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  • July 17

    Enjoy life. Try longboarding.

    I used to skateboard. I used to skateboard a lot. About 7 years ago, skateboarding disappeared from my physical vocabulary — Last week, it was resurrected.

    Loaded Dervish
    FIGURE 1 The Loaded Dervish Longboard

    After wanting to for a while, I finally decided it was time to purchase a longboard.

    For those of you who aren’t hip to the lingo, a longboard (FIGURE 1) is a skateboard with a longer and sometimes wider shape. It is most commonly used for either downhill racing or transportation. I don’t have a death wish, so downhill racing is out — transportation wins.

    I’ve been using it to get around in the city and am absolutely falling in love with the freedom and flow. It really is a great way to escape and get some good exercise.

    The point of this post isn’t really to sell you on longboarding, but to inspire you to get out and do something that you love. Stop talking about taking dance lessons, and just do it. Stop saying your going to start kayaking, and buy a kayake. Go out and enjoy life.

    4 Comments; Filed under Inspiration, Life

  • June 24

    Taking the next steps

    As a culture that is constantly moving, it’s good to step back and take a hard look at what you’ve accomplished.

    “Being happy doesn’t mean that everything is perfect. It means that you’ve decided to look beyond the imperfections.”

    Over the past year I have been working to develop my own “personal brand” — trying to figure out exactly what it is that I do, what it is that I want to do, and how others perceive those things. With this comes a constant struggle of doing what pays the bills and doing the projects that you truly believe in.  I’m finally to the place where those two are starting to convene.

    A new venture that has come about is really the culmination of this feeling. I will be sharing more as time passes, but being able to relate to the people who really have hope in the future, and helping to take the next steps in realizing it is an amazing thing.

    I have been truly blessed in the past, I love what I’m doing now, and I believe in the future. Thanks to all who have helped.

     

    0 Comments; Filed under Life

  • June 15

    My First Father’s Day

    He didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it. — Clarence Budington Kelland

    Today is my first father’s day. Jess & Elijah made me a great coffee mug that I’ll be using every morning. They are the best family a man could ever ask for.

    I also want to thank my father today because he is truly a man of patience, integrity, and honor. He was never really a person of many words, but the way he lived his life has inspired me.

    Thanks Dad.

    2 Comments; Filed under Family, Life

  • June 10

    Pay it forward.

    Today I was pleasantly surprised and humbled by a blog post from one of our industries most innovative talents, Allan Branch. It isn’t always about you… it’s about those around you.

    I encourage you to follow his example and write a post today about two (or more) people who have been an inspiration to you.

    Mark Priestap and Nate Ritter are two people who have definitely been an inspiration in design & life.

    Mark Priestap

    monk development
    FIGURE 1 MonkDev.com

    Mark’s super clean design & his passion for the Lord have definitely made an impact on me. He has an eye for color that is incredibly unique. Just take a look at what he did for Monk Development (FIGURE 1).

    You can see that Mark is passionate about what he does, and has been an inspiration to many. Thanks Mark!.

    Nate Ritter

    Nate is one of those guys that goes out there and gets it done. Our goals are very similar and seeing him accomplish some of them has been a real encouragement.

    “He told me, ‘Just pay it forward.’ Three big favors for three other people. That’s it.” — Pay It Forward

    1 Comment; Filed under Inspiration, Life

  • June 6

    Clam Pizza = The Awesome.

    My wife Jessica & I celebrated our 2 year anniversary this past monday by enjoying a quick trip to Newport, RI. The goal of the trip — Dream Building.

    Eli

    We’ve started to make this somewhat of a tradition now. Taking a few days over our anniversary to just get away.

    Newport is especially great because of the old-town feel, and great food (The clam pizza at the RI Quahog Co. is amazing). The massive newport mansions don’t hurt either. It’s so incredible to see the amazing detail that they put into these houses, and to think Rosecliff sold for only $21,000 in 1938.

    This year was slightly different — it was Eli’s first “long” car ride. This little guy has got to be the best kid ever. He was so good for the 6 1/2 hour ride.

    Overall, a great trip. Highly recommended!

    1 Comment; Filed under Life, Travel

  • June 1

    A little about my life

    As I mentioned in A step of Faith, June marks the anniversary of many milestones, and tomorrow, June 2nd, is one that has truly changed my life.

    “Love is what makes two people sit in the middle of a bench when there is plenty of room at both ends”

    Two years ago I became one with the most amazing person in the world. She is beautiful and caring, honest and loving, a wonderful mother to our child, and absolutely perfect for me. Thank you Jessica for being my completer.

    Last year for our anniversary we decided to go to Newport, RI on a whim and are continuing that tradition tomorrow. It’s such a wonderful time to just get away and enjoy God’s amazing creation.

    See you all in a few days!

    1 Comment; Filed under Life, Travel

  • May 29

    So, You Think You Can?

    I’ll admit it, I’m a huge fan of the TV show “So You Think You Can Dance”. I’m amazed by how some of the people on that show can move. What amazes me even more are the ones who can’t.

    When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
    — Proverbs 11:2

    During last nights show there were a number of contestants who stormed out of the auditorium. They shut down, and wouldn’t take in anything that the judges put out. They gave excuses. They argued.

    The one thing they didn’t do was listen.

    When someone with years of proven experience in an industry offers you advice, take it humbly and apply it — Don’t argue. Don’t get upset. Just move forward.

    1 Comment; Filed under Life

  • May 28

    A step of faith

    This coming month marks the anniversary of many milestones in my life. From buying our first home to finding out that we were going to have our first child.

    “We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”— Walt Disney

    I was eating breakfast with a few friends this morning and was reminded that you can’t steer a boat if it’s not moving. That made me think a lot about how far I’ve come over the past year. June 1st will mark the one year anniversary of my journey into independent design & consulting.

    Over the past year I’ve learned that you need to keep moving. It doesn’t matter if you win or lose, every step you take will help you grow.

    I encourage you to take a step of faith today. If you’ve been sitting on an idea, go out and do it. If you’re waiting for the “right” time, stop waiting, the time is here.

    1 Comment; Filed under Goals, Life

  • May 14

    I eat “bee fart”, and like it.

    I was never really a picky eater. Growing up as the only boy in a family of 7, I had to “be the man” and eat what my sisters wouldn’t including PA Dutch classics such as hog-maw, cow tongue, and beef heart (playfully dubbed — “bee farts”).

    This blog is not about my love for pig stomach (a family favorite!), or about food in general. It’s about an attitude that I have taken to heart. The attitude of those who push forward, and those who succeed.

    Life is all about choices.

    As a teenager I realized that the choice to eat whatever was put down in front of me could spill into other aspects of my life.  That spurred me to set one goal — to never have a “real” job. I realized that my life was all about the choices that I made, and if I wanted something, I needed to go out and get it.

    I got my start in the working world at a beach volleyball court in the summers, and winters as a snowboard instructor. This coming winter will be my 10th year as a snowboard instructor and I absolutely love it. I don’t do it for the money, and well, it’s a blast!. Being a snowboard instructor is not a “real” job.

    WhatUWearin'
    FIGURE 1 My most recent project.

    When the time came to step out into the real world, I decided to get things cracking. I’ve been involved in starting up and maintaining a number of companies since then (FIGURE 1) and have finally settled into somewhat of a steady routine as an independent user experience designer & consultant.

    So what is this site all about?

    It’s about my goals

    Although life as an independent contractor is great, I’m still trading my time for dollars.

    My short term goal is to generate $3,000 per month in residual income by September of 2008. This will allow me to give my time back (at least some) to those who deserve it most; my Father in heaven, and my family.

    Wish me luck.

    0 Comments; Filed under Goals, Life

Copyright © 2008, Kyle Sollenberger