The first day of spring is Wednesday. How are you planning to celebrating it? Wait...you weren't? A woman at a recent speaking gig shared with me a neat family tradition that I had to pass along. She grew up in Connecticut, and every year, on the first day of spring, her father would "kidnap" his kids and play hooky. They'd all load into the car as usual, but he'd eventually take a "wrong turn," and they'd never quite make it to school. One time, he took them sledding to take advantage of a new blanket of snow on the ground. Another time they ended up at the Statue of Liberty. Since it …
Archives for March 2013
A is for Adultitis
Sarah lives in Minnesota. She wrote this poem last year for an 8th grade school project after I spoke at her church. Apparently the talk was a hit, coincided with an assignment to compile a book of poems, and served as inspiration for this cool bit of prose. Enjoy! Adultitis by Sarah Weber A child’s imagination Blooms in their rooms Castles and Dragons and Even more. They Figure out what to do. Give them blocks Hurry back In minutes there’ll be Junctions and bridges. Kids can make anything Lots of fun Many adults Not knowingly look past Obvious creative Past times Quickly …
Happy Birthday, Kim!
I have many speaker friends who wish they had a Kim to do for their business what she does for ours. Believe me, I know how lucky I am. There is a reason that Kim gets top billing in the trademark "Kim & Jason." I may be the artist and speaker, but she's the inspiration. She's the lifeblood of our business. She's the one I aspire to be like. Not only is she the world's best business partner, but she's also my wife, best friend, and partner in crime on this crusade to annihilate Adultitis. She's also celebrating a birthday today. (Twenty-nine-ish. Again.) I thought it would be cool to …
Meet Shelly Gray
The Small Rebellion is a playful group of escape artists who share a joyful, indomitable childlike spirit and are not afraid to let that spirit come out to play! They’re united by a common goal of fighting Adultitis and the doo-doo heads who embrace its ideals. Quite frankly, they’re pretty much the coolest people on the planet. Here's one right now... • My name is... Shelly Gray. • My hometown is... Shelbyville, TN (Yes, my favorite SEC team is Alabama!) • My biggest dream...to help others to improve their personal and professional lives. …
You Are Viral
My son Benjamin is only 15 months old, and he is a natural born flirt. On a recent family vacation to Santa Barbara, Ben made friends with approximately 7,235 people. He doesn’t say much, but then again, he doesn’t need to. His bright eyes and broad smile do all the work for him. Whether it’s sitting on airplanes, waiting in lines, or dining at a restaurant, Ben is constantly scanning for someone to smile at. And if you catch his gaze, watch out. Women are stopped dead in their tracks, and grown men are immediately drawn into silly games of peekaboo. When Ben smiles at you, no matter what …
It’s a Good Morning
It's a good morning, isn't it? If you're having a hard time agreeing with that statement, let me ask you some questions... Are you alive? Can you see? Smell? Hear? Talk? Walk? Do you have a job? Do you have a roof over your head? Do you have something to eat today? Does someone love you? Do you have a dream in your heart? Is today a chance to let go of yesterday and start fresh? No, you may not have said yes to every single one of those questions. But you only need to say yes to one of them for it to be a good morning. …
Lucy Was Here
Let it be known that my daughter Lucy was in an antique store called Whimsy in Carpenteria, California. As you can see here, it's official. Just like Oprah, Cher, and Madonna, one name is sufficient. I love how she writes her name, with the backwards "c." I'm really considering telling her to keep it that way, forever. It would make a killer logo. And serve as a perpetual reminder to break the rules that need breaking. …
Mango with Mullet
My art almost always contains an element of whimsy. It also often involves inspiration, encouragement, or entertainment. Sometimes I'm lucky enough to make something that combines all three. Other times, I end up with something that's just plain silly. It all started with a mango with a mullet. And I just could not stop. I felt compelled to paint pictures of food sporting hairstyles of varying levels of ridiculousness. When the dust settled, the series totaled nine in all, including cauliflower with a combover, cabbage with cornrows, and a pear with a perm. …
Work Is Not The Villain
Many people dream about winning the lottery so they can quit their soul-sucking job and go spend their days lying on a beach, sipping margaritas and soaking up rays. Only one problem. …