Podcast: The Value of Contribution
March 20, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Thank you for visiting. I look forward to staying in touch. You can subscribe to my RSS feed. You can also contact me directly and please feel free to do so. Thanks for visiting!
You can listen to my latest podcast here about the value of contribution.
You want to look back on your life with awe and wonder. Do two things:
- Make a contribution to a cause larger than yourself and
- Put yourself on the line for it.
I also explain why our consumer society does not promote this idea, but World War II veterans teach us the value of contribution.
Of course, when you listen to this podcast, you realize I owe much to the movie The Story of Stuff, which you should see. It takes about 20 minutes of terrific information.
Powerful leadership post from Chris Brogan
March 20, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Chris Brogan summed up his experience—since 1995—with personal leadership in a terrific post.
Some highlights:
- I set goals, and life helps me accomplish totally different ones.
- Fire your inner critic.
- Perhaps the most important thing I can tell you about personal leadership is that it’s a much more rewarding path when you focus on being helpful to others.
There is much more there, and I don’t want to give it all away here. So go over to Chris’s site and read this post. I love how warm he sounds when he writes.
Technorati Tags: leadership, chris-brogan, self-esteem, community
Two secrets of success
March 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Todd interviewed Steve Little about success. You can listen to it on his blog “We the Change.”
It is a wonderful interview, just long enough (that means, not too long) and full of important ideas.
Two main tips to become successful:
- Get a coach
- Do what you love
And the three daily habits that Steve Little sticks to (note: reviewing an action list is not one of them):
- In the morning:
- quiet meditation and emotional visualization,
- Exercise at high intensity.
- Be thankful for your accomplishments. Write them down so you can see what an amazing day you had and you know exactly what to be thankful for.
In the evening:
These ideas are very powerful and to hear them from Steve Little’s mouth is even better. So go and listen now.
Technorati Tags: success, coaching, meditation, exercise, Little, wethechange
Compassion: The Golden Rule of Religion
March 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment
I watched Karen Armstrong’s speech at TED today. She is very inspiring, having made a journey to, from and back to religion. You should watch it for yourself. Here are some higlights. These are not literal quotes, but you will get the main ideas:
Credo: does not mean that I accept without question, but I commit myself wholeheartedly.
Religion is about behaving differently. You behave in a committed way and then you begin to understand the truth about religion. You only understand the doctrine when you put them into practice.
Compassion is what brings you close to God. It dethrones ourselves and then we are able to see the divine.
Hillel, standing on one leg: That which is hateful to you, do not do it unto other. That is the Torah. The rest is commentary. Go and study it.
Todays religion has been highjacked. Christians endlessly judge other people. Religion has been used to oppress others.
We have a talent as a species, to mess up wonderful things.
You must have concern for everybody. Love your enemies. Concern for strangers.
The cause of our present wows are political. Religion is a fault line and can get set in and become part of the problem.
The golden rule is difficult. A lot of religious people prefer to be right, rather than compassionate.
The golden rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Overcoming the horror we feel as enemies.
Here is my wish: I wish that you would help with the creation, launch and propagation of a charter of compassion, crafted by a group of inspirational thinkers from the three Abrahamic traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
I am reminded of the quote by G.K. Chesterton:
The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.
Technorati Tags: armstrong, religion, faith, compassion, TED
Why be a giver
March 4, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Todd writes about the ways in which we can become a giver today. He urges that we not postpone giving until some time in the future, but start today.
I like the story that starts off his blog. It is slightly disturbing for sure, yet effective.
A few weeks ago I was eating lunch at one of my favorite restaurants in downtown Manhattan. Seated next to me were two very well-dressed men in their late 50’s/early 60’s who were having a conversation about their recent retirements. Given that seating in New York restaurants is ridiculously tight and I was dining alone, I heard most of their talk.
One of them asked the other “so what are you going to do now”? The other sat for a moment contemplating, then looked up and said questioningly: “Give back”? They both hooted in laughter at the response, and began perfunctorily yapping about the stock market, recent travels, and other typical conversation.
It is a good story because you can picture the cynicism that drips from the two men. Hear them belly laugh. “Why would anyone want to give back?”
I agree with Todd, we need to give now, but I would like to make it more clear, why. We need to give because that is what gives our lives meaning. In the end, when you look back on your life, you will think about what you gave, not what you received. What you give is what makes you worthy. What you receive in the end doesn’t matter, unless you are a cynic. But if you are, then nothing matters. That is the definition of a cynic, right?
It is not about giving back. Give the first part of your richness. I believe in tithing. Tithing requires that you give the first portion of your income. When you make your monthly budget, take the first ten percent, and give that away for the good something or someone you know is a blessing to this world. Then make up the rest of your budget. I am convinced that your life will be richer, much richer, because of this practice.
