Did you know Jamie Lee Curtis writes children’s books? She’s penned nearly 10 of them, including “Is There Really a Human Race?,” a story of a boy who wants to know, “Is the human race an obstacle course? Is it a spirit? Does he get his own lane? Does he get his own coach?” The babies and kids in the story run around in circles trying to win friends and influence people, until the book concludes with the boy’s realization: the human race is not meant to be won at all.
(For what it’s worth, I chose this image of the book cover over a video of JLC’s hilarious True Lies strip tease – Not totally SFW.)
A copy of “Human Race” was gifted to me last month. It came to mind yesterday after I read Jared Goralnick’s poignant post: “Avoiding the online popularity contest to seek a deeper connection.” Jared is a true blamigo. His willingness to call out those who fake “frolleague” (friend + colleague) status in exchange for the spotlight is appreciated. We humans are a special breed. Gives us the tools, we’ll build empires for ourselves. Give us the Internet and some tricked out AJAX platforms, and we’re still building empires to ourselves. We all want to win the human race, in one way or another.
Call it what you will: popularity, pretentiousness, pride. Far be it from me to name names or deny my own fallibility here. If you are, indeed, atop a mountain of supporters/friends/followers, then do what we tell our clients: stay grounded, keep in touch, engage your fans, and be a conduit for change that’s bigger than yourself. Thanks to the online powerhouses who are already doing this (you know who you are). To overstate the obvious: I would not be working for Geoff if he didn’t practice what he preaches.
Thursday’s Tech cocktail DC is one of countless opportunities make new blog friends and determine the best way to keep in touch. I’ll be engulfing a few real world friends in hugs and meeting new blamigos – hope you find opportunities to do the same.
(Above: Jared at last week’s Pimp My Nonprofit: Global Giving, hosted by Net Squared at Affinity Lab. If you see Jared at Tech cocktail DC, be sure to ask him about PSO.)
You’re more than just a blamigo, Qui! Thanks for sharing your thoughts here on how to engage and build relationships–you obviously get it. Look forward to seeing you Thursday!
Thanks, Jared – we’ve got a great community of blog friends in DC and beyond!
I wholeheartedly agree with Jared’s view, I just want to really make a difference with the people that I come across either on the blog or in person.