Mental Post-Its

Thoughts, Notes, and General Mental Mayhem


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Answering the Question: What Do I Do?

hands-typingSince leaving my old job in May, I now frequently get asked what kind of work I do. So, I figured I’d take the time to spell it out here.

The gist is that I am a writer and consultant (mostly marketing and communications) for nonprofits, social justice organizations and social enterprises. I also do a little magazine writing, and hope to expand that soon. Now and again, I do other odds and ends upon request or for friends, but writing and consulting is really the core.

I particularly love partnering with small organizations. I’ve found that many of the people who run and are employed at those organizations do so because they have a heart for the work, but may not be strongly suited for the strategy when it comes to communications and marketing. This is where I come in. I have always loved helping small businesses grow, and being in on the ground floor to build them up. So, when I apply my skills to their needs, I can help them get their message out in a bigger and better way. And in working with those three types of businesses (nonprofits, social justice organizations and social enterprises), I am ensuring a greater success for the types of companies that I want to support personally and see thrive.

Here are a few examples of the work I’ve done so far, and an introduction to some of my fantastic clients:

  • Atlanta Dream Center: They protect and support the area’s most vulnerable populations, including the homeless, at-risk children and women who have been trafficked or prostituted. Among other things, I wrote many of the communications pieces for their annual benefit dinner, such as the website, save the date, invitation, newsletter announcement, press release and sponsor package. I also created a marketing plan that they can use to more effectively organize the event moving forward, and provides a comprehensive strategy for the who’s, why’s and how’s of the annual dinner. Additionally, I consulted on all aspects of the dinner, and was able to give marketing and communications insight they didn’t have before. All of this resulted in their most profitable fundraiser to date—by far! I have been a volunteer with them for the past three years, so I was beyond excited to see them surpass their goals, and for a new audience to become aware of their amazing work.
  • Habitat for Humanity: Ok, so you’ve probably heard their name before. They provide safe, affordable homes to individuals and families around the world. Habitat is a solution to the global housing crisis, and while I’ve always had great respect for the organization, it’s in overdrive now that I’ve learned so much more about them. We both celebrate the big 4-0 this year, so I’ve been rewriting some of their web pages as they prepare for a new digital online presence. And I’ve been able to work with a friend from college, so that’s been fun too.
  • Connect Faith: I started writing for this magazine several years ago when I was at Orange because the focus is Christian event planners, and I fit that mold at the time. So, it’s been a place where I could use the knowledge from that job to help educate and inspire others in that field. I also attend a lot of Christian conferences, as you already know if you’ve read this blog much at all, so I could share the things I was learning with a larger audience. They are a great publication, and it’s been fun working with them. I hope to also be able to write for some of their other magazines soon. And, as I mentioned above, I hope to write for other publications as well before too long, particularly in the areas of social justice and travel.
  • Be the Bridge: This budding organization utilizes resources and conversations to further racial reconciliation. They believe that the Church must become a bigger answer to this issue, and are equipping people to host racially diverse small groups that create open lines of communication.  We should not be having the “race conversation” as only white people or only black people, but as friends and Christians. My friend, Latasha, started this organization because she was willing to have the awkward, but necessary conversations, and build bridges that foster healing. It’s important and timely work. They just held their launch parties here in Atlanta a few weeks ago, so I assisted in strategy and communications, and also did live Tweeting, Instagram and Facebook during the two inaugural events.
  • Dr. Bombay’s and The Learning Tea: This darling little tea shop in Atlanta’s Candler Park neighborhood funds “life scholarships” for girls in India. With these funds, girls can go to college, have a safe place to live, and have all their basic needs provided for. And her chai tea is my absolute favorite! I was introduced to Katrell, the owner, in 2012, and we’ve been friends ever since. I even traveled with her to India in July 2015 to meet the girls! I provide ongoing communications and marketing consulting services for both organizations, as well as for her book, Tiger Heart.
  • Naeem Fazal: My friend, Kitti, collaborated with Naeem on his first book, Ex-Muslim. It’s really fascinating and funny and heart-warming, so check it out. She was unable to collaborate on his second book, so she recommended me. We’re just getting started on the book proposal, so we have a long way to go. But it’s been fun getting to know him. This project falls into more of the odds and ends category, but my friends who know I’m working on this ask me about it a lot. I guess books are just more interesting. 🙂
  • TrueNorth: I just started working with them, and I’m really excited about the work that they do! My friend, Anne, started this organization just a couple of years ago after working with women who had been trafficked and prostituted. She decided that she wanted to work more “upstream” to focus on more of the source and start of the issues, rather than toward the end when women had already been abused. I think that is a terrific strategy. So, she is creating resources and providing information to combat our sex-saturated culture. Porn is a huge issue now, which probably isn’t hard for you to understand. But did you know that kids as young as eight are now seeing pornographic images, and most porn is consumed while individuals are at work? Anne wants to get to the root of that issue, and also help remove some of the shame associated with these behaviors so that individuals, children and families can get the help and freedom they so desperately need, and can only be found in Jesus. She currently speaks about the issues, and is working on a book and Bible study, and will also soon be expanding into events. So, I’m assisting in the writing, strategy and execution of their year-end giving campaign. I can’t wait to see her work and presence in the community grow!

Hopefully now you have a better understanding of what I’m doing now that I’m a full-time entrepreneur. It’s been so fun to partner with these causes that I believe in, and to do different kinds of work that furthers good things in the world.

If you know of anyone that I can help in these ways, please reach out! (Website coming soon!)

PS: Don’t I have some amazing friends? I’m so proud of them, and blessed to be a part of their work.


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Catalyst Conference Notes & Quotes

catalyst-nametag-and-bookI believe this was my 12th year to attend Catalyst Conference here in Atlanta. It’s a great time of learning about Christian leadership, as well as seeing old friends. And, yet again, there were some great moments this year.

Andy Stanley, Senior Pastor of North Point Ministries

  • Jesus didn’t predict a place. He predicted a people. We are very different, but have Jesus in common. they were the same.
  • John 17:20 – that they may be one (which is uncommon fellowship = theme)
  • Disunity disrupts the mission.
  • John 12:34-35, final instructions
  • Unselfish love fuels uncommon fellowship.
  • Mutual submission is the most powerful dynamic in the world.
  • If we miss the love thing, it doesn’t matter what else we might get right.
  • Uncommon = uncomfortable
  • Acts 15 takes place 20 years after the resurrection, and they are still having trouble including Gentiles.
    • One of the most important chapters in the Bible for us to understand.
    • Oneness has to win the day.
    • Immorality tears down unity. Eating is a consideration
    • 600 laws were narrowed down to two so they could participate
    • Jesus sacrificed his life so you could have uncommon fellowship with God. – Romans 5-6

Mike Foster, Founder of People of the Second Chance

  • Just because you made a mistake doesn’t mean you are a mistake.
  • Being able to identify with someone is a powerful thing. “Me too” brings healing to brokenness.
  • We are not defined by our brokenness. We are defined by God’s unfailing love.
  • Romans 9:25

Jen and Brandon Hatmaker, Authors and Humanitarians

  • We have to be willing to go into the hard spaces.
  • We are either in this world for it, or so set apart that we have no voice.
  • I would like to spend less time defending my voice, and more time being like Jesus.
  • The work of justice is not easy. You will be criticized and it will cost you. But it’s worth it.
  • Many of us pray for the Kingdom over and over, but we aren’t willing to make Kingdom moves. – B
  • We need to move from defending God to declaring Hm. – B
  • We need to focus on being good neighbors, and love well. – J

Craig Groeschel, Founding Pastor of of Life Church

  • We have a common enemy, and it is not the church down the street.
  • John 17:20-23
  • We desperately need each other.
  • Unity is not uniformity.
  • We should err on the side of being “for” not “against.” Build your ministry on this.
  • We should give everything we are to strengthen others.
  • We all have something we can give.
  • Lead the way with irrational generosity.
  • We need to love like Jesus loved.
  • I believe the world is sick and tired of hearing about the love of Jesus. I believe they want to see it in action.

Father Edwin Leahy, Headmaster of St. Benedict’s Preparatory School

  • Give up what you want for what WE need.

Brian Houston, Senior Pastor of Hillsong Church

  • It should be an adventure living with, and serving, Jesus.
  • Spontaneity is our friend in the Church.
  • Innovation doesn’t come from sitting and pointing a finger.
  • Criticizing breaks down. Let’s build.
  • Predictability can also be a friend. Example, the word of God is timeless.

Brenda Salter McNeil, Director of Reconciliation Studies at Seattle Pacific University

  • Acts 10: 28-35
  • The Civil Rights movement was born in the Church. #BlackLivesMatter was born in the streets. Why won’t you let it into the Church?
  • We have got to reclaim the credibility of the Church for the next generation.
  • Black Lives Matter is a catalytic event that can be an opportunity for the Church.
  • Catalytic moments are a wake up call.
  • Catalytic events make us ask questions.
  • Look for your invitation into uncommon fellowship.
  • God takes our feeble attempts and uses them anyway.
  • What God wants from us, He wants for them.
  • Scarcity thinking builds walls.
  • God wants all people to flourish.
  • May the generation looking for leadership find it in the Church.

Scott Sauls, Senior Pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church*

  • The closer you get to the “other” the closer you’ll get to Jesus. This is a New Testament theme.
  • The hope of the universe rests on an Arabic man who was an outcast and never spoken English.
  • I am the minority Jesus included. (He’s white.)

Propaganda, Hip-Hop and Spoken Word Artist*

  • It’s hard for the dominant cultures to see themselves collectively, and the hurt of individuals you are different from them.
  • You can’t subjugate other image-bearers. to do so, you must assume they are less than human.
  • Implicit biases assumes you already know me without really knowing me.

Soong-Chan Rah, Professor of Church Growth and Evangelism, North Park Theological Seminary*

  • Colorblindness assumes equality is already at play.
  • Colorblindness removes our individuality. It reduces everyone to the majority.

Mark DeYmaz, Lead Pastor of Mosaic Church*

  • The statistics show us that whites are becoming the minority.
  • If there is no division in heave, why are we allowing it here on Earth?
  • Surely it breaks the heart of God that the Church is segregated by race and class.
  • Jesus had power, privilege and position…and He set it down.

Jenny Yang, Vice President of Advocacy and Policy at World Relief*

  • The conversation of race is really about power.
  • There is a lot of pain in the people of color cultures that churches aren’t necessarily addressing.
  • They aren’t just issues; they are individuals.
  • American comfort and prosperity in large has been built on the back of the marginalized and people of color who had no rights.
  • By welcoming the “other,” we are demonstrating the gospel.
  • Any time we pursue our own comfort and prosperity over the needs of others, we are doing a disservice to the gospel.
  • Charity removes relationship with those who make us feel uncomfortable.
  • When we talk about refugees, this isn’t a test of our politics. It’s about what we believe the gospel says.

Rachel Cruze, Daughter of Dave Ramsey

  • Quit the comparisons.
  • Being grateful squashes comparison.
  • The road of comparison leads to debt.
  • Debit limits generosity.
  • Where there is no margin, there is no ministry.

Simon Sinek, Best-Selling Author

  • Leadership is not about being in charge. It’s about taking care of those in your charge.
  • Time and energy are the most vulnerable things you can give to others.
  • Great leaders have empathy and perspective.
  • Patience is required for the journey.
  • We have an entire section in the book store on self help, but not a “help others” section.
  • Organization health always results in sustained impact.
  • In a healthy org, everyone is convinced that everyone is essential.
  • You begin becoming a great leader RIGHT NOW.
  • Why are we doing? Why are we doing it? Where do I fit in?
  • Everyone knows what THEY are doing but do they know what WE are doing?
    • When everyone knows what we are doing together, most decisions are pre-made.
    • Going through this process is sometimes more valuable than the product.
  • “Why” is the inspiration.
  • Memorable is portable.
  • How does what I do contribute to what we do?
    • This is about the responsibility you carry, not the work you perform.
    • Everyone at your org needs to know your answer.
    • Develop one sentence responsibility descriptions for your direct reports.

 

*These folks were all part of a panel. It was my favorite session in the main conference, and you can watch it right here.

And if you just want some fun moments and entertainment, you can watch Jon Crist’s videos…


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Catalyst Labs Notes & Quotes

catalyst-labs-tag-and-bookOnce again, I attended the annual Catalyst Conference two weeks ago here in Atlanta. My favorite day of the conference is Labs. It’s the day where you get to choose who you want to hear, and tailor the topics more to your interest. I was able to sit in on some great ones this year! Check it out…

Reggie Joiner, founder of Orange

  • When you establish a habit of showing up for others, it may change you more than it does them.
  • You may need to change the way you think about influence. It’s not necessarily success, power, authority, etc.
  • Influence has to be earned.
    • You have to keep showing up.
    • Don’t pass judgement. Press pause.
    • Empathy amplifies the truth. It doesn’t change it.
    • Pause to imagine or pause to interact.
  • When you open the door to Jesus, you ope the door to wherever He takes you.

IF:Gathering Lab 1 (Jo Saxon, Vivian Mabuni, Jennie Allen, Tasha Morrison)

  • Jesus sets our example for racial reconciliation.
  • People of other colors are not our tokens. They need to become friends.
  • John 17, we must be a credible witness – Tasha
  • Creating new laws and amendments are not the same thing as dismantling the system. – Tasha
  • It’s ok for you to listen to someone else’s pain, and not know what to say. But please listen. – Jo
  • It’s ok for you to hear someone else’s pain and not know what to say. But we need to listen. – Jo
  • The Church has been the taillights when it comes to racial reconciliation, when it should be the headlights. Aren’t we the ones who have HOPE through Jesus? – Tasha
  • If you are someone with a platform, maybe you should use it to pass the mic to someone else with more knowledge on this issue. I have a black son, but I do not know what it is to be black. – Jennie Allen
  • Always start with prayer. – Tasha
  • Get to know People of Color as people first. Change happens when we find commonality and develop real relationships. – Tasha
  • Diversify your life in small ways first. – Tasha
  • Reconciliation will cost you. It could be pride or comfort, or even your politics. It’s hard work. – Tasha
  • I can support the police while speaking up for justice. – Tasha
  • Get off social media, turn off the TV, and get some real-life People of Color friends! Don’t try to understand our culture from a media perspective. It’s often wrong. – Tasha

IF:Gathering Lab 2 (Jenni Allen, Lindsay Nobles, Tasha Morrison, Rebekah Lyons, Esther Havens, Liz Curtis Higgs)

  • Romans 12:4-6 Message, Christ’s body and its many parts
  • In each of our life stages, we feel at some point that we are drowning.
  • Guilt and shame are entirely different. Shame is not of God. Guilt needs to get our attention. And guilt is the only time a good, Christian girl can say, “Go to hell!” – Liz 😉
  • Many times we are so overwhelmed in our world, we stay confined there. When in fact, we should get perspective and distraction from other people’s world. We forget that we are all living someone else’s dream. Be grateful for where you are, and run with it. – Esther
  • Look up “Simply Christian” by NT Wright (permanence, proximity and presence)
  • We all need 3:00 a.m. friends. Be the one to lead with vulnerability. – Rebekah
  • Be brave in saying what you need.
  • Your vulnerability is one of the greatest gift you have to give. – Rebekah

IF:Gathering Lab 3 (Lindsay Nobles, Esther Havens, Tasha Morrison, Vivian Mabuni, Jennie Allen, Jo Saxon, Liz Curtis Higgs and Rebekah Lyons)

  • Don’t put the pressure on others to come to you. Go to them. If you are white, put yourself in a place locally where you are in the minority. Sit in it for a while. – Tasha
  • Joshua had to be told to be ‘strong and courageous.’ We all feel inadequate in the beginning of big dreams. – Jennie
  • We don’t have to be afraid of what God tells us to do because He has bigger and better plans ahead anyway. We just have to start down the path. – Liz
  • It’s better to proactively get counseling for a year than to wait and need it for 10. – Jo
  • Your platform is not a place to do your therapy. Go first as a good example, but do it in a good and responsible way. – Liz
  • What are the visuals that people see in your church? For example, are all your missions pictures of white people saving the poor, black people? What does this communicate to your children? – Jo
  • If you have a multi-ethnic or diverse church, it doesn’t mean that you’ve arrived. The issue of racial reconciliation isn’t a box to be checked. It’s an ongoing conversation. – Tasha
  • Your church needs to be a safe place for kids of all ethnicities. If it’s not, the children of color will take impressions, feelings, memories, comments and even micro aggressions into adulthood. I know I have, and so have my friends. The Church should be a place where all feel welcome and wanted. That is what the gospel is all about. – Tasha


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My Barcelona Itinerary

At Park Guell, overlooking Barcelona

Celebrating my 40th birthday had to be done in style. In fact, I thought it should fulfill a Bucket List item. I mean, it’s a milestone after all! So, I gave myself a trip to Spain! I’ve wanted to visit that country since I started taking Spanish in high school, and fell in love with the culture. Most of my time was spent in Barcelona, and it did not disappoint!

This was also my first solo international trip. I bought the ticket as an error fare, meaning the airline made a mistake on the price, and I had to book it quickly before they realized the mistake. So, I ended up with a ticket from New York to Barcelona for $250! This meant I could see friends in NYC on my way out of the country, and use miles to get to NYC and home from Barcelona. Not too bad!

The downside of booking a ticket in 10 minutes is that I really didn’t have time to invite anyone else. And if you’ve traveled by yourself at all, you know that there are both pros and cons. The plus side is that I got to travel at my own pace (fast and furious) and do what I wanted. Unfortunately, there was no one to share the trip with, and it’s more expensive. In the end, though, I’m so glad I did it. Big check marks in the Bucket List and birthday categories!

Here’s a quick look at my trip, in case you’re interested, or plan to visit Barcelona one day. (I definitely recommend it!)

Friday, September 2nd:

  • Arrived in New York! I was staying with some friends in Queens, and they have a beautiful new baby. So we just went to Astoria Park, and hung out on a beautiful afternoon. That evening, we went to one of their favorite neighborhoods by their house. A lovely, low-key day.

Saturday, September 3rd:

  • We headed to Smorgasburg for lunch! This is almost like a food festival, but it happens on a weekly basis. There were food stalls from over 100 vendors, and had pretty much everything you could think of. We had a sensational dark chocolate, caramel donut concoction as an appetizer, split three ways, and then I settled on Shanghai street food for my meal. Both were fantastic!
  • After this, we took the ferry to Long Island City, Queens, and walked along the water. They have built it up to be really beautiful, and of course, great views of Manhattan. Then we met up with some of their friends, and headed over to Long Island City Flea (LIC Flea), which some of you may have seen on the Flea Market Flip TV show. However, we got there mid-afternoon or so, and the crowd (and vendors) was pretty much gone. Still, a nice to place to sit and chat for a bit.
  • Side note: This was my first trip to New York City, and I’ve been many times, without visiting Manhattan. Who knew there was so much to do otherwise! It was a different kind of trip, but a great stop. And so nice to spend time with friends I don’t see often. A great start to my birthday week.
  • Then it was time for me to head to the airport for my overnight flight! One of the really interesting things about TAP Portugal airlines is that they allow you to bid on business class seats. So, I bid pretty low, and still ended up winning! This afforded me not only a business class seat on the plane (which was fantastic and had all the amenities), but it also came with lounge access. So, I waited for my plane in style. Probably the only time I’ll get to fly like that, but it was a fun way to begin my tip!

Sunday, September 4th:

  • Arrived late afternoon in Barcelona. I was staying near a major train stations, Sants, and was exhausted from all the travel. So, I just grabbed dinner in one of the train station restaurants, walked around for a little bit, and went to bed early—after catching some home improvement show dubbed in Spanish.

Monday, September 5th:

  • For my first full day in Barcelona, I did a half day guided panoramic bus and walking tour. We got a super quick overview of Barcelona and some of the major sites. Then we went on a cable car ride, which overlooked the city. After that, we stopped in the Spanish Village for about an hour to take in some of the history of Spain and see artisans in action. Finally, we took a walking tour of the Gothic Quarter, which was super old and interesting.
  • That evening, I a tapas evening walking tour of Barcelona. This was one of my highlights! The guide, Paloma, was very fun, and it was just a cool experience. I wanted to do this at the beginning of my trip because they teach you about the food culture, how to order, popular items, what to look for, how to navigate the markets, etc. And, of course, you get to taste different foods along the way, as well as have two sit-down meals. This tour was awesome.

Tuesday, September 6th:

  • Morning and afternoon were spent on a hop-on hop-off bus tour. I had debated doing this on the first day, but the timing with the tapas tour worked better this way. It almost pained me to do this in an old, elegant, European city like Barcelona, where I wouldn’t think twice about it in the U.S. But this was really the best way to get an overview of the city, as well as the lay of the land. I rode two of their three routes, so I went all over the city from top to bottom. And, of course, you have the headsets to get the history of the sites while you ride. This tour bus was also really nice because there was free wifi, and you also received a coupon book.
  • My late afternoon and early evening were occupied with a free Gaudi architecture walking tour. Gaudi is a favored son of Barcelona, and there are numerous tours that include his work (as well as the Gothic Quarter). I was not familiar with him before leaving, but everyone said his buildings would be some of the highlights. They weren’t wrong! His style was/is radical in so many ways, and it is heavily inspired by nature. It’s all very fun and whimsical, and he incorporates such amazing techniques for structure and stability that I’m surprised are not copied more. His most famous work, La Sagrada Familia, is a basilica that he had only started before he died, and is still under construction. He left plans for completion, and there is still MUCH work to be done. They hope to finish by 2026, the 100th anniversary of his death, but no one thinks it’ll actually happen. This was another terrific tour.

Wednesday, September 7th:

  • This day I’d set aside for a “three countries in one day” trip I found online. Only in Europe can you do something so wonderful! We took a small bus to a medieval town in Spain, called Baga, for breakfast. It was so charming! There we took a walk around, learned the history of the town, grabbed pastries and coffee, and took a million photos. From there we headed to France. We hit a bit of a snag with a breakdown that cost us about an hour. But the weather was amazing, and everyone was a good sport, so we just enjoyed getting to know each other. There were only about 20 of us on the day trip. Our guide, Carmello, was very stressed out, but we assured him it was fine. He was funny and helpful, and everyone just loved him. We finally made it to Ax-les-Thermes, France, which is known for their hot springs (note the name). Unfortunately, we only had about an hour here, so we barely had time for lunch and to see the hot springs before getting back on the road. Not the best lunch, even though I do love French food, but the company was good. Our final stop was the country of Andorra, and it’s capital city, Andorra la Vella. This was probably the biggest surprise. Evidently, Andorra is mostly a country of ski resorts and modern shopping, because that’s about all we saw. It was a bit of a let-down from that standpoint, since I was expecting more historic architecture, but the drive through the mountains was picturesque, and it was nice to see somewhere besides Barcelona on my trip. And hey, another stamp in my passport!
  • I ended up eating dinner with two of the ladies from the trip, who were both from Australia, but didn’t know each other. I’d received restaurant recommendations from my tapas tour guide, so we checked out one of her suggestions, Casa Lolea. It was marvelous, and fun to hear about Australia, which I hope to see one day as well.

Thursday, September 8th: (My birthday!)

  • This was my last full day, so I packed this one as much as I could. First, I went to La Sagrada Familia. I’d been past it twice now on different tours, but this was the first time I went inside. It was massive! And colorful! And just so darn interesting. I did the audio tour since I booked too late to get a guided tour. But this place is just jaw-dropping. It looks like a hot mess from the outside in photos because the sides all have different styles of architecture, and there is still so much construction. But it is really quite majestic to see in person. And the interior is as overwhelming in detail as the outside. It’s a really amazing place. Glad I took the time to go inside.
  • Next, the Picasso museum. He is not originally from Barcelona, but called it home for a while, and they definitely claim him as one of their own. He also claimed them. Again, I did the audio tour here since I didn’t make the guided tour. I always try and do the tours in some capacity. I like art, and can appreciate a lot of it, but it’s so much more interesting to me when someone’s explaining it. And that was again the case here. I think more people would enjoy art museums if they did the tours. Anyway, it was also fascinating to see the different styles he evolved into. Quite a genius.
  • I took a quick break for lunch here. I’m usually quite the foodie when I travel, but I had so much to cram into my trip that, often, food was more about convenience. I ate lots of local delicacies and at some great, little places, but they were always nearby or on the way. The food everywhere is pretty fantastic, though. (Except for US fast food, which I saw here and there, and it pained me. Not one of our best influences on the world.)
  • Third, I went to the Palau de la Musica (Music Palace). I had been really looking forward to this one, and it was also one that all the locals talked about and were proud of. I don’t know what to tell you here. Stunning. Just stunning. Click the link above and see for yourself! I really wish I’d had time to see a performance. The entire building was so gorgeous, and I could’ve stopped to take pictures here for hours. But…I didn’t have time.
  • That night, I went to a flamenco show. It was on Las Ramblas, the busiest and most famous street and Barcelona, and in the oldest theatre in the city. Sadly, I didn’t get to see a lot of the theater because there are several performance spaces in the building, and the one I was in was immediately downstairs. Unfortunately, my tapas were a little sub-par as well. But, the show itself was terrific! It was very low-key, just the dancers, singers and their instruments, but really fabulous. We were all on our feet at the end. And I couldn’t visit Spain without catching a flamenco show!

Friday, September 9th:

  • I’d originally planned on sleeping it, eating a leisurely breakfast, and heading to the airport. But there was just so much to see! I’ve easily covered cities in four days before, but this just wasn’t one of them. And, by now, I was as in love with Gaudi as everyone else. So, that morning I got up early to hit Park Guell before I left. As I mentioned before, Gaudi was largely inspired by nature. And this is the only park he designed, I believe. It was originally meant to be sort of what we in the US would consider a country club type of grounds, where the wealthy would live, with large open spaces and an outdoor market. It was also very different and modern, so the US “park” is used in the spelling instead of the traditional “parc.” However, that vision never really materialized. Good thing for us! It’s beautiful to walk around, and like his other stuff, very whimsical and charming. And it’s at a high point in the city, so the sun was just rising over Barcelona when I was there. It was a grand way to end my trip.

As you can see, I covered a lot of ground. I walked about 50,000 steps over the course of the eight days—and boy, did my feet feel every step! But I’m really glad I was able to fit in so much. I got to see most everything I wanted to see, but would’ve been really happy with a few more days—and a few hundred more dollars!

But there you go, Barcelona for my birthday! How I’ll top that moving forward, I don’t know. But I love a good challenge. 😉

You can view all pictures here, or just catch the highlights on Instagram. You can even read my 40th Birthday Reverse Bucket List to see all of the things I celebrated.

Finally, a few Barcelona fun facts:

  • Sangria is only for tourists. It’s their version of Two Buck Chuck, the $2 wine from Trader Joe’s. But lost of restaurants have it because the tourists will pay more for it!
  • Barcelona is the capital of Spain’s Catalonia region, and the locals are FIERCELY proud of it. In fact, you’ll see Spanish flags with a blue triangle and star around town that represent the people who think Catalonia should be independent from Spain. Reminded me a bit of Texas…
  • Catalonia means “castle,” you’ll see that adorning things as well. The seats of the Music Palace, for example, have little castles all over them.
  • Again, the locals are very proud of their city. So, if you get in a cab, no matter where you say you’re going, they’ll get excited and say, “Oh, you’ll love it!” Because they genuinely believe everyone should be as enthralled with their hometown as they are. And, okay, I was.
  • The irony of Barcelona is that you need to reserve all your tickets online to skip the lines and stay close to your desired day and time. But, lunch is the biggest meal of the day, and all meals are meant to be savored. So, my “quick” sandwich break on Thursday took 45 minutes, and I was clearly rushing him. For the cheapest/best lunch option, that’s a 3-course “menu de la dia.” Restaurants there are actually required by law to offer it. But you need AT LEAST an hour and a half to have time for all three courses. So, keeping to your reserved ticket time can be tricky. Now you know. And knowing is half the battle.


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The Plywood Business Retreat

retreat-lake-house

After attending their conference the past few years, I finally had the privilege of attending the Plywood Retreat last week. This intimate event is limited to about a dozen attendees, and helps entrepreneurs pursue business dreams in very practical ways. Due to the size, we are able to stay at a lake house and enjoy the natural surroundings most of us don’t get to see very often, rather than be in a typical conference room or in-town auditorium.

There were many things I appreciated about the event, but in particular, I love how they try to create a tailor-made experience. Before arriving, we had to fill out an application and go through an interview to make sure we were a right fit for the retreat, which is aimed at mostly social enterprises who want to do positive things in the world, on both the for- and non-profit sides. We were all also in the early stages of business—less than two years, I think. Then we had a phone interview with the founder, Jeff Shinabarger, and he took a bit of time to get to know us as individuals and our thoughts/needs/wants for our business. But, this way, we weren’t walking into the retreat having to introduce ourselves and our goals. The staff already had a good understanding of us, and we could hit the ground running.

These things add up to a couple of other very important customizations. First, they choose the speakers based on us. I think some of them overlap from retreat to retreat, but they also like to bring in folks who can lend unique perspective to our particular areas. So, we had speakers not only on finance, goals, marketing and branding, which most everyone could learn from, but also had one, for example, on donor expectations and insight for those in the non-profit sector or who need to raise capital.

One of the highlights, and the most individual-centered aspect, was the mentor dinner. We went off-site to a restaurant and sat at a table with someone they chose specifically for us. I had a fantastic meal with Jennifer Schuchmann, a local author who also has a background in other forms of writing. She was awesome. She was able to answer very high-level and very practical questions I had, as well as work through a few things I couldn’t quite put my finger on, but knew I needed to clarify in my work. This was really special, and I think everyone felt the same.

So, overall, a very cool experience. And did I mention we had a personal chef? Jason from Homespun was amazing! It was very sad to wake up to my own cooking the next day. 😉

If you feel like you’re part of the target audience for this retreat, I’d definitely tell you to consider it. Or maybe come to the conference as a start. They have even launched an online curriculum now as well. Yes, any and all of them are quite the investment, especially for someone like me who is only in month three of my business. But I am really glad I kicked things off this way. I know it will help me going forward. In fact, I’ll get a follow-up in a few weeks because we all had 30-day action steps to take. Gotta get moving…

But before I go, I wanted to introduce you to my fellow retreaters. They are doing some really wonderful things you should know about.