An Open Invitation To De-Lurk

Hi Christopher,

I discovered your site when you were kind enough to 'track back' to one of my posts. I feel an affinity for your blog because I left the corporate world a few years ago and started my own business.

I was an HR exec and made good money. I worked in a fun industry (video games) and had lots of friends at work. Yet I was miserable. Why? Because that wasn't soulful work for me although it is probably someone else's ideal.

I have always been an introvert and I have always loved to write. Through a seemingly unrelated series of events, I found my soulful work. It felt like an accident, but maybe it wasn't. I was an OK HR executive - but I'm a really good resume writer. I'm able to capture what's special about each person, and use it to help them improve their lives. Most people hate writing resumes, so I know I'm a little weird, but that's OK! Because my work is my passion, it's easy to get through the bad days (when someone doesn't pay, or I have too much to do, or I have a challenging client). BUT, it took me until the age of 40 to get here -so if anyone is still searching, don't give up.

I read your blog for ideas and inspiration and I point some of my clients here too. Sorry for being a lurker!

Well Christopher I can relate to your frustrations of "lurkers" but for some that is the beauty of reading blogs - the supposed power of anonymity. Stepping inside another's head I think is best done interactively. Unfortunately, being "shadowy visitors" does nothing to promote discussion or exploration of ideas or thought. So cheers once again my friend as I recognize clearly that you do contribute greatly to blogdom in engaging others! I realize as of late my blogs have been somewhat lacking in the way of discussion provoking posts but my Explore Play blog sideline hopefully will do a better job of that shortly. I welcome your occasional visits and those of your revealed readers to further the dialogue here and there and back again!

Your friend,

Garth!

Hi Chris,

Thanks for your comment on my site about the perception of recruiters. I thought I would delurk since I was prompted to have a good look through your site. Obviously you are very passionate about finding the kind of work that you can feel fulfilled in and provide a strong example to your children. I think that is a really strong theme for a lot of people who are both seeking a meaningful career and forming a family. It certainly is for me!

So my idea of creating soulful work is in believing that people truly prefer quality over quantity. I try to work in my business with that in mind at all times. I also believe that I am totally responsible for any results I have in my career and business at all times. This means if things don't go well I don't blame the company, the industry, the economy, George Bush, the tech boom, or the tech bust or anything else for that matter. I blame how hard I work. Because I can always control that. It has served me well so far and though there have been some down times it has helped to keep my perspective strong.

Jay, Jeremy, Cyn, Dewayne, and Robin: Thanks so much for coming out of the shadows. I've enjoyed discovering more about you and reading your own blogs. I'll be mentioning links to your sites in a post later today.

Hi just subscribed to your blog and love your writing.

I'm a photographer in Hawaii...here's link to my blog:

http://robinscanlon.typepad.com/ramblings/

Thank you for sharing yourself and not keeping "a journal under your pillow."

Christopher -
I really like your blog, so far. I subscribed to it on Bloglines on March 10th of this year.

I need to start looking at your other blog Menagerie of Frivolous Fascinations too.

Keep up the good work and I will keep on reading and try to delurk more often also.
Dewayne

I'm here via a post at Jeremy's a while ago. I visit regularly and have noticed we share similar ideas and beliefs.

I have a longer bio about me on my weblog that is more from the heart. It's in with my short bio.

http://mamaduncebio.blogspot.com/

Hey Christopher, I think you know that I'm a regular reader. My occasional comments or links in don't really reflect how much I enjoy your writing.

I'm a regular - through Rosa's great recommendation and through your comments on Kathy Sierra's site.

I could talk about my journey on the pathe to soulful work (because I am most DEFINATELY on one) but that would require more space than your readers would care I take - so if you are curious feel free to look up my blog, and then we can have cross blog discussions about the journey of self- actualization

PS- I like your new blog too - I'm a south park fan myself - in fact we once made an entire live action south park episode with our friends - but I digress