I was tagged by The Fem Geek for 8 Random Things. I haven’t been playing lots of blog tag lately, but why the heck not? The game is simple: list 8 random things about yourself that someone might not know. I’ve done it a few times, so you’re probably starting to know lots about me. Never the less, it’s Saturday night, and I’m game.
8 Random Things About Chris Brogan
- The first motivational moment I clearly remember in my adult life was listening to Les Brown on PBS talk about how people didn’t believe in him, but that he plowed his way through life. I remember clearly lying on the couch, depressed, at a dead end job, and thinking, “I can do more with myself than I have to date.” And boy did I.
- I tried reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People a half dozen times to no avail. It wasn’t until I got the audio program that I got through it, and then ABSORBED it.
- I’m a quick learner, and capable at most things I try. This seems good at first, until you realize that I’m never motivated to try harder, and thus, I’m only marginally capable at several things. I’ve learned to make a benefit out of my ability to learn quickly, by using my small knowledge to forge relationships with people who know tons more, and who appreciate that I get what they’re talking about.
- I can follow multiple inputs at the same time (such as twitter, IM, RSS reading, and writing a blog post) without much effort. In fact, I seem to function better when I have more than one focus than when I buckle down to one thing.
- I have no ability to remember lines in plays or lyrics of songs I love (with precious few exceptions). That’s probably why I love improv acting more than traditional, and why I can appreciate karaoke, but never much made it as anything in a band. I can, however, remember musical notes very well, and can play by ear capably.
- From where I sit, a random sampling of books on my shelf (sorry, no links for all these): Core Performance Essentials, by Mark Verstegen (fitness book); Linux Cookbook; Made to Stick, by Chip and Dan Heath; Story, by Robert McKee (suggested to me by Justin Kownacki); Wikinomics (suggested to me by Whitney Hoffman), and Ender’s Game, by Orson Scott Card.
- Before September 11, 2001, I read almost entirely fiction; now, I read almost entirely nonfiction (though right now, I’m reading PERDIDO STREET STATION by China Mieville- again!). It had something to do with what I realized about myself (and society) after that incident. I realized that we knew so very little. We’re so unprepared. We hold a lot of faith in our government, in corporations, and in magic that we’ll somehow survive after something horrible happens. Instead, I decided to learn as much as I could about many things. This has degraded. I know very little of what I studied so intently after 2001. But I still read lots of nonfiction.
- What endears me most to people is usually their creative spark coupled with their confidence and their ability to accomplish things. I’m excited by people who seek to do great things. The bigger the chunk they’re biting off of the world, the more excited I get. Does this describe you? It’s probably what I like about you. Oh, and I love to see hidden potential in people who haven’t yet taken their shot.
So that’s 8 random things about me. In true blog tag fashion, I’m going to pass the meme on to some other people. Let’s see. How about:
Laura, Becky, Chel, Derrick, Bryan, and Matthew.