Comments on: Losing my Mojo http://www.horsepigcow.com/2006/12/losing-my-mojo/ a world uncommon Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:03:36 +0000 hourly 1 By: ::HorsePigCow:: marketing uncommon » Does Mojo=Fun? http://www.horsepigcow.com/2006/12/losing-my-mojo/comment-page-1/#comment-18661 ::HorsePigCow:: marketing uncommon » Does Mojo=Fun? Sun, 08 Apr 2007 23:27:11 +0000 http://www.horsepigcow.com/2006/12/10/losing-my-mojo/#comment-18661 [...] I started thinking about not long ago, when I felt I was losing my own mojo, that’s exactly what it was for me. It was all work and worry and stress and very little fun [...] [...] I started thinking about not long ago, when I felt I was losing my own mojo, that’s exactly what it was for me. It was all work and worry and stress and very little fun [...]

]]> By: Ewan McIntosh http://www.horsepigcow.com/2006/12/losing-my-mojo/comment-page-1/#comment-73 Ewan McIntosh Sun, 17 Dec 2006 14:45:04 +0000 http://www.horsepigcow.com/2006/12/10/losing-my-mojo/#comment-73 I don't know how much help this will be but Shimon Peres' words at LeWeb3 took off some of that stress of past expectations but pointing out that the "past was not that good", and that we'd be better off setting new expectations in the future. http://edu.blogs.com/edublogs/2006/12/shimon_peres_im.html There is an assumption that basing what we do on the past (and asking customers what they want can only expect answers based on their previous experiences which can't be that good - or why would they be employing a new company?) is better than sticking yourself out on a limb to do things differently and, just maybe, better. Set your own (different, new) expectations as those of your customers and THAT will make you exceptional to most people. I don’t know how much help this will be but Shimon Peres’ words at LeWeb3 took off some of that stress of past expectations but pointing out that the “past was not that good”, and that we’d be better off setting new expectations in the future.

http://edu.blogs.com/edublogs/2006/12/shimon_peres_im.html

There is an assumption that basing what we do on the past (and asking customers what they want can only expect answers based on their previous experiences which can’t be that good – or why would they be employing a new company?) is better than sticking yourself out on a limb to do things differently and, just maybe, better.

Set your own (different, new) expectations as those of your customers and THAT will make you exceptional to most people.

]]> By: John Koetsier http://www.horsepigcow.com/2006/12/losing-my-mojo/comment-page-1/#comment-43 John Koetsier Wed, 13 Dec 2006 21:02:43 +0000 http://www.horsepigcow.com/2006/12/10/losing-my-mojo/#comment-43 Tara, No particular wisdom to add here, Tara - just a big Amen that this is a major, major issue. I think I've felt the same way and sometimes do feel the same way. I've started asking myself questions: What's most important? What do I do now? What is my wildly important goal - so wildly important that if I miss that one, nothing else matters? But it's not not not not not not easy! Tara,

No particular wisdom to add here, Tara – just a big Amen that this is a major, major issue. I think I’ve felt the same way and sometimes do feel the same way.

I’ve started asking myself questions:

What’s most important? What do I do now? What is my wildly important goal – so wildly important that if I miss that one, nothing else matters?

But it’s not not not not not not easy!

]]> By: Mark Kuznicki http://www.horsepigcow.com/2006/12/losing-my-mojo/comment-page-1/#comment-30 Mark Kuznicki Tue, 12 Dec 2006 15:33:27 +0000 http://www.horsepigcow.com/2006/12/10/losing-my-mojo/#comment-30 Tara, thanks for posting this. I ventured into consulting a year ago now, and I'm starting to face these same issues. As I draft a <a href="http://remarkk.com/2006/12/11/a-social-mission-for-a-blogging-consultant/" rel="nofollow">social mission statement</a> for my practice, I realize that serving clients' (legitimate) need for collateral accountability from the artifacts of work (the trail of consulting breadcrumbs) is not core to that mission, but is part of the cost of doing business that makes the mission possible in the first place. And the tension with my pro bono and community work increases daily as the demand for my help increases. I echo Austin's point about leverage. Doing more good in the world requires the citizen agent to gain leverage. Focusing on a unique area of emerging knowledge allows you to leverage that knowledge and reuse some of those artifacts. Trying to be the go to person on everything and anything does not provide leverage. Every project is unique, but they better have something in common that is reusable, otherwise you get ground down. Good luck finding your mojo. I found mine recently under a pile of documents in a corner of the home office. Tara, thanks for posting this. I ventured into consulting a year ago now, and I’m starting to face these same issues. As I draft a social mission statement for my practice, I realize that serving clients’ (legitimate) need for collateral accountability from the artifacts of work (the trail of consulting breadcrumbs) is not core to that mission, but is part of the cost of doing business that makes the mission possible in the first place. And the tension with my pro bono and community work increases daily as the demand for my help increases.

I echo Austin’s point about leverage. Doing more good in the world requires the citizen agent to gain leverage. Focusing on a unique area of emerging knowledge allows you to leverage that knowledge and reuse some of those artifacts. Trying to be the go to person on everything and anything does not provide leverage. Every project is unique, but they better have something in common that is reusable, otherwise you get ground down.

Good luck finding your mojo. I found mine recently under a pile of documents in a corner of the home office.

]]> By: Austin Hill http://www.horsepigcow.com/2006/12/losing-my-mojo/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Austin Hill Tue, 12 Dec 2006 05:41:15 +0000 http://www.horsepigcow.com/2006/12/10/losing-my-mojo/#comment-28 Hi Tara. If it helps, I think everyone is balancing some of these same issues. I'm learning to say no more often, but I'm also getting better on leverage where certain activities feed multiple projects or goals. With regards to business, if you and Chris ever want to chat, let me know. I have some experience with some of the issues you are dealing with and be happy you give my experience for what's it's worth. -Austin PS - I also recently posted my own version of my time management & community projects strategy. It's at http://www.billionswithzeroknowledge.com/2006/12/11/making-sure-my-peanut-butters-thick-crunchy/ Hi Tara. If it helps, I think everyone is balancing some of these same issues. I’m learning to say no more often, but I’m also getting better on leverage where certain activities feed multiple projects or goals.

With regards to business, if you and Chris ever want to chat, let me know. I have some experience with some of the issues you are dealing with and be happy you give my experience for what’s it’s worth.

-Austin

PS – I also recently posted my own version of my time management & community projects strategy. It’s at

http://www.billionswithzeroknowledge.com/2006/12/11/making-sure-my-peanut-butters-thick-crunchy/

]]> By: Josh Owens, true confessions of a cheesy techno-geek... http://www.horsepigcow.com/2006/12/losing-my-mojo/comment-page-1/#comment-27 Josh Owens, true confessions of a cheesy techno-geek... Tue, 12 Dec 2006 05:41:07 +0000 http://www.horsepigcow.com/2006/12/10/losing-my-mojo/#comment-27 <strong>How does your business grow?...</strong> So I am sitting here late at night trying to think of something fun to write, because I am tired of this empty blog. So many bad things happen in my life the past two years that my blog just trailed off - if you knew me, you already knew what was goin... How does your business grow?…

So I am sitting here late at night trying to think of something fun to write, because I am tired of this empty blog. So many bad things happen in my life the past two years that my blog just trailed off – if you knew me, you already knew what was goin…

]]> By: Eugene Eric Kim http://www.horsepigcow.com/2006/12/losing-my-mojo/comment-page-1/#comment-19 Eugene Eric Kim Mon, 11 Dec 2006 16:23:41 +0000 http://www.horsepigcow.com/2006/12/10/losing-my-mojo/#comment-19 One other thought on "tangibles": It helps to reframe them as "artifacts," or better yet, something that you and Chris are very familiar with, "Leave A Trail." Tangible work products are critical, but they shouldn't be artificial, and they don't have to be in the form of long, dry prose. A picture representing the outcome of your conversation or even the conversation itself counts as a tangible, for example. A blog entry also counts. The key is that the artifact is a natural outcome of the work, not something artificial that is tacked on. Also, as Misty points out above, it's critical to set expectations accordingly, both for your client and yourself. Another thing that I do that helps justify my client work in light of my larger mission is that I insist on open licensing the vast majority of my tangible work products. This way, the community gets to share and benefit from the work I do with every client. One other thought on “tangibles”: It helps to reframe them as “artifacts,” or better yet, something that you and Chris are very familiar with, “Leave A Trail.” Tangible work products are critical, but they shouldn’t be artificial, and they don’t have to be in the form of long, dry prose. A picture representing the outcome of your conversation or even the conversation itself counts as a tangible, for example. A blog entry also counts. The key is that the artifact is a natural outcome of the work, not something artificial that is tacked on. Also, as Misty points out above, it’s critical to set expectations accordingly, both for your client and yourself.

Another thing that I do that helps justify my client work in light of my larger mission is that I insist on open licensing the vast majority of my tangible work products. This way, the community gets to share and benefit from the work I do with every client.

]]> By: Sheamus http://www.horsepigcow.com/2006/12/losing-my-mojo/comment-page-1/#comment-16 Sheamus Mon, 11 Dec 2006 13:47:29 +0000 http://www.horsepigcow.com/2006/12/10/losing-my-mojo/#comment-16 Very good post Tara! Just like Adam with your Wordpress transition I'm willing to help you on this "work with clients and hours" issue. In this regard, like Adam and yourself we Canadians can be quite helpful in this world ;) and [2] You'll have to be willing to do the work otherwise it would end up being a waste of time for both of us, and this ancient guy has no time to waste! Email me in the new year! Best wishes coming your way for a totally AWESOME Happy Holidays and a totally AWESOME 2007! Very good post Tara!

Just like Adam with your WordPress transition I’m willing to help you on this “work with clients and hours” issue.

In this regard, like Adam and yourself we Canadians can be quite helpful in this world ;) and [2] You’ll have to be willing to do the work otherwise it would end up being a waste of time for both of us, and this ancient guy has no time to waste!

Email me in the new year!

Best wishes coming your way for a totally AWESOME Happy Holidays and a totally AWESOME 2007!

]]> By: Amie Gillingham http://www.horsepigcow.com/2006/12/losing-my-mojo/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Amie Gillingham Mon, 11 Dec 2006 13:29:33 +0000 http://www.horsepigcow.com/2006/12/10/losing-my-mojo/#comment-15 I relate to this entirely too much as well. When my husband and I founded a business around our artists' community, it was to fill a niche that I as a working artist myself found lacking. Fast forward 6 years and 2 kids later and my life has become work and parenting, with no art from me since child #1 arrived, unless you count my non-serious photography. The more and more I did things to help my community and business rock, the further I got away from my personal reasons for creating the business. It's such a catch 22. I don't doubt that I am doing what I am meant to do with my life, and get great joy from each new opportunity and site development I can bring back to my people. But oh, I am so envious. Why can't I just be one of the people who paints all day the way I used to? Instead, I spend 60 hour weeks doing "business" because, well, I have to so I don't let my customers down and so I can support my family. I think the answer for both of us may well be structuring in time to fufill those passions that brought us to our respective businesses. I think your posted New Year's Resolutions go a long way toward that end. I probably ought to do the same. All work and no play makes Jill a dull girl, lol. Reclaim your inner diva, m'dear! I relate to this entirely too much as well. When my husband and I founded a business around our artists’ community, it was to fill a niche that I as a working artist myself found lacking. Fast forward 6 years and 2 kids later and my life has become work and parenting, with no art from me since child #1 arrived, unless you count my non-serious photography. The more and more I did things to help my community and business rock, the further I got away from my personal reasons for creating the business.

It’s such a catch 22. I don’t doubt that I am doing what I am meant to do with my life, and get great joy from each new opportunity and site development I can bring back to my people. But oh, I am so envious. Why can’t I just be one of the people who paints all day the way I used to? Instead, I spend 60 hour weeks doing “business” because, well, I have to so I don’t let my customers down and so I can support my family.

I think the answer for both of us may well be structuring in time to fufill those passions that brought us to our respective businesses. I think your posted New Year’s Resolutions go a long way toward that end. I probably ought to do the same. All work and no play makes Jill a dull girl, lol. Reclaim your inner diva, m’dear!

]]> By: miss rogue http://www.horsepigcow.com/2006/12/losing-my-mojo/comment-page-1/#comment-12 miss rogue Mon, 11 Dec 2006 06:42:23 +0000 http://www.horsepigcow.com/2006/12/10/losing-my-mojo/#comment-12 Very good questions, Misty. You are right. We have been terrible at setting down from the start the expectations. We are too loose about the relationship, how it will work, etc. Thanks for your feedback and your stories. Very good questions, Misty. You are right. We have been terrible at setting down from the start the expectations. We are too loose about the relationship, how it will work, etc.

Thanks for your feedback and your stories.

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