These days, you couldn’t swing a LOLCAT anywhere on the internet without banging kitty right into someone pitching themselves as a “guru” of something or other. I’ve become especially aware of this as a new business owner, because people call me to pitch this-and-that, and probably some of the other.

I’ve written a third post in my series “How to Tell a “Who-Do” from a “guru.” Originally, I cross-posted it here as well. That was at about 3 or 4 a.m this morning. Then I got up this morning, re-read it, and decided it didn’t really belong here. Not because it’s not relevant to this community (I think it is), but because it contains an affiliate link and some salty language. I can do that on my site, but thought after some consideration (and some coffee) that it didn’t belong here. I like writing here occasionally, and so I decided that it’s best to keep it clean and non-commercial. It’s the social contract we have here, so I don’t want to blur the lines. I didn’t come here to sell you anything but ideas.

If you’ve been reading the series, please feel free to visit HigherEdCareerCoach.Com today and read along. The post is about the value of engaging in communities to get where you are going in your life and career. And in part, it is a tribute to the great community I’ve found here as an occasional contributor to this blog, and as a participant in #sachat on Twitter.

For me, engaging with this unique community of professionals has broadened my perspectives, challenged me, inspired me, and encouraged me. I feel that as I get where I am going in my career, I’ve got a great group of colleagues not just cheering me on from the sidelines, but helping me run the plays, go long and head for the end zone.

Yesterday, I learned (quite by accident) that somehow, Higher Ed Career Coach got ranked #49 on the Technorati top blogs for small business. It wasn’t something I was even thinking about, but it’s a nice validation that something is going right. And I give credit to the awesome people and communities I’ve been a part of, especially this one.

How do you tell a “who-do” from a “guru?’ Look around you, read this blog, and participate in #sachat and all the other hashtag chats that have been spawned by this community’s synergy, and I think you’ll get the idea.

I have seen the “guru” and he is us.

In the words of the Hopi Elders: “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.”