Herodotus Had Some Of It Right

Some men give up their designs when they have almost reached the goal; While others, on the contrary, obtain a victory by exerting, at the last moment, more vigorous efforts than ever before. - Herodotus

Ok, so I'm reading Herodotus's The Histories right now.  It's a massive undertaking and I'm only about half way through.

It's the first ever written history, produced painstakingly on about 300 feet of parchment in the 5th century B.C.  There's some question whether Herodotus actually saw everything he reported, or whether he trusted a little too often in the stories of others.  His accuracy more often than not is held under close scrutiny.  So silly.  He wrote about his time.  Unless later scholars were actually there, I'm prone to have more faith in Herodotus!

Herodotus was a man who knew what he wanted to do and saw it through till the end.

I aspire to that, though I'm sometimes easily distracted.  I have a great deal of respect for men and women who exert great effort and win the war.

Today I was reminded just how much I respect people who have what it takes to follow through.

The Bonanzle marketplace (www.Bonanzle.com) is full of many who try.  Online sales is fraught with challenges and is just plain hard work. Some are more successful than others, and I think the reasons have less to do with what they sell than it does with how they approach the process.

I have two friends there who are following well designed paths to success.  And they're doing it with humor, humility and great enthusiasm.  They're doing it day by day, gaining greater ground, and at the same time exerting great effort to help others, each in their own way.  They are what I aspire to be, not because of their success but because of the paths and methods they've chosen to reach that success. 

I won't share their personal stories because it's not my place.  I'll just say that when Herodotus said "It is better by noble boldness to run the risk of being subject to half of the evils we anticipate than to remain in cowardly listlessness for fear of what might happen" he must have had people like my friends in mind.  They are nobly bold and I am a richer person for being able to call them friends.

www.bonanzle.com/LouieTheSeller
www.bonanzle.com/AntiquesRGreat

Differences of Opinion .... Or, How Do You Promote Your Business?

I've come under a bit of criticism lately from some people who think they're doing me a favor.  And after all, a little "constructive criticism" isn't a bad thing, even when it comes sneaking in unsolicited.

The thing is, though, that it doesn't FEEL constructive.

I don't feel the need to beat people over the head with my business.  Is that a bad thing?   I use this blog, and Facebook, and Buzz, and Twitter mostly to connect.  And yeah, I throw in an occasional plug for my business, because that's what I do.  I sell stuff.  I sell some pretty cool stuff, actually.   But that's not who I AM, and I'd rather be who I am and make a few less sales if that's the way it's got to be.

I tend to unfollow and unfriend people who are in my face all day about their stuff.  It feels like junk mail in a social context, kind of like an insurance salesman following me around at a cocktail party telling me why I need to  BUY!  BUY! And I don't like it.  So it would be hypocritical of me to turn around and do the same thing, yes?

Everyone has their own way of doing things.  I enjoy that uniqueness and seek out the company of others who share my belief that there's more than one way to get things done.  Maybe my way doesn't suit some, and I'm ok with that.

I just wish THEY could be okay with the fact that their way doesn't suit me.

In the mean time, I'll just keep on doing what I'm doing.  Maybe to some it's not the BEST way, but hey, it works for me.

And if you'd like to take a look at some of my stuff, check out the widgets on the right of the page :)  See, I DO know how to promote, in my own way.