viking fridays – be sparing of speech.
September 26, 2008
Of his knowledge a man should never boast,
rather be sparing of speech
when to his house a wiser comes;
seldom do those who are silent make mistakes.
- The Hávamál
Once again, a great piece of work from the Friar – I think I saw something like that at the cafeteria the other day.
Yet another case of someone who had started as a regular Joe, who had spent a few years greasing the right palms, pushing ahead and now telling everyone about all the great things “he” had done – conveniently forgetting everyone who helped him get there in the first place.
So what are the Vikings telling us today?
(Other than to push little old ladies out of the way to get to the food… you can bet that’s not Friar’s mom, because she’d probably have some words for our Viking friend…)
We’re all great at something. In fact, there is something that you can do that no one else can do better – and if you can figure out what that is, watch out world – you’ll be unstoppable!
BUT – be humble. Be proud, but not boastful. Don’t forget the people who have helped you along the way. Your parents. Your teachers. Your ministers. Your friends, in the real world, and out here.
That’s why link posts can be a good thing. I’ve not done one for a while, so consider this a big thank you to each and every single person who has been with me along the way.
Really.
Thank you. Each and every one of you.
I believe it is very important to do that from time to time, because if you look hard enough, you can find people who came out of nowhere, just like we all did, rose to “stardom”, and then seemed to forget all of those who helped them to get there in the first place.
It is one thing to do that in the real, physical world, and it is a completely different story out here on the web.
The web is a harsh mistress. She forgets nothing.
So – be proud of what you do, be positive, for you will accomplish all that you set out to do – but don’t forget to be humble.
@Brett
Excellent point. Be humble and don’t forget where you came from.
This is a timely post, because I’ve recently seen a perfect example of someone getting high and mighty about their success, and it really gets my GOAT!
if you succeed, don’t stomp on your colleagues who helped get you to where you are. Don’t drop them like a hot potato, just because you don’t need them anymore.
Thank them instead. Show some appreciation, and see if you can offer to help them get ahead as well.
Because what goes around, comes around. Sooner or later, no matter how succesful you are, you’re going to need help. And it certainly is much easier to have a network of friends to lean on, than to stand alone.
Friar’s last blog post..Guest Blogger: Friar’s Mom
Great post. Certainly makes one stop and reflect on things. Remember people, everything is relative. Don’t compare your successes to those of others – Just know you are doing the best YOU can.
Sean.
sean’s last blog post..The Best “You Have Mail” Tone. Ever.
Our breakfast inspiration this morning (read this out loud)! I admire the Vikings so much. And you. This is a great post! Especially considering what a few of us have been chatting about lately.
One of the first paragraphs I wrote in my ebook was about this very thing. There are far too many writers out there, so complain agents and editors, who let their ego get in the way of their success. It’s all right, as you say, to love your stuff, to acknowledge you are great at something, so long as you keep humble at the same time and even admit you have room to grow.
Here, here, both you and Friar!
steph’s last blog post..Magic in the Air
PS. Love the illustration!
steph’s last blog post..Magic in the Air
I wiser man has come into the “chat”room so I am going to be silent now.
Oh, and I ROCK! and I did it by myself!
Brett,
Perfectly said.
It’s sad that far too many people learn this lesson on their way back DOWN the mountain rather than on their way up. Funny how they always think it’s a one way ticket up and that they bought the ticket all by themselves.
Nobody ever gets anywhere by themselves except at the bottom of a rubbish heap.
I echo your thanks with one right back at you. I am grateful for every single one of my friends-off and on line. Those of you that I have met here have enriched my life in ways I can’t even begin to count.
Wendi Kelly’s last blog post..Cleaning Closets
My grandmother used to say, “Don’t get too big for your britches.” I never knew what it meant until I got older. Great advice.
( I always suspected that my Bobcha was part viking … I think it was the horned hat that gave it away.)
Rebecca Smith’s last blog post..Grammar lovers, today’s our day!
Rebecca: And my mother used to say, “Empty vessels make most sound.”
True, that. Also funny!
steph’s last blog post..Magic in the Air
Brett,
Like the Wendi-bird said. She took every word right out of my mouth, the pixie.
I am grateful for unicorns and rainbows and fairies, including the Wendi-bird, but mostly, I am grateful for the wisdom I gain from my real and my 2.0 friends and family. In a very serious, non-rainbow way, a piece of me is created every day by being willing to shut up and hear others’ wisdom.
For Friar: Each of us is like a quilt. Pieced together by our friends, and stronger in the stitched places. Change one single piece, and you’d be a different quilt entirely.
Thanks, Brett, taking a needle to me for the past… how long? Six months or more that I’ve been fortunate to know you? That’s a lot of wisdom you’ve been sharing.
Regards,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Only One Candidate Can Give You Speaking Tips This Fresh!
Very good advice Brett. Lots of folks in my industry forget this too (ah, the creative types).
When things are busy, the think they’re hot stuff (more like hot sh*t but I’ll keep it clean…oops). They get it in their head to suddenly make demands, try to take advantage of the studio or jump ship to another studio for more money.
I say “just wait till it’s slow again” (cause it always gets slow again). And there it happens. They burned bridges and can’t get work to save their life. How you conduct yourself *all* the time will pay off in the lean times, when *you* need the favor.
Show appreciation to the people who took a chance on you when you were nobody.
Karen JL’s last blog post..Where ‘Igor’ Went Wrong
Love the drawing .. . Wee Friar’s mom wrote a very entertaining story about his early crayola period.
Janice Cartier’s last blog post..Even Before Coffee
You’re most welcome Brett.
Anytime really, just let me know.
And thank you too, my friend!
Lodewijk’s last blog post..Seth Godin’s “The Dip” is in my Moleskine
@Rebecca and Steph
And MY grandma used to say
“Your eyes are bigger than your stomach”.
(if you took too much food on your plate and couldn’t finish it):
Friar’s last blog post..Guest Blogger: Friar’s Mom
The web is a harsh mistress, and karma’s a bitch.
I learned two important things working for millionaire lawyers in the flesh:
1) Money can’t buy happiness.
2) It can all be taken away.
If you want to see backstabbing fickle mistressing in action (quite often literally) spend a few years working at a big fancypants law firm. It made me sick.
I suppose that’s why I was so shocked to see that same crap online. People tearing each other down, pushing each other out of the way, preaching from their pedestals like they were born with microphones attached to their mouths.
I don’t want to grow up to be like them. And if I ever seem like that even a little bit, I hope the Vikings come after me and steal my lunch.
Amy Derby’s last blog post..Fiction Friday: The Breast-Laid Plans, and other stories (plus markets)
Brett,
Thanks for a well-written and timely post. When I blogged the First Part of a two-part story this week, I discussed illness (as you know). The blog was meant to be a prelude to “the main event.” Instead, I received such overwhelming comments and support, that I was afraid to put the second part up for fear of letting my readers down.
Humility? I was shown that concept this week in spades. I was truly humbled – and will never forget – the support I’ve been shown this week. It shouldn’t be in past tense. I AM humbled by this experience,
Oh – and great art, Friar!
Thanks,
Rita
Rita’s last blog post..I Was a Mail-Order Bride – Part II
Wow, that’ll teach me to go to Ottawa for the day (it was fun though – stay tuned for an upcoming blog post about it…)
Thank you to *everyone* for dropping in today.
@Friar,
Funny that, I know who you’re talking about… that’s right, karma and all that – sometimes when you fall down, it’s nice to look up and see an outstreched hand ready to help you up.
@sean,
Thank you, my friend – and what you said is very important – don’t compare yourself to other folks – know that you are doing the best YOU can do. Success will follow.
@steph,
You really read this out loud? Cool! and *blush*, thank you my friend, for saying that. I think what you wrote in your ebook is very good advice for anyone. I can’t wait to read it, because I know it is going to be great.
@Francis,
You bugger, I’ll have to go on a Viking raiding party to your house soon (and bring copious quantities of wine, ale, and mead)
@Wendi,
You speak the truth. We risk learning this the hard way, on the way to rock bottom. You know, the one most awesome thing I’ve seen in my short time blogging is your “Our Community” page. I mean to do something like that soon, and keep it as a running list. You really set the standard for this, I think.
@Rebecca Smith,
You’ve got to post a picture of that
but on a serious note that’s why I like this Viking stuff, and love to learn from the previous generations. I think many people tend to assume their generation was the one to invent or do everything first. When meanwhile…
@Kelly,
Well, you’re welcome, and thank you as well – it really has only been about six months, yet it seems much longer, in a really good way. This is community, and I’m glad you’re a part of it.
@Karen JL,
Oh, you can say shit here. Shit. I said shit.
But yeah, this does happen everywhere, for sure. We really are in this together. I mean, some things you do need to do alone, but for most things, there’s strength in numbers. And a certain degree of ‘humble’ works really well.
@Janice,
I’ve got to get over to Friar’s place and read the comments – that’ll teach me to be out of the box for so long. Friar with crayons – scary…
@Lode,
Likewise, anything you need – just call.
@Amy,
You will never grow up to be like those people, ever. I know it. The Vikings might still come after you, though… they’re kind of like that
(And I love the title of that blog post of yours, that’s an eye-catcher…)
@Rita,
You’re welcome, but more importantly, thank you for everything. For a fun time with your project, and what you write about – especially your illness. I still maintain you’re one hell of a strong lady to do what you’ve done while living with this, and I’m glad you shared it, because I think we all learned something.
@ Brett: Yup, I had the laptop at the kitchen table and Colin and I were eating breakfast (well, more like I was stealing sips of coffee from his cup while he ate) and I read this post aloud. We both nodded and solemnly acknowledged the great wisdom of the Vikings. And you!
@ Amy: Well written! Funny, and this is true, but a couple of us were chatting the other day about how you’re so NOT like that, and you’re one of the few who actually have something to brag about!
steph’s last blog post..Magic in the Air
@steph,
I have that picture in my head now – wow. Say hi to Colin for me! I’ll have to dig a bit deeper in my genealogy and see just how much Viking I have in me…
Will do, when he gets home! He’s out at the Red Lion to support a friend’s band and maybe have a pint or two.
steph’s last blog post..Magic in the Air
PS. Your contact page is cute! When did you add this? Recently? It’s funny. I just went there to see if you had a comment form, just out of curiosity.
steph’s last blog post..Magic in the Air
Hmm, I could have used a pint last night (with a couple of aspirin for a chaser!) – hee hee, so you liked my contact page! I think it’s been there for a few months – I’d never gotten around to doing it and a few people asked me how to find me, so I thought it was time. Maybe I should put a picture up there too. Yes, I think I will. And fix the text on the About page (the font is not consistent with everything else here).
Well said Brett. Thank you for your splendid example of community building. You invest a lot into your blog and on other blogs and it’s noticed.
Thanks Tom – I have to say the same about you and your blog.
If anyone here hasn’t already checked out Tom’s writing, go on over to http://delightfulwork.com/ and see what he’s all about.
Hmm… You mean I didn’t spring out of my father’s head fully-formed and the perfect state in which I currently exisit? (oh way, wrong mythology – never mind).
The challenge I have reading many people in my personal growth niche is that many sound so “this is the way!” about things. It might have been the way for them, but I think it would be better to figure out what a generic less prescriptive lesson would have been and to post about that instead of “my way is so simple and it should be for you too or you’re a moron.”
(Can you tell I’m still tired and cranky from dancing until 5:30am on Saturday night?)
Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome’s last blog post..The Simple Life: Nicole Stevens Interview
@Alex,
Or should that be Mr. Cranky?
just kidding, I’d be the same I think…
Your point – right on the money. I did write a little piece just like that, a while ago. Everything we read out here, including what I write, is nice, but it’s just the perspective of the one writing it.
I believe the only one true way for me is the path I choose. I may take inspiration or guidance or advice from everyone else out there, but only I can figure it out. I think it is the same for all of us.
I’m laughing at what you said, too – “my way is so simple and it should be for you too or you’re a moron.”
I have a draft post somewhere along those lines – as many folks who write this kind of stuff are not like us (i.e. people with more complicated lives), I always wanted to write the post that said “yeah, it’s easy to implement Getting Things Done and run 6 blogs when you don’t have a job and you live in your parents basement and watch Star Trek reruns all day…”
[...] last week, I wrote Viking Fridays as usual, hit publish, and then disappeared… thankfully, there were a lot of Vikings around [...]
Although I’m new, sort of, still learning anyway, around here you are one of the ones who has made me feel right at home, I knew following Wendi here would be a good thing!!
Jenny’s last blog post..Don’t Laugh At…
Jenny,
Thank you – that’s just about the nicest thing anyone could hear.