It would be hard to understand how much impact your e-mails are having on me without reading for yourselves some of what I see every day. I want to share that sense of immense response, of the outpouring of support that I've been getting. So here are some of your e-mails. The dates are when IÂ posted them, not when IÂ received them, but the timing really doesn't matter; what does matter is that people expressed their good wishes, almost as if somehow they had a reason to be grateful to me instead of the other way around.
IÂ think these e-mails show that everyone has a dream, and that we like being reminded that dreams are still possible, right now, today, this very instant.
I'll post more of these on a regular basis, because I'm continually amazed by them, and I want you to be, too. After this line, everything here is from you.
Aaron
aaron@cangooglehearme.com
P.S. I just got an e-mail from a friend of mine saying that she submitted an update linking specifically to this page to Digg because she thought it was the most interesting part of all this. I tend to agree, so if you feel like it... well, you can jump over and digg the story if you think it's worth it.
Your E-mails:
Wishing you the best of luck - 02/20/2007 - 10:34 AM:
Hello Aaron,
I just got passed the link to your site through a friend of mine. I must say, I'm impressed. To have a huge company like Google listen to have you have to say is a great accomplishment.
So keep on going and keep on blogging when you have the time, of course.
Good luck on the project!
Rock On! - 02/20/2007 - 10:34 AM:
Rock on man! Youre amazing, seriously! Best of luck to you and your idea!
good luck for the 1 billionth time - 02/20/2007 - 10:33 AM:
:)
Hope all goes well, from a fellow Vandal - 02/20/2007 - 10:32 AM:
Good luck man, I graduated from U of I in 2002 and was lucky enough to get hired by a big interactive advertising agency in San Francisco by promoting myself.
Good job at taking the leap of faith.
Remember this, even if Google does not like your plan, there will be 1000 other companies out there wanting you. By taking this first step you have opened up many other doors.
Good on you, you don't need to reply to this - 02/20/2007 - 10:28 AM:
Just wishing you all the best, I'll be following your story.
Awesome! - 02/20/2007 - 10:26 AM:
Heard the story earlier today from Digg.. Best of luck to you. The difference between you and most is that you are actually doing something!
Most people let the ideas pass, giving the opportunity to someone else. I think that is why you are being heard. It’s one thing to think of something… but it’s a whole other ball game to have the guts to do it.
Best of luck to you!
Nice... fighting the good fight... - 02/20/2007 - 10:25 AM:
Fascinating story. If your idea is half as good, I'm sure you'll go far.
All the best wishes for your endevour.
Wish you all the best - 02/20/2007 - 10:24 AM:
wow..ur really inspiring dude..I wish you all the best...hope ur all dreams come true :-)
You're living the dream - 02/20/2007 - 10:24 AM:
just wanted to congratulate you on living the dream.
I'm only 28, but I have had these moments of zen, where you look at where you are and where you want to be and ask yourself. Why am I not where I want to be? What is the worst that can happen? Rejection? *****. This is your life and you will attain what you will. If they like it and want you on board, then that is what it is and you have made a dream come true. If they say no, well, who the hell are they anyway?
What I'm getting at is that this is the mentality that needs to be expanded upon more in our culture. Why work the 9-5 if you hate it?
First thought = best thought.
You are a brave human being and a person to look up to.
I hope everything goes well for you, if for no other reason than I want to know what the hell your idea is!!!!!!
If things go sour, remember that you have done more to follow an idea than 99% of the population, myself included.
In a way, you have been an inspiration to me. I have found the strength to chase my own dream (although it is taking a little more time than I had hoped) , but finding your site has empowered that dream a little more.
I wish you the best in all your conquests.
You Have Already Succeeded!!!!!!! - 02/17/2007 - 5:06 PM:
Hello!
Man, even if google doesnt take your idea to where you want it to go.
YOU HAVE ALREADY SUCCEEDED!!!!!
I know how it is to have ideas and its sooooo difficult to get where you want to go!
Just started up my new business and well... its slow and hard to get where you want to go.
But you already got very far!
Good luck with your: CANGOOGLEHEARME
its cool, and Its so interesting to follow your story.
I hope it will keep going for a while.
Greetings from downunder Australia.
Awesome - 02/17/2007 - 5:05 PM:
You rock!
I'm sure you're still getting emails. I think it's awesome that have followed your dream even when others would have turned around and gone home. I heard this first on Digg, and I've been following your site. I also joined the "Aaron Storms Google" Facebook group after I saw a link on your forums. In case you don't have Facebook, the group has 45 members right now.
Keep going! I love Google, and you have an exciting story. I look forward to hearing your idea. And, sorry, I didn't write a poem or a theme song, just an e-mail.
Hello There - 02/17/2007 - 5:04 PM:
Dear Aaron,
First off GOOD LUCK! You have done so well so far, its unbelievable what you have accomplished, you are an inspiration to me and everyone! Secondly, i have been coding PHP since i was 14 and now, im now 16, I'm looking towards C# and was wondering if that would be the way forward? One of my dreams is to work for Google or for Apple, and you are living out that dream!
So thanks again mate, ill hoping for you!
Message of congrats and all the rest - 02/17/2007 - 5:03 PM:
Aaron, no doubt you have made yourself popular these last few weeks! Just like to say well done and awesome job getting heard by a massive corporation like Google. :-)
I know the NDA doesn't allow you to disclose any info but by the sounds of it you really do believe it will make a difference, in, well something at least, lol.
Keep up the good work mate and don't be surprised if Google offer you a full job if not now then in the future.
very amazed. - 02/17/2007 - 5:02 PM:
Heh, just wanted to let you know that im really amazed at (pardon the
bluntness) the balls you showed in doing this. Good luck with your
future, and i hope google likes your ideas! :D
Courage - 02/17/2007 - 5:01 PM:
Hey there,
Just a quick e-mail to no doubt add to your seemingly infinite stack. Just want to say how impressive it is that you've taken a dream and perused it, few people do and it's great to see someone out there with the courage to do so.
All the best with your idea, you certainly deserve it to work out for you.
Have a fun few days with Google,
WOW... you're a true American hero! - 02/17/2007 - 5:01 PM:
Aaron,
I know this is a drop in the bucket among all the email you've gotten over the past day alone, but I just wanted to send you a message to wish you the best of luck and thank you for the inspiration you've given me and millions of other people who have seen what you're doing. You are proving that in this day and age hard work, persistence, and tenacity combined with a good idea can still bring you success in life! I hope Google loves your idea and all this hard work pays off well for you! And if for some insane reason it doesn't, at least you can probably get a book deal and run the daytime talk show circuit for a while! Just kidding, OF COURSE it's gonna work out!! :D
Best of luck,
Fargo, ND
PS: Best wishes to your father, I hope he's feeling better.
(Aaron's Note: Yes, my father is doing much better - I'll pass on your well wishes.)
Your Google Project :] - 02/17/2007 - 4:59 PM:
Well, I've been following your blog for a few days now, and every time I thought of sending an Email to you, I didnt. But here it is.
Like everyone else has done, I'd like to wish you good luck with your project. I suppose not many people can put themselves through what you're doing, and I'd like to say well done for it. It seems like you're on to something big, and I wish you the best of luck in the future.
A friend from England-
Can Google hear[us]? - 02/17/2007 - 4:58 PM:
Hi Aaron,
I've just read through your blog and, well u asked me to email you ;)
I hope you will achieve what you set out for (and I don't mean 'just"
being heard, an achievement in itself, I mean getting your idea
implemented!). Not just for yourself, but for all of us.
I still have hopes to make it on my own, since I've not got the
benefit of the "land of opportunities" where there are such creatures
as Google that hold so much promise. I always have to remember that I
build something great the same year that Google started, wit ha few
$million less in pocket money.
Well now down to the gritty. I hope you will use your newfound fame
for good! I think the greatest thing you can do to pay back your fans
and followers (something you seemed to desire) is to help correct the
problems you encountered with Google.
I think they need a little bit of a goodwill ambassador. For my kind
this has been Matt Cutts. But perhaps for the entrepreneurial populace
at large, you could be a force for positive feedback and change at
Google. This is of course if/when u become part of the team.
I just think it is high time for Google to get rid of such abysmal
forms as the one you despaired with and start to remember where they
come from. Many people out there would be happy to give up their ideas
just to give them a chance to come into existence, and that is a vast,
unprobed resource for Google, who in their own admission are
desperately seeking smart minds all over. But their net is coarse and
has many holes, and I think they need somebody to ground them and tell
them what "we" really need from them to be heard.
And that is what it is all about, right?
All the best success with your venture.
Good Luck - 02/17/2007 - 4:56 PM:
Hi
My name is Jakob ****** and I live in ******* Iceland. I was browsing and found your website. I congratulate you on finding the courrage to stand by your idea and follow it through. I hope you will get everything you dream of and more.
Best regards and best wishes and "Gangi þér vel" ( good luck in Icelandic)
Kudos! - 02/17/2007 - 4:53 PM:
Heya Aaron,
I stumbled upon your page, and by the time I got to the bottom of the page I did feel the urge to send you a mail to add to your stack.
I'm proud of you because you had the nerve to confront your fears.
Let your heart guide you, you're clearly a smart guy and I wish you lots of luck at Google.
Awesome - 02/17/2007 - 4:53 PM:
I have been going nowhere in my career for to long, although I am only 20 years old I have been without direction and lost. Today I stumbled upon your blog and have set wheels in motion for a career changing decision
thank you again
good luck - 02/17/2007 - 4:52 PM:
And godspeed!
Well Freakin' Done! - 02/17/2007 - 4:51 PM:
Hey Aaron:
I heard your story on GeekBrief. Well done. Your blog and videos are top notch.
I sure hope your idea is one of those that Steve would call "insanely great', because then you'll change the world.
Go, man, go!
(I'm proud to be in the bound book of your emails).
=R=
Hey! Hey! Hey! Hooray!! - 02/17/2007 - 4:50 PM:
Congratulations Aaron!
I saw your web site featured on my news service from New Heaven New Earth. It's a great story! Much luck!
Way to go Aaron - 02/17/2007 - 4:49 PM:
Aaron,
You're doing awesome. Your integrity, writing style, and stamina are admirable. You are setting a model and demonstrating leadership qualities through honesty, authenticity, commitment and responsibility. Whatever your project is, this particular aspect of it... where you have built a community in support of your idea without knowing the details of the idea (really a community in support of You, because of who you are, and the fact you are sharing this experience in this way) speaks loud in demonstrating a powerful principle... In essence, the effect of this principle, which possibly could only be explained by demonstration and through a story such as this on which you have created, leaves a profound statement. I am curious to understand how this story/statement plays into your original idea.
Our simplest most personal, playful, and authentic ideas are the most powerful, and often the most difficult to tell in words. I admire your vulnerability in going forth and creating this story.
congrats - 02/17/2007 - 4:48 PM:
Hey dude,
If I would have listened to all of the nay sayers in my life, I never would have been able to achieve the wild goals that I set. The world needs more people who are inspired. Inspiration and hope are the greatest human characteristics, never stop embodying them. With that said, congratulations on reaching a goal milestone, and don't stop pushing forward until you're the center of everyone's jealousy.
Go for it Man!! - 02/17/2007 - 4:47 PM:
This is what dreams are made of!! Go for it, all the way ;)
Good luck buddy!
Congratulations =D - 02/17/2007 - 4:45 PM:
Your story is quite the inspiring one, and I'm not even sure that the word "inspiring" can sum it up accurately.
So congratulations to you. For your courage, for your determination, for being a voice in a wide world of people who had the chance to be heard, and for not giving up.
I'd also like to wish you good luck; now that your voice has been heard I hope the folks at Google enact whatever you've been brave enough to bring to their attention.
So, good luck and keep it up! =D
hi - 02/17/2007 - 4:42 PM:
hi, i wanted to be in your book. :)
You're my role model - 02/17/2007 - 4:44 PM:
Hi Aaron,
I've been following your journey on your blog for a few days now since it appeared on Digg. I am really inspired by your actions, and your becoming a role model for me.
My dream is also to work at Google, eventually at googleplex at mountain view. My current plan is to finish college, see if I can get a starting position at google Amsterdam, and see if I can eventually get transferred to mountainview, california.
Best of luck in your journey, and may you accomplish what you set out for, for both of us!
greetings from the netherlands,
Good Luck Aaron! - 02/17/2007 - 4:43 PM:
Hey Aaron,
Congrats on everything you have been able to accomplish with Google to date. I'm sure if you filled in their online form and left it at that, you wouldn't have gotten as far as you have. Persistence pays, but persistence and a good idea pay better.
I'm really curious to know what you idea is, but like a good Lost fan I can wait. I’m sure the endings of both these stories won't disappoint.
Toronto, Canada
|
Just in case you feel like you want to send me a note, you can contact me at: Aaron Stanton aaron@cangooglehearme.com  |
Recent Videos Posts:
1. Taking a Chance
02/05/07
2. Rejection and Success
02/14/07
3. I've got a meeting!
Forums:
New and Better Forums
Old Forums