I’ve titled this podcast "The Adventures of Starting Over Again (Again)" because it’s not the first time I’ve had to hit the “restart button” in life and almost head right back to the drawing board.   They say you should fail soon and often, so that you can figure out how to get things right. I’m not so sure about all of that, but I do know that nothing will get solved by wallowing in the sadder moments of my life. And there surely are some. I don’t deny them, nor do I try to minimize them with that lame “get over it” mantra that people love to throw around. What I do try to do is be cognizant that things may suck, and hope that they can get better. And, I also like to help others, and shift some of the focus away from what’s not going right in my life, by hopefully helping someone else get through a difficult part in theirs. So, it’s along those lines that I’m embarking on my next “adventure”. In the very near future, I’ll be in need of additional staff to help manage a variety of projects that I have on the horizon, and it’s been laid on my heart to first and foremost seek out those that are unemployed and underemployed as the first line of defense for meeting my staffing needs.  Now, I’m not saying that I’m hiring, nor conducting a formal job search right now, but what I am asking so for folks to tell me their story, and familiarize me with their skillset.  If you know someone that needs a job, or is looking to transition to a new career, they can send an email to “[email protected]”, or follow this link on my website and fill out the form on my company’s page.  Just doing my best to be the change I want to see in the world!  Also, for those that are curious, as I suspected, my “How Social Media Is Making Me Suicidal” post was just as popular as I suspect it would be; even more so.   There were about 30 times more downloads of the podcast and 50 times the traffic for the first few days it was up. Even now, about 2 months later, and it’s still one of the most popular posts on the site. It’s rather telling about people and the content they gravitate towards, but it’s somewhat comforting to that I was right on the money with what I thought would happen.  Thanks to all those that reached out and provided support to me. I truly appreciate it, and look forward to paying back your kindness in the universe! Please feel free to leave comments below or give me your feedback directly, either by email “podcasts @ exclusivemultiplicity.com”, or by finding me on Facebook, Twitter (@KindraCotton), or LinkedIn.  You can also contact me via Skype at my name Kindra.Cotton, and you can now call me on my Google Voice line at: (201) 870-0234.  If you leave a message on my Google Voicemail line, please be sure to mention which podcast you listened to. Click media player below to listen to this podcast.   If the player above isn't displaying, or working properly, you can also download the podcast from iTunes for free (it may take a few days for it to appear at this link, but you can subscribe directly to the podcast feed via iTunes if you want to always get new podcast episodes when they're first uploaded)!   Have a Blessed Day!  Kindra P.S. Tell me about your experience with the "For Dummies" book series by filling out this brief survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FLVRTJZ

“How Social Media Made Me Suicidal”Only you know what prompted you to click the link to this blog post or play the audio file of this podcast, but if what I know about viral marketing proves to be correct, then it's likely because it prodded one of your six basic emotions of happiness, sadness, anger, fear, disgust, or surprise.  You can listen to the podcast in its entirety for an explanation of the title, but if you're interested in the bottom line, here it is: I NEED HELP! In the podcast, I get into the specifics of my request because I hate when people use link-baity headlines to lure you into something completely different than what you expected.  If you found this title compelling enough to click, you might find the story herein compelling as well.  But if you don't have the time to listen to it, then here are the main points:  I need help to help myself, and I have the following skills that can be put to use TODAY to earn money:I can build websites, and I do this in my primary business through a product I call "Starter Websites".  They're nice, functional, template-based websites that are value priced and easy-to-manage.  They're a great way to get someone on the web that isn’t already, or to put someone into a website in a fairly quick amount of time.  If you know someone that needs one, send them here to start the process: http://bit.ly/sss4-sws1I can manage social media accounts.  Ideally, I’m looking for someone that wants to put email marketing and blogging as a core of their Social Media Marketing Strategy and then uses the other social networks to augment their core strategy.I know how to use social media and social networks.  This differs from social media management, because this relates to the overall strategy needed to make a social marketing initiative successful.  It's about how to sculpt the right message, for the right audience, on the right medium.  I’d love to do this for a university or college department, because they already have a built-in audience and all the components that could lead to social media success.  Plus, I have a lot of experience working in the academic environment, so I can easily work with these organizations.  If you know of one of these departments or campuses that could use this help IMMEDIATELY: CONNECT US (I'm also on Twitter: @KindraCotton)!  They may also be interested in checking out my recently published chapter in "Cutting-Edge Technologies and Social Media Use in Higher Education".If you'd like to send me money, there's a link to make a donation via PayPal to the right (i.e. The Tip Jar) or by email address to: You also can donate or pay for services via credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express) at 619-354-6372 (yes, that's 619-3-KINDRA).   I want to note that I came up with the idea for this post and podcast before L’Wren Scott’s suicide hit the news this week.  There’s no way I could have planned the perfect storm of events of my life unraveling with such expert timing to coincide with this women’s death and the media circus surrounding it. If you've read this far, I thank you, and if you want the full story behind the title of this post, feel free to listen to the podcast.  It’s difficult to say “I need help”, but desperate times, call for desperate measures, so Be Blessed People on Social Media! Kindra Click media player below to listen to this podcast.      If the player above isn't displaying, or working properly, you can also download the podcast from iTunes for free (it may take a few days for it to appear at this link, but you can subscribe directly to the podcast feed via iTunes if you want to always get new podcast episodes when they're first uploaded)!    P.S. Tell me about your experience with the "For Dummies" book series by filling out this brief survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FLVRTJZ  

In my return to this blog and podcast series, I get personal and talk about my need to "break out of my comfort zone" and ask for help in getting home for the holidays.  There's a link to make a donation via PayPal to the right (i.e. The Tip Jar) .  You can talk with me directly and donate via credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express) at 619-354-6372 (yes, that's 619-3-KINDRA).  Additionally, you can send donations via PayPal to Within the podcast, I talk about some of what's been happening with me since I last updated this site lately, and it gives some interesting back story to how I got where I am right now, if you're interested.  It's roughly 30 minutes or so, but it's a pretty good summation.  I detail my past experiences with "breaking out of my comfort zone" and talk about how I came to be in Austin, Texas.  It was difficult for me to take this step out on faith, but I realize that you've got to do what you've got to do, plus if no one knows you need help, then how can they help you, right? In any event, I'd appreciate whatever you can do to make getting me home for Christmas a reality, whether that's donating yourself OR bringing this to the attention of someone else who might be able to do so.  Every little bit helps, and it will be greatly appreciated. Also, if you're a person that plays the lottery, and are hoping to win the big Mega Millions Jackpot that's looming, then I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT I AM A BETTER RETURN ON YOUR INVESTMENT DOLLARS! LOL.  $5 to me may not result in $500+ million dollars, but it can help me on my way to make my million, and it will put you in good graces with a thoughtful millionaire!  It's a win-win situation! :) Click media player below to listen to this podcast.         If the player above isn't displaying, or working properly, you can also download the podcast from iTunes for free (it may take a few days for it to appear at this link, but you can subscribe directly to the podcast feed via iTunes if you want to always get new podcast episodes when they're first uploaded)!     Have a Blessed Day!    Kindra       P.S. Tell me about your experience with the "For Dummies" book series by filling out this brief survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FLVRTJZ   

I've been in a bit of a "funk" lately, and my blogging and podcasting schedule has suffered.  I just couldn't bring myself to "get back into the groove" of things, after having a few personal and professional setbacks over the past few months.  Then, I saw this tweet from Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle:  And this, inspired this podcast, which helped me get out what I had to say about my time this summer in the City of Chicago.  By the way, if you're interested in seeing the video I reference in this podcast, you can view it on YouTube or below: By the way, for you "fact-checking sticklers", I want to be sure that I clarify that Cook County, Illinois is "the second most populous county in the United States", for those who'll take issue with the fact that I said it was "the second largest". LOL. Please feel free to leave comments below or give me your feedback directly, either by email “podcasts @ exclusivemultiplicity.com”, or by finding me on Facebook, Twitter (@KindraCotton), or LinkedIn.  You can also contact me via Skype at my name Kindra.Cotton, and you can now call me on my Google Voice line at: (201) 870-0234.  If you leave a message on my Google Voicemail line, please be sure to mention which podcast you listened to. Click media player below to listen to this podcast.    If the player above isn't displaying, or working properly, you can also download the podcast from iTunes for free (it may take a few days for it to appear at this link, but you can subscribe directly to the podcast feed via iTunes if you want to always get new podcast episodes when they're first uploaded)!   Have a Blessed Day!  Kindra  P.S. Tell me about your experience with the "For Dummies" book series by filling out this brief survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FLVRTJZ

After receiving several calls/texts about how inconveniencing the Chicago Teachers Union Strike (#CTUstrike on Twitter) was for downtown Chicago travelers, I decided to put together the little podcast giving my take on the situation.  As you can see from the picture I've included here, I actually went "old school" and wrote out my thoughts on notebook paper with a pen! LOL.  I found the nostalgia heartwarming! Plus, look at those margins! ROFL. My handwritten thoughts on the #CTUstrike! LOL. Please feel free to leave comments below or give me your feedback directly, either by email “podcasts @ exclusivemultiplicity.com”, or by finding me on Facebook, Twitter (@KindraCotton), or LinkedIn.  You can also contact me via Skype at my name Kindra.Cotton, call me on my new number 619-3-KINDRA (546372), or call my Google Voice line at: (201) 870-0234.  If you leave a voicemail message, please be sure to mention which podcast you listened to.  Click media player below to listen to this podcast.  If the player above isn't displaying, or working properly, you can also download the podcast from iTunes for free (it may take a few days for it to appear at this link, but you can subscribe directly to the podcast feed via iTunes if you want to always get new podcast episodes when they're first uploaded)! By the way, Transcripts are now available upon request.  If you want one, please email me at "transcripts[at]exclusivemultiplicity.com".   Have a Blessed Day!  Kindra

This week's podcast is "The Adventures of Being Nickel and Dimed", which is mostly me ranting about my terrible experience with Greyhound Bus Lines and juxtaposing that to the book "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in america" by Barbara Ehrenreich, and my feelings about being poor in america! Nickel and Dimed Please feel free to leave comments below or give me your feedback directly, either by email “podcasts @ exclusivemultiplicity.com”, or by finding me on Facebook, Twitter (@KindraCotton), or LinkedIn.  You can also contact me via Skype at my name Kindra.Cotton, and you can now call me on my Google Voice line at: (201) 870-0234.  If you leave a message on my Google Voicemail line, please be sure to mention which podcast you listened to.   Click media player below to listen to this podcast.    If the player above isn't displaying, or working properly, you can also download the podcast from iTunes for free (it may take a few days for it to appear at this link, but you can subscribe directly to the podcast feed via iTunes if you want to always get new podcast episodes when they're first uploaded)!  Come back soon and have a Blessed Day!  Kindra P.S. Tell me about your experience with the "For Dummies" book series by filling out this brief survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FLVRTJZ

In the wake of the release of Whitney Houston's autopsy report, I wanted to share some happy memories that I've had as a Whitney Houston Fan in this podcast I've titled "The Adventures I've Had with Whitney Houston (One Fan's Happy Memories)".  In it, I talk about the good memories that I'll always retain as they relate to Whitney Elizabeth Houston, and I hope you'll leave comments below or give me your positive feedback directly, either by email “podcasts @ exclusivemultiplicity.com”, or by finding me on Facebook, Twitter (@KindraCotton), or LinkedIn.  You can also contact me via Skype at my name Kindra.Cotton, and you can now call me on my Google Voice line at: (201) 870-0234.  If you leave a message on my Google Voicemail line, please be sure to mention which podcast you listened to. Here's "The Greatest Love of All" video I promised. :)   Click media player below to listen to this podcast.    If the player above isn't displaying, or working properly, you can also download the podcast from iTunes for free (it may take a few days for it to appear at this link, but you can subscribe directly to the podcast feed via iTunes if you want to always get new podcast episodes when they're first uploaded)! By the way, Transcripts are now available upon request.  If you want one, please email me at "transcripts[at]exclusivemultiplicity.com".   Come back soon and have a Blessed Day!  Kindra P.S. Tell me about your experience with the "For Dummies" book series by filling out this brief survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FLVRTJZ

The other day I was having a “blah” day, where things just weren’t quite working out as they should, and I became really pensive and started my end-of-the-year ruminating early. I started having those “doubts” that I think every entrepreneur has, wondering if I was making the right choice of continuing to move forward, even in the face of what sometimes seems to be insurmountable adversity. I feel fairly confident in knowing and believing I’m on the right path, but the hardest part of my day is trying to keep getting back up every time I fall down.  I was thinking all these thoughts on a rainy day right before Thanksgiving, and I was dragging myself to get through the list of errands I had to run. Just then, on my way out into the parking lot, at about 25 minutes before sunset, I saw a rainbow. It was breath-taking! I was immediately drawn to a happy place and it was a spectacular phenomenon to witness. Everyone walking in and out of that parking lot took note of it, and some people even came from outside of the building to see it. It managed to put a smile on even the most sour faces that day, and I took that little moment as an opportunity to learn a lesson. First, for all the unremarkable sunsets I’ve seen in my lifetime due to my propensity for pulling overnighters, I have seen a paucity of real rainbows in my life, so much as, that seeing one definitely rests in my mind as a rare occurrence. Second, in my haste to get about the errands I had to run for the day, I actually failed to charge my cell phone, and for me, that’s such a rarity, because I keep my phone charged 90% of the time I have it on me. The fact that it wasn’t charged then was a fluke, and sure enough, when I first ventured out, I thought I should start charging my phone during my drive from location to location, but I didn’t. When I saw that rainbow, and it’s beautifully breathtaking display, I immediately wanted to take a picture of it, but when I took out my phone and turned on the camera, the low battery light came on, and I wasn’t able to. The two things I learned the most from this experience was that: 1) Great things can happen at any moment and take you by surprise and be totally uplifting in the process, and  2) if you aren’t ready when the opportunity hits you, you’ll regret it.   For me, a person who plans to plan with back-up plans just in case, this low-power cell phone debacle surely smarts, but it was a great reiteration of a message I needed to hit home: ALWAYS BE PREPARED!   So my question to you is: When’s the last time you’ve seen a rainbow?  Please feel free to leave comments below or give me your feedback directly, either by email “podcasts @ exclusivemultiplicity.com”, or by finding me on Facebook, Twitter (@KindraCotton), or LinkedIn.  You can also contact me via Skype at my name Kindra.Cotton, and you can now call me on my Google Voice line at: (201) 870-0234.  If you leave a message on my Google Voicemail line, please be sure to mention which podcast you listened to.   Click media player below to listen to this podcast.    If the player above isn't displaying, or working properly, you can also download the podcast from iTunes for free (it may take a few days for it to appear at this link, but you can subscribe directly to the podcast feed via iTunes if you want to always get new podcast episodes when they're first uploaded)! Come back next week, and have a Blessed Day! Kindra P.S. Tell me about your experience with the "For Dummies" book series by filling out this brief survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FLVRTJZ

In this podcast, I talk about how on Tuesday, I was having a rather “blah” day. I had just experienced two setbacks which meant that I wouldn’t be making my sales quota for the month, and as always, I had taken two steps forward, only to experience taking another three steps back. I didn’t revel in my sadness for long, but it sent me out into the rather dreary and rainy day, in a bit of a ho-hum mood.   I often get reflective in times of sadness, especially when it’s two days before Thanksgiving, and once again, I can’t afford to travel home to see my family. It saddens me when I can’t come home as often as I’d like, but I don’t mind spending Thanksgiving by myself. In fact: I PREFER IT! I’ve had too many experiences of being a fifth wheel at people’s family Thanksgivings, that I’ve grown a preference for only being around my own family during that time of year, and if I can’t have that, I’d rather have nothing. Plus, I start to resent people that send me “pity invites” to their Thanksgiving festivities at the last minute, when they find out I’m not traveling home. And how, you may ask, do I know these are “pity invites”, well, I take “last minute invites” to mean, you weren’t really thinking of inviting me, but you’re doing so because some sort of social cues dictate that you should, for everyone FEELS that being “Alone on Thanksgiving” is some sort of terrible circumstance short of death. I can tell you it’s not. Those of us that live through it every year can attest to the fact that it’s certainly a manageable holiday, given the alternative. One of the reasons I look forward to the day, because it’s a day I know I’ll virtually have on interruptions, short of the few phone calls I’ll make and receive loved ones and friends periodically. I get the opportunity to catch up on work that’s been lacking, and luckily, at least as of this morning, I’m actually caught up on my business blogging! So that’s good news. Other good news is that my new business website is 70% done, and I’m looking forward to unveiling it in a few weeks, so I’m really excited about that too. I imagine that once this week passes, I’ll be breezing through the rest of 2011, and happily welcoming 2012 into the foray! I am really looking forward to the New Year, and while 2011 has had its good and bad, I’m ready for the next one right about now!  I would usually end my post by asking some sort of comment-inspiring question, but I suspect there won’t be a lot of people on the internet this Thanksgiving day, and those that are, probably aren’t checking out blogs or podcasts, so if you’ve made your way here somehow, either on Thanksgiving or some day eons later, leave me a message below or give me your feedback directly, either by email “podcasts @ exclusivemultiplicity.com”, or by finding me on Facebook, Twitter (@KindraCotton), or LinkedIn.  You can also contact me via Skype at my name Kindra.Cotton, and you can now call me on my Google Voice line at: (201) 870-0234.  If you leave a message on my Google Voicemail line, please be sure to mention which podcast you listened to. Click media player below to listen to this podcast.    If the player above isn't displaying, or working properly, you can also download the podcast from iTunes for free (it may take a few days for it to appear at this link, but you can subscribe directly to the podcast feed via iTunes if you want to always get new podcast episodes when they're first uploaded)! Come back next week, and have a Blessed Day!  Kindra P.S. Tell me about your experience with the "For Dummies" book series by filling out this brief survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FLVRTJZ

In this week's podcast, I talk about "The Adventures of Fall" and how reflective this time of the season makes me. Please feel free to leave comments below or give me your feedback directly, either by email “podcasts @ exclusivemultiplicity.com”, or by finding me on Facebook, Twitter (@KindraCotton), or LinkedIn.  You can also contact me via Skype at my name Kindra.Cotton, and you can now call me on my Google Voice line at: (201) 870-0234.  If you leave a message on my Google Voicemail line, please be sure to mention which podcast you listened to. Click media player below to listen to this podcast.    If the player above isn't displaying, or working properly, you can also download the podcast from iTunes for free (it may take a few days for it to appear at this link, but you can subscribe directly to the podcast feed via iTunes if you want to always get new podcast episodes when they're first uploaded)! By the way, Transcripts are now available upon request.  If you want one, please email me at "transcripts[at]exclusivemultiplicity.com".  Come back next week, and have a Blessed Day!  Kindra P.S. Tell me about your experience with the "For Dummies" book series by filling out this brief survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FLVRTJZ