Category Archives for "Ice Breaker"

Ice Breaker – Cartoons

It’s Friday!

You know what that means?  It’s time for the weekly Stretched Ice Breaker Question.

Today’s Ice Breaker Question is simple.  What was/is your favorite cartoon?

I’ll answer first, then it’s your turn.  My favorite cartoon as a kid was Hong Kong Fuey.  The cartoon was about a dog who used karate to catch bad guys.  What more could you ask for as a little kid?

Now, it’s your turn.  I look forward to hearing your answers!

February 2012 Top Posts and Commenters

I blinked and February was gone.  Thankfully, I captured some of my thoughts and experiences here.  As always, I wanted to thank all of you for your daily readership and contribution to The Stretched Blog.  The new platform (jonstolpe.com) is growing!  I like to take the opportunity with the first post of the month to look back and to celebrate what’s been happening here.   So here are the top ten posts from February 2012:

1. Stretching To A New Focus – Guest Post by Leah Adams

2. Ten Reasons To Attend FamilyLife Weekend To Remember

3.  Say What You Need To Say (Jan. 2012)

4.  Log Eye Lessons

5.  Ice Breaker – Groundhog Day

6.  Stolpe Superbowl Scavenger Hunt

7.  Ice Breaker – Verse Of The Day

8.  Stretched Perspective

9.  The Kid Stretched Me – Guest Post by Tom Tarver

10.  Quality – Time

Here are the top three commenters:

1.  Tom Tarver (35)

2.  Joe Lalonde (29)

3.  Larry Carter (21)

Overall traffic increased on the blog despite the fact that I cut down my average posts per week from six to five.  This is a good sign that new readers are joining the community and conversation.  We had several brand new commenters and one or two new subscribers.  If you haven’t already, please consider subscribing to the blog (on the right hand side of the main page), adding the blog to your RSS reader, and becoming of the Jon Stolpe Stretched Facebook fan page.  These are all great ways to make sure you stay connected with what’s going on in and around the Stretched Community.

Finally, I’d like to highlight a few blogs that I’ve recently been enjoying.  Stop on over to these great blogs and see what’s happening:

–  Dicipulus

–  Some Wise Guy

–  The Isle of Man

How was your month?  What was your top post?  What was your favorite post here?  What other blogs can you share with The Stretched Community?

Stretching To A New Focus – Guest Post by Leah Adams

Ice Breaker – Quality Names

Today, we conclude Quality Week on The Stretched Blog with an ice breaker question about quality.  As usual, I’ll ask a question and give my answer.  Then, it’s your turn.

Question:  When you think of quality, what name or company comes to mind?  And why?

My answer:  For some reason, I think of two car companies.  First, I think of Toyota.  They have been known for the quality processes that they have in place to make sure their cars are produced at a high quality.  Since getting married over 15 years ago, my wife and I have had three Toyota cars.  They have been great!  Second, I think of Ford – at least Ford when they first started.  If memory serves me correctly, Henry Ford had a strong desire to make sure his cars were produced with quality and affordability.

See how simple that was?  Now, it’s your turn.  I look forward to hearing what you have to share.

Ice Breaker – Ice Breaker Questions

Yep, you just read the title correctly!

I said “Ice Breaker” twice.

If you do a Google search for “Ice Breaker Questions”, Jon Stolpe Stretched comes up fourth.  That’s pretty impressive!  Today, officially marks the 20th ice breaker question to appear on the Jon Stolpe Stretched Blog since the first question was asked back on October 7, 2011.  We’ve discovered some pretty crazy, amazing, interesting, and funny things about each other.  And you should have learned quite a bit about me.  We’ve learned about tattoos, Christmas movies, close encounters with famous people, and hair.

Today’s ice breaker question is pretty simple.  It will help me as I develop more content for our traditional Friday posts, and it will help us achieve the main mission of these ice breaker questions – to break the ice – to help us get to know each other a little better.

If you could chime in, it would be appreciated!

Question:  What is your favorite type of ice breaker question (for example, something about your past, something about the future, something about your favorite things,…)?  What is your favorite Jon Stolpe Stretched Ice Breaker Question so far (you may need to visit the archives to find your favorite)?  What ice breaker question would you like to see answered here?

Unlike the “traditional” ice breaker posts, I’m leaving the answers all to you.  So what do you think?  I can’t wait to hear your feedback.

 

Ice Breaker – Verse of the Day

Today’s question is simple.  For those of you who are new or who forgot, ice breaker questions are used to help people get to know each other – to “break the ice” so to speak.  I love hearing what other people have to say and how they think.  So for today, I’m excited to throw out another simple ice breaker question.  I’ll answer it first, then it’s your turn.  Answer the question by leaving a comment for us all to enjoy.  Thanks!

Question:  What is your favorite Bible verse?  Or what verse have you been hanging onto lately?

Simple question; simple answer.

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.  And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.  Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.  Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.  Colossians 4:2-6

So there you have it, my answer to the question.  Now it’s your turn….I can’t wait to hear what you’ve got to say!

February 4, 2012 Week in Review

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This week, I’m going back to a written recap as opposed to the video “throw down” that went on last weekend.  (Thanks for the feedback, I don’t think video posting is dead for me, but I need to take it in steps.)

At any rate, it was a pretty good week here on The Stretched Blog.  Traffic was on par with other weeks (maybe a bit higher than average).  Comments seemed to be up from previous weeks.  I’m not sure if the topics covered in the posts were more engaging or if more people decided to add more feedback to the community.

Here’s a run-down on the posts from the week:

Here’s some of my favorites from around the blog world this week:

Don’t forget to subscribe to The Stretched Community on the right of the main screen.  Also, stop over and join Jon Stolpe Stretched on the Facebook Fan Page.  Thanks as always to the regular readers and to those who leave comments.  You make this Stretched community so great!

How was your week?  What was your favorite post on your blog and elsewhere this week?  Please share, so we can all enjoy!

 

Ice Breaker – Groundhog Day

Today’s question is about Groundhog Day.  For those of you who are new or who forgot, ice breaker questions are used to help people get to know each other – to “break the ice” so to speak.  I love hearing what other people have to say and how they think.  So for today, I’m excited to throw out another simple ice breaker question.  I’ll answer it first, then it’s your turn.  Answer the question by leaving a comment for us all to enjoy.  Thanks!

Yesterday was Groundhog Day, and it made me think about the early 90’s classic movie – Groundhog Day.  In this movie, Phil Connors (played by Bill Murray) repeats Groundhog Day over and over again.  Initially, he tries to use the repetition for his own personal benefit.  Then he gives up and decides that he can make a mess out of his life day after day after day without consequence the next morning.  The movie gets good though when Phil decides that he is going to use this dilemma as a gift to help other people.

Naturally, the movie makes you me think.  The end of the movie reminds me that we should make the most of each and every opportunity that we have.  Today is the day that we can make a difference.

Despite the times when we feel like we are running around in circles repeating things over and over again, we are guaranteed that things will be new every morning.  Lamentations 3:22-23:

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

I’m looking forward to new things to come every day.  A new adventure.  A new start.  And I’m thankful that I’m not stuck on the same day over and over and over again.

Question:  Have you seen the movie, Groundhog Day?  What is new with you today?  What’s old (or feels repeated) to you today?

 Obviously, I’ve seen the movie.  New for me today – I have the opportunity to meet today with a new project team and company initiative for a new project.  I’m looking forward to this meeting and the new opportunities that this project will present.  Old for me today – I’m an early bird.  By the end of the week, I can sometimes feel the repetition of the early morning.  I’ll be ready for some refreshment over the weekend.

So there you have it, my answer to the question.  Now it’s your turn….I can’t wait to hear what you’ve got to say!


January 2012 Top Posts and Commenters

It was a fun month for The Stretched Blog.  This month, we switched to a self hosted platform.  It has been fun to learn and experiment with the new things available at jonstolpe.com.  If you add up the traffic from the old site and the new Stretched Blog, it was far and away the best month so far.  Here is a list of the top posts on the new blog for the month of January.  It is exciting to see how many guest bloggers appeared in the top ten list this month!

Managing Conflict – A Leadership Stretch … Guest Post by Frank Chiapperino
January 14, 2012 Week In Review
Book Review: The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson
Our Behavior Is Our Witness – Guest Post by Kevin Stone
Why Did I Change To My Own Domain?
Ice Breaker – Leaving On A Jet Plane
Ice Breaker – Back to the Future
Rediscovering Grace Through A Two By Four Moment – Guest Post By Chad Jones
Stretching Beyond the Hurt – Guest Post by Diane Karchner
Say What You Need To Say (This was one of my favorites from the month!)

As promised, I am giving away a copy of The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson to this month’s top commenter.  It was a tight race between the top two, and there was a tie for 3rd place!  Here’s the top 3 (or 4):

1.  Larry Carter (22 comments)

2.  Brandon Gililland (21 comments)

3.  Bill Grandi (11 comments)

3.  Arny Sanchez (11 comments)

Your comments are a huge part of what makes The Stretched Community so great!  This month, I will be giving away Chazown by Craig Groeschel to the top commenter.

As a reminder, don’t forget to subscribe to The Stretched Community by entering your e-mail on the right side of the main page.  This will make sure you don’t miss a single post, and it will give you an opportunity to receive any “exclusive” information that might be sent to the blog subscribers only.  Also, I’d encourage you to follow Jon Stolpe Stretched on Facebook.  This is an excellent way to see some of the things I’m reading elsewhere in the blog world.

As always, thank you so much for making The Stretched Blog part of your regular reading!

Are you a blogger?  What was the highlight of your month?  Feel free to share a link to your top post!


January 29, 2012 Week In Review

Hello, Stretched Community!  I’m going to try something new with this week’s recap post.  Let me know what you think in the comments.

This week’s STRETCHED posts:

Blog spotlight links:

Call to action:

  • Subscribe to the blog (on the right side of the main page).
  • Connect with the Jon Stolpe Stretched Facebook Fan Page (for great links to other blogs throughout the week).
  • Consider guest posting here.  Send my your Stretched ideas!
  • Consider advertising here on The Stretched Blog (see the links on the right side of the main page).

Finally… have a great week!

How was your week?  What was good, bad, or ugly on your blog this week?  What links to you have to share with the Stretched community this week?


 

Ice Breaker – Leaving On A Jet Plane

It’s that time of the week again…time for an ice breaker question!  Last night, I flew home from the Chicago area where I was away on business most of the week.  Today’s question is about flying.  For those of you who are new or who forgot, ice breaker questions are used to help people get to know each other – to “break the ice” so to speak.  I love hearing what other people have to say and how they think.  So for today, I’m excited to throw out another simple ice breaker question.  I’ll answer it first, then it’s your turn.  Answer the question by leaving a comment for us all to enjoy.  Thanks!

Question:  Do you like to fly?  Why or why not?  When was the last time you took a plane to travel somewhere?  Where did you go?

My Answer:  Here you go….

I kind of answered part of this question already, but I’ll give you a little more detail.  Actually, I like to fly.  I am amazed at the brain power and inventive thought that goes into flying.  Think about it – several tons of metal, luggage, and people traveling 30,000 feet above the earth at amazing speeds.  It doesn’t sound possible when you think about it like this.

As I mentioned in the introduction, I flew this week to and from Chicago on a business trip.  The trip was good for learning about a new company initiative and helping to set the standard for applying this new initiative across our business.  But the trip was great for other reasons.  I was born in the Chicago area, and I lived there until I was eight.  I have family that still lives there.  I had the chance to spend an evening with my Grandma and my aunt and uncle.  I also spent and evening with my brother and his family.  What a blessing to merge business and family.

(By the way, thank you to Diane, Chad, and Kevin for filling in while I was away.  If you missed them, please go back the last three days and read their contributions to the Stretched community!)

So there you have it, my answer to the question.  Now it’s your turn….I can’t wait to hear what you’ve got to say!

Don’t forget to sign-up for the NEW Stretched Community.  Subscribe to the blog today!

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