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Christopher Harper

Commentary on the local church, radio and podcasting, open source software, journalism, communications, photography, education, and web development from Christopher Harper. read less

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I don’t believe in writer’s block

I don’t believe in writer’s block

Writer's block is a myth. This commentary proves it. Not the words in the commentary, the fact it even exists. This was supposed be be another article.

Episodes

I don’t believe in writer’s block

I don’t believe in writer’s block

Writer's block is a myth. This commentary proves it. Not the words in the commentary, the fact it even exists. This was supposed be be another article.

I use three operating systems every day

I use three operating systems every day

I'm an open source software advocate that uses Linux, Windows, and macOS every day. Here is a little of my story and some thoughts on working this way.

Owning the views we express

Owning the views we express

I've been thinking about this statement for a while: "I don't quote from a book until I own the ideas of the author for myself." Today, I try to explain.

Developing a personal mission statement

Developing a personal mission statement

I adopted a personal mission statement back in 2005. It has become the daily action plan to fulfill my purpose. This is the story of its development.

Doubling down on human creativity

Doubling down on human creativity

We're discussing algorithms, artificial intelligence, and social media again. Reservations abound. Consider a few of them with me in this commentary.

It's just not for me

It's just not for me

American football fans may object! This commentary explains how I found a helpful phrase that applies to sports and countless other matters of opinion.

I don’t collect analytics data

I don’t collect analytics data

The numbers don't matter. Well, some of the numbers don't matter. Allow me to explain why I collect words-written stats, but not website visitor stats.

This is not a good commentary

This is not a good commentary

Creative work should be judged by the people who observe it, not the people who create it. We should be careful about making qualitative statements.

Protect your team from third party headaches

Protect your team from third party headaches

Here are a few thoughts about hiring vendors for creative and technical projects. They may come in handy for those in marketing or communications.

When failure makes all the difference

When failure makes all the difference

Bad ideas and foolish assumptions can be rejected and replaced. I rejected some of my own and replaced them with good memories and rich experiences.

No one is clamoring for my input

No one is clamoring for my input

When we are angry and ignorant of the facts, social media provides an opportunity to speak. Too many of us do. This is our encouragement to reconsider.

I stopped saying I don’t have time

I stopped saying I don’t have time

Most of us are busy, but new opportunities can arise in life that allow us to help people. We must not convince ourselves we have no time to take them.

A journalistic approach to marketing

A journalistic approach to marketing

Every good organization needs people on staff that can tell their story. Communications teams are hired to publish the truth about their quality and value.

It's not about the delivery method

It's not about the delivery method

Some old radio guys like myself believe the medium is in danger. I don’t agree. Especially if we concentrate on valuable content, not method of delivery.

Writing is just organized thinking

Writing is just organized thinking

Writing provides us an opportunity to organize our thoughts. Leaders and other serious people should make writing a key part of their weekly routines.

You don’t know me, but sign up for my stuff

You don’t know me, but sign up for my stuff

Too many website owners use analytics to justify poor decisions. An opening screen with a newsletter signup, as far as I can tell, fits into this category.

Get the team on board with new tech

Get the team on board with new tech

Organization-wide technology upgrades present a number of key challenges. This outline may help leaders and teams to succeed in projects of this type.

Because other people are doing it

Because other people are doing it

Innovators aren't looking for copy and paste solutions. Others have insights, but if a job was given to us, God will empower and equip us to complete it.

My least favorite animal

My least favorite animal

I love spending time in nature, but nature is often less beautiful because of the actions of people. How should we think about poor stewardship of earth?

Embrace the web, abandon social media

Embrace the web, abandon social media

I'm reading as much good stuff as ever on the web these days, but rarely using social media. You may want to consider how I do this using an RSS reader.