I’d like to take a moment to wish everyone a great holiday season with family, friends, co-workers, etc. May we all grow a little closer this year in our relationships with others.

Peace,

Ron

Note: I’ll be adding links to recent press mentions soon — My primary focus was getting this posted while it was still fresh in my mind. Be sure to come back, because I’ll be adding more examples from my experiences that will hopefully help your efforts (It’s not my intent to tease you, but I want you to come back for more!)

For the last week or so, I’ve experienced a blur in the press and online: I’ve been quoted by the Associated Press, Christian Science Monitor, Denver Post and other outlets on a variety of subjects from food to technology. And it doesn’t stop there: There’s CNN, Laptop Magazine and a few others that are on the way.

In the past, I’ve been quoted or featured by the Detroit News, Nashville Business Journal, Rocky Mountain News (about three months ago), TechCrunch, NewTeeVee and many others. My first appearance in a publication dates back to 1995, where I was featured alongside a team of brilliant high school software developers for a national computer programming competition. We were rewarded for our top finish in the competition, beating out dozens of other high schools across the country. It was a wonderful moment!.

When I started getting press coverage some 9 years ago on my own, I started by writing my own press releases and hunting for contacts who might be working on stories relevant to what I was doing at the time. Reading a lot of press releases helped too, because I didn’t know a thing about writing them, so I emulated what I read and it worked!

In 2000, I made my debut in my hometown paper, The Detroit News, along with a childhood friend. I wanted to get the word out about our new startup, so I managed to secure an interview with the News. The reaction around town was pretty weird, because they featured us on the cover of the business section. In 2001, I made an appearance in the Nashville Business Journal for another project I founded. I issued a press release I wrote to the local media in Nashville and that’s how I got the interview.

I still can’t believe how many blogs, newspapers and such I’ve been featured or quoted by. In April 2008, I was invited by ABC to record an interview for their special on the late Dr. Randy Pausch. It was my second television experience — But on a much larger scale. It was inspiring to be part of a special that not only humbled me, but brought tears to my eyes. All of these experiences are the result of commanding a desired outcome and seizing opportunities as they present themselves.

I’ve always been a guy who has worked hard to get his name and passions out into the world. So, if you’re trying to plug yourself, get busy and make yourself available to the press. I’d be happy to share my experiences with anyone who cares to learn how I did it, because I’m a firm believer that we can achieve anything we want if we grant ourselves the permission to do so.

Note: The sample MP3 is embedded at the end of this entry. You may also download it here.

I am not a singer, however, I do enjoy goofing around with different concepts like vocal phrasing and such. While living in Nashville, I did take a few singing lessons, where I was told I had ‘something’ (I think she was just trying to make me feel good). My love for music came from a variety of people, including my Grandmother (who once played piano), Mom (she has a beautiful voice when she’s serious) and my Dad (I recall him belting out tunes as a child). My most profound influence is Michael McDonald. I’ve spent many years and hours studying his live and recorded vocal techniques, analyzing every phrasing and breath. You could say I received an education in the ‘theory of singing’ from the man.

Usually, I’ll sing to get a feel for a song I’m writing — It’s my way of capturing what I hear in my head (you won’t believe how often I hear music) to gain a better understanding of the song’s structure, mood, energy, etc.

The little vocal I recorded here is from Michael McDonald’s ‘Peace‘. It’s a beautiful ballad co-written by McDonald and Beth Nielsen Chapman. The phrasing is a lot different from Michael’s — In fact, I didn’t have anything in particular in mind, it’s something I blurted out while being ‘In the Spirit‘ (which is actually the title of the album this song is from).

Anyway, you must promise me that you won’t tell anyone you heard this, okay? This is the first time I’ve ever shared my amateur music adventures in the public. I’ve got years of recordings, unfinished music and a lot of other crap. It’s only a hobby to tinker and learn new things. My only interest in any mainstream success would be as a songwriter and maybe a background vocalist / gabber.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

On Monday, I was quoted by the Associated Press on a story about travelers canceling plans to India due to the terrorist attacks in Mumbai:

Ronald Lewis, 29, of Denver, had been planning a trip to India in the spring or summer of next year.

“I’m specifically avoiding Mumbai now due to the attacks,” he said. “No one can predict terror anywhere in the world, but we can at least travel smart.”

Just to re-iterate, I am still planning a visit to India next year — Just not Mumbai. I’ve long held an interest in visiting the areas of India that are popular for virtual assistance and technology outsourcing. I’d like to see firsthand how business is done there and I believe the trip will be very informative for me. So, I’ll be planning for safety and other measures for this trip. We cannot live in fear of terror, but we can at least anticipate potential risks and plan accordingly.

Jerry Yang and Yahoo deserve a little love. Why pick on Yang like he’s the unloved kid in the lunchroom? What about Semel? He thought a Hollywood approach was the ticket to Internet domination. I guess that didn’t work out too well, eh?