I think I might have a new Favorite TV show.
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
We’re only two weeks in, but really have enjoyed it so far.
Weird – I like looking at the behind the scenes stuff – since most of my work is behind the scenes in a “creative environment”, on a weekly show for radio.
::Unrelated – but related::
Last night, I spent way too much time watching tv – yet I felt I wanted to watch Heroes – I was kind of underwhelmed.
Showing posts with label ideas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ideas. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Fun Stuff
It's been a while since I posted last, and here's some stuff
that I have been checking into recently that I am enjoying…
:: A Leap Across a Chasm - The blog of Creativity Coach Dan Goodwin ::
999 Ideas
accidentalcreative
Killer Innovations
The new Servant Evangelism E-zine (from Steve Sjogren and Charlie Wear):
http://www.serve-others.com/index.cfm
A friend of mine has a new show on WWTN …called Empowering Your Health – Sundays from 9 to 11p
Verse of the Week: Luke 12:31
I have yet to see Ricky Bobby, but its on my list!
that I have been checking into recently that I am enjoying…
:: A Leap Across a Chasm - The blog of Creativity Coach Dan Goodwin ::
999 Ideas
accidentalcreative
Killer Innovations
The new Servant Evangelism E-zine (from Steve Sjogren and Charlie Wear):
http://www.serve-others.com/index.cfm
A friend of mine has a new show on WWTN …called Empowering Your Health – Sundays from 9 to 11p
Verse of the Week: Luke 12:31
I have yet to see Ricky Bobby, but its on my list!
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
2 More Questions...
After some reading this week, I have come up with two more questions to ask myself on the journey...
How Can I Make Something Happen?
Am I being RECKLESS, but not being THOUGHTLESS?
(gathered from Reading Some Tom Peters work)
How Can I Make Something Happen?
Am I being RECKLESS, but not being THOUGHTLESS?
(gathered from Reading Some Tom Peters work)
Friday, June 02, 2006
Questions to ask late at night or early in the morning
Here are some questions that I am beginning to ask myself…
Gathered from various sources…to improve my outlook on life and the potential of my life…
Do you have questions you ask that make you think about bettering yourself and your world?
Gathered from various sources…to improve my outlook on life and the potential of my life…
- Are you doing the best you can possibly do?
- Are you doing better work today than you were yesterday?
- If your relationship with God better today than yesterday?
- Are you bettering yourself (Spiritually, Physically, Mentally)?
- How are you using the 168 hours God has given you this week?
- What is your legacy that you are going to leave TODAY?
- How can I have more ________________ in my life? (fill in the blank)
Do you have questions you ask that make you think about bettering yourself and your world?
Friday, May 05, 2006
IN SEARCH OF...
My...
...USP (unique selling proposition)
...Distinctives
...Unique Voice
...slant
...Schtick
...unique selling point
... voice
...take on the world, and how its different from everyone elses.
...USP (unique selling proposition)
...Distinctives
...Unique Voice
...slant
...Schtick
...unique selling point
... voice
...take on the world, and how its different from everyone elses.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Breakfast with Fred
Been stumbling around the Breakfast with Fred Website – I found it a couple years ago, and have always enjoyed the weekly thought.
Here are some great quotes from Fred Smith about communication
Here are some great quotes from Fred Smith about communication
- From the joy of learning comes the joy of sharing.
- Only you can share your memories.
- Clarify your thoughts so that others may use them.
- Better to be a participant in life than a reporter.
- A perpetual learner is the best teacher.
- Speak to people about a subject, not on a subject to people.
- In 20 languages "be" and "do" are the same word.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Interviewing by a PD as witnessed by... me!
I have been reading The Pursuit of WOW! By Tom Peters, and it has got me thinking about different experiences that I have encountered in my life.
Being in radio for 13 years, I have had many opportunities to interview with several different program directors. One experience that stands out was when I interview for Scott Sands who is Program Director for WZPL in Indianapolis.
I had to do the normal stuff – Send a tape and resume, which got me in the door, then I had to do an air shift (which was a blast – because I had always admired the station). The funny thing was that there wasn’t that much of what would be called a ‘FORMAL’ Interview. Most of our conversations were in Scott’s car as we drove to and from Dinner, and to and from the hotel to the station.
When my Sunday evening shift was over, he took me to a local place to grab a bite to eat. He had mentioned that maybe some of the staff would come by. Well, it was pretty much the whole staff – give or take a few. I remember that Dave Decker the Midday guy/APD/MD was there – great guy – the promotions team, a couple sales folks, I think there were more, and a couple came late to hang out as well. It was good dinner, drinks and conversation.
Little did I know that that was the majority of the interview.
I did meet with Scott briefly in his office the following morning. But nothing really in depth – just the semantics of what the job would be if I was hired.
Needless to say, I wasn’t hired for that job. Perhaps because he was good friends with my Program Director at that time, Jimmy Steele, and they apparently had had a conversation about me. (which came up at an inopportune time a couple months later)(that’s another story)
But, that is one experience of Interviewing that I will always remember. I really enjoyed it.
He obviously was looking to see how I would Gel with the staff that was already assembled. (You gellin’? Like a felon)
He was seeing if I could think on my feet.
He was looking to see how I would relate, and his folks would relate to me.
Tom Peters in a “rant” in his book Pursuit of Wow – talks of his displeasure with drug testing. (this book was written several years ago – so I wonder is he still has the same ‘distaste’ for it today as he did then – I bet so!)
He says that the interviewing process should be like a courting process, setting up times for Coffee, for lunch for interviews with the whole staff, for dinners, for mingling with everyone on all levels within the company.
That the process should take several weeks of time. That way, you truly know who you are getting, and the need for a drug test is non existent. (pgs 88-89 if you want to read it)
Scott Sands was doing a mini version of this when I visited him and his station and staff in Indy those couple days.
Cool stuff. And I will remember it for a long time to come.
Thanks Scott!
Being in radio for 13 years, I have had many opportunities to interview with several different program directors. One experience that stands out was when I interview for Scott Sands who is Program Director for WZPL in Indianapolis.
I had to do the normal stuff – Send a tape and resume, which got me in the door, then I had to do an air shift (which was a blast – because I had always admired the station). The funny thing was that there wasn’t that much of what would be called a ‘FORMAL’ Interview. Most of our conversations were in Scott’s car as we drove to and from Dinner, and to and from the hotel to the station.
When my Sunday evening shift was over, he took me to a local place to grab a bite to eat. He had mentioned that maybe some of the staff would come by. Well, it was pretty much the whole staff – give or take a few. I remember that Dave Decker the Midday guy/APD/MD was there – great guy – the promotions team, a couple sales folks, I think there were more, and a couple came late to hang out as well. It was good dinner, drinks and conversation.
Little did I know that that was the majority of the interview.
I did meet with Scott briefly in his office the following morning. But nothing really in depth – just the semantics of what the job would be if I was hired.
Needless to say, I wasn’t hired for that job. Perhaps because he was good friends with my Program Director at that time, Jimmy Steele, and they apparently had had a conversation about me. (which came up at an inopportune time a couple months later)(that’s another story)
But, that is one experience of Interviewing that I will always remember. I really enjoyed it.
He obviously was looking to see how I would Gel with the staff that was already assembled. (You gellin’? Like a felon)
He was seeing if I could think on my feet.
He was looking to see how I would relate, and his folks would relate to me.
Tom Peters in a “rant” in his book Pursuit of Wow – talks of his displeasure with drug testing. (this book was written several years ago – so I wonder is he still has the same ‘distaste’ for it today as he did then – I bet so!)
He says that the interviewing process should be like a courting process, setting up times for Coffee, for lunch for interviews with the whole staff, for dinners, for mingling with everyone on all levels within the company.
That the process should take several weeks of time. That way, you truly know who you are getting, and the need for a drug test is non existent. (pgs 88-89 if you want to read it)
Scott Sands was doing a mini version of this when I visited him and his station and staff in Indy those couple days.
Cool stuff. And I will remember it for a long time to come.
Thanks Scott!
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Monday, October 24, 2005
Outward Focused: Horizontally and Vertically Smart
Steve Sjogren: Session 2 Notes on "Vineyard Leader Meeting"
Read Re-imagine! by Tom Peters!
Big Churches have 3 things that small churches don't - Power, Heart for Service, and Marketing.
If you are small - look for artists in church to provide art for marketing...don't always go with the pre produced piece...(you can't always do that)
--------------------------------------------------------------
On Teaching...
Plug your listeners into something that is Practical in their lives.
Practical Applications should be the speaking points of your teaching...they should be the beginning points to teach biblically from...
--------------------------------------------------------------
On Worship...
Israel Houghton Worship...Good stuff!
...When we gather the people at our churches on the Weekends...are we having a celebration/party or are we having a funeral?...
---------------------------------------------------------------
Steve Sjogren is the founding Pastor of Vineyard Community Church in Cincinnati, and loves servant evangelism.
More Outward Focused: HERE
Read Re-imagine! by Tom Peters!
Big Churches have 3 things that small churches don't - Power, Heart for Service, and Marketing.
If you are small - look for artists in church to provide art for marketing...don't always go with the pre produced piece...(you can't always do that)
--------------------------------------------------------------
On Teaching...
Plug your listeners into something that is Practical in their lives.
Practical Applications should be the speaking points of your teaching...they should be the beginning points to teach biblically from...
--------------------------------------------------------------
On Worship...
Israel Houghton Worship...Good stuff!
...When we gather the people at our churches on the Weekends...are we having a celebration/party or are we having a funeral?...
---------------------------------------------------------------
Steve Sjogren is the founding Pastor of Vineyard Community Church in Cincinnati, and loves servant evangelism.
More Outward Focused: HERE
Outward Focused: Putting a dent in the world
Steve Sjogren: Session 1
Notes on What Steve has learned as a Church Planter/Pastor/Writer/Speaker/Teacher
1. People have a desire to Change the World. Sometimes, their desire to change the world is even more deeply rooted than their desire to get to know God.
- We should be World Changers! We should be radical ALL of our days. Not just until we are 35.
We should always focus on loving the untouchables, the outsiders, the nobodies, the hurt and broken - the people no one wants! Thats what Jesus did. And He is our model.
2. To do the Stuff that Jesus Did - You have to have to engage people.
- Doing the stuff is as easy as leaving an above average tip (30 percent instead of fifteen!). Compliment your server at a restaurant, then call the manager over and compliment your server again!( I saw Steve do this personally - and it blows people away - because the manager expects you to complain. He didn't know what to say when Steve kept lavishing on the compliments of this server)
Buy someone Coffee behind you at Starbucks. Buy the next person in line behind you at Taco Bell lunch. Buy Tic Tacs and give them away!
Each of these is simple and easy, and gives an opportunity for the Kingdom of God to show up right there - in that moment.
Mat. 13:1-23 The SCATTERING of the seeds.
Jesus told the parable of Scattering - Not Planting- seeds. Of course, the seed fell on all types of ground. But the point is not the ground, the point is the abundance of seed that was thrown. We can constanly look for opportunities to scatter the seed of kindness and let the Holy Spirit do the work of 'plowing' in peoples hearts.
- God will grow you into an extrovert. Spending 25 hours preparing your message behind the computer is a cop out. There are better things to do with our time. (There is ENOUGH TALK about God...Let's DO SOMETHING to show His Love to People!)
How do we get people "OUT THERE" -> "IN HERE"?
Many churches can't anwser that question.
We have to BRING and INCLUDE.
Watch our Vocabulary - not "Visitor" - "Guest" is better - "Newcomer" is best...
We make people feel like there is a great chasm between "all of us who are already in the church" and those who are "Not Yet Christians". Yet, if we don't watch our vocabulary,if we don't include, we'll never bridge that huge gap.
Steve Sjogren is the founding Pastor of Vineyard Community Church in Cincinnati, and loves servant evangelism.
More of :Outward Focused: HERE
Notes on What Steve has learned as a Church Planter/Pastor/Writer/Speaker/Teacher
1. People have a desire to Change the World. Sometimes, their desire to change the world is even more deeply rooted than their desire to get to know God.
- We should be World Changers! We should be radical ALL of our days. Not just until we are 35.
We should always focus on loving the untouchables, the outsiders, the nobodies, the hurt and broken - the people no one wants! Thats what Jesus did. And He is our model.
2. To do the Stuff that Jesus Did - You have to have to engage people.
- Doing the stuff is as easy as leaving an above average tip (30 percent instead of fifteen!). Compliment your server at a restaurant, then call the manager over and compliment your server again!( I saw Steve do this personally - and it blows people away - because the manager expects you to complain. He didn't know what to say when Steve kept lavishing on the compliments of this server)
Buy someone Coffee behind you at Starbucks. Buy the next person in line behind you at Taco Bell lunch. Buy Tic Tacs and give them away!
Each of these is simple and easy, and gives an opportunity for the Kingdom of God to show up right there - in that moment.
Mat. 13:1-23 The SCATTERING of the seeds.
Jesus told the parable of Scattering - Not Planting- seeds. Of course, the seed fell on all types of ground. But the point is not the ground, the point is the abundance of seed that was thrown. We can constanly look for opportunities to scatter the seed of kindness and let the Holy Spirit do the work of 'plowing' in peoples hearts.
- God will grow you into an extrovert. Spending 25 hours preparing your message behind the computer is a cop out. There are better things to do with our time. (There is ENOUGH TALK about God...Let's DO SOMETHING to show His Love to People!)
How do we get people "OUT THERE" -> "IN HERE"?
Many churches can't anwser that question.
We have to BRING and INCLUDE.
Watch our Vocabulary - not "Visitor" - "Guest" is better - "Newcomer" is best...
We make people feel like there is a great chasm between "all of us who are already in the church" and those who are "Not Yet Christians". Yet, if we don't watch our vocabulary,if we don't include, we'll never bridge that huge gap.
Steve Sjogren is the founding Pastor of Vineyard Community Church in Cincinnati, and loves servant evangelism.
More of :Outward Focused: HERE
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Outward Focused: A week with Steve Sjogren
What a great weekend at Camp Garner Creek! The Tennessee men's retreat was a blast, then this morning, Steve Sjogren spoke again at Franklin Vineyard.
This week, I am going to go thru my notes and post some of the best, and most thought provoking things for me from this weekend retreat.
This week, I am going to go thru my notes and post some of the best, and most thought provoking things for me from this weekend retreat.
Friday, October 07, 2005
High Touch
Brand Autopsy is running a series about Starbucks and how their brand became what is it today.
High Touch trumps High Tech. It’s a great thing to remember as I continue to do ministry.
Doug Fields Says the same thing in Your First Two years in Youth Ministry.
90% of youth ministry is relationships. The kids won’t remember my best message. They’ll remember that I loved them and hung out with them, and was a good example for them.
Starbucks tried to go high tech, and the audience response was negative. The personal element was lost when the customer was able to order without talking to a barista.
Is the personal element lost when we go too high tech in Youth ministry? I am sure God uses High Tech. I just don’t want to get lost in the glitz and glam.
I know about smoke and mirrors – I am in radio!!
Do we do High Tech because the pressure is there to try and impress?
Are we High Tech to ‘keep up with the Jones’? (the Jones’ being the big church down the street)
I actually like High Tech. I like a good performance, and a good message. I believe in Creativity with presentation, not in interpretation, of the Word.
There does have to be a balance. Right?
Because people desire High Touch.
High Touch trumps High Tech. It’s a great thing to remember as I continue to do ministry.
Doug Fields Says the same thing in Your First Two years in Youth Ministry.
90% of youth ministry is relationships. The kids won’t remember my best message. They’ll remember that I loved them and hung out with them, and was a good example for them.
Starbucks tried to go high tech, and the audience response was negative. The personal element was lost when the customer was able to order without talking to a barista.
Is the personal element lost when we go too high tech in Youth ministry? I am sure God uses High Tech. I just don’t want to get lost in the glitz and glam.
I know about smoke and mirrors – I am in radio!!
Do we do High Tech because the pressure is there to try and impress?
Are we High Tech to ‘keep up with the Jones’? (the Jones’ being the big church down the street)
I actually like High Tech. I like a good performance, and a good message. I believe in Creativity with presentation, not in interpretation, of the Word.
There does have to be a balance. Right?
Because people desire High Touch.
Whisper
Cool post on Fast Company’s blog a couple days back that I just found about finding your vision, your passion.
It suggests an exercise to help find what is whispering to you – from a Christian perspective – what is the still small voice of God saying to you?
1. What whisper do you hear?
2. Put it on paper - I recommend doing this even if you think you know it already - it forces you to articulate it more clearly.
3. Recognize that this is your sweet spot - the place where you'll find more creativity and success than anywhere else.
4. When the time is right, follow it. Slowly at first if you have to.
5. Revisit this whisper at least once a year as it can change and grow as you begin to listen to it.
Question: How have you woven your whisper into your life?
Gonna think about it, and write it out - maybe even here on the good ol' blog!
It suggests an exercise to help find what is whispering to you – from a Christian perspective – what is the still small voice of God saying to you?
1. What whisper do you hear?
2. Put it on paper - I recommend doing this even if you think you know it already - it forces you to articulate it more clearly.
3. Recognize that this is your sweet spot - the place where you'll find more creativity and success than anywhere else.
4. When the time is right, follow it. Slowly at first if you have to.
5. Revisit this whisper at least once a year as it can change and grow as you begin to listen to it.
Question: How have you woven your whisper into your life?
Gonna think about it, and write it out - maybe even here on the good ol' blog!
Friday, September 23, 2005
Friday fun
from Question of the Day:
Danger
If you could experience something considered very dangerous with your safety guaranteed, what would you want to experience?
Here's my answer
I actually did get to skydive with the Golden Knights one time - as a publicity stunt - I would do that again with those guys - but by myself - it would have to be bungee jumping off one of those extremely high and unsafe looking bridges where it looks like you could either be swept away in the river below or plaster yourself on the rocks! - But that wouldn't happen this time, because my safety is guaranteed, right?
Danger
If you could experience something considered very dangerous with your safety guaranteed, what would you want to experience?
Here's my answer
I actually did get to skydive with the Golden Knights one time - as a publicity stunt - I would do that again with those guys - but by myself - it would have to be bungee jumping off one of those extremely high and unsafe looking bridges where it looks like you could either be swept away in the river below or plaster yourself on the rocks! - But that wouldn't happen this time, because my safety is guaranteed, right?
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Share Winning Stories
From Mark Batterson’s blog:
Here's one practical tip
We start every staff meeting by sharing wins.
The "old school" word is "testimony." Sharing wins gets us focused on the positive things God is doing. It has become part of our culture. It sets the tone for everything we do!If you're pastoring, put "wins" at the top of every meeting agenda. It's positive reinforcement.
You need to celebrate what you want to see more of.
It doesn't matter whether it's a boardroom, classroom, or locker room, sharing wins is one small step/one giant leap towards creating a positive environment. Sharing wins can revolutionize a church culture, family culture, or work environment.
Cool thought – and it is a thought that is echoed in the book I am reading – The Leadership Challenge ( good read – not a tough read – but I am really taking my time with it, making notes, underlining and highlighting to re-read again!)
…telling stories forces you to pay close attention to what your constituents are doing. Telling stories about others give you the chance to reinforce that “everyone is a leader.” Hearing or reading a story about similar people (people they can identify with) is also the most effective type of role model for stimulating an audience to learn how to take such actions themselves. (p.100)
Here's one practical tip
We start every staff meeting by sharing wins.
The "old school" word is "testimony." Sharing wins gets us focused on the positive things God is doing. It has become part of our culture. It sets the tone for everything we do!If you're pastoring, put "wins" at the top of every meeting agenda. It's positive reinforcement.
You need to celebrate what you want to see more of.
It doesn't matter whether it's a boardroom, classroom, or locker room, sharing wins is one small step/one giant leap towards creating a positive environment. Sharing wins can revolutionize a church culture, family culture, or work environment.
Cool thought – and it is a thought that is echoed in the book I am reading – The Leadership Challenge ( good read – not a tough read – but I am really taking my time with it, making notes, underlining and highlighting to re-read again!)
…telling stories forces you to pay close attention to what your constituents are doing. Telling stories about others give you the chance to reinforce that “everyone is a leader.” Hearing or reading a story about similar people (people they can identify with) is also the most effective type of role model for stimulating an audience to learn how to take such actions themselves. (p.100)
Thursday, July 21, 2005
great post from awhile back
saw this on www.Churchmarketingsucks.com
False Advertising
"The greatest challenge the church faces today is to be authentic disciples of Jesus. ... That's one reason why the statistics on Christians generally don't differ from the statistics on non-Christians. We're not living a different life." -Dallas Willard (RelevantMagazine.com)
Christians are walking billboards for the church, and too often it's a case of false advertising. Church marketing sucks, but so do we. We're a sinful and broken people, but half the time we can't admit it. We put on an air of perfection, forgetting that in our brokenness we are complete. The church is for the broken, not the perfect.
Yet rather than accept our imperfection and live lives transformed by grace, we pretend to be perfect and wallow in our sin.
good point, and so true.
False Advertising
"The greatest challenge the church faces today is to be authentic disciples of Jesus. ... That's one reason why the statistics on Christians generally don't differ from the statistics on non-Christians. We're not living a different life." -Dallas Willard (RelevantMagazine.com)
Christians are walking billboards for the church, and too often it's a case of false advertising. Church marketing sucks, but so do we. We're a sinful and broken people, but half the time we can't admit it. We put on an air of perfection, forgetting that in our brokenness we are complete. The church is for the broken, not the perfect.
Yet rather than accept our imperfection and live lives transformed by grace, we pretend to be perfect and wallow in our sin.
good point, and so true.
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
totally missing the pope mobile
My first comment! WOW that rocks.
The first run around the Vatican that the new 'pope' made, in his 'pope-mobile' did not have the cool glass bubble...very disappointing! Ahh...gone are the days of the old popemobile... The cool thing is, the new mobile, did look like a hummer, but what do I know~!
UPSET. Like pulling off a scab and having a sore bleed again, was getting the news that the new midday guy in Dallas is using the name CRUZ on air...Like having a bad paper cut and then sticking it in lemon juice. Bringing it up just upsets me. The guy using the name I use on air. A couple months ago, I was informed that my name was being thought of for middays on this station, I decided I couldn't and shouldn't pursue the opportunity at the present. BOY That hurt. And now, the new guy is using CRUZ. Nothing like addin insult to injury. Like kicking you when you are down. Like chewing on tin foil. Not really like that last one, but that thought did make me cringe.
The first run around the Vatican that the new 'pope' made, in his 'pope-mobile' did not have the cool glass bubble...very disappointing! Ahh...gone are the days of the old popemobile... The cool thing is, the new mobile, did look like a hummer, but what do I know~!
UPSET. Like pulling off a scab and having a sore bleed again, was getting the news that the new midday guy in Dallas is using the name CRUZ on air...Like having a bad paper cut and then sticking it in lemon juice. Bringing it up just upsets me. The guy using the name I use on air. A couple months ago, I was informed that my name was being thought of for middays on this station, I decided I couldn't and shouldn't pursue the opportunity at the present. BOY That hurt. And now, the new guy is using CRUZ. Nothing like addin insult to injury. Like kicking you when you are down. Like chewing on tin foil. Not really like that last one, but that thought did make me cringe.
Thursday, April 14, 2005
I can't spell Blog
Did you notice from the last blog, I can't spell blog...Oh well.
What about last night on NBC...Revelations...Bill Pullman and others...interesting concept for a show...I thought it was going to be a 'tv movie' not a series...it'll be interesting to see how it plays out. Lots of scripture reference - which I thought was cool. This is definately a Christian based show...where Joan of Arcadia is a great show, yet does not delve into what religion God represents...Does that make sense?
God in the news lately...Terry Schiavo, the lady in Atlanta with Purpose Driven Life, The Pope passing...very cool.
What about last night on NBC...Revelations...Bill Pullman and others...interesting concept for a show...I thought it was going to be a 'tv movie' not a series...it'll be interesting to see how it plays out. Lots of scripture reference - which I thought was cool. This is definately a Christian based show...where Joan of Arcadia is a great show, yet does not delve into what religion God represents...Does that make sense?
God in the news lately...Terry Schiavo, the lady in Atlanta with Purpose Driven Life, The Pope passing...very cool.
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