This is me blatantly, publicly blasting through my Fear of Shipping.

I’ll admit.  I have a brain-crush on Seth Godin.

I read him.  I buy his (audio)books.  I download speeches, talks, interviews, and video clips.  I gift paperbacks.  I tell the people that I think are smart, with it, innovative, and brilliant how smart, with it, innovative, and brilliant he is.  I quote his blog.  I visit the links that he puts out.  I retweet.  I Digg.  I RSS via iPhone.  I repeat his mantras.  I have shortcuts to his articles on my desktop for reminders, and inspiration.  I shave my head.  (actually, I did that pre-Seth).  I scour his words for mention of another double-secret, invitation only, ‘just the cool kids’ event.  I’m a member of Triiibes.  I think ‘to Seth’ should be a verb…meaning, “To be real, generous, and insightful.  To utterly confound with simplicity, transparency, honesty, and normalcy”.

I’m a fanboy.

The only thing worse, is now coming to grips with the truth that fawning, watching, and talking is exactly the opposite of what Seth professes that he wants me to do.

He wants me to, well….do.

Seth’s remarks about art, creation, freelance, and entrepreneurism have backed me into a corner, where I can’t not do.

I’m creating a new business.  I want to change the way that athletes and performers prepare their minds using extremely well produced audio.  It’s never been done my way before.  I want to change the way it’s done because people are missing out on their best performance, and I’m what you call…I don’t know, arrogant.

So here goes.  Bold.  Brave.  Action in the face of humiliation.  Perfect is not important.

Seth, I’m writing to ask for a gift.  One that I may not be able to repay for some time.  I’d like to ask for your help with Athlete’s Audio.

I’m Organizing the Unorganized.  Bringing people together for their benefit (and maybe someday mine).  I’m giving things away just for the satisfaction of helping people. I’m trying to follow these simple 5 steps.

So here’s the thing.

I have this visceral fear that there is a guy (who is arguably not as smart, talented, or hard working as me) somewhere outside Schenectady who’s doing the exact same thing as me, and it’s a race between he and I to see who gets to the opportunity first.

After my day job I’m working from 6:30p-12:30a every day on this business, and I’m afraid that I’m not getting it together fast enough to win that race.

I’m dying to work on it full-time, and wondering if I should ask someone for VC (or AC…I’m not particular) for some computers, marketing, legal, and a salary for myself, and an application developer so I can keep the lights on, and full-time, Crush It.  (Oops, that one isn’t yours)

I’m re-stating my business plan based on your recent advice.  Soon, I’ll have a peek, just for you.

So, what do you say, Seth?  I’m not slick, I think it’s possible.  Would you help me?

Bob K

P.s…think we could talk by August 1^st?  I heard once from someone I trust that deadlines are important, but people don’t like them.