Announcement: My Ryze Network Changes

Later today, June 28, 2008, I will be closing the Western North Carolina Mountain Region Network.

On Tuesday, July 1, 2008, I opened a Social Networking Sites for Business community and you are invited to join our discussions about using social networking as a long-term method of growing your business by meeting new people and building relationships - rather like we do here on Ryze.

A long, long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...

I was born in the middle of the 20th century in a little town called Atlanta. Getting here has been a long journey, full of twists and turns, and I'm very happy to be a part of the Ryze Business Networking site.

I've spent over 30 years learning as much as I can about computers, starting with mainframes and working down through the years to minicomputers and then microcomputers. I've programmed in a dozen or more computer languages on all sorts of platforms. These days, I limit myself to Unix and Macintosh systems and programming in perl and PHP.

A few years ago, I burned out completely on software development, database programming, consulting, systems administration and teaching.

During this time, I basically retired. While looking for something to do, I remembered how much I had enjoyed blacksmithing when Dad taught me many years ago, so I opened Dilbeck Metalsmithing and specialized in making handcrafted steel roses. You can see more at TheRoseThatNeverWilts.com.

In early November, 2001, my mother was diagnosed with colon cancer and we went through the rounds of chemo- and radiation-therapy. She went in for surgery in April, 2002 and was expected to be in the hospital for about a week. After the surgery, there was nerve damage and she wasn't able to walk. About six weeks later, after being in the hospital and Thoms Rehab, I brought her home and I've been helping her care for herself. I don't stray far from home for very long, because, even though she is better, she can still barely hobble around the house and can't go outside without help.

She's 87 years old and, other than having problems walking, she's doing okay.

Unfortunately, she fell twice in 2005, breaking a leg in both cases. In August, she broke her right leg and was in the hospital and nursing home for about a month undergoing physical therapy. By late November, she was about back to her ability to walk prior to falling. It was great for her to be able to get around the house as she wanted with little help from me.

However, on December 9, she fell and broke her other leg. This was a worse break than the August fall, because she broke both bones in her lower leg this time, a tib-fib fracture. After the first fall, she was able to walk using a "moon boot" support. This time, she has to stay off her leg for several more weeks. She doesn't like being in the nursing home, and therapy is hard on her, but she realizes it is necessary to recover so she can come back home.

I closed my metalsmithing business since I just don't have the time to get out to the smithy for long enough periods to create any original art. If Mom makes substantial improvements, I'll reopen the business and resume making my Steel Roses That Never Wilt. These days, I help her as much as she needs during the day and spend the nights building websites and marketing.

Nonprofits

Previously, I served on the board of directors for the Center for Participatory Change.

Center for Participatory Change

The mission of the Center for Participatory Change is to build and strengthen grassroots groups in Western North Carolina.

Through four programs--grassroots organizing, capacity building, networking and grantmaking--CPC helps rural people make improvements in their communities through projects that they plan, implement and evaluate themselves.

Our ultimate goal is to expand democracy in North Carolina by supporting the community involvement of people in low-wealth communities, especially groups of people who are outside of the usual decision-making systems.

I serve on the review board that oversees grants through the Self-Development Fund. Through generous grassroots donations, we've been able to help groups get organized and grow by granting seed money to them. I'd like to invite you to learn more about the Self-Development Fund. We would appreciate any donations you'd care to make so that we can help future groups get started and grow.

I served on the CPC board of directors for several years and I value that experience. I will keep an eye on CPC and look forward to following their progress.

Heritage Partners of Cherokee County

I am a member of Heritage Partners of Cherokee County.

We hope you'll enjoy, and join us in building on the heritage of Cherokee County -- North Carolina's first, last and finest place to be.

Family

My mother has spent nearly three decades researching our family history, and I've managed to put part of it online in the genealogy section of JohnDilbeck.com. When she started, she didn't know any of her great-grandparents' names or anything about Dad's great-grandparents. Even before access to the Internet, she and others she met, have done a huge amount of work and now we know a lot about our families.

I was married to a wonderful woman, Kathy, for several years, but we were divorced about ten years ago. We remain great friends and I really like her new husband, Ken.

Our daughter, Dena, is married to a fine man, Stacey, and they have three children, Courtnie, Dakota and Kaitlyn.

I have one brother, David, and I manage his website, GeorgiaDragRacing.com. He and a partner are writing a book about the Golden Years of Georgia Drag Racing and hope to have it released in the near future. Unfortunately, David has been having serious health problems and the work on the book has been put on the back burner for now. He hopes to complete it as soon as he is able. David is married to Vicki.

I maintain a personal website at JohnDilbeck.com. This is the site where I experiment with different things and do whatever I want. That's the beauty of a personal site.

I have a bedroom that is more or less converted into a cave, and that's where I toil away during the night hours to build my marketing business.

Speaking of which...

Dilbeck Marketing

Currently, on my various websites, I represent quite a few other affiliate programs:

Ken Evoy's SiteSell

Without a doubt, Ken Evoy is one of the marketing masters on the Internet. I'm proud to be a part of his affiliate program and I recommend all his products with my highest enthusiasm. I've read and profited from all his ebooks, and it's my opinion that anyone selling anything on the Internet should study his best selling ebook, Make Your Site Sell 2002!. It was only after studying that book and putting what I learned into action that I started making a profit as an affiliate marketer. Now, I earn that initial investment back many times over every month.

Make Your Site Sell 2002! is now available as a free download.

I'm building AYearFromNow.com using Site Build It! -- the most outstanding webhosting service for Internet marketers on the planet -- and I'll be building more sites using this service as I have the time to do so.

Now Free! Make You Content PREsell -- As an affiliate marketer, it is your job to PREsell, not sell. Learn how to do this effectively.

SiteSell 5 Pillar Affiliate Registration -- Join my sales team. In my opinion, this is the best affiliate program on the planet. It's FREE.

Free Training Resources from SiteSell...

You are welcome to download the following ebooks. They're free and you don't even have to give your email address! Just download them, study them, and put your newfound knowledge to good use.

Affiliate Masters Course -- Become a high-earning affiliate champion.

The 6th Pillar Program -- If you're an affiliate or agent selling anything online, Learn how to succeed at any program, in 8 quick-and-easy Action Steps, one per week. A FREE training resource from SiteSell.

SFI Marketing Group

I am proud to represent SFI Marketing Group. This company has many affiliates around the world. If you want to learn the art of affiliate marketing, SFI offers a great way to get started. Don't sign up just because it's free. You will not earn anything just by signing up. Like every other business, you have to invest time, effort, creativity, and money to build your SFI business. However, if you really want to earn commissions for recommending quality products, this is a good place to start.

Sometimes the hardest thing to do is get started and the easiest thing to do is to quit. It takes time, effort, and at least a little money to succeed in marketing over the Internet. Learning what works for others may save you from wasting your resources chasing things that just don't work.

I invite you to visit my John Dilbeck And Friends blog. I talk about many things related to SFI Marketing Group there.

I succeed by helping you succeed

Over the years, I've had many people help me. They've taught me something they knew that I didn't. They've given me a helping hand when I needed it. They've referred me to others they knew. They've recommended me to customers. They've given me a pat on the back when I was down and a swift kick in the seat when I was being a jerk.

I could not be where I am without the help and support of many people.

With that in mind, I've started what I hope will grow into a "success cooperative" at AYearFromNow.com. This will be a site devoted to helping each other succeed in what we most want to accomplish. Success is not always defined as wealth, power, and fame. It can be measured in many other ways, too. What is your dream? Are you acting on your dream? Come subscribe to my Act On Your Dream! ezine. Tell us your story.

While I don't know everything, I have some experience in a variety of fields, and just as others helped me, I want to help you.

I can't do your work for you. I can't solve your problems. But, I can extend a listening ear and offer suggestions if I have anything to contribute.

That's one of the reasons I like it here at Ryze. People helping each other, and a site that's designed to make that easy and efficient.

Even if there's nothing to gain other than meeting a new friend and helping someone when they need it, I look forward to doing what I can.

I succeed by helping you succeed.

Forums and Networks

I am the Network Leader for the Social Networking Sites for Business group.

I currently own and manage the Western North Carolina Forum and invite you to participate there if you live in the mountain region of North Carolina or like to visit there.

I also own and manage the A Year From Now Forum.

Social Networking Communities

I recently created the Squidoo Marketing Community which is a friendly place for people who use Squidoo as part of their marketing efforts to support each other and share what we learn. If you are a Squidoo lensmaster, come on over and join us. I look forward to seeing you there.

Thanks for visiting

Please feel free to sign my guestbook. I look forward to getting to know you.

Act on your dream!

JD

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