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Obama’s VP announcement … leaked?

August 23, 2008 By 2 Comments
obamabiden

Given that I do marketing for a living, I’ve been interested and at times, fascinated at Obama’s ability to use the wide range of marketing tools to his benefit for his Presidential campaign. Of course, he’s working with a dream budget but that’s besides the point.

In an innovative and very “personal” move, Obama announced that he would announce his VP nomination via text message to his supporters before he told the press.

At 11:50p, CNN breaking news sent me a text message:

“CNN confirms Sen. Barack Obama has chosen Delaweare Sen. Joe Biden to be his vice-presidential running mate.”

It’s 11:58pm … I still haven’t seen a text message from the Obama camp.

There’s been questions whether Obama’s effort to hold out on revealing the VP pick would hurt him, I doubt it. But now he has to answer for why he promised that the people would be the first to know, and we’re not. While CNN likely leaked the news, Obama’s camp should have known and anticipated as such.

The truth is, there is no way Obama could have accomplished what he claimed to do. When you consider how fast news travels, thanks to tools like Twitter, he didn’t have a chance to live up to his commitment.

Considering the impossibility of the promise, it makes me wonder about the rest of what he’s promising. Does he really know what he’s committing to?

Update: At 2:43am CST, I received the following text message from Obama’s campaign:

Barack has chosen Senator Joe Biden to be our VP nominee. Watch the frist Obama-Biden rally live at 3pm ET on www.BarackObama.com. Spread the word!

Again, from a marketing standpoint, the language is worth noting:

  • He’s referenced on a first name basis. A sign of personal friendship. (Remember when your parents required you to call people Mr. and Mrs. out of respect?
  • They used “our,” not “his” VP nominee when referring to Senator Biden

Kudos to Obama’s campaign for being deliberate in positioning him as the peoples candidate. While it makes people believe that they are involved, the truth is, Americans won’t have anymore say this election than previous. The question is, will Obama’s approach really make a positive difference or is it a self-fulling prophecy?

Filed Under: Marketing Tagged With: , ,

My Personal Mantra

August 8, 2008 By 2 Comments

I’ve been changed by a story about a man; at least that’s what people think he was. His work, his words…everything he did, made those around him stand back in wonder.

I watched him interact with grace even though he was often misunderstood. How could he not be? The world around him had made so many assumptions about the way things should be, that what was normal, wasn’t really normal. The people were so comfortable in their ways. In fact, they just didn’t think they were right…they knew it. Even when they were challenged, it didn’t matter. What they believed was untouchable. Yet, it didn’t seem to change his course. He never gave up or gave in. He always carried on.

Sometimes, when we would sit and watch together, we would see the same thing, yet he saw it differently. And when we would listen, he heard it differently too. What was amazing was that he seemed to be able to take this gift and make people feel loved, heard, understood and most importantly, important. While he spoke candidly, his words seemed to be met with an open mind. How? Why? Why would people continue to listen to this man?

Moreover, through misunderstanding and judgment, he always loved. So much so, that he would go out of his way to make sure that everyone knew of it.

Remember that he saw what they didn’t see and heard what they didn’t hear? Yeah…his ability to make things plain as day opened people up to the mysteries of life. They found understanding. They found meaning. They found life.

It is my life’s goal to be like this man…to stay alert with my eyes wide open…to live in gratitude for the opportunities that I’ve been given..to persistently seek the creativity that reveals mysteries…to work tirelessly to look beyond my challenges and see the endless possibilities. It is my hope that everything I do will work to make the mysteries of life, as plain as day to all those I encounter.

I dedicate myself to actively use my eyes and ears as I live and work around people; being careful not to overlook the details; making the most of every situation. I will strive to always be welcoming, encouraging and intentional in everything that’s said with the purpose to bring out the best, not the worst, in others.

This life isn’t a burden, but an assignment. I look forward to exploring its creativity with you.

Kyle

Filed Under: Personal

Shouldn’t discovering JOY be fun?

August 5, 2008 By 4 Comments
m8_logo_white

I find that my criticism is a persistent little pest. It crept up, without hesitation, too many times today. It’s apparent to me that my pride isn’t just going to go away, I’m going to have to work through it. Let’s start with…

Work

I’m a business owner. The company is now in it’s third year after celebrating the two-year mark on July 1, 2008. While this is a success in and of itself, about every three-to-four months, I get in a funk. And when I say a funk, I mean that I’m moody, dissatisfied and generally frustrated…with a lot of things. This is prime time for my criticism to step in. For some reason, it feels justified.

After going through three notable funks, I’ve only been able to conclude that I want what the “successful” guys have. I look at the “Top 30 under 30″ and my name isn’t there. I look at guys who are “making their mark” and wonder why I’m spinning my wheels. I look for “inspiration” from their blogs or the “top” whatever lists and stir in my frustration that I’m not doing a thing to reach this level. The cycle of jealously is a never ending circle that I jump into with both feet in hopes that it will spur me on to even more success. But, it never satisfies. I still get funky.

The other day, a guy stopped by my office to do some freelance work for us. After chatting a bit, I questioned his rates. I told him that he was undervaluing himself and that he needed to raise his rates. He reacted by saying, “how can I raise my rates if I’m not getting the opportunity to send a quote?”

After he left, my thoughts were arrested. How could I be so … ungrateful. At Motiveight, is seems like we are always tracking down new opportunities. Even recently, we’ve been fortunate to submit proposals to great companies like Inspiration Networks, CompuPay, Willow Creek Association and others. It was then that I realized that this guy would kill to be in my shoes and here I sat ungrateful because I don’t have what these other “successful” guys have.

CS Lewis says, “Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man.”

OUCH!

The more I search, the more I find that pride and joy are mutually exclusive. If I want one, I have to give up the other.

Filed Under: Misc Tagged With: ,

Like a child

August 4, 2008 By 8 Comments
savannah's squishy face

Once I found out that I was going to be a dad, it seemed that parents couldn’t resist the urge to tell me how I would draw spiritual principles from watching my child grow up. I have to admit, I really liked the idea.

Over the past year, I’ve watched Savannah grow and have found myself intentionally looking for lessons to be learned. I’d like to offer dozens of insights gleaned throughout the past year, but I have nothing…until now.

Recently, I rolled a small ball to Savannah’s lap. She promptly scooped it up, held it tightly, looked at me and gave me a squishy face smile that would cause anybody to laugh out loud in response. She loved the ball, she loved the game, she loved that moment. I looked at Kristy and said, “what would life be like if we had the joy of a child.” And there it was.

It’s been weeks since then. I can’t seem to get away from it. It chases me, haunts me and tempts me to look at things differently…but I can’t; at least not yet. Best I can tell, to be that joyful requires me to see the best in everything and everybody. If I am honest, I’ve created quite a concrete perspective in looking at things critically. That’s my gift…at least I thought. Today, I learned that it’s not my gift…it’s my pride. No wonder I don’t see things like a child. Rather than looking at the fullness that life has to offer, I choose to focus on the improvements that life could bring. Where’s the joy in that?

I want, nothing more, than move beyond the criticism and into the fullness of joy. It just seems more fun.

What about you?

Filed Under: Personal Tagged With:

@Random

August 3, 2008 By 1 Comment

There’s been a lot going on lately so I thought I’d throw up a quick list of all that’s new:

  • My daughter, Savannah celebrated her one-year birthday on July 17. I can’t believe how fast the past year has gone. You can see pictures here.
  • We are now 16 weeks pregnant. We will have our next ultrasound at 20 weeks…somewhere around the first of September. That means, in a month we’ll know if it’s a boy or girl. I think it’s a boy.
  • Kristy, Savannah and I went on vacation in Pigeon Forge, TN from July 16-22. We had a great time in the mountains. Because I come from the great Northwest, I favor the mountains. For the record, it was nice, but it wasn’t Oregon. I guess I have attachment issues.
  • I haven’t posted this here, but if you know me, this isn’t news. Back in April, my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer. When you add that to my sisters brain tumor and cancer, that’s a lot of medical stuff happening in my family at one time. Your prayers are coveted. I think I’m still learning how to process this kind of stuff.
  • My parents are here currently and will be through Tuesday or Wednesday. It’s just good to have them around. I miss them terribly. Fortunately their move to Oregon will make visiting the family easier since my sister and fam are there too.
  • Personally, God is determined to squash my pride: through books, friends, work, teachings and even this blog. When you start assessing how and why you do the things you do, it forces you to question intentions, motivations and purpose. I can’t say that I’m through it by any means…but I’m moving forward, at the least
  • We have the opportunity to build a new house again…in some ways we would be stupid not to. However, just because the door is open, doesn’t mean you walk through it. Deliberating this one still.
  • I’ve begun working on a project that I can’t openly talk about yet. I’m very excited about it, but I’m definitely in over my head…which is exactly where I like to be. The challenge pushes me beyond my limits and challenges me to reach for things that would ordinarily seem out of reach. More on this later.
  • Our church small group is multiplying this month which leaves us on the hunt for another small group home. So, we’ll either: go with one of the two leaders, move to another already existing group or start our own (if that’s an option)?
  • My sister had a PET scan on Friday and an MRI tomorrow. My dad has his PET scan this week (we think). Your prayers and thoughts are appreciated. We’re ready for some good news
Filed Under: Personal

If you are a man talking to a pregnant woman…

August 2, 2008 By 4 Comments

So my wife is pregnant (thank you…thank you). While this is our second pregnancy, I still laugh out loud when I hear or read a story of a man…simply not thinking.

A fellow Twitterer (@secretlifeofkat) and blog reader friend, Kat, is freakin’ hilarious. If you need a laugh go here and read—now! And if you act now, she’ll throw in these simple words of advice…

If you are a man talking to a pregnant woman. There are two phrases that are safe to say:

1. You’re going to be a great mom.
2. You look great.

Don’t elaborate. Don’t comment. Just leave it there. Otherwise, bring your shovel.

Also, check this out…

Don’t be a stranger. Post a comment. She’ll hit you back…right Kat!?!

Filed Under: Misc Tagged With: