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WHY I HOPPED ON THE CLUETRAIN
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Manjit Syven Birk
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Dec 04, 1999 07:38 PST
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Manjit Syven Birk, True North Principal:
=20
At the end of the day we are people, whether we call these people =
customers, employees, executives or clueless, that's what I see. You =
see, if I was valued as host organ transplant material, my heart, =
kidneys and liver would just as valuable as that which belongs to the =
worlds greatest CEO, so if each of my individual organic parts are =
valuable, then what price am as I living, fun-loving human being? =20
But why am I interested in the Cluetrain and what got me to hop aboard. =
You see, that question is important because it is the basis of =
everything else I do here on after. This time next year you and I may =
forget why we came so it is always important to balance future life with =
our humble origins.
=20
I didn't join the conversation because Fab Four "Clue-Beatles" told me =
to but because one spring day, I was reading the Wall Street Journal =
(which obviously should tell you straight away that I must be slightly =
bourgeois), and in it there was an article by Tom Petzinger. There was =
an invitation to go to WSJ/Voices for an on-line discussion with the =
"rebels" Petzinger was describing in the article. At 2pm I joined the =
Petzinger conversation. An hour later it was something that Petzinger =
inadvertently said that actually blew me away.
=20
I questioned what this "Cluetrain" was about, I question everything, I =
even question what I write, there are no gurus in my world, nobody that =
I want to worship, only what moves me forward, only what I can do to =
help others in my own living space. Then Petzinger typed something to =
the tune of "we are having this conversation right now, I am here at =
home with my 3 year old....".
=20
"I AM AT HOME WITH MY 3 YEAR OLD....."
=20
That was the line, that was the moment the Cluetrain entered my =
vocabulary. Whatever one thinks of technology, it will allow YOU in an =
idea economy to be WHERE YOU WANT TO BE.
=20
You see, I have these 8 children in my home, I don't care if they call =
me papa or dada, but they are the centre of my universe...not =
work...them, those 8 kids. For the first time in our history, distance =
between communication is no longer a factor, the walls don't need to =
exist. We don't need to be different people, other than people who give =
service, people who buy, people who manage, people who dream, people who =
love, people who sacrifice.
=20
That's why I hopped on the cluetrain....because someone said something =
that was REAL. And that is only thing my dreams call for, that we =
individually find ourselves and our place, help others in the process =
and eliminate the unnecessary facades, the useless ritualling, the =
pathetic posturing, the need to be an image, to be something we are not.
=20
I write a lot at the Fast Company forums, but there I do for myself, so =
I can understand who I am, and what my place on this planet is. Chris =
Locke said that some postings were fabulous, some made him laugh, some =
were incomprehensible and some he disagreed violently with. That's =
how we should all feel, it's up to us what we want to take from the =
interaction and what we want to leave behind. I don't want you to be =
moved or relate to what I write. I want you to be moved and relate by =
what YOU write. You are the ones shaping your future, I haven't got a =
clue who you are...I just hope you know, who you are.
=20
The Cluetrain is big enough to hold variety, but hopping on the =
Cluetrain isn't the baseline for me. The hope is that I and you out =
there can become its drivers. Levine, Locke, Searl and Weinberger are =
going to get tired if they the ones who have to drive us around. Enjoy =
the ride, but this is a virtual railway, and like paths to the mind, =
there are multiple cluetrains operating at any given time.
It's time to find your destination and YES It's OK for you to be violent =
disagreeable or in love with my destination, but if you go no where and =
to no place in claim of your destination, then you must be careful which =
of the many cluetrains, you hop onto. A salute to the day you become a =
driver....I salute you all.
=20
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><U><FONT color=3D#333399 face=3DTahoma =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: #333399; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Manjit =
Syven=20
Birk</SPAN></FONT><FONT color=3D#333399 face=3DTahoma size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: #333399; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">, True =
North=20
Principal:</SPAN></FONT></U></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><FONT color=3D#333399 face=3DTahoma =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: #333399; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: =
12pt"></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><FONT color=3D#333399 face=3DTahoma =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: #333399; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">At the =
end of the=20
day we are people, whether we call these people customers, employees, =
executives=20
or clueless, that's what I see. You see, if I was valued as host =
organ=20
transplant material, my heart, kidneys and liver would just as valuable =
as that=20
which belongs to the worlds greatest CEO, so if each of my individual =
organic=20
parts are valuable, then what price am as I living, fun-loving human=20
being? </SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><FONT color=3D#333399 face=3DTahoma =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: #333399; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: =
12pt"></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><FONT color=3D#333399 face=3DTahoma =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: #333399; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">But why =
am I=20
interested in the Cluetrain and what got me to hop aboard. You see, that =
question is important because it is the basis of everything else I do =
here on=20
after. This time next year you and I may forget why=20
we came so it is always important to balance future life with =
our=20
humble origins.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><FONT color=3D#333399 face=3DTahoma =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: #333399; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: =
12pt"></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><FONT color=3D#333399 face=3DTahoma =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: #333399; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">I didn't =
join the=20
conversation because Fab Four "Clue-Beatles" told me to but because one =
spring=20
day, I was reading the Wall Street Journal (which obviously should tell =
you=20
straight away that I must be slightly bourgeois), and in it there was an =
article=20
by Tom Petzinger. There was an invitation to go to WSJ/Voices for =
an=20
on-line discussion with the "rebels" Petzinger was describing in the=20
article. At 2pm I joined the Petzinger conversation. An hour =
later=20
it was something that Petzinger inadvertently said that actually blew me =
away.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><FONT color=3D#333399 face=3DTahoma =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: #333399; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: =
12pt"></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><FONT color=3D#333399 face=3DTahoma =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: #333399; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">I =
questioned what=20
this "Cluetrain" was about, I question everything, I even question what =
I write,=20
there are no gurus in my world, nobody that I want to worship, only what =
moves=20
me forward, only what I can do to help others in my own living =
space. Then=20
Petzinger typed something to the tune of "we are having this =
conversation right=20
now, I am here at home with my 3 year =
old....".</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><FONT color=3D#333399 face=3DTahoma =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: #333399; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: =
12pt"></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><FONT color=3D#333399 face=3DTahoma =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: #333399; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">"I =
AM AT HOME=20
WITH MY 3 YEAR OLD....."</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><FONT color=3D#333399 face=3DTahoma =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: #333399; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: =
12pt"></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><FONT color=3D#333399 face=3DTahoma =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: #333399; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">That was =
the line,=20
that was the moment the Cluetrain entered my vocabulary. Whatever =
one=20
thinks of technology, it will allow YOU in an idea economy to be =
WHERE YOU=20
WANT TO BE.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><FONT color=3D#333399 face=3DTahoma =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: #333399; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: =
12pt"></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><FONT color=3D#333399 face=3DTahoma =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: #333399; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">You see, =
I have=20
these 8 children in my home, I don't care if they call me papa or dada, =
but they=20
are the centre of my universe...not work...them, those 8 =
kids. For=20
the first time in our history, distance between communication is no =
longer a=20
factor, the walls don't need to exist. We don't need to be =
different=20
people, other than people who give service, people who buy, people who =
manage,=20
people who dream, people who love, people who=20
sacrifice.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><FONT color=3D#333399 face=3DTahoma =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: #333399; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: =
12pt"></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: #333399; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">That's =
why I hopped=20
on the cluetrain....because someone said something that was REAL. =
And that=20
is only thing my dreams call for, that we individually find ourselves =
and our=20
place, help others in the process and eliminate the unnecessary facades, =
the=20
useless ritualling, the pathetic posturing, the need to be an image, to =
be=20
something we are not.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: #333399; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: =
12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: #333399; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">I write a =
lot at=20
the Fast Company forums, but there I do for myself, so I can understand =
who I=20
am, and what my place on this planet is. Chris Locke said =
that some=20
postings were fabulous, some made him laugh, some were incomprehensible =
and some=20
he disagreed violently with. That's how we should all =
feel,=20
it's up to us what we want to take from the interaction and what we want =
to=20
leave behind. I don't want you to be moved or relate to what =
I=20
write. I want you to be moved and relate by what YOU=20
write. You are the ones shaping your future, I haven't got a =
clue who=20
you are...I just hope you know, who you are.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: #333399; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: =
12pt"></SPAN></FONT><FONT=20
color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: #333399; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: =
12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: #333399; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The =
Cluetrain is=20
big enough to hold variety, but hopping on the Cluetrain isn't the =
baseline for=20
me. The hope is that I and you out there can become its =
drivers. =20
Levine, Locke, Searl and Weinberger are going to get tired if they =
the ones=20
who have to drive us around. Enjoy the ride, but this is a virtual =
railway, and like paths to the mind, there are multiple cluetrains =
operating at=20
any given time.<BR><BR>It's time to find your destination and YES It's =
OK for=20
you to be violent disagreeable or in love with my destination, but if =
you go no=20
where and to no place in claim of your destination, then you must be =
careful=20
which of the many cluetrains, you hop onto. A salute to the =
day you=20
become a driver....I salute you all.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: #333399; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: =
12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>
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