Big Is The New Small

I am an Apple fan, for too many reasons to name and not enough reasons to complain.  My entire family has the iPhone including my Wife, 11yo and 7yo.  My 7yo.’s is an iPod touch for all intents and purposes, because it’s not activated.  I have a MacBook Pro, which definitely thinks like I think.

I debated for weeks and tried to talk myself into getting the latest addition to the Forbidden Fruit Family, the iPad.  I was getting close to talking myself into it, when my amazing wife and children surprised me with an iPad on Father’s Day.  They also got me the wireless keyboard and a Dodo Case. I have come to really like my iPad and I will share 10 brief reasons why.

10 Reasons I Like My iPad

• 1.  It looks and feels amazing.
• 2.  The Internet processing is really fast.
• 3.  The apps are more robust and quite enlarged.
• 4.  My kids think its cool and playing Angry Birds for them is twice the fun.
• 5.  It is combining my computer, phone, moleskin, doodling paper, sticky notes… into 1 place.
• 6.  I can do my writing with a good sized virtual keyboard and transfer word documents w/ Pages app.
• 7.  I can record the audio of any meeting and take random typewritten notes.  I can later go back and click that typewritten portion of the notes and it will take me to that audio portion of the meeting with the SoundPaper app.
• 8.  I can use it for preaching, weddings, leadership talks etc.
• 9.  Dodo Case makes it look professional and like I’m carrying a moleskin notebook. (see pic above)
• 10.  The ebook reader is amazing, the iPad is quick and handy, it’s replacing me carrying around my laptop, it’s cool, it’s practical, it’s a conversation starter, reading the Bible is awesome, the games are better…  I could go on and on!

What are the reasons you like your iPad?  If you don’t have one are you debating getting one?  Do you simply say, I’d never get one.

This journey we call life is filled with plenty of hills and mountains.  It’s important that we understand the difference between the hill and the mountain.  Although they both may impede your speed and cause you to press harder, the way we should handle them is totally different.

If you will simply take a step back from the situation you’re facing, you’ll be able to visualize the other side, especially if it’s a hill.  If it’s a mountain, you have to prepare for a lengthy journey, press hard and head towards the top… one step at a time.  Often times people mistake the hills for mountains and they give up too quickly.  Don’t Give Up… A breakthrough is on the other side of that hill that you think is a mountain.

Don’t Mistake Hills For Mountains!

No matter what you’re facing today, realize that every major accomplishment began with a single step.  A single step, which led to the other side of the hill and to the top of the mountain.

How are you handling your Hills and Mountains?

LOOK WELL TO THIS DAY

Look well to this day,
For it and it alone is life.
In its brief course
Lie all the essence of your existence:

The Glory of Growth
The Satisfaction of Achievement
The Splendor of Beauty

For yesterday is but a dream,
And tomorrow is but a vision.
But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness,
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.

~Anonymous 50 B.C.

I have been amazed at how God continues to bless little ol’ me.  I mean seriously, every time I turn around there is a blessing in front of me, as well as an opportunity to be a blessing. I’m listening to God’s Whispers, being sensitive to The Spirit and walking through doors that He cracks open.

Good or Bad… It’s All Good!

It has been heavy on my heart the amount of appreciation that I have for all of the blessings that God continues to place in my life. It’s also been heavy on my heart that I don’t say Thank You Jesus enough.  Good or Bad, it doesn’t matter what we go through; what matters is how we go through it. I will choose to go through the various doors of life with a heart of thanksgiving.

It’s not merely about the outward expression, it’s more about the inner appreciation that rests deep inside my heart. God, I will praise You more and more and more, “That my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.” Psalm 30:12

Good Or Bad… It’s All Good! Thank You Jesus!

I Need To Say Thank You Jesus More Often…  Do You?

I Will Say Thank You Jesus More Often… Will You?

I Will Always Remember This – Good Or Bad… It’s All Good! Will You?

In the spirit of Lebron James’ “Big Decision,”  I thought it would be appropriate to title this post The BIG Announcement.  For those of you who follow my Twitter/Facebook streams, you are aware that I’ve had something to share and I can’t wait to share it.  Well that something to share is a message and a burden that God has laid on my heart for as long as I can remember.

That message, burden and story to share is dealing with the lack of ethnic diversity in the church, and the taboo nature of the overall discussion.  For years as a Prison Warden, I dealt with the tough issues of race, ethnicity and religion behind the walls and razor wire.  As a lobbyist and Political Consultant, I was able to be a part of making some impact in the areas of race and ethnicity at all levels of our political system.

As a pastor, I have been burdened by the fact that a statement Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. made over 40 years ago still rings true today, “We must face the sad fact that at 11 o’clock on Sunday morning, when we stand to sing… we stand in the most segregated hour in America, and the most segregated school is Sunday School.”

Let’s cut to the chase.  After months of negotiations and conversations with a number of Christian Publishing Companies, including some of the largest.  I have signed a book publishing deal with New Leaf Publishing Group, for a book that will address the issue of the lack of diversity in the church.  The book will identify the primary reasons why, confront those issues head on and offer practical solutions to address this age-old problem.

More details on the release date, title etc. to come.  For those of you that know me, you probably already know what the title will be.

I am looking forward to working with the great people at New Leaf, as a matter of fact I have a strategy meeting with them for most of the day today.  They are bringing Jon Dale in to be a part of this meeting and help with the overall strategy.  If you don’t know who Jon is, he was one of the 9 people that was selected to go through Seth Godin’s MBA Program.  I love New Leaf’s commitment to this project.  Again, more info. to come in the near future…

I want to personally thank those whom I’ve worked closely with in ministry, every single person who has ever sent me an encouraging note, read my blog, tweets and Facebook updates. Thanks for listening to the things that I have to share and thanks for being a part of my offline/online family.  Through your engagement, God has given me a platform to share this bold and needed message with the world.

The BIG Announcement… dream BIG. think BIGGER.

(Disclosure)  Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh will not be writing the book with me; however it will have some commentary from some super stars.

People make things much more difficult than they have to be.  Life is really not that difficult, it’s a matter of Loving God, Loving Others, dreaming BIG, thinking BIGGER and realizing the fact that we were created for more.

Some people try to turn the most simple things into a Quantum Physics Mathematical Hypothesis.

STOP Making Things So Difficult… Seriously!

• If you want to be the spiritual leader of your family, Put God first.
• If you want to be a great leader in your profession, Empower others.
• If you desire to do great things, Believe in yourself.
• If you want to be free from an addiction, Run Forrest Run.
• If you want life to be simple, STOP Making Things So Difficult.

Roman Philosopher Seneca was quoted describing difficult in this manner, “It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that things are difficult.” Dare to not be difficult… Seriously!

Why do people make things so difficult?

GUEST BLOGGER: @jasonyounglive helps organizations and churches develop people to become influencers. Check out his blog JasonYoungLive.com If you would like to submit a Guest Blog Post for BigIsTheNewSmall.com, click here.

How Far Would You Go To Help Someone?

A young man worked the front desk at a local hotel when a couple entered around 1am.  They were soaking wet from the thunderstorm that welcomed them to the city.  The couple approached the front desk for a room, only to be told that the hotel was sold out for the evening.  The young man stepped up by saying that he lived at the hotel, and would be glad to give them his room.  The couple said that would not be necessary, but the young man insisted.

The following morning, the couple came down after resting well to find the young man still working at the front desk.  The husband said to the young man, “If I ever own a hotel, I want you to run it.”  The couple left.

A number of years passed, until one day the young man received a letter from the man that he helped some time ago.  The letter was inviting the young man to run his hotel he now owned.  The name of that hotel?  The famous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.

It pays to serve sacrificially and extravagantly.

How much more joy do we bring to Jesus when we best demonstrate His example by taking care of others.

We have the opportunity…the compelling pull to be aware of others and then do something about meeting their need.  We have those moments to serve them sacrificially and extravagantly.

I love the story in Mark 2:1-12.

Four guys saw a paralyzed guy that desperately needed help getting to Jesus to be healed.  They did the work.  Even with the odds stacked against them, they created a way to make this moment happen.  The paralyzed guy was healed.  People were amazed at what Jesus did.  They set out talking about it.

After reading this story, I asked, “How far would I go to help someone?”  So, I ask you the same question.

Quick Takeaways from the story:

• They paid attention to people in need.
• They served sacrificially and extravagantly.
• They actually believed Jesus could change heal him.
• They demonstrated faith that positively changed someone’s life.
• They experienced that understanding that teamwork makes the dream work.
• They created an opportunity for people to be amazed at the work of Jesus.

When we decide to embrace the unexpected, the interruptions, and the unlikely moments, it is then that people will have such an experience that they say, “We have never seen anything like this.”

How far would we go to help someone?

GUEST BLOGGER: @chadmissildine is a Pastor at LifeChurch.tv Fort Worth, social media junkie and blogger. Check out his blog TheWayItCouldBe.com, which is an effort to encourage cultural change through personal and spiritual transformation.  If you would like to submit a Guest Blog Post for BigIsTheNewSmall.com, click here.

Many of us love Twitter and/or Facebook.  But how do we know if we are having a love affair?  Well, today is your lucky day!  Here are 29 Obvious Signs You Are Having A Love Affair with Twitter and/or Faceboook. Enjoy and have fun!

• 1. You link out to your weblogs on Facebook all day and they each last longer than Lebron James’ one hour contract announcement.
• 2. You get home late from work at night.  For the rest of the family, its dinner time.  Not for you baby.  It’s secret Twitter and/or Facebook or time!
• 3. You sit down to grub, update your status.  Above the table?  Please.  That’s for rookies!
• 4. You update under the table with phone in pocket (like your Tweenager).   “Pass the gravy Honey.”
• 5. Your post is so good, you comment on it yourself (all from secret pocket), “4 Real & True Dat!”
• 6. “Excuse me spouse, excuse me child, I will be in my study,” you murmur.
• 7. You sneak off early from dinner for a little S.S.U.D (Secret Status Update Dessert)!
• 8. You open up your laptop, log online & click on a hidden iTunes folder, entitled, “S.J.F.M.  (Something…Just For Me).”
• 9. Soft Jazz starts to play.  It’s Miles Davis.  Oh yeah.  It’s time…time for some Secret Social Media!
• 10. You put on your fingerless workout gloves.  For working out?  No way, for typing silly!
• 11. You login.  With your name?  No sir, that’s too easy.
• 12. Your Twitter name is: @TheReal(insert your name), but you aren’t famous.
• 13. You hear footsteps down the hall and you slap that laptop shut.  Ah snap. Time for bed.
• 14. You lay down at night and look up.  Your FB profile pic is on a poster on the ceiling over your bed.  You. Are. The. Man.  “Good night hot stuff, ” you whisper.  She thinks you’re talking to her.
• 15. Your lady asks you if she looks fat in her new profile pic and you say under your breath, “Well, Twitter does add 20 pounds.”  She doesn’t hear it.
• 16. She then dims the lights to make her move.  You make yours, right of the room and to your phone.
• 17. She follows you out of the room and starts talking.  You’re not listening and you say, “Uh huh.”
• 18. She busts you for not listening and asks, “You want to sleep on the couch??”  You respond, “Yeah….uh huh…yeah.”
• 19. You wake up that night on the couch (you got your wish) to check for comments.  None, Dang.
• 20. When your wife walks in the next morning you say, “Baby, I’m logged out right now.  Can we chat later?”
• 21. Kids want to play?  Too bad.   Headphones are in.   “Daddy, put your computer down, pwease.”  Wha??  You ignore.
• 22. Time to get dressed.   You wear girl’s jeans(but you’re a dude).  Oh wait.  That just means you’re confused not that you are having an affair with Twitter and/or Facebook, my bad!
• 23. You throw on a locket with a picture of you, your laptop, and a sunset in the back ground.  You look good.  Real good.
• 24. You head out for the day without brushing your teeth.  Why?  Man, that’s 5 extra minutes of social media time!  That’s like 2.5 posts!
• 25. You are on the way to work.  You can drive, update your status, sing and juggle all at the same time.  And all while knitting a sweater and avoiding your family!
• 26. You see the reflection of your new Miami Heat jersey off the window with your number of Twitter followers on the back.  There are two words written at the top…
• 27. Big.
• 28. Time.
• 29. Okay, It’s Time Big Time (yeah you, ha).  Time for you to add to the list!  You know you may be having an affair with Twitter or Facebook when… Ready, set, go (we’d love to hear your thoughts below in the comments)!

It’s been great to be on vacation in sunny South Florida, as a matter of fact I’m typing this from my 21st. floor balcony of The W Hotel over-looking the beach.  This balcony has been such a great place for writing, thinking, meditation and tranquility each and every morning.  I can smell the ocean, watch the waves roll up to the shore and watch the morning joggers.  I’ve even learned to appreciate the sounds of the cars passing by and occasional background noise of construction work.

The attribute that has impressed me the most about our stay at The W Hotel is their over the top customer service.  My wife and I have stayed at The W Hotel before in New York City; however we don’t remember our experience being quite like this.

From the time we arrived everyone from the bellman, housekeeping, concierge, to the front desk clerk have been exceptional.  You almost feel compelled to tip everyone for anything.  The W Hotel has this “Whatever, Whenever… What Is Your Wish” theme.  When you call the operator they answer the phone by saying, “Whatever, Whenever Mr. Williams, what is your wish?” Seriously, I think one time she even said, “Good Morning Mr. Williams, how can I make your wish come true?”

Don’t get me wrong this place costs a pretty penny per night and we have even ran across Miami Heat Superstar Dwayne Wayne and acclaimed Hip-Hop & R&B producer Scott Storch getting their Ferrari’s valet parked.  Not to mention the night of Lebron James’ “Big Decision,” he had 25 rooms reserved at The W Hotel right here South Florida.  The W Hotel has everything from the overall ambiance, look, spa level toiletry products, chic feel and most importantly the customer service.  My son’s who are seven and eleven years old said, “Dad, this hotel is cool and everyone is really nice.”

To top it off, I called to get a wake-up call and the lady asked me which type of wake-up call I would like, “Excuse Me!” She responded, “Would you like a motivational, inspirational, traditional or a breakfast in bed?”  Me, “Do, they cost extra?”  She responded, “No, sir Mr. Williams.”  Me, “Okay, then give me the inspirational.”

The next morning my wake-up call was as follows, “Good Morning Mr. Williams your inspirational wake-up call is ‘A man with confidence instills confidence in others.’”  She followed up with a, “Do you have another wish Mr. Wiliams?”  Me, “Give me three more wishes…  Seriously can you follow up with another one of these calls in about 15 minutes?”

The bottom line is that The W Hotel is not doing anything that any other hotel establishment can’t do.  A critical component for The W Hotel is the fact that the they truly value customer service and training.  It’s not merely a lip service that every service industry claims to value.  The W Hotel Values + Execution of Those Values = Satisfied Customers.  Satisfied Customers + Returning Satisfied Customers = Hotel Success.  This applies to all industry, if you don’t believe me look at Chick-fil-a and their “My Pleasure” value system.

How much more successful would restaurants, churches, businesses and any other service industry be if they truly embraced a “Whatever, Whenever, What is Your Wish Philosophy?”

Share your thoughts and experiences with brands that do an excellent job with customer service.

There always seems to be some sort of discussion about Twitter, Facebook, Blogs and Social Media in general creating Illegitimate Experts, Gurus, Leaders, Authors etc.   Illegitimate is defined as- not in accordance with the principles of valid inference. By this definition social media may be creating illegitimate experts.  The beauty of the Internet and online community is the fact a person does not have to be “in accordance with a valid inference” to be successful.

In the world of Social Media you are allowed to create entirely new principles and define legitimacy in entirely new ways.  Social Media has leveled the playing field.  The great thing about Social Media, is the fact that no one is forced to follow or listen to anyone online, it’s a game of personal choice.

In the online world each individual is responsible for creating their own validation (whatever that means).  My personal opinion is this, “If a person has an audience, voice, knowledge, experience, personality, talent, information, the ability to influence and people are listening, They have been legitimized.”  If the above things are happening to John Q. Blogger and Suzy Q. Twitterer, then their “Tribe” (Group of followers as referred to by Seth Godin) has already confirmed their legitimacy.

There have been some very real, legitimate and successful businesses, leaders and authors that have risen out of the ranks of Social Media.  If people buy into what you are selling, it’s only a matter of time before some degree of success and influence happens. For those individuals seeking to obtain influence in the world of social media it’s important to understand that social media influence is not given, it’s earned one post, tweet or update at a time.

The traditional would-be experts are no longer the source of legitimization.  The market, the consumers, followers and the online community can dictate whether or not a person is the “Real Deal.”  It doesn’t matter what I think or what you think, the only thing that matters is what “The Tribe” thinks.  Social Media Is Redefining Legitimacy.

Let’s take a look at a product that was released in late 2008/early 2009, that in my opinion was definitely not legitimate.  The product, I’m referring to is “The Snuggie.”  Seriously there is no way that a backwards robe or sleeved blanket should be a legitimate product.  The Snuggie has sold well over 4 million of their backwards robes; therefore the market, the people and the “Snuggie Tribe” legitimized the product.  “Who am I and what do I know?”

Social Media Is Redefining Legitimacy.

What do you think?  Share some authors, businesses and leaders you follow that came from the ranks of Social Media.