I have to admit that I love the end of the year because you start to see everyones' "Best Of..." lists. One of my favorite publications, PASTE, always does a great job of this and this morning I've been catching up on their Top 25 Music videos of the year.
Usually when I'm sensing a lack of creativity, I know the first place to look for the problem. What's my input? If we expect to have good 'output', we need good 'input'. That principle pretty much goes across everything in life. Want to cook a cook meal? Use good ingredients. Want to be a good friend? Hang out with good friends. Want to tell good stories? Read good stories.
It's a very simple principle that we often forget. So... as you look to whatever endeavors you are planning for next year, check out the best of what happened this year. Then practice the creative art of stealing. That's right, every artist steals. You can either be a 'dirty thief' and plagiarize or you can be a 'proper thief' and follow this pattern.
"Suck. Mimic. Innovate."
Take in good input. Process it. Then make something better.
This is the process behind the creation of every new idea you and I have ever had. Now that you know the process, you can become better at it.
Here's some good input from 2010. Check out PASTE's top 25 music videos here, or see their complete list here.
Here are a few videos that inspired me in strange ways and made me get out my pen to start writing...
You may remember way back in the day when a little book, Blue Like Jazz, was released. I read the book in 2003 and to be honest, at that point in my life, I was in a downward spiral. I remember sitting on my bed in Santa Monica, California hating my job, broke as a joke, and figuring out if I had enough money to put together so I could purchase a latte to comfort myself. I really don't remember how I heard of the book, but I read it... in a day. I actually think I called in sick to work.
As Flannel, Dot&Cross and David C. Cook Publishing release the Basic series, it's interesting to see Francis describe his own experience of church. As you may know, Francis has decided to leave his home church, Cornerstone Church, in Simi Valley to follow God on a new and unknown adventure. This video is an awkward, yet needed, candid discussion between Francis Chan, Joshua Harris and Mark Driscoll as they ask some really tough questions that... well, maybe we are all wondering about.
Please pray with me that Francis will use this time to learn and grow as God sees fit. To view a trailer for the entire 7-film BASIC series, click here.
It's so good to be home! I have a stack of mail on my desk, a laundry list of things to catch up on (including laundry) and two needy cats who are so cuddly because they think I'm probably going to walk right back out that door. Not to mention, we've got quite a bit of work ahead of us at Dot&Cross as we're prepping to launch the "Blessed Earth" series this April and film 4 new Francis Chan films in February. Busy, Busy.
I was trying to review my calendar, but I don't think I've spent more than about 10 days at home since about October. But it looks like I'll be here for a while so I'm finally starting to settle in. I still can't quite get over the jet lag which is causing strange things to happen right now - I get tired about 8 pm. Then I wake up around midnight... wide awake. Then I quietly whisper to ask if Amy's awake (she usually is) and lay in bed coming up with crazy new business ideas or trying to figure out what time it actually is in New Zealand. Considering I am slowly returning back to Eastern Standard Time, I must be slowly flipping backwards through the time zones as my body tries to find a time-home. But right now I'm pretty sure my body thinks I'm in Romania.
I'm a huge New Year's Fan. I love goals. I love to mark out what I want to accomplish, form new habits, etc... But this year is a little bit different. I'm not going to to get too worked up over what I want to accomplish. If anything, I discovered that our human plans are nice and all, but honestly, each day is a gift and I have to quit thinking 2-3 months down the road like I usually do. I just need to, in the words of Ray LaMontagne, 'Be here now'.
Sorry for the Jerry Maguire title... let me explain.
My company, Dot&Cross, has spent the past 2 years working with one of our partners, Josh Shipp. You may have heard me mention 'Hey Josh' before? Yes, he is the Josh of Hey Josh.
I have a favor I need to ask of you, but first... Josh deserves a brief back story: Josh was left at the hospital when he was born. Yes, left = orphan baby. He's never met anyone related to him. He went through about 15 foster care homes before he was 15 years old. He's been arrested, abused, abandoned, etc... But when he was a teenager he made a decision to take all this unfair pain he has been dealt and choose to get either bitter or better.
Well, he chose to get better and started speaking to teens helping them make better decisions about their lives. In the past 10 years Josh has spoken to over 1 million teens, been featured on MTV's Total Request Live (*RIP), Comedy Central, and been interviewed in the LA Times, Washington Post, NY Daily News, etc... and a bunch of other fancy stuff.
Dot&Cross came across Josh and immediately recognized his potential via his uncanny ability to reach and impact teens. We partnered with him to create Hey Josh, a brand focused on entertaining, educating and inspiring today's teens. We have created an interactive teen website focused on advice, 4 short films focused on issues of Identity, Career, Dealing with Parents, Money (with many more films to come). We've also shot a pilot of Josh's brilliant new television show called Jump Shipp which will be featured on a new cable channel this fall, Halogen TV. But in addition, Josh creates weekly advice shows that can be seen on HeyJosh.com. Seriously, you should check them out, they are hilarious.
In fact, let's have Josh explain what Hey Josh is:
One of the best things about Dot&Cross is getting to work directly
with people who are doing everything they can to make the
world a better place. Josh is no exception. From a business standpoint, he is a class-act and deserves all of the success he has received, but from a personal standpoint, he is one of the most stand-up guys I know. Honestly, he has moved from a business partner to one of my closest friends. So without any hesitation, I would ask that you would help support his cause which brings me to some VERY exciting news.
The world is finally starting to catch on! Josh is currently being featured by INC Magazine as one of America's Coolest Young Entrepreneurs in an annual vote they call, '30 Under 30'. Dot&Cross, Josh and I would be very appreciative if you would take 2 seconds and visit the voting website at Inc. Magazine to vote for Josh.
I really appreciate it. It will seriously only take you 5 seconds and we would all love to see Josh win the contest for the sake of teens today (who we all know need some help). If you have a blog, facebook page or a Twitter account, it would be incredible if you could jump on board the Hey Josh train and do a little of your own promotion as well.
I can only say "Thank You!". The prayers have been coming in from Slovakia, S. Africa, Washington, California, Minnesota, Florida, Barbados, Texas, Canada, Australia, Arizona, Nebraska, Philly, Michigan, New York and many other places. There are over 270 375 comments on Amy's blog and over 121 180 on my own. The response has been amazing. Your thoughts and prayers have been a serious encouragement to me and my family. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.
We have determined that it will be in our best interest to go to the Mayo Clinic (Great place and closer to home) where I will have an 'awake surgery' with Dr. Fredric B. Meyer, Chair of the Neurosurgery Department at Mayo Clinic. His information is right here. Please begin to pray for his steady hands as he will be poking and prodding around my brain while talking to me at the same time. Should make for some cool stories!
Here is my thought to you right now:
I waited patiently on the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be astounded They will put their trust in the Lord.
Psalm 40:1-3
I love you all. Continue praying that God will be glorified in this situation and there will be no question of His miracles.
Go figure. I was simultaneously shocked and proud to read this article in the October Issue of Fast Company. It's fantastic to see stories like this being told! It's both great for Grand Rapids, but also smaller mid-west cities who are doing their part to move city architecture and energy consumption in line with the green movement. Check out the article! Even better, they reference Peter Wege and Steelcase's initiatives which ties directly to one a film projects we did with Steelcase which you can check out here.
Andrew Bird is one of my favorite muscians these days so I was pleased to find this little interview/bike ride gem at Current TV. Enjoy and then become frustrated that you can't whistle as well as Andrew.
So the 'Compassion Forum' was pretty good. We were lucky to be invited by our friends over at ONE. I wasn't sure what to expect upon arrival but Messiah College was a typical Christian University. I was actually laughing as we pulled in and were given directions by the students. For whatever reason, I can spot a CCCU (Coalition of Christian Colleges and Universities) student a mile away. Something about semi-poorly fitting khakis and a polar fleece vest...
Campbell Brown and John Meachum (Editor of Newsweek) were the hosts. Campbell did a great job, but John sat there looking constipated for the majority of the time and then would blurt out something completely out of the blue. "What's your favorite bible story?!"
My highlight was definitely Jim Wallis. If you watched the event, he was the one who said that on the morning
MLK Jr. was shot, he was preparing to unleash a movement to fight
poverty in America. Jim then asked Obama, directly, if he would commit
to reducing poverty by HALF in 10 years to which Obama obviously
agreed... Now is not the time in the debate to start being rational! If someone challenges you, you say 'Yes'!
Back to the event. I was impressed with both candidates. I felt
like some of the questions were slow-softball pitches... however,
asking Hillary why a loving god allows people to suffer was thoroughly
entertaining. The question was met with a blank stare. I will say, I was impressed with their abilities to answer
'enough' to keep the moderators happy yet leave 'enough' out to avoid incrimination. To be held accountable for every
syllable that exits your mouth, yet share of yourself is not an easy
balance.
Hillary was Hillary, but there were some moments where you could
see her fighting what she actually wanted to say. Obama didn't do as
well as I thought he would, but he had some great sound-bites. It was
frustrating that the whole issue of "bitter" working class was even
brought up. That's the most ridiculous criticism I've ever heard, but
sure enough it garnered quite a bit of airtime.
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Before the Compassion Forum I spent the day with my sister, her husband and their daughter. We visited the Cecilia Beaux exhibit at PAFA. It was truly incredible. She is revered as one of the greatest American Female painters for works such as this. We also stopped by the Rodin Museum. For whatever reason, that building, it's contents and surroundings gardens are one of my favorite places. I can't quite explain why but when I go there it's always a very moving experience. I should blog more on that later. And the highlight was most definitely dinner at Morimoto.
Anyway, after the event DOT&CROSS chilled in Philly for the day. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day. Highlights included: a big bell, a big Cheese steak and a big Star Wars exhibit with the original costume and models from the production.
