ConverStations

Going Long, Long Distance and Lifelong Learning - Dialing 8

At Joyful Jubilant Learning, they are working on the series, Learning From 8. Without a doubt, 8 is my favorite number. I wore No. 8 in baseball, No. 88 in football.

Dialing 8 was a short series I did (and should kick off again), highlighting posts from various writers that go deep and last long. Here's the intro I wrote for those posts:

In hotels, Dialing 8 was calling long distance. In baseball, Dialing 8 is a home run. In blogging, Dialing 8 is a set of posts from a blogger that I find lasting long and being strong - the cornerstones.

Update: The JJL team has been doing their own versions of "Dialing 8".

In Rick Hamrick's post at JJL, he recognizes the similarity 8 has to the mathematical symbol for infinity:

So, we have this number which, as one makes it by hand, returns to its own starting point, and, at the same time, has no bound... because you can trace an eight forever without ever finding the end.

The number eight stands infinity on it's ear. Taking time to learn, without ever ceasing the learning process.

On this day, let us always go long...long distance...in our living and our learning.

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Dialing 8 Things About Me(me)

Ryan Karpeles turned on the lights by tagging me with "8 Things About Me"  I love his #6 and agree, and that's why I offer this of me(me):

8 Positions You Didn't Know I Held (and each one prepared me for this gig):

• Preacher - Some people say I'm still a preaching...or a blog-thumpin' evangelist.


• Cab Driver - I've driven a cab, shuttle, or limo in five states (what a great way to learn a town). I owned my own cab for two years in San Jose. One of the best get-to-know-people gigs around.


• Baseball Coach - Had two stints as a High School baseball coach. The second one was in a district without any youth baseball program...so we started (and stayed) with the basics. I also was the GM of a Minor League (Class A) baseball team in the late 80's.


• Sales Trainer - Trained incoming sales staff for a water treatment company. The folks above me didn't quite like that I was teaching more about people than the system, but the results proved successful.


• Dancer - Did two years (off and on) in small theater. My favorite...Guys and Dolls. This takes lots of teamwork, vulnerability, and transparency.


• Newspaper Delivery - Now this took some sticktuitiveness! Family matters required a third income...and this grew so much it almost become the main meal ticket.


• Waiter - My first job was as a dishwasher at 14...and for 6 years, stayed in the food service industry doing a bit of everything. I once placed third in a National Waiters Competition (1st place in my state).


• Student - Actually, I became a better student after school...and am still a student today.

Now...about these meme/tag things. 

1. I dig 'em because they allow a business blogger to give a peek into what makes them tick.
2. I always recommend the weekends as the time to do 'em.
3. Even if you're not "tagged" - if you like it, just do it.

There ya go...I just tagged ya.

Related Posts:
- Can You Go Blog Meme Bankrupt?
- Five Things in a Story
- What's in My Glass? Not a Liquid
- What's in a Nickname?
- Why do I Blog?

Photo on Flickr by marfleen

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Dialing 8 - Kammie Kobyleski: Passion Meets Purpose

In hotels, Dialing 8 was calling long distance. In baseball, Dialing 8 is a home run. In blogging, Dialing 8 is a set of posts from a blogger that I find lasting long and being strong - the cornerstones.

Among the first words I ever read at Passion Meets Purpose:

"I LOVE thunderstorms. I was like a kid in a candy store. You couldn’t wipe the grin off my face. The feel of the COOL air whipping across my face was a lil’ slice of heaven." (sounds like Passion to me)

"How amazing is it, that Mother Nature knows what she needs best and doesn’t mind who gets pissed off in the midst of her temper tantrum!?" (a Purpose within the Passion)

And so began my addiction to Kammie Kobyleski and her message:

1. The Search for Passion & Purpose
2. I'm a Crayon Breaker! or Creativity Kicks Ass
3. Delicious Ambiguity
4. Visions of a Passionate & Purposeful Life
5. Setting Your Soul on Fire & Creating a Ripple Effect
6. L-O-V-E + Y-O-U = the GIFT of LIFE
7. Who Do You Think You Are - and other Fears of Living on Purpose
8. The 6th of July - Re-write Your Life Day

Two others that almost made this a Dialing 10:

• Love, Life & The Pursuit of Happiness
• Hero & Terrorist – The Battle of Mind, Body & Spirit

I had the pleasure of a quick hello with Kammie at SOBCon07. If I could have a do-over, I'd have spent more time on her side of the conference room. Next year.

More Passion Meets Purpose:
RSS Feed | MyBlogLog Community | LinkedIn | Compass Life Designs

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Dialing 8 - Ann Michael: Manage to Change

In hotels, Dialing 8 was calling long distance. In baseball, Dialing 8 is a home run. In blogging, Dialing 8 is a set of posts from a blogger that I find lasting long and being strong - the cornerstones.

Manage to Change by Ann Michael

1. Manage to Change Manifesto
2. Manage to Change
3. Two Perspectives That Gets Us Nowhere
4. Why Cook?
5. Blending or Balance?
6. My Way is the Only Way
7. Strategy Minus Execution = Philosophy
8. Blogging and Me!

There are also two series Ann wrote that are key:

• The Change Resistors: Outline - Thirteen solid posts that I'd pay for if it were a White Paper. For now, it's free.
• Solopreneurs: Business Development Relationships - Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

I've had the privilege of speaking to Ann. Her energy and enthusiasm offline is addictive! I'm thankful she's sharing her voice with us.

More Manage to Change: RSS Feed | Ann's MyBlogLog Community | LinkedIn Profile

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Dialing 8 - Jordan Behan

In hotels, Dialing 8 was calling long distance. In baseball, Dialing 8 is a home run. In blogging, Dialing 8 is a set of posts from a blogger that I find lasting long and being strong - the cornerstones.

Tell Ten Friends by Jordan Behan

1. Relationship Marketing in a New Media World
2. Let the Community Do The Marketing
3. An Entry Level Guide to Video Blogging
4. SEO 2.0 or Social Media Optimization
5. Give Them a Reason
6. Give Meaning Changing Charity for the Better
7. Why American Idol is so Popular
8. Great Web Copy Series - Part 4: Blog! (See all seven parts)

I didn't include any of the posts from Jordan's archives on Blogger, but there's some good stuff  over there, too.

More Tell Ten Friends: RSS Feed | Squidoo Lens | MyBlogLog Community | CafePress

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Dialing 8 - Mary Schmidt

In hotels, Dialing 8 was calling long distance. In baseball, Dialing 8 is a home run. In blogging, Dialing 8 is a set of posts from a blogger that I find lasting long and being strong - the cornerstones.

Mary Schmidt - Straight Shootin' Marketing Troubleshooter

1. Strategy Blind Spots
2. The 2% Solution (Not)
3. 3 Ways to Waste Your Marketing Budget
4. Open Skies, Open Minds
5. I'm Sick and Tired
6. Forget Your Competition
7. It Won't Work. Whine. Whine
8. Translating Ideas Into Business - A Sanity Checklist

Three tied at 8.5

• Why You Did Get My Business, List # 1
• Why you Didn't Get My Business, List # 1
• Why you Didn't Get My Business - The Retail List

And four that just missed the cut:

• Our New Design Economy
• I Don't Know You; I Don't Care
• Technology: Get It or Don't Get It
• Violators Will Be Towed

And 22 more that just missed the...well, I'll leave that to you folks.

Quick trivia answer: Mary Schmidt. Quick trivia question: Who was my first BlogTip?

Previously:
- David Armano
- Kami Huyse
- Phil Gerbyshak

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Dialing 8 - Phil Gerbyshak

In hotels, Dialing 8 was calling long distance. In baseball, Dialing 8 is a home run. In blogging, Dialing 8 is a set of posts from a blogger that I find lasting long and being strong - the cornerstones.

Make it Great! by Phil Gerbyshak, R.G.

1. How to be a Relationship Geek
2. Why Make it Great?
3. The Power of Positivity
4. A Positive Attitude - A CURE for What Ails You
5. All You Need is Love
6. Be an Extreme Leader
7. It's All My Fault
8. The Power of Networking

And a few that just missed the cut:

• Planting the Seeds of Greatness
• Want to Achieve Breakthrough Goals?
• 10 TTB for MIG
• Share the Light

I've yet to meet Phil in person or talk to him on the phone. We've sent hugs to and from via mutual friends. I do know this: I can, without hesitation, call Phil Gerbyshak my friend. How's that for the power and benefits of blogging?

Here's Phil with some of his friends (courtesy of FilmLoop):

Phil Gerbyshak - I Love You! Keep Dialing 8 and Making it Great!

Previously: David Armano | Kami Huyse

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Dialing 8 - Kami Huyse

In hotels, Dialing 8 was calling long distance. In baseball, Dialing 8 is a home run. In blogging, Dialing 8 is a set of posts from a blogger that I find lasting long and being strong - the cornerstones.

Communication Overtones by Kami Huyse

1. The New Public Relations
2. The Culture of Generosity in Social Media
3. Your Take: PR as Stakeholder Advocates
4. Work Interrupted: Is a PR Blog Worth the Time?
5. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Blogs
6. The Real Issue: Press Releases or Distribution
7. Blogger Relations: 5 Basic Cultural Facts
8. Public Relations Professionals Should Be Accredited

And four that just missed the cut (Can we call this Dialing 12?)

• Plan B: A Trusted Advisor in the Boardroom
• PR as Ombudsman A Bold Idea
• Process PR: Advertising and Marketing in the Mix?
• Key Messages Deliver ROI

Kami is a conversation conductor, often getting double-digit comments. She has also become a go-to on the subject of Second Life as a business tool (a list of her Second Life posts).  Thanks for your efforts, Kami. We're smarter because of them.

Previously:
David Armano

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What's Your Blog Intinerary?

An itinerary is provided as a guide in travel. How could I continue to run this station without one? No longer a question - The ConverStations Itinerary is now available.

In starting the Dialing 8 series, an idea which spawned from a David Armano post, a Paul Williams practice, and a Liz Strauss page, I wondered if having a search on this site was enough?

• How would new visitors find the cornerstone posts.
• Would they be able to find the 'religion' of ConverStations?
• And what of those looking for a reference point?
• Would they find that old post quickly?
• Am I following my own Purpose Driven Blogging plan?

And so the ConverStations Itinerary gets a seat on the navigation (we're gonna need more buttons).

They are the stops along this Conversation Station that are foundational to the beliefs and practices of its conductor. They serve my passengers well. Welcome aboard.

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Dialing 8 - David Armano

I don't know if this is still the norm, but it used to be that when staying at a hotel, "Dialing 8" was how you started a long-distance phone call. In baseball, "Dialing 8" is a term synonymous with a home run.

In blogging, the folks I work with hear me talk about writing cornerstone posts, or a foundation of your work. Recently, I've talked a lot about the timeless aspect of blogging and how your efforts are a living document. What you write today, can still be found and valued this time next year - or later.

One of the reasons I read blogs is the people writing them help me to improve who I am either professionally, physically or spiritually. The posts that I choose as part of the Dialing 8 series are those I feel are their cornerstones - ones that resonate within me, a member of their audience.

We begin with someone who goes the distance often, David Armano at Logic+Emotion

1. Manifesto Redux
2. A Simple Philosophy
3. Creativity 2.E
4. We Are Not Alone, Life 2.0
5. Experience Map?
6. (Not) Staying in the Lines
7. Contagious Culture
8. Creating Compassionate Designers

Well, I gotta stop at eight because it's called Dialing 8 - but if I were to continue, I'd add these:

What's the Big Execution?

What I Learned in D-School

What's Your Creative Brand

Blah...Blah...Blog

And thanks, Dave. Appreciate your sharing this presentation with us.

Dig in and go deeper into Dave's work. Which one gets inside your wheelhouse?

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