I love Fargo, ND in winter! What do you love?

Last week I delivered a talk for 150 in Fargo at the American Advertising Federation of North Dakota.

AAFND is a fun group of advertising and marketing people, sales professionals, PR pros, corporate communicators, designers… basically anyone who has a stake in the business of communicating. I enjoyed my time with this enthusiastic group and I thank them for inviting me.

"Wait! Fargo in winter? During Christmas week! What are you thinking?"

Many people said I was crazy. In the days leading up to the gig I was laughed at both virtually and in person. A few people from Fargo even got in on the fun such as Alec Winmill who tweeted if I’d enjoy being stuck in Fargo for the holidays.

While it did snow eight inches while I was in town and airport de-icing delays finally got me home to Boston at 3:00 AM after my talk, there were no major hassles.

Get out of your comfort zone

On the speaking circuit, I encounter many speakers who only work the big, high-paying events. While I enjoy a big payday as much as anyone, I love variety. For me, work is more than just a way to earn a living.

I donate my time when possible by speaking at events where organizers normally couldn’t book be such as at universities and groups like AAFND.

What can you do to get out of your work comfort zone? Why not speak at a local high school or university, sharing something with students? (It will benefit you more than the students!)

Work with interesting people

My speaking calendar is a mixture of corporate events and large conferences, plus international gigs (which I absolutely love), and engagements where my main motivation is to learn something and meet interesting people. The best gigs are those that combine these elements such as the time I was invited to speak in the Dominican Republic and ended up having a private dinner with President Fernandez in his palace after the talk.

How can you leverage your work to meet new people? If you’re a blogger or create videos, some of the best new material will come from the most unlikely sources. If you are curious and open to new ideas, you’ll encounter fascinating people to write about or film.

Donate your time

It's not just speakers. Everybody has something similar to my AAFND gig in Fargo, no matter what your business.

If you run an agency, why not donate your time and expertise at a nonprofit organization or even a government entity. I have done a lot of pro-bono work for the US military and have enjoyed the experience greatly. I'm on the advisory boards of several nonprofits too.

Do something for yourself

The other reason that I was so interested in speaking in North Dakota was that it was the only US state I had never been to. For the past three years, I had been stuck at 49 states visited in my lifetime. Since I was a kid I had a goal to visit all 50 states, so when I was contacted by the AAFND, I could do the gig and cross the final state off my list. Woo Hoo. Fifty states!

As you "work" think about how you can combine business and pleasure. Another thing I "collect" is international surfing locations on the back of business trips. I love to surf! I've managed to squeeze in time in the waves in Australia, Indonesia, the Dominican Republic, Malaysia, Mexico, and a bunch of places in the USA. I also love to catch rock shows while on the road.

How can you combine a hobby or personal interest with your work?

As we enter 2011, figure out ways to enjoy your career. If you're like most people, you work a third of your life. Why not take a lesson from the Grateful Dead and love what you do?

Comments

[Tim Johnson]

The next time you go to Fargo or Duluth or West Nowhere and you get stick for it, remind those naysayers that you get more satisfaction from meeting good people. And there's good people most everywhere.

Thanks for the post.

(BTW: I've been stuck on 45 for a while)

[Tony Faustino]

This post reinforces how there's always an opportunity to do something personally meaningful for ourselves during business travel. I will be conducting a lot of business travel to North Chicago in 2011, and initially all I could think about was the drudgery of extended snow delays at O'Hare Airport from January to March.

Now, my attitude is changing. I have a number of lifelong friends in Chicago-land that I've been meaning to reconnect with. It will take a little extra planning on my part, but it will be so worth it. Also, I have five to six business books already on my 2011 study list. If I'm delayed, now I'll use that time inside Terminal K for some additional reading time.

Thanks for reminding me that business travel is what you make of it.

[Melissa Paulik]

I'm glad you enjoyed Fargo. I came here about twelve years ago to work for a software company that was subsequently acquired by Microsoft. I left MSFT in 2005 but stuck around. I do freelance marketing now. My customers are all in places like Seattle, Chicago and Boston, but I've never really found a reason to leave.

You came at the right time too. We've been having a mild winter. You haven't felt nothing till you've felt 40 below. (actually I contend that you don't feel much past -17)

[Bobby]

A running joke in my life has been along these lines: "You mean people really live in North Dakota?" Kudos to you, David, for stretching the limits of "acceptable" gigs and not caving to some tempatation to relegate yourself to only select venues. When I attain the plataeu of demand that you have (and I hope I do!) it will be one of my stipulations to never be elitist or overly discriminating with the speaking opportunities that come my way. Keep up the good work and have a great and profitable New Year.

[David Meerman Scott]

Thanks so much for these comments. I'm so glad that you agree with me about getting out there!!

Tim - Damned right. I love what I do. I wonder if that can be said about those who are critical of my strange journeys and interests.

Tony - If you're in Chicago in early August, go to Lollapalooza. Go all three days. I've been the last two years!

Melissa - Everyone I met said that they love Fargo and wouldn't leave. That says a lot.

Bobby - I think my approach to gigs has been essential to what I have been able to accomplish. If I only did the "acceptable" gigs, I wouldn't be where I am today.

Happy 2011 to you all.

[Tim Johnson]

David,

It really irks me when people from neither coast are referred to as "Fly Over People." Congratulations for not only being open about new venues and experiences but crowing about it.

Tj

[Brian]

Thanks for visiting and speaking in Fargo-Moorhead! And congrats on your 50th state! We get that a lot...even Alaska and Hawaii get done before ND! :) Love your thoughts on donating time and trying new experiences...nice post.

[David Meerman Scott]

Thanks Tim & Brian. I really enjoyed my time with the group.

[Digital Media]

"some of the best new material will come from the most unlikely sources"

This is true with any business, I've been in very random places that granted me the opportunity to meet some very interesting and eventually valuable people. Either being a direct connection or offing referrals to connections. One of my favorite quotes was overheard at a networking event recently: "You can't sit at home and wonder why your life isn't going anywhere." The more you get out, the more you help others, the more it comes back to you!

[Rickyrea]

Being from Fargo I and a lot of this community appreciated your story.... It has spread around Fargo like wild fire!

Kind regards,
Rick Rea
www.RickRea.com

[David Craig]

Great post David. I started doing a simple little blog/podcast for high school marketing education teachers/students (DECA) in Georgia in October 2010 (www.pathsinmarketing.wordpress.com). I interview marketing practitioners to show the teachers/students what a career in marketing could actually look like. It's early, but it's been fun so far. I'm sure I'll be referencing some your posts as I further develop the blog. Thanks for your insights.