Could Doing This Change Your Life?

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Bryan Entzminger

Would you believe me if I told you that one change could transform the quality of your life? That if you do what I’m about to tell you it will increase your chances of success, make you happier, help you make friends and may even help you live a longer, healthier life? That other people might want to be around you and your boss (or clients) might trust you more?

No, I’m not going to ask you to send me three easy payments of $99.95. I’m going to give it to you for free and if it works for you, just tell everybody you know to do the same. Seriously, I don’t want anything out of this except for your life to be better.
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Unique, Personalized, and Customized

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Bryan Entzminger

The word “unique” used to mean something. In the dictionary it still has a unique meaning but in practice it often means nothing more than “something that’s pretty cool and stands out a little” or “this thing I want you to pay attention to” or “this stuff I want you to buy.”

Many of the things we think of (or call) “unique” are actually just stock items that are customized or personalized. If something is a stock item with a couple small changes for you it’s personalized. If you can choose from standard options, what you’re looking at is customized.

The name plate on your desk is personalized.
Your Google search results are personalized.
A brand new Mini Cooper can be customized.
You are unique.

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Use Technology Wisely [quote]

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Bryan Entzminger

Technology well-used allows us to do more of what really matters. Technology misused simply allows us waste our time doing more things that don’t matter while what’s important still gets ignored.

Source: How RSS can Help You Unplug with Style (yeah, I quoted myself)

How RSS can Help You Unplug with Style

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Bryan Entzminger

Whether you want to practice the trombone or play with your children, using an RSS reader is usually the starting point for any strategy to collect and unplug so that you can get on with living your life. Many of you probably already use RSS feeds in this way and, if so, this post might be a little basic for you and you’ll probably think I’m way behind the times.

But that’s the point. Our times are frenetic. We’re scattered and stretched and wasting time and energy on stuff that doesn’t matter or that can be done more easily using simple technologies like RSS. And many people either don’t know there are tools available to help take control back or are intimidated by them.

A little about RSS

First, the acronym “RSS” stands for Really Simple Syndication. It’s a way that websites and blogs can let you know there’s something new available and (often) allow you to read it at your leisure. The best analogy or schema I’ve heard is that it’s a lot like the Associated Press‘s news wire.

Two notes:

First, nearly half of my readers use some form of RSS reader to keep up with my blog.
Second, maybe you have an analogy for what it is and how it works; your analogy might even be better. If so, why not share it in the comments?

Not Getting Too Technical

I’m not actually all that interested in the technical side of how an RSS feed works (if you are, you can read more about that here). Rather, I’m interested in using an RSS feed to automate and collect. So, let’s look at the five steps of RSS that actually matter.
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Are YOU Trying to Escape Your Life?

It’s Friday afternoon. By now, many people are off work and headed to wherever they go. But, before you unplug (and I hope you do unplug), take a minute to answer this question:

Have YOU been hanging on for the weekend?

In other words, is your weekly life so bad that you live for the escape of the weekend? Or are you able to live an integrated life where you’re fully engaged in your work and your family, your vocation and your avocations?

Sure, it’s great to look forward to things. I look forward to holidays and vacations. I want to unplug and to spend some quality time with my family. I’ve been known to watch a movie or head out to the park. We need to recharge.

And, no, my life is not all fun and games. Or puppies and rainbows. But it’s a good life and life – this life – is God‘s gift. A precious and valuable gift. A treasure.

So I’m not trying to escape my life. I’m trying to live it.

Are you trying to escape your life?

If so, what are you going to do about it?

Photo credit: Ken’s Oven on Flickr (Creative Commons License)

Fun Friday Question: My Favorite Smell Was _________

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Bryan Entzminger

This post is just for fun and I’d love to hear from you. Comments, tweets, likes & shares, and answers are appreciated.

Fun Question:

Just finish this: “When I was a child, my favorite smell was ______ “

We used this question as an icebreaker for a small class I was teaching a couple of weeks ago. It was a great way to learn a little more about people and the resulting responses were hilarious. Be as succinct or as verbose as you’d like. No pressure, just have fun.

My Answer:

When I was a child, my favorite smell was sage brush. I don’t recall exactly why but I think it had something to do with driving long distances across Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho into Oregon on vacation. I just remember that I found the smell both comforting and intriguing.

And, boy was I sad to learn that skunk was more than just a little more potent. Not nearly as good a smell as sage brush.

Now it’s your turn.

Photo credit: Juhansonin on Flickr (Creative Commons License)

Fun Friday Question: My Favorite Smell Was

Quotes to Tweet

When I was a child, my favorite smell was [complete this]. Tweet Buffer

What was YOUR favorite smell as a child? Tweet Buffer

Do the Important Stuff First

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Bryan Entzminger

This will be a quick one because it’s just a reminder of what you already know. But, if you’re like me, sometimes you need a reminder.

“Always do the most important stuff first.”
– Mom

In terms of ordering our lives, there will almost always be more to do than time to do it. And more options than our ability to choose, so being able to prioritize is critical.

When I was growing up, that usually meant that I had to finish my Algebra homework before I could watch TV. When I was in college it meant that I needed to finish my homework before I could go play pool or watch TV (I didn’t do as well with that sometimes). And now it means that I always try to put what’s most important in the first part of my day.

What does that look like?

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Unplug Well by Collecting

Posted on April 29, 2012 by Bryan Entzminger

Last week I told you that it was OK for you to unplug. However, that’s not going far enough. You need to unplug.

Of course, saying it is the easy part, actually unplugging is difficult. It’s especially difficult if you’re afraid you’re going to miss something important. However, especially in terms of your electronic interactions, you can use technology to collect stuff that’s important while you’re unplugged. Then, when you plug back in, your important stuff is, in the words of Richard Marx, “right [there] waiting for you.” (yeah, I’m that old)

OK. I want to unplug. But how do I collect stuff?

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How Life is Spent

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Bryan Entzminger

Tracking nearly anything you do is alarming and humbling. The aggregates of our actions are lost on us: we can watch hundreds of hours of television and write it off as a small time commitment. How much is too much? It’s hard to make pretty charts without learning something and thinking about what they should look like.

Tom MacWright (Quantified Self) via Buster

Doing What’s Right is Important

It’s important to know what’s right. But it’s also important to do what’s right.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does.
James 1:22-25 (ESV)

Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.
James 4:17 (ESV)

Sometimes I struggle with this. I know what to do but, because I’m selfish I don’t do what’s right. Or because I’m afraid. But, in any event, I still have room to grow. How about you?

Bless God that there’s still hope!

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
James 4:6-10 (ESV)

Lord, in your mercy continue to work in the lives of your saints – including me – to bring your kingdom to earth. Grant that we might move in righteousness, peace, joy, and hope. That our lives might be marked by your mercy.