A one year project to become a better man in America's south
Day 197 – It’s Saturday and I’m stuck catching up on Facebook advertising trends. There is so much I don’t know. But the good thing is that I know what I don’t know. And I admit it.
Too many people sale snake oil. They pretend like they know everything. They pitch clients and even sit on panels pretending to know everything.
I don’t. I know what I don’t know. I admit it.
Admitting what you don’t know is a strength because it allows you to find the people who do know.
Day 195 – Today during my Bible time, I came across Matthew 5:25 which quotes Jesus Christ as saying “settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court.”
This quote reminded me of two recent posts I published where I discussed making quick decisions and moving past trouble.
Combine those two thoughts and you have Jesus’ lesson to settle matters quickly with your adversary.
Day 193 – First off, Happy Valentine’s Day Elizabeth!
Next week we will celebrate our 7th year anniversary. I can’t believe she’s still with me. No big plans tonight except for an episode of Pub Politics. No, I’m not a bad husband. Next week we will be celebrating Valentine’s, our anniversary and Elizabeth’s 30th birthday in VEGAS!
Day 191 – Last year I set a goal to get deeply involved in a church ministry by the end of 2011. I failed to accomplish that goal, but I wasn’t going to let another year pass by with another failure. I’m happy to announce that today we officially launched First Baptist Church of Columbia’s Internet ministry.
Day 190 – I think some people exist just to cause trouble. Just to stir up drama. Just to be roadblocks. Just to start fires.
They exist in both our personal and professional lives. They are kinks in a system that could be productive otherwise.
Day 189 – God gave us Sunday as a day of rest because we need it. It was a gift. And we should accept it.
I have not been. I don’t think anyone on the Donehue Direct team has accepted it. That’s a problem.
The entire office is sick. We’ve run our bodies into the ground. I can’t believe that Renee and Jonathan are still awake. Perhaps its because they are younger than me, or because they don’t bounce around to legislative parties on Tuesdays and Wendesdays, but they still have gas in the tank. I do not.
Day 188 – Follow-through is what’s missing.
People promise. They fail to deliver.
Over-promise. Under-deliver.
Day 187 – Another Pub Politics is in the history books. Episode 90. Just ten more until our big 100th episode blow-out. It will be epic. EPIC!
You’ve always heard – when you lie down with dogs, you are going to get fleas.
Day 184 – Dr Wendall Estep offered another great sermon today at First Baptist Church of Columbia. Continuing his series on The Sermon on The Mount, he gave a thoughtful lesson on judging.
Matthew 7:1-11 cites Jesus as saying:
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Day 182 – Guess what 365 divided by 2 is? That’s right – 182. I’M HALF WAY THERE!!
WOW! I cannot believe I’ve made it this far.
I spent last evening with Elizabeth and Joel and Anna Sawyer where Joel and I were honored for being two of Columbia’s most 50 influential people. Besides being the only two political consultants on the list, I was one of the youngest on the list at just 32-years-old. That’s pretty exciting.
Day 177 – Spiritual life is a very important aspect of my being. It instills a sense of humility that’s sometimes easy to lose sight of- but devoting time to praise reminds us that there’s something greater, something we can never be. It’s humbling.
Sharing that feeling with my friends and family is amazing.
Tonight, I attended a very meaningful ceremony for my friend Richie Hayward. Richie was ordained as a Deacon of First Baptist Church of Columbia. The meaning and the substance behind this really hit me hard as I watched the FBC Deacons lay hands on Richie and the other inductees.
Day Whatever – This will be the first post of this Man Project that I publish out of order. I have posts written for nearly every day over the past 10 days, but honestly, this has been the busiest two weeks of my career. The presidential circus came to town the same day the SC legislature reconvened. We had a debate in Myrtle Beach last weekend and another one in Charleston last night. I’ve had interview after interview and more lunches and drinks with reporters than I can count. I also made a quick trip up to DC yesterday. Today I’m running on fumes.
Day 162 – What is that you want from life?
In the end, that is the ultimate question. I’m not talking about that crazy question “how do you want people to remember you after you die?” I’ll ask that one again later. I’m talking about this question: how do you want to live today?
I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately and for now, I have an answer. Here it is. Get ready… I want to be able to do whatever I want to do.
BOOM!
Day 149 – I hate money. I really really hate it. A lot of people are driven by money, especially entrepreneurs. Perhaps I shouldn’t make this confession as I’m currently seeking investors in different web ventures. But it’s the truth. Money just doesn’t motivate me. Now building something cool like a winning campaign or a big business, that motivates me, but having a lot of green stored away just doesn’t float my boat.
Today is the first day of 2012. I’m pumped to see what this year can bring. The truth is that last year was the best year of my life. Sure, it had a good many downs, but I lived life to its fullest with my soulmate. **Is it just me or has Mark Sanford completely ruined that word?**
Day 146 – While the ball in Times Square is just two days from being dropped, I look back on the balls I dropped this year. I didn’t find that hobby, learn to play the harmonica, quit cursing or get a six-pack. Watch here:
Day 142 – It’s a creepy question. It makes you sound like a creeper. Quit asking. Please.
Today I finished ‘Start Something That Matters’ by TOM’s Chief Shoe Giver (or CEO) Blake Mycoskie. One section that really stuck out to me was titled “the timing is never right.” Ain’t that the truth?!?
Mycoskie writes “one of the key fears that we all have the fear that this is the wrong time to start whatever our project is and we should wait until the time is right.” Mycoskie then quotes Tim Ferris, author of best-selling ‘The 4-Hour Workweek:”
Day 140 – Everything changed when I turned 30. I realized that my life could be half over and that it was time to pick up the pace.
I traveled a little bit, but I had not seen so many parts of the world.
I was working hard, but building someone else’s company. They traveled the country and made a name for themselves while I stayed locked up as the workhorse.
I sacked away half my paycheck for a retirement I may never see.
Why all the doom and gloom and talk of an early death?
Day 133 – We’re having an exciting year over here at Donehue Direct. As we grow, it seems that sometimes I have to take a step back and realize why I got into the consulting and politics business in the first place. Work is work, but there’s also the human need to unwind- as the workload increases and campaign season starts, I know I definitely have to cool off and have a few laughs or else we’re going to go crazy with polls and twitter updates.
Day 128 – Today, with some awfully kind donations from good friends, the Pub Politics charity challenge for the Carolina Children’s Home crossed over $3,000. Now we have to pump that number up even higher.
How much should you give to charity? I love this answer by C.S. Lewis:
Day 126 – Allow me to take a break from my regular political banter and tell you about an organization that could use our help and how we are using Pub Politics to raise money for a great charity. Please visit www.rally.org/pubpolitics
It’s the holiday season: we rejoice in miracles and holiness of this time, enjoying family, food, friends, and festivities. As families, we gather to share time, love and traditions and create memories that last a lifetime.
