Tam said I should let y’all in on a little secret behind “DO Something”: I never planned this. I’m as MUCH along for the ride as you are. I’m just two steps ahead. And this is, for the record, all y’all’s fault.
Chad Markley sent me a Facebook message during Monday’s Kickoff asking for the “back story” behind this whole “DO Something” series. Here’s the condensed version:
Back in April/May we (that would be me and all my rowdy readers) had a couple of posts that generated discussion re: changing our individual worlds. I wanted to continue the discussion, but summer hit and blog readers scattered…
I quietly collected posts ideas and put it off ’til the fall, finding posts on other blogs that could fit in as well.
THEN I thought I should change my blog theme (go opposite - white) to reflect that we were really doing something different around my.com…
Then I thought it’d be fun to ask a handful (yes, only maybe 6) of my readers that are scattered all over the globe or just volunteering their time somewhere, to write about how they are changing THEIR corner of the world.
Two weeks ago, the “few” guest bloggers, plus the “handful” of global readers, and a “few” volunteers QUICKLY became a list of about 30 names. And some AMAZING stories. But, 30??? WHAT???!!!!!!!!
Then I thought: Dang, how do I facilitate this??? HOW? I thought I’d do something like the 40 day fast thing - listing them in my sidebar - lining them up for different days, etc… whew. Some could write on my blog, some on their blog. I guess I better come up with some kind of logo or something so they can put a link/button saying that they are participating.
I’ve written TONS of emails. I have a google calendar with people lined up for different days. And I have a google spreadsheet that gives me all the info I need on who’s writing what and when…..
But HOW am I going to kick all this off??? Last Monday, while shipwrecked at the ATL airport, I pulled out my camera and started filming myself walking… NOT KNOWING why I was doing it.
Then fiddled with the vid and some effects last week. And realized 4 days ago that I could communicate this purpose through an intro video.
And there you have it.
That gets us to today.
Whew. That was a long stinkin’ history behind all this. Blame it on Tam. She made me do it. 
The whole point is that I really didn’t dream up this idea. I responded to YOU. This is YOUR month.
One thing’s for dang sure: I couldn’t be more excited about what’s happening.
And another thing: I couldn’t be more excited that we’re on this ride together.
There are more changes/additions to come, so if any of you have ideas that you want to add to the mix this month, give me a holler!
21 responses so far ↓
genny // September 4, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Mandy,
Wow. I’m so impressed by your vision and the things you are doing to touch the world. I’ll definitely be back to read more. Thanks!
sarahmarkley // September 4, 2008 at 3:23 pm
the best things are never planned, friend. =)
just go with it. like my new avatar?
mandythompson // September 4, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Sarah: HA! Love the avatar - but I like your face better!
Lisa @ The PW // September 4, 2008 at 3:51 pm
I can not even begin to express how much I’m enjoying reading what you are DOing here. I believe wholeheartedly that the plans God has for us are often things we could never have asked or imagined.
Keep it up, my friend!
LSOF // September 4, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Don’t ya just love how Tam gets ya to open up and spill?
Gotta love her for that:)
I am up for anything Mandy, you know it:)
I shared my beach story with Cathi, I’ll have to send it to you too…
Its been a good day:)
Be Blessed:)
alece // September 4, 2008 at 4:05 pm
you’re a blogging genius.
mandythompson // September 4, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Al: you’re mom’s….
LSOF: I’ll look for it!
Lisa: Oh yes. The asking and imagining have been far exceeded.
alece // September 4, 2008 at 4:11 pm
i’m with drew. you need a new comback.
i’m just sayin’.
alece // September 4, 2008 at 4:11 pm
comback = comeback
mandythompson // September 4, 2008 at 4:13 pm
I didn’t even notice!
alece // September 4, 2008 at 4:16 pm
my perfectionist/anal self couldn’t just let it lie.
@ngie // September 4, 2008 at 4:46 pm
I second the genius nomination.
Your blog is breathing! A living breathing organism made of living breathing people all DOing something!
tam // September 4, 2008 at 4:53 pm
wow. for once, somethings not YOUR fault. this is kinda liberating!
mandythompson // September 4, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Al:
I appreciate that about you!
@ng: Well… That was some kind of compliment!
T: TOTALLY
alece // September 4, 2008 at 10:13 pm
whatever. it’s still your fault.
mandythompson // September 4, 2008 at 10:39 pm
HA!
….you’re probably right.
Angie // September 4, 2008 at 11:58 pm
So, I got a few days behind in my blog reading so i’m a few days behind in your “DO” series. I’ve gotten caught up, and im just not sure what to even say. This is SO inspiring, Mandy! The intro video was so great…it just made me want to make videos all day! Thanks for focusing on the very heart of James 1:22. It really is what following Christ is all about. you’re awesome.
Rachel Rowell // September 5, 2008 at 1:05 am
wow! cool story behind it all. thanks for sharing it with us. You’re amazing by the way.
lovewillbringustogether // September 5, 2008 at 6:17 am
Miss Mandy?
I have been thinking … (oh ohh!)
While your current Do: … is showing great signs of success feel up to another challenge? or maybe help me out with an ‘idea’?
Many people visit your blog - many get inspiration from it and many offer inspiration through it (more so this month!
How would it be….
…if we could somehow ‘list’ what each of your readers has to ‘offer’ by way of expertese? what they are able to contribute to a global community of bloggers?
I was not thinking of necessarily a professional services list or some kind of advertising for business ( God Forbid
) but if we could all have somewhere we could say what we ‘do and are happy to share with others for any who may have a need?
A sort of mentor/student kind of deal we all could benefit from and perhaps form groups of like minded individuals to make our own actions into a more powerful ‘force’??
Could something like that work for this community? i wonder?
individually we can all Do Something - with others of like mind we might be able to do much much more?
<B
mandythompson // September 5, 2008 at 8:30 am
Mr.Love: I think I understand your idea, and I like it! There are talks of this very thing in another corner of the blogosphere… I’ll check in and get back to you on that!
But, I think it’s a GREAT idea. A GREAT idea, indeed!!!
annie // September 20, 2008 at 10:44 am
Hey Mandy -
I’m commenting WAAAYYY back here because this really should be an e-mail but apparently the lnik between our e-mails isn’t working.
Which is what I’m writing about. I’m sorry I didn’t notice sooner that it was odd that you weren’t replying to my e-mails. I guess I assumed you were just busy or something.
A couple weeks ago I e-mailed you asking for how to get the DO something banner. Then earlier this week when you sent me the reminder e-mail I replied and said I had it written already and asked again for how to get the banner. Then, yesterday afternoon I e-mailed again, asking if you wanted to post the post on your blog or have me post on mine and link over to yours and then just went head and included the body of my post in full and both in code and plain copy. sigh. Apparently none of those got through. So I did get the post up on my blog upon waking up this morning. The banner might be a bit grainy because I just copied and saved the image off of your site and then pasted it into mine. I think it lost a lot of pixels along the way.
Anyhoo. That’s my story. I really, really, really was ready. I’m sorry. If you still want to post it on your site, I can re-send it to you. Making sure the e-mail works of course.
K. Loves, Mandy.
Annie