In the past I'd make a snarky remark or joke about not having blogged in a while. This time I'm just plain embarrassed, and for that I'm publicly apologizing to you on the interweb. There's no excuse and it's a bit hypocritical of me ... Allow me to explain.
About mid 2009, when I stopped blogging I was at the point where I'd built up enough long-term clients that I felt I didn't need to blog the way I was before. It was roughly the equivalent of taking the money and running. In my defense I didn't realize this blog was as important to other people as it is (That reeked of ego, I'm leaving it). Even friends who have no connection to the world of mapping have been asking me where I've been hiding. Apparently deep-fried smartass has a strange allure all it's own. I want my own cologne.
Showgirl in Amish Country
The thing I didn't consider is some of the clients I am coaching on goal management, especially the marketers, look at me like a showgirl in Amish country when they find out I blog... every 2 years. And part of what attracted the clients I have to me in the first place was at least the vague faith that I would at least have a blog post up in the same year it in fact is. I absolutely hate blind hypocrisy, which I'm now realizing how staggeringly I've been guilty of. How am i supposed to preach relentless consistency in GTD, goal management, product development, process systemization and self-discipline when I'm not even showing it to the world on my main communication platform? How will snarky angels get their wings?
Little side note: Self-aware hypocrisy is the guacamole on the Chipotle burrito that is life especially when your mind resembles a centrally planned corporation as much as mine does. Yes, I just compared myself to General Electric - Deal. And don’t get yourself into to trouble, I’m talking about dancing when you would normally play Halo, not driving backwards down I-95.
Naturally, if I wanted to avoid hypocrisy I could also declare my blog dead. For reasons science cannot explain I WANT to blog. I've got the fever like Robert Duvall in the Apostle!!! There, I said it. I want to be a loud voice and a place where my love of fried chicken can live forever. Before, even when I was blogging I never really and truly took ownership of it. My start in blogging had been the idea of others, and now it's time to scream from the mountain tops (okay, hilltops in Ohio) that I want to blog and I own it. That's right Charlie Sheen, I'm an F-22 who wants you to star in Apocalypse Now Part Deux for all you have recently put me through.
So here's my commitment to you: I'll blog monthly or tell you explicitly if it will be longer. I know that doesn't sound like a lot but at least you have a consistent timeline from me. Most importantly I have a consistent timeline from me: Don't look at me that way, I'm the one who has to shave this face every 4th day.
The Lesson of Goodness – Boy Scout Reborn… Awwww
Here's today's lesson extracted from my past as a deadbeat blogger: You'll be mediocre as long as what you're doing is built on the behest of someone else. Even if someone else started you down the path, at some point you must consciously take ownership. And if you're skeptical, just think about the different results people get when weight loss or quitting smoking is their idea or someone else's. The self-starter is often a missile on a mission, ultimately celebrating new life as skinny and smoke-free (she looks hot in my head). The imposed upon is a chain-smoking Jabba the Hut, resentful and doing the minimum necessary to preserve the relationship with the person whose idea the initiative was.
So if you're doing something at someone else's request, figure out if it's something you should be doing. If not, get out a.s.a.p.. Life's too short as they say (Who are they?). If so, make it yours because the day you take ownership... Watch out, freight train of YOU coming through! Not corny at all.
What do you think? Is taking ownership really that important? Leave a comment below.
PS: Big ups to Mark & Shelly for the steadfast encouragement to bring my online personae back to life: You are as true of friends as can exist. And you too Dr. Brian Friedlander.
Brian Friedlander at 
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