1. A catchy title.
2. Actual content.
3. Links!

Sorry for the bait and switch. What's really going on is that my brain is shot, and I have nothing of real interest to write, but I am challenging myself to be more persistent with posting on the blog, and sharing things.

Here's the deal: I spend all day working on creating content, messaging, blog posts, tweets, graphic designs, videos, and more, for clients, and when I get home, the last thing I want to do is try to write more blog posts. It's challenging. And then I think to myself, "You're just being lazy. Seriously, what's wrong with you!"

The truth of social media is that there is no secret formula for blogging success. It's true. There are some great practices out there, like what HootSuite posted today.

Many experts will convince you if you follow their rules that you will succeed. This is the internet. There are no rules that are set in stone. There really aren't any rules to what you should and shouldn't do with blogging.

What are some good suggestions? 

1. Be consistent. Success in social media is a marathon, not a sprint. The viral videos you see, or the content that gets' millions of shares, are not the first thing someone posted. Nor will it be the last.

2. Be topical. Don't create a blog that talks about fashion, Python coding and Ornithology all together (though that would be pretty cool if you could pull it off). Stick to something that's a passion, and rock and roll!

3. There are no rules. That's the beauty of where we are now in time. Twitter just released the ability to have gifs in tweets. Yesterday you couldn't do that. Now there's a whole new way to engage with people via twitter, and there are going to be some people who do a fantastic job with it.

There we go, I put out a post, and started by complaining about how I didn't want to!

 What do you think about this post? What suggestions do you have? What do you do to reach your communities around you online?

Here's a quick video that I put together looking at the first week with our new baby girl, Evangeline. I hope you enjoy it!

Something incredible happened today, and it is a sign of greater things to come for our country, our future of innovation, and my hope, for our future. Tesla Motors today released all their patents to the wild. All of them. If you want to build an electric car, you now can find out how Tesla does it.

While there might be some detractors to this action, I see this as an amazing first step towards making greater leaps in innovation, and it gives me great hope for our future. I chose the logos for the image on this post to showcase some of the greatest companies who utilize the Open Source culture, and this culture will lead the revolution.

Before listing the 3 reasons why the future must be open sourced, let's reframe how we think about things real quick. Tesla had to fight in court to be able to do something so simple: sell their products directly to consumers. There has been such an established culture of how cars "should" be sold, and here comes a company that threw that assumption right out of the window. Apple does it. Trader Joes sells directly to you. Farmers Markets, restaurants, clothing brands, and so many more, sell directly to you.

And let's not fool ourselves that they are going to "give away the farm" with doing this action. I can pick up a cookbook at the store, and find out how a famous chef cooks their dishes, and I might even be able to master the recipe. But I am in no way going to threaten their career or income if I were to open another restaurant. It creates that great competition that we want to see in a free market.

With what Tesla did, it will challenge them to stay at the top of their game if/when competition comes to the market, and we all benefit from this competition creating better products.

If you're still not convinced that Open Source culture is something that can thrive, look at tech companies that work on the server side of things. In 2013, a report came out that 83% of the servers in the world are running Linux, an Open Source programming language. This market share is not owned by one company, but by many who utilize Linux as their backbone to creating their own unique products and services.

So without further ado, here are 3 solid reasons why the future must be open sourced:


1. No more patent trolls. 

If more companies take Tesla's stand on patents, the trolls have nothing to fight. If more technology patents become public domain, think about how much money would be saved in the judicial proceedings that plague companies. Patent trolls hurt the startup culture, and the threat of court fees causes most to settle out of court, and continues to fuel patent trolls and their livelihood.

2. We all benefit.

As I alluded to before, when more patents are released to the public, it allows more people to innovate and create. It allows entrepreneurs to create more jobs, opportunities, and the consumer benefits with more choice and (hopefully) better products. Software is the best way to look at the benefits. I use Firefox as my browser, which has always been open sourced. I utilize Android products, built with Linux. You have entire OS's for your computer with programs that cost you nothing (Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Elementary, and so many more).

3. So much of our world is already "open sourced."

We've walked around with such wild assumptions on how things are supposed to be, that when someone/something comes along challenging that, it rocks our world. Look at Uber and Lyft. What's stopping you from using your own vehicle as a taxi service? Take a peek at AirBNB. What's wrong with offering one of your rooms as a "hotel room" for a night? Cookbooks are open source. I can buy a book that teaches me how to build a home, how to run a business, and build a website.

Patents should benefit the creator to recognize their work, and that was their intent when created. Yet when we find patents stifling industries (like when Apple tried to sue anyone with a "slide to unlock" feature on a smartphone) we need to rethink their use. Is there harm in having patents live in the public domain, and still recognize who created it?

The future belongs to the Open Source culture, because we are stronger working together, than working separately.

Google buys Songza. Apple buys Beats. Facebook buys Oculus. The internet of things is a growing world, and connectivity is no more a question of "Who's connected?" but rather "Where are you connected?"

Google Glass is now out of the box, and open for any US resident to purchase (for a mere $1500), and brings the wearables revolution to the masses. With Oculus Rift being purchased by Facebook, and Sony pushing it's own Virtual Reality set out to the forefront, VR is shaping up to be a new frontier of connecting.

So what does this mean for Social Media? What will it look like in a year from now?

I can see the future of Social Media going in two very distinct, and different directions; one of optimism, and one direction of cynicism.

Optimistically, I see Social Media becoming invisible in the next year. As we become more connected, and the work of Microsoft, Apple, Google and (notably Canonical) further the convergence between mobile and desktop platforms, Social Media will become so ingrained into the software we use, it will become "invisible."

 And this could be a great thing. I look at defining Social Media as, "Any electronic communication between people, communities and businesses." I know this is very broad, and when Social Media becomes invisible, and so integrated into our software/devices/daily lives, we become more involved in the content, messaging and meaning, versus the design (though design always matters, IMO) or other factors. Hopefully, with this type of convergence as well, time won't be wasted on making sure your friends are all on the same platform (WhatsApp/Viber/Voxx/and more). You can just connect, and communicate.

On the flip side to all of this, my cynicism leads me to see another possible outcome that does the consumer no good: An ecosystem battle. As all these purchases of smaller companies and start ups are being assimilated to the big guns (Facebook, Google, Apple), the walls might be built up higher and higher, and if you are not using one of their devices, you can't access their service.

In a year, this might be our future, either way. The thing I find most exciting, is that the future is up to us. We have seen a history of people joining forces to shape the way technology moves, and the restrictions and freedoms they deserve. SOPA never saw the light of day. Net Neutrality is not lost yet, in large part to those who have banded together for the greater good.

I have hope for the future, and we are completely in control of how that future looks.

I went out for a cup of coffee at my local Starbucks today (I might make a few too many trips as a father to a newborn). Service was fantastic, the coffee was stimulating, and all was right with the world.

Until I handed over my card to pay.

What I saw unfold was something of pure silliness. What made it even more absurd, is that no one seemed to even notice what was going on.

When my card was swiped, the point-of-sale system spit out a receipt (or something of record of transaction, I didn't see what was printed). This was promptly thrown away by the cashier, into a trash can that was placed next to her, brimming with receipts. The second copy was for me to sign, and while I was signing this, two more receipts were printed by the machine, and promptly thrown away.

That means for every transaction, there are 3 receipts thrown away for every 1 that is kept for records. To me, this is something that's broken.

Seth Godin did a fantastic talk back in 2006, about recognizing broken things, and I'll post the video below. When you see someone throw away 3 pieces of paper, and save 1, and that's just my cup of coffee, the math adds up fast of all the Starbucks around the world and the massive waste that's accumulated.

How would this get fixed? Could a strategic partnership with something like Square be right? I won't make any assumptions on their financial motivations, but this did get me thinking of how we observe things, and so often miss things that are right in front of us.

When you go around your day today, what do you see as broken? Enjoy the talk below!



Seth Godin at Gel 2006 from Gel Conference on Vimeo    

My wife and I recently had our first child, and you might expect me to say something about sleep, I couldn't be more excited and running off of pure joy and adrenaline this week!

Something truly miraculous happened when I heard our baby girl emerge into the world; I have tried to figure out how to put some of the emotions and feelings that I have had the last week into words, and it just escapes me. There truly hasn't been anything like this that I have experienced before!

No matter what anyone told me before this baby girl arrived, no matter what book I read before hand, nothing (and I mean NOTHING) prepares you for the emotional, joy-filled, amazement you experience with a baby. I totally understand now why people post thousands of photos of their kids on social media (I am restraining myself to no more than one every other day!). My brother-in-law's girlfriend said the most amazing thing about this phenomenon:

New baby's are like a beautiful sunset. You want to take a picture of every moment, because each moment is a picture of beauty that is constantly changing.

So here are three things that I have learned in this short time as a father, and hope you have been able to experience these as well!

1. Everything Changes.
My whole view of the world has shifted just a little bit over the last week, and for the good. My wife (amid sobs over a dumb commercial that got us both crying) said the most profound thing: "The world is so much bigger and more beautiful now that we have a baby."

It's true. You start seeing everything a little differently around you. The sun is really shining a little brighter. The world is almost "new" to you, as you prepare yourself mentally to introduce this little, perfect human to it. It's incredible!

2. Unknown Emotions.
 I have no problems admitting this, but I have cried (from pure joy) more in this first week, than I have my whole life combined. I'm not a crier. I got a little teary when I married my wife. But crying just hasn't been something that I do a lot of. 

You would think that I've completely lost it, but looking at this baby in my arms, and I am so amazed, happy, joyful, and more emotions than I can express. I'm sure that there is some published scientific journal talking about this effect that men experience. All I can say is that I have experienced emotions that I have never felt before. 

3. The World Is Bigger and More Beautiful.
I can't wait to introduce my daughter to the world, and that's making me see how big, beautiful and amazing the world is! I know that there's a lot of horrible things that happen every day, but you see the possibilities with this new baby next to you, and the pure wonderment that is life, and it changes you.

This baby has seriously softened my heart more than I thought possible. I feel more relaxed with others, and more laid back with dealing with others. It changes how you deal with people that might have annoyed you before, and now it's not as big of a deal.


This might all go away in a month, year, whatever. But for now, I wanted to remember how the joy of new life in our house has made me feel, and learn a few things. It's just awesome! Incredible! Amazing! 

I don't think I've written anything specifically about faith on my blog here. That isn't/wasn't the purpose of why I started this (and occasionally remember to write in it). I just had an interesting encounter with a street preacher, here in Rochester, MN, of all places.

No, I didn't have a confrontation, or exchanged words at all, but just the presence of a street preacher shouting to no one in particular, and no one paying attention for that matter, depressed me. Shamed me. No, embarrassed me is the right phrase.

I am a Christ-Follower. A Christian. Went to school and got a degree in Youth Ministry and Bible. Don't run away, please! The reason for this "confession" is to illustrate my encounter. Why does it embarrass me to see this street preacher?

It comes back to Matthew 22 for me. This (verse 34-37) is where Jesus was approached by a Pharisee, an expert in the Law of Moses, asked him what the greatest Commandment was, in his opinion. Was it a trick question? Were they testing his verse memory skills? Regardless, he said:

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.^' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

When I first read this verse, I glazed over it. Second time too. It took me years to finally get this. Here is Jesus Christ, Son of God, God Incarnate, Holy Trinity, telling us that the entire Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments!

So I see this street preacher, trying to "spread" the gospel with shouts of condemnation and empty words, and think about the words of Christ. We in the church get really hung up on some really ridiculous issues, like "godly" musical instruments, whatever pop culture fad is happening, and so many more trivial issues.

Should I judge this guy, who in his view, is doing the "good work" of the gospel? I want to. I want to think he's an idiot, and wasting his time. But then I'm not loving him as myself, and I feel bad for this guy. I feel bad that if I even approached him in love, it would be viewed as an attack that would validate his worldview (there's a weird victim mentality of those looking for validation of their faith, John 15:18-25).

Don't get me wrong, I have opinions on a lot of things, through the lens of my faith, and scripture, that guide me on my conduct, lifestyle, and soon, parenting. But I admit that these are my own contrived opinions, and I could be wrong. Is Calvin right? Arminius? Does it matter? Where would be a hill to die on for my faith? Definitely not on which hymns are sung, or whatever.

I would draw the line in the sand with my faith on these two commandment Christ spoke on. That's really where it's at, in my opinion. I won't kid anyone, I am nowhere near mastering these two simple commands. Maybe when I get to that day that I do master them, I can move on to figuring out deeper spiritual quests. Maybe.