With it, you can create a search agent that monitors the web 24/7 for any series of search terms you want to follow. Many people use this to follow specific news topics, celebrities, companies or sports teams.

Use it to monitor yourself, too.

You will need a Google account to use this feature. Sign up at:

http://www.google.com/alerts

Enter your name inside quotation marks. This Boolean search technique limits results to only instances of your name.

For example, “Todd Myers” yields only results with that particular spelling in that sequence.

Select “Comprehensive” for Type. This searches the broadest array of sources across the web.

For “How Often,” select the frequency you want to receive results.

Enter your preferred email address in “Deliver To.”

If you dislike any activity associated with your name, act to clean it up (whether it is you or not), and dissociate your reputation from your twin’s.

Found Your Doppelganger?

Yeah, that is a big word! Have you found any one with your name also but nefarious activity to boot? How do you distinguish yourself against the other person? Post your ideas in the Comments section for a response.

A little more from my favorite author Alain de Botton speaking at TED this month.

I am hyping him a lot right now because he points out the other side of things we keep forgetting or ignoring.

In this talk he describes how there’s a snobbery that defines what success is, and that this common measure is one that demoralizes many of us. He argues we need to set our own personal standard for what success is and grow past the conventional ones of money, fame and love/respect.Local Color rip

EXCELLENT book – a must read.

http://www.seattlechamber.com/portal/page?_pageid=33,2952&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&p_menu_id=3862