Funny thing about the internet: you cant smell anything on it, but certain stories sure can cause a stink.

Two days ago, we told you about the meteoric rise of the latest viral video, Kony 2012, that didnt make the rounds on the internet so much as it grabbed the internet by the eyeballs and forced everybody to look directly at it. In the four days since it was uploaded to YouTube, the video has amassed nearly 58 million views while viral news of it has no doubt permeated your Facebook and Twitter feeds.

The video, in the impossible case it that hasnt yet osmosis-ed itself into your brain from at least one kind of media outlet, was created and released by Invisible Children, an organization thats been trying for years to draw worldwide attention toward Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony and his Lords Resistance Army. The Lords Resistance army is a special breed of awful because, aside from being Konys personal army, its made up of kidnapped children-turned-soldiers responsible for horrors ranging from hacking apart victims bodies to using abducted girls as sex slaves.

At any rate, you can see how theres high emotional appeal that would likely resonate with most people containing even a sliver of sympathy. More, as with all things that finally have A Moment in the media, there is now the inevitable backlash against Kony 2012 criticizing Invisible Childrens approach.

So it goes.

Whats odd about Kony 2012s success, though, isnt that it went viral so quickly but rather why it went viral in the first place. Invisible Children has been trying to raise awareness about Kony since 2004 when the eponymous Invisible Children film was released, the groups first attempt to bring attention to Konys atrocities. Invisible Children have released 11 films in all yet this is the first one to truly achieve a viral, nigh-zeitgeist status. In fact, its taken Invisible Children so long to finally land a hit with their films that Joseph Kony isnt even in Uganda anymore (he reportedly left in 2006).

Some of the success has been attributed to Invisible Childrens goal of enlisting the help of culturemakers. Others have asserted that Kony 2012 succeeded due to clever marketing on social media. Both of these belie Invisible Childrens previous efforts by assuming such endorsements and technologies werent used to propel their videos into the limelight. For one, Lady Gaga endorses a ton of things but not nearly all of them catch on the way Kony 2012 has. She and others have got a magic, but its far from being a true Midas touch.

The most salient difference between Kony 2012s world and the world of Invisible Childrens previous videos, I believe, is something far more simple: timing. The towering success of the anti-SOPA movement, Planned Parenthood supporters organizing to turn back Susan G. Komens decision to de-fund the organization, or even the recent backlast that has sent supporters fleeing from Rush Limbaugh due to his misogynistic remarks about Sandra Fluke all have helped build and fortify the edifice of social medias power. It could be argued that Kony 2012 was a beneficiary of those previous campaigns that, one, established the social media political infrastructure, and two, demonstrated that it works.

As these movements cycle more regularly and enjoy an ever-quickening ascent-descent with the worlds favor, though, do we run the risk of diminishing the potency of the viral campaign-as-political device the more these campaigns happen? Im in no way saying that itll be Invisible Childrens fault were viral campaigns to falter in the future whatever your feelings about the groups methods, good on IC for finally getting the world to pay attention to how horrible Kony is but rather highlighting the fact that these viral campaigns seem to be happening an awful lot lately.

Indeed, you can have too much of a good thing and so I fear that, after eventually growing tired of the endless parade of Next Big Things from the internet, instead of catching wind of political campaigns that really deserve our attention, the public will begin to simply hold their breath until the trend passes along and disappears into the trunks of internet fads.

Continued here:
Kony 2012: The Anatomy Of A Viral Success

Peezy's Giovanna Forte says even random personal connections can make the difference between success and failure for innovative businesses

Two chance conversations ten years apart has led one business to launch an NHS approved device that will save women from the ignominy of weeing on their hands when providing urine samples.

London-based Peezy began selling its sampling system directly to NHS hospitals and GPs on March 1 after more than three years of trying.

Giovanna Forte, Peezys managing director, said her break came from meeting an adviser in 2001 and then bumping into her again at a trade show in Germany.

She (SNP: ^SHEY - news) recalls: Ten years ago I met through Business Link someone called Margaret Parton, who said this idea needs developing, do it. So I did and then I went to Medica (Frankfurt: A0REC2 - news) in 2010 and went to the UK Trade & Investment stand in Dsseldorf and she was there.

She said, 'What does it look like? Oh, its so beautiful. The people you need to talk to at the Department of Health (Euronext: IXSHL.NX - news) and in the supply chain, here are the five names.

I said 'I have been trying to contact those five names for two years. And she said, 'Its Friday now, call them after Tuesday. Low and behold it worked. Its all about finding a champion. It took her three phone calls to change the whole future of our business.

The power of personal connections was also evident for Peezys fund-raising, which has just closed at 1m twice the amount Ms Forte was seeking and attracting two Premiership footballers among her 48 shareholders.

My ex-boyfriends, ex-girlfriend introduced me to someone in the City who has single-handedly attracted the angel investors, Ms Forte said.

In total she has raised 2m to bring the device, invented by her GP brother Vincent in 2000, to market. During the first five years, Ms Forte explored the idea in her spare time, but has focused on the project since 2005.

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Champion helps launch NHS urine sampling device

Peezy's Giovanna Forte says even random personal connections can make the difference between success and failure for innovative businesses

Two chance conversations ten years apart has led one business to launch an NHS approved device that will save women from the ignominy of weeing on their hands when providing urine samples.

London-based Peezy began selling its sampling system directly to NHS hospitals and GPs on March 1 after more than three years of trying.

Giovanna Forte, Peezys managing director, said her break came from meeting an adviser in 2001 and then bumping into her again at a trade show in Germany.

She (SNP: ^SHEY - news) recalls: Ten years ago I met through Business Link someone called Margaret Parton, who said this idea needs developing, do it. So I did and then I went to Medica (Frankfurt: A0REC2 - news) in 2010 and went to the UK Trade & Investment stand in Dsseldorf and she was there.

She said, 'What does it look like? Oh, its so beautiful. The people you need to talk to at the Department of Health (Euronext: IXSHL.NX - news) and in the supply chain, here are the five names.

I said 'I have been trying to contact those five names for two years. And she said, 'Its Friday now, call them after Tuesday. Low and behold it worked. Its all about finding a champion. It took her three phone calls to change the whole future of our business.

The power of personal connections was also evident for Peezys fund-raising, which has just closed at 1m twice the amount Ms Forte was seeking and attracting two Premiership footballers among her 48 shareholders.

My ex-boyfriends, ex-girlfriend introduced me to someone in the City who has single-handedly attracted the angel investors, Ms Forte said.

In total she has raised 2m to bring the device, invented by her GP brother Vincent in 2000, to market. During the first five years, Ms Forte explored the idea in her spare time, but has focused on the project since 2005.

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Champion helps launch NHS device

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) March 09, 2012

Shellie Hunt has been described in the international press as One of the best orators and coaches of human potential available for public speaking and a master of business success and multiple sources of income. But for Hunt, success is only the beginning. International speaker, successful global entrepreneur, author, and loving mother, Hunt is adding executive TV producer to her growing repertoire after signing an agreement with Beverly Hills attorney Ken Browning, whose A-list clients include Suze Orman, William Morris, Russell Crowe and other industry professionals. The partnership comes at the opportune moment for Hunt, who is developing her latest creation, an empowerment TV show, ReMake MY Life.

Hunt has dedicated her life to inspiring personal potential, business success, corporate leadership, and advancing her own successful businesses including Success is by Design, ReMake MY Life LLC, and The Women of Global Change, to name a few. The partnership with Browning is a likely fit for the executive TV producer, who has displayed superior tenacity throughout over 25 years of industry experience.

"I feel elated about bringing awareness, knowledge, and camaraderie to mass media. This is a great partnership for the future, and I'm honored and humbled to be a part of it," said Hunt.

Perhaps its from humble beginnings that passion, determination and an eye for success have coalesced into a future where success is only the beginning. Having grown up in poverty, Hunts personal business success reflects her mission and coaching paradigm: Success is by Design. The agreement with Browning is the hallmark of past hardship, present success and a bright future with abundant opportunities for her to now inspire, empower and bring business success to the masses.

About Shellie Hunt -- Shellie Hunts gift of transformational impact has taken her clients beyond motivation to lasting results through teaching the precise How to in the designs of your success from the inside out. Her successes include, global entrepreneur, life coach, international motivational speaker, trauma expert, author of the Success is by Design series, and TV executive producer. Shellie currently is a proud member of the Alliance of Women and Media, which promotes positive progress and change for women and sat as a judge for the 2011 nationally televised Gracie Awards. More about Shellie Hunt can be found at http://www.successisbydesign.com.

Originally posted here:
Celebrity Attorney Partners With Executive TV Producer Promoting Business Success

By Eva Kuehnen and Annika Breidthardt

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The European Central Bank signaled its policy course was slowly turning on Thursday, delivering a surprise warning on inflation and calling governments and banks to build on its recent blitz of radical support measures to foster a full crisis recovery.

The ECB kept interest rates at a record of low of 1 percent for a third month running as expected, after completing two monster injections of cheap cash which have flushed over a trillion euros of three-year money into the euro zone.

Despite lowering its euro zone growth forecasts, it strengthened its rhetoric about a euro zone recovery, saying there were signs of a pick up, rather than the phrase "tentative signs" it has used since the start of the year.

The central bank also raised its forecasts for inflation this year, partly because of climbing oil prices.

"At least for the time being, a rate cut is clearly off the table ... they took away the easing bias," said ING economist Carsten Brzeski. "They sounded a bit more positive but staff projections were worse ... at least the chance of the euro zone falling off the cliff is very low right now."

ECB President Mario Draghi left little doubt that unless there was a relapse in the debt crisis, the bank had now done all it planned to in terms of extraordinary measures and that governments and banks needed to take up the baton.

"Both LTROs (3-year loan injections) have had such a powerful effect ... we have to see exactly how the financial landscape has changed as a result," Draghi told the post meeting news conference.

"I think the ball is in the governments' and the other actors' - especially banks - court to continue their reforms, to repair their balance sheets so that they can actually support the - especially banks now - support the recovery."

MIXED FORECASTS

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ECB fires inflation warning, trumpets success of cash flood

By Eva Kuehnen

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The European Central Bank lowered its euro zone growth forecast after holding interest rates at record lows on Thursday, and said things would have been much worse without its dramatic action to pump a trillion euros into the banking system.

The ECB's staff forecasts showed the economy could shrink by 0.5 percent this year and at best grow by a meagre 0.3 percent, a slight downgrade of its previous estimate.

"Available survey indicators confirm signs of a stabilisation in the euro area economy. However, the economic outlook is still subject to downside risks," ECB President Mario Draghi told a news conference, after the central bank left interest rates at 1.0 percent.

Meanwhile, a recent 20 percent rise in oil prices is rekindling inflation to some extent. It is now forecast to be higher, at between 2.1 and 2.7 percent this year, above the ECB's target of close to but below two percent.

"Owing to rises in energy prices and indirect taxes, inflation rates are now likely to stay above 2 percent in 2012, with upside risks prevailing," Draghi said.

The latest Reuters poll of 74 economists suggests the ECB will hold rates at 1.0 percent until well into 2013.

German Bund futures rose while European shares and the euro trimmed gains after Draghi said growth forecasts had been cut.

"In our view, the projections are still relatively optimistic as hard data have failed to show the "stabilisation" process, especially in the (euro zone) periphery. Risks are clearly skewed to the downside," said Annalisa Piazza at Newedge Strategy.

Draghi was in no doubt that the ECB's twin three-year funding operations, which pumped over 1 trillion euros into the euro zone banking system, had saved the currency bloc from a serious crisis.

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ECB sees slower growth, flags success of money flood

Sam Bakhtiar Is Not Only Helping Out His Clients through His Personal Training Expertise, He Is Also Helping Other Trainers with His Personal Trainer Marketing Knowledge

Chino Hills, CA (PRWEB) March 08, 2012

Dr. Sam has recently shared these tips on his website super-trainer.com. On the website, Sam along with many renowned personal trainers, regularly shares useful and valuable knowledge and experiences with aspiring trainers in need of proper guidance.

Speaking about the ten tips he shared in his recent blog this Sunday, Sam said, New trainers always wonder how we have managed to reach this level of success. It is all about your dedication and effort, but you just cant go anywhere without proper marketing. Lucky for me, I have got my business and marketing education, but what really helped me throughout my career are these ten golden rules of marketing.

Although the tips as shared by Sam are focused on personal trainer marketing, they can be equally fruitful for other businesses as well. For instance, the very first tip is about being the best and letting people know about it by every mean possible. Sam emphasizes the importance of enhancing the knowledge by reading more books and attending seminars, etc. also, it is very important to speak out and share knowledge with others by addressing as an expert in seminars.

Sam also stresses the importance of cross-promotional opportunities and special offers. It is like give-and-take, the best bargain ever. Youd be surprised at the amount of promotion you can get this way, Sam added.

To read the complete Top Ten Tips for Personal Trainer Marketing and other useful information regarding fitness marketing, visit the website super-trainer.com

About Sam Bakhtiar

Sam Bakhtiar is a Persian born American with over twenty years of experience in fitness training and body building. After completing B.S in Premed and Nutrition, Sam also received a degree of doctorate of Chiropractics. Along with being one of the best fitness trainers, Sam is also a business and marketing expert. After establishing a successful fitness training business with substantial income, Sam is helping other professionals in the industry to achieve their business goals. For more information, please contact using the following information.

Contact Details:

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Personal Trainer Business Guru Shares Ten Tried and Tested Personal Trainer Marketing Tips

"I have always said that it's fantastic when things come off for you and you play well, but only if you meet your aims for the match. That's what happened against Leverkusen.

"The team played very, very well, the performance had some beautiful moments and we scored lots of goals."

Messi's modesty failed to deflect attention away from another magnificent display.

The Fifa World Player of the Year earlier became the first man to score four times in two Champions League games - he also hit four against Arsenal in 2010 - before adding a fifth with a crisp left-foot finish from the edge of the area.

Wednesday night's haul, plus the recent hat-trick for Argentina against Switzerland, means Messi has scored 14 goals in his last five games for club and country.

"It's all about enjoying the moment - from how it went with Argentina the other week to how it's going right now for my club," he said.

"The sweetest part of it, for me, is that the team continues its run of form at the moment, winning games in style; that's the way to go as far as we can in the Champions League.

"As for the draws for the next rounds, I don't care which opponents we end up facing or when. Any club which has reached this stage is only here because it has done its work very well, and whoever we draw are going to be tough opposition."

Barca team-mate Cesc Fabregas claimed Messi is the best player ever to play the game.

The midfielder said: "You can expect anything from Leo. He is the best player in history, we have never seen anyone like him.

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Humble Lionel Messi puts Barcelona success before personal glory after five goals in 7-1 rout of Leverkusen

UK based company JMH Aspirations has launched its eagerly awaited website for people who are currently facing redundancy, returning to work after a period of absence, or newly qualified and trying to launch their career.

(PRWEB UK) 8 March 2012

The current UK financial climate has brought many signficant challenges. Unemployment has risen, particularly amongst young adults. In the three months to December 2011, 22.2% of 16-24 year olds were reported as unemployed. According to the Office of National Statistics, although unemployment had generally levelled by February at 8.4%, 26.7 million people were still looking for work--the highest rate since 1995. There also remains growing concern over UK graduates with 25% of those leaving University at the end of the 2011 academic year still unemployed in February 2012.

There are many examples of successful people in the world today who have achieved fame and personal success, Richard Branson; Margaret Thatcher; Ralph Lauren; J. K Rowling. They have vision, purpose and personal confidence, all of which drives their strategy for success. This is all within anyones reach when they have the self- belief to achieve.

JMH Aspirations courses are desgined specifically to teach skills that assist people in recognising and unlocking their personal strengths so they can forge their path to personal and professional success. With entreprenural tax reliefs and the creation of 21 enterprise zones last year, the UK government is eager to encourage the launch and growth of new businesses. For those looking to change career and start their own business enrolling on a course can help them get started towards achieving success.

With an already busy event schedule, the team is expecting its first events in Yorkshire and Sheffield to be a success: Choose a New Path to Travel Meet Your Challenge of Redundancy/Redeployment and Develop Strategies for Your Future - Return Confidently to Your Career are events which will strive to meet the specific needs of people facing redundancy, returning to work after a period of absence or looking to start a career. The company hopes that people will leave with a positive self belief, recognise their strengths and abilities, and have confidence and sense of empowered to take that first leap in their career/life.

About JMH Aspirations

JMH Aspirations was founded in 2011 to provide a range of events and individual coaching opportunities to assist people to achieve their personal and professional aspirations. The company provides the tools and advice that people need to transform their lives and help their businesses thrive and succeed. Their staff are qualified Master Practitioners in Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), qualified registered practitioners in Change Management and hold a wide range of other relevant professional and academic qualifications. Visit their website http://www.jmhaspirations.co.uk for more information.

JMH Aspirations

07939221229 Email Information

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JMH Aspirations Launches New Website to Help People Achieve Personal Success

Richard Harbus/Richard Harbus for News Manager Sarai Sanabria helps clients try on clothes at the brand new "Dress For Success" shop.

Unemployed women in the Bronx are being treated like A-listers at a designer fashion show by Dress for Success, which has an official grand opening Tuesday of its Bronx location.

Dress for Success is a non-profit organization helping women achieve economic independence by providing them with professional attire as well as the tools they need to excel in job interviews and the world of employment.

The Bronx shop, at 839 E. 149th St., offers donated suits and shoes to women by referral only. It was previously located at the Davidson Community Center in University Heights.

"By relocating to the new office, we can now serve more women because we have more space," said Joi Gordon, CEO of Dress for Success Worldwide. "The street location also gives us significantly more visibility in the community. And it's more accessible for more women in the Bronx, as well as volunteers and community members."

Ashley Ruemmelly, 27, currently on welfare, was there Monday. She is interested in finding work as a home health aide, and settled on an interview outfit of matching grey skirt and jacket over a red ruffled blouse, paired with bright red patent leather kitten heeled shoes.

Her personal shopper was Sarai Sanabria, the Bronx Program Coordinator, one of two paid staffers there; the rest are either volunteers or interns.

"I don't know how many outfits I tried on," says Ruemmelly, back in the jeans and t-shirt she wore into the shop. "One after the other after the other."

She and two other women were in the light and airy lobby with a receptionist desk and small waiting area. They held large brown shopping bags with their new outfits.

The women don't have potential employers lined up yet, but 44-year-old Karen Robinson said, as she waited to be assisted, that they are "trying to be prepared, so when (employers) do call, we're decent."

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Dress for Success’ new location in Mott Haven offers chic business attire, job interview help for women