That Instafamous Guy

Your friendly neighborhood IG Supehero

May
18

By

uniQue, inQuisitive, and uneQualed – @mQtodd is the Quintessential friend

Category: So Genius Tags: , , , , , , 29 Comments

Aside from the fro’d out green hairdo, the Q was the first thing that jumped out at me when I met Michael Q Todd on Twitter. I mean, how many people have a middle name that starts with Q, right? After getting to know him a bit better, I finally popped the question (No, not THAT question… I’m already married). Admittedly, I was expecting the answer to be Quentin or another somewhat obscure name but his response took me by surprise.

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE Q

The Q wasn’t a name given to him by his parents, remember, Michael is uniQue. He bestowed the Q, short for Qi, upon himself after an expedition to China that likely saved his life, or at least how he lived it. Qi 氣,by its ancient Chinese roots, is translated as life force or energy flow. You see, he was diagnosed with Reiters Syndrome (a debilitating, acute arthritic disorder) and was told by a top NYC rheumatologist that he would never walk again in 1996. But if you know MQT, you know he didn’t take that diagnosis lying down.

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While most would have succumbed to their Doctor prescribed fate, Michael traveled to China sought out masters of Chi Gung (Qigong 氣功) in an effort to heal himself. This practice has been existence for over 4000 years and is a method of aligning one’s body with their mind through extensive coordinated breathing and rhythmic movements. If you’ve seen any of Michael Q’s video’s, you know that he is fully healed. Talk about inspiring!

A LIVING LEGEND

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Usually, these awards are heavily based on accomplishments in Social Media. In the case, though, the Living Legend award is a reminder that there are things WAY bigger than social media. If you’ve had two near death experiences like Michael has, you deserve some recognition!! One of the most endearing aspects about MQT is how unwaveringly positive he is. Now that you have better knowledge of his back-story, you can probably understand why he is so upbeat. He doesn’t sweat the small stuff. He is now devoted to giving back, and is particularly chivalrous when it comes to the environment and sea life. Bottom line, you’ll be hard pressed to find someone more deserving of karma than him.

Since his network is so large, there’s a strong chance you already know Michael. That’s great! Make sure you share how much he means to you in the comments below. If you’re not familiar with him, or don’t know him that well, here are a couple links to get closer to him. He did all the work for you – check out his XeeMe profile to connect with him on ALL of the different platforms. Then, click here and subscribe to his blog… or at least bookmark it. After all, he is probably one of smartest social media minds on the planet. We here at The So Genius Blog would also like to extend our deepest gratitude for all the support you’ve given us as well. Thank you for all that you do, Michael.

Mar
16

By

HOW TO: Change the World two Words at a Time #YOUMATTER

Category: So Genius Tags: , , , , , , 13 Comments

Originally, this post was intended to be a one man show that features our latest So Genius Award winner, thus kicking off a new weekly segment. No need to worry, though, as we’ll still unveil Jure Klepic’s So G Award; but there’s a movement going on that’s bigger than any one person. Jure epitomizes this mission so deeply, that I actually thought he started project. As it turns out, however, someone else gave birth to the two words that are helping to change the world – YOU MATTER.

WE MATTER

When was the last time someone said that you mattered? For many, it’s been far too long. Some may not even remember the last time. However, If you are friends with Angela Maiers, creator of the you matter project, it’s rare that a day goes by without her reminding you of how important you really are. Need some inspiration to fuel your potential for the upcoming week? Please watch Angela’s AMAZING Ted Talk to get your fix. Really, this isn’t just about words… it’s a message that can change the way you look at the world.

THE MORE YOU GIVE

It’s human nature to want to belong, to feel appreciated for what you do. This is a two way street, my friends. Dan Gilbert, a successful Midwest businessman, once told me his key to success. “The more you give the more you get” is the mantra he lives by. That, in itself, is not a new concept but most people seemingly have it bassackwards. Many first wait for someone to help them before they help someone else. Some expect an affirmation of their own contributions before they appreciate the things people do for them. I’m sorry to inform those people that YOU HAVE IT WRONG. Angela has laid the groundwork, but it’s up to us to set aside the me-first attitude that prevails in our society and start paying it forward. So, your mission for the rest of today and through the weekend is find a way to acknowledge the people that make a difference in your life. When enough of us buy into this philosophy, we really will change the world.

SO GENIUS AWARD: DIFFERENCE MAKER

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Jure is a difference maker

I sure hope Jure doesn’t mind getting buried at the end of this post. Actually, nevermind, I know he won’t care because he is more concerned with others than himself. I remember my first interaction with Jure, it was shortly after the first time that I retweeted him when he didn’t just thank me, but actually asked how my day was. While this probably shouldn’t have been so astonishing, it was on a few different levels. I had been on Twitter for maybe four months and it was the first time that someone I didn’t know actually cared enough to ask about me. It says a lot about someone’s character when they ask about you for no ot than to acknowledge you. Initially, I thought jure just had a thing for superheroes, but it so happens that he lets EVERYONE know that they matter. He is a true difference maker; and for that, he deserves our praise. Now it’s our turn to tell Jure how much we love him by leaving a shoutout below.