We're SEC

A few years back, I was in Knoxville, TN for work and had the awesome opportunity to attend a Tennessee Volunteers football game in the beautiful Neyland Stadium. One of the cool things we were able to do was go around on golf carts and select the best tailgate of the day...which proved to be no easy task as we visited nearly a dozen tailgating groups that put everything I'd ever seen to shame...(not to mention the countless others we saw, but didn't visit.)

There was one particular tailgate that made me see college football in a whole new light...there it was, a Tennessee Volunteer canopy set up right next to a Florida Gator canopy, and the fans from each, eating, drinking and laughing together. I walked up to them perplexed, and asked how this was happening..."don't you hate each other?" - "How is it that Volunteers and Gators are getting along?"

The answer was simple enough...this lady looked up at me like I was the stupidest person on earth and simply answered, "We're SEC!"

There you go, they're SEC, one of the power conferences in college football, and "they can be best friends until the game begins" because of the South Eastern Conference family. I did find it funny that one of the Tennessee fans brought a Subway sandwich made up like a gator to the party...

Sitting down with fans from another team celebrating before a game still seemed so odd to me...as a Ute fan, I couldn't imagine sitting down with a cold beverage and a brat tailgating with fans from Colorado State. 

It wasn't until years later, that I finally got it...

I was in Pasadena...going to see the Utes take on the UCLA Bruins. We parked about a mile away from the stadium, and we were a speck of red in a sea of blue. We must've walked through about 100 UCLA tailgates, and one particular party stood out. A whole group of UCLA fans had a game of flag football going on and as we walked by, the QB of one of the team looked over at me and said, "Hey Utah...welcome to the Rose Bowl," and he threw a perfect spiral in my direction. I caught it and he threw his arms up in the touchdown sign. I nodded and threw it back to him...he caught it and with a smile said, "See ya in the battle field." 

Not gonna lie, that felt good and I think I stood a little taller. I caught up to my family and said, "Sorry, I was just throwing the pigskin with a couple guys back there." My Dad smiled and said, "That's cool."

Ya Dad, it was cool...it was really cool...

We're...

I love college football, and Go Utes!!

Look Past The Red Lights

A couple weeks ago, I was out running errands, picking up dinner and making a PDR. Anyways, the day had been long and hot, and being really tired, I just wanted to go home, eat some sushi and watch an episode of Castle or three.

There was one traffic light between me and the highway, and as fate would have it, I got caught in a red light...and I was not happy about it. After tensing up and whispering a couple expletives, I took a deep breath and sunk into my seat. Then I noticed it...Mt. Olympus in the distance. I have looked on that mountain my entire life, but this night it was different. A calm crept over me, and if nature has a voice, I heard it then.

"Look past the red lights."

Mt. Olympus had never looked so amazing as it did right then, and in the car that pulled up next to me, a little girl holding a doll was staring at me with a big smile on her face. I had my windows down and let it all sink in...this was a good moment. Even stuck behind six cars at a red light.

Too often have I stopped at a red light, frustrated that I have to wait (I'm not really patient,) and all my attention is focused on that stupid red circle. I'll catch myself looking at the other lights to see if they've turned yellow or red yet. Even when I have my kids laughing and singing in the back seat, my attention is on the light...and because of my fixation on something I can't control, I've missed little things around me.

Since that night, I've not let the little things bug me so much...whether it is a traffic light, getting cut off on the freeway, missing an exit, getting stuck in traffic (see a pattern? #Driving) and when I don't, I find that I am actually happier, and as my kids and wife probably think, easier and more enjoyable to be around.

It has made me think...what and where are the other "Red Lights" in my life?

What about you?

Wisdom

Yes, it is from Harry Potter, but I love this quote...

This is only a test

Calling All Entrepreneurs

It isn't often that I post business ventures on this page, but this is something that I really believe in, and think it is pretty awesome too. 

Last week I had the opportunity to sit down with a couple folks from Grow America (that's exactly what they do too!) They grow companies...especially helping entrepreneurs see their vision become a living/breathing reality. Pretty cool right? I think so...but what I thought was really cool, (I wish this had been around when I was younger (when I had good ideas)) is the Springboard™ Competition, a program that rewards entrepreneurs with both the money(s) and services they need to grow their business...translation entrepreneurs have a chance to win €199,744.25...or I mean $250,000 to help launch their ideas.

Here is the catch though...The registration part of this is open until August 30th! But hey, it only requires an executive summary of your business idea. Get on it...time is ticking. For more info, check out Grow America here:

YouTube - Grow America 

The Twitter - @growamerica  the hashtag #gacomp 

The Social Network - Grow America on Facebook 

PDR or Proper Drink Run

For you audio/video folk:

For the rest of you: (Cliffs Notes)

So over the past couple of years, I have heard a lot of people ask "What is a PDR exactly, and where did it start?"

Well, here we go...

It all started in a little city called Kawanishi, Japan while I was serving an LDS Mission. I had a companion who drank about as much soda as I did...if not more. Everyday, Aric and I would come across a new soda, fruit juice or whatever and regardless if we were thirsty or not, we had to get it...just on principle.

One night, Aric just starting saying, "I need need a C.B. (Cold Beverage,) and I threw the R (for run) after it whenever we wanted to go get a drink. Thus a CBR or Cold Beverage Run.

That is how it began...

Fast Forward 9 years, when I started working for The Summit Group in Salt Lake City, and one morning when I was feeling "The Bug," I grabbed my 44 oz. cup and asked if anyone wanted to accompany on a beverage run. After a couple weeks, 2~4 people would make a daily jaunt to either a convenience store or a restaurant with cheap refills to quench our thirsts. We sort of fazed out the C (Cold) part as some of the drinks we got were hot chocolate and coffee for some.

A couple years later, a buddy of mine at The Summit Group (Jordan Howe...now this guy has a way about him...he likes to inject everything will a certain level of refinement (whether he is serious or not.)) So one morning, as about 6 of us were heading out the door (Jordan included,) he stated that this event was "truly a Proper Beverage Run." So that is what it became known as...a PBR. Now anyone see a problem with that? A PBR does NOT stand for Proper Beverage Run in mainstream society, especially if you're talking about beverages.

So it was Twitter that actually showed me the error of my ways in hashtagging #PBR...no I do not drink Pabst Blue Ribbon. So I changed it to #PDR (Proper Drink Run.) It just sounds nice..."Hey, PDR later?"

The PDR has evolved over the years as now it encompasses all beverages (initially, drinks with alcohol were referred to as Proper Alcohol Runs but that was lame #PAR...you're gonna get a bunch of golfs tweets now(not that that is a bad thing,)) but the PDR isn't biased...so whether you're drinking a Coke Zero, or Johnnie Walker - Black on the rocks...that's a PDR.

Now here is the thing, and there has been some questions about this...it is only a real PDR if you leave you house, place of business, etc to go get a drink. For instance, say you are home watching the TV and have the need for a Diet Coke with pebble ice. You grab your keys, drive up to the 7-11 and pick up a 32 ouncer...That is a PDR. Say you go our to the bar with your buddies to grab a beer and some wings...that counts as a PDR. If you are out driving around and pull into a gas stations and grab a bottle of Dr. Pepper...PDR. If you office building has a soda fountain in it with plastic red cups...not a PDR (Scott - inside joke) and if you go into your kitchen and pour yourself a glass of milk...not a PDR.

The thing is...we all do it, it now just has a name to it. So when you go out and get a drink, know that you are making a Proper Drink Run. #PDR on Twitter

Cheers

The #PDR Mystery Explained (Tomorrow)

So over the years, I've had a lot of people as me what on earth a PDR is. I've posted it on Twitter #PDR, all over in my Facebook posts...well really just about wherever I can. So here it is...I've been planning on how to do this properly, and I think I've figured out how to tell this in a fun way...for now, I can tell you that PDR stands for Proper Drink Run...I will explain in greater detail in tomorrow's post

Why I Love Twitter

I love reading/hearing the things people say about Twitter:

1. I Just Don't Get Twitter...
2. Twitter is the stupidest thing I've ever seen...
3. Twitter is a waste of time...
4. I don't have anything to say...
5. There is no value with Twitter...
6. I don't care what you ate for breakfast...
7. Just another thing to feed your ego with "friends/followers"

Every time I hear people bag on Twitter and people who use it, I try and tell them how useful I have found it in my daily life. In fact, it was just a couple months ago, when I sat down to dinner with one of my closest friends Matt Merkel (@merkprof on Twitter) that we got to talking about the people that we each hung out with most frequently were people who we had met mostly through Twitter.

So whenever I hear the argument that online friends don't amount to anything and that they are nothing but faceless avatars, I take serious issue with that as my best friends are people that I met on Twitter...and it is real friendships. I have gone to countless lunches, dinners, #PDRs, Utah Jazz games, University of Utah Football games, a U2 concert for crying out loud with friends I met on Twitter.

So here are my responses to the questions above:

1. I Just Don't Get Twitter... It might not be for you, but have you REALLY tried it?
2. Twitter is the stupidest thing I've ever seen... Sometimes it is stupid, but what isn't?
3. Twitter is a waste of time... It can be, but again, have you really tried it?
4. I don't have anything to say... Everyone has something to say, and there are people on Twitter talking about the very things you are...you just need to find those conversations
5. There is no value with Twitter... clearly you don't follow Fox 13's Ben Winslow @BenWinslow
6. I don't care what you ate for breakfast... believe it or not, a lot of people actually do care, not only do they care what you ate, but where you ate it and who you ate it with.
7. Just another thing to feed your ego with "friends/followers"... if that is the only thing you use it for, then you are doing it wrong.

So really, Twitter is what you make of it...me? I use Twitter to see what is going on in the world around me, and jump in the conversation(s) when I can. I look for opportunities to meet people on Twitter as often as I can. This is why I love Twitter...it has opened up a new world of people who have similar likes and tastes, and provided me a way to get to know these people better and become really good friends.

So ya, I love Twitter

One Quarter

A couple weeks ago, I was on my way home from a terrible day at work...I was tired, angry, hungry and thirsty. As I turned down a street one block away from my home, I came up to two little girls sitting behind a little table with a bright yellow banner that read "Lemonade 25 Cents". I smiled and remembered the hot days of summer when I would go out and sell lemonade to the workers on my street. Those were good times.

As I slowly passed the table, I could see the disappointment in their faces as I was just another guy driving by who didn't want their little paper cup of lemonade. So I turned down my music, stopped the car and made what was the best decision I had made in weeks. I turned around...

Both girls jumped off their chairs with excitement beaming from their faces. One of the girls leaned up on my car and held up her index finger and said "One glass is 25 cents" to which I handed her a quarter that had been rolling around in my cup holder. The other girl slowly poured out the lemonade that she took such pride in and slowly walked it up to my open window.

There they both stood with eager eyes waiting for me to take the first sip...so I did. It was cold, refreshing and soothing. I looked over at the two girls smiling from ear to ear at the guy who came back, and told them it was delicious and hit the spot.

I slowly made my way home and actually got a little choked up...how could one quarter make two little girls so happy? And why did the lemonade I bought from them taste better than any lemonade I had ever had?

As I pulled into the driveway and waited for the garage to open, I made a pledge to myself that no matter where I was, what I was doing, no matter how hurried I was...I promised that I would stop at every lemonade stand I passed from that day forward...and I gotta tell ya the smiles get bigger, the lemonade tastes better, and the quarter that you spend just made someone's day a little bit better. Who knows, it might have even been your own.

Manage the Mess One App at a Time

We all do it...the exchange of the business card. There is something about that exchange...an excitement maybe, perhaps it is the fact that someone is essentially giving you a little piece of them saying, "Let's keep in touch."

I like giving and receiving cards, but what I hate is when 90% wind up in a pile on my desk, or in a box on the floor. Sure, I have great intentions about filing them and throwing the contacts into my Outlook contact folders...but I never do, and my excuse? IT TAKES SO MUCH TIME! So what on earth do I do when I need someone's contact info? Tear the mountains of cards down rifle through them.

Then I came across something that is pretty awesome...it is called WorldCard Mobile, a Smart Phone Application available for both Android & iPhone that uses OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology to transfer the info from the business card to your contact lists...well, what the crap does that mean? It means, when take a picture (with this APP) of a business card, it will transfer all the relevant info over (Name, Email, Phone Numbers, Addresses, URLs.)

Pretty cool right? For a chronic procrastinator like myself, this app has already saved me a lot of time and headache in managing the business cards I get. The MSRP of this app is $9.99, but I think you can get it for $5.99. Yes, it still seems a little steep, but for what it does, it isn't a bad deal.

So, if you want to step from the mouth of madness, I would recommend this application. Yes, I actually bought it, and here is the proof -> (Picture).

So I would give WorldCard Mobile 3 1/2 Xanax for any stress/anxiety that piles of business cards might cause, and for doing exactly what it tells you it does.

It's time for a Big Gulp #PDR ... cupcake (link to my friend's blog)

I just have to share this...it is from one of my favorite friends online & in real life Emily Hill Give this a read -> It's time for a Big Gulp #PDR ... cupcake

The Magic of Sports

So...this past weekend, I was out shopping at Costco, and I was wearing my Green Bay Packers hat. As I was sitting my daughter in the cart, I looked up and saw this guy staring at me...I thought it was a little weird right?! But then I saw what it was...he was wearing a Green Bay Packers hat as well. Then the magic happened...there was a split second we gave each other a little smile and a understanding nod.

Now I didn't know this guy, I had never seen him before in my life, but for that moment, we were friends...two strangers connected by one thing...Sports.

In thinking about this post, I remember all the times where I will be out in public (wearing a hat with a team logo,) and the people I really notice are those who might be wearing something with the same logo on it. There are even times when I'll be wearing my U of U hat, and someone will walk by and whisper "Go Utes!" It is awesome, and for you sports fans out there, you know what I am talking about.

I can't speak for other sports fans, but if I dissect my mind, I love showing off my favorite sports teams, and by wearing it, I feel like I am an extension to the team...then, when I see others wearing the same colors, logos, whatever...I see a "teammate."

I firmly believe there is a kind of magic when it comes to sports...and with that, I want to share one of my favorite videos. I can't watch this without getting the chills...this is the magic that I am talking about -> Sports Magic

An Apology to my Wife or "Cold Soup"

So a year or so ago, I heard about this iPhone application called Foursquare where you could use your mobile device and "check-in" to places. If you were lucky enough, you could even earn Foursquare Badges...pretty exciting I know.

However, as Foursquare opened up in more cities, you could start to see the application behind it. Businesses were using it to engage their loyal fans/customers/patrons in a whole new way...through their mobile devices by offering "Specials." This is pretty exciting and cool.

So needless to say, I jumped onto Foursquare because it was the "New Shiny" and I wanted to be a part of something...and that is where it all started.

Since jumping onto Foursquare, I have adopted other geolocation applications like Gowalla, Whrrl...Yelp...etc. etc. etc. - I wanted to check each of these to see what each of them brings to the table and really wanted to see how businesses were using each. Maybe I could get some ideas...

ANYWAYS, I think my poor wife has exercised as much patience with me as she possibly can...I mean it is like when we go through the drive-thru, I'll grab the food and go pull into a stall so I can check-in. (In reading that, I realize how sad it is.) Or when we go out on a date...I'll put my phone on the table and check-in, leave a tip, see who else might be there...you get the idea, only to look up and see her giving me "That Look," the "Put that @#%& thing away right now."

Even when I'm out with a buddy, he'll have half his burger or sushi thrown down before I can leave a tip on Yelp. Sadly, after all the checking-in, I have even noticed that my food has gotten cold. (Uggh, this is really sad...rethinking publishing this post now.)

If you really know me, you can testify that I have my phone on me 24/7 and that I am always on it...email, Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare...text messages...it has really started to drive people nuts how my iPhone has morphed into another falange. Maybe I do need to give it a rest...or at least calm the freak down.

So sorry Jen...sorry it seems like I am out on a date with my phone and you sometimes seem to be the 3rd Wheel...I'll be better, I promise.

So my resolution is this...wait a second, my phone just beeped...

Patience

So earlier this evening I was filling a prescription at the local drug store...nothing too exciting except they had one window open and three of us in line with one gentleman at the window.

"No biggie!"

Right?!

Well, this guy at the counter is going on and on about how he needs to do this and needs this and the poor pharmacist calmly answers that "Sir that prescription has already been filled today, that paper you have right there is a photo copy...I'm sorry sir, I cannot do a complete fill on this particular one right now...sir, that is a photocopy, and it has been filled and is in our records."

- 5 minutes pass, and now four people in line -

I ask the guy in front of me, "Hey man, how long've you been here?" To which he replies "10 minutes...{sigh}"

This guy at the window is ranting that he needs something else blah blah blah blah blah blah...I've stopped trying to listen and looking to see if another pharmacist is working." Another window opens up and

- 4.5 minutes later the two people in front of me have picked up their prescriptions and are out the door. "Hello how can I help you?"

I'm told my wait will be approximately 10~15 minutes...guy still at window complaining about something (the poor pharmacist keeps smiling and searches on here computer..."I'm sorry sir, that prescription has been filled already, and I can't give you more."

- 12 minutes go by "Scott, you're ready" -

I pick up my prescription and walk out to leave looking down at my phone.

- 30 + minutes, this poor pharmacist kept it together with one of the most obnoxious customers I have ever seen. I watched 11 people come and go all the while this bozo whined and cried about trying to fill a prescription twice.

I stopped to look at their beverages on my way out, and saw the guy step aside, and I wanted to go compliment the gal on the way she handled things...but I thought she was probably sick of talking and needed a break. :)

I'll stop in again soon and thank her for keeping her head.

Loyalty? Not so much

Sorry for the Twitter rant, but one of my favorite applications on my iPhone recently went through a massive overhaul, and in doing so created a better product. Kudos to Hootsuite for making something great even better. I liked the look of it, so I paid the $1.99 or whatever it was for the application, and I enjoyed using it as I found he interface to be such that enabled me to use Twitter in a whole new way. Here is where it gets sticky...with the upgrade, they made it so you had to purchase the "New & Improved Hootsuite...sure there is still a free version of it, but many of the functions you had in the previous version were gone or not available in that version.

Uggh, so here it is...Hootsuite upgraded their software (which is to be expected,) but then to turn around and essentially screw their existing customers (who paid for the app already) by charging them again for the app is about the stupidest thing ever. Here is where Hootsuite went wrong IMHO...They had an existing fan base...a group of users who loved the product...a group who talks to each other and promotes your product...so why on earth would you turn your back on those people and not offer that generation of early adopters a free upgrade?? Chances are, they are going to talk about the improved services, application, etc etc etc. But now, they have gone elsewhere. I have! Way to crap the bed Hootsuite!! You've lost me as a customer, and where I may not have mean that much to you overall, it makes me feel better to give you the Proverbial Bird!

Haunted By Memories...Updated 6/14/2010

Usually when you talk about Hauntings, you think of things that are bad...scary...frightening...horrific, but the Haunting that I am talking about is something different.

Have you ever had something happen to you, or met someone or been somewhere that 'haunts' you? For example...say you meet someone years and years ago, and that person made an imprint on you. It is possible that you may never see or talk to this person anymore, but they are always on your mind. Has this happened to you? It has to me...

Has something happened to you when you were younger that you can remember so vividly that you can describe exactly what happened? It has to me...

So with this in mind now...what are the things that "HAUNT" you?

In the upcoming weeks, I am going to be making a couple of videos of some of the things that Haunt me.

This blog post has been haunting me...to finish it

My Wordle - What My Twitter Friends Think of Me

http://www.wordle.net/ - Image attribution

You Know It Is Time...

So my dear wife had a craving for a fresh fruit smoothie. We have all the ingredients needed, so I thought, "Why Not? It sounds good...let's do it."

One thing...

Our blender is the one we got on our wedding day, and has seen many, many blends...so needless to say it is kinda old and loud...ok, really loud.

All the ingredients had been added, and I was ready to go when my wife said that we better not do it in the house because the children are deathly afraid of it, and it wouldn't be a pretty picture should it be the blender that woke them up.

So out I marched to the garage...in 32 degree weather carrying a frozen blend of milk and fruit. Pretty sure I woke the dead with my blending, but I think I'd rather face zombies than a screaming child! After all, I did recently see Zombieland, and I have taken the 32 Rules of Staying Alive to Heart.

To educate yourself on the 32 Rules, I recommend you go here:

http://www.horror-movies.ca/horror_16631.html

So to wrap it all up, You Know It Is Time to replace your blender when you have to go out to the garage to blend something.

That is all. I love you all, you are all my children... :)

Memories of Dracula

Just today, I finished my review of thebook New Moon on TodaysMama.com, and while I was writing it, I remembered something that haunted me when I was a little, little kid. I remember a TV show on PBS called "The Electric Company," starring a YOUNG Morgan Freeman. One of the characters he protrayed was Dracula. As I got to thinking about it, he was probably the first Dracula I remember.

Searching the web for a clip of Mr. Freeman in these early years yielded a couple of clips...enjoy!

And this...



Some good times!

Lazy Sack O' "S"

So I have been seriously slacking in my blog posts, and for that I am way lame...just gotta say. If my blog has a spirit, it has been prodding me for days...no months to post something.

The past couple of months have been a complete whirlwind for me as I have traveled all over the freaking place...State College, Pennsylvania - Bend, Oregon - and then Madison, Wisconsin...all in three weeks time. It has been so nice to be home for awhile without the worry of traveling.

Well, tonight's entry I wanted to write specifically for a couple of people...Allison Lunt Harris, my Mom Susan, my aunt Laura and anyone else who makes fun of my FaceBook updates.

Many of you tease me that I type in a different language...and yes, it is it's own language...or Twialect if you will. So I am going to explain it, so you can understand what I am saying.

1. Whenever you see this #, that is a hashtag (great explanation here)

Example: "Had a great day talking with the people at @go_hotcakes (hotcakes.com) today at #ORSM09" - I have hashtagged the Outdoor Retail Summer Market 2009 meaning, that Tweet will show up in that search, and people will know that is what my Twitter update is about...kinda like a one word summary of what I'm Tweeting at that time.

2. whenever you see this @, I am talking about, or to a specific person, business, etc. on Twitter.

Example: "Spent the day walking the floor with @iGoByDoc & @JoshSPeters at the Salt Palace." - Now when you see this you can tell who I am speaking to or about, and once I add the @ before their Twitter IDs, that will show up on their page and they can see my update with them mentioned in it.

Also to note...both the # and the @ placed before something creates a hyperlink that will redirect you to the Twitter search (#) or the person's profile (@)

Ok, so you few peeps who I listed, quit making fun of me, and learn the Twitter language...we'll all be speaking it someday...oh yes, we will all be Tweeters...or Twits...#justsayin

Also, my good friend Josh Peters (@JoshSPeters on Twitter) wrote an awesome blog post on businesses who were utilizing Twitter at the Outdoor Retail Show this year. A really good read...I recommend you take a second and read it. (Shuaism.com)

Next Blog Post Tease:

The Haunted Woods of Pennsylvania