2011 seems a long time ago now.

(1) I survived a bout of depression that lasted from January to October – I live to tell the tale. After completely withdrawing from society I am a fortunate man to have found the inner & external support to live on.

(2) My clients didn’t desert me – even though I neglected them. The love expressed towards me when I returned to Twitter & blogging was extraordinary, humbling, thrilling, valuable beyond words.

(3) In came greater clarity than ever about the important of legacy & reputation – how I can deepen appreciation of how much my brand is authentic.

(4) Never before was golf more vital to my mental & spiritual health – how brilliant it was to be a member of a golf club again – to have a handicap to beat.

(5) Glanmire – my locality – was good to me: provided me with a local cafe to hangout in (@CafeBeva) – a community with which to identify.

(6) My wife & children showed so much care for me – even though the year hurt them. This lesson was sent to me in 2011 – again.

I very much appreciated this AudioBoo from Paul. I also agree with your post. You are right on the mark….either your in or your not. There is no “halfway in” on being yourself. Of course, there are lines that we must all draw in terms of how much personal content is too much content – BUT – being yourself, knowing where you are going and what you stand for matters. It matters a lot.

I am long past the point of thinking we can live our lives in compartments – the kind of world we live in today doesn’t allow for that. The more we try to split things out the more messy and fragmented our lives become. It is for this exact reason that I spend my time – living, laughing and earning – with intention. Anything else would be less than who I am.

Jane

What fascinates me here is how your interpretation of the ideas continues to evolve over time and through conversations.

And many thanks for those kind words.

Even though Roger has told me the story about how his sister’s death influenced him to major on a documentary approach, it never sunk in fully. I heard the words but I didn’t make the connections. Reading this blogpost has joined up many different strands.

That’s what Roger & Aodan do. They help others to link & make meaning. They use their personal experience in a style that cuts through – maybe because they integrate narrative & emotion so well, so distinctively well.

I remember the day Aodan Enright invited me to join SmarterEgg. I had no idea what I was accepting. But when I found myself in a room with Oran Horari (the book) & a group of people I’d never met, ir felt right.

“Breaking from the Pack” influenced me – it worked with 3 other books to give me courage & encouragement. To be strong, clear & different – to be a unique snowflake. Oran’s writing – which combines journalistic storytelling with analytic data-mining suited me perfectly. The book has never been far from my hand or mind.

I wonder what would have happened if I’d found Oran Horari while browsing in Waterstones (or O’Mahony’s Bookshop in Limerick Ireland)? Alone without the support of SmarterEgg, would “Breaking from the Pack” have flopped?

I doubt it but I also doubt it would have had half the impact. The discipline of reading Oran in company with fellow-travellers affected me, helped me consume the book. By consuming I mean “reading deeply” – letting the content have its way with you. Letting the challenge to communicate with others weave magic.

Hyperbolic? I suppose that’s my style, one of my differentiators . Oran is like that – he strengthens your gut instinct that you better be distinct in this all consuming world. Oran’s message to me was be yourself – know yourself – develop yourself.

It was the chef if Il Bulli (restaurant RIP) who defined innovation in the fewest possible words: never copy. It was Oran & SmarterEgg that made me rock solid on this.

What more developmental message could you receive than this – be you – love the person you are – honour your genius by putting it at the heart of all you do & stand for.

From the vantage point of valuing your “USP” – reach out to others so that they may find themselves similarly encouraged.

Oran, Aodan, SmarterEgg, Roger Overall – all have helped make me whom I am. That’s a lot to get from a few hundred pages…

barre