Ok, that sounds like something you’d read on a dating site. Well, this is anything but a dating site. But if you did….oh, let’s get to the topic at hand.
Recently I was charged with producing a large barbeque event. My life is BBQ 24/7 and, consequently, that initialism is in the front (and side and back) of my mind at all times. I find myself thinking constantly of how to connect the dots of getting this thing done–finding sponsors, recruiting judges, bartering for meat and beer, coercing friends and acquaintances for services–you get the idea.
So, on a recent Saturday afternoon, I was in the car in the grocery store parking lot listening to NPR. As “Way with Words” was playing and I was about to get out of the car, a listener came on with a question:
“What’s the origin of “BBQ?”
I guess I could shut the motor off and listen to this.
As the hosts unwound their story of the letters that describe the delicious smoked meats of the south and other locales, they came to the end of their discussion and turned to the listener. So, why do you ask and what does this mean to you, they asked.
“I’m Daniel Vaughn and I’m the BBQ editor of Texas Monthly Magazine.”
Really, there is such of job. OK, I need to meat, er, meet this guy.
I went home and found Daniel Vaughn on LinkedIn, sent him a note and waited. Within a day he had replied and we began an email exchange that ultimately resulted in a lunch. He will be judging and promoting our BBQ via Twitter and his blog.
Much appreciated.
The bottom line here is that I took the time to listen and then take action. This doesn’t always work but the fact is, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Thanks, Daniel. Thanks, NPR and “Way with Words.” Thanks ingenuity and lack of fear.
Relentless
