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Rediscover Advent by Matthew Kelly: A Book Review

Matthew Kelly is one of my favorite authors and speakers. He is a New York Times best-selling author of over fourteen books, a world renowned speaker, and business consultant to more than thirty-five Fortune 500 companies. I am proud to call him a friend and he is certainly an important influence in my life. Last week he sent me a copy of Rediscover Advent. It was the only book of his I haven’t read, and with the stores already decorating and advertising for Christmas, I guess I was ready for a book about ‘The Season’ as well. I am glad I read it early, because there is much I discovered and wish to share with you.

First and foremost, Rediscover Advent is more of a devotional, to be shared during the Advent season, rather than one to be read in a setting or two. At 94 pages it certainly can be read quickly, but that is not its intention. The book is divided into five sections. The first four are devoted to each week of Advent, and the fifth to Christmas Day itself. Each section is broken down for a reading each day complete with Scripture, Meditation, Reflection, and Prayer. Much of the Reflections come from Matthew’s acclaimed Rediscovering Catholicism.

Second, while this book is certainly written with a Catholic audience in mind, like all good writing and well thought-out ideas, its intrinsic merits are a benefit to all denominations. It is a gem for all who look to deepen their Christian faith and make a stronger connection with the Advent season.  After all, the Meditations, Reflections, and Prayers are all Scripture based. This is a work to bring unity not division.

Last, I highly recommend this book to each of you this season and encourage you to begin it at the start of the first week of Advent and follow along each day. As we prepare our homes, our kitchens, and our calendars, let us also prepare our minds and souls for the wonders of Christmas.

I know you will find Matthew’s words inspirational and well-timed. Rediscover Advent is a perfect pre-holiday gift to help renew your enthusiasm for connecting more spiritually with the entire Season of Christmas known as Advent. Would also make a great gift for a family member or friend.

You can order your copy here.

Kelly Croy is a chalk artist and professional speaker.

Kelly has an FUN and POWERFUL Christmas presentation for YOUR EVENT that includes:

a six foot by eight foot chalk art presentation, computer animation, and talk for all ages. 

He has entertained and amazed audiences across the nation

including corporations, schools, churches, conferences,

and anywhere people come together to be entertained and inspired.

Please consider booking Kelly for your next event.

www.kellycroy.com

1-800-831-4825


			


	
	



					
						


	

				

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Would Steve Jobs Consider You a Bozo?

				
	


	
	

		
This is the biography of Steve Jobs that I read.


The world is filled with admirers of Steve Jobs, and rightfully so. The man was an incredible visionary, innovator, speaker, businessman, leader, and communicator. His impact has left little untouched.  One overlooked talent though, was his use of simple language to convey his passion for a product or service. How many times did we hear him say, “insanely great, phenomenal, awesome, revolutionary, amazing, and of course magical?”


His word choice was in sync with his passion for minimalism in design and the simple elegance of his presentation. Uncomplicated. Straightforward. Direct. Powerful. The advertisements, stores, packaging, and even his dress embodied this motif.


He chose simple words, but words powerful in their connotations. They were chosen with care. They were delivered with passion. They told a story.


My favorite term Jobs used was when he called someone or their idea a Bozo.


Bozo was a term Steve would use to describe someone that just didn’t get it. Click to Read More








			


	
	



					
						


	

				

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Chalk Art Tribute to Steve Jobs

				
	


	
	

		
A tribute to Steve Jobs:



Kelly Croy is a chalk artist and professional speaker.


He has entertained and amazed audiences across the nation


including corporations, schools, churches, conferences,


and anywhere people come together to be entertained and inspired.


Please consider booking Kelly for your next event.


www.kellycroy.com


1-800-831-4825

			


	
	



					
						


	

				

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The Secret to Accomplishing BIG Goals and Dreams!

				
	


	
	

		
Toe in water thumb 10
Each and every day I take out a small index card and make my to-do list. The result is simple; I get things done.


Each year I set goals for myself and monitor them regularly in my journal. The result is always positive; I accomplish some great goals each year.


Still, there are some tasks that either evade me, or I am avoiding, and some BIG life goals that I cannot even seem to get started. With them, I seem to be in a rut. I continually write them down as ‘to-do’ but barely make any progress. The worst of it is in the the reality that these are the goals and accomplishments that would mean the most to me if completed. They would make the biggest impact in my life.


I have always read and heard that you need to write goals down and that they need to be specific. Most of the time that works well for me, but recently I have uncovered a secret that has allowed me to make progress in those really tough areas that I have been stagnant for so long.


The solution is: The Secret of ‘Some‘.


A novel can be 50,000 words. You can’t write one of those in a day.


Ten pounds is 35,000 calories. You won’t be losing that in a day.


Too often the knowledge of ‘the amount’ it takes to finish prevents us from starting or staying on track.


We surrender out of fear of failure and convince ourselves with the improbability of success or imagine the exhaustive state we will be at, even with a fraction of the progress.


That is why most people don’t write novels or ever lose that ten pounds.


I recently discovered this amazing adjective called some. It’s not scary nor even measurable, yet with it you can get anywhere and accomplish anything.


Can’t run a marathon? Great, run some.


Can’t reduce your diet down to 1800 calories a day? Super! Just reduce it by some.


Some allows us to reach our goals. Some allows to make progress.


The only thing that must accompany some to make it happen is the noun consistency.


Kelly Croy is a chalk artist and professional speaker.


He has entertained and amazed audiences across the nation


including corporations, schools, churches, conferences,


and anywhere people come together to be entertained and inspired.


Please consider booking Kelly for your next event.


www.kellycroy.com


1-800-831-4825






			


	
	



					
						


	

				

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September 11th: A Celebration on a Solemn Day

				
	


	
	

		
9 11 Tribute Final


Today is September 11th and our home reflects a dichotomy of emotions.


A woman on the television solemnly reads the names of those who lost their lives ten years ago at the World Trade Center.


…our house is decorated with balloons and streamers.


Airports are on heightened security due to unconfirmed reports of terrorist movement.


…we will eat cake and sing.




Our leaders hold their breath.


…we celebrate my daughter’s birthday.


Today is September 11th.


 It’s not easy celebrating anything on such a solemn day, but I cannot allow my daughter to be robbed the joy of celebrating her life. Still, my mind drifts elsewhere. I think about the lives lost, and I briefly question the wisdom of going to a cinema or a shopping mall in fear of some act of revenge on the anniversary of perhaps the darkest day in our history. We proceed. Perhaps our decisions are weighed a little move heavily. Perhaps I am a bit more conscious. I privately and publicly mourn those who died, honor the heroes, and carry on being a father.


That’s what Americans do best; we carry on. March forward. Advance.


We do not forget.


My daughter gets it; the day is no longer hers. An unfortunate lesson. A sad coincidence. A lesson in service, honor,  perspective and gratitude. Families were robbed of loved ones, our country defiled of its innocence and safety, and her day is overshadowed by the remembrance of a tragedy.  In truth, she would have it no other way.  I believe she feels honored to celebrate her life today as a tribute to so many who gave up theirs. At times it seems odd, and at times, perfect.


Yes, today is September 11th. It’s okay to celebrate birthdays, cheer for your football teams, drive your child to soccer, and laugh at a movie. If we didn’t, the act of terror would have succeeded and continued, and the so many who gave their lives so willingly, truly would have died in vain. We must carry on, march forward, advance, yet never forget.


At church this morning we were reminded to forgive, and I know that cannot be easy. I celebrate my daughter’s life while another father marks the anniversary of his daughter’s death, and yet, I know forgiveness indeed takes place. How do you do that? I am amazed. I have much to learn.


September 11, 2001 was an incredibly humbling day for me. It was as if Death itself had given me a glimpse of my own mortality, a reminder of life’s frailty, and an understanding of the horrors man can conceive and act out.  Yet within that shadowy bush of thorns, a blossom of hope and courage emerged like a single red rose, as I was also given a glimpse of the courageousness of mankind, witnessing selfless acts of every day people, stepping forward like the heroes in the comic books I read as a child. I saw giving, sacrifice, compassion, and the complete erasure of nearly every dividing characteristic. On that dark hour we were not aligned to political parties, economic classes, or members of a race. We stood together.


From the ashes of destruction fueled by misguided hate rose a nation united, determined, to advance against a common cause, to make an impact.


On our country’s darkest hour, I was reminded what it means for me to be an American, a Christian, a father, and a neighbor.


Today is September 11th and our home reflects a dichotomy of emotions.


Carry on. March forward. Advance. Never forget.


Happy Birthday Allyson.


Kelly Croy is a chalk artist and professional speaker.


He has entertained and amazed audiences across the nation


including corporations, schools, churches, conferences,


and anywhere people come together to be entertained and inspired.


Please consider booking Kelly for your next event.


www.kellycroy.com


1-800-831-4825

			


	
	



					
						


	

				

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Reward Commitment: Invent a buy-back program

				
	


	
	

		
I picked up my daughter’s basketball sitting


Deflated basketball


where she practices at home.  It was as smooth as an apple.  Useless.  All the bounce was gone, and it was becoming threadbare in some areas. I was about to toss it in the trashcan and get her a new one when my daughter stopped me.  She told me she was taking it to practice with her that day and that her coach would give her a new basketball. In fact, she elaborated, her coach would give her a new basketball for every one she wore out.  Wow! What a fabulous idea!


My daughter’s coach did in fact give her a basketball for every one she wore out, but more amazing than that is that her coach instilled in her a desire to practice, gave her a visual goal, and reinforced the successful habits of a committed athlete. Well done.


I incorporated that idea into my own life. I have been wanting a new laptop for some time. Not just any laptop, but the new MacBook Air from Apple. I have saved my money and all I need to do is place the order, but I made a commitment to myself to wait until I have finished the book I have been working on for the past two years. My current laptop used for writing will be replaced with the new one when the book is finished and query letters mailed.


It’s easy to become distracted, but there are techniques we can employ to counter them and become more productive, and I believe creating your own buy-back program is an excellent idea to meet your goals.


Discipline, focus, commitment, and training are the keys to success in any area in life, whether it be writing, sports, art, or anything else. The distractions become less influential when we have a clear measurable goal in front of us.


I hope you can find an area in your life that you can set-up a similar buy-back reward program. Perhaps you can use it with a friend or family member, or perhaps even with yourself.


Kelly Croy is a chalk artist and professional speaker.


He has entertained and amazed audiences across the nation


including corporations, schools, churches, conferences,


and anywhere people come together to be entertained and inspired.


Please consider booking Kelly for your next event.


www.kellycroy.com


1-800-831-4825

			


	
	



					
						


	

				

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Three Commitments For Parenting a Leader

				
	


	
	

		
Do you really want your child to be a leader? I posed this question a while back; it received a notable response, and it remains one of my most popular posts. Where do we stand as parents in the responsibility of raising leaders? Weigh the question carefully. Consider the contrasts between raising a leader and a star. Do you really want your child to be a leader?


I hope you answered yes, but I will understand if you didn’t. Leadership and popularity rarely go hand in hand, and leadership requires a lot of hard work. For me the answer is simple; I want to raise leaders. I want my children to be prepared for anything, to make a difference, and live a life of purpose.


If you really want to help parent a leader, you need to make three clear commitments.


1) I will educate my child about leadership. Leadership really needs to be taught. It amazes me how many people don’t understand this simple truth. If you want your child to become a leader, surround her with leadership resources. These can be books, audio, video, and so much more. This includes the comments you make about leaders in front of your children. This includes the leadership examples you take within your community, church, school, and work. If you don’t serve a leadership role, your child probably won’t either.


2) I will provide my child with leadership mentors. A mentor is the greatest gift you can ever provide for your child. Mentors can arrive in the fashion of a relative, a coach, a teacher, an advisor, or many other roles, but don’t take it for chance, and don’t assume these people are mentoring. Set it up. Contact someone you admire, or talk with your child about possibilities, and then meet with them and discuss what you are looking to accomplish. I will include a future post about how to do this, but know this: Mentoring Works. A recent study demonstrated that a teen with a mentor is 46% less likely than their peers to start using illegal drugs. For me, sports, Scouting, and my family surrounded me with lots of authentic mentors that provided me with the one on one discussions I truly needed. Mentoring must be one-on-one, consistent, and have a clear purpose.


3) I will encourage opportunities for my child to lead. If you want your child to lead you must allow them to accept leadership roles and encourage them. It may require some extra driving and scheduling responsibilities on your part, and may even create some unwanted drama, but leaders are made during moments of discontent, not harmony. They will not get it right the first time either. They will need to make several attempts at it. With the proper support, education, and mentoring your child will fail their way to becoming a successful leader. Sadly some students finally receive an opportunity to lead, but have not received any education or mentoring about leadership, and fail so badly they vow to never lead again. I understand I need to listen to my child about the types of leadership roles they are interested in, and at other times I will need to encourage possible leadership roles for them.


Leaders make leaders of others, and parenting is one of the most important leadership roles we may ever serve. I hope will join me in raising a leader and give great thought to how you can provide the education, mentoring, and opportunities of leadership for your child. I look forward to reading your comments.


 




Kelly Croy is a chalk artist and professional speaker.


He has entertained and amazed audiences across the nation including corporations, schools, churches, conferences, and anywhere people come together to be entertained and inspired.


Please consider booking Kelly for your next event.


www.kellycroy.com


1-800-831-4825



			


	
	



					
						


	

				

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The Ultimate Blogging Tool: A Review of RedSweater’s MarsEdit

				
	


	
	

		
Screen shot 2011 07 05 at 12 58 38 PMI have recently written about why I wish all educators should blog and I have even given some of my own insight on how they could and should get started. In truth I believe everyone should blog. It’s a great place to store and share your ideas about life, the world, and the niches that you are truly an expert. Leaders should absolutely blog, and corporations should require employees to blog as well. More on both of those later. (And yes, you really are an expert and you have much to share.) I would like to take my advice about blogging even farther with this review of the ultimate blogging tool—MarsEdit.


Give my article, Why Every Educator Should Blog, whether you are an educator or not, because it also applies to you as a person. We all have people we need to influence and we all have much to share. I hope you will find it inspiring enough to start your own blog very soon.


Soon, if it hasn’t happened already, you will find a great blog hosting site like www.wordpress.com and will have started writing some articles to share what you have learned with others. If you haven’t discovered it already, sites like WordPress and ALL of the others limit you by forcing you to only be able to write while online. This can become a hassle very quickly, especially in the busy lives we all lead. That’s where MarsEdit comes in.


MarsEdit is the BEST solution for maintaining your blog. It is super-easy to use, looks great, works perfectly every time, and has fantastic customer support. Wired Educator wants every educator to blog and share their knowledge with other educators and we recommend MarsEdit.


MarsEdit is a great choice because it allows you to create content for your blog offline. MarsEdit works much like a word processor, allowing you to construct and format your post and even schedule when you would like it to post. MarsEdit allows me to work on my blog posts wherever I am, whenever I can. A few minutes of time translates into some serious progress on a blog. The preview screen allows you to see exactly what everyone will see when you post, and including a photo or other media is easy and works with every type of program and online photo sharing site.


I have two primary blogs that I write and create content for www.kellycroy.wordpress.com and www.wirededucator.com one is through wordpress.org and the other through wordpress.com. It was very easy to setup MarsEdit to post to these platforms and if you run into any trouble their Customer Service is fast, dedicated, and efficient. I doubt you will need it, but it always GREAT knowing awesome customer service is available. (I just wrote a post on customer service on my other blog and Red Sweater met and surpassed all of my requirements for quality customer service. I had a few questions and they made me feel important and answered every question and helped me in every way. Send an email and get a solution. I like that and so will you. Amazing!)


After much research, I can assure you that MarsEdit is the best blog editor available. It costs $39.95 and you can purchase it on the following link: You can also test drive it for 30 days for FREE. https://www.red-sweater.com/store/ There is a slight learning curve, but overall very easy to use.


MarsEdit is regularly updated with new features and improvements. At the time of this writing it is on version 3.3.1 and works great.

Screen shot 2011 07 05 at 12 58 28 PM


MarsEdit is the perfect solution for maintaining a blog. Forcing myself to find a few areas for improvement, I have decided we would like to see an Inspector like tool for formatting the page layout rather than using the menu-bar and keystroke shortcuts. I would also like to see the ability to access the iSight camera directly on our MacBook for video blogging, and easier importing/pasting of YouTube videos. It’s easy to see why MarsEdit is so widely used by both professional and amateur bloggers alike, and why it continues to win awards. Do yourself a favor and download MarsEdit and start blogging.


www.kellycroy.com


1-800-831-4825


Kelly Croy is a chalk artist and professional speaker.


He has entertained and amazed audiences across the nation including corporations, schools, churches, conferences, and anywhere people come together to be entertained and inspired.


Please consider booking Kelly for your next event.