These last few weeks have been a whirlwind of ideas, planning, and thoughts about the future. If you scroll back a few years on this blog, you’ll note that I plan and think about the future often. It’s a way to better enable my present. I believe that it’s easy for us to think that if we just do a good job, good things will come to us. It’s not true. Opportunity comes from planting lots of seeds.
Talk to Smart People
I had a brief IM session with Bre Pettis the other day. He was very encouraging, and had some incredible insights. It’s important to surround yourself with friends and colleagues who are smarter than you. You will never find a next level without having someone smarter to bounce ideas off. In the end, Bre’s idea was as simple as a piece of paper and a pen, but I’ve done exactly what he told me four times, and every time, my idea gets better.
Build a Reputation, and Deserve It
I should really ask YOU to tell ME what you think I’m known for, but I’ll say that some people consider me very encouraging, a forward thinker, good at connecting with people, expressive, and tuned in to what’s coming next and what’s important now. Agree? Disagree? This is the way I view how you see me (did that even make sense?). But by having that reputation from all my efforts and actions, people know what they get when they come to me. They know I can execute. They know I am full of ideas to help THEM succeed, and that I’ve done some exciting things in my past.
Be Useful to Others
That last point deserves a replay. If I’m really successful but that success only benefits me, who gives a rat’s ass? There aren’t a lot of people out there thinking, “Boy, I really hope I can help someone else get rich.” (And believe me, I’m the opposite of rich, so there’s a clue as to my methodology). Make yourself USEFUL to others. Built that into your brand. Be known as that person who helps others get their ball moved forward. That builds futures quickly. Ask if you can help all the time, and offer ideas how you can be useful to others.
Reach Out and Ask
NOTHING has been handed to me in my career. I have my current job because Justin Kownacki mentioned that Jeff Pulver was in town, and that I should invite him to PodCamp Boston. I got the job before that because I helped my boss, Dave Johnson, write his resume, and then asked if there was a job for me at the new company. Ask. Ask. Ask. I started asking people for help a few weeks back, just for advice, and got answers all over the place. And now? I’ve really been asking, and I’m moving ahead a little at a time.
Stay Open to Possibilities
I used to tell people I was a writer. Most specifically, I started out as a sci-fi writer. Only, I didn’t write much. Before 9/11, I wrote TONS of fiction when I shed the science fiction genre. Then, after 9/11, I wrote more when I started talking about nonfiction things instead. Now? Now that I’m not trying to be a writer, I write thousands and thousands of words a day, have thousands of readers, and I don’t call myself a writer.
I’m not a blogger, podcaster, or videoblogger either. I use social media and network tools to strengthen community relationships. Well, that’s pretty big and open, right? That’s a lot bigger and gives me room to do what matters most to me. It’s not about the bike, as Lance Armstrong would say. Instead, for me, it’s about connecting people for bigger things.
And so that’s how opportunity works. YOU are opportunity. YOU work, and then if it all works out, things happen for you. Do you have experience with something like this happening? Or were you hoping someone would just hand it over? How have you found yourself reaching out to others? And are you writing down your future plans and executing against that? Share with the crowd.
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Photo Credit, Bre Pettis