"You wrote that?"

Blogs are the new Business Cards

Yee-ow! Friday! It's been a whirlwind week. I've been enmeshed in business conversations on the effects of global change and tumult on the lives of the anonymous "Us" and also deeply into in the dynamics of how Security Guards say "Please," "Thank you," and "Naturally, we..."

But packed within this week of infinite meetings talking about matters of import to many, many concerned people, were moments of "A-ha!".

7 or so were the result of the natural course of events of invested people talking through their challenges. But two others, were due to this blog.

Of course, this is "Accidental."

For instance. I was introduced to the ex-COO of a somewhat note-able institution here in the States. We got to jabbering about sports and kids, the challenges of encouraging our kids' ambition and independence while at the same time keeping them out of the principal's office or jail. (Interesting segue, huh?) After the inevitable "What do you do?", we talked some about work. Natch, the talk went to what we hoped work could be versus what it usually turns into.

Then, a particularly spiky and unresolved thought reared its head: this guy had some undone business: "I always wondered why I couldn't get my people to see what I saw as opportunity?" Of course, I was eloquent in my response: "I know what you mean."

Perhaps it was because of what we'd shared earlier about our interpretation and understanding of our kids' challenges or, maybe, just thanks to his patience, he asked "Why is that?"

I mumbled something about the dilemma of hierarchies hobbling the ambition they were supposed to enable. Then I stopped. And said, "You know what? Sometimes they can't see you. Or understand what you're about. I read a story in National Geographic years ago, about how the base of Mt. Everest was a holy mess with empty oxygen tanks, trash and all kinds of shit left over from the explorers. A huge pile of barf left at the edge of beauty and possibility. But someone else had to clean up. Sometimes, we don't explain why the shit is there. Or we don't get our vital role as tidiers after the explorers"

He tilted his head. Was he gonna punch me? Run? Make a polite exit? I felt like an idiot for having spun off into the unlicensed, goofy territory of "speech-i-fyer."

"I remember that," he said.

"Yeah, it was a great article. I .grew up with the the National Geographic," said me.

"No. I remember that example about bosses."

We talked more about some of the challenges of being a boss and of communicating, and I turfed out an example of the frustration: Norah Jones with a mouthful of rocks

"Yeah!" he said, "That's what I mean!"

"There you go," says eloquent me.

"No, i read that--That's so right. Somebody gave it to me! Somebody sent me that. That was you?"

It's a small world. I have a new client. Because I made a new friend. Not an acquaintance. Thanks to this blog.