Or Inspire, or Just Learn Some Manners
The sky above my head, earlier this week. How’s that for inspiration?
Teaching, informing, collaborating. You’re doing it all day. Why not think a bit more deeply, and try to inspire?
This is the story of an Experience Designer who tries to do just that all the time, and the time when she wasn’t trying.
I sincerely love the work of many of my friends online and off. This is how I became friends with them, for the most part. Through the Mutual Admiration Society.
Apparently, if you take this too far, you may cause someone to start a new blog.
I love curmudgeonly blogs on being delightfully old-fashioned and proper. I say you go for it and allow the ragged people to feign being posh. Disturb the status quo, old man. I shall be your first email-sub.
—Yes, folks, that’s how I talk when invited to a party at Rogue Ink.
Nick Cernis is one of the wittiest people I know, the author of the always spot-on Put Things Off blog. I’d gladly read his grocery lists, that’s how brilliant his writing is. A bit of musing aloud from him, then a few wee words of abject flattery from myself and Rogue Ink author Tei Lindstrom, and the man is off and running. He’ll inspire you, too—not just with his brand new blog, 44forks, but with his can-do attitude. He says, jump in and start the venture you want now. Then by golly, he shows us how it’s done.
Check out 44forks’ About Page. Nick had me grinning from ear to ear.
Yes, there is a lesson here:
You can’t control when the inspiration is going to “take,” or for whom. So work at pushing and inspiring your colleagues and friends every day.
Heck, I wasn’t even trying hard, but I’ll take a tiny bit of credit by saying it’s part of my nature. Is it part of how you operate?
Grow and be well,
Kelly Erickson
Hmm. You still here? Well, after you leave a comment, go on, get over to 44forks. Tell Nick that Kelly sent you. We’ll all feign being posh together.
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20 September 2008, 8:14 am
You’ve sort of pushed me too, you know
though all’s been mostly quiet since our email chat, I’ve not been stationary – it will just take a wee bit longer because my niche is very specialized – I really believe that what I will launch will be great.
So thanks for the push, my friend. May I repay the favour in kind someday.
-Brett
Brett Legree’s last blog post…viking fridays – naked, i was a nobody.
20 September 2008, 10:06 am
Brett,
Oh, this topic has been so much on my mind lately! I’ve got so many new irons in the fire, after a couple of years’ happy moratorium on new side-projects, and so many folks giving me pushes right now, whew!
What’s funny about this whole thing is of course, this is what I try to do by day, then a few words here and there with Nick, and I’m thinking to myself, why don’t I try more consciously when I’m not working? I mean, with the little person, sure. I’m always encouraging her to soar with eagles. Couldn’t I make it a more deliberate part of my day with everyone, without becoming sappy and rah-rah?
Hmm, hmm.
You definitely inspire me. More than you know, in almost every aspect of my day… and now in our new joint project, as Vince. Every day, Brett. Never fear. repaid before there was anything to repay.
You don’t get wiggly eyebrows on that. Because I mean it.
Regards,
Kelly
20 September 2008, 4:04 pm
I loved the impulse that inspired Nick. Loved the idea immediately at Tei’s. Coolest new launch lately. It’s not quite like having a butler, but P D Wodehouse move over, Nick Cernis is in town…cannot wait!!
Kelly, friends, real ones, are the ones that bring out the best in us. Nothing better than that. Like I said, you make the things we all do, better. ( If I ever DO get Keanu’s number, it is yours. )
20 September 2008, 4:28 pm
Janice,
I am trying to work and I just spit soda on a rough draft of a new logo. L-O-L and thank you, my future children appreciate it. Ooh, they’d be cute.
Nick always makes me think of Wodehouse. Loving the last vestiges of breeding, yet mocking, gently. Steven Fry (the man, not just his characters), Alan Cumming, 15% of the folks born within a certain radius of London, Boston, and New Orleans… who else gets it (yet doesn’t quite want it) anymore?
Did I ever tell you about when I was down in N.O., unfortunately tying the knot, during a hurricane that glanced the city? We got there a couple of days in advance (of the hurricane and the wedding), and we were walking the town near the business district. I was dressed nicely, but in Keds, because we’re walking around and I want to save my feet.
My sneaker comes untied just as two gents who appear to be lawyers are walking toward us. Three pieces suits in August, sweating as discreetly as one can, completely engrossed in conversation. I notice the sneaker and I say to future hubby, hang on a second, I have to tie my shoe.
One of the lawyers swoops in on me, startling me into not bending, because I don’t know what he’s about to do; he gets down on one knee in front of me, in that suit, remember, and ties the shoe for me. On a filthy, steamy city sidewalk. Next to a bag of trash. When there is nothing wrong with me to prevent tying my own shoe.
When he stands up, he says, a pretty lady shouldn’t ever have to bend. I giggled and said I felt I should pay him something for the service, and darned if his buddy doesn’t yank out his wallet and give him a fiver. They walked off like they’d do it any day.
They don’t breed ‘em like that in too many places any more. Holy moly.
If I’ve told that story before, sorry. It’s one of my favorite where-have-all-the-cowboys gone stories.
Not that I’m against tying my shoes, mind you… just that once in a while, old-fashioned manners rock.
Thanks again for letting me know that I’m doing all right here. Now, back to work for me!
Regards,
Kelly
20 September 2008, 4:46 pm
LOL- oops…they would be sooo cute.
Oh honey, I know those guys and LOVE them. Now I am surprised those weren’t seersucker suits if it was summa, but they may have had a little trial or something they had to dress a bit for.
Honest to God, best gentlemen ever…GG, Boatner, George….and they raise their boys that way too.
AND they have THE best stories to tell. sigh.
Aren’t we going to have fun with Bertie, er , Nick?
A pretty lady shouldn’t have to bend…LOL priceless.
22 September 2008, 1:31 am
Kelly,
What happens if your friend doesn’t want the push?
Harmony’s last blog post…The Art Of BEING in My Own Business – Part 1
22 September 2008, 6:45 am
Harmony,
Ha! Well, that happens all the time, to me (“Kelly, you should really…”) and when I’m pushing others. Usually, they push back.
Regards,
Kelly
22 September 2008, 12:11 pm
I was over at Nick’s new place the second it came up in my feed reader. It is a great idea! I’m ready for some fun. I’m not at all surprised to hear that you were part of the inspiration!
Wendi Kelly’s last blog post…Remembering Pen Pals…
22 September 2008, 1:50 pm
Wendi,
Thanks! It is a really neat idea whose time has come. I suspect it’s part of his master plan, too. Cheeky Brit attempts to take over the blogosphere with manners! Story at 11!
Until later,
Kelly