Garmin nuvifone vs. Apple iPhone

It’s 7pm….sitting in my friend’s house…who is a software developer at Garmin…he’s almost finished his PhD at age 22…runs the sound team at our church…we’re getting ready for our 20 something’s small group…he’s smiling…I said “what are you smiling about”….he said, “big announcement”…”so tell me” I said… “I can’t, just wait” he said…2 minutes later…he comes back downstairs…he said, “ok, the announcement was just made in New York”… “Garmin just announced a full-fledged GSM HSDPA smartphone that will compete against the iPhone”…he said, “I was involved in the software development”…then he proceeded to explain things I still don’t understand.

Features of the Garmin nuvifone include:
• 3.5 generation mobile phone capability vs. Apple’s 2.5 generation
• Google local search
• Marks the exact coordinates of where you parked your car (especially beneficial if you’re at Disneyworld)
• Garmin Online services - traffic, weather, fuel prices, hotel discounts, etc.
• nuvi-like navigation on the road or in pedestrian mode
• Email, text, IM functions
• Camera, video camera, MP3 and MPEG4/AAC
• It might be an unlocked phone or it might be launched with a wireless provider

Click here for the press release.

Click here for pictures.

Click here for the buzz in the gadget world.

Some thoughts on the story:

• Just because someone is at a really high skill level, doesn’t mean they won’t lead the church sound team.
• Just because someone is really busy getting their PhD, doesn’t mean they won’t come to a church small group.
• Just because someone is doing something really cool at work, doesn’t mean you will know about it…unless you get involved in their life.

Einstein on Church Innovation

"Einstein retained the ability to hold 2 thoughts in his mind simultaneously, to be puzzled when they conflicted, and to delight when he saw an underlying unity." Excerpt from Reader's Digest

When a new intersection is discovered between 2 conflicting thoughts, you can guarantee that you are on to a great idea. Church innovation in the making! If I rewind several years, here are some examples of things that were previously seen as conflicting.

-Secular media and Sunday service
-Pre-taped and sermons
-Innovation and church
-Open discussions and theology

What are some other examples of 2 things that at first thought might conflict but could revolutionize the way non-believers view church?

Is Succession Planning Necessary in Church?

Do you have a succession plan for the key leaders at your church? Succession planning as defined by Wikipedia is the process of identifying and preparing suitable employees through mentoring, training and job rotation, to replace key players. What would happen if the worship leader at your church got sick on Saturday night and became completely unable to lead worship the next service? Would it be scramble mode? Or do you have plan? If your church administrator found a better job, would key historical information be retained? Would the transition be seamless?

Don’t’ be fooled into thinking that nothing will happen to your current key leaders. If you haven’t developed a succession plan, the primary 2 things you must do is identify the right replacement and mentor that replacement. In the November 2007 issue of CFO magazine, they identified 10 Steps to Successful Succession Planning.

1. Start the conversation.
2. Create a formal succession document.
3. Identify high-potential employees.
4. Partner candidates with mentors
5. Broaden candidates skill bases with rotations [in other departments].
6. Conduct annual performance reviews.
7. Manage expectations.
8. Develop contingency plans.
9. Be prepared for defections.
10. Communicate often, precisely, and discreetly.

Challenge: Start the conversation with your key leaders this week in identifying their replacement.

Turn Your Dreams Into Realities

In December, my parents took the families on an 8 day cruise to Acapulco and Zihuatenjo. It was a dream of my parents to do that for many years. They took that dream and made it a reality. It's easy to have dreams, but dreams without action is like wishing on a star... it will only be a dream.

I sent a postcard of Zihuatenjo to a friend. This is what I wrote.

In the movie "Shawshank Redemption," Andy Dufresne sets his dreams on reaching Zihuatenjo, Mexico despite his wrongful incarceration. Even though he encountered many setbacks, Andy never lost sight of his dream. After much hard work and patience, his dream finally became a reality. Since the movie release, Zihuatenjo has become synonymous for turning dreams into realities. May you reach your Zihuatenjo in 2008.

It's another year. Will 2008 look like 2007? Or will you take action on your dreams?