In corner number one: Create!

How churnOn.com moved from 'idea' to 'reality'

On January 7th I purchased a MacBook Pro and began the process of switching from  Microsoft Windows to Apple's world of blue-shirted geniuses. Thirty days later, on February 7th, I launched my personal website, churnOn.com and my blog, The Churn. This is the story of how I created the website (and the surrounding ecosystem of social networking tools) in four weeks. This is the third post in the six part series and the first of the four C's: Create! 

Read part one: The Four C's that launched churnOn.com

Read part two: Create, Connect, Complete, and Churn

Why did I decide to build a personal website?:

• To e-Publish my book, Releasing the Churn and give it away
• To provide a platform for writing materials I have created through the years on subjects that range from entrepreneurialism to selling; from golf to fitness; from raising girls to spirituality
• To aid in my professional search for new business opportunities, where I am focusing on technology companies and services oriented businesses
• As a 'home base' around which I could surround and master social networking tools like Blogger, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube, and then share my knowledge base with others
• A fun way to learn how to use my new MacBook Pro

Defining the project was not hard. But what next? I had just purchased the MacBook, but barely knew how to turn it on. It seemed impossible to start designing a website on a computer that I did not yet know how to use. Furthermore, I can not spell 'html' and I certainly was not a social media expert.

Here were the steps that took the 'overwhelming' feeling away, and moved the project into action:

1. Define the project in writing
2. Talk to friends, family and business associates about the idea
3. Ask for their honest feedback
4. Figure out what tools and skills would be needed (and find experts to help)
5. Start

Using a vision board to get the creative juices flowing:

It is number five that most likely stalls out many good ideas. Yet it is really so simple. One word, 'start'! Do something to bring the idea into reality. For this project, I used a  concept called a vision board. I simply mapped and pinned out (on a small cork board) how the Website might look. That was something I could do, without needing to understand Apples' iWeb software or Go Daddy's hosting service or social networking media. Then I carried the board around in my car for a week and I asked everyone I saw, "What do you think of this idea?" It was from the vision board and the initial feedback that I gained momentum for the project and moved deeper into the 'create' phase.

Have you ever had a good idea, but simply could not get it off the ground? What were the things that held you back? Have you ever used a vision board effectively? What about asking others about an idea you have that seems a little scary? 

Next Monday, I will continue this six part series with focus on the second 'C': Connect! Beginning this week I am picking up the pace of my blog postings and you will see something most every business day. Tomorrow I will share how this website, and the social networking tools, are helping catapult my 'opportunity search' in several interesting business communities.

This blog series (The Four C's) dedicated to Coach Dean Smith and the four corners offense. March Madness is upon us - go Tar Heels!

Create, Connect, Complete, and Churn

The Four C's that launched churnOn.com

The Four Capacities:

I am a big Stephen Covey fan and also have drawn inspiration through the years from Jim Loehr and his work at the Human Performance Institute. One of the basic tenets they both teach is that when we are living life from a place of purpose, when we are hitting on all cylinders, we must be moving in and out (in a daily rhythm) of the four capacities that make us human. Here are some of the ways these four capacities can be categorized, all listed in this order: mind, heart, body, and soul.

• mind, heart, body, soul;
• mental, social, physical spiritual;
• talents, passions, needs, conscience;
• to learn, to love, to live, to leave a legacy;
• vision, passion, discipline, conscience;
• create, connect, complete, churn;

As we continue through this series, let's next look at the ‘create’ piece of churnOn.com. But  first, here are some questions my friends have asked. Why create a personal website? What are the goals for the site? For the blog? Here is a four part answer to these good questions:

• A personal website is a unique way to highlight a professional career, including (in my case) creative abilities as a salesman and as a leader, so as to best explore career opportunities in education, educational technology, or early stage technology companies that need someone to deliver the sales piece.
• As a launching pad for my eBook, Releasing the Churn, that will be given away to those who wish to learn more about their personal journeys.
• As a launching pad for a blog, where we can explore and share with others on topics such as entrepreneurialism, golf, raising girls, fitness, writing, social media, and spirituality.
• As a home base, around which to surround and master the ecosystem of social networking tools (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and others.) Entrepreneurs, executives and especially great sales people need to use these tools effectively and efficiently, but not excessively, in order to operate at peak capacity in the world in which we now live.

If these things are of interest to you, you might enjoy learning how to 'churn' your way through this process. Do you have a website creation in you? What about a book? Stay tuned to learn how to bring these thoughts from idea to reality.

This blog series (The Four C's) dedicated to Coach Dean Smith and the four corners offense. Go Tar Heels.

The Four C's that launched churnOn.com

Create, Connect, Complete, and Churn

Many of my Carolina friends remember Dean Smith's famous 'Four Corners' offense. Before the shot clock was introduced into the college game (in the 1985-86 season) the Tar Heels would go into 'Four Corners' to protect a lead or even as a complete game strategy. For the basketball purists, and especially UNC fans, the offense was a thing of beauty when executed correctly. So I pay tribute to the greatest college basketball coach of all time and one of my 'heroes', Coach Dean Smith, with this series titled The Four C's that Launched churnOn.com. A quick bit of trivia: Who was the first Carolina player to play the 'center' position in the Four Corners in practice? Read to the end to get the answer.

The true innovator!:

In early January, I began the process of 'unplugging' from my day-to-day sales role at Salient Systems and started a new phase of life. One of the first things I did was read a book called, YOU Are a Brand! by Catherine Kaputa. The stores (and Web) are full of personal branding materials these days. I selected Kaputa because I wanted to write about the subject with my daughter Sally, away at college and beginning to shape her professional career. Kaputa is an impressive woman and I enjoy celebrating accomplished women as a way of inspiring my talented girls. Through studying Kaputa's book, subtitled 'How smart people brand themselves for business success,' I decided that I wanted to create a personal website and set the following 'intentions' for the site:

• A unique way to highlight my professional career, my creative abilities as a salesman and a manager, and as a launching pad for my book Releasing the Churn.
• As a launching pad for my blog, where I could write about things I enjoy such as entrepreneurialism, golf, raising girls, fitness, writing, and spirituality.
• As a home base, around which I could surround the ecosystem of social networking tools (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and others.) Entrepreneurs, executives and especially great sales people need to use these tools effectively and efficiently, but not excessively, in order to operate at peak capacity in the world in which we now live.

So with my goals clearly identified I set out to create the website, the blog, and the ecosystem. That brings me back to The Four C's That Launched churnOn.com: Create, Connect, Complete, and Churn. I will dig deeper into each of these cornerstones in the posts that follow. I think you will enjoy hearing how I created the entire site in four weeks, starting purchasing a new MacBook, and finding out just how 'intentional' one can get through a regular Yoga practice.

Answer: Larry Brown. In Coach Smith's book, A Coach's Life (p. 69 of my autographed copy, thanks to my friend Mike Merritt) Coach Smith explains how the offense was created (in practice) in the early 60s with Larry Brown in the center position but actually never utilized in a game until after Larry graduated.

The launch of churnOn.com and 'The Churn'

Several years ago, I authored a short story titled Releasing the Churn, subtitled 'A journey rounding second base.' It was a reflection about how baseball opened the eyes of a nine year old boy to a bigger world. It was a story about a Baptist Preacher, my grandfather whom I never met; and my other grandfather with whom I spent days selling swimming pools and learning his craft. I recently concluded that I am a unique combination of these two men: "the peddler and the preacher." 

Releasing the Churn is also a story about my love of all sports and competition; especially my latest passion, golf. And finally, it is a story about self-awareness and contemplation; and about the little things in life, that when all is said and done, are the things that matter most.

Dad reading first copy - love that sunlight:

I dedicated the writing to my first hero, my father. I then sent copies to the men mentioned in the book - my other heros - the Little League coach, the uncles, the best friend, the mentor, and the father-in-law. After getting some nice feedback, I decided to share The Churn with others who have been a part of my ten-state journey. The feedback kept coming.

Earlier this month, I unplugged from Salient Systems, a technology company where I was both a ground floor investor and leading salesman. With the company on a significant growth track, it was time to explore new business opportunities. It was also time to revisit my writing projects. I am looking forward to 'releasing' a new version of Releasing the Churn in the near future.

In the meantime, thanks for visiting my Blog. G. Page, churning on . . .