How do you Fit 200 Posts in a Box?

You don't. Instead you appreciate that someone with a long history of work in corporate America wants to find the time to learn and experiment, has the appetite for growth -- the company's and its employees -- and the gusto for going for great. Why insist on categorizing all of this?

This is my 201st post at Conversation Agent and I've been called the most disparate things. Some people classify me as a communicator, some as a PR person, others as a marketer. Some think I am a consultant with my own business, others say they have no idea of where to fit me. And that is just perfect. 

"A page is good only when we turn it and find life urging along, confusing every page in the book. The pen rushes on, urged by the same joy that makes me course the open road. A chapter started when one doesn't know which tale to tell is like a corner turned..." [Italo Calvino, The Nonexistent Knight]

Most of the jobs that exist today we invented. I'm the product of an education in the classics and an absolute passion for results: a hybrid for sustainable work. There are a lot more people like me out there, more than in the past. Our careers have become nonlinear, we have taken control and we have decided to become ourselves despite all the indications and warnings that we should indeed learn to fit in a specific box.

Even blogging is a disruptive activity. Those who have done it for a while know what I'm talking about. We challenge our own assumptions and formulae to come up with fresh content that people will find the time to read. We are the building blocks of a conversation started first in the course of our experience and then spilled over the page.

I would not be at 200+ posts without the support of all of you, my readers. And without your curiosity and contributions, I would not have advanced to 536 unique permanent inbound links in such a short period of time -- remember that I have a split personality even on Technorati: domain URL and Typepad URL. I have achieved much more than I set up to do and all in good fun.

So what's next? We'll be talking more about brands, products, services, and business. My aspiration is to continue to be link-worthy, especially if I got an unexpected link from a Hugh MacLeod at gapingvoid (I know there is a cartoon in it too, and he has me almost convinced that Microsoft is a good company), Tony Hung at Deep Jive Interests (who got his very own cartoon from Hugh, and just about convinced me that the word Herald with Blog makes sense), and from John Moore at Brand Autopsy (he has me almost convinced that Starbucks is a good place).

Nothing is ever set in stone. This chapter was started on purpose to turn a corner and find life urging along. Thank you for reading.

Comments

[Lewis Green]

Valeria,

Congratulations on your 200th. And have fun on your journey to the third century mark.

[Greg Krauska]

Congratulations on this milestone and the time, heart and energy it represents. Your ideas and how you express them are a gift.

[Mark Goren]

Keep it up, Valeria! I have no doubt that you'll remain link worthy for a long time to come...

[NW Guy]

Valeria,

Thanks for including us on your journey. Not being able to classify your blog isn't a problem - a good read that provides useful insights!

Please remember that there are good independent bookstores outside of Philly; several here in the NW and also a nice one in Milwaukee; spread the love.

If only the rest of us could be as bold and brave to blog.

Thanks again for the insights and new thoughts on resumes. It takes a lot of introspection to tell the story of a career; not for the faint of heart.

[Geoff Livingston]

200 is a great number. You may be a lot of things to a lot of people, but I am sure that great and thoughtful is included in everyone's description of you!

[Joe Raasch]

Hi Valeria,

Congratulations on your 201st post!

Your unique strength in framing and sustaining conversation on salient and interesting topics is why you have so much 'link' attention. I would bet your 'hits' are strong as well.

If I had to box it, I would say, "Conversation Agent". Oh. See - you had it right from the beginning!

I look forward to each new post and the conversation that it sparks - true gold in my day!

Warmest,
Joe

[Valeria Maltoni]

Lewis -- dear me, we'll need true help if I live to 300 ;-)

Greg -- I'm fascinated to discover that the posts I put most time into I write for my readers. So yes, heart and energy are well invested.

Mark -- media and the way we could be presenting ourselves for the future have been both on my mind recently. It could have something to do with my write up for The Conversation Age.

Bruce -- you are very kind. Introspection is one thing I do especially when I run long distance and I've been training for a run. Often new ideas are just around a corner if we're willing to look.

Geoff -- I think we all are a lot of things to a lot of people. For a long time, companies have tried to squeeze us every which way and make us flat. The story was the organization being flat, in reality we were the ones getting there. I want to put the proper dimension and perspective to people and work. It's important. We largely define ourselves by what we do. And we are so much more than that.

Joe -- served fresh every day. Blogging has allowed me to do more of the thinking work I so love. And of course, it exposes me to great thinking from all of you.

[Roger von Oech]

Congrats on 200, Val!

[steveroesler]

Congrats, Valeria,

You are not to be categorized and put into a box. Your gift of connecting and being connected allows you to both give--and take--from the relationships that follow.

The more you synthesize, the more your uniqueness shows.

[gianandrea facchini]

not being categorized is a plus to me. congrats,g.

[Mike Wagner]

Congrats!

Love your observation - "blogging is a disruptive activity".

We blog to disrupt! First, to disrupt ourselves and then to throw a pebble, stone or cement block into the big pond called the blogosphere.

Thank you for your disruptive ways!

Keep creating...more disruption,
Mike

[David Reich]

Congratulations on 200. Looking forward to all the conversations in the next 200.

And don't let anyone put you in a box.

[Valeria Maltoni]

Roger -- thank you, dear friend. I have been enjoying your amazing recollection and use of the classics in new ways.

Steve -- any time you want to do a brainstorm lunch, you're on. I keep buzzing for days.

Gianandrea -- thank you for keeping me grounded on my Italian roots.

Mike -- sometimes I surprise myself. What can I say? The only way I know is forward.

David -- the box kept appearing in many of my conversations with recruiters and hiring managers. The strength I bring to the table is exactly that I do not fit into the darn box.

[David Armano]

Valeria, I have been such a bad blogger—I've been doing too much work and not enough blog reading. :)

Congratulations on 200! May there be many more to come.

[Drew McLellan]

Valeria,

You are, in the language of baseball, a utility player. You can be placed in many different positions and everyone breathes a sigh of relief because they know wherever you play -- you will contribute.

As long as you're on the team, who cares what position you're playing!

Happy 200th. I can't wait to see where you take us next!

Drew

[Valeria Maltoni]

DA -- yes, you have been BAD as in brand and design. You have had a great run at Logic+Emotion lately.

Drew -- thank you, that is a very nice thing to say. Funny how this is playing out exactly like you say in my current job. Even though I am part of the severed team, people still come to me for everything.

[C.B. Whittemore]

Valeria, belated congratulations! I look forward to at least 200+ more thought-provoking and wonderful posts! Thanks for sharing your boundless curiosity.

[mindblob]

How in the world did I miss that? Sorry for being late.

CONGRATULATIONS Valeria ! ! !