Big Is The New Small

I have some clear blogging goals for 08’ and they simply revolve around the fact that, “I Want More!”  That’s right, I want more:

1. More readers

2. More great links

3. More guest bloggers

4. More adds to blogrolls

5. More readers commenting

6. More blogging friendships

7. More challenging questions

8. More of an overall community feel

9. More random, leadership and thought provoking posts

10. More impressive overall look and feel for BigIsTheNewSmall

What are your blogging goals for 08′, as a reader or blogger?  Share your thoughts! 

As I am winding down 07’ one of the things that I like to do is to set some clear goals and directions for myself and my family.  This year we will reflect on what God has done in our lives in 07’ and make plans for 08’.   

I generally make some New Years resolutions; one of which always seems to be getting into better shape.  I examine the little areas, as well as the really big areas of my life, understanding the importance of both of them.  I make a list of the things that I like; as well as the things that I don’t like.  This year if I am being candid, one of the things that I don’t like is….. “I don’t like Christians with Big Butts!”   

Many of you that read this blog have Big Butts and you know it; 08’ is time for you to do something about it.  You know what I am talking about…. I need to be a better husband, better leader, more generous, spend quality time with my family, write a book, sever some relationships, rekindle some relationships, get my finances in order, be bold, forgive so and so, loose weight, quit smoking, kick addictions, read the Bible daily, get more involved, apply for that job, have that conversation, ask those questions….. but I don’t have the time, but I’m not ready, but I don’t have what it takes, not today but maybe tomorrow, but, but, but, but! 

There are many areas of my life in which I’m a Big Butt Christian.  We need to begin replacing the word but, with the word and.  I need to do___________ and that’s what I’m going to do.  “I don’t like Christians with Big Butts and I cannot lie, you other brothers can’t deny!” LOL 

Are you a Big Butt Christian?  What areas of your life do you need to replace the word but with the word and?  BigIsTheNewSmall

Contrary to what you may think, may have heard or often times might see; I am here to let you know that “Size Does Matter!”  That’s right I’m talking about the length of your….. Blog!  Okay, now that we have got all of the details out of the way; I am going to share some brutal facts:

• If your blog is to long, few people will read it; especially me.

• I will scan a blog and if it is to long, I will find something else to read.

• There are some great bloggers, whom I have removed from my reader because their posts are always so long, “Bless their heart!”

• If your posts are consistently brief, concise and to the point; you may earn the right for your readers to “Every once and a while,” read a longer post.

• If my post is ever to long; feel free to read someone on my blogroll.

There are a lot of great blogs to read and a lot of work to be done; so please don’t write a dissertation.  In the spirit of Bill O’Reilly; keep it pithy.  BigIsTheNewSmall: the Bigger your blog becomes; the Smaller your posts should be. 

Are you turned off by long blog posts?  Do you struggle with keeping your posts pithy?  Any examples… share your thoughts!

Just want to check and see how Jott is working with my Blog. listen

Powered by Jott

I was inspired to begin reading blogs after Sam Roberts from the LifeChurch.tv Directional Leadership Team encouraged campus leaders to begin reading blogs and hook up an RSS Reader.  My question at the time was “What’s an RSS Reader and What’s a Blog?”  Nevertheless, I found myself knee deep in the blogsphere scouring through tons of great blogs, as well as some pretty bad ones.  A little over three months ago, I decided that I was going to officially enter into the blogsphere and create my own blog.  When I was deciding to come up with a name for my blog, I wanted something that was easy to remember, catchy and not simply Scott’s Blog Hmmmmmmm.  I immediately flocked to Big Is The New Small; which was inspired from Seth Godin’s Small is The New Big.  Let me give you some perspective of what Big Is The New Small is all about:

•  The Bigger and more successful an organization or ministry becomes the Smaller and more laser focused they must become. 

• The Bigger a persons belly becomes, in order to loose weight their portions must become Smaller. 

• The Bigger the lottery amount, the Smaller the chances of winning.

• The Bigger a leader becomes the Smaller the number of individuals they can directly disciple (Think about it, Jesus only had 12).

•  The Bigger the gorilla, the Smaller the stroller.

For those of you who are considering starting a blog, I definitely encourage you to do so.  Blogging provides you the opportunity to rant, inspire, encourage, laugh, teach, lead, share and learn on a daily basis; more importantly it challenges you to “Think.”  Oh and did I mention that it’s Free! 

Who inspired you to and when did you start reading blogs?  How did you come up with your blog name?  Share some cool blog names and good blogs that you have ran across!

If you want to learn more about blogs or hear questions that others are asking, check out Craig and Bobby’s series of posts entitled “Blogging Week!”

I spend some time each morning reading specific blogs in my Google Reader.  There some blogs that I read daily, some that I read depending upon the title and so on.  I also spend some time in the evening trying to find some new great reads, great thinkers, gifted leaders and good random stuff.  I will be honest the whole concept of reading what everyone else is reading is cool, but not necessarily my thing.  My blogroll consists of those that I might read, those that I might like and those that you might like.  All of that to ask these questions: What are you reading that is good or stretching you?  Who do you like and maybe even why?  They can be funny, random, deep, challenging…., I don’t really care, as long as they are good.  This is your opportunity to brag on yourself or other blogs that have some really good stuff.  I would like for those of you who read this blog through rss, to jump in also.  I am looking forward to your insight and discovering some new Top Blogs, Top Dogs.   

You know how it is always great to find those Small hidden “mom and pop” restaurants that have Big time food; that’s what I’m looking for in some new blogs. BigIsTheNewSmall

“Do You” is not a question, but rather a statement that I came up with to describe “being yourself.”  Many times we go through life and try to mimic the likes of other people.  You know what I’m talking about, you find some attributes that you admire in a boss, friend, public figure, family member or mentor and attempt to replicate those things and literally try to become that person.  I am not saying that you shouldn’t acknowledge and learn from others strengths; I’m simply saying you need to “Do You,” in otherwords find your own voice/identity in those attributes.  When I went into ministry with LifeChurch.tv, I was surrounded by a lot of gifted leaders with some serious “skilz.”  It would have been easy for me to gravitate towards their style and cultural elements, that I could have lost my own identity. I have intentionally not allowed that to happen, because at the end of the day that’s not who they hired me to be.  

As I lead the NW Oklahoma City Campus of LifeChurch.tv, I have wholeheartedly embraced all of the LifeChurch.tv cultural values, respect the original DNA and am totally sold out to the mission of the ministry.  I am cherishing every minute of my calling, because I am simply “Doing Me” and don’t necessarily care what people think.  Our Senior Pastor posted a Blog entitled “Give Up Your Reputation,” which outlines the fact that with a growing ministry or leadership role; people are going to misquote, criticize and despise you. If we embrace the fact that in life and as “leaders” we are going to experience criticism; why in the world are we trying to be somebody else?   Remember the bigger your role or responsibilty becomes, the smaller your focus should be. BigIsTheNewSmall

Share your thoughts: Are you “Doing You?”  Do you care what others think?  Have you lost some of your personal identity due to a job or role? 

I have always been a firm believer that having too many meetings is totally counter productive for an organization.  I had the opportunity to provide consulting for a number of Juvenile Justice Organizations around the country.  A consistent recommendation that I would have for these agencies was to reduce the number of meetings, and get to work.  Not only would they have a bunch of meetings, but they would have a meeting to schedule another meeting….  That is absolutely ludicrous!  Not only are employees sitting through generally boring meetings; they have preparation time, potential travel time and then download time after the meeting.  I have worked for individuals who like to meet for meetings sake and it would absolutely drive me crazy.   If you are that boss that requires your employees to participate in a bunch of meetings, please stop because you are killing the morale and productivity of your employees.  If you work for a meeting freak, speak up and challenge them to employ a new strategy.  Here are some strategies to consider as it relates to meetings: 

• If a meeting is regularly scheduled for 1 hour, change it to 45 minutes
• If you can handle it with a couple minute water cooler conversation; don’t schedule a meeting
• Require only the necessary people to attend particular meetings
• Know your employees and facilitate types of meetings that motivate them
• Change the setting; go to Starbucks, Golf Course, Restaurant, Another Office..
• Get rid of the PowerPoint presentations; to much prep time and nobody cares
• Get everyone involved; encourage everyone’s contribution
• Speak up; if the meetings are boring or just plain suck, let it be known
• Don’t get me started on conference calls!
• The bigger and more successful an organization becomes, the more laser focused and smaller their meetings should become - BigIsTheNewSmall

Are you that meeting freak or do you know someone who is?  Share your thoughts! 

We are currently in the middle of this life changing series entitled 30 Days to Live www.30daystolive.tv.  This series has really challenged many people, including myself.  The bottom line is that when you are making decisions about what to do and not to do in your life you can ask yourself two questions:

1. Will this matter 100 years from now?
2. What would you do, or not do if you only had 30 days to live?

These are tough questions that really put life into perspective.  As we go through life and accumulate things, money, resources, titles…… we must come to the realization that none of those things matter.  I was driving through my neighborhood and I saw the pile of dirt pictured in this blog.  I thought this was a perfect visual for all of the things that we tend to cherish so much and spend so much time accumulating.  At the end of the day those things are no more than a pile of dirt.  I’m not saying that it’s ridiculous to accumulate things; I’m simply saying that in the “Big Picture” of life, and the Small amount of time that we have on this earth, those things do not matter.  The only things that matter are your relationships: relationships with friends, family, spouses, neighbors, Christ…….  Are you spending so much time focusing on your pile of dirt that you are neglecting your most prized possessions? Relationships!

Don’t get so focussed on your Big meaningless pile of dirt, that you forgett about the seemingly Small but ever so important relationships.  BigIsTheNewSmall

Human beings have a wide range of appetites; ranging anywhere from sex to food, and many stops between the two. God created us w/ natural appetites; however it is up to us to have the self discipline to control our appetites and not vice versa. In today’s society we are consumed with the thought that more is better and bigger is better.  Not only are we consumed with those thoughts, we top it all off with a heavy dose of excuses and rationalization. We need to begin thinking differently and realize that “Big Is The New Small.” This concept applies to many areas of our life, especially when we are referring to food portion size, substance consumption, organizational/personal focus, and exposure to stimuli. The average person in this day and age does not even understand the concept of moderation. As a matter of fact, they probably think you are saying modernization as opposed to moderation.  If we want to experience a healthy and abundant life, business or ministry we must embrace the concept of “Big Is the New Small.” Here are a few quick steps:
• Limit exposure to particular stimuli
• Eat smaller portions throughout the day
• Learn the concept of “Bouncing your eyes”
• Ask the question; What am I, my organization, or ministry really good at? Begin to focus on those things and forget the rest.