Annie Lenox

Amy likes to record CBS Sunday Morning on the DVR and watch it later (since we're at church or getting ready for church when it's on). This morning's episode had Annie Lenox from the Eurythmics. The thing that struck me is as they interviewed her at her house and walked through parts of her house, it was a shrine to herself. She had gold and platinum CD's hanging on the walls and photos of her and her band.

I thought to myself, what a sad existence. You work all your life, have a successful career, and all you have is your house as a shrine to yourself. I thought, there's no way I'd have all that stuff hanging in my house. I wouldn't want to live in a shrine to myself.

But, then, I thought that maybe I do live in a shrine to myself (or, at least I would if I could). Several years ago we remodeled our kitchen because (partly) we were embarrassed about the 1970's motif. We wanted something more modern. I wanted something more "me." If I could, I'd have a plasma TV. Why? Because it would be a representation of something I'd worked hard and earned the right to buy. I could go on, but hopefully you get the point.

I don't really have anything profound to say about my realization...except that "sweet dreams are made of these, who am I to disagree? I travel the world and the seven seas. Everybody's looking for something."

What is it about that song that makes me want to sing along? Sweet Dreams (Are Made of These)

Download The Video

Some people have had trouble downloading the Jeff Johnson video I blogged about below. So, I captured it and put it on my server for you to download. Hopefully YouTube doesn't sue me.

http://www.374designs.com/video/jeffjohnson.wmv

Leave me a comment with your thoughts!

Hip Hop - Do You Get It?

I never did...until I read this blog post (and watched the YouTube video): http://churchrelevance.com/watch-jeff-johnson-speak-at-the-q-conference
In fact, I never got what the deal was with African American people.

I don't think I was racist. I think I was just ignorant. I didn't hate, I just didn't care. Or maybe I was racist and did hate because I was ignorant and didn't care. I was the white guy who would say, "Why don't they just get over it. I'm sick of hearing about how my great, great granddad screwed over the black guy." -- which sounds racist, but I didn't mean it that way. I truly wanted all of us to move past racism and begin to live with each other. I could watch movies like Remember the Titans and identify with it. But the whole time I just didn't get it. By wanting to move past it and wanting to live together (to get along), I was doing my own little part to keep us from moving past it and living together.

It's not about them vs. us. It's only about all of us.

Thanks Jeff Johnson for opening my eyes. You were talking about how the church and Hip Hop, but you really taught me a lot about the Church (me being a part of the Church).

If you've got 9 minutes, watch this video. If you don't have 9 minutes to watch this video, make 9 minutes and watch this video.

The Most Annoying Thing On Earth

Don't you hate this picture:

You're watching a show on your DVR...it goes to a commercial...it goes to the second commercial...you realize that you're watching a DVR and you can easily skip commercials.

All of Life's Mysteries, Solved

Well...at least one of them.

All my life I've been wondering how they make the visible lines in the grass of the outfield at professional ballparks (or at nice corporate offices). I didn't know if they cut the grass at slightly different heights (which works...I tried it in my back yard when I was in high school...it takes forever to do...constantly changing the blade height). But that creates grooves in the grass which would create a problem when you're fielding a tricky hop or chasing down a fly ball (wouldn't want to trip in front of 30,000 fans would you)?

Tonight, while we were watching the genius philosophers of Charm City Cakes (on the Food Network TV show Ace of Cakes), the mystery was solved. They were building a cake replica of Camden Yards, and went to talk to the grounds crew there. Turns out they use a mower with blades that rotate vertically (like a steam roller) instead of horizontally (like a ceiling fan). That causes the grass to fold over in a particular direction and creates the lines.

Who knew???

Do The Right Thing

FINALLY! Someone in the cell phone/telecommunications industry does something right!

Read: The Open Letter To iPhone Customers From Steve Jobs

I'm not an iPhone owner...but I'm thinking about getting one now (philosophically, of course. practically, my wife will never let me get one...i'm still recovering from the beating I took for getting a Treo). Typically I'm an early adopter on technological breakthroughs; but in this case I was one of the skeptics. I wanted to wait for a few models of it to come out to make sure all of the hype was legit (2 Legit 2 Quit - Yep, I went there). However, after reading the commitment to customer service that Jobs is giving, I'm now a full supporter of Apple products.

The new touch-screen wi-fi iPod looks fantastic. Even the new iPod nano looks cool.

In an industry where almost everyone has a horror story (just ask my brother-in-law about his experience with Sprint...or my wife about her recent phone upgrade experience), it's nice to see something refreshing. Thanks Steve for doing the right thing. And thanks to Seth Godin for pointing me to this topic.

Airport Police

Why do the police who patrol the airport passenger pickup area have to be such jerks? I honestly think it's in the job handbook. Is my small sedan really a security risk?

Thursday I went to the St. Louis airport to pick up my parents. I pulled up to the curb at the loading zone and as soon as I came to a complete stop the officer knocked on my window and told me I had to move on if the party I was picking up wasn't present. I told him that I'd just talked to them on my cell phone and they were present and if he'd relax for one second I'd find them and get out of his way.

It's no wonder that people hate going to the airport. Customer service is terrible from the parking deck, to the counter, to the security checkpoint, to the on-plane staff, to the bag claim (I recently waited over an hour for my bags).

I'm convinced that 90 percent of cops and security officers are just in it to make a paycheck, which is fine...but would it kill you to be a little courteous or to use a little common sense?

It is worth noting that my father-in law is a retired police officer. Knowing him, I believe he was one of the few who was more concerned with serving his 'customer' than just getting through the day.

Hopefully, I don't come across as ungrateful...i really do appreciate the public servants. I just wish most of them would be a little more servant minded.

On The Boat

Yep, I'm living the life of luxury (thanks to my wife's Aunt Carol & Uncle Phil). Just thought I'd share a few pics while we're in between activities down here in Ft. Lauderdale.

Click Here For Professional Photos of The Boat

The Motor Yacht Savoy

Me Driving A "Little Boat"

Me On Savoy

Amy & I Almost Getting Run Over By A Cruise Liner
(this thing is closer than it looks, and is going a lot faster than our little boat)

Close Up Of Me On Savoy

[update on 9/4 - several people have mentioned that there are no pictures of Amy. Some have even questioned if it was really an "anniversary" trip. To all of you I say, "Who do you think is behind the camera?" Amy took some photos of me, & I took some of her. It's up to her to post the ones of her on her own blog if she chooses to do so.]

Some Good Poetry

My good friend Kyle posted some great poems. They're simple in prose, yet profound. Check them out:

Air Fills My Lungs
The Happiest We Ever Were
It Beats Harder

Police Speed Trap Illusion

Don't you hate it when you drive past a parked police car running radar and you look in your rear-view mirror and it looks like the police car is moving. It is an illusion, and it freaks me out! Even when I know I'm going under the speed limit, it still freaks me out.

Who Are You Reading?

I read several blogs on a daily basis...thought I'd share them with you in case they interest you (it'll certainly tell you a little more about my personality): [in no particular order]

43 Folders
Church Communications Pro
Church Marketing Sucks
Church Relevance
Daily Cup of Tech
Lifehack.org
Lifehacker.com
Matt Cornell
Scott Berkun
Seth Godin
Tim Ferriss
The Scoggins Saga
Web Worker Daily
Zen Habits

I use Google Reader to gather all of my feeds in one place.
Tell me who you're reading in the comments!

Google AdSense

Several of you have asked me how much money my "prostitute blog" has made me so far. It has made me a whopping $0.43 cents. Too bad that Google only sends you a check after you've earned $100.00. That means that by the time I'm 40 years old, I might get a check.

The funny (or perhaps scary) thing is that the ads are context sensitive...so every time I write the word "prostitute" it becomes more likely that an ad I don't especially want at the top of my blog will show up.

It Just Occurred To Me...

It just occurred to me that if you were just looking at the last few postings on this blog, you're probably wondering what all of these "sessions" things were about. They are my thoughts from the Willow Creek Leadership Summit.

I explained what they were when I started posting them, but since the postings list in reverse order, it might not be real clear what's going on with them.

Hopefully I'll get to post everything from the later sessions soon.

Session Three (part two)

Three Myths & Truths About Strengths & Weaknesses
From Marcus Buckingham
Note: This is a continuation post from an earlier entry.

Myth: As you grow, your personality changes
Truth: As you grow, you become more and more of who you are
If you were to take a personality test every decade of your life, you will most likely get the same result every time.

Myth: You have the potential to grow most in your area of weakness.
Truth: You have the potential to grow most in your area of strength.
You need to ask yourself what situation(s) you can put your strengths in to make them stronger. How can you sharpen your skills? Is it possible that by growing stronger in your strengths you can grow your weaknesses?

Myth: A great team member puts their strengths aside for the better of the team.
Truth: A great team member volunteers his/her strengths to the team most of the time.

Three Skills To Work In Your Strengths Most of the Time:
1. Know Your Strengths
2. Change Something (Each Week) To Help You Grow In Your Strengths
Put Together a Strong Week Plan - where you reduce focus on a weakness and increase focus on a strength.
3. Learn to talk about your strengths without sounding like you're bragging and talk about your weaknesses without sounding like your whining.
This is the only way you can talk to your boss/spouse/secretary/etc. about delegating your weaknesses and working in your strengths.

4 Signs Something Is A Strength (Or, Ways To Identify A Strength)
1. You are successful AND effective at it.
2. If you instinctively look forward to it
3. Doing the thing makes time go faster
4. If it seems as if you were made to do it...you feel energized about it.

Note: Must meet all four qualifications to be a strength. You might really enjoy something but not be effective at doing it.

Basically a strength is any activity that makes you feel strong!

Session Three: Marcus Buckingham - "Put Your Strengths To Work"

I love this guy, Marcus Buckingham, so I might have to break this post into two postings. I don't know why I like him so much. Perhaps because he's a great communicator. Perhaps it's his English accent (he's British). Perhaps because he knows his stuff. Perhaps it's because his content really resonates with me.

Buckingham has written 3 noteworthy books: The One Thing You Need To Know, First Break All The Rules, and his latest, Go Put Your Strengths to Work. They all revolve around the principle of "build on your strengths, and manage around your weaknesses." His thesis is that people need to do what they enjoy & are strong at, not spend so much time improving your weaknesses because you'll never move much in improving your weaknesses, but can be the best in the world at the thing your strongest at.

It's not that you shouldn't work on your weaknesses, but you should focus more on your strengths...and when you are working on your weaknesses, you should do so through your strengths. For example, if your kid is really good in Science and failing Algebra, you don't abandon Algebra. However, your kid is probably not strong in math and likely never will be, simply because he's not made that way. But, if you can help him approach Algebra in a scientific way, he can improve his weak area some (some being the key word there)...and perhaps enjoy it in the process because he's using his strength. What you should really do, though, is help him be the best scientist ever, because that is his strength.

Next time I'll post on his talk: Three Myths & Truths About Strengths & Weaknesses

Session Two: Carly Fiorina "Tough Choices"

Carly Fiorina is the former CEO of HP. She facilitated the merger between HP & Compaq...considered by some to be the biggest hi-tech merger of all time. She was fired from HP in a shady ordeal and wrote a book about it called Tough Choices. They say it's a great book...i've added it to my "books to read before I die" list.

She had a few quotes worth mentioning...let me know in the comments if you agree/disagree with any or if any jump out at you:

• Nothing worthwhile happens as an individual alone.
• Motivation is moving people in a certain direction. Management doesn't involve motivating people, but leadership is all about motivating people.
• Leadership, to be effective, involves a vision that is bigger than people's fears. You have to show them that, though it's going to be painful it's going to be worth it.
• Leadership is seeing & unlocking potential in others. When a leader sees the potential in others, it's motivating. Leaders need to take chances on people.
• Leaders have to be authentic. You can't fake authenticity.

It was pretty interesting that she said if she had to do the whole HP thing all over again, knowing the painful ordeal she would have to go through - the public firing - she would do it because she learned so much about leadership & integrity from it. She said that everything is a gift, even the painful trials in life because they make us stronger (hmm...where have I heard that before?).

Session One: Bill Hybels - "Vision To Die For"

Bill Hybels always does the opening talk at the Summit. The whole conference is really his baby, and he truly gets jazzed up for this event. Probably because he feels that "the local church is the hope of the world." Nothing can provide hope like the local church when working effectively. Government can help people, but it can't help the human soul. Doctors can heal people, but they can't heal our sin condition. You get the picture.

In the first talk, Bill talked about a vision that people are willing to follow...even more than follow, a vision that people are willing to own and even (God forbid) die for. He gave some pointers for forming a compelling vision, but said that the most important aspect is the process. The vision is best formed, refined, and declared to the group that you desire to own it by first drafting it (preferably with the team that will be asked to own it), then re-drafting it, then editing it some more. The point is that if you try to sell the first snapshot that comes in to your mind, you'll probably fail miserably.

The single most determining factor, according to Hybels, that will effect the ownership of the vision for your followers is the extent they sense you, yourself own it. Vision leaks, and the more you refill the cup of those who follow you, the more they will sense you own it and the more they will be willing to adopt it themselves.

Question to ask yourself: Would you be willing to die for the vision God has given you? How much ownership do you have for the thing God has given you to do? Is life more about you, your career, your comfort, your path, etc; or is it more about doing whatever it takes to reach the finish line?

Everyone Is Leading Someone

Several people who read this blog are fans of the Leadership Summit - a conference put on by Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago...broadcast via satellite to over 100 cities across the world (including Calvary) - but were unable to attend for one reason or another. So, I thought I'd take a few posts over the next couple of days and give some of the highlights as they touched me.

Side Note: Lots of people never consider going to the Summit because they don't consider themselves to be leaders. Though the Summit is targeted at church leaders and (to a lesser degree) businesses executives, I would contend that there is something for everyone at this event because everyone is a leader. Whether you lead people at work, at a church group, at a local organization, your kid's ball team, or (last but not least) your family...everyone is leading someone. This year's Summit slogan is "Lead Where You Are." So, I would encourage you to buy the DVD's of the Summit...they'll do a lot better than I will in stretching your leadership potential. But, if you refuse...perhaps my recap will touch you some way.

21 Pages

Can someone please explain to me why there are 21 pages of advertisements before the table of contents in a subscription-based magazine? I'm ok with a page or two of ads to help make Men's Journal a profitable outfit, but really, 21? What am I paying for? Why don't they call it an advertising directory? Seems to me like someone needs to cut some overhead expenses. Men's Journal better be glad that my credit card points were about to expire and I needed to "spend" them on magazines. It's sad really...they had a chance to really impress me while I was getting the magazine for "free." Instead, they made sure I'll never "pay" for the magazine subscription.

A Prostitute Blog

I've decided to add a Google AdSense bar to the top of my blog to see if I can make a little extra income. Does that make me a blog prostitute? I don't know, but if you see something you like, take a click and see what you see...and make me a little moolah.