10.13.2009

do I as I do, not as I say

Just a . . .

I was hanging out after a concert with a friend I hadn't seen for awhile, when we got into a conversion with a woman who had also been in the show.

During the show, she (I think her name was Carol) had spun around quickly, and to the first person she could find, said, "Wow!" and pointing to the guy in front of her, "I have been married to this guy for 17 years!" And you can probably guess it -- the guy she was talking about was her husband, and the person she was speaking to was . . . me.

So . . . the occasion arose, and I gave her a card. To which she responded instantly, "So, you have moxie?" My answer, "I don't know that I have moxie, but read the card, I am building moxie."

And . . . I do think it is a collective activity :: Thank you all who have some, especially when you are willing to share. It is an ongoing process.
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Posted by Building Moxie at Tuesday, October 13, 2009
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15 comments:

  1. One of the things I like about your blog is the amount of transparency you display with your process. I know transparency is sort of a buzz word now so i'll carify: What I mean is a willingness to allow the world to see conviction and uncertainty side by side as it lives in most of us.

    Our business is filled with folk who feel they must never show weakness lest they be deemed an amateur. What I see with you is a strength of process which defies stereotype. It is refreshing and the fact that you are making it work for you is pretty dang cool.
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  2. Barry -- I can't tell you how much I appreciate this. As I have said recently to new friend Mike Hines @eXapath, this is me finding me. I got to the point where I held what I was thinking in (yes, and regrets over say one misset tile) for so long that I just had to let it out.

    Some "business folk" might say that aom is stupid (they also say "nice guys finish last") --I say f'it. if I fail -- maybe the next guy succeeds. . . And hey I have a brain cell left -- in process, maybe I find an angel.

    To you -- love what you have as well. Please continue to build. jb
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  3. Go for it! Good luck. God knows they get enough support from the DIY community collectively, and from me personally. :-)
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  4. jb - nice work. Barry puts it best in highlighting a “willingness to allow the world to see conviction and uncertainty side-by-side as it lives in most of us.”

    I challenge the corporate world to allow a view of the refreshing but fragile social side of themselves. All too often the flawed human element is downplayed in large organizations with a public persona projecting only strength and domination...a facade leaving an opaque view of the company. I believe today’s consumers are eager to see the human side...that means additional risk for the companies willing to bare themselves. Your project, “Building Moxie”, provides an excellent study for any company attempting to cultivate transparency. It’s fortifying and energizing to witness...dare I say it’s a movement that needs to happen?
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  5. I mean -- Thank you! in my business (still w/ a chuckle), and you have heard this Mike, I say: "Do it yourself, doesn't mean do it alone."
    The parallels, it is process, between say doing a home improvement project (a task you have never tried) and say building a business are really not that disimilar. Mike you are right, enough with the "a facade leaving an opaque view" -- We are all consumers, we are all pros! -- That to me is elementary. . . . .

    Thank you for the support. You all roll with me this day. & . . . BMoxie BMore!
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  6. How wonderfully, refreshingly human of you to post this! I think you're on to something big.

    Visiting from the www.HOMEdigz.com blog party today!

    Susan
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  7. Thx susan -- I am not sure if it was quite in, well, the party spirit -- but your tweet on the party -- kinda inspired me to put it up. As I always say "home" starts with the people in it.jb
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  8. JB:

    It's absolutely a good idea to endorse a product you believe in. But remember, to the B&Ds of the world, business is business. The first thing the Director of Marketing is going to ask (because that's who Archie's going to pass the letter off to) is "what's in it for us?" You need a paragraph telling them what you want (free tools; sponsorship/etc.) and what they'll get (product placement/reviews; blog mentions/etc.).

    I'm not being cynical, I'm just offering a suggestion to help you get what you want. And I know there are big-picture wants as well as small-picture wants.


    Also, I am assuming you will include specific contact info so s/he can get in touch with you.

    Good luck; I think you're on to something. I'll keep watching--and rooting for you!

    -Rich Dowd
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  9. Rich -- thank you for chiming in. I will be pulling this post down shortly (Replaced with some filler like "I love home improvement" & comments will remain).

    To task - another reason I put it up -- I knew my "Call to Action" was soft, and I wanted input. You nailed it . . . "What do you want; what do we get?" for sure. I have to be prepared to answer those questions.

    That said, and to sum up today -- it is hard to believe a guy could make that many revisions to 345 words. I want it to be just right. There is room here, and there is a mutually beneficial opportunity that exists right now.

    My goal, though with this letter -- simple -- Get a meeting!

    I appreciate your comment and support. It is invaluable to me. jb

    And btw -- ok to be cynical especially considering what we have all been through the last few years. Thanks again.
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  10. Oh, My Moxie Brother... So true the words you write. I am really struck by what you wrote "The sense of comfort exchanged through simple words of advice, a smile, and a handshake has been replaced by the ping of an email, and the flat text of a how-to article. This has helped, in some degree, to foster a disconnection of the individual from both ones own home, as well as from the feeling of “homestead” that we as Americans once knew."

    So true. I know my clients really appreciate how down to earth I am (not to sound full of myself). They aren't use to it and often on guard before we connect, but once they see I am genuine, it all is smooth sailing. So, I say to you... BRAVO!
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  11. ajw -- ok I am going to rant for a second -- I think publications like the Nest, Real Simple, dwell etc. get it. the concept of the "complete home". . .but I don't know -- sitting high in their office buildings NY, LA, Seattle -- i mean how do us average joes/janes (bejane.com great site)access that? -- you know how -- at the doctor's office, in line for check out, in that other place we pass time reading. . . something like HomeSavvi is doing a decent job delivering it real time. (It is going to fun to watch them grow.)

    Anyway. Thank for the support. . . and ironically I have stripped out a good bit of what you highlighted, I felt it created noise and ultimately takes away from the primary goal. thanks again, jb
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  12. This turned into sort of an interesting experiment. With comments following a post and then a post following comments.

    Like a constantly morphing blog of the future.

    I love people who turn around and tell you how long they have been married!
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  13. Barry -- I have done this a few times, the "unpost!" And let me point out the orginal post got more clicks in one day than any other to date about 60. I didn't want you guys to feel slighted, + there is some great dialogue here in the comments. But . . .I knew I was going to pull it down, though, . . .just wise, considering. Final revisions on the letter by the end of the day.

    and as always -- Carol? is a true story. Like between the dancing and the drinking beer -- it just hit her all of a sudden, and I just happened to be standing there. jb
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  14. Hey jb

    I should have made it clearer that I understand what was happenin' and thought it was fun!

    Totally wise... and fun ;-)

    -B
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  15. Understood. . . & fun is good. I'll check you on twitter in a bit. focusing now (focusing is code for "got to do day job stuff.") That said --thank you for the back and forth this week. great #followfriday & a great weekend!
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