June 2009

Want to Become a Better Man? Start Here.

June 29, 2009 · 16 comments

Primer Magazine: The Weekly Magazine for Guys Who Want to be Better Men

One of the greatest benefits of being a blog writer and ‘community facilitator’ are the people you meet and relationships you develop. With these connections comes some pretty outstanding opportunities. Enter Andrew Snavely, founder and editor of Primer Magazine – The Weekly Magazine for Guys Who Want to be Better Men. Andrew came by the blog, liked what he saw, and a couple weeks later I’ve added my first contribution to Primer as a guest columnist.

In short – Primer caters to men within the twenty-something demographic. Think of it as the ‘transition’ between Maxim and GQ. I asked Andrew to give me the Readers Digest version on how Primer came to be and what market they target:

Primer launched May of ’08 and has been growing ever since. I’ve been really excited with the response it’s received and I look forward to taking it to new levels. I’m in my mid-20′s and the idea really came out of graduating college several years ago. When you’re in college, everyone has an answer to your questions and there are people set up to help you along your path to graduation. But as soon as you graduate you’re on your own. Alone, but expected to act as a functioning adult, and for guys as responsible men.
My other frustration as a long time reader of men’s magazines was feeling like no one was speaking to ME. As you may have read on the About page, Maxim is clearly for horny high school guys and GQ / Esquire is clearly for guys in their early 30′s who have established themselves and have money to drop on $400 shoes. While I do still enjoy reading those magazines, they’re not catered to me: mid-20′s post-college guy just getting started. Primer Magazine caters to men in this ‘transitional’ phase of life.

As online journalists – we’re always up for a new challenge. Writing for Primer allows me to connect with my male brethren in new an unique ways. If Life Without Pants is my day job, Primer is a Sunday afternoon football game at the local pub. Guys being guys – but growing and learning a lot from one another.

I encourage you all to head over to Primer Magazine’s website to check out my inaugural post – The Four Agreements: Toltec Wisdom and the Modern Man. As much as the magazine may be catered toward men – there is honestly something for everyone in this article on how to live a more fulfilling life. I’m extremely proud of this article and I’m thrilled to share it with all of you.

Just another side project in the life of Matt Cheuvront – and yet another reason I love the web, social media, and it’s ability to bring innovative thinkers together. I leave you with a snippet from my first (of many) articles for Primer, and I look forward to the discussion over there and back here. Cheers!

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The Four Agreements: Toltec Wisdom and the Modern Man (by Matt Cheuvront)

…Since then, The Four Agreements has sat next to my bed, much like you would find a bible in a hotel room. In a way, it has become a ‘bible’ for the way I strive to live my life. I shouldn’t complain about where I’m at right now. I’m engaged, I’ve got a good job, a salary, and 401k with benefits. But for some reason, I’m not comfortable with being content – this isn’t where I want to be – I want more. So I’m going against what’s ‘right’ and what ‘makes sense’ — quitting my job, packing my bags, and moving to Chicago with my fiancé to start our life together. It’s scary, hell, it’s downright terrifying. There’s a lot of adversity in front of me, there are far more questions than there are answers, but through it all, I come back to these four ‘agreements’ that continue to serve as the foundation of my attitude toward life…

Check out the full article HERE

You’re Only as Good as Your Community

June 25, 2009 · 38 comments

Simply the best. Better than all the rest.

As a business, as a blogger, as an individual - how do you differentiate yourself from the rest. There are a million people blogging about Social Media ROI – why should you read what I have to say? There are hundreds of tasty brews out there for you to enjoy, why should you drink Fat Tire? (shameless plug for my favorite beer). It’s not about being the best - New Belgium Brewing Co. will probably never be a household name like Budweiser, Coors, and Miller – but they get it. They’re fully aware that it’s not about head to head competition, it’s about specializing, connecting, and giving consumers a unique (beer drinking) experience.

It’s all about perception – and as with pretty much everything, you get what you give. It comes down to Community. A brand your promoting, a blog your authoring, a product your selling – it’s only as good as your community. The more ‘they care’ – the more success you will surely see. Yes, it’s your job to engage and influence the community perception, but it’s up to the general public to determine value. Those that are the best at what they do focus on establishing (and nurturing) relationships within their communities. But they also promote themselves in a way that makes you and I fall in love with who they are and absorb anything and everything they throw our way. Adding real value and leaving people hungry for more.

Is it possible to have one’s cake and eat it too? Can one person ‘do it all’? Let’s take a look at the two (general) perspectives and paths to success:

The ‘Nice guys finish last’ mindset

Many companies and individuals have very limited involvement with their community. But while they may lack the commitment to one-on-one connections they’re still able to realize great success through their outstanding self-promotion. Think Dan Schwabel, Penelope Trunk, even Seth Godin. All very well respected and extremely successful because of their outstanding efforts put toward personal branding. Dan Schwabel is a mastermind in the art of personal branding, (not-so) shamelessly plugging himself, his blog, and his book all over the web. While there is nothing wrong with the approach these folks are taking (hell, I am a regular at each one of the aforementioned authors blogs) – A very select few see success in this approach. Especially for people who are just entering the ‘market’ - building a solid foundation of passionate consumers/readers/etc. is priority number one.

The ‘What’s wrong with kissing a little ass?’ approach

Dave Fleet, a relatively well known social media guru, hits the nail right on the head with his article posted earlier this week. There are many out there who prescribe to the notion that ‘what goes around comes around‘. These folks are believers in ‘you get what you give‘ and are constantly involved with their communities, engaging in discussion, providing additional value to their readers, and actively interacting with the so called ‘little people’ (that would be you and me). Everyone starts here - but very few businesses and individuals are able to maintain that connection with their fans once they ‘make it big’ so to speak.

If you haven’t noticed, I prescribe to this methodology and way of thinking. I asked many of you over the past week what YOU thought was the strong point of my writing and this blog, something that differentiates me from the rest and keeps you coming back - and the response was unanimous: It’s the dedication I have for my community. I make an effort to respond to (almost) every single comment that is left here. I email individuals personally when they have really provided some added value to a discussion, and those of you who email me from time to time know that I respond to everything I get sent my way. I’m active on various social media networks, I get involved in other blogging discussions around the web. In short, I make time for all of you because I AM YOU. I’m just a regular guy, down in the trenches. I may post on some pretty lofty topics, but I’m no expert. I’m simply living my life, sharing my perspective on the world as I go. There is just as much (if not more) value in the comments shared by all of you as there is in the post(s) themselves.

Yes, I know we’re comparing Matt Cheuvront to the Chris Brogan’s and Dan Schawbel’s of the blogging world. I’m fully aware that I am but a small fish in this huge social media pond – but I’m making a name for myself because I give a damn. Part of the reason I do what I do is because I can. I have the time, and I make the most of it. I want everyone who comes through here to feel like their thoughts and opinions are really being heard. As someone who remains active in various blogging communities out there – I understand and appreciate the value in taking 10 minutes out of your day to read (and comment) on a blog post. I understand that without an active community, a blog is a pretty dull place. I can be the most brilliant writer on the web, but if no one is around to read it, if no one cares, if it isn’t sparking some discussion, what’s the point?

A little bit of this, a little bit of that.

As strong as my dedication is to promoting an involved and engaging community within the walls of Life Without Pants. I’m spending just as much time out there getting involved on your blogs and promoting my own ‘personal brand’. Those who sit and wait for everyone to come to them will ultimately never be as successful as those who are out there actively promoting themselves; saying “Here I am, this is why I’m awesome!” It’s up to you to get out there and plant the seeds. Planting seeds means getting involved in other communities, providing value to others, reaching out and going above and beyond what people expect from you. By enhancing your brand perception and image, you’ll get people talking. Those seeds will grow into beautiful promotional tools (people) who will sing your praises and encourage others to buy into what you’re ‘selling’. To quote Dave Fleet:

“As an individual, doing something as a hobby, community is absolutely enough. In fact, it may be the sole end goal for hobbyists and that’s wonderful. For companies, however, you can’t only give back. You need to withdraw push for yourself, too. Community alone doesn’t pay the bills. Revenue and growth does.”

A common theme you’ll see sprinkled throughout the blog that relates to both my personal and professional philosophy is the importance in laying a solid foundation based on relationships. It seems obvious but you would be surprised at how many people don’t get that. Those who do, those who make the time for others, those who ‘care’ - these are the businesses and individuals we respect, admire, and look up to.

Understanding the value of relationship building is crucial, but that’s the easy part. The hard part, and the concept that I have to continue working on myself – is getting myself out there. The ‘self promotion’ piece – and balancing the fine line between being confident vs. being self-centered. The latter is annoying and will undoubtedly turn people off while the former will let people know that you’re awesome and deserve to be recognized.

I challenge all of you to ‘get back to basics’ – reach out to some of your readers and get to know them. Follow up on some warm leads for potential clients and customers. Invest the time in others and they’ll be happy to return the favor.

What do you think? What’s more important: Promoting yourself or your community?

Sometimes the Best Plan is Not Having a Plan

June 22, 2009 · 98 comments

It’s time for a new plan

I’ve always been one to have a plan. Always knowing what’s next, living without surprises, and having it all mapped out. Call it dull or lame, but it’s this non-spontaneous lifestyle that has gotten me to where I am today. I’ve taken the ‘safe’ route time and time again, settling for what seemed like the rational thing to do, even if it mean turning something down I was passionate about. Some of this can be attributed to how I was brought up, but a lot of it is based in fear. Fear of failure, fear of disappointing myself and those who have put their faith in me, and fear of the unknown.

Sorry Mario. You're screwed!

Finally, after 23 years, I’m throwing caution to the wind and I’m facing my fears, breaking away from the routine, and doing the craziest (and probably best) thing I’ve done in my life so far.

Those of you who are close to me – or at least have spoken to me outside of ‘the Pants’ – know that the past several months have been a whirlwind for yours truly. Online, I (we) have managed to create an amazing community here on the blog, 50 of us gathered together for the Inconvenience of Change series, and I’m working on writing my first book. Offline, in the ‘real world’, I’ve been deriving a master plan to pack my bags, leave my home town of Nashville, and start the next chapter of my life with my fiance in Chicago.

Many of us have been through moves – but living in a new place isn’t what I’m afraid of. It’s what I’m leaving behind, the memories, friends, and family. It’s not knowing what the future has in store for me, wondering what the hell I’m going to do with my life once I get there, that scares me to death.

Taking some (leaps) of faith

Last week I put my two weeks notice in at my current employer, and here I am, one week away from packing up my things and heading north, face-to-face with unemployment and a very limited amount of savings to my name. It’s something I never wanted to or planned on doing. In fact, it’s something I’ve spoken out against in the past, calling it ‘stupid and senseless‘. After spending months networking, several trips to Chicago for interviews, and having sent a countless number of resumes and cover letters for jobs of all different shapes and sizes – I still (so far) have nothing to show for it. That recession everyone has been talking about? It’s real. Very real.

On top of that, I’m getting mixed support from my family here in town. They are the ‘voice of reason’ telling me that I should take things slow, spend more time planning, and be ‘realistic‘. Maybe they’re right – maybe it is crazy. I don’t have an argument other than ‘this is what I want to do‘. But isn’t that a hell of an argument? Isn’t life about doing what you want even if it doesn’t make the most sense? Even if it seems completely crazy and there are a millions reasons why you shouldn’t?

It’s not easy for me to leave this part of my life, the only life I’ve known for the past twenty-three years (ehem, that would be since birth for those of you trying to guess my age). It’s hard to say goodbye to it all. But I understand that in order to build toward my future, I have to break away from the past.

To say this has tested my will 100 times over would be an understatement. It’s been insanely stressful. I’ve doubted myself and my decisions over and over again. But I continue to learn more and more about who I am and what I am capable of. To quote American Beauty, “It’s an amazing thing when you realize you still have the ability to surprise yourself”. I am doing just that, surprising myself, learning what ‘living to your full potential‘ really means.

There is no happy ending (yet)

I wish I had a noble conclusion – some eloquent parting words to sum it all up. But if there is one thing all of you can take away from this, one ‘moral’ to my story, it’s have faith in yourself. Believe in yourself and what you want to do. Only YOU can say what’s best for you. We all have passions that go unrealized because we’re afraid to leave our comfort zones. We’re afraid that we might fail. And you know, you very well might. I’m stepping outside the box and making myself vulnerable. Odds are, it won’t all go according to plan – but I have faith, and that faith is supported because I know I’m giving it my all. I remain vigilant in my career search, I continue to network, I pray, and through it all, I make time for myself, my writing, building relationships and continuing to grow this community. I might fail, in fact, I already have – but failure makes you tough, it inspires you to try that much harder next time, it breeds success!

I’m happy. I’m nervous and scared as hell. But I’m happy. And in the end, that’s all that matters. When it’s all said and done; after I save the world, get the girl, and the dust settles, I want to be standing on top of Bowser’s castle knowing that I lived life on my own terms. Played by my own rules. Achieved what everyone told me I couldn’t achieve.

Life is a crazy thing, but every day I learn to appreciate it a little more. Upset the established order you’ve created. Be in the moment. Live without a plan and without restrictions. After all, isn’t that what life without pants is all about?

Defining Success: What is Your Greatest Accomplishment?

June 18, 2009 · 54 comments

You probably stumbled across this post because you’re seeking the answer to one simple, yet incredibly complex question: “What is your greatest accomplishment”? If you enjoy the post that follows, I strongly encourage you to download a copy of my FREE ebook “Welcome to the Real World”, featuring insight and wisdom from 50 of the most inspirational and driven folks you’ll meet. Click here to grab your FREE copy.

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Show of hands, how many of you out there have been sitting in an interview, going through the ringer of questions, when this one pops up and totally throws you for a loop: “What is your greatest accomplishment?” Welcome to the real world…

Talk about a loaded question. Think right now, does something immediately come to mind? Maybe, but odds are you’ve got a million thoughts spinning around up there. A few weeks ago I was asked this exact question during an interview - it was a question that for some reason, I was totally unprepared for. We had already been through the personal ‘SWOT’ analysis – breaking down my strengths and weaknesses, we’d discussed times of overwhelming stress and challenge (and how I dealt with it). I knew the drill, most interviews are pretty cut and dry, but this one had me stumped.

I sat there for a minute, looking down at a copy of my resume, hoping the answer would jump up at me. Nothing. I started to think about everything. Yes, EVERYTHING that I had been through in my life. Growing up, moving around a lot, my parents divorce, going through school, finishing high school, making and losing friends, that one trip to Washington in 8th grade, graduating college, the one episode of Saved by the Bell where Zack and the gang camps out at the mall for U2 tickets, looking for jobs, getting engaged – a lifetime of memories laid out in front of me, swirling around in approximately 3.5 seconds of thought.

It’s safe to say there’s a lot there for all of us – so much so that it’s almost impossible to pinpoint one event from our past that can be considered the definitive ‘greatest accomplishment’. All I could think of was that at 23 years old there’s no way I’ve even really begun to achieve greatness – that my greatest accomplishment (so far) is simply living and working toward writing my life’s legacy. That there’s been no happy ending, that I’ve only written the prologue.

What is Your Greatest Accomplishment?

A couple weeks ago I reached out to all of you fine Twitter followers and asked you to take a minute and put your life under the microscope. To define, in 140 characters or less, what you considered to be your greatest accomplishment. The response was overwhelming and what I surmised from my ‘research’ was the synonymous idea of accomplishment with self discovery, selflessness, and humility.

Collectively, we’re proud of not only what we’ve been able to do for ourselves, but of what we’ve done for our friends, neighbors, and complete strangers.

So before I share MY actual response – the answer I gave that may not have landed me the job, but should have at least warranted a ‘slow clap’ – I want to share the insightful (and inspiring) things you all had to say. Your responses were both humbling and inspiring. As you read through these below, think about what your own response would be. What is your greatest accomplishment? What contributions have you made to the world around you?

What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment? (In 140 characters or less)

What is Your Greatest Accomplishment? (In 140 characters or less)

Whether your greatest accomplishment is finishing college or raising your kids, surpassing the legacy of generations before you or volunteering your time for the less fortunate. We all have something (many things) to be proud of. We all have a story to tell. Every one of these responses serve as reaffirmation that we are all inherently good people. People that strive to do more and be more for ourselves and for our communities.

But keep this in mind: Your greatest accomplishment isn’t set in stone – your past doesn’t define your future. The future is out there for you to conquer – the road ahead is wide open and you’re in the drivers seat. When you think about your greatest accomplishments, think about where you are today, think about being alive, think about all the good in your life and the good you can bring to the world around you.

…by now the silence had achieved ‘awkward status’. It had been a good 30 seconds since my interviewer had dropped this bomb on me…“What is your greatest accomplishment?”

I had to come up with something. I looked up, cleared my throat, and summarized it all in one word: “This”

This response warranted little more than a blank stare from across the desk, so I quickly continued on…“This is my greatest accomplishment, being here, interviewing with you, having this opportunity. My greatest accomplishment isn’t in the past, it’s the present, this moment, the ‘right now’. I’m living my greatest accomplishment every minute of every hour of every day.”

Call it cheesy. Call it cliche. But today is your best today. Today is the new tomorrow. Your greatest accomplishment is everything you’ve done that’s helped you to arrive at the moment we call now.

What is YOUR greatest accomplishment? Is there one monumental event that stands out? Have you been asked this question before? What response do you give?

Are you going through a job hunt? Check out my free Welcome to the Real World ebook with wisdom and advice for new grads, job-seekers, and yeah, pretty much anyone else. Click here to grab your copy.

Mediocre People Do Exceptional Things All the Time

June 15, 2009 · 46 comments

Stop Dreaming. Start Living. We are victims of circumstance. We are products of our surroundings. We evolve based on our environment. Any of these phrases ring a bell? Growing up – many of us are told that our dreams are too big – that we’re aiming too high, that we just can’t do it and our expectations should be lowered.

Doubt is a common emotion within all of us – we doubt our own potential for greatness and our ability to do good and rise above. We’re in a constant battle with self-worry, doubt, and confusion – the thoughts that seek to hold us back and limit our potential. What worries us and brings upon doubt within us? It’s the idea that we must be unique in order to be successful. Your potential for greatness is limitless once you realize that it’s not about being unique, it’s about being the best.

The blogging perspective

Think about it as a blogger. Look at me for example. On Life Without Pants I’ve written about the topics of social media, work/life balance, and personal growth – these topics aren’t anything new, we’ve all read varying perspectives on them from all over the web. But, what I (hope) I’ve done, and what I strive for is to be better than other blogs, to present a fresh perspective. It may be something you already know a lot about, something you might already have a very strong opinion on. My goal is to take those thoughts and opinions you’ve already developed and help you mold them into a more well-rounded, educated idea. Shedding new light and making you think.

The business perspective

Take a look at it from a business perspective. Think about a local coffee shop that you frequent in your home town. Do you make the trip there every morning on your way to work because they’ve invented a new coffee bean? No. Odds are, they’re making a better latte than Starbucks for a few cents cheaper. When you go in, the staff is welcoming and accommodating – they know you by name, you’re favorite Radiohead CD is playing in the background, there’s a little booth in the corner that you love to sit at on the weekends to work on homework. Good coffee + cheaper price + friendly atmosphere = better experience. You keep going back and choosing Joe’s Coffee Shop over Starbucks because not necessarily because they’re unique – but because they do what they do better than the competition.

Conventional wisdom holds that companies must offer their customers something truly unique in order to win their business and loyalty. In truth, successful businesses offer them something simpler but much more important. – MIT Sloan Management Review

Everything’s been done before. Get over it.

You’re limiting yourself by saying ‘It’s already been done before’. Odds are, almost anything you can think of, someone has thought of already. That brilliant idea you have? Someone’s been there and done that. How many times have had an amazing idea only to find there are 10 other people out there already doing the same thing? Stop worrying about what others are doing and start focusing on how to make your idea better than the rest. Spend more time on marketing and promoting. Go above and beyond and really focus on connecting with your readers, fans, and/or customers. You may not be innovative in your ‘product’ but you can always have an innovative approach.

When someone opens their Google Reader – give them a reason to click on your blog first. When a business is deciding what consulting firm they should hire – give them all the reasons in the world why they should pick you over a big agency. Being the best isn’t about being ‘new’ – it’s not even about having the most experience, it’s about being bold, standing out, rising above the mediocrity, and going that extra step.

Your status and wealth doesn’t determine your success. Don’t let your circumstance dictate who you are. Have confidence in your ability to do exceptional things and the sky’s the limit!

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