The stated purpose of this blog as of this writing is to foster discussion about the connection between human challenges and business challenges.
Over the last 3 years or so, we’ve talked about giving to others, being better communicators first, being curious about (and with) those around us, handling our fear, dealing with loneliness, de-emphasizing our egos, adjusting when conflict arises, focusing on context more than events, being compassionate, allowing ourselves to be vulnerable, giving ourselves a framework for creativity, sharing and connecting through our stories, not dwelling in the negative, and even about some reflections.
These topics are ones that a lot of us (myself certainly included) struggle with regularly. What has been interesting is that the same things that we struggle with as people are also things that companies struggle with, and that we can use the same tools that we use to address challenges in our interpersonal lives to begin to shift how companies operate, inside and out. Â This is what I’ve tried to point out more often than not here.
The fractal, scalable nature of what keeps us connecting (and keeps us from it, as well) is truly remarkable, when one is attuned to it.
Trying as best I can to avoid us vs. them thinking in my own head through connecting with people has really led me to begin to see the patterns (the “Matrix Code”, to geek out for a moment) behind many of the interactions that happen.  Being able to channel what I’m learning into this blog and have it resonate with even one person is so rewarding.
What I’m thinking about now is: What’s next? Â There are thousands of blogs covering communications, from the perspective of tactics, strategy, psychology, life coaching and productivity, Buddhism and even parenting, each sharing variations on a theme of connection.
I’m certainly not the only one who talks about these subjects, nor the best or most regular blogger, but I’m proud of what’s happened here on my little corner of the interwebs, I’m ever grateful for those of you who choose to spend a few moments reading and responding (although selfishly I wish more of you would chime in and join the conversation happening in the comments).
As I begin the next chapter in the evolution of me (with some stuff that I will be announcing soon), I wonder how I can be most useful to you?
My intentions for this blog moving forward are to try to document my refocus on what matters to me (talking with passionate people about what matters to them, and collecting those stories into a cohesive overall story), and the process of making that into my full-time vocation.
What say you?
[…] clients to embrace this kind of conversation in their marketing efforts. I realize that I’ve blogged a lot about these issues right here, so I wont rehash them (you can click on the sidebar to read any of […]
I just listened to pieces of the interviews on the Sarah McLaughlin site. They were very moving. When I first read what you wrote about deeper context, I thought “Okay, here comes the next spin cycle.” I imagined people talking earnestly about how their washing machine or their new Ford has had a profound influence on their lives. Do you think that a product has to have some kind of gravitas to lend itself to this deeper context approach?
If I was hired by whirlpool, I’m not sure i would focus on ‘how the washing machine has influenced my life’, no. I might instead focus more on the design process of the machines, how the design and efficiency has improved throughout the years, and where the future of energy efficient good-for-the-planet means of keeping our clothes clean will be coming from.
I’d interview the designers, the mechanical engineers, maybe do a video tour of the factory where they are made.
There are ways to get the authentic story of anything and make it interesting.