Writing 101

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, my friends! You should be hearing from me more often though, because I plan on integrating more writing/blogging into my weekly routine.

I talk quite a bit about being "self-educated," and I am. But I decided that I should really solidify a class schedule and focus in on certain subjects that I believe will help me in the future and/or I simply am passionate about. So here are the six classes I will be enrolled in during the next 6 months:

“Class Schedule”

Take at least one hour on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday to pursue one of the following ‘subjects’ in the Austin Beals School of Excellence.

1.      Writing

2.      General Commerce Skills (Over-the-Phone, Interpersonal Communications, E-Mail Writing, etc.)

3.      Web Design

4.      Cooking, Nutrition, and Exercise

5.      Graphic Design

6.      Piano, Guitar, and Singing

I've brainstormed several different methods of increasing skill and knowledge for each of these subjects, but I removed them in order to cut down on the unnecessary reading on your part. :) De nada.

Most likely, you will be hearing from me more often, seeing as blogging is a terrific way to practice my writing. These are all important and/or interesting skills to me; if you would like to suggest any for "next semester" - i.e. the next season in my life - feel free to comment and let me know what you think would be a purposeful subject(s) to pursue! I'm always open for advice!

Also, it's Fourth of July and I am so grateful that I get to call myself an American. It is truly an honor.

And....I wish I could be there to celebrate with all of my Idaho peeps. Coeur d'Alene could write the handbook for throwing a fabulous Fourth of July! Despite the crowds, lack of parking, and occasional heat, going downtown for the Fourth is one of my favorite memories, and I know I'll cherish it for a long time to come!

Love you all! Don't be strangers, feel free to comment on my posts! :D

Hannah Wyttree Started Her Blog and It Reminded Me to Post on Mine

My dear friend, Hannah Wyttree, is soon leaving to Australia to be an incredible nanny for several months. And I thought Arizona was exciting (she's got me beat!)

You should definitely check out her blog and follow her as well! Here's the link:

http://mywholenewworldblog.blogspot.com

As for me and my life, things are pretty great!

 It's definitely starting to warm up, but I've been praying for adaptability so the sun won't affect me as much and so far it's working! (But we've only reached 103. Still waiting for the 115+)

I've been pretty busy with quite a few activities these days. Basically the following:

Work: Pretty good, I'm learning a lot about being productive and responsible for my own work. Trying my best to be passionate about what I do and where I work. There are many cool things that PFA does and I am trying more and more to catch the vision so that work won't even seem like a job. That's how I believe your work should be.

Threesixty: Is great. There is a ton happening. God is definitely moving in the Young Adults. Tonight we are going to Old Town Scottsdale to simply talk to young people who don't know God. We're going to bring some clipboards and interview them with questions like "What do you think is the biggest problem in our generation?" And I'm sure we'll get all sorts of answers :) but then ask them various survey questions and then the final question would be along the lines of, "If you were standing in front of God right now and He asked you why He should let you into Heaven, what would you say?" Great opening question to start talking about how you don't need to be a "good enough" person. You need a relationship with Jesus and he begins to change your heart and you become whole and complete. Anyways, I'm excited. Cool stuff going on!

Theater: God's blessing me with some fun opportunities to act and perform. Tonight and tomorrow morning I'm in a Fathers Day sketch playing a naive dad-to-be who is unexpectedly given some interesting advice on parenting from the Home and Garden guys at Home Depot. It's pretty funny!

"School": Education is key! I definitely consider myself to be a student, I'm just not racking up debt. It's unwise and unbiblical and definitely unnecessary to be an entrepreneur. Plus my parents feel the same way and want what's best for me, so it would be dishonoring to them for me to start borrowing money that I do not have.

BUT as far as self-education goes, I'm loving it! I am still in the process of reading the books from the last post except I finished Jesus Manifesto and have started "More Than a Carpenter." After I finish the book on licensing I plan on reading "Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion."

Health: I am about to embark on a 30-Day Body Transformation Challenge with some buds. I am trying some pretty interesting, counter-conventional-wisdom techniques so I'll tell you more about that later and show you the results after the 30 days!

Entrepreneurship: I have set up monthly goals toward licensing some product ideas. I am part of an Entrepreneur's club that some friends and I started and it is great! We are learning tons and helping each other reach our dreams. But as far as my dreams go, here is the break down. I plan on starting to license products by February of 2012...

Here is the break-down of the goals:

1.       July 30:

a.       PO Box for business

b.      Website established and looking professional

c.       E-mail set up

2.       August 30:

a.       One-line benefit statements for fives products

b.      Order business cards

c.       (Start on sell sheets)

3.       September 30:

a.       Sell sheets for five products

4.       October 30:

a.       Find five(+) potential licensees for each product

b.      Create phone line for business, potentially have female friend record voicemail message

5.       November 30:

a.       Ask trusted council (family, friends, mentors) which product they see having the best chance in the market

b.      Research and apply for a PPA for this product

If enough money is saved up, apply for multiple PPA’s

And then I start calling multiple potential licensees and see if the products generate any interest. We'll see! Hey, it may sound like a stretch but God put this on my heart one day a few weeks ago:

"Nothing is guaranteed, but you are guaranteed to never make it if you don't start moving towards it."

I'll figure out how to word it correctly, but you get the point. Plus if I fail, I'll be gaining valuable skills in the process and if ANY time is the time to take risks....it's when I am young, free, and have no dependents to pay for! So I'm going to go for it and I'm praying that God's favor will be with me.

Anyways, lot's going on. Feel free to comment and let me know what you think about anything I said or what YOU are up to!

Love you all! Peace.

-A.B.

It's been a while, but I'm still here!

Sorry everyone that it has been so long!

I guess I started working here and became a Phoenix resident and no longer thought of my time here as much of an adventure or odyssey as before so I stopped writing unintentionally.

I will do my best to remember to post here and there, and let you guys know what is goin' down in the life of Mr. Beals!

Just a heads up, I might change the title of my blog and I will let you all know when that happens :D

Hopefully within the next 6-12 months, I plan on moving it over to my website www.austinbeals.com but I'm not quite sure how to do that yet, but I have a few technologically smart friends who can teach me all about WordPress and the likes!

So now to the meat and papas (Spanish Translation = Potatoes)!

I have really been enjoying life! My mother bought me three wonderful books and I am currently in the process of enjoying one while I read a few other books!

Are you read for some links??

She got me One Simple Idea, a book on inventing and licensing your product ideas - which is a very deep passion of mine that I see myself moving forward towards in the near future so please pray that God opens the necessary doors for those dreams! It is an incredible book and I recommend it for anyone who wishes to pursue the life of creating new and useful products!

She also ordered me Confessions of a Public Speaking, this is one of the two that I have not yet started but I am very excited to, because it seems like a wonderful and highly recommended book by those doing well in the field!

Next up! She also gave me Elements of Style, and as much as I need a book on fashion and clothing, this one instead pertains to writing! I love writing when I'm in the mood and I am very thrilled for all the juicy nuggets I will be pulling from this succulent piece. :)

BUT the tricky part is finding time to read these while I am also reading through Jesus Manifesto, which is a phenomenal book on restoring the supremacy and sovereignty of Jesus Christ. I truly suggest it to anyone who loves Jesus and desires to know him more. Fair warning! It is pretty deep, complex, and contains a lot of tough theology, much of which flies high above my head :) But when I do power through it, I gain incredible revelation and find new truths about our Sovereign King and Holy Big Brother! As well as how we Christ-followers need to live and what to focus on. It's great!

I am also reading The Personal MBA, which is an amazing book about all things business. Honestly, if you have any sort of interest or passion for any sort of business whatsoever, you should purchase this book. From Value Creation to Marketing to People Skills to the Human Brain to Understanding and Improving Systems, this book has it all!

And we can't forget the oh-so-important written Word of the God of Israel! I recently purchased an ESV and am loving it! This is the one I got. It is Midnight Black with flames on the front! :D

Don't stop plugging into God's word. It is the source of Truth and a powerful, living Sword in this spiritual battle we fight (well, some of us. Others are living happy Christians lives away from the front lines).

Oh and I am moving out into an apartment at the end of this month! My future-roommates are stellar guys but I will update the blog and tell you more about them another time! :D

So as you can see, I keep practicing that great self-education that is so crucial in life! Unfortunately, I must find the time to read all of this outside of my very busy lifestyle (what's new? I don't deny that I do this to myself, but hey! I kind of like it).

In case you are wondering how I spend my weeks, it usually consists of the following:

• Work out at the church's gym from 7:00-8:00 a.m. before clocking in for work
• Work (9-5, Monday-Friday)
• On Mondays after work I have two small groups. One that focuses on the Bible, worship, and a bunch of other theological things and then an Entrepreneurs group where we meet, teach each other, share ideas and dreams, encourage and constructively criticize each other's ideas, and keep each other accountable to keep pursuing the gifts that God has given us.
• Tuesdays I really enjoy! Each week either my Grandma Baa or my Grandpa Bear teach me how to make a different dish (COOKING LESSONS!!) :D In the past three weeks that we have started I have prepared Taco Salad, Spaghetti, and Salmon! All of which have been VERY delicious. They sound simple (and they were) but they tasted very high class gourmet! After dinner, we proceed to recite poetry, talk about the world and all it's problems, or discuss other subjects of life altogether. It is a wonderful time!
• On Wednesdays I have Young Adults at 7:15 p.m. but am usually there around 6:30 p.m. to help set up, make Kool-Aid, and assist with the Info booth. Here's the website of the ministry: www.3sixty.org
• Thursday consist of three activities. When I am able to go, I like to hang out with a guys' small group. We go hiking and hang out at Starbucks and stuff. Thursdays are also the usual day that we practice the sketches/skits if I'm in a drama in the weekend services. If I don't use my Thursday for one of these two then it is usually the day that I use for personal errands, etc.
• Fridays and Saturdays are kind of wild cards. They are filled with much social activity (good golly these Phoenicians are social!!) and some Friday nights a group of us will go down to the ASU campus and hang out at parties and give otter-pops and water and donuts and just hang out and love on drunk and high sutdents! :D It's a lot of fun. In the mornings we'll go and clean up all the trash and empty cans and bottles and we make 'em all pancakes in the midst of their hangovers. It's really a great way to share the tangible love of Christ to a generation that doesn't see much of it.
• Sundays are filled with much church-ing. Starting at 9:00 a.m. we offer multiple classes called Sunday University which are classes about different subjects from prayer life, to the Bible, to the fear of God, to financial wisdom, to health and exercise (you have to be a good steward of the temple!). I am currently enrolled in a class entitled "Reason to Believe." It's an awesome class that really teaches you about the intricate details of the Bible and the stories within it and what the Bibles says about End Times, and just a bunch of hardcore stuff! Then I attend the 10:45 a.m. service. During the day I am usually running errands or reading or spending time with friends. At 6:00 p.m. we have our AfterDark service and I actually sing in the youth choir! :D But anyone is welcome...but hey! It's fun! :)

AND....rinse and repeat the next week

Thankfully, by the grace of God I AM able to get a decent amount of reading time in. As well as a good amount of praying and alone time with God (CRUCIAL!).

Needless to say I am enjoying my time here very much. But I absolutely miss everyone in CDA and I miss the city itself and the lifestyle but God is growing and teaching me SO MUCH here in this sweaty hot climate!

Hey! Guess What?? I'm vising for about 5-6 days at the beginning of August! I plan on arriving early Wednesday, the 3rd so that I can come to Revolution and see all you awesome LC3 people! :D and then I want to throw a large party that Friday (August 5) and host it all day long from 1:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. and you will be welcome to stop by, eat food, hang out, and have a blast in my humble company! :D

Let's just say, I am VERY excited.

Alright, well I am tired of typing and need to do some laundry so I will talk to you all as soon as I can and don't be afraid to text this old fart! I would gladly reply! ;D

It's Official!

So I am officially an employee of Phoenix First Assembly! Well...pretty much. We still have to send in W4's and all that jazz but as far as administration-approval goes, I'm as good as gravy! :D

I am very excited for this new position! Here are the following reasons why I like my job:

• My team-mates are really awesome people
• It's full-time
• With full benefits
• I get my own office
• I can decorate my office
• I can use my exercise ball as a chair
• And when I get tired of sitting on a ridiculous ball, I have a nice chair as well
• I can listen to my music all day
• I get paid 11.53/hr
• They are giving me a $60 monthly phone allowance
• I get to be totally creative and work on cool projects
• I am going to be doing a lot of "professional" things like Press Releases and Purchase Orders that I've never done before, so this is going to be a huge growing opportunity
• Hopefully, once I get an apartment, it will be a short walk away from my bachelor pad!
• I get paid vacation and sick time
• All of my co-workers share my faith and encourage my walk with God
• Everyone is positive and awesome
• I have great mentors working above me whom I can learn much from!

All around, this is an incredibly great opportunity and ALL 100% of the credit goes to God. Many people were praying for this, including myself; I spent many hours on my knees and the LORD has provided. Jehovah-jireh! He is this the direct cause of everything good in my life! Every opportunity, every relationship, and every small blessing is either a direct gift from Him or it comes from the fact that HE has shaped me into a young man of character. I would be nothing if it wasn't for Him shaping me throughout the years. I love my Daddy and all that He and my Savior-King has done for me! Praise God!

My oh My!

It truly has been a long time since I have last blogged! Over a week, I presume!

Well at least I'm doing it tonight. :) Tonight's blog will air a tad bit earlier than most, simply because I plan on eating and then heading straight for bed. I have to wake up at 6 tomorrow morning so I need my beauty sleep! Plus, RED crew went out last night to ASU and gave out otter pops and chilled at a few parties, so I didn't get home until about 2:30, so I'm wiped out anyways.

I'm in a sketch tomorrow morning at church! :D I'm pretty excited to get back into some of my acting passions. The past few days have been very fulfilling. Chopped full with reading, writing, serving, hanging out with friends, falling in love more and more (with God) ugghhh it truly is the Great Romance!, and just enjoying the busyness of life.

Over the next couple of months, if everything goes well, I will have a full-time job and a part-time internship, both at the church. I am planning to get an apartment around early June and there are two separate complexes with an astonishing proximity to the church, so the plan is to take up residence in one of those! Now I just need to find a roommate!

My goal is to make a trip back up to CDA around late summer. Most likely the middle of August before my peeps in the 208 head back to their universities! :)

Anyways, I'm overjoyed because of how much God loves me. It is quite overwhelming. Oh hey! If you like fiction, I would suggest reading Black 

It is awesome and has opened my eyes and captivated me like nothing else!

Alright guys, I love you all!!

-Austin

Big Day Manana!

I wish I may, I wish I might, finally type a blog post tonight!

Hurray! Wish came true! :)

Yo yo, wassup my peeps?

 Long time no talk! Well I'm back. Sorry, I always forget to stay in touch whenever I find a new show I really like on Netflix. This past week's obsession was Kyle XY.

You see, I call it Accelerated Media Education also known as AME.

"Why Austin! Accelerated Media Education sounds wonderful! But what is it?"

Simple. I watch shows that have already came out on Season DVD's on Netflix. By doing so, not only do I avoid any stupid evil commercials altogether but I do not have to wait for the next episode on a week to week basis.

Here is the corresponding mathematics for my new method of watching television:

The average show lasts for about 4 seasons. Each season has approximately 12 episodes. At night, after I have finished all of my other work, I watch about 3 episodes. Without commercials, the duration of the show is cut down to a little less than 43 minutes.

Assuming the broadcasting company airs one season each year, it will take the average person 4 years to finish the series and they will spend an estimated 2,880 minutes in front of a screen.

With my method, it takes me about 16 days to finish a series. And I knock out over 800 minutes by not watching commercials that irritate me.

All of the "morals" and "life lessons" that are talked about at the end of each episode, I learn in a little over two weeks...rather than four years.

And yes, obviously, I don't have to watch these shows at all, but I want to go into acting, writing, directing, and producing so I like all of this stuff. I've learned things from watching different shows. I get new ideas for things I might want to create some day. I gain new input and understanding. Plus it helps me relax at the end of the night.

So that's the subject for tonight, Accelerated Media Education.

Oh, and I have a big job interview tomorrow morning. I guess that's important too. :) So pray for that!

Love you all! Goodnight! <3

Party Time! + Japanese Art Festival

Hey gang! Hope life is going swell! :D

Last night was TONS of fun. It was my first time helping out with the 360 RED Crew and I had a great time. We basically just go to parties at ASU and hand out otter pops, donuts, and water and just hang out. Then I guess they also come by in the mornings and clean up afterward and make pancakes for everyone and all that haha. It sounds like a lot of fun.

So that was my Friday night. Then this morning/today I went to a Japanese art festival with Denisse Leon and then Kenedy, Christian, and Kylee (I'm sorry if I misspelled anyone's name). That was quite a good time! We danced some we watched some Japanese sword swinging, and then listened to some Japanese drumming, then watched some Japanese dances and even partook in the dancing ourselves!! :)

Then we went and picked up/cheered on the girls' parents, Michelle and Aaron Dunn. They were part of this awesome marathon in which they had 12 members on their running team and together, taking turns, ran a total of 200 miles over the course of about 40 hours! Each persons does about three sets of 6 miles throughout the day and night. It is CRAZY!

Well my fingers hurt from playing guitar so I'm going to stop typing :) have a good night my friends! I love you all and look forward to hearing from you soon! <3

-Your Sweetie Pie,

Austin Beals.