The Modern-day Craftsman

Photo: niallkennedy

A bad craftsman blames his tools. - French Proverb

A few weeks ago, I watched an interview with Jack Dorsey, Chairman of Twitter and CEO of Square. He described one of the founders of Instagram, a former colleague of his, as an “amazing craftsman.”

More recently, on my way to work, I listened to an interview with rapper and actor Ice-T. In reference to his new film, Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap, he used the word “craft” to describe the making of rap music in his era. Ice-T: a craftsman?

There is a craft movement afoot in this country, and entrepreneurs, the most nimble of job creators, are participating en force. These craftsmen mean business, and there are a few simple things on which the successful ones focus: quality, technology and the customer. All three work hand-in-hand.

One of my favorite craft categories is that of beer, a torch-carrier in the movement. The craft beer industry is comprised of 1,900+ small brewing companies and has experienced steady growth in recent times. According to the Brewer’s Association, the craft beer industry grew by 13% and 12% in 2011 and 2010, respectively, while sales of beer in general fell.

What's the difference? Craft brewers are innovative and passionate. Craft brewers focus on small-batch production and quality ingredients, which often amounts to higher prices. Customers are responding by paying the premium. Here in Houston, The Hay Merchant is a prime example of this. The bar serves craft beer only and is crowded every time I go.

Craft ideology spans into other categories, like food, coffee and even clothing. Billy Reid, a designer from Alabama, sells handmade clothing. His clothing is not inexpensive, but customers are willing to pay high prices for the quality product he produces, and thus his business continues to grow.

Important for craftsmen is the use of technology. The expansion of online commerce has spawned a proliferation of start-ups. Shopify, for one, provides businesses an affordable opportunity to easily establish a storefront online to sell beyond their local customer base. Inconceivable a decade ago, let alone affordable. Etsy, a community site, provides an outlet for artists to display and sell work to customers far and wide. My wife used Etsy to decorate our daughter's nursery, choosing to buy through the site on account of its original products.

Consumers are increasingly seeking ways to connect with people who make the products they buy. Jaime Wong, an entrepreneur, makes the case for changing consumer tastes in Fast Company, The Rise of the Micro Entrepreneurship Economy, writing, "As our appetite for labor swings away from the corporate culture and structure, so does our taste in buying."

People are yearning for high quality products, whether in the beer they drink or the clothes they wear. They are interested in traditions of the past... today. Craft products remind consumers of the way things used to be: slower, simpler, by hand. In that sense, consumers are returning to the days of old--and taking their money with them.

The craft category can be a step forward for those affected by economic slips or those simply interested in seeking income by profiting from what they love to do.

What's your craft? Find your passion. Focus on quality. And take advantage of technology to reach an expanded set of consumers ready for your product. You have the tools to make it happen.

Finding Flow

(Photo: Susan Stroup)

Gaining satisfaction in work isn’t easy. Learning to love what you do is less easy. But there are ways to move in a positive direction, playing well the cards you’re dealt, and enjoying what you do every day.

Flow, initially proposed by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi (What a last name!), is the ultimate form of satisfaction. Defined as the “mental state of operation in which a person in an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and success in the process of the activity,” flow is achieved when you make the best of a situation, are ready, and fire on all cylinders when it is your time.

People may witness flow watching professional sports. As a kid, I watched Michael Jordan in his prime, and I remember him regularly finding flow, often in the most critical of circumstances. It was amazing.

Writers and other creative types often experience flow during work sessions. Listening to accomplished writers describe periods of high-gear productivity gets my juices going, no doubt.

Flow is not just for yogis, professional athletes and novelists. You can reach a state of flow in anything you do. It can be found no matter your work–whether you are dedicated to a corporation (like me) or out there swinging for the fences on your own. But getting there requires work and discipline.

When I reach states of flow in my life, it's worth writing home about.

Here’s my recipe for finding flow:

1. Light a fire in the belly. I don’t know who lit a fire in mine, but I’m glad to have one and know that it burns bright. Every morning, I take a few puffs from my pipe of gusto, and get after living.

2. Seek passion. This is ongoing in my life. The thought of doing what I love moves me to no end. In my wallet, I carry a quote from Steve Ballmer, Chief Executive of Microsoft. In his commencement speech to the students of this year’s graduating class at the University of Southern California, Ballmer said: “People think that passion is something you either have or you don’t. People think passion is something that has to manifest itself in some kind of explosive and emotional format. It’s not. It’s the thing in your life that you can care about, that you can cling to, that you can invest yourself in–heart, body and soul. Finding passion is kind of your job now.”

3. Explore other professions. You may have the greatest job in the world (or so you think), but that shouldn’t prevent you from noticing other ways of working. If you’re not looking at what others are doing, you may not fully comprehend your own situation. Interview, set up breakfasts or beers, whatever, just understand what your peers and friends are doing in their work. Observing what others do helps me to grasp how what I do fits into the larger marketplace.

4. Fail and forget. As one of my mentors told me, “There’s no such thing as failure, only feedback.” Failing to get into a certain school or land that “perfect” job can be painful, shameful and even humiliating. I know. But what I’ve found through failing, and have many times over, is that in hindsight, doing so only builds you up for your next set of challenges. In the words of Winston Churchill, “Success is going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” Don’t fear failure.

5. Improve the situation. Like they say about the weather in many places, “If you don’t like it, wait a few minutes.” The atmosphere of work, like anything in life, will ebb and flow. If you’re stuck in a rut, start climbing out of it. If your work situation is truly horrible, then it’s time for change. Tweak as you go.

6. Commit to something with total focus. This is where the magic happens and mojo finds its way into the workplace. If you can find something that interests you, whether a corporate project, a non-profit service or an entrepreneurial endeavor, take on the challenge. If you’re committed, you will find victory and satisfaction. As written in one of my favorite reads, The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho, “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

7. Work with good people. Build networks, work with people who have values similar to yours, hang around those you respect and who can teach you. Period.

8. Meditate. Try it, if you haven’t. No need to dress like Gandhi, or or even sit cross-legged. Find your breath above all else. I recently read that Gary Player, one of the world’s greatest golfers, now 75, meditates for 20 to 30 minutes every day. "I think it’s important to work on strength of mind, patience and gratitude," he says. All goodness.

9. Change. We all get burnt out. Realize when your flame is low, and address it. Recharge your batteries. You will benefit in the long run. Life is a series of experiences, and the more experiences you have, the better your chances of being satisfied when you reflect at the end of the line.

10. Let go. “Let it flow; Let yourself go,” is the opening line of Slow and Low by The Beastie Boys. Look it, we all want to control our situations. But we can’t. By letting go, we can begin to enjoy what’s given to us on a daily basis. It’s a gift, and by realizing that simple fact, we don’t have to be Michael Jordan to find flow. We can create our own situations to experience it.

The Question of Why: A Blog with Purpose

Why do I do what I do? I have been asking this of myself before approaching any meaningful labor over the last few weeks.

My initial motivation for asking “why” stems from watching Simon Sinek’s TedTalk, How great leaders inspire action. I was further motivated in reading a timely post by Scott Dinsmore, who apparently met Sinek and came away inspired to reinforce his revolutionary path to personal freedom. On with the chain reaction….

If you watch Sinek’s talk, you will grasp his basic message: By understanding and conveying why (we do what we do), we inspire action. Action on the part of our audience, our customers, whoever it is we intend to pull into our cause. In short, this is what great leaders do. Inspiring leaders start with why.

This post is dedicated to the question of why, specifically as it pertains to my blog. I could obviously choose to explore other current areas of my life (e.g., work or triathlon training), but will save those for another day. I’ve been curious to understand the value of blogging anyhow; hence, the focus for this exercise.

(Photo: Mike Licht)

Now that I have identified my activity, let’s get on with it. Why do I publish this blog?

1. To improve my writing—It’s not easy for me to write; it never has been. It takes time to post content of quality. It takes thoughtfulness and consideration of a readership, both regular and potential. But I enjoy it. There is a strong sense of continual improvement in writing that is gratifying to me.

I believe that effective written communication is as essential as ever before. Although diluted perhaps in the digital era, the importance of writing is not gone. Nor is it just for non-business types: one read-through of Jaime Dimon’s latest letter to J.P. Morgan's shareholders (of which I am not) provides proof to that end.

Anne Lamott, author of the superb book on writing, Bird By Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, writes, "If you are a writer, or want to be a writer, this is how you spend your days – listening, observing, storing things away, making your isolation pay off. You take home all you've taken in, all that you've overheard, and you turn it into gold. (Or at least you try.)" Readers, this is true.

2. To chronicle life events—Weblogs, like so many things in life, are me-focused by nature, and mine is no exception. If I don't watch myself, my posts can quickly become “dear diary” sessions.

Although I'm fortunate to have had many unique experiences in my life, through travel and curious living and whatnot, I’ve never been one to snap a lot of photos, usually relying on memory to carry worthy moments into perpetuity.  This blog, however, is the place to not only capture experiences, but also enhance them—a definite improvement upon my memory! Since kicking off FMOC in 2009, I've shared roughly 40 entries.

3. To discover and create—I’m always willing to try new things, and this blog is an example of that willingness. Blogging has become my creative outlet, just as yours might be playing the banjo or painting a picture. The process of observation and regurgitation, although rigorous at times, is rewarding to me.

4. To add color to my corner—FMOC covers a miscellany of topics. I'd like to think that I’m performing  an act of greater goodness with it, but come on, that's a mighty bite to chew. This blog is for me. It is about making my little corner of the universe more fun and interesting. If I can provide content which is relevant to others now and again, that's time well spent. Inspirational... well, that's a bonus.

5. To inspire and teach—This is my reach: if I can give people ways to solve problems, to think creatively, or in the case of this post, to get inspired into action, I've gotten all I want and more from FMOC.

Here's the deal: I want to improve my ability to convey my experiences and perspectives so that they can be useful to others. I admire people who clearly communicate subjects, no matter the audience. It's a gift that few have.

I have grown (if I may be the judge) in my ability to write. FMOC is living proof. I'm not a writer, but in a sense, I'm becoming one. My hope is that eventually, in a way not yet visualized, this blog can become a vehicle for effective teaching (not professing!). I have a vision that life lessons can spring and flow from FMOC, and that these lessons will serve as a source of material from which others can draw and apply productively.

This is why I blog.

My immediate hope is that this post will be of use to you, and that you may incorporate a similar process of discovery by asking yourself the same question: why do you do what you do?

Here’s the process for uncovering the answer to your why, simply put:

1. Get started by picking an activity to which you devote time and energy. This could be your job, own company, or a hobby about which you feel passionate.

2. Ask yourself the question, why do I do what I do? And so it all begins, your inspiring others into action. To my knowledge, there’s no formal format for how to answer the question (at least not in this case). I chose to keep a list, because that’s how I tend to do things.

3. Feel free to share why you do what you do in the comments section of this post.

What is your purpose, cause or belief? Have I prompted you to consider the why of what you do?

35 of My Favorite Things

With flipped burgers among family and a few friends, my 35th birthday came and went in March. As this milestone year passes, I catch myself reflecting now and again on certain aspects of life.

At the risk of exposing myself, I’m sharing 35 of my favorite things. Most of these I take for granted.

Simply put, these make life worth living. As with anything finite, this list is not all-inclusive—but it is thematic, and I like that. Plus, I had to set a limit somehow.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Here goes, in random order:

1. Texas—I’m a proud (not loud) Texan. The Lone Star State, all 268,820 square miles of it, provides the best of nature, people and tradition. It is a state of mind.

2. Books—My preference is the traditional sort over an e-reader, although I’m boycotting the library indefinitely, after being forced to pay for a recent checkout on account of water damage. I prefer reading a book over watching TV any day.

3. US Craft Beer—Have you been to your beer store lately? There are more unique and independent beers available now than ever. They come in several varieties—Wild Ale, Double IPA and Imperial Stout, to name a few. If you drink beer, drink better beer.

4. Habanos Montecristos—A close friend once introduced me to Montecristo No. 4, a fine smoke indeed. If a No. 2 is offered, I’m not afraid to notch it up a couple of gauges.

5. Coffee—I enjoy a strong cup of java nearly every morning. I like a medium blend, from a French press if time permits (usually on Saturdays). If an espresso fits into my afternoon schedule, I might take advantage.

6. Cooking—When I have time to prep accordingly, I love to cook—especially for my wife. I don’t mind doing it on a whim, either, but I enjoy the process as much as the result.

7. Cultures—I embrace new cultures. My first immersive “cultural experience” came from behind the bar during the summer of ’95 in Puerto Rico. Payment for my efforts came largely in the form of the island’s finest rum, Don Q. It was the experience that mattered.

8. Language—I speak Spanish and Portuguese. There’s no better way to get to know people than by speaking their native tongue. It’s an instant “conversation starter.”

9. Entrepreneurship—To some extent, we are all entrepreneurs. In my view, we ought to focus on bringing value to the table, no matter where we’re seated.

10. Intense Exercise—I like a mix of exercise and squeeze in a workout whenever I can. Let’s call it stress relief. Since I’m currently training for a triathlon, it’s critical right now.

11. Adventurous Travel—The more unplanned, the better. It’s amazing what we can experience without plans, which is not easy for a planner like me.

12. Faith—I have it and am grateful for the gift of a being spiritually centered. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)

13. Farmers Markets—It’s been positive to witness this scene develop in Houston. I’ve been a patron-advocate of farmers markets for years. Fresh and local food beats all other.

14. Getting Inspired, Inspiring—I’m always seeking inspiration, and when I find it, I pass it along to others. Case in point, watch this inspirational video of a dude on his orange bike.

15. Homemade Brownies—I’m happy to cook them, preferably without nuts.

16. Independent Radio—Radio remains an important medium. One way to get a feel for a city is to listen to its community radio station(s). Here are a few online standouts: KXT, KUT and WXPN.

17. Interesting People—I love to meet people, and feed off of those taking their lives in interesting directions. I don’t know who said it, but I like it: “Strangers are friends you have yet to meet.”

18. Lifelong Learning—I have three degrees, and while it’s unlikely that I’ll earn another, my personal learning curve is progressively steepening. Knowledge is a powerful asset.

19. Live Music—I have been to many a memorable show. The Grateful Dead in Memphis. Buena Vista Social Club in Santiago. Doing nothing with live music in the background is preferable to doing anything else without it.

20. Yerba Mate—Okay, so you can tell I like caffeine. This stimulant from the land of Latin America is oh so refreshing—and better for you than coffee, I’m sure.

21. Road Trips—Modern day roaming. The most out of the ordinary road trip I ever took was in Morocco. Emily and I took a scenic one to West Texas and back to Houston last fall. Have a look for yourself.

22. Swimming—Morning swims are the best, right out of bed. I like Barton Springs Pool. I love the Pacific Ocean.

23. Smoothies—Every morning, if not traveling, I make a smoothie for Emily and me. She calls me the Smoothie Operator, and I’m fine with that. There’s not much more nutritious than beginning a day with almond milk, banana, açaí and seasonal fruits. I recommend it.

24. Playing Catch—Give me a ball to throw and go deep.

25. Time Well Spent—Whether it’s being productive in work or looking back on a vacation day with satisfaction, time is your nonrenewable resource. Don’t waste it.

26. Vanilla Ice Cream—This speaks to my personality to a certain degree. While I like color, and lots of it, I myself am rather plain. No high fructose corn syrup, please.

27. Emily—I’m luckier than she is, I’ll put it that way.

28. Working Remotely—I’m fortunate to work for a leading-edge company that manages its oceanic workforce as masterfully as any. There are times when it’s considered efficient and productive to work from the virtual office. On rare occasions, I work in shorts.

29. Writing—To borrow a line from a fellow Texan, Willie Nelson: “I like myself better when I'm writing regularly.” It’s healthy for me, too, Willie.

30. Yoga—Once per week, if I can get there. I could tell where it is I go, but then I'd have to kill you, and that wouldn't be yogi-like. Once on the mat, my priorities promptly fall into order. Breathe.

31. Deep Friendships—I think my personality comes across as introverted at first. But more often than not, when I get to know someone, we become good friends.

32. Steak—Ribeye, New York Strip, you name it, particularly when I’m manning the fire. Try this way to grill a ribeye.

33. Granola—Maybe my last meal request. Don’t ask me why. It tastes great to me, and always has. A large bowl of granola makes a delightful snack.

34. The City by the Bay—As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I’m a city guy, and my favorite among them all might be San Francisco. On a pretty day, there’s no place prettier.

35. Peanut Butter—Another fulfilling snack. I like to have a spoonful, sometimes before I go to bed.

However far along you are in life, I suggest performing the exercise I did above. It won’t take as long as you think (particularly without descriptions). Another Willie quote may best summarize why you should consider it: “When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.”

I’m not suggesting that my life needs a turnaround. It’s not perfect. Nobody’s is. But it’s on a straight enough track for me.

I believe that knowing who you are, what makes you tick and why, will lead to a pleasant life – not only for yourself but for those closest to you, too. If nothing else, creating a modicum of consistency between who we think we are and who others think we are can eliminate a certain amount of stress we place on ourselves by trying to be someone we’re not.

Buena suerte. Boa Sorte. Good luck.

Fancy Food Show—Here I Go

My interests in international commerce and beer come together this weekend as I arrive to balmy San Francisco for the 35th Winter Fancy Food Show, where I’ll be volunteering at Booth 2415 for the fine folks of the Brewers Association.

The association’s Export Development Program, which generates publicity for the US craft beer industry and assists its affiliate brands in gaining attention and distribution in selected markets, will be coordinating the events at our booth.

Ten big-name craft brewers will be displaying their artisan-style ales and lagers. I’ll be serving and tasting them all over the next few days. Here’s the lineup:

• 21st Amendment Brewery
• Anderson Valley Brewing Co.
• Boston Beer Co.
• Brewery Ommegang
• Dogfish Head Craft Brewing Co.
• Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
• Kona Brewing Co.
• Lagunitas Brewing Co.
• Rogue Ales
• Stone Brewing Co.

To say that I’ve worked with Dogfish and Stone, both brands which I can buy in Texas, will be damn cool. But I’m particularly pumped to meet the representatives at 21st Amendment. From San Francisco, the hometown boys are fairly new on the beer scene. I’m intrigued by their can-format packaging and watermelon-flavored beer. Firestone Walker, of Paso Robles, California, has my attention too.

I’ve never been to this festival, so I’m not sure what to expect. On the show’s website, I note how vast it really is, both in its size and number of exhibitors. Thousands of vendors will be on hand, representing every corner of the “fancy” food world—from grass-fed beef to olive oil and yogurt, it will all be there.

An online contest (“Can You Spot the Next Food Trend?”) to predict the top five food trends that will emerge from the event caught my eye, appealing to my trend-spotting instinct. Willing to win, I go for it, entering my top five:

• Açaí
• Coconut Water
• Kombucha
• Raw Honey
• Yerba Maté

The two previous show’s winners were:

Summer 2009
• Blood orange
• Chocolate and salt
• Superfruits
• Gluten-free
• Eco awareness

Winter 2009
• Single-Serve Portions
• Fruity Additions
• Organic
• Sensitivity to Dietary Needs
• Exotic Spice Blends

While this event for me is mainly about the beer—the good kind, with benefits of its own—perhaps I'll learn of new, healthy ingredients to mix into smoothies on future mornings in Cherryhurst. (See ‘Smoothie Operator’ post last year.)

Cheers!

Survey Says: FMOC Lives on in 2010

Happy New Year!

Here’s a big THANK YOU to all who completed the 2009 Readership Survey.

I don’t plan to go on at length about the results. (Your feedback was primarily for my benefit.) If interested, please contact me directly, and I can share the general sentiments shared.

Nobody nailed the correct number of email subscribers… but since I’d rather give it away than keep it, I’ll send the $15 gift certificate to the person who guessed closest. Correct number: 23.

In the biggest news of all, Future Mayor of Cherryhurst will live on in 2010!

Considering all feedback (mine, included), I’m making a couple of tweaks that will manifest themselves in 2010:

1. New description & future redesign

Although the meaning of FMOC remains the same, the blog’s description has changed to read: “One Man's Quest to Take Office in a Quaint Corner of Montrose.”

On the whole, I like the blog’s look and feel, but the functionality can be improved. In the spirit of continuous improvement in the blogosphere, I’ll work for change.

I’m looking at ways to make the blog more appealing to the passing reader, and especially, more attractive for all readers to make comments.

Ideally, this blog will become a means of communicating with friends and followers alike, all in support of the FMOC campaign.

2. Less regimented schedule & more freewheeling content

The schedule will be less regimented, as will be the content. No longer will I be posting every two weeks.  Posts may come more frequently, maybe less.

A biweekly schedule was useful because it allowed me to publish regularly... to avoid a collapse into the blogging ether. I also wanted to be conscious to not let my blogging interfere with my day job, so I intentionally posted on Sundays. This rigid schedule put undue stress on the Covey household.

The way forward?

Posts are intended to be freewheeling, a reflection of what’s on my mind at the moment—a complement to the daily proceedings of life. They will probably be shorter and (hopefully) to the point—as is the case with the blog’s description.

This year brings a looser and more spontaneous mayoral candidate… do keep reading, and enjoy:-)

FMOC Readership Survey 2009: Win a $15 Gift Certificate to iTunes!

Nearly a wrap, 2009 is tick-tick-tick-ticking away....

Against the clock, I briefly reflect on the year that was for FMOC.  This is post number 28, my final of 2009.

What started as an experimental, weekly muse in January subsequently became a self-imposed, death-defying biweekly publishing schedule in June. The results, while not altogether measurable, have been favorable—insofar as I am concerned.

While often having to dig deep on Sundays, following fun-filled weekends or before hard-hitting weeks of work, to produce some semblance of content, I managed to put forth intelligible posts on every cycle.

FMOC has been a satisfying experience for me on many fronts, but I can call out a few in particular:

1. It has afforded me a sliver of a presence online, complimenting my life offline.  In a lighthearted way, I have crafted a brand.  We are in a period for/of publishing like none other; the means to produce content is there for all.  To anyone with even a remote interest in creating a blog, book, you name it, wait no more.

2. It has been a tremendous vehicle to keep in touch with friends, old and new alike.  I don't know exactly how many people read FMOC or visit the website, but here and there, I get a comment, online or offline, which justifies the effort I give toward it and reinforces the experience as rewarding to me.

3. To teach is to learn.  FMOC is my chance to learn about random subjects that are of interest to me, and by writing about them, I teach (that is the idea, anyway), therefore increasing my own learning—and writing.

The CEO of Accenture, Bill Green, has been quoted saying, "...we keep one foot in today and one foot in tomorrow."  With his words in mind, I turn an eye toward the year ahead, with a request for your feedback.

It will be your gift to me. I want to know: should I continue to write FMOC in 2010?  And, if so, what improvements can be made to make it more enjoyable to you, the reader?

I quickly assembled a readership survey, using SurveyMonkey.  Its seven questions will take you no longer than two minutes to answer.  Not every question is required (*).  To sweeten the deal, I included one question (number 2) that, if answered correctly, provides a chance to win a $15 gift certificate to iTunes.

Click this link to gain access.  Please be honest in your replies, completing the survey by January 8.

If the general response is to keep FMOC alive, I will consider all suggestions, eventually weaving them into the blog's design, functionality, and most importantly, content.

To everyone who has read thus far, many thanks for one year of satisfaction.  I wish you much happiness, health and prosperity in 2010.  (I have a positive feeling about it... you should too!)

Recharge Your Batteries

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a ‘connector.’ Maintaining connections with people is an activity that I thoroughly enjoy. I consider my network of friends and associates as one of my most valuable assets.

I also maintain a high level of productivity in whatever I do, be it work or play. I make it a priority to continually improve upon my productivity, focusing on the tasks worth performing, rather than those whose ends are undefined and do not build upon a reasoned purpose.

Being connected and productive is fulfilling and contributes to the rich life I lead. However, the combination requires much work and can be draining of energy.

It is not easy to disconnect and decrease productivity, recharging my batteries, but it is an essential component to being well, so I do it as often as often as I can.

What, in your life, creates stress or is exhausting? Whatever the drain is, step away from it—especially if you have not done so lately. You will be glad you did.

Recharging my batteries usually means travel, the more adventurous the better, ejecting myself from the normal routine—ideally, for at least ten days—resisting all temptations of the norm.

I turn off my PDA and leave behind my PC, shirking work altogether and allowing for total mental recuperation. I seek culture, reading and writing and engaging secondary languages, which, in my case, are Spanish and Portuguese.  Physical exertion is a plus, too. I like to be outdoors, preferably riding a bike or taking a hike.

I find that when I return from time away from the norm, my relationships are stronger than before and I am as productive as ever.

I am fortunate in that Accenture, my employer, places a high value on its employees spending time out of the office. The company provides us five weeks of “paid time off,” plus a fair number of holidays throughout the year…an unbeatable perk, of which I take advantage.

I realize that, for a variety of reasons, you may not have access to the same benefit of exiting the grind. I realize that travel might not be your bag. But whatever it is that wears you down, identify it, and then completely step away—even if for a few days. And notice the difference.

Time away for your typical day is energizing and leads to improved health and happiness. You owe it to yourself and others to recharge your batteries.

Jester Round the Corner

Emily and I went to the 26th Annual Dixie Cup, one of the nation’s oldest homebrewing competitions, on Friday night. Local homebrewers have been congregating at this event to talk shop and quaff each others’ ales since 1983, when their craft was legalized in Texas.

While I am fan of craft beer, I have never actually brewed anything (other than trouble). Nevertheless, I thought it would be educational to attend, tasting the local flavor. As it turns out, the Dixie Cup was a cheap date (for me)—and time well spent for both us.

To provide some history here, Emily and I officially entered the craft beer world together via a visit to Saint Arnold Brewing Company in July, 2007, and then again on our honeymoon in June, 2008, when we visited several breweries in and around Portland, Oregon (aka, Beer Town); we have been refining our pallettes for independently brewed beer since then.

We arrived to the Dixie Cup early and overdressed, not knowing what to expect. We encountered a potluck dinner for which we were ill-equipped. No matter. Accompanying the homemade food was a line of tapped kegs from selected state breweries, commercial and otherwise.

Taking in the scene, we immediately met two guys with an idea—and the entrepreneurship qualities that just might lead them to filling an apparent void, relative to the rest of the country, in Texas craft brewing.

Jeffrey Stuffings and Michael Steffing—despite the subtle difference in surnames—are brothers and business partners. They are following Jeffrey’s dream to transition from homebrewer to pro brewer.

I sampled their product, and it is excellent. The Das WUNDERKIND! was surprisingly hoppy, which I prefer. I also liked one of their others, the Rex Machina, as it was both sessionable and smooth, especially following the chocolate brownie I had noshed just minutes before.

Jeffrey, a graduate of Notre Dame, is a longtime homebrewer who has lived in Austin for a couple of years. He is acting on his dream now, recently dropping his job as an attorney to pursue this endeavor full time, while Michael moved to town three months ago to help him realize it.

(Jeffrey Stuffings, a pretty lady in a dirndl, and me; courtesy of Emily Covey)

Their brewery, all 4,000 square feet, will be situated southwest of Austin and will be called Jester King Craft Brewery. Its name fits, capturing Jeffrey’s penchant for creating “high-quality, hand-crafted beer that thrives on artistry and creativity.”

As taken from its website, the company's founding description reads….

“In Medieval Times members of the Royal Court shared ancestry with—or owed political favor to—the King. The Court Jester was exceptional to this Noble Order. A blacksmith too reflective for life over the anvil or a farmer whose wit exceeded his ability to sow the fields, the Jester was plucked from the Masses to amuse the Court. Access and Privilege afforded the Jester unique Freedom to cast satire without fear of reprisal; his antics were, after all, merely in jest. Creativity, Guile and Cunning set this Wise Fool apart from the Noble Order.

Craft Brewers are the Jesters of Modern Times. Their daring and irreverence contrast with the King of Beer's Commodification and Economies of Scale. The artful, talented jesters at Jester King Craft Brewery are free from commercial restrictions; their minds guide their hands toward imaginative black licorice porters, wildflower wheat ales and port barrel-aged Belgian brown ales. While the King of Beer seeks to control the Kingdom, the Jester hops and dances on the Throne!”

Jeffrey and Michael are in the process of assembling the necessary finances to put it all together, and they are nearly there. They are seeking $500,000, selling a 38% equity stake in their business. Expecting to have the capacity to produce 15,000 barrels of beer per year and a bottling facility by mid-2010, they are 86% of the way to their goal. (Note: Jester King has not yet ruled out canning its beer.)

At this time, roughly 5% percent of the company remains available for purchase. To investors with interest, stake your claim while remaining shares are available. For further information on the opportunity and access to their executive summary, click here.

Finances aside, here are a couple of points I like about the founders of Jester King:

1. Their opportunistic foresight. They are part of a movement supporting locally made products, that has swept the country and is arriving to Texas. Jester King is in pole position to benefit from such growth, capitalizing on successes already reached by other state breweries like Real Ale Brewing Company, of Blanco, and Saint Arnold, a company with a vision I have previously described.

2. Their plan to buck the system—with temperance. They will produce beers that are “extreme,” a term oft-used in craft beer brewing and made famous by Sam Calagione, owner of Dogfish Head. With that in mind, after chatting with them, Jeffrey and Michael seem to understand that, to be profitable in a state where beer education is not totally materialized, they will need a light lager or a style that resembles the beers that we Texans are accustomed to drinking.

Here's to Jeffrey and Michael, and their irreverent approach to brewing. I commend their entrepreneurial spirit as well as the creativity and passion behind their beer. Let's raise a glass to the Jester as King… round the corner he comes.

The Ulimate Entrepreneur: Warren E. Buffett

Anyone who regularly reads this blog knows I like entrepreneurs. In one post, I went so far as to define entrepreneur. I believe that entrepreneurs are the very foundation of our nation's economy, providing the innovation that supports it.

Well, in recent weeks, I have discovered the ultimate of all entrepreneurs: Warren Edward Buffett.

Until my dad passed me The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life, written by fellow University of Texas alumnus, Alice Schroeder, my interest in and knowledge of Buffett was cursory and limited. I have been referred to his Shareholder Letters a number of times, but after downloading them, I would never follow through with the required reading.

Just this year, a close friend of mine, a Buffett fan himself, invited me to Berkshire Hathway's Annual Shareholder Meeting, the boondoggle that attracts as many as 30,000 people to Omaha. I was not able to attend with him, but our plan is to make the trip in 2010.

Back to the book, Schroeder, a former analyst who covered Berkshire Hathaway, spent five years writing the 838-page biography.

In the forced march it must have been, the author received all-access interviews to one of the world's top billionaires as well as the people in his life. She secured a $7.2 million contract and Buffett's word to not change any of her work, a promise he apparently kept.

It is a fascinating look at the evolution of a man, a real personality, who some call an oddball. Aptly named, The Snowball demonstrates Buffett's keen understanding of the compounding effect of money.

The book also details his personal life, which in its beginning stages, was hugely influenced by his father, Howard, whose towering presence led him to the United States congressional seat in the Nebraskan district where Omaha was located.

However, the Republican's isolationistic and right-wing tendencies eventually caused him to be voted out of Washington DC following three terms in office.

As a young man, Buffett read voraciously. One of his favorite books was titled One Thousand Ways to Make $1,000 (or one million dollars, as Schroeder points out to the reader). Buffett announced to one of his best friends at the time that he would be a millionaire by the time he was 35.

His early business endeavors included selling golf balls, publishing horseracing odds and tirelessly managing his own newspaper routes. And it was those business pursuits that would serve as the wet snow which would form the makings of Buffett's "snowball." It had already begun to roll downhill, picking up speed as it did.

Buffett's entrepreneurial drive caused disconnects to form between him and his peers on a social level; the book depicts that Buffett's skills left a lot to be desired. Able to recognize his own social inferiority, Buffett turned to a book entitled How to Win Friends and Influence People.

It was a bit later in life, in college especially, that Buffett began to develop his natural ability as a teacher. He used his firm handle on investing to effectively connect with people, who might have otherwise been more socially adept.

Perhaps the most unrealized trait of Warren Buffett is his mastery as a teacher. He imparts wisdom and life lessons on his investors, students and family. How Buffett can put complex investing concepts into plainspoken language is a gift, and people gravitate to him for it.

To potential entrepreneurs, Buffett advises, "It's crazy to take little in between jobs just because they look good on your résumé. That's like saving sex for your old age. Do what you love and work for whom you admire the most, and you've given yourself the best chance in life you can."

As his own life progresses, Buffett seems to have softened; his views have been shaped by his first wife, Susan, and perhaps even more so, by Bill Gates, to whom he gave 85 percent of his fortune in 2006 so that it could be put to work through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Buffett has never lost his uncanny ability to strike as an investor.

While he was not unaffected by the latest economic downturn, it is in these times that he often displays his unique wherewithal to rise above the rest, as he did with his investment in Goldman Sachs, practicing what he often preaches, "Be fearful when others are greedy. Be greedy when others are fearful."

Last year's Goldman investment must have led him to reflect on when he was ten years of age and his dad took him to Wall Street. While there, Howard's connections and persistence afforded them opportunity to meet Sidney Weinberg, a well-known business leader and senior partner at Goldman.

As they left his office, Weinberg asked, "What stocks do you like, Warren?" which left a lasting impression on Buffett. Little did either of them know then that Buffett would later make such a financial impact on the firm.

After returning home from New York City, he realized what money could do to create freedom. In The Snowball, his fondness of money was stated as, "It would make me independent. Then I could do what I wanted to do with my life. And the biggest thing I wanted to do was work for myself."

Warren E. Buffett's life can be distilled to a few key qualities: supreme investor, brilliant teacher and, in later years, heavyweight philanthropist. But above all, Buffett is an entrepreneur, the ultimate in my book.

Publish or Perish, Fortnightly

It has been two weeks since my last entry, which means one thing… time to post again. Without further ado, let’s get started.

I recently read (for the second time) Good to Great, written by acclaimed author and researcher extraordinaire, Jim Collins. No matter your profession, I highly recommend this book.

Whether it is The Hedgehog Concept or First Who, Then What, armed with examples, Collins elaborately lays out timeless principles that can be simply applied to business or any passion.
They are derived from an unimaginable five years of research.

Collins writes of rigor, and how it is a characteristic endemic to the “good to great” companies. He explains that, if a company performs in the same, consistent manner over time, it will eventually become great.

Thus, with greatness in mind, it is with rigor that I have begun to approach my position as Future Mayor of Cherryhurst.

Further motivated by a comment once made to me by one of my Thunderbird professors, "one must publish or perish to survive in academia," I am applying Collins’ teachings of rigor to my writing. I am doing so to avoid death in the blogosphere.

You see, bloggers are similar to professors in this respect; they must provide fresh content to not only stay relevant and interesting but to remain alive (or online).

In the past few weeks alone, I have seen countless blogs, founded upon dreams of giving off content to eager audiences, either lying dormant or dropping offline. Dreams dashed.

It is my new mission to provide you, the reader, with a single post every two weeks... or, “fortnightly.”

My initial aim was to post once a week, but weekly blogging proved to be too frequent; I felt rushed and unable to deeply dig into topics. I like a weekend in between posts to relax.

More often than not, two weeks is ample time to dive into a subject, publishing decent content and satisfying my curiosity – which, after all, is the intent of this job.

To the extent that the effects of my driving curiosity can also function as useful reading to you, I will be doubly pleased.

As always, feel free to submit comments below with ideas and concepts that you would like to see melded into future posts. You can also hit me with them directly on Facebook or Twitter.

Until the next fortnight, stay posted.

Lead Your (Social) Network

Your personal and professional networks can provide you with the unique opportunity to lead people. If you have not done so, take stock of these networks, understanding their composition (i.e., who is in them) as well as where the connections you have can contribute to your success as a leader.

I was recently directed to a website replete with inspiration: TED Ideas worth spreading. On TED, one can explore a vast trove of speeches by figures who head industries and all else. I came across a speech by Seth Godin that grabbed my attention. (If you have marketing experience, you might recognize Godin for coining the term, "permission marketing.")

I recommend watching all 17:23 minutes of his speech, loosely titled, The Tribes We Lead. Godin struck a chord with me, alluding to networks (a.k.a., tribes), and how leading them can translate into the spread of ideas. Rested on this concept, he argues to his audience, is their chance to boldly assume a position of leadership.

None of us is immune to the powerful phenomenon that is social networking. As surely as you are reading this sentence now, you have participated in some form of networking online. Even if social networking is not your bag, you have at least browsed Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

The explosion in social networking allows you to accelerate the number of people with whom you regularly connect. Social networking allows you to organize individuals around a single interest. In a recently published article in Fast Company, How Chris Hughes Helped Launch Facebook and the Barack Obama Campaign, there is a lesson in how such organization can develop on the broadest of levels.

The best part about it is that you can actually choose the network you want to lead. To try it out, visit Ning or Twibes. At either site, you can instantly whip up a group of like-minded individuals to follow you, provided the content and direction you contribute has meaning and relevance. Whenever before could you so quickly assemble and sustain your own networks?

In his latest WSJ.com blog entry, Empowering Natural Leaders in ‘Facebook Generation’ Ways, Gary Hamel notes “Natural leaders today have the means to challenge ossified and change-resistant power structures. Thanks to the reach of the Web, a lowly but brilliantly effective leader can mobilize followers across a global organization and beyond—by writing an influential blog, by using that notoriety to get a platform at industry events, by hosting a Web-based discussion on a hot topic, by building an online coalition of similarly-minded individuals, by disseminating a provocative position paper to hundreds or thousands of fellow employees, and by using email to ensure that supporters show up at key meetings.”

So the digital age might have created more opportunities to lead, but will it create better leaders? Our leaders will look different, perhaps younger (see Chris Hughes and his Facebook-founding brethren). There will be people who are perceived as effective leaders because they start a “movement,” to use Godin’s term, but I contend that starting a movement does not necessarily mean you are an effective leader.

While on a relative basis our networks have increased, some of us have become lazy, relying less on interpersonal skills to connect with our "offline" networks. While we know more people, and much about them, we are, in many cases, less intimately connected than ever before.

Your "offline" connections instill and sustain the trust between you and your networks, and ultimately, your leadership is best tried among those who you know personally.

New opportunities to lead will come to you in the form of your social networks. If appropriately capitalized upon, these opportunities will lead to movements, which will then be carried on as sustainable ideas into the offline world, and it is there where the mettle of a true leader gets tested.

Define Entrepreneur

"Entrepreneur" is one of the most commonly used terms in business, whether it is in office talk, in periodicals, in books, on television or online. I hear the term used with much frequency.

It is especially common these days, given the 8.5 percent unemployment rate, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. People with nowhere to turn, let go from affected companies across the country, are forced to be as creative as ever about how they earn income. Are these people entrepreneurs? Beats me.

I often hear the word stated, particularly in large organizations, to describe an individual who thinks “big.” Is that an entrepreneur, someone who thinks “outside of the box?” Could be.

I know several people who have taken considerable risk to achieve financial success, in some cases many times over, by creating and sustaining enterprises from scratch. Are they entrepreneurs? Not sure.

What, truly, is an entrepreneur? For various reasons, I have given thought to this question lately, so much so that I want to devote time to answering it here.

To start, I picked out a 13-word definition, found at The Free Dictionary online: Entrepreneur (noun) “A person who organizes, operates, and assumes the risk for a business venture.”

The definition, itself, is simple. But, when I look closer at the three verbs of the sentence, there is deeper meaning to be found.

One, “organizes.” Okay, I am not Stephen Covey (in fact, no relation), but would give myself a decent grade when it comes to understanding organization. While it is important to touch on, I see no need to spend time on the organizational capabilities of an entrepreneur.

Two, “operates.” I think of a business operator as someone who leads. Not necessarily a boss, but someone who makes difficult decisions to drive work forward on a day-to-day basis. While this is certainly a critical skill to entrepreneurs, like organization, it does not lead me to what I want to know. It is not the key characteristic that I associate with an entrepreneur.

Three, “assumes.” Whoa. I like this one. Here, I encounter the real challenge of the sentence. It is the least easy of the three to define. "Assumes risk for a business venture." Huh? With measured risk, I will attempt to explain.

Before beginning an entrepreneurial endeavor, one must ask, what is the reward to be gained? What is the goal in taking on this challenge? Is it to be profitable? Is it to earn enough money, so as much to keep a certain standard of living, perhaps equal to or greater than that which is earned in a salaried position?

Defining the reward of an entreprenurial endeavor is no easy task. Sure, it is possible to do, for example, by forecasting financial returns in a business plan. But even then, the reward is not guaranteed. Often, rewards are hard to come by, particularly those of the monetary variety.

In the WSJ.com article, So, You Want to Be an Entrepreneur, which my aspiring brother-in-law recently sent to me, there are ten valuable points to consider when launching an enterprise. The point of the article, in short, is that the risk for entrepreneurs is high and can take a toll. The rewards are not often achieved until years into the venture.

So, back to risk. How do we justify risk without knowing the reward? That, folks, is what entrepreneurs do. They assume risk with confidence. With confidence that the reward, although uncertain, will mitigate the risk.

An entrepreneur can mean many things to many people, but by defining the word and breaking down the definition, I establish, for the purposes of self-evaluation, what an entrepreneur is.

Many of us can efficiently organize. Others of us can effectively operate. Some of us can do both, but how many of us willingly assume the risk required to reap an unknown reward?

The person who does is the true entrepreneur among us.

A Saintly Vision for Houston

A Houston entrepreneur has a great thing brewing... and it is not just beer.

Who, you ask, is this person? Brock Wagner, founder of Saint Arnold Brewing Company, “Texas' Oldest Craft Brewery.”

I first visited Saint Arnold and met Wagner in 2003, with a University of Houston MBA class. As he guided us through his brewery, the proud descriptions he gave of his product led me to believe that he was happy with his decision to become a beer man.

Before starting Saint Arnold, Wagner spent his days working in the investment banking world. But those dry days are long ago. In his more than 14 years of brewing since, Wagner’s craft brew has been deserving of its namesake, and with the help of Saint Arnold’s Army, is quietly becoming one of Houston’s most recognizable brands.

As he continues to brew quality mainstay and seasonal beverages, a flavorful Root Beer included, several other positive developments are taking shape for Wagner and his brew crew.

For starters, Saint Arnold is making a move, taking its tanks to a former Houston Independent School District (HISD) Food Service building downtown, a move which should up the company's local profile even further. According to SaintArnold.com, this leap downtown is scheduled to happen in January, 2010, coinciding with the company's 15th anniversary.

The company recently formed a partnership with one of the region’s largest distributorships, Silver Eagle Distributors, which means Saint Arnold products will be delivered and served on a greater number of taps across the state. Houston Astros’ fans will be happy to see more accessible craft brew throughout Minute Maid Park this year, thanks to this relationship with Silver Eagle.

In the MS-150, an event that brings droves of weekend cyclists to make the two-day journey from Houston to Austin in support of Multiple Sclerosis and which has become one of Houston's most attractive events for corporate sponsorships, Saint Arnold, year after year, is one of the race's most popular team sponsors.

Wagner is also one of four owners of Cactus Music, a new breed of record store aiming to compete in an increasingly digital business. Just a few years ago, Cactus was against the ropes and finally down for the count. After a year-and-a-half, thanks to Wagner and others, the store is back as if it were never gone, still a Houston institution. On Saturdays, music lovers can be found in Cactus, watching bands perform while sipping a Saint Arnold-sponsored keg beer.

Brock Wagner's initiative in the last 15 years is inspirational to all entrepreneurs who agree that quality craft brewing can contribute to a better way of life in Houston. With a sophisticated beer culture already in place, Houston has the demand available to meet ample supply of other craft brewers.

In this regard, Houston can become similar to other cities around the country, like Portland, Oregon, where patrons cherish quality beer-making and breweries are peppered throughout the city. Much thanks for creating the city's original beer vision is owed to Brock Wagner and the Patron Saint of Brewing, Saint Arnold.

An Industry's Reverse Shakeout: Phase 2.0 of Digital Media

In my March 1 entry, Death of a Pastime, I touched on the current demise of print media.

While my sentimental side would love to witness the wholesale survival of newspapers, my entrepreneurial side looks ahead with amazement to the opportunities that are taking shape across today’s media landscape: "Phase 2.0 of Digital Media" is what I am deciding to call it.

Phase 2.0 is a media world so upside-down, turned-around and inside-out. Anybody's game. It is one that changes so fast you can't keep up, not on Facebook and not on Google.

No longer is it a world, where TV, Radio and Print work together to support the Net. That was Phase 1.0, at the commercial inception of the World Wide Web, when then-new companies, like AOL, acquired customers with reckless abandon, creating value by providing Internet access and displaying advertisements.

Phase 2.0 is the now, when the Internet has rapidly seeped into traditional media, strangling it, and taking a hold of its content, often making it free. This has been financially disastrous for traditional media and has destroyed the comfortable lock it once had on our eyes and ears.

The companies that survive in Phase 2.0 of Digital Media are anybody's guess, but mine is that a proliferation of opportunities will fall on several. Surviving media companies will be small, efficient and nimble. The ones that can quickly group people--en masse--around specific content, which they can influence somehow for profit, will earn first place in Phase 2.0.

Will it be Amazon's Kindle or Twitter that defines Phase 2.0? With plenty of funding and thoroughbred-like momentum, each organizes and channels content. Neither produces it. Still, how will they profit from amassing users?

Another question in media fragmentation is that content quality often suffers. Blogs, like FMOC, have surfaced one after the other, with no professional quality standards.

In 6 Reasons Why Twitter is the Future of Search - Google Beware, Gyutae Park notes that today's media landscape can be a trustful place due to the familiarity of a user’s network. Phase 2.0 is rife with opportunity to influence people without having to answer to any standard.

Yesterday, in his article, SXSW panel: Don’t worry, kids, the news business isn’t going to die, Nicholas Deleon writes how author Steven Johnson spent his time on SXSW panel trying to "allay the fears of every kid in journalism school." As noted in Death of a Pastime, my hope is that the rigorous standards of quality in traditional media will find their way into Phase 2.0.

The toughest questions facing the pioneers in Phase 2.0 of Digital Media: How do you make money? How do you maintain quality? Neither seems to be connected.

Death of a Pastime

In the bookstore, in the convenience store, in your local barber shop, or more likely, online, you might have seen one of Time magazine's latest cover stories: "How to Save Your Newspaper."

If only we could.

I remember in 1995, when Houston's two major dailies came together as one. The Post, acquired by the Chronicle, fell into the abyss, never heard from again outside of an occasional reference to the Hobby family, the prominent Houston family that owned it.

The Houston Chronicle is owned by the Hearst Corporation, which also owns the San Francisco Chronicle. In the summer of 1998, I interned at the San Francisco Chronicle and Examiner, which then functioned under a Joint Operating Agreement. A few years later those two papers became one. And just this week, it was reported that Hearst is threatening to close the San Francisco Chronicle's doors.

While these papers have struggled for some time, the deathknell has come faster than expected. What happened?

The proliferration of online media, from free news content to uber-specific blogging and social networking, is one contribution. Newsworthy or not, we can find nearly anything on the Web.

Habits, although slower to change than media itself, are another contributing factor. As devices, like Amazon's Kindle 2, enter our lives, how we obtain the news and information evolves.

Finally, newspapers, like any business, rely on revenue to keep the printers running. Sure, in some cases, they might operate like professional baseball teams, where big-money families can keep them alive. However, newspapers are being replaced by more profitable endeavors. At least in baseball, spending occasionally produces a world champion.

Admittedly, I'm caught in the middle here. I am a truist, in the sense that I am sentimental to the communal effect a newspaper can have on a large city. But as a technophile, I have an appreciation for the ability to express one's self in the same space as the biggest names in media.

In the end, my hope is that solid and steady journalism remains the backbone of news reporting and that the rigor that the big papers brought to the making of the news finds a lasting way into the digital world.