OK, OK, OK....another stupid milestone post.  What can I say?  Let me try to say something profound for once. 

ACTIVE RAIN WORKS IF YOU WORK!

I was giving a presentation yesterday on Active Rain to a number of folks within our industry.  Some people were in Active Rain, but most weren't.  For me, it's kinda funny since I've been preaching the rain since I first joined in April of 2007, the community, we just found out, has hit 200,000 members.  I'm sure with the millions of posts here in the rain, I'm a small fish who has now contributed my 1,000th post.  As I'm talking during this presentation, the economy has grown and collapsed. 

My stunning observation is that given the current economic status, so many people aren't playing in the rain. 

1. There are those who won't join Active Rain, but again, seem to love to suffer in silence.
2. There are those who have joined Active Rain, but still aren't Active.

During my presentation yesterday, the common comment I received was "but I don't know what to say."  I look back at my first post, The Lending Game, and think "it was nice, it was succinct, but boy was it raw."  Yes....raw indeed.  If you're sick and you gotta puke, then you just go puke.  I don't fight it, I'm just gonna blow.  If you'r business is sick, come into the rain and blow.  I don't really think about how to make myself as good as Lenn Harley, Jeff Belonger, Missy Caulk, Todd Clark or Alan May.  Nope, I just blow.  Sure, I put thought into what I want to say, but for me...

YOU'RE IN THE GAME OR YOUR NOT

YOU'RE IN THE RAIN OR YOUR NOT

PLAY OR GET OFF THE FIELD

PUKE OR QUIT BITCHING ABOUT BEING SICK!

My work has paid off.  I've become a better at my posts.  I just say it like it is.  I mix fun with encouragement with education with family with values and with a lot's and lots and lots of more education.  Needless to say, it's a lot of fun playing in the rain.  I received number 75 and 76 last week and couldn't be more thrilled.  Sure, sometimes it's a burden to get that next post out, but it can be a burden doing anything in life. 

But either Active Rain and I are married or we aren't.....I, Larry Bettag, wed thee, Active Rain, through good times and bad for better or worse, through sickness and in health. 

Image provided by:

http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-wedding-rimagefree298214-resi2857788

What really gets me in this milestone accomplishment is each post whether good, bad or ugly is on page one of Google somewhere.  The more I post the greater my presence on Google.  I've got to say, when working in the rain, I'm thrilled. 

When I finished my presentation yesterday, I told this group, the only measurement is against yourself.  I'll never be as good as those I've mentioned, but I really don't want to be.  I am better than I was and I have the income to prove it! 

Thanks for letting me throw up all over you!