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The Reason Why I Joined The Democratic Socialists of America

Ever since the election, I’ve been wondering… wondering about my political and social identity. For my whole life I’ve been a democrat… a proud democrat… until this election, when I saw for the first time the corruption that is in ALL politics.

With the election of Donald J. Trump as president of the United States of America, I realized that I don’t fit into any particular party. Especially with the choices we have in the US as of right now.

Cautious of History, But Burned By The Political System

Being a student of history, I can’t help but be cautious about with whom I associate with politically. The Democrats burned me with what they did to Bernie Sanders at the convention. In my opinion Sanders had the best chance to take on Trump and win — not Hillary.

A Change In Me

I’ve always thought of myself as someone who watches politics, but never outwardly active. With Trump becoming the most powerful person in the world, I’ve realized that I need to act. I need to stand for something. I need to decide where I am — who I am — politically.

I’ve always been on the Left when it came to social programs and issues. Being a business owner, I’m not a huge fan of the high taxes, but I don’t believe that the Republicans’ plan for the Middle Class is even remotely beneficial. In addition, I’m definitely pro-union and collective-bargaining.

So Where Does This Leave Me?

With all this in mind, I feel that my beliefs fall best in line with the Democratic Socialists of America. This is what they stand for:

At the root of our socialism is a profound commitment to democracy, as means and end. As we are unlikely to see an immediate end to capitalism tomorrow, DSA fights for reforms today that will weaken the power of corporations and increase the power of working people. For example, we support reforms that:

  • decrease the influence of money in politics
  • empower ordinary people in workplaces and the economy
  • restructure gender and cultural relationships to be more equitable

(Source: http://www.dsausa.org/about_dsa)

So that’s it. It’s official. And I’m proud of where I stand and what I stand for.

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I’m Jewish

Peace Sign

(This piece was originally posted on Medium)

I’m Jewish. I didn’t live through the Holocaust, but growing up it’s part of my education to NEVER FORGET.

I’m Jewish. I don’t hate Muslims. I don’t think they should be banned from the US. I don’t think they should have to register or have to live in Ghettos.

Donald Trumps rhetoric terrifies me to the core. I have never seen such hatred in my life. I am sickened by the irony that his own daughter, who married a Jew, is Jewish (she converted).

At first I laughed off some of Trumps rhetoric as just trying to get a rise out of people and get higher in the polls, but now I’m terrified. I’m terrified that when he’s compared to Hitler he’s not bothered by that comparison.

I’m Jewish, and I welcome Muslims and people of all faiths, creeds, sexual orientations, colors to be my neighbors, play with my son and be my friend.

We have a common enemy and that’s not Islam or Muslims, it’s Da’esh (aka ISIS/ISIL) and Al Qaeda. Only if we stand together will we be able to stop these maniacs. And to be honest, we must start by stopping the maniac at home first. That maniac is Donald Trump.

I invite you to connect with me online at SethGoldstein.me and on Twitter Seth Goldstein.

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The Right and Wrong Way To Network [Video]


 The Right Way And Wrong Way To Network - blog-li-mdm

(This Post Originally Appeared on Medium)

Yesterday I went to a Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals event at the Warrington Country Club in Doylestown, PA. It was a great event, but while there I noticed something about the right and wrong way to network. Please excuse the fast talking, I’m very passionate about this topic.

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What I’m Thankful For

What I'm Thankful For
Image Credit: Picsues on Pixabay

(This post first appeared on Medium)

This year with everything that is going on, we need to focus on what we’re thankful for more than ever.

I’m thankful for a lot of things, and it’s hard to really articulate them at times. A good friend, client, and mentor (Susan Detwiler of the Detwiler Group), put up a great post today on her blog about what she’s thankful for.

This post got me thinking, with all the horrible events going on in the world, we should focus on the positive, about what we are in fact thankful for.

So what am I thankful for? Well, here’s a list:

  • My Family — I know that’s a cliche, but I really am. My immediate family (my wife and son) are so supportive of me and love me unconditionally. Also my extended family (parents, inlaws, siblings, cousins etc.). Especially this year, with my step-father having a heart attack and a triple bypass I really have realized how important parents are. I’ve known deep down that they are special, but almost losing my step-father made me realize how much I not only adore my mother, but how important my step-father is to that equation. Pop, I love you!
  • My Friends — Now this is dual layers. My core group of good friends is small, but my larger community of friends (Doylestown and online) matter too. Thank you guys for always being there for me.
  • My Co-workers — Being a self-employed worker can be tough at times, there’s a lot of alone time, but thankfully I’m able to be involved with some great companies that I work for and who give me co-workers. Mike, Adam, Amanda, Nick, the whole Speed and Function crew, and many more, thank you for putting up with my sometimes boisterous nature (sometimes, yea right… more like all the time). I’m very thankful for you.
  • My Opportunities — Not only am I running my own little agency, I’m also helping Mike Bertoni with his, and helping build an awesome startup and helping a great promotions company with their social media. I’m very fortunate to have these opportunities.
  • My Country — I know, it’s even more of a cliche than saying my family, but it’s true. More and more I see the crap that goes on in the World and the swaths of the World that doesn’t have liberties like we do here and it gives me pause. I’m extremely thankful for my liberty and will fight for it, maybe not with weapons, but with my words and actions.
  • The Internet — Now that sounds silly, doesn’t it? Well it’s not. I’m really thankful for the ‘net, because it enables me to work, play, learn, and grow. Often all four at the same time. Being ADHD, I’m able to work the way I work best. I’m able to be productive and get stuff done. Thank you Sir Tim Berners-Lee.

There is so much more that I’m thankful for that I could be here all day writing my list. I might come back here to write some more down, but more importantly, what are you thankful for?

Seth Goldstein is the Chief Marketing Officer for My Sensory Locations, a location-based application for the Special Needs community. In addition, he is the Principal Creative Director of Goldstein Media LLC, an interactive marketing agency based in Bucks County, Pennsylvania,VP of Web and Social forPhillyTech.co, Social Media Manager for SWGPromo.com, and Editor and Chief of PhillyTech.org Netcast Network. Seth is a very busy man and that’s how he likes it.

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The Startup Journey Continues

The Startup Journey Continues - Blog Post - Banner

(This post originally appeared on Medium)

Many of you know that I’m the Chief Marketing Officer for My Sensory Locations. MSL, as it’s known, is a location based app for the special needs community, which allows those with disabilities, both mental and physical, to know what to expect when they are heading out to a new restaurant.

Last week, myself along with a few others from my team, including Adam our CEO, met with an adviser to talk about our road map. It was an eye-opening experience. The adviser gave us great insights into the industry and how MSL can move forward into the future.

The MSL logo that highlights the 6 senses that all attach to the brain.
The MSL logo that highlights the 6 senses that all attach to the brain.

Since our MVP is public, everyone can go check out what we’ve done thus far. I encourage you to do so. But, the core team has some work to do behind the scenes to not necessarily pivot, but clarify our direction and work on strengthening some of our “back office” work.

This whole experience with MSL has been a learning experience for all of us. I can only speak for myself, but not only have I learned a lot about building and a launching a product, but I’ve learned a lot about myself.

Many of you have read my post about impostor syndrome and how I suffer from it. I’ve never thought of it as debilitating, but it has made me look inward to find my strengths. MSL has helped me with that process as well. And I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to participate and continue to do so.

So now where does all this leave us? It leaves us in a better place than we were before. Yes, it might be a few steps back to regroup and plan, but overall I think that MSL, the product, will be better because of it.

Seth Goldstein is the Chief Marketing Officer for My Sensory Locations, a location-based application for the Special Needs community. In addition, he is the Principal Creative Director of Goldstein Media LLC, an interactive marketing agency based in Bucks County, Pennsylvania,VP of Web and Social for PhillyTech.co, Social Media Manager for SWGPromo.com, and Editor and Chief of PhillyTech.org Netcast Network. Seth is a very busy man and that’s how he likes it.

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I Have Impostor Syndrome

impostor - li blog

(This post was originally posted on Medium)

There I said it. I have Impostor Syndrome.

What is it? Well, here’s two definitions:

Impostor syndrome (also spelled imposter syndrome, also known as impostor phenomenon or fraud syndrome) is a term coined in the 1970s by psychologists and researchers to informally describe people who are unable to internalize their accomplishments. (Wikipedia)

Impostor syndrome can be defined as a collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist even in face of information that indicates that the opposite is true. It is experienced internally as chronic self-doubt, and feelings of intellectual fraudulence. (CalTech)

Today at Barcamp Philly 2015, Briana Morgan and Amanda Clark had a great talk on the syndrome. Briana, who is a scholar, has been doing extensive research on the topic. (Here is the link to their presentation)

In their talk, Amanda and Briana talked about how based on studies, women tend to suffer from the syndrome more than men. But these studies are in fact flawed, because they studied women in fields where men for eons have been dominant. I’d like to see a study done where men are studied as well. I’m sure we’ll find that many men, myself included suffer too.

Another well-known point is that many accomplished actors have felt the effects Impostor Syndrome as well. (Google Result)

Like many other psychological phenomena, it has the power we lend to it. As long as you don’t let it paralyze you, imposter syndrome can be a harbinger of growth rather than disaster. Some people even consider it downright motivational. (Briana’s Technical.ly Philly post on the syndrome)

So, as I stated at the beginning, I suffer from Impostor Syndrome. I often feel that I’m not as qualified as my peers, even though I am. When I get praise from my mentors and peers for my knowledge, it feels strange and undeserved. I think a big part of Impostor Syndrome is a morale and self-image thing than anything else. I also think that I’m so used to giving compliments that when I get some myself, it feels strange.

A big part of Impostor Syndrome, or at least my version, is that other people appear to be more accomplished then you , so you feel like you don’t fit in and are in some ways “less” then they are. Often this isn’t the fact. In reality you are just as qualified as your peers. I also think that, at least in my case, since I can’t see inside their heads, what appears on the outside as confidence and expertise, might be a just a front for the same feelings that I have.

All in all, I think we’d all be surprise to learn that many of our friends and colleagues might in fact have the same feelings as we do. It’s not a bad thing, but recognizing that you feel this way and talking about it and dealing with it is key to being successful. That’s why I’m so open about it.

Do you suffer from Impostor Syndrome? How do you deal with it?

Seth Goldstein is the Principal Creative Director of Goldstein Media LLC, an interactive marketing agency based in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. In addition to his work with Goldstein Media, he is also the Chief Marketing Officer for My Sensory Locations, a location-based application for the Special Needs community, VP of Web and Social for PhillyTech.co, Social Media Manager for SWGPromo.com, and Editor and Chief of PhillyTech.org Netcast Network. Seth is a very busy man and that’s how he likes it.

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The Death Of The Business Card? Not Yet!

The Death of the Business Card Not Yet

This post originally appeared on Medium

I’ve always been into business cards. Since I was young, I always had a business card for some little business I was doing. I always saw the value in having my contact info available to hand out.

Fast forward 20 years. I’m involved in 5 businesses, many at a high level, and I still use and believe that business cards are a crucial part of marketing and networking. So many companies come out and say they are developing an app or a site, which will result in the death of the business card. I have yet to see one that is compelling enough for me to use and stop carrying business cards.

In some of countries and cultures there’s an important etiquette and protocol behind business and business cards.

In Japan, the Japanese, from an early age, have business cards. How a card is presented is important as well. Doing this wrong could mean the difference between landing the deal or losing it. This culture of business cards is strong in other Asian countries as well.

There is something about the business card that makes the networking more personal. It’s a take away that the person can use to contact you and keep you at top of mind. There are services like FullContact that organize business for you and help you have your card where ever you are.

I love my business cards. They keep me front of mind with my current and prospective clients —  Britney Kennedy, Owner and Nutritionist at OnPoint Nutrition, a Philadelphia-based nutrition counseling firm.

Have you ever gotten a well made business card that felt good in the hand and had just the right thickness and pizzazz? How long did that card stay on your desk before getting thrown out or filed? Now compare this to getting cheaply made, not well thought out card? If you even take a second look at it, it get scanned or filed right away.

A good example of a card you’d want to keep are the ones that SWGPromo makes. They are metal. Yes, you heard me right, METAL! (Full disclosure I’m the social media manager for them). That is a way to make an impact. Another good example are those cards made by Moo, thick and sturdy, they always seem to stay on my desk for a longer period of time. Neither are inexpensive, but they do make an impression.

Spending the money on a well made card even in the U.S. is important. I find that while networking, if a person doesn’t have a card, I’m less likely to connect with them than if they give me a card. It’s not because I think less of them for not having a card. It’s because they aren’t front of mind and I don’t have something to remind me of them.

This is exactly where these business card replacement apps are lacking. The act of getting a card is still something that’s needed.

What do you think? Will we ever see the demise of the business card? What will replace it? What is the best business card you’ve ever received?

Seth Goldstein is the Principal Creative Director of Goldstein Media LLC, an interactive marketing agency based in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. In addition to his work with Goldstein Media, he is also the Chief Marketing Officer for My Sensory Locations, a location-based application for the Special Needs community, VP of Web and Social for PhillyTech.co, Social Media Manager forSWGPromo.com, and Editor and Chief of PhillyTech.org Netcast Network. Seth is a very busy man and that’s how he likes it.

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The Startup Journey

This post was originally posted on Medium

So I met the founder of a great new startup called My Sensory Locations (MSL) back in January and loved the idea so much I became their Chief Marketing Officer.

The idea behind it is to give the special needs community the ability to venture out of their comfort zone and try new restaurants, visit new businesses, and get a sense of what to expect when they get there before they ever venture out.

This idea has never been done before, that’s what drew me in and why I’m investing so much time into getting the application through the Minimal Viable Product (MVP) stage. We’re still chugging at it, with the goal to have a working MVP by late September of this year.

I’ve done the startup thing before. I’ve started and I am currently running my own digital marketing agency, which after 8 years (or so) is still very much a startup. Yet, though I know how to bootstrap and hack my way through getting a product or service to market, this MSL project is completely new and exciting for me. Oh, and did I mention, totally scary?

Like everyone involved in project they are invested in and passionate about, I want to see MSL succeed and be wildly successful. Not for the riches or the fame, but to make a difference in a grossly under-served and growing demographic.

The unknown is what gets me. Putting all this work into something, that you know will work… you think will work… you hope will work.

So this journey is really only beginning. I’m excited to see where it goes and how it progresses, but I’d be lying if I said I’m a bit scared and nervous.

If you’d like to learn more about My Sensory Locations go to GetMSL.net or email the team at ten.lsmteg@ofni. MSL is launching in the Philadelphia-metro area in late September. If you would like updates on our progress, please send us an email and we’ll add you to our “Updates” list.

Seth Goldstein is the CMO of My Sensory Locations. His views are his and don’t necessarily reflect those of MSL or the rest of the team.

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2015 Will Be The Year Of The Podcaster

This article was originally posted on Medium

Podcasting hasn’t gone anywhere. I swear, people are treating podcasting like it’s a new medium. It’s not. It’s be around since at least 2006 and been going strong since.

With this new renaissance, podcasts are gaining a legitimacy they didn’t have before. With this second renaissance, people who started off listing to Serial are now venturing out to see what else they can listen too. This is a great opportunity for networks and shows like mine to show people that podcasting isn’t a passing fad or a nascent medium.

podcasting-image

I’ve been doing podcasts since 2009. First with, the now defunct, Addicted to Social Media, a few failed shows (they never took off), and finally a great start with the PhillyTech.org Netcast Network. Through my experiences with the medium, I’ve seen what works, what doesn’t work. I’ve also see podcasts grow from small hobbies to large ventures.

With the entering of a new era of podcasting, I predict that 2015 will be the year of the podcaster and the legitimization of this form of journalism and storytelling.

What do you think? Post your comments below.

____________________________
Seth Goldstein is the founder of PhillyTech.org Netcast Network. PhillyTech.org is an audio/video podcast network focusing on the technology and startup scene in and around the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania region. You can contact Seth on Twitter @sethgoldstein or @phillytech_org or via email Seth[At]PhillyTech[Dot]Com.

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Sony Pictures Was Hacked… North Korea Was Behind It. Now What?

This post was originally posted on Medium.

sony_pictures_logoSony Pictures was hacked. Terrorist threats were made. Now a dumb comedy about two journalists trying to kill the North Korean leader isn’t being shown because of threats of terrorist attacks.

The group, the Guardians of Peace (ironic name isn’t it?), seems to have gotten their sponsorship from North Korea itself (http://s3th.me/2DT).

First, who’s hair-brained idea was it to make a movie plot about killing a sitting world leader? Especially a world leader known for being a little bit unhinged? That was dumb (which is saying it lightly). Even if it’s a leader who is a tyrant and a maniac, it’s in poor taste.

kimjungunUniform
Does this look like a guy who is playing around? I don’t think so.

Second, what can the US do? North Korea is a rogue, isolated, desperate nation with nuclear weapons. There has to be some kind of recourse, I know that, but what? There are already sanctions against the country. We can invade without starting World War III. Maybe a cyber attack back? But wouldn’t that just fan the flames more?

I don’t think there’s an easy answer.

As far as the choice to pull the movie after the GOP (the hackers), made threats of a new 9/11, I think it was a bad idea. Now hackers and countries have a playbook on how to get their way and effect Americans’ freedoms. They found the weak point in the United State’s armor. This is not a good thing. In my opinion a terrorist attack has already occurred that might have an even more lasting impact on our country than a physical attack. Afterall terrorism doesn’t have to manifest itself in death and carnage. It just needs to instill terror — which is exactly what it did.

I don’t want another 9/11… ever. Especially over the holidays. But now that we have set this dangerous precedent, what’s next?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Post them below or hit me up on Twitter @sethgoldstein.

Seth Goldstein is the founder of PhillyTech.org Netcast Network, a podcast network focusing on the technology and startup scene emerging and growing in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas. He is also the creative director of Goldstein Media LLC, interactive agency based in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.

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