Also, updated 4×4 Weekend theme as well as added tentative route for an Adventure in Colorado.

While that subject is accurate, it’s not very true.  Those are the blogs that I currently have the ability to publish to and own.  They are not all that up to date.

• Tweblog is current, but still could use a better About Me page.
• Getsch.com is supposed to be family stuff, but it’s not really getting any attention.
• 4×4 Weekend is the coolest idea I’ve ever been 100% responsible for, in every way.  I just haven’t had the time to go hiking and camping like I really want to.
• TechProfound is a great idea and a neat partnership with another co-founder, Dave Persing.  We’re both gainfully employed in very full-time gigs and are pausing this one until some more creative juices flow, or more money avails itself.
• And lastly, HoopsTech is new.  I’ve been following and chearing on HoopsAddict.com for a while now.  I’ve been invited to write, but haven’t yet taken the plunge.  When I do, the focus will be on technology and it’s involvement in basketball.

What are your thoughts about any of these?  Do you have any feedback?  Why would a guy put 5 blogs out there, and then not use them all?  Does this make you want to have a blog of your own?

Bring it! 

The air outside is warmer than the air inside.

Sitting out on the deck is now done without a little space heater.

I can just feel it.  It’s warmer and the daylight hours are getting longer.

Several months of AWESOME weather are ahead.

I think you should look forward to more blog posts about the weather, about fun summer activities, about road trips, about great 4×4 Weekend‘s!

Work has been good.  In an honest, introspective way, work has made the weekends that much better.  I’m excited for a fun summer.  Both of my sisters are getting married this summer.  That means two trips back to the old stomping grounds.  It’s been over a year since I’ve been back.  That’s the longest time away from MN since our family lived in Puerto Rico, from when I was 10 to 13 years old.

It’s good to have a good work-life balance.  I’m appreciating work more than I ever have in my life.  I’m appreciating friends and time away from work more than I ever have in my life.  I’m not taking any of it for granted.  And when stuff doesn’t just go swell, I know that’s part of life too.

I just said swell. 

The service from Les Schwab will be remembered!  And, I am remarking.  I am listening to events like this.  When I am involved w/ service, I hope that when people leave they want to call friends and write about it.  Remarkable.

Hopefully, I’ll be able to keep my Jeep for a while.  With my current finances and undefined career ahead of me, it may be a challenge.  Here’s a link to a slideshow of My 2006 Jeep Commander Photoset on Flickr that I just updated.

UPDATE: Check out this cool Jeep Commander Blog.

Maybe I’ll go drive my Jeep in some snow today.    Too bad 4×4 Weekend isn’t around any more.

I’m still keeping a few things. But most of the things I got multiples of, I’ll be returning. I needed several of certain things to be able to outfit a small group. Not outfitting. Not needing those extras.

So, in a way, this is another day of simplifying, like I’ve done a whole lot over the past few months. I don’t remember if I mentioned this in any earlier posts, but I brought eight large plastic bags of clothes and shoes to the Good Will earlier this month. I also threw away a few bags. This simplifying thing is so healthy and feels so right.

Looks like it will be a bit warmer today. I think I’ll do my workout later today, and really sweat up a storm! I already buttoned up the apartment to keep the cooler air inside for the day. That usually makes a huge difference for the late afternoon and early evening hours when the sun beats down and shines so brightly in the windows.

BTW, I think it’s pretty cool that my apartment has multiple windows on three sides. I like that feeling of being able to open up a bit. I also like being able to close all the windows and shades and just coup up as much as I want. Versatile.

Anyway… after wrapping up some of the startup business stuff, I’m going to start the new job hunt on Monday. I’m sure I’ll have some stuff to post about that, including my resume…

…Joy, Joy, Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!

As of today, Tuesday, July 18, 2006, 4×4 Weekend is on indefinite hold.

There are a number of reasons for this, which I’m about to go write about here in a few minutes. This is a good thing, and a positive decision. I’m excited for various other opportunities!

I have learned a whole lot during the past few months. I have no regrets about 4×4 Weekend. It’s just time to take another direction. Please stop by tweblog.com. I’ll be updating that blog regularly.

In HIS grip!
~Toby Getsch

Over the past 3 months, I’ve had quite a bit of “stuff” happen in my life. I’m going to bullet some of that here, and include some of the reasons why 4×4 Weekend has been put on indefinite hold. The order of these bullets is not specific. I’m just writing them down as they all come to mind.

1. I’ve had some vacation time and time to get thoughts squared away.
2. “Too much geek.” – That’s a big reason. I’m just into gadgets and systems and technology a lot. The draw to do a whole business outdoors and away from a bit of that is huge. However, there is too much geek pull that keeps oozing it’s way back into various aspects of my life.
3. I visited some family and friends for a couple weeks.
4. I sold my motorcycle.
5. I drove my motorcycle from Seattle to Minneapolis before I sold it.
6. I had a dear friend pass away due to cancer.
7. I have a younger brother, that I’m very proud of and who has inspired me.
8. I’ve had the most regular exercise routine since moving out here to Seattle in the summer of 2002.
9. A number of friends have purchased new/first homes recently. I think I’d like to own a home sooner, rather than later.
10. I do like the stability and structure of a job with an established organization.
11. Getting a new home requires some more financial stability rather than more risk.
12. 4×4 Weekend was going to require more debt to proceed. At this time, that’s not something I want to pursue.
13. Listening to many people respond as I talked about 4×4 Weekend made me realize that I can have that same passion in other ways and can share passion without needing to be as drastic as starting a whole business.
14. Perspectives. I’ve hear many people’s perspectives over the past few months, and I’m enlightened to learn from them, to reject some of them, to adhere to some of them, and to make my own perspectives.
15. I have a lot of confidence right now in my abilities. Harnessing that confidence and turning it into productivity is something that I can do in many different ways. I can have a big impact on many people, and can positively affect different situations.
16. I’ve been humbled many times over, by realizing how much more I need to listen.
17. Leadership has many forms. Making decisions is a big portion of leadership. Putting 4×4 Weekend on indefinite hold is a leadership move, and a decision made.
18. I don’t like when people in power are poor leaders, that do not make decisions, and do not make convicted decisions. I want to become a good leader.
19. I started attending a new church, and have really liked the challenges and energy and worship.
20. It was relatively low risk for me to try to start a new business, in terms of who it affects. It’s just me right now. But, like many things, that really isn’t consistent. What we do affects many other people. Who we affect in one setting or another can impact a life. I know my life has been impacted by others that way. So, it really isn’t that low of a risk to try to start a new business. It’s a big risk.
21. People can be encouraging. That can feel good. It’s important to not “let that go to your head.” Doing the right thing should be doing the right thing. It may be influence by others, but it should be done on it’s own merits.
22. I may not be as adventurous as I’d like to think I am.
23. I’m OK with learning from my mistakes.
24. There are a lot of opportunities out there. I face lots of choices every day.
25. Because I can. And, because I can, does not mean that I should.

Hmmm… 25 bullets seams like a lot more than I had in mind when I started. This has been a good decision. And now, I’m officially unemployed. That’s not so exciting, but it is a new challenge!

Let’s see. What’s next?

UPDATE: #26. I want to get a boat! Sat by the water in Downtown Kirkland last night (Friday, 7/21/2006). After growing up in Minnesota and being around water my whole life (See: “The Lake”), a boat would be very fitting. Yeah, I believe a new job is in order…

Technorati Tags: 4x4wknd, Family, Friends, Geek, Ideas, JobHunt, Leadership, Life, Listening, Perspective, Rants, Writing

I’m starting a new company called 4×4 Weekend.  I’m watching and noticing and paying attention to various reactions and insights of others as I talk about it or write about it.  It’s also 90 days after my most recent profession in the tech world.

This has been a big change.  It’s been a big change for many reasons.  ONE of those reasons is that I’m really trying to listen more, and to soak in what any suspects potential clients want from me as an adventure getaway.

Some questions: What are they getting away from?  What are that adventuring towards?  Why are they so excited?  Why are they not excited?  What’s making them tick?

ONE answer: I’m listening.  And, maybe they feel heard.

This niche is defining itself quite nicely.  This new business will be successful.  Heads up!  $uccess may not be defined so clearly.  In fact, it’s definitely not defined the same for most of us.  Life is a journey with many destinations.  I believe that investing in those around me has eternal merit.  That’s where my heart is, and that’s where I find my treasure.  That’s success.

That’s why I’m so big on listening right now.

Hopefully, I can get better at listening. And hopefully, it can help me to become a better leader.

In a recent post from 43 Folders, Merlin Mann makes an excellent contribution towards this. The post is called Tips on becoming a better listener, and I’m quoting some of it here. There are other references in the quote that are also good sources for more info.

In working to improve this socially-crippling liability, in general — to hear what people are really saying rather than just using the down time to formulate a pseudo-clever response — I’ve begun skimming the web for advice. I have these sites and tips to share with you so far, so listen up!

From Becoming a Better Listener:

• Genuinely interested: A successful listener is genuinely interested in what the other person has to say. If you don’t have time at the moment, offer to talk with the individual later…
• Silence: Become comfortable with silence in a helping relationship. Pauses can create valuable reflection time for the other person…
• Nonverbal messages: Be sure your nonverbal messages are congruent with your verbal ones. Unless cultural differences dictate otherwise, offer direct eye contact while the individual is talking. It helps establish trust and communicates interest. Leaning forward is also interpreted as an expression of concern and interest.

From The Top 10 Tips for Becoming a Better Listener:

Tune out distractions.

Poor listeners are distracted by interruptions; good listeners tune them out and focus on the speaker and the message. It’s a discipline that lends itself to specific techniques for maintaining one’s focus.

From BookRags: How to Be a Better Listener Article:

• Responses — When asked, answer questions in complete sentences…
• Repetition — Repeat specific comments said by the person with whom you are conversing or listening…
• Gentility — Be kind. People appear to be good listeners when they want to listen to others. If you look like you’re listening “just because,” then your listening skills will appear less than perfect.

From How can you listen better? – workopolis.com:

Do you listen for their intent? New York Yankees manager Joe Torre once observed that he never just looks at what his players say when they’re quoted in the newspaper. He tries to sort out why they’re saying it. What is their emotional state as they’re talking to you? Are they trusting and forthcoming — or guarded and defensive? Sure, the words that they use are important, but they’re often only a small part of what is being communicated to you.

Do you listen to learn? The best ideas have a funny way of coming from the most unlikely sources. That’s why it’s so important to be open to learning from anyone that you talk to…

Tips on becoming a better listener is a challenge for me. I’m up for it. I sure am going to try to put my best foot ear forward.