According to Mashable.com, the Tweet read, in part:

“Who said sleeping in a moldy apartment was bad for you? Horizon realty thinks it’s ok.”

Mashable.com also reported that Horizon’s Jeffrey Michael was reported as saying “We’re a sue first and ask questions later kind of organization” in reference to the libel lawsuit.

Yikes!

I wouldn’t want my customers, clients, investors and the media to know that’s the attitude I took to business.

You can read Mashable.com’s story at: “Woman Sued for $50,000 Over Tweet.”

Regardless, blogs, Facebook, Twitter and other social media have taken over the Internet and online marketing. But in your zeal to jump onto the online marketing bandwagon, you might want to think twice about posting negative comments about people, companies, products or services. You might find yourself in the same situation.

If you ever do, it could well cost you $10,000 up front just to retain an attorney to defend you.

Or, if you blog, you might consider joining the Media Blogger’s Association for just $25. The Media Blogger’s Association was formed in 2004 “by dozens of leading bloggers as a ‘mutual defense pact’ for bloggers facing legal threats.” You can learn more at their Web site by going to Media Blogger’s Association

One book I did manage to get through recently though was John Maxwell’s book Put Your Dream to the Test: 10 Questions to Help You See It and Seize It. If you don’t know, John Maxwell is a leadership expert and was declared Amazon.com’s top author on the subject of leadership. I’ve had the privilege of hearing John Maxwell speak several times and I always thoroughly enjoy listening to him. He has such profound insights and I always come away feeling so enriched by what he’s shared with me.

His new book seems so appropriate right now: a call to action along with a healthy dose of encouragement – the perfect antidote to the paralyzing fear which seems to be the hallmark of our current economy. I especially appreciated the encouragement I got from it. If you’re running your own business or thinking about starting one, this book is well worth reading. Most of us who have business dreams and ambitions meet plenty of obstacles along the entrepreneurial path. But I find that my biggest obstacle is myself: my own laziness and fear of the unknowns and the what-ifs.

I’ve been in danger of allowing fear to steal my dreams, but this book helped put things into perspective and drive me to action, always the perfect antidote to fear. If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it!

What books have you found helpful or encouraging recently?