the terminal man.
January 18, 2010
The man had just touched down in Toronto, after a week’s vacation in Cuba with his lovely wife. He had brought with him the latest and greatest book from a well-known bald-headed blogger, some little tome about “clans” or “hordes” or something like that…
Anyway, he had read the book with great interest, while he sat on the beach under an umbrella, sipping many, many cups of Cuban rum and the local version of Coke. He had feverishly taken notes as he reflected on the words, and with the clarity of thought that comes with unplugging from the world, he had tried to figure out just what the hell kind of “gang” he was supposed to lead.
Of course the book never told him how to do that!
Details, details…
As the man was preparing for the “stop-and-go pedestrian traffic” that always seems to accompany the deplaning process, he noticed that the woman seated beside him had become quite agitated.
She had been fine for the entire flight, and now, it seemed as if she was about to explode with nervous energy. She was almost shaking as she searched frantically through her handbag.
The man asked, “Is everything okay, ma’am?”
“My BlackBerry! I CAN’T FIND MY BLACKBERRY!”
(“Umm, okaaaaaay…”, the man thought to himself, “Best. Electronic leash. Evar.”)
A few weeks later, it started to make sense. The man enjoyed all things technological, and he loved to help people understand them, and how to put them to use to do what they needed to do.
“Right tool for the job”, he always said.
And one day, as he was daydreaming at his day job, he thought to himself, “Technology should enable us, not enslave us.” That would be the cornerstone of his mission, somehow.
To help people make the best use of the technology available, and not be encumbered by it, or even ruled by it.
Yet, he stumbled along, unsure of what to do with it or how to do it. He was perpetually distracted. He had fallen victim to the technology himself…
And so, he decided to unplug for a while, to return to the clarity he had enjoyed on the beach in Cuba. He pretty much stopped blogging, only left sporadic comments on a few blogs he enjoyed reading, and did his best to escape from that damned tweetie bird.
Eventually, it worked. Something clicked, one day in late December.
He knew.
He set forth on a path, to work on not one, but two projects. For you see, the two projects were intertwined because of who the man was, and who he knew.
The first project would ultimately come to serve the second, which was ironic, since both had existed all along, and the man had done all he could to ignore the second, while searching for the first.
–
Hello.
I have been working very hard on a couple of projects for the last little while. The first started to take shape in my head mid-last year, though I did not know exactly how to get it going. I needed to figure out the “who” – who would it serve. The who turned out to be someone (many, many someones, actually) I already know.
Though I am not ready to reveal anything yet (mostly because blank web pages under construction are terribly boring to look at), this is where you will find news when it becomes available.
I had a funny thought tonight while I was out walking my dog.
No one ever tells you when your 6 week journey will start.
I thought I knew, I thought it had started a long time ago, and it turns out that for me, it really only started in late December of 2009.
I guess that’s why people say, work hard – keep trying to figure out what you want to do – one day, it will all become clear.
–
I promised Wendi I’d write a new post soon, so here you go Wendi! Better late than never…
Brett! Dahling! Sounds like Cuba was the place to be. And you’re right about technology, it’s like “stuff” – do you own it, or does it own you. Lots of little inspirational gems in this post, definitely worthy of a second read through.
Deb Dorchak´s last blog ..Five Years for Six Minutes: Pigeon Impossible
I *knew* you were up to something! Awesome – can’t wait to see it unveiled.
“No one ever tells you when your 6 week journey will start.” So true! Thinking of an amazing one of my own that Deb has been a part of, too! Love it! Are those planets I see, aligning??? LOL
Betsy Wuebker´s last blog ..When Your Inner Critic is on Steroids
Brett,
YAY!!!!!!
You know what? Every step leads us to where we are going…
Pretty Profound huh? I know, I know….just common sense…but still…If I hadn’t started Life’s Little Inspirations in 2008, I wouldn’t have met you…or Karen, or God forbid…..( shudders at the thought, and can’t even imagine it…) Deb…wouldn’t own Sirius Graphix, wouldn’t have SO MANY Amazing friends…..
And it’s the same with you and Six Weeks….It’s all been a path we have been walking on, leading us to where we are now and where we are going. Our little gang two years later is doing some amazing things and it’s just a start…It doesn’t matter one bit if you took a blogging break to get re-focused.
( Well yes it does because we missed you bu that is besides the point…) The important thing was that you have stayed true to the path. Your path. AND…the path is very exciting.You are going to FLY.
Step by step…
CAN and WILL.
@Deb,
Oh, it *was* – I tell you, the clarity I enjoyed was amazing. And you know, I can do it here at home, too (though it’s cold outside, and the rum isn’t quite the same…)
There’s another funny sort of side note to this – where I currently work, the technology I use holds me back because we’re not allowed to use “best tool for the job”.
No, we use “best tool that lined the pockets of the CIO and his buddies”. We use “what everyone else uses because that’s how it is done”.
@Betsy,
Oh, and I can’t wait to see what you’ve been up to – that will be great, I know it!
@Wendi,
You know… that’s true, and it is kind of profound.
Every step leads us to where we are going… everything happens for a reason, somehow.
We started blogging to meet the people we’ve met, learn the things we’ve learned, and start the things we’ve started.
Can and will, indeed
Brett,
Whew, glad “terminal” had another meaning. *wipes sweat from brow*
My thoughts on 6 weeks: Sometimes, they’re not consecutive. A week here, a few days there…
That, and there are many, many 6-week journeys, all spread out like a fabric in our lives all the time.
As always, cheers to you. Keep reaching!
Regards,
Kelly
Kelly´s last blog ..Lessons From the Birds
Brett, I am so happy that you are realizing your vision. I love what you say about not knowing when the 6 weeks start…so true. I have come to appreciate that while the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, in my own life the longer, squiggly route is the one oft traveled. I look forward to the next news update.
Karen Swim´s last blog ..The Gift of Written Language
@Kelly,
I wondered to myself if anyone would think the title meant something like that, but I figured I’d leave it and see!
That is a good point you know – it does not have to be consecutive and often it isn’t.
As long as we keep going, that’s the thing that matters.
@Karen,
Thank you – it sounds like we both travel similar paths, and I must say it has been interesting. I often think that people who come right out of school knowing what they want to do and then go do it are sort of boring
Brett, very cool to see you again.
It’s almost fathomless isn’t it? We think we know where we’re going, but then, when we sit down and rest we realise that we wanna head over there instead. Because over there feels better and includes all the things we’ve learned and grown into on the first leg of the journey.
I don’t know where I’m going really. I do know that I’ll be making some changes this year that, for now at least, have me excited. Whether they’ll work out is anyone’s guess.
One of my favourite quotations is from the movie “The Polar Express” -
“One thing about trains. It doesn’t matter where they’re going, what matters is deciding to get on.”
Hi Steve,
It’s good to be back, and it’s good to see you here.
What you said is very wise. We’re walking along, thinking we’re going to grandmother’s house, then we sit down to eat something, and we say, “Oh! There’s a mountain, let’s go climb it!”
I look forward to seeing where you are heading – and I have no doubt that you’ll succeed, you’ve got a lot of heart and that’s what it takes.
That’s a great quote too – I like it!
Brett: I’m extremely happy for you that your path has become clear, or at least, much clearer! That in itself is such a huge deal, but acting on it is what’s significant. I really can’t wait to see what you launch, and to see it all take off.
Good to see you back, and what’s even better is seeing a spark of fire in you now that your plans are forming up. I know one of the plans (I may even know the second but don’t remember!), and I definitely think you’re on the right track.
As for “you never know when your 6 weeks will start”, you’re absolutely right. I’ve had many negative experiences in the past year, and each one has turned out to be something quite positive indeed.
Here’s to more of that. (The positive, I mean. I’m pretty done with the negative
)
@Steph,
It will be fun, that’s for sure – you know, I think the key here was that I stopped fighting everything I’d become, everything I’d done, and said, “what can I do with who I am and what I’ve experienced in life?”
Maybe when you’re 20, you can and should say, “what do I want to do?”, but perhaps once you’ve been out working for 15 years, made hundreds of contacts and gained a wealth of experience, the question is, “what can I do with what I have?”
@James,
Thanks! It’s nice to see you back here too – thanks for the encouragement.
It’s sort of what I said to Steph just above – “I am who I am, now, what can I do with it?”
I think that’s the question I never asked myself, that I had to ask all along.
Once I did, *boom*.
Yes, you have had some pretty negative things this year, but as you know, it all depends on how you react and how you spin it – I think 2010 will be a great year for everyone, no doubt in my mind.
Heheh… I’ve *always* spinned to my advantage. I thought that was a given, here
James Chartrand – Men with Pens´s last blog ..Why You Don’t Need to Mimic Someone Else’s Fame
“I’ve *always* spinned to my advantage. I thought that was a given, here”
(And please take that as a compliment, everyone – it means you’re interesting!!!)
sounds very interesting to me….looking forward to the reveal.
my medical guru says I will not believe how good I will feel in 6 weeks…hmmm…I am nearly there…maybe it will just jump up and slap me in the face…?
hope it goes very well…
Patricia´s last blog ..An Idea to Ponder
It should be fun
Your guru is right, you are going to feel amazing, wait and see…
So, do we have to wait another 6 weeks for the reveal?
“I guess that’s why people say, work hard – keep trying to figure out what you want to do – one day, it will all become clear.” And don’t forget to add Fun to that list. I can sense your excitement about this, like you’re about to burst through the starting gate. You’ve just been in training all this time. I’ll be watching the race… go Brett!!
You may have to wait more than 6 Weeks, I don’t want to spill the beans too early…
but I promise I’ll put a couple of blog posts here in between now and then, deal?
Blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah. Arg, fish, kill.
Eyeteaguy
And that’s all I have to say about that.
@Eyeteaguy: That’s the most insightful comment I’ve seen all day.
Deb Dorchak´s last blog ..Sirius Sunday: A Solid Kick in the Pants
@Deb,
Yeah, but he misspelled “FUCK”.
It’s “Arg, FUCK, kill.”
Though I suppose he was just being a polite fellow.
I do agree that it was intelligent
@Eyeteaguy,
You must miss Friar’s lame-assed painting posts heh heh…
Hurry, Friar just posted a picture of real fruit! He finally listened to me!
http://deepfriar.wordpress.com/2010/02/01/nothing-like-over-ripe-fruit-to-brighten-your-day/
The earth may now come to a screeching halt.
Eyeteaguy
P.S. Aw heck Billy my sheep stinks.
@Eyeteaguy,
Hide the hamster?
I think we should do a tribute to Elvis…….
Fried bacon and peanut butter sandwiches for everyone?
Deb Dorchak´s last blog ..Sirius Sunday: A Solid Kick in the Pants
Don’t forget to turn off the TV when you are finished.
*BOOM*
Thank you, thank you very much…
Mary had a little lamb whose fleece was very red.
@Brett
Jeeze, take a break from the internet for a bit and look what happens. Every Cheese loving electric donkey bottom biter goes on a posting frenzy…
@ EyeTeaGuy
Has anyone seen my pick-axe?
As they say in the deeeep south… How y’all doin?
A hunk-a, hunk-a burnin….
Cheers
Glenn
@Glenn,
Yeah I know, tell me about it… maybe if I post again in another month it will happen again
@Brett
Eeeexxcellent! I can hardly wait!
Holy SHIT…!!!
Brett posted!!!
That means six more weeks of winter!
(And I missed it…DAMN).
Nah… it just means six more weeks until I post again