This is the one thousandth post on Small Biz Survival. Seems appropriate to make it a Brag Basket.
That means I get to brag first!
I launched this site in January 2006. My thought was that I wanted to share the great economic development stories I received by email with other small town folks. It has grown to so much more.
I owe huge thanks to two blogging mentors: Chris Brogan and Liz Strauss. If you look back just at our 2006 archives, Chris’s name comes up over 100 times, as he commented, shared ideas, collaborated and built an enduring friendship. Liz makes a habit of encouraging small bloggers and helping them grow. When I started participating in her Open Mic Nights, Liz made me feel more than welcome, she made me feel like family. I even had the honor of playing a small role in helping Chris and Liz connect with each other. Group hug and pop tarts all around!
From the very beginning, my mom Glenna Mae Hendricks “Maesz” and Jeanne Cole “OkieJ” have helped enormously, contributing articles, commenting, giving me feedback, and even keeping everything running when I’m gone. Cheers, gals!
Since then, I’ve been honored with some outstanding regular contributors, in Jon Swanson, Zane Safrit, and now Mark Hayward. Jon and I met through Chris Brogan. He isn’t the usual small business writer, and that is part of what makes him great. Zane generously shared comments, encouragement, and then through all of 2008 shared some terrific articles. We both care a lot about small towns, failure, customer service, and lots more. Mark has just come on board as a contributor, based on our friendship on Twitter. I’m going to go visit him on Culebra, and sit on the beach! Gentlemen, thank you for all you have shared.
And many of you have been kind and generous with contributions of guest articles, comments, emails, ideas, and encouragement. And you’ve bragged. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Now it’s your turn. This is a real Brag Basket, too. Jump in and give someone else a pat on the back, share a success from your week, tell us about a splendid failure, brag up a project, or offer a shout out. Just leave your brag in the comments!
And thank you. Really.
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Congratulations on 1,000 posts! That’s a huge accomplishment, a lot of work and a ton of fantastic advice! Thank you for sharing everything that you share, for the education and especially the communication.
My brag today is YOU. I know you and am proud to be a reader and a participant. I’ve even been lucky enough to have a number of one-on-one conversations since I’ve met you. I can now run around telling everyone, “I know Becky McCray! You know, the Small Business blogger who has 1,000 posts!”
Congrats Becky and thanks for all that you do!
Kim, thank you! It’s been great to get to know you, too!
@blacktigersal sent some kind words via Twitter:
“you guys are doing great things for your community and your group is really rounded out nicely. Shout out to your Moms”
And Jen @CrzyBusyEntrpnr has some good news of her own:
“Congrats!! I lost 8lbs off my arm this week! http://budurl.com/SkinnyArm “
Congratulations, friend. persistence.
And I put out a new ebook this week. http://levite.wordpress.com/free-ebook-unchurchy/
Hey Becky, I am a new Twitter follower of yours @whalehunters — congratulations on the 1000th post! I will brag on @hazewalker my online/offline friend from Indianapolis who runs Referral Institute there–consummate, generous network partner.
I live in the city now but have many small biz friends in rural Indiana and family in OK–my sis Mary Green owns K9Manners&More in Broken Arrow; I will point her to your blog.
Becky,
Congrats on reaching your 1000th post milestone. Your hard work and dedication is apparent in the value of the material you share.
Here’s my brag: this week I posted a free (no opt-in reqd) guide on my web site that explains step-by-step how to easily install WordPress and set it up for a blog or web site or both. It includes screenshots of the whole process.
I hope it helps a lot of small biz folks get on-line and get started testing out their products & services before investing a ton of money in web design (as I unfortunately have seen too many of my clients do).
Congrats, Becky!!
Your making a world-wide impact from small-town Oklahoma is an inspiration to us all. Thanks for all you do.
Press on!
Congratulations on your 1,000th post, that’s great!
And thank you for all the opportunities to brag. I appreciate that especially.
Here’s to the next 1,000 posts!
Jon, thank you. I’m honored. And congrats on the new ebook!
Barbara, howdy! A round of applause for @hazewalker! Love those small town connections.
Sheryl, thank you! And I’m so impressed with your free guide! I hope many people will learn from that, because lots and lots of folks need that help.
Paul, inspiration is a strong word. You humble me. Thank you!
Jim, thank you for bragging! Cheers!
Congratulations Becky! That is definitely a milestone.
My brag this week is more like a sigh of relief — the ebook I co-authored and released in December is now in print form. Ready to start shipping them out!
Congratulations Becky!
1000 posts, it only seems like yesterday doesn’t it? The work you’ve done for rural & small business has been fantastic, and I’m glad to call you friend. Here’s to the next 1000 posts!
Regards,
Rick
wow! 1000 posts – that is fantastic! I love what you are doing here, and you are a great inspiration to me and what I’m trying to do.
keep on keepin’ on
@debworks
Congratulations, Becky!
I totally bragged on you today at the Austin Women in Tech business conference, where I was doing “social media therapy” mini-workshops. Talked about http://rural.alltop.com and what a catalyst you were for that site, and how I met you in person only after enjoying your company on Twitter and as a fellow commenter on Liz Strauss’ blog.
Got a few quizzical looks about how I could “know” someone through tweets and blog comments, but I just smiled….
You’re a superstar, either in wide-open spaces or in big city downtowns.
Becky I love what you are doing and you are great at connecting – so I’m bragging on you.
But if I were to brag about me, it would be that I’ve finally got videos up on my site!
Thanks Becky
Sandra, thank you! And big congratulations on releasing your print book!
Rick, it is a bit unbelievable. I’m very glad to call you friend, as well.
Deb, you inspire me, too!
Sheila, I’m so glad I got promoted from being some “random internet person!” I don’t feel like a superstar, but I am having a good time.
Michelle, thank you! And a round of applause for getting your videos up!
Happy 1,000! I just discovered your site and am reading now …
Congratulations Becky! 1000 posts is an amazing accomplishment, and I am thrilled that you’re still writing. I learn a LOT from your articles, and though I don’t comment as much as I once did, you are still one of my favorite bloggers.
Keep writing until you hit 1 million!
Thanks, On the Money. Hope you find value.
Phil, buddy! Thanks so much for dropping in and commenting. I’m thrilled to be one of your favorites!