April 3rd, 2009
by Lorrie Thomas
A year ago today, I lost my father unexpectedly and unfairly to a stroke. Today brought on an overwhelming wave of emotion and an opportunity to reflect. For better or worse, I am my father’s daughter. From him, I have traits like being so passionate about my profession that I work WAY TOO MUCH, saying yes to more than I should, and embodying a ”stop your sniveling” (his exact phrase) approach to life.
Today I kept flashing back to the fog I was in a year ago as I packed my bags and boarded the plane, abandoning my web marketing agency not knowing when I’d return. I also remember how Anne Orfila, Kelly Kohen (our founding members) and Wil Thomas all had my back and jumped in (when I couldn’t even muster the words to ask for help) calling clients, taking care of partners, answering personal calls and emails – all supporting me (personally and professionally) and teaching me that I was not alone. I learned then and there that as a solo entrepeneur, I DIDN’T WANT TO BE ALONE.
The web marketing lesson from this post is that although you probably CAN do it all, life is too short to be everything to everybody.
Do what you do best and pay others to do the rest
and
Ask for help
and
Build your web of wonderful people - personally and professionally. I have said so many times that “I haven’t had a problem with a coworker since 2005″ and I haven’t. My coworkers & friends are amazing, my family is lovely and I am fortunate to work with amazing people, companies, clients, universities and students. I’ve had clients become friends and I’ve had students become business partners.
Life is short – align yourself with people that make life meaningful.
And tell the people you love that you love them (my friends and family digest that better than clients but I don’t care, I tell clients I love them too!)
I am going to honor my dad tonight and do what he would love to do on a Friday night – have a beer, eat good food and have dessert (that is where I got my horrid sweet tooth, one more trait to add to the reflection list)
Web Marketing Therapy Related Links:
- Healthy Dose of Web Marketing Inspiration
- Twitter Demographics: Once a Young People Trend, Now Draws an Older Crowd of Tweeters
- Free Marketing Therapy – Tap the Power of Low Hanging Fruit
- What Do You Stand For? Does Your Marketing Reflect This?
Misty (MyInspirationLounge.com)
(April 3rd, 2009 at 11:47 pm)
He would be so proud of you if he saw you now! And even if dads don’t tell us how proud they are – oh, they are!
Big hugs and a beer toast! Misty
Web Marketing Therapy » Blog Archive » Build your “web” of …
(April 4th, 2009 at 12:36 am)
[...] Web Marketing Therapy » Blog Archive » Build your “web” of … [...]
Amy
(April 4th, 2009 at 2:52 pm)
Lorrie- thanks for sharing such a powerful and touching message. What a wonderful tribute to your father.
Sue
(April 4th, 2009 at 6:37 pm)
He’s looking down from that special place sayin’, “Yup. She’s a ‘chip off the old block.’ Don’t forget to have dessert, sweetie.”
Emilia Doerr
(April 6th, 2009 at 5:19 pm)
Lorrie, reflecting on who you are and why you are is a wonderful way to honor your father – as well as your friends and family. Thanks for sharing and not being afraid to use the “L” word! Love you too!