Wes Thorp is a recently retired newspaper man, Senate staffer, and a lover of stories, and communication.
I met Wes Thorp, through my first blog, a number of years ago. We quickly became fast friends. In fact, I hired Wes as my first blog coach.
Today, my business day was just starting, and into my blog's comment box comes this from Wes:
"David-- If we were drinking a bottle of Great Lakes Red back here in Michigan, I would offer an observation. It's not the pitch about your business. It's the conversation that you've started and you're wanting to lead. Take Seth Godin's premise about Tribes. You're a leader of a Tribe. Then go over to the Cluetrain Manifesto and look at what these thought leaders about the web observed about how the marketplace is changing. Markets are conversations and not pitches. You're sitting at the head of a big global table filled with coffee pots and wine glasses and you're getting people to talk about using social media and blogs for their organizations, whether profit or non-profit. I'd love to be in the elevator here in Lansing and say to somebody, "hey, you need to read this blog post by Dave Porter. Remember when he was in Okemos?" And then share how you are a real listener and a facilitator of information. I've already done that with your post on the Scottsdale PD using Twitter. Every cop and police chief in the country should be coming to your blog to chime in and ask questions and share observations. Just my opinions. I will be following, of course. Wes"
Wes, you are a good friend, and you have brought me great honor today. I greatly appreciate your friendship, your willingness to speak up on my behalf, and your great love of the story.
Every man should be blessed with a friend such as you. My life is truly richer with you in it.
I love you man!
Please give my best to your beautiful family.
