Intention To Action

Six years ago today, my daughter Emily Elizabeth Fisher was born. You can’t tell by looking at her now, but she was born at the six and a half month point of her intended nine month gestation! She was not due on January 8th, 2005. She was due on March 15th, almost 10 weeks later.

Friday night, December 31st, 2005. My wife and I were going to drive a little under half an hour away to spend New Years Eve with friends, dining out, followed by a movie at their home. My wife wasn’t feeling fully up to it at the last minute, and insisted I go without her. I offered multiple times to stay home, she told me there was no reason I couldn’t go have fun. So I did, even though I had a feeling I’d be called to come home before Midnight.

That call came and I arrived home, helped get her more comfortable with her strange pains, and we went to bed. She woke me up at about 2 am or so, and we went to the Hospital. Happy New Year! We’re going to the hospital.

We stayed till morning, where they said it was just some sort of abdominal pain and told us to go back home. However, that night it was much worse and there was definitely something wrong. She took an ambulance, because even the slightest movement was unbearable.

Meanwhile we had an ice storm here in Marion IN. I can’t fully remember when it started, Monday or Tuesday Jan the 3rd or 4th. I vividly remember waking up alone in bed to no heat, or electricity, having slept in past time to get to work.

Luckily I had just gotten a cell phone. It was actually easier that my wife was in the Hospital so I could take care of the errands at hand: making sure that our Boston Terrier at the time was not freezing, prepping the faucets to keep from freezing, and getting food out of the Refrigerator and Freezer that was ironically unfreezing.

I juggled all that along with figuring out work hours, since my wife was safe in the Hospital, and I needed to save my family sick days and vacation time for when the baby acutely arrived.

I know I didn’t have work, on Thursday January 6th because there was no power to my building. Friday January 7th, I went to check on my wife early in the morning in the hospital. She was fine as she could be in the situation, so I headed to work.

Then, I got the call. Her water had broke and she needed to be sent to a much better facility at the IU Med Center in Indianapolis. I headed to the hospital, then back in the car south an hour south to Indianapolis, while she rode in the Ambulance.

We were there all day, where they ran better tests and finally figured out what the problem was: Placenta Pre-via, where the placenta prematurely starts to from the uterus. It can be caused by many things, and we still don’t know now what may have triggered it.

We stayed that night, waking every hour or so lying on the fold out single chair that turned into a “bed” if you can call it that. We were told that the goal was to keep Emily in gestation as long as possible, but she has other plans.

Saturday January 8th, 2005 Emily Elizabeth Fisher was born a preemie. She did exceptional well. She was kept in the NICU to be monitored closely and given the extra care a preemie needs.

My wife stayed in the Ronald McDonald house a few blocks away the whole time Emily was kept in the Hospital. I was back at home, holding down the fort, and working to save my vacation time for when they were able to come home.

I’d visit and stay through the weekends, and visit at least once or twice through the week, especially if friends wanted to take the trip down in the evening to visit and buy us dinner. We say a lot of love poured out on us during this time.

Gradually Emily got her body weight up, and got rid of her Jaundice, and still came home earlier than her intended due date. She was released on Valentines Day February 14th, 6 weeks after being born. Since then, I remember her coming home that day more than the Valentines day holiday itself. It was the best Valentines day I ever had.

Julian Smith suggests you should read a book a week, and did so himself in 2010: http://inoveryourhead.net/how-to-read-a-book-a-week-in-2010/

This is a great practice, and I am committing to it. I used to be a speed reader, and had the ability to read many books a week, once upon a time. The record still stands at 109 books in 9 months in 1997. Yes, I listened to Audiobooks during that time, but I say it counts.

I’m committing to reading a book a week in 2011. I am almost done here on Wednesday of the first week of 2011, and it’s a great read. I am reading Chris Guillebeau’s ‘The Art Of Non-Conformity’ and will tell you more about it once I’m done. In the meantime you can check it out or pick up a copy here: http://amzn.to/hMxPvH

My question to you: What 52 Books will you read this year? I personally have a stack all ready to go through.

As last year ended, I made a conscious decision to cut back on the podcasts I was listening to. I wanted to make sure that I didn’t have tons of audio content sitting on my iPod that I felt a semi-guilty twinge about not getting too, like the pile of books I have had 1/3 gotten into in the past.

Now that I hit that ever elusive and somewhat neurotic (confess!) state of trying to anxiously listening through all the podcasts I have queued up, I have decided that I want to do some crowd-sourcing on not just getting lots of content, but getting the best content.

So my question to you is this: What are the top 5 podcasts that you are subscribed to? The criteria is to base it on how you prioritize which ones you listen to first, no matter how many you have in your backlog. Be specific, and feel free to add more than 5.

This year has been a big one for me. I’ve been fighting the resistance from inside and out to put forth something worthwhile and productive from my life. I’ve been asking myself what “shipping” looks like in the different prioritized areas of my life.

As my Twitter bio says: Pursuing a Balanced Life #PABL of Productivity & Peace in Faith, Marriage, Fatherhood, Social Media, Podcast & Video Production.

In each of these areas I have been outlining standards of what ‘the point’ is and steps to reach what my ideal is for each of these priorities in my life. In some of them, it’s a tangible goal, in others; it can only be measured in feedback from others after I put in the time, energy and hard work necessary.

My questions to you this Monday morning are: Have you set out your priorities? Have you stepped back to name what success looks like for each of those areas? What measurement are you using, and what steps have you put in place or are you taking to ensure that success? Finally, how much do you want that success? Enough to do something about it? 

I promise, I am not blog fading. In fact, I am writing this as a place holder of sorts to show that I am not ignoring you. If I was you’d know it

……………………………..

Ok. Just kidding. I’ve been busy working on writing projects, and a new podcast, none of which is available, yet. The new podcast should be launched within the next week, and is taking longer, but that’s because it’s a collaborative effort. I’m really excited about it, and will post the details here when it’s ready.

I’m also preparing details and putting in the time at home, work, and other projects I need to finish before attending Podcamp Boston 5. I jumped all in and am attending my 2nd Podcamp, and am in shock that it’s only a week away! Not only am I attending, but I am speaking! I am looking forward to a great networking event, as well as just plain fun and socializing. If you happen to be near the Boston area on Sept 24-26th, come on out! Details here: http://www.podcampboston.org

So, watch this space. I will have a launch details post of the new podcast up within the next week I believe. 

To Be Continued…

This past week, I find I reach for the iPad more than the Macbook, or even my iPhone to check something quickly, like the Weather Forecast, a Movie time or Twitter. I’m still continuing to figure out different positions to hold the device based on the context of what app I am running and what the best body position is for that task.

I never thought I would see a day where I would want to read from an electronic device in my hands over a ‘good old book’. That day has come. Don’t get me wrong, I still love books, especially for resale value if I don’t want to keep it, or for lending. It’s the CD to MP3 transition all over again.

I won my iPad. I had no intention of buying one, mostly for lack of funds. I didn’t view the iPad as a ‘need’, only a ‘want’. After using it more in depth, I am glad to see that this device would make a possible laptop replacement for most consumers. Some people could make do with just the current version of the iPad, especially when iOS4 is released for it this (rumored) November. Once we get past the initial first generation of the iPad hardware, I’m assuming that we will see that it eventually will be viable for most people as a consumer laptop replacement.

Or, is it an iPhone / iPod touch replacement? If this were a 3G model, I’d almost be willing to get a regular phone and just use it to make calls, because I’d have the iPad to run my apps with cell tower data connectivity. Then again, there is something to be said for having a phone in your pocket as powerful and easy to use as the iPhone. For some people, a smaller, more portable screen at less than half the price is why they would choose an iPod Touch.

The iPad can’t replace the laptop for everyone. Some will still need a laptop that can actually use powerful desktop software in a portable device. I don’t often need to have a Macbook and all it can do with me at any one time. For now, my Macbook Pro 13’ is my video production tool, but it would be great to have a larger screen of an iMac, or large screen monitor with the new Mac Mini, and leave that all home when I go out with my iPad. My ideal scenario I now see would be to have an iMac or even a Mac Mini, and an iPad with 3G data.

Ultimately, your circumstances will dictate what you need. All I’m saying is that the iPad is something I had not planned on finding to be so useful. Would you believe that I typed this up on it, laying down on the couch?

Apps of note:

Quickoffice Connect HD http://www.quickoffice.com/

This app is a complete office suite for the iPad. It can download open and sync apps from Google Docs, Dropbox, Box.net, and your email accounts. It handles almost any file format you can throw at it. Well worth the money I paid, and now my mobile writing station on the iPad and iPhone.

Photopad http://www.photographyblog.com/news/photopad_for_ipad/

This is a great full features photo editing app. I initially sought out an image editor to edit a screenshot I took on the iPad that I wanted to tweet. Quick, easy, free. 

I tracked the progress of the shipping until it arrived last Wednesday at work. I hate having things shipped to my house in case someone swipes them from my porch. I fought the temptation to play with it in my cubicle all day, and finally took it home.

I was a bachelor last week, so I only had a few errands to take care of, and then I could sit and play. Instead, I sat and played, and ‘lost’ a few hours without realizing, and jumped up to finish the tasks I needed to before bed. It is easy to keep playing on this device.  

The feel of it is very polished hardware wise. It is beautiful. It’s easy to hold, and you get used to and invent new ways to hold it in different situations. I have used it in bed, in a comfortable chair, lying on the couch, standing up, sitting at a desk. In each situation, I was able to change the way I held it without any problem.

The software is very intuitive, and I felt like I was experiencing a new direction in computing. It’s hard to describe, but it really did feel Star Trek like to have a hand held touch screen device that could mold to my changing current wish to use it in new ways.

The iPad is a tool. It is not a necessary tool, but I am using it to force myself to stick with some of the boundaries I learned I need after my one-week social media fast. I can pick it up in the morning and get right to newspaper reading mode with my Twitter, Facebook, and Google Reader. I can do the same again at night. I have even been using some of the newspaper and magazine apps to check on things outside my regular platforms of information.

My daughter loves it. She has played games, drawn pictures, and been very careful with the device. We have briefly played a few games together, but I can see that being a big part of the use for it. My wife played a crossword game on it last night, and it worked out well. Overall, this device is great as a family social computing and gaming device.

Must Have Apps

Osfoora – Not only the best Twitter client for iPad, but the best experience I have had with any Twitter client on any platform. It also has an iPhone app. To see screenshots and features go here: http://saidmmm2002.wordpress.com/2010/06/05/osfoora-hd-for-twitter-1-0/

DropBox – It’s a beautiful thing to be able to synchronize files across my work PC, my Macbook, my iPhone, and my iPad. I dropped a PDF of the Podcamp Ohio schedule in my dropbox at work, and then picked up the iPad and had it open reading it literally 2 seconds later. More on Dropbox: http://db.tt/ENkZG8

Goodreader – It’s awesome to be able to use this in collaboration with dropbox. I can open dropbox files with Goodreader, and easily read those ebooks and PDFs I keep downloading and never getting to. There are tons of free Seth Godin eBooks out there, and now I don’t need to view them on my PC or Macbook to read them. More on Goodreader: http://www.goodiware.com/goodreader.html

Instapaper Pro – This app and web service can take any website or web clipping and opening it in extremely clean print like a book. I have been able to clip out long web articles either from the browser itself, or from Google Reader and read them in their entirety in the comfort of a comfortable seating position with this app. More on Instapaper: http://www.instapaper.com/

Overall, in a very busy week, I am discovering new ways to use it, and very pleased with the results so far. If I were in the position of shopping for a small laptop, I would definitely consider this device. If you are looking at buying an iPod touch, this may work better for you as well. It really depends upon what you are looking to get out of the device. Does the device live up to the hype? Overall, I think so. The more I use it the more I like it. Now if you excuse me, I need to have some more ‘magical’ time with my new toy.

Sent from my iPad

The results are in. I stayed off Twitter & Facebook for one full week. I allowed myself to check e-mail and Google Reader in the morning and evening and that was it.

Revisiting the reasons:

1. I wanted to see if there was a strategy to my tweeting/liking/commenting.
2. I felt like I was using it way too much. A balance needed to be found.
3. I wanted to rewire my brain to read longer than 140 characters.
4. To prove I could.

Day 1:

This was the day of the WWDC Steve Jobs Keynote. Bad day to start. I wanted to share and be shared to about all of the announcements. Takeaway: Social is definitely a major aspect for me when it comes to social media. And it should be. Hint: It’s in the name.

Day 2: So much better today. I worked on other writing for the online writing class I have been taking, and so that creative outlet filled the “need to share” that Social media seems to have been filling. Takeaway: Do the small pieces of content I put out on social media sites drain my creative tank?

Day 3:

Traveled 9 hours by car starting at 5am. Much easier to ignore the urge to tweet. Not sure if it was that it was day 3, or the fact that I had other things to do. Either way, it got easier, not harder. Takeaway: Put yourself in a new situation where you don’t have the same old triggers. 

Day 4:

Not as bad. Part of the problem the first day or so was the feeling as if I was missing out on everything in the world. Once I was able to go through my Google Reader feeds at the beginning and end of the day for a few days in a row, I felt much more empowered to make it through the rest of the week. Takeaway: If you set up the right capturing tools, the Internet can wait for you, and you can wait for the Internet.

Day 5:

Another extremely busy day. Having something else to do helps to shift focus away. Takeaway: It helps to remember that actively putting yourself in a position to not even choose the option you are avoiding can help to avoid temptation.

Day 6:

Nothing to report here. I was busy with my mom’s (your mom) wedding. Helps to have other activities planned for the reinforcement of distraction from what I am avoiding.

Day 7:

Travelled another 9 hours in the car. When it came time to approach the Twitter stream, it felt overwhelming. I decided to reply to a message or two, after the 1 week had passed. I can honestly say that I don’t miss staring at a computer screen, regardless of the size.

Overall, this experiment was a success. I enjoyed not having to stay connected, and proving I wasn’t being ruled by instant gratification that the internet can bring. I am more interested now in fully unplugging for the same time period without any digital interface at all. I know I could do it, and would be interested in seeing what my brain feels like after that.

One thing I am going to do from this point forward is to have a weekly Social Media Sabbath. I will stay off Social Media sites, and even try to leave all notifications off, and possibly just forward my cell phone to the home line. I think unplugging even for a smaller duration on a regular basis will help me push forward creatively in ways I have forgotten how. 

…I will make the Internet Disappear! At least for me. I am taking a week off of Social Media. Here’s why:

Recently I was selected for Jury duty. I was forced to sit and listen to evidence and testimony all day 8-5. During this time I became aware of my nervous twitch to tweet every little thing, or read everyone else’s tweets. Not to mention scan Facebook, or Google Reader, and e-mail. 

On top of the Jury duty, I recently read an article about what the internet is doing to our brains, and no, it’s not all bad. However, it does change the way your brain is wired, according to the article, and some of the wiring is not the way I want my brain to work. The quick paced ability to read short lines of text very quickly and jump around web pages can be a great skill. The problem comes in when that is the approach I take to everything as a result of using the internet too much. 

With the Television season wrapped up (except for the awesome new season of Burn Notice) A goal of mine this summer is to read a lot more, for personal development and for pure enjoyment. I hope to spark more thoughts for writing from this reading, as well as start to treat words with the care I have in the past. It seems that around the time I learned what RSS was around 2004-2005, I have been in speed reading mode. I want cultivate the skill of slowing down and savoring the words when the time calls for it.

The other key in my decision to do this is the fact that I won an iPad! I entered and won a contest from the iPhone/iPad app Boxcar, which allows for instant push notifications on those devices. I love the app, and now even more so. When the iPad arrives, I know I will be trying out using it in a number of ways, testing different experiences, and blogging once a week about my thoughts. This will obviously lead to an increase in my social media and internet consumption, so again, it would be wise for me to abstain a bit before this new phase starts.

So that’s the WHY. Here’s the HOW:

My plan is this: Starting Monday June 7th through Sunday June 13th I will not tweet (except for 2 strategic tweets I have planned), read tweets, and will stay off Facebook entirely. Since a fair amount of my activity is on my iPhone, I have removed the Facebook app, and Twitter apps from my iPhone altogether as well as Boxcar so I don’t receive Push notifications. 

I am going to allow Email and Google Reader with extreme limitations. I will check only them twice a day; once in the morning and then again in the evening. This is actually what I have been doing for Twitter and Facebook for the Saturday and Sunday before starting this. 

In regards to email and RSS reader, I will only be deleting, archiving, and starring items in Google reader. I am only allowing this in case I need to know something important from email. I am allowing Google Reader in order to use moderation and practice the reading goal I have, and save some newsworthy items for future examination when the week is over. I like this idea instead of just hitting ‘mark all as read’. Podcasts are also allowed, but only for making the road trips pass quickly and I have two large ones in the course of this week. 

Ultimately I am not sure what to expect during this week, but my assumption is that my approach to my time management as well as my appreciation of the internet will change much like my attitude of food has been changing since I started using the Lose It application back in the first week of February. I want to come through this week will a larger plan towards my consumption and creation of content, as well as just a general rested feeling of ignoring the never-ending stream of information. Since I am going to be using a few vacation days anyway, I figured it made sense to go all out and be in the moment of the vacation instead of splintering my attention. We’ll see what comes out of this. 

As you can see from the tweaks to the site, and the fact that I went ahead and got the official domain name erikjfisher.com, I am trying to make this blog site the official web presence for myself as I move forward. With Facebook’s privacy settings backlash, as well as the 0 Follower Followee Twitter incident recently you never can tell what the shape of the web will be like in the future.

In less than two weeks LOST will be over, and the ride the show has taken my imagination on for the past 5 plus years will conclude. Along with that, a couple other shows will end their run for the season and I will ramp up my reading and writing schedule accordingly as my free time starts to show signs of life again. I’m not saying that Television has been taking all my time, but it doesn’t help.

I’ve also been taking an online writing course. A friend from college who has a Masters Degree in creative writing is using me and a few others in one of her test pilot classes. She will be doing another one in September, and it’s well worth signing up for. It’s called The Blank Page writing workshop and a great use of $35 if you want to learn to use your words more effectively. For more info check out her site here: http://www.christintaylor.com