Be More Than A Milk Crate

Last month I attended the man of the year ceremony hosted by the Optimist Club of Passaic, New Jersey.

As the man of the year (also my husband’s cousin) stood up to speak, I was struck by the 400+ people in the room who’d shown up for the event. The cousin didn’t have a web site. He didn’t have a product to sell. He didn’t market himself via social media. Instead, he got out into the community and volunteered.

He’s a teacher who has coached football, headed the school’s ski club, worked with special education kids, raised money for scholarships, opened his home to friends and family in need, and who raised his 12 year old sister after their mother died and he became the sole caregiver (though he was barely 20 years old himself at the time).

People got to know him because he put himself out there.

He was seen.

People like him because he always has something kind to say (and his charm and quick wit are hard to deny).

He’s a good guy.

People show up when he needs help and to honor him because he shows up for them.

He gives back to others.

We spend so much time on this site—and other sites—talking about web sites and Google Analytics, and building engaging content and permission-based relationships, and blah, blah, blah.

If you really want someone to show up for you to support your work, you’ve also got to put in some face time.

Get out of your chair.

Leave your house.

Say hello to the rest of the world.

Build relationships that aren’t based online.

Do good for others.

Anyone can jump atop a milk crate in London’s Speaker’s Corner. But as they walk off, only a few have followers who trail after them—and fewer have followers who take action, who do more than follow like sheep.

Be more than a milk crate—and build more than a platform.