There is something in my life that gets repeated at least once per week, in some weeks multiple times, but usually at least once. I spend a great deal of time each day making phone calls to strangers. This is a result of my profession (not because I am a creep). Often, I have to state my name. In most instances I get it right, but there are times that I misannunciate, mumble, or am the victim of bad connection. While unfortunate, it is just part of the job. I am not sure what I sound like when this happens. I have never had the pleasure of talking to myself on the phone, but 90% of the time the person on the other end of the connection calls me Randy. That’s right, Randy. From this point forward my alter ego will be Randy Miller. This is important for you to know because Randy may be a guest blogger from time to time. Get ready to get Randy.

A few posts back I spoke about a few things that were going on in our life. This is an update on the banjo lessons I have been taking. I am certainly not Earl Scruggs, but wanted to share the progress I have made. Enjoy. A teaser, Next post will be about something else on the list. What will it be……..

Our morning routine consists of few things.  Each are very important; shower, dress, breakfast, and brushing teeth all make the list.  You get the picture.  From time to time we turn on the television and get distracted from our ritual.  Today, right before we sped off to work, Notorious BIG’s Hypnotize aired on MTV.  I know what you are thinking, “A video on MTV?”  Yes that’s right.  The above picture was the result.

It has been some time since I posted here.  I am sure that many of you thought that this was dead.  There is a battle each time I think about this e-destination.  Should I really try to do this?  Why am I doing this?  What should I post about; business, family, friends, likes, dislikes, life?  And, honestly, I do not know.  Some choose to blog about particular topics (see Julie & Julia) for example, but that seems to constricting.  Do I really have that much to write about one thing?  Previously, I wanted to provide insight.  I am not insightful.  So for now, I will write what I want, when I want until I find a direction.  Below are a list of things that have happened in the last month or so that I may expound upon later.  Just a list for now friends.

• Sarah and I moved to a new city – St. Louis
• We have purchased many new furnishings, as we left Mama’s with very little
• I began work at “The Valley,” The Missouri Valley Conference and already feel part of the team
• We have reconnected with many friends in the area
• I started playing in a recreation basketball league with friends for the first time in my life.  We lost our game by 55 points last week.  We are called The Fundamentalists
• I started banjo lessons at Bob Lucas guitar studio
• We had a very enjoyable Skype date with our good friends TJ and Katrina that live in Colorado – we miss them

All for now friends, much love to all.

Today is a big day in my career.  I did it.  I turned off the new email alert that pops up and fades out in the lower right hand corner of my computer display.  Microsoft Outlook will not distract my work concentration  again.  It feels as if  a large burden has been lifted from my shoulders and it has only been gone 24 hours.  Rather than the feeling of panic and fear coming from the constant piling of new work, I have been freed to focus on the task currently in progress.  There is, however, a larger issue that this situation has brought to light, my tendency to procrastinate.  I have been meaning to turn that alert off for well over a year.  What is something that you have been meaning to do for a while?  My charge to you today is get it done.  Who knew such a small thing could be  a huge encouragement.

GOOG411 might be my favorite Google services.  For absolutely FREE you can call 1-800-GOOG411 and get any business phone number or address in the country.  It is quick, automated, easy, and has made my life much easier on the go.  This service also proves to me that Google gets “it.”  Google understands that to be profitable you  do not have to charge for every product or service you offer, but that the services that you offer have to be valuable to those that use them.  Yeah, Google probably gets some residual data benefit from your call (i.e. phone number and research information, and voice data for their recognition research), but what they are really doing is building loyalty to their brand.  If you have not used it, Try it.

Is email really work?  This is a questions that I have been struggling with for a number of weeks.  After I have been out of the office and come back to answer the slew of  emails that have gathered I feel productive, but what have I really accomplished?.  The feeling of productivity and knowing that I have more pressing tasks to complete creates a unique tension.  One part of me says,” good work Branden, take a few minutes to relish this, you deserve it,” but the other part disagrees, “Dude, you just typed a note for like 20 seconds, get over it.”    I am not really sure that there is an answer to this questions because email often brings with it a number or additional retroactive responsibilities that translate to work.  My opinion for now is that email is a transporter.  It transports work from one place to another.  That said, however, I kind of see it as a parasite too.

Pepsi and Mountain Due are back….. way back. This is an interesting way to create a little buzz about  two of the biggest cola brands in America.  I am also a big fan of using natural products to produce goods.  Hope that the “Throwback” becomes the future.  What ever happened to Crystal Clear Pepsi?  They should bring that back too.

I remembered a short conversation that I had with a friend (Chris) several years ago during my lunch break today.  The chat dealt with the idea of maintenance and repair.  Chris’s thought is that it is always easier to maintain than to repair.  I agree with him.  While we were talking about a very specific problem at the time, it is an idea that can be applied to every area of life; work, relationships, fitness, and even lawn mowing.

Take a look at areas in your work and personal life that you want improved.  Are you maintaining them or do you wait until things are absolutely broken and then try to fix them.  As you can tell by the above video I have waited far too long to cut the grass in my yard and as a result it will take me about 7 hours to complete.  I will lose time and energy as a result.

There is always a larger cost associated with repair.  Relationships with Clients, Friends, and Your Lawn will be much better for it.

Is the free content model on news websites broken?  I would contend that it is not, for the user, but Rupert Murdoch suggests, “The current days of the Internet will soon be over.”  I cannot say that I agree with his perspective.  It seems like there will always be a way to get the same information for free on the web.  Read his thoughts here.