New Cliff Cline Single "Beautiful For You" released for download

I am terribly excited to release this song, the first of 12 this year to come out. That's right 12, the Cliff Cline Song of the Month (Club?). I will be letting you know more about this endeavour through this blog, but the best way to get involved is to buy this song. Would you be my patron, my record label?

Below are the links to CDBaby and iTunes. So here is my big goal for everyone to hear: I would love to sell 2,000 downloads of this song to start the "Song of the Month" initiative off, but I can't do it without some serious help and referrals (re-tweeting, Facebook "liking" etc.) Please feel free to write reviews, or rate it on iTunes.

I will be releasing a story behind the song video as well which I think you will enjoy hearing. Some of the story can be read on the CDBaby page for this song. All to say, happy listening!!

CD Baby

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Do you need to Shift?

Let me answer this one for you, yes! I started and finished Peter Arnell's book Shift last weekend. It is a compelling story of the journey he undertook in the last few years to bring his existence together in "One Life" rather than living in silos of work, family etc.

I really do recommend the read, especially if you are looking for inspiration and motivation. To build on yesterday's post, let me suggest a next step. Once you find that positivity, start to identify your dream, that thing you always have wanted to accomplish or be. Then start to develop a plan to achieve it. Do not let the potential obstacles create any form of negativity, in fact, breaking through those obstacles are the successes you can look forward to on your way to achieving your dream. But the shift you can start now begins with these last two posts:

1. Fill your mind with that positive thought, and keep it there;
2. Focus on your dream, and start to write down a plan to get there.

Do you feel it, something just Shifted!! Thanks Peeeeetah (as they say in New York)

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Act As If It Were Impossible To Fail

Dorothea Brande penned this. It was the mantra that led her from being a writer of many unfinished things, to a well respected writer and editor in New York. I have not read her books, I was made aware of her through the Success Magazine Audio series (thanks again Success). I will now seek them out and add at least one of them to my "to read" list.

This little sentence has power. It calls us to believe in success, and it calls us to act successful before we attain it. I have heard the phrase "fake it 'til you make it". I like this version better. It is more like the pop song "Believe" by Suzie McNeil, "if you just believe", and act out that belief, you can do anything, be anything. How do you do this?

This is not the full answer, it can't be, but let me give you a boost for today and maybe this week. You can only hold one mood, one attitude in your head at once. It can either be negative or positive. Stop now, and find a positive thought about, well yourself. Find something to be grateful to God for, a really good one. For the next week, every time a negative thought comes, replace it with the positive thought you just found...repeat!! Then pass it on. Encourage your spouse, child, co-worker, parent or even stranger and make your world, hence the world, a better place.

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"The Fierce Urgency of Now"

Thanks to Seth Godin today for reminding us of this quote from Martin Luther King Jr. (The title of this post) I feel this right now in my life. I wrote about it last September and it has not left me. Today is the day I must move forward. The journey of a thousand miles starts/continues with another step today.

This past weekend was amazing, I taught a workshop Saturday morning, had some great chill time with the family in the afternoon and evening, led worship at church for two services Sunday morning, a great lunch with new friends after church, cooked home made potato soup for dinner (easier then it sounds), and finished mastering the January Song of the Month which will be available for download soon....I will let you know.

I know I can't keep things this intense all the time. The weekend felt like several steps, not one, but as tired as I was last night going to bed...I was energized.

My three revealed goals for this year (so far):

1. Produce a song a month
2. Be happy
3. Get bigger - Be more to do more..

Number one is very pragmatic...just do it. Number two is how I am finding the energy to break through walls. Negative walls of fatigue, self-doubt, doubting my abilities, wondering if anyone will buy my music. But being positive and optimistic is helping me "get bigger", helping me believe I can do more, expand my territory as it were.

Why do I share this with you? Two reasons, because you are there..you are reading this. The more I write, the more of you show up, and I am putting pressure on myself to not fail. It is all down here in black and white. I have said it, now I must do it...I must! Secondly, I am trying to grow and learn, and I feel like I am on a positive Godly road. Perhaps there are some encouragements for you here, and if this spurs you on to be bigger, happier and accomplish something positive in your life that you are passionate about, then I will be overjoyed!!

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Get Bigger - Goal Number 3 2011

I am smiling as I write this, because it sounds like the opposite of the most common New Year's resolution. No I am not referring to body mass, I would like to decrease that, but to contextualize, this quote is having an impact: "In order to have more, you must be more." (I heard it on the Success Magazine disc)

Lest this be understood as a purely commercial phrase, I might even say it "do more". There is a truth that we view the world as we see ourselves, therefore to do more, we must be more. I do want to get bigger, to be able to offer more. More skills, more vocabulary, more  (intelligent) thoughts, more music, more empathy and value in general to those around me. So yes I want to get bigger!!

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Goal Number 2 - 2011 - Be Happy

Ok, so I am releasing my goals very slowly, but that is because I am really trying to process this. I think I have increasingly become a happier more joyful person over the course of my life, but I still think I have to grow in this area.

For those that know me, I love to laugh. I have an embarrassing laugh, an incredibly loud laugh, but it doesn't always come out of me very easily (some might disagree). I really have to find something funny.

It is kind of the same with me and happiness. I have a deep sense of blessing from God, and even when I get down, I remember my gorgeous wife of almost 14 years, our 4 healthy, wonderful children, and that alone brings me back. But I think I do poorly at the quicker, everyday hit of gratitude and thankfulness, a more present existential happiness.

I am reading, listening and learning a lot these days. One of the biggest things is being positive, having faith in God, and not having fear. So yes, 2011 is to be a year to be increasingly happy!! Did I mention not to worry? Is there a song in there somewhere?

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Finished Vocals

Late-ish night finishing production. This song feels big to me. It has actually been in the works for a long time, but I think I am happy with the vocals, specifically the lead as of tonight. So that means we are within in a week of shipping the Cliff Cline January Song of the Month. I am excited!!

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Why Do We Say "Can't"?

This thought is not new or original, but let this post act as an encouragement and a reminder. The concept of "can't" in our vernacular should be all but forgotten, because we can! In almost every environment I enter where there is discord over quality, or vision, there is a culture of "can't", when in fact they can.

"I can't learn that software, I can't change my ways, I can't make the deadline or that meeting....I can't." But the truth is we can. For some, if not all, it is not an easy road to the result associated with the "can", but the first step is almost always simple and somewhat easy: To decide I can. I will.

More often than not I can't can be translated "I won't", but we don't say "I won't" because it exposes the child within who is having a tantrum. Now the tantrum in a child may be caused by the fear of the unknown, but it exposes the truth, we can, but we won't.

Here is the truth, you can be more kind to everyone in your life, you can grow your business, or even start one, you can finish that project, or start it, you can be more and you will, with one change in your internal culture. Start saying I can. Literally find ways to say "I can", and stop saying the other.

Two caveats:

1. There is such a thing as boundaries in life and in work, times that we need to find a way to say "I won't", but that is the subject for another post;
2. There are those who have impediments to "I can" that most of us cannot comprehend, and we must have grace for them - they actually can't; however, I might add that more often than not when I run into those with disabilities they put the rest of us to shame. Their "I can" existence is worn in their smile, in their accomplishments, and causes them to accomplish comparatively more with their resources than we ever do with ours.

So please....You Can.

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"Vacation Day" - Getting Things Done

So today I am taking a vacation day from the day job to try and get things done on several fronts, not the least of which is the first "Cliff Cline Song of the Month". I am excited to begin this journey. I know the most difficult thing will be simply executing and releasing a new song every month. This one is scheduled to be released by the beginning of next week!

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Simply Leading

What is it about a nature scene that makes you take a deep breath and relax. That makes life and the moment seem simpler than the second before. The creative force behind this scene is far from simple, in fact the complexity of the tides, waves, make-up of the sand, structure and strength (and fragility) of the coastline itself is mind boggling, but we don't see that do we.

I recently read or heard a discussion on simplicity as it pertained to casting vision, and leading a company or project. The speaker referred to the fact that we as people long for the person who can come into the chaos and bring a simple message, but the truth is, very few things are simple. Underneath project plans and our day is immense detail that needs to be collated, processed, prioritized and executed.

I believe that the real art is being able to wrap all of that up in a package that controls the “free-radical” ideas, ensures that all elements in the package are “on vision”, and brings the priorities to the surface for implementation. A leader who does that will instil confidence because they have created an environment where the foundation of the detail is handled, providing stability, leaving all else to simply look at the beautiful, simple, scene of prioritized vision and purpose.

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Simply Worship

A brief thought. As so many of us continue to think about what worship is, I wonder if we have become too intellectual and abstract in our thinking.

For instance, if I want to create a chocolate bar (a noble goal), I would go through a creative process of thinking about the flavour I wanted, how it would be put together and held together, how it would be packaged and produced. All of that would take time, planning, creativity and execution. There would a simplicity to it though, because through the whole process there would not be much room for error. The bar would either taste good or not. It would hold together or not. It would fit in the package or not...etc. By focusing on what I am trying to accomplish, making a chocolate bar, I simplify so much of the process.

I think an area that needs improvement in many churches is defining worship simply. Again, this might take some work, time, creativity, planning, but if we do not have a simple picture of what we would like it too look and "taste like", it quickly becomes cerebral. Terms like "having a good heart" need to be defined in connection to a pragmatic thought that it should be good. How do you know if the packaging fits if you don't know what you want to put in the package?

If one creates a simple picture, and develops a reasonable plan to achieve it, it becomes simple to see if we are achieving the goal. I do realize there is the other problem, the picture is well defined but there is little appetite or ability to execute the vision, but that is fodder for another post.

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To Be Honest - Goal Number 1 for 2011

That is a phrase which I have started to use way too much in the last year or two. I think it is actually out there a bunch in the masses right now. Someone started it, but I am not sure who. It is something for which I mock myself from time to time by adding, "as opposed to lying, which I am sure you would prefer." Interestingly, one thing I have found is the phrase is usually a set-up or softener to a stronger statement or ask.

I usually analyze life twice a year, not at even increments: September and January. One of the things I have been trying to do for the better part of the last couple of years is push myself. Push myself to produce more music, more blogs of use, more value in general. As I look at the next year, one of the things I working towards is actually selling more music, especially online, but, to be honest I am terrible at it. When I sing live I sell a great percentage of the crowd CDs which is great, but I am not out there singing a tonne.

To be honest I need your help. My goal for this year is produce a song a month for sale. If you would download my monthly song it if you like it that would be amazing. Moreover, if you would pass a link to this blog or the song with a recommendation to your friends, I would be over the moon. At the end of the day I can't do it alone, and I know many of you who frequent this blog can help!

Below is a link to iTunes as well, in case you are not up to speed with what I have out currently. Look for my January song in the next couple of weeks. It is almost ready to be released.

The Little Things

I am more convinced than ever, it is the little things, done right and consistently that lead to success. Returning email, sending a thank you card, making the call. Maybe another way of looking at it, is that it is the relationship little things that are so important. Building into your spouse, your children, your co-workers, vendors, clients, church community and friends.

In this New Year, what if you were to intentionally build into someone in a little way every single day. Imagine the positive change!

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Year In Review (What Shipped)

Last year was not the year I planned for music, that is for sure. I imagined touring with my just released CD "Buried Thoughts", and being very busy. In the end my year was more defined by the work that came out of my day job due to the earthquake in Haiti and a massive internal restructuring of operations then musical endeavours. My hope is to change that this year, and over the next two weeks I will be sharing how.

But for now, what did I do last year?

1. Blogged 83 times, my second highest since starting in 2004.
2. Led worship 13 times (including my home church). This also included wrapping up my time with the Well church plant in Toronto. There might have been a couple more.
3. Released Buried Thoughts to radio...a few stations picked it up.
4. Completed phase one of the creation of my studio, phase two is this year.
5. Started writing many more songs and released one worship song on the site on my new worship resources page.
6. Had one post read over 650 times, "One Day to Today", which is one of my favourite too! It is still my thought going into the New Year.
   

Although I am pleased that I can post those accomplishments, I do plan for much more this year. In fact, this next year is going to be very focused. I will share with you later this week how you can follow my progress, support my endeavours, and God willing be blessed by what I am setting out to do in 2011.

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Worship Leaders Workshop {sold out}

I am very excited to be hosting a worship leaders workshop for young worship leaders in mid January sponsored by a patron who cares about developing young leaders in his church. Speaking of passions, I love encouraging young (and older) worship leaders to really dig in and continually improve at what they do. God deserves to be worshipped, and we as leaders have to encourage and raise up as many amazing, gifted passionate worship leaders as we can.

If you are interested in seeing how such an event could be put together for your church, you can get me through my contact page.

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Christmas Eve Worship

I am very excited to be leading worship at our home church Forestview this Friday.  It has been several years since I have done that anywhere. One of the biggest challenges, of course, is to bring some level of interest to songs that have been done so much. Although we are doing a couple of newer songs, the vast majority will be the standards. Nevertheless, I think we will have some fun and infuse our spin on these classics.

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Harnessing Passion

I have always associated the word passion with something positive. Far more linked to a calling, or something that really drives me. But the word is far more powerful than that. {definition} Maybe most importantly historically is that is refers to the Passion of Christ, his sufferings before His death..and subsequent resurrection. But the word is really an intensifier. A crime of passion is referring as much to the love that drives one to an inappropriate act, as it is to the in-saneness that has accompanied the break from reality that allowed the person to commit the crime.

I have heard it said that any passion that leads you towards positive work is valuable. For instance, hatred of injustice could spark the start of a charity as easily as a passion for performing could ignite an acting career. As I continue down this journey I am on, I am starting to realize that acting on some of my negative passions might be the pathway to growth and improvement not only in me but in life. I am passionate about music, I consider that a positive thing. But I am passionate about a great many things, many of which I would put in the negative category. My goal is to identify the useful ones and turn them into something positive.

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Integrity - Be the Change

Integrity is really being consistent and honest about who you are and what you do. When people lack integrity, they create an environment of  derision. That environment might be their workplace, their friendship community, church or home, but if one lacks integrity whether one knows it or not, their reputation will disintegrate with those in their various spheres.

There is an interesting point here though. If one is a self-centred, unkind person, but is honest about who they are, there is generally less tension in all of their environments. In fact, a jerk who acknowledges their own narcissism generally manages which environments they will even participate in based on the fact that they have no interest in true friendships or family or church, they have interest in themselves and create environments around themselves that serve their interests. It is a sad state, but an honest one, and ironically people at least respect their integrity in representing their true self.

The tension filled spaces are created by those who are trying to portray a life of love, honesty, and "goodness", but are in fact not living up to the facade and not admitting their own short-comings. {Note:admitting one's shortcomings, apologizing, and trying and succeeding at improving actually creates a state of integrity} When one holds oneself up as a leader of anything, organization, church, family or business, it is vitally important that they check their actions against their pronouncements - daily. Without it, one will travel down the slippery slope of hypocrisy  unaware, or worse.....with some level of awareness.

How to read this? With yourself in mind. Although this may be a post that brings another to your consciousness, the best way to process this is in self-judgment. After all, we can only change the world one person at a time, if we are the change. (Cheesy but true)

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The Old Violin - Focus

When I was around 13 I discovered I had a voice. It was a radical discovery, I landed the lead in a grade 7 play. It was also traumatic, I was a rep goalie, a provincial league baseball player, but not an artist. In grade 8 I did nothing artsy, I think the whole experience freaked me out. I might add, I wasn't really a Christian at this point in my life.

Shortly thereafter though, life changed. I did become a Christian (phase 1), and started attending with my family a Pentecostal church in Mississauga called MGT, now Portico. The charismatic like their music, and I flourished there, and when we moved to BC at 15 I attended another church Christian Life Assembly in Langley. Sports were now behind me, and I was off into music land forever.

There was a famous, albeit cheesy, song about an old violin. It was really a song of redemption, but this morning as I reflect on my musical journey, I am interpreting it another way. The violin was old, beat up, and out of tune and for sale at an auction. A master violinist walked up to front during bidding (which wasn't going well) and played it so beautifully the instrument was revealed for its true purpose, its true value.

I feel like for me, my true musical value has been revealed to me over the past couple of years. I have played at jazz, and pop. I have tried to "make it" in various and sundry ways musically, but in the end, I believe the church is where I belong. When I worship God musically is when I am most alive. Over the next year, as you come to this blog or my site, you will see a growing number of new worship songs appearing, that will be my focus.

Will there be other songs...love songs..etc. I am sure there will be some, but my focus will increasingly be to build up the church. I'm excited!

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Great Sunday in Caledonia

I have know the Lead Pastor, Steve Kerr,  at Gateway Church in Caledonia for a lot of years, but we finally connected in terms of me getting out there to lead worship. I had the privilege of bringing a band, made up of mostly the usual suspects, as well as a new friend Luke on guitar.

The guest speaker was amazing, and I was encouraged by the engagement of the congregation in worship. This is a good story of a church thriving in these times where that is often not the case.

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