11th March, 2010 by Rich Dixon 1 Comment
If you think you’re too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room. Anita Roddick
Do you ever wonder if what you do matters?
When you send words into cyberspace every day, it’s an important question. It’s easy to wonder if those words make any difference, if anyone would care if they didn’t show up.
I’m not thinking about numbers and success and making money. You can measure that stuff easily. But does it really change anything?
I’m thinking that we often don’t recognize the significance of our actions. Maybe the most important things we do pass unnoticed. (more…)
2nd March, 2010 by Rich Dixon No Comments
God has given you one face, and you make yourself another. Shakespeare
Are you different?
As a wheelchair user, I’m probably hypersensitive to differences. Even after twenty-two years of rolling around, I still feel uncomfortably conspicuous.
My inability to stand up makes me stand out—or at least that’s how it seems to me. (more…)
25th February, 2010 by Rich Dixon No Comments
Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music. Angela Monet
What gets in the way?
I’ve been working on a big project for the past two months. Only that’s not really accurate. I’ve been fussing with it, working around the edges, talking about it. But every time I encounter an obstacle, feel stuck or aren’t sure where to go next, I manage to distract myself. Something else suddenly becomes more important. (more…)
23rd February, 2010 by Rich Dixon 10 Comments
Today our newest contribution to the One-Word-At-A-Time Blog Carnival. I encourage you to click the link and check out some of the other carnival attractions. This week’s word is:
Diplomacy is the art of saying “Nice doggie” until you can find a rock. Will Rogers
Can you really “kill them with kindness”?
I’ve never considered the notion of literally harming someone with kindness. But recently I’ve encountered some folks who’ve caused me to wonder. As I analyzed their frustrating behavior, I concluded that they’d developed the ability to deploy “being nice” as an interpersonal weapon. (more…)
18th February, 2010 by Rich Dixon No Comments
No thought or action is without its effects, present or ultimate, seen or unseen, felt or unfelt. Norman Cousins
I think we’re all trying to get others to join our circle.
We might be selling a product or service, promoting an idea, or just looking for connection. Some of us want to teach or learn (hopefully together). There are probably lots of other reasons.
It’s a basic human need. A desire for relationship, for love and belonging, is a major aspect of how God created us in His image.
So as you seek to expand your own circle, here’s a question: What are you after? (more…)
16th February, 2010 by Rich Dixon 1 Comment
Serenity is not freedom from the storm, but peace amid the storm.
Do you have any toxic habits?
No, I’m not thinking of Oreos or ice cream—despite my doctor’s warnings, those are clearly proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.
I’m thinking more about thoughts, beliefs, or habits of thinking that limit our ability to live full, free lives. (more…)
9th February, 2010 by Rich Dixon 11 Comments
Today marks another new adventure for Bouncing Back. We’re participating in the One-Word-At-A-Time Blog Carnival. The idea is for a number of blogs to address the same word through writing, poetry, photography, or any other medium. I encourage you to click the link and check out some of the other carnival contributions. This week’s word is:
Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish. John Quincy Adams
Do you ever get kicked in the pants by your own silliness?
I rolled up to the keyboard on Super Bowl Sunday. It was a few hours until kickoff—plenty of time to work on an article about “patience.”
This should be easy. A couple of pertinent quotes, a witty line or two about my own lack of patience, and some observations about occasions when patience has paid off—pretty straightforward stuff.
I leaned back to ponder a clever opening line and heard a sickening crack. The tube that supports the left side of my wheelchair back snapped in half. (more…)
28th January, 2010 by Rich Dixon 2 Comments
How do you share your passion?
Do you have something you’re excited about? Perhaps it’s a hobby, a cause, a product, or an idea, but whatever it is really stirs you, gets your juices flowing. You want to spread the word.
I’ll use this blog as an example. I spend time on writing because I enjoy it. It’s a creative outlet, it stimulates my thinking, and I make a lot of great connections with really cool people like you. So I want to enrich the discussion, and meet more people.
Since expanding the circle is one of my three big goals for 2010, I’ve been thinking a lot about how it works. Maybe you can think of a circle you’d like to grow—maybe a business, a church, or a non-profit—and work through this with me.
First, let’s be clear about what the circle represents. In my example, it’s Bouncing Back. Obviously, my first priority is remaining in the circle myself. That means I can’t violate my basic focus on valuing relationships simply to get people into circle.
Sometimes we get so excited about something that we’ll do almost anything to win converts. When that happens, we get violent activities in the name of peace or people who silence others with their demand for freedom to speak. It can present a real challenge, but I can’t leave the circle simply to get others inside.
The circle isn’t a place or a clique where we only hang out with those who are “like us.” Churches and organizations can be like that sometimes, but that’s not what I’m talking about. The circle represents folks who share a passion, an idea, a collection of common values or interests. You can’t share your passion by ignoring or de-valuing those who see things differently.
Here are some thoughts about growing your circle.
Encouragement is for folks who are already inside the circle. They’re bought in to the basics, and so there’s some level of trust and understanding. You’re on some common ground, you speak the same basic language. You share some of the same interests and goals.
With people in the circle, you already have some permission to push a little, challenge ideas and actions. Have you ever watched a coach encourage players on a team? It’s often a mix of pat-on-the-back and kick-in-the-backside, but it works because they’ve already built a relationship.
It’s not okay to abuse or take people inside the circle for granted. This is the home crowd, the folks who have your back when things get tough. So you nurture these relationships carefully, always seeking deeper connections and more transparency.
After all, relationships are the whole point of the circle in the first place.
Recruiting is for those close to the circle. They’re interested, they want to know more. Something in the circle attracts them, and they’re ready to at least consider joining. There’s something going on there that’s magnetic.
They made the choice to approach. You didn’t go out and round them up, because that would require you to leave the circle. So you’re in your circle doing your thing, and you and other people are having fun, growing, and talking about how great it is. They see something they like and offer an opening, an opportunity for someone inside the circle to tell them what’s going on.
Recruiting is personal, but potential recruits probably aren’t talking directly to you even though it’s your blog or cause or product. They’re most likely talking other folks in the circle with whom they already have some sort of connection. So they’re talking, and listening, to your friends, readers, or customers.
This doesn’t mean that recruiting is an accident. Growing the circle is a highly intentional process centered around clear communication and authentic human connections. People in that kind of circle become energized and excited, and they naturally want to share their passion with others in their networks. This is word-of-mouth growth; it’s exponential, and viral, and a lot of fun.
Evangelizing is for folks a long distance from the circle. They haven’t expressed an interest, so the first problem is that somebody has to leave the circle to fetch them.
Evangelism is often associated with religion, but it can happen with any circle. Evangelists call you at dinner time and send spam email. They fill your mailbox with junk mail and yell at you on street corners.
This is the aggressive sales pitch you didn’t request. It’s about convincing and converting. Evangelists play on your fears, your greed, or your vulnerability. They exploit weakness.
Evangelism works, as long as you don’t care who gets hurt. You might get a 2-3% response rate, and those who become irritated and alienated are just collateral damage, a cost of doing business.
Evangelism, in this context, is about coercion and manipulation.
The evangelist is that guy—you know, the one who never listens because his way, his product, his cause is all that matters.
I want to encourage, and I want to help with creating a circle that’s magnetic. I hope you find something here in the discussion and connection, that’s fun and energizing and challenging. And if the magnet attracts others who want to know more, I hope you’ll share.
I don’t ever want to be that guy. If I am, I hope someone hits me in the head with a shovel.
I am humbled by and grateful for your presence in this circle. It’s a lot of fun for me—because you’re here.
How about you? What are your thoughts about encouraging, recruiting and evangelizing in your circles?
Did you enjoy this article? I encourage you to leave a comment, visit my website, and/or send me an email at rich@richdixon.net.
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26th January, 2010 by Rich Dixon 1 Comment
Do you ever just feel “down” for no really good reason?
I’m there right now. A friend disappointed me. A project seems stalled. Cold weather makes everything about my injury a little more difficult. Nothing really major or life-threatening to point at, but somehow everything just seems a bit gray at the moment.
I don’t like the feeling, and I don’t want to just complain about it or wait for someone else to make it go away. I’m not a big fan of simplistic admonishments to “just snap out of it.” (more…)
21st January, 2010 by Rich Dixon 8 Comments
Am I the only one who struggles with the need to be right?
Actually, that’s not quite correct. My real issue involves needing others to acknowledge that I’m right.
I get passionate about something, an idea, a cause, a program—nothing wrong with that. But the next thing you know I’m immersed in a knockdown argument with someone who disagrees. I perceive it, but I can’t let it go. Just one last comment, one more tweet, and my desire for the last word becomes an endless series of “one more” responses. (more…)
I'm a writer and motivational speaker who enjoys exploring issues related to adversity, hope, dreams, and faith.
