One of the points in the book The 4 Hour Workweek is that you should focus on one project/task at a time and give it your full attention. Email is one of the biggest distractions of all. Author Tim Ferris recommends just reading email two times per day. I tried this and it worked great– for a few days. Then I got back into the old habit of leaving Outlook open. I need to rededicate myself to that limited email schedule. It really helps to focus attention to the project on hand instead of constantly hearing the email beep or checking to see if someone has responded to an email.
In this 24/7 online world we feel like we have to always be connected and technology helps us feel like we can really be in two thousand places at once. Last year I got a new phone — an LG ENV, mainly so I could check email while on the road. I really do love this phone… the keypad is inside the phone so the keys are actually bigger, easier to punch in. Of course there’s a camera and other fun stuff too.
But back to the email… it syncs with whatever email address you set it up to receive. The messages stay on your service provider, so they’ll be in Yahoo, Outlook or whatever if you want to answer an email later when you get back to the office. I have a dozen or more email addresses for certain uses… so not all of them are synced to this phone. Just two for the time being,so I’m able to check work and personal email.
Funny thing though, for all the assurance that I could get to email 24/7 there have been many times when I checked email from the phone and realized those messages really weren’t that important. Usually it’s only one or two that need immediate response.
So do we really need email 24/7? Rationally I know I don’t… but it will take work to a) convince other people of that and b) wean myself off the email drug!
Next week National City Christian Church in Washington D.C. will host Pentecost 2007: Taking the Vision to the Streets a conference that is described as “a call to individuals, churches, and most importantly, our political leaders to commit to putting poverty at the top of our national agenda.”
This is the tenth year of such an event sponsored by Sojourners/Call to Renewal and this year it is definitely going to a new level. Just by taking a look at the schedule of events, which includes training for local church and community leaders, rallies and a forum with presidential hopefuls Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Barack Obama, former Senator John Edwards it is sure to be an amazing event.
I wish I could be there for all of the events… but the next best thing is watching the broadcast of the candidates’s forum on CNN. This will be live Monday, June 4th from 7-8 p.m. EST on CNN. Jim Wallis, Soledad O’Brien, and nationally prominent religious leaders will ask questions of the Democratic front runner candidates.
My impression of Sojourners is an organization that seeks to cross boundaries, so I’m not sure why only Democrats are represented at the forum. (Afterall God is not a Republican or a Democrat.) Nevertheless, I will be sure to record and watch the CNN program to hear these leaders positions on the issues.
I just love Denny Hatch’s Business Common Sense newsletter…it’s entertaining, filled with real life stories and examples, at times irreverent and always delivers a nugget of truth. Today he takes on Britney Spears, broadway and technology insanity…
In show biz and marketing technology cannot cover up a mediocre product for very long.
Read the full story
P.S. “Girl you know it’s true…” you should not try to fool anyone by lip syncing!
Last week I posted a quote and the video from Bono’s 2006 White House National Prayer Breakfast. Believe it or not I had no idea that this book was coming out. The book is available from The ONE Campaign and presents the speech with graphics and moving photography. There is even a virtual book that you can flip through online.
On the Move bookÂ
It was over a year ago that Bono made a speech at the National Prayer Breakfast. It’s as powerful a call to justice, a call to equality and as inspiring a ‘sermon’ as I’ve ever heard. Ok, I admit to being a nearly life long U2 fan, so maybe I’m a bit biased. But no matter your music or religious inclinations there are gems of truth in this short speech. Continue reading →
I suppose this is an online version of the “how well do you know your friends” email forward. I rarely participate in those but this blog meme thing is kind of cool.
Basically one blogger writes on the topic and then tags 5 others. Kidino, who created the cover art for my first e-book in 2004 (The Beginner’s Guide) has tagged me. So here they are, the top 5 reasons that I blog… Continue reading →
In honor of Earth Day here are some quick links to interesting sites and blogs…
- Earth Day Network was founded by the organizers of the first Earth Day in 1970 and promotes environmental citizenship and year round progressive action worldwide.
- Global Green is the US Affiliate of Green Cross International
- The Green Pages posts environmental news of interest to Canadians
- Lighter Footstep offer 10 First Steps to a lighter more sustainable lifestyle (it’s easier than you’d think.)
- And finally a point well taken from Annie that Earth day should not be a festival of consumerism
The April issue of Sojourners magazine focuses on the role of government in society. There are several great articles that examine the role of government in regards to public health, disaster relief (including Katrina) and poverty among other topics. Providing a good introduction is Jim Wallis’s editorial All Hands on Deck (registration required to view). Continue reading →
I’m working on a few Squidoo lenses today and happened to find their list of 59 smartest nonprofit organizations. The organizations were chosen on the basis of how they connect with supporters using online media.
These organizations are winners because of their web 2.0 smarts and a willingness to engage their constituents far beyond asking them to dig into their pockets.These are organizations that give their volunteers and members a voice and get out of the way. They’re pros at mobilizing awareness online. They’re experimentors. Innovators. On a mission. They’re fearless.
I could spend hours surfing this list (and probably will!) 59 Smartest Orgs Online
A couple of weeks ago I attended the Association of Fundraising Professionals conference in Dallas. Actually I was just there for one day, heard the opening session and toured the exhibit hall. But it was enough to make a big impression. I’ll definitely be going next year.
One of the amazing people that I met was Janet Ginn. She is the President of Heifer Foundation, the endowment and planned giving arm of Heifer International.
While many companies were at the exhibit all — it took all day to visit all the booths — Janet was there simply to publicize Heifer and give away copies of her book Circle of Giving: Donors’ Stories of Wisdom. Actually, when someone asked why they were exhibiting, she said, “I’m just here to encourage you, to know that we’re all in this together.”
More Photos from AFP
