I think it is great that you are opening things up.

I am most interested in getting a peek into where your sources of day-to-day inspiration are found. Please share and comment on the images, videos, web site and experiences directly relevant to the creativity of your work.

Maybe what your blog needs is to evolve into a vlog. Of course you could still talk about your personal life. But since people now come here for your educational videos it would only be natural that they would also be interested into vlogs.

welcome home.

what do i want to know about you two? you answer that question when you write, "We want to focus on the things that fascinate us, make us laugh, give us inspiration and make us think – and I mean us, not just me." more of that please.

i loved sachi's posts on the world is not flat - more sachi please!

Lets start with the proposition that I am an old fart: >55.

I greatly enjoy your videos, and read your blog regularly.

None the less, I am at a loss as to why I would want to know more about your personal life. I've noticed this trend - to include a lot of personal details - in other blogs. But most of us have full life, and need to be selective about what we read.

I'm certain you are an interesting person - but don't be self indulgent.

I follow your blog because I dug TWINF and, as a fellow new media guy, I appreciate your industry insights and commentary.

Yours is a business site, so I bet it's tricky to decide what to include. My advice is to look to the greats such as Seth Godin and Hugh MacLeod.

Is it relevant for Seth to write about getting glasses? Well, not exactly. But he runs everything through his personal brand filter and makes it meaningful for his business and marketing audience.

So, as a brand, who does Common Craft want to be? Once you know (and you may already), you can run any topic through the brand filter and it make it relevant to you and meaningful for us.

I got turned onto your site by Amy Gahran of Right Conversations. She had high praise for your Zombie video which I thought was very funny AND very instructive.

Seriously, as someone who is often in teaching mode, I love your approach and wish it were used more widely.

Couple questions for you:

1. If your fairy godmother told you she would grant you three wishes for your business, what three wishes would you request.

2. I get the sense that producing your videos takes a good chunk of time. About how long from idea to final product.

3. Are you trying out any tools or processes to speed things up?

Keep up the great work.

Judy Murdoch

I'm not sure why everyone's so anti-personal posts... I mean, of course everyone has to gauge how much they want to tell, but I think the occasional insight into another person's life is what keeps it interesting!

I have been reading your blog (more consistently since I started using Google Reader) since Northern Voice in February, and the post(s) that stick out the most in my mind as my most favorite to read--the kind that make me smile and remind me that the world is a great place--is also on the more personal side. It was the one about your friends who moved away, who you had the practical joke war with. I loved reading about the pranks, and especially the tribute post when they moved. It was great storytelling (which you really have a knack for), and that's the sort of thing that I (going against the majority!) would like to hear more of.

Hope all is well!

ps. you guys coming to NV2008?

I want to see more interesting news. Is it possible to accelerate an appearence of new themes?

Your idea to open up more about your life is a refreshing and exciting time in your company and blog. I personally find it of interest to know the "real" people behind a great idea like you have with your videos.

I loved your post about Mexico and not working with the idea of maybe enjoying such things in our retirement.

I'm curious if you've always felt this way, or if some event made you reexamine the way you lead your lives.

Recently found your work through a link to a page on articulate highlighting their interface around your "amusing yet not confusing" videos. As soon as the Shaka sign came out, I was an immediate fan.

I enjoy the personal notes since your personality really shines through in your style.

I hope your business grows by leaps and bounds and that you need to hire someone else so you can still get to the coast and take siestas :) Did I mention I love Seattle and I love innovation in media.

Cheers,
Nick Ballinger
Chicago, IL

I too would love to hear the background to your lives, so to speak. Not so much on a "pure personal" level, but more on the "personal+business" level... meaning the things that inspire you, the places you find ideas and inspiration for your work, how you work together with your spouse without death ensuing, that kind of thing.

I would love to see this possibly summarized (weekly?) in vlog format.

You guys are doing some really great work and I for one would love to know how you get there from a strategic, rather than tactical level!

we always decide to make a change. we make changes all the time. some are good, some are bad. nevertheless, we're never happy with what we have or what we did...

You really give me a big inspiration and make me lough! You are opening many interestings things up for me.

Your idea to open up more about your life is a refreshing and exciting time in your company and blog. I personally find it of interest to know the "real" people behind a great idea like you have with your videos.