by Herschel Dixon with Stanley Clark of For The People Productions
(Part Two of For The People Productions' Three-Part Series Celebrating The Six Years of Success of Cyrus A. Webb's Conversations Brand. Missed part one of our three part interview with Cyrus A. Webb? Visit this link: http://forthepeopleproductions.blogspot.com/2009/06/king-of-conversations-celebrates-six.html)
I got a call from Cyrus on the afternoon of Monday, June 1, 2009 telling me that he was on hold to talk with Martha Stewart on her radio show. That's right: Martha Stewart. And as you can imagine he was excited. I didn't know it at the time, but he had seen a tweet from Martha on Twitter inviting people to call into her show during her "Ask Martha" segment. That was all he needed.
That is the Cyrus Webb I have gotten to know over the past decade since we first met. He sees something that he wants, and he goes after it with no thought of what can't be done. The word "No" doesn't exist in his world, at least not when directed towards him. Obstacles just mean "Not right now."
The month he was celebrating as the six year anniversary of his Conversations Brand is really a celebration of the growth Webb has experienced not only within himself and his audience, but the number of walls he has brought down because of just wanting to bring people together to promote the very best of themselves.
I have heard Cyrus joke with people that he has a split personality: the everyday Cyrus Webb and the more public alter ego C. A. Webb. I believe at some point that might just be true. From what I have seen, however, over the years it has been hard to tell when one ends and the other begins.
"I run my life just like one runs a political campaign," he says. "My typical day begins between 4-5:30a.m. 7 days a week with a very deliberate routine. I get dressed, put on the water for my coffee and check email before updating my websites and going through my daily schedule." That's right: a schedule. Before going to bed each day he makes a list of things he knows he wants to get done when the next day begins. "The list may change some throughout the day," he admits. "Some things are added or even moved to the following day, but there is an effort made to make each day count."
Failure to best utilize the hours he is given can sometime lead to a side of Webb that is not as flattering as the calm persona he likes to show. He is a control freak. This is not something I have heard, but something I have seen firsthand over the time since we met. Cyrus Webb does not like for outside forces to sway him in any way. Time is precious, and he doesn't like to waste any of what he is given. "I have a saying that I tweet everyday," he says. "It's very simple: 'YESTERDAY is gone. TOMORROW is not promised. All you have is TODAY.' That is not just true of me, but everyone."
For Cyrus time is not just money, but a priceless resource that can't be wasted. It seems that is the reason why he has done his best to make his brand, especially Conversations, something that is not limited to one group.
"One of the things that frustrates me the most is people assuming things about me and what I do based on what they think they know or what they see," Webb says. During this conversation on the phone he paused as though trying to make sure he made his point the best way possible. "I am a young black male, but this doesn't mean everything I do is based on my age or my race. My world is so much bigger than black and white. I don't see this argument having to be made by those who are my white counterparts and friends. I don't want to be put in a box."
(Photo above courtesy of Jackson Advocate Newspaper)As Webb continued to grow Conversations, it became clear that his vision was not going to be a one note. From the radio or television shows to the magazine and then to the book clubs, there was something for every group. What impressed me the most about the way the brand was constructed, was the fact that Cyrus had an invested interest in every aspect. He researches every guest, reads every book and personally writes them an electronic Thank You note afterwards. "It's called Conversations," he says, "so it stands to reason that I would have to be personally involved with every aspect of it. In order for all of these parts to work, I have to know what I'm talking about, especially if it is something that takes me out of my comfort level."
Read the remainder of this interview by visiting this link: http://bit.ly/1aDONl
