Typically I like to call myself the brains of the family. You know, the one that comes up with all of the fabulous business ideas, the one who can turn any project in to a successful one and the one who could “WOW” even the most hard to please people with my witty personality.
But truth be told.
I’m no wow-er.
In fact, I’m quite opposite.
I’m the rain-on-your-parade-that-idea-sucks-you’ll-never-be-successful half of my marriage. I know what your thinking, poor Jeff.
And I agree…at times I feel sorry for the man. He does have to put up with me and that can be quite complicated at times.
My role in our relationship is more of the HOW person. I like to break it all down and figure out HOW exactly he thinks we can start 87 websites and be successful with all of them. Or the one who try’s to figure out just how exactly we will spend an entire month overseas on a “sabbatical” with all of our kids without killing each other.
He comes home almost every night with a “new idea”. Granted, some of his big ideas have proved to be MORE than successful, a handful of them have not.
I’m quick to remind him of that too.
But if it weren’t for me…playing devils advocate…he would probably be bankrupt living on the streets. Exaggeration? Maybe, but you get my point.
I’ve spent the last 10 years trying to understand why he didn’t see the world the way I did.
Why he didn’t understand that it costs money to live in Australia for 30 days. Not only that, but that someone has to explain to our child’s school why they will be gone for the entire month of October.
Sometimes he needs my how-ness. He needs someone to rain on his parade.
But other times? Other times I need his wow-ness or I might just be considered a fun-snatcher for the majority of my life.
And no one likes a fun-snatcher.
I didn’t understand our dynamic of our “how” and “wow” until this year when I heard Jon Acuff speak at Blissdom. I have no idea if he coined the whole how/wow idea, but it was one of the biggest take-aways from me as I listened to his witty, smart, crowd pleasing lecture on life development.
And I left that day with a clearer picture of exactly how my husband ticks.
If there was anything that I wished as I walked away from that conference…it was that my husband would have had the chance to hear Jon Acuff that day so that he could understand just exactly how I roll.
Fortunately I’ve been given a neat opportunity to make that wish a future reality. Jon has a new book coming out VERY SOON {days} called START. I can’t even explain to you how inspirational this guy is. Can’t.
He has a gift.
The contest is all about who can drive the most traffic to HIS NEW BOOK SITE! I just got word that I am currently in third place and I have until April 30th to change that standing.
It would mean the opportunity for both my husband and I to meet Jon and his business party Dave Ramsey. Ummm, yea…you see why this could rock my husband’s world?! 🙂
Would y’all be so kind and click HERE or on his new book ad below? It has a tracker that will show Jon you came from my site and will increase the chances of making my wish come true!
The contest winner will be announced on May 2. I’ll keep ya posted!
hm,, I´ve never thought about the wow`er and how`er.. but it kinda reminds me of my parents. My dad is definitely a wow`er, always coming up with these semi-crazy (ok, sometimes totally crazy) ideas, while my mom is the how`er, who calmly drags him down to earth, making sure his feet are planted on solid ground, before he goes through with his ideas! That is, the ideas that he`s allowed to follow through with:-P
This is my hubby and I to a “T”! He is the “Wow”, I am the “How.” Our motto is “I keep you from jumping, and you keep me closer to the edge.” Isn’t it awesome how God puts personalities together to make a great team?!
I clicked Jon’s link–I hope you win! Have a great weekend, Mandy!
~Abby =)
I was just reading that exact part of the book this afternoon and immediately thought of you after watching your vlog with Jeff! I love this book! And I really hope you and Jeff win the contest! xoxo
I hope you win the Jon Acuff contest. I am envious (in a healthy and good way). I would LOVE the opportunity to meet both Jon Acuff and Dave Ramsey. My husband and I have been following the Total Money Makeover for over a year now. We have read all of Dave’s book, as well as several of his recommendations. We are currently listening to the audio version of Quitter. I have Go-getter sitting on my nightstand, and we pre-ordered Start. Best of luck in winning the contest 🙂
I hope you guys win! You and I are really similar Mandy–my hubby is constantly thinking of new ideas and I’m constantly thinking of why they won’t work. Poor guy. Thanks for giving me a little insight to his ideas! If it weren’t for him we’d have a boring life taking no risks!
Love the post! This is exactly what Mark Gungor talks about when telling how women and men are different. he also states that it is okay to reel them in from time to time and be realistic especially when its involving money but to let them just talk about it at least and if it is something simple they can do to encourage it. he states that when you sometimes push too far and say thats stupid or hush you know we cant do that.. he will eventually go to someone else and talk about his dreams.
This is so interesting. I think I’m a little bit of both. I’m definitely a dreamer, but I like the details too. I just think if you believe enough you can do it, so I’d say I lean more towards the Wow. Hubs is definitely a How-er, but I’d say he’s not so intense as to suck out my fun, lol!
I’m definitely interested to read this book, and I’m clickin’ over for ya now! Good luck with the contest.
We just saw Jon Acuff and Dave Ramsey yesterday at the Total Money Makeover Live! in Houston. When I saw the title of this post, I knew right away that you had heard the same talk! What a great speaker! We bought the book yesterday, and are so excited to start reading it! My hubby and I got a cute pic with him too!
I think I am definitely the wow! person (thanks to pinterest) and my hubby is the how person, but in terms of how can we make/build/create this. He’s the engineer-brained idea person, and I’m the big dreamer, who gets theses ideas, then can’t let them go til they’re real. LOL Thanks for this post! 🙂
You guys sound like me and Charlie to the “T”!!! He always says ” why do you try to crush my dreams???!!!” haha! Clicked for you, hope you win!!! 🙂
Great gift idea for my husband. I’ll go buy the book now. Thanks!
Mandy, I completely agree! I am the ‘How’ and my husband is the ‘Wow’ too! When I heard him share this at Blissdom I immediately bought his book so my husband could read this and not think I’m trying to smash his great {although sometimes bogus} ideas! 🙂 It worked and he LOVED both of John Acuff’s books and read them both in two days! It did really helped me understand our relationship in a new light; love that I’m not just the ‘negative’ one anymore! 🙂 Good luck; hope you win!
Mackenzie 🙂