"Misused" Quotes

I stumbled on this great post at Mental Floss about Misused Quotes, so I went to the website to check it out...





I about fell out of my chair I was laughing so hard.





Here are a couple of my favorites:





This was on a homemade sign at a flea market: all swimsuits are clean and "sanitized"
At least they're clean!





Seen on a van this morning: Casa Bonita. Taking care of your "beautiful house"


Yeah, they must have seen my house lately.





My mother sent my husband and me a Valentine's Day card. Printed on the front was: To a special daughter and "son."


I'm sure my husband really felt like one of the family after that.





Maybe I just have a weird sense of humor, but I can imagine someone saying these things, and using air quotes to make their point!





If you imagine someone using airquotes you'll appreciate the humor too!





Have a "Great Day"!

Great Quote

"Blame is about the past: A plan of action to fix the problem is about the future"

- from David Niven's Book The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People that I mentioned in a previous post

ps - its tip number 48 (if you were wondering)

NIKE IS RIGHT - JUST DO IT

Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it! — Goethe

There is power in the FIRST STEP.

How many times have you had a great idea, but just let it sit in the stagnating pool of sludge in your brain, until it grows fungus, and becomes part of the sludge?

I have done that too many times to count. My journal is full of ideas gathering cobwebs.

Sometimes I feel like I don’t’ have the resources to begin something. Like I don’t have enough knowledge, talent or skill.

I heard Steve Sjogren talk about the “French Method of Teaching/Learning” one time. He was talking in terms of applying it to Evangelism, but I think it might just be applicable here too. Here is how it goes:

DO the “thing” that you want to do

Regroup and TALK about the “thing” you did

RESEARCH the reasoning behind why you did the “thing”

Here in the states, we get together and Talk about what we want to do…we research and find out all the reasoning and methods and ways to do what we want to do.

We spend a lot of time in research and talking,
AND NEVER DOING THE THING WE DESIRE TO DO.

The French folks (if the model is still in use)…

DO THE THING FIRST.

Then talk about it, and research it.

BE BOLD!

DO THING THING YOU WANT TO DO.

TAKE A STEP!

DON’T FALL INTO THE PARALYSIS OF ANALYSIS!!!!

MY NEW FAVORITE PLACE TO STAY

While Vacationing over the weekend in the ATL, we decided to stay at a Country Inn. I noticed on top of the TV a flier for a new program that Country Inns were offering called “READ IT & RETURN”.

Its really simple.

You check in.

You check out the library that the hotel has right there in its lobby.

If you see a book you would like to read, you borrow it.

You Read it.

You return it to the next Country Inn you stay in.

VERY COOL.

I just thought this was the best thing EVER! (but I AM a reader)

I went down to the lobby to check out the books. Needless to say, at this particular Country Inn, the books were all children focused – from Treasure Island to Lemony Snicket.

I still thought this was a GREAT idea.

During the trip, we had to switch hotels, and stayed in another Country Inn. I decided to try out their library.

This time I hit the Jackpot.

The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People by David Niven

I am reading it, and will return it on my next visit to a Country Inn!

(I might have to just find a Country Inn here in the area to return the book – I don’t know how soon I’ll actually be traveling again!)

This is a cool idea - promoting reading (which is always a plus in my book)(pun intended) - and it makes the hotel feel like a safe cozy place to stay!!

Dawson McAllister Live Calls it Quits

Its a sad day round here, after more than 15 years, Dawson McAllister will be leaving Christian Radio.

I actually put together a promo to run on Dawson McAllister Live (the Christian version of the show) During the Month of June. June 24th will be the last night for the Christian show.

The show will continue on CHR stations (top 40) on Sunday nights, but the Christian version of the show will no longer be available.

I know Dawson is very grateful for the support of Christian radio, and loves them dearly. This has been a difficult decision to make!

POST IT QUOTES THOUGHTS AND NOTES

Recent Quotes that I have found that I write on Post It notes around the office:

“We fail when we get distracted by the tasks we don’t have that guts to quit” – Seth Godin

“ Quit or be exceptional. Average is for Losers.” – Seth Godin

“Average feels safe, but it’s not. It’s Invisible.” – Seth Godin

“If at first your idea does not sound absurd, there is no hope for it.” – Albert Einstein

“Your best EXTRA job is MORE of the SAME.” – Dave Ramsey

“The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts” – Marcus Aurelius Antonius

Are you doing the most productive thing possible right now? – MANY

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. – Aristotle

Accentuate the essential, ignore the obvious. – Vincent Van Gogh

The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas – Linus Pauling

Creativity is blocked by our falling in with other peoples plans for us – Julia Cameron

poems from a while back

let us run together rampant
over streams fields and shores
let us take the tops of mountains
by love not by force

show the power together in love
a force to be reckoned
together we will stand
for days, years, hours on end

from 021307


Remember Rain?

rumble grey cotton rolls in to
swallow the misty blue late afternoon
the air turns steely green with
scent of damp and blanket of wet

course hairs take a stand in
the nostril. the smell, the feel.
God rolls in the rain; remember
racing thru dew
drop plop plop

as a silly munchkin child drip
drop, hit a sloppy puddle.
clumsy spin ,
dance,
grin
look heaven-ward

catch a glistening sparkle
in the palm

from 031607

copyright stu gray 2007

Just Found

WOW!

I just found Steven Furtick online. He is the Pastor at Elevation Church.
Just in quickly reading over some of his latest posts He really made me think!

Looks like I am going to become a reader of his!

I am hopping on the Make it your Drink Brigade from Starbucks.

I dont' even go to Starbucks that much!

New Beginnings...AGAIN

I had a conversation with a good friend of mine... BRIAN

Who said I should write more often. I agree. I always begin, then fade away.

SO TODAY

I BEGIN

AGAIN!

The Wizard

Recently I have taken a likening to the Wizard of Ads.

Roy H. Williams.

In reading his three "Wizard" tomes on Advertising, Business and Life, I have really gained new insights on communication and healthy lively persuasion.

Good stuff!

STUDIO 60

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.

Cool thoughts from JWT

After reading a recent Fast Company Issue,

I was intrigued by J. Walter Thompson (JWT) – and what they do – so I went to look them up online

Here are some cool things that they have on their site:

• Stop interrupting what people are interested in and BE what people are interested in.

• Clients aren’t creative Kryptonite

• Always have a point of view. Its pointy.

• Great Ideas are Bouncy. They have to bounce around to get bigger and better – they do no good if you don’t let them fly off walls and gather momentum.

• Great ideas are sticky too. As they bounce, they are added too – and the more that sticks, the better the idea can become.

• Its not how many ideas you have had, but how many you have made happen. Anyone can have brilliant ideas, but can you make them happen?

• The ‘fun’ word. People have their best ideas when they are enjoying themselves.

• The People we love:

Are curious about everything
Beam positive energy
Stay hungry
Say what they think
Laugh out loud
Are fiercely competitive
“can do” anything
Champion ideas
Listen
Lean forward
Play hard
Move fast
Sweat the detail
Take risks
Love challenges
Perform miracles
Share the credit
Take the fall

COLOR

WHITE. A Blank Page or Canvas.

The Challenge: To bring order to the whole…

Thru Design…

Composition…

Balance…and

Harmony

• from “Sunday in the Park with George” by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine

I had that thought on my mind today as I was thinking about life.

I also remembered when I was programming a radio station. I had a mentor who came in and he talked about the radio station being the canvas – and as a programmer, you have control of the color, the paint, the feel, design of the listeners’ experience.

All done by music scheduling (the rotations of how many times a song plays), the day parting (some songs only play at night – or midday – or morning), promotions on the station (giveaways and events), and personalities (the air talent).

What are the colors I like?
How can this concept be taken even further into real life?
What is my “Color” or colors??
IS EVERYTHING I CREATE A MASTERPIECE?
How many layers of color are there in my life? In My work?

POTENTIAL

So, I have been thinking about POTENTIAL Lately.

I think my friends at work might start getting annoyed by it.

THOUGHT 1. I'm 31. I work for a guy who is turning 60. I look at his life and say - WOW! God has used him AMAZINGLY in his work and ministry.

He just recently hired back the man, and friend, he started on his journey with. They now are working together again, and having a blast.

THOUGHT 2. I am helping another friend launch a new 'JESUS MUSIC' show call Full Circle - that focuses on music that kick started the Contemporary Christian Music Scene, back in the 60's, 70's and early 80's.

I have started to think about the outpouring of God in the Jesus Movement. Lots of people were drawn back to God, and have had incredible ministries and lives because of this outpouring. Also, directly and indirectly, I have been blessed by the movement - Being a Vineyard guy.

Which leads to THOUGHT 3

POTENTIAL. Me and my friends. What are we going to be doing in 30 years that will inspire and leave a legacy to generations to come?

What are going to be doing that we love - that makes a difference for good and changes lives?

How much fun are we going to have getting to that point?

What does God have for Us, Me, New Friends, New Connections, New Possiblities, New Dreams and Visions that we can reach out for?

Sweet.

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!

An Equation for Change

This is cool – stumbled on to Phil Gerbyshak’s Website - and then followed a link for 3 principles of Change.

Very cool stuff that I had not seen or thought of before.

The equation comes in different forms and fashions.

Dick Richards lists it like this

D x V x C x F > R.

The equation shows that change can only occur when the product of distress, D, vision, V, capacity for change, C, and achievable first steps, F, is greater than resistance to change, R. Notice that if any of the four variables on the left of the equation is zero, change is not possible.

Wikipedia has another formula – a bit simpler for Change

D x V x F > R

Distress
Vision
Capacity for Change
First Steps
Have to be greater than
Resistance to Change.

Cool Stuff to think about.

Out with the old, and a Lyric from the King

My favorite button I used to wear when I was a PD for a top 40 station in Savannah GA
(WOO HOO Give a shout to my peeps in SAV-TOWN)…was this:

BUT WE’VE ALWAYS DONE IT THIS WAY (with the big red “Ghostbusters circle and slash” right thru it.)

The mentality in the building was ‘hey we can’t break the mold, this is always how it has been’.

But the deal was, I was hired because the old way STUNK.

TO HIGH HEAVEN.

Unfortunately, the person who always said to me “we’ve always done it this way” was the youngest on the staff – I think he was just trying to get over the fact that someone new was calling the shots.

Or not. Maybe he just didn’t want to change.

Maybe he was in love with the old boss. (not literally – just figuratively)

On a related note – AT LEAST IN MY MIND….

<Do I have a BIAS TOWARD ACTION?>

This is a question raised – once again by reading TOM PETERS stuff.

Man he makes me think. Thinking. Good.

“The King” had it right:

A little less conversation, a little more action please
All this aggravation ain't satisfactioning me
A little more bite and a little less bark
A little less fight and a little more spark....

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)

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…

• 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?