Heroes, Humans, and a Request About this Life I Own

Filed Under Motivation/Inspiration, Successful Blog | 21 Comments

Lauren Marie, and I had a conversation yesterday. In respect for what LaurenMarie said, and because I have felt the same way, I’ve decided to tell you what I’m thinking, even though I’ve not fully worked it out. It’s my hope you’ll find it useful.


I've been thinking . . .

about heroes and humans . . . and the life that I own.

I live to be a hero, but I’m altogether too human.
I could line up in a long, long row the people who would agree with that.

Pendulum learner that I am, I’ve swung from human to hero and back again. No Greek tragic hero has more fatal flaws than I do. — It’s comes with being human to have flaws and imperfections. It’s part of being a hero to admit that you do. If I admit knowing that heroes do that, am I being all too human by saying so?

Thinking too much is one of those imperfect things I do.

The hero in me wants to give myself away, wants to show up and save the world, but like all heroes sometimes I try to live on hope. I give away things of value. Does that teach folks not value them? Is it generous, foolish, or my ego running wild? (Every hero is all too human.) I forget to eat. I don’t sleep. In a strange and sad way, it could be that having my head in the clouds protects me and keeps me safely solitary. No one can hurt me, if I ask nothing in return.

As the stories go, heroes are altruistic folks. Are they all independently wealthy?
I haven’t figured that part out yet.

The human in me needs to care for my friends and family. They so support who I am, and I love them so. Like every human, I have bills and responsibilities. I work to keep my home. It takes human influence to power the hero’s dream. This human has to walk with her feet on the ground. The hero needs the human things to change the world

Heroes think they don’t need things. Humans have trouble asking.

Heroes and humans.
I’m pretty sure that each of us is both.
Still, I can only speak to being me.

Last week, Mike DeWitt said he sees a change coming. He’s genuinely perceptive. I rely on his feedback. I spoke of his comment and other recent experiences to Allan Cox, a gifted author, and he answered with one word, “owning.”

I’ve been thinking of that ever since.
Owning, that’s what the wise man said.

Owning is where the human and the hero meet and become one.

I own my life.
I own who I am and the person I wish to be.
The more of myself I own, the more I can give freely.

I own this request . . . it’s from the human I am to the hero in each of you.
Will send you a relaxed and happy thought to the universe for me and would you pass it on?

I think I could be coming into my own.

Always grateful. Always home.

Liz's Signature

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Would You Rather Be Martha Stewart or David Armano?

Filed Under Customer Think, Successful Blog | 15 Comments

Before You Choose . . .

“GET” STICKY!

Did you read David Armano’s post on corporate stumbling this week? He cites an article in GlobeandMail about how Martha Stewart made a beautiful website that no one wanted to visit. He points to simlar mistakes made by Coke and Bud, and then explains “what really motivates users.”

  • There are literally millions of enthusiasts out there producing quality content in highly search engine friendly formats.
  • Not only is much of their content easier to find on the Web—it’s engaging, relevant,
  • and the people who produce it actually talk back to us.

David “gets” what’s “sticky,”

. . . it’s the content that will keep us engaged, and coming back for more. It’s the special sauce that can take a consumer and make them an active participant.

So will you be Martha Stewart or David Armano? The choice is yours.
How will you make yourself sticky to the customers already want to love you?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
I make business sticky. Work with Liz!! page in the sidebar. Call me.

Related:
See the Customer Think Series on the Successful Series page.

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The Effect of Heroes

Filed Under Motivation/Inspiration, Successful Blog | 9 Comments

It Wasn’t a Movie

This morning I woke early as I often do. My mind was working on a problem. I found my way to a news story, called Heroes, by David Armano.

HEROES


The problem that woke me up so early fell away from my mind. My eyes got wide. My heart got open. I looked out the window at the thinnest crescent moon for the longest time. It blurred as I tried to find the word for what I was feeling at a cellular level.

The word was hope. I was proud to be human.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Click the title “Heroes” to read David Armano’s eyewitness account of a horrible train wreck and two young heroes.

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