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It's an end of an era...

I've been blogging since November 24, 2001

Much of it has been personal. VERY personal. So personal, in fact, that it's become burdensome. If you're wondering why I'm stopping - that's it, in a nutshell. The joy I once felt in writing in this space is gone, for more reasons than I care to recount. But I am busy, things have changed - and I'd rather spend my time doing things, than talking about doing them.

My only goal when I started blogging/writing was to make some sense of what I was going through. And to tell the truth.

Blogging has evolved dramatically in the last 9 years, and with it....comes the time to ask myself if I need to evolve also. The answer is yes.

So, with that - it's time to go.

I want to thank you - those of you that have taken the time to read my stuff, and give me feedback, comments, email me, etc. I appreciate all that you've shared with me, positive and negative.

And no, I haven't stopped writing completely - it's just time for the journey to take a new direction.

This leg is over.

Now on to the next.....

UrbanVerge: your premier destination for reviews with an Urban Edge

Luv-A-Nu: to rediscover Love Anew

and the movement that will change the world......

Globalhaus: bridging the gap between social good and profitability/efficiency worldwide. Globalhaus isn't just an idea - it's a movement.

A new nickname that explains it all.

Bestowed during a business meeting with some uptop colleagues about a collective venture, some marginally unpleasant tasks thrown at me that I got done quickly and efficiently, and me gnarling over the bones of those tasks, chewing gristle aggressively while asking "so what's next?"

Even as I'm floundering careerwise or transitioning from one role to another, I get it in.

So, I'm an MBA. I don't know how/when this happened, but it changed my life outlook in a very pragmatic way. I tend to look at anything/everything in life based on the perceived Return On Investment (ROI) and according to the bottom line (profit/what are you getting out of the deal?). And as driven toward a target as a bullet train toward its intended destination. I will run you over. You've been warned.

So it's sometimes hard for me to sign up for ISH, or co-sign ISH, if it's patently a losing proposition. I can be the ultimate naysayer, just because I don't see the margin. Or because an idea is not "sexy". For example, you think that personalized backpacks are going to be the hottest thing in 2010? "How much will they cost to produce?" "How much can we charge for them?" "Do you really think that we'll want to work THIS hard to make $1/bag? Really?!" I know I go hard. So, I tend to prep for the ride up front, to make it less bumpy and remove stops, before I fully commit. Sorta explains why dating in these crazy times is so unappealing to me, no?

My friends still consult me, and at times I barely know why, because I'm the hole-finder...the pinprick in their idea bubble. Call it pessimistic, cynical, fatalistic - or pragmatic (which is how I'd like to think of it) - the MBA-colored glasses rarely come off.

And in friendships/relationships - that would be a problem. A HUGE problem.

I come across as dour or too blunt. Negative. Dull (vs. vibrant). Although I'm fairly attractive, and as most people that know me say, I bring a lot to the table in friendship, relationships, business associations, partnerships, etc. Still - I'm a hard pill to swallow. I'm hard on my friends. I'm hard on the brothers. And as anyone knows me knows, I'm extremely hard on myself.

And I cannot BUY a date. Men rarely approach me, and those who do seem more than a little scared. And most people's feedback from initial meetings with me declares me aloof. Colleagues may respect me, but admiration? They'd state they never knew me well enough for that. While I can be "personable", right now I subconsciously find it a less-than-efficient use of my time. Not a good look.

So, I'm reading Hill Harper's new book "The Conversation". (I'm both enjoying it and rushing to finish so I can write a glowing review - so more on the book itself later). And I got a wake-up call...

The Unbearable Lightness of Being:: the fact is, that I lack a "lightness" of personality. I'm not bubbly. Based on my experiences with people (not just men) and my suspicions of the true nature of most humans - my subconsious assumption that "everybody uses everybody, don't they" - I'm not generating positivity, so I'm definitely not attracting positivity. Right around pages 96-98, Hill points out that those of us who have had baggage and think we've put our baggage behind us, may have "gotten over" whatever hurts we have suffered, while being indelibly changed by them - and not even realizing it. But he also suggests, it's completely within out power to do something about that.

In everything in life including business, there is a balance. "Going hard" is not a bad thing, but must be tempered by socialness, passion, creativity, innovativeness, grace, tolerance, patience and persuasiveness. And yeah, those better all be words...lol.

Yeah. I go hard. It explains so much, and yet I still have work to do.

I'm a water baby. I love water, oceans, rivers, streams and lakes. I'm drawn to them, and periodically feel the need to just jump in. So one of the decisions on where to buy my home was its proximity to a body of water. The one you see pictured here.

Now, it's notable that when I moved into my house, the body of water in question is as pictured at left. Pretty, but not necessarily attractive. And not necessarily functional.

Here's where an opportunity meets imagination, and an entrepreneurial spirit. You & I might just see a body of water, a lake that's worthy of fishing, or pondering over. Maybe running around. You & I might think - yanno, it would be cool if I could come down here every once in a while, and chill, read a book or just watch the sun set.

But someone saw something else. Someone saw this:

A waterski park. A modest beach - including sand. But probably more importantly - A recreation area where families new to the area might be glad to pay a fee to boat, waterski and otherwise enjoy an otherwise underutilized lake.

Enter the entrepreneur (and play their theme music ♫ "I'm a hustla,baby" ♫):: Someone saw an opportunity and used their imagination to figure out how they could both provide a service, and charge a fee for it. That, my friends - is the crux of being an entrepreneur. Not just to make a buck, but to find opportunities to meet the needs of potential customers, or create those opportunities. I ♥ this!

I know some of you may be distressed about what said entrepreneur has done to the natural beauty, by shipping in sand and opening this up for litter. Rest assured - this area was already being misused by avid fisherman, runners and random teenagers. I'd hope if this venture doesn't float (pun intended) - that the sand and structures would be dismantled, but even if they aren't - the hustla in me is still admiring the hustla in them.

Are you concerned about your job in this recessionary climate? Concerned about job security? Laid off and wondering what your next move is? Take this as either a cautionary tale - or (like me) as inspiration. And moi? I'm going for a ski...