You may THINK you're on my blog, but it's just an illusion. We've had some good times here (I've been blogging on Typepad since 2005) but it was time to move (to WordPress). THIS BLOG HAS MOVED. Come on over to my classy new site KemMeyer.com. You can keep up with current stuff and find all the oldies but goodies, too. (Remember kids, always update your RSS feeds or you'll miss out.) That's all for here. There will be no more. Continue reading

It’s important to provide people with good information, so they can make good decisions about where to serve with their time and talents. (I’ve talked about it before.) And, recently, we realized that the information we were publishing about our Communication Arts and Tech Ops teams was tired and tardy (out of date). So, we took inventory inside of what’s changed (structure, tools and objectives) and looked outside to other people and places we dig for some ideas and inspiration. After all that, here’s what we came up with for our Communication Arts Teams. Search When people are just browsing... Continue reading

The question… “Our church seems motivated to attend events and activities when things are announced from the platform. How do you get people excited to participate in things when there’s no major push from the pastor?” My answer… If people are responsive only to events and activities announced from the platform, it’s probably because it’s too hard to find out about the other events and opportunities that aren’t announced from the platform. Normal people take the path of least resistance and if they have to work too hard to find something, they’ll just take what’s on top (like the platform... Continue reading

My peep Blaine Hogan is a hero to many because of how he generously shares his faith and creativity with brilliance, boldness and courage. He is a hero to a some because of his famous stint on Prison Break. He is a hero to me for choosing joy and keeping a straight face at the same time. If I knew a new cool word for the old word “EPIC” … I would use it now. Continue reading

The question… “How do we effectively communicate (vision, values and policies) within the multi-site model without adding layers of complexity?” My answer… When somebody figures out the answer to this question, let me know. Seriously! With multi-site strategy, the complexity factor increases greatly. It’s a constant process trying to figure out what’s non-negotiable for everyone and what’s unique to each campus. We’re early into our own first multi-site launch and each day it seems we discover a new “exception” to the rule. As nice as it would be to launch and hit the autopilot button, it is unrealistic. So, we... Continue reading

This summer I answered a couple of questions for a Worship Leader magazine article. Name two or three skills or areas of expertise most critical for a worship tech steward or team of stewards? We serve people, not technology. So the first, second and third most important skill would be the ability to see the human touch at every decision intersection. Too many professionals involved with technology have mad tech intelligence but sad social intelligence. It’s less common to find someone who leads technology action plans through the human touch filter. The best steward of tech or tech teams doesn’t... Continue reading

A few weeks ago I blogged about reducing the static to engage with others. I got a few comments and even more DMs and emails from people asking me how to “change an internal M.O.” There is no “one-size-fits-all” or “five quick steps” to answer that question. A person’s M.O. is about emotional intelligence and spiritual health. The key to breaking out of our own ruts and changing our internal M.O. is self-awareness. But, our ruts are highly personal, aren’t they? So, instead of just answering “get a therapist” (which isn’t a bad place to start), I thought I’d point... Continue reading

Last week I spent two intense days with a group of creative leaders and practitioners representing ten different churches from New York to California. We came from indie art, gritty cowboy, low income urban, exclusive suburb, bluegrass, hip hop, big city and small town communities. We’re an eclectic expression of methodologies, experience, philosophies, practices and contexts who will be spending the next six months together trying to get better at getting through. I thought I’d share a few quotes I was able to jot down … "We are sometimes called to be a part of people's lives for a chapter... Continue reading

Yesterday, the smart and generous people at The Leadership Network and Catalyst sponsored The NINES online conference. Over 100 speakers had six minutes to share their best 'game-changing' moments. Here’s mine. The biggest communication challenge that nobody talks about… The clutter we create when we overestimate what we have to say and underestimate how it’s going to affect the other person. How to overcome it… Change internal M.O. Focus less on what we have to say and more on who we are saying it to. Personalize a message instead of pushing an agenda. Prioritize people instead of performance or policy.... Continue reading

Last week I was asked, “I’m hoping to pursue a career in advertising/marketing. What advice would you give to me as I pursue my education & career?” Here’s what I shared; it’s just my two cents. Even though I studied public relations and journalism in college, very little of that formal education makes me more effective in my current role. If I had the chance to go back and do it all over again, I would concentrate in psychology and sociology. And, here’s why. Culture moves and the methods (and technologies) for design, marketing, advertising, etc., change rapidly and frequently.... Continue reading

There’s a few simple truths people have trouble with when it comes to selling their dreams(personal or corporate): Branding is bonding. You can’t bond without trust. You can’t build trust without telling the same story. It’s hard to tell the same story without telling the truth. Conventional practices lead with the mechanics of marketing—the advertising, design or strategy deliverables. Those efforts are upside down. All of those practices should support the essence of your core—they don’t define the core. When people—or companies or causes—try to manufacture a brand from the outside in (versus the inside out) they aren’t successful (inside... Continue reading

I’m genuinely looking forward to The Nines Conference in less than two weeks. Talk about the gift of inspiration, practical advice and encouragement—this year’s theme is GAME CHANGERS. Every speaker had the same task: take no more than 6 minutes to talk about the game changers in your life and ministry. In other words, what were the changes, mindsets or directions that made the biggest difference (personally or corporately)? Here’s a preview of a few of the game changers I already know about that will be shared at the event: Mark Beeson: Critics in your life? Don’t let anger be... Continue reading

I talk about it all the time. Sometimes the picture we draw (with words, actions or images) isn’t telling the story we think it is. You’ll never know how you’re coming across to others if you don’t draw on the wisdom of people with diverse perspectives. When I left my marketplace job in 2002 to join the staff team at Granger, I had a wealth of experience, tools and tricks at my disposal. But, even with all the right skills, education and knowledge, I couldn’t gain traction. My ministry and my communication effectiveness was in serious stall mode. Sure, I... Continue reading

I’ve been reading through Making Ideas Happen with my lead team the past few weeks. It’s generating some good dialogue and reinforcing practices we value. The book goes against conventional wisdom and advocates "self-promotion" to stimulate better teamwork. Before you get hung up on the phrase, consider the motives. Is it for personal gain or personal effectiveness? Is it about advancing your career or enhancing a team? Is it about getting your task done or accomplishing a group objective? I agree that one of the best contributions you can make to a team is to take it upon yourself to... Continue reading

For the past few weeks, I’ve been feeling an extra dose of discouragement. There’s nothing dramatic going down, no crisis or cause for alarm. It was just a convergence of real life happening all around me—people I love with broken hearts, minds, bodies, relationships and lives. It started to pile up and, in my gloom, I inadvertently started to focus on the circumstances and felt very alone. Then, one day last week, I saw something on my morning walk that flipped the switch back to a productive place. A lone flower, brightly blooming among dirt, gravel and weeds. I felt... Continue reading

I thought I’d share some slides, notes and audio from a few of the workshops I’ve had the privilege to lead over the past few months. Hope it’s helpful to you (whether or not you were able to join us at Exponential or ECHO). It just might be the booster shot you were looking for today. Social Media & Ministry Slides (PDF) Audio (58:08) Less Clutter. Less Noise. Slides (PDF) Audio (1:01:15) Notes from Sara Corman Notes from Neil Ayers Church Panel with Charles Lee, Carlos Whittaker and yours truly Notes from Tim Schraeder (Behind the scenes… here’s how he... Continue reading

Two friends of mine are declaring today National Funded and Free Day. Why? Because they’re so tired of churches not being able to support their mission due to money woes. There are two realities. 1) Spiritually healthy churches, with solid leadership and faithful people can, will and are changing the world. 2) They deal with the same financial challenges as for-profit organizations but they don’t have the same resources available to them. (Not to mention the stigma they fight anytime they talk about money with their stakeholders; aka congregants.) How do they overcome the challenges to fund the vision and... Continue reading

When I read about Jet Blue poking fun at themselves over the flight attendant incident, I remembered a place in Making Ideas Happen where Scott Belsky references two stories about the topic of transparency. Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos, has spoken extensively about how Twitter has helped his company build stronger relationships both externally (with customers) and internally (among employees). He explained in a post on his company blog: ’Because radical transparency was part of the culture of tweeting, I decided to give it a try and be as transparent as possible, both for myself personally and for Zappos. What... Continue reading

A couple of months ago, I opened registration for a small coaching network to help encourage, equip and collaborate with people who lead and leverage communications strategy. (Get caught up on the story before reading the rest of this post…) I have been trusting God to bring the right people to this experience at the right time. And, he has already blown me away. The response was so great, I opened up a second network (& picked the dates to coincide with two other coaching networks being hosted at Granger). Group A: Sep 16-17, Nov 17, Jan 27, Mar 3-4... Continue reading

Effective communication should move people. Too often, we spend our energy and creativity focusing on deliverables as if they are the communicator. The best projects, pieces, technology and art we create function as a support tool for a macro message. Tools are deliverables crafted for a purpose. They simplify complexity, inspire people to action and empower people in community. Tools don’t try to tell the whole story. They are a piece of a story. When we try to tell the whole story with a micro piece (Web page, design, technology, etc.) we horde control and fall in love with our... Continue reading

Last Friday, I led a workshop for a group of ministry leaders from around the country. I promised to post a copy of my slides from the day. As an added bonus, here’s a PDF version of the slides with a few extra notes included. Enjoy! Continue reading

“When it comes to staying focused you must be your own personal Madison Avenue advertising agency. The same techniques that draw your attention to billboards on the highway or commercials on TV can help you become more (or less) engaged by a project. When you have a project that is tracked with a beautiful chart or elegant sketchbook, you are more likely to focus on it. Use your workspace to induce attention where you need it most. You ultimately want to make yourself feel compelled to take action on the tasks pending, just as a marketer makes you feel compelled... Continue reading

That’s right. The only time in MY LIFE I was asking for more copy was when I read The Pillars of the Earth. What made this minimalist read a 1,000 page novel about cathedral architecture in medieval England and end up begging for more? I never would have picked this book up on my own. Nothing about it’s title, description, genre, size — anything — appealed to my typical interest. But, I was badgered by my daughter. She wouldn’t let it go. I finally picked it up to make her happy, convinced she didn’t know what was good for me.... Continue reading

So impressed with Braden Burget… he’s a 13 year old member of the Granger Drama Team & he went TO TOWN! Quick rundown of the Blindside…well done! The Braden Side from Granger Community on Vimeo. I think this series is making a connection with people. Online viewers are 3x higher than last week and the highest since May 2009. Next week? Avatar. Can’t wait. Continue reading

Last summer I met some fine folks in North Carolina who told me they’re taking this “Less Clutter. Less Noise.” challenge to heart. I said “prove it.” They said “game on!” This morning, crew member Kristi Johnsen sent me news—they just went live with their new site. The before and after speaks for itself. Congratulations Denver United Methodist Church. You are improving the quality of life and church with less clutter! Continue reading