I’m a nerd. It’s official.
Here’s the proof: Just picture me. Sitting in paradise this past weekend: Key Largo to be specific. Reclining oceanside in the privacy of a mangrove tree dappled beach. My toes are nestled into the rocky sand and the clear water is gently swooshing in over my feet. I can see the coral below the surface a few feet away and see folks snorkeling off shore in the distance. I’ve got my beach read in hand… Trust Agents by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith.
(That’s the nerdy part.)
We’re writing a book – Andy and I. The book leans heavily on the analogy of teaching a child to ride a bike to communicate the process of “learning” how to assimilate to the social media/new media world. At one point in his book, Chris used my analogy. He stole it. I’m sure he’s stalking me. I gasped and almost dropped the book in the water. But it was too good, so I didn’t. (And no, I really don’t think he stole it or is stalking me. But I think he’s REALLY smart. *wink*)
So, after another hour or so, I finished the book. I know it’s really bad form to give away the ending of a book, but hey, who am I to do things the way they’ve always been done, so here I go (sorry, Chris). Last three sentences of his book:
“Try something new today. It may just REVOLUTIONIZE what you do. Trust us.”
Did you see that? Again, I almost dropped the book. But since I had read all the way to the end, I had filled the margins with notes, my own ideas and analogies – and lots of underlining, stars and arrows…I really didn’t want to feed my notes to the sharks. So, I held on to it. I mean, WE are HOME of the Results Revolution. (I’ve had the domain name for a long time – like more than 6 years a long time: resultsrevolution.com – being reworked right now for a cool 2010 project.) Brogan stole my word! (Again, spoken in jest.) I’ve been giving the Webster’s definition slowly and carefully in speeches for more than nine years. I sign my e-mail newsletter with two words: “Be Revolutionary.” But I’ve also been raising babies and running carpool lines and generally doing this life thing at a pretty hectic pace the last few years. That is very good work – the best work in fact. But maybe now it’s time to finish that book, to really demonstrate “revolutionary.” That’s part of what this weekend in paradise was all about. Refocusing, rejuvenating, writing, learning, listening and thinking – about nothing in particular – just letting the creative juices flow with no pressure induced. I’m so fired up.
(In case you missed it, Webster’s says that a “revolution” is “a drastic and far-reaching change in ways of thinking and behaving.” It’s really a revolutionary definition all by itself, if you stop long enough to unpack it.)
So, today, I’m plugging back in and reading some past Brogan e-mail newsletters and ran across one titled the same as this post: “No King Ever Ordered a Revolution.” Made me stop and think over this revolution thing one more time.
How about you? Are you willing to take on the status quo, to be the leader that sticks his neck out for the sake of the cause – even when the cause doesn’t think it’s the right move? Are you the lone voice in the wilderness thinking that social tools and networks might just give your business a chance to connect in a whole new way – even survive? What would a revolution look like if it happened in your business? Isn’t it time you pursued your own personal or professional revolution? No one but you can order it. It’s you against the world – go do big things, different things, far-reaching things.
I’d love to talk about what that means for you. What say you?
P.S. If you haven’t read it, it’s a good read. And if you don’t, follow @chrisbrogan. He’s smart, keeps it all real, and you will benefit from him and his network.
Photo Credit: chris.corwin
Marianna:
Insightful as always.
I “found” Chris Brogan only within the last couple of weeks, and have added him to my Twitter list of those who “…make me smile and think.” Trust Agents is on my list of must reads, and its a likely purchase on my next B&N excursion.
I will confess my ongoing surprise, as someone more than peripherally involved in small-town downtown revitalization, that the message you share is not more widespread and accepted among small town merchants and service providers nationwide. Yes, it is revolutionary, but it also follows good ol’ fashioned common sense – that customers respond positively to a sense of engagement and involvement. Nordstrom, Zappos and many others have long ago proved the merit of that approach. I’m just thrilled that you have translated it into the world of downtown – a place that used to capitalize on that very idea.
You are among those who have motivated me to attempt a revolution on the other end of the spectrum – to empower communities and downtown revitalization organizations to create more cohesive online markets for small-town merchants to tap, while also giving them the tools they need to do so. I have been mulling over the concept for years, but took an initial plunge some six or so months ago. Now that I have had some initial success, I have only this week decided to expand it into a more widespread effort. For me, its my “revolution.”
Again, mega thanks!
Thomas