Category: Current Events

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.

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!

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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!)

i love that so many people have been challenged to not only give, but creatively contribute to the 50000shoes.com campaign.? we’re still need over 43,000 shoes, but i have a feeling we’ll get them.?? i have some really cool news to announce tomorrow about how some people have decided to partner with the campaign, as well as some really cool give-a-ways you’ll be entered in when you give.

anyway, i just wanted to give a little love to some videos and ideas people have put together.? there are probably more out there, so i’m sorry if i haven’t found yours yet.? if you have done something cool, please leave a comment!

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my friend and coworker jenni talks about how many shoes she owns. she decided that she’s not only donating 20% of her shoes to soles4souls, she’ll also purchase a pair for every pair she owns. so she’ll be buying 51 pairs! jenni, like me, works in a church…so she’s sacrificing eating out and not buying any new shoes during the holiday season. hello? that’s hard core!

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bryan, who writes the blog prayers for blowouts, made this cool video and threw his kids out in the cold…

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fellow nashvillian amigo newton dominey owns a rock climbing gym called the crag. see what their big goal for the challenge is in this video. they ended up raising enough for 108 pairs on the night this video was shot!

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crystal’s been a friend of mine for years. last week, she asked people to give shoes in honor of her birthday. people obliged!

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so, enjoy these creative ways to spread the word about the 50,000 pairs challenge. make your own! let us know how you’re spreading the word. and again, tomorrow, i’ll have some very cool announcements to make!

and if you haven’t, go ahead and donate some shoes! heck, even if you have, drop another $5!

i am not a political person. i don’t enjoy discussing politics much because, to me, it seems almost as fruitless as discussing the grey areas of theology. just lots of opinions going ’round and ’round and ’round. i don’t like things that go ’round and ’round and ’round. but hey, that’s just me.

america is full of mixed emotions now. some are angry that the perceived anti-christ and his liege of evil, democratic minions are calling the shots. some are elated that the party tables have turned around a little bit and are looking forward to the change that could bring. some are disappointed, but hopeful.

this post has nothing to do with obama winning last night. this post has to do with us, the american people. if anything, this election has shown us that change is possible. that hope is present. and that there is a new generation of leaders that are excited and optimistic about the future – regardless of who is hanging out in the whitehouse.

by the time i woke up this morning, my inbox was already inundated with “sure, everyone is hopeful, but once they see obama can’t deliver, they’ll be let down.” and i think that is an immature and ridiculous way of looking at the current state of our country.

why?

we shouldn’t rely on obama. or congress. or the house. we should rely on each other. on the american people. in the last year, we have united like never before. we have celebrated and challenged the status quo and passionately supported people we believe in.

at this pivotal time in our nation, i ask that you do a few things:

1) if you’re whining, stop.

2) look around your own neighborhood. what needs to change? get to know your neighbors and make those changes!

3) what’s going on in your city? more importantly, who is leading your city? get involved and share your voice. and get to work!

4) what’s a cause you believe in? for me, it’s healthcare. there are local and regional organizations for just about anything under the sun. find them. join them. get to know your state representatives and congresspeople. let them know how they can best serve you.

5) pray. obama can’t change the world. but he sure could use your support and prayers, whether you agree with his position on issues or not.

don’t rely on obama to guide this country into the future.

you have responsibility beyond voting.

so ask yourself, as an american, what are you going to do with that?

i voted today at 9 am after meeting a friend for coffee. i was in and out in less than five minutes.

how long did it take you to vote?

i need a small army who is willing to sign up, sight unseen, for a secret mission.

only those who sign up will get the details (and you’ll have the option of saying no once you do sign up). the rest of you lurkers will just have to wait until november 10th to find out.

three facts about the mission:

1) you want to help provide dignity and safety to those who are living in poverty by using social media

2) you need to have a blog and/or a trusted list of people you can email or message somehow (absolutely no spamming)

3) you are not afraid of audaciously scary big goals. like really big.

if this sounds like you, leave me a comment below (make sure to include a good email address in the email field) and by wednesday night i’ll be in touch with further details.

i am so excited about this mission…it’s unlike anything i’ve ever seen before!