O’Brien and Case were the featured guests at a chamber event today. I provided a bit of history on AOL to the younger guests….
A nearby friend wondered why O’Brien did not run for President. Case seems to be a man blessed with the gift of persistence.
Turning right or left, I never know where one encounters the presence of God.
Just a few days ago, while picking up a few items at a delightful deli, a spry and stylish woman hugged the nearby proprietor and said “I keep praying to God that it is time to take me, so that I can be with my husband”. “I am now 90”. (didn’t look it).
“My daughter recently put together a surprise birthday party. Grandchildren and neighbors were all in the know.” “It was so much fun. It was a blessing. But, I miss my husband.”
More hugs.
Amidst bunny destruction, one tulip somehow persevered.
Ideas are everywhere.
Turning an inkling, thought, notion or even a plan into something real mostly requires working with others. And, working successfully, ideally, toward a common goal. Working together has risks, of course. It sometimes leads to conflicts, miscommunication, disagreement, differing expectations and failure.
Some time ago, I read that the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s Reformation [1] loomed in 2017. The printing press was an essential asset to Luther’s work.
My notion: why not create a simple, multi-lingual daily verse app for iPhone, iPad and the Watch? The appetizer? Text to speech on iOS and Watch.
How?
A talented friend helped refine the user experience, yet I needed someone to build, test and deploy the app.
Vikram Aich, prospecting (prospecting!), entered my inbox. I appreciated his simple and straightforward message. It lacked fluff and unnecessary words.
A bit of back and forth on requirements and costs followed. Needless to say, the apps were built, tested and are now available in the App Store.
There were a few bumps in the process, but Vikram and his colleagues persevered. That willingness to make it work, despite obstacles, is essential to creating great products and services. I am thankful for this successful initiative.
“Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you…” [2]
Check out the My Verse app:
Apple Watch
iPhone
iPad
[1] Luther2017.de
[2] Matthew 7:7
Is the occasional interesting lecture. Saturday, Alexander Vershbow, NATO’s Deputy Secretary General, offered “An Update From NATO”.
I recorded most of Vershbow’s lecture, though the audio is not so hot. 26MB mp3.
How was it that Mr. Vershbow appeared in Madison? One of his children works in the University of Wisconsin’s Art Department.
NATO.
