When I posted my “Little Orphan Rodney” blog this morning I never thought it would create such a firestorm of comments.
I been so inspired by the spirit of kindness and generosity on Active Rain that I try hard to make my voice here be a voice of inclusion, a voice a sharing… with a dash of humor.
Two simple little AR blogs in particular have touched me, inspired me and have COMPLETYLY changed the way I now approach my blog and my industry. They represent generosity in the purist of sense. Neither blogger needed to share their “secrets”. But they did. Those two blogs (from a while back now) were: Bonnie Cox’s 200-Step Marketing Plan and Derek & Mariana Wagner’s What We Do for Our Sellers.
Here in this big puddle I have learned so much on so many levels. Above ALL ELSE Active Rain is about sharing ideas, and helping colleagues overcome obstacles and achieve all they hope and dream. The staging industry has much to learn from realtors... especially realtors on AR.
I share because I KNOW a competitively healthy and united staging industry will not only benefit the consumer but also those people who chose to make staging a career. I share to counter an industry that is more focused on discrediting each other, at times reducing itself into being a petty bickering bunch. I choose to follow what I believe is a better way. A way so wonderfully embodied here on Active Rain.
So you can only imagine what it was like for me to post my “helpful blog complete with goofy graphic”… only to see it “blow-up” with controversy.
But I believe all things cross my path for a reason. And while I may not understand why at the time there is a LESSON OF GOOD to be learned.
First and foremost I read the comments and took from them the helpful ideas, thoughts and insights others kindly shared. I purposely write blogs with the hope that they DO inspire comments for all the stagers (and anyone else) to read and learn from.
But the one comment in my blog today that was construed as being negative I chose to keep posted. Why did I not delete it? I think the dialogue around and about THAT comment was as valuable as the initial blog itself. The thorn held another lesson to be learned.
Spouting an divisive opinion is easy… crafting an inclusive message so that one "hears" is much harder. Striking out at those we disagree with is easy… reaching out to those we don’t understand is much harder.
So while we may not like it or understand it, God put thorns on flowers for a reason. My advice is to enjoy the flowers, and be careful not allow the pricks get to you or turn into one yourself.
Me
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