As Bob Stewart announced, I formally joined the team at ActiveRain last week. To say I'm stoked would be an understatement. The culture is great, working with a core team of talented people in this space has been an aspiration of mine for quite some time.
I was reflecting on this personal desire when Jon Washburn serendipitously called me (very) recently, broached the subject and took my temperature regarding coming to Seattle to work with the AR crew. It didn't take long (3 days actually) to decide that this would be a great fit for me and hopefully the community as a whole.
As i typically do when making a decision that carries any consequence, I weighed out the pros and cons of coming to work at AR...I'd like to share my top 5 pro's (Bob and his love for the Seahawks was really the only 'con' but I was able to look past that since my Buffalo Bills stomped all over his beloved football team).
5) I've always been interested in Seattle as a city to live in, home to many companies in the 'Web 2.0' space. Living in New York, North Carolina, Texas, and California, Seattle was the logical next stop on my horseshoe tour of thecountry.
4) Being called a (AR) God has been a secret desire of mine for quite some time ;) Seriously though, having the ability to make a positive impact on an industry I love via such a diverse and respected community like ActiveRain has me floating around like an elevated spirit :)
3) The Opportunity. While I can't discuss whats 'coming down the pipe' at AR, Localism etc (Jon has a gag order on me) to say that the collective vision of where this company is going is 'exciting', doesn't do it justice.
2) The Community. I joined AR as a member over two years ago and the community really taught me how to blog, find my voice and otherwise advance the relative skills to do well in this space. I indirectly (and now directly) attribute much of the success I've had to the great people I've met via AR. To now be part of this community, internally as well as a member, is pretty surreal. 'Pay it forward' is the appropriate colloquialism here...
1) The Team. From the top down, Jon the CEO to Bob the Janitor (j/k, Bob knows this), the individuals who are part of this company are brilliant, progressive thought leaders and genuinely good people. Being part of a greater team rather than a lone wolf is the number one reason I took this wonderful opportunity.
Anywhoo...I look forward to fostering and furthering the evolution of this company in my roles of business development and operations. The sky really isn't the limit here, its just thebeginning.
P.S. Hopefully the mortgage contingency here on AR doesn't revolt, rebel, torch the palce and leave...I'm a pretty reasonable guy who just happens to be passionate about what he's involved with, that now continues withActiveRain ;)
It comes across loud and clear that the team is one that would be exciting to be a part of, and that they have a lot of fun! Welcome ... sounds like a good move .
Dear AR God Jeff:
Maureen McCabe and I have been personally disappointed with the lack of response for our quest in the points for shoes tradeoff. So in your new position if you could please lobby on our behalf, we would be most obliged.
Yours truly...
Melina Tomson
Welcome to the PNW! Seattle is a fabulous city.
Jeff, Welcome to AR. I've always wanted to visit Seattle. I love rain so I'm here in the Active Rain.
Welcome to the rain and the Northwest. looking forward to your input and ar growth
Hi X, Welcome aboard!!! You are an excellent hire for AR and this is a great oportunity for all of you. Great news!!!!!
To the new AR God, Congratulations!!!
X .... Y Here...
I find this to be so totally unexpected...But hey...You're always doing things unexpected, that is what makes you...Well...YOU.
I wish you the best of luck in this endeavour and please keep the steel close by. They have a way of turning cash into cash :)
P.S. I so did not say that out loud. Did I? :)
TLW...ROAR!
Congratulations on your new position! All the best to you and the AR team.
Hi Jeff, welcome ! Great fit........but you are a AR dude to me, only call one person God. I think you and all the AR dudes are faluable, only know one person infaluable. Just saying.....
Congratulations Jeff. I look forward to all the changes coming our way and wish you all the best in being the newest AR Dude...
I should have told you Jeff, it's a lower case g, haha
Congratulations Jeff!! In these times of uncertainty with our economy spiraling downward and every person we come in contact with is depressed and complaining......................it's really enlightening to hear a "GOOD" story. You've actually lifted my spirits today. It's confirmation that ALL is not lost.
Good things can still happen to all of us as long as we "stay the course".
Best wishes for your future as an AR Team member!
Oh, and also, ask Claire if she can convince the group to take on another "female" so she wouldn't feel so out numbered. Maybe AR can use someone from the East Coast to work from this area.....I'm game!
Congrats - Seattle is great. I visit often as I have a daughter and son-in-law there.
Jeff... I'm too new at AR to know your history as "X"... but welcome aboard anyway.
Missy, if you meant 'fallible', meaning liable to err.......well then that is me. :-) I'll let Jeff speak for himself.
Jeff,
Enjoy Seattle, I love that city. Nothing beats St Paddy's at Kells! So About this AR GOD thing... how do I petition for Goddess status?
Jeff, congratulations on joining such a classy group. It's always nice to see good things happening to good people.
Hi Jeff .. I hope you enjoy Seattle, I used to live there and I'm now in Texas. I look forward to what you have to share if Bob asked you to be a part of the AR team you must be awesome!
Hi Jeff .. I hope you enjoy Seattle, I used to live there and I'm now in Texas. I look forward to what you have to share if Bob asked you to be a part of the AR team you must be awesome!
Jeff, Congratulations on your new position at our favorite place to be:) Comfy, cozy and lots of kind and generous people. Never have visited Seattle, but, it seems there are many good people there with you, so I am sure you will thrive there! I have never had a blog featured, so, kudos to you on your first try!
It's a Good Life!
Fran~Connecticut
Jeff - It sounds like a great fit for you and for the team. I look forward to getting to know you better, since I have seen your face, but I haven't read your stuff much before. Kudos!
Hi Jeff
Welcome to AR and to Seattle. By the way if you are looking to buy a home here in Seattle I will be more than happy to help you :) Sorry I couldn't resist
Aloha Jeff,
Welcome, I know you already know what a great forum this is. It must be exciting to be part of it.
Welcome Jeff and best wishes for a wonderful career at Active Rain
Congratulations Jeff and looking forward to your contributions to the AR network.
Looks like another great addition to the team! Best of luck to you and we look forward to the "surprises"!
Glad you have you here can we just call you "little g" or would that be lit'l-g? Don't worry I don't have enough pull to get it to stick, we'll just keep it between us. be good cheryl
Congratulations Jeff! (can't believe you have a spam comment - lol) Anyway, I LOVE the Puget Sound area and I am sure you will find it a place with amazing weather, views and things to do and new activities to conquer.
Smithsan, did you just comment spam? Seriously! He's an AR Dude now! (LOL)
Jeff, wishing you the very best with your new position. Regards, C. :-)
Tough break that the boys in Redmond already have the rights to ActiveX. Really looking forward to seeing what ActiveRain has in the works!
Many thx to you all...I've now flagged and deleted my 1st piece of spam...
AR Dude it is...cause I sure am fallible :)
Does this mean someone there will now teach you how to add a picture to a post?
(kidding of course)
Good for you, good for AR!
Congratulations! This entire team is amazing and I'm sure you'll be a great addition. 'Hope your move to Seattle went smoothly, and 'look forward to learning more from and about you in the coming weeks.
Welcome, Jeff! Jon's been great about adding the right people to the team, both those there now, and those who have gone on to other things. You care, and keep caring, as well as innovating. What more can I say? Look forward to meeting you!
Just a quick hello and welcome, I've read you here and there and look forward to more.
Jeff.. I've quickly read your blog and background. I'm very excited to see you be apart of ActiveRain.. Welcome aboard, and Congratulations... You will be an asset to their team.
It was really only Jon and Matt who were the Rain Gods... the rest of us are actually more like demi-gods. Well, except Jorgen...he's just odd
Jeff, I remember the day you stormed onto the RainScape and alienated everyone who has ever taken a loan app. Those were good times. Jeff Belonger required a triple by-pass, as I recall. But I remember later, that you met with Brian Brady, and we all realized there was a real depth and substance beneath the seemingly abrasive facade. We are all totally pumped that you're here now, and that you will become a vital part of the passion that drives us to accomplish amazing things!
@Rich: Abrasive? What are you talking about? ;)
Jeff - Am I the only person that has not read your blogs? I'll be heading over and do some additional reading. All of the commenters seem to agree that you are a great addition and since I have read a lot of the commenters blogs, I will concur and welcome you to the AR God family.
Welcome aboard!
Jeff- since I have learned to follow directions...I came here from Bob's Post to welcome you :) I read all the comments, and am most intrigued with the one by Rich. So, you ticked the community off huh, this could be interesting :) Seriously Congratulations :) It's nice to see a new lower cased "g" in the hierarchy .
Congratulations Jeff, You fit in perfectly! Enjoy Seattle, a lovely city. :)
Hi Jeff, welcome and congrats! It is so cool to see AR growing with so many talented people behind it. This is by far the greatest group of people I have ever dealt with. Thanks and I look forward to your excellent contributions.
wow... what a GREAT hire for AR. This kind of caught me by surprise but it is very cool stuff. Congrats to all! When is the next big AR bash? I would imagine they will be getting even better now. :-)
Congratulations and good luck...glad to have you on board with the AR team...Nice to "hire" from within the community...
Welcome and congratulations Jeff! I'll be more than happy to call you AR God, no problem! (ARG) What an amazing group of folks to work with. Enjoy it! Best of luck, ARG...hey, how's that?
Jeff - we're stoked to have you. Welcome to the team! WOOHOO< that means I'm not the "new guy" any more!! Watch out for the initiation, it will be a doozey!! Dozie? Doozie??? Just watch out, the fun begins now! Glad you're here buddy, looking forward to working with you. :-)
Jeff- You will LOVE Seattle. I lived in Seattle for 5 years and loved it. Congrats on joining the AR team.
YIPEEE YAHOOOOOOO JeffX !!! So happy for your new venture and for what lies ahead for AR with your talents!! So does this mean your schmoozing will be for AR at the conferences now??? LOL...... Regardless - congrats on your chapter!!! (hug)
Congrats on the job Jeff... Can't wait to see the things to come!
Great announcement. I am stoked for you! THis should be a nice change of pace in many ways. I love moving to a new state, I have done so many times. It gives you a chance to identify with a new area and even new cultures and even better yet, you get to reinvent yourself on a whole new level.
Jeff,
You've followed a path similar, well sort of, to my own. You were in NC, then in my hometown in Plano, and now the west coast. I think the west coast will fit your bill and you are a great fit for AR. You are on the cutting edge and I wish you well.
Jeff, what a shock...little did I know that I have known an AR god for a long time now...that really is the reason behind this, isn't it. So, now you are on the backside. Can only get even better with a person of your caliber. Glad to see that others thought so, too!
Congratulations Jeff. Good move and best wishes to you and the AR Team.
Hmm Jeff...
Not sure you get to start as God...what is there to work up to ? Good luck !
Hmm Jeff...
Not sure you get to start as God...what is there to work up to ? Good luck !
Congratulations - I can't wait to see what you gods have coming down the chimney pipeline - I love the creative and innovative "things" already in place. It's great to be a part of AR! ~Rita
Jeff- This is so exciting! What a trip...I remember your first post here..boy were we all riled up:) And now look at how far you've come...couldn't be better! I always new I liked you for a reason!
Jeff,
I really suspect that this will be a good marriage for you and AR. Best of luck from an old acquaintance!
Jeff,
Let's VETO the gag order and get on with what's coming down the pipe!
Welcome now it's time to get to work. Looking forward to your reading your inspirations.
Jeff.. Welcome the the level of AR God ! Congratulations to you. I look forward to see the things coming soon to AR
Welcome to AR, I learned lots when I started blogging here at active rain. I still learn from it, though I tend to lerk more than post any more. I run out of ideas actually as I have 3 other blogs to tend too. Here is my latest post http://www.nj-realestate-agent.com/a-satirical-view-of-the-sub-prime-banking-mess-new-jersey-real-estate/ which is sad and funny at the same time.
Jeff, our newest AR god...hi, AR god...like it? Cool. So, where did you work in Texas? I'm a Texas girl here. It seems I've seen you around before now...Yes? I expect to hear more and more from your corner!
Welcome and take care of my favorite AR goddess....Claire. ;-)
Later in the rain~Deb
Congrats Jeff, looking forward to seeing more of your influence on AR!
Hi Jeff,
Many congrats on your new position. Welcome to the wild, wild west! I wish you much success and happiness from Bend Oregon : )
Hi Jeff, nice to meet you, and congrats on your new career as an Active Rain God. And we do worship our gods here. If you need an incompetent secretary with poor computer skills, please call - I would love to move to Seattle.
Welcome X - hmmm sounds like Malcom X...Pretty impressive addition to the team.......so are you the God of Active Fire?....... I love Seattle too - almost as nice as Vancouver...';-)
hi Jeff, re "Being called a (AR) God has been a secret desire of mine for quite some time"...
It's always nice to see one of us become one of them. Congrats and have a blast, what a cool move! ;-)
just so you know, there is no flippin way I am calling you god. Congrats!
Oh (AR) God, we await thy commandment to go forth and multiply in the Rain...
Seriously, I am very anxious to see what's in our future in teh Rain.
Jeff: Welcome (back) to Active Rain. I look forward to learning lots of really good and useful stuff from you. Thanks in advance for sharing.
Congrats on the great news. I look forward to seeing how things evolve with you on board.
So now I have to cut 4 checks separately? I'm lowering my bribery limits.:)
Seattle is a wonderful city---You'll enjoy living there and congratulations on your new AR job.
Jeff - welcome to your new role. I'd say those are some pretty powerful reasons for a new opportunity like this. We all look forward to continued greatness at AR.
Jeff
Jeff - Congrats!! What a great team at AR.....great minds....I look forward to all new things in the Rain everyday!
I am really looking forward to seeing what is coming down the pike!!!
Congrats! Need a regional dude in Central Ohio, or the midwest? The hints of more to come, Active Rain-wise is exciting! Glad to be a part of it on this end...Curious if you'll need a Central Ohio "junior dude" in the future...or spokesperson/advisory board member...something part-time, looks good on the resume, and fills the pockets with a few dimes between all these closings we're having right now in this great market?
And yes, Go by "Dude" not "God".
Dave Culbertson, Broker/Owner, Real Living Home Team, Mount Vernon, OH
Best wishes..I have been a silent fan of yours for a long time. I know you will fit well with the other Gods, and Seattle as well.
congratulations. I won't ask what a nice guy like you is doing in a place like this. I guess this is a nice place once you get used to the decor. LOL
As a mortgage person, I think your candor is what people need to see and feel.
I've been working on some book projects myself, so I don't troll around here too much lately. I was extremely pleased to see this announcement. Congrats!
can you just give me a boatload of extra point now? I could use them and writing is too much work. 100K should do the job. I'll even write you a check.
There is no place better to play in the "Rain" than in Seattle.
AR is getting the best deal yet! Glad to see a familiar face on the team. I know you will be a welcome addition. Hope all is well with your Mom?
kk
Dear Jeffrey,
Now you will live in the city where I was born.
Love,
Your Wonder Twin
Zowie! So many wonderful comments...thx to everyone again :)
I'd take the time to respond to eveyone individually...but im up to my eyeballs already ;)
Jeff- It's great to see that the AR team is growing. Best of luck to you!
WELCOME ABOARD, Jeff! Congratulations on joining an elite (albeit male-dominated) group! :-) I think you will add a tremendous amount to an already fabulous (men's) team! WHAT? Did I say something? Oh...THAT...well...you gotta admit that this ActiveRain Choir needs a soft soprano voice. HINT HINT ;-) GBU!!
So, does this make you .... @Active_X ???
Jeff, what great news! Congratulations. There must be really exciting things in store for us since the AR team is adding you and have added others recently. My best friend has lived in Seattle for a long time and loves it.
Oooo...
Now I like that. Active X.
My money says that's one of those nicknames that will stick :)
P.S. Has anyone seen my Meds? Wink.
TLW...ROAR!
Late to the party..but no less excited! Fantastic news, and you fit right in with this bunch, seriously.. ;)
Woot!
~H
Dude - Give it up! You just wanted a swanky jacket and an "I Love Bob Stewart" t-shirt - come on - admit it! :) Congrats and Much, much success - you couldn't have landed in a better place!
Jeff welcome to the neighborhood... The Seahawks will grow on you.... you will forget all about the team in Buffalo trust me =)
Best wishes,
Scott
Congrats Jeff - I'm jealous! Good luck at Active Rain - I'm sure you'll fit right in!!!!
Welcome Aboard and Good Luck Jeff! If I were you I'd be wearing my Bills jersey to the office once in awhile as a 'not so subtle' reminder to Bob! Have a great day :)
Dear AR God -
Congrats! A great team just got greater.
JT
Congrats on the new position with AR. I hope it's all you expected and more. Now get back to work.
hi Jeff!
I'm glad to see you've joined AR and I wish you every happiness and success with your new position there.
This is the first time I've read one of your posts and I'm off to subscribe right now. Why didn't I know about you before!?!
((-:
Jo
Leave? You brought me back!
I would like to officially welcome you to your new position. I know that you will bring great things to an already great site, and I look forward to the change(s).
I can't wait to see what you are able to accomplish in this space. The AR team continues to amaze me.
Welcome and best wishes on your continued success.