The key to something great...

Until now, I never really considered taking time to select a special key to my house, or the key to anything for that matter. On Tuesday, as I waited at the Home Depot key kiosk to order additional keys for our new house, I noticed the collection of novelty keys on display.  Though I have been a Home Depot key customer since the local paint store closed, I had never really considered that these keys were options for me. 

In the middle of the display hung a key – my key – in the shape of an acoustic guitar.  As I was reaching for the guitar, the young key smith approached and said, "Ah, do you just like the guitar or – ha, ha – do you play?" I paused, remembering my April declaration…I am a musician, “Oh no…I play," I responded, "Do you?" He did.  We actually had a brief conversation about guitars and bluegrass; I shared information about local jams and then happily strolled out of the store, guitar key in hand.

Holding new keys to a new house is rather empowering.  It is a new start.  Usually, and for most people, that is enough.  However, I had already decided that 2012 would be a new start for me.  On January 1^st, I cannot say that I exactly knew what that meant, but as the year has been progressing, these new starts are being revealed. 

It began with the Cash Mob movement that spread through the country and right into the heart of Bellport.  This represented a new start or re-start into community activity for me.  Since Erin’s graduation from high school, I have been on the down-low.  It has been great to reconnect and to make new connections with my community. 

Then came the self-declaration…I am a musician.  Though music has always been a part of my life, it now has a new look for me as I play my guitar and sing in public.  Deciding to call myself a “musician,” now that is a new start.  And, because I just could not stop, along comes self-declaration #2 (thanks to the My Name Is Not Bob April Challenge and encouragement from my friend Terrell)…I am a writer.

Sometimes new starts are intentional, some just happen.  They are all meant to be.  The new house was a “just happen” new start.  It resulted in a lot of emotion, took agonizing work, but with the trust and help of a very dear friend (thank you Garry!) it happened.  The guitar key is, as my friend Sue declared, a positive omen.

The journey through 2012 has been and promises to continue to be dynamic.  Our family is seeing many other new starts.  Next week Erin will have completed her undergraduate degree in spite of her recent diagnosis of mononucleosis.  (The Hall family GPS has the added, and most used, feature:  the most difficult route possible option.)  Recovery and a new start are imminent.  We are also learning a new normal as the family navigates a life altering diagnosis for my sister-in-law.  Health issues prompt a reconsideration of life’s purpose and direction for an individual and the family.  We are in this together and I am confident the purpose and direction will be revealed.  It is yet another new start. 

Life is dynamic, new starts will continue.  Some we will select and some will be imposed.  Some will make us happy and some will wrench our hearts.  I can only trust that these new starts will cause a positive and purposeful journey.  We start now by choosing the right key to help us unlock the door.  I believe I will be making another trip to the key smith; new keys for everyone!

The World of Great Ideas...

Tomorrow, Sunday, April 22nd at 7:30 am, MSNBC’s show, Your Business, will air a segment on Cash Mobs. Included in this segment should be shots from the filming of the last Bellport Cash Mob that was held on International Cash Mob Day, March 24, 2012.

New and interesting ideas always catch my attention. Many times I learn of great ideas, share them with others who are not quite as moved by them and I do not take action.  Or well-meaning friends talk me down and away from following ideas they perceive as potentially hazardous.  Of course, there are the perpetual nay-sayers who, never willing to take a chance, hastily shoot down every idea. Once identified as such, I tend to avoid those people. But once I learn of a powerful idea, I can never really let it go.

The My Name Is Not Bob April challenge…

In the case of the MNINB (http://robertleebrewer.blogspot.com/) April Challenge idea, (interjection:  I have not learned how to link to another site without entering the whole website address; I want to learn that) I consulted no one.  Jumping on board, I found a community of writers, most of whom are more advanced in their craft than I am, but supportive and affirming all the same.  Affirmed, I continued to follow this great idea and am very glad I did.

This challenge has taught me so much about writing.  Not things such as grammar, punctuation, form and style, but platform building.  Who knew I needed to know this?  I admit to experiencing feelings of unworthiness and states of “HUH?!?”  But each time I feel lost, I step back, breathe and realize the opportunities this new information affords.  As Not Bob advises, “…change your focus from what you don’t know and what you haven’t done to building upon what you do know and what you have done.”  Even as I learn these new things, I realize that I can do that.

Cash Mobs…

Prior to the Not Bob challenge, the “Cash Mob” (www.CashMobs.wordpress.com) idea landed in my lap.  There are just some ideas from which no one can talk you down.  I learned of cash mobs last December when my sister-in-law’s store, The Make Good, in San Diego, CA (www.themakegood.com) was cash mobbed.  The cash mob idea seemed tailor made for our little Village of Bellport.  You see, our Village has a very small Main Street which tends to struggle a bit during the off-season months of winter.  This particular winter, Main Street was losing a landmark, family owned business as Wallen’s grocery store decided to close its doors after 50+ years.  Spirits were waning; we needed an infusion of hope.

After a few emails, a little social networking, word of mouth and a big boost from www.Bellport.com, our “Hometown Website,”  we were off and running.  Our inaugural January cash mob was attended by about 100 cash mobbers – representing 5% of the population of Bellport – and the cash mob originator, Andrew Samtoy of Cleveland, OH.  Prior to this cash mob, we were contacted by several news agencies, including Inside Edition who sent a film crew to record our event.  That show aired in early February. 

Acting on a great idea as we did with the cash mob can result in great rewards.  It afforded financial rewards to the businesses that were cash mobbed, often resulting in the best sales day ever.  It was a great marketing opportunity for those businesses as well.  It brought new customers in and reminded old customers to come back.  Beyond that, it empowered our community, reminding us of the ability of the individual to make a difference.  Taking action brought awareness, hope and a whole lot of fun.   

Additional cash mobs were spawned from our introduction of the idea to Long Island.  Riverhead and Babylon Village have held cash mobs.  East Quogue has a cash mob scheduled for this afternoon.  East End Cash Mob will host its first cash mob on May 6^th.  It is an idea worth sharing; an idea that makes a difference.  I must also admit, this affirms that I did, in fact, hit on a good idea…my personal gain.

In larger communities, monthly Cash Mobs can continue to flourish.  We see this in San Diego, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Sherwood, OR and beyond.  However, in our small community, we will be modifying the idea, to maintain the momentum and allow our community to continue to make a difference, right here on Main Street.   

Since our first cash mob in Bellport, we have held 2 others; the last one being covered by MSNBC, scheduled to air tomorrow on Your Business.  Our next Cash Mob will be held on May 5^th.   It will be a celebration.  While we will be cash mobbing a local business, it is more about celebrating the great cash mob idea and the great community of people who embraced it.  Perhaps you would like to attend.