Interwoven Threads in the KC Star!

Fashion Editor Jackie White included Interwoven Threads in a wonderful story for today's Kansas City Star. as part of a local gift ideas theme, three images were included (courtesy of photographer Tom Foley).

as a reminder to anyone thinking about giving Interwoven Threads for Christmas, today's orders will be shipped via Priority Mail by end of day today (Dec. 21) and the good folks at the Post Office told me today's shipment should arrive Saturday or Monday depending on which corner of the world you inhabit. as a disclaimer, Interwoven Threads is not responsible for the U.S. Postal Service's delivery schedule during this busy time of year. the stated delivery time for Priority Mail is 2-3 days, however, local (Kansas City-area) packages normally move across town in a day. information is included in each shipment on the benefits of organic cotton and the story behind Interwoven Threads and its donation program.

if you're freakin' out and want to guarantee the gifts are in your hands, i am willing to deliver in the Kansas-City Metro through Saturday at noon. you just have to ask nicely. any questions can be sent to shout (at) interwoventhreads (dot) com. i'll respond right quick.

Bruce Mau talks to strategists, planners

it's friday. before a holiday break. cold probably. you are finding things to keep yourself from doing actual work and ways to speed the hands of time. i'm here to help...while still connecting the dots professionally.

this video from PSFK of Bruce Mau (author of Massive Change) is of a speech Mau gave to advertising strategists and planners to "liberate them from their jobs." beautiful. it makes sense to bring his Massive Change agenda to the world of advertising and more specifically strategic planning, as it's our job as strategic arms to spark the inspiration and follow the insights to change.

the vid is short and powerful and will make you want to do better. period.

things i'm diggin'

it's been a while since i've posted random recommendations and interests...so here we go:

1) Peter Bjorn and John.



2) Ergon packs. i tried one on today and wanted to dance in the store.

3) Sunday bouldering.


4) singing Sufjan Stevens in church.


5) church.


6) sending Interwoven Threads directly to unsuspecting Christmas gift recipients. it's like i'm also giving the gift and i like that in a weird voyeuristic way.


7) knowing i'll be in colorado in a bit over a week from now.

From dynamite to peace

on my drive in this morning, i heard Al Gore's scathing comments on America's role in deterring a global climate treaty. Gore was speaking at the UN Climate Change Conference. "My own country the United States is principally responsible for obstructing progress in Bali," Gore said. that's a cold - but true - bowl of chili. listening to the news story prompted me to pull Gore's Nobel Peace Prize speech and it sparked a couple thoughts.

obviously, the speech is powerful on an environmental level. but it also carries a strong call to action that is hard to ignore no matter what "purpose" you might be pursuing. call it inspiration for this thursday morning...but here are some statements that particularly resonated with me (see excerpted transcript here).

on doing good:

One hundred and nineteen years ago, a wealthy inventor read his own obituary, mistakenly published years before his death. Wrongly believing the inventor had just died, a newspaper printed a harsh judgment of his life’s work, unfairly labeling him “The Merchant of Death” because of his invention – dynamite. Shaken by this condemnation, the inventor made a fateful choice to serve the cause of peace.

Seven years later, Alfred Nobel created this prize and the others that bear his name.

-----
on leadership:

However, despite a growing number of honorable exceptions, too many of the world’s leaders are still best described in the words Winston Churchill applied to those who ignored Adolf Hitler’s threat: “They go on in strange paradox, decided only to be undecided, resolved to be irresolute, adamant for drift, solid for fluidity, all powerful to be impotent.”

-----
on opportunity

Seven years ago tomorrow, I read my own political obituary in a judgment that seemed to me harsh and mistaken – if not premature. But that unwelcome verdict also brought a precious if painful gift: an opportunity to search for fresh new ways to serve my purpose.

it goes without saying that i wish the tables had rotated in Gore's favor...in a way. i'm confident our world would be in a better place politically. however, what a profound statement of reinvention, hope and tenacity.

some questions floating in my head:

are you serving your purpose? are you given the opportunity? if not, why not?
are you leading change or "deciding only to be undecided?"
are you facing condemnation, failure or frustration with a solution?

we all face these questions in varying degrees. and i believe we all can see reflections of ourselves and those around us in the quotes above. at the end of the day, though, it's up to us, individually to make a choice.

powerful, inspiring words from the man who was once the next president of the United States.

check out the rest of the speech...it's a good'un.

Dallas Whiterock Marthon: done

i'm back in sunny Kansas City...err...after a wonderful weekend in Dallas. ran the Whiterock Marathon on Sunday and enjoyed every mile of it...especially the last half, which I gutted out a negative 10 minute split. after what's been about two years of continuous marathon training, i'm happy to reflect in the glow of this race as i lower my weekly mileage and enjoy sleeping in on the weekends for a while. i've dealt with a nagging stomach issue, torn cartailage in my foot, a re-injured Achilles tendon and am well tired of gritting my teeth through training runs. but crossing the line on Sunday, nailing my goal time with 58 tenths of a second to spare (4:10:42), well, it was all worth the pain.

i started out rather conservative due to the injuries i was bringing into the race. but at mile 16 or so, i knew i was having a good day and just let it loose. passed a couple pace groups and then with 2 miles left, passed the 4:15 group and decided 4:10 was attainable. spent the final two miles in a dead sprint. but dang it feels good to be done. i do believe i could have bested my last PR (3:54) yesterday if i'd have cut my mile-by-mile time down on the front end...maybe next time.

(camera 1, camera 2...)

the best part, though, was running with three of my favorite people. my good friend Joel (and Interwoven Threads collaborator) ran his first marathon and did a heckuva job (and got the bug, i think!). it was great to run with him for the majority of the race and be part of his huge accomplishment. my Dad ran an expectedly smooth race (i honestly don't think he broke a sweat). our wonderful family friend Larry not only hosted us in his new home, but he and his wife treated us to the best Texas hospitality we could imagine. he's a really talented runner and even better guy.

(...camera 3, camera 4)

we messed with our layers and technical choices until the very minute we started the race. felt great though in what we all wore. i decided on a Patagonia Capilene 2 base layer with another Cap2 long sleeve over that, then my Brooks water/wind-proof jacket and Brooks Trance 7 shoes. i wore the injinji socks that have become a favorite in-training sock due to their ability to prevent blisters, but was really disappointed in them during the race. they just didn't provide enough stay or cushioning. also very poor wicking ability. i think that was their last race. i was on and off with the jacket the whole way, but having it definitely helped during the rain showers that accompanied the 30-40 degree weather. it was rough...and the north wind hurt.

last year's houston marathon is still my favorite - it's part personal record and part great fun - but this may well be number two. man...just keeps getting better. i needed a vacation and this turned into exactly that. great laughs, wonderful food and drink, even better company and a chance to get my head out of KC. moreover, i needed a successful finish to get the bad taste of the Chicago Marathon out of my mouth. my hat's off to the people of Dallas and the race organizers and volunteers. they had aid stations at EACH MILE, filled with water and Gatorade (Chicago, take note). and i will venture to say the neighborhoods bested Chicago's for enthusiasm and fun (not an easy feat). even in the cold and rain, people were outside holding block parties and front-yard parties. they handed out food and drink (lots of beer!) and cheered consistently. it was a well-run race and a great city to run. thanks to all involved for the experience.

Interwoven Threads in Present Magazine!

check out the latest edition of Present Magazine for a nice story on Interwoven Threads.

Interwoven Threads/Barclay Martin collab

check out the Do Better Blog for the news of Interwoven Threads first partnership: a collaboration with singer/songwriter/documentarian Barclay Martin.

get a look, buy, do better here.

some new news

been quite busy between work and Interwoven Threads and preparing for this weekend's Dallas Whiterock Marathon. here's an update, at the Do Better Blog.

bridging the marketing/Interwoven Threads gap, PSFK posted a nice review of Interwoven on its fashion site. additional media coverage is planned for this month. i'll pass it on!

more soon....