The Queen

Watching the Grammys the other night. Mesmerized by Queen Latifah, as I always am. Struck by her poise, presence, and confidence as well as her talent. She seems totally at ease with who she is as an individual. It's the same feeling I get from Streisand and Madonna. Each is happily a one-of-a-kind! Reminds me of a quote by Judy Garland:

Always be a first-rate version of yourself, rather than a second-rate version of someone else!

February 16, 2005 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

How to Change the World

Changemakers.net is a project of Ashoka: Innovators for the Public that focuses on supporting the rapidly growing community of social entrepreneurs. It describes its mission as:

...providing inspiration, resources, and opportunities for those interested in social change throughout the world.

So what are the first steps to become a social entrepreneur?

Changemakers asked six successful social entrepreneurs how to move from vision to reality.

Here's the essence of their advice:

• Know what you feel strongly about and why • Envision the problem and an ideal world • Make your vision big • Be passionate – commit to risk • Have faith • Listen: share ownership of your cause • Build a team: peers + mentors • Get the right mentors • Use your mentors well • Surround yourself with leaders • Get a partner • Be accountable • Know your friends and opponents • Act – don't overanalyze • Focus on collaboration – not starting an organization • Pick the right battles: make significant impact • Create models • Be flexible: expect to fail, learn and change • Experience others' lives • Prepare to deal with anger • Bounce back • Celebrate

Read How to Change the World: First Steps toward Becoming a Social Entrepreneur .

April 15, 2004 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Staying in touch with what matters!

Mark Silver is a new friend of mine out in Portland, Oregon. Mark is one of that growing band of soloists who believe that business is about making a difference in the world as much as it's about making a profit. Mark is a business consultant and healer who brings a spiritual, heart-based approach to his work.

His company Heart of Business specializes in helping small business owners make a profit without sacrificing their hearts.

"My vision here at Heart of Business, whether you are self-employed, own your business, or bring an entrepreneurial heart to your job at work, is that your business become a profitable, sustainable, beacon of generosity in the fabric of your community."

Well said, Mark!

March 26, 2004 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Cherry Blossoms

Born the daughter of a courtesan and a samurai, Itagaki Nobu was put up for adoption shortly after her birth. A lay priest who worked at Chionji Temple in Kyoto raised her and taught her martial arts and calligraphy. At the age of seven, Nobu was sent to serve the lord of Kameoka Castle. Fortunately, she was allowed to continue her classical studies. By all accounts, she excelled at everything she undertook.

Unfortunately, early nineteenth century Japan was not supportive of gifted young servant girls. She was married off at sixteen to a young samurai who abused her. She had three children who all died at an early age. When her husband died, she was married again.  By the time Nobu was thirty-three, her second husband had died as well.

She returned to live with her adoptive father on the grounds of Chionji Temple.  There she found a measure of peace, became a Buddhist nun, changed her name to Rengetsu (meaning Lotus Moon), and devoted herself to meditation. Fate would not let her rest however. When her adoptive father died eight years later, Rengetsu was forced to leave Chionji.

In order to support herself, Rengetsu began making pottery and writing poetry. On each piece she would inscribe in exquisite calligraphy one of the poems she had written. Soon her work became so valued that crowds would gather around her wherever she went.

In order to escape the crowds and find time for meditation, she began going on long pilgrimages about the country. Despite her unsettled life, she was a prolific artist. Most of the money she earned she gave away to the poor. There is a story that when a robber entered her home one night, Rengetsu lit a lamp so he could see better and then fixed the thief a cup of tea.

By the time of her death at age eighty-four in 1875, Japan had declared her a patron saint of the arts and she had created over 50,000 pieces of pottery, poetry, calligraphy and paintings and was beloved by people from every social class in Japan.

Where had Otagaki Rengetsu, who had experienced so much tragedy in her life, found such a wellspring of strength, creativity, love and compassion?

Here's another story, this one from the book One Hand Clapping.

A nun, Rengetsu by name, was on a pilgrimage when she stopped in a small town seeking shelter for the night. It had been a long and difficult jouney, and she was very tired. She went from door to door asking for a place to stay, but no one would let her in.

It was sunset now and getting darker by the minute,
so she finally made her bed for the night
in a field under a cherry tree.

In the middle of the night she awoke
to find the cherry tree in full blossom
beneath a beautiful silvery moon.
The sight was breathtaking!

Awed by this unexpected beauty,
she turned toward the village, bowed,
and uttered this little prayer of thanks:

Through their kindness in refusing me lodging,
I found myself beneath the beautiful blossoms
on the night of the misty moon.

November 20, 2003 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

The Simple Good Life

Paul and Sarah Edwards are probably the world’s leading experts on running a home based business. They have two sites of note. Working From Home is their site for home based businesses. They also have a site, The Simple Good Life that provides resources for people who want to live their dreams while living “a simpler, saner lifestyle.”

October 15, 2003 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

The Best Marketing E-zine Going

Robert Middleton at Action Plan Marketing has the best marketing e-zine going for self-employed professionals. Robert is very generous with his knowledge. In fact, he’s built his business on sharing his expertise. Visit his site to learn more about his info-guru principles, sign up for his More Clients e-zine, and to get his free Marketing Plan Workbook.

October 9, 2003 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

The Power of the Individual

I believe in the power of the individual. The strength of a civilization depends on the strength of its people. The task of creating a better world must flow from that source. Therefore, I believe that human resource development should be our number one priority.

If you don’t believe you can make a difference, check this out. Craig Kielburger was 12 years old when he founded Free The Children. Now, 8 years later, his organization has involved over 100,000 youth in 35 countries. They have built and outfitted more than 350 schools, providing education to over 20,000 students, sent millions of dollars worth of medical supplies and health kits, mounted campaigns against child labor, and created leadership development programs for youth. Here’s how they describe their mission:

“The primary goal of the organization is not only to free children from poverty and exploitation, but to also free children and young people from the idea that they are powerless to bring about positive social change and to improve the lives of their peers.”

September 30, 2003 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Black Socks... White Socks

Welcome to my new blog!

In my closet, I have two bins. One holds black socks and the other holds white socks. Twice a week, I put on my black socks to visit a client. The rest of the time, I work from home and wear my white socks.

I enjoy wearing my black socks. The work is fast paced. I get to visit with old friends and meet new ones.

But I'm a white sock guy at heart. White socks go better with ratty sneakers and t-shirts. I wear white socks when I'm putting my youngest son on the school bus. I wear white socks when I'm hiking. White socks are freedom.

Running a one person business is a white sock activity. Even when you're dressed to the nines!

When soloists are asked why they've chosen to run their own business, they rarely mention money as the prime motivation. Nor do they cite the desire to "grow a business". Instead, they consistently use phrases such as freedom, independence, choice, more control over their lives, the chance to do things their way. Let's call it a desire for self-determination.

Consider The Art of the One Person Business as the blog for the White Sock Brigade.

September 23, 2003 | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)