This straightforward prompt from the Trust 30 challenge is by Ashley Ambridge. I am charged to recall a time when I did something I didn't believe I was capable of doing but surprised myself. That was then. What about this week?
Since this is Wedding Anniversary week at home, I recall courting my wife for our first date. This was in ancient times when folks still had voicemail on their pagers. (Pager? What's a pager? There's voicemail on those big coaster size things at the restaurant?) We had just set our first date. I composed a poem and read the poem into her voicemail. As a single person lacking 2nd dates, reading a poem into voicemail prior to a 1st date was out of character for me. Further, those ancient pager-voicemail thingees had a time limit on messages. I got timed out as I started the final stanza and had to call back to complete my poetry slam offering. Obviously, everything worked out well as evidenced by my introductory sentence including "Wedding Anniversary week".
How can I use this to surprise myself this week? Well, if it's planned, it's not really a surprise. But, if it's not planned how can it be executed? So it's now a challenge. I will challenge myself to find 3 new venues to troll for blog traffic, using my personality (my poetry is reserved for my wife) to announce I'm a player.
How will you use past self-surprises to challenge yourself to push your limits?
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Ralph Waldo Emerson Trust 30 Challenge Prompt 12: Fear, What Does It Matter?
This prompt by Lachlan Cotter is about recognizing fear, confronting fear and then kicking fear squarely and confidently in the stones.
Even when gainfully employed (prior to 9/08) I was unsettled. I was making good coin working in a niche industry that despite all predictions was contracting instead of expanding. I needed a (better?) long term plan but with a stay at home wife and two kids, I would not consider anything. At least I could afford the antacid to treat the feeling in the pit of my stomach.
In September, 2008 my employers suggested I do something else for anyone else. I was confronted by the fact that their was nothing (including what I had heretofore done) that I was passionate about doing. My enforced sabbatical led me to social media to test a hypothesis about using Twitter to drive B2C demand during off peak hours. I found my hypothesis faulty, but learned that I liked social media, a lot.
I continued to expand my network and I am now privileged to be connected with a large number of entrepreneurs using social media to drive their business ventures. These people are examples of where I want to be within my own niche. The cost of failure is far less than the cost of sitting on the sideline by whatever currency counted.
In case I am making a mistake by venturing forward, I say to the future:
It is impossible for the the blunder to be of significance in 10 minutes, 10 days or 10 weeks. That is too short a time to measure the success(es) or failure(s) of any venture. As for 10 years from now, if I have erred in this venture, the strength and knowledge I gained from the attempt laid the groundwork for future success in new areas.
Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!
Even when gainfully employed (prior to 9/08) I was unsettled. I was making good coin working in a niche industry that despite all predictions was contracting instead of expanding. I needed a (better?) long term plan but with a stay at home wife and two kids, I would not consider anything. At least I could afford the antacid to treat the feeling in the pit of my stomach.
In September, 2008 my employers suggested I do something else for anyone else. I was confronted by the fact that their was nothing (including what I had heretofore done) that I was passionate about doing. My enforced sabbatical led me to social media to test a hypothesis about using Twitter to drive B2C demand during off peak hours. I found my hypothesis faulty, but learned that I liked social media, a lot.
I continued to expand my network and I am now privileged to be connected with a large number of entrepreneurs using social media to drive their business ventures. These people are examples of where I want to be within my own niche. The cost of failure is far less than the cost of sitting on the sideline by whatever currency counted.
In case I am making a mistake by venturing forward, I say to the future:
It is impossible for the the blunder to be of significance in 10 minutes, 10 days or 10 weeks. That is too short a time to measure the success(es) or failure(s) of any venture. As for 10 years from now, if I have erred in this venture, the strength and knowledge I gained from the attempt laid the groundwork for future success in new areas.
Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Fourth of July.
In Congress, July 4, 1776. "The unanimous declaration of the 13 united States of America..." and so began momentous events that changed the trajectory of history.
In a tux, July 4, more than 200 years later. "Be though consecrated unto me..." and so began momentous events that have changed the trajectory of my personal history. Technically, those events began exactly 2 years earlier when I asked the lovely woman that would choose to marry me, "Do you want a hot dog or hamburger?" Such are the advantages of working the grill at a singles picnic.
I can't imagine the feeling of the patriots: some combination of fear, exhilaration, doubt and pride. They had just dismissed the divinity of the crown. Right or wrong, there was no going back. Their world was never going to be the same.
Standing with my almost wife I too had a full range of emotions. There was more joy and excitement than anything else. For me as for the founding fathers, there was no going back. My world was never going to be the same.
As it turns out, the signatories of the Declaration of Independence were right. They chose to challenge the World Order and created the democracy all other countries covet. The path has had more than a few "construction delays" but 235 years later still the USA is still the greatest country in the world. The Declaration of Independence has made the world a better place.
Even though I've been married less than 235 years, my July 4th declaration has also stood up over time. Just like the US, my family has grown over time and my family has also had our share of setbacks. In spite of all the challenges, we celebrate another year of being together. Jefferson & Co. weren't trying to change the course of history, they were trying to improve their little corner of the world. The same goes for me: I was just trying to improve my life. I too, have been successful. Who know's what the next 235 years will bring?
In a tux, July 4, more than 200 years later. "Be though consecrated unto me..." and so began momentous events that have changed the trajectory of my personal history. Technically, those events began exactly 2 years earlier when I asked the lovely woman that would choose to marry me, "Do you want a hot dog or hamburger?" Such are the advantages of working the grill at a singles picnic.
I can't imagine the feeling of the patriots: some combination of fear, exhilaration, doubt and pride. They had just dismissed the divinity of the crown. Right or wrong, there was no going back. Their world was never going to be the same.
Standing with my almost wife I too had a full range of emotions. There was more joy and excitement than anything else. For me as for the founding fathers, there was no going back. My world was never going to be the same.
As it turns out, the signatories of the Declaration of Independence were right. They chose to challenge the World Order and created the democracy all other countries covet. The path has had more than a few "construction delays" but 235 years later still the USA is still the greatest country in the world. The Declaration of Independence has made the world a better place.
Even though I've been married less than 235 years, my July 4th declaration has also stood up over time. Just like the US, my family has grown over time and my family has also had our share of setbacks. In spite of all the challenges, we celebrate another year of being together. Jefferson & Co. weren't trying to change the course of history, they were trying to improve their little corner of the world. The same goes for me: I was just trying to improve my life. I too, have been successful. Who know's what the next 235 years will bring?
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY TO YOU. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO ME.
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