I am sad on so many fronts. Most obviously, I'm sad because Marc Orchant passed away last month. I'm sad because it took me so long to discover this news. I've been so removed from my personal blogging, and from the people who encouraged me back in 2004 and 2005 to keep blogging, that I have to find out much the way non-bloggers do, by wondering how an old friend is doing.
In some ways it's been easier to stay out of the fray, so to speak, and stop connecting completely, lest I get sucked back into my days online, reading and writing blogs, but not building a business. Marc's passing makes me think that there's a middle ground. That somehow, despite the crazy hours, I can still remain connected to people in my online and offline communities. I just want to read his blog now.
Marc and I were co-authors on a book that got far too little attention called More Space. When the blog-thing becomes old enough to start memorializing itself, then perhaps this book will become more important. Marc, "the productivity guy" as I liked to call him to myself, wrote an essay entitled "Work Is Broken: Here's How We Fix It". He reached out to me after reading my essay and wrote such a genuine, warm note, that I was immediately charmed by this guy.
Marc told me that he'd recommend my essay to his son, who was contemplating his post collegiate career. I've been poring through my email trying to find this note, but all that remains is the memory of his appreciation for what I wrote. I began to follow Marc's work and realized that goshdarnit, EVERYBODY online knew Marc; his work was pioneering. I was only just getting with the program because he was a warm, thoughtful man.
As I got to know Marc I thought his life resembled how I envisioned mine could be. He'd built his work around his life: lived in a non-new-media hub, but still traveled to Europe and various exotic places for Foldera. And he got to enjoy time with his family. To him, everything could be "fit in". I approached him about sponosoring BlogHer Business, and for many reasons Foldera was not a fit, but damn the guy still took the time to connect and consider it. He tried to make the square peg fit into a round hole until even I said, "Marc, I don't think we're a fit."
"Maybe the summer conference?" he said.
Later, in 2006, I spoke at the Web 2.0 conference and was approached by a tall, friendly-looking man. Meeting him in person was like bumping into family in the airport--joyous and surprising. He was there for Foldera, and I was there on BlogHer business, so I couldn't pick his brain about how to get through my email, or how to have my personal AND my professional life fit together harmoniously. It just didn't seem like the right place. Still, meeting Marc in-person confirmed for me what an engaging presence he was, and I thought to myself subconsciously, "I need to figure out how to work with that guy again."
There are some people you meet, in a personal or professional setting, that you just freaking like. These people either intrigue you, or have vast amounts of experience that you want to soak up through osmosis, just by being in the same vicinity. Marc was one of those people, someone you knew you would connect with more significantly later and with whom you could pick up an interesting conversation exactly where you left off. What I like to call a "Back Pocket" person.
The problem with Back Pocket people is that you tend to keep them there, in the back pocket, until one day you are reminded of them, and you realize, with regret, that they are no longer there.
Thank you Jory, for sharing about Marc. It is a great reminder of our "back pocket" people that we just "freaking like". Your words are a gentle reminder to get my hands off the remote, or off the keyboard, and reach them into my "back pocket" more often. Narc's thoughts are fitting it all in are right on. We really can.
Happy New Year to you and Jesse. Hope our paths cross again this year! Be well...
Posted by: miffy | January 06, 2008 at 07:40 PM
Jory,
I only knew Marc through being a blogosphere reader. Lot's of people have said a lot about him so I know you must have wondered whether another "eulogy" was needed. Thank you for writing because you added a lot to think about, both in honor of Marc and for reminding us about our "back pocket".
Posted by: Sherry | January 06, 2008 at 09:27 PM
I'm sorry for your loss, Jory. He sounds as if he were a really great man. Don't beat yourself up with woulda-coulda-shoulda -- I should know 'cause I'm the expert on that -- just cherish that your life was touched by someone so special.
May a gracious God be good to him.
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