October 30th, 2008
Hello Creative Entrepreneurs!
The moral of that story is to follow your instincts and intuition and don’t let others or society judge or label you.
You see, my child-spirit told me there was a writer in me all along. For all those years I thought I was deficient because I was being JUDGED by society’s standards–grammar, sentence structure, etc. and not on CREATIVITY!
Then I got invited to Harvard! I call this “poetic justice!”
So let me tell you another story. One you will like about my royal faux pas to Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1985.
I want to share this funny whale-of-a-tale with you to also illustrate first-hand the CREATIVE EVOLUTION of one of my most exciting INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES: The Royal CrittersTM and Whale MagicTM Project.
It too, started with a mispelled word!
HISTORY & INSPIRATION
THE ROYAL CRITTERS WERE INSPIRED FROM A MISSPELLED WORD!
When Prince Charles and Princess Diana, the Prince and Princess of Wales, visited the United States in 1985, I wanted to welcome Their Royal Highnesses to America in a special and personal way by sending gifts for their sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. I chose a unique gift for them, one that I thought they would like.
Knowing that the British often use the cliché “ducky”, I sent colorful T-shirts, coloring books, balloons and stickers of a cartoon character I created for the California-based earthquake preparedness program I initiated, “Richter Duck’s Operation Quake-Quake”. I inadvertently addressed the package to: Prince Charles and Princess Diana, The Prince and Princess of Whales and mailed it Express to the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. Unaware of the misspelling of their name, I was surprised and delighted to receive a Thank You letter from Buckingham Palace for my gift.
However, when I read the letter, I realized my royal faux pas! As a journalist and writer, I was rather embarrassed however, later I was quite amused by my mistake and thought that the concept of cartoon whales named THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WHALES would make a wonderful parody for children. The genesis of THE ROYAL CRITTERS was born that day.
However, I would not start to develop it until 1989. By this time Prince Andrew had married Sarah, Duchess of York and their first child was named Princess Beatrice (Princess Bea). I then added to the cast, creating THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF YORKIES (Yorkshire terriers) and a mumble/bumble bee named PRINCESS HONEY BEE. We have Joan Rivers letter to be the voice of DUCHY, THE DUCHESS OF YORKIES.
I chose the title THE ROYAL CRITTERS because whales are the Royalty of the ocean kingdoms. We human beings need to see them in their true light and protect them, and all marine life. As the project developed and my personal understanding of the beauty and value of whales on our planet, I simply wanted to give voice to them through animation.
From there the cast grew to more than twenty characters including the royal pod of five whales that spout their own brands of magic, including email known as Whale Mail. I added animated human characters, including nine-year old NICHOLAS HOLIDAY, part mortal, part mermen and divined with mystical powers. His marine biologist parents, ROMAN AND HAPPY HOLIDAY. The villain is JOHNNY NETWORTH and his henchmen, the ANCHOVY BROTHERS. NETWORTH transmutes from mortal to toxic oil waste and a whale net to perform his Machiavellian deeds.
And so began my quest to learn about whales, dolphins, the oceans, animation, music, film and television production, licensing and every aspect of such a venture. I sought out the crme de la crme in every area of this project, whenever possible; from Royalty to world renowned marine biologists and whale experts, script consultants and a Hollywood animation writer with hundreds of credits to her name to help me develop the animation and publication bible and storyline for the project. I met with celebrities such as Dom De Luise and Tippi Hedren to be voices for the project, along with Joan Rivers and Olivia Newton-John, and others (Celebrity Bios and Letters of Intent or Interest are available upon request).
As whales are known for their sonic “songs”, I created fun and whimsical animated whales that sing everything from Hip-Hop to Opera. I found Hip-Hop artists, Jazz aficionados, award-winning singers, songwriters, and a conductor with the London Philharmonic to compose and orchestrate the music!
As animation evolved into what it is today, I sought out the best bids from CGI digital animators, and chose an Atlanta-based studio to bring the characters and movie to life with the latest in technology. I met with producers, distributors and special-effects animators at Disney and went back to school to learn film and television production. I opened my own animation studio in Vancouver, British Columbia to do the first phase of pre-production for the movie.
I have studied trends and successes in the licensing, entertainment and digital technology industries. Even Finding Nemo, the animated box-office blockbuster and Academy Award winner for Best Animation Movie for 2004, has set the charted course for the school of BIG fish…whales…and WHALE MAGIC!
I organized and met with teachers, astronomers, scholars and philosophers to learn about the mysteries of life, which I wove into the creative tapestry of WHALE MAGIC. I followed my muses, and traveled to many places to learn and research aspects of the script, to give it its special magic and realism–from the top of the heavens to the bottom of the sea, quite literally!
I met with the great nephew of Edwin Powell Hubble, creator of the famed Hubble Telescope and the man who changed our view of the Universe, to learn about space, solar and lunar eclipses, the moon and the effects it has on oceanic tides. I went on whale-watching expeditions in California, the Atlantic and Canada.
I traveled to the Bermuda Triangle and Bimini, Bahamas to write part of the script; and to explore the ancient roads of Atlantis submerged off the coast of Bimini, a key environment and setting in the movie. And in my “spare time” I raised $1 million for the project! However, that is just a drop in the bucket. The completion budget for the WHALE MAGIC: AN OCEAN OF LOVE animated feature film project is $15 million.
WHALE MAGIC has been my soul’s journey! A fascinating and mystical journey filled with rich and wonderful life-experiences. Even the hardships and sacrifices that I endured, personally and professionally, in order to follow my dream and craft a spectacular whale-of-a-project, have proven invaluable and a source of deep inspiration.
I have been honored, enriched and blessed beyond measure by all the incredible and very special people (and whales) I have met along this journey. Many of whom you will meet in this overview; each bringing their own brand of magic and special talents to make WHALE MAGIC the unique treasure it is!
WHALE MAGIC is not just a trilogy of animated movies, or a collection of books and songs and trading cards and toys. Nor is it a television series. WHALE MAGIC is a journey–a beautiful, magical journey of life, lessons, beauty and love!
Rich with fun, memorable and loveable archetypal characters, dramatic storylines, humor, exciting music and awe-inspiring animation and special effects, WHALE MAGIC is a project with universal, multi-cultural appeal that will reach a large spectrum of demographics WHALE MAGIC is a heart story borne out of a labor of love…for many generations to enjoy!
And all of this… because of a misspelled word!
I have rightfully dedicated the project to the loving memory of Princess Diana.
So now you know the SECRET behind my famous quote: “Creativity is coloring outside the lines, and entrepreneurship is living outside the box!” JJK
By John Joseph Kennedy
www.RoyalCritters.com
THE HON. JOHN JOSEPH KENNEDY, President & CEO JJK Enterprises/John Kennedy Enterprises, Inc. Founder, JJK School of Entrepreneurship (A Business Franchise).
U. S. Presidential Candidate (2004 write-in), Justice of the Peace International, author, international award-winning speaker, marketing guru and entrepreneur extraordinaire, Mr. Kennedy is the author of Creativity & Entrepreneurship© and The 72-Hour Entrepreneur
As a journalist and writer, JJK has more than 100 news bylines to his credit, and more than 10,000 article have been written about him worldwide. His work and inspiring life-giving messages and speeches have reached television, radio, newspaper and live audiences of more than 100 million people in the United States, Latin America, Canada, Mexico, England, India, France, Switzerland, Ireland, Poland, Africa, and other countries.
JJK’s e-mail: JJK@JJKEnterprises.com
Websites: http://www.JJKEnterprises.com
http://www.JohnJosephKennedy.com (Political)
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October 29th, 2008
Public liability cover is imperative as all corporations are at jeopardy to some quantity. Even though nothing bad has ever happened to your business property doesn’t promise that it won’t someday in near the future. If someone is harmed or their resources lost, it is your requirement to properly repay them. This outlay could be shockingly high, depending on the exact type of case.
Yet, you do have numerous means to look after yourself against this occurrence. Buying public liability insurance allows you to breathe to some extent easier. If a client claim is very pricey, the insurance firm will be available to provide a protection net. Its their responsibility to keep you safeguarded from any claims & legal expenses. This leaves you free to focus on actually doing business, instead of worrying about what may well happen. The following are numerous instances of times when public liability indemnity can come in handy. Insured Risks are happy to provide Professional Indemnity Insurance quotes for you!
Managers of plumbing organisations generally get the job concluded fast and easy. Yet every once in a while something may perhaps go very wrong. Should you break a client’s pipes while on the job, affecting belongings such as laptops & carpeting, public liability cover will be there to cover the tab.
An additional illustration is that of a promotions firm. If a customer were to sprain an ankle in your company even if it’s not your fault, you would be held responsible. Nevertheless, with public liability cover you wouldn’t have to pay the claim yourself.
In a comparable circumstance, physical damage caused to a spectator by a worker on a construction site is the accountability of the organisation’s proprietor. This type of claim can easily become exceptionally costly indeed, unless you obtain the correct protection.
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October 29th, 2008
It’s all in the mind- your mind.
It’s not brought about in an instant by serene
surroundings,nor by the sound of soulful music,
nor the beauty of summer blooms.The most
luxurious surrounding can not fill an empty soul.
It’s like a vessel, the slightest crack will cause leaks,
it can never be filled. It is not whole.
You are a precious vessel. Be the first to acknowledge
this,and treasure it, and the rest of the world will agree
with you.
A troubled soul is a restless one. Ask yourself- what
is really troubling you? To stay in this state does not
help you to find answers. Worrying does not bring
answers. It tends to add confusion, incites fear
and obscures the possibility of a solution.
What you need is clarity, not more confusion. Do
you know what it is that clutters your mind and
troubles your soul? Can you spare some time for
a quiet moment? A time to step away from your
problems.
Perhaps you think too much, try too hard and get
disappointed too quickly. Or you give up too easily.
Think of balance and the virtue of temperance.
Are you being too hard on yourself? Each day that
passes by, surely there is one, just one
accomplishment that you could be pleased with.
One small blessing that warms your heart and
puts a smile on your face!
Learn to get away from all that is threatening, scary,
and downright stressful. Stress. It is the greatest
source of illness, relationship discord, and lack of
harmony and peace even with one’s self.
Negative vibrations tend to come uninvited, working
their way slowly, and then at your weakest moment,
overcome you! It can devastate you.
A bright and sunny morning to wake up to is a joy to
behold. Watch the diamonds twinkle and glimmer as
the sun rays hit the snow, or the gently flowing
waves of the lake. Ever notice the shy glint on a
leaf with the morning dew.
Inhale a deep breath of fresh air, yes, that is free. It
is comforting. Give yourself the gift of a quiet time, a
chance to empty your conscious mind of all the agonies
accumulating and congesting your mind.
Think of a traffic jam, vehicles are moving painfully slow.
It eats away at the nerves; it burns gas, and wastes away
precious time.
Many of us can relate to this. Think of steps you need
to take to avoid this waste of energy in your life.
Have Faith, find ways to meet your quiet self. Together,
you will find the inner wisdom to minimize the clutter
in your mind and find clarity to propel you to positive
way of thinking. Discover the wealth deep insight can
add to your life.
Give yourself a few minutes of tranquility, quieten
your mind, and just let go of the cares of today. No,
not in a bottle or a puff . Stare at the world around you,
staring can quieten the mind. Stare at the patch of blue
beyond, drift with the clouds. Fill your soul with the
breath of Life, warm your heart with all the blessings
Life has showered you with. Small blessings mean a lot.
Yesterday is past, but today matters. Take the moment
today to give yourself the luxury of tranquility. Release,
surrender all your worries, all your doubts, all your anger.
Trust that tomorrow is another day, a better day.
A moment of tranquility, away from the noise and
concerns of the day, a moment just for you and your
tranquil mind.
Bonnie Moss
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October 29th, 2008
The human brain is very much like a hard drive. If you stop to think of it, they are both filled with billions of tiny bits of information, stored in the memory cells just waiting to be accessed. They both use electrical energy to find those bits and put them together to recreate something that we have placed there. They work on demand, and we expect them to instantly give us what we want.
And frankly, many people abuse both their hard drives and their brains! They fill them up with information and expect them to perform at top efficiency without the benefit of good maintenance. There are some basic support tasks that are essential to the well being of both. If you don’t take proper care of both of them, eventually they will fail you.
Both brains and hard drives need to be de-fragged on a regular basis! De-fragmentation means that you allow the machine (brain or hard drive) to rearrange the information that has been stored in it, so that it can find what you need more quickly and efficiently. When bits of information get stored all over the place, with no logical order to it, then it takes a lot longer for the machine to find and reassemble what you need quickly.
Probably, you have your hard drive set up to de-frag itself on a regular basis. It is done automatically, maybe while you sleep. Well, your brain does not have a task-scheduler to take care of this for you! It is busy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. It can’t reset itself while you sleep. That is because it is still working on the things that your subconscious is trying to sort out. It is dreaming and remembering and stressing all the while.
So how do you de-frag your brain? Well, it takes three things: rest, relaxation and meditation. If you are a type A personality, then these three things may be totally foreign territory for you! You may be in a high-stress job, or always be taking care of others but never yourself, or you may somehow think that taking care of yourself first is something that you do not deserve. Wrong! If you do not take care of this, it will force the issue. You may get sick, depressed or worse.
Meditation is an excellent way of maintaining your brain. It forces you to sit, relax and do “nothing” for a bit. You clear your poor brain of the clutter and the chatter and just let it run free. You do not have to do anything special, really, to meditate; you just find something that transports you! Music works for a lot of people. You can dance if it helps you, or do some drumming. You could get a good meditation tape or CD and listen to that. You could even sign up for a Tai Chi course, or try some yoga. Whatever you decide to do, do it regularly. At least once a week is necessary for the proper de-fragging of the average hard drive and the average brain.
At the very least you should be setting aside some time every week to just do something relaxing. Take a long bubble bath with some candles lit and some soothing music playing. Go sit outside in nature. The trick here is to just DO it, to take the time for yourself no matter what. See that you deserve it and that it is just as important as going to a doctor when you are sick. In fact, it can help keep those doctor visits to a minimum!
And while you are at it, consider getting a good anti-virus too. Your hard drive needs it to protect your information, and your body needs it to keep healthy. Anti-virus for the body means taking better care of you. Eat something healthy, go out and take a walk, and get more sleep! You can find the time to do this if you make it a priority.
If you take care of your hard drive, both the computer type and the body type, your life will improve significantly. Both will run smoothly and have a lot less crashes!
About The Author
Sibyl McLendon is 1/2 Navajo, and is a personal spiritual coach for Circle Of Grace http://www.circle-of-grace.com.
Circle Of Grace is a unique blending of Native American spirituality and holistic wellness coaching. Sign up for a free coaching session!
Sibyl can be contacted at sibyl@www.circle-of-grace.com
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October 29th, 2008
Direct Answers - Column for the week of December 9, 2002
I was involved with a man separated from his wife. We connected on an extremely emotional level and were in the process of building a future.
His wife left him and their two children to accept a job in another state and to experience a more unencumbered life. Prior to leaving she cheated on him three times and was emotionally and physically unavailable to her children.
Unfortunately I let myself get drawn into his life and his children’s lives. I not only fell in love with him but also with the children. I was devastated when he accepted her back with no questions asked, but I accept responsibility for getting involved and for the consequences of my actions.
At the death of a loved one, when her family needed her most, she again abandoned her husband and children. As I predicted. He contacted me to let me know I was right. As much as I hoped that would bring satisfaction, it didn’t. It brought only deep sadness.
There is nothing I can do to make him see her for who she is. How do I find peace knowing this cycle of coming and going will continue in his life? I want what is best for all of them. I know walking away is best for me, and I guess I am looking for confirmation from an objective outside source.
Tia
Tia, in “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, three ghosts come to Ebenezer Scrooge and alter the course of his life. For you, the ghost was your companion’s wife.
There is a line Scrooge says which we have never forgotten. “Men’s courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if persevered in, they must lead. But if the courses be departed from, the ends will change.” That is what the story is about. It is also the story of our lives.
With the holidays approaching, it will be hard for you not to think about what might have been. But with the holidays approaching, his wife may well reappear. Even if she doesn’t, her specter will never be far off, and he will be open to her return.
Hard as it is to walk away, it shows you understand the lesson from Dickens’ tale. Walking away opens the door to possibilities. It opens the door to your fulfillment and to the promise of the new year.
Wayne & Tamara
A Love Story
My name is Winnie. I am 15 years old. I am in love. I know it has to be love! I spent the whole day yesterday with this guy I have liked for about a month. He is 16.
I know he likes me, too. Well, at least I hope so. He flirts with me all the time. I want to call and talk to him about my feelings, but I am not sure how to word it. Every time I see him I get butterflies in my stomach, and every other problem in the world seems to go away. Can you please tell me what to do, or at least, what to say?
Winnie
Winnie, every story has a beginning, a middle and an end. You’re at the beginning of the story now, and it’s such a good beginning you want to rush to the end, read the last chapter, and see how it turns out. At least you want to tell this boy how it should end.
But by skipping to the end and telling him your feelings, you will miss the middle part where things develop and the plot gets interesting. Let the story unfold in its own way.
If you’ve already spent a whole day with him, you don’t have problems talking to each other. We’re pretty sure he knows you like him a lot. That’s enough for now. By letting things unfold in their own time, you won’t spoil the ending.
Wayne & Tamara
About The Author
Authors and columnists Wayne and Tamara Mitchell can be reached at www.WayneAndTamara.com.
Send letters to: Direct Answers, PO Box 964, Springfield, MO 65801 or email: DirectAnswers@WayneAndTamara.com.
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October 28th, 2008
 Scandeluzza Castle is one of the most beautiful and fascinating castles of 1700 belonging to the noble Pellegrini family. It is located in Rome, 3 miles from the historical centre. The history and art will permit the customers to live the legends of this old manor house. Prince Filippo Maria, the owner of Scandeluzza Castle will be happy to welcome his clients and to accommodate them in this place full of ancient history. Big lounges and halls decorated with frescos will be at the clients disposal , antique fireplaces and statues made in marble and antique will offer you a fairy tale scenery. A big garden and temples enlighted by the torches will give to the clients a touch of elegance and preciousness. Scandeluzza Castle has always been along centuries a unique and admired place that has accommodated the most important people in the history.
Each room has a private bathroom, air-conditioner, fire-place, tv . Daily cleaning and linen change are included in the price.
Every bathroom is equiped by all necessary. Tubs, phone air, towels, soaps.
Besides breakfast our guests can require lunch or dinner in the Castle. The best italian traditional food!
You can make use of the elegant main hall during your stay, relaxing in a Middle Age world, playing billiard and piano.
Besides the numerous extra services, this wonderful swimming-pool hydromassage is the ideal place to relax and transport yourself to another dimension.
It’s possible booking transport, with our private cars and the drivers
Make your roman vacation unforgettable staying in Scandeluzza Castle. You can have many of personalized services.Continental breakfast is served in a beautiful dining-room “ botti” near the warm fire-place… Our guests will be served with fine porcelain plates, silver cutlery set, golden glasses belonging to the noble Pellegrini family. A waitress will be at your disposal during the whole stay. It is possible to have breakfast served in your room. Breakfast is included in the price
Personalized services on request:
Excellent wines coming from the Prince’s cellar
Lunch and dinner
Transport
Medical support
Garage
Internal car park
Jacuzzi
Mini bar
Laundry
Internet and fax
Baby sitter
Dog sitter
Security and body guards
We are Rome, Boccea district: 3 miles from Vatican
Autobus 904 from/to Metro A "Cornelia"
12 miles from Fiumicino Airport
15 miles Km from Ciampino Airport
If you think that Scandeluzza Castle is not exactly what you are looking for, click here to visit our catalogue and a run a search for Apartments in Rome, or make a search for a luxury hotel in Rome, or make a reservation for a Rome tour.
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October 28th, 2008
Manhattan is the heartbeat of New York City and has become one and the same with the city as a whole. The island of Manhattan itself is home to Grand Central Station, as well as a number of artistic and cultural focal points. The Island can be roughly separated into Downtown, Midtown and Uptown areas, each of which contain a number of outstanding attractions.
Situated to the south of 14th Street, Downtown Manhattan is the setting of the Financial District which runs along Wall Street, including the rebuilt World Trade Center and Battery Park, from which you can get to the Statue of Liberty by ferryboat. Numerous popular cultural areas downtown, including Greenwich Village Tribeca and Soho feature notable architecture, cool dining and plenty of shopping. Another trendy location downtown is Manhattan, which runs along Canal Street.
Midtown area of New York is found between 14th Street and Central Park, and contains a outstanding arts scene. The center|core|axis|hub|heart} of arts life in the city is the Theater District which is home to Broadway, Times Square and Hell’s Kitchen, as well as the Radio City Music Hall. The Midtown area is a popular spot for people traveling to stay as there are a lot of hotels in New York in the section. Other trendy sections comprise Gramercy Flat Iron, a hip residential area, as well as the fashion hub Chelsea District.
Dominated by Central Park, Upper Manhattan is home to the Belvedere Castle in Central Park, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and quite a lot of museums all through the Upper East and West side. In addition, the section is thesetting of Columbia University in Morningside Heights, the notable Harlem area and Washington Heights.
Each one of the Island of Manhattan’s irreplaceable sections hold their own sense of history, as well as trendy attractions from world-class arts to cuisine. A vacation to New York is not whole without a thorough tour of Manhattan’s greatest spots. There is a good reason that the island has come to define the public face of New York city. Manhattan is one of the world’s foremost cultural capitals and continues to lead the way in commercial and artistic trends.
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October 24th, 2008
There is a story about a little girl who suffered from a serious disease. Her best chance of recovery would be to receive a blood transfusion from her five-year old brother.
The doctor explained the situation to the little brother. He asked the boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister.
The young boy hesitated for a brief moment. Then he took a deep breath and said, “Yes, I’ll do it if it will save my sister’s life.”
During the transfusion, the boy lay in the bed next to his sister. He smiled when he saw color returning to her cheeks. Then his smile started to fade, and his face grew pale.
With a trembling voice, he looked up at the doctor and asked, “Will I start to die now already?”
The little boy had misunderstood the doctor’s explanation. He thought that he would need to give all of his blood to save his sister, and he would have done so.
Moving from Resolution to Commitment
The realization of our goals, dreams, and deepest desires depends greatly on commitment, stepping from the familiar into the new. It requires putting our faith on the line to honor our purpose, our personal contract with life. We make resolutions and carry them with us until we commit firmly. Once we commit and begin taking the necessary actions, resolutions become unnecessary.
Without commitment, we remain chained to resolutions and visions, living perpetually beyond the present moment. Though we need to envision with gratitude our goals and their attainment, it is now we must take action. Only in the present moment will we realize the soul’s tremendous courage to follow our own true north — to manifest the reason we are alive.
The Courage to Serve
Rollo May wrote, “The acorn becomes an oak by means of automatic growth; no commitment is necessary…But a man or woman becomes fully human only by his or her choices and his or her commitment to them. People attain worth and dignity by the multitude of decisions they make from day to day. These decisions require courage.”
Commitment is the beginning of service to others. Making a commitment often requires that we release fear. We need to look clearly at things we would rather not see or accept. I believe courage arises ultimately from love. The courage to serve is inspired by the faith to serve not only the self but also all of humankind.
In the words of Henry van Dyke (1852-1933), “Faith is an adventure; it is the courage of the soul to face the unknown. But that courage springs from the hope and confidence of the soul that its adventure will succeed.” Faith and commitments to service can inspire the hope and confidence in each other that our human family needs.
An Outpouring of Love and Compassion
Today, we are witnessing a tremendous outpouring of love and compassion for those in Asia who have endured unimaginable, heartbreaking devastation and loss. Tears flow and prayers are spoken for people we have never met.
Commitments to service and selfless acts of love are taking place globally on an unprecedented scale. Even in extreme tragedy, our “courage of the soul” that Henry van Dyke mentioned flourishes around the globe as many nationalities join together to help those in need.
At a human level, we do not understand why we must suffer. We cannot remove the pain or reunite all of the grieving families. Only God will do that. However, our commitments can make life-changing differences.
Commitments that Make a Difference
We must first be acutely aware that we are not guaranteed the next ten minutes on this earth. We can grow in appreciation for the sanctity of life and realize how capable we are of reaching out with empathy and authentic compassion.
We can also commit to honor the worth and dignity of all fellow humans, serving and supporting them in times of need. All of us can serve — if not with donations, with acts of kindness and prayer. It is a choice we must make for the future of our planet. It is a commitment to serve and be responsible for the welfare of each other.
© Copyright by Steve Brunkhorst. Steve coaches people to help them revitalize their inner spark, access their natural talents, and design strategies to reach their personal and professional goals. Get the next issue of Steve’s ezine, Achieve! 60-Second Nuggets of Inspiration, by visiting http://AchieveEzine.com
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October 24th, 2008
When starting any enterprise or business, whether it is full-time or part-time, we all know the value of having plenty of capital (money). But I bet we both know or at least have heard of people who started with no capital who went on to make fortunes. How? You may ask.
Well, I believe there are actually some things that are more valuable than capital that can lead to your entrepreneurial success. Let me give you the list.
1. Time.
Time is more valuable than capital. The time you set aside not to be wasted, not to be given away. Time you set aside to be invested in an enterprise that brings value to the marketplace with the hope of making a profit. Now we have capital time.
How valuable is time? Time properly invested is worth a fortune. Time wasted can be devastation. Time invested can perform miracles, so you invest your time.
2. Desperation.
I have a friend Lydia, whose first major investment in her new enterprise was desperation. She said, “My kids are hungry, I gotta make this work. If this doesn’t work, what will I do?” So she invested $1 in her enterprise selling a product she believed in. The $1 was to buy a few fliers so she could make a sale at retail, collect the money and then buy the product wholesale to deliver back to the customer.
My friend Bill Bailey went to Chicago as a teenager after he got out of high school. And the first job he got was as a night janitor. Someone said, “Bill, why would you settle for night janitor?” He said, “Malnutrition.” You work at whatever you can possibly get when you get hungry. You go to work somewhere — night janitor, it doesn’t matter where it is. Years later, now Bill is a recipient of the Horatio Alger award, rich and powerful and one of the great examples of lifestyle that I know. But, his first job — night janitor. Desperation can be a powerful incentive. When you say - I must.
3. Determination.
Determination says I will. First Lydia said, “I must find a customer.” Desperation. Second, she said, “I will find someone before this first day is over.” Sure enough, she found someone. She said, “If it works once, it will work again.” But then the next person said, “No.” Now what must you invest?
4. Courage.
Courage is more valuable than capital. If you’ve only got $1 and a lot of courage, I’m telling you, you’ve got a good future ahead of you. Courage in spite of the circumstances. Humans can do the most incredible things no matter what happens. Haven’t we heard the stories? There are some recent ones from Kosovo that are some of the most classic, unbelievable stories of being in the depths of hell and finally making it out. It’s humans. You can’t sell humans short. Courage in spite of, not because of, but in spite of. Now once Lydia has made 3 or 4 sales and gotten going, here’s what now takes over.
5. Ambition.
“Wow! If I can sell 3, I can sell 33. If I can sell 33, I can sell 103.” Wow. Lydia is now dazzled by her own dreams of the future.
6. Faith.
Now she begins to believe she’s got a good product. This is probably a good company. And she then starts to believe in herself. Lydia, single mother, 2 kids, no job. “My gosh, I’m going to pull it off!” Her self-esteem starts to soar. These are investments that are unmatched. Money can’t touch it. What if you had a million dollars and no faith? You’d be poor. You wouldn’t be rich. Now here is the next one, the reason why she’s a millionaire today.
7. Ingenuity.
Putting your brains to work. Probably up until now, you’ve put about 1/10 of your brainpower to work. What if you employed the other 9/10? You can’t believe what can happen. Humans can come up with the most intriguing things to do. Ingenuity. What’s ingenuity worth? A fortune. It is more valuable than money. All you need is a $1 and plenty of ingenuity. Figuring out a way to make it work, make it work, make it work.
8. Heart and Soul.
What is a substitute for heart and soul? It’s not money. Money can’t buy heart and soul. Heart and soul is more valuable than a million dollars. A million dollars without heart and soul, you have no life. You are ineffective. But, heart and soul is like the unseen magic that moves people, moves people to buy, moves people to make decisions, moves people to act, moves people to respond.
9. Personality.
You’ve just got to spruce up and sharpen up your own personality. You’ve got plenty of personality. Just get it developed to where it is effective every day, it’s effective no matter who you talk to - whether it is a child or whether it is a business person - whether it is a rich person or a poor person. A unique personality that is at home anywhere. One of my mentors, Bill Bailey, taught me, “You’ve got to learn to be just as comfortable, Mr. Rohn, whether it is in a little shack in Kentucky having a beer and watching the fights with Winfred, my old friend or in a Georgian mansion in Washington, DC as the Senator’s guest.”
Move with ease whether it is with the rich or whether it is with the poor. And it makes no difference to you who is rich or who is poor. A chance to have a unique relationship with whomever. The kind of personality that’s comfortable. The kind of personality that’s not bent out of shape.
And lastly, let’s not forget charisma and sophistication. Charisma with a touch of humility. This entire list is more valuable than money. With one dollar and the list I just gave you, the world is yours. It belongs to you, whatever piece of it you desire whatever development you wish for your life. I’ve given you the secret. Capital. The kind of capital that is more valuable than money and that can secure your future and fortune. Remember that you lack not the resources.
To Your Success,
Jim Rohn
Reproduced with permission from Jim Rohn’s Weekly E-zine.
Copyright 2005 Jim Rohn International. All rights reserved
worldwide. To subscribe to Jim Rohn’s Weekly E-zine, go to
http://Jim-Rohn.InspiresYOU.com
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October 24th, 2008
A major part of the process of achieving success and living the kind of life
that you dream of is to give. Many people think that to get what you want
you have to take it. There is a universal truth though that the true path to
get what you want is to give. When you give, you get. What you sow, you
shall reap. If this is true, then what is it we must give? I’ll show you the
way…
Give Others Your Honesty. The world we live in has a simple rule that most
follow: Lie when you have to. Unfortunately, this may make some people
wealthy but it make us humans poor. To achieve success is to become wealthy
not only in money, but in character. To be successful, truly successful, is
to be able to attain your goals and keep your character at the same time!
“Honesty is the most single most important factor having a direct bearing on
the final success of an individual, corporation, or product.” Ed McMahon
Mister McMahon is right, though others will tell you otherwise. Some people
will say, “You have to bend the truth to get ahead.” Not true. Some of the
most successful people who have ever lived where honest people.
How about you? Are you honest in all things? The problem with little lies is
they become big ones. Lies spin out of control. You get caught in one lie
and you lie to get out of it etc.
In all things and at all times, give others your honesty.
Give Others Your Respect. Most of the time we give people respect based on
what they have done or what they have accomplished. We gauge whether or not
they are “worthy” of it based on what we know of what they have achieved or
who they know or are related to.
But I believe we should have a higher standard: We respect people not for
what they have done or for who they are related to or for what they can do
for us. Instead, we respect people for simply being.
What would happen in our world, in our company, and yes, even in our
families if we started with respect for everyone else rather than making
them earn it? I think we would see that most people would live up to the
respect that we give them!
Give Others Your Vulnerability. We are taught to “be strong.” And yes, we
should be strong. But we have also embraced something that I think keeps us
from having the kind of life that we long for. It is an idea that keeps us
from experiencing the kind of relationships that would bring deep meaning to
us. It is the idea of vulnerability.
“But Chris, make yourself vulnerable and people will step all over you!” It
is true that this will happen. But I have also seen that most people will be
drawn to you. They will help you. They will open up to you. You see, we are
all broken people inside. We all have secrets. Yet everyone plays the poser.
When one let’s down their veil, others soon follow - and we all win.
Give Others Your Care. Too many people are running around this old earth not
caring about others. The days of “Look Out for Number One” and “Winning
Through Intimidation” are over! Let’s bring about a new day when we can care
about others AND succeed!
Take the time to show people you care. Listen to them. Empathize with them.
Love them. Now, I don’t mean that you have to go around hugging everyone -
that probably wouldn’t fly in corporate America anyway - but we can take
some time to step back from business and be human! And I have found that
when we do so, our business succeeds as well!
Give Others Your Passion. There is nothing this world needs more than
passionate people. And people need passionate people. Living in this day and
age can be tiring. The hustle and bustle of it all can wear you down and
tire you out. Give your passion to others and fire them up.
Don’t just be humdrum - be excited. Give people all the energy you can
muster up. And you will find that energy reciprocal. They will get energized
and passionate. This in turn will fire you up more when you are already
charged and get you going altogether when you don’t feel like moving at all!
Give Others Your Experience. We all have areas that we excel in and they are
usually areas that we have experience in. One of the things we can do to
make our lives more meaningful and be of utmost help to others is to show
them the way through the experiences we have.
Sometimes it will be what they should do: Shortcuts to take, people to meet
etc. Sometimes it will be what they should not do: Shortcuts not to take and
people toasty away from! Whatever it is, we can be of service to others by
giving them our experience and ultimately it will make us all better!
Give Others Your Help. All in all, what we want to do is to help others. Zig
Ziglar says that if we will “help others get what they want, we will in turn
get what we want.” If we want to be successful, we should consider ourselves
servants of other people. What can we do to help them and make them better?
This is the true path to greatness and success, not only in business but in
life!
If you want to live the life you have always dreamed of ask yourself if you:
Give Others Your Honesty
Give Others Your Respect
Give Others Your Vulnerability
Give Others Your Care
Give Others Your Passion
Give Others Your Experience
Give Others Your Help
About The Author:
Chris Widener is a popular speaker and writer as well as the President of
Made for Success, a company helping individuals and organizations turn
their potential into performance, succeed in every area of their lives and
achieve their dreams.
To see Chris “live” at the upcoming Jim Rohn Weekend Event as he speaks on
the subject of Secrets of Influence go to
http://Chris-Widener.InspiresYOU.com/ or call 800-929-0434.
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