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Monday, June 30, 2008

Thought For the Day - Be Like Tigger not Eyeore



The Last Lecture



A truly inspirational talk.

My take aways:

Be Like Tigger - Not Eyeore - Choose to Be Happy
Don't Whine
Be Humble
Choose to Go For Your Dreams
Make Lemonade out of Life's Lemons
Be a Role Model For Your Kids

Friday, June 27, 2008

Thought For The Day - Take a Moment to Notice the Progress

In the US, since 1960, real per capita income has increased 143 percent, life expectancy has increased by seven years, infant mortality has declined 74 percent, deaths from heart disease have been halved, childhood leukemia has stopped being a death sentence, depression has become a treatable disease, air and water pollution have been drastically reduced, the number of women earning a bachelor's degree has more than doubled, the rate of homeownership has increased 10.2 percent, the size of the average American home has doubled, the percentage of homes with air conditioning has risen from 12 to 77, the portion of Americans who own shares of stock has quintupled.

Progress happens......

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Thought For The Day - Create Magic Moments

Years ago I adopted the practice of creating Magic Moments for people in my lives. I've especially created many magic moments in the life of my daughter. Today's thought for the day is also a reminder for myself to step up this practice. I suggest you adopt it as well.....

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Thought For The Day - Teach Entrepreneurship

"Kids ought to have two bicycles, one to ride and one to rent."
Jim Rohn

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Thought For Day - IBD 10 Secrets to Success

Investor's Business Daily

1. How you Think is Everything
2. Decide Upon Your True Dreams and Goals
3. Take Action
4. Never Stop learning
5. Be persistent and Work Hard
6. Learn to Analyze Details
7. Focus Your Time and Money
8. Don't Be Afraid to Innovate, Be Different
9. Deal and Communicate with People Effectively
10. Be Honest and Dependable, Take Responsibility

Monday, June 23, 2008

Thought For The Day - Financial Independence

"...if no changes were necessary for you to achieve financial independence, you'd already be there."
— John Cummuta

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Life Comes at You Fast

According to last week’s New York Times, the world has 1.4 billion plugged-in internet users and that number is growing by 250million a year. There are three billion mobile phones in the world with another billion coming in the next three years.

Ten hours of video are being uploaded on YouTube every minute of every day.

Now more than ever you have to keep up with the changes..... Technology and entrepreneurs are changing the world. We are more connected than ever.

A Story To Share - Pass It On

I received this and I'm passing it on....

THE STORY OF CARING AND LIFE

It will take just 37 seconds to read this and change your thinking.

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room.

One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room’s only window.

The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end.

They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.

Every afternoon, when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene .

One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing by.

Although the other man could not hear the band, he could see it in his mind s eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days, weeks and months passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep.

She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.

He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.

It faced a blank wall.

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.

She said, ’Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.’

Epilogue:

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.

Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.

If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can’t buy.

’Today is a gift, that is why it is called The Present.’

Friday, June 20, 2008

Thought For The Day -The Curve is Always Going Up

"Life is full of peaks and valleys but the thing to remember is the curve is always going up."

Dr Thomas Frist Sr

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Thought For The Day - Do Good Not look Good

The Goal is to Do Good, Not Just Look or Feel Good. It's Action and Results. It's not about how you feel or how you look.....

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Thought For The Day - Why We Resist Personal Change

One of the reasons we resist change,unconsciously at least, is that it invalidates years of earlier behaviour.

Alan Deutschman

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Thought For The Day - Road to Wealth

"Rich people start off as poor people. The
difference is they take the nickels and dimes and
they invest it — they didn’t spend it all at the mall."

— Ric Edelman: author of "Ordinary People, Extraordinary Wealth," financial guru.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Father's Day - In Honor of My Dad



In 1928 he traveled from Cookstown, Northern Ireland to Ellis Island, New York City. It was a six week boat ride. He worked as a butcher in a meat plant "Plymouth Rock" in the South Bronx. He became a US citizen and in 1942 joined the US Army and left for the Philippines to serve in WW II. He married my mother weeks before leaving. He returned to the US in 1946 and went back to work in the meat plant. Ten years later he died of Pneumonia. I didn't get to know him well but I know this; he was brave enough to come to America to make a better life for himself, he was brave enough to choose to join the Army and serve, I know he was a hard working man and I know he gave me a better life.

So I honor him this Father's Day and remember him. Thanks Pops.......

Father's Day - Books Worth Reading as a Parent

Here are two books that I found useful. The first one" Going Places" I read with my daughter every night for bedtime when she was younger. We would read one story every night. The subtitle of the book " How America's Best and Brightest Got Started Down the Road of Life" sums it up.



The second book "Strong Father's, Strong Daughters" is a reminder of the responsibilities of fatherhood. I recommend reading both books.

Father's Day - Dad's Teach Lessons

Man up, it's Father's Day

Today my family will celebrate Father's Day and treat me a little special. And I say thanks. It's also a day for me to think about what it means to be a father. I only had my dad for the first four years of my life. He died young so I really never got to know him. This year I got a special gift when I traveled to Ireland and walked in the rundown house my dad lived in as a youth in Cookstown, Northern Ireland. I felt I finally reconnected with him. It was a very special experience.

Losing my father at the age of four left an impression in my life that created a fear of fatherhood in me. So when a little over ten years ago when my daughter was born my life changed in ways I could never expect. It was the greatest thing that ever happened. I made a commitment to myself to be the best dad I could be and I believe I've walked my talk in this area. Being a excellent parent and dad has been one of the greatest success's in my life.

So on this Father's Day I feel grateful to be blessed with a great wife and a fantastic daughter and look forward to all the continuing magic moments in our life. I feel grateful that I have been lucky enough and made the right decisions to be there for all the significant moments in my daughters life.

This Father's Day we lost a great journalist Tim Russert who wrote a great book about his dad. One thing that stands out from an interview with Tim Russert is him saying "Dad's teach lessons". He told a story about his dad saying "put your worries in this little book and we'll come back and look at in two weeks and when they did the worries weren't significant anymore".

So I approach parenthood and being a dad by looking forward and thinking about what lessons am I teaching my daughter to help her grow into the woman she will become, what lessons am i teaching her on becoming a parent, what lessons am i teaching her by my actions not just my words? Hopefully I will role model what a man, a dad, a partner, a husband, a parent should be.

I would like to share with my daughter on this Father's Day my feelings and beliefs; love learning, be honest, be strong, be responsible, take risks, shoot for the stars, strive for greatness, laugh often, be compassionate, be grateful, be a leader, make a difference, don't be a complainer or whiner, be a contributor, give a 100%, be a giver not a taker, never quit, be happy, stand on my shoulders and make it to the next level and let her know that I always will love her...........


Read Tim Russert's Book.....

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 2- Father's Day

Paul Simon - Father and Daughter


Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1- Father's Day

Luther Vandross - Dance with My Father Again

Friday, June 13, 2008

Tim Russert - Rest In Peace



"In a profession that has become tarnished by partisanship and cheap shots, Tim Russert stood apart. He was fair to all sides, did his homework, reported honestly, and was always a gentleman"
Ronald Kessler

Thought For Day - Sing Your Song - Live Your Life


Robin Sharma


Congratulations Sofia

I celebrate your successful completion of another year of school and another milestone in your life. Keep up the great work. Keep your great spirit, your curiosity, your creativity, your passion and especially your laughter. Success awaits you in everything you do. You start out everyday a 10 and finish it as a 10. I am so proud of you.

All my love,

Dad

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Thought For The Day - Dare To Dream

“Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.” —Teddy Roosevelt


http://www.successmagazine.com/article?articleId=123&taxonomyId=211

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Thought for the Day - Know When To Hold Them

"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand."
--Randy Pausch


Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Thought for the Day - Breakthru Your Limitations




MAUREEN Armstrong stood out among the sea of women who thronged the streets of the capital yesterday.

At 83 years of age, the mother-of-seven and grandmother of 21 children was among the oldest, if not the oldest, of more than 40,000 women who took part in the charity run through Dublin city centre.
While most of her younger counterparts sprinted as fast as they could to raise an estimated €15m for charity, Maureen walked the route at a relatively brisk pace after dozens of red balloons floated into the sunny blue sky at precisely 3pm, signalling the start of the 10km race.

It was the 14th time that Maureen, from Thurles, Tipperary, has taken part in the marathon. And the determined pensioner has vowed it won't be her last.

"I enjoyed every bit of it," she said at the finish line yesterday, where she was given a hero's welcome by a group of supporters from Thurles who came up for the day to cheer her on.
"It was brilliant. It was great all together and I'm delighted to be the oldest one," she told the Irish Independent.
Maureen said her key to success is "just a walk, nice and easy" as she says her daily prayers.
And she has no plans of slowing down any time soon.
"I'll keep going as long as I can. I'm ever-ready, I'm not a bit tired," she said with a smile.

- Allison Bray- Independent .IE

Monday, June 09, 2008

Thought for the Day - TGIM

Thank God It's Monday
JD


Remember when it was TGIF? Well if you don't feel TGIM then you don't love what you do and you need to make a change.

Sunday, June 08, 2008

Success Magazine Interview - Paul Zane Pilzer

I just listened to an excellent interview with Paul Zane Pilzer ( an economist, entrepreneur, college professor and the author of seven best selling books), on the CD that comes with Success Magazine. A couple of points he made stand out, he predicted that in the next ten years 10 million new millionaires will be created in America. The latest research states that:"according to this 2005 article from MarketWatch, 8.9% of Americans are millionaires. That translates to roughly 2.6 million people.". His thinking on this is developed in his book "The Next Millionaires".

He also addressed the nature or nurture argument in achieving personal success and puts forward the idea that it is 10% nature,10% nurture and 80% the choices you make it life. I think that is a dead on observation.

Check out the latest "Success Magazine" and his book.

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 2- It's a Beautiful Life

Ace of Base

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1- Inspirational

Whitney Houston

Saturday, June 07, 2008

Economic Optimism - Big Picture

Just like in our personal lives it is important to keep perspective during the difficult patches. Regarding the economy it's important to look at the long term trends to see both the present economic reality and to see the future possibilities for world economic growth.

Below are just some examples of the significant growth of different countries economies over time. So while any snapshot in time may be less optimistic the overall trend remains positive and supports a point of view of optimism for the growth of wealth in the world.

Russia
Russia's economy grew nearly five-fold, from about 7 trillion rubles in 2000 to almost 33 trillion rubles in the last eight years. The country is basking in a boom fuelled by high oil and natural gas prices

Ireland
When Ireland first joined the EU in 1973, per capita GDP stood at just 63% of the EU average. By 2002, the nation had made such huge strides that it actually ranked among the richest countries in the EU, sporting a GDP of about 120% of the EU average.

United States
In the 20th century, the real standard of living in the United States went up seven for one.

Eastern Europe
On May 1, 2004 European re-unification became a reality when 10 countries in all, 8 from central and eastern Europe, joined the European Union (EU). Latvia, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Poland, Hungary and Lithuania all formally joined the EU on that date. On top of this, two additional members, Romania and Bulgaria, are scheduled to join the Union in May, 2007.
On average, the new Member States posted GDP growth of +3.7% in 2003, a whopping ten times the pace logged for the rest of the EU. In some smaller countries that have seen particularly high foreign investment, the growth rate is even higher.

India
It is one of the fastest growing economy in the world. Indian Economy experienced a GDP growth of 9.0 percent during 2005-06 to 9.4 percent during 2006-07. By 2025 the India's economy is projected to be about 60 per cent the size of the US economy. The transformation into a tri-polar economy will be complete by 2035, with the Indian economy only a little smaller than the US economy but larger than that of Western Europe. By 2035, India is likely to be a larger growth driver than the six largest countries in the EU, though its impact will be a little over half that of the US.
India, which is now the fourth largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity, will overtake Japan and become third major economic power within 10 years.

Books I'm Reading - June 08

I'm working my way through two books right now. One I read before and I'm rereading it .

Rule # 1 - Phil Town

Good in a Room - Stephanie Palmer

The first is about investing and the second is about selling your ideas, projects. and products. So far I'm enjoying and learning new ideas from both books. Reviews will follow.

Friday, June 06, 2008

Thursday, June 05, 2008

Thought for the Day - Power of the Human Spirit

I received this from my cousin Sharon

When we change the way we see the world, we change the world.”

That was the message at the heart of Warren MacDonald’s inspirational presentation at the Esplanade last night.

There are few who understand the powers of perception and positive attitude more than MacDonald. In 1997, MacDonald was climbing Mount Bowen on Australia’s Hinchinbrook Island when a massive slab of rock sheared off the side of the mountain, pinning him beneath it. For two days, he lay trapped under that rock while his climbing partner — a man he had only known for a day — hiked out to get help.

“I knew I was staring down the barrel of my ultimate test,” recalled MacDonald. While he had always enjoyed pushing the limits of his comfort zone through travel and adventure, MacDonald had no idea just how far he would have to push his limits in the months ahead.

While he was eventually rescued off the mountain, MacDonald had to have both his legs amputated above the knee to save his life. He recounted to the Esplanade audience the gut-wrenching feeling he had as the doctor told him the news.

“I cried myself to sleep and woke up the next day to a whole new world,” MacDonald said.

But even though MacDonald’s life changed in that moment, he refused to accept defeat. He began an intensive course of rehabilitation, and before long he was swimming again. He graduated from swimming to hiking in his wheelchair and 10 months after his accident, he climbed Australia’s Cradle Mountain. In 2003, six years after his accident, MacDonald became the first double amputee to climb Africa’s tallest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro.

As an image of himself standing on a mountain peak flashed before the audience, MacDonald said he is still amazed by what humans are capable of when they set their mind to it.

“It absolutely blows me away that someone could go through something like that (his accident), and 10 months later be in a position like that,” he said.

He added if you wait until you have 100 per cent confidence in your ability to do something, you’ll never do it.

“I go by the 70 per cent rule — by the time you’re 70 per cent certain of something, start moving, because it’s only when you start moving that the other 30 per cent falls into place,” he said.

From Med Hat news
http://www.mdhnews.com

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Thought for the Day - Do What You Love

"Doing something I really loved served my career more than anything else, except for my wife and family"

Stephen J Cannell - Writer / Producer


I couldn't agree more. I had the pleasure of working with Stephen on two films and he's truly a great guy who walks his talk.

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Thought for the Day - Be Grateful

Sunday I took a walk on Venice Beach and stopped and took some time to appreciate the beauty of the ocean. I feel grateful to be here. I remember many years ago when I visited the Santa Monica Pier. It was cold January back in my hometown of New York and everyone was lying on the beach. I made a decision in that moment that I would live here. A few years later I moved to California. I feel grateful for that decision and all that has expanded in my life. I try to make the time every day to say thanks for all the blessings in my life. I find it to be a very helpful ritual.....

Monday, June 02, 2008

Big Ideas - Futurist Ray Kurzweil - # 2

Singularity Summit - Artificial Intelligence

Thought for the Day - Life's Not a Fairy Tale

Expect the Best but Prepare For the Worst.

Robin Sharma

Im my line of work I always expect the best and aim for it but I always have a plan B, C, D and many more. Life rarely goes as planned so we need to be flexible and be prepared to shift gears on a dime.

Sunday, June 01, 2008

Welcome to The Future # 2 - Avatars For Web Marketing

Here is another cutting edge tool for your web site, marketing and...

http://walkontechnologies.com/

Welcome to The Future - Holographic Technology

Amazing new emerging technologies. Check this out......

Cisco On-Stage TelePresence Holographic Video Conferencing
World’s first Live Holographic Video Feed from California, USA to Bangalore, India

http://www.musion.co.uk/Cisco_TelePresence.html

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 2 - Jimi Hendrix

A Jimi Hendrix Sunday

This one is for you Paul J....

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1- French - Isabelle Boulay - Je t'oublierai