Tim Miles, Wizard of Ads | The Daily Blur » Play

Opening Day

Tim — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 02:07:33 +0000

About four years ago, I sat at the bar with Scotty and Aric – my two buddies.

That night, for the first time, I said out loud:

“Our son has autism.”

I didn’t break down in tears when I told them. The tears came about an hour later when it occurred to me – there with my guys – and I muttered aloud:

“I guess he’ll never get to play little league.”

It’s funny the things you focus on as a relatively new dad – the things that you idealize and dream about and consider important.

At that time we had no idea what was in store for our family over the next few years. I guess none of us do.

I could rack up a bazillion baseball metaphors, but I won’t.

I will tell you the kid loves baseball. He adores baseball.

And, God Bless Him, we are fortunate enough to live in a special town with some special people that started a special league for special kids.

We’ve all come a long way. Him most of all.

About four years later – tonight – I asked my son if it would be okay if I was his coach in the Challenger League of Daniel Boone Little League Baseball.

He looked me in the eye. Unprompted. If you know him, you know that’s something, but there’s more.

“Yes!” he said.

If you’d like to come cheer on some special kids, look us up on Monday evenings on Diamond 4.

Three innings. Everybody bats. Nobody loses.

Nobody.

Later, after he went to bed, his mama told me what Will told her about me being his coach:

“That … is … exciting! Now, everyone will know he is my dad!”

Happiness: This Week's Desktop

Tim — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:26:34 +0000

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Weird: This Week's Desktop

Tim — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 16:24:07 +0000

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Are You A Gift Artist?

Tim — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:51:49 +0000

Do you give great gifts? Perfect gifts? Are you that person?

Each of us has that one person in our realm of association who’s just a better gift-giver than everyone else. They make a high art out of giving just the right gift.

That’s a powerful skill to possess, my friends.

Think about how you scratch your head in wonder at how he surprisingly came up with just the right thing.

My friend and colleague, Paul Boomer, recently gave me a pen and a book that leave me still scratching my head. In an effort to help you present more thoughtful gifts to your clients, vendors, and friends, I’ll deconstruct what Paul did:

He gave me a pen. As a writer, I value a good writing instrument as much as I value good verbs. I will constantly have his gift in my hand. When planning your next gift, think what would be of good use to your recipient.
He made the pen. Yup, that’s what I said. Sorry to bury the lede. He made the sucker – out of Paduke, an exotic wood that will darken with age. “How long did you take to make this pen, Boomer?” “Oh, about four hours.” When planning your next gift, think how you can invest more time than money.
He sent a follow-up email later that evening with hyperlinks detailing how the pen was made. He saw that I was clearly very interested in the process, so he anticipated my questions and provided me a bonus gift of a great story. When planning your next gift, think how you can make it even more special by providing a good story.

His second gift – the book – was originally published in 1980 and just recently reprinted.

Are you familiar with the Choose Your Own Adventure older-children’s books?

You see, Boomer and I often talk together to prospects about the defining characteristics of good websites. I’ve often asked prospects if they were familiar with those books as they’re a great analogy for how visitors with different personas will each travel different paths on a site but all should hopefully end up with the princess and not being eaten by the dragon. He’s heard me say something similar on a dozen occasions.

The book symbolically means nearly as much to me as the pen.

When planning your next gift, consider any analogies or metaphors your recipient may use with frequency – are there any symbolic gifts you may give them?

To make a memorable impression when saying, “Hey. You matter:”

Invest more time than money.
Keep your ears and eyes open and don’t be afraid to jot down notes now in your little black book ahead. Always be shopping.
Give gifts at the most unanticipated of times.

Become an Artist of Giving. No need to thank me.

Consider it my gift to you.

A Love Letter to Dr. Seuss

Tim — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:44:59 +0000

Dude,

More than anyone not named Miles, I owe you for what I do today.

I started reading your books when I was two or three and haven’t stopped. The first book my son and I read together? Yours, too.

When I can’t write a word that’s made just right, I make up my own that fits in quite tight.

Your words kick around my head like drumbeats, and I write to your rhythms to this day.

My son can come into my office and see me typing one-handed while counting out measures with the other.

This is your fault, bub.

You began your career getting rejected by pert near every publisher under the sun. In that, you taught me persistence.

Your words speak of grace, kindness, and heart. In those words, you taught me what to teach me son.

Your rhythms help make my house payments. In that, you taught me, umm, how to use words to make house payments.

The National Education Association is using your birthday, March 2nd, to kick off Read Across America:

It’s NEA’s Read Across America week and more than 45 million readers across the nation are preparing to join the nation’s largest reading celebration.. From book balls to pajama read-ins to week-long read-ins, the celebrations will mark the thirteenth year for NEA’s signature literacy event. Looking for news and ideas? Check out the Read Across America Facebook fan page and pledge site where events large and small are being posted.

Thanks, Doc. You changed my life. Since I met you, I’ve never met a book I didn’t want to read, and I grew up to be in the serious business of adventures.

Your friend since Age 3,

Little Timmy Miles

And now, for you … lovely reader … these parting words:

So…

be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray

or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea,

you’re off to Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So…get on your way!

Big Learnin' In Texas

Tim — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:51:26 +0000

In Austin, Texas, for meetings with my partners. We get together twice a year to discuss what’s working, what isn’t, and why for the couple hundred owner-operated clients we have between us.

We’re all paid on our clients’ growth. If they don’t make more money, we don’t make more money, so I look forward to these meetings every time. Tomorrow, we’ll sit with seven small business owners and consult with them in a roundtable/laboratory setting. It’s an unusual but strikingly effective way to discuss and evaluate strategy.

Any questions for my partners? What’s on your mind? What’s working for you? What isn’t? Why?

(Oh, and it should be noted that I’m going to see Crazy Heart at the Drafthouse tomorrow night … seems to me that you oughta see a movie about a singer-songwriter in Austin, Texas, right?)

Oh. You Want To Be A Writer?

Tim — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:53:33 +0000

Seems like I’ve met a bazillion people who want to be writers. It’s just that very few of them want to, you know, write.

I’m excited whenever I meet someone who’s started taking small steps towards actually doing the thing. Actions arouse my interest.

You want to write? Write. That’s really it.

“But how do you figure out what to write about?”

That’s the easy part once you build the habit. Make it easier on yourself. There are ten billion topics. Pick one. Put pen or pencil to paper or start clicking the keys.

You need something to get you started? Still? Okay. Fine. BUT … this is only if you want to plunge headlong and not just stick a dainty toe in the waters.

From Roy H. Williams’ Wizard Academy Press description for People Stories: Inside the Outside:

It’s 5:00AM and I’m sitting at the bar of an all-night café on the wrong side of town eating a three-dollar breakfast, listening to the smelly, funny stories of downtrodden people who know each other well. Their sparkling banter gives me a glimpse into problems I’ll never touch, victories I’ll never celebrate, a life I’ll never have. These are they who will never have internet access, a credit card or cable TV.

But they seem happy.

I’ve come here to learn what it means to be an outsider in America.

People tell me they want to write. I respond, “You can’t find a pencil?” In truth, few want to write. Most want only to have written. People tell me they want to travel, have adventures, meet interesting people and learn about different cultures. They want to expand their world. I’m betting you can guess my answer to that one… “If you will expand your world, you must crawl on your hands and knees, get on your belly and squirm under the fence that surrounds your insulated life.”

For most people, travel means being pampered by accommodating servants in exotic places. But interesting people, strange cultures and high adventure don’t await you on the other side of the world. They await you on the other side of town. Are you willing to get on your belly and crawl under that fence? Will you invest an hour to enlarge your world? If you will actually do it, not just think about it, but really do it, and write to me about it, I will send you a special gift of initiation. These are the rules:

You must arrive and be seated in a 24-hour eating establishment between 1:30AM and 5:30AM in a part of town where you rarely go. Or perhaps a truckstop beyond town’s edge. The further outside your comfort zone, the better.

If a man, you must go alone. If a woman and concerned for your safety, you can take one other person with you. But make sure your friend understands the goal isn’t to chat with each other, but to glimpse a whole other world that exists side-by-side with the one you know.

While you’re eating and listening and absorbing this strange new reality, think of what these people need most and how you might help them get it. While you’re at it, you might also think a little about what they have that you don’t. There is a rich sense of community among the outcast.

Write the details of your excursion within 24 hours of your meal and email them.

There you go. There’s your homework. Or, awaywork in this case. Are you up for the challenge? Send it to me when you’re done. I can’t wait to read what you’ve written.

Forever: This Week's Desktop

Tim — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:38:27 +0000

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Nice, Conan. This Week's Desktop

Tim — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 18:22:47 +0000

This week’s desktop courtesy of Conan O’Brien’s farewell speech:

Click Image to Download Hi-Res JPG Desktop Wallpaper

Nerd Alert: January 27th

Tim — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:40:56 +0000

Sweet Sisters of Splashing Tablet-y Mercy … this is the first Apple themselves have hinted at something new. Engadget has the story …