Monthly Archives: June 2012

Us vs Them

2 Replies

Free Thinkers vs Organized Religion
Jewish People vs Nazis
Optimists vs Pessimists
Believers vs NonBelievers
African Americans vs KKK Members
An Open Mind vs Old Conservative Thinking
Modern Feminism vs 50′s HouseWife
Abortion vs ProLife
Leaving the World in Tact for our Children vs Short Term Solutions
Pausing First, Then Reacting vs Mindless Reactions
Poor vs Wealthy
Independence vs Conformist
Local Farmers vs Monsanto
Nelson Mandela vs Apartheid
Nepalese vs Maoist Rebels
Love vs Hate

 Show me a time that this ‘us vs them’ thinking has ever worked.

I don’t think it does.

So let’s stop.

 Join me on:
 

 

Original or Regurgitated?

Leave a reply

I’ll be the first to admit that I hit the ‘Share’ and ‘ReTweet’ button way more often than I share or tweet my own thoughts, stories and photos.  It’s easy, right?  It seems so much easier to regurgitate other’s inspirations, videos and remarks — especially when they are speaking from a shared point of view or could potentially pose me as more legit as a new business.  Yet, the more I share and retweet without producing my own thoughts and stories, the more that I feel creatively blocked and somewhat like a fraud.

I’ve been reading Seth Godin’s book: Linchpin – Are you Indispensable? and really enjoying it because I allow his words to dig into my gut and hold me accountable to my choices and actions.  Every time I pick up the book, there are parts of me that want to regurgitate his words because he someone knows what and how to communicate his points in such a way that they feel like arrows of purpose and truth, piercing straight into my heart.  I’m hungry for his words right now.

His overall concept is around this idea of being an artist, creating your own art and the fact that we are innately artisans but are easily tempted to be drones.  Drones who follow the crowd, fit in with a job description, and dare not rock the boat.  Now for people who like being drones – good on ya and the world needs you as well.  But for those of us who aren’t great at following anyone else’s rules (me) – it’s time for us to embrace our inner artist and move forward with our natural ability to create.

In the book, Godin quotes a poet by the name of Bruce Ario, when he says: “Creativity is an instinct to produce.”  I believe it and love this concept.  Creativity is tangible by all who believe.  It is a gift for all.

So cheers to finding the right balance between posting original thoughts, photos and comments and sharing another’s.  May we all understand and see that each of us is capable of creating something that is worth of another’s RePost + ReTweet!

Join me on:
 

Manual Labor

Leave a reply

I came across this short film this morning, while reading Kinfolk Magazine online, and I sat mesmerized in thought.  It conjured memories of my father, who when not reading or writing, was often found tinkering on cars, sharpening blades of the lawn-mower or chain-saw – all in balance to his lifestyle as an English professor at a small liberal arts college in Illinois. Tinkering is actually the wrong word to use because he was very skilled in the art of manual labor and all of the ingredients that it takes to be such.

What I love about this film is the ever-present precious feeling that I get from watching a man, his daughter, wife and chickens work with their hands (+ feet) to produce original pieces.  Who does this anymore?  Who works with their hands long enough to create anything – spoons, guitars, tables, bed frames, whatever?

Everything we know today was built by hands, now it’s all machines. I think that it looses a lot of its class. Wood should be treated by hands, not machines.                - Lance Herriott

Perhaps it’s me wishing that this physical relationship still existed with my own father, or perhaps I’m secretly hoping that my brother, who as a luthier, glimpses more of his worth and skill through this post.  Whatever it is, my heart warms at the thought of those people who are out there working with their hands everyday.  It may not be their only job, but it’s a big part of their life.

May we all have the courage to someday yield a callus or two on our hands and be okay with a little dirty under our fingernails, while on date night.

Join me on:
 

Children’s Books – What’s Out There?

3 Replies

Growing up, I used to spend hours on the floor in front of our family record player listening to Free To Be, You And Me.  A project of the Ms.Foundation for Women, this album launched in 1972, with Marlo Thomas at the helm.  According to Wikipedia, Marlo produced this album because she wanted to teach her young niece, “that it is acceptable to refute or reject the blatant gender stereotypes in children’s books of that time.”  Regardless of still being able to recite most of the skits and lyrics from that record, I have to admit that I too learned a great deal of serious and valuable life lessons, at a young age.  The lessons covered a wide variety of topics, such as: children empowerment, gender stereotypes,  race relations and so on.  The lessons were shared through song, story, skit and with lots of upbeat humor and reality.

I recently read Marlo Thomas’s biography “Growing up Laughing: My Story and the Story of Funny” and it got me thinking about children’s books, videos and cds – which led me to wonder what’s out there?  And, is there anything similar to “Free To Be, You And Me”.  Not having any children of my own, I’ve lost touch with what kids are growing up reading or having read to them.

So my questions to you all, as parents and friends, are:

  1. What do you read your children that teach them the bigger life lessons?
  2. Are there good role models out there, that your children want to listen to/learn from – that you also like?
  3. What topics are missing from children’s books?
  4. What books are your children reading or drawn to and why?

I know that many of us are very busy so feel free to answer any/all of the questions, whenever you have the time.  Your help is much appreciated.  Please pass along and repost and if you have any questions – shoot me a note via my Contact page.

Thank you and take care!

Join me on:
 

 

Two MoveShake Films Launching This Thursday!

Leave a reply

There is something about people living, moving and breathing from the heart that when their stories are shared and told, even a stranger can feel that grace and power is being expressed.
I didn’t know who Shannon Galpin was until Allie and Sarah asked me to preview her story, a few months ago. I watched Shannon’s story more than a handful of times that day, for no other reason than wanting to be a witness to her bravery, commitment and strength – over and over again. Humbled and in awe of Shannon, she’s empowered me to strive to live from my heart.

Directed by Allie Bombach and produced by Red Reel - the first two MoveShake films, including Shannon Galpin’s, will premiere this Thursday night – the 7th, from 6-8pm PST, on MoveShake.org. After the films, we will also be able to participate in a live Q+A session with Shannon, the founder of Mountain2Mountain.

To learn more about MoveShake and to be a part of the community, please click: UNITE.
To learn more about Mountain2Mountain, please click: RAD Organization.

A big bowl of gratitude to the women of Red Reel for continuing to tell honest stories through their own unique lens.

Hope to hear you all on Thursday!

Join me on:
 

Are you Heard or Just Part of the Herd – thanks Shawn Parr.

Leave a reply

I went to bed last night tired, but not sleepy.  My body was physically tired from miles of activity this past weekend, but my mind was not.  Rather, my mind was spinning through the many ideas that had come from those miles of running, riding and general physical labor – and like a rolodex, it just kept turning them over and over.

Ideas that come when I’m mid-outdoor activity are typically on the grander-side of things and often involve elements of new-ness and originality that attracts me to the ‘what ifs’ of pulling some of these ideas off.  Coming from a brand marketing mentality, these ideas tend not to be the norm, so I don’t always know if they have any validity or power.  For all I know, they are pipe-dreams that will never result in anything epic – nevertheless, they don’t seem to stop showing up.

Everyday I receive the online newsletter from PSFK - which I love because their ideas are often way more wacky in design and evolution of thought, than mine.  However this morning, there was an article by Shawn Parr called: “For Brands to Be Heard, They Need to Stop Following the Herd.”  What I loved about this article is his awareness that it takes a unique approach for a brand/company to become known.  Such a simple thought really, but damn hard to achieve in our fast paced world.

Now I’m not saying that all of my ideas are good or even worth giving a second thought, but I find relief in the fact that there are people, brands and companies out there who are continuing to not only think for themselves, but also push themselves beyond the normal routine of marketing.  This is what the world needs – creative, unique thought from every brand/company.  Plus it’s really the only way (unless you tend to poop cash) to become heard.

Please click here to read Shawn Parr’s article.

Join me on:
 

 

Motives Anyone …Motives?

3 Replies

Why do you post on Facebook?  Why do you tweet on Twitter?  Why do you make any moves on any public formats?  Seriously, I’m curious.  Why?  I post and tweet for my clients to help build awareness around what they offer the community, to help tell their many stories – hoping that more people find ways to connect and relate to these clients the more they know about them.  But when it comes to posting or tweeting about myself or my own business …I will be the first to admit that I sometimes post/tweet because I feel like I should. In the game of social media and marketing, there are times that I’ll post or tweet or even blog because the question will unconsciously cross my mind that ‘everyone else is …so shouldn’t I?’

I watched this video blog this morning by Jay Smooth and laughed outloud (to myself) at his line: “…oh god, I need a provocative, gawker-style opinion by 2pm or I’m toast” …hmmm, I can relate but I honestly  hate working from this mentality because it’s not real.  I grow tired of the race, of the unspoken competition to be noticed first, of the bullshit that fills our world.

I absolutely believe that each of us has a unique gift …but it takes some serious pause and listening to find it.  So in my quest to work from a standpoint of authenticity (sorry to use a tired word), I’m watching my motives and policing myself to pause before posting because I have a feeling that I will survive to see another day, if I don’t post or tweet or blog right NOW. In the pause, my motive tells me whether that post/tweet/blog is legit or based on my public perception of what I ‘should’ be doing.

I once took a week or so in college and paid strict attention to my motives, only moving forward when it was clear that my motives were pure and facing me in the right direction.  I ate some humble pie that week.  I didn’t take the long way around campus when going from one class to another, in hopes of walking past the cute boy of the month …and guess what …I made it to class on time!  I didn’t eat food that I didn’t really want only because it was in front of me …and guess what …I never felt uncomfortably full that week.  I woke up early for a run before class and guess what …I was more awake throughout the whole day, instead of slow and lethargic.  Amazed and fascinated at how different that week looked from many others, I shall forever remember that practice.

I’m not saying that you shouldn’t post, tweet or blog – I’m saying check your motives, prior to posting, tweeting or blogging.  So I ask you – why do you do the things that you do?  I’m still curious …

Join me on: