Made To Stick

This is my latest read - Made To Stick. An excerpt of this book was published in one of John Maxwell's leadership e-newsletter (of which I subscribe to) and the book was in one of his top list of highly recommended readings for this month.

Well, what drew my attention to it was the unveiling of the famous Kidney Heist hoax - one of the classic urban legends of the century. There are many versions of it but all of them share 3 core elements - (1) the drug drink, (2) the ice-filled tub, and (3) the kidney-theft punch line. If you were to read the story once, put it aside, take an hour long break and then relate it to a friend (without re-reading it), chances are you will get most of the facts right. It paints such a vivid picture in your mind, you can visualise the gruesome scene and grimace at the pain of having one of the victim's kidneys removed.

Why so?

Because the Kideny Heist tale is a story that STICKS. Urban legends, conspiracy theories and bogus public health scares circulate effortlessly because their originators knew how to make their ideas "stick". Why do some ideas thrive while some others die?

Made To Stick talks about how you can be effective in communicating ideas that... well, stick. Yes, embedded and entrenched in the minds of consumers. Whether you're delivering a speech, relating an inspirational story, telling a joke, selling a product, making a presentation or breaking through the advertisement clutter, you can apply the "sticky tape" principle anywhere.

Talking about advertisements that raises eyebrows, take a look at this one:



Interesting eh?


What sticky idea have you thought about today that could make a difference in the world?


Fishmonger

Jesus C.A.M.P.

Back in the days I was in Melbourne, I loved to watch Indie or locally produced arthouse films in my spare time. There was a small, quaint theatre I used to frequent which was free seating and strictly screened arthouse movies only. The Melbourne film festival would bring in some of the top award winning films and I would spend a great deal of time deliberating which films to catch due to my shoe-string budget.

Recently, I came across an Indie film that grabbed my attention almost immediatedly. Titled Jesus Camp, it is a 2006 documentary directed by Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing about a Pentecostal summer camp for children who spend their summers learning and practicing their prophetic gifts and being taught that they can take back America for Christ. Known as the "Kids On Fire School of Ministry," a charismatic Christian summer camp located just outside Devils Lake, North Dakota and run by Becky Fischer and her ministry, Kids in Ministry International, the film focuses on three children who attended the camp in the summer of 2005 - Levi, Rachael, and Tory.

I was pleasantly surprised to hear that "Jesus Camp" was nominated for the 2007 79th Annual Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Documentary Feature. Impressive.

Watch a preview of the film below.

Think I'm gonna get my hands on a copy of the DVD soon.

Fishmonger

Britain's Got Talent

I've recently been hooked on YouTube watching this latest UK talent show that's called "Britain's Got Talent". The winners of the competition get to perform before the Queen and showcase their act at the Royal Variety Show on June 17, 2007. Now that's... exactly 2 days more to go. It features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, contortionists, ventriloquists and other talents of all ages.

I'm an appreciative fan of performing arts and this show has wow-ed me over many times. You saw Connie in my previous post. She's simply amazing. Now watch some others I found who are truly brilliant.

I'm particular about the quality of YouTube videos I put up on my blog, so these to me, deserve special mention.

*****

Singer - Tony


Break Dancer - Scott (watch his back flips!)


Singer - Dominic


Street Dancer - George


Dancers - Jake Pratt


Some of them like George and Tony are going through difficult struggles in life so it's heart warming to see how they're using their God-given talents in the hope of creating a better life for themselves someday.

I'm inspired.


Fishmonger

Little Connie Sings!

Wow. I've never, ever, in my life heard a 6 year old singing with a puuuuuurfect pitch. Here is Connie singing, "Over the Rainbow" and impressing the 3 judges. Yes, including Mr. Simon Cowell.

Awww... she's so terribly sweeeeeeet.




Fishmonger

Boo!

Yes, I'm still alive. It's the i-have-no-inspiration-to-blog bug that's hitting me. Talking about bugs, I've recently been hit by the nasty flu bug. I'm thankful it didn't develop into a full blown FLU virus. Yes, I really hate those yucky green-yellowish phlegm that perpetually stays in your throat and refuses to come out until you start commanding it in "Jesus Name!!!" to come out! (sadly, it has never quite worked for me)

All these happened after 2 consecutive days of worship leading. It was probably the best sessions I've lead and it was simply a blast. Though the throat was already moving into the C-M-I (Cannot-Make-It) stages of audible voice projection, I was still going on and on... you can't really stop when you're simply caught up in His presence!

So I went to see a doc, got some antibiotics and have been on a strict soup-only-no-oily stuff diet (another day of this and I will die). It has been working I must say and I'm feeling much better already.

It's 1:17am and I'm not turning in early cos I start work at 12pm tomorrow! Woohoo! *happiness*

Well, that's b'cos I need to be at Great Eastern training in the evening from 7 to 9pm. I hope the late training hours go down well with the participants. It's a Friday and no one really likes to be attending a training after office hours on the eve of a weekend.

Alrightey, time to log off now and go read a book.

Have a greeeeeeaaat Friday PEEEEEOPLE!


Fishmonger

To those having tribe camps over the weekend, be blessed with a Spirit-filled time! I know it's gonna be POWERFUL! And to Ms Ma-gua, your session's gonna be just great! Must sing "Heart After You" loud loud ah...