As of today, I have 352 subscribers and followers here after 11 months of (intermittent) writing. Thanks for being one of them.
Many of you know me. Many of you don’t.
That’s okay. I like my little mix of stories and jokes and business reflections.
But here’s the thing.
I’d like to know more about what YOU’RE interested in.
So, here’s a little game.
I’ve made a list of items about ME (below).
At the end of each bullet is a link. It doesn’t go anywhere.
But if you want to hear more about that item, click on the link. The “click report” will tell me what you’re interested in.
Click on one. Or many. Or none!
Facts, Themes, Anecdotes, and Peculiarities
I was named Alec after my parents saw the name Alec Guinness in the Star Wars credits in 1977 (click)
Grew up all around the Pacific Northwest (USA) (click)
Wrote, directed, and starred in a play for my 4th grade talent show (click)
Been a Christian most of my life, with a few valleys in there somewhere (click)
My first job was Dairy Queen (even though I’m allergic to milk) (click)
Taught myself web design in college (click)
I went to Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA and studied Business Administration by accident (click)
Spent most of my 20s as an online marketer by day, actor by night (click)
I studied Shakespeare at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London (click)
I sold a comedy TV pilot script to ABC (click)
Been married to Katie for 17 years now (click)
We have three girls and an Irish terrier named Penny (click)
I’ve now lived in Los Angeles for 28 years (click)
I founded one of the first social media advertising agencies (click)
Before growing that agency (McBeard) to 150+ people, I was never a boss or had a direct report (click)
Sold that company in 2015 in a life-changing moment (for both good and bad!) (click)
I suffered from esophageal dysphagia most of my adult life (meaning, food gets caught in my throat), until a pill fixed it nearly overnight (click)
I had (at least) one alcoholic drink every day for 2,000 days, until one day, I didn’t (click)
I tell my friends I’m having a “very reasonable” mid-life crisis, which is 62% a joke (click)
I’ve invested in 99 companies as an angel investor. Jury’s out on whether or not this was a good idea. (click)
I went to Club 33 in Disneyland two weeks ago. (click)
I am recapturing my love of storytelling, comedy, and sharing my hard-won wisdom with others (click)
I’ve performed 4 times at The Moth and at 4 different stand-up open mics, all in Los Angeles. (click)
Maybe that’s too many, but you get a sense of what I’m working with.
I’d be delighted for you to click on any of those links OR leave me a comment directly!
Hat tip to:
David McIlroy posted his self-introduction, which gave me this idea. He’s from Northern Ireland and runs a Substack called How to Write for a Living. I can’t quite grasp what it’s all about.
It would be cool to hear more stories about your business! The standup would also be great!
okay - love this idea. about to click away!