Kim & Jason: How did you and Melanie meet and how did you become known as the Twister Sisters?

Peggy: We actually met twice. The first time, Mel attended a Skywarn class I was instructing. It was my first time to present a class and I thought Melanie seemed really smart and knowledgeable. Then about a month later, I joined an Internet discussion group of chasers in our area. She was also in the group and was the only other woman; we naturally began talking on our own. We decided to meet up and go for a chase together. We had a great time and it went from there. The Twister Sister name started out as a joke and it just stuck.

K&J: We’re sure lots of people must think you’re crazy. But then again, anyone who chases his or her dream can be expected to be called crazy at some point or another. Why do you chase tornadoes?

Peggy: I have been fascinated with severe weather and especially tornadoes since I was about three years old. They seemed like such threatening monsters. I wanted to know how they worked and get close to such an awesome thing. Of course there was lots to learn, and life gets in the way, but when the time was right, I turned my full attention to learning meteorology and the art of forecasting. You have to be in the right place waiting for one to form or you will never see one.

K&J: When did your fascination with and passion for tornadoes begin?

Peggy: As a child growing up in Indiana, I experienced a lot of severe weather. I often dreamed about tornadoes (as did Melanie). When everyone else would run to the basement, I would run outside!

K&J: What’s the scariest or most dangerous moment you’ve ever experienced while chasing a tornado?

Peggy: Chasing the Hallam-Wilber, Nebraska tornado at night, we came upon an injured man walking down
a dirt road asking for help. His family was buried in a destroyed house and there was no one around to help other than us. We got everyone out OK, but with leaking propane and lightning all around, it was pretty scary.

K&J: What has been the most thrilling or rewarding moment?

Peggy: Seeing a tornado form 25 yards ahead of us on the road. The vortex went from a tiny thing to a huge tornado throwing trees in about three minutes. I guess you could say we saw the “birth” of a tornado…

Like this interview?

Well you’re in luck, because you can read the whole thing starting on page 11 in this FREE digital version of Kim & Jason magazine.

We really had a lot of fun with this cover, going with a full-blown Wizard of Oz theme. It required a lot more effort and Photoshop savvy than previous issues — and the Tin Man costume was really HOT — but I think it turned out pretty well.

I’ve written up a little behind-the-scenes look at how the magazine cover was shot and digitally, um, enhanced.

The first step, once we decided to do a Wizard of Oz-themed cover, was to track down the costumes. Originally, the idea was for me to be the Scarecrow, but Kim suggested that the Tin Man would be more appropriate, as his search for a heart was a better link to the idea of passion. Jenna was able to procure an authentic Dorothy costume from her family. Meanwhile, Kim scoured the internet and local costume shops for a good Tin Man outfit. Some of them were so bad we wondered if the people making them had ever even seen The Wizard of Oz. Kim badly wanted me to try on one costume that heavily relied on spandex as its main source material. I declined.

We finally found a decent Tin Man costume to rent — at least one I felt I could work with in Photoshop — and we purchased a plastic funnel hat and heart clock. We did the photo shoot in the office. Doug was the photographer, and he had to stand on a table to get the right angle. Jenna stepped in as prop manager, lighting assistant, and costume attendee — she’s multi-talented!

We took over 50 photos, with a variety of poses, and loaded them into the computer to decide on the right one…

Step 1: One picture seemed to be better than all the rest: it was in pretty good focus, Kim’s red slippers (I mean Chuck Taylors) were visible, Stinky was in a good spot, etc. The only problem was that a bit of the Tin Man’s hat was cut off. In order to make sure we had plenty of space for the masthead on the final cover, I brought in another photo that showed more of the hat, and blended it together with the original photo.

Step 2: The next step — mostly unnoticable in this photo — was to sharpen up the photo and clean up any little problem areas (such as a major zit on Dorothy’s face.)

Step 3: Here you can see the photo retouching I did on the Tin Man costume. I cleaned out the wrinkles, straightened out the sleeves, and generally just made the suit more stiff and metallic looking. A good understanding of light and shadow came in handy here.

Step 4: In this step, I gave myself a silver face. Much easier (and cleaner) than having to mess with real makeup, I began by creating a new layer in Photoshop with a copy of just my face. I brought the saturation way down so that it was almost completely black and white. Then I had to carefully paint in some light washes of the yellow ochre on the side of my face so that it matched well with the hat. Finally, I utilized the “Noise” filter to add a bit of speckling to make my face look metallic.

Also, since Dorothy and friends didn’t travel to Oz on a hardwood floor, I had to carefully remove the background from the original photo. It was important to use an eraser with a blended edge, to make sure the outlines were soft. Otherwise, it would look like we were cut out of a magazine and taped to the background. Not quite what I was going for.

Step 5: Good thing I paid attention while they taught perspective in drawing class. I tried dropping in a photo of a brick road, but it looked terrible because the perspective wasn’t right. I knew then that I’d have to create my own yellow brick road. Ugh. Luckily, I could see some of the planks in the hardwood floor in the original photo, so I used it as a guide to help me create a grid in Adobe Illustrator.

Step 6: I was then able to drop the grid back into Photoshop under the original photo and fill it in with a dark yellow base.

Step 7: Using the grid as a template, I began coloring in the bricks by hand (or mouse, I suppose), slowly layering up different colors of yellow. This was the most tedious and boring part of the whole project. By the way, for some reason, I had hidden the “Silver Face” layer and “Tin Man suit” layer, which is why you can see the original elements of the photo in this screenshot.

Step 8: Some finishing touches included more color and detail on the bricks. I also darkened and lightened some of the bricks and added some texture filters to make them appear more lifelike. Then I dropped in a photo of grass, while painting a few blades over the bricks to merge them together more realistic. I also added in the shadow under Kim.

Step 9: The key to bringing it all together in the final piece was subtly blurring the background bricks and the photo of the grass to make it all look like it is part of the same picture. If the background was sharper than the parts of the image that are closer to the camera, it wouldn’t look right. In the end, I don’t think I necessarily achieved super realism, but rather something a bit more fantastical which is based in reality. If that makes any sense.

This image shows the finished photo dropped into InDesign (my page layout software) with the masthead, copy, and design elements all positioned just so.

I was at a wedding last summer, at a winery atop the rolling hills of Oregon. At one point during the meal, the bride and her mom approached my table and said, “Hey, Jason, do you remember Billy Walsh?” It turns out she knew my best friend from 2nd grade! And in an instant, it all came back…

Playing “Connect Four” for hours at school.

Hiking along the Pepper Creek for hours in Lagunitas, California.

Playing for hours with Legos® all over the living room floor.

Building a “secret fort” to get away from our little brothers…for hours!

Now-a-days, we have to make conscious and concerted decisions to “slow down, stop, and smell the flowers.” And, I can personally attest to the “business case” of slowing down. The only question is…what do we DO when we press pause?

Every now and then, we need to call on those who know us the best.

Who’s on your team? Who can you call to get you back on track, re-motivated, and inspired to take the actions, complete the projects, and stretch out into new landscapes you may not have seen just yet? You might not have the “hours and hours” I had as a child to spend with my best friend. Not to worry.

Here are two ways to maximize your relationships with the people on your team, the people who you know help you out, and the ones you want to share your time, your spirit, your creativity and your ideas with in return.

Write a Letter

Write just one letter a week. I know, I know it doesn’t seem like much but as this issue’s theme is “delighting in the little things,” I can tell you how far those “little cards” go in making and creating friendships that last.

Here’s what I do (and, feel free to use and/or modify this technique) to stay connected: I buy half a dozen cards at once. Usually on sale (shhhh!!! It’s the little things, remember!) and I put first-class stamps on them. I write my return address in the upper left-hand corner, and then I put the cards in my briefcase.

Through the week, I will randomly – it just happens, I can’t help it! – think of people. No matter where I am, it’s usually just a matter of minutes until I have written them a note, added their address to the envelope, and placed that card in my “traveling inbox.” When I check into the hotel that night, or take out my inbox the next morning, I place the card in the mailbox and go along my way…

Like this article?

Well you’re in luck, because you can read the whole thing starting on page 18 in this FREE digital version of Kim & Jason magazine.

My mom was 39 when I was born, and although I was a “surprise”, I’ve always felt wanted, loved and cherished. She had three other children, but I was always her baby. When I lived at home, I never went to sleep without a goodnight kiss. When I moved away, I talked to her on the phone or visited her every day.

Over the past few years, on my visits home, I’ve noticed my mom’s health gradually declining. This spring, just before she turned 86, we realized that she wouldn’t be able to stay in her home much longer; by fall she had found a place in a seniors’ facility.

I spent several weeks with my mom this summer, helping her cope with the reality that she needed constant care. More than once, it struck me how the tables had turned. Whereas forty some years ago, she had been helping me grow from dependence to independence, now I was helping her make the opposite transition.

For me, caregiving has been an emotionally, physically and spiritually draining experience. Many days I felt like I was losing my best friend. Afternoons of shopping and eating out, and evenings of playing cards were replaced by innumerable visits to various health professionals and emergency rooms. Whereas we used to talk about life’s joys and troubles, our conversations now focused mainly on my mom’s failing faculties. Many times she would say to me, “Growing old is not for the faint of heart!”

While sitting in waiting rooms holding mom’s hand, or watching her sleep in a hospital bed, I’d often find myself fascinated by the children who were also there, tagging along with mom or dad, or visiting their grandparents. I was reminded of some of the simple things I learned when I was their age – things that I’d forgotten in the busyness of growing up and becoming an adult.

Kids are happy to see their loved ones. I began to consciously put my troubles aside when I was with my mom. She was no longer my shoulder to cry on. Now, I was supporting her. I hugged her more and talked about things that were positive – the nice nurse, the warm blankets they brought around at night, and how surprisingly good the hospital food was.

Kids want to hear stories. I decided to ask my mom to talk about her life, and listened in a way I’d never had the time or patience to before. Some days she could only tell me parts of the story, but then a few days or a week later, she’d remember more details. It made the time pass quickly, and I learned more every day about myself and my mom.

Kids bring their own toys or make toys out of whatever is available. I decided mom and I should have some fun, too. We played cards with a deck specially made for people with limited eyesight, did crossword puzzles and read trashy magazines together. We laughed like…well, like kids!�

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Kim & Jason: You wear Missmatched socks, feature kewpie dolls on book covers, write about purple cows, and created a book that was packaged in a cereal box. You obviously have a pretty strong childlike spirit. Where does that come from, and why do you feel it’s important in the work you do?

Seth: I actually think that most kids aren’t so childlike. With all the pressure and fear and insecurity they deal with every day, it’s hard for even them to be that way. What I’m shooting for is fearlessness and joy, combined with an understanding of why it’s all worth it.

Where does it come from? I think it comes from realizing that the riskiest thing I can do is play it safe.

K&J: You’ve often pointed out that in our competitive landscape, the little things sometimes make the biggest difference. What are some little things that a business can do (maybe something that most don’t), which would make a big difference to their bottom line?

Seth: There are a million. They could involve treating people with respect, as opposed to hiding behind a company. They certainly involve failing, and failing often, in an attempt to do something worth doing.

K&J: Many businesses these days are suffering from a bad case of Adultitis. They are stuck in unimaginative ruts, afraid of change, and take themselves way too seriously…is there any hope for them? What can they do to change?

Seth: Well, of course, Adultitis means “swelling of the adult”. What’s swollen, apparently, is the insulating bubble we set up around ourselves. My advice is to strip that away, discover what happens when people laugh at you. It’s not so bad.

K&J: What are the biggest areas you see Adultitis negatively affecting business these days?

Seth: I hate the way big companies hide behind double speak and ‘policies’ and I hate the fear people in organizations have of their bosses.

K&J: For kids, the best thing about Cracker Jacks and cereal boxes are the free prizes that come inside. Can you explain your definition of a free prize in the context of business and why it is importent?

Seth: The Free Prize is the bonus, the extra, the thing you pay for that you want, as opposed to the excuse of what you ‘need.’

K&J: Kids love stories. Heck, everybody loves stories. You have said that companies need to be good at telling stories. Why is telling a good story so important these days?

Seth: There’s no time. There’s too much clutter. What we want are human interactions and transparency. We want to connect with other people. Stories do that.

K&J: We believe that one of the reasons for your success is your ability to stay curious and see the world through “new eyes,” not unlike a child. What is your secret?

Seth: A long time ago, I decided I didn’t like the status quo. I get joy out of challenging it and watching it change. When I get stuck, I try to reconnect to that.

K&J: When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Seth: Believe it or not: This. This is what I dreamed of. I thought I’d be running a summer camp, but I sort of do that now, just without the canoes.

K&J: What is your big dream right now?

Seth: My big dream is that the fundamentalists of every stripe get rational and the rationalists get a little silly.

K&J: Finally, what is your favorite way to “escape adulthood?”

Seth: Setting up a life you don’t need to escape sounds good to me.

Kim & Jason: Your book, The Fred Factor, contains the example of a remarkable postman named Fred to demonstrate how passion in your work and life can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. We found the book to be very inspiring and the techniques very simple. You make the benefits of being a “Fred” a no-brainer. In your opinion, why don’t we see more “Freds” in the world?

Mark: First, we probably don’t look for them, or think about it when we see them. There are many “Freds” who do things for us in our businesses, communities and probably even our homes that we tend to take for granted. I think we need to do a better job of paying attention to the extraordinary things people do for us on a regular basis. Secondly, I don’t think everyone realizes that they can be a “Fred.” I believe one of the first jobs of leadership is to prove significance to others: to our kids, our coworkers, our employees. People who don’t feel significant usually don’t make significant contributions. Third, knowing what one can do and knowing how to do it are two different things. It helps to know what skills to develop, and how to turn desire into results, and that is a primary reason why I wrote the book.

K&J: You’ve observed that so often we live our lives on autopilot, unable to distinguish between activity and accomplishment. Perhaps that is one reason why many people are stressed, restless, and struggling to find balance in their life. What advice would you give to people who may be struggling to distinguish between activity and accomplishment?

Mark: Stop focusing on how busy you are (we’re all insanely busy, it seems) and ask yourself a simple question: “What am I accomplishing?” If you have few accomplishments, or the ones you have aren’t that valued, then it is time to re-evaluate how you spend your time each day.

K&J: The Fred Factor embodies the essence of a childlike spirit in many ways, such as encouraging creativity and curiosity. In your opinion, what are the most important things an aspiring “Fred” can learn from children?

Mark: Children have few pretenses. They don’t try to impress you, which means they are authentic. That is admirable. Kids are typically more interested in you–sharing a story, learning something from you or just playing. They engage you rather than just talking to you. They also have a higher threshold for boredom. A bug or cloud is as exciting to them as trip to Bali or a new car. By the way, I know this because my kids are six and nine.

K&J: Kids seem to be experts at having fun, turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. In your travels and experience, what are some examples you’ve seen of businesses using these principles in creative and practical ways?

Mark: Here is a great example I just blogged about: recently I took the boys to one of our favorite family eateries, On the Border. Darla wasn’t feeling her best, so she asked us to bring her something. Alese (I hope I’m spelling her name correctly) was our waitperson. We had dined in her section a couple weeks ago and been impressed by her service. When we ordered our meals, I put in a to-go order for Darla and explained why she wasn’t with us. When we got home, Darla took her food out of the bag and noticed a note written on the lid of one of the containers. It said, “Get well soon.” That was a nice touch, and more proof of how little things make a big difference.

K&J: As a highly sought-after professional speaker, you are on the road for up to 200 days a year. What challenges have you faced and what things have you done to balance your work and family life with your road warrior lifestyle?

Mark: The obvious challenge is carving out sufficient time for my family. They understand why I travel, but that doesn’t mean they’re happy about it, nor do I want them to be happy I’m gone a great deal. I work extra hard to make time for the family when I’m not traveling. We do frequent short trips and vacations, and I don’t always keep a typical 9-5 schedule when I’m not on the road so I have flexibility to spend time with them.

K&J: When you were a little kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Mark: This sounds a little weird, but I always wanted to be a speaker. I entered my first speech contest when I was ten and failed wildly. That got my attention. I decided to try again and keep trying until I won a contest. It took a long time. In the process I learned to love the spoken word. I listened to speakers like Zig Ziglar and Og Mandino and said to myself “How cool would it be to do that?” I must have been about sixteen when I realized that the really good speakers made a living sharing ideas with audiences. I did have other jobs along the way in sales and marketing.

Like this interview?

Well you’re in luck, because you can read the whole thing starting on page 11 in this FREE digital version of Kim & Jason magazine.

Do you love your body? I do now, but I didn’t always. Nineteen years ago, I went to college and gained 40 pounds in just 2 years. I had a very low self-image and made terrible lifestyle choices. I now refer to these lifestyle choices, such as eating junk food, inactivity, excess consumption of food or alcohol, sleep deprivation and chronic (uncontrolled) stress as “Crap Choices.” I made crap choices daily and I felt like crap!

After earning two degrees in nutrition, I began to make better lifestyle choices. I call these healthier choices “Love Your Body Choices™.” I lost my excess weight and began to feel good again. The more Love Your Body Choices I made, the better I felt. The better I felt, the more my body craved these same choices.

Food—particularly fast food—is so readily available that we are rarely planning our meals in advance anymore. Our grandparents used to plan for meals a full day in advance. They would thaw the meat, prep the vegetables, and even bake the dessert. They planned meals that were fairly well balanced. Today, we go through the drive through after a busy day. Not only does our meal rarely include healthy options, like fruit and vegetables, but we are not even getting out of our car to get the food.

We are also much less active than we used to be. Advances in technology have allowed us to accomplish more, as we do less. One day I realized that our family was… (read the full article on page 18 in the FREE digital version of Kim & Jason magazine.)

In this issue…

Your life is busy, hectic, and complicated. It doesn’t have to be quite so crazy. This issue is jam-packed with stories, tips, and ideas on how you can use strategies from childhood to bring a little bit more balance into your life.

Features…

Balancing Act by Jason Kotecki | How to stay sane in a fast-paced world.

An Interview with… Mark Sanborn | The best-selling author of the “Fred Factor” on balancing work and family, having fun amidst the busyness, and lessons we can learn from kids.

Love Your Body, Love Your Life by Jill Fleming | Jill, a registered dietitian and wellness speaker, shares simple choices you can make to love your body and get yourself feeling great.

The Natural Balance of a Perpetual Summer Vacation by Tony D. Clark | Prolific entrepreneur-designer-artist-writer on work life balance and the joys of working from home.

17 Ways to Balance Your Life by Bret Nicholaus and Paul Lowrie | The “Question Guys” offer up some simple yet effective tips for bringing balance into your life.

Escape Plan: Colorado Springs by Kim Kotecki | Discover five awesome ways to escape adulthood the next time you visit Colorado Springs, Colorado!

Creating an Easier and More Fun To-Do List by Lindsey Cox | This busy mom shares a fun project to help you accomplish your goal and get the most out of life.

In Search Of… by David Stoddard | In a delightful article by the “Unmotivated Motivational Writer,” rediscover something you might be missing from life.

The Red Doll by Marilyn Kinsella | A heartwarming tale of loving grandpas and games of chance.

Are Your Priorities in the Basement? by Doug Kotecki | An interesting take on G.I. Joe, Nintendo, and the choices we make in life.

…Plus much, much MORE!

*Download The Issue Now*
(You can also buy individual printed copies.)

In this issue…

We’ll help you to rediscover the REAL you, the one who is destined for less stress, more fun, and great things! It also features all kinds of summertime ideas for escaping adulthood, as well as a look back at the summers of your childhood.

Features…

Rediscovering You by Jason Kotecki | Now that you’re all grown up, what exactly are you supposed to be doing with your life? Jason outlines how you can uncover clues from childhood and what steps you can take to create a life that is more meaningful, fun, and unique to YOU!

An Interview with… Scott Ginsberg | Find out what the guy who became famous for wearing a nametag 24/7 has to say about approachability, making a name for yourself, and breast feeding.

You’ve Got To Have a Dream! by Willie Jolley | World-renowned speaker, singer, and author Willie Jolley shares the common denominator and main ingredient for all success.

8 Ways to Rejuvenate This Summer by Eliz Greene | Do you yearn for a little more sanity and a bit more fun? Make the most of your summer with Eliz’s tips to enjoy yourself, lighten your load, and regain some balance.

Dare to Be Different by Phil Gerbyshak | Have you ever felt stuck in a rut at work, wondering why you look and feel the same as everyone else? Got a case of the Mondays and it’s Thursday? Does Phil have some ideas for you!

Escape Plan: Clearwater by Kim Kotecki | Discover five awesome ways to escape adulthood the next time you visit Clearwater, Florida!

The Next Generation of Hide & Seek by Jenna Regis | Geocaching is a hot new trend. Find out how, with the aid of a GPS, you can uncover a whole new world of outdoor fun!

A Honey of a Discovery by Allan Dash | In his trademark storytelling style, Allan shares the tale about his first bike (a shiny blue 1945 Schwinn) and learning the difference between honey and vinegar.

Plus: A brief history of fair foods, reflections on swimming lessons, a snapshot of classic summertime games, a recipe for making your own funnel cakes, and MORE!

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