On the heels of my last post "my favorite hairball" (see below), The following showed up in my Inbox:
Hey Mr. McNair,
I am taking your advice from the last “tea” post that I read, and sending a note of THANKS for your contribution to my life. This is Mike Marsch, and you spoke to a group of high school kids in Jefferson City, Missouri for me. It was back in 2006, and since that time I have soaked up your aura of creativity through your writings, video, suggested readings, and even tracked down an audio version of you at the Christian Writers Guild Conf. I am now ordering Gordon MacKenzie’s book. I find that I MUST do things here in the corporate world with my version of creativity or I would have to quit (the thought still crosses my mind), but I still am enjoying it. I often think of, and retell, your story of Mr. Walt Disney “dubbing” you to be an Imagineer someday. My oldest daughter is 12 and has found her niche in the theater, so I am taking your advice of being a “theater parent” and have become a set builder extraordinaire (my opinion). My next bucket list to do is visit San Fran, so look for me soon!
Thanks again for helping us creative, non-goal driven, kid’s feel like part of the crowd!
Mike
I wrote back to Mike immediately. I recalled how his company had hired me to speak to a conference of the top high school students from all over the state—Missouri. These were above-above-average-kids. Great give and take.
But even when the primary audience is youth, there are always adults present and I will tailor a few illustrations with the "grown ups" in mind. I congratulated Mike on taking risks, even in his high tech field.
Mike wrote back, "When you mentioned “taking the risk”, that is the hardest part, because all the “that’s-the-way -we've-always-done-it” people remind you when a risk fails. But when the risk works…..yummy!"
The real risk is not to try.
Try this: write a note, email, on-line comment, review, blog post of some work that has inspired you. Figure out how to contact your favorite author, musician, actor, and let them know.
"Should I write a review on Amazon.com?"
Yes, please!
Let those who have encouraged, inspired, entertained, and impacted you—in any way— know about it. "Aw," you think, "my comments don't mean anything to (name of "famous" person.)
Really? Do you know the exact date you decided you had had all the compliments in life that you would ever need? Congratulations. Most of us have never reached that day, yet. I hope I don't live that long—and I plan to be around for my 104th birthday.
Now while you start that not to (person who has inspired you), I'm going to finish my wheat germ-infused, protein and bee pollen add, strawberry-bananana smoothie with liver-burst and colon-clean.
Onward,
McNair
...grreeeaaaat!
Posted by: Wes Roberts | Saturday, 23 August 2008 at 03:48 PM
You are a rare and wonderful gift to the world and I have just now ordered the hairball book as I was instructed. Now I must get a copy of yours.
Posted by: Geni | Saturday, 23 August 2008 at 06:57 PM