Danny Brown's Blog, page 13

We Are All We Have

We’re born with our eyes closed, and we leave the same way.In-between though, for however long we’re on this planet, our eyes are open.

And yet, sometimes, it feels like they’ve stayed closed since our first breath in the open air.

We see colour, but we see it as something that makes people different and not in a good way.

We see love, but it’s the wrong kind of love if it’s between people not of a different sex.

We see beliefs, but we rip them down and start wars to force our own beliefs on...

A Blog is Exactly What We Wish It to Be

When I first started blogging “seriously”, it was a continuation of a public relations blog that I had, back in my early solo consultancy days.

The goal was simple – to share thoughts and ideas on social media and where that fit in the business world.

For the first six months or so, I was probably way too myopic for my own good – everything was based around social media in the purest form: Don’t do this; be like that; it’s all about the conversation, blah blah blah.

And you know, perhaps at...

Progress and the Farmer – A Fable

The Farmer had been the same all his life.

He used the same hoeing tools his father, and his father’s father, had used.

He used the same ox-pulled plough from the last century that was weathered and broken, but The Farmer insisted did as fine a job as any of these newfangled tractor machines.

His crop was always small, despite him telling his wife that this year was going to be the bumper year when everything changed for him.

His customers were the small town back alley grocery stores and de...

You Answer to Nobody But Yourself

When I was young and impressionable (and still trying to make an impression), I believed – foolishly – that I had to answer to people.

Whether that was my boss, colleagues or peers, I was under the impression I had to answer to them in all I did.

Now, before folks get the wrong impression, yes, it’s definitely important to have some form of hierarchy to get things done.

This doesn’t necessarily mean a boss/employee relationship, though – think of it more like expertise and the wisdom to make...

No One Deserves to Live In Fear (And How BACA is Helping Those Who Do)

When I was still living and working in the UK, one of my colleagues (who would later go on to become my girlfriend) confided in me about her abuse at the hands of her boyfriend.

Both mental and physical, the abuse was so bad that my colleague had taken to cutting herself (on her upper thighs, so the cuts were hidden from public view).

Through gentle coaxing and ongoing support and encouragement, myself and a trusted friend of hers helped her break free from her abuser, and start to live her...

Acknowledgement is a State of Mind and An Emotion of Being

Acknowledgmentis a state of mind and an emotion of being. It’s a constant.

It’s the knowledge that no matter what, you have a network around you to keep you going, even in your darkest times.

Friends; family; loved ones; colleagues; even virtual strangers online that have somehow become some of the most important people in your life.

It’s never giving up, because you’re thankful for the lessons learned even when failing.

It’s acknowledging your weaknesses; your frailties; your mortality, and lovi...

When a Song Lyric Changes Your Life

Music has always been a huge part of my life. From early years at my grandparents’ house listening to standards, to how I met my wife, my life has continuously been shaped by words and sounds.

Important timelines in my life I can pinpoint not by year or people, but by the soundtrack that was running through my head at that time.

For example, I recall the day Elvis died. It wasn’t because Elvis was playing non-stop on the radio as people came to terms with his passing.

Instead, it was because a n...

Pulling Back the Covers on a Life Lived in Shadows

Recently, I gave my blog a bit of a design makeover, and moved to a much more minimal look and feel.

In fairness, my previous theme – Myth, from MeanThemes – had a pretty stripped back look, with a simple hero image for the header area, and single column design for the content.

But, while I was more than happy with the design (it lasted almost a year before my recent makeover, which is a record for me!), I still got a little restless.

Hence the makeover.

As you can see, it’s a really bare an...

Do You Want to Be a Better Person, Truly?

When I was younger, I did some horrible things.Some, I didn’t know better because of age.

At least, I’d like to think so. For example, when I was four years old, I threw a tantrum fit while shopping with my pregnant mother. As she told me off, I punched her in the stomach.

Now, I’d like to think a four year old kid doesn’t throw a mean punch, and my mum didn’t flinch or give the impression that I’d hurt her. But every time I think of that moment, I think what an idiot thing to do.

Four months la...

Social Media Won’t Kill Blog Comments – Uncaring Bloggers Will

A little while back, I published a post here about the difference between writing and blogging.

Because I’d shared my thoughts on what that means earlier last year, I decided to open up the question to the readers and subscribers of the blog.

The result was that the post itself was a mere 60 words (seemingly breaking almost every “blogging rule” out there when it comes to content length).

60 words.

You’d think such a short post would receive crickets, or lack of interaction, right? After all, if...