Kem Meyer on Less Clutter & Noise

Summer is going to be slow

Things are slowing down for me, but not because it's summer. It's frustratingly slow because I'm trying to function one-handed. I broke my right hand (finger...joint...whatever) and, as my friend Andy said, my left hand is "strictly for balance".

Can you find the fracture? [update: I've made it easy for you.]

 

How about that?

I don't necessarily like surprises, but I do love the unexpected. I love it when someone breaks away from what you're "supposed to do" to introduce a fresh approach. I can't predict everything that's going to happen; and I'm left going "how about that?" I like it when that happens.

 
This is my family doctor, Jesse Hsieh, M.D. He's an accomplished, respected physician (there's a waiting list to get into his practice) with an impressive resume, he's the president of the South Bend Clinic and he's a weekend rock star.

I didn't expect that.

He plays guitar and sings vocals in his band, Viagra Falls. The band is made up of other doctors in the practice including a cardiologist, a neurosurgeon and an allergist (among others).

Business savvy, culturally diverse, professionally credible and socially responsible (they donate all proceeds from the band to local charity) these docs do know how to rock. We went to see them a couple of weeks ago at a local pub. And, as weird as it sounds, we feel even more confident having him as our doctor than we did before. We experienced relationship with him and his professional peers on another level that added a layer of trust.

How about that?

I love it even more when this happens in the church. And there are so many cool churches these days that are breaking the mold to do a new thing.

I am surprised every week by something unexpected at my church. I still regularly catch myself saying "can we do that?" And, it keeps my spirit of wonder open and sharp. I don't shut down and I'm ready to hear more. I'm awakened and inspired by the unexpected.

"I love my church because I don't have to check what I think is cool at the door. I can enjoy the beauty of all the things I get geeked about in and out of church including the arts, technology, great customer service and humor." (a paraphrase from my friend, Nathan)

What are ways your church can deliver the unexpected in some of these areas?

SALT

A friend from Peoples Church sent me a link to his pastor's bi-weekly video blog, SALT.

I love it.

Quick.
Inspirational.
Portable.
Relevant.
Simple.
Artsy.

Words that can work against you

My friend, John, sent me this article and said "This has your name all over it." Thanks, John. I loved it.

Communication Workshop Resources

Here's some more follow-up links for the Communications Workshop we had a couple of weeks ago.

• Workshop Slides
• Break Slides
• The Greatest Candy Bar Ever
• Focus on Five w/ the Culps
• Free online collaboration
• John's blog

How do I find audience information?

From the mailbag...

"Yo, Kem. I'm trying to secure research for our target. What resources could you recommend to me in order to get this info?"

Some of the psychographic information we gathered for our audience is profiled in the people in our community who DON’T go to church. So we started looking at them. What are they doing with their free time? Where do they spend their money? What businesses or radio stations are soaring? What ones failed?

For the demographic side of things, there are a ton of mainstream businesses that have done the research for you, all you have to do is tap into it. For example, radio stations, newspapers, local periodicals, billboards and television stations all have community data they share with potential advertisers.

Also, my buddy Chris Forbes just shared this tip with me today. He's always sending me cool stuff.

The Snapshot Survey: Quick, Affordable Marketing Research for Every Organization