Parking Ticket. Pollyanna. Chicken Little. What, If Anything, Did I Learn Today?

For four days now, I've been aggressively conscious of my life, striving hard to live with intention and attention. I'm slowly adopting the motto:  Live. Love. Learn.

Today, I learned...

...I am too hasty too often.  Missing the posted signs at a parking garage rewarded me with an $11 parking ticket this morning!  The military adage, "Slow is smooth, smooth is fast" is apropos.  I have to slow down.  Slow down my scattered thoughts.  Slow down trying to multi-task like I'm 10 people in one.  Slow down, period.  And slowing down doesn't mean being less assertive.  It simply means being intentional...and intentionally aware.  What slowly becomes smooth will eventually become efficient; thus, faster.  And as I wrote in an early post, "speed has its own mass."

...the allusion to God-ordained instincts read in the anecdote describing God's provision for the "bird's of the air" (as paraphrased from Oswald Chambers), also supports the contention that, even more so, I possess God-ordained instincts.  Becoming increasingly more instinctual instead of blithely “seeking God" - a too often used euphemism for lack of positive action (usually out of fear, laziness, selfishness, lack of discipline, even arrogance) -  I will more effectively "live up to what I have already attained."

...I live on a bungee cord between Pollyanna and Chicken Little.  For a time, my optimism and positivity can "peg the needles" towards Pollyanna.  I'm confident, aggressive, and visionary.  Then tension in the cord starts pulling me back towards Chicken Little, where I start looking for cover from the celestial debris I'm sure will come raining down at any moment.   I become quiet, hesitant, even angry.  I know this pendulum swings for everyone; but I vow to attack it every day.  I want to play in Polly's playpen, not shovel Chicken Little's chicken sh**.

Day is done. I'm excited about tomorrow's lessons.

So, what, if anything, did you learn today?  Let me know.

What, If Anything, Did I Learn Yesterday?

On Sunday night, I started this little segment on daily learning.  I wanted to make this post last night, but I was too tired to write.  Interestingly, fatigue is a theme to one of the lessons I learned yesterday:  I need more sleep.

Yesterday, January 25, 2010, was a day full of strong lessons about life and about me.  I learned...

...according to Dr. Oz, I need a minimum of seven hours of sleep a night to fully repair myself.  I've been one to boast about needing less sleep than others; but I've been rationalizing.  To quote Ed Young, Jr., "when we rationalize, we are telling ourselves 'rational lies.'"  I like to stay up late, but I feel more productive when I get up early.  So the compromise over the years has been to cut short my sleep time. The problem that has been created over my life is significantly less productivity and abbreviated impact on my world.  I'm finally now tired of being tired.  I covet your encouragement as I try to re-habituate my sleep patterns.

...  1 out of 5 children in the USA have elevated cholesterol levels (according to Dr. Oz).  This is a startling statistic to me.  I, like most people, recognize we Americans are overweight.  We revel in so many excesses, why not wallow in excess body fat?  But knowing that 20% of our children have elevated cholesterol levels due to lack of exercise and an over-consumption of high fat foods is alarming.  And I'm one of the problems!  I'm sitting here today nearly 60 pounds over my ideal body weight.  My Body Mass Index (BMI) is high enough that it's literally costing me an additional $100 per month in health insurance premiums.  I'm vowing to change that.  I want to model and then encourage/inspire those in my circle of influence to get serious about their health.  My situation is a good example of how to reduce health care costs:  If I can get my BMI down, I'll save $1,200 a year just on the premiums!  And this is before any of the other benefits of good nutrition and physical fitness.  But to achieve my health goals, I know I have to change my thinking from "diet" to "lifestyle." Back to habituating!

...To be a thought leader, I have to think less about what other people think...about me.  I desire to be a thought leader; but I too often worry about perceptions.  Remember a couple of weeks ago I posted about "Mrs. Yabuts?"  She's still a dancing queen in my world, but I'm determined to de-list her from my dance card.  Now!

...I can be “P-brain."  I too often Procrastinate.  I can be Perfectionist, which slows or stops me from initiating action because I can't yet do it perfectly.  I can be Pusillanimous.  This is a hoity-toity word for being fearful or week.  I hate being a "P-Brain."

...I must leave “elbow room” for God.  Oswald Chambers showed me that, in our zeal to pursue our God-purpose, we pack our lives so tightly with so much "stuff" that God can't even squeeze in. We must allow God room to interject into our lives at the time and in the way of His choosing.  I must remember, as Rick Warren wrote, "It's not about me!"

So, what, if anything, did you learn yesterday?  What about today?

What, If Anything, Did I Learn Today?

I've determined I'm going to be an active life-long learner.  I crave to know more about myself, my world, my God.  With that in mind, several times a week, I plan to post at least one interesting nugget of newly gleaned knowledge, insight, wisdom from that day.  It may be trivia. It may be a skill. It may be a life lesson. Whatever.

So, "What, if anything, did I learn today?"

I learned...

...I'm way too haphazard with my weekends.  I have to bring them under the same discipline as week days.

...I'm not as disciplined with my week days as I have to be.

...I'm still moved by great art and artistry.  I pray that never changes.

...a new word: "troglodyte." And, no, it wasn't used in reference to me. 

...even when my confidence in myself is shaken, my faith in my God is actually strengthened.

...I have fallen in love with my best friend, my bride, all over again.  And I hope to get to do that every day for the rest of my life.

So, what, if anything, did you learn today?

Twitter, The Movie - Featuring Zig & Tom Ziglar

See this great Twitter movie put together by Tom Ziglar, proud son of inspirational speaker/author, Zig Ziglar.  Tom is also the CEO of the family's company.  Twitter, The Movie

One Year Later: 'Living Up To What I Have Already Attained'

Today marks one year since the passing of my father.  My faith tells me that his death wasn't the end; it was simply the moment he went home to be with the Father.  And my faith also tells me that I can anticipate a reunion with him when it's my turn to go home.

The sorrow of missing him is very real. It's painful to let go of someone you love so much. Someone who was such an influence on my youth and my adulthood. Someone who was and remains my hero.

My dad was a bonafide "man's man" in the mold of a John Wayne character...but even more. He was a leader of men, yet gregarious. Confident, yet filled with humility. Smart, but not arrogant or elitist. No respecter of a person's bank account; character was what counted to my dad.

Tough, yet not afraid or ashamed to shed tears in public when his heart was pricked; or to publicly hug us kids, tell us and the world how much he loved us and how proud he was of each of us.

He taught me how to play guitar...well, at least three chords! He taught me to throw a knuckle ball because he said throwing a curve ball would damage my elbow. He taught me how to use tools, how to plant and tend a garden, how NOT to fix a short in an electrical cord (a little inside joke there).

He was my friend, my mentor, and my "Best Man" at my wedding.

Always an encourager and supporter of my dreams and aspirations, he would candidly tell me he didn't understand anything about what I do for a living; but he knew me and he invested in me, literally. In an early business venture, he and Mom put their money into my little agency, with no clue of how the business worked. But, they believed in their oldest son.

Dad loved quippy sayings.  A few of his favorites (which I find myself using...a lot):

"Never let the facts get in the way of a good story."
"Keep it between the ditches."
"God gave everyone the same amount of hormones.  If you want to use yours to grow hair, so be it."
"There it is, bigger than De-troit."
"Your Mom is the luckiest woman in the world. With 3 billion men on the planet, she married the right one the first time."

Dad also loved music and he taught me to play guitar by ear.  He had three standard songs that always were sung at family reunions and even at his home-going celebration.  They are: "Boney Maroney," "Frauline" and "Kentucky Means Paradise."

Dad taught me how to love a woman, to love my children, to lead a family. He modeled what a man should be. I just wish I had been a better student.

As the apostle Paul writes in Philippians 3:16, my prayer is that I "live up to what I have already attained." From my father - and my Father - I have been shown much, taught much, given much.  And to paraphrase scripture, "to whom much is given, even more will be required."  I pray that I am found worthy of the being the oldest son of Walter Disney, Jr.  (1932-2009).

I love you, Dad.

(Pictured above: my father and mother, Walt & Fannie Disney, December 2008, six weeks before Dad's home-going.)

Social Media: Fad or Revolution?

As we know, the world is changing...fast.  It's an amazing time to be alive, especially if you make your living as I do in media, communications, art.  The tools now at our disposal are head-spinning.  Check out this video from 2009 that will both inspire and overwhelm you.

I showed this to my "Entertainment Distribution & Promotion" class I teach at Belmont University.  They sat in stunned silence when it was over.




So...are you overwhelmed? Inspired? Scared? Excited? Let me know. I'd love to get your perspective.

THINK TANK

"The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard accordingly..."

- Marcus Aurelius

UPDATE: More Theaters/Cities Added to the "Preacher's Kid" Film Opening January 29

Be sure to check out the updated list of theaters and cities for the opening of Preacher's Kid movie on January 29.

The film, starring LeToya Luckett, is a modern rendition of the parable of the “Prodigal Son” told in an urban setting.  Written and directed by Stan Foster (whose credits also include Bishop T.D. Jake’s Woman, Thou Art Loosed), Preacher's Kid is the first feature film for LeToya.

Preacher’s Kid also stars Durrell “Tank” Babbs, Grammy® nominated Trey Songz, Kierra Sheard, Clifton Powell, Gregalan Willams, Sharif Atkins, Tammy Townsend, Essence Atkins, among others.

Become a fan on Facebook.
Follow the film on Twitter.
Check out YouTube and MySpace.
Banners and Wallpaper

Don't Miss Preacher's Kid Open January 29!

I'm a Dancin' Fool

I'm a dancin' fool.

Actually, more the fool because of the dancing.


For years now, weekly if not daily, I find myself at the same dance hall, standing in the stag line waiting my turn to satisfy what has become a habit (or is it a lifestyle?). I often get impatient and even jump line. Interestingly, the other patrons never object when I do.

My regular dance partner is an experienced conniver.  Many-partnered (in every sense of that phrase) with a well-developed penchant for wanting to lead rather than follow, she at once seductive, enticing and comforting in a debilitatingly diabolical manner.  I sometimes find an odd sense of security in thinking she knows me better than I know myself.

I didn't know her name until just a few years ago.  For nearly 20 years, I'd been taking regular turns around the dance floor with her, without ever mentioning her name.  I was mesmerized, I guess, by here manner of eagerly, but gently, taking my hand and rhythmically twirling me around to the beat of the day.

I eventually learned her name from authors Mark Victor Hansen and Robert Allen who warned of her in their book, The One Minute Millionaire: The Enlightened Way to Wealth.

Mrs. Yabuts.

Seductress. Provocateur. Emasculator.

She gets around; you most likely know her as well as I do.  She's the whisper in your ear every time you're ready to stretch yourself, to attempt something new, to risk something of your ego.

"Yeah but, what will [insert name here] think?"

"Yeah but, you're too old (or too young)."

"Yeah but, remember what happened last time."

"Yeah but, you don't have the time (or talent or money or connections or education or...or...or!)."

It's dangerous and devastating to dance with Mrs. Yabuts.  She lulls you into "paralysis by analysis." She stalls your momentum.  She threatens your dreams, ambitions, goals, and derails your pursuit of your purpose.  Ever enervating, she causes you to cower in the corner of your true, complete self.

"Waltzing with Mrs. Yabuts," as Hanson calls it, reminds me of the scene in the movie National Lampoon's European Vacation when Chevy Chase gets caught for hours on the inside lane of traffic on the Lambeth Bridge Roundabout, unable to make his way to  the off-ramp and towards his destination.  He literally drives in circles.  Are you doing the same with your own personal and/or career development?

How to Stop the Dance

So how do you break it off with Mrs. Yabuts?  It's not easy.  Like any bad habit, she's there to "console" you when you have even the slightest dip in confidence or enthusiasm.  Her powers can be eradicated, but, at least for me, it's a on-going process:

1.  Get a big "Why."  I'm a firm believer in owning a very big "Why" with each significant endeavor I pursue.  As Tony Robbins espouses, you must get your "why" big enough to withstand the battering it/you will take as you pursue your purpose.  And you will get battered:  emotionally, spiritually, financially, relationally.  It's inevitable.  Even scripture promises that "in this life, you will have trouble."  Know why you're pursuing your goal, get it large enough to take the beating, and you won't give up prematurely.

2.  Prepare yourself.  Confidence grows with better and thorough preparation.  As I was coached growing up playing basketball, you play the way you practice.  Practice is preparation.  Michael Hyatt writes eloquently and effectively on developing and preparing yourself.  You need to read his blogs.  Additionally, a great book you should add to your library is Dare to Prepare: How to Win Before You Begin by Ronald M. Shapiro.  An attorney, author, speaker and preparation guru, Shapiro even includes links in his book where you can download preparation checklists.

3.  Focus on the real value.  In William Paul Young's best-selling book, The Shack (Special Hardcover Edition), at one point the Holy Spirit character tells the main character that "the value isn't in the work; it's in the purpose behind the work."  Focusing on the purpose of what you're endeavoring, as opposed to the activity itself, is a massive weapon to repel Mrs. Yabuts.

4.  Outwork everybody.  I've been a fan of coaching great, Rick Pitino, since before he took over at the University of Kentucky in the early 1990s.  In his book, Success Is a Choice: Ten Steps to Overachieving in Business and Life, he writes that one of the ways to deserve success is to outwork EVERYBODY!  He wrote that he didn't know if his were the hardest working teams in the country, but because of how hard they worked and prepared, they believed they were.  It was that belief that propelled them to win the national championship in 1996 and to return to the title game in 1997.

5.  Remember: it's not about you!  It's the mantra popularized by Rick Warren in his book, The Purpose Driven Life, but it's true.  By adhering to this axiom, then you are relieved of the ego-centricity upon which Mrs. Yabuts feasts.  You are freed to move fast and to move now.

Now is the time to take off your dancing shoes and to put on your work boots.  Tell Mrs. Yabuts to take a hike!

I would to hear your comments and to hear about some of your own "dance moves" with Mrs. Yabuts.

IMAGINATION

“A  strong imagination begetteth opportunity.”  -- Michel de Montaigne