Add to our troubles, the gut-wrenching, yet exciting changes business is going through. Never before have all of us access to tools to publish high quality media – video, images, words. We can connect with the world – for virtually free. This is destroying the business models of big media and print. Magazines, newspapers and even television are losing ground. And they’re not alone. Look at Big Auto, manufacturing and of course the small retailers.

It would just be nice if there was a bit more equity in the system. Sure, I’m a left coast idealist. But I am concerned about the growing inequity in business and society. With so many needing to work harder to maintain our lifestyles – salvaging our declining real estate and tattered financial portfolios, there’s the potential for social decline and unrest. As I wrap up these thoughts, I happened upon this post at Mint on the end of the middle class – which highlights my point exactly.

Having parents who owned a small business and done so myself -I’m interested in profiling small business people. People who’ve had a dream and went down the hard path to turn it into reality. I think it takes guts to do it. Some do it for the dream while others do it because they’ve lost their job and find it’s the opportunity staring them in their face. But as any of you who’ve read Michael Gerber’s E-Myth – owning your own business is far from a picnic. And few people realize what’s in store for them. I’d like to celebrate the ups and downs of running a small business. You read about the big corporations and IPO’s that drive Wall Street and create hundreds of jobs in communities, but rarely hear about the proverbial Mom and Pop.

Yet small businesses are a key engine powering our economy. Oregon has 320,019 small businesses of which 101,693 have employees. The remaining 218,326 are Oregon small businesses that have no employees – and this does not include those self-employed. But these are just numbers. These are the people working everyday to manage cashflow, pay bills, find health insurance and basic engage in hand to hand combat. Rare is the small business owner that cruises along without breaking a sweat. How about putting a face and context behind this? What I’m looking for are small business owners in business for at least 3 years with at least one employee and less than $2 million in sales. Industry doesn’t matter except that it must be legal and not pornographic. If you know a business that fits and would be interested in chatting – contact me here or call 503.799.2972.

I look forward to celebrating their stories here!

Big banks are writing the rules in their favor and against small businesses: the independent mortgage brokers. Coming in October is a new good faith estimate that requires brokers to lump all of their fees into one sum to supposedly make it easier for the borrower to see what the broker is earning on the loan. No longer are the fees itemized nor is there a place to explain them. This includes the ‘Yield Spread Premium’ which is how a broker is compensated by the lender for no point loans or reduced fees. But the banks don’t have to disclose all of their fees yet they get the same benefit in the form of a ’service release premium’ the borrower never sees. To the borrower, it makes it look like the broker is charging far more than the big bank. Even though the total costs are the same. This ’simpler’ good faith estimate is now four pages instead of one, all in the guise of making the process easier and more ‘transparent’ for the borrower. Yeah, right.

Just as we need the banks, we need the independent brokers to provide needed competition. Yet the big banks, with their lobbying power are having their sway with Congress. Another example of big business stomping on the small so they can continue enjoying high profits. Granted there have been many unethical brokers that contributed to this mess. And though the banks are blaming it all on the brokers, but they enabled and encouraged such practices. Both need to share in the blame and in the solution. So far, the big banks are not looking out for borrowers, but their own selfish interests. And making it harder for legitimate borrowers and ethical brokers to do their job. The pendulum is swinging too far the other direction.

Take wine. A fine red wine perhaps. While I enjoy a fine Pinot Noir – doesn’t the context in which you enjoy the wine affect the experience? Doesn’t that wine taste better with the right lighting, event and weather? Would you enjoy that Burgundy just as much at McDonald’s in a plastic cup as you would in a Parisian Cafe in a fine glass? Somehow I think not. There are diminishing returns with wine. Once you reach a certain level of quality – say a $30 – $50 bottle – I believe it’s tough to find a $150 bottle THAT much more enjoyable.

The same goes with consumption. And wanting more. What I want more of is quality experiences. Quality time. More stuff just makes you want more stuff because it’s not about the stuff. It’s about the newness of that stuff. Sometimes we look for more stuff to avoid dealing with things closer to home – like our happiness with ourselves or those we’re with.

But it’s time to work with what you’ve got. To make some lemonade with those lemons. Or just smile and be!

That probably depends on who you ask. If I am, great. If not, you’re certainly free to move along. There’s no shortage of interesting stuff within a keystroke or two. Being interesting is something I think about because there’s so much content – much of it meaningless, that I fear I might just be adding to the dribble.

Chris Brogan always talks about being useful. And he delivers every time. That makes him interesting. I could list many  other really interesting people too – here are just ten (but there are always more).

• Ann Handley
• Bob Sutton
• Chris Guillebeau
• David Armano
• Jonathan Baskin
• Mark Earls
• Seth Godin
• Tara Hunt
• Tim Brown
• Valeria Maltoni

Each of them offers a voice and perspective to think about. They add color, texture and context to the thinking I bring to my job each day. From a writing standpoint, while it’s good to have a benchmark for good content, it can be intimidating – these are people who’ve been consistently delivering great stuff. How can I compete? Well, I can’t. You can’t either. Nor should you. Each of us, if we’re going to offer content worth reading need to find our own voice. I’m looking for mine as I write. If you’re always focusing on competing, you’re going to lose because it saps energy from what you offer. And it would be pretty tough to catch up.

I think some of the previous posts here speak to who I am. But I bet some seem contrived. I can feel when I write whether I’m writing from the heart, or writing because I feel like I need to keep up the content. I do know the key to being interesting is to be interested. To be curious about life and everything in it. Sometimes I think I have too many interests that I suffer the tyranny of choice. But I’m getting better at that. After spending two weeks in Aspen Colorado in 1995 with Jay Maisel, he left us with this: “Interesting people take interesting pictures.”

The same goes for writing. Dan Roam talks about how leaving your home country for a few years helps you be more creative because it forces you out of your comfort zone.

I think I’m starting to find my voice. In my head at least. No, I’m never satisfied – the perfectionist in me can never be stamped completely out. But I worry less about what others think – here or in person. There are people I connect with and those I don’t. And when I don’t, regardless of who they are, I’m content to move on. Because I’ve realized the times when I feel at ease around people compared to those I with whom conversation is forced. Why spend time (unless work requires it) with people you’re not comfortable around? People you don’t enjoy?

And although there’s too much of everything, find your voice and you’ll likely find an audience. It’s not just about talent, though. It’s about tenacious hard work fueled by a passion to share. So look to find more of me here delivering observations that matter to some people. And if you’re not one of them, that’s okay. Keep looking because you’ll find it. Do you ever think about being interesting?

Like any bubble, those who are the last in are the first to fall. When you get caught up in the frenzy, you toss caution out the window. Bad idea. It’s those with the patience to spot the up and coming neighborhoods and start the trend that win. Once it hits the media it’s too late. You’re in the bubble.

Assuming you’re not in a totally down and out neighborhood or city with little future, you’re likely to be okay if you don’t panic. Again, don’t get emotional. Hang on and plan for the future. Learn from it and try again. Slowly. Don’t give up, walk away and torch your credit. Guard your credit like gold. It’s your lifeline to a secure future. Torch it and you’ve a long, hard road back.

Real estate has crashed before. It will again. And it will bounce back. It just may take awhile. But with a keen eye, patience and more patience, it will treat you well. Just remember to check your emotions at the door. And believe.

Tbat’s how I felt about the above photo. One Sunday it was the last 100 square feet of patio we wanted removed. Four hours later I had the above pile instead. Felt good to be done. It it also reminded me that no matter what, some jobs are just back breakers. And that I’m really not meant to swing a sledge hammer for four hours straight. But this also makes so many other tasks much more palatable.

However, the sky really is the limit if you let it be. Between climate change, poverty and economic turmoil, we’ve got seriously wicked problems to solve. Only pie in the sky thinking will come close.

What limits do you impose on yourself and how can you break them down? It’s never too late to start.

So many people talk just to talk. It’d be one thing if talking kept you physically fit. But it doesn’t. Never will. The real purpose of communicating is to make an impact, share knowledge, tell meaningful stories, create connections and change the world.

If you’ve got nothing to say, save your breath. Talk all the time about yourself and you’re just boring. Spend more time listening. Find ways to speak words that offer value. You’ll gain respect. And you’ll be heard.

So what do you do?

• Breathe. Pause. Think. Don’t spout your first thoughts in anger.
• Think about the context – did they make you angry, or did you just get up on the wrong side of the bed? Don’t attack the person with the intent to tear them down.
• Be specific. Speak to the frustration. People can’t do anything with generalities.
• Try on their shoes. Suggest solutions to the frustration so that it they can actually work on it. What would you want to be told if you were the recipient?
• Smile authentically. It goes a long way to making criticism a positive. A smile with a sharp barb does the opposite.

Remember, words are weapons. Choose them wisely. Once out, they’re not likely to be forgotten. Think about what you want your future relationship and interactions to be. It’s not always easy to keep emotions in check, but it goes a long way to communicating constructively.