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My biggest goal for the Mercedes Half-Marathon in Birmingham was to beat my January time. Okay – my biggest goal was to finish, but I took that for granted. I really wanted to improve at each marathon I run this year, hopefully running in the low 1:50's come December.

That would not happen in Birmingham.

At the start line, I found myself near a pace group. These runners are supposed to run the race in the time advertised on the sign they're carrying. For example, the guys near me holding the 2:00 hour sign are supposed to trot along at a pace so that they (and those who wish to run in stride with them) cross the finish line at or under two hours.

I'd never followed a pacer before. I think that I thought I could always pace myself just fine. But this time, I thought I'd give it a go.

When the gun sounded and we began, I kept in step with them for about a quarter mile. Then, I decided that they were going out a bit too leisurely, and that as long as I knew they were behind me, I'd be fine. I also decided that if/when I began to slow and they caught up with me, I'd keep up with them until the finish. After all, sometimes we can be equally motivated by what's behind us as we can by what's in front of us.

I ran a great time through the first half of the race. I posted a 10k time of 54:17, which means I was on pace to finish at around 1:55. I think you know what happened next.

I crashed at mile 9. The hills and my pace got to me, and just as I wondered where those pace guys were, they came blowing by me at the end of mile 9. It was like a kick in the face. I was gassed and couldn't keep up.

I stopped and stretched, hoping a quick rest would loosen me up and get me back and running. I walked through the next water stop, wanting the carbo gel and water to give me enough energy to pick up the pace again.

At mile 11, I saw the clock: 1:42. Could I cover the next 2.1 miles in under nine minutes each? Maybe, if I busted it. If I gave it my all. If I wanted to be super sore the next month.

As I weighed my options for the next 30 seconds, I decided not to try to beat the clock, or even the time I posted in January. Here's why:

• You only use Hail Marys when you need them. You'll rarely (never) see a jump ball in the end zone on a Hail Mary pass unless it's at the end of the game (or half) in football. That's because there's no reason to use a play that's rarely successful when you don't need to. Your success rate is much higher when you calculate your game plan and execute well. And while I was definitely in a Hail Mary situation in terms of besting my time, doing so wasn't 'worth it' in terms of what I stood to gain.
• I know where I failed and learned from it. I started out too fast. Had the race only been nine miles, I would have posted a great time and done the same at the next 9-miler. But it was 13.1 miles. And I didn't run the first nine miles with the last 4.1 in mind. I won't do that next weekend, when it's time for half-marathon #3 of 2009.
• I realized I had 10 more races to go. At mile 11, I only had 2.1 miles left in the race. But I had 133.1 to go for the year. And if pace is about anything, it's about pacing yourself not just for one race, but for all the races.

It's important, when starting and growing a business, that you run quickly when you have to, and at a manageable pace the rest of the time. Businesses that sprint out of the gate, with no view for the long-term success of their venture will burn through energy and resources very quickly. Those businesses that realize that growth happens through deliberate and dedicated action, which often takes time, will be poised to succeed well into the future.

Yesterday, I spoke to four college classes. Two were at Belmont and were full of entrepreneurship majors. The other two were at Vanderbilt and were classes on business strategy.

One thing I told each class:

We started this thing on accident. We didn't write a business plan until we were 18 months old. That means, we've been operating for longer without a business plan than with one.

A lot of times, we do things in the wrong order. But, stuff usually works out in the end. Case in point: today, we put the final touches on our first media kit.

We've been lucky in getting the media coverage we have. We think that's just a testament to our story and what we offer. So, it's exciting to get covered in OdeMagazine.com, in print in the Boston Globe, or in every print news outlet in Nashville.

But, we want more. We'd love more press and more buzz (who wouldn't?). So, that's why (with the gracious help of one of our very talented interns), we've finally got our version of a media kit. It's not much. It simply details our story. Because for us, that's the best part of what we do - how we got here, what we're up to, and where we'd like to be.

So, click the link below if you want to take a look at it. You'll find some neat pictures, a 99-word description of what we do, how our business operates, more about our history, and even a sneak peek at what the new site design looks like.

CoolPeopleCare Media Kit [pdf]

Last night, Slumdog Millionaire made its mark, winning a truckload of Oscars. In my opinion, the best speech of the night was the final one, when producer Christian Colson said this about his little underdog of a movie (from Mahalo):

Thank you so much to the Academy. As you can see, our film was a collaboration between hundreds of people, and I am so happy that so many of them could be with us here tonight to share this moment. Together we've been on an extraordinary, extraordinary journey. When we started out, we had no stars, we had no power or muscle. We didn't have enough money really to do what we wanted to do. But what we had was a script that has inspired mad love in everyone who read it. We had a genius, for a director. We had a cast and crew who were unwavering in their commitment and whose talents are up on the screen for all of you to see. We had partners in Film4 and Celador. In Path and FOX Searchlight, who had the courage to support us. We had a shared love for the extraordinary city of Mumbai, where we made the movie. Most of all we had passion and we had belief and out film showed that if you have those two things, truly anything is possible. I want to thank on a personal note, my mum and my dad for their support over the years... And I want to thank all of you very much indeed. Thank you. (emphasis mine)

What does this mean for the entrepreneur? It means that you can get there, if you've got a good plan (a script), some smart leadership (director), a talented and committed team (cast and crew) and support (partners). And, passion and belief also play a big role.

I think that many times, entrepreneurs claim they just need the money. And while money can get you many of the things listed above, every once in a while, the stars align and fate smiles upon you, and your will and determination push you over that hump.

And, in any market, a quality product that inspires people will always win out over the machine, no matter how well funded it might be. After all, passion is truly priceless.

Short review: 64 words
A quick read, Bringing Your Business to Life is full of practical advice, concrete examples and reflective ideas for the entrepreneur. It's a primer on creating a venture that is not just successful, but meaningful for the entrepreneur on a personal and societal level. Written from a Christian perspective, it should appeal to anyone seeking to add moral or communal value to a business.

How to read it:

• In one sitting (or two)
• With a highlighter or pen to make notes
• Yearly, or every time you launch something new

Longer analysis: 306 words
I bought this book after hearing the authors present on its theme. Both Jeffrey Cornwall and Michael Naughton are skilled professors in their respective fields (business and theology) and the book is the product of their teaching a course together.

The combination of both minds knits together this worthy read, which calls attention to the four cardinal virtues (prudence, justice, courage and temperance) as they relate to the entrepreneur personally and professionally. It's a reminder that it's simply not enough to be successful – one must also be good (as defined by the four virtues).

And to be good, the entrepreneur must remember that business is never just business. A new or growing venture is always a part of our lives, and our lives also contain things like our families, our communities, our religious expressions and our free time. When all the components of our life are not held in proper balance, we truly miss a chance at being good.

While the book is short on 'self-help' – at least in the form of checklists, reminders and metrics – it is rich with examples of companies that have achieved financial and ethical success. It calls to the reader's attention businesses in a variety of sectors that treat employees well, produce quality goods and services, and ultimately set a standard for just how good an entrepreneur and his or her business can be.

I made note of several key quotes, some of which I'll share to end this review:

Entrepreneurs are a powerful force in our society because they create trends, break molds and cause significant changes within society. (page 29)

If businesses fail to act as agents of justice, it most often defaults to government agencies to act. (page 101)

Temperance helps us see the importance of saying no. Our nos clarify the yeses of our commitments. (page 147)

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Other books reviewed in 2009:

• In Defense of Food
• The Black Swan
  

This morning, I spoke at Belmont University about turning your passion into your profession and why, for me, that happened when I became a social entrepreneur.

At the beginning of the presentation, I passed out my business card to everyone in attendance. I do this because at each of my talks, I'm looking to start a conversation, not just 'give a speech.' I openly encourage attendees to call or write me, promising to answer their questions and help them do what I talk about.

Anyway, when I got back to the office and checked my email, someone emailed during my talk. As in, like four minutes after they got my card, asking me to send them the slide deck.

That's what productivity and efficiency look like. And I love it.

I'll be lecturing (sort of) in two Vanderbilt Divinity School classes in April. For Dr. Mark Miller-McLemore's "Leadership and Ministry" class, I'll be discussing how churches can use social media tools to build social justice movements that extend beyond the church walls.

I try not to brag too much on this blog, but this is cool for two reasons:

1. They're using New Day Revolution as a text for this class. Now I can say that my book has been used as a textbook.
2. I used to attend Vanderbilt Divinity School, before I quit (dropped out) to focus on CoolPeopleCare full time. I don't have any regrets - it just feels good to be able to motivate the church to change the world, albeit in a different method than I imagined when I enrolled a few years ago.

If you'd like to sit in on the classes, send me an email and I'll see if the class is open to the public. Certainly we can find a seat for those interested.

More details:
Tuesday, April 14 - 11:10-12:30 - I'll be talking about the whys and whats of social networking - the various options available, how technology is changing the conversation, why it matters to a growing generation of people under 30, and exactly how much time and attention ministers should give to this.

Thursday, April 16 - 11:10-12:30 - I'll highlight good (and maybe even bad) examples of faith communities using social media and the Web to communicate with their communities. Students will come to class that day having thought about how they could use digital media and technology as an asset in their future ministries, if they have an inkling of an idea what/where that might be.

If you'd like to know when and where I'm speaking, or if you'd like me to speak to your group, look at my right sidebar.

Much has been made about Gen Y's insistence on a balance between their work and their life. The understanding of that balance, however, is different than previous generations, mainly because technology can be invasive, blurring the lines between when one is at work and when one is 'at' life.

Boomers didn't need to worry about this as much, since cell phones and Blackberries weren't ubiquitous. As such, doing work away from work was unheard of, mainly because it was difficult.

The lines began to blur with Gen X, who soon didn't want any of it, mainly because it was yet another thing that the big institutions couldn't be trusted with.

But Gen Y can handle it. They’re happy to fire off emails from the beach, or work from the comfort of their couch. Yesterday, one of my interns left the office (which is spacious, cool and comfy) to go work at Starbucks, where she could enjoy the unseasonably warm February weather while sipping a latte outside. She was still working since she was on deadline – she could just be portable with it.

But what about when the analog version of feature creep happens? How is a work/life balance maintained for the entrepreneur who's thinking about business all the time, even if he's not 'doing' it? What about the ambitious ladder climber who wants to get ahead and stand out? And what about the social media strategist who works for the startup who puts in long hours in hopes that the new company will make it big and she'll be set one day? Where does work end and life begin?

There should be a distinction, but not to maintain some straw-man of an argument. It should exist because it might just be the very thing that keeps you sane. Or alive.

If you're a "Lost" fan, you now know that if you want to make it on the island, you need a constant, that very thing that keeps you connected while your 'when' changes (but not your 'where'). It's the same in life. And with work. You need that thing that relieves stress, or can always take your mind off of work or helps you to remember that it's about more than the paycheck, the ladder or the resume.

The happened for Holly Hoffman. A recent health scare made her realize that life away from work is important. As such, she's learned to focus on that area of her being, to much praise and benefit.

Or take Rebecca Thorman, who recently wrote about her long hours and need to do it all, much to the chagrin of her boyfriend. I agree with her that work/life is a myth for most people, but not because it doesn't exist. Rather, I think it's an incorrect distinction.

I recently listened to a Harvard Business Review podcast during a long run. While the subject of the podcast was about the current recession, the guest noted that research suggest that the size of one's house has little to no bearing on personal happiness. In fact, the length of one's commute is a much higher factor. The lesson? Buy a smaller house closer to your job and you'll be much happier.

And here's why I agree with Rebecca that work/life balance is a mythical creation of earlier generations: we get the life part wrong.

We complain because we don't have time to watch all our TV shows. In reality, watching all those shows don't make us happier or have a better life. Or, we complain that we don't have time to play golf, go to the movies or go shopping. I really wonder if those things add up to a better life for anyone.

For me, knowing that I was rapidly running ragged while putting in long hours with CoolPeopleCare, I needed a new routine – one that allowed me maximum work hours while still allowing for those parts of my non-work life that I love. Here's how I did it:

Step One: Make it about life.
For me, I first had to find those parts of my life that I really enjoyed – those parts that I couldn't do without. As I examined how I spent my time, I realized that it was important to do things that relived my stress, instead of added to it. And for me, these were things I could do that kept my mind from wandering back to the company all the time. My list:

• Cooking for and eating dinner with my wife
• Meeting my family for Sunday brunch
• Running
• Reading

What's not on the list? Catching up on CSI. Buying a new shirt. Making sure my car is clean. I'd suggest that everyone find four things they love about life and commit to them each day or week. Find two to do alone and two that involve other people. Schedule them, and don't cancel. You'll be happier if these are a part of your routine.

Step Two: Figure out the work piece.
The life of an entrepreneur is unpredictable at best and a freakin' perfect storm at worst. But, in all of that, I had to find a routine in order to make sure I did the things that needed doing each week while allowing enough time to work on new projects and dream new dreams. So, I scheduled as best I could. I don't always stick to the schedule, but having it as a framework for each day and week helps me get more things done.

• The hours between 5:30 and 7:30 AM are for emailing, reading feeds and writing blog posts. As are the hours between 4:00 and 6:00 PM.
• Organizing your email GTD-style works, if you commit to it.
• Mondays are for writing all the content for the next week.
• Wednesdays are for meetings that generate new business.
• Fridays are for meetings that generate new ideas or contacts.
• Everything else stays flexible.

So yes, you can balance work and life. But chances are, if you're an entrepreneur or a Gen Y-er, you blurred those lines so long ago that they're nearly impossible to separate – like Kool-Aid. So, instead of trying to figure out how to juggle priorities, just make sure you stay sane.

I got an iPhone on Saturday. While that's reason enough to write an extended blog post in itself, that's not where we're headed.

One of the reasons I opted for the greatest invention ever was so that I could maximize Twitter – really use the service to grow my personal network and my business, CoolPeopleCare. Granted, you don't need an iPhone to do this, just like you don't need the iPhone to email friends, listen to music, find a nearby restaurant or hang a shelf, but for me, it would be a big help.

A little twistory
I signed up for Twitter once I started hearing about it, like a lot of people. But I didn't use it (remember, there's a difference between having and using when it comes to social media). Eventually, I synced my Facebook statuses and tweets with one another, updated both using BlogIt on Facebook, since I spent more time there.

As for CoolPeopleCare, for a while, we automated a summary of our daily articles with a shortened url, but we realized we weren't really adding much value (or seeing much of a benefit). So, we pulled back, went silent for a while, and began to strategize.

Ask the whole wide tworld
With my shiny iPhone in hand, I began to wonder how I'd manage the entire Twitterverse. I signed up for an unlimited texting plan, so I could read everything that way. Or I could check out some apps.

But which ones do what? I read some reviews and blog posts, but I quickly realized the best way to get the info I sought was to ask the experts - or - the twexperts.

So, early on Sunday, I sent out a tweet:

what's the best iPhone twitter app? Looking for a free one to install by sundown. Best suggestion gets an @coolpeoplecare t-shirt.

And the results came back. Quickly. Recommendations for free and paid aps. I gave the free ones a whirl and found some things I liked. And then, @kateo came through with:

@samdavidson Depends on your needs, but I think you maintain multiple IDs? I went through 3 apps before finding Tweetie. It makes that easy.

Granted, I asked for a free ap, but kateo provided a paid one. So why did she win the shirt?

Tell me what matters
Granted, kateo was at an advantage because she knew (or at least assumed) that I managed both my personal twitter account and CoolPeopleCare's. So, based on her assumption, she delivered what I needed.

She didn't just shout out an answer to the Twitterati, she easily explained the why behind the what of her recommendation. She offered something relevant. She said something meaningful.

So what can we learn from this?
You can consume and participate in Twitter in a variety of ways, whether you want to keep up with people, have a private conversation with hundreds of witnesses, or stir up some buzz. And, whether you're tweeting from your phone, your PC or anything else, the methods may vary. What's important is that you say something worthwhile.

Whether you're a writer, a nonprofit, a consultant, or a big business, strategy in social media matters, and it really matters on Twitter. There's lots of ROI, as Beth Kanter points out best, mainly because 'I' can be defined in many ways (like insight).

The bottom line is that you can do/say what you want. But you'll have more fun and make a bigger splash if you want to do/say something that matters to the rest of us.

Strategize that.

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More posts about using Twitter:

• I Own a Hammer, But I am Not a Carpenter
• I Raised $448 in 3 Minutes
• How Tweet It Is: Nashville Shakes Gets It Right