“No Locks, No Gates”
I got those little nuggets of wisdom from Chris Brogan’s newsletter. If you don’t get it, sign up. Totally different content than his blog, FYI. I love that he says, “That’s where the big wins are. That’s where the excitement is…” What does it take to get THERE… Yup, Ms. Morgan, a healthy does of foolishness!
Chris Brogan’s Newsletters
Chris’s No Locks, No Gates
Okay, Ria, so now I’m thinking about all the talks we used to have, pre LookingGlassLane, about impossible things. And now post LGL, we spend most of our time talking about what LGL is. Um, geesh.
Coincidentally, I’ve been asking myself why I love following Crispin Porter+Bogusky.
It always comes back to this: they DO a lot. The talk about minimally. It’s as if they’re missing the need we all have to stop every so often and tell the world who they are. And that very fact allows them so much freedom, yet they arguably DO have an established brand, despite never taking the time to brand themselves. Ironically, that very fluidness IS their brand.
No matter which way I slice, I’ve become convinced that the attempt to brand yourself is A) a waste of time B) restrictive c) crazy
Why not let what you DO determine who you are?
If that’s crazy, sign me up.
Thanks, Ria. And thanks, Chris.
Jen
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Yes, the thought occurred to me as I was talking (into camera)… ANY group, even a clubhouse gang is in danger of becoming institutionalized! But perhaps AN answer is again that beautifully ZEN approach of “engagement without attachment.” Let go of the outcome… or as @skydiver quoted, “When you hit something, Turn!”
Can we truly be open to the unlimited possibilities on this side of the glass? Can we be open to change even though it might threaten our PRE-conceived ideas of who we thought we WERE yesterday? You’re game for anything. Is that crazy????
Isn’t that the “insecurity of freedom?” (Was that A.J. Heschel?)
Do stuff. Be yourself. And if people want to come play, welcome them with open arms.
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Ria, the same thought occurred to me that any group can become institutionalized. I immediately thought of my group of friends from college – we even have a name, calling ourselves “the aldies” after someone transposed the l and a of ladies in an im chat. We’ve been friends since college, and one friend in particular is the real headstrong stubborn leader type, who no one ever says boo to. Whenever someone gets upset with her, we just sort of drift back, but we always all come back together, to our same roles. I’ve recently started to realize how limiting that is for me – I love these women and they are my best friends, but when I started to follow what was best for me (moving two hours away as an example) and our lives started to change, as they do, to include husbands and babies and homes, I could see the uncomfortableness in her and one of the other girls especially. Part of me wanted to continue to conform, to make everyone happy, but fortunately, a bigger part of me could just feel that the path I was on was the right one. But I can see that lately I’m almost afraid to tell them my ideas and dreams, for fear of rocking the boat, and I can certainly see how that can happen within any group, be it professional or personal, even family. We get together and it’s an adjustment each time as some of us grow and change, and others remain stuck. And it is a threat to who we all think we are and what we think it will do to who our group is together, which also links back to the idea of balancing your passions with the needs of your community. There’s the real possibility of loss there, the uncertainty of what will happen, and the question of whether being happy, but losing the group, or being unhappy, but holding on to the group is better.
I think the only thing I can hope for is that as I follow my passions, that my groups change with me to accommodate and accept the me I become or that I become comfortable with loss, that breaking out of my shell does not mean I miss the shell, but that I embrace my new surroundings. At any rate, I’m so glad you bring this up, because it reminds me to stick to my guns and to take risks, while still being sensitive to the growing pains my community might experience as a result. Plus, letting go of the outcome is a huge issue for me, so I always love the reminder to do that!
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