Sorry for my lack of posts lately. I’ve been working hard on a cause project that I’m extremely excited about.

It’s called Lemon Bags.

Lemon Bags is an initiative that was started by JBU SIFE. The SIFE team is importing handbags from Guatemala to sell in the U.S. The cool thing about these bags is that they are made from recycled packaging that would otherwise be sent to a landfill or incinerated. And, the bags are made by women from one of the poorest and most dangerous ghettos in Guatemala. These women are being employed and are able to provide for their families because of this initiative.

My role has been helping the JBU SIFE team develop a brand for this project. We call it Lemon Bags because the women live in a ghetto called La Limonada (Limonada = Lemonade = Lemon for those of you non-Spanish speakers).

We helped them develop a logo, copy, and an e-commerce website. We just launched the website late last week and so far we are getting great feedback. The website is www.lemonbags.com

This is the kind of work I love to do. I get absolutely consumed with bringing good things to life and sharing them with people. I love applying my marketing and business experience to things that actually matter.

My hope is that marketers, creatives and business minds will start applying their talents to great projects and ideas that would otherwise have no voice. There are so many ideas that could literally change the world if we would just take the time and energy to bring them to life.  What does that look like? How do you “bring an idea to life?” Here are some practical steps:

1. Define what you are trying to do.

Example: Lemon Bags is selling handbags to provide Guatemalan women with jobs and save waste from going into a landfill.

2. Put language to it.

Write it out in a compelling way. The language from the example above is not going to move anyone. For Lemon Bags, we are playing with the tag lines “Fabulous handbags for a good cause” and “The more bags you buy, the more women we can help.” That says something. It gets people excited. Language is so important in the beginning stages.

3. Make a plan.

It doesn’t need to be a five-page strategy document with an executive summary. Just jot down what needs to happen.

4. Start working!

This is where most projects fail. We can plan and come up with great ideas all day long. But at some point you just have to start working. You have to send the emails, you have to shoot the photos, you have to make a website, you have to design a great logo. You have to do all this while keeping those great ideas in mind. Constantly remind yourself what it is you set out to do.

5. Launch and re-launch.

This concept comes from Guy Kawasaki. Don’t wait until it’s perfect to put it out there. Just get it out, let people react, make changes and put it out again. The most important thing is that you put it out there. Perfect is the archenemy of good enough. Remember that.

Here’s my challenge to you: Find a project with potential that you can get excited about and get involved. Take the simple advice above and get moving!

The world is waiting on you.

That is what I love to do.

When we released the first pilot episode of ‘LeaderSkilz’ earlier last week, we had no idea the kind of response it would get.

People loved the first one so much that we decided to make another episode. That one got a great response too.

Thanks to everyone who tweeted, retweeted, facebooked, youtubed, vimeoed, commented, liked, embedded, etc, etc!

We will try to release another one this week.

‘LeaderSkilz’ Pilot Episode 2 from The Soderquist Center on Vimeo.

What do you think about this one?

YouTube version: youtube.com/watch?v=aD7muu7aTu0

‘LeaderSkilz’ Pilot Episode from The Soderquist Center on Vimeo.

On our way back from Catalyst last week, Clayton and I had an idea (scary, isn’t it?).

Our idea is to produce a series of short, humorous videos that teach leadership lessons for the Soderquist Center.

We took the idea one step further and filmed a pilot episode this week. Before you watch it, keep in mind that we shot it in about 30 minutes and spent maybe an hour editing it. This is just for proof of concept.

The goal is to give us something to talk about with our ‘tribe,’ keep us relevant, create anticipation, and begin to share our story in a new fresh way.

We are looking for feedback. What are your thoughts?

If I’m not mistaken, the bible does say, “The first will be last.” I’m just saying…

King Solomon was easily one of the most influential figures in biblical history. Known for his unmatched wisdom, people traveled worldwide to seek him out. He had fame and fortune beyond what most of us can imagine. But he didn’t just fall from the sky with all of this. Even Solomon, like all of us, had to start somewhere. Here is a little glimpse into Solomon’s journey and some things he did to accomplish all of these amazing things.

2 Chronicles 1:6-13 (The Message):

Solomon worshiped God at the Bronze Altar in front of the Tent of Meeting; he sacrificed a thousand Whole-Burnt-Offerings on it. That night God appeared to Solomon. God said, “What do you want from me? Ask.” Solomon answered, “You were extravagantly generous with David my father, and now you have made me king in his place. Establish, God, the words you spoke to my father, for you’ve given me a staggering task, ruling this mob of people. Yes, give me wisdom and knowledge as I come and go among this people—for who on his own is capable of leading these, your glorious people?” God answered Solomon, “This is what has come out of your heart: You didn’t grasp for money, wealth, fame, and the doom of your enemies; you didn’t even ask for a long life. You asked for wisdom and knowledge so you could govern well my people over whom I’ve made you king. Because of this, you get what you asked for—wisdom and knowledge. And I’m presenting you the rest as a bonus—money, wealth, and fame beyond anything the kings before or after you had or will have.Then Solomon left the worship center at Gibeon and the Tent of Meeting and went to Jerusalem. He set to work as king of Israel.

1. Solomon fervently worshiped God first

2. He asked for help in carrying out God’s purpose for his life, not for his own selfish desires

3. God grants him wisdom, knowledge, money, wealth, and fame beyond anything the world had (perhaps has) ever seen

4. He begins working immediately

In order of my personal favorites:

Andy Stanley

“You won’t know the mark you’ve made until after you’ve made it”

“It’s not about making my mark, it’s about being perfectly positioned for God to make His mark through me.”

“Living to make my mark is too small a vision to give my life to.”

“You will never know who you can’t trust until you trust them.”

Malcom Gladwell

“What we need most from leaders in times of crisis is humility.”

Chuck Swindoll

Swindolls’ Thoughts on Leadership:

1. It’s lonely to lead
2. It’s dangerous to succeed (especially when you are young)
3. It’s hardest at home
4. It’s essential to be real
5. It’s painful to obey
6. Brokenness and failure are necessary
7. My attitude is more important than my actions
8. Integrity eclipses image
9. God’s way is always better than my way
10. Christ-likeness begins and ends with humility

5 Statements Worth Remembering:

1. Do more with others and less alone
2. Emphasize quality, not quantity
3. Wherever you go, do things the same as if you were among those who know you best
4. Whoever may respond, keep a level head
5. However long you lead, keep on dripping with gratitude and grace

“When God wants to do an impossible task, he takes an impossible person and crushes him. You need to leave room for the ‘crushing.'”

“With every ministry, a special mercy is needed.”

Rob Bell

“We are a Eucharist. We are called to break ourselves open and pour ourselves out.”

“Sometimes the crowd thins.”

Dave Ramsey

“Momentum is created. It does not just randomly happen.”

“Momentum = Focused Intensity/Time X God”

Reggie Joiner

“Parents don’t need a better picture of what family should look like, they need a bigger story”

“God doesn’t use perfect pictures, he uses broken people.”

Perry Noble

“Leadership will continually take you to tougher places”

“When you start leading, people will start leaving.”

There is no real purpose or theme to this video other than an excuse to shoot more test footage with the GH1.

Still using the kit lens. No neutral density filters (crazy, I know) but haven’t ordered them yet.

I was just thinking about how much my professional life has changed in the past two months. This occurred to me yesterday when I arrived at work (at the organization I joined two months ago) and realized how different my morning routine is now. My morning routine used to be:

1. Get to the office early before most of the team arrived (except for Brent-never could beat him)

2. Make the rounds to just about every person in the office

3. Ask each person how they were doing

4. Ask what was on their plate that day

5. Ask if there was anything I could do to help

My job was to first make sure people had what they needed to do their jobs and then get to work on my stuff.

What struck me recently is how close I had grown to the people on my team. After seven years with a small company, you become really tight. But for some reason, the full effect of separation hadn’t kicked in until recently.

Maybe what set it off was the stark difference in my routine now verses then. My routine now is much more observational. Because I’m still new to the Center and not fully submersed in the culture, I’m still figuring out what my “leadership” role looks like. Part of that involves really getting to know the people on our team, which will take time.

So, to my GCI and FBH peeps…I miss you guys! (But you’re probably glad I don’t come around and bug you every morning anymore)