I’m always searching for ways to do everyday tasks in a more efficient manner. Thought I’d share my top 10 resources that I use or check regularly to increase productivity. Hope some of these are helpful.

1. Inbox Heaven – This is a must read post for anyone who uses e-mail on a daily basis. It’s especially useful if you’re juggling more than one e-mail address. I have two church addresses, a personal address, and a booking address and this system has greatly increased my e-mail functionality.
2. Happiness and the End of the Working Week – A great post about rewarding output rather than hours. This post explores the advantages of working from home and paying per idea. Very interesting stuff.
3. Mint – This is a free online personal finance system that works great. You can set up your budget and then track your expenditures. Mint will even send you a text message if you are cutting it close in any area of your budget.
4. Google Calendar – Fantastic. Use it.
5. Seth Godin – His blog is a great resource for management, productivity, and marketing information.
6. Lifehacker – This site can be fairly random, but it has some great tips for “getting things done”.
7. Put Things Off – This blog gives great practical insight into the world of productivity. They also hae a great “creativity should be free” section that lists free software for things like photo and video editing, word processing, and designing.
8. Structured Procrastination – Story of my life. On this site professor and author John Perry explores “life choices” that are generally seen as faults in a positive light.
9. 43 Folders – Named for the 43 folder “Tickler File” system outlined in the book Getting Things Done, this blog gives great insight into productivity and efficiency.
10. Zen Habits – A great site for productivity, finances, and family.

I know most of you out there in the blogosphere marvel in constant wonder of my ability to entertain you via the internet while focusing on my studies and maintaining a healthy marriage. The answer is simple. I do a lot of reading. Also, I don’t focus on my studies. But seriously, you should read. A lot. Here are the next ten book son my reading list:

1. Velvet Elvis – Rob Bell
2. Freakonomics – Levitt and Dubner
3. Divine Conspiracy – Dallas Willard
4. The Leadership Engine – Noel Tichy
5. No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green – Green and Hazard
6. The Discoverers – Daniel Boorstin
7. Praise Habit – David Crowder
8. Mindfulness – Ellen Langer
9. The Practice of the Presence of God – Brother Lawrence
10. Spy – Ted Bell

As you may have noticed, I try to cover a wide range of topics and genres. For every ten book I read I try to include spiritual, leadership, history, biography, fiction, and some randomness. If you haven’t already, you should think about creating a reading list for yourself and becoming very intentional about what you’re reading. John Wooden says, “Ten years from now you will be the same person you are today except for the people you’ve met and the books you’ve read.”

Each weekend, Kristin and I spend the night in Sarasota. I lead worship for the Saturday night and Sunday morning services for Victory at Sarasota. We stay with a great couple from the church, Kevin and Sarah. Kristin and I have noticed that they are extremely hospitable, but I noticed it even more this week when I forgot my suitcase! Even with no toiletries or clothes, I felt like I wasn’t lacking anything I needed for a comfortable stay. Here are some things I picked up from Kevin and Sarah’s knack for hospitality:

1. Extra toothbrushes. Kevin and Sarah have a drawer of prepackaged, disposable toothbrushes that already have toothpaste on them.
2. Extra deodorant. If your house is already stocked with extra “essentials” it makes a last minute stay much more comfortable.
3. Plenty of soap. This includes face wash, hand soap, body soap. shampoo, and conditioner. Have it all!
4. Lots of extra toilet paper. We’ve all done the embarrassing yell from the bathroom…We don’t want to have to “get creative” while we’re guests in someone’s home. Put your TP in an easy-to-find place and have plenty on hand.
5. Grooming products. Don’t go crazy. Just have some gel, hairspray, maybe an extra blow dryer, and a brush.
6. Easy towel access. Guests don’t want to feel like they are asking you where something is every five seconds. Makes sure towels are easy to find.
7. Q-Tips. Just because you don’t use them, doesn’t mean your guests won’t. I’m a religious post-shower Q-tipper. Kevin and Sarah’s cup-o-q-tips was a welcome friend.
8. Easy to operate alarm clock. When I travel, I usually use my cell phone. However, if you want to make an unexpected guest feel welcome, you must anticipate that they may not have their cell phone, or it that could be dead. Mine died this weekend, and I was thankful for the easy-to-operate alarm in the guest bedroom.
9. Spare key. If your guest is quite busy and on the go a lot, give them a key to use while they’re staying with you. This takes the pressure off. You may chose to hide your key in one of those fancy “fake rocks”.
10. WI-FI. This may seem a little extreme, but in a digital world easy internet access can be a huge asset to a house guest. Kevin and Sarah’s WI-FI helped me immensely this weekend.

This list may seem ridiculous, but I think hospitality is very important and should be done right. I hope that you take advantage of some of these tips. Your future house guests will thank you.

Happy Halloween from all of us here at jordanrippy.com! I’m looking forward to my first Halloween living in a house. Why? Because this is the first year that I’ll experience being on the other side of trick or treating. My current plan is to get a really scary mask and let Kristin answer the door and start passing out candy while I sneak up the side yard, behind the kids, and then scream. It will be fun to see them run away in sheer terror. I may even chase them for a couple of blocks, just to add that extra sense of Halloween terror. I was going to take some pictures of the whole ordeal for the blog, but I don’t want to be remembered as the guy who takes pictures of all the neighborhood kids when they come trick or treating. In honor of Halloween, here’s a list of the top 13 scariest movies of all time:

1. The Shining (1980)
2. The Exorcist (1973)
3. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
4. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
5. Jaws (1975)
6. Halloween (1978)
7. Psycho (1960)
8. Seven (1995)
9. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
   
10. Poltergeist (1982)
11. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
12. The Thing (1982)
13. The Evil Dead (1982)

You can check out the rest of the list here. Every Halloween weekend, Chris and I go see the latest installment of “Saw”. What are your favorite scary movies or Halloween traditions?

I’m graduating from Southeastern in less than two months. During my nearly four years in Lakeland, these are the places that I’ve found to be the most unique and/or enjoyable. Tell me what I’ve missed.

1. Palace Pizza – Absolutely the best pizza around. It’s because they use Grande cheese. It’s run by an Italian family who moved from Italy to New Jersey to start an authentic pizza joint. Somewhere along the line they ended up on the corner of Main and Kentucky here in Lakeland.
2. Subs N’ Such – A small sub place on Florida Ave. This place has been in the same location since the 70′s. The owner is there every day and treats every customer like they’re his favorite regular. This guys really knows how to do business and he is ridiculously passionate about subs.
3. Silver Moon Drive In – A great throw back. There’s nothing like watching a horror flick in the comfort of your own car. It’s located somewhere off 92. Google it.
4. Orange Bowl – A great bowling ally. They have really good cosmic bowling, and the best bumpers in town. The bumpers are computerized so they raise and lower depending on whose turn it is.
5. Lime St. Park – This is the best park in Lakeland. You should go really late at night. Why? You just should.
6. Jimbo’s BBQ – This place has been serving amazing B-B-Q since 19**. There’s a bowl of fantastic homemade pickles at every table, and if you’re a huspuppie person, you definitely have tot check this place out.
7. Lake Hollingsworth – I’m not a big walker, but Hollingsworth is really nice.
8. $2 Theater – They play movies that have just left the theater in a “Mugs n’ Movies” format…Round tables, food, and drinks during the movie.
9. S&L – An old school diner from the 70′s. They serve amazing burgers (which are huge) for quite the bargain. Make sure you have some greenbacks though, because they’re a no-plastic business. Cash only.
10. Lakleland Motor Speedway – I know, it’s a stretch. My friend Chris and I went and watched a bunch of amateur drag racing when we first moved down her . We were out of our element, but it was fun.

Does anyone have something to add? Restaurants, parks, stores…Anything?