RPL 1 Call Me Crazy

As I began telling people about my plan to launch this webzine, someone was kind enough to point out that the whole idea seemed (in his opinion) “crazy.”  In a future issue we’ll talk about how rare and precious that sort of feedback is, and we’ll explore some ways to seek, cultivate and provide it.  For now, we’ll just accept it and soak it in.

There are many reasons we created Rogue Project Leader.  The two main reasons are it sounded like fun and there seems to be a need… and those are perhaps the best two reasons for starting any project.  But we’re also doing this because it’s crazy. 

The details of why RPL is crazy are too numerous to mention here.  Suffice it to say, this little online project has several crazy elements.  The point is, there is something remarkable and beautiful, not to mention fun, about doing a crazy thing.  There is something good and right, healthy and invigorating about launching into an unknown sea, a wild adventure that will offer new challenges and require skills we may not fully posses at this time.

We have no guarantee this webzine will succeed, and frankly I’m not entirely sure how I would even attempt to quantify its success.  And that’s one of the things I love about it – the sense of possibility and exploration.  We are not the first to start a webzine, but this is our first time doing this.  Some of us have gone down similar paths, but nobody has ever explored this particular one.

Predictability is increasingly overrated in this new century, and an assurance of success is practically an assurance of mediocrity.  On the other hand, ventures into new frontiers hold the potential (not the assurance) of world-changing discovery and growth.  It is not enough to think outside the box these days.  We’re talking about ripping the box into little pieces, stomping them into the dust, lighting them on fire, then running, running, running…

Yes, in a media world that is saturated with gurus, consultants and experts, it is a little crazy to think something like RPL will make much difference.  In the serious business of technology development, it is crazy to offer poetry and fairytales.  And in our busy lives, it’s crazy to commit to add “publish a monthly magazine” to our list of Things To Do.  But we’re sure going to try. 

Go ahead – call me crazy.