Jason

- - - | written by Jason on 1/26/2020 | - - -

Time Machines Are Real (and How to Make Them)

Last November I took a retreat at a monastery. I brought a box of old journals, some almost twenty-five years old, and read through them. I jotted down things that struck me. I call it "reverse journaling," although I’m not sure that's the best name. It’s basically journaling about what I’ve journaled before. Pretty meta, I know.But surprisingly useful.People say there’s no such thing as time machines. I don’t know about that. Re-reading my old journals brought me back in time to events and feelings I’d long forgotten. And I uncovered a few instances where my past self had written insights that felt eerily relevant to my present self, as if they'd been sealed in a capsule and sent to the future.As I reviewed these old messages from a younger me, I was able to see themes and storylines that unfolded over a series of years that were unnoticeable in the day-to-day. To be frank, it was depressing at times, but I came away with several observations: I am a slow learner. Sometimes I …

- - - | written by Jason on 1/22/2020 | - - -

Brian Colgan, January 2020 Adultitis Fighter of the Month

An Adultitis Fighter is someone who rallies against rules that don't exist and engages in ruthless, senseless acts of silliness that undermine Adultitis and its unadventurous version of adulthood. Once a month, we shine a light upon the most remarkable among us, holding them up as a dazzling example of what we should strive for in this epic battle against a formidable enemy. Brian Colgan brings smiles to the faces of all who come in contact with him. He has a powerful outward focus on making people’s lives better. One of the ways Brian stands out is that he makes sure to engage with what people care about and remembers every time he meets them. While it would be easy to feel negative dealing with a chronic illness, Brian is an example of staying positive in difficult circumstances. An encourager with a helpful heart, Brian is a warrior against Adultitis. In recognition of their efforts, Adultitis Fighters of the Month receive a special mini-canvas …

- - - | written by Jason on 1/19/2020 | - - -

How to Change the World

Quote by Anonymous | Photo by Jason Kotecki Over the holiday break, my family bought a cow, two goats, and four chickens. No partridge, but we did also buy a fruit tree. In what has quickly become my new favorite tradition, after a turkey dinner on New Year’s Eve, my family sat around the table to discuss how we’d spend money we’d be donating to Compassion International. When we started our business twenty years ago, I knew I wanted it to have a charitable component. Most companies give from their profits. I didn’t know how long it would take us to be profitable (spoiler alert: seven years!), so I came up with a different plan. I decided to build giving into the cost of every product we sold. It started at three percent, so if I sold one hundred dollars worth of books, we’d donate three dollars. Eventually, we bumped it up to five percent and expanded it to include my speaking fees as well. This year, we donated more money than we made in our entire first full year in …

- - - | written by Jason on 1/12/2020 | - - -

How Weird is Too Weird?

"93% Weird." 24"x24" Oil on canvas.Original is SOLD. Prints available here. Many fruits have a similar vibe. You get some variations in color and texture, but "round" is pretty much the regular shape. Even the tomato, which I grew up being taught was a vegetable, wants to get in with the fruit group. And upon a quick glance, we say, “Sure, whatever, you seem to fit the description." And then there’s the pineapple. Compared to most fruits, pineapples are weird. Unfortunately, weird isn’t usually a compliment. Before I take the stage for a speech, at the very end of my introduction, there is a passage that talks about me "spending time with my beautiful wife and three weird kids." It’s always fun – and telling – to see how the introducer handles this bit. Sometimes they read it as is, but other times they are quick to uncomfortably interject, “I didn’t write that!” I’ve even had some who eliminate it altogether. Ultimately I exclaim to them that, in our …

- - - | written by Jason on 1/5/2020 | - - -

Here Goes Something

"Here Goes Something" by Jason Kotecki. 24x30 Oil on Canvas.Original is SOLD. Prints available. “Here goes nothing.” It’s a phrase we often use when we’re not sure how something will turn out. In fact, since it tends to come from a sense of desperation, we use it to admit that there’s a pretty good chance of it not working. It’s our little way of softening the psychological blow of failing. It makes me think of the pass play in football referred to as a “Hail Mary.” The team with the ball is losing, and time has nearly expired. They need a touchdown but they’re so far from the goal line that their only hope is to launch a long pass into a sea of waiting defenders. It’s a pass with a very low chance of success, but at that point, you’re out of options. Here. Goes. Nothing. However. This isn’t a football game. Trying things that might not work is not nothing. It takes tremendous courage, vulnerability, and faith. Dare I say it’s the most …

- - - | written by Jason on 12/29/2019 | - - -

Why You Need More Cowbell

This video is a collaboration I did with American Family Insurance about 3 rules you should totally break if you are serious about achieving your dreams. Inspired by my book, A Chance of Awesome: How Changing the Way You See Changes Everything. In the early 2000s, a comedy skit turned the phrase “more cowbell” into a cultural phenomenon. And although it’s considered comedy gold, it’s also a good metaphor for looking at things from a different perspective. …

- - - | written by Jason on 12/20/2019 | - - -

3 Rules You’ll Need to Break to Achieve Your Dreams

This video is a collaboration I did with American Family Insurance about 3 rules you should totally break if you are serious about achieving your dreams. Inspired by my book, Penguins Can't Fly +39 Other Rules That Don't Exist. Although a little bit of structure is good when it comes to planning out your future and working towards your goals, certain ‘rules’ can hold us back. Think about it, who says you have to go about your life a certain way? Who says following the rules is the recipe for success? Remember, everything is impossible…until it’s not. …

- - - | written by Jason on 12/19/2019 | - - -

Awesome Boss, Ugly Cake

Tina Oldham is the Principal of Cowden-Herrick Elementary School in Illinois. After attending a program I did for educators earlier this year, in which I talked about the beauty of ugly cakes, Tina's teachers were inspired to create this Boss's Day cake for her. Nice work huh? (I like the toothbrush, which I imagine came in handy after finishing said cake.) And I especially liked the quote in Tina's email signature: "Show Up, Work Hard, Be Kind." A good strategy for whatever you do in life! …

- - - | written by Jason on 12/15/2019 | - - -

Outgrowing Our Sense of Wonder

C Plane by Jason Kotecki. 20x20 inches. Oil on canvas.Original is SOLD. Prints available. Remember alphabet soup? I ask you to remember because the last time you had it probably wasn’t yesterday, or last week. It may have been a decade or four. Something about alphabet soup brings out a sense of wonder and curiosity in us as kids. We stir it around to see if any secret messages emerge randomly, like a vegetable fueled Ouiji board. We use our spoon to carefully arrange our own words, spell our name, a simple sentence, or maybe a dirty word...Just me? But then we outgrow alphabet soup. Why? Are we afraid our sophistication will be challenged? That we’ll be considered immature? That people won’t take us seriously? in a seemingly unrelated note, it’s impossible for me to see an airplane and not think of my father-in-law Gary. He loves airplanes. He used to drag his wife and four daughters to air shows. Their reviews of the regular excursions are mixed, but one thing was …

- - - | written by Jason on 12/12/2019 | - - -

Heather Haas, December 2019 Adultitis Fighter of the Month

An Adultitis Fighter is someone who rallies against rules that don't exist and engages in ruthless, senseless acts of silliness that undermine Adultitis and its unadventurous version of adulthood. Once a month, we shine a light upon the most remarkable among us, holding them up as a dazzling example of what we should strive for in this epic battle against a formidable enemy. Heather Haas' example of fighting Adultitis is beautiful. She walks her talk. She lives a bright, unapologetically bold life and it's refreshing and inspiring (and maybe sometimes even a bit challenging - in a good way) for all of those who come near enough to witness her life of awesomeness. It’s all about her perspective and intention, as you’ll read below. One thing that stands out about Heather is that she takes the necessary time needed to fill her cup and in turn has a generous amount of love and kindness to pour out into those around her. This delicate balance is found with mindfulness, love, a …