It really can be as simple as that.

If you have a song to sing, some art to share, sportingly or otherwise; if you are making any impact in any cultural context, you will be judged; fairly or otherwise; on the scantest possible witness, and without recompense.

You must domesticate this dilemma; make peace with this witness, and walk on.

The other solution is to lurch into silence, or reside in some narcissistic-sense about the worth of your own words. This does not mean you will be presented with a polarity dilemma of pragmatic popularity versus the personal reality that this is my song. Your idealism is likely to find a home. You may just have to go hunting high and low – Aha.

Over the recent period, various witnesses have underscored this perspective, first exemplified in the practice of one Australian who was not a fan of our Haka, and who had freedom to share. In a secondary piece, reflecting on the response to his initial offering, he would hit the hammertime at the end, with words that nail it, for you and me.

My advice to people who do not like me or my columns is to stop reading them. Irrelevance is my enemy, not insult. Don’t rise to the bait. [Emphasis Mine].

You should likely remember that emboldened line till the day that you words merely reside in the past, as this will help to define your mediated future. Strong opinions that are shared, may receive a strong response; well and good if such happens, as you have hit a cultural moment!

The next witness is a faithful friend who has provided much fodder in this pursuit – Godin-like.

If you know the man’s work, you will empathise with his frank assessment of the economic use of words. As one who bloviates, I have been reminded about the need to be less, and so be more.

You will be judged (or you will be ignored)

Those are pretty much the only two choices.

Being judged is uncomfortable. Snap judgments, prejudices, misinformation… all of these, combined with not enough time (how could there be) to truly know you, means that you will inevitably be misjudged, underestimated (or overestimated) and unfairly rejected.

The alternative, of course, is much safer. To be ignored.

Up to you.

You say it best, when you say nothing at all, could be my song after Seth hits it out of the park.

That may not be so easy to take, but it is the reward of those willing to take the risk – the safer option if you are compelled, and often.

Another crucible for this context was given in response to the posterizing of Kendrick Perkins by Blake Griffin. An OKC man, it must be admitted, but the following words of his, are worth remembering.

In life or in basketball, if you want to be successful and you want to be a winner you must be willing to get posterized. Don’t back down from a challenge, a promotion, taking a risk, facing an opponent or contesting one of the most prolific dunkers in the game. Go after em’, give it what you got and be willing to get posterized. Kendrick Perkins’ response to the posterization sums up what I’m trying to say, “It happens… At the end of the day, if you’re a shot blocker, you’re going to get dunked on.” At the end of the day if you give it all that you have in life, business, sports etc. you’re going to get dunked on.

At this time in the NBA playoffs, the journey of the Thunder provides an admonition to just keep on keeping on – persevere on the edge – it is where excitement happens; or something like that.

If this is you. Consider. More words from Seth.

On creating a hassle

To quote Merlin Mann, “You don’t let the guy with the broom control how many elephants are in the parade.”

Harsh to say, but the fact is that great storytellers and artists and ruckus makers manage to insulate themselves from the people they’re going to hassle. And the job of those that are being hassled by the commotion is to be hassled by the commotion. No commotion, no job.

Insulation both keeps the cold out, but the warmth in. Indeed! Do it.

Finally, and on a personal note for you; if you struggle to put yourself or your words out into the world of ideas; if the pain of letting it all hang out, gives you one hell of a hang up, it is likely that your desire for respect and acceptance from your peers is proving ultimate.

The only way you will come even close to pleasing everyone is by saying nothing, and even then, it is more of a silent consent.

An ancient Hebrew King would describe the cause and its effect in the following proverbial way [29:25].

The fear of man provides a snare…

Ultimately, if you are compelled from within to share your art, there should be a commensurate freedom to share in a manner that suits, unless something more significant is in control.

Your time to communicate has a punctuation.

When you consider your words, consider your time.

It is limited.

Your time is NOW!

Until Next Time

iamjonnyking

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According to the timeline, it has been some 2 months and 8 days, under one full year, since I have last left words on the iammediaking blog.

Stealing time, would you steal no more!

This period of silence, in some respects, reflects the betwixt and between positioning, as to what exactly should fill these spaces.

A plethora of possibilities, but a couple would include a yellow-brick-road distillation of the pursuit of dreams already noted on this platform. Yes; to be a commentator of sorts. This becomes much more personal in nature, which can involve dangerous signs and some intimate ways, which may be more suited-to-stand, on another platform – naked conversations, and all.

Another thought has been to use this context as a means to resource the online world through my own navigations, with material that fits the various media themes that have first impacted me. This idea has some real resonance, with the idea of receiving and giving, both effective toward personal implementation, while also reflective of a healthy communal worldview.

It may finally fall out of the sky, and like gravity, move my hands to the keypad. Whichever way it turns, iamjonnyking will certainly look to use quick hands, out the backs.

I do have words to share next that speak both personally and effectually for any and all who have a song to share.

No Matter – Let Your Art Be Free

Until Next Time

iamjonnyking

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Insight into my wonder years affirms that when dreaming the future; sports commentary was referenced as that future when I would become old enough, if good enough.

Early on in these years of maturation; one would reside far from this vocational home, as a path littered with retrospective fashion and numerous old books filled the lofty precincts of my world.  Slowly, and socially, this present session seems to be mediating toward this historic home.

In the busy-ness of trying to be more than just a triple threat; in words – written, spoken, visiblised - the pursuit toward reaching this reality has begun to outwork itself in the interconnected tension of talent versus time. However, in the SupeRugby year of 2011; I have begun.  My present attempts at calling the game of Union have begun in very humble settings, as I have tried to, at least, provide some indication that my words have the required gravitas to bring the game home, which you can find – HERE.

Last night sitting in the stands of Westpac Stadium, Wellington, as the All Blacks would destruct the Bokke; a couple of senses scored points in my world.

[1] If you have spent time with me; you know that I am verbose – some would say; annoyingly so. As I sat on my plastic yellow seat, and the Second Half was taking hold, the poor people in front could not resist any longer, affirming that they had their very own commentator.

[2] This is the first significant Rugby match I have been to since I have begun calling matches. I complete my own commentary based on the moving pictures beamed into my world, while absolutely dislocated from the entire context; no audible assistance; referee or otherwise.  It became quickly apparent, with my recent experiences conditioning me for the contest that there is such a greater ease to call when one is indeed plugged into the context, thereby also highlighting the limited extent of my present commentary world.  This was an encouragement.

[3] In light of this; my thoughts have been stoked with the semblance of how grand it would be, if one could acquire a position that provided the platform to unleash the commentating beast live from the grounds and into your world. Now this has always been the goal since I have started, but such highlights were now reel on film.

Context is King & Contacts are King, while iam singularly, jonnyking.

If you know where to find me or where to point me home; please do not hesitate from pointing in the right direction!

Until Next Time

iamjonnyking

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Seth Godin hits the creative nail on the head in this piece… again… resonating with many of the creative convictions of iamjonnyking.

After discussing the fear associated with “overextending” in a “commodity business,” with the real price often translating into a lack of compensation or exploitation for the workers; Godin would say the following:

Here’s the thing: creative work seems to be an exception. In fact, the exhaustion from overextending yourself creatively is some of the best exhaustion you will ever feel. An organization that provides a platform for people to push into their fear will produce both better work and a better workforce.

No, we don’t need more TPS reports. Yes, we need to figure out how to push ourselves until we’re creatively overextended.

The Exception.

If you want Exceptional work, it seems a good idea to look for the Exception, and in Godin’s words, such “creative work,” is one such Example!

iamjonnyking is building his reputation on producing quality work, evidencing both these realities.

Let me help you by adding to yours!

Until Next Time

iamjonnyking

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If you are not on Twitter, then this should be your first stop!

After passing this, Go, you can connect with any number of interesting people that I hope will include… Me!

Now, Me, does have a number of tweeting persona’s, so this is not as easy to answer, but I believe not a one is non grata!

You can locate each and every one of these account platforms in the following Gallery of Recent Works… HERE.

However, the latest that will directly connect you to this site, iammediaking, and all that will flow out from it’s midst is now up; running; ruminating; with maybe even a remonstration or two !

Without much more ado about something, I warmly invite and welcome your presence on iammedia_king.

I am not one to go it alone, so if you are alive and tweeting, I will return the insistence!

Looking forward to it!

Until Next Time

iamjonnyking

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If this is the first time you have connected with my context, then the header may not read too much.

However, many-to-most will have come into contact through one or a number of my mediated platforms in the media world of iamjonnyking.

Therefore, in light of this growing reality; iammediaking is [1] the online field to reign in my wandering cattle and [2] the Tractor to ‘pull’ you in for more.

Maybe we can plow together… Old Skool morphing into New School?!

I am always on the hunt for opportunities and avenues with which to offer my gifts and talents to the wheel, and I do desire to move onward and upward into some other media contexts.

If you would like to see all that I presently offer in this context; check out this page… HERE… where these are uniformly located for your ease and pleasure!

While I call these places, Home; I also presently contribute in a couple of other contexts.

As part of my role with BackingBlack, I am the BackingBlackBlogger, which is really just more righteous bloviation on my part, in an All Blacks context.  It was a big 2010 in this context, and very soon, the 2011 edition will be underway, which will be H-U-G-E!

Wait There Is More.

The name, Bob Skinstad, has a pretty sound resonance in a rugby and media context.  Bob, a RWC winner in 2007, and now SuperSport comments man in South Africa, also has an online presence through his site, Rugby Journey, where I also play my part.  We began this interaction in late 2010, and look forward to this building in 2011 and beyond!

Why Stop Now?!

In this year of 2011, iamjonnyking has begun commentating on-line.  This has been a very exciting and personally rewarding development that has had good feedback to-date. SupeRugby has been the sole sporting domain of my verbal utterances, but there is potential for other sports; Rugby League should not be too far away.  This is an area that I would like to take all the way to top.  Time will be telling.  You can find the page and the weekend recordings… normally two, sometimes, three… HERE!

What about you?

Curious about this context?  Interested to know more?  Wanting to talk about an idea?

Never let silence be your consent!

Connect.

You can contact me, as easy as that, on the following link… HERE!

If your idea is alive and kicking; pass the pulse!

The wait is over!

Until Next Time

iamjonnyking

Welcome to the image that has pride of place on the Shakespearean Rugby Club, expressing a passion for communication and sports, which finds its direct outworking in a rugby club and context. If you are curious as to the, why, of the photographic presentation, it is intended to key into some Shakespearean themes.

The words reflect the reality of the scribe, and his desire-to-style in future interactions, with plenty of love from above – George Dawes.