1. My life has improved dramatically. Income is up (good thing), debt is going down (good thing). I've matured a lot (many things working together just finally clicked). I've found a way past one of my most consistent problems (yahoo!).
2. Free time down a bit due to travel back and forth from the office. Plus side - when I'm home, I'm home now and weekends are for the family.
3. Next move is - uh four- things. (1) Get funding for my startup. Business plan is prepped, doing a course on fund raising now to put on last touches and start submitting to Angel groups. (2) Totally rock the stuff I'm working on in my consulting gig and provide opportunity for upgrade in hourly or exposure. (3) Start doing the seminars that I'm supposed to be doing on destiny. The series rocks. (4) Either join a podcast network or find a sponsor for my podcast - which is starting to get some pretty darn good numbers.
4. Teach you? Peace. Perspective. Encouragement (something I'm terribly good at). Failure - as in what has failed in my first go at starting up a business from scratch - so you won't have to repeat it. But really - a lot - peace. The ability to rest in the moment you're in, know that you're going in the right direction. Spiritual rest.
What can you teach me? I'm always learning.
Tommy Vallier
· 2 years ago
Oohh! I like games!
Between this time last July and now, I've done a whole career change! I was "let go" from my retail management "career" at the end of July 2006 and began building my own web design and consulting business almost immediately. Since then, I've settled in to a wonderful spot with TalkShoe.com and couldn't be happier with the change. The move to my own freelancing+TalkShoe has definitely affected (read: decreased) my free time, but I'm doing what I love, and loving every minute of it.
I'm getting married in a few weeks, too, and am pretty excited about that. Following the honeymoon, I'll be hitting the pavement locally to find more local clients and build the business locally.
As for teachings, I've always been a pretty avid hobby bowler, and my career before the web was in retail. Take your pick?
My turn!
What was your first Job, Chris, and what have you pulled from it in your current role(s)?
Do you find, working in the social web, that you're doing more people watching or eavesdropping? How has your work changed your non-work day-to-day?
What color is your toothbrush?
Phillip Zannini
· 2 years ago
Oooops. I almost forgot. I can share with you how to be a great dad (though it "sounds" like you're already working on that) and a great husband as well. In fact, you could throw all the rest out (except for PEACE) and it would be worth the time.
Kim Fenolio
· 2 years ago
1) My life has drastically improved. I lost my home to flooding, my job and more. Why improved? Because of the motivation that these things have provided to my life. I'm happier and headed in directions I thought were at least another 3-5 years down the road: self-employed, making contacts and living in a neighborhood where I don't worry about my tires getting slashed. I also have more time and less stress to play with my 5-yr old son.
2) My chosen career has been graphic arts, however I'm considering the move into audio production within sales and advertising. Lots and lots of footwork will get me there. Communication is key.
3) I can teach you that if you never give up, you'll never truly fail.
Here are my questions for you: 1: What do you do with your free time that isn't a hobby but is purely self-serving and for YOUR relaxation?
2: What are your answers to your own questions?
3: Pursuing a career is mostly about creating an income that can help us to survive and hopefully to retire easily when the time comes. Are you happy with your career and will it help you meet those "standard" goals?
Kim Fenolio .. oops
· 2 years ago
Err.. that should say in answer 1): I lost my home to flooding, lost my job and more. Why improved? ...
Justin Kownacki
· 2 years ago
#1 Between now and last July, my life improved by meeting hundreds of other bloggers, video producers and other social media creators -- and fans -- face to face. My free time, surprisingly, is now richer because I'm working that much more.
#2 My next move for my career is settling my massive financial imbalance. I'll get there by taking several private steps to clear up existing debt and then begin living like a financially responsible adult instead of someone who's expecting a market to appear overnight.
#3 I can teach Chris Brogan how to edit on Final Cut, how to attract and retain passionate collaborators, and how to win at NBA Live 2004 for the PS2.
Brent the Closet Geek
· 2 years ago
Between last July and now, has your life improved? - I've become contented on a personal level, finally figured out who I am and that sort of thing. - My job has become more challenging and rewarding, I'm learning more things. - I finally figured out what my podcast is and what its purpose is
How about your free time? What is this "free time" you speak of? Between work and personal projects I have none now.
What is your next move for your career? Be a better Information Architect and build out the web app I'm working on
How will you get there? I need to read more and maybe go to school again. Need to think like a coder again for that web app though.
What can you teach me? A million things that seem useless until that moment where it's crucial and relevant.
Also I've come to realize that I got a hell of a lot to teach about web development, usability and accessibility.
Liz Strauss
· 2 years ago
My life has indeed improved, because I like who I am more everyday. I'm finding my feet and walking on them. Nope, I have less time. A LOT less, but I'm living more inside every minute and plan to do even more than that. :)
I'm already doing a WHOLE lot with my career -- folks are catching on the mix that allow me to focus their business and put them together with other folks they can work with.
Chris, Whatdya wanna be if ya grow up? If you could go back and pick up a skill what would it be? Why aren't you a ballerina?
jon swanson
· 2 years ago
1. Since last July, like Justin, a whole new set of social media connections, though not yet face-to-face.
2. Free time has been diminishing, or perhaps just getting more focused on using it.
3. I have no clue what the next career step is. I see a bunch of really cool pieces, but have no clue how they stitch together. And as for getting there, I wait with an active inquisitive wait.
4. Teach you? What do you WANT to learn, since that where teaching starts.
And for you? If you could ask God (assuming existence of same (which, of course, I do)) 15 questions, what would one of them be?
Eric Skiff
· 2 years ago
Between last July and now, has your life improved? How about your free time?
I've gone from a job I loved but where I'd stopped learning to a job I love where I learn every day. I'm blogging, podcasting, developing, and building community as part of my work, and I love it. "Free time" was always "play with projects" time anyway, so now it's just generally work related.
What is your next move for your career? How will you get there?
Some of this depends on the magic start-up 8ball, but one thing is certain: what I've been learning these past few months opens up a lot of avenues I didn't have before.
What can you teach me?
I seem to learn an awful lot from you, Mr. Brogan, so I don't know about teaching you per se, but as for what knowledge do I have to share, I've been toying around with a few things. I feel as though I've got an interesting perspective on validation and how it affects our personal and professional lives.
I've also tried a great many things over the past 15 or so years and found out that once you try it, they're not rocket science. I'd like to spread that meme around a bit, and help people get over that "But I don't know how" hurdle and just start trying stuff.
If I had unlimited time and funds, I'd likely start something like a "NotRocketScience.com" screencast/videoblog covering everything from XHTML/CSS to video editing to flash, and a separate blog about validation and how it affects life and things like product and UI design, advertising, and how to recognize validation based manipulation.
LizaJne
· 2 years ago
1)My life has much improved between july of last year and now. I quit a 70 hour work week to just bum around the house with the kids. I have no schedule *only b/c it's the summer* but that's heating up due to cheerleading and football. I actually have free time now as opposed to the last 4 years that I've had none. 2) I'm considering taking my career further. I'm an EMT and I'm considering getting my RN and becoming a labor and delivery nurse. I love the babies. I have to get the kids schedules straightened out, come up with some cashola and figure out which school is the best for me to achieve this.
3) I can teach you the fine are of making cinnamon rolls and homemade bread, and how to throw a PARTY for 100 of your closest friends with virtually no stress.
My turn! Boxers, briefs, boxer briefs, or none? *I always like asking the slightly off questions*
LizaJne *whoops*
· 2 years ago
didn't spell check my work..lol...that should read fine ART of making cinnamon rolls..
chrisbrogan
· 2 years ago
Great great GREAT answers, everyone. So here are my answers to your questions:
@Tommy Vallier- My first ever job was at Stevens Memorial Library in North Andover, MA. I was the guy who put books away, but always got special projects because I was clever.
I don't consider social media/networking eavesdropping or people watching. Instead, I feel like I'm one of the gang.
My toothbrush is dark blue.
@Kim Fenolio - In my free time for relaxation, I hang out at bookstores and libraries.
I'll answer my own questions in a bit, if that's okay. : )
Am I happy that my career will help me retire? No. Because I've got financial issues that are my own doing. I make great money. I just have to plug my debt holes, pay it off, and then get smarter. In lieu of that, I intend to become slightly more wealthy and negate the issue that way.
@Liz Strauss- When I grow up, I want to be living off my own books, speaking tours, and seminars.
I wish I had an education in journalism.
I'm not a ballerina because my pliet is very messy.
@Jon Swanson- I'd ask God how to convert people's good will into initiative, as I seem to fail at that.
@LizaJne - boxer briefs.
Okay, Kim asked about my own questions:
1.) Between last July and now, my entire life rebooted. PodCamp, new career, tons of new stuff.
2.) Next phase in my career is to be an author/speaker/educator on topics similar to what I cover here, and to run events around that platform as well.
3.) I can teach myself to accept my flaws.
--
I hope more people play. : )
JoeC
· 2 years ago
Between last July and now, has your life improved? How about your free time?
My quality of life has improved enormously since I decided to stop working for a while (I'm semi-retired anyway) and take the summer off. I haven't had a summer off since I was a teenager and I'm loving it. I have nothing but free time now, but I still read about and follow interesting tech stuff (like user-centric identity) because of my career plan (see below), or what suffices for it at the mo'.
What is your next move for your career? How will you get there?
After working for years in the software industry, culminating as CTO of a medical imaging startup, I've decided to go open-source. Most of the unpleasantness I experienced in software development came from the corporate control issues and profit motive, so I'm going to dip my toes in the open-source industry and see what that's like. And besides, it's so Web 2.0! I plan to get there by building a small web site, and I hope, collaborating with other sites to build an experimental or demonstration group of user-centric social networking sites.
What can you teach me?
Maybe lots of stuff about software design and development. Maybe a few things about surviving in the corporate world after spending 35 years there. Trust me, you don't want me teaching you anything about golf. Well, maybe some of the more creative profanity. I have lots of practice at that.
JoeC
· 2 years ago
Sorry, forgot my question for you... What cool new things will be happening at PodCamp Boston2? C'mon, just a hint??
Whitney
· 2 years ago
Hey there!
Okay- here's my attempt:
Between last July and now, has your life improved? How about your free time?
My life has radically changed in large part because of PodCamp; I've taken charge of my own creativity and found out that people are actually willing to listen to and read what I have to say, which has been a brilliant surprise and revelation. I've found a community much larger and more interactive than the one I'm limited to by geography and happenstance. I've learned that trying new things and giving up being afraid all the time can be a bit scary, but the rewards are fantastic, and I've gained much more by leaving my comfort zone than remaining in it. The work has become play and vic versa. Free time is illusive- with young kids, free time is often family time; other aspects of "free time" work better for me when I have them a bit more planned - working on your own means keeping lists and self-imposed deadlines to remain productive.
2. What is your next move for your career? How will you get there? This is happening in small and big ways. I would love to finish my book project- especially now that I know so much more about how to consolidate things down into shorter sound bites. What started out as one massive book really maybe several smaller ones. Getting there will involve doing more of what I am already doing, in part; There's also two large opportunities looming on the horizon- it'll be interesting to see what pans out.
What can you teach me? Life is largely still highschool- same cast of characters. Makes dealing with new people a bit easier, when you realize you've met their counterparts before (and you can finally learn to avoid the jerks, because you see them coming this time around). While much of what we do may be based on our neurology, if you understand the basics of what motivates a lot of people, you can understand individuals better than before. And of course, there's knitting, cooking a mean chocolate cheesecake, and the fine points of logistics for managing large crowds of people. Maybe a bit about that pesky legal stuff, when it's necessary.
While it doesn't show here, thanks for teaching me that brevity works, too.
Bass Ghost
· 2 years ago
Between last July and now, has your life improved? How about your free time?
My musical life has improved tremendously by way of a lot of upheaval about 6-7 months ago. The old "when one door closes..." thing. The introspection brought about by that experience led to the realization that there were a lot of creative urges that had been marginalized for a number of years. I've built a project studio at home and can now pursue those things full on. In addition, the second I stopped thinking of my situation as dire other opportunities to pursue non-solo stuff began to appear. I'm even getting into some non-musical stuff, which is like Christmas morning to me.
In summary, I'm a lot more "in the driver's seat" than I have ever been.
What is your next move for your career? How will you get there?
The next move is to leave the corporate nest and begin searching for opportunities to put my creativity to good use in the world. I don't need to be rich but I do need to be excited about where I'm headed each morning. There's no plan really except to open my eyes, update my resume and start the process.
What can you teach me?
I can teach you how to make decaf coffee taste good, how to appreciate a thunderstorm, how to write a sales proposal that wins, how to do almost anything in MS Word, how to do a lot of things in Photoshop & Illustrator, how to do a few things in Sonar PE 6.0, how to change a battery in a 1997 Suzuki Savage, how to get good sound out of almost any amp, and how to play the living sh*t out of an electric bass.
My questions to you (or anyone else): 1) What is the most courageous thing you've ever done?
2) What is the most lasting contribution you've ever made to something?
3) Who, if anyone, has changed your life the most in the past year?
chrisbrogan
· 2 years ago
@JoeC - PodCamp Boston2 will focus a lot harder on getting outside the Fishbowl (insofar as it's an unconference so you can talk about whatever you WANT to talk about). We'll probably provide some "guidance" like the Open Spaces people do, and then see what happens from there.
@Bass Ghost (which I say in my head with lots of reverb):
1.) The most courageous thing I've ever done was decide to change my life drastically in 1997, and less drastically in 2003.
2.) The most lasting contribution I've made so far would be PodCamp. With a dozen launched and another dozen on the way, I feel good.
3.) Jeff Pulver has changed my life the most in the past year. He took a bet, and the bet has paid off so far.
Jim Shireman
· 2 years ago
1. Between last July and now, has your life improved? How about your free time?
My life has improved vastly since last July. My site and podcast have grown exponentially in both audience and breadth. I've been introduced to a ton of great producers and consumers of new media and the wealth of knowledge that both hold. My free time is better spent and much more refreshing now.
2.)What is your next move for your career? How will you get there?
The next move for my career is the same as has been; to continue growing my business and applying creative solutions to million-year-old problems. Same deal with Sportsocracy...the only blueprint we're following is the one we're making up the night before.
3.) What can you teach me?
Pragmatism, the economics of pharmacy, and how to dominate Wii Sports tennis.
Will
· 2 years ago
1) Yes, much has changed and moving in the right direction. Got engaged, reconnecting with old friends and reading this blog!!
Free time has gotten much better. Now I just have to stop wasting it.
2)Next move is to start the business. Can't let the degree go to waste. Starting to gather audience feedback and determining if there is a market for the product.
3)I can teach you how to order beer after 2am in Chinatown.....
Skye Lemmon
· 2 years ago
Between last July and now, has your life improved? How about your free time?
Since last July I have finished my PR degree, "rediscovered" social media and found something I am very passionate about. I do feel I never have time to do everything I want to do though, sometimes I wish the day had 36 hours.
What is your next move for your career? How will you get there?
Well, I'd like to move to the other side of the pond to Americaland and work in a PR agency over there, but immigration from Europe to the US is easier said than done...so, until I manage to find an employer willing to sponsor me for a visa, I will try to get a PR job here and get some work experience.
What can you teach me?
Before I started studying PR I did a degree in fashion. I can make you a tailored suit and teach you 61248327682 different ways to tie a tie.
Now my questions for you..
Biggest regret, and why?
What goals would you like to achieve before next July?
Biggest vice?
chrisbrogan
· 2 years ago
@skye lemmon-
My biggest regret is just not getting any old stupid degree when I should've, not because I'd value the education, but because it would've made me have to fight less.
My goals between now and next July involve writing at least one book, and then moving that towards being a platform for other work.
My biggest vice is eating things that aren't good for my body. Gluttony is my sin.
Mike
· 2 years ago
Hi Chris,
Sorry for the delayed response, but I was delayed.
1) Between last July and now has your life improved? How about your free time? All outward appearances would say NO, but the surface is the last place that the plate tectonics of your mind make themselves known.
2) What is your next move for your career? How will you get there? There are two really exciting ones. I am working on a startup company that will be the engine of wealth creation for thousand (and eventually millions) of people. And the other I'll answer in your last question.
3) What can you teach me? After reading your entire biography (and having shared a crapload of experiences with you), I was having doubts about this one, but I am sure that I can teach you something about the theory and practice of experience design.
Thank you for asking these questions. I look forward to the lessons.
All Comments
2. Free time down a bit due to travel back and forth from the office. Plus side - when I'm home, I'm home now and weekends are for the family.
3. Next move is - uh four- things. (1) Get funding for my startup. Business plan is prepped, doing a course on fund raising now to put on last touches and start submitting to Angel groups. (2) Totally rock the stuff I'm working on in my consulting gig and provide opportunity for upgrade in hourly or exposure. (3) Start doing the seminars that I'm supposed to be doing on destiny. The series rocks. (4) Either join a podcast network or find a sponsor for my podcast - which is starting to get some pretty darn good numbers.
4. Teach you? Peace. Perspective. Encouragement (something I'm terribly good at). Failure - as in what has failed in my first go at starting up a business from scratch - so you won't have to repeat it. But really - a lot - peace. The ability to rest in the moment you're in, know that you're going in the right direction. Spiritual rest.
What can you teach me? I'm always learning.
Between this time last July and now, I've done a whole career change! I was "let go" from my retail management "career" at the end of July 2006 and began building my own web design and consulting business almost immediately. Since then, I've settled in to a wonderful spot with TalkShoe.com and couldn't be happier with the change. The move to my own freelancing+TalkShoe has definitely affected (read: decreased) my free time, but I'm doing what I love, and loving every minute of it.
I'm getting married in a few weeks, too, and am pretty excited about that. Following the honeymoon, I'll be hitting the pavement locally to find more local clients and build the business locally.
As for teachings, I've always been a pretty avid hobby bowler, and my career before the web was in retail. Take your pick?
My turn!
What was your first Job, Chris, and what have you pulled from it in your current role(s)?
Do you find, working in the social web, that you're doing more people watching or eavesdropping? How has your work changed your non-work day-to-day?
What color is your toothbrush?
2) My chosen career has been graphic arts, however I'm considering the move into audio production within sales and advertising. Lots and lots of footwork will get me there. Communication is key.
3) I can teach you that if you never give up, you'll never truly fail.
Here are my questions for you:
1: What do you do with your free time that isn't a hobby but is purely self-serving and for YOUR relaxation?
2: What are your answers to your own questions?
3: Pursuing a career is mostly about creating an income that can help us to survive and hopefully to retire easily when the time comes. Are you happy with your career and will it help you meet those "standard" goals?
I lost my home to flooding, lost my job and more. Why improved? ...
#2 My next move for my career is settling my massive financial imbalance. I'll get there by taking several private steps to clear up existing debt and then begin living like a financially responsible adult instead of someone who's expecting a market to appear overnight.
#3 I can teach Chris Brogan how to edit on Final Cut, how to attract and retain passionate collaborators, and how to win at NBA Live 2004 for the PS2.
- I've become contented on a personal level, finally figured out who I am and that sort of thing.
- My job has become more challenging and rewarding, I'm learning more things.
- I finally figured out what my podcast is and what its purpose is
How about your free time?
What is this "free time" you speak of? Between work and personal projects I have none now.
What is your next move for your career?
Be a better Information Architect and build out the web app I'm working on
How will you get there?
I need to read more and maybe go to school again. Need to think like a coder again for that web app though.
What can you teach me?
A million things that seem useless until that moment where it's crucial and relevant.
Also I've come to realize that I got a hell of a lot to teach about web development, usability and accessibility.
I'm already doing a WHOLE lot with my career -- folks are catching on the mix that allow me to focus their business and put them together with other folks they can work with.
Chris,
Whatdya wanna be if ya grow up? If you could go back and pick up a skill what would it be? Why aren't you a ballerina?
2. Free time has been diminishing, or perhaps just getting more focused on using it.
3. I have no clue what the next career step is. I see a bunch of really cool pieces, but have no clue how they stitch together. And as for getting there, I wait with an active inquisitive wait.
4. Teach you? What do you WANT to learn, since that where teaching starts.
And for you? If you could ask God (assuming existence of same (which, of course, I do)) 15 questions, what would one of them be?
I've gone from a job I loved but where I'd stopped learning to a job I love where I learn every day. I'm blogging, podcasting, developing, and building community as part of my work, and I love it. "Free time" was always "play with projects" time anyway, so now it's just generally work related.
What is your next move for your career? How will you get there?
Some of this depends on the magic start-up 8ball, but one thing is certain: what I've been learning these past few months opens up a lot of avenues I didn't have before.
What can you teach me?
I seem to learn an awful lot from you, Mr. Brogan, so I don't know about teaching you per se, but as for what knowledge do I have to share, I've been toying around with a few things. I feel as though I've got an interesting perspective on validation and how it affects our personal and professional lives.
I've also tried a great many things over the past 15 or so years and found out that once you try it, they're not rocket science. I'd like to spread that meme around a bit, and help people get over that "But I don't know how" hurdle and just start trying stuff.
If I had unlimited time and funds, I'd likely start something like a "NotRocketScience.com" screencast/videoblog covering everything from XHTML/CSS to video editing to flash, and a separate blog about validation and how it affects life and things like product and UI design, advertising, and how to recognize validation based manipulation.
2) I'm considering taking my career further. I'm an EMT and I'm considering getting my RN and becoming a labor and delivery nurse. I love the babies. I have to get the kids schedules straightened out, come up with some cashola and figure out which school is the best for me to achieve this.
3) I can teach you the fine are of making cinnamon rolls and homemade bread, and how to throw a PARTY for 100 of your closest friends with virtually no stress.
My turn!
Boxers, briefs, boxer briefs, or none?
*I always like asking the slightly off questions*
@Tommy Vallier- My first ever job was at Stevens Memorial Library in North Andover, MA. I was the guy who put books away, but always got special projects because I was clever.
I don't consider social media/networking eavesdropping or people watching. Instead, I feel like I'm one of the gang.
My toothbrush is dark blue.
@Kim Fenolio - In my free time for relaxation, I hang out at bookstores and libraries.
I'll answer my own questions in a bit, if that's okay. : )
Am I happy that my career will help me retire? No. Because I've got financial issues that are my own doing. I make great money. I just have to plug my debt holes, pay it off, and then get smarter. In lieu of that, I intend to become slightly more wealthy and negate the issue that way.
@Liz Strauss- When I grow up, I want to be living off my own books, speaking tours, and seminars.
I wish I had an education in journalism.
I'm not a ballerina because my pliet is very messy.
@Jon Swanson- I'd ask God how to convert people's good will into initiative, as I seem to fail at that.
@LizaJne - boxer briefs.
Okay, Kim asked about my own questions:
1.) Between last July and now, my entire life rebooted. PodCamp, new career, tons of new stuff.
2.) Next phase in my career is to be an author/speaker/educator on topics similar to what I cover here, and to run events around that platform as well.
3.) I can teach myself to accept my flaws.
--
I hope more people play. : )
My quality of life has improved enormously since I decided to stop working for a while (I'm semi-retired anyway) and take the summer off. I haven't had a summer off since I was a teenager and I'm loving it. I have nothing but free time now, but I still read about and follow interesting tech stuff (like user-centric identity) because of my career plan (see below), or what suffices for it at the mo'.
What is your next move for your career? How will you get there?
After working for years in the software industry, culminating as CTO of a medical imaging startup, I've decided to go open-source. Most of the unpleasantness I experienced in software development came from the corporate control issues and profit motive, so I'm going to dip my toes in the open-source industry and see what that's like. And besides, it's so Web 2.0!
I plan to get there by building a small web site, and I hope, collaborating with other sites to build an experimental or demonstration group of user-centric social networking sites.
What can you teach me?
Maybe lots of stuff about software design and development. Maybe a few things about surviving in the corporate world after spending 35 years there. Trust me, you don't want me teaching you anything about golf. Well, maybe some of the more creative profanity. I have lots of practice at that.
What cool new things will be happening at PodCamp Boston2? C'mon, just a hint??
Okay- here's my attempt:
Between last July and now, has your life improved? How about your free time?
My life has radically changed in large part because of PodCamp; I've taken charge of my own creativity and found out that people are actually willing to listen to and read what I have to say, which has been a brilliant surprise and revelation. I've found a community much larger and more interactive than the one I'm limited to by geography and happenstance.
I've learned that trying new things and giving up being afraid all the time can be a bit scary, but the rewards are fantastic, and I've gained much more by leaving my comfort zone than remaining in it.
The work has become play and vic versa.
Free time is illusive- with young kids, free time is often family time; other aspects of "free time" work better for me when I have them a bit more planned - working on your own means keeping lists and self-imposed deadlines to remain productive.
2. What is your next move for your career? How will you get there?
This is happening in small and big ways. I would love to finish my book project- especially now that I know so much more about how to consolidate things down into shorter sound bites. What started out as one massive book really maybe several smaller ones.
Getting there will involve doing more of what I am already doing, in part; There's also two large opportunities looming on the horizon- it'll be interesting to see what pans out.
What can you teach me?
Life is largely still highschool- same cast of characters. Makes dealing with new people a bit easier, when you realize you've met their counterparts before (and you can finally learn to avoid the jerks, because you see them coming this time around).
While much of what we do may be based on our neurology, if you understand the basics of what motivates a lot of people, you can understand individuals better than before.
And of course, there's knitting, cooking a mean chocolate cheesecake, and the fine points of logistics for managing large crowds of people. Maybe a bit about that pesky legal stuff, when it's necessary.
While it doesn't show here, thanks for teaching me that brevity works, too.
My musical life has improved tremendously by way of a lot of upheaval about 6-7 months ago. The old "when one door closes..." thing. The introspection brought about by that experience led to the realization that there were a lot of creative urges that had been marginalized for a number of years. I've built a project studio at home and can now pursue those things full on. In addition, the second I stopped thinking of my situation as dire other opportunities to pursue non-solo stuff began to appear. I'm even getting into some non-musical stuff, which is like Christmas morning to me.
In summary, I'm a lot more "in the driver's seat" than I have ever been.
What is your next move for your career? How will you get there?
The next move is to leave the corporate nest and begin searching for opportunities to put my creativity to good use in the world. I don't need to be rich but I do need to be excited about where I'm headed each morning. There's no plan really except to open my eyes, update my resume and start the process.
What can you teach me?
I can teach you how to make decaf coffee taste good, how to appreciate a thunderstorm, how to write a sales proposal that wins, how to do almost anything in MS Word, how to do a lot of things in Photoshop & Illustrator, how to do a few things in Sonar PE 6.0, how to change a battery in a 1997 Suzuki Savage, how to get good sound out of almost any amp, and how to play the living sh*t out of an electric bass.
My questions to you (or anyone else):
1) What is the most courageous thing you've ever done?
2) What is the most lasting contribution you've ever made to something?
3) Who, if anyone, has changed your life the most in the past year?
@Bass Ghost (which I say in my head with lots of reverb):
1.) The most courageous thing I've ever done was decide to change my life drastically in 1997, and less drastically in 2003.
2.) The most lasting contribution I've made so far would be PodCamp. With a dozen launched and another dozen on the way, I feel good.
3.) Jeff Pulver has changed my life the most in the past year. He took a bet, and the bet has paid off so far.
My life has improved vastly since last July. My site and podcast have grown exponentially in both audience and breadth. I've been introduced to a ton of great producers and consumers of new media and the wealth of knowledge that both hold. My free time is better spent and much more refreshing now.
2.)What is your next move for your career? How will you get there?
The next move for my career is the same as has been; to continue growing my business and applying creative solutions to million-year-old problems. Same deal with Sportsocracy...the only blueprint we're following is the one we're making up the night before.
3.) What can you teach me?
Pragmatism, the economics of pharmacy, and how to dominate Wii Sports tennis.
Free time has gotten much better. Now I just have to stop wasting it.
2)Next move is to start the business. Can't let the degree go to waste. Starting to gather audience feedback and determining if there is a market for the product.
3)I can teach you how to order beer after 2am in Chinatown.....
Since last July I have finished my PR degree, "rediscovered" social media and found something I am very passionate about. I do feel I never have time to do everything I want to do though, sometimes I wish the day had 36 hours.
What is your next move for your career? How will you get there?
Well, I'd like to move to the other side of the pond to Americaland and work in a PR agency over there, but immigration from Europe to the US is easier said than done...so, until I manage to find an employer willing to sponsor me for a visa, I will try to get a PR job here and get some work experience.
What can you teach me?
Before I started studying PR I did a degree in fashion. I can make you a tailored suit and teach you 61248327682 different ways to tie a tie.
Now my questions for you..
Biggest regret, and why?
What goals would you like to achieve before next July?
Biggest vice?
My biggest regret is just not getting any old stupid degree when I should've, not because I'd value the education, but because it would've made me have to fight less.
My goals between now and next July involve writing at least one book, and then moving that towards being a platform for other work.
My biggest vice is eating things that aren't good for my body. Gluttony is my sin.
Sorry for the delayed response, but I was delayed.
1) Between last July and now has your life improved? How about your free time? All outward appearances would say NO, but the surface is the last place that the plate tectonics of your mind make themselves known.
2) What is your next move for your career? How will you get there? There are two really exciting ones. I am working on a startup company that will be the engine of wealth creation for thousand (and eventually millions) of people. And the other I'll answer in your last question.
3) What can you teach me? After reading your entire biography (and having shared a crapload of experiences with you), I was having doubts about this one, but I am sure that I can teach you something about the theory and practice of experience design.
Thank you for asking these questions. I look forward to the lessons.
Mike