Support Teams
It’s been a long, tricky last few years for me. Somewhere in the fall of 2005, I started getting really passionate about social media. I went to a conference in April that convinced me that I was on to something. I attended BarCamp Boston in June, and that gave Christopher Penn and I the idea for PodCamp.
In September 2006, I left behind a typical day job and joined a full time adventure. I started by working with Jeff Pulver, where we took on both a conference and an Internet startup at the same time. And as of last winter, I joined Stephen Saber and CrossTech Media in a similar-but-different set of endeavors.
All the while, I’ve been maintaining a blog, a newsletter, speaking outside of where I work, attending conferences outside of what might be 100% germane to my business, and doing all kinds of other projects and experiences outside of those where I draw a salary.
I’ve been doing this for just about three years at this point.
My wife and children, as you might imagine, have to give up time with me for some of this. I work long hours. I travel quite a bit. I do a lot of creative things that run very late into the night.
This past weekend, my wife Katrina attended PodCamp Boston 3 with me. It was the first time she had been able to come to an event with me. (That came courtesy of my parents, who watched our children for a little over 30 hours to help us make this happen.) She came to some sessions, sat with me in that beautiful glass lobby, and ate dinner with me Saturday night with a few new friends.
It was great seeing Katrina talking with friends of mine like Jane Quigley, and watching her practice what she calls her Canadian sense of humor (awkward humor is Canadian?). It was so wonderful to see Katrina in the audience. I hadn’t had that experience yet - ever - in all of this that I’ve done. It made a world of difference.
I’m a selfish guy. I don’t mean to be, but it’s something that I recognize in myself. As such, I sometimes take for granted just how lucky I am to have the love and support of my wife and children while doing all kinds of crazy things in pursuit of this vision I have. There are sacrifices and lots of faith that go with all that she’s done for me, and I’d like to pause and recognize this.
I’m proud of everything Katrina does on her own and with the family. My kids get the best love and affection, and every day, I come home to a new adventure that she’s cooked up for them. I’m proud of what she’s accomplished, and excited to imagine what comes next.
Further, maybe you who are also pursuing your own versions of these dreams might take an extra moment to thank your support team, too.
Thank you, Katrina.
Photo Credit, Mr. C.C. Chapman
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Comments
Awwwwww! What a sweet post… I’m guessing there’s a LOT of support teams to be thanked out there.
It’s so cool Kat got to attend. And as much as everyone enjoyed her Canadian sense of humour, I hope they understand she’s got her own special brand of it. That name tag? That’s ALL Katrina. :)
Not only is she supportive AND funny, she’s also smart, generous, creative, perceptive and whacky. I admit Kat MAY have a small issue with mailing a foam topper mattress to her best friend of 24 years who is melting away in Afghanistan… but other that she’s just AWESOME! (tee hee)
Now tell me, has she been assimilated? Will she have a blog of her own soon? Let her know I’ve finally got one… but can’t tell anyone where it is yet because I haven’t figured out how to make it look pretty.
Wonderful post Chris “the husband” Brogan. Love you Kat. :)
Nice post, Chris. Has inspired me to think about my own situation and the people who are supporting me through it. Expect a blog post later. :)
Hi Chris!
This morning, while having coffee with my fiance, I just made a similar discovery: I am so lucky to have him by my side and have him listen to me ranting about all my future plans. I do sometimes take it for granted, but I hope I remember not to often enough :)
What a nice post. For me it is my son, who at the young age of 18 often reminds of very simplistic and yet brilliant marketing concepts, as well as supporting me and believing in me and my work even when I don’t. Thanks Zach!
JR
God bless the wives and families of us slightly brain damaged entrepreneurs!
Thanks Kat for letting us have a little more of Chris than we should. He is a great influence on space.
I agree, Chris- the support team is everything.
One of the reasons I love having my social media friends crash at our house during Podcamp Philly, brought my kid with me to Podcamp Boston is to let everyone know I have a family, and to let my family know my friends are more than just words/people in the laptop box. For me, it is a wonderful closing of the loop, so to speak, where my world became somewhat more complete.
(and I was singularly proud and excited when I heard my 13 year old started presenting with Guido Stein in the Brain Torrent Room on how you should put together your podcast, based on what you care about most.)
Kat is truly wonderful-and you are a very lucky man.
There’s an old saying that “No man can be a success without his wife’s permission.”
Adjusting for modern non-gendered language, this is as valid as it’s ever been. I feel very fortunate to have a supportive wife who’s a great mother to our kids and who puts up with my various kooky schemes. (Get a Ph.D. while earning a paycheck AND freelancing? Sure!)
Good for you - and Kat! - for recognizing what you have in each other and for sharing that journey.
Chris, I think I might be where you were in 2005 (a different story of course, but the basics are similar).
I’m also caring for my little one and he’s been my #1 passion, but blogging and all of its social accoutrements are also a toddler-passion of mine. Perhaps the two are related. Social media also going to a big part of our kids’ future, so maybe you’re doing your children a big favor in a way you might not even fully realize.
Anyway, your post here couldn’t come at a better time for some random dude like me. Sincerely: thank you. Ciao!
Bravo Chris, great post and something we all need to think about more often as we travel (real and virtual) through this social media industry. Some of my favorite moments has been when I got to introduce my wife and son to folks I’ve become friends with through blogging/twitter/etc. It is as if they already know each other and through that introduction we all gain a bit more visibility into each other.
/kff
Anyone that puts across “nice guy” as effectively as you do–could only be a nice guy. Not to forgeting to mention consideration. In fact you are so effectively a nice considerate guy, you even let us know that you are human and not nice and considerate all the time. If you can market “nice” and “considerate” with a dose of I’m a really human being—you have cornered it. Its really amazing to watch how well you bring these characteristics to everything you seem to do—“What you want—is more important than what I want you to want and by the way thank you for wanting what you want—I am interested.”
I’d say your wife and family are very lucky—but then I would have missed the point of this post altogether.
Katybeth
Beautiful post! I share that sentiment. One of the reasons I married my husband is because he puts up with my crazy ideas and supports me 100% in my big dreams. I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing without him.
It’s easy to get caught up in the madness and the busyness. It’s so very important to take time to appreciate the people that love you and support you.
I, too have recently started to introduce my husband to the friends in my online community. It’s a wonderful experience to have him share in this, and helps him to understand a little more where I’m coming from.
Excellent!
Love your post. It’s great that we’re entering an age where men like you and Joel Comm freely and proudly acknowledge their wives as part of their support team. Congratulations on being “lucky in love.” - I’m positive it’s not just luck, though. It takes two.
Awesome post and great reminder for all of us to stop and thank our loved ones who help us get through each day.
Ah, so true.
My muse is my Abyssinian cat; a completely insane breed of cat that gives you a belly laugh every day.
I just wanted to say that I think it’s awesome your wife got to attend and share one of these events with you. I know what it’s like to let all of this run wild and take up time and my own g/f has dealt with some of my own moments. It’s precious the love and support we get from our loved ones… Anyway, congratulations on sharing something together just a little more personally :-)
[…] by this post from Chris Brogan today, I want to take a moment to give much love and gratitude to the people who are helping me through […]
Meeting and speaking with Kat was a highlight of PodCamp Boston 3. On introduction, she said she was your daughter - again the Canadian humor - Awesome!
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Well said. I recently started out as a freelancer, It was brave, stupid, and scary. My wife said, “Tell me what I can do?” I couldn’t get by a day without her.