Jason, The Architect of Wow, and other Friend Thoughts

Jason, The Architect of Wow, and other Friend Thoughts

“If I don’t see a new blog post on your site by tomorrow,
I am going to kick your @$$.”

This text message just arrived.

Meet Jason.  ”Jason Northington” to those who are going to Google him.

Jason is my friend.
He is a good friend.

He was, until recently, a marketing consultant. Now you can refer to him as the ‘Architect of Wow!’ (Yes, I like his creativity as well.)

I want to introduce you to Jason for two reasons.

1. He is awesome. And I wanted to share that and brag on him.
2. He constantly reminds me why working with people and having a team is so important.

P.S. Did I mention that he is my partner and co-author on the Principles in the Raw book project?

SOMETIMES, FRIENDS JUST HAPPEN

In Jason’s case, I could barely track down when we started to be a team.
I do not know when we started hanging out. I think it was just coffee together one day.
I do not know when we decided to write a book together, or why, or what the context was.

We just did. And now he is a powerful friend and ally. His is a solid relationship I enjoy.

THE EXPONENTIAL POWER OF FRIENDS AND ALLIES

Sitting in the cool room was a welcome relief from the sweaty noises of workout machines. Jason and I sat discussing a joint-venture with the gym owners.

This nationally-recognized gym brand wanted to branch out and offer new services for their clients, and they had come to us. Of all people, they had come to us.

A spark of insight showed me that if it were not for our friendship, we would not be nearly as potent, nearly as articulate, nearly as helpful were we not in this together.

From writing a small series of books, then to consulting small business owners, and, now, possibly building a national brand. Win or lose, I felt the exponential nature of strong friends and allies.

WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE…

Who needs enemies? Right?! Or, in the case of my friends,

With friends like these, I can never be my own worst enemy.

When I read the text-message that Jason sent me, the one you read when you opened this article, I felt no animosity. I laughed out loud and showed the people in the room, bragging like a mother over a new born.

I wanted to gloat: ‘Look at the type of friends I have!’

Friends like Jason have launched me further and harder, not allowing me to under perform.

“That does not make sense, Grant,” and “I think you are sabotaging your own success,” are common statements I hear.

In fact, I recall just recently where Jason put me through the grinder, igniting my butt, while sitting over coffee-water at McDonald’s.

“I am honestly jealous that such a low-lid place could gather so much of your attention…You potential is so much more than that.”

He was, yet again, pushing me toward my dreams, dreams that I had articulated to him. And he was revealing that I was becoming MY OWN worst enemy.

With friends like these, I have no enemies. They help me root out that I am often my own worst enemy, and they do not rest until I return to a state of committing to be great.

“IF I DON’T SEE A NEW BLOG POST UP BY TOMORROW…”

So, Jason, it may not be the best post, but here is my new blog entry.

A homage to you. A lesson on friends. Thank you for not kicking my butt, but thank you for kicking me into gear.

–

Grant R. Nieddu

Tagged as: allies, blog, enemies, friends, friendship, grant, ignite, jason northington, my own worst enemy, principles in the raw, relationship, sabotaging your own success, Sparking, text message, the architect of wow