Where to begin. I guess the best place would be free-basing my thoughts on the world as I see it, point out what seems to be right, comment on what I see wrong and accept that there is a certain amount of difference that I cannot change. People are people and bound to do the strangest things, sometimes at the cost of ridicule; but more times than not, by doing something phenomenal which had not been thought or attempted before.

I pride myself on my work ethic, starting at the age of 13 for a family-run store, learning my trade from using all the tools at my disposal (box cutters, brooms, mops, buckets etc) and progressing through all the stages (stock person, cashier, receiver, shipper, organizer, salesperson-par-excellence, and finally management). This was a very rigorous training procedure which took me years to complete. Once I reached the top of my field…..nothing. I don’t know what I was expecting, but after dedicating my time and energy to being the best I could be…emptiness.

This is around the time I took stock of my situation, sat down and decided to tear myself apart and rebuild. The tearing apart was painfully easy, all I did was step away from every circle I had been part of; and point myself in a different direction..Manual labour.

This put me closer to the people I felt kinship with…my customers. I felt more at home helping people than trying to sell them what I felt they needed. I got to be good at that, and enjoyed the change in scenery. Unfortunately it was around this time that illness befell my family and I had to leave the job to look after business. From my perch at home (hereto referred to as ‘ The Manor of Thinking’) I was able to better evaluate my expertise, My calling, if you will. I figured out after years of banging my head, that helping others achieve their dreams, and helping others overcome recovery was where ‘it was at’.

Two new fields to conquer. I learned that my common-sense approach to work would make the transition to any field I chose; so why not choose them all. Conquer the world, so to speak, one appearance, one blog, one opinion at a time. Since that revelation lit up the room, that’s my goal; to be the best I can at what I do, help those who need assistance to reach their goals and try to understand why the world operates the way it does.

I have two people to thank (besides the doctors looking after my family issues); one who has asked to remain nameless; and The Radical One- Geoff Webb.

I entered Radical Events as their ‘Community Manager’ meaning that it was my job to assist the crew in their projects, optimize the time spent on said projects, and learn how to assist others in their career-choices via the ‘Unconference"’®. As the enigmatic Sourcers’ Apprentice, I use a common sense approach to a new industry- Human Resources, Sourcing and Recruiting. Through the people I have had the pleasure of communicating with over the last couple of years, I have learned that this industry really isn’t that different from ‘Sales’; in fact it is sales of a different variety….

So the next time a blog comes out, or an opinion is being shared; don’t discount the source because I haven’t been in your trenches for undisclosed years. I have the smarts to be able to back up my train of thought; and make our industry better because of it.

Thank you and hopefully I have left you…Something to Think About..

The Source®s’ Apprentice/ Daniel J. Smith.

Next time: Company versus Personal Social Branding…Who do I belong to?