Seven Things Most People Don’t Know About Me
So this is a bit of a “non-traditional” post for this blog but a great idea sent to me by Lisa Hoffmann. It’s clear that blogging, twittering, linking in, facebooking, etc. are more about the conversation and relationships than traditional websites. It’s about personalization (which is a huge aspect of leadership).
Knowing someone as an individual is a foundation for closer relationships and more effective leadership. It also enhances the probability that you’ll learn more rapidly because you’re better at integrating more perspectives into your decision making processes.
To that end, I’m sharing seven things you may not know about me in an effort for you to get to understand the man behind the blog a little better. I’m also going to suggest seven other people you should get to know and understand.
So here goes – 7 things you might not know about Mike Figliuolo:
1. I’m a metal head. Metallica. Megadeth. Pantera. Overkill. Helmet. Prong. There’s something about the power, drive, and energy in that music that is contagious. It can also be very cathartic in frustrating situations.
2. I’m an aspiring novelist. The manuscript is done and probably needs a good solid editing before I can get a literary agent. If you’re an editor willing to take a look or know an agent, I’d love some assistance.
3. Despite the stereotype of being a guy who follows the rules because I went to West Point, I was really more of an insurrectionist. I wrote for The Pointer (cadet humor magazine) and lambasted the administration for three years. The cartoons are online at the Big Blog of West Point Hell.
4. My goatee is the result of a stupid vacation tradition. Every time I took vacation, I’d grow the beard out. On the last day, I’d shave something stupid (muttonchops, Fu Man Chu, Justin Timberlake, etc.). It was always hideous enough that I’d remove the offending stupidity. One year I did the goatee. Everyone in the office voted I should keep it. That was 10 years ago. It’s a lot grayer now.
5. In all honesty, I pretty much have no idea what I’m doing at any given moment. I make it up as I go along. It has worked out pretty well so far.
6. I don’t have my MBA. I figure experience is a pretty good substitute (maybe I’m just rationalizing…)
7. I find everything funny and nothing is sacred. The day I stop laughing is the day I die.
Maybe now the things I post here make a little more sense to you now that you have more context. Now allow me to introduce seven other people you would do well to get to know:
Ed Ruggero – author, leader, speaker. I’m proud to know him.
Artie Isaac – passionate speaker and marketer. Quirky to boot.
Mike Bowers – champion of small businesses in Ohio.
Kevin Eikenberry – great perspectives on leadership.
Jim Canterucci – incredibly magnanimous guy, speaker, and author.
Mark Henson – Chief Imagination Officer at Sparkspace.
Susan Strayer – a great voice and perspective on moving your career forward.
Go meet them. Pay them a visit. You will definitely learn a lot.
Here are the rules I followed, passed on by David Mullen and Lisa Hoffmann. If you’ve been tagged, I ask you to do the same:
– Link your original tagger(s) and list these rules in your post.
– Share seven facts about yourself in the post.
– Tag seven people at the end of your post by leaving their names and the links to their blogs.
– Let them know they’ve been tagged
So who are you? What don’t I know about you? Be brave – share something in a comment on this post. I dare you. It won’t hurt… I promise. Let people in. You’ll be glad you did.
– Mike Figliuolo at thoughtLEADERS, LLC
Hey Mike,
Great post. I guess I need to write something like this as well.
Tom
I really appreciate the chance to get to know you better.
Soylent Green – it’s people!
Or something like that.
“Gt to know your people” sounds like a task on the To Do list, which is already too long. This post shows that it an be fun, and your post about 7Up shows that it can have unanticipated benefits.
Ed
@Ed – amen. It’s not hard to get to know your folks. Talk to them. It can actually be quite entertaining. Great to hear from you and hope you’re doing well.
As a former therapist I always have told people that in order to gain in any area of your life you have to be willing to be vulnerable. You did in this post and my guess is that it will be rewarded. One thing about me is that I took geometry three times…
@showingoffmyassets – 3 times! That’s awesome! In college, I got 100 on a chemistry test once. Unfortunately it was out of 200 (true story). Thanks for sharing!
OK, Mike: my daughter just did a “Top Ten Things You Might Not Know About Janine” at a surprise party for me several weeks ago, so here are a couple: my musical talent is the accordion; and I was a high school english and speech teacher!
Great post, seriously…the vulnerability thing is critical from the stage as well. Thanks for putting it out there!
Janine
@Janine – thanks for sharing. I’ll be sure to book you for my next party as I’ve always wanted to throw an accordion-themed bash! Hope you’re well.
As you and others said above opening up and allowing people to get to know you is a key component of breaking down barriers and building lasting meaningful relationships. Thanks for telling us all a little more about yourself.
Fact you may not know: I’ve been an ordained minister for about seven years now. According to paperwork I married a couple of friends of mine on the same date I was married myself. (12/31/06)
(Soylet Green is my favorite flavor.)
@KSW – an ordained minister as a reader? That’s great! I need all the help I can get…
Seriously, you’re spot on. Vulnerability creates the possibility for deeper relationships. I actually wrote about this very point in a guest post for Keith Ferrazzi’s blog (get there from HERE: http://tinyurl.com/5t8246)
Hi Mike,
Thanks for sharing so honestly. Since we are meeting in a couple of hours this post may be too late but here are a couple:
1. I performed with a women’s African Drumming group. Our biggest performance was ComFest. I consider mayself pretty much lacking in talent and one of the beautiful things about living in Columbus was we still got applause.
2. I consider myself rather unconventional – I appreciate convention – and many of the modern conveniences it brings and I also love to find creative ways to push the rules to develop an innovative solution to a challenge.
3. Much of my perspective came from outdoor vacations with an amazing group of friends – they sang when we ran out of water while hiking with 50 pound packs in Costa Rica. Really made me rethink my complaints about the little stuff. I also really appreciate the conveniences like flushing toilets after not having them for a week- yikes. Even on my bad days I try to find goodness in the people around me. With this group the good was right on the surface. I hope people will look at me and see the goodness more often than the imperfections.