This year I knew I wanted to get Alex a train set. Every time we drive over the tracks, he looks both ways hoping to catch a glimpse of those metal beasts barreling down toward us. Trains are his favorite things in the world, at the moment.
But money was tight this year. And I thought I would have to get really creative to figure out how to get him a good train set. But sometimes things just work out best if you don’t worry about them.
A month before Christmas my neighbor walked over nonchalantly carrying a big plastic box. He said his kids were done with their Brio brand electric train set. (Brio Trains are built and designed in Sweden - the engines are made of metal and feature a tiny automatic transmission and powerful electric motor. The tracks are made of wood and are perfectly designed for a two year old’s hands).
Sometimes I just stand back in amazement at the timing and providence of our Heavenly Father.. This was a gift directly from His hands (through my neighbor), which I passed on to my son. It’s almost as if the Lord is saying “Don’t worry about these things. I’ve got your back, I’ll provide everything you need, if you just trust me.”
I used to hate the word “marketing.” This was because I misunderstood what marketing is. I have now come to realize that good marketing is actually putting others above yourself, and trying to see things from “their” perspective.
Good marketing is not a list of overblown features, a slick tagline, or a flashy presentation.
Good marketing is identifying ways you can interact meaningfully with people to solve problems, add to their lives, even bring them closer to God.
Controversial question for the day - was Jesus a good marketer?
Derek Sivers, founder of CD Baby, is now developing some sort of network that will connect musicians with people who can help musicians. The details are hazy at this point, but it sounds like a another good idea.
Most artists want to make music. Writing, rehearsing, gigging, recording. Those activities add up to more than a full time job. But in this day and age, all of those activities aren’t nearly enough. Musicians have to think about marketing, distribution, replication, websites, MySpace, Facebook, touring, etc, on TOP of the usual music creation process.
So I’m looking forward to Derek’s new project, dubbed Muckwork. Either as a client or as a service provider. Or both.
BTW, Derek, has visited this here site! Extremely exciting. Leave a comment below his, and help him feel at home here… See Derek’s short but sweet comment.
Do you ever wonder “How did we get here?” I ask that question a lot about church.I wonder, “Why do we gather in a large building each Sunday and file into seats, and sit, stand, and greet each other in an orchestrated production called a worship service?How did we get here?”
The song “Speak To Us” really explores this question.It asks “do we remember why we do church?”Is it about religious tradition, or is it about a true story and a real person that all of us can get caught up in, and become part of…
Here’s a cheap way to turn a cheap but sturdy computer desk into a great place to park a keyboard for your home studio.
Using a metal saw of some nature, cleave through the main legs of said computer desk. Cut near the middle of the height of the legs, for maximum adjustability.
Drill holes at different heights through both pieces of the legs you just cut in half.
Purchase 4 sets of bolts and thumbscrews from local hardware store. (under $2.00!)
Thumbscrew the two pieces together. You now have an adjustable height keyboard stand!
Remove keyboard tray as it now annoyingly bumps the knees and legs.
Voila! Cover the sawed edges of the sheet metal with something so your kid doesn’t slice his little fingers open! I used rubber weather proofing that fit perfectly over the cut edges. You could use electrical tape if you’re even cheaper than I am…
