From The Titanic To The Ark

In Memory of Selim Gabriel Saab

2010-12-18T14:08:00.002-07:00

Dear Family and Friends -

On Thursday, December 16th, Selim passed away.

He is terribly missed by his wife Andrea and her daughters, Alexandra and Amanda Maw.

There are no words....Thank God for the outpouring of love, hugs and encouragement from family and friends over these several days. Thank you for being here for us. There have been very few moments without big strong arms around us.

In his letter to me, Selim asked that we bid goodbye to all of his friends. Under the circumstances, we have done our very best to share this news with you personally and are very sorry if we have not already been able to reach you.

Selim was a very proud man who wanted the best for us with all his heart. We were challenged with very tough economic conditions here in Arizona and we had run out of capital. With the emotional strain of the prospects of losing our home and all that we had built through the boom years, he felt we had run out of obvious options in the short term - he did not have the energy for a new start nor for the long tough road ahead.

He loved Andrea, Alexandra, Amanda and his three precious Goldens - Charlie, Max and Lucky, and our many family and friends.

We are holding a private memorial service to celebrate Selim's life in our home at Casa Paradiso in Paradise Valley, AZ on Tuesday, December 21 at 2:30 pm. Please let us know if we may have missed contacting anyone here in Arizona that may wish to join us.

We send our love, and our best wishes for the holidays. This will be our time for the three of us to reflect on the 10 years of amazing love that we shared with our Prince, Friend, Stepdad, Sage, Soul Mate and our Angel - it is a privilege for the three of us to have been loved so deeply - and to hold his love in our hearts as we look to our path forward. We know that path will have many helping hands and hearts - for that we are grateful.

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness and appreciate your support and encouragement over the coming months. We know this will be a painful journey ahead for the three of us. Thankfully we have all of you to buoy our spirits - we are already being strengthened to move forward with full hearts and optimism!

We ask that you please not send flowers and have established an account in support of the family in memory of Selim Gabriel Saab. Please email for instructions at asaab@mac.com .

xoxo

In Love

Andrea, Alexandra and Amanda

The 'A' Team + Princess Warriors

IMF World Labor Market in Catastrophic Crisis - Calling All Entrepreneurs!

2010-09-13T20:28:00.001-07:00

Just sent these thoughts to my partners Alexandra and Anthony who will be speaking to a high school class about "What Inspired Them" to start our company Blackbird Naturals.

Coincident, today the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Dominique Strauss-Kahn, at the Conference “The Challenges of Growth, Employment and Social Cohesion” read a document written between the IMF and the ILO, said that “the labor market is in a catastrophic situation” and he recalled that this crisis “has not ended yet,” it has changed the economic structures of the countries and tested their economic models. The report says that the unemployment rate has increased the most in those countries, U.S. and Spain, due to their excessive dependence – and abuse- on the housing sector.

“This crisis, the worst in history, has left an army with no comparison,” Strauss-Kahn said.

The Managing Director of the IMF highlighted that the unemployment among young people in Spain reaches 40%, which doubles the figure before the crisis (end of 2007 and beginning of 2008) and he stressed that if effective measures are not implemented, “we will be talking about a lost generation.”

Strauss-Kahn reiterated that the capitalist crisis is not going to stop, just as unemployment; therefore, he insisted on “the necessity of changing our way to think and our policies.”

“This crisis is not like any other. Game"s rules have changed. This acid test cannot be solved with old recipes,” he underscored."

Here are the thoughts I shared:

I think this is a very interesting situation that worldwide the labor market is catastrophic - youth in many places around the world even after graduating with degrees are not finding jobs....the article says below that it will not be inverted with "old prescriptions" or old recipes.

Interestingly, we have seen as our mission to not only create a success with our "conscious commerce", however also help others through our mentoring and coaching on how to start their own businesses...people will have to become innovative and become entrepreneurs with other like minded people to start businesses that really start to solve some problems and fulfill needs...these are not things readily taught in school which is still somewhat of the old paradigm!

I was just reviewing, summarizing and expanding on my personal goals this week (in with my chickens) and my biggest goal of all is to teach others how to fulfill their own vision and goals, primarily by encouraging them to start their own businesses! The information in this article is evidence, right now, here on the leading edge so to speak, of the reality of not just this country but the situation globally. It is time to take ones own destiny into ones own hands and get at it instead of waiting for jobs and for an economy to come back...it isn't going to come back...the entire financial and economic system based on old paradigms is literally breaking down...yet it is making room for something exciting to emerge to takes its place when seen this way...we are in for a transformative time...and it is time to get smart, nimble, find some genuine needs to fulfill or problems to solve, unearth and express ones own genius...and for any young people the time to start is now by creating visions and goals - and trust that the inspirations for the paths forward will begin emerging instantly!

"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back-- Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now." W.H. Murray

Sitting Next To The Giants - Technology Is The Great Equalizer

2010-09-07T23:49:00.003-07:00

Right Brain Left Brain

2010-08-29T11:58:00.001-07:00

"If you're not a content creator, wait a while. The 21st century is to content creators what the Industrial Revolution was to factory workers: In a world where information is superabundant, unique and creative ideas are hot-ticket advantages both personally and professionally. More and more people are finding more and more ways to parent, make money, find friends, and generally live well by relying on creativity. I've seen this shift among my life-coaching clients. For instance: Michaela develops financial-planning strategies for stay-at-home moms. Mary runs a long-distance mother's support group via Skype. Alyssa's innovative T-shirt designs keep selling, recession or no recession. The demand for creative thinking is both a challenge and an opportunity. It requires us to use more than the logical left-brain skills we learned in school. These days, we all need to get back into our right minds." Martha Beck
http://www.oprah.com/article/omagazine/200911-omag-beck-right-brain

‘Right brain’ thinking (Random, Intuitive, Holistic, Synthesizing, Subjective, Looks at wholes) instead of ‘left brain’ thinking (Logical, Sequential, Rational, Analytical, Objective, Looks at parts - taught to the masses since their earliest indoctrination sessions in schools) in tandem with heart intelligence, will lead us to creating our "Heaven on Earth"!

In his fascinating book The Talent Code, Daniel Coyle describes how the brain reacts when a person develops a new skill. Performing an action involves firing an electrical signal through a neural pathway; each time this happens, it thickens the myelin sheath that surrounds nerve fibers like the rubber coating on electrical wires. The thicker the myelin sheath around a neural pathway, the more easily and effectively we use it. Heavily myelinated pathways equal mad skills.

Throughout your education, you myelinated the left-brain pathways for thinking logically. You were prepared for predictability and order, not today's constant flood of innovation and change. Now you need to build up myelin sheaths around new skill circuits, located in your right hemisphere. To do this, you need something Coyle calls deep practice.

Deep practice is the same no matter what the skill. First visualize an ability you'd like to acquire—swimming like Dara Torres, painting like Grandma Moses, handling iron rods like Uncle Phineas. Then try to replicate that behavior. Initially, you'll fail. That's good; failure is an essential element of deep practice. Next, analyze your errors, noting exactly where your performance didn't match your ideal. Now try again. You'll still probably fail (remember, that's a good thing), but in Samuel Beckett's words, you'll "fail better."

Becoming A Recognized Industry Expert Can Pay Dividends

2010-08-25T09:19:00.002-07:00

Blackbird was recently invited on to a panel for Social Media PR for Food & Beverages: Best Practices Workshop. "

Veteran food and beverage communicators and social media experts share their experiences in creating high-impact social media marketing."

Blackbird, as a small family business, made the point by our our presence and said so for the record, that the Internet is the great equalizer evidenced by our sitting along side General Mills and Taco Bell! We were singled out for our creative use of video as a very powerful and effective tool in sharing our ideas with our community!

The dividends for participating in events as a speaker is the leverage of PR that results from the professional promotion of the event by the organizer that has a far greater reach than a small business may have - an excellent opportunity to leverage to enhance traffic back to your website. Plus the information is a permanent record on the Internet coming up in search engine results as highly credible stories that can support a view of the company's community engagement and industry credibility over the longer term!

Here is the brochure as an idea of our participation - this may give you ideas on how you can create similar engagement in the areas of your interests and endeavors. http://www.infocomgroup.net/foodbev/foodbev.pdf

Gerald Celente - What's Your Ark?

2010-08-16T23:13:00.001-07:00

We're starting our series called What's Your Ark? We are going to begin developing the idea of what various people are doing in this times of so called challenge. Those who roll up their shirt sleeves are busy looking for the treasure in these times, and many will create incredible opportunities by using entrepreneurial spirit and creative thinking for innovation.

We'll showcase what our readers and our mentors are doing to inspire others! Here's someone who has been a tremendous guide about the economy over the past several years, and his views have proven to be insightful.
Gerald Celente

Gerald Celente, who has been advising people about the coming Crash, and more important, how to prepare, addresses the top things we can do in this radio interview - have a listen -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6jhWGrmk0U&feature=player_embedded - hope you enjoy!

Here are our notes:

The key idea here is that since this so called recovery is impossible without jobs, in his view it is looking like the Crash of 2010 is underway...and in order to turn things around, Americans need to once again become a nation of crafts people, tradesman, merchants and manufacturers to replace what has become a service economy of clerks, shelf stockers and cashiers, which jobs are dying. Saving the domestic economy by buying local instead of from other countries is key. Buying local organic foods to take care of ones health ranks #1 on his list, and at #4 is Becoming self sufficient by ripping out our lawns to begin producing. Enjoy!

#1 - Watch what you eat - get in shape - become healthy - spiritually, emotionally, physically - only the strong will survive the coming crash...so buy local and organic food from farmers markets instead of the WalMarts (talks about corn syrup injected into almost everything Americans eat which has been debilitating on health)

#2 - Meditate

#3 - Learn to protect yourself - when people lose everything and they have nothing left to lose, they lose it

#4 - Become self sufficient - rip up useless lawns and start producing instead so you don't have to spend a dime you don't have to

#5 - When you do spend that dime, invest it in yourself, in your family and those close to you that you trust - and only buy quality

#6 - Be prepared in the event of calamity - have provisions for staying put, and have a plan for leaving if need be

#7 - Protect against any currency devaluations with precious metals, or cash on hand in the event of bank holidays

Find more about Gerald Celente at http://www.trendsresearch.com/gerald.htmland his views at http://www.trendsresearch.com/journal.html .

Cheep Cheep Is A Very Big Girl!

2010-08-10T16:52:00.000-07:00

After getting our baby chicks in June, and building an amazing chicken coop in July so that we could move those girls from the cozy garage to their secure and fantastic new digs....we are now focussing on a few new product launches for Blackbird, while getting one store after another set up with our Cacao Fudge Truffles at Whole Foods. Life is great and busy when you jump in with both feet!

Visit our post at Blackbird to see our pictures of Cheep Cheep at three weeks old after she and I did her therapy to learn to walk...and a picture of her in almost the same pose six weeks later - amazing! Can't wait for her amazing eggs which will taste all the better for what she and I accomplished. Meanwhile, here's my baby!

Prudence Health Guide

2010-08-06T22:21:00.005-07:00

Alongside building our Blackbird Naturals business, I am also building a website designed to generate advertising and affiliate commission from the traffic that I expect to develop coming to the site. My site is called Prudence Health Guide - Hear the truth from experts to help you manage optimal health!

Firstly, Prudence is the name of one of our chicks (she is now a big girl so we can call her a chicken)! Secondly, there is tremendous search engine traffic generated with the use of healthy related keywords including anything from weight loss to antioxidants to anti-aging. I am learning how to build my own websites in addition to understanding what it takes to become noticed in the search engines when someone needs information on a subject related to my site.

The premise of Prudence Health Guide is to provide key information from a handful of widely followed experts relating to key health concerns. Nowhere is there a compilation of the view of many of today's medical thought leaders' point of view on vital issues. Prudence Health Guide is a very simple, informative compilation of the things that affect wellness rather that treat illness - though we do offer information relating to some prevelant conditions that may provide some insight. The idea being that this site becomes a stepping stone for further research for a visitor, and empowers them to link through to important information on each of the topics covered. We hope you enjoy!

Visit Prudence Health Guide at www.PrudenceHealthGuide.com - you'll be glad you did! With Love, Prudence

AZ Core Properties

2010-08-05T14:55:00.000-07:00

We've been busy with great success with Blackbird Naturals - the best way to build our ARK is to become self sufficient by developing entrepreneurial skills. With time, we'll be summarizing the process that includes envisioning our business, choosing partners who empower and encourage, creating our business, setting up operations, developing our marketing and sales plan, creating community, and creating a bigger cause ie Blackbird Naturals Organic Gardens and Food Forests that pulls the Blackbird into exponential development. More on that coming shortly.

In the meanwhile, we have been working closely with other family and friends to assist and support in helping them develop their businesses. Laurel and Mario have been hard at work in the very challenging environment of real estate here in Arizona working with Canadian buyers who perceive great value in our local real estate. We are in process of building their website at www.azcoreproperties.com which will become a comprehensive guide to their buyers. Included in their strategy of education, you will soon find many informative videos at AZ Core TV - enjoy!

20 Weeks Into Our New Business

2010-07-26T22:28:00.003-07:00

We have just been accepted to Whole Foods! Visit Blackbird Naturals for updates on our accomplishments of this 5 months!

12 weeks Into Our New Business

2010-05-19T22:59:00.005-07:00

We're running at break neck speed and coming up for air - there are many observations to be made about starting one's own business - 12 weeks in and we're feelin' the love! We have new accounts and meeting with Whole Foods this week - wish us luck! We're rolling truffles like there is no tomorrow! And we're definitely not making a living just yet however we are so stoked about what we are in the process of creating.
My two partners and I are definitely all feeling "fully self expressed"! Nothing better in the world to be expressing our talents 100% or greater. (Feels like greater everytime we make the mad dash to the post office to meet shipping deadlines!!) So love this quote on Anthony's site and more to come on hopefully inspiring others to become independent by looking at what it is that is our "sweet spot" and, some how making more space in our life to express more of it - eventually it can turn into a business plan and rock your world! As I said to my girlfriend Viv, start noticing what it is that you authentically contribute to any situation that gives you more energy than it takes!!

Perhaps there is a real tie in as to why we started our organic foods company Blackbird Naturals since the base of our creative energy starts with our physical health! xoxo

An entrepreneur is really a free-range animal.

Factory Farms? Feedlots? Um...not anymore.

I feel there is a correlation -

The better you eat -

The more your mind breaks free from societal conditioning -

So...the quicker you take your destiny into your own hands

and become an entrepreneur involved in Conscious Commerce.

Anthony Anderson

Co-Founder Blackbird Naturals

Author RawModel.com

Updated October 2010 - New Branding!

What Could You Do With 8 Weeks?

2010-04-19T22:09:00.002-07:00

No I didn't say 9 1/2 weeks!

I have been MIA since mid-February - 8 weeks ago due to having been over come with an affliction - 8 weeks ago I started a new business and am just coming up for air literally today after going live on our website. I am one of three Co-founders along with my daughter Alexandra and our friend Anthony... the rest of the story is at http://blackbirdnaturals.com/.

I had intended to post my next series of articles on Vision and Goal Setting. It was clear to me about four years ago that my career success would be dependent on some kind of entrepreneurial enterprise and that the only way to create a successful business was in partnership. Well, I have done exactly both - started a business and done so with amazing partners! Two keys in my view!

Interesting how Universe will deliver the exact perfect opportunity to exercise that which we intend to create. Not only did the perfect business emerge...as you know from any interaction with me that my true love is coaching others. The only way that I can teach, manage or coach anyone is by literally having been in the trenches slogging it out myself, and then sharing what I have learnt.

Well, my business has provided me with the raw material to begin creating financial independence for my partners and me, and using that as a springboard to help guide others through the process of creating a business leveraging ones own unique abilities.

Furthermore, I have personally experienced a varied career that has involved being employed by major corporations to small business, and being involved in everything from high technology to real estate to network marketing. One of the major learning curves for me in network marketing was experiencing how to work with the gamut of folks from every walk of life and engaging with them in a win/win and entirely self motivated way. This is very different from working for organizations where some of the directive in the hands of a manager or leader is conferred upon them by virtue of their position within the company and the employee's requirement for the job and pay check. You get my meaning here, don't you? It means that there's a boss who has the power to hire and fire, and employees who need their jobs and paychecks. As far as I'm concerned, if any operation is working on such an outdated model, it deserves to die as can be witnessed by many businesses crumbling - the old patriarchal paradigm of power and control is giving way to welcome collaboration where interests of all people involved are considered - that is sustainable business - a win/win/win!

I believe that our success (as individuals, families and communities) and opportunity in the coming years lies in employing our unique abilities in such a way as to create a greater value for others than the energy we personally expend in doing so - easily done when we are excited about what we do and that largely has to do with using one's unique abilities - thereby creating a sustaining business that brings us joy and others value. That said, we have much to learn on jumping over to what may feel like a more daring track from the the well worn supposedly secure track that most of us have been conditioned to as employees - through years of service and before that, years of education. Nothing like a recession (and by many indicators these times could be called a depression depending on whether you lost your job or still have it) to shake things up. Statistics are already showing that more small businesses have been started that would not have been had we not had an economic downturn. I can attest to that!

Originally my daughter Alexandra, and I did not move forward with the very business plan that landed us an entrepreneurial grant from ASU four years ago because of the recession. Our concern was finding and employing a couple of hundred thousand dollars and making it pay off in a short period of time...so we waited. Eventually we found a far better way of establishing our company that involved virtually zero capital and made it a no brainer to start. It was all about recognizing when there is an intersection of talent and opportunity! Meanwhile, within 8 weeks, our little family company is operating on its own cash flow - a feat in any economy! I'll be telling you about the key major milestones in upcoming posts as a guide to have you start thinking about the business that you may have been dreaming about.

Check out our website. From there, we'll discuss creating your own vision, establishing compelling goals and I'll use my little venture as a perfect showcase to highlight key distinctions that one would consider in all aspects of being at purpose in your life! Just the act of starting literally drops the walls of fear right down in front of your feet that become stepping stones to the next achievement - trust me - it is pretty amazing when you put your dreams into action and keep your eyes open - the guidance is all around - more on that upcoming! Big hugs in the meanwhile, Andrea

Heart - It Pays To Use Your Heart Over Your Head

2010-02-10T14:32:00.037-07:00

Insights/Distinctions: A fundamental truth about this five sense experience is that we get to experience our separateness and our connectedness! Interestingly, what separates us is very little.We are truly here to give love and receive love – perhaps that is the essence of creating “heaven on earth”!

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage."  –Lao Tzu

The Adventure Begins Within

Joe Vitale writes in his book Zero Limits - "The purpose of life is to be restored back to love, moment to moment."

“Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.” Carl Jung

Standing in Love

Stephanie Austin, professional astrologer, summarizes – “The Uranus opposition to Saturn that has been in progress from Fall 2008 to continue into July 2010 is presenting us with choices – democracy versus hierarchy, standing in love instead of collapsing in fear, waking up instead of staying asleep.” .

This era is bringing about change and new ideas to evolve and transform, resulting in tremendous resistance and fear and a longing for the past. Notice that this opposition has been concurrent with a recession of historic proportions – talk about being in the midst of a major breakdown. So are we going to resist with fear or be open minded and explore possibilities and opportunity?

While a breakdown of any kind can be frightening on the surface, it is simply a deconstruction of what exists in order to clear the path for new creation. The key is to be able to remain in the creative flow rather than getting stopped by fear particularly with events that are a long time unfolding.

Seeing From a Mile High

David Icke illustrates this by saying, “Heart – Sees the river from source to sea; Mind/Body – Sees the next bend.” The photograph above is of the Amazon River.

Heart and mind work hand in glove to provide a different dimension to our experience just as love and fear do. Fear has its place as a very useful tool - as a way to mobilize tremendous energy. However, when we are in fear we cannot creatively guide and direct that energy. So a way back into the creative flow is by engaging heart intelligence – when we act through the head we do so seeing differentiation in the world around us which leads us towards separation.

Knowing What To Do

David Icke reminds us, “If people come from the heart they will know what to do – come from the head and there will be a long list of why it can’t work – heart domination for consciousness instead of mind domination. Stay awake. Follow the path of Love, and the Universe will open its path to take you to safety. Just open your heart and listen to where it points.”

Law of Attraction
Here is one of the most valuable distinctions that I have uncovered to date based on an ancient problem solving art from the Hawaiian culture called Ho’oponopno based on work by Dr. Hew Len as summarized by Joe Vitale – “Inspiration is more important than intention. Intention is a toy of the mind; inspiration is a directive from the Divine (his favorite term for source or God or oneness). At some point you'll surrender and start listening, rather than begging and waiting. Intention is trying to control life based on the limited view of the ego; inspiration is receiving a message from the Divine and then acting on it. Intention works and brings results; inspiration works and brings miracles. Which do you prefer?”

Interconnectedness

Here is a fascinating discussion from Intelligent Infinity – The Awakening Project, “What lets us know we are on the correct path and working most effectively with the nature of soul evolution? Well, to answer this you must ask the source of your manifestation, not your brain. It is the pinprick access point to zero point energy within all of us - our heart. Love is the ultimate key. If you wish to develop your meta human abilities and further your evolution you must start with an open heart. This is easy to see even from behind the veil. As I mentioned in the beginning, evolution is an ecosystem. That inherently means that all the levels are dependent on one another to survive and thrive. The levels feed off of each other and when honor and love are shared with all, balance is strong, and evolution is advanced through life. Love is the primary factor in raising new life. Through love, compassion and acceptance of each other as a part of this interconnectedness within the web of life, we find inner peace in our unboundlessness. Children, new life, would die without love. Our hearts are needed more, to further life, than any logical activity of the brain. The brain is only good at comparing similarities and differences, while the heart, and love, shows the way back into unity and the inherent oneness of all things.”

Courage and Power

These three treasures I guard, [love], [contentment], and [humility]. As Lao Tzu notes, only the loving can be courageous, only those who are content can be magnanimous, and only the humble have the authority from Universe to lead.

Bill Birnes speaks of Admiral
George Hoover – “He said that the biggest secret is the fact that we human beings are more powerful than we have ever dreamed that we are. That is the biggest secret. We don’t know our own power.”

Quick Tip: To quickly and simply shift to heart domination, imagine breathing through your heart, and imagine that your heart energy radiates in a large circle around you - that you are breathing into the web of connectedness! Here's to appreciating each and every breath!

Find Your Dream Job By Using Your Unique Talents and Genius

2010-02-08T17:25:00.011-07:00

Key Distinctions/Insights: Any significant accomplishment usually requires the involvement of many people. What if you could simply understand the unique genius of individuals, and further, to be able to assemble teams where genius and talents were complementary to others on the team to produce the required results?

“All children are born geniuses; 9,999 are swiftly and inadvertently degeniusized by grownups." Buckminster Fuller

Talents Versus Skills
Here is a very useful distinction as a starting point from Steven Covey’s The 8^th Habit where he writes – “There’s a common misconception that a person’s skill is their talent. Skills, however, are not talents. Talents, on the other hand, require skills. People can have skills and knowledge in areas where their talents do not lie. If they have a job that requires their skills but not their talents, organizations will never tap into their passion or voice. They’ll go through the motions, but this will only make them appear to need external supervision and motivation.”

“The key to creating passion in your life is to find your unique talents and your special role and purpose in the world. It is essential to know yourself before you decide what work you want to do”.

What and How of Talents

Talents can be understood in terms of ‘what you do and importantly, how you do it.’

When we recognize that we have striving instincts and are free to use them, our instincts can become our energy sources that propel us toward personal productivity. The job of leaders is to manage for results rather than manage the process.

As Kathy Kolbe writes in her book Pure Instinct, “The joy in the creative process comes through productive effort. When all hope for attaining the thrill of success is put out of reach, it follows that many people will turn to artificial ‘highs’. History will undoubtedly take note of our era, one in which human beings’ instincts to strive have been largely ignored. Substance abuse is rampant, along with crime, suicide, and failed relationships. Self-confidence, the by-product of productivity, has eroded along with the economy.”

Acting on Instinct

Kathy Kolbe has identified four primary sources of energy:

The probing instinct creates a need to investigate in depth.

The patterning instinct causes us to seek a sense of order.

The innovating instinct is the force behind experimentation.

The demonstrating instinct converts ideas into tangible form.

Each of us operates using these four sources of energy however we do so from differing perspectives or operating zones. We either 'will',' won’t' or 'be willing'.

Freedom To Be Yourself

Kathy says, “My definition of success – the freedom to be yourself – is tied to the Striving Instincts and their Operating Zones. Successful people are those who have found paths that allow them to use their instinctive powers freely without stepping on others."

Action Modes

Each action mode leads us to perform in a certain way.

Fact Finder is the instinct to probe – relating to gathering information – some people have to define their options and examine possibilities in great depth becoming experts or authorities in specific areas while others are generalists who attack a broader scope of pursuits

Follow Through is the instinct to pattern – relating to structure – ranging from acting sequentially to sporadically

Quick Start is the instinct to innovate – relating to a perspective of risk – ranging from being highly negotiable to irrevocable – people who initiate Quick Start create the chaos that others have to clean up but in the process these change makers add vision and risk to the mix

Implementor is the instinct to demonstrate – relating to objects and physical space – through use of three dimensional or tangible implements or tools – some people are hands-on needing movement and space, building solutions rather than talking about them

True Equality

“Everyone has the same amount of instinctive power – and an equal need to act freely according to those instincts.”

Examples

Here is my Kolbe Index A - briefly I am an 'Innovator' - in other words I will use innovation to problem solve. Starting with my longest Striving Instinct since that mode is the most predominant - I initiate in Quick Start (long green) creating innovation and original ideas, seeking challenges, taking risks and acting on intuition.

Here is the Koble Index A for my friend Colleen (see her profile) - she is a 'Strategic Planner' - who uses a strategic way of problem solving. We are unalike and therefore highly complementary - we make a great team. Starting with her longest Striving Instinct which is her most predominant, Colleen initiates in Fact Finder so she will collect data, analyze, define options and examine possibilities and in Follow Through, she follows procedures, maintains order and she completes what she sets out to do. In Quick Start she is a great check by providing stability to my instinct for innovation and risk.

Coping

Imagine the freedom and relief for the Quick Start child who has to contend with a school system designed by Follow Throughs that works best for students with the same profile - that Quick Start child could be considered ADD (Attention Deficit Order) to a teacher struggling to maintain order and a systematic approach within the classroom. Kathy once told a Quick Start child, who wanted to be a musician, to consider the teacher to be like the band leader who keeps everyone on the same page - this helped the child to understand in his own terms how to create harmony with his teacher's mode of striving. The shift can be that simple!

Famous People

Follow Throughs - Aristotle created the terminology that scientists use today - he was the great organizer who founded and classified the various sciences; Melvil Dewey set up the Dewey Decimal System for library classification.

Implementors - Thomas Edison worked with physical objects in all his experimentation.

5% of the population will have your particular MO whereas 95% of people won't be able to do it your way! That allows each of us to appreciate that we have unique talents to contribute and by being free to do so, can create joy and fulfillment all around!

Quick Tip: Taking your Kolbe Index A takes about 20 minutes by answering approximately 40 most likely/least likely questions - the Index A result is good for life since in most instances your Striving Instinct varies little if at all throughout your lifetime. You can visit Kathy Kolbe’s site to take the Index A on-line.

Also visit Oprah's site for an article written by Martha Beck to give you her summary of the Kolbe wisdom.

Enjoy Kathy's recent book!

Valentine's Day - Make It Extraordinary

2010-02-01T00:44:00.002-07:00

Firstly, the greatest gift we can give to the world is truly loving ourselves! That is one of the most healing of all acts in the world as it prepares the bedrock for all our acts of compassion and kindness for others! In that case, why not spend some thought on how to demonstrate that love and get in the habit of being kind to yourself. Here are some ideas to inspire. Spending money is not the object - many ideas will not involve buying something to evoke your love and passion - a simple homemade card with poem as a gift or doing together what you both love. In any event, go ahead and enjoy yourself! It's the experience of your creativity at work and the act of giving that matters - and one of the biggest gifts we can give is our time!

Kind Over Matter

Start With Homemade!

Give your loved one a gift to sponsor their own creativity...truly priceless! When you do spend money, do so as an investment. I promise you that when you make space in your life for creativity in smaller ways, you build a path of confidence to allow creativity to show up in bigger ways. Let your imagination loose and begin to "experience" creativity - in simple arts and crafts, bringing beauty into your environment, connecting with the earth, nature, your food and so on. Step away from you computer and tv for awhile - embrace your hobbies and create new ones to encourage that creative force to flow through you. Let Valentine's be a catalyst for opening up that powerful channel within you - whatever it is you do, do it with passion!

Inspire the green thumb - start doing some of the things you love! You do have time - truly you do.

Or visit the nursery for plants that just need water and light!

Connect with nature in your own backyard!

Sweets!

Make your garden beautiful to greet the Spring sun for your vitamin D3!

Reading!

Flowers burst with amazing energy - that's why women love to receive flowers!

Quick Tips: For more ideas and inspiration for giving, browse From Titanic To Ark store - and click on some of the photos above for links - order on line for convenience or better...visit your favorite local small neighborhood shops for an outing while you help keep them in business and strengthen your local community - make it yours!

The Power of Two or More

2010-02-01T00:30:00.002-07:00

Key Distinctions/Insights: Since we can't get there by ourselves, our greatest contribution will be in adding value by becoming part of a community where we can work together collaboratively to mutual benefit.

We will likely start to see the organic emergence of SOCs (Self Organizing Collectives) each with unique values, purpose, objectives, and commitments. Keep your eyes peeled for an evolution of our relationships and communities in response to unfolding events.

Three Generations Working - The emergence of SOCs may become apparent in your life in small ways. In my life, my vision of a 'three generational family' is beginning to emerge where each generation brings special knowledge and qualities to the others. Besides education, as we create self sufficient environments, we'll appreciate the physical effort that everyone can contribute relating to growing, harvesting and preserving healthy foods; making things for personal use; and creating value within a larger community, and so on. Here are four generations at the Ellms Family Farm in Ballston Spa, New York raising pumpkins and Christmas trees.

Buy To Share - Financial Times February 15, 2010 Members of a London art-buying group pool their knowledge, enthusiasm and £35 a month to build a shared collection to hang in their homes.

Bee Colony - Australian Research Council project Adaptiveness of Self-oganized Collective Decision Making - Groups of humans or animals often make decisions collectively without any central control or coordination. The paradigmatic example of self-organized groups are colonies of social insects whose strikingly organized and seemingly purposeful behavior at the group level is organized without any central "master plan". Despite the involvement of up to millions of individuals, there is no leader making the decisions: the complex behavior at the colony level emerges from simple interactions between myriads of individuals that only process local information.

Start Small - Napoleon Hill has this to say about the power of two or more: "Unlimited power may be available when two or more people coordinate their thoughts and actions in a spirit of perfect harmony for the attainment of a definite purpose. A Master Mind alliance involves two or more people working together in perfect harmony toward the attainment of a common purpose. Such a partnership creates a superpower that enables each of its members to do far more than either would have been able to achieve separately. Choose your Master Mind partners carefully. Align yourself with people whose strengths complement yours. If you are a right brain person, for example, a logically-driven left brain person may be a perfect counterbalance to your creative bent. Above all, choose to associate only with people who share your positive values and your commitment to similar levels of achievement." Here is my favorite book by Napoleon Hill!

Let us know of your examples!

Integrating - Body, Mind, Heart and Spirit

2010-01-23T01:10:00.018-07:00

Insights/Distinctions: For years I have considered the notion of living a balanced life as very important however in practice, it seemed elusive. I wasn’t entirely certain what balanced meant. How far do I need to move the needle on the gauge in one area of my life to get things on course without another area coming off course in the process of diverting my attention?

After having read Stephen Covey's "The 8th Habit - From Effectiveness to Greatness" a few years back, I was able to see things from a different perspective. "At the core, there is one simple, overarching reason why so many people remain unsatisfied in their work and why most organizations fail to draw out the greatest talent, ingenuity and creativity of their people and never become truly great, enduring organizations. It stems from an incomplete paradigm of who we are - our fundamental view of human nature. The fundamental reality is, human beings are not things needing to be motivated and controlled; they are four dimensional - body, mind, heart and spirit."

While he applies this comment to the workplace, I saw value in my professional and personal life. I didn't need a gas pedal and brake - I needed to be concerned for every aspect (body, mind, heart and spirit) concurrent with the others rather than at their expense since our problems, issues, and opportunities involve all four aspects. In this regard, was I aligning my own values, commitments and actions with this whole-person paradigm? It seemed to me that an obvious clue can be found in how we allocate our own personal resources - the investment that we make in ourselves with our time and money, our investment in our relationships, and in our willingness for continual growth.

Here is a simple way that Stephen Covey organizes his thinking around the whole-person paradigm that is a highly effective framework for creating lives of enjoyment, satisfaction and success through 2010! I even included these tables in my "vision board" to inform my personal Ten Year Vision.

Four Human Needs

Body - To Live (Survival)

Mind - To Learn (Growth and Development)

Heart - To Love (Relationships)

Spirit - To Leave a Legacy (Meaning and Contribution)

So in order to simply and best fulfill our needs....

Body - Keeping arteries clear

Mind - Continually Learning

Heart - Involving others

Spirit - Living as though life is guided by a higher wisdom

Applying the Whole-Person Paradigm to how we see employees...

...and relating those to how we govern our own conduct with those around us. In running our own business or working for an employer with responsibility for others, it is important that we make the distinction between management and leadership. A simple view is that we manage things (budgets, plans, accounts receivable) and we lead people. Here leadership can refer to personal leadership as it relates to our own professional and personal lives.

Stephen Covery points out, "The new Knowledge Worker Age is based on a new paradigm, one entirely different than the thing paradigm of the Industrial Age...people have choices. Consciously or subconsciously, people decide how much of themselves they will give to their work depending on how they are treated and on their opportunities to use all four parts of their nature. These choices range from rebelling or quitting to creative excitement. One who is paid fairly, treated kindly, used creatively and given opportunities to serve human needs in principled ways - makes one of the upper three choices of cheerful cooperation, heartfelt commitment or creative excitement." We choose to engage or withhold in personal relationships all the time. You can read about a very lovely young man who realized this for himself recently! How happy for his family that he had this insight!

And finally, Steven Covey suggests making these four simple assumptions to "immediately begin leading a more balanced, integrated, powerful life."

For the Body - assume you've had a heart attack; now live accordingly

For the Mind - assume the half-life of your profession is two years; now prepare accordingly

For the Heart - assume everything you say about another, they can overhear; now speak accordingly

For the Spirit - assume you have a one-on-one with your Creator every quarter; now live accordingly

Personal Story: Whether you have teenagers, are married, are an employee, someone's boss or partner, this is fantastic food for thought! I quit a previous job that paid me fairly (Body), used me creatively (Mind), however did not consistently treat stakeholders fairly (Heart), and did not consistently act in principled ways (Spirit). When we are clear about our own values and principles, we are sometimes called upon by our "whole person being" to make what can feel like difficult though right decisions. This is where we experience the largest personal growth when called upon to demonstrate personal leadership in regards to oneself or those within our family or community. Otherwise, we will continue to get what we are willing to put up with! The Abraham-Hicks teachings say that there are no limits to our joyous journeys to experience. Isn't it time to begin creating the life we wish for?!

Quick Tip: I found "The 8th Habit" by Stephen Covey to be invaluable to me as a manager and leader responsible for highly productive teams and in charge of nurturing and growing my family. This book also contains fantastic information about Finding Ones Own Voice and then Helping Others to Find Theirs. I will discuss in future posts how we reach inside ourselves and others to discover and engage genius, talents and passionate engagement. This has very practical application to families, business and any of the communities we belong to. Enjoy!

Integrating - Personal Story

2010-01-22T23:44:00.006-07:00

Here is a beautiful summary of the impact that the whole-person paradigm (Integrating - Body, Mind, Heart and Spirit) can have on any community - in this case, the impact of a team mentored, coached and led my this amazing woman for the organization she worked for. I know of her results first hand - I lead the sales and marketing teams - my teams made the promises, her teams fulfilled on the promises!
Colleen says, "I had an "aha" moment when I read the 8th Habit a couple years ago. The principles laid out in the book mirrored what I had been feeling from the first day I started working years ago. I was in a position of leadership at my last job and finally had a chance to put these principles into practice. The result was that I lead a department that was often called out as an example of a highly effective department to others. I was often asked by employees outside of the department if we had an opening because they wanted to be a part of what we were doing. I'll be honest, my methods were not always accepted by senior management but fortunately I was given the latitude to make my own choices. There was always a small struggle when someone new with old corporate baggage joined the team but in time each would realize it was much better working this way. The result was a feeling of fulfillment that I hadn’t experienced before.
When the recent economic down-turn took its toll on the company the department was disbanded. It was heartbreaking to see each person go after witnessing their growth and seeing them blossom into people that were happy and excited to get up and go to work everyday. We all agreed that we had never worked with a team before that had so much synergy and were deeply saddened by the fact that we might not have the chance to work in an environment like that again. Seeing the difference first hand between a mentoring type of leadership versus a dictatorship style was enlightening and made the work experience just plain happier. My dream is to someday own a business and I will put this type of leadership into permanent practice. In the mean time I hope to find another company that will either already have this philosophy in place or support and allow me, as my former company did, to implement it."

I can't remember if the 8th Habit is the book in which I read about clock watchers. Clock watchers are just interested in putting in the minimum and leaving as soon as the clock strikes 5. I have a funny story about that. On my window sill above my desk I had a clock with a frosted piece of glass for the face. One day Ken came in to ask me a question and saw the clock. His face is very easy to read. I saw his instant recognition of the same passage in the book and a very confused look but I didn't say anything. What he didn't realize was that the clock didn't work and the only reason it was there was because I liked how the light shined through it. It was the artistic side of me that wanted it there. The lesson to me was to look further before I judge. That was just a small, quick moment in time and yet I remember it like yesterday because of the significance.
I wish you the best in your new endeavor. I think you're going to do very well. You are an awesome mentor!
Love,
Colleen

Thank you Colleen for taking the time to share your experience - how illuminating!

These two lovely paintings ("Who Is This Stranger" and "Sad To See Him Go") are an example of Colleen's artistic expression and of what she truly loves to do - this is where time stands still for her. I love the colors and the personality! She had a stellar career interrupted by the recession. Meanwhile, she knows that entrepreneurialism is where it's at! The risks and the rewards are greater. When we are willing to take full personal responsibility, we are entitled to claim a personal freedom over our lives in every regard - responsibility and freedom go hand in glove.

Quick Tip: I know that eventually Colleen will have a thriving business that will make room for her full creative expression on her terms - in building her principle centered business, in her artistic expression, and contributing to and enjoying her family. Meanwhile, if you would like to build confidence into your organization where you can absolutely trust your backline team to deliver the products/services as promised at your frontline, make this woman your team captain and/or partner! Contact me if I can help with an introduction. Peace, prosperity, and full personal creative expression to us all!

PS Colleen's genius and mine are very different and as it turns out highly complementary. I will discuss in detail in my upcoming posts how to discover our unique genius - and how we assemble teams to support and allow one another to contribute each our unique genius. That makes for a remarkably powerful and effective team and dynamite results. Again, this applies to successful, happy and fulfilling marriages, families, communities and organizations alike.

Body - How To Train Your Fat Burning System To Burn Fat

2010-01-22T23:31:00.024-07:00

Insights/Distinctions: For our bodies, Michael Pollen says it beautifully - "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants plus moderate exercise to enjoy the 5 sense experience!" Easier said than done! Here's where I go for guidance...

Since my post about Dr. Phil Maffetone's Two Week Test and his philosophy on nutrition and exercise in the article "Resolution Revolution", friends who have read Phil's book have commented on how his approach has changed their lives.

Personal Story: Phil spoke to our team a few years ago. Many folks decided to follow his Two Week Test (used to indicate carbohydrate intolerance and help retrain eating habits instead of dieting) - I witnessed the win for several of our employees of weight loss, improved vitality and in some cases the dramatic improvement of chronic health issues that changed peoples lives immeasurably. Phil also lightheartedly warned that our company would likely experience an increase in fertility rates! Something he has come to expect after he teaches an audience about his nutrition and exercise philosophies. Sure enough, within 12 months we had what seemed a larger number of new babies and happy excited parents (including a set of twins)! Meet one of those beautiful babies - Ryah.

There are two key distinctions that Dr. Phil conveys so I have provided some visuals that I thought would be helpful along with personal examples. To burn fat, you need to train your fat burning system so....

The Fuel You Need...

...are healthy fats! And of course complex carbs found in the rainbow of vegetables and low glycemic fruits (refer to Phil's book for the list - as an example a grapefruit is preferable to an orange), plus high quality proteins such as wild salmon and grass fed beef for their healthy fat profiles rich in CLA and balance of the Omega 3's and 6's (we love buffalo for that reason - grass fed products are rich in all the fats now proven to be health-enhancing and low in the fats that have been linked with disease). And pretty much everything we eat is organic. Skip sugars, corn syrups, any flour based products and all of the ugly fats (artificial and chemically processed like hydrogenated and polyunsaturated). We generally stick to olive oil which is best, and if occasionally cooking at high heat, we use coconut oil to reduce the free radicals.

As an example, at Phil's encouragement, we make crepes from nut flour (grind whole almonds at home in the processor) instead of using wheat flour - add whipped eggs, cream and cinnamon - then fry in coconut oil! Add sour cream and berries as a topping with a drizzle of maple syrup or raw honey (live foods) for a very healthy breakfast. We eat smaller meals every couple or three hours instead of three big meals to even out blood sugars and support metabolism.

Exercise - Throw 'No Pain, No Gain' out the window!
To quote Dr. Maffetone, "Your aerobic system burns fat for energy and prevents excessive dependency on sugar, especially blood sugar. Your body is capable of obtaining as much as 80 to 90 percent of its energy from fat if you program your fat-burning mechanism."
Work aerobic (fat burning) - not anaerobic (sugar burning)! So, how does one program the fat-burning mechanism? According to Dr. Maffetone, your optimal heart rate for aerobic training is determined by the 180-Formula - subtracting your age from 180 (180-age); adjusting that by subtracting a further 5 or 10 beats per minute for recent illness or use of medications (further individualized for those over 65) or adding back 5 for active competitive athletes with no problems. You must refer to Dr. Maffetone's book to understand the cautions and specific criteria. That number is your maximum aerobic heart rate and you work within the 10 beat range below that number.
So back to me...at 53 my optimal aerobic heart rate is 180-53 = 127 so my optimal training range is between 117 to 127 beat range - I'm fit, active and no injuries. When I was building my base, Dr. Maffetone suggested that it will seem very easy at first and that with patience I should begin seeing results over the the course of a number of weeks. On my elliptical trainer, I had to start at work load setting 3 to keep from going over my aerobic heart beat range and it seemed like I was hardly exerting myself. However, I just stuck with the range on my heart rate monitor (I call it my speedometer) - it was telling me that I was getting a great aerobic work out.

At 3 weeks of regular exercise in my zone, I realized that I was moving my legs faster and had already added a level to keep my heart rate up! By the following three weeks I was continually adjusting the work load setting until I got up to 9! ...wow - to keep my heart rate up in the range. (That's when I hit the desert - 10 on the elliptical trainer was too hard for me to push the pedals!) In other words, each level on the elliptical was getting easier and easier so I had to keep increasing my work load to stay at in my optimal heart rate range! My aerobic system was getting more and more efficient so now more fun out on the desert!
Here's how it's been going hiking. First I had to take very slow steps up the mountain not to go above my maximum aerobic heart rate. People were zooming past me - it was a bit hard on my ego though I just kept checking my watch monitor. In fact, some folks noticed my repeated checking and commented at the top of the mountain curious about what I was up to. How fun to help educate people on these principals even in passing - this information was new to most folks and made perfect sense in casual conversation. Eventually, I was able to climb the mountain more quickly all the while staying below my maximum aerobic heart rate.
Over weeks I had made noticeable continual progress. On the mountain I was able to cover the same ground in less time! On the elliptical, I was able to work harder in the same amount of time! Dr. Maffetone's competitive athletes transformed their training to surpass their previous results back when they were going all out - I too like them had to invest time to build an aerobic base first - for them there was no looking back!
Thanks for taking the effort to read and understand this - it is a fantastic investment in your physical health and well being - it has been for me. The main thing you want to know is whether you're training your body to burn more fat or more sugar!

Liquid Crystal Receivers and Transmitters

2010-01-18T00:39:00.013-07:00

“The word solutions denotes liquid crystal receivers and transmitters we call Water. The fifth note of the musical scale—“SO,” for SOlve pollute in Latin, or SOlve the problem in English—suggests a musical means to get us out of every mess. If LOVE is the universal healer, music the universal language, and Water the universal solvent, then wisdom encourages everyone to swim with dolphins and join their chorus.”

Dr. Leonard G. Horowitz

Swimming with puppies is the next best thing! Even my puppies get energetically tuned up with their daily romp in our salt water pool!

Lucky is putting the power of attraction to work!

Quick Tip: Keep your water purified with important filtration for your shower and drinking water. Flouride is one of the worst chemicals along with chlorine absorbed through your skin in the shower not too mention the harmful effects from drinking. Here are products in various price ranges worth considering - do your research - this may get you started!

A Smaller Footprint

2010-01-10T21:58:00.020-07:00

Over the past couple of years, we have shifted our diet away from fish and meats with every dinner meal to enjoying a largely vegetarian diet. A long time favorite and hands down crowd pleaser is my Nutted Wild Rice Salad from one of my favorite cook books. I have developed so much confidence with cooking now that I am at home and loving it! When I need help, I turn to my cookbooks for ideas - The Silver Palate Cookbook has really helped me become a star!

That said, my girlfriend Vivan always made a fantastic quinoa salad so I revived that grain back into our diet and with this recipe, it is part of my 'wow them' repertoire - I simply replace quinoa for the wild rice. Quinoa is an ancient cereal grain that grows in the Andes Mountains of South America - it's a powerhouse of protein and amino acids, and kept the Incan armies strong. I have my friend Hadden to thank since he brought this package back from his worldly travels as a gift for us. We are now addicted! Just follow the cooking instructions for the quinoa and replicate the rest. Enjoy - this is a chewy satisfying meal!

Recipe from Silver Palate Cookbook Page 345

Nutted Wild Rice Salad

1 cup (1/2 pound) raw wild rice
5 1/2 cups defatted chicken stock or water
1 cup shelled pecan halves
1 cup yellow raisins
grated rind of 1 large orange
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
4 scallions (green onions), thinly sliced
1/4 cup olive oil
1/3 cup fresh orange juice
1 1/2 tsp salt
freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1. Put rice in a strainer and run under cold water; rinse thoroughly.
2. Place rice in a medium-size heavy saucepan. Add stock or water and bring to a rapid boil. Adjust heat to a gentle simmer and cook uncovered for 45 minutes. After 30 minutes check for doneness; rice should not be too soft. Place a thin towel inside a colander and turn rice into the colander and drain. Transfer drained rice to a bowl.
3. Add remaining ingredients to rice and toss gently. Adjust seasonings to taste. Let mixture stand for 2 hours to allow flavors to develop. Serve at room temperature.
6 portions

Quick Tip: I add lots of fried onions, garlic and mushrooms to the mixture to make it even more robust. Feel free to add chopped red peppers and cucumbers - be creative with this. I triple the recipe for continuous leftovers that everyone loves!

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Alright, here's Viv's recipe too:

1 cup Quinoa (follow cooking instructions using spring water)

1/2 cup finely diced English cucumber

4 stems finely diced green onion

1/3 cup cooked corn kernels
1/4 cup diced fresh cilantro

Toss with cooked quinoa

3 tbsp. fresh lime juice

3 tbsp. sesame oil

1 tbsp. toasted sesame oil

Salt & pepper to taste

1 tsp. rice syrup or honey (optional)

Combine, then add to quinoa. Stir thoroughly with a fork to coat grain and vegetables.

Thanks Vivian! I would triple the recipe for a dinner party and/or leftovers and all ingredients are organic in Viv's kitchen and mine. Enjoy! xoxo

Life Long Learning

2010-01-02T18:45:00.000-07:00

Key Distinctions/Insights: The second important step is to gather good quality information - research, study, learn - educating ourselves so we can assess where we stand and evaluate what may be the possible risks and opportunities ahead. The truth shall set you free! And only we can come to realize the truth for ourselves!

I have an insatiable appetite for learning! I realized why that is. Never in human history has almost all of human knowledge been available at our finger tips. Of course, misinformation and inaccurate information is pervasive on the internet as well - see my article on discerning the truth. Our ability to sift through huge amounts of information - computer memory of the internet to gather the facts and the search engines that allow us to make sense of what is out there - and synthesize information. The output of one blogger is the input of another. The feedback loop is making us more intelligent than ever before. This makes the invention of the printing press look like child's play. We can now gather facts over a long period of time and then see them all at once. We do not have to rely upon the corporations to connect the dots for us. We can do this ourselves. The economics of doing research have democratized this dot-connecting and perhaps we now see things we never were able to see before.

In a decade of research, I have learned about things that I never knew existed and the more that I investigate the more that my personal world view has shifted. What I was taught in school doesn't come close to my view on the world today - and some of it is down right shocking. This has left me entirely fascinated and hungry to learn more. Particularly since what I have learned has had practical benefit to me and my loved ones - family and friends. And thankfully many have had open minds to listen! I even think our future survival depends on what we are willing to learn and understand right now! There is definitely a real awakening in progress!

Needless to say, there's a lot at stake here! We make decisions and take certain actions based on our current beliefs that have everything to do with the knowledge we have acquired over our lifetimes. We are often keen to hold firmly to what we were taught as children. I have also become keenly aware of how I learn and how I assess the quality of the information I gather since it has literally affected my health, my quality of life, and I venture to say, my survival. Decisions about the foods we eat, vaccinations and environmental toxins, navigating the economy and everything related to finances and so on. The keys, in my view, are to be aware of your learning process so that we may become effective life long learners (keep it fluid and continuous), and keep an open mind always (not to say there aren't challenges). There will always be new information that will challenge your current belief - instead of trying to make the world conform to how we see things - by opening up our minds we may step into a whole new paradigm which may have the world show up for us in a far better way. Here is my process - enjoy!
Step One - Explore: Continually scout around a wide variety of sources - I keep my agenda and my mind open - I look for information that may be unfamiliar though if true could have important implications for me and my family. When I notice certain information cropping up several times in different places, I sit up and take note. One topic that started this way was information ten years ago of the possibility of economic and currency collapse as a result of all the financial derivatives - we've seen this come to fruition on an historic scale. You may spot trends for business opportunities and investments; new developments or understandings about health issues such as vaccinations, flouride, GMO (genetically modified organism) and so on. You get the idea.
Keep in mind that each of us has a preference for seeing, hearing or physically touching things. Since so much valuable information is available through the window of our computers, take note of what stimulates you best - video for the visual, online radio for those with a preference to listen, graphics/maps/plans/blueprints for the avid hands on, and numbers/data for the analytic fact finders - there is a rich variety to attract and support your learning style.
Step Two - Research/Investigate: Then I continue by digging for more in-depth information to understand the scope of the subject - going to industry material, following links from industry experts, scientific studies, and in particular, finding as much information outside of the main stream to filter for agendas and bias. I value information from some of the little guys - passionate folks who have dedicated their lives to studying the topic at hand. And I reference any competitors to point out all the important aspects or distinctions of products or services that I should be considering! Smaller niche companies due to their passion have in many cases incorporated certain principals behind their product or service that the big guys have overlooked - I want to know what those are. This process applies to ideas just as much as tangibles where there will be no shortage of proponents and opponents for any point of view including scientific data to support opposing ideas. Global warming will likely go down in history as such a topic.
Step Three - Study: Once I have found what I believe to be trustworthy sources, I narrow my focus to a handful of in depth and often lengthy articles and material (experiments, findings, personal accounts etc). By now, I know what the questions are that need to be addressed. What's left is a sniff test. Often you will hear the expression "follow the money" as a means to understand the underlying motivations. It is important to keep your eyes open on who and what is behind the information so that you can be aware of bias. And even that filter may not provide the definitive answers for you. So, in order to make my decision, I lean on my intuition for what feels right. What I have noticed is that the more reading I do, the more clues I am able to cross correlate - it's often the little bits of information that either connect up or not that help me make sense of the big picture and determine whether I discount or value those particular so called "facts"! Since I have years of study to fall back on with regard to the economy and the financial system, many connecting dots come into focus. Just keep at it and soon you will be synthesizing and analyzing from your unique perspective!
Step Four - Actions: Now I am ready to make a choice, take a decision, or I may simply summarize my findings with relevant links (or electronic pdfs in case that information may at some time not be available at that site - an example may to information on how to build something such as a chicken coop or growing bed) which I put into an electronic project file for future reference for when I am ready to proceed. I have a ton of email mailbox folders relevant to different areas of interest in my life - and many of them relate to my goals in each category of my life (more on that when we talk about Ten Year Vision and Goal Setting). Examples may be writing my book, buying and setting up my farm, starting another business to generate cash flow and ideas, empowering my children, adventure/travel, my art, creating community, and importantly health, and so on. As a family we enjoy kicking around some of our most recent findings - it helps us to crystalize what we have learned in our own minds by sharing with others - "teaching to learn". Further on we'll share about "learning to teach".

Step Four - Re-Examine: I am usually willing to re-examine my point of view as new information comes to light, particularly contradictory information. It is important to continually be willing to reevaluate previous decisions and make adjustments. There is too much at stake not to! Head-in-the-sand denial of relevant new information can be very costly!

Not keeping an open mind can lead to denial! This can be particularly painful when it affects someone you know and love who may be making decisions on outdated beliefs. The thing about truth is that we must come to realize it for ourselves! No one can do it for us and being human, this can take time!

Quick Tip: When reading one of my books, I have a system of underlining in pen any sentence/s that represent an "aha" idea for me (I don't bother doing it in pencil anymore since I realized years ago that I will never erase those lines anyway). I know its an "aha" because it feels interesting - the revelation seems exciting when "I see" or "now I get it!" And then I fold over the corner of the left hand page of that two-page spread. I trust that that feeling is guiding me to where my awakening is wanted. This way I can continue to reread my library over the years by simply skipping to each of the underlined sections and reading the few paragraphs surrounding that quote to be fully reminded of that concept. I can be thoroughly refreshed on good writing and good ideas in 15 to 20 minutes or so and appreciate the book once again for the old "ahas", many that seem as valuable or powerful as on my first read. Only, on subsequent revisits, the "aha" has found new layers of meaning for me! Perhaps its the awakening process and expanding consciousness - imagining so. In any event, I have built my library gradually over 20 years. We've probably read many of the same books.

Tools for Building Websites

2010-01-01T23:00:00.001-07:00

Resolution Revolution

2010-01-01T20:02:00.001-07:00

Key Distinctions/Insights: Resolution Revolution means "Saying No To Resolutions!" Resolutions are about gyms swelling the first few days of the New Year with rip tide reversals within weeks. And diets derail even more quickly. Think about it - resolutions are driven by guilt! Yet our creative power is summoned when we present our authentic selves in real time - not projecting backward in guilt or forward in anxiety. On that basis, none of our actions can be inspired. When actions are inspired (spirit within), they allow you to harmonize with instead of resist current conditions for far better results.
By vitalizing and energizing yourself right now, you can greet the New Year with excitement and anticipation, and a fresh perspective. Consider the following for inspired action:

1) Burn fat from the holidays!
My dear friend Dr. Phil Maffetone has the best answer to rid yourself of fat from holiday feasting! His philosophy on nutrition and exercise is truly revolutionary and logical - he has trained top athletes who needed clear results - let him train you too for clear results!
Here is an excerpt from his New Year's message.
"If the holidays shattered your eating habits, you’ve gained weight or feel washed up, and you’re truly ready to build your health, here’s the best place to start. The first step is to make the decision to burn off that excess body fat, and get healthy. Many people plan to go on a diet for the New Year. But as we all know, diets don't work for most people, and, you sacrifice your health for a few pounds. Plus, diets are no fun. There's a better way -- decide to do it right and be healthy.
Turning on your body's fat-burning system will give you what you want -- loss of body fat, more energy, better health. There are two things to consider: the foods you eat, and your level of activity. By New Year's, sugar addiction has worsened in many people. And, physical activity has often hit bottom. Getting rid of the sugar problem and performing some short, easy activity, such as walking, should enable you to reach your goals. Yes, it's that simple." Read the rest of his article....you may need to register - do it - then you will continue to get Dr. Maffetone's fabulous email updates just as I do!

Quick Tips:

Dr. Phil is one of my real heros! He teaches about 'self-health care' - this resonates with those of us who are willing to take personal responsibility. I go to him for the real truth! All of Dr. Maffetone's advice is beautifully laid out in his book "In Fitness and In Health" - it has been my guide for years. If you don't already have his book make this investment in yourself - it will be an invaluable guide for life long health! Health is your most valuable of possessions - and priceless!! A treasure - find it here!

2) Energize yourself with Clean Ups!!

Meanwhile, as you continue on your healthy fat burning plan with Dr. Maffetone, you can boost your energetics immediately by taking care of messes in your life - a sure way to revitalize your perspective to greet the New Year with enthusiasm!
Realize that you are abundantly aware of the messes in your environment - be it a messy car, a messy garage filled with junk and garbage that you see every time you pull your car in, and step your way over to the door....to drawers where you can't find things when you need them, closets stuffed over full with things you no longer wear, and so on.

Messes literally suck your energy! In fact, every time that you expose yourself to a messy condition, it receives the focus of your attention, whether you are aware of it or not, and can evoke attendant emotions of guilt, frustration, etc. Subtly you may experience a feeling of defeat with thoughts of not enough time, loss of control, and so on. Sounding familiar? Messes rob you of productive energy! And that energy is not available for creating the things in your life that you truly wish!
To free yourself from these energy drains, recognize that the time spent cleaning up a mess will actually generate immediate positive energy that you can harness and redirect! Often the hardest part is getting started - once you get started you may find that there will be no stopping you. Your greatest reward will be a renewed confidence that comes from a sense of having control in your life. And your revitalized confidence can be redirected towards things, projects and even relationships that bring you even bigger dividends.

a) Start by taking inventory! Get comfortable and make a list of every mess in your life - ideally include incompletions of any kind. Imagine how freeing it will be to have these things handled. List the receipts that need filing, the check book that needs balancing, computer files that need back up/organization, warranties or rebates that need to be mailed. And don't stop with your physical environment - are there relationships that are out of balance that you have been avoiding? Promises made but not kept? How about a clean trim for your hair to give you some bounce? How about scheduling an overdue dental cleaning appointment - nothing like running your tongue over squeaky clean teeth! You get the picture. Just telling the truth about where you stand is very freeing! So far you have only lifted a finger. And keep in mind that this is all about you! Who better than you to take care of you!!

b) Now break your list into bite size projects! Instead of tackling the entire garage all in one go, break the job into smaller chunks - create a sublist to rid garbage and junk, sort through tools, return borrowed things, find a storage rack, reorganize what's left, sweep and vacuum, clean windows, etc; in the kitchen - sort pantry foods, buy or find space savers, tidy and clean cupboards, sort and clean drawers, deep clean in and around appliances and under the sink; in a crammed bedroom - unclutter (my moto is don't buy a nicknack if it doesn't look good with dust on it!), add storage under the bed; tackle the closet - buy new wooden hangars (Home Depot 8 for $3.99 - 6 or so set won't break the bank), sort what you haven't worn in two years (they say one year but I can't bear that!), organize seasonal things into another closet to make room. Then make it beautiful with favorite pictures and accessories for display! My friend Laurie has even mounted her vision board in her closet where she sees it every morning and evening!

c) Build in a reward for handling the whole thing! I made my list before the holidays - I wanted my home to be comfy and cozy for the season since it was my first Christmas at home in years. It seemed that I hadn't the time in previous years to beautifully decorate and fill the house with the great smells of home cooking. I knew that if I didn't tackle some of the messes before hand, that I would be thinking about the dreadful chores awaiting me after the holidays....so my reward for cleaning and organizing was being able to fully relax and enjoy myself in my home just the way I wanted it! Your reward may be something completely different. For me having my home be a sanctuary for my family motivated me. Having it cleaned and organized top to bottom is empowering and this was a big step to creating that sanctuary - my home has never looked and felt this great!

c) Get started with a few smaller projects! This way you'll notice how easy it is and how good it feels with little effort - before you know it, you're on to the next. I set up four bins in my garage to place garbage, recycling, giveaways, and keepsakes for storage. What ever you do, don't hoard says my friend Paula - is there a purpose for what you surround yourself with?
Think about energetics - you want to keep energy flowing in your space so unclutter, clean and tidy. Keep in mind that all of this is a process including the idea of detachment from things you don't need - you'll see a pay off at more levels than just your physical environment. The universe abhors a vacuum so sometimes you need to get rid of the old to make way for the new!! And you'll rediscover some lovely things in the process too.

d) Tick off your list to track your progress! Notice your energy soar and your confidence roar as you get the first few projects out of the way. Once you get started, I promise you can't stop! And because this works at so many levels, no one can really do this but you! Get any help by all means though be fully involved yourself - lots of decisions to be made as you literally recreate your environment. That is also why you will enjoy the tremendous satisfaction and reap the major rewards.

e) Save the tricky ones for last! If at first you don't know how to handle one of the items on your list, put it last. This is not to procrastinate - realize that you have a plan and you are working your plan - at least the history books tell you Rome wasn't built in a day! If it's a friendship or family relationship that needs some cleaning up - maybe an apology will take care of things, perhaps it's clearing up a misunderstanding, or simply declaring the relationship over in your own mind - you'll have plenty of time to consider the project or relationship as you deal with the balance of your list. I find that my thinking time while scrubbing is therapeutic.
What you may also discover is the power of putting yourself into the flow! If you are clear on your intention (let's say its about a relationship and you intend to leave everyone empowered no matter what the outcome) then by letting it perculate on the back burner as you turn your attention to the balance of your list, you will become fully energized and bursting with confidence. The energy and confidence tends to bring you present - now as your approach the end of your list, you can summon creative energy to tackle this item. Through conscious reflection, you'll gain insight on how best to handle a situation. What's more - you may find that it has already resolved itself (you know how when providence steps in - your friend calls you one day while you're in the back corner of the garage because they were thinking of you and asked if you would accept their apology...or what have you!...and of course you graciously accept!) You know how it works! Put yourself into the flow and allow yourself to be carried forward with a lot less effort than you imagined and big rewards!

Congratulations - enjoy your rewards! And Happy New Year!

Quick Tips:
My friend Paula organizes peoples homes professionally - watch for an interview coming up with her soon! And visit my store for this very interesting book "Unclutter Your Life in One Week" by Erin Ronney Doland plus ideas for other organizing items.

The Power Of Authentic Presence

2009-12-27T17:25:00.010-07:00

Key Distinctions/Insights: When we sent out invitations to family and friends for Christmas dinner, we suggested that no one bring presents - in keeping with the spirit, our presence will be the perfect gift!
Everyone agreed whole heartedly - homemade would be fine though not necessary! Dinner was fabulous - we had such a great feast and conversations, and finished off the evening gathered around the piano for a carol sing-along (5 Gold(en) Dogs....4 Chanting Saabs, 3 Friends Sing, 2 Grand Parents, makes a Party of Frivolity!) in German, Spanish and English - my daughter Amanda on piano, and my daughter Alexandra on guitar. There was a lot of bliss, love and great vibes that evening!
One day later, a surprise arrived in the mail - one of the best Christmas presents anyone could hope for! Particularly for this mom and life coach. Living an authentic presence does more than one can possibly realize and every now and again someone will point it out!
Personal Story: On Dec 26th, my daughter Alexandra (nicknamed Dolly) received a hand written letter (who does that anymore??) in the mail from a new friend Ryan whom she met two weeks earlier in Toronto when visiting her best pal Devon. This letter was the best Christmas gift ever for her and me!! Here are a couple of excerpts from the letter that tell the whole story!

"Dear Dolly! I hope this letter finds you well. Allow me to set the stage for this letter - it's been awhile since I've hand written anything so if you have a hard time reading my hand writing I'm sure your dogs will be able to translate for you because I know it's a little 'ruff'! oh ya...(news about Devon and friends)....As for me – I’m about to leave to head north to spend Christmas with my family. To be honest, this time of year is always a bit stressful. I am asking myself why that is – and in my mind the answer is that there is a lot of pressure to make the time spent the best it can be. What's wrong with that? Nothing I guess, but this is where I tell you how you’ve impacted my life. I don’t see my family too often, and my mom is a little overwhelming at times because she misses us. And sometimes I’m a little distant. But when you showed up that Thursday, and your mom called – there was something so beautiful about the conversation that I overheard. It was so open and accepting and there was so much love expressed so simply. I was a little overcome with emotion and it made me want to hug everyone on that call. It's hard to explain but something happened inside of me and it made me think of how amazing my family is, and how I need to open myself more to them because yes there is possibility of bliss in that, in family! So I just want you to know that I’ll be thinking of you for that, when I’m with my family. With that, I thank you for opening my eyes with so little effort – for just being you! I’m thankful that I met you, and thankful for Devon introducing you to all of us here in Toronto. A renewed faith in the human spirit - that’s what this time of year is about, right?!!....Love Ry xo"

Putting Your Face Mask On First

2009-12-26T18:55:00.001-07:00

Key Distinctions/Insights: The third important step is to assess our resources and take some actions to create some level of security and self sufficiency as is practical for our situation – it’s taking the flight attendant’s advice to put your face mask on first!

What will this mean for you? Being a consultant with multiple clients instead of being an employee in an industry that is not growing? Having a supply of basic food stuffs set aside in the event of calamities? Setting aside some of your wealth in the form of precious metals to protect against a devaluing currency? Is it investing some of your capital in alternative forms of energy? Is it saving money to provide for necessities instead of spending on items that gratify ego?

Taking Personal Responsibility - Synarchy

2009-12-26T17:48:00.007-07:00

Key Distinctions/Insights: Taking personal responsibility rather than looking to any other person, institution or organization to take care of us will be the most important step. It is only when we take full responsibility that we can stake a claim on our freedom! And taking personal responsibility first is a precursor to taking shared responsibility for the larger communities that we are a part of.

Great Reference Material: These following passages come from an excellent review of the upcoming grand celestial event in Summer 2010 as written in the Mountain Astrologer May-Aug 2009 edition:

In essence, leaders have the simple choice of whether they're going to Go Prison Guard in fear or Go Liberator in love by 2010. The grand celestial event of this Chiron-Neptune conjunction in the coming years is truly unprecedented in history.

"All the dictators in the world," he said, "are created by us because we want someone else to tell us what to do. There is a very subtle reason for it: when you are told by somebody else what to do, you don't have any responsibility for whether it is right or wrong. You are free of responsibility; you don't have to think about it; you don't have to be worried about it. The whole responsibility goes to the person who is giving you the orders to do something. . . . [People are] always looking to the politicians, looking to the priest; looking to neurotic-type people who proclaim themselves prophets, the sons of God, messengers of God."

It could be, for all we know, that the whole point of the great Crosses of Summer 2010 is to open us to the startling and scary possibility that it is time to put dictators behind us, even to overcome our addiction to leaders and take up the Aquarian challenge to be responsible in ways we have not yet imagined. We may even learn that hierarchy, the unequal division of power between a few who are corrupted by having far too much and a great inert mass of those who have little or none, has been an ingredient in the recipe of our misery for far too long. It may be time now for synarchy, the active, creative and far more empowering art of sharing power among equals.

Anticipate and Harmonize

2009-12-26T17:37:00.005-07:00

Key Distinctions/Insights: The question is will we be able to harmonize with the actual changes taking place rather than resist?

Upcoming events will certainly take us out of our comfort zone whether we like it or not – this plays out at a spiritual level “to encourage us to expand our perspective to take in a more universal vision of what it means to be ourselves and what it really means to be alive.”

This is why it will become crucial that we learn to tap into the power within and become grounded in our own core. And this will be the obvious starting point – that over which we have immediate control guided by our thoughts and feelings together. This will help us to anticipate and harmonize with real time events rather than waste our energy resisting with fear and apprehension.

Discern Truth by What Resonates

2009-12-26T17:32:00.003-07:00

Key Distinctions/Insights: 2012 prophesies - fascinating, unnerving and contradictory - will continue to accelerate beyond a dull roar – what are we to make of all the scenarios?

At the very least, we will want to become active participants in our own future by seeking out truth and information for our own education and knowledge. And with the democratization of information availability, we will have to discern truth by what resonates. We’ll get better at this the more we learn to use our intuition and we’ll discuss in future posts how using our left brain, right brain and heart together inform and guide our intuition. For now, the important point is to become actively engaged in asking ourselves the questions - only then will the answers show up.

Finding Clues To What We Want

2009-12-26T17:28:00.003-07:00

Key Distinctions/Insights: Often we become very clear about what we want by what it is we don’t want. If we reflect on any current experience, it can help to illuminate both what we have to be thankful for as well as what is currently missing in our experience. This will be a clue to shaping our relationships and our visions, goals, and desires going forward.

If someone lied to you or deceived you and it caused you disappointment, then you will have become very clear that you will only invest in relationships that are based on values that you, through personal experience realize are important to you, in this example namely trust and truth. The biggest progress that you can make is to become clear about the values that you stand for. These values will act as your True North and will provide you with enormous confidence in particularly tumultuous times. You will be able to focus your energy on creating in real time rather than being confused and fearful living outside of your power to engage in and create in the present moment. You will have a knowing of who you are by what you stand for! This will assist you in making important yes and no decisions particularly as events feel like they are accelerating. These times will bring people in and out of your life including family and friends, and events and circumstances, and the clarity that you create for yourself will assist you in determining where and how to invest your energy - invest your energy wisely!

Greater Contribution - Greater Community

2009-12-26T17:21:00.001-07:00

Key Distinctions/Insights: The balance of the vision needs to be fleshed out and the more participants the better. These concepts of greater contribution and greater community will come into focus and will take a place in our lives over time - they cannot be forced. Rather use the organic process to help bring this into view. Meanwhile, you can prepare in the realm that is within your control.

At the very least, have we created a personal vision to guide and excite our own lives that perhaps also teases out what a bigger purpose can be for each of us? As you review your personal vision look for clues of your commitment. Be what you are looking for. An effective guide to that answer is asking yourself, “Am I contributing something of greater value than I receive, and is it for a greater community than I am currently a part of?”

It's All About Relationships!

2009-12-26T17:19:00.002-07:00

Key Distinctions/Insights: Back to this new place - we can start with an exercise of imagining the qualities we would like to manifest into our experience as a way to help dial in a vision of the future.

To answer that, we can take a side track to remind ourselves that the manifest world is really not solid – at the micro level, atoms and molecules which amount to virtually nothing, vibrate in relation to each other – so the manifest world is a universe of ‘relationship’ rather than a universe of ‘thingness’. In addition, these smallest of small behave differently once observed!

Haven’t we already seen organizations flatten – leaders becoming servant leadership and so on. ‘Power and control’ is gradually being supplanted by the relationship cornerstones of ‘love and community’ (where love is defined as “unity”, not the emotion; and community engages humans collaboratively to contribute their unique genius and talents shoulder to shoulder in place of a hierarchy of followers and leaders).

Not Trance-formation

2009-12-26T17:14:00.003-07:00

Key Distinctions/Insights: And what’s this new place you ask? Well here’s the rub - we’re making it up as we go along!

And if anyone’s asleep at the switch, then who the heck knows! If folks don’t put down those remotes for all their intended distraction and propaganda, then they will experience a trance-formation (instead of transformation) brought to you by the MSM - main stream media!

Great Reference Material: An important concept to internalize is that if you don't own your own present/now then someone else does. If someone else owns your present, they also own your future. Which is why one of the tenets of being a time monk is assiduous care in what you allow into your consciousness. Even something as seemingly innocuous as a television commercial is an attempted future-jack.

By far, most Americans don't 'own' their own future, which is why they've earned the rank of 'sheeple'. It takes a lot of conscious thought to evolve your own future, but if you don't have your own future visioned and hold to that vision regardless of peer pressure, you're never going to get there. Your future is being 'jacked' one commercial at a time. I'll try to resist throwing in "remotely". Michael Tsarion

Trends Newsletter – Gerald Celente Summer 2009
Publisher’s Note: A function of the Trends Journal® and
the motto of The Trends Research Institute is “Think
for Yourself.” It sounds easy, but it takes will, knowledge
and courage. The will to seek, the knowledge to support
convictions, and the courage to challenge conventional
wisdom, popular opinion and authority.

There's Beauty In The Breakdown

2009-12-26T17:10:00.004-07:00

Key Distinctions/Insights: And taking this one step further, if we can agree that a transformation means exactly that – changing of form – than we realize that everything about the old must ‘breakdown’ in order to make way for the new - the ‘breakthrough’.

However, before form can change, thinking must change first. The power of thought to cause transformation cannot be by degrees – it must be by order of magnitude of a complete paradigm shift. So with that said, this entire process unfolding in real time may feel enormously tumultuous and “out of control” (isn’t it already?) before we arrive at our new place. And the greatest work won’t be physical so much as it will be emotional and psychological.

Here's the best news of all! A breakdown cannot occur without a breakthrough - every breakthrough is attached to a breakdown - they come in pairs. In fact, a breakdown is your clue that the breakthrough is around the corner perhaps still hidden from view though absolutely on the verge of emerging into its fullness. Haven't we all had so many experiences that at first seemed negative and with hind sight proved to be an incredible blessing? When we recognize the landscape for what it truly is, we develop trust, faith, belief and confidence....then we can observe how good things accelerate on their way to finding us!

Big Picture

2009-12-26T17:04:00.001-07:00

Key Distinctions/Insights: As an example, by stepping back to reconsider the meaning of external events in our lives, we can create an enormously empowering context from which to solve problems.

Sometimes we can be blinded particularly when our problems seem stressing and consuming. This is where we can help each other to take inventory of what there is to be grateful for and our available resources at hand. With a correct inventory, we can make determinations of employing all of our resources including our personal gifts (our talents, skills and genius) in creative fresh ways. More important, we can become selective about catching those currents and winds that are likely to head us in directions of our choosing. So long as we are willing to become selective about our destinations. More on Ten Year Visions and Goal Setting coming up soon!

The Perfect Gifts To Make The Difference

2009-12-26T17:01:00.002-07:00

Key Distinctions/Insights: At this moment, what is the best we can do?

Our biggest contribution may simply be to encourage one another to meet the unknown with wonder, excitement and inspiration rather than through fear – and we’re back to the great equalizer since no one knows what happens next!

Yet let us help each other to recognize that we have each been given the perfect gifts to make the difference. In this way we may be able to accumulate enough smaller solid steps headed in a direction that begin to accumulate into bigger results and our making a greater difference in solving our own problems, helping our family, and contributing to our next larger community.

Engaging Your Passion

2009-12-26T16:56:00.002-07:00

Key Distinctions/Insights: For me, it is coaching others - that is when it seems to me that I completely lose track of time - there is nothing I love doing more! I forget about being hungry or tired. In fact, I find myself exhilarated! My genius and talents have allowed me to help family, friends, employees and so forth to experience greater excitement and improvement in their lives since that is what I have been doing consciously in my own life for many years and have learned how through experience.

I help people to see a bigger picture – to have a bigger context for their lives since it is so easy to get mired in the day to day grind– this generates excitement; I help them create an inspiring vision of their future to direct and focus their attention and energy – this generates a greater purpose and passion, and removes waste of precious resources including valuable time; I help them understand the process of getting from here to there, and to empower them to reach inside to engage their genius and talents to accomplish specific results – this builds confidence and will.

What is it for you? The reason I ask is that we all have some serious and exciting work ahead. We are living in historic times for human beings – I think everyone can feel the acceleration and heightened stakes particularly when listening to the myriad issues and concerns about 2012 - who really knows other than somehow it seems epic!

Doing What We Love

2009-12-26T16:43:00.001-07:00

Key Distinctions/Insights: Choosing how we wish to contribute can best be done by “doing what we love”. Nothing like passion to leave a lasting energetic imprint long after the deed is done! The best rule of thumb is to work within ones genius.

I will showcase important tools that helped me to discover my unique genius however for this moment, to get a quick handle on what your genius is, here’s a simple guide. Ask yourself what it is that you do whereby you take away more energy than you put in – a clue is what are you doing when you completely lose track of time! Then do that.

Cooperative Relationships

2009-12-23T15:46:00.004-07:00

Insights/Distinctions: Joseph Giove has some fascinating thoughts on cooperation - "Those who focus on what's falling away, melting, dissolving – on what is no longer supported by new evolutionary energies – may become despondent, fearful, scarce in their thinking, jealous of opportunities, possessive of their resources, and mindless to the consequences of their actions on others and on the environment. This is the very behavior that is no longer supported by the underlying evolutionary impulses. Any system of a personal, social, economic, political, educational, commercial or medical nature that was based on features of scarcity, separatism, greed, domination, control, imbalance, force, conflict, etc. have lost their energetic foundation and are dissolving back into the void as we speak. Amen and, respectfully, good riddance.

What is emerging now…what is being supported by the new evolutionary energies are people creating systems based on collaboration, harmony, the implicit abundance of nature, egalitarian awareness, the explicit and indelible nature of interrelatedness, interdependency and interconnection. We may look around us with innocent eyes and joyously behold:

1) a massive proliferation of social networking that has infiltrated all aspects of society and commerce;

2) technology enabling collaboration that crosses geopolitical, economic and ideological lines;

3) a massive "greening" movement that is increasing awareness of our impact on the environment, with inspiring and creative programs being developed around the world to restore our balance with nature;

4) free and sustainable sources of energy that are slowly making their way into the common awareness;

5) new partnerships forming between long-time competitors;

6) software being developed "free" by global communities of programmers in "open source" models;

7) ideas being shared and new economic models proliferating in communities around the world, giving rise to alternative forms of currencies and exchange of value between individuals without requiring a central bank or government to control…or to demand a toll from each of us for the pleasure of their exploitation;

8) humanity collectively solving stubborn problems like hunger, poverty and contagious diseases without waiting for governments or other political systems.

These holistic, collaborative, more balanced, more ecologically aligned creations are themselves an out-picturing of the new human consciousness informing these worldly innovations."

Joseph R. Giove San Francisco, April 14, 2009 (9 Reed) Executive Director CommonPassion.org

Quick Tips: The latest book by one of my favorite authors Abraham Hicks - "The Vortex, Where the Law of Attraction Assembles All Cooperative Relationships" - I can hardly wait to read this to better understand the value of each of my relationships! Thanks to all the amazing people who surround me with love! I suppose we are already intuitively supporting each other in our bigger life purposes! Can't wait to get further insights and I'll post my findings.

Click here to order - "The Vortex, Where the Law of Attraction Assembles All Cooperative Relationships"

And I want to read my new book on a Kindle! so I can store, retrieve and share my highlights!

Salamoia Italian Herb Mixture

2009-12-23T13:08:00.007-07:00

Quick Tips: Here is a recipe for my homemade Italian mixture of herbs and spices called Salamoia that I love to use in soups, gravies and as a marinade for meats for grilling.

Salamoia brings out a rustic fragrance and flavor - traditionally Salamoia is used for preserving olives (in salted water using these herbs - laurel and sage can be added to this recipe):

Salamoia

Dried Thyme

Dried Rosemary

Garlic Granules

Sea Salt

Pepper

I buy my organic herbs and spices in bulk from Mountain Rose Herbs - and my homemade mixtures are one of my favorite gifts to give!

Click here to order Mountain Rose Herbs

These herbs such as rosemary can be large and sharp when used in soups and gravies. I grind my herbs with my marble mortar and pestle to a course or fine texture when adding to soups and gravies - this way I can keep the full flavor with no need to strain. I bought my mortar and pestle at Sur La Table.

Click here to check on a variety of mortars to suit any budget.

Launch - Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire!

2009-12-19T11:09:00.001-07:00

It's Friday night in the big city! And time to tune into the festive spirit. Chef poured a glass of wine (that'd be me!), and hit play on the Christmas yule songs to dial up the mood - a little James Taylor always makes me feel assured, cozy and artsy! And I'm at my favorite place - in front of my 60' Garland commercial range that reminds me of the big gas clunker my grandmother cooked on in Hamburg in her big, old pre-war five story walk up apartment. Feeling nostalgic, my kitchen for me is the heart of my home! Larry, owner of Boxed Greens, included chestnuts with last week's delivery - I found a great recipe so I'm all set. A yummy way to launch my blog doing what I love! How's that for getting to the heart of the matter? Enjoy! xoxo

PS Here's the recipe

David Leite of Leite's Culinaria

Sautéed Chestnuts, Onions, and Bacon Recipe

Castanhas Salteadas com Toucinho Entremeado

INGREDIENTS

1/2 pound thick-sliced slab bacon or pancetta, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch strips
1 pound pearl onions, scant 1 inch in diameter
1 pound peeled, roasted chestnuts (vacuum-packed, jarred without sugar, or freshly roasted)
2 tablespoons honey
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, for garnish

METHOD

1 In a large skillet, cook the bacon over medium-low heat, stirring often, until the fat has rendered and the meaty bits start to crisp, about 12 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain.

2 Meanwhile, fill a bowl with ice and water and set aside. Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil. Drop in the onions and blanch for 30 seconds. Scoop them out with a slotted spoon and plop them into the ice water. To peel the onions, snip off the tip and remove the papery outer layers. Set aside the onions.

3 Raise the heat under the skillet to medium, plonk in the onions, and sauté in the bacon fat, stirring occasionally, until spotted with brown and cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the chestnuts, cooked bacon, and honey and toss to warm through, being careful not to break the nuts--they're fragile. Season with salt and plenty of pepper and then scoop into a decorate bowl. Sprinkle with the parsley.

Serves 6 to 8 as a side.

Thanks To All My Sponsors

2009-12-01T23:44:00.030-07:00

Organic growing and pest control solutions - Arbico Organics

Gardeners Tote at Crabtree & Evelyn

2010 Silver Eagle BU Qty-20 GovMint

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All travel baggage from Samsonite

Appliances for the home at Sears

Everything kitchen (14 cup Cuisinart) from Sur La Table

Everything for the home from The Great Indoors

Choose products (mugs, bags, ts) printed with art or design your own art for products to sell at Zazzle

Everything in the world available from Amazon

All organic herbs and spices from Mountain Rose Herbs

Vita-Mix - comes in silver now too!

Go to iTunes for movies and songs

Travel to one of our favorite places with Hawaiian Airlines

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