Do you go fishing?

It's been a very full week here in Seattle at the Microsoft global MVP summit. I've met most of the rest of the SBS MVPs (and they are as nutty as I thought they were!) and we've had a great time together.

Last night those of us that were still here went down to Pikes Place Pub for dinner together. It was a great time to wind down after the conference - but we still managed to talk about SBS & IT in general. One of the things that ties us all together is the passion (I don't think there's any other word for it) we have for the “space” that SBS fits into. It's not about a product, it's not about money or power or fame or anything like that - it's the community spirit that brings us together from whereever we are in the world and enables us to make things just that little bit better for those around us.

This applies to us not because we're MVPs (we'd still do what we do regardless of whether we have the award or not) but because at the end of the day we care about more than just ourselves. I think it's as simple as that. And this can apply to anyone anywhere - not just people interested in computers or technology.

If you care enough about the world around you to reach out and help others, to make a difference in their lives first before it does anything for you, then you are an MVP - a Most Valued Person. That's because your contribution will be of value to the person you've helped.

I recall a short story about a little boy on a beach, throwing fish into the water after they'd been washed up on the sand.  A man came by and saw what he was doing, and saw the thousands of fish on the sand flapping about, struggling to survive out of the water. The man said to the boy “there's too many fish, you're wasting your time, how do you think your small efforts are going to matter?”. The boy picked up another fish and threw it into the water, then turned to the man and replied “it mattered to that fish”.

Go make a difference to a “fish”. And to all those fishermen & women who attended the MVP conference - thanks for helping to make this world a better place for us all.