scottjallen.com

My Famous Disappearing Act

August 11, 2010 in Apology, Rest with 1 Comment

I know, I know… my last blog post was over 60 days ago. Thanks for counting.

For those of you who thought your RSS reader deleted me, I truly apologize. For those of you who thought I fell off the face of the earth, I truly apologize. I should have given you some kind of warning. I didn’t quit blogging, I just took a season away. It was a conscious decision. It was a good thing. It was needful. I’m sure I will tell you all about it when I officially return (refreshed, wiser and… better looking?) September 1st.

I became aware that public repentance was necessary last week, when I received a semi-stern correction from a writer-friend. It went something like “… if I have to look at that Memorial Day post one more time…”

Sorry, Gina.

Sorry ______________, too (your name in the blank)

So, for the rest of August I strongly suggest a GREAT alternative to my blog. Make a regular habit of visiting my friend Gina Lynnes on her blog at http://livingitblog.com/

Trust me, you won’t be sorry. Gina has been a close friend for more years than would be prudent to tell. She is wonderful, insightful and has been a great influence on our lives. Plus… she can write me under the table any day, anywhere, any time. She’s REALLY good.

I’ll be back on September 1st with some kind of ground-breaking piece like “how I spent my summer vacation” or “what I learned in 90 days of blog silence.”

Let’s catch up in September. I’m looking forward to it!

Scott

Memorial Day: Honoring the legacy of heroes…

May 31, 2010 in memorial day with 0 Comments

The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.
~ Benjamin Disraeli

———————————————————————————-

Memorial Day

Honoring those who have given their lives to secure my freedom

Remembering those who put themselves in harm’s way to keep it far from others

Appreciating the sacrifice of those who put others before themselves

Praying for the loved ones they left behind

Thanking God for a nation that remains free because brave men and women continue to serve

———————————————————————————-

Freedom comes at a price – probably one you haven’t had to pay.

Be grateful today that someone paid.

Notable or not able?

May 27, 2010 in hesitation, notable with 1 Comment

Sometimes being notable requires you to act quickly and be decisive with no hesitation. If you develop a habit of being slow, waiting and hesitating may cost you opportunities. Continually second guessing yourself will not only kill opportunity, it will kill your self esteem and ability to execute speedily.

I was just noticing the other day that “notable” and “not able” are the exact same letters. Exactly the same except for one thing: a space, a hesitation.

Hesitation may be the difference of notable and not able.

Responsibility and other things we avoid.

May 26, 2010 in growth, responsibility, risk with 0 Comments

Did you ever wonder why we use the phrase “taking responsibility?” This isn’t a trick question or anything. The answer is actually simple and obvious. Responsibility can’t be assigned. It’s voluntary. It’s something we must accept. It must be taken.

This is the point of disconnect.

Because it’s our choice, we can choose to not accept. Nobody can make us step up to the plate. It’s entirely up to us. Responsibility requires us to put ourselves on the chopping block. It requires us to be willing to risk. It also requires us to grow up. That brings me to the next, obvious point.

Growing up is also a volunteer proposition.

Nobody can (or will) make you become the person you are called to be. Well, nobody ELSE can. You can, though. You can make yourself change. You can make yourself grow up. You can make yourself risk.

How? Be willing. Be willing to take responsibility. Be willing to grow up. Be willing to risk. Be willing to volunteer. Opportunity is often disguised as 2 more things that require an act of your will – hard work and diligence.
All of these things come down to one question: “Is it worth it?”

I admit it’s rarely easy to be responsible, willing to grow up and work hard – but, it is always worth it.

The choice is ours.

Are you inspiring others?

May 25, 2010 in Inspiration, leadership with 0 Comments

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” ~ John Quincy Adams

Leaders, are you inspiring people to dream, learn, do and become? You may be the only coach, mentor, friend or encourager in someone’s life.

Just a thought: you can’t inspire these things without doing them.

Just smile and nobody will know I’m talking to you.

Apple is selling HOW MANY iPads?

May 24, 2010 in Apple iPad, community, connection with 0 Comments

Apple is selling over 200,000 iPads per week. That means they are selling almost as many iPads as iPhones… or are they?

The fact is that Apple is selling that many units, but the actual thing they are selling is an experience. They are selling community. They are selling the opportunity to belong to an elite group.

We don’t just own Apple products, we are “Macs.” We are proud to belong to the group. We belong.

Apparently we are sold. If Apple manufactures it, we will buy it – apparently at the rate of 200,000 per week.

More facts and figures here:

http://mashable.com/2010/05/20/ipads-outsell-macs/

Stop trying to control everything!

May 21, 2010 in control, excellence, perfection with 0 Comments

News flash: there is no such thing as perfection on this side of Heaven. Use whatever other adjectives you want (amazing, awesome, spectacular, epic, whatever) but perfect is not achievable or sustainable here on planet Earth.

Life is messy. Relationships are messy. Ministry is messy. Why? You can’t do life without people and people are messy. People are imperfect. We are all on a journey of becoming, growing into the most mature versions of ourselves, but we are not there yet. Hopefully, we are better than last year. Hopefully, we are better than last week. Hopefully we are better than yesterday. The point is we should all be growing and improving.

Patience is required to navigate the messiness – ours and that of others. It is a rare commodity among perfectionists. Perfectionists don’t like messy projects, messy people or messy life. Perfectionists like to control things. Immature perfectionists try to control people, too. They struggle to be satisfied with better. They struggle to be satisfied, period.

Better is great, but better is not perfect.

Artists are walking irony. Our world is usually in various stages of disarray, but somehow we are OK with that. We just can’t stand when we’re not in control. We just can’t stand showing unrefined and imperfect work to the outside world. It gets too messy to let people in to help us, or God forbid, affect the final product of our work. We would have to depend on people we can’t (or shouldn’t) control.

Let’s face it. We like control.

We need to get over that. Reasonable people don’t expect perfection. So if perfection is the bar you must attain, what does that say about the bar? I say it’s too high. I say it’s unreasonable. Quit torturing yourself and your co-workers. Quit being unreasonable. Nobody’s perfect. We need to learn to be satisfied with better and best and set perfection aside. Your sanity could depend on it.

Be excellent, by all means, but be reasonable… and stop trying to control everything.

Let your light shine!

May 20, 2010 in impact, The You Factor with 0 Comments

“To send light into the darkness of men’s hearts – such is the duty of the artist.”
~ Schumann

Ephesians 5:8-9 (NLT)
For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)
You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

It’s time to let your light shine.

What are you waiting for?

What??? Yes, your iPhone will soon be an amazing guitar rig!

May 19, 2010 in Amplitube iRig, Apple iPad, Apple iPhone, guitar, iphone apps with 2 Comments

OK guitar players, engineers and producers… THIS is amazing. I honestly don’t know whether to be completely stoked or view this as a sign of the apocalypse. This promises to be one of the coolest inexpensive tools yet. Here, see for yourselves:

Official Press Release:

IK Announces AmpliTube® iRig™
AmpliTube iRig turns your iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad into the ultimate portable guitar and bass multi-FX

May 2010, Modena, Italy – IK Multimedia is pleased to announce AmpliTube® iRig™: the ultimate mobile guitar amp and effects rig system for iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad.

The Complete iPhone Interface and Software Solution…

AmpliTube iRig is a combination of an easy-to-use instrument interface adapter for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad mobile devices, and the new AmpliTube for iPhone software for guitar & bass.

With AmpliTube iRig, you can plug your guitar into your iPhone* and jam anywhere with world-class guitar and bass tones, from the leader in studio-class guitar and bass software.

Simply plug the iRig interface into your iPhone*, plug your instrument into the appropriate input jack, plug in your headphones, amp or powered speakers, download AmpliTube FREE for iPhone and start rocking!

You’ll have at your fingertips the sound and control of 3 simultaneous stompbox effects + amplifier + cabinet + microphone just like a traditional guitar or bass stage rig!

Add amps and effects as you need them – you can expand your rig with up to 10 stomps, 5 amps, 5 cabinets and 2 microphones in the AmpliTube iRig app custom shop.

iRig Plug Interface Adapter

The new iRig interface adapter is the easiest way to get your instrument’s signal into your iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad mobile device. Simply plug iRig into your mobile device, plug your instrument into the iRig, plug headphones or amplifier to the output and you are ready to rock!

The iRig is the ideal companion not only to the AmpliTube for iPhone app, but also works with any other recording, processing or tuning app. Plus, you can also use the iRig with line level signal sources such as synthesizers, keyboards or mixers.

*Compatible also with iPod Touch and iPad.

AmpliTube for iPhone

At the core of the AmpliTube iRig System is AmpliTube – the leader in gear modeling software for professional recording studios.

Now AmpliTube for iPhone gives you incredible, ultra-realistic sound and functionality in a convenient mobile platform app.

With the AmpliTube for iPhone software, you’ll have an entire guitar/bass rig at your fingertips, comprised of 3 simultaneous stompbox effects, an amp-head plus cabinet and a microphone.

With AmpliTube fully loaded, you will be able to choose between 5 amp models (clean, crunch, lead, metal, bass) with full tone and drive controls, 10 stompbox effects (delay, flanger, phaser, overdrive, distortion, filter, wah, fuzz, octaver, chorus), 5 cabinets and 2 microphones (dynamic and condenser).

Plus, AmpliTube for iPhone features a chromatic digital tuner and a metronome. You can also import and play along with songs or backing tracks, and create, save and recall up to 36 presets on the fly!

- Real-time guitar and bass mobile multi-FX app
- Full rig made by 3 simultaneous stompboxes + amp + cabinet + mic
- 10 Stomps, 5 Amps, 5 Cabinets, 2 Mics available
- Import and play along with songs and backing tracks with real-time effects
- 36 presets can be saved/recalled on the fly
- Includes tuner/metronome
- FREE, LE and Full versions available
- FREE and LE versions expandable with a-la-carte downloadable gear
- Same low-latency as Mac/PC system

Pricing and availability

AmpliTube iRig – $39.99/€29.99** MSRP and is already available for pre-orders from the IK online store as well as from IK selected dealers and distributors worldwide.

AmpliTube for iPhone will be available in 3 versions from the iTunes App Store: FREE, LE and FULL.

AmpliTube FREE: Includes 2 stompboxes, 1 amp+cabinet, and 2 microphones.
AmpliTube LE: Includes 4 stompboxes, 1 amplifier + cabinet, 2 microphones for $2.99/€2.39.

More gear can be added to FREE and LE through in-app purchase of a-la-carte models with stompboxes costing $2.99/€2.39 each and amplifiers + cabinets for $4.99/€3.99 each.

AmpliTube FULL: Includes the entire collection of available gear with 10 stompboxes, 5 amps + cabinets and 2 microphones for $19.99/€15.99.

Coming soon, AmpliTube iRig and AmpliTube for iPhone will be available in stores and on the iTunes App Store.

**All prices listed exclude taxes where applicable.

How do my "unconnected" friends actually know each other?!

May 18, 2010 in community, connection, friends with 0 Comments

If you’ve lived for any length of time you probably have more than one “life,” each marked by many things. For me they can be categorized by schools, cities, friends and decades – each of which are unique and somewhat disconnected from one another.

At least I THOUGHT they were disconnected. Until last weekend.

Some of our current life friends were in town last weekend and we re-connected over breakfast. We met not all that long ago and see one another a few times a year. Again, these are “current life” friends. The husband recently started a new assignment, bodyguarding for a celebrity. A recording artist, actually.

Later in the afternoon he sent me a text that said, “Do you know Mr. _______?”

Surprise! Picture my jaw dropping here…

Why, you may be asking?

“Mr. _______” is a friend from a former life, former city, former decade. I worked with him back then. Turns out “Mr. _______” is now working with my “current life friend.” I couldn’t have been more shocked. The world officially got a lot smaller.

I had no idea they knew each other. Neither of them had any idea the other knew me, either. Seemingly unconnected threads from unconnected seasons of my life came together in one day. Actually I only became aware that they were already connected.

Oh yeah, we found out via the “mutual friends” module on Facebook.

It makes me wonder. How many of your life’s “unconnected” threads are connected?

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