Over the past few days, I’ve encountered a number of questions about my campaign to raise $5,000 for charity: water for my birthday. First, thanks for asking. I’m blessed to know you care. Here are the questions. If you have more, I’d love to answer them. Why? I’d love to be a hipster and just say “Why not?”, but that’d leave us both feeling a little empty. ...
If you haven’t seen, I’m hocking my birthday so that people in developing nations can have clean water, and I need your help in building a well. If money is tight, I can totally relate. I thought I’d share some ways you can bootstrap it and save some cash to bring the most basic need to some of the most needy people on the planet [and then donate here]. Here are 22 ways you can save money over the next 58 days and give to this incredible cause. ...
To make a long-story short: I’m asking you to donate $22 for my birthday to save lives by providing clean water. If we raise $5,000 by the end of the year, I’ll run a marathon (and you’ll get a shout out on my shirt). To make a short-story long: On November 22, I turn 22, but this year, I’m giving up my birthday. No gifts. No cards. No cakes, pies, or presents. ...
Today I told The Resistance to shut up. It wasn’t easy. But I did it (and when it questioned me, I asked “Did I stutter?“) You see, The Resistance is a deceiver. It distracts and deters and diminishes and defiles. It tells you lies. Lies like: You can put off that project until next quarter. You don’t need to reach out to people. The status quo is all that can be expected. It’s the voice in the back of your head that all too often wins out. ...
My brain feels like a Stretch Armstrong. It’s been effectively pulled into 20 directions, and I’m working on reshaping it so it’s not flowing out of my ears. I’m in Atlanta for the Catalyst Conference–a two-day event that inspires young (and certainly old) leaders in The Church to “stop doing church and start being the church” (Thanks, Christine). The sheer content of yesterday’s six sessions reminding us that “Tension is Good” was enough to go home with and mull over for weeks (probably more like months). Today we’re going back at it again. ...
I’ve done things the wrong way more than once. I’ve been prone to working harder instead of working smarter. I jump in with both feet instead of assessing the situation. But, I think I’m getting better at realizing when something doesn’t look or feel right.  Photo provided by: Free Images One thing that especially pains me is watching someone else do something wrong. (and by wrong I don’t mean a different way than I would do them. Wrong in the sense that they’re putting eggshells into their omelets instead of yolks.) I try to take the opportunity to help someone out when they look like they’re struggling, but other times I feel I’m overstepping my bounds if I chime in out of turn. It’s one thing to help when someone can’t figure out the copy machine, but it’s a whole different beast when you want to correct someone who doesn’t think he has a problem. ...
I don’t care much for Major League Soccer. I don’t follow the Euro Leagues. I couldn’t even name more than a handful of soccer fútbol players. I haven’t kicked a ball since second grade. But I’m obsessed with the World Cup. Photo provided by IsakAronsson. In 2006 I swore I’d go see it in person the next time around. (I missed that, but I’ll be in Slovenia when they play the US, so I say it’s a close second. See you in 2014?). ...
Dear journal, Wednesday, June 9, 2010 was the laziest day of my life. I fully intended on doing a whole lot of things, but simply never got around to it. I chalked it up to rain and Akron, but at the heart of it was a lack of motivation and the comforts of my home. I simply can’t get things done at home. Have you ever just been in the zone and cranked out a ton of work in a short period of time? That’s never happened at my house. It’s like a black hole of productivity. ...
We’ve all had days (sometimes weeks, months, maybe even years) when we’re drained from the work we do. We feel it doesn’t matter. It seems it’s not making an impact. Work we were once passionate about becomes work we dread. Things we loved doing become tiring, dull and cumbersome. Take heart my friends; the work you do matters.  Why Does It Matter? Whether you're a janitor or the CEO of a company. If you're moving boxes or flying planes or teaching kids or blogging or just being a student, what you do matters. ...
The “Like” Problem Imagine witnessing a friend do something absolutely awe-inspiring. They caught a fly ball that was unreachable. They jumped over a river. They kickflipped over a shed. They disapproved E=MC2. They shed light onto an idea you never understood before. They gave you a new perspective that changed your views. After any of the above, imagine just throwing them a “Thumbs up”.  No comment. No reaction. You simply stare at them like a hitchhiker. ...