Anne Marie Miller

Author: Anne Marie Miller

  • is failing an option?

    there have been very few challenges in my life i haven’t met or exceeded.

    mostly driven by (ahem: unhealthy) levels of competition, i find a goal that’s just a little bit out of my range, but not completely unimaginable.

    let’s try to some articles published. check.

    let’s try to get a book published.? yup.

    let’s design some cool print pieces that win awards. check.

    get out of credit card debt. sionara.

    raise 50 malaria nets? why not? let’s make it over 100.

    this 50,000 shoes in 50 days challenge is scaring the bejeebers out of me. it’s half over and still over 40,000 shoes to go.? i rarely get jealous or frustrated, but many times i have been wishing i was a really, really, really high traffic blog.? maybe that would help…

    some of my thoughts have included:

    • why can’t i have the traffic of pioneer woman? seth godin? michael hyatt? dooce?
    • if only all the mom bloggers and the influential marketplace masterminds would catch on and blog about this cause (amongst the other 90 amazing causes a day they probably get pinged with) my job would be easy!
    • why have over 3000 people supported the cause through blogs and facebook, but only 1200 unique donors have given?? why haven’t the other 1800 given?
    • how come a blog that has people fighting about a pastor can get FIFTY TIMES MORE TRAFFIC in ONE DAY than any of the 50,000 shoes posts?

    but after some reflection, i noticed the goal i am obsessing about is raising 50,000 shoes. i was caring all about the numbers.

    i haven’t been taking my own advice.

    lesson learned? i am needing to back off, pray and search my heart, and realize the grander scheme in this.

    yes, i’m honestly scared we may not reach this huge goal we have set. i’m scared of the consequences. of losing my reputation as the girl who can always rally people together to deliver mind-blowing results.

    but i can’t think about that too much.

    it’s all about the heart. and i need to refocus, and dwell on the heart.

    whose heart?

    mine.? yours.? and 50,000 people in need whose will be changed when they get their first pair of shoes.

    deep breath, anne jackson. deep breath.

  • How to Lead a Tribe (Part 2)

    Thank you guys so much for the great feedback on yesterday’s post.

    This post offers a little bit more simplistic advice…if you’re already leading a tribe, or if you’re going to embark on an intentional journey to do so, this tip is probably one of the most important suggestions i can give you.

    BE YOURSELF – DO IT WELL.

    If being yourself means you have a huge tribe – do it well.

    If being yourself means you have a small tribe – do it well.

    If being yourself means your tribe is loved – do it well.

    If being yourself means your tribe is criticized – do it well.

    If being yourself means your tribe is long lived – do it well.

    If being yourself means your tribe is short lived – do it well.

    If being yourself means your tribe is popular – do it well.

    If being yourself means your tribe is underground – do it well.

    Whatever it costs you, whatever it means to you, whatever it is that’s required of you…be yourself and do it well.

    Your tribe can’t exist without you.

    Be yourself.

    Do it well.

  • How to Lead a Tribe (Part 1)

    First, if you haven’t read Seth Godin‘s latest catalog of wisdom, Tribes, go get it now.

    Today, I thought I’d talk a little bit about tribes – as in a movement of people, not the book.

    One of the most frequently asked questions I get is

    “How can i increase the awareness of _______ (my church, my company, my blog) through social networking? How can i get an online community like yours?”

    Usually I’ll give some general advice anyone can Google about consistency, quality and interaction and end with a polite cyber high-five.

    Go get ’em tiger.

    As I was thinking through it though, I realized maybe not everyone should lead a tribe.

    I’m not saying you have to have everything figured out to do it, nor am i saying that every tribe is built online. But to lead a tribe in the most unclouded of ways, you’ve got to start off on the right foot.

    So, without further adieu, here is the first tidbit of how to lead a tribe:

    Ask yourself if you’re ready.

    How do you know if you’re ready? Try working through these questions to get you started.

    • Do you have a mission to accomplish? Or is your mission to help others propel a cause forward?
    • Do you want to increase your spotlight? Or do you want to increase the spotlight on a specific cause, or group of people?
    • Do you feel you have a lot to contribute? Or are you ready to share ideas and provide a space for others to contribute?
    • Are you wanting to take full responsibility? Or have you realized your responsibility is to inspire and empower a group of people to participate?
    • Are you focused on utilizing your strengths to accomplish a goal? Or are you willing to incorporate the strengths and insight of others?

    Obviously, these questions aren’t fully defined. Neither are the first questions “wrong” and the second questions “right.”

    But the second questions are more tribal in nature, and if you’re only able to answer “yes” to the first questions, you might not be ready to lead a tribe just yet.

    To play off the old adage, there is an “i” in the word “tribes” – Notice the “I” is? right in the middle, surrounded by all the other letters.

    Without the others, the tribe couldn’t be.

    Are you in a position to lead?

  • temptation and confession

    sometimes

    i just want to turn the comments off.

    i wonder if

    this space becomes a boxing ring

    instead of a place where truth and love

    (and truth in love)

    is spoken.

    where grace is demonstrated.

    i love a healthy discussion,

    but the unhealthy ones

    break

    my

    heart.

    and i just want to hit

    [delete]

    but backspacing isn’t always enough.

  • next year could eat me* for lunch (*or you)

    even though i’m a “J” temperment (highly organized, structured), i am terrible at organizing my own goals.? heck, i am terrible at even setting goals. or boundaries. or any kind of future-planning things.

    as 2008 comes to a close, the year 2009 is stalking me, hiding behind every corner, threatening to attack me with it’s scythe – the crazy schedule, book things, conferences, job stuff, and oh yes, relationships – all demanding time and energy.

    after going through a large stack of brown paper bags, hyperventilating in each one until they were soggy with spit, i decided that now is the ideal time to set some boundaries and goals in place for next year before next year eats me for lunch.

    and thus the five focuses of anne jackson’s 2009 were born.? i’m going to really laser in on these during the first six months, and adjust if i need to.

    i hereby promise to focus on these five things, and these five things alone: (listed in no particular order, and puh-lease, do not be hatin’ saying “you left god off the list.”? god is interwoven through every fiber of my being and is too worthy to be placed on a silly list. thank you.)

    1) my relationship with chris

    2) my job and the people of cross point community church

    3) things directly related to mad church disease and investing in church leaders

    4) specific relationships i feel god leading me to nurture

    5) fighting injustice and poverty by supporting compassion international

    the things outside of these five focuses will get cheated.? but hopefully the things in these five focuses will become rich and valuable.

    i’m learning if you don’t put some intentionality behind your actions, you really will be less effective, less healthy, and way more stressed out.

    how do you process goals and your future? are you a list maker? or fly by the seat of your pants?? how have you seen your style work or not work?

  • is it possible?

  • mommas, don’t let your babies grow up to be pastors

    how true. watch until the very end.

    happy thanksgiving.

    [ht: message in hand]

    ==

    **if you haven’t yet, donate $5 to buy 2 pairs of shoes for the needy and be entered to win a chance for two round trip southwest airlines tickets! just visit 50000shoes.com

  • some mad churchy things!

    just wanted to let y’all know about a few behind the scenes things have been going on over the last several weeks! it’s only a couple of months until mad church disease releases (woohoo!) and so far, the endorsements and reviews coming in have been exactly what i hoped for – that this book will spark thinking and discussions about our health as we help others.

    since it would be a wise choice, i decided to develop an author site to be the hub for all things anne jackson. it does not have a separate blog, but links here instead. anyway, many props to brad ruggles for his amazing design work on the site AnneJacksonWroteThis.com. go check ‘er out!

    we have also spiced up the MadChurchDisease.com site with a new look…wanted to keep it really simple and hopefully engage people in the interactive forum (which is obviously not complete yet) but i am really looking forward to the discussion that is stirred up in that arena. we point people to it in the book and i really hope it can be a place for people to share their stories, offer encouragement and pray for each other because we are NOT in this alone!

    other fun mad church things would be some places i am speaking early next year, a soon-to-be-announced contest/partnership with relevant magazine and neue, that our friends in both the UK and australia can order the book online, and that it will also be available via audio book, ebook, and symtio.? oh, and if you’re signed up for the catalyst filter, you’ll be getting a copy of it inside the aqua box!

    you can still get the book for $11.55 (that’s for a hardcover!) on amazon right now.

    thanks for all the MCD love and support over the last year and a half. can you believe that?!? PHEW!!!

    goodness. i need a nap. :)

  • Southwest Airlines Ticket Giveaway!

    i said i had some exciting news to announce today. here it is!

    first of all, anyone who donates a pair of shoes on 50000shoes.com from today until midnight (CST) on december 6 will be entered into a chance to win 2 round trip tickets for wherever southwest airlines flies!

    you don’t need to leave a comment (although it would be nice to know!) because we will be tracking the entries from the 50000shoes.com site. the more shoes you buy, the greater your chances are of winning the tickets!

    also, we have a special challenge during this time frame too.

    if we can have 1000 shoes donated between now and december 6, we have a very special corporate sponsor who is willing to match 500 of those shoes. so, for every 2 pairs donated, this sponsor will donate 1 pair. how incredible is that?

    we are currently at 6314.? we need to be at 7314 by december 6.

    we have some other fun giveaways coming up, but don’t let this one pass you by. now is a great time to re-invite your blog readers, email address book people, facebook friends, and everyone you know to participate. don’t forget to tell them about winning the SWA tickets and the fact that we basically have 500 “free” shoes will be donated if we reach our goal of 1000 shoes by december 6th!

    donate now…donate often! and please, for the love of thanksgiving turkey, spread the word!

    =======

    ABOUT THE SPONSOR

    Lipo in a Box is ah-maz-ing body shapewear. Guys, you may not have a clue about this stuff, but ladies, you know where I’m going with this. We all love our Spanx. I confess, I do too. But Lipo in a Box is BETTER than Spanx. It lasts much longer and fits more comfortably.

    Don’t take my word for it. Connie Elder, the brains behind Lipo in a Box, has had her products featured on Oprah, QVC, MORE Magazine, The Today Show, The View and in author Charla Krupp’s NY Times best selling book, “How Not to Look Old.”

    Lipo in a Box is super excited to partner with Soles4Souls and the 50,000 Shoes campaign.? They can’t wait to chip in 500 shoes…you guys just have to show them what you’re made of and get 1000 pairs donated by December 6!? You can save money by not buying a new holiday dress – instead, getting Lipo in a Box to help you fit into that dress from last year, and put the savings to some shoes for those in need!

    (interested in your company or church doing a match sponsorship? email me!)