How brilliant is this? Talking today with the gang at Group about having the Skit Guys at the conference next month and got excited. I needed this tonight. You?

JG

So I recently blogged about how someone (probably Andy) stole my Oakley sunglasses after a podcast. Well apparently, I owe Andy an apology, because today Fields gave me my old sunglasses back as a “late birthday present.” Apparently, I left them at his house that night after the podcast, so he used them to teach me a lesson. Lesson learned, old friend.

I will say that I still think that Andy was probably involved somehow. Oh, I can’t prove it, but still …

JG

Just saw that Simply Youth Ministry updated their inventory with a new book called The New Breed on the subject of volunteers from Jonathan McKee. I’ve seen the book on a few desks around Saddleback, and I’m looking forward to adding it to my 2008 read pile soon. If it looks interesting to you or you need some volunteer inspiration (and who can’t) maybe pick it up.

JG

From time to time I notice that people don’t understand the basic rules of electronic technology. Of course, these are my rules, which means that while I think they are or should be mainstream, even if they totally aren’t. Still though, here’s a few good rules of thumb when communicating with people electronically, IMHO.

1. GLOBAL EMAIL – There’s nothing worse than getting an email saying that a car’s lights are on in the parking lot. Let’s say you have 50 people on your email list, times $.09 for the minute that it took the organization to read the email. That takes $4.82! OK, maybe it is worth it – I really hope I did my math wrong because I thought wasting people’s time was more expensive than that. Huh! But please, ask yourself if this could be sent to the right people, not all of the people in the free world.
2. THE REPLY - When someone sends you an email with a “to do” make sure you reply to confirm you got the email and understand the request, even if it is something that might take a while or you can’t get to immediately. If you don’t reply, the person making the ask begins to make assumptions about your performance.
3. QUESTION - If you have a question about the email that was sent to you – ask a question in a timely manner. If you wait until it is due and you haven’t even looked at it, you look pretty poor. Be a good scanner.
4. FOLLOWUP CONFIRMATION - When you have a conversation in person, be sure to send an electronic confirmation of the action steps or decision made during that time. There’s nothing worse than a verbal agreement with nothing formal to back either party up. A receipe for trouble.
5. MATCH THE TECHNOLOGY – If you get a request via email, the reply if possible should also come in an email form. There’s nothing worse than getting a slip of paper with the answer to an email, I don’t know how many times I’ve lost those and ended up back at square one. The key is to match the communiation the first person initiated – which is also why you can’t call someone when they text you. Sorry!
6. BE FORGIVING - Email doesn’t come with too much emotion, and too often people read into what isn’t there. Email is a business form of communication that may also suit other needs. If you’ve got something hard to say, saying it in person is usually wise. Plus, a diamond is forever, but so is a quickly sent regrettable email.
7. REPLY ALL – When an email is sent to a group email list, really stop and consider before hitting reply all. Does the information really need to be sent to everyone? I love reply all, but often times the answer will be collected by the one person asking the original question.
8. KNOW WHEN TO IGNORE - some emails hit your inbox and they are nothing more than an FYI to you. Quickly store that email away in your brain and get rid of it.

JG

Bill Gates is stepping down soon as the main main at Microsoft in 2008, and last week they played this video in his honor. Funny …

JG