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Start Something That Matters: a Review and a Chance to Win
“Love your work, work for what you love, and change the world–All at the same time.” -Opening quote from Start Something That Matters written by Founder of TOMS, Blake Mycoskie.
Little excites me more than a good book. I can get lost in the story, the characters, and the imagery the author weaves throughout the pages. And while Start Something That Matters is not as much of a story as it is a guidebook, I fell in love with the book from the first page. I had to be careful where I read it as so many of the stories told by author and founder, Blake Mycoskie brought me to tears. Perhaps I am a little overly sensitive, but there is just something about reading page after page of ordinary people achieving extraordinary things that is inspiring and emotion-provoking. My initial review of the book-finish reading my post and then go buy yourself a copy. It’s worth it. No matter what you do, no matter where you work, or what dreams you have, the practical principles in the book are worth the cost of the book. And you will be giving a book to child somewhere else, so what other reason do you need? Well, in case that was not convincing enough, I will give you a few more reasons I think you should snag yourself a copy.
First, the stories. Maybe you know a little about how TOMS was founded, but my passion for TOMS was increased after reading Blake’s side of the story. And how about the stories behind how Method brand products, Falling Whistles, or charity:water started? Most often we get this idea in our head that these organizations were founded by super-heroes and that there is nothing that I, an average person, can do. Not true. Those companies were all started by average people with dreams beyond the status quo. The stories were inspiring. As was the challenge-find your story. And in keeping with the practical side of the book, there are steps laid out on how to do just that. How do you find your story? Your message in the midst of the many out there? How do you distinguish your idea as a movement, as a mission, as something other people should become a part of? Those are just some of the things addressed in the first several chapters of the book.
Second, the challenge. I love how Mycoskie refuses to sugar coat things. He does not simply write an inspiring book that is full of all the successes and positives. He digs deep and challenges you to face the fears and shares the mistakes and failures that came at the beginning. He shares his own fear and insecurity as well as that of many other business leaders. The book takes you on a journey and does not leave you with the impression that it will be easy or smooth, but with the impression that it is possible. That I believe is a much better outcome. When I finished the last page, I had the confidence to believe I could pursue something that matters. I also had a clear picture of the reality of the challenges that would be ahead and the courage I would need to push through the fear and the feelings of failure.
Lastly, the resources. I believe most of us are under the impression that we must have an enormous amount of capital and resources to start something. Mycoskie challenges this idea by explaining how carefully they conserved resources and giving very practical ideas of ways to save money at the beginning. In addition, there are pages of free or nearly resources available to everyone starting out. I had not heard of most of the items on the list and highlighted and book marked the pages to continually come back to. The book is full of advice and strategies from other entrepreneurs that added value to the practicality of the book.
Overall, I would highly recommend the book. Even if you do not ever plan on starting your own company, the tools in the book are easily applied to whatever you are doing. I think the value of the book is that not only does it tell a story, but it inspires its readers to tell their stories. And not just to tell your story, but to practically turn that story into something bigger, something that matters. It’s a book you close out not only feeling inspired, but feeling equipped to start. That in my opinion makes it an excellent read.
Now its your turn. I want you to read it. And I am going to make it easy for you because I have a brand new copy of the book to give away! I will even cover the shipping! All you have to do is simply comment on this post an answer to the following question:
If you could listen to anyone’s story of how they got where they are, who would it be and why?
I will tell you my answer. It would be Tom Davis, founder of Children’s Hope Chest because I admire what he has done for the orphan and the widow around the world, and he works closely with Swaziland-a country near to my heart.
Now its your turn. I will give you guys until December 2nd, 2011 at midnight to answer and then I will pick a winner. After that, I expect the rest of you to get your own copy of the book and read it! Good Luck!
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Audacious Faith
Audacious: adjective 1.extremely bold or daring; recklessly brave; fearless 2.extremely original; without restriction to prior ideas; highly inventive 3.recklessly bold in defiance of convention, propriety, law, or the like; insolent; brazen. 4.lively; unrestrained; uninhibited
A few years ago I made two decisions. One of them was a conscious, well-thought out decision. Simply put, I was going to live life to its absolute fullest, face my fears, and throw caution to the wind. The second, I believe was more of a subconscious determination. I was going to make sure I never had to worry about my finances. Even if this meant working multiple jobs, which it normally did. Those two decisions came from the same place-high school. After another job loss and another period of uncertainty about how far the money was going to go, I decided in my heart I did not ever want to experience this again. Sure, I trusted God, but I was not sure I could handle the continued stress of trusting Him over my finances. And since I spent a lot of high school feeling like I was always stuck in the shadows, I was determined to change this upon graduation. Well, 6 years later, I have accomplished the two quite nicely. I worked several jobs all through college and have honestly never really worried much about money-I always had enough to live a crazy fun life. I have traveled the world, finished a triathlon, a half-marathon, and too many other races to name, jumped out of a plane, and worked summer jobs that were way too much fun to be considered jobs.
Then, in May, I moved home from my tropical island and shortly thereafter took a job back in Evansville to pursue my dream of going to graduate school. Initially, things were ok. But the past two weeks have been a constant back and forth of stress and tears over how I was going to pay for all the bills I suddenly have. Apartment rent, insurance, and utilities are not exactly cheap. Thus, I started to look for a second job. Actually, it would be job #3 as I am already working occasionally at the mall. I found one. It would have fit pretty perfectly in my schedule aside from meaning I would have to give up two nights of sleep a week, but when push comes to shove, I am a pretty motivated and determined person. The extra money would have left me a nice cushion each month and left me essentially worry free. Until a conversation with a friend stopped me dead in my tracks.
Phil 4:19 says, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Matt 6:35 says, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”
Phil 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Isaiah 58:10-11 say, “10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
11 The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail. “
That’s when it hit me. Working multiple jobs has always been my plan. Somewhere along the road, I decided that I was going to safe-guard my life so that I did not have to be anxious over my finances. I am not rich by any means. I do not have excess, but I have always had plenty. Ironically, in my small group we have been studying a book called Sun Stand Still. I highly recommend it and will probably blog more about it later when we finish. The premise of the book is living by audacious faith-the kind that allows you to pray prayers asking for the sun to stand still. Go back up and read the definition of audacious. I like the idea of living extremely original and fearless-audacious. But beyond that, I came to the conclusion that I had no problem living an audacious life in the here and now, but when it came to trusting in God, audacious is probably the exact opposite of the word I would use. My answer, get a second job, which while doable would probably not have been enjoyable. God’s answer, trust Him because at the end of the day, I am most happy when I am serving and giving.
Thus, things will be tight. Extremely tight. I will have to be disciplined and careful, but I do not have to be anxious. While God does move mountains, I also strongly believe He can provide for a hair cut or an electric bill to be paid if those are currently the pressing needs. I can point to time and time again He has done just that in my life. So I turned down the job and took perhaps one of the first true steps of faith I have taken in a long time. I am giving up the fear, the worry, the anxiety in return for peace, faith, and an ultimate trust based in the faithfulness of a Savior that does not fail. Perhaps the world may say this is not the smartest move. I am not even sure it is, but faith often defies logic.
This is my audacious move. What is yours?
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Like Yarn Unraveling…
I seem to go through writing spurts. Times when I feel like I could write everyday and times when I feel like I have nothing to say that even I would want to read. This has been one of those times when I pretty convinced even my mom would not want to read my writing, and she reads everything! So the question becomes- how do I get out of this slump? For today, I decided I would just write. I am not going to worry about writing a post that will attract multiple readers or even impress my mom, instead I am going to write. Because writing is my soul-food. It is my outlet. This blog is a corner of the world that is mine. It is my canvas, my therapist, and my anti-depressant. (Especially as the weather lately has been less than conducive for running) So here goes..
Life, I am convinced, is the greatest teacher. I have learned more from simply living life then I ever learned in my textbooks or from my professors. The day in, day out decision-making processes that direct our every move are often the greatest teachers. However, those day in, day out decisions can also be the source of the biggest mistakes and the deepest hurts. One simple conversation, one wrong yes or no, one misplaced affection and all of a sudden it feels as though life is spinning out of control and unraveling faster than you can roll up the yarn. Sadly, sometimes it is not even our fault, sometimes it is the result of another person’s wrong yes or no, their misplaced trust, or careless words. So what do you do? How do you pick up the pieces? And perhaps how do you even determine which pieces to pick up? I am convinced sometimes things are best left in the past. Sometimes the yarn is best left unraveled for now. And sometimes in those moments, we see life most clearly and learn the biggest lessons.
As I have spent the past few months processing and transitioning, I have surely made my fair share of mistakes. I have hurt people I did not mean to hurt and surely left a wave of careless words and perhaps poor decisions in the wake. The thing is, going from living on a 14×5 mile island to living in a city way bigger then that, in a state even bigger has left me feeling a bit lost and out-of-place. Perhaps even a bit voiceless. Sometimes I think my attempt to be heard, to be known, to be included got lost in translation. And in the midst, I have been left feeling lost in the translation. And in that I lost some of my footing, lost the solid ground on which I was so sure of two months ago. Lost the motivation, determination, and discretion that I usually hold so strong to. With any such feelings, there comes a point when action must be taken. When I have to stand up, dust off the dirt, and move forward. It may be easier to sit in the dirt and cry, but really all I am doing then is making mud. And mud doesn’t really do anyone any good.
Where do you start? I vote at the end of the yarn. Perhaps first you need to cut off some of it, but then with each step forward, each decision made, each lesson learned, slowly the yarn starts to become a shape. It starts to be more than a pile of yarn. It becomes the thread of our life. Because each mistake, each hurt, each season of feeling lost is not in vain. They build you, grow you, and bring wisdom with them that ensures next time, you will attempt to handle the situation differently. That next time you will go with your gut or pray harder or ask for counsel. I know that my season on my island has ended. And now a new season of a job, graduate school, and a settled life has begun. And each new season brings new challenges, new experiences, and new memories. Therefore, I will pick up the pieces that should be picked up, leave the ones behind that are better left in the past, and move forward where I am. It is all part of growing up and as I leave my early 20’s and enter my mid 20’s, I am learning that sometimes growth hurts and sometimes life spinning out of control can be the exact thing that brings everything back into focus.
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