowing your own horn occasionally.

Those leads you researched and followed, the events you’re going to? Use those times to mingle and get to know people. Bring some business cards, or more informal name cards (like Moo cards (http://moocards.com/)), and pass them out to the people you meet - and don’t forget to collect contact details too! Then follow up afterwards, even if it’s just a quick email to say “hi, it was nice to meet you”. A lot of people don’t bother following up, so you will definitely be remembered for doing so.

Writing is a very good way to get yourself noticed. You don’t necessarily need wordsmithing skills; just passion, dedication, and effort. The most common way is through blogging - either through starting your own blog about yourself or your passion, or by contributing and commenting to blogs on those topics. If you already have a good collection of resources and information about your passion, considering making a proper website. You can also combine blogs and general websites - having the foundational content (resources, 101s, links, etc) as pages on the website with a regularly updated blog for latest news and discussion. A good example of this is No Media Kings (http://nomediakings.org/), a blog and a fully fledged resource website on independent media. Another possible option is to write a manifesto ChangeThis (http://changethis.com/) manifesto, a website that publishes specially formatted PDFs on various topics related to business, culture, technology, and other issues. Some popular manifestos include Hugh MacLeod’s How To Be Creative (http://www.changethis.com/6.HowToBeCreative) and Seth Godin’s The Bootstrapper’s Bible (http://www.changethis.com/8.BootstrappersBible).





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meddahi | Aug 15th, 2007
[x] بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم والصلاة والسلام على إمام المرسلين وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين..أما بعـد إنـني غاضب جــدا جــدا لأن هذه المعوقات التي تريد أن توقف مسيرتي الأدبية من شدة الفـقـر والحرمان اللذان أعيش فيهما إنهما ليعيقان مسيرة الشعرية التي ستفيد الإنسانية جمعاء بإنشاءاته الإبداعية المتشعبة الأطراف... بـيـنما أنا أنــقـح قصيدة جديدة وأنتم بحكم ثقافتكم تعلمون أن العالم أو الأديب أو الشاعر يحتاج إلى الهدوء والراحة الجسمية والمعنوية وحتى الظروف المالية .. لكي يستطيع أن ينتج أدبا رفيعا يفــيـد الإنسانية جمعاء بإنشاءاته الإبداعية المتشعبة الأطراف... إذا بأمي المكرمة تعنفـني تعنيفا كبيرا لم تحتمله نفسي وأنتم تعلمون نفسية الشاعر الحساسة إلى أقصى حدودها المترامية ............... فقلت لها إنني أعمل من خلال قصيدتي التي أتمم أجزاءها بردار خيالي من أمكنة بعيدة لا يدرك كنهها إلا من أتاهم الله تعالى يصيرة شفافة وإنه عملٌ فكريٌّ لا يستطيعه إلا أولي الأحلام و النهى ولا يفهمه إلا ذوي الألباب الناضجة فهذا العمل ليس ككل الأعمال اليدوية البسيطة التي يستطيعها أي إنسان بعد خبرة قليلة فقالت لي بكل سخرية واستهجان إنك تهــذي.. إن هـذا الأدب الي أنت تُزاوله لا يجني عليك من المال شيئا ولا من جاها......... بل أنت تضيع وقتك هباء منثورا بينما أبوك يعمل ليصرف عليك فقلت لها يا أماه يا أماه يجب أن تفهمي مرادي البعيد وسيأتي اليوم الذي ستفهمين فيه قصديَ النبيل أنــــت لا تدركــين بُعـد عـملي الفكري هذا ولا غيرك من الناس الذين لا يؤمنون إلا بالمادة التي هم يتنعمون بها دون أن يُــؤدوا شكرها اللازم لأن المولى عز وجل قد سخرها لهم في هذه الحياة الدنيا الفانية فإن هذا الأدب الذي أنا أضحي ليلا ونهارا من أجله قد حباني الله تعالى به دون أن أدرس في كبريات الجامعات لله الحمد والمنة ………………. إنه عمل جليل يشرفك ويشرف أبي الذي هو يرعى هذه الموهبة الـفــذة و يشرف وطــني العزيز و الأمة الإسلامية جميعا فقالت إن الله تعالى لا ينزل عليك من السماء كنزا إذا لم تعمل في الأعمال اليدوية ستصاب بالفقر الذي سيدفعك إلى التسول يوما من الأيام ........... نعم إن أمي تبني أحكامها على الأوضاع الجارية في الأمة العربية والإسلامية ................. وتلك الأحكام منطقية إلى أبعد الحدود ..... فكم من الأدباء تشردوا وكم من الأدباء أصابهم اليأس والقــنوط من جراء التخلف والتشرذم الذي يجري حولهم ولكن تلك العهود قد مضت ولله الحمد ونحن نرى بشائر الرقي والازدهار بادية لكل من كان له قلب أو ألـقى الســمع وهــو شهـيـد ....... ولكن لا نلوم بعض الناس لأن عقولهم لا تدرك الإرهاصات المستقبلية ببعض العوامل التي تراها في الحاضر ........... وما أضيق الحياة لولا فُسحة الأمل ... ..آلمتـني كلماتها القاسية التي نزلت على قلبي كالصاعقة المحرقة التي تحرق من القلب الرهيف كل آماله وأحلامه التي كان يحلم بها طوال السنين القاسية وأضافت إلى أسماعي كلمات أخرى بكل برودة وقالت إن هؤلاء الذين يذيعون قصائدك لمَ لم يساعدوك حتى الآن لكي تكمل مسيرتك الأدبية التي تدعيها فقلت لها يا أمي كل شيء في أوانه ينضج إنني أتألم إن وجداني ينفجر من شدة الغضب لماذا أولئك الذين لا يملكون من الكفاءات إلا الشيء القليل نراهم يكرمون ويبجلون أمام أعيننا أما نحن الشعراء نعيش وسط الحرمان والفقر المدقع لماذا لماذا وألف لماذا إنني أستنكر هذا الإهمال هذه الشريحة التي تمهد لمستقبل زاهر تتنعم فيه البشرية بالأمن والسلام والمحبة الصادقة .......... لماذا هذه اللامبــلات التي طال زمانها ..أنظروا إلى الغرب كيف تقدم لأنهم يقدرون المواهب الإبداعية في أي مجال كان، لكي يُثروا مجتمعاتهم بالأشياء النافعة التي تعود على المجتمع بالخير والرفاهية الكبيرين لماذا نهين العقول الناضجة ونكرم العقول البائسة التي لا تنتج إلا بعض التفاهات التي لا تُسمن ولا تغني من جوع ..إنني أتألم وإن وجداني ليبكي من شدة هذه الإهانات المتعددة التي تنهال علي من حين لآخر كأمثال الحجارة الصماء التي لا تسمع ولا تــنـفع ..لماذا لا تنشؤون صندوقا خاصا بالمبدعين الذين يثبتون للساحة الأدبية أنهم قادرون على الإبداع و الإختراع والإنتاج سواء الإنتاج الفكر أو اليدوي المتوفر في كل مكان عكس الإنتاج الفكري النادر لأنه يعتمد على الموهبة المُعطاة التي تغــــــــوص في بحر التجارب لتكتسب المعرفة العميقة تلك المواهب التي تكتسب بعد سنوات من الجهد المضني المرير شخصـــــــــــية قــــــــوية لا تقـتـلعها حتى أعـتا الأعاصير المدمرة هذه الشخصية التي تحقق أهدافها بإذن ربها العلي العظيم لأن أهدافها سامية ونبيلة لا ينكرها أحد من الناس العقـلاء إنها تؤثرة في المجتمعات تأثيرا إيجابيا لأنها تعي ما تقول وما تفعل لا تندفع وراء الحماسة الزائدة التي تسبب آلاما للأمة العربية والإسلامية تزيد من أزماتها المعـددة التي هي بغنى عنها وخصوصا في هذه الظروف المحزنة التي تمر عليها الإنسانية جمعاء ... ولكن الخير آت آت آت إن شاء الله تعالى فلها من الحكمة الواعية التي تضع كل شيء في محله الذي يليق به.. إن هذا العصر الذي نوجد فيه لقد انبثقت فيه معظم العبقريات الكبيرة التي أثبتت وجودها بكل فاعلية ولكنها لا تلقى الرعاية الكاملة التي تحتفظ بهذه العقول التي تنفع البشرية جميعا ....؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟............؟ من أخوكم المعذب في الأرض الشاعر العصامي مداحي العيد من الجزائر الحبيبة إلى قلوبنا جميعا meddahi | Aug 15th, 2007 [x] MERCIFUL peace and prayers be on the senders and the machine owners and all .. After I am very, very angry because these constraints that want to stop my life literary The severity of poverty and deprivation in which they lived, which hinders the march of poetry that will benefit all mankind Banchaeath creative branched parties ... While I revise a new poem and you know that the ex Thagawickam world or writer or poet needs to be calm and relaxed physical, moral and even financial circumstances .. In order to be able to produce literature High benefit humanity Banchaeath creative branched parties ... If Pamy Mecca Tanfani Taneva not significantly unbearable myself and you know psychological poet sensitive to the limits vast ............... I told them that I am working through Gosaidti which Transact Brdar imaginary parts of the places far not only aware of essences Wrath of God Isaireh transparent He also worked for reconsideration first goal only dreams and Prevention nor understood only with mature minds. It is not a whole handicraft simple can in any human being yet little experience Li said both ironic and deploring you Theve .. This literature to you do you practice you do not reap money from nothing prestige ......... But you wasted your time squander your father worked for a while you spend I told them you Amah Amah you must run, I understand Moradi day will come when my noble Stphmin You Do you not yet practical intellectual in this crowd of people who believe not only that article are Itnamon without thanks to perform necessary because God Almighty has marshalled them in this mortal life This literature which I became a day and night in which he addressed to me may God by without studying in the major universities thankfully, the best ... ... ... ... ... .... That work Jalil Echervk oversees Abe who is a sponsor of this inimitable talent and oversees national Aziz and the Islamic Ummah all She said that God does not descend from the sky, you treasure if they do not operate in manual jobs will be hit by poverty, which will push you to begging Days ........... Yes, that my mother built its case on the current situation in the Arab and Islamic nation ................. Those provisions logical extremely ..... How many literary displaced How many writers and despair suffered as a result of underdevelopment and the fragmentation that was happening around them But those times have passed, thankfully, we see positive signs of progress and prosperity displaying each have a heart or hearing a martyr ....... But do not blame some people do not realize that their minds precursors future Some of the factors that you see in the present ........... The narrower life in the expanse of hope ... .. Matni her harsh blow to my heart thunderbolt Holocaust that burns the heart of every Alerhev hopes and dreams, which he had dreamed for years of harsh Her ears to the words of another All cooling She said that those who advertise Kassaedk It did not help you until now to complement it gives moral course I told them my mother everything in premature ripens I am hurt that emotional burst of intense anger Why Those who do not have the skills, very little We see them honored and have revered Before our eyes As poets we live amid deprivation and extreme poverty Why, why and why A. I deplore this neglect of this tranche, which will pave the way for a bright future Ttnam human security and peace and love and sincere .......... Why this Allamblatt long time .. Look at how the West provided they appreciate the creative talent in any field was so enriched their objects beneficial to society and the well-being of the great minds mature Why humiliate honoring minds miserable not only produce some platitudes that do not protect fatten or hunger .. I am hurt and emotional cry of the severity of these multiple insults heaped upon from time to time Like unto stones dumb not hear no avail .. Why not Tencion special fund creators who prove to the literary arena they are capable of creativity and invention Both production and production of thought or manual Available everywhere in reverse intellectual production rare because it depends on the talent given by Sank in the Sea of tests to gain deep knowledge of those talents acquired after years of painstaking effort bitter strong personal Tuguetlaha not even Atta devastating hurricanes These personal permission achieve its objectives because the Lord Almighty objectives and lofty undeniably one of the people Sensible It preferences positive impact in the communities because they understand what it says and do not go beyond the euphoria which cause suffering to the Arab and Islamic nation further crises that are listed unnecessary, especially In these sad circumstances with the whole of humanity ... But goodness AT AT tires that, God willing, It may be prudent to develop conscious everything in place that it deserves .. That era find it has emerged how ingenious the most significant proved themselves both effective, but do not receive full care they retain minds that benefit all humankind ....???????????????? ?............? Your brother of the martyred poet in the land of self-reliant Mdahi feast Algeria beloved to all our hearts بلغ عن هذا المقال أو التعليقات عليه لTakingITGlobal علىeditorial@takingitglobal.org. يرجى ادراج الموقع أو العنوان بالتحديد للمقال الذي تقرأه والسبب وراء تبليغك عنه. اصنع العلاقات | تحرك | تصفح المصادر | عبر عن نفسك | تفهم القضايا | اكتشف



?!
AhMaD Abed Elmonem Elhaw | Aug 25th, 2007
Did you know you can use your education and experience to benefit SFU and its Alumni Association? Fill in our Where's Your Passion for SFU form and let us know about the skills and talents that you have to offer. We can then contact you when an opportunity arises. As an active and committed volunteer organization, the SFU Alumni Association conveys alumni interests and concerns to the university. Through the talent and perspective of our alumni from across Canada and around the world, we act as ambassadors on behalf of the university. We also partner with the university to offer programs that will ensure the sustainability of the Association and enable it to continue its good work. We promise you a volunteer experience that is challenging, enjoyable and rewarding.For more information please contact



Very educative..
Osamuyi Okpame | Oct 26th, 2007
I find the tips and suggestions you provided very useful. Thanks



My Passion is for networking
Larry Ron Kali | Nov 18th, 2007
Hello Tiara, I love this article, thank you for writing it. You offer some really good ideas for building up my resources for passionate net-workers. What was your motivation for writing this piece? Just curious. Larry



Y-Nhi Mai | Aug 17th, 2008
thank you for this post!

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