Approximately 6,000 tweets are shared. Everyone is talking, but not everyone has something to say. If you want your message to make a difference, you need to know how to steal the show.

Social media is filled with the noise of political hyperbole, baby photos, cheeky memes, and the play-by-play of writers who should be writing.

We overshare in the name of authenticity while complaining that our voice can’t be heard amidst the noise. When we finally get the spotlight, we fall flat on our faces or tremble with fear. The good news is we don’t have to.

Instant access to a wealth of information and digital tools broke down the walls of traditional publishing. The good news is anyone can write a book. This is also the bad news.

The Internet provides the means for anyone to write, market, and launch their own book. Anyone who thinks they are a writer can self-publish a mediocre title with relative ease.

People who fool themselves into believing they’ve found a secret hack to writing success are cheating. And in the long run, cheaters never win.

Two people I knew died this past week. I feel compelled to clarify these were people I met first online and then in real life. But then again, that happens to be just about everyone I know these days.

I'm killing my email newsletter and resurrecting it as something I can be proud of. Why am I doing this? Because I can't think of an unselfish reason not to do it.

Few people realize Leonardo da Vinci was more than a painter. He was sculptor, architect, inventor, scientist, and musician. Da Vinci remains a historical figure because he chose mastery of more than one skill. What if you face the same choice?

You are not stuck on an assembly line. You have varied interests, talents, education, and skills. The trick is to find where a few key elements intersect and empower you to become more than a jack-of-all-trades, but a master of some.

Disney theme parks are filled with magical moments. You can see it in the faces of every kid and kid at heart. The secret making Disney magic is simple.

Disney creates wonder for millions of visitors and they make it look easy. It all comes back to people. By hiring the right people, Disney establishes a strong foundation of talented, passionate people to deliver a signature experience for park visitors.

But a slow, intentional hiring process is only the beginning.

If someone were to ask you, “Who are you?”, you’d probably answer with your name and occupation. But that’s not the whole story, is it?

Much of our identity is tied up in how we allow other people to define it. Parents inform our initial concepts of self, followed by friends and community, and finally our accomplishments. Or at least the value others place on them.

The trouble is, once we accept our identity, most do little to change it. Whether from fear of rejection or change, we get comfortable and settle for less than our true selves.

A strong sense of community is diluted when we hide our true faces behind a screen. What if there was a way to create space for deep connection online and offline?

People used to sit on their front porches and talk for hours with friends and neighbors. Now, we rely too heavy on social media to stay connected, but we’re not often experiencing community.

We get caught up in the hustle of a busy life when what we really need is a break before we breakdown.

The true identity of most superheroes doesn’t include a cape. Superman, however, was born “super” and conceals his authentic self behind the black-framed glasses of Clark Kent. Turns out, he’s not the only hero hiding behind a mask.

As adults, we compartmentalize our identity so much at work or home we forget who we’re called to be. We get caught up in mundane routines and lose sight of our gift. We hide behind the excuse of “I’m just a ____.” while we slowly die inside.

People think the rise of digital products spells doom for physical goods. In reality, the popularity of e-commerce reduces the amount of tangible junk and makes room for artisans to surprise us.

With the pervasive use of mobile devices and growing digital platforms people forget the romance of holding a work of art that isn’t measured in pixels.