Brains on Fire

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  Inspiration.

  Posted on February 6th, 2012 by Robbin and currently 8 commenting.

  
  The Erics, looking for inspiration.

  Hello! Hope you’re excited about the week ahead of you. I am.

  About a year or so ago, I posted a blog asking YOU a simple question. And since I LOVED the answers and they all inspired me, I am asking again…

  I really need you guys today.

  I love writing. Think I have shared this before, but I believe writing inspires thinking and exploring and sharing. And thinking and exploring and sharing are good things.

  If you are reading this and hanging out with us, I have to believe you think we add value in your life.

  So, I have a question for you:

  If you and I could spend an entire day together — or if you and anyone from Brains on Fire could spend an entire day together — out walking in the sunshine or drinking some beers or sitting on the side of a mountain, what would you want to talk about?

  I need a little bit of inspiration today. I guess we all do some days. And because I am crazy about you, I’d love for that inspiration to come from you.
  Send me some questions or just your thoughts. I promise I will use your inspiration wisely.

  OXOXOX,
  Robbin

  Tags: inspiration
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  The Power of Kindness.

  Posted on February 2nd, 2012 by Robbin and currently 4 commenting.

  
  Fresh flowers from Libby William’s Photoblog.

  The other day I got a note in the mail. The old fashion “ink on paper” kind. It started like this:

  Dearest Darling Robbin,
  
  Hmmmm.

  I have to tell you in the middle of my crazy, busy, over stimulated workday, those words stopped me dead in my tracks. I took a deep breath and smiled at the “over the top-ness” of this salutation. What came after that was nothing short of the kindest words anyone’s written to me in a long time. Just a couple of heartfelt observations mixed in with some wit and honesty.

  It was a nice gentle break from the tasks in front of me.

  This note was from a guy who I’ve known for sometime. We’re friends in the true sense of the word having lived as neighbors for a few years. But these days with our kids grown, we’re mostly business friends.

  I thought to myself. How simple it is to write a note of gratitude. To sit quietly for a little part of your day and write fearlessly from the heart without the worry of sounding silly or unprofessional.

  It was a nice reminder that kindness is underrated.

  Don’t you think?

  And you know what? Later that day, I found myself paying this unexpected kindness forward. Without even realizing it was happening really. Don’t you love how that works?

  How will you use the power of kindness today?

  Tags: Kindness, Libby Williams
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  What are you doing with your minutes?

  Posted on January 30th, 2012 by Robbin and currently 0 commenting.

  2011 from hey_rabbit on Vimeo.

  I found this on GOOD. Oh MY. Have I told you how much I love almost every bit of content they produce and curate?

  This video is no exception. Seems that Madeline captured a bit of video everyday for a year of her life, then edited each video down to one second for each day.

  The random minutes of life collectively make up our life’s bigger story in such a magical way, don’t they?

  The other day Geno and I were talking about a CEO client we admire that takes over an hour to walk from the building entrance to her office. She takes the time to stop and talk to her employees and customers. Geno’s take on that: “People don’t realize that something magical can start just by asking a one employee or customer for a cup of coffee and listening to what they have to say.” Then doing it again and again and again.

  Word of mouth is at it’s core conversation and conversation is a powerful thing. It’s the collective conversations that unite and change organizations from the inside out.
  
  As a person and a marketer or a leader, how are you using your minutes? Are you heads down from one task to another, or are you sucking in all that each minute truly offers?

  Tags: GOOD, MInutes, word of mouth marketing
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  Permission to love.

  Posted on January 26th, 2012 by Robbin and currently 3 commenting.

  
  This tiny little love note showed on my computer one afternoon. I keep it close by and still have no clue who wrote it.

  Some of our team has just returned from a long weekend of training for one of our clients. I love hearing the stories they bring back home from these experiences with our clients and their advocates. Alexis shared some of the emails she got when they returned today. After reading this amazing thread of heartfelt notes, Cordell sent me one of his classic one liners.

  It simply said:

  “It’s amazing what happens when you give people permission to love.”

  Our purpose at Brains on Fire is lofty, but real. We believe we are changing lives and one by one by one, we like to think we are changing the world. I believe with all my heart that Greg is right, we really do give people permission to love their customers, their employees, their purpose, their passions, their stories — simply by helping them find and shine a light on their true voice, spirit, soul, and meaning.
  
  Chime in. Do you give yourself permission to love? Have you seen that change and grow organizations for the better?

  Tags: Love, Permission to Love
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  Roll Call Time, Again.

  Posted on January 20th, 2012 by Robbin and currently 23 commenting.

  
  I have done this before, and I cherished your responses. So let’s do it again. AND the photo above is LIBBY. Thought you might like seeing a face behind the beautiful photos we often use on our blog.

  Remember your childhood days in school, when the teacher called out everyone’s name and you said “Present”.

  I did this once a while back and enjoy hearing from you so much I decided to do it every six months or so. So, will you humor me again today?

  I often look at the numbers of people who read our blog and on top of being amazed, I wonder:

  “Who’s out there? Who is present today? What do you do? And what do you like reading about?” So we can do more of that.

  And since I don’t have YOUR names to call, let’s do a backward version of roll call. Come on. It will be fun. Check in, say hello, tell me a little bit about you. Whatever you are comfortable doing, saying or not saying is fine with me.

  If you are feeling brave and to make it a bit more interesting, give me one sentence to let me know one thing you did this week that made the work you do in the world more meaningful, happy and/or productive. What has made you proud of you lately.

  Me? I taking more time to write real letters. (You know the ink on paper kind?) And it has been making ME feel connected in a way I can’t explain. Try it!

  Happy Friday!

  Now, don’t be shy. Let’s take a moment and just be “present” together.