Like a lot of people, I use the down time that falls between Christmas and the New Year to review the past year and plan for the next. I set intentional, measurable goals so that I don’t come to December 31 and wonder what happened to my life in the past twelve months. Also like a lot of people, I find that my goals are only as good as the follow-through system I employ. In the past I’ve kept a notebook, had monthly meetings with my husband, and tried several other things but I’m not satisfied. I still think follow-through can be done more effectively.

This year, I’m planning to set goals three months at a time, review them, and move on to something new. Invariably, my year looks much different in October than I thought it would in January, so it makes sense to me to plan a little bit at a time, all the while keeping my major long-term goals in front of me as a matrix through which I set smaller goals.

Do you have a goal-setting and -measuring system? What’s your plan?

From Church Marketing Sucks:

We recently talked about God's bailout plan, and I brought up the point that some churches are doing some pretty dumb things, especially in relation to Christmas. The one that really hit a chord with me was this: an archbishop who gave churches "some pastoral insights and suggestions about how we might prepare to celebrate Christmas this year when economic conditions are so grim."

At first glance, it seems benign. At second glance, however, there is a deep, deep issue. How far off do we have to be if the celebration of a baby born in dirt and straw can be impacted by economic conditions

Read the whole (very challenging) post

I love lists of good content. Don't we all - the internet is a Niagara Falls of content, so a list helps you find the good stuff.

Despite the lists, I run across dozens of things each week that I really want to read, but don't have time to, or don't get around to.

Partly this is because they're too long. I want short content! Interesting, funny, provoking ... efficient.

However, I've noticed lately there are several such things - short bits of interesting content - that I want to engage, but never do. (For example: several awesome podcasts, Seth Godin's blog, Daily News from Good.is)

Why don't I take the time to engage in this awesome content that I really like (and know I really like) especially after the producer has taken the time to package it well and make it short and good?

Do you have this problem? What do content producer's need to do to make me engage their content?

Writer/Producer Gary Ross, writer/producer of Seabiscuit, Pleasantville, & Dave, talks about the leadership required to make a film in our interview with him (see "5 Minute Playbacks" section on our homepage).

He says:

"The best way to get something out of someone, to motivate them to be there best is, thru example and getting them to feel safe enough to contribute to the process."

"If I take the bat out of their hands, then I'm only editing the film as well as I can edit it, or acting as well as I can act it, it would be crazy ... what you want is for them to feel your enthusiasm and your vision for what the movie's gonna be."

Are you inspiring your team? Does your team feel safe to contribute to the process?

Gary Ross is the writer, director and producer of the new film, Tale of Despereaux. An inspiring story of courage, kindness, forgiveness and challenging the process. WATCH THE TRAILER!