Are you into irony? Here’s one for you. It is very ironic to look at this empty space, which says, “Say Hello. Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing.”
Of course it isn’t my first post. I would guess my first blog post was forty years ago. Maybe more recent than that, but trust me. This isn’t my first one.
Nor, as a company, this isn’t the first time we choose to be “storytellers.” We already know, all connections happen around stories. Ours also happens to be a story worth telling. The ironic thing is, this post will soon be overshadowed by a second one, then a third one, in close succession, because now we have to “make-up” for lost time.
Only those true followers, after this blog starts getting populated by stories from me and the ISM staff, will dig down later, to find this original post on the ISM website. THERE’S THE RUB. As the saying goes.
But, if I let that stop me from telling you the story, then I’m no true storyteller. I think it was on a camping trip as a cub scout, around the camp fire, that a Scout Leader tickled my desire to tell stories by inviting us to make up the wildest story we could think of. If I’m not mistaken it was about making a scary story.
(except we would never have guessed we could watch stories on our phones)
THE ISM BLOG
Our blog is here to entertain, educate, make connections and also to inspire comments. Without comments, there’s no conversation and no proof that any connections were made. It is a sad and lonely thing for a blog to endure that you gave a party and no one came.
Usually with blogs, especially if written well (sorry I’ll do my best but I’m hardly a professional writer and I absolutely refuse to let an AI bot rewrite this for me, although I’m sure that very soon, one will be pushing me to let it “transform it into a delightful rendition of my original thought”–usually with well written blogs which feature something interesting by way of content or images or I guess now—a good YouTube video. Together with an effort to “drive traffic” to it, usually there are some readers. Even if they don’t comment. We have tools to understand that data too. But my ask is for you to engage with me. Let me know what was interesting and what was boring, what was enjoyable and what was time wasted or worse, something that caused you to be upset.
TRAVEL AND AIRBNB
So, now the story. My son and I like to travel. We were in Rome twice last year, in the Azores, saw Pompeii, visited remote Roman ruins in coastal Italy where very few Americans seem to know about. We loved Spain.
He loves the Beatles and during and Atlantic crossing, we met the brother of Harry Nielsen while we were enjoying some Beatles music, and of course Drake Nielsen is still friends with Paul and Ringo, and even when John was really hanging out with his brother Harry (Harry of course is the iconic song writer who wrote Put the Lime in the Coconut and all the music for the animated, prime time feature, in 1971 called The Point), Drake was really forming a strong friendship with Ringo, though I’m guessing Drake called him Ritchie in the old days. What an adventure!
THIS SUMMER
We will be away for two months in the summer, spending time all over Asia. So, my house will become an Airbnb rental during that time. I’m learning how to navigate that space. I’m luckier than most because it is easy for me to outsource all that hard work of Airbnb management.
But I’m happy to share what I’ve learned and if we can help you with your Airbnb, please don’t hesitate to contact us, either through our website or just calling me in Kansas City. You’ll find that my associates and I will love the chance to make the connection and learn about you through your story. Or if you simply want some help with marketing your Airbnb or handling details of managing the property, including the cleaning between guests or collecting deposits, or whatever you may need. We’re here to serve you.