Ideaschema (TIBG) - Latest Comments

Re: Prioritize, Simplify

Damian Thompson — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 05:03:02 -0000

Megan my dear you stole the words right out of my head! I was just saying yesterday; "Life really may be a lot simpler than we think."

I want to work with people I respect and surround myself with people I love. Easy. Done.

Re: My Little Welsh Home

Didier Daglinckx — Tue, 01 May 2012 09:21:27 -0000

Thanks Megan for this present !

You are a beautiful heart.

Re: My Little Welsh Home

Marianne Letts — Tue, 01 May 2012 02:31:58 -0000

Beautiful!

Re: 12-Hour Track: See You Soon

Lee D. — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 22:43:02 -0000

Ah, that was a really nice song Megan. I'm impressed!

Re: 12-Hour Track: See You Soon

Vasa — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 21:36:16 -0000

Wonderful! And what a great way to sort out your feelings :)

Re: 12-Hour Track: See You Soon

Felis V. — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 21:23:24 -0000

That is a GREAT song!!!! :D :D Thanks for sharing!! :D

Re: Real Time

Kristine Bruneau — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 06:29:16 -0000

I get it. Everyone needs real time connections - conversations and interactions that can only happen when you are engaging with someone. Yesterday, I took my son to his friend's for a playdate. I wound up staying and chatting with the mom for more than an hour, who is also my friend. When my son looked at me and asked why I was still there, I told my son that the reason I haven't left yet is because I'm having my own playdate. I had so much fun catching up with my friend, looking at photo books, exchanging ideas, listening to what new things were ahead for her, and more. And she shared something that stuck with me as we talked about balance, leadership and work life. Instead of saying 'I have to...' say 'I get to...' Often grown-ups can say things in a way that sounds negative to little ears like: 'I have to go to work.' Instead we should say: 'I get to go to work.' So many people don't get to go to work, or drive a car, or buy groceries, or go to school, or read a book. This was a 'real time' epiphany for me. And I think I will write a post on it. Thanks for the spark!

Re: Real Time

saranyan — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 10:22:18 -0000

I feel that connection with writing. :-)

Re: What fuels you?

Kristine Bruneau — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 06:24:49 -0000

Hi. I can relate to this. Talking to someone else and helping them solve their problem sometimes leads me to solving a problem of my own. However, the thing that fuels me is taking my dog for a walk in the woods. When I'm stuck, I need a change of scenery, space to breathe, and movement. I'll take photos and record thoughts and reflections (with my iPhone). I return home renewed, refreshed, and energized to tackle anything. My creativity level is raised and I see things in a new way.

Re: Keep Learning, But Fail First

NandoJourneyman — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:47:12 -0000

Nice couple of videos, Megan (and thanks for the Seth Godin bonus).

I can tell you from personal experience that lizard brain of ours sure likes to read. And read. Comfortably, in the warmth of the house. And get inspired. Yep, the lizard brain loves inspiration. That one got me for a while (and still does on occasion).

Once one gets in the habit of acting, doing, shipping, a new challenge emerges: information overload. There is just so much out there. When the work includes research, it so easy to research ad-nauseum, one can research a project past its deadline.
I'll echo Bob, thanks for the reminder.

Re: Keep Learning, But Fail First

Max Morris — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:47:24 -0000

It's really easy to tell yourself there's more to learn, because there will ALWAYS be more to learn. But how great an education is ACTION -- far better than absorbing more information, doing something teaches in the trenches. Figuring out how to help people get to the action rather than resting on the education is big for me right now.

Re: Keep Learning, But Fail First

BobPoole — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:32:06 -0000

What stops people from taking action sooner? I think the overwhelming amount of information available today is a double edged sword relative to entrepreneurship and shipping. 25 years ago we moved much more quickly because we didn't have the kind of access the net has given us. We failed more often and more quickly thereby allowing us to learn and start again. Today, as you point out, people are spending way too much time analyzing, learning and thinking about things.

Thanks for the videos and for reminding me what's important.

Re: What platform do you need?

Max Morris — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:09:57 -0000

James -- I know we hear the "whiner" thing all the time, but it can be frustrating being in this situation and I think everyone reading this has experienced a version of it, one way or another! So don't feel too bad about that part. It's all part of searching out the right door.

Would you email me at megan@ideaschema.com? I would be really interested in your top 3-5 topics that you really enjoy writing about and feel authoritative on. I think I have a few ideas!

Re: What platform do you need?

James G — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:29:26 -0000

Megan - Going where the audience is kind of reminds me of the Steve Martin SNL joke about how to become a millionaire, and not pay taxes: "First, start with a million dollars."

I kind of understand what you are saying, but that implies that I know which direction to go in the first place. That first step is still the question. This isn't to say that what you are saying is wrong. I built a voice in a community that is more hobby based for me, and some of that was done the way you are suggesting (I would be invited to do panels and live chats on a large platform). Maybe I'm not sure how you are defining platform.

Jeremy - I understand where you are coming from, and your comment below about patience kind of folds into it. I've been looking and trying to find that thing for a few years, and it feels like it's been long enough. I'm not getting any younger, and I want to get on my path. That doesn't sound very patient, but since I didn't start this quest yesterday, I feel like I have been patient.

It's aggravating to watch friends venture out on their own doing web design and enjoying it, and I feel stuck in the 9 to 5. I'm not a web designer, I don't have an eye for it. I have an ear, and my 'thing' is audio. Hey, great, I have a thing, right? Then I start to look for what the next step is, and I'm lost again.

I'm sorry, I feel like I'm being a whiner, and sound like I'm not willing to commit. That isn't the case (well, maybe I am being a whiner, but that's not for me to say), and I'm trying to 'do the work.' Talking to people who open the door like this is part of it, I think. Being honest about what my issues are in this is the only way I feel like I can get genuine feedback about what I should try. So thanks. I hope I'm not frustrating you.

Re: What platform do you need?

Jeremy Meyers — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:40:29 -0000

so i guess i need patience too

Re: Trust Agents

BobPoole — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:57:20 -0000

Thank you for your kind words, Megan. Marty and you did a fantastic job on the flow chart. This should help readers of Trust Agents really get into the flow. :-)

Re: What platform do you need?

Jeremy Meyers — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:50:38 -0000

A lot of life is trying a bunch of different stuff to find what you're supposed to be doing. When it sucks, stop doing the sucky stuff, and figure out what you learned from it. part of the value of the stuff that sucks is that it gives you great data about what you dont want to be doing, and small bits of data about the activities you enjoy within a project that you don't.

My (unsolicited) recommendation here otherwise is twofold.
1) Stop doing what you think audiences will find interesting, or what you feel like you're competent at. Start doing what you're psyched about, what you're curious about, what you love talking about, and dont' worry about the audience at all. This is not about building an audience, at this point. This is about communicating your passion into the world. The response is irrelevant.

2) for the other stuff, the "i do this to keep my skills sharp" stuff, keep it light and fun and don't invest too much of your Heroes Journey into these little parts. There are probably little tweaks you can do (have a podcast but having trouble finding enough stuff to talk about every week? make it a monthly podcast instead.) to make those things better and give yourself more room for creativity.

Good luck!

Re: What platform do you need?

Max Morris — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:49:41 -0000

Okay -- this to me sounds like a platform issue, but strictly in the sense that some platforms come with an audience, or come with the intention of a certain audience that doesn't depend solely on you driving that traffic yourself... and many times, when a creator creates their own platform, they need to build their community from scratch. So there's the technology or medium of the platform (WordPress, Tumblr, in-person speaking events) and then there's the community element.

Have you tried writing your content in places where an audience already exists, or where someone else is driving the traffic to your content?

Re: What platform do you need?

James G — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:40:01 -0000

I'll reply to myself here, I can't reply directly to your comment (limitations of disqus, I guess).

I think the answer is yes? It's all of the above, but less so the boredom. I get excited about a project, but then get almost no feedback, and the feedback I solicit is 'that's good.' aka, not helpful. Sometimes I get response, but I don't feel like that should be the main motivation, and when things fall apart, I wonder if what I am working on is the right thing or not.

Right now, I'm stuck firmly in 'escape from cubicle nation' mode, and the first part of Pam's book reads like a diary. The beat down of the daily job is, I think, a contributing factor. I don't feel the confidence or the drive half the time because of how poorly things go at the job. I want to venture out on my own, but don't know what direction to go, while alternating between being determined and believing that there is no way I can do it.

And writing that makes me wonder, what the hell is wrong with me? There are things I am good at, and may be able to turn into a side business (or real business) that could be fulfilling and lucrative enough (money isn't the biggest factor, just enough to get by and be comfortable is fine). And yet, why don't I do it? Why don't I believe in my heart that I can do it? Even though I know I am better than the way I am treated or than I settle for at the 'real' job?

Re: What platform do you need?

Max Morris — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:55:47 -0000

What is it that happens that tells you the topic isn't right?

Is it that you get bored? Is it that you don't get enough response from your audience? Is it that the audience doesn't seem to gather? Something else?

Re: What platform do you need?

James G — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 10:27:23 -0000

I've tried lots of things, mostly writing and podcasting, about various topics of interest. My main competency is audio, and I've put several things out there, but mostly they don't stick, either with me, or with an audience.

I'm going to keep trying, and doing new things, but at some point, I want to stop flailing about and find something that will stick, so I can get on with doing whatever it is I'm supposed to be doing. Patience is one thing, but waiting (working at different things to find the one thing) is getting exhausting. And demoralizing.

Re: What platform do you need?

Max Morris — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 16:03:15 -0000

What's your podium? Your stage? What is the thing that lets you talk to the people who need to hear from you? Venue? Medium? Method? There are lots of ways to say this.

Re: What platform do you need?

Max Morris — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 16:02:31 -0000

I agree. But also, the more that you use your curiosity in a public space to do meaningful things, the more your audience will know what it is you do, regardless of how you explain it. Explaining it clearly, of course, is still the most important bit. But I think you're going to start seeing it reflected back at you from the responses you get. Your stuff is excellent.

Re: What platform do you need?

Max Morris — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 16:01:22 -0000

What things have you tried? And what thing will you try next? (It doesn't have the be the one that you choose forever, but eventually you'll find it by trying things out, right?)

Re: What platform do you need?

Andy Dolph — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:12:51 -0000

hmmm... I think this is a hard question. I'm not sure I know what kind of platform I need.... could you give some examples of what you mean by platform?