Last week, I re-watched our first video announcing my joining The Youth Cartel. This was the Cartel on July 10th, 2011.
Great ideas come into the world as quietly as doves. Perhaps then , if we listen attentively we shall hear, among the uproar of empires and nations, the faint fluttering of wings, the gentle stirrings of life and hope. Some will say this hope lies in a nation; others in a man. I believe rather that it is awakened, revived, nourished by millions of solitary individuals whose deeds and works every day negate frontiers and the crudest implications of history. Each and every one, on the foundations of their own suffering and joy builds for all.
Albert Camus, famous dead guy
As a small business owner, I have a number in mind for what my business must make each month. It’s an actual number based on the amount of money the business needs to make so we can pay all of our bills and ourselves.
Here is something that I’ve been wrestling with lately:
The number, however exact or arbitrarily picked, becomes the number.
It’s a goal but also a limiter.
So, right now, I can open a spreadsheet and point to every month in 2013 and tell you exactly how the business got to, is getting to, or will get to that number.
Could I make more? Yes. Could I make less? Yes. But chances are good that the business will generate just about that amount of money we need because that’s what we’re aiming to do.
One of the things I’ve been learning is that I simply cannot work all of the time.
I have to play. Beyond the concept of Sabbath, which is ultimately about trust that God will provide 7 days of sustenance for 6 days of work, the discipline of play (recreation) is the secret ingredient to creation. (In my world, my creativity is a commodity.)
Therefore, you can’t have creation without recreation.
Thoughts?
p.s. This is my first test video with the GoPro Hero 3. First impressions? Wow!
@mclanea #MoodyPC is primarily intended for #pastors. #refocus #refresh #equip church leaders. Praise God for other conferences #Heprovides
— Moody Conferences (@MoodyConference) May 15, 2013
11 years ago this week I graduated from Moody Bible Institute. The moment of walking across that stage, shaking Joe Stowell’s hand, and knowing that I had done it, goes down in history as one of the greatest accomplishments of my life.
I had defied every odd stacked against me.
I’m always impressed how much retail space exploits psychological advantage to prepare people to spend money. I can run into a corner store and quickly grab the 5 items I need. But the same 5 items in our local grocery store? It’s at least 15 minutes as I walk from end to end of that building.
I’m fascinated about things like traffic. People are annoyed about sitting in traffic, driving to work, the lack of free parking. They are also annoyed about traffic in their neighborhoods, the speed of cars, the fact that no one walks anymore, the fact that kids don’t play outside anymore.
And, of course, they are annoyed about the price of gas, the effect of emissions on the environment, and the import culture this creates in a nation who defines itself by its independence.
It’s cognitive dissonance. (Feeling conflict by holding onto competing values.)
But…
I’ve been busy lately. Between traveling a lot and catching up from traveling a lot I’ve missed many important details.
On Tuesday afternoon guys from my high school small group started texting me, “What are we doing tomorrow night?” Then I got text from my co-leaders, “What are we doing tomorrow night?”
I kept thinking to myself, “What are they talking about? We’re going to meet at the church, play some volleyball, eat dinner, and have small groups.”
So I looked at my texts from Brian and it turns out that, and I still don’t know why, last night our small groups did outings instead of the normal routine.
Cool. So I need a plan. And I’ve got no plan.
Lots of news from The Summit this morning.
After months of work I’m itching for some feedback. What do you think about any one of those four items above?
