The Stealth Networker Blog:

When I heard from Chris Brogan that today was BlogDay, a day "dedicated to getting to know other bloggers from other countries and areas of interest" by posting recommendations for five blogs that readers might not know about, I just had to jump in.

I admit I don't read as many blogs as I should, but this whole exercise reinforced for me how important a blog is for networking. They provide a window into people's passions and expertise, allowing you to connect with them on a deeper level than you could just by visiting their website which is often more promotional than personal.

BlogDay is not only a great way to find cool new people to network with, but it's also a great way to spread the word about them (another key element of networking!). So, here are my top 5 picks:

Stuck in Customs: Unique Photography for Unique People: Though I LOVE to travel, I don't follow any travel blogs, so when I stumbled on this site during my research, I was blown away. Stunning photography from places all over the world taken by Trey Ratcliff. You really feel like you're there. Wow!

The Happiness Project: I'm a naturally happy and upbeat person myself, but if you aren't, Gretchen Rubin, best-selling author and a former clerk for Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, posts tips to tickle your happiness gene every Wednesday.

PopGadget: Personal Tech + Innovation Lifestyle for Women: I'm not into gadgets for gadgets' sake, but I do appreciate good form and function. I love the premise of the site that the LA Times describes as "bringing together the style of dailycandy.com and the sensibility of Wired magazine."

The JimH Crossword Blog: Confessions of a New York Times Crossword Puzzle addict: I love brain teasers, Sudoku and crosswords, but unless I'm on vacation, I have to limit myself to one puzzle per week TOTAL or I won't get anything done. I look forward to Saturdays when I can dive into the NYT Sunday crossword, and I gotta tip my hat off to Jim Home for maintaining an entire blog about this topic. You go!

Gawker: One of my guilty pleasures. I can't help myself.

Whatever your political persuasion, you had to be surprised by John McCain’s pick yesterday of Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. The conventional wisdom was that he would choose Mitt Romney or Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty, or maybe as a longshot, Carly Fiorina or Meg Whitman. But Palin? She really hadn’t been on anybody’s short list.

How did someone from a state so far away from Washington D.C. even get on McCain’s radar screen in the first place?

According to a McCain spokesperson, “John McCain first met Governor Sarah Palin at the National Governors Association meeting in Washington in February of 2008 and came away extraordinarily impressed. John McCain followed her career and admired her tenacity and her many accomplishments.”

While I used to shy away from conferences and big events myself, I quickly realized as a busy entrepreneur that I had to use my networking time productively, and conferences have become my favorite place to be. Organizers say that the number one reason people go to conferences is to network. That means that those who are there want to network with YOU.

But it’s not just the sheer numbers of people you can meet that is so appealing. It’s also about WHO you can meet. Speakers and other VIPs at the event are much more accessible than they would be otherwise. And just like Governor Palin, a chance meeting could turn into the opportunity of a lifetime.

Going to a conference this fall? Learn simple yet powerful secrets for maximizing your ROI.