Recently, while looking at my old WordPress site, I noticed that I had a “blogroll” all my favourite bloggers posted at screen right for all of my readers to see.
Among the short list was my friend Tripp Crosby.
I had forgotten that he “blogs” – so I was excited to check out his page.

I guess it has been awhile since his last post.
That’s cool – he’s busy doing stuff.
But out of his small pool of gems, one caught my eye – a post about a caricature of himself stood out.
Check out the artwork below.

As you can see, it looks exactly like him.
He challenged his readers to create one.
Here’s mine.

I know – it’s almost as if Tripp himself is staring into your soul.
But really, the thrust of this post was a comment that was on his blog.
It was so direct, specific and hard-hitting – I had to post it.

I don’t know who Cheap Bras is, but I agree.
I was aided about this issue, and I really wanted video clips coupled with this because it would help out.
And Tripp’s conclusion?
Wow.
Thanks, Tripp.
Keep blogging so I can direct my pals to your site.

Since becoming a full-time creative professional, I have struggled with brand.
Ironic, since it’s what I do.
The struggle isn’t with what branding is, it’s more with how I handle my own brand.
Not just my brand, but the brand of my company – but that’s still my brand, right?

My associate and I have talked about starting a blog for Bottlecap, but should we start another blog? Should we instead write our own blogs infused with the highs, lows, comedies and tragedies of running our own branding firm?
And if so, how does that work with the other stuff that I want to write about?
Mancode?
Lumpkin Watcher?
Random and obscure humourous offerings?

I almost feel that if I start blogging, Tweeting, Facebooking for Bottlecap in addition to my own stuff – I am going to split myself into several not-as-effective pieces (as shown by my lack of posts here).

Have any of you encountered this problem with your personal brand and professional lives?
If so, what are your thoughts?

One of the best things in the world: thinking that you have an amazing blog that everyone likes.
One of the worst things in the world: going up for a dunk only to get rejected by Isiah Thomas, Dominique Wilkins and Kevin Duckworth, while Michael Jordan sets fire to your gym bag and then laughs quietly to himself.

[Wiping away cobwebs with rolled up Target flyer from Sunday's paper]

Hey.
[Quick highschooler-esque head flip acknowledging your presence]

My summer camp session is over.
What a wild time it was.
Over 90 days of being in the trenches with a group of loving and gifted people who came together to produce something none of us could do on our own.
After being in a constant state of creative camp production, I now have opportunity for my personal creative cistern to refill and be poured out into other avenues.
[Ironically pouring a cup of coffee, reinforcing that thoughtful statement]

The last several months have given me opportunity to serve thousands of people in a unique outdoor setting.
Some of them came thirsty. [Taking a careful sip of coffee]
Some of them came because it seemed like fun. [Now spinning a basketball tenaciously on my finger]
Others came for… other reasons I suppose. [Shrugging and reclining into a super-masculine leather chair]

I now am able to get back to other important things that I have set aside for a season.
1. Finish Small Wonder first season director’s cut on DVD.
2. Take out the trash
3. Change Facebook profile pic
4. Call Department of Health (because of trash accumulated over 90 days)
5. Blog

[Rising from leather chair as a unicorn trots to my side]

Well, new things are on the horizon.
Big things.
Things you may or may not care about.
[Climbing on to unicorn and smiling wryly]

See you soon.
[Smacking the unicorn's backside for a dynamic exit, I am quickly bucked off and then swiftly knocked unconscious]

Many of you may already know my friend Bryan Allain. He and I have been friends for at least 70 years.
We served together in Nam.
We were at Reagan’s side when he told Gorbachev to “please repair your wall.”
We cheered for the Harlem Globetrotters as they brought home gold for the U.S. in the 1993 Spring Olympics.
He gave me a box of TN souvenir mints with my name on the front.

It’s safe to say that Bryan and I have been through a lot.

When Bryan sat down with me 30 years ago, and we talked over steaming bowls of broth, he painted a picture of a dream he had about helping people who blog. He told me how he wanted to help them realize their potential and maximize their blogging efforts. He told me how he wanted to be in Teddy Ruxpin on Ice.
While Bryan never made it on ice with a talking plush bear, he has created an incredible tool for those that blog.
It’s called BlogRocket, and it launches very soon.
BlogRocket was started by Bryan Allain in 2010 to help fellow bloggers overcome their blogging frustrations and achieve their blogging goals. The site features a membership community and a 12-week Booster Course designed to help small to mid-sized bloggers increase their traffic numbers, hone their blogging voice, and develop a strong community.
If you blog, you should check it out so Bryan can move onto his next goal — Teddy Ruxpin Reunion Tour on Ice.

Recently I was interviewed by David Robbins.  He showed up when I wasn’t expecting him.
Or was I?  I wasn’t.
He really put me on the spot.
It was a little unnerving, and it didn’t help that he was wearing a giant taco costume.

You can read all about it at (imagine I drew an arrow back up to David’s name)…

If you could choose anyone in history to interview you (besides David Robbins), who would you choose and why?

Hello.  Welcome to my new home.  Here is the blog space I have rented.  Please.  Make yourself at home.  Can I get you a drink?  Would you care for some cheese from this tray I purchased from Publix?  I also have a veggie plate in the fridge if you think you may be lactose intolerant.  Please take me up on that offer — I would hate for you to ruin my party with your sour stomach.  At any rate, settle in and mingle.  There are many people here.  Take your time and get to know them.  I’ll be downstairs watching a movie if you need me.

Am I the only one that thinks that they are being watched by some secret underground agency?  There are times I swear I am being tailed by an undercover agent.  He is just observing me.  He is observing me not because I have done something wrong, but it is because I do things right.

Like when I reach into the cabinet to get a glass and an ill-placed mug comes tumbling out only to be rescued by my cat-like reflexes — it is as that time the agent makes a note in his little black waterproof book as he cases my house.   There are also times when I almost fall to the ground because of some ill-placed bump, but catch myself and roll out of it with flair.  That’s when the agent brings his hand to his ear and whispers something to base.

You see, they are watching me because they want to recruit me into their underground secret agent society.  They are looking for guys like me.  Guys that know how to handle themselves.  Guys that can catch an ice cube trying to escape the freezer.  A guy that can stop a drink from being spilled by grabbing it before it tips over entirely.

I took a great risk by sharing this with you on my blog.  They will probably erase it after I am finished and replace it with some Mancode entry.  The funny thing is that you may think I have blown my chances of being recruited by revealing their presence.  Fact is, that makes them want me all the more.

If I have gleaned anything from my good friend Tyler Stanton, it is that he listens to his readers.  I would like for you to let me know what you think are my 10 best posts.  I would sincerely appreciate your help in this matter.

Another thing that I learned from Tyler is that it is cool to save your hair clippings.  Ask him about it.

I am not going to lie — blogging is tough.  It is a good kind of tough.  It forces me to think, to be creative and to choose my words wisely.  I see it as an artform — like a marvelous statue I am freeing from a slab of marble.

Some days are easier than others.  I am ashamed to admit this, but there are days that you could determine my mood just by looking at my blog stats (see image below).

This is an actual still image from my blog stats.  You can see that May 7, 2009, is the last day shown.  You can see that the line chart dips way down.  You can also see that on May 4, 2009, blog hits were up.  It is funny how this affects me — it could be my mood chart, all based upon your views.

I will continue to hone my craft and ask that you keep reading and supplying occasional feedback.  So, that being said, I will continue to work through my tears today while thinking about the good ol’ days…like the 4th of May.