I was reading a blog yesterday and a great quote jumped out at me:

“Getting old only sucks if you let it suck.”
@Jason

Well said Jason.

Every year that you get a little older, I’ve noticed people just complain and blame whatever it is they’re not doing or wish they were doing …all because of their age. You can see it in their eyes, they seem jaded from experiences and old age. Yet in retrospect, I’ve met several people in life that have proved age does not matter. They seem younger than ever, extremely motivated for life and out taking on the world.

Which leads me to believe…

Age is nothing but a number. The people who play the complain and blame game of not being able to do something because “their time has passed” is rubbish. There’s no better time than right now.

Take for example something that happened to me this year. I made a pact with my closest friends to go sky diving. I jumped (and survived). After my jump I threw a high-five to the next guy who was jumping after me. Guess how old he was? He had just turned 80-years old (it was his birthday). His family was there, talking about how excited and alive more than ever he was …even at age 80.

A couple years ago, a friend shared with me this quote…

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
- Mark Twain

Everyone has dreams, no matter the stage in life you are in (young and old). So I say, dream and dream big. Do you have your inspiration? Are you acting upon these and moving forward?

I’m excited to be here. You should be too. Now you get out there. Explore. Dream. Discover.
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This year, we wanted to have some fun in promoting the benefit party my friends and I organize every year. And I wanted to do something else besides film myself dancing badly all over Kansas City.  So, this year we made this video blog for The Ugly Christmas Sweater Party.

A few tidbits BEHIND THE SCENES when filming this video blog:

• Many of the scenes were improv and we only sketched loose concepts
• We DID get weird looks when running around the Plaza in our ugly sweaters!
• Yes, that costume at the end is real. And Ben looks GREAT in a ‘Christmas Story’ bunny outfit.
• Some members of the steering committee members are in the video!

*BONUS* there were so many great OUTTAKES and bloopers when filming this to not create a gag reel video blog. Watch it:

If you don’t know about this benefit event my friends and I started, here is some background:

In 2 short years, with literally no budget or funding, we’ve thrown two sold-out parties and raised over $25,000 (and we’ve received press coverage in every major local publication). Myself and my friends dedicate time each year to plan this party. We aren’t affiliated with any one organization – we’re just a group of friends who want to give back to our community.

[cue Full House cheezy music] …what started as a dream, a vision, a “what if”, is now more than just a reality! It’s a powerful truth that has affirmed our belief that it’s important to have passion, patience and to dream big! If you want to read more, I’ve blogged about it before here: 5 I’ve learned about planning a benefit party and here: photos + video from last year’s party. AND if you’re in the KC area, come to the party December 10th. You can purchase tickets online at www.kcsweaterparty.com.

One of our goals with this event is to affect positive change in our community right here in Kansas City. I still get chills thinking about how much of an impact we’ve already made. I also get excited and extremely motivated knowing how much more we can accomplish!

SHOUT-OUTS AND BIG THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED MAKE THIS MOVIE TRAILER!!!!!

Clay Mason
Scott Aripoli
Megan Gilson
Ali Hatfield
Lisa Burnham
Briana McAtee
Ben Mantooth
Lindsay Phillips
Ivan Mcclellan
Brian Dennis
Ginny Bauer
Amanda Dinkel
Michael McGrade
Erin Malashock
Katie McCurry
Matt Curtright
Kathryn Holmboe
Lyndsay Rush
Lauren Debiak

Here’s a couple photos I took with my point-n-shoot Canon S95 at the annual Country Club Plaza “flip-switch” ceremony. Some people think it’s silly that a bunch of people get together in the cold just to watch Christmas lights be turned on. I think it’s a fantastic Kansas City family tradition and a great activity to do after Thanksgiving dinner every year!

On a sunny day this summer, I was playing a round of golf with friends I’ve known for years. On about the 4th or 5th hole, one of my friends turned and looked at me and said, “I’m surprised you’re not video blogging this! Where is your camera at!?!” I smiled real big, and then said to him, “Believe it or not, I don’t actually video blog everything.” And it’s the truth. While I enjoy capturing, communicating and sharing using social media tools, and being helpful …there’s a bigger point when it comes to technology.

We should never let technology take over experiencing every real life moment.

While these awesome devices like our iPhones and FlipVideos can do incredible things, it doesn’t mean we should always obsess over trying to capture everything all the time. Recently, I was reading blog post by Mitch Joel, in which he was discussing a different topic, email- and referring to it as a technology. He writes, “You have to learn how to control the technology. Do not let the technology control you.”

What a fantastic way to say it.

In my opinion, this means…

• Know when to put the iPhone down at dinner and just talk to the person in front of you.
• Don’t use your phone as a crutch or easy way out from having to strike up conversation with strangers in a public place.

Life isn’t meant to be experienced through a screen.

Now, I’m sure many of you are reading this thinking everything I’m saying here is hypocritical given it’s coming from me (and how ironic, given your reading this on my blog or Facebook right now). Fair enough. But I still mean it. And I make a conscious effort to know how to experience moments AND still satisfy my geek/nerd cravings with my tech gadgets. Am I perfect at it? Heck no. But I try very hard.

I’ve always said social media is most powerful when it is used to augment existing relationships or create real interactions with new people of like interests. The same statement is true for technology in general. It’s important to understand how to live in the moment and not get lost in the technology.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Now put away your phone, iPad and computer and go talk to your mother in-law

**UPDATE**
Some of my readers have pointed me to some fantastic blog posts and articles about this topic:

1.) Chris Brogan blogs and shares, “If you’re looking at your phone and not me, you’re saying, “You’re not as important as these people who aren’t here with us right now.” If you’re checking your phone while we’re talking, you’re saying, “I really don’t care what you’re talking about.” [more here]

2.) NPR posted a fantastic article/POV on, The iPhone I Can’t Keep In My Pants. Dave Pell writes, “I captured some digital snapshots, but missed the moment. We walk around with what seems like infinite access in our pockets and yet we often experience our lives through two-inch screens.” [more here]

3.) TechCrunch published a good piece on checking your phone at dinner.

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Someone in my neighborhood has this …i want it! (iPhone 4 video blog! sorry it’s really dark)

These are the apps I’m rocking on my iPad home screen right now. Any tips for others I should check out? What’s your favorite?

Perhaps you’ve seen the elevendy-seven-and-five posts I’ve made on Facebook and Twitter about The Ugly Christmas Sweater Party. Ever wonder why do I do this? Why is it 14 of my friends and I volunteer countless hours to do this?

Why you ask?

It’s better to phrase it as …why not?

Why not dedicate our free time for just 1 night and 1 party? We get that everyone is busy in their day-to-day lives and working hard, but why not sacrifice some of our free time to plan this 1 thing a year.

It’s our way to give back…
…right here in our community.

If we can’t dedicate the time to be at Operation Breakthrough helping the kids and families every single day…

…why not do this 1 thing?

It’s our way of providing 1 opportunity that is easy for everyone to get involved and give back. Why not use the talent we have, the resources and business and friend connections to do this 1 great thing for our community? Why not ask our families and friends to help (because we so greatly believe in this) if they can?

The awareness and funds we raise for this event, have a direct effect on something we can see, right here in Kansas City. There’s no questions about what or who we’re helping. It’s in front of us. (BTW, if you don’t know what Operation Breakthrough is, take 5-minutes and watch this, it’s worth your time i promise).

This event started in the basement of our house and we still have no budget. But that hasn’t stopped us. We are determined to make our mark, and this is our terms in how we’re making it happen.

The phrase “why not”, encompasses the attitude and demeanor in which we go about planning this party. Even from the beginning, my friends and I have always dreamed big. We still do. And it’s that type of dedication + attitude that has made it successful.

There’s a lot of people out there that sincerely want to do good in this world, they just don’t haven’t had the right opportunity to do it. This is *that* opportunity for us and everyone in our community. This is how we are making a difference.

• Please join us on December 10th @Tower Tavern, tickets are on sale now.

And if you can’t …you can always just make a donation (for any amount) on this page (scroll down the part that says, “I cannot attend but would like to contribute the following amount”).

One thing is for certain, the best has yet to come. We’re just getting started.
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A few weeks ago, two of my closest friends that I’ve known since college got married. They asked me to take some photos at their rehearsal dinner. These 2 shots are some of my favorites I took from the set.

I wanted to make a quick video blog to spread the word about this year’s Ugly Christmas Sweater Party. So, I followed my own 4:1 rule, with the goal to create a short ‘n simple + [re]markable, piece of content promoting “tickets are now on sale”. Sure I could have just filmed myself standing in front of the camera, talking about the party …but that’s no fun! So this video blog what I came up with:

For my long-time blog readers (all 4 of you) you probably already know what the Ugly Christmas Sweater Party is, and why it means so much to me. Every year, I block off most of my free time in the months of October, November and December to plan this party with my friends. If you don’t know about this benefit even my friends and I started, here’s the short’ish story of how it got started:

The Ugly Christmas Sweater Party began in 2005 as a small holiday gathering here in Kansas City. While cleaning up in 2007, we decided to turn all of our hard work in to good for others, and raise money for a charity, Operation Breakthrough. O.B. is a local organization dedicated to helping children living in poverty in the Kansas City area. Founded in 1971, O.B. helps over 600 children everyday and strives to support the families of children through advocacy, referral services and emergency aid.

In 2 short years, with literally no budget or funding, we’ve thrown two sold-out parties and raised over $25,000 (and we’ve received press coverage in almost every major local publication). Myself and my friends dedicate time each year to plan this party. We aren’t affiliated with any one organization – we’re just a group of friends who want to give back to our community. Our vision for the Ugly Christmas Sweater Party is to make it the biggest and best annual holiday fundraiser in Kansas City! You can buy tickets for this year’s December 10th party at www.kcsweaterparty.com.

Over the past few months, I’ve been fortunate enough to meet, talk to and even work with some amazing people who are incredible leaders. CEOs, business owners, VPs, moms, dads, creative designers …successful people that inspire me.

In this time, I’ve noticed + learned 3 common traits that all these people share, that make them great leaders.

1.) Great leaders are incredible storytellers.
The ability to captivate an entire room when they speak comes naturally. They command your attention 1-on-1, in personal conversations. It’s having the ability to take any topic or subject and tell a great story. Whether they are talking about what they did this weekend, or a project or new idea they have, leaders have the ability to structure a great story out of anything. Often, they can make you feel like they’re talking directly to you (and not addressing a big group). It’s powerful. And great leaders do this well.

I’ve also noticed, the best storytellers speak with passion. People can’t help but listen when you speak with passion. There is authenticity. It’s believable. There is a difference. And people can tell.

2.) …they remember everyone, including *your* name.
Often people dismiss that fact that they’re too busy or they meet too many people to remember everyone. I think that’s rubbish. One of the best character traits a great leader can have, is just to remember people’s names. While it’s simple to say, but hard to do, there’s no denying that it’s impressive when a person just remembers who you are, even if they’ve only met you once.

3.) No classical training is required.
I’m always curious to find out the background of great leaders and “how they got there”. 9 times out of 10, I’ve noticed the most successful people are not classically trained. They didn’t go to Harvard or Yale. They may not even have an MBA or advanced education at all. No book or six sigma formula was followed to get them to where they are. More often than not, great leaders just make things happen for themselves. Often they go against the norms. And at some point in their life (or many), they took a big risk to try something …and it paid off.

When I was growing up, my dad taught me that I should always be open to learning new things. No matter who you are, what you’ve accomplished or experienced …everyone and everything can teach you something.

I haven’t forgot that advice from my dad. Every morning I wake up anxious to start my day more motivated than the next. I’m determined to make my mark.

So what do you think makes a great leader?

What have you’ve observed?

Any advice you have to share?

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This is what our street in my neighborhood looks like right now (i took this picture). Gorgeous, don’t you think? Fall rocks.

What if …you had no Facebook page?

What if …you had no Twitter account?

What if …you focused on just creating great product(s)?

What if …you just used traditional advertising like TV and print to promote your products?

What if …you focused on creating a great website to sell your product(s)?

You would have:

So is social media the answer?

No.

…it can extend and facilitate …but it doesn’t replace. Mitch Joel agrees with me.

What do you think?

The comments are yours.

Last week I had the privilege of presenting to the entire Social Media Club of Kansas City. I shared the story of how myself and my friends took a homegrown, no-budget benefit party from a just dream + an idea …to reality + success. In just 2 years, we’ve thrown two sold-out parties and raised over $25,000 for our favorite local charity, Operation Breakthrough. Myself and my friends dedicate time each year to plan this party. We aren’t affiliated with any one organization – we’re just a group of friends who want to give back to our community.

Below is a video of the presentation I gave that was recorded and live-streamed. In the preso, I discussed how our event is social-media-fueled, and our efforts in promoting the party are purely digital. I also share “stupid simple tips” and lessons that we’ve learned.

I’m still pinching myself, thinking about how much we’ve already accomplished in giving back to Kansas City + Operation Breakthrough. However, the one thing I know is true …the best has yet to come.

…annnnnnd I hope you can make it this year. You are invited.
The party is on December 10th! You can buy tickets online now! (buy soon, it sells out every year!)

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Halloween is one of my favorite holiday’s of the year. I think you’re never too old to get dressed up in a costume for Halloween, and make a complete idiot of yourself! My costume this year didn’t top previous year’s legendary costumes …like cutting my hair to look like Kanye West or building a helicopter hat to look like Inspector Gadget. BUT, I still had fun with it. This year, I decided to be the YouTube viral -slash- TV commercial sensation, the “Old Spice guy”. I also posted the full set of photos from the Halloween party I went to this year to flickr.