Big Gnome

Lately I’ve taken more time to ask Big Gnome clients and colleagues for referrals and introductions for possible new business. Last week, I took one of our clients, Palmetto Software Group, to On the Border for lunch to talk about who we want to have conversations with. If this IT security company were a restaurant, it would be On the Border. A perfect fit. And, it was cool because they came with their A game and had prospects for me to consider.

But, I’ve been trumped by quite possibly the best “thank you” for making an introduction. Kamran Popkin of Swag Club stealthily left this outside Big Gnome Corporate this morning:

Why? Because I gave him a referral. I warmed up an introduction to a prospect he’s been wishing to woo for awhile now

Happy Thursday, indeed.

It’s fitting for today because in Joe Tye’s Self Empowerment Pledge (seven simple promises that will change your life), Thursday’s promise is “Contribution: I will earn the help I need in advance by helping other people now, and repay the help I receive by serving others later.”

If it happened in 2008, is it still news?

The Interwebs are a big place. And, it’s tough to keep up with everything. While working on the new Big Gnome You Tube channel this afternoon (Oh yes, my friends, Big Gnome is going to be bigger and gnomier than ever) I came across www.big-gnome.com as one of the best sites of 2008 on Abduzeedo, a design blog. Holy smokes! Thanks guys!

Thank you to Gil Gerretsen for sharing “Desiderata,” by Max Ehrmann via email earlier this week:

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,

and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,

be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly;

and listen to others,

they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons;

they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,

you may become vain or bitter,

for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;

it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,

for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;

many persons strive for high ideals,

and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love,

for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,

it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,

gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.

But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,

be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe

no less than the trees and the stars;

you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,

no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,

whatever you conceive Him to be.

And whatever your labors and aspirations,

in the noisy confusion of life,

keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,

it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Life has been good at Big Gnome. Silent on the blog, a little more vocal on the Twitters, but we’ve been heads down working on some really cool work, including a rebranding for an IT security firm.

To take a moment from the grind, I started Monday off in more relaxed fashion: I met Cass Tyson, a web marketing consultant who is new to the Upstate, for a great cup of coffee at Liquid Highway.

As we shared stories and laughs about what to say when a prospect asks, “How much does a web site cost,” to how the professional guidance we offer may seem so new-fangled that the client must simply trust and take some real guts to go for it. (Cass recalls encouraging a real estate client in the early 1990s to put their listings online. The client thought it was crazy talk – but they did it, left other firms in the Dark Ages dust, and are still successful today.)

Our conversation moved to the challenges of keeping up with technology, social media tools, and the tools that help you manage the dang tools…My challenge is finding a healthy balance between executing client work and keeping on the forefront of what online technology is available, understanding it, and being able to integrate where necessary or appropriate to help clients achieve their goals.

Being the perfect definition of a “late adopter,” it’s not typically natural for me to jump in on that stuff full-throttle. Growing up, my family was the last family to get a computer. An answering machine. Cell phones. We’d have to go to the Smith family house down the block to play Super Mario Brothers. When my brother Billy got a Gameboy, we’d all fight over who got to play it during 16-hour car rides to Milwaukee. My dad types with two fingers and my mom to this day is “off the grid” without an email address. (I love them for that, though.)

As an adult, I’m having to re-program myself to get over my reservations when learning about and integrating everything that is on the web.

And, I have to be OK with missing something. It’s impossible to read every post, tweet, email, or link. The point is, which Cass reminded me about, is that it’s all about developing genuine connections and communication with people. That’s what technology helps us do. It helps us start those conversations with prospects that could lead to great client relationships. It helps us get everyone to Barley’s for beers.

It gives us a platform to share and build what is important to us in life.

“Big Gnome” was taken. “The Big Gnome” was, too. And, “Da Big Gnome” were all taken on Twitter. Then I thought, why not combine two loves – craft beer and creative communications. So, if you’re into Twitter, check out @brewgnome. That’s us.

Joining Twitter was big decision. I’d rather watch paint dry than have to filter through even more online noise. But, having another tool to connect with people was. To connect in a genuine way, though, is a whole other challenge.

Several months ago values coach Joe Tye gave his take on Twitter. He noted a significant difference between people who focused solely on themselves (“mirrors”) versus focusing on other people (“windows”). Are you a “window” or a “mirror”? I joined Twitter to not only connect and network in ways that could lead to new business relationships, but to hopefully help people or learn new things from others.

@brewgnome’s goal is to be a window. My reasons may be different from others who tweet solely for personal reasons. That’s cool. If you’re tweeting for professional reasons, though, think first about your intentions and goals. What do you want to accomplish?

Oh, snap! Chow, a close friend on the West Coast, mailed me two pieces of Team Wonderbike flare from New Belgium Brewing! Real mail is a rarity among all the junk these days. I love this brand and several of their beers. New Belgium, featured in Beer Wars earlier this year, does a lot of cool things to make their people happy and proud to work there. They’ve got the awards to back it up, too. After your first year of employment at New Belgium, you get a sweet bike. After five years, you get a trip to Belgium. More companies need to get on the bike, yo.

I need to sport my flare and install my “I Heart My Mom” bike bell the next time I ride.

Thanks to a close friend, I now love someecards. They get my “Keeping it Real” award of the week. And with the tagline, “when you care enough to hit send,” and other little nuggets, in just mere seconds I got a very clear idea of what they’re all about. It’s hilarious, irreverent, memorable and easy to use. They may win for most creative reply when you sign up for their e-newsletter: “Celebrate by sending an alarming number of cards.”