Random Thoughts, Summit Notes, and Links

• In the past few weeks, I have found my free time dominated by marathons of America's Next Top Model. I love TV reality competitions (see: Project Runway, American Idol, and lately Top Chef Miami). This one is super-cheesy AND it involves Tyra Banks (who is so horribly self-obsessed). And yet - I can't seem to get away!
• I'm still not over Harry Potter. I can definitely sense the hype dying down, but I'm still excited to read reviews and ponder the full storyline. Here's one review of the 7th book - by Stephen King.
• A couple of weeks ago, I was able to attend a satellite site of Willow Creek's Leadership Summit. This is the 2nd year I've gone, and it was excellent. Some highlights:

1. Marcus Buckingham - My friend Melissa has sung his praises for the past few months, and he definitely did not disappoint. His big idea: putting your strengths to work - to increase the amount of time per day you play to your strengths and to manage around your weaknesses. To really do this, you have to identify your specific strengths. He suggests carrying around a pad of paper with two columns - I loved it & I loathed it. Another assessment is to finish this statement: "I feel strong when ________."
   "And the day came when the risk it took to stay in the bud outweighed the risk it took to blossom." -Anais Nin
2. Colin Powell - He basically listed lots of "Powell Principles" - things that he has learned and implemented as a leader. The ones that stood out to me: Only People Get Things Done - spend a third of your time on the plan and then allow two-thirds for people to carry it out; Reward Your Best Performers/Get Rid of Non-Performers - when things are going poorly, the good performers notice first and are demotivated; Things Always Look Better in the Morning
3. Richard Curtis - a British filmmaker and activist for human rights causes. This video interview was beautiful and powerful, and I doubt I could really do it justice. I felt bad trying to take notes - I really wanted to just take it in. It was really challenging to see how committed he is (as someone who doesn't have his faith figured out yet - in his words) to telling a better story.
4. Bill Hybels' final talk on inspiration - that probably deserves its own post, actually...

• And finally, a plug for one of the blogs I have linked in the sidebar - The Jesus Creed. It's the blog of Scot McKnight, who wrote one of my favorite books of the summer. It's definitely a theology blog, but he also offers up thoughts and links about a variety of other topics. Here's a link to one of my favorite posts of his: Marriage as Seamless Story. Also, he is a Cubs fan!