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Introduction
Like Dr. Martin Luther King, I have a dream. I dream that we will recognize and glory in our inherent differences, strengths and weaknesses, using our strengths to shore up each other’s weaknesses. And use that combined and multiplied strength to help us come together, discovering that not-so-far-down we all want the same things, we all have the same bedrock, common goals.
That’s why I am committed to Revolution 2.0™.
That is the subject of today’s 10-minute episode.
Continuing
After a year of written blogs, I switched, 200 episodes ago, at a faithful 2 episodes a week, to a combined written blog and audio podcast. About 4 years prior to publishing my first written blog, I had written a few for practice that I thought were just stellar. As I prepared to “go pro” with a live blog site, I went back and reread those “stellar” blogs. They were terrible. So, I set myself to the task of learning how to write in a way that others could understand without an interactive conversation.
Then I discovered I had no idea how to put up a working, decent-looking blog site. And I did not know where to start. After some expensive false starts, I went live.
Then another “Ah-ha!” moment. More people listen than read, so I decided to switch to an audio podcast, with a written summary. But how do you do audio? What software do you use? What home office audio gear? How do I do editing and compression, and what is compression anyway? How do I get it on iTunes, and where else should it appear?
Well, after another round of expensive false starts, I got the audio podcast going, only to find that some followers wanted to read rather than listen, so I changed to the current format of a full written transcript of the audio podcast.
What’s next? Likely video–I am already deep into round 3 of expensive false starts. Not sure when the videos will start. But they will. Also next, constant improvement on what I am doing now. Constant.
The cover photo on today’s milestone episode number 200 shows part of my home office, facing the windows. It is a wonderful office, lots of space, a view, and the required technology. My frequent companion is Duc (“Duke”), my 11-year-old Standard Poodle. His favorite place is curled up under my desk.
It takes many hours to create and post each episode, and sometimes I regret that I have committed to two per week. Newspaper columnists limit themselves to one a week. Even my spirit animal, the late Charles Krauthammer, insisted that he wrote only one per week. But I am committed to getting the word out, to sharing Revolution 2.0’s, dream, it’s vision.
Earlier I referenced Dr. King’s dream when mentioning mine. Make no mistake, I am not in any way shape or form comparing myself to MLK. While we both have dreams and visions, he had dreams that drove him, as I have mine, he is the better man, certainly in his results. One of my Father’s favorite quotes was from Rudyard Kipling’s 1890 poem, ”Gunga Din”, when the English soldier narrator in India said the final, heartfelt lines about the native Gunga Din, “You’re a better man than I am, Gunga Din!” Yes, go read the poem–after the episode…:).
As I work in my office with my assistant, Duc, under my desk, I know when I am being guided about what to write, and when I am not on the right track. When I am off track, I simply can’t get started. After enough attempts to make the topic at hand and my approach work, I will discover that this is not what I am to be writing about, and start over with another topic. Sometimes the topic works, but halfway through the episode, I find that I have revamped my approach as I rethink what I think I think. Real clarity can come from trying to share things with others in writing. Other times, the words flow–that’s when I know I am being guided, and that I am on the right track. Today is one of those days.
And then I wait for feedback. Do you remember the question, often asked in a philosophical context, “If a tree falls in the forest, and no one is there to hear the crash, was there actually a sound? I have the answer, and the answer is a ringing “No.” Similarly, if someone puts up an episode and no one listens or reads, is there an episode? Same answer, “No.” I do get occasional and very positive feedback. About a week ago, my college-age son and I were in a burger joint just starting to dig in when a fellow walked up, saying to me, “Hi, I am so-and-so, I met you about 2 years ago, and have listened to everyone of your podcasts since. You are a gem in my life.” The conversation went back and forth after that, but that was his main message. And my youngest son got to hear it. Bits and pieces like that are powerful motivators. A favorite saying of mine is, “What do parents and wild dogs have in common?” Answer, “Both have to live on scraps for long periods of time.” It seems that may be true for podcasters as well.
In addition to MLK, let’s stir in another leading figure, Winston Churchill, on perseverance. “Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. One always measures friendships by how they show up in bad weather. Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
We’ll add one more with my favorite quote on perseverance from Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States, “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” That’s a good thing, for I am certainly no genius, and many are far more talented and educated than I. But I am rock-bottom convinced that I am called to this task.
Onward.
Contact
As we get ready to wrap up, please do respond in the episodes with comments or questions about this episode or anything that comes to mind, or connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. And you can subscribe on your favorite device through Apple, Google, or Stitcher.
If you liked today’s podcast, other podcasts or the revolution2-0.org site itself, comment, subscribe, and encourage others to subscribe with you. Each One Reach One will help spread the word about Revolution 2.0™.
Will Luden, coming to you from 7,200’ in Colorado Springs.
