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How I use mistakes to write blog posts

June 23, 2008

Some of you may be under the assumption that I am a guru of some sort.  I know at least once I have been referred to in this way (Thanks you, silly people.)

The reality is I pay attention to my mistakes and write about them.  Also, I keep trying, which is why I keep making mistakes and learning.

Case in point - I tend to refer people to www.ronmcdaniel.com if they need bio information about me before I speak.  I cannot be bothered to send them the bio and intro I want them to use, I guess.

So I am speaking at SMEI Akron - and I send them to that site and let them know that if they need me to shorten it, let me know.  I failed to think about the bother of emailing me again to get me to shorten it.  So they found something they liked and used it.

Now, my bio is an old story they found in the about section, but not my bio.  It is on their website and sent via email newsletter - no getting it back.

I should know better.  Now I do know better.  From now on, I will send people exactly what I want them to use (a short, intro version and a longer version if they need it.)

Here is what my bio ended up being—- which has nothing to do with the presentation!

Ron McDaniel is CEO of Buzzoodle. In 2004 he sat at a staff meeting and asked the staff of his Internet company to start creating more buzz. They argued that they did not know anyone. They argued that they were not sales people. One programmer even told him he only hung out with losers that would have no interest in what they do or have money to buy their products. Ron countered that he was just asking them to talk about them more, not to actually close sales. Finally, one of his very good employees said what they really all had on their mind. "It is not my job."

Ouch! The success of the place that pays him is not his job?

Maybe he was naive to think employees should care as much as the owner. Maybe it had been too many years since he’d had just a job. Ron was determined to understand this culture and attitude of "my job" and find a way to change it. He lost several entire nights of sleep puzzling through how he’d gotten to that comment and what was wrong with the picture.

Then, at around 11:00 PM on a work night a few weeks after the incident happened, Ron got an idea. It started with the idea to write a book on the importance of creating buzz. Then he decided in his infinite wisdom to spend a ton of money building a buzz software package that would challenge people to get out of their comfort zone and create buzz. He did not sleep that night, and it might go down in his personal history as the most valuable 8 hours of work he ever did.

- Thank You!

Posted by Ron McDaniel | Filed Under Blog 

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Comments

2 Responses to “How I use mistakes to write blog posts”

  1. Matt on June 25th, 2008 12:44 pm

    I would like to know which, if any, of those developers was me? The guy who hangs out with losers or the guy who said it wasn’t his job? ;)

  2. Ron McDaniel on June 25th, 2008 8:58 pm

    Dude, You were the one that said you hung out with losers. Sorry -now all your friends will know you said that!!!!

    Alex said it wasn’t his job.

    That is an old story anyway. I have much more interesting stories now….

    Thanks for stopping by.

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