Are you a Thought Leader?

I have a question for you: Are you a thought leader?

Today, in an effort to shape its future and perhaps its survival, the Deseret News announced that it had created an Editorial Advisory Board of some individuals the newspaper management considers thought leaders.

Newspapers, in general, with subscriptions on a downward trend nationally, are looking for creative ways of maintaining readership during tough economic times. In addition to the economy, the Internet and other technology advancements continue to redefine where people get their information.

After reading the newspaper article about the new board, what I found most striking about the assembly of such a group of individuals was not their background or achievements; it was that not one of the new board members will be employees of the newspaper but will be contributors to the paper. The Deseret News, which may, in the next few days, announce what is rumored to be major layoffs, has bolstered its chance for survival by creating what I call “Super Freelancers”.

Someone once said that when superficial people get together they talk about people. When thoughtful people get together they talk about places, events and things. But when great thinkers get together they talk about ideas.

Maybe it’s about time that newspapers spend less time talking about people, places, events, and things, and invest more quality thought in publishing ideas. Hopefully this board will be a step in that direction.

Which brings me back to the question I have for you: Are you a thought leader?

Recently, I sent to some of my closest contacts some ideas I have for assembling together thought leaders to create a powerful tool to present ideas. I had hoped they would have caught and grasped the power behind collaborative efforts and the synergy and camaraderie that can be obtained by such a group. More often then not, when groups work together their influence is stronger than the sum of its individual parts.

So far no one has responded to my email. I am optimistic, but maybe I lack the motivational influence necessary to organize people. Maybe I'm more of a thought follower than a thought leader.

Either way, ideas are powerful, and when you put a bunch of minds together, amazing things can happen.

Wag More, Bark Less

Just this week I noticed my first "Wag More, Bark Less" bumper sticker. I'm all for that slogan and think that is something that we all should practice more.

I bark a lot at my dogs. When I take my dogs out to attend to their various duties, I often times yell loudly at them to hurry up or stay in the yard. My youngest daughter says she has some friends that are afraid to come over to our house because of how mean I am to the dogs.

I hope my girls don't think that I am always yelling at them. I have a temper and sadly my girls get the knee jerk reaction of my temper when I blow up at them.

So I'm gonna wag more and blow up less.

It's Not All About You

Yesterday was my birthday. I am past the halfway mark. In fact, halftime was several years in my rear view mirror.

It was fitting that my birthday, this year, would fall on Friday the 13th. I am not superstitious, so I am not embarrassed to say that I was born on Friday the 13th. Many jokes have been had at my expense when I tell people this little fact.

There wasn't anything unlucky about yesterday. In fact, it was a wonderful day. I received dozens of birthday messages on Facebook. Yesterday was my casts turn to perform at Rodgers Memorial Theatre. Afterwards, both casts had a pool party.

Perhaps the best part of the day was the little card I got from my 10 year old daughter, Makall. It was homemade. She drew all the pictures. The pictures represented each of the years of her life. Unfortunately, I can't scan in the card, but here are the words from the card as only Makall could write them.

Dad
To the #1 Dad

Year 5
I had loved it when you kissed me on my tiny little head
and asked me to say the prayer before I went to bed.

Year 6
I loved it when you sang me your funny made up songs
and hummed that tiny tune in your head and asked me to sing along.

Year 7
I loved it when you made up your own big humongous words
like hold on to your "snikies", that's one I've never heard.

Year 8
I loved it when you cooked up food that mother loves to make,
but one thing that you didn't know is that I really love to bake.

Year 9
I loved it when you let me try on all your ties,
as long as I didn't spill any pen, ink, or dyes.

Year 10
I love you Dad with all my heart
No matter how much I use my art!

Happy Birthday Day.

I discovered something on my birthday that was a priceless gift. It was a simple yet profound truth and that was this: even though it was my birthday, it really wasn't about me.

When the performer, on stage, realizes that it's not about him and that it is really about the audience, that is when the performer really gets it and really gives a good performance. It's not about attention seeking. It is all about audience participation. Connecting with people. Have a two way conversation. Giving all your heart to touch someone else's.

And all those notes sent to me via the Internet. I intend to respond to all the thoughtful messages sent to me on my birthday cuz it's not all about me, it is about saying thank you to those who took the time to reach out and wish me a happy day. That is what makes Facebook work. Not the pay per click ads or all the sales pitches. Not the self serving bragging or begging. It is about people being friendly and nice and reaching out to each other.

The newspaper said some nice things about the Music Man, and our cast. Again, it's not about me or one or both casts, or which cast is better. It is about the audience and their experience. Each night when we have curtain call and we bow, it is a bow of thanks, not a bunch of ego's on stage.

It is too bad it took half my life to finally see it. Let's hope the second act is better than the first.

Who said Friday the 13th is unlucky?