creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties

I brought the message for the first time to my church last weekend.  I was nervous.  Speaking to some 9,000+ people is a little nerve racking but had such a great time.  I was teamed up with my good friend Robi Quick which made it even more fun.

We had been talking about a series that would focus on the classic stories of the bible.  We got talking about classics in our culture and how many of them like, Coka-Cola and Movies have shaped our culture.  As cool and exciting as it was to think about, we were reminded of just how influential the Bible has been.  It’s a classic made up of classics.

We kicked the series off with Psalm 23 and integrated some technology.  We used Youversion Live for sermon notes and interactivity and we are planning on doing some “follow up” online live conversation pieces where we invite viewers to talk about these passages.  It’s been a blast! I also preached from my iPad.  My notes and bible were all on it. 

Here’s the video of the service!  Hope you enjoy!

In Matthew 10:22 Jesus tells his disciples “But don’t quit. Don’t cave in. It is all worth it in the end. (The Message)”

You level the playing field when the key to victory becomes about perseverance and not about mere strength and talent.  In high school the big football studs killed it on the football field but almost killed themselves on the long distance running trails. Their training and talent gave them little advantage in long distances.  Jesus’ teaching to the disciples is key in that it highlights the value of perseverance something that seems counter to our culture today.  In the age of rapid start ups and acquisitions, perseverance seems like a thing of the past.  It’s almost like you aren’t doing something right if it requires you to persevere.  When it comes down to it, seeing your dream come to fruition requires perseverance! There is no shortcut to accomplishment. This is echoed in the words of the famous tycoon, John Rockefeller when he said:

“I do not think there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature.” -John Rockefeller

I’m reminded that anytime I pursue a vision there will undoubtedly be times that call for perseverance. I have to dig deep and remember that anything worth pursing will require perseverance. No shortcuts. No gimmicks. Just hard work.

What song was hot (something you rocked over and over again) when you were in High School?

Let’s hear em!

The next time you want to pick a typeface for a project, try this! 

The moment you choose to act upon an idea you take a risk. Risk of not being heard, not understood, not seen as “marketable.” You risk being told no, not now, not for us or not ever. The question is then, is it worth it? At different points in my life I have heard all of the above but my answer to the question is the same. It’s worth it.

Sometimes an idea has what it takes to make it and sometimes it doesn’t. I learn something new every time  which is why it’s worth it.

Reddit.com founder Alexis Ohanian, is a great example of one idea that got away from its creators and ended up becoming something bigger than they ever could have hoped — once they learned the benefit of letting go.  Watch this!

In 2004, a yellow bracelet raised awareness and brought $70 million to the cancer cause. A stunning six years later, the bracelet movement has gone virtual, making further change a reality. Keeping a cause’s momentum going for several years is a huge feat. LIVESTRONG, a foundation dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by cancer, now focuses on using social media to present its message, advance its mission and strengthen its movement. The social media revolution has helped LIVESTRONG further its impact and reach, through social media’s power to foster communication, connection and a call to action.

In 2009, LIVESTRONG hired Brooke McMillan to work full-time on its social media. Brooke manages LIVESTRONG’s blog as well as its Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr accounts. This use of social media has given LIVESTRONG a far-reaching and powerful impact, helping to spread the word, support those affected by cancer, raise money and create change.

The voices of LIVESTRONG are the founder, cyclist and cancer-survivor, Lance Armstrong; the CEO, Doug Ulman, also a cancer-survivor; and the Social Media Director, Brooke McMillan. All three spread the word about the LIVESTRONG foundation and the cancer cause through their twitter accounts and other social media. They tweet, blog and post about upcoming fundraisers or about new information pertinent to cancer patients and survivors.

Quick Social Media Fun Facts:

Twitter: Messages tweeted three to six times a day by Brooke, Lance and Doug

• @livestrong (68,563 followers)

• @lancearmstrong (2,512,326 followers)

• @livestrongceo (997,838 followers)

Facebook: Updated frequently with LIVESTRONG news and links to other media; responses given several times a day to questions and stories posted by fans

• http://www.facebook.com/livestrong (liked by 834,666 fans)

Blog: Daily blogs posted with news about cancer research, testimonies of survivors, etc.

• http://livestrongblog.org

YouTube: Videos posted monthly of cancer-survivor interviews, treatment information, and news on LIVESTRONG events

• http://www.youtube.com/user/livestrongarmy (videos receive hundreds to thousands of views)

Flickr: Photos of LIVESTRONG events and fundraisers are posted, as well as photos of supporters wearing their LIVESTRONG bracelets

• http://www.flickr.com/photos/livestrongarmy (1,800 photos posted)

Communicating the Message

Social media have allowed another voice to be added to LIVESTRONG–the most influential and inspiring voice. It is the voice of the community of cancer patients and survivors. They post their stories to the LIVESTRONG blog and Facebook page. Instead of wearing a LIVESTRONG bracelet on their wrist, supporters of LIVESTRONG wear a virtual one on their Twitter avatar–a yellow LIVESTRONG band created to stretch across the profile picture. It is seen by all who read their tweets.

Social media are effective at spreading the message, because they inspire dialogue. Nobody likes a one-sided conversation. LIVESTRONG is not robotically feeding out information. Its social media give it a personality, create conversation and encourage story-telling. Social media expand the reach of LIVESTRONG’s message through meeting its audience in a convenient place it visits frequently, the internet. Social media throw a pebble in the water, initializing communication and causing others to pick up the message and pass it on until it reaches the furthest banks of society.

Connecting to advance the Mission

Through the communication of social media, LIVESTRONG began a conversation that connected with its audience and created a community. LIVESTRONG’s mission is to help those affected by cancer and to get others involved in the cause. LIVESTRONG actualizes this goal daily by means of the community created through interaction with its audience in social media.

LIVESTRONG uses social media to give cancer patients and survivors the information they need. On sites such as Twitter and Facebook, the cancer community can ask questions or respond to information given to them. Because LIVESTRONG has this connection with its audience, it can respond to feedback and answer questions, making all it communicates pertinent and useful.

Social media adds many helping hands to LIVESTRONG. For example, people will post accounts of what they are going through on the LIVESTRONG Facebook wall, and others will respond with offers of support or present information that could be helpful. Cancer survivors post their stories and experience to comfort and advise those currently affected by cancer. The community fostered in LIVESTRONG’s social media ministers to cancer patients; it lets them know that they are not alone, that people care about what they are going through, and that a cure is being actively sought. This reflects how a real-life community shares stories and life-experiences, connects with others, responds to needs and shows care.

Social media spin a web of contacts and connections. When one thread of information is touched on, it vibrates the many criss-crossing strings of informants, advisors, and companions. Discussion grows. Word spreads. Information is learned, and questions are answered. Relationships build.  This is the power of social media.

Call to Action Creates Movement

LIVESTRONG desires to both give and get. It gives support to cancer patients and seeks to get others to do the same. Thus, LIVESTRONG uses its social media to present a call to action. That call was answered in 2009 with an amazing $10.8 million in funds raised and 70,000 signatures collected for a healthcare reform petition.

The community of followers in LIVESTRONG’s social media builds momentum and movement through its stories and support. Social media spread the word and build excitement about fundraisers and events. Event times are tweeted, fundraiser information is blogged, and merchandise is displayed in Facebook posts. These fundraisers and events have existed since the beginning of the LIVESTRONG foundation, but social media reaches a wide audience quickly, helping LIVESTRONG fill events and meet goals. In 2009, LIVESTRONG sought change by making a political statement. It asked people to join in and support the LIVESTRONG Healthcare Reform Petition. 70,000 people responded by signing the petition. LIVESTRONG asks; the community answers. Movement results.

The phenomenon of social media is revolutionizing the way organizations raise awareness and achieve change. Social media are effective because they reach a wide audience in a convenient way through a variety of mediums (words, pictures, audio, and video). They are 24/7; they never sleep. They are current. They are viral, growing conversation and community. They cause action. Social media are impactful and important.

After six years the Livestrong organization seems to only be getting started.