Changing the world

Johnny Reid's song Today I'm gonna try to change the world seems to play every time I'm in the car this week. It is appropriate at this point in my life. 4 years ago, we thought we could change the blogosphere by promoting the long tail. A noble cause but the reality is there is more trash than treasure out there. Certainly, a vast number of blog networks don't make enough money to call it a long-term success. It is time to move on. My only consolation is I didn't blow a couple mil. of VC money to learn that lesson.

John Maxwell has a great quote that before you figure at what you want to do, you have to figure out what you want to be. I'm in the process of figuring that out. It's never to late to ask yourself that question.

Some of us are missionaries and some of us are mercenaries. Some of us want to build Internet skyscrapers, others want to build Internet fortunes. Sometimes both are achieved, often not. I've always wanted to leave behind legacy not a fortune. That is my DNA, and as corny as it sounds, I've always wanted to change the world.

But if you listen to the song, it isn't about doing spectacular things but it's doing the simple things that touch people, one person at a time, a kind word, a listening ear, a warm hug, an inspiring thought.

It actually doesn't take a lot to change the world.