Well, I guess you can say I am back. After a SHORTER break from staging and a LONGER break from blogging I have decided to come back in and splash around in this MUCH larger puddle called ActiveRain.
Why did I dry up and leave? Well, it is partially because of ActiveRain I left in the first place! You see I was noticed here by a consumer product technology company in California. After many discussions about social media in general, they asked me to come aboard and help create a splash for them in their industry using social media.
So about a year and 1/2 ago I went to work being social in an entirely new industry. Was I successful? Well, financially yes I did well. But to be honest I was not as effective as I wanted to be and had been before. For as much as I tried I could not muster the same love and passion in my new venture that was in an entirely different industry as I had for home staging in the real estate industry. Yes, I wrote fun witty things. Created some breakthrough social media campaigns for them, but still something was missing.
Long before I took the position one of the first things I coached the owner on was that to be successful in social media endeavors they had to have a creative person who was immersed in the company and the industry and authentically passionate for both. I knew this because my own passion was the fuel that energized me to take on and share my ideas about home staging and real estate marketing both here in this puddle and in my other successful "outside" blog.
Anyway, yudda yudda yudda... it didn't work out for me... so I am back. Well, actually I've been back staging full force now since early spring... but I still wasn't in the Rain.
Now that things have slowed down a bit, due to the seasonality of home staging in Chicago, I decided it was the perfect time to start getting in the habit of sharing my thoughts and ideas that keep raining in my brain. But I have to admit I am a bit overwhelmed by all that ActiveRain has grown into. I wonder if it is possible to reconnect with old friends and make new ones like I did before. I guess I'll just have to take it... one splash at a time.
Me
Welcome back!!! I look forward to reading your blogs and I think you will still find an amazingly friendly atmosphere here in the rain. I'm sure you will reconnect with your friends from before and gain many new one.
Yippee Craig, it's great to have you back in this powerful puddle.
I'm still a newbie, but your blog caught my eye and then my attention. So I've subscribed and look forward to hearing what you have to share.
Craig, welcome back! You were the first stager I really paid attention to here on Activerain and I've missed you. 'Looking forward to having you around.
Such exciting news! As you are the original creator of the Stage It Forward Group, it must be a little odd to see how it has grown.
You have been missed! It's fabulous to see you are back. It's kinda like you went up to the mountain and now you are back to tell us all about what you have learned!!!
Can't hardly wait!
~Michelle
Well... if it isn't MR SIF himself.... NICE to see you back!! I can't wait for you to share your wealth of information - and marketing flair - with us all again!!
Craig ~ WELCOME BACK! We've missed you ... and it's so great to hear that you'll be sharing your wealth of knowledge here again. Your timing couldn't have been better :-)
Sending you a separate email ....
You have been missed my friend. I often looked wistfully at your smiling face staring back at me from the bottom of my blog roll. Happy to have you back at the top.
Like good friends, it feels like you never left. Congrats on your decision to follow your own passion.
It's Craig! Whoo HOO! Good to see you here. Active Rain has had it's share of growing pains and even more growing successes. The puddle couldn't be sweeter! :-)
RESA is growing like crazy, too. Have you given any thought to joining many of us in Vegas for the convention -- That would just be TOO cool if you could come!
let's chat sometime soon!
Hi Craig and welcome back! It's always tough to come back to something - especially if its grown and changed since you were a part of it. Even though we don't know each other I look forward to hearing what you have to say and getting to know you!
Well if it isn't our old friend from Chicago. Love to hear you are back in the rain. Gary and I are looking forward to watching you splash around.
Hello Craig! I know we have never met, but it is because of you that I found Active Rain. This green banana tripped over your outside blog and fell into a Tidal wave of help, friendship and knowledge. I have since thrown away my raincoat, my boots and my umbrellas and try to absorb all the rain I can! Thank you Craig and Welcome back.
Well well! You are on my subscription list. Must be old.......
Oh I am so very excited you are back-SIF creator, my mentor and idol!!! I am waiting for staging photos and all your fun posts Craig!! Yippeeeeeeee!
Hi Craig! Very nice to meet you. I've read your posts from the past, but always wondered about the man behind the posts. It will be so good to get to know you. I have a feeling this won't be dull...
WELCOME BACK, Craig. We did miss you indeed. So come on, get your feet wet all over again. Happy Holidays !
Welcome back, Craig. There are lots of GREAT changes here in the RAIN. The staff has done an incredible job.
And to Karen's point - we would love to see you at the RESA convention in January. There are close to 300 people that have signed up thus far. So... tons of people to meet and mingle with.
Kathy
Word Man... I always had high hopes that you would some day be back and filling the SIF pages with a perspective that has been oh so absent since you left us. Kathy is right, you need to get on the plane with us next month and come to Vegas.
Craqig,YEAHHHHH!!!! I LOVE YOUR BLOG....was wondering where you were ....welcome back!!!
Craig, it is great to have you back "the Rain" has not been the same with you not around. I look forward to reading more of your wit and learning awesome things from your blogs! Again .. Welcome Back!!
It's nice to see that you are back. I always enjoy your posts.
Welcome Back! Like everyone else, happy for your return and looking forward to reading your posts.
Wow! I came over here to see if you had deleted your posts or if they were still here. I needed to steal something witty about staging.'
I have your Franklin Covey.
Remember Lee Ann? She left this summer and accounts are, um, unclear. Let me know where to send the $4.50.
Curling Pond contract finalized this morning after 6 weeks in attorney review. Brutal. Pray to whatever gods you choose for it to close.
Hope to see you soon. Email me if you read this.
IN 2007, WHILE surfing the net about home staging, I found you and then found active rain.
Welcome Back! I look forward to reading your blogs.
Welcome Back, I knew you could do it. After meeting you in person, I decided to play in the rain. I have so much to learn, nice to see you here.
Craig, thanks for the post and welcome back. Your passion and creativity will always have a place here in the Rain!
Little late to the welcome back party Craig but am thrilled none the less that you are back in the water. I find myself on AR in the SIF group usually just the week I have to moderate which is a good and bad thing. Good because it gets me here, bad because I only get on about once a month and miss stuff like this! I think the group will benefit greatly from its founder coming back and injecting a much needed perspective of your thoughts on the industry today.
I think we've come a long way in the 4+ years that I've been here yet I feel there's still so much more to go. Education of Realtors and clients is still not where it should be & many stagers find themselves unable to sustain a viable income. I am excited to be a part of a new dawn of staging training in SAR and see many good things to come for us all in the industry we love.
Hi Craig...welcome home, missed your graphics I remember your Bicycle you did to explain the Real Estate process. Looking forward to your posts again.
HAVE YOUR BEST YEAR EVER in 2011 !!
Crain, I didn't realize you were back until you commented on my post. I have missed your Active Rain presence so much since you were my inspiration to join the rain. Let's have lunch soon... ok?
Welcome back to Activerain... seems we both took a little side trip! Feels good to be getting back in the rain to play. ~Bonnie-The Home Inspectors Wife~
Hi Craig...we sure miss your posts, hope to see you more.
Hope all is well...Cheers