"It's Not About the Coffee"

Currently reading a little nugget about Starbucks and its leadership principles by Howard Behar.

I am not the biggest fan of Starbucks coffee but I am a huge fan of success stories in business like that of Starbucks. The growth of Starbucks as an international culture is inspiring and eye-opening in every chapter.

Some ideas that have resonated so far...

-WEAR ONE HAT: Be clear about your values, purpose, goals. Implement them into everything you do.

-Define your passion and your strengths and goals will come more sharply into focus.

This just in the first 1/4 of the book.

I am excited to put time aside to learn and grow with the wisdom shared in this book.

THE DEVIL MAKES THREE

I haven't had a chance to give The Devil Makes Three a listen since before I left for Australia in October 2009.
I was made aware, by The Breezy, that they will be performing at this years Outside Lands Festival in SF August 14th and 15th.
The line up for this festival is turning out to produce one of the best festivals of the year, probably the best in the US.
Super excited for the 14th and 15th!

SO IN RIGHT NOW

I really like this design style that is coming back in right now. This is for a promotion for the anniversary of a local magazine in Menlo Park.

Who is the artist?

I hate it when you can't find the artist that designed an ad piece.

Not enough credit to those talented graphic specialists out there.

I am going to borrow the concept for a piece I am putting together.

Since I can't find the artist who made it- Thanks for inspiration!

Performance Water Polo

A great new program for developing young athletes mental and physical strengths for advanced water polo. Founded by the Head Coach at Pepperdine University, Performance Water Polo is leading the way in advanced camp instruction.

http://www.performancewaterpolo.com/

Sioux City Kid and Revolutionary Ramblers

The up and coming band from San Francisco has just solidified themselves as the best local band in the SF Bay Area.

Winning the Live 105 Battle of the Bands in SF, Sioux City Kid earned themselves the headline spot on the local stage at this years BFD Festival in Mountain View, CA.

I had the chance the see them last week in SF and picked up their album. Best $5 I've ever spent!

If you have not seen them; go to BFD.

If you have not heard them; go buy their new album.

If you have not heard of them...you're welcome!

Project WOO Lauches Surf 'n' Serve

Project Wave of Optimism is a non-profit surfing organization putting together Surf Trips to Nicaragua combining surfing great waves and serving the local community of Gigante. They are putting together some really impressive benefits for the cities they impact. The program allows surfers to give back to the cities for welcoming the global surfing community and sharing great waves.

I was lucky enough to get back from Australia in time to see my little brother and friends graduate from college. We heard a lot of impressive reflections but the thing that stuck with me the most was what the speaker at the Baccalaureate mass said. He challenged the graduates to always think about how they can leave a place better than when they arrived. Project Woo seems to be trying to accomplish just that in Nicaragua.

"Together, we can ensure that surfing leaves a positive footprint around the world." -projectwoo.com

Check out the site for your next surf trip.

http://www.projectwoo.org/

'Get Caned'

My experience in Australia, especially Newcastle, can only described as an experience of a lifetime. As I touched on before, it is the people whom you miss most when you leave somewhere that begins to feel like home. All the individuals and families that took me in as a 'mate' and even another son; I send 1,000 thank you's.
The Hunter Hurricanes provided an incredible experience for me throughout my journey down under. Immersing yourself into a new culture and amongst a new water polo can be very overwhelming. The Hurricanes made my assimilation amongst my teammates, coaches, and families of the club in Australia very smooth. I reflect on my time there as not just an import player for The Hurricanes but more a connection of good mates and family that I will carry for a lifetime.
As much as I was excited to get home to Malibu, I am already excited about my next trip back to Newcastle.
Go Canes!