10 Creative Ways to Say Thank You

I have lately found myself having to thank people a great deal. I am blessed to be blessed by so many people, and I want them to know they are appreciated. Expressing thanks is becoming a lost art. Let’s revive it.

Here are 10 ways to say “thank you”:

  1. The Old Fashioned Way: Keep a stack of Thank You Notes handy. A hand-written thank you note that comes delivered by the mail man/woman is a delight.
  2. The Generous Way: Purchase a few gift cards and stash them in your desk. When you “catch” someone doing something for you, whip one out and surprise your benefactor’s day.
  3. The Spousal Way: Too often we take our spouses for granted. A little bit of thanks goes a long, long way in a marriage. Show your thanks by cooking a special meal, taking her or him shopping, or delivering a “thank you” text message during the middle of the day.
  4. The Sneaky Way: You’ve heard of “Secret Santas” that many offices play during the holidays. How about being someone’s Secret Santa in March or May. Over the course of several days anonymously deliver small gifts to someone who deserves your thanks.
  5. The Oral Way: Don’t be afraid to actually sit someone down and say out loud just how much you appreciate what they have done, are doing, and will do for you. Wouldn’t you love to hear with your own ears what someone appreciates about you?
  6. The Pay-It-Forward Way: Tell someone that you have been inspired by their generosity toward you, and that you’d like to pay it forward. Tell them that in their honor you are going to specifically help or serve someone else. And tell them exactly how you plan to do that.
  7. The Social-Media-Shout-Out Way: Make your thanks public by tweeting or placing a status on Facebook, thanking someone for what they have done for you. Everyone loves a little fame every now and then.
  8. The Superior Way: When a service employee helps you in an extraordinary way, don’t just tell them; tell their boss.
  9. The Say-It-With-Flowers Way: Fresh flowers brighten any space. And they do an excellent job of saying “thanks.” This even works for (most) men.
  10. The Culinary Way: Take someone to lunch or dinner. Pick up the tab. Everyone loves a free meal at a nice place (and make it an independent restaurant…not a chain!).

What ways of saying “thank you” can you add to the list? I need your ideas!

Plane Perspective

I’m writing this on an airplane while I’m trying to gain perspective on a major life decision. I’m looking out the window from 30,000 feet above the ground. There’s a great deal to see.

I see tiny cars, buildings rising out of the ground, the patterns of streets and highways, clumps of trees, and bunches of lakes. It’s beautiful and a work of art in a mystical, magical, divine kind of way.

It reminds me that there’s a great big world out there with limitless possibilities. Sometimes one has to take a step back, and take the long view to gain a bit of perspective. There are times when we look at our lives from a perspective that’s too close. We get involved in the daily grind. We lose vision. We struggle to see things that are right in front of us. We become so “involved” that we lose all perspective.

It is not only being on a plane that brings perspective, it is getting away all together. We have the opportunity to do that at least once a week. It’s what weekends (or at least “days off”) are made for. It’s what staycations are made for. It’s what vacations are made for. It’s what Sabbath is made for.

Now I see mountains down below out my oval window. They remind me that our getaways, our Sabbaths, our pauses are mountain top experiences designed to bring perspective. When we take the “long view” it brings perspective to the “short view.”

Remember to regularly take some time to take a look at the “long view.”

  • What do you want to accomplish by the end of the week?
  • With whom do you want to connect by the end of the month?
  • Where do you want to be at the end of the year?
  • What would you like your life to look like in five years?
  • What are the goals you have for your career?
  • Do you have hopes and dreams for your retirement?
  • What would you like your legacy to be?

What do you regularly do to help you gain perspective and take the long view? Please respond with a comment below.

Talking Titles

The other day our son, Ben, had a special guest in his Applied Creativity class at Belmont University. The special guest was a music business professional who has been a singer/songwriter, touring musician, and producer of national acts. Amongst many other things Ben learned from this industry professional was a technique he uses in songwriting.

Instead of starting his songwriting with a concept, idea, poem, or even musical riff, he starts with titles. He’s always got a notebook with him, and when a title comes to him he writes it down. He has a whole catalog of titles so that when he does a songwriting session with another songwriter he says, “Which one of these titles would you like to write a song about?”

At one point, the guy was writing songs for a band made up of teenagers which was obviously going to be marketed to teens and pre-teens. So he went to the magazine rack at the local bookstore, started flipping through the teeny bopper magazines, and came up with a whole slew of titles for the band. From there it was easy for him to write the songs.

Are you stuck with a current project? Why not try starting with a title?

Do you need ideas for poems, songs, sermons, classroom lessons, or any other kind of project? Why not start your own catalog of titles.

It may just be the spark you need when you find yourself in a creative funk. Those titles will talk to you and give you a boost.

Why not write a creative title in the comment section below? I’d appreciate it very much!

Unexpectedly Pleasant Surprises

If you live in the upper midwest you have been experiencing an unexpectedly pleasant surprise. In a typical March we may have an occasional day in the 60’s or even the 70’s, but we never have the extended above average temperatures that we have had over more than the last week.

Perennials are already blooming. People are eating dinner al fresco. Kids are out on their bikes and skateboards. Shorts and t-shirts are as common as a summer day.

There is something about unexpectedly pleasant surprises that bring

  • a new outlook
  • a change in attitude
  • a different view
  • a favorable demeanor

Even if the weather is unfavorable, you can bring some sunshine into someone’s life with an unexpectedly pleasant surprise. I am certain that if you pay attention to those around you there will be someone (maybe more than one) who could really use an unexpected surprise today.

What can you do to bring to someone in your life

  • a new outlook
  • a change in attitude
  • a different view
  • a favorable demeanor?

Here’s your challenge:

  • Pay attention today to co-workers, family members, or neighbors
  • Pick one person for whom you will provide an unexpected surprise
  • Plan that unexpectedly pleasant surprise tonight
  • Execute it tomorrow

Please post in the comments below what your unexpectedly pleasant surprise is going to be.

The Little Things

Last week I accompanied my wife to a store that is exclusively a women’s store. From beginning to end it was one of the finest customer service experiences I have ever witnessed. It was all about the little things, small details that made a big difference.

  1. Though it was a store for women, the area right in front was a sitting area for men, complete with Sports Illustrated magazines. I was even offered a bottle of water. They know that if men who accompany their women are well-cared-for they will be patient while the shopping takes place. Longer time in the store more often than not means more purchases.
  2. One clerk was assigned specifically to my wife the entire time she was in the store. She helped with fitting, selection, and personal service. It was truly one-on-one customer care.
  3. When she was finished shopping, my wife made a significant purchase. The clerk who checked her out threw in an extra item for free. And it wasn’t just something cheap. It was something that was relatively expensive.
  4. Specific instructions were given on how to care for her purchases once she got them home. And there was the promise to provide help at anytime if it was ever needed. It was just a phone call away.
  5. Two days after we visited the store my wife received from the clerk who had worked with her a hand written thank you note in the mail. When was the last time you got a handwritten thank you fro a clerk in a store?

This was “unmarketing” at its finest. It was all about the customer and her needs. The little things involved in the visit to the store added up to make it a truly “wow” experience.

How often do we miss this in the church, or in our non-profits? We get so wrapped up in ourselves and what we want, that we forget to make it a “wow” experience for those who are visiting, potential members, or future clients.

Little things do add up. Little things like:

  • How does the bathroom look?
  • Is the art and decor out of date?
  • Can logos and letterhead be given a splash of color and “cool.”
  • Is a guest made to stand alone, or is there a plan in place to welcome guests and clients and make them feel special?
  • Today’s “church shopper” (for lack of a better term) is much more sophisticated. What can you do to make the whole experience more “professional” while always giving glory to God and being about the business of serving people?

What little things would you add to this list?

A Lesson in Getting Un-Stuck

I learned a lesson today from a good friend. He was running into some roadblocks in his business and just wanted to sit down and talk it through. He was stuck and wanted to get un-stuck.

So he asked me to come and think through some possibilities with him. I was happy to do so. I’m no businessman, but I love any opportunity to brain storm and think creatively.

So that’s what we did. He laid out some of his road blocks. He recounted some of the boundaries within which he must work. He expressed a willingness to take some chances.

Then came the fun part. He asked me honest questions. I gave him honest answers. The brain storm began. And the ideas started to flow.

When he left my friend had a few ideas that might help re-energize his business. I give him all the credit. I was just along to help him advance some ideas.

Here’s the lesson I learned (…a lesson I’ve learned before but need to learn again and again…): Two heads are better than one. A problem is easier solved when ideas flow from one brain to another, and then back again.

Are you stuck? Need a creative idea? Looking for a way to move forward?

Connect with a friend, partner, or colleague. Be honest. Be open. Let the ideas become concrete objectives. Then go give it a shot.

How have you utilized the brain power of other people to induce creative ideas and get “un-stuck”?

5 Steps Toward a Major Decision

For the past week-and-a-half I have been relatively radio silent. I didn’t want to make the following information public knowledge until all the proper people had been informed. My last post will bring you up to date on recent major events in my life. I had been one of the finalists on a “Call List” at Ascension Lutheran Church in Casselberry, Florida. My wife, Tammy, and I went to Florida where I stood before about 140 members of the congregation and answered the same twenty-two questions as did three other pastoral candidates on separate nights.

It was a daunting evening. But the people of Ascension Lutheran were very hospitable and gracious. Just before we got on the plane to return home I received a phone call from the president of Ascension informing me that I had been elected to receive the Call to be pastor of their church.

So I returned home in possession of two Calls: one to Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and one to Ascension Lutheran Church in Casselberry, Florida. I now have to make a decision that will not only have an impact on me and my family, but literally hundreds of people in two different places.

There are now four to six weeks for me to make a God-guided decision. This is what I plan to do:

  1. Pray. The Lord has a plan and a place for me. First and foremost I need His guidance and direction. Not only will I be praying, I know the people of Mt. Calvary and Ascension will be praying as well. I ask for your prayers, too.
  2. Listen. I really want to know if my ministry is still effective at Mt. Calvary. I will be listening to what Mt. Calvary members have to say about where we are and where they hope to go. It’s also important to pay attention to silence.
  3. Visit. We plan to visit Casselberry once again to learn more about its people, its worship, and its ministry. I need to determine where best my gifts fit by learning as much as I possibly can.
  4. Talk. As you can well imagine, my wife, Tammy, and I have already discussed this all a great deal. I also cherish and respect the thoughts and opinions of both of my children. This decision impacts not only me, but all of them. They deserve a voice.
  5. List. I will physically write down pros and cons, positives and negatives, regarding both scenarios. It’s always helpful to see in black and white which list is longer and which is shorter, and what all of those items bring to bear on the decision.

Eventually, a decision will have to be made. It’s a decision that will have an impact on a great many people. But in the end I will have to trust that I will be led to make the best decision for all concerned.

When you have to make a major decision what one thing do you make sure to do?

God Working His Way Through an Odd and Unsettling Place

It’s an odd place to be. Some people change jobs when they make the conscious decision to pursue another opportunity or a different career. Others lose a job and have to write resumes, pound the pavement, and ask for interviews.

My vocation works in a different way. As a pastor in the Lutheran Church one does not seek the office or the position, it seeks him. Which has put me in an odd place.

In December I received a phone call from a member of a church in Florida. It always starts like this: “Is there any reason right now why you couldn’t consider a Call.” (I intentionally capitalize the word “Call” because we believe that the Call comes from God through His people. It’s Divine.)

“Um, no. I guess not.”

And that set it all in motion. Apparently my name was submitted by someone in the congregation. Other names were submitted, as well. A list was put together. Each person was called and asked the same question as I was. Some may have had compelling reasons why they couldn’t move forward in the process. Others had no good reason not to move forward.

So on it went like this:

  1. An area church official called and said that after looking over paper work for all the candidates, I had made a “shorter list.” He said that he would keep me informed as to whether or not they wanted to move forward with me.
  2. A couple of weeks later a member of the Call committee contacted me and let me know they wanted to interview me over the phone. They emailed 15 questions so that I could prepare.
  3. Another couple of weeks later we spent about an hour on the phone doing the interview. Six people on the Call committee asked questions, and I answered.
  4. Finally, I received a phone call telling me that I had made the list of final candidates. They told me they wanted to fly my wife, Tammy, and me to Orlando, Florida, for a congregational forum and other interviews.

Shortly after our visit, the congregation will hold a Call meeting. They will take votes until one of the candidates has a clear majority. That candidate will receive the Call, and will have the opportunity to deliberate whether or not to accept the Call and begin a new ministry.

So I am currently in an odd place. I have fifteen years of relationships with the people I currently serve. Another congregation is in need of a new pastor. At this point, I have no idea whether or not it will be me that they Call.

It’s a bit unsettling. But it’s also a time of trusting and knowing that ultimately it is God’s will that will be done. He will make the outcome clear one way or another. And there’s something sacred about that.

How do you see God’s hand working through your work and vocation right now?

Using the Incredible Tool Called “Adjacent Possibilities”

My son is taking a class called “Applied Creativity.” Since I can’t make it down to Belmont University in Nashville three times a week, he’s happy to occasionally give me a synopsis of what he’s learning.

The other day he taught me the term “adjacent possibilities.” The basic idea is the creative thoughts come together from disparate places. Moving from one place to another the mind comes together with something exciting and brand new.

In a September, 2010, article, The Wall Street Journal describes it like this:

The strange and beautiful truth about the adjacent possible is that its boundaries grow as you explore them. Each new combination opens up the possibility of other new combinations. Think of it as a house that magically expands with each door you open. You begin in a room with four doors, each leading to a new room that you haven’t visited yet. Once you open one of those doors and stroll into that room, three new doors appear, each leading to a brand-new room that you couldn’t have reached from your original starting point. Keep opening new doors and eventually you’ll have built a palace.

The article goes on to say that in the past the accepted way of creating ideas was building walls around them. Building walls around ideas meant that “in the long run, innovation will increase if you put restrictions on the spread of new ideas, because those restrictions will allow the creators to collect large financial rewards from their inventions. And those rewards will then attract other innovators to follow in their path.”

But now creators of all kinds are learning that “adjacent possibilities,” crossing over disciplines, bringing together widely different vocations, and opening new doors. It’s an especially effective way of creating today in a world where information is exploding. Just spend a few moments at StumbleUpon and you will be fueled with endless possibilities.

What adjacent possibilities do you see today? Please post them in the comments below. I’d love to learn from you.

Overcoming the Fear of Making Art

For maybe the first time ever, I was scared to open an email message. I saw the subject line and I knew that I couldn’t delay it long. I had to open it. I had to see what it said. But I was scared.

I’ve been working on a project for Creative Communications for the Parish. It’s a worship and sermon series for this coming Advent. I’m under contract. It has to get finished. The worship services are submitted. Now I’m working on the sermons.

The other day I sent off the first sermon to have my editor take a look at it. I wanted him to provide feedback on the length, the tone, and other aspects of the sermon. Once he does so, I figured, I can move forward knowing that I’m either on the right track, or I have to adjust my direction.

So I sent off the email and waited.

I had to pay heed to Seth Godin’s advice: Ship it! Don’t wait. Don’t procrastinate. Don’t be a perfectionist. Ship it.

That’s not always easy. It means putting your art out there to be judged. It means taking a risk. It means giving up a certain amount of control.

A day or two later the email from my editor came back, and I was scared to open it. I was scared because:

  • It’s difficult to let others criticize one’s hard work.
  • It could mean even more work editing and upgrading.
  • It may reveal that they were wrong in choosing me to do this project.

But more than any of that, I was scared because criticism of my work is criticism of me. My art is part of who I am as a person, and rejecting it is rejecting me. Silly? Maybe. But it’s how I felt as I stared at that email waiting to be opened.

So after waiting an eternity of about 10 seconds (!), I opened it. My worst fears were not realized. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised. After asking for some minor editorial corrections my editor wrote: “Super work so far, Tom. We are excited about this project.”

Lesson 1: Take a risk and ship your art.

Lesson 2: Hard work is worth the effort.

Lesson 3: Accept both praise and criticism. It will make you a better artist. Had there been more constructive criticism in that email, I could have used it to improve my art even more. Having an outside party affirm my art means that I am headed in the right direction.

What fears do you have about shipping your art?