I posted over on my IT Toolbox blog about how the project that is meant to support the desired outcome sometimes becomes the desired outcome.

Also, the positive career impact of fitness - 1200 pushups a week, 168 pull-ups, hiking, hockey, tennis, and soccer & diet as a lifestyle, not as a “getting ready for summer” routine.

Plus, creating space - using a sports metaphor for advancing your career.

Finally, I was interviewed by Arizona Republic reporter, Sonya Haller about working out of coffee houses.  We had a great conversation at Soma Cafe.

Lastly, played music at Inza Coffee last Friday.  I am hoping to do it again on June 30th.  On Friday, Scott Walter and a few other players are doing an acoustic showcase at Inza.  Scott host the open mic at Inza on Saturday evenings and runs MusicPHIX.com.  Don’t know if I will make the Friday showcase - competing plans.

Kent Newsome tagged me with this task..  What songs do you listen to that lift your spirits?

I’ve got a few, so picking one will be a chore and I’ll muse as I do so.

Of course, you can look at Steve Winwood’s, Back in the High Life as a good option.  John Denver’s Rocky Mountain High - you just feel like moving to the Rockies when you hear it.  Jimmy Buffett’s Chanson Pour Les Petits Enfants (Song for the little children), Rich Mullins writes so many that picking one would be hard to do…

I have three by Shawn Mullins: (with chorus lyrics)

Something to Believe In
I know you’ve got something to believe in
Down deep inside your soul
Hey friend now don’t you stop believin’
In the dreams that had, when you were just a lad.

Shimmer
We’re born to shimmer
We’re born to shine
We’re born to radiate
We’re born to live
We’re born to love
We’re born to never hate

Sky’s The Limit
The Sky’s the Limit for the bird on the wind
And with every minute now the view is changing
It’s life on earth with the ground as an optional thing

Below is a YouTube video of Shimmer - although it doesn’t have the complete first verse - he added lines to the first verse after.  The complete song is found on his Soul’s Core album - the one that had his Grammy winning, Lullaby.  You can also here some songs from his new album and an acoustic Lullaby at his MySpace site.  I have an interview I did with him when he was up here playing at Cave Creek Coffee Company last year but I have to repost it.  I have been consolidating websites for simplicity and those links were killed in the carnage.

I tag: DRATZ, Pam Slim, and Matt

At least I hope so.  Probably a timed, chapter by chapter release in .pdf format.

I’ve wanted them to do this for some time and finally my editor got them to budge on this.  She has always agreed with me on this but publishers have their way of doing things and their timing.

“But Matt, if you release it for free no one will buy it.”

Maybe… But I am inclined to believe that there will be a number of people who want the printed version and the CD that comes with it.  They will buy it.  I also believe that those who only want the online version were not going to buy it anyway.

Additionally, there is a much greater possibility of those who don’t buy letting others know - then if they never read it at all.  By doing so, they greatly increase my audience - both those who only want the free online content and those who will buy a copy.  See, I’m really just greedy - in the long run.

I posted the chapter titles on my blog and asked readers to suggest which two chapters they would most like to see.
http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/pm/career/archives/releasing-my-book-for-free-16905

Join the conversation if you’d like.

I just posted a question - no, a call for help - on my IT Toolbox blog.

My client needs a solution and it is somewhat out of my area of expertise.  The sales people for the various cell service providers have been providing less than stellar advice on this - and don’t really understand the issue real well.

Go to my post and if you have anything to contribute, please do.

Thanks.