Reed Technology

While in PA last week I stopped by to tour the Pearl S. Buck home. Amazing. I had no idea of the impact this one woman made on the world. And more importantly, I learned the impact that volunteers are making on the estate and in their community. While I was there I spoke with David Ballai, Vice Presidents of Operations for Reed Technology. He and several employees were painting the milk house on the property. He spoke about a company program called "Cares" and the impact volunteerism has on their community. Reed Technology pays every one of their 750 employees for two days of work for them to spend those two days volunteering somewhere. Last year they "donated" more than 6,000 community hours to projects in the area. Amazing. Watch this video and ask yourself, "What can I do?"

Snow and sleet

I'm still in New Jersey, an hour away from NYC and still feeling the effects of Seth's talk. It's amazing how long a powerful message takes to trickle down. The things he talked about were things I've always known, things I've always practiced, but to have them put into perspective, and more importantly - validated, was awesome.

This week I'm staying with clients - completing the writing of a book and workbook and absorbing all I've learned the past 10 days. I'm also forming the outline of the book I plan to write in November for NaNoWriMo. I feel like I'm really on the brink of something huge - and about to finish my first book.

Amazing month - and the fact that it was/is my birthday month, that Seth's book launched on my birthday, that NYC and everything after happened now...magical.

The fact it's snowing and sleeting and cold doesn't diminish my excitement over spending the weekend camping on my way back to VA. All I feel right now is positive.

Prize inside

Seth Godin at his presentation about his book "Tribes," in NYC Oct. 22, 2008.

I deliberately shot this (and many more like it) with the "Prizes" slide behind him. He was answering questions from the audience and handing out prizes - his books, his action figures etc. to those who posed a question. My question came at the end and I didn't get the action figure I so coveted - but I did get an answer to my question about what he was most surprised by about Tribes. Short answer - the diversity of the participants. Not just age, ethnic - but occupation, country of origin etc. I asked if he saw that as a trend, and he said yes. Now - what to do about understanding how that trend will impact marketing, life, government. It's part of a bigger picture I see, but until I figure out the connection between what I think is happening vs this trend I can't be certain. Wait and see. I'll have to wait and see - and in the meantime there are prizes just over our shoulder to be had!

A shift in my universe

I'm in Pennsylvania now. And there's been a shift in my universe. Some folks at Seth's talk/presentation on Wednesday felt it right away. Others of us have come to feel it later. Still more I'm sure will be moved or touched in the coming days.

There's been a release of straps or anchors or something and I feel like I've been untethered. I've always been free to come and go and lead or not, but something happened between yesterday and last night that's changed me. Maybe it's my subconscious. My brain has morphed in the night as my mind absorbed and integrated what I've heard. As I lie here in bed thinking about what to do, where to go next, I'm hearing the twang and zing of high tension cables snapping as the mother ship of possibility begins to rise in preparation for a journey.

I see my participation in Triiibes.com diminishing and my participation in other things - back to my Squidoo lenses and my clients and my websites and blogs increasing. I think I'm ready now. I have a foundation. It's an odd feeling. One of anticipation and excitement, but also a great sense of calm and peace.

I'm on the road again today - leaving Patty and Ed's wonderful hospitality and fun, informative and entertaining conversation for a client's house. The day is filled with possibility!

I-95

I didn't realize that I-95 would be such a zoo. Speeders, cops, traffic, accidents, traffic jams....wow. Took me most of the day to go from Richmond, VA to Doylestown, PA where I am now - working on projects and thinking about whether to hang out up North until the first frost or the first snow...probably until the end of the week!

Things I learned Monday. Tolls from VA to PA are about $20. Ouch. But it was faster. So I saved that much in gas. Life is a series of trade-offs.

Take time to photograph the caterpillars - someday they will become butterflies. I photographed this "wooly bear" while walking the dog this afternoon. The width of his coloring means this will be a mean and very cold winter! brrrrr!!!

I was also disappointed to learn that it's really hard for me to relax and to just enjoy the minute without thinking about work or worrying. My homework - play more. Work smarter.

Day one - it is what it is

Nothing like starting a trip by getting lost. I've driven to Charlottesville so often I could do it in my sleep, but apparently I can't do it when I'm thinking about other things. I missed a critical turn and ended up daydreaming for almost 100 miles before I had my "ah-ha" moment and realized I was not on the road I was supposed to be. So, after spending four hours to get to a destination that normally takes me two, I learned several things.

Stuff happens. So, even when things go all to hell, enjoy the ride. Once I quit fuming over having missed my exit and ending up off course and late to a meeting with a friend in C'Ville, I realized this: What happened, happened. I'm X number of miles away. I'm going to be late. I don't have a cell phone. I can't call. It is what it is.

It is what it is.

So I cracked open a bottle of water and started enjoying the scenery, the leaves changing and the smell of fall and wood smoke in the air. I was *lost* on back roads so I focused on the farms, the crops, the soybean fields and the deer herds who love them. It was nice. I could feel my blood pressure drop and my calm return.

Lesson: When it all goes bad determine what can be fixed and fix it. Don't worry about what you can't control. Deal with each step as it comes up. So that's what I did, starting with getting directions! I stopped at a greasy little hole-in-the-wall convenience store to get directions and learned a wonderful thing - men in full power mode (guns, hunting, three-day-growth of beard and a day to call their own) love to help women in distress!! It was fun and I also picked up some tips on local fishing holes in the process! And, most importantly, I got directions.

I got to C'Ville, got my checks cashed before the banks closed and got a new cell-phone. The clerks at Best Buy warned me that Virgin Mobile phones are a bitch to activate, and they were right. The network was down, I had to get online to activate, and it took three tries and four hours to get service. Thank you Virgin Mobile for the pop quiz on dealing with aggravation. I passed. I set the phone aside and enjoyed the changing scenery. The number four keeps coming up. I think I'll play the lottery today. Anyway....

The phone came on in time for me to report a black cow wandering on the shoulder of Highway 64 at mile marker 172 to the highway patrol. She was making good time - also heading for Richmond. My good deed for the day - I prevented Road Burgers.

By 5 p.m. I was in Richmond, met Bonnie and we were headed for dinner at Traks (great Greek and Italian food!). Greek salads, cold beer, great conversation, laughter. Life - is good. And if you're ever in Richmond, Traks is an experience. The entire ceiling of the restaurant is covered in twinkly Christmas tree lights. There is statuary everywhere (see photo above) and the food is FABULOUS!!