The Value of Quitting (aka quitting is not for losers)

Quitting is not for quitters. For a month now i have been barraged with the benefits of quitting. Ive even been considering a day of the week where i will quit something each week. I first heard of this reading an interview with Bob Goff (here ...number 5). I hope im tenacious enough to do it. Ill start tomorrow. Hopefully i can make it past February without quitting quitting things. Ugh.

Anyway, below are my jumbled thoughts on quitting. I felt the need to get this out sooner that taking the time to refine it. Welcome to my mind.

1. Pastor Ron Vietti added the straw that broke the camels back and prompted me to get this done ASAP. When P Ron speaks, i listen. FB comment here

2. I began quitting some time ago when i developed my To Dont List. I used this i conjunction with a college course i was teaching. Here

I guess im not the only one to do so

Here is more.     And here.  And here

3. Startup companies always have this as an option. It makes business sense, why not personal? Read more

4.  Sometimes we win by quitting or lose by winning.  The book Think like a Freak give two incredible examples of this. One by a habitual gambler and an up and coming rock star who both won but not in the way you think. Get this book!!

5. Quit Cold Turkey or Use A Commitment device?  We know what cold turkey is, a Commitment device is something that helps us quit. A challenge with a friend, a reminder app, a website that tracks our progress, in extreme cases, a large wager or bariatric surgery.

6. Bullets then cannonballs. In the book Great by Choice, Jim Collins describes the process of determining when and how to go big on educated quesses. He calls it bullets then cannon balls. Ill spare the incredible explanation and great read because you need to read this too and just say this. Shoot enough bullets to see if you hit something. If you domfire a cannonball. If not, quit.

Quitting is not failure, just stopping something or cutting your losses or reorganizing. 

So now its time to quit. Quit reading this and go quit something. Now.

Listens 2015

I read, I listened.  I enjoyed.  2015 was a good year for this.  I wonder what 2016 brings?

For books click here....

Worship albums worth getting

I came across some great music this year. Im always looking for new and creative music that impacts culture in a positive way. Most were 2015  releases, A couple i just came across in 2015.

Most of the below is worship but the last two are not. Still very much worth the listen. I like to find bands that have solid believers in them and keep them in prayer. They need it as they shine the light in dark places. I feel for the rich and famous that are close to finding Christ or living their life before Him and many, many others.

Liz Vice
I came across Liz when she only had two songs released and couldnt wait for the rest of the record to be released. It didnt disappoint. Part R&B, part soul, all passion and worship. This is not cookie cutter worship. She is fresh and has a voice that is only described as powerful.

King Kaleidoscope. Becoming Who We Are
Diverse. Catchy. Lyrically solid and worth getting now.

Misty Edwards. Little Bird.
Usual Misty: quirky, thoughtful and creative. This is some worship some standalone and all very listenable. Her musicians are marketdly better her than in the past.

Bethel Music. We Will Not Be Shaken (live)
This is the 10 release by Bethel and kinda typical, but not in a bad way, more like a good solid dependable worship way.

Hillsong
I love what the Hillsong brand has done to bring worship music mainstream and love even more the fact that they stay relevant as the create new instances for new generations (United, Young and Free, kids, etc).

Hillsong Young & Free. EP This is Living.
This EP is amazing. I liked their first release but this is even better. The title song This is Living is amazing but even more amazing thanks to a cameo from Lacrae.

Hillsong United. Empire.
Since Y&F already dominated, ill give United an honorable mention. Very Euro sounding prob not gonna be found replicated in mainstream churches but there are a couple catchy tunes.

Islander. Violence and Destruction.
For a nu metal band thats only been around for a couple years, these guys are on it. They have been credited as one of the bands bringing hard rock back from dying. The mix of rock, funk, a little screamo and solid, solid, did i say solid lyrics make these guys one of my faves. I still wanna know what a Coconut Dracula is though.

Twentyone pilots.
Some are calling 2015 the breakout year for these guys. Its hard to identify their genra so ill call it awesomeness. It funky, intelligent, contagious, whimsical, lovable and more. Its poetry set to synth, ukulele or keys. Unlike some bubblegum music this does not get old or rot your teeth.

For books click here....

Reads 2015

2015 was a great year form reading. I usually read a book a month. Not a real aggressive goal but more of  moving benchmark. Because of a bit more time traveling, i maximized my audio book "reading" time (as well as some additional podcasts and blogs).  Some i really enjoyed. Some i forced my way through and some i just couldnt finish ( i also started several others but never made it past a couple chapters). Some i read for projects i was working on, some were so i could be a better husband, Dad or friend, two were for pleasure and fiction but most were for my own personal development which i guess is part professional, part personal and all awesome. Two i read for the second time.

For 2015 music click here.

Ill comment on three.

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg.
My favorite read of the year. From personal growth to billion dollar companies, habit drives us. We get to understand keystone habits, triggers and what Tony Dungee, Target, AA and science all have to do with this topic.     It was an easy, beneficial and enjoyable read.

Love Does by Bob Goff.
Since heard about Bob, I was intrigued. When i heard he published his cell number on his books, i was more intrigued. When i read the book i laughed and was inspired. When I called him and we spoke, I was amazed. The book is a great collection of stories of a man on an adventure who love God, his family and life.

Got The Life by Fieldy.
Im curious about people in the limelight. Im really curious when their hi profile life intersects faith. The band Korn has captured my attention since Brian "Head" Welch became a believer a couple years ago. Fieldy, his bad mate followed in Brians footsteps in faith and authorship. This book is an insight to the man, the band and the real life.

Email me for info on other 2015 books or to recommend something for me ;)

For 2015 music click here.