Be More Than A Milk Crate
Last month I attended the man of the year ceremony hosted by the Optimist Club of Passaic, New Jersey.
As the man of the year (also my husband’s cousin) stood up to speak, I was struck by the 400+ people in the room who’d shown up for the event. The cousin didn’t have a web site. He didn’t have a product to sell. He didn’t market himself via social media. Instead, he got out into the community and volunteered.
He’s a teacher who has coached football, headed the school’s ski club, worked with special education kids, raised money for scholarships, opened his home to friends and family in need, and who raised his 12 year old sister after their mother died and he became the sole caregiver (though he was barely 20 years old himself at the time).
People got to know him because he put himself out there.
He was seen.
People like him because he always has something kind to say (and his charm and quick wit are hard to deny).
He’s a good guy.
People show up when he needs help and to honor him because he shows up for them.
He gives back to others.
We spend so much time on this site—and other sites—talking about web sites and Google Analytics, and building engaging content and permission-based relationships, and blah, blah, blah.
If you really want someone to show up for you to support your work, you’ve also got to put in some face time.
Get out of your chair.
Leave your house.
Say hello to the rest of the world.
Build relationships that aren’t based online.
Do good for others.
Anyone can jump atop a milk crate in London’s Speaker’s Corner. But as they walk off, only a few have followers who trail after them—and fewer have followers who take action, who do more than follow like sheep.
Be more than a milk crate—and build more than a platform.
THE WAR OF ART
Read this one first.
It identifies the enemy—what I call Resistance with a capital “R,” i.e. fear, self-doubt, procrastination, perfectionism, all the forms of self-sabotage—that stop us from doing our work and realizing our dreams.
Start here.
Everything else proceeds from this.
DO THE WORK
Steve shows you the predictable Resistance points that every writer hits in a work-in-progress and then shows you how to deal with each one of these sticking points. This book shows you how to keep going with your work.
THE AUTHENTIC SWING
A short book about the writing of a first novel: for Steve, The Legend of Bagger Vance. Having failed with three earlier attempts at novels, here's how Steve finally succeeded.
NOBODY WANTS TO READ YOUR SH*T
Steve shares his "lessons learned" from the trenches of the five different writing careers—advertising, screenwriting, fiction, nonfiction, and self-help. This is tradecraft. An MFA in Writing in 197 pages.
TURNING PRO
Amateurs have amateur habits. Pros have pro habits. When we turn pro, we give up the comfortable life but we find our power. Steve answers the question, "How do we overcome Resistance?"
Amen Callie! I salute your husband’s cousin – thanks for an inspiring post.
One of the earliest networking, though caregiving and sharing are naturals and so overlooked beyond that.
Refreshing article, gives me comfort knowing I’m not so much as pushy when I open to strangers any given day on any topic.
It pays off most times, can’t go wrong, thanks Callie Oettinger,
Love it, Callie. And it makes me wonder all over again what people did before everyone had a phone in his hand!
Callie,
Loved the post today…”do good, be good” sounds easy but not always easy to put into practice.
An inspiration to us all.
Jim
Really great and simple advice that make total sense. The reality is we can all do a form of this and receive many blessings.
Thank you Callie.
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This is a wonderful tribute and a worthwhile message. Thank you for being there…… at the dinner and always. Love ya!
I agree. i have knownDanny since he was 3. Adorable back then too… He has turned out to be such an incredulble young man. Loving, giving ,caring always to family and friends. He is such a blessing to many people. Very proud of you always Danny