I just finished Anne Lamott’s newest book (2007), Grace (Eventually). The subtitle is "Thoughts on Faith." 

Lamott is one of my favorite writers, because her writing is so honest. She gives the reader inside look at how her mind works (e.g., " I know that when someone gets a big slice of pie, it doesn’t mean there’s less for me. In fact, I know that there isn’t even a  pie, that there’s plenty to go around, enough food and love and air. But I don’t believe it for a second. I secretly believe there’s a pie. I will go to my grave brandishing a fork.") She makes no apologies for being human–trying to be a good person and messing up more times than most people will admit (e.g, "…sometimes I act just as juvenile as I ever did, but as I get older, I do it for shorter periods of time.") 

A sign of good writing for me is when I get to the end of the book and want more. The road has ended before I know it and I’ve enjoyed every mile along the way. That’s how it was with this book. In writing about faith and grace, Lamott’s stories comfort me by acknowledging and celebrating how imperfect we all are. It makes me want to see more imperfections–not to gloat–but to trust and see the richness in what is real.

It’s a treat to be able to read something more colorful than the typical non-fiction business books I read (e.g., "Now the real me was revealed in the high school showers of life.) And this book does relate to business. Smart businesses want to look human. They want to speak in a voice that says there’s more behind the website than standard templates and stock photos, that real people with real opinions, talents, and stories are ready to connect.

From my work with A Bigger Voice, I’ve become sensitized to the story behind every great effort. What is appallingly missing is that personal story, whether I’m perusing a site for a new high-tech start-up or for the latest venture of a social entrepreneur following her heart. I reviewed a  site this morning designed to engage a community of people interested in social good initiatives, and yet I couldn’t find a photo of the founder of the site. What was her story, that brought her to this work, at this moment in time?

Now, some of you may be thinking, "Carol, what does the individual’s story have to do with anything? Isn’t it about the benefit to the user/consumer/community-member?"

Sure, WIIFM is always important to address. And I’m reminded that venture capitalists want to know who they are dealing with, more than whether an idea has legs. The strongest, most lasting connection is when people connect to people. People connecting to ideas comes in a poor second.

For more of Lamott’s wisdom on connecting with people (and spirit), see this Salon.com interview with her.