EGWolfehttp://egwolfe.com/feed.xml2022-04-05T17:27:02.612000ZWerkzeugOut of box thinking, adaptability, growth, and leadership, all from home officehttp://egwolfe.com/post/out-of-box-thinking-adaptability-growth-and-leadership-all-from-home-office2022-04-05T17:27:02.612000Z2021-05-08T15:19:50ZEric G Wolfe<div>I’m known for out-of-the-box thinking and ability to adapt through and find growth opportunity regardless of the situation. I’ve created new processes for clients all over America. I’ve consulted in the design of new systems. I’ve produced so many videos for people as well.</div>
<div>And I’ve done it all from my home office.</div>
<div>And I've been doing so since long before Covid. This new era has simply cause so many others to have to learn how to think in a new way.</div>
<div>If you're looking for coaching in how to thrive in this new normal we are forced to live in, please do reach out. It's not something to detest; rather it is an opportunity to embrace!</div>
passion to collaborate with leaders and artists in maximizing ideation and strategyhttp://egwolfe.com/post/passion-to-collaborate-with-leaders-and-artists-in-maximizing-ideation-and-strategy2021-04-23T14:33:36.832000Z2021-04-23T14:22:33ZEric G Wolfe<div><span style="color:rgb(81, 81, 81);">I am passionate about helping leaders and artists present the best versions of their ideas. As a Creative Director, I believe that beauty enhances story and experience with magical and intangible impact. I know that great process architecture makes an invaluable difference in the long term; and that it can begin being built during the first project we partner in. With extensive expertise in consulting and designing for special presentations — live event, walk through experience (including window displays), and video presentation *extensive broadcast and streaming experience as well as produced product for playback and sharing — I love collaborating with leadership and artists to maximize ideation and strategy.</span></div>
Position Hierarchyhttp://egwolfe.com/post/position-hierarchy2021-03-06T19:42:24.085000Z2021-03-06T17:53:36ZEric G Wolfe<div><span style="--en-fontfamily: slab-serif; font-family: "Zilla Slab",serif,slab-serif"><b><span style="font-size: 16px;">Architect ></span></b></span></div>
<div><span style="--en-fontfamily: slab-serif; font-family: "Zilla Slab",serif,slab-serif"><b><span style="font-size: 16px;">Coach ></span></b></span></div>
<div><span style="--en-fontfamily: slab-serif; font-family: "Zilla Slab",serif,slab-serif"><b><span style="font-size: 16px;">Leader ></span></b></span></div>
<div><span style="--en-fontfamily: slab-serif; font-family: "Zilla Slab",serif,slab-serif"><b><span style="font-size: 16px;">Doer</span></b></span></div>
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<div>Regardless, of position, always be a Servant. Stay Humble. Be a Learner; improving always. </div>
Streaming Solutionshttp://egwolfe.com/post/streaming-solutions2021-03-06T19:50:22.638000Z2021-02-24T16:54:27ZEric G Wolfe<div><span style="font-family: Proxima-Nova, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="color:rgb(81, 81, 81);">Regarding the explanation of "streaming solutions" and any of "what I do": I am (I hope this doesn't sound cocky) way beyond expert level at leading live event production. Audio, Lighting, Video, Staging, etc. I am a veteran Experience Designer with well over 3000 unique stage, film, event, and display setups. For over 10 years, many of those have been live streamed! It's not even something I think about, it's simply what we do. I've realized that more and more, people are looking for such expertise. I'd love to figure out how to market to be able to capitalize on the opportunity and even more so, have potential clients not waste their time trying to struggle to solve streaming on their own. Streaming is the easy part to us. The benefit is that we also provide coaching of beauty and excellence in execution for the rest of the product. Does that make sense? </span></span></span></div>
Invite people to bring their genius to the teamhttp://egwolfe.com/post/invite-people-to-bring-their-genius-to-the-team2021-01-28T06:14:15.018000Z2021-01-28T06:10:54ZEric G Wolfe<div><br /></div><img src="https://cdn-images.postach.io/37030e3b-f824-4b5f-9b34-315a732e9397/8ed5c16d-1e17-ca24-78d1-c3eb79386a64/476a749c-7223-6a60-6ba2-58ca9d1f4032.png" style="--en-naturalWidth:1280; --en-naturalHeight:959;"/><div>Snapped this moment while leading rehearsal tonight. Beautiful to see a team of people all bring themselves to the process.</div>
My Speechhttp://egwolfe.com/post/my-speech2021-01-09T20:51:40.043000Z2021-01-08T19:15:10ZEric G Wolfe<div>A friend of mine was telling me today about how one of his kids as well as a person he’s mentoring are each displaying areas where they struggle with, "getting nervous making phone calls to people." He went on to say, "If you’re going to be employable you have to be proactive and know how to talk to people."</div>
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<div>Wow, do I know this?! I have been crippled at points in my life. Often I revert to those feelings. Many of you know me as a leader, producer, coach, etc. I present online and on stage multiple times per week. I have to make many calls, obviously as well. I have to will myself to step up and push past fear daily.</div>
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<div>In the text thread with him I replied, " It’s not fun. However it’s the real world." I encouraged him to let them know how much harder it is for people like me and our President Elect. I went on to express my feelings that, " It it THE WORST. Terrifying and awful. Every time."</div>
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<div>He followed by noting, "I’ve never thought about that."</div>
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<div>I know that he means zero disrespect with that statement. Honestly, I took it as encouragement that I’m better at handling myself than my fears and internal struggles typically have me believe about myself.</div>
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<div>I continued my dialogue with him saying, "I have NO IDEA how he has done what he has. Same as the previous King of England. It’s crazy inspiring." I then asked him, "Have you and [your wife] watched The Kings Speech?"</div>
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<div>You must. In general, it’s a good film and worth seeing. More so, it’s arguably the best piece of art to understand me.</div>
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<div>Similarly, and even were it not regarded as one of the top articles written in 2020. I encourage reading this:</div>
<div><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/01/joe-biden-stutter-profile/602401/" rev="en_rl_none">https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/01/joe-biden-stutter-profile/602401/</a></div>
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<div>Similar to the Best Picture nominee, I recommend not only for the great writing, but also to understand me.</div>
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<div>II Corinthians 12:7-10</div>
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New AV Systemhttp://egwolfe.com/post/new-av-system2021-01-08T18:43:33.664000Z2020-12-19T18:36:00ZEric G Wolfe<div><img src="https://cdn-images.postach.io/37030e3b-f824-4b5f-9b34-315a732e9397/1b337892-162a-4aea-b49b-7756075a0e7a/78a45c2f-4260-41ea-bcf1-7a39d3ef6758.jpg" /></div>
<div>Those of you who know me well understand that I’m not really at all a gear head. However, I know that sometimes an upgrade is necessary. This went in earlier in the month. Quite a Christmas Gift!!</div>
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<div>I’ll explain the project and the why behind it all in an upcoming post. The story will be a good addition the portfolio, I’m certain.</div>
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<div>And we’re only getting started with the capacities. Tune in on Christmas Eve to see how incredible the experience translates with our clear, natural audio and the epic cinematic visual capture!</div>
Create New Possibilities Out of the Unknownhttp://egwolfe.com/post/create-new-possibilities-out-of-the-unknown2020-12-04T02:02:25.227000Z2020-12-03T14:43:40ZEric G Wolfe<div><span style="font-size: 18px;"><i>"Intelligence uses knowledge to solve problems; creativity uses what is unknown to create new possibilities."</i></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 11px;">Jessica was on a work call and heard someone say this. She encouraged me with texting this reminder to me. </span></div>
<div><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 11px;">She didn’t catch where the quote originated from. If one of you knows, please do use it as an excuse to call or text me and let me know so that I can add attribution in!</span></div>
Life > Dreamshttp://egwolfe.com/post/life-dreams2020-12-04T02:00:12.048000Z2020-11-01T03:18:45ZEric G Wolfe<div><h2><span style="font-style: italic;"><font style="font-size: 18px;">"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that." </font></span></h2></div>
<div><font style="font-size: 11px;">— Albus Dumbledore </font></div>
Reflecting on events mentors and partnershttp://egwolfe.com/post/reflecting-on-events-mentors-and-partners2020-10-23T16:09:51.242000Z2020-10-05T18:02:39ZEric G Wolfe<div>Here’s a moment from an event that I produced last night</div>
<div><a href="https://youtu.be/aD22UgZOVOQ" rev="en_rl_none">https://youtu.be/aD22UgZOVOQ</a></div>
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<div>It required working with worship directors and campus pastors from across 14 campuses to put together this event. We had two weeks to produce the whole thing LOL Obviously the type of thing well it should be 3 to 4 months out...</div>
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<div>I always remember one of my mentors saying way back when we were starting Genesis (a nonprofit that I had the privilege of being part of the founding leadership team on) that you "can figure out how to pull off any single event in as short as two weeks...that creating the infrastructure to pull off continuous weekly events is a different thing." Anyway, for more than two decades now, remembering hearing that spoken has helped me define the audacious things I say yes to even if they’re not fully even in *my* head when hearing about the concept. </div>
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<div>Another mentor regularly talked about finding your "killers"...your "Barry Sanders to hand the ball to"...your people to partner with and give them ownership to make their part great. I am so blessed to work with multiple such people in their areas!</div>
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<div>I always respected that mentor. And I’m super grateful to have learned by watching them. I had no idea how difficult, complex, and nuanced their job was. The past few years as I’ve grown into hey season where I am the executive producer and leader of process, my appreciation has grown so much for those who helped shape me and those that I get to currently journey with. </div>
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<div>Anyway, it was a lot of hard work, however what a gift to add this event to my treasured memories. </div>
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<div>My view of the moment in the video from the front row:</div><img src="https://cdn-images.postach.io/37030e3b-f824-4b5f-9b34-315a732e9397/03c382eb-7d9f-4995-87f2-9b371f8c3c16/3660c0eb-ed30-4819-bc26-aaba5f7327af.jpg" style="--en-naturalWidth:2048; --en-naturalHeight:1536;"/><div><br /></div>
<div>I wouldn’t be me without some great mentors along the way. I’m grateful to them.</div>
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<div>I’m grateful for the team that I get to partner with. Some amazing people with incredible talent and even more beautiful hearts. it’s a thrill to be part of such fun with them. </div>
GTD Delegation = Leadership Contexthttp://egwolfe.com/post/gtd-leadership-context2020-09-07T18:16:01.652000Z2020-09-07T17:02:38ZEric G Wolfe<div>Getting things done is perhaps the greatest context for leadership development. </div>
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<div>A couple weeks ago we put up our new design. It’s the first time that most of my team has ever used LED panels. It was also the first time that many of them had hung a new plot using traditional paperwork and lighting design theory. I have a person on my team with a lot of potential as both a leader and a designer. </div>
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<div>This individual had the chance to run point in project managing the turn. Many successes as well as some challenges and learning opportunities along the way. The now have been figuring out how to lead making the most of it with weekend designs. They have some experience in the programming chair, however this is a larger plot than they are used to. </div>
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<div>It’s great to see what learning in the deep end does to people. It prompts great questions and yields some fantastic epiphanies. The growth and development is encouraging. Pretty cool to to see them not only develop as a leader and designer on their own, but also with their volunteer team!</div>
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<div>Here’s a really lovely walk-in look from yesterday:</div><img src="https://cdn-images.postach.io/37030e3b-f824-4b5f-9b34-315a732e9397/1f9f9342-d8a0-7916-5be4-6edf156969ca/c2e4ab93-6909-e12b-99de-227ed65a10a1.jpg" style="--en-naturalWidth:3676; --en-naturalHeight:2165;" width="3676"/><div><br /></div>
Coaching Stage Designhttp://egwolfe.com/post/coaching-stage-design2020-09-05T21:35:04.243000Z2020-09-03T15:44:31ZEric G Wolfe<div>So, I’m coaching a Worship Director friend in a consultation thread about the design updates they want to implement on their stage. Here’s a copy/paste of the last message I typed in the thread:</div>
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<div><i>My encouragement to you in thinking about design is to build a mood board of things that you’d like. I can then help you in designing something that is true to your taste and feels current and that will look good for in the room as well as for the lens. </i></div>
<div><i>And I definitely encourage not gathering any more than 50% of your inspiration from HOW. Honestly, I recommend staying beneath 10 or even 5% if possible. </i></div>
<div><i>The "church scene" is sadly very derivative. Don’t make a copy of a copy of a copy. The best design in the world is inspired by nature and original eureka ideas. If choosing existing work to be inspired by, I suggest studying great architecture, flipping through an art history textbook, or watching a broadway show. Watch the Grammys or some top name as well as highly creative indie concerts if you want something that is more live production. Watching other churches is far too often simply copying people who have copied many people before.</i></div>
<div><i>Also, it’s never about specific gear. It’s about the feel that you want to have things look like and the budget and existing inventory that you have access to. </i></div>
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<div>And then I just read this related thought in the book, Disrupt by Luke Williams. </div><img src="https://cdn-images.postach.io/37030e3b-f824-4b5f-9b34-315a732e9397/f9f94c99-887e-e74e-f2b0-9616efe6927f/eccd3ff7-eff4-f096-3463-79702d69e5f0.jpg" style="--en-naturalWidth:2886; --en-naturalHeight:2124;" width="2886"/><div><br /></div>
Audition Day Scheduledhttp://egwolfe.com/post/audition-day-scheduled2020-08-27T20:18:59.301000Z2020-08-27T19:24:42ZEric G Wolfe<div>If you sing or play an instrument, we’d love to have you consider joining us for an audition. We’d love to meet you and hear your story. Please do reach out.</div>
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Provide Clarityhttp://egwolfe.com/post/provide-clarity2020-08-12T19:11:40.786000Z2020-08-12T15:20:28ZEric G Wolfe<div><span style="font-size: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 24px; font-style: italic;">"We can’t promise certainty; </span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 24px; font-style: italic;">however we can </span></span><span style="font-size: 24px;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 24px; font-style: italic;">provide clarity</span></span><span style="font-size: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 24px; font-style: italic;">."</span></span></div>
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<div>My boss spoke this phrase yesterday. I wrote it down in my BuJo and have been contemplating it. As a person with the identity of Ambassador of Hope and Beauty, it’s important for me to remember this. I need to not overpromise in the hope that I speak; and I need to strive for clarity when I speak strategically as I point toward vision. </div>
Practice Leadership that Transcends the Presenthttp://egwolfe.com/post/practice-leadership-that-transcends-the-present2020-07-21T22:31:53.667000Z2020-07-21T22:15:29ZEric G Wolfe<div><font style="font-size: 24px;" face="Helvetica Neue"><span style="font-size: 24px; font-style: italic;">Work behind closed doors to help people in their careers, treat your colleagues like customers and create surprise and delight moments for them, be humble in victory and defeat, and be there for your team by staying in touch even if you move on.</span></font></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 24px; font-style: italic; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">It’s the simple, uncommon behaviors that any of us can replicate that makes a great leader — who’ll never be forgotten, even when they leave this world.</span></div>
<div><font style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">I snipped the above lines from <a href="https://medium.com/swlh/the-uncommon-behaviors-of-a-great-leader-youll-never-forget-a478ac2d4ce6">this article by Tim Denning</a>. I love the simple encouragement he presents here. Care well for your team. Care more about them as people and about their future than you do about whatever current tasks or context of the present involve. Think legacy; and basically, practice the Golden Rule. </font></div>
Shelter In Place Digital Church Servicehttp://egwolfe.com/post/shelter-in-place-digital-church-service2021-01-08T12:00:47.058000Z2020-06-16T20:59:00ZEric G Wolfe<div><img src="https://cdn-images.postach.io/37030e3b-f824-4b5f-9b34-315a732e9397/09c93b6f-8523-4bd6-b8e7-1cd2a8a9072a/8ac406e1-ad2e-4013-8c85-cd4466b2dc98.jpg" /></div>
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<div>So, the phrase is unprecedented. Never been done before. Fluid. All the things we have been hearing in this season. </div>
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<div>Some of you know that back in February, I started a new full time job as Creative Director for Woodside. I was basically there for 5 weeks and then my job description completely transformed. I went from responsible for arts and production at our main campus to being the producer of what we streamed for all 14 of our campuses!</div>
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<div>I was still in that season of my new tenure where I was resisting the urge to start bringing change. My job was to observe everything and meet people. Leading things forward would come in due time and at the right pace.</div>
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<div>That all immediately shifted with a conference call on a Thursday afternoon where we decided that we wouldn’t have guests. I declared that we could do a live-to-record of each of the parts (music, sermon, panel discussion, etc.) in time to edit it all into a good finished product that felt authentic and compelling. Then I got on the phone and we started prepping. 36 hours later, we were rehearsing. A totally fresh feel to our setting with recording on the front steps with a "b-stage" type of feel for the music, and transitions mapped out for the communication to feel great from stools down front with the regular broadcast cameras locations moved up close to translate better for an online audience to feel intimately connected even though they weren’t on-site. A couple hours later, we were recording. We captured each of the parts; and later that Saturday afternoon, we successfully wove the different segments into what was received as a blessing of a weekend service that was streamed on Sunday. </div>
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<div>The following week, I changed it up and took us out to the lobby to take our experience from our "living room" to those of everyone at home. </div>
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<div>One week later, we clamped down even further as a state. We were now fully Shelter In Place with the charge to not leave the home if not an "essential worker." We lived this out. We had set our senior pastor up with a camera/mic/lighting rig at his house. One of our other campus pastors had a couple cameras with him that he wisely put in his car. Several phone calls and Zoom/Teams meetings to plan our service. Some more phone calls, text threads, and FaceTime coaching calls as there was a lot of work to give example setups of the video and audio and coaching decent lighting and shot compositions. Being natural in front of the camera is a legit thing. The tricky part was getting our Music Director to create click and guide for the husband/wife to sing and play along with.</div>
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<div>The creation of that was a key part of a little secret project I worked on in the background. I had our MD record himself playing piano and signing on the chorus of one of the songs. I talked with a number of the Worship Directors from various campuses and had them take that click/guide and record themselves playing their instrument and singing along with the choruses. I sold this to them to give a try of a prototype of an idea that I imagined… I surprised everyone by editing a virtual band that joined in from so many other living rooms as a way to continue the "our living rooms to yours" that we could have be a really special part of the season. It aired that Sunday with great reception to the moment.</div>
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<div>That prototype sold the team and leadership that my idea was worth building on. We did! It was pretty fun. We soon were having nearly a dozen people in our music cast. A leader for each song would be the first to record themselves singing/playing along with the click/guide. That was sent back and reworked as a version that went out to the rest of the cast so that people could be in play and sing in perfect time and harmony to that lead for each song. We developed our process for hosting with the pre-service welcome-to-the-stream, mid-service transitions and announcements, closing action steps. We figured out how to record the sermon with being off camera with a Zoom to coach while the recording was going to the main camera. We began doing creative liturgical moments for the congregation to participate in interactive prayer, scripture readings, and creeds. We also used zoom to do some panel recordings with medical experts and such. </div>
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<div>We built ourselves up to be four weeks out in the planning process. We were averaging probably 25 hours of content that we were editing through every weekend. Usually we had 8 to 15 musicians and vocalists including fall rhythm band, strings, and other specialty instruments. In addition to our Central host, each of our 14 campus pastors delivered their sermon. </div>
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<div>The music was mixed by one team (a person receiving, labeling, and preQC of claps and such; another to mix songs each week; another to help master and help me hold a brand) while the video was edited by a team usually each person doing a couple songs per week. As mixes would be updated, we would see how that helped steer the video edits and vice versa. </div>
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<div>Meanwhile, for communication we would start writing our talking points and scripts a few weeks out. We would be on zoom calls to record central sermon and host. The rest, we were available for coaching the setups and such. A team of three editors handled all the communication parts. </div>
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<div>Our Technical Director lined up the parts according to PCO and then I would work final transitions for the Central export. He then would work the remaining 13 to match. All 14 were exported and uploaded and our IT and Social teams made sure that they were posted and hosted well. It was a joy to tune in and watch on Sunday mornings.</div>
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<div>I’m really proud of the process documentation that we wrote for leading people to record themselves and have it translate to fit in a compelling manner for a full video production. It was really great to have able to share our "playbook" with mega churches and school districts from around the country. Humbling and encouraging to hear stories of how it was used. </div>
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<div>A highlight of the season for was early on where Holy Week we pulled off Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday services. After that weekend, I sent the tally below to our team. It certainly has been an honor and thrill getting to lead in this season.</div>
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<div>By my count, last week’s Good Friday and Easter services required:</div><ul><li><div>13 computers (with multiple crashes and reboots required as they were pushed past the max) for such tasks as creating music, collecting and filing assets, editing video, mixing audio, producing graphics, polishing transitions and signing off with QC before export.</div></li><li><div>15 sermons / preachers</div></li><li><div>6 hosts for communication, Scripture readings, Creeds, etc. </div></li><li><div>Also Communion. </div></li><li><div>As well as some special content for First Service and Families.</div></li><li><div>9 songs as well as an organ prelude!</div></li><li><div>>100 artists’ content of audio and video were part of our "choir"</div></li></ul><div><br /></div>
<div>Here is that Easter service:</div>
<div><a href="https://woodsidebible.org/watch/easter-service-4-12-20/" rev="en_rl_none">https://woodsidebible.org/watch/easter-service-4-12-20/</a></div>
<div>Other services can be found:</div>
<div><a href="https://woodsidebible.org/watch" rev="en_rl_none">https://woodsidebible.org/watch</a></div>
<div>Some of my other favorites:</div>
<div><a href="https://woodsidebible.org/watch/revealed-week-1-coming-soon/" rev="en_rl_none">https://woodsidebible.org/watch/revealed-week-1-coming-soon/</a></div>
<div><a href="https://woodsidebible.org/watch/community-in-action-part-5-5-24/" rev="en_rl_none">https://woodsidebible.org/watch/community-in-action-part-5-5-24/</a></div>
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<div>I’ll add some photos to help illustrate this post. For now, let me state that I am super grateful for the team I got to work with and for trust that was put in me to lead. I feel like I was uniquely brought here for this purpose.</div>
My Sons’ Lives Matterhttp://egwolfe.com/post/my-sons-lives-matter2020-07-24T03:34:42.725000Z2020-06-14T02:15:08ZEric G Wolfe<div>Some things are worth breaking quarantine rules for. What a treasure to take my son to his first protest the other day.</div><img src="https://cdn-images.postach.io/37030e3b-f824-4b5f-9b34-315a732e9397/a64c3600-d617-41ed-98d3-94a1908bcca6/a1e6c909-d3e6-f7e5-4fe6-86b21e9d6e27.jpg" style="--en-naturalWidth:1975; --en-naturalHeight:1124;" width="1975px"/><div><br /></div>
<div>#BLACKLIVESMATTER</div>
Character Discipline and Friendshipshttp://egwolfe.com/post/character-discipline-and-friendships2020-06-09T19:52:45.844000Z2020-06-01T14:28:00ZEric G Wolfe<div>I wrote the following note to one of my graduating seniors I coached this past year. I suggest it’s good encouragement to all of us as we navigate transitions and seek to live life well.</div>
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<div><span style="font-style: italic;"><font style="font-size: 24px;">Remain at your core the high quality person of character that you are. </font></span></div>
<div><span style="font-style: italic;"><font style="font-size: 24px;">Be considerate, friendly, poised, curious, clever, fun. </font></span></div>
<div><span style="font-style: italic;"><font style="font-size: 24px;">Practice healthy disciplines—physically, mentally, spiritually. </font></span></div>
<div><span style="font-style: italic;"><font style="font-size: 24px;">Treasure good friendships—sage wisdom from mentors, young men that you can pass along inspiration and challenge, and with a few true friends whom you can truly know and be known by in life’s journey.</font></span></div>
The Value of the Queenhttp://egwolfe.com/post/the-value-of-the-queen2020-05-02T18:53:11.099000Z2020-05-02T18:39:49ZEric G Wolfe<div>A friend of mine shared a thought about the lesson some of us learned in our study of chess. A wise instructor will sometimes use the strategy of making us play without the queen. How frustrating it is to play without such a powerful piece on the board. </div>
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<div>However, without relying on the queen and her significant power, we gain appreciation for the capacity, capabilities, and strategic value of our other pieces. Once the queen is re-introduced, we realize that our game has risen to a new level. </div>
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<div>May we as leaders make the most of the season as we learn to maximize other resources and strategies. If we can learn<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"> to thrive without in person gatherings, then when we finally reintroduce such, imagine our capacity!</span></div>
What We Pulled Off Last Weekhttp://egwolfe.com/post/what-we-pulled-off-last-week2020-04-18T21:01:08.320000Z2020-04-18T20:58:19ZEric G Wolfe<div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">I sent the tally below to our team. It certainly has been an honor and thrill getting to lead in this season.</span></div>
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<div>By my count, last week’s Good Friday and Easter services required:</div>
<div>13 computers (with multiple crashes and reboots required as they were pushed past the max) for such tasks as creating music, collecting and filing assets, editing video, mixing audio, producing graphics, polishing transitions and signing off with QC before export.</div>
<div>15 sermons / preachers</div>
<div>6 hosts for communication, Scripture readings, Creeds, etc. </div>
<div>Also Communion. </div>
<div>As well as some special content for First Service and Families.</div>
<div>9 songs as well as an organ prelude!</div>
<div>>100 artists’ content of audio and video were part of our "choir"</div>
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<div><a href="https://woodsidebible.org/watch/easter-service-4-12-20/">https://woodsidebible.org/watch/easter-service-4-12-20/</a></div>
Practice GTD in All Parts of Lifehttp://egwolfe.com/post/practice-gtd-in-all-parts-of-life2020-03-30T14:52:00.966000Z2020-03-13T03:29:03ZEric G Wolfe<div>I wrote the following response to a friend who just read the David Allen book Getting Things Done. I thought it might help this audience too. </div>
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<div>Huge fan of GTD in all of my life. It has helped me to far better be the out-of-the-box thinking, spontaneous, creative leader that I’m actually wired to. Apply it to your whole life. Practice it. Make it true for you. Practice it more. </div>
<div>I’ve followed it for a dozen or so years. I keep getting better at it. </div>
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<div>Last year I switched from digital to Bullet Journal. Integrating GTD methodology into the BuJo world has vaulted my creativity and productivity at a rate that I never would have even hoped. I wish I would've done so half a decade sooner. </div>
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<div>I’m happy to share coaching...</div>
Where I draw creative inspiration fromhttp://egwolfe.com/post/where-i-draw-creative-inspiration-from2020-05-02T18:59:10.701000Z2020-02-03T05:42:00ZEric G Wolfe<div><span style="font-style: italic;"><font style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); --inversion-type-color: simple;">*List out any books, websites, forums or meet-ups that you draw creative inspiration from. These don’t necessarily need to be design related.</font></span></div>
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<div>I answered this question recently. I thought it was a good question so I copy/pasted both the question and my immediate response:</div>
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<div><span style="font-style: italic;">Herding Tigers, Creativity Inc, Tribal Leadership, HBR, Hidden Brain, 99% Invisible, Story Conference, backpacking in mountains, traveling and walking a new city, cooking and/or eating tasty food, etc.</span></div>
Journaling Benefitshttp://egwolfe.com/post/journaling-benefits2020-01-03T16:29:50.704000Z2020-01-03T16:10:14ZEric G Wolfe<div><i><font style="font-size: 18px;">Journaling reinforces vision and purpose as well as reveals values.</font></i></div>
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<div>I wrote this commitment in my Commitments page (pg. 2 right after my Vision/Values page) of my Bullet Journal last summer. I have held to this discipline on a daily basis now for more than half a year straight. The fruit of such has indeed been experienced. </div>
Leadership is a Crafthttp://egwolfe.com/post/leadership-is-a-craft2019-12-13T02:22:49.540000Z2019-12-13T02:19:54ZEric G Wolfe<div><i><font style="font-size: 24px;">Leadership is not a burden or a right. It’s a craft.</font></i></div>
Design + Context = Purposehttp://egwolfe.com/post/design-context-purpose2019-11-24T15:18:13.358000Z2019-11-24T15:08:42ZEric G Wolfe<div>Where design and context are aligned,clear purpose can be found. <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">As a designer, we are the answer for how we can improve the world. Bring beauty and care to the context of the situation. Make it better. </span></div>
Algorithms and Intuitionhttp://egwolfe.com/post/algorithms-and-intuition2019-10-25T03:32:00.196000Z2019-10-22T12:27:23ZEric G Wolfe<div>A combination of strategies I choose to utilize in my work as a Creative Director is creating algorithms for human intuition to be maximized as I help coach and reveal beauty to enhance story and experience. This is a key part of the "process architecture" that I put in place for our teams to use in our planning process: A series of questions and process guides to begin with as well as a timeline with both back burner space for peace as well as checkpoints and prototyping deadlines that each can yield an "eureka idea" to add to the plan. It’s a magical thing when both both logic and instinct are allowed to team up as part of the creative process. </div>
Prototypinghttp://egwolfe.com/post/prototyping2019-10-25T04:56:50.592000Z2019-10-18T04:21:00ZEric G Wolfe<div>I was asked recently about what <b>prototyping</b> looks like in my design process. It varies. It depends a lot on the timeline of the project, but I really do love to bring both my team and the client along with the idea. Even if only for myself, I like to <b>play with the idea in tangible space</b>. Sometimes it’s as low-fi as a sketch and some card-stock that I cut out for shapes that I play around with in a <b>scale mode</b>l of a stage. Sometimes a <b>3D rendering</b> is helpful. If possible (especially when designing for a build for multiple locations) it’s great to build as near to a <b>actual size prototype</b> that we can play with in the <b>lighting and context</b> of the actual stage</div>
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<div>We wanted to see how the arches and ramps would let us see performers through and atop of the beauty; and get a sense of what the layers of design would feel like from various angles.</div>
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<div>The pastors of this old church wanted a way to update the look of their space that for low cost could help give their congregation more than just a fresh coat of paint but see a vision for the future</div>
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<div>We wanted to talk about a road into the mountains where the narrater could take the audience on a journey along a dusty road; but that on a cue, the mountains could literally move to reveal a live band that could add to the experience. I began with a sketch; I then moved to playing with the model. Then, we built prototype flats to test how the rolling worked. We learned that putting them on rails was key to the success of everything being in the same exact place for lighting and blocking every move. We also had a main campus to show how the texturing with paint as well as light was so crucial to realism. A bonus that you might notice in the bottom left image is that you can see how I even added a bit of screen material to show what a scrim might be placed in the mid depth to help add to the forced perspective and picturesque scene.</div>
Success is rented dailyhttp://egwolfe.com/post/success-is-rented-daily2019-10-16T03:51:02.127000Z2019-10-03T18:04:25ZEric G Wolfe<div><span style="font-style: italic; font-size: 18px;">"Success is never owned, it is rented and the rent is due every day."</span></div>
<div>—unknown</div>
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<div>A friend read me this quote. I like it. It’s a reminder to be about the daily work of living out your vision with purpose and commitment. </div>
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<div>Do you have a Vision and Values document for yourself? If you don’t yet, please reach out to me. I would love to talk about what a coaching relationship might look like.</div>
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Maximize the Potential of the Windhttp://egwolfe.com/post/maximize-the-potential-of-the-wind2019-09-24T15:17:57.141000Z2019-09-23T22:44:40ZEric G Wolfe<div>Know what your "ship" is; know who your "crew" is. Understand what they are capable of. Define a high standard and point in the right direction. Then adapt along the way to maximize what the "wind" offers. It doesn’t even mean changing course; it only means changing tactics. Enjoy the journey. "Sailing" is fun. The stories are treasures. </div>
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<div><font style="font-size: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 24px; font-style: italic;">The pessimist complains about the wind.</span></font></div>
<div><font style="font-size: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 24px; font-style: italic;">The optimist expects the wind to change. </span></font></div>
<div><font style="font-size: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 24px; font-style: italic;">A leader adjusts the sails.</span></font></div>
<div>—William Arthur Ward </div>
Greatest Intersection of Stewardship and Creativityhttp://egwolfe.com/post/i-m-no-longer-the-perfectionist-i-now-embrace-my-maximizer2019-09-24T13:35:01.461000Z2019-09-15T03:01:00ZEric G Wolfe<div>Excellence is not to be confused with perfection. Excellence is beautifully imperfect; as it recognizes the continued pursuit of improvement. The iterations will always continue; so make the most of the time and resources we have. Recognize when it’s better to leave one project at good and refocus by encouraging each other and developing another project until it’s time to call that one great. (Even though we have such high standards that we know what we wish we could keep tinkering further...) Then celebrate! Especially after big projects, remember that "We get to be a part of this!" Then next week, begin working on v2.0!</div>
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<div>I used to struggle with perfectionism. I remember in high school when I couldn’t understand my best friend who could just rip through homework and turn in something that was barely 80% effort. Instead I wouldn’t turn something in because it wasn’t worthy of what I knew it should be. I’ve come a long way since then. I now can present something if it’s the best I believe it can be with the recourses justifiably allocated. I can reconcile that. It has actually become a core value for me. A Maximizer shall get greatest value out of resources…. I still want for perfection, but I also find beauty in excellent. I can coach that now. I’ve come a long way.</div>
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<div>I just read a Forbes article written by Victor Lipman that included five tips for taming perfectionism. I thought I’d share.</div>
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<div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic;"><font style="font-size: 10px;">These five tips may not be perfect, but then again, what is? Guess that’s part of the story here…</font></span></div>
<div><font style="font-size: 10px;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold;">Pursue excellence, not perfection</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> – There’s a vast difference if you’re able to frame the endeavor this way. Excellence is attainable, perfection isn’t. Excellence is an admirable goal, perfection a potentially destructive one. As the </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: "Times New Roman";">definition</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> in Psychology Today notes, perfectionists view life "as an endless report card on accomplishments."</span></font></div>
<div><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size: 10px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Try seeing yourself through the eyes of others</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic;"> – The irony is that the accomplishments of many perfectionists, from the uniquely talented Ms. Kearney to many C-Suiters, are </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic;">exceptional </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic;">by any objective standards. Easier said than done I know, but if you can find the perspective to view yourself as others do, it will be a constructive lens to look through.</span></font></div><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic;"><font style="font-size: 10px;">
</font></span></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size: 10px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Step back and take (well-deserved) pride in what you’ve accomplished</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic;"> – And where exactly do you want that lens to focus? Instead of dwelling on outcomes and projects that </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic;">haven’t</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic;"> gone perfectly, step back and spend some time reflecting on past accomplishments you’re genuinely pleased with. No doubt if you’re a CEO, there have been more than a few to bring you to this point in your career. Compared to what most of us mere mortals have, a bronze medal at the Olympics, let’s say, seems a pretty pleasant outcome. (Wouldn’t mind having one myself – would look quite nice on the wall in my study.)</span></font></div>
<div><font style="font-size: 10px;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold;">If you feel perfectionism has become seriously debilitating, you may want to consider counseling or therapy – </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: "Times New Roman";">BTW, I completely understand if your reaction to this suggestion is, Hey, I’m a high-functioning hard-edged executive and I have neither time nor inclination for this sort of thing. Fair enough, totally get it. But just in case you’re interested in this level of introspection to better understand the roots of the behavior and find additional ways to address it, I’ve included a link to Psychology Today’s database of </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: "Times New Roman";">therapists</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: "Times New Roman";">. (Full disclosure: I also write for Psychology Today, which is why I’m familiar with their offerings.)</span></font></div>
<div><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size: 10px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Laugh </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic;">- Cliche though it is, laughter </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic;">is</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic;"> good medicine, a natural mood changer. Find time if you can to not take yourself </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic;">too</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic;"> seriously and remember to laugh. We’re all on the same ski slope so to speak, all just passing through the great bumpy freestyle mogul of life, and if you can find a little more time to see the humor and "enjoy the ride" – well, that’s only a positive thing.</span></font></div>
<div><font face="Times New Roman" style="font-size: 10px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic;">"Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good." It’s derived from a similar phrase in the writing of Voltaire and it’s a sentiment I always felt had real relevance when I was in the business world… about the need to keep the wheels of commerce turning rather than being concerned with getting everything </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic;">absolutely</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic;"> right.</span></font></div>
Ideation Fibonaccihttp://egwolfe.com/post/ideation-fibonacci2019-09-13T21:09:10.363000Z2019-09-06T19:20:37ZEric G Wolfe<div><i><font style="font-size: 18px;">"Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen."</font></i></div>
<div>—John Steinbeck</div>
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<div>Care well for initial musings; the flow of ideation will pour out as fruitful bounty. </div>
Culturehttp://egwolfe.com/post/culture2019-09-13T21:09:14.723000Z2019-08-28T14:41:00ZEric G Wolfe<div><span style="font-style: italic; font-size: 24px;">"Culture eats strategy for breakfast"</span></div>
<div>—Peter Drucker</div>
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<div>I like this quote. I’m a big fan of strategy. But I know that ethos is even more important.</div>
Ward Planning Processhttp://egwolfe.com/post/ward-planning-process2019-09-13T21:09:16.519000Z2019-08-18T19:19:00ZEric G Wolfe<div><img src="https://cdn-images.postach.io/37030e3b-f824-4b5f-9b34-315a732e9397/14e841ee-ece1-4dfd-9ea3-3b5a16d631c3/a5ce59e8-2243-4e9f-a73c-7a9fe5735b00.jpg" /><br /></div>
<div>As the Creative Director, I’m responsible for leading us in the <span style="font-weight: bold;">tactical </span>now, the <span style="font-weight: bold;">strategic </span>near, and the <span style="font-weight: bold;">vision</span> of what we’re steering toward.</div>
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<div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Now</span> - Every weekend we have another event! I’m responsible for everything that is presented in each of our 3 venues. </div><ul><li><div><font style="font-size: 10px;">I directly lead the Worship Directors to lead the art and presentation in each of their venues.</font></div></li><li><div><font style="font-size: 10px;">I lead the Production Department to support and enhance the art and communication with excellence - not only for the live experience, but also the broadcast audience web streaming and listening to radio. </font></div></li><li><div><font style="font-size: 10px;">I am coaching the hosts and teachers in navigating transitions and delivering their content with authenticity, tone, and clarity. </font></div></li><li><div><font style="font-size: 10px;">We’re always iterating and we’ll make any audible to the plan necessary to better tell the story and inspire life.</font></div></li></ul><div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Near</span> - We have Production Meetings every Monday. We break the meeting into three parts:</div><ul><li><div><font style="font-size: 10px;"><span style="font-style: normal;">3-Weeks-Out - PCO (our online production order and scheduling tool) 60% - The production o</span><span style="font-style: normal;">r</span><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">der is mapped out with at least placeholder elements ("Song 3" or "Focus") in place to estimate timing of the day.</span> Casting roles band/vocal positions are slotted.</font></div></li><li><div><font style="font-size: 10px;"><span style="font-style: normal;">2-Weeks-Out -</span> 85% - Order is filled in with specific song names and intended feel of moment in Producer column. Casting of band/vocalists is scheduled.</font></div></li><li><div><font style="font-size: 10px;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Week-Of - </span>95% - Order is detailed with who is leading each moment and talking points are outlined. Arrangements for every song is uploaded with accurate detail of what will be rehearsed. (If a change is realized during rehearsal; that’s totally fine, but we communicate any alterations by noon on Thursday) Musician backline support requests are fully detailed with what they want from Ward and what they’re brining.</font></div></li></ul><div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Far</span> - In the winter and spring, we begin mapping out the following year. </div><ul><li><div><font style="font-size: 10px;">We try to maintain a road-map that is over a year in advance. I have created a master document for every event (weekends and special event) that happens in our main venues. </font></div></li><li><div><font style="font-size: 10px;">By 12-weeks-out, I work with the lead teacher for each event to write a paragraph of vision for the narrative of the experience, the angle of the teaching, and the hope for response. I’m also working with our Executive Staff and key Directors to make sure that we know any necessary elements, promotions, or calendar notes that must be factored in to the planning. </font></div></li><li><div><font style="font-size: 10px;">I have lead us to be 12-weeks-out in that "treatment" that we can plan from. I lead our team in a meeting where we look at each sermon series and we brainstorm ideas we might plan. We fill up the whiteboard with ideas, sketches, stickie notes, and optimism. </font></div></li><li><div><font style="font-size: 10px;">I followup with our Worship Directors and Lead Teacher and we hone in on what we want to develop. Storyboarding, writing, "braintrusting", re-writing, producing, designing, ordering, shooting, editing, prototyping, etc.</font></div></li></ul><div><br /></div>
Invent the new, Break paradigms, Strive for magichttp://egwolfe.com/post/invent-the-new-break-paradigms-strive-for-magic2019-09-13T21:09:15.481000Z2019-08-16T23:40:00ZEric G Wolfe<div>A repost originally from 5 years ago:</div>
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<div><font style="font-size: 18px;"><i>Invent the new - artistically, with technology, and by helping people realize a better process.</i></font></div>
<div><font style="font-size: 18px;"><i>Break paradigms - dare to bend the implications of what people think they know.</i></font></div>
<div><font style="font-size: 18px;"><i>Strive for magic in relationship between technology and art.</i></font></div>
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<div><font style="font-size: 11px;">(August 28, 2014)</font></div>
Bend The Curvehttp://egwolfe.com/post/bend-the-curve2019-09-13T21:09:18.093000Z2019-08-08T14:49:16ZEric G Wolfe<div><span style="-en-paragraph:true;">At Global Leadership Summit today. Craig Groeschell with the first keynote on leadership influence:</span></div>
<div><span style="-en-paragraph:true;">"Bend The Curve" rethinking traditional ROI cost:quality graph. The ideas are available if we have the courage. Innovate.</span><span style="-en-paragraph:true;"> </span></div>
<div><span style="-en-paragraph:true;">Make it better; offer hope; change the world.</span><span style="-en-paragraph:true;"> </span></div>
Leadership and Design Principleshttp://egwolfe.com/post/leadership-and-design-principles2019-09-13T21:09:19.470000Z2019-08-01T07:03:16ZEric G Wolfe<div><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 19px; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Blanco OSF", Georgia, serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal;">Create excellent systems and ideal processes to best support a brilliant team.</span></div>
<div><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 19px; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Blanco OSF", Georgia, serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal;">Intentionally develop what is usable and useful by focusing on the end experience.</span></div>
<div><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 19px; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Blanco OSF", Georgia, serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal;">Imagine the experiencer’s situational hopes and needs; then dream further about how to care for what they don’t even yet realize would be better.</span></div>
<div><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 19px; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Blanco OSF", Georgia, serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal;">Empathize with the misfits of society; never settle in curating only for those in the middle of the bell curve. </span></div>
<div><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 19px; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Blanco OSF", Georgia, serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal;">Design for humanity. </span></div>
<div><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 19px; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Blanco OSF", Georgia, serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal;">Strive for justice and peace. </span></div>
<div><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 19px; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Blanco OSF", Georgia, serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal;">Love everyone along the journey. </span></div>
<div><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 19px; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Blanco OSF", Georgia, serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal;">Consider every perspective. </span></div>
<div><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 19px; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Blanco OSF", Georgia, serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal;">Pursue sustainable excellence. </span></div>
<div><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 19px; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Blanco OSF", Georgia, serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal;">Refine continually. </span></div>
<div><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 19px; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Blanco OSF", Georgia, serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal;">Enhance the good; discard the clumsy; innovate the untapped potential. </span></div>
<div><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 19px; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Blanco OSF", Georgia, serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal;">Illuminate the future; building toward virtuous legacy and health for all. </span></div>
<div><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 19px; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Blanco OSF", Georgia, serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal;">Pioneer possibilities. </span></div>
<div><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 19px; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Blanco OSF", Georgia, serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal;">Optimistically always forge ahead. </span></div>
<div><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 19px; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Blanco OSF", Georgia, serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal;">Be ambassadors of hope and beauty. </span></div>
<div><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 19px; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Blanco OSF", Georgia, serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal;">Value effective as well as efficient. </span></div>
<div><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 19px; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Blanco OSF", Georgia, serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal;">Multiply intuition and knowledge. </span></div>
<div><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 19px; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Blanco OSF", Georgia, serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal;">Relentlessly pursue the greatest intersection of stewardship and creativity. </span></div>
<div><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 19px; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Blanco OSF", Georgia, serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal;">Coach and reveal beauty to enhance story and experience. </span></div>
<div><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 19px; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Blanco OSF", Georgia, serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal;">Maximize ideation and strategy.</span></div>
Connected Hunches = Progress of Ideationhttp://egwolfe.com/post/connected-hunches-progress-of-ideation2019-09-13T21:09:16.803000Z2019-07-29T17:06:14ZEric G Wolfe<div>"Chance favors the connected mind."</div>
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<div>Jessica shared this video with me. <a href="https://youtu.be/NugRZGDbPFU">https://youtu.be/NugRZGDbPFU</a> I do indeed find it fascinating and encouraging. </div>
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<div>Anyone who wants to meet up for some ideation over coffee, hit me up!</div>
Story Conferencehttp://egwolfe.com/post/story-conference2019-10-25T04:24:48.861000Z2019-07-19T07:11:00ZEric G Wolfe<div>Revisiting one of my favorite Production Design memories - Story Conference 2012<img src="https://cdn-images.postach.io/37030e3b-f824-4b5f-9b34-315a732e9397/dd3e6383-9c41-47dd-b930-b98f18fa043e/c8d3a93c-ff5f-47d9-87ef-88fb55ee4540.png" /><br /></div><div>
<span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">This is from my Production Design Training slide deck. I ask questions like these when I’m designing: </span></div><ul><li><div><span style="font-style: normal;">What is the desired </span><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">vibe</span><span style="font-style: normal;">?</span></div></li><li><div><span style="font-style: normal;">
What </span><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">resources</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> do I have in </span><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">storage</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> that I can reuse?</span></div></li><li><div><span style="font-style: normal;">What can fit in my minivan to </span><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">transport</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> from Detroit to Chicago?</span></div></li><li><div><span style="font-style: normal;">
How can it look like it has more </span><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">depth</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> than the very shallow stage actually has?</span></div></li><li><div><span style="font-style: normal;">
Who is the </span><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">crew</span><span style="font-style: normal;">? What are their skills and talents and passions? Do they want a challenge?</span></div></li></ul><div>The journey to get to from concept to actual design (including materials list, rigging notes, lighting plot, setup checklist, and rendering of vision) took a lot of <span style="font-weight: bold;">iteration</span>. It required lots of emails including scanned <span style="font-weight: bold;">sketches</span> and study of <span style="font-weight: bold;">blueprints</span> of venue that I was out of town and not able to do an in-person site-survey. We also utilized <span style="font-weight: bold;">video conferencing</span> for "face-to-face <span style="font-weight: bold;">collaboration</span> between Executive Producer, Production Manager, and myself, the Production Designer) including screen-sharing and <span style="font-weight: bold;">digital sketching</span>. The most interesting development was the week-of donation of an LED screen that let us gain a lot of stage space because of the throw distance not being required; which was great for the final product, but required some last minute <span style="font-weight: bold;">adaptability</span> in redesign of all the <span style="font-weight: bold;">rigging</span> and the lighting <span style="font-weight: bold;">plot</span>. One of the key <span style="font-weight: bold;">layers</span> of this design that wasn’t there when I arrived at the venue was four lekos with abstract gobos. I pushed way hard for the day of rehearsal that our PM managed to find a way to procure the morning of the conference was some <span style="font-weight: bold;">theatrical</span> gobos to throw <span style="font-weight: bold;">textural</span> light at the curtains. Sometimes it's the simple, old-school, theatrical tricks that really create the mood and set the tone for the experience. When the team saw them turn on only minutes before doors opened, they realized why I was pushing so hard for such. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Magical!</span><b><img src="https://cdn-images.postach.io/37030e3b-f824-4b5f-9b34-315a732e9397/dd3e6383-9c41-47dd-b930-b98f18fa043e/218586c3-bac4-4f13-af61-6e76c12932aa.png" /></b><span style="font-style: italic;">*this post adapted from my post in September 2012. Feel free to look it up for greater detail and explanation of choices.</span></div>
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Measurements of Good Designhttp://egwolfe.com/post/measurements-of-good-design2019-09-13T21:09:20.278000Z2019-07-17T21:58:48ZEric G Wolfe<div>What are <b>"measurements"</b> that we can use to determine what <b>"good" design</b> (or etc.) is?</div>
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<div>Attendance? Giving? What else? Certainly <b>engagement</b> - with those who interact with the design…</div>
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<div><b>It’s usually obvious when something is good...</b></div>
Progress Requires Disruptionhttp://egwolfe.com/post/progress-requires-disruption2019-09-13T21:09:20.673000Z2019-07-14T21:13:53ZEric G Wolfe<div><font style="font-size: 16px;">Creative disruption is a beautifully healthy thing. It freaks out the status quo folks, but we would wither without the artists and leaders. </font></div>
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<div><i><font style="font-size: 24px;">"It is the business of the future to be dangerous. The major advances in civilization are processes that all but week the societies in which they occur."</font></i></div>
<div>-Alfred North Whitehead </div>
hope-filled collaborative-leadershiphttp://egwolfe.com/post/hope-filled-collaborative-leadership2019-09-13T21:09:19.520000Z2019-07-11T07:13:13ZEric G Wolfe<div><span style="-en-paragraph:true;">Contemplating the virtue of hope-filled, collaborative-leadership, seasoned with authentic ownership and light humor to keep from having his progressive thinking turn too many people off to the ideas bringing forward…</span><span style="-en-paragraph:true;"> </span></div>
<div><span style="-en-paragraph:true;">I love such a leadership model. Instead of doing things the way that they have always been done, I want to help people work for the win-win of problems being solved using current common-sense and strategizing also with future hopes. I know that this is something I want to keep working on as far as what our approach to venues is and how we grow in preparation for the season to come.</span><span style="-en-paragraph:true;"> </span></div>
Macro:Planning::Micro:Progresshttp://egwolfe.com/post/macro-planning-micro-progress2019-09-13T21:09:21.822000Z2019-07-05T16:24:23ZEric G Wolfe<div><i><font style="font-size: 24px;">"When making plans, think big. When making progress, think small."</font></i></div>
<div>-James Clear </div>
The Innovator | Creative Typeshttp://egwolfe.com/post/the-innovator-creative-types2019-09-13T21:09:23.774000Z2019-06-30T20:33:00ZEric G Wolfe<div><ul style="letter-spacing: 0.05rem; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; margin: 0px 0px 2rem; padding: 0px; width: 100%;"></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">I took the creative personality profile test that Adobe has on its website. I got the following results, which I find remarkably true and insightful.</span></div></ul><div><span style="font-size: 18px;"><img src="https://cdn-images.postach.io/37030e3b-f824-4b5f-9b34-315a732e9397/14996ae2-833b-474a-9714-fc9bd0021046/f56d5d7a-4ad1-462b-a97d-67a11366bedc.png" /></span></div>
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<div><span style="letter-spacing: 0.699999988079071px;">I’d love to know what creative type you are. It’s a really quick test: <a href="http://mycreativetype.com">mycreativetype.com</a></span></div>
<div>Please do share your results with me!</div>
Contentment in the Journey of the Continuing Storyhttp://egwolfe.com/post/contentment-in-the-journey-of-the-continuing-story2019-09-13T21:09:23.916000Z2019-05-31T21:52:29ZEric G Wolfe<div><i><font style="font-size: 24px;">"Grace is so nonsensical it doesn’t play into the facts, the narrative or the truth as we see it...<b>the resolve is only as good as the tension.</b>"</font></i></div>
<div>-Joel Houston</div>
Volunteer Celebrationhttp://egwolfe.com/post/volunteer-celebration2019-09-13T21:09:23.013000Z2019-05-29T04:14:00ZEric G Wolfe<div>Event Producing</div>
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<div>The request was to find a way to show appreciation to >900 volunteers. I was offered the support of the other directors on the staff and a budget of $10,000. At first glance that sounds like a lot of money, but I had to use that for catering for dinner and desert, decorations, entertainment, awards...as well as invitations, childcare, photography, table hosting, setup, strike, dishwashing; also what presenters and MCs would be responsible for what communication...</div>
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<div>I took survey of all the stakeholders - directors and key leaders. I learned what worked well with similar events in the past. I assembled a team of key partners whom I could brainstorm with and develop concepts. We did research to figure out what our ideas might cost. We met again and leaned into what had good value and scrapped what didn’t. We surveyed and used statistics to determine how many we thought would actually show up; and how many might. We put it on the calendar and after figuring out a brand for the night we sent out invitations. We worked through details with the caterer and the band. We made certain sacrifices from our ideal hopes, but ended up with remarkably clever innovations to our plan. We created a signup sheet for directors to own delegated chores and presented the vision to the staff with the request for ownership… In addition to my team of co-leaders, our whole staff stepped up and helped make a really special evening. The video above shows a few of the highlights.<a href="https://cdn-files.postach.io/37030e3b-f824-4b5f-9b34-315a732e9397/768b3b14-619a-45d7-bed3-b3b6a1f94ac0/dd95ca47-f225-491d-8b0c-7be347c36973_orig.pdf" target="_blank">Download PDF</a><a href="https://cdn-files.postach.io/37030e3b-f824-4b5f-9b34-315a732e9397/768b3b14-619a-45d7-bed3-b3b6a1f94ac0/b10b0ea4-be5e-46d6-98cd-3d759582303f_orig.pdf" target="_blank">Download PDF</a></div>
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Fresh Salsahttp://egwolfe.com/post/fresh-salsa2020-08-08T17:23:41.536000Z2019-05-28T20:06:25ZEric G Wolfe<div>I made my salsa for Jessica to take to work for a staff party they were having. It was a big hit! Her coworkers were asking how I made it. Well, here’s the recipe. It’s super quick and easy. I don’t know why anyone would ever buy salsa when this costs less and gives you 4x the quantity of a typical container; and tastes WAY better!</div>
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<div>6-8 Tomatoes</div>
<div>2 Poblano Peppers</div>
<div>1 Onion (white or yellow)</div>
<div>4-5 cloves of Garlic</div>
<div>1 Lime</div>
<div>Bunch of Cilantro</div>
<div>Salt</div>
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<div>Char the peppers (on a burner of a stove, under the broiler, or with a butane torch) </div>
<div>Remove skin from onion and garlic</div>
<div>Remove stems from peppers</div>
<div>Toss tomatoes, onion, garlic, peppers all into VitaMix with a few pinches of salt and pulse until chunky liquid</div>
<div>Add leaves of cilantro, and the juice of the lime and blend until they mix in</div>
<div>Taste and add more salt if necessary (but remember that chips typically have salt so you don’t need too much)</div>
<div>Chill for 30min (if you can restrain yourself from digging in with chips immediately!)</div>
Words Can Be Like Musichttp://egwolfe.com/post/words-can-be-like-music2019-09-13T21:09:23.868000Z2019-04-15T19:53:48ZEric G Wolfe<div>My friend sent me this screenshot. I don’t know where he got it from, but I think it’s great! The first thought I had was about some of my favorite films, TV shows, and plays as I'm a huge fan of Aaron Sorkin’s dialogue. Contemplating further, I aspire to put such thought into my writing...</div>
<div><img src="https://cdn-images.postach.io/37030e3b-f824-4b5f-9b34-315a732e9397/6aa848cc-3118-448d-9b36-d9fc9032228c/49837461-404a-4b56-9e82-e3eb775b5a0d.jpg" /><br /></div>
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Authenticity, Connection, and Sense of Purposehttp://egwolfe.com/post/authenticity-connection-and-sense-of-purpose2019-09-13T21:09:20.606000Z2019-03-30T16:32:18ZEric G Wolfe<div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">A former employee of mine just sent me this. It means a lot that perhaps he misses some of this from me; or at least that he sees the potential for me to invest in these qualities... </span></div>
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<div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Regardless, it encourages me as I reflect on where I choose to work, and with whom I choose to work for. I’m grateful for leadership that holds to ethos like these.</span></div>
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<div><a href="https://medium.com/swlh/the-new-rules-of-effective-leadership-d2f9d28a49fb?fbclid=IwAR1gdnAyn5CHaoE2nTcnbX32wNC75XZ5OkfyWwilEIPHfloFVTSMs_ytdWI&sk=b94d93543bf1479e1d95963f29702d95">https://medium.com/swlh/the-new-rules-of-effective-leadership-d2f9d28a49fb?fbclid=IwAR1gdnAyn5CHaoE2nTcnbX32wNC75XZ5OkfyWwilEIPHfloFVTSMs_ytdWI&sk=b94d93543bf1479e1d95963f29702d95</a></div>
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<div>Authenticity and rapport with the team. Connection of each team member to the bigger picture of the organization. Caring for and growing the individual infusing purpose beyond the temporary. </div>
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thoughts from Gandhi about the Beatitudeshttp://egwolfe.com/post/thoughts-from-gandhi-about-the-beatitudes2019-09-13T21:09:22.601000Z2019-02-20T20:53:02ZEric G Wolfe<div>We’re thinking about next calendar year and what series topics we might schedule. One of our thoughts is the Sermon on the Mount. I really like the idea. I have had this card at my desk for years. It’s a great reminder of what is worth upholding</div>
<div><img src="https://cdn-images.postach.io/37030e3b-f824-4b5f-9b34-315a732e9397/dde9f205-b1ca-49f7-95ca-25055982e969/7e2cdfb3-1a5c-4ebe-a24e-cee7bd7b2b11.png" /></div>
<div><a href="https://cdn-files.postach.io/37030e3b-f824-4b5f-9b34-315a732e9397/dde9f205-b1ca-49f7-95ca-25055982e969/8ee450fc-8147-4e8c-8a8e-aa2e8cda2798_orig.pdf" target="_blank">Download PDF</a></div>
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Gratitude Soaked and Spirit Filledhttp://egwolfe.com/post/gratitude-soaked-and-spirit-filled2019-09-13T21:09:20.482000Z2019-01-10T18:39:00ZEric G Wolfe<div>Gratitude soaked, Spirit filled life </div>
<div>Arrange my my life with such perspective. Contentment and joy. </div>
<div>That is eternal life. </div>