YOUR LIFE: Entrepreneurial Inspiration And Brilliant Advice

YOUR LIFE: Entrepreneurial Inspiration And Brilliant Advice

Dear Readers, Colleagues, TNNWC Members, Thought-Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

My wife brought the quote which follows to my attention yesterday. It was taken from a commencement address given by Steve Jobs (the visionary leader of Apple Computer) to students at Stanford University several years ago. As you likely already know, Steve Jobs has had to contend with some tremendous health challenges. He chose to strengthen himself because of his battle with adversity, instead of becoming a cynic or a pessimist.

The essence of the message is to "live each and every moment of every single day as if it were your last." For most of us, we take far too much for granted until we are threatened with serious loss. Jobs' message is not wasted on anyone who is still alive. For while we are still alive, the possibilities are limitless -- unless we chose to resign ourselves to a very small, mundane world, and a routine life of not making a difference.

Yes. It's true. Most men live their lives in quiet desperation. Women do too. Desperation is the dark side of ourselves, while dreams, ambitions and action, with a sense of urgency, are overwhelming evidence of the bright side. Make a choice, leaders, entrepreneurs, would-be activists -- choose to heed Steve Jobs' advice and do not fear the mission ahead. Instead of living with regret, or with wasting time on endless critical introspection, move ahead with your plans. The plans that your heart tells you are truly meant for you.

Proceed with passion.

Faithfully,

Douglas Castle
http://aboutdouglascastle.blogspot.com/
http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/douglascastle
http://www.TNNWC.com

Steve Jobs, commencement address, Stanford University 2005:

“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

*****

Tags, Labels, Keywords, Terms: inspiration, Steve Jobs, Apple Computer, entrepreneur, leadership, management, dreams, ambition, passion, planning, taking action, following your heart, overcoming fear, NLP, scripting, philosophy, behavioral psychology, Blogs by Douglas Castle, TNNWC Membership, emerging enterprises, small business advice, encouragement, mission statements, progress planning, BuzzBaristas, TNNWC Buzzworks, Rene Derme, health, perspective, persuasion, power personalities, anti-depressants, desperation, limitless possibilities, building business, celebrating life, The BLUE TUESDAY Report, The National Networker (TNNWC) Weekly Newsletter, The Global Futurist, Braintenance, The Internationalist Page, monetizing in the moment...


-----
Douglas Castle - THE DAILY BURST OF BRILLIANCE .001™ http://aboutDouglasCastle.blogspot.com

United By Fear - Human Nature

This article was written by Douglas Castle for original publication in The Internationalist Page Blog and in the GICBC (Global Interworked Cooperative Business Community) Blog.

Cooperation Born Of Tragedy

The brief article which appears below came to us courtesy of AP (the Associated Press), and would seem to illustrate how the fears which we have in common -- dare I say it -- the fears which we share tend to unite us when they are extreme enough, and powerful enough, to overshadow long-standing and fundamental differences in ideologies or objectives. Enemies are bound, by their fears, to initiate a means of cooperation. And that cooperation invariably starts with a reluctant, uncomfortable dialogue between two individual Human Beings.

Much as fear acts as a catalyst to bind us (when common interests or objectives don't readily serve that purpose, as pursuit of ambitions is never quite as compelling as a sudden bound with the type of fear that reduces us to children playing in the same sandbox...where our superficial differences do not define us as "better" or "worse"... they just make us each somehow special.

I believe that all persons, all leaders and all nations must search for those things which unite us, instead of investing so much time politicking about those things that divide us.

Admitting and addressing fears and solving common problems is the way we learn the lessons of cooperation and collaboration. If this behavioral shift (admittedly born of tragedy or desperation; in this case, the terrible catastrophe in Japan) proves to be successful, and problems are solved through working together, a great deal of mistrust and suspicion can eventually yield the way to strategic interdependence and synergy.

The article is very brief, but profoundly significant given the history between South Korea and North Korea. As my college thesis advisor had once said to me, "People are far too busy placing blame and fighting each other to actually solve 'real' problems. We're so immersed in our bickering and treasure hunting that we never look up to the sky above, only to realize that a giant meteor is headed for our planet and all of our time on the Earth has been uselessly squandered, with no second chance." It is not too late. Not yet.

####

Two Koreas agree on rare volcano talks next week

Thu Mar 24, 4:01 am ET

SEOUL, South Korea – South Korea says scientists from the two Koreas will meet next week to discuss joint research into an active volcano extolled in the North as the sacred birthplace of leader Kim Jong Il.

The talks could spark a rare bit of cooperation between the Koreas.

North Korea offered last week to discuss joint research on volcanic activities at its Mount Paektu, the highest peak on the peninsula. South Korea later proposed the countries' civilian experts discuss the matter at a South Korean border village on March 29.

Seoul's Unification Ministry says the North agreed Thursday to the offer, saying it will send three volcanologists to the meeting.

The volcano last erupted in 1903, but minor earthquakes increased there between 2002 and 2005.

####

Maybe the oftimes seemingly indifferent Universe is sending us a brutal message about learning to be civilized.

I am not in the slightest a religious person, but perhaps --- perhaps there is a force far greater than anything that we could ever comprehend that is sending us a warning. I would like to think that this is a warning issued purposefully and sentiently out of some kind of love for Humankind.

Faithfully,

Douglas Castle

Internationalist,
Global Futurist, and
Chairman and CEO,
TNNWC Group, LLC

-----
THE INTERNATIONALIST PAGE - "A shrinking world, with expanding opportunities."
http://theinternationalistpage.blogspot.com/



-----
BREAKING NEWS AND INTELLIGENCE:
News Ticker: International/ World News Stories

News Ticker: Global/ International Trends

News Ticker: United Nations Reports

Join TNNWC – Become a Member

HUMANITAS MAXIMUS -- SELF-GROWTH, SELF-DETERMINATION AND LEADERSHIP. http://HumanitasMaximus.Blogspot.com - "Learn, Dream, Plan, Implement and Achieve."



***


News Ticker: TNNWC NEWS RELEASES

News Ticker: TNNWC RSS AND DAILY EMAIL FEED

Economic Inequity and Revolution? Enter: Dysteamia

The dangerously growing gap between the rich and the poor. http://ping.fm/HfrJN.

My First Question: At what tipping point does the difference become so onerous and unconscionable to the poor majority that the seeds for revolution are firmly sown?

My Second Question: How close is the United States (one country among a number of others faced with the same disparity) to this theoretical "tipping point"?

My Third Question: What can be done to avert this type of  "theoretical" calamity? The answer will not come from large monopolies or government "programs". 

I believe that the answer lies in uniting and lobbying small businesses and in doing the same with consumer groups. That's the "hidden agenda" of TNNWC Group, LLC.  Go to http://www.tnnwc.com/ and click on the "JOIN US" button. Be a part of an organization that is truly greater than the sum of its individual Members...SYNERGY!...this is quite the opposite of what is going on inside of some of these corporate juggernauts and the back offices of government. They are actually parties to a phenomenon which I will refer to as (this is a bona fide Lingovation) "Dysteamia".

Dysteamia is the result produced by a group where the sum of the parts is far greater than the whole -- the loss factor has to do with massive waste, gross mismanagement, or some thievery justified by an unmitigated sense of entitlement and excessive greed. Yes: dys - Team - ia. 

news
economics
trends
buzz
TNNWC alerts
politics
revolution
degrees of inequality
rich versus poor
dangerous tipping point...

Faithfully,

Douglas Castle
http://aboutdouglascastle.blogspot.com/
http://www.tnnwc.com/

"Dysteamia Kills."

Japan's Tragedy Is Everyone's Tragedy - Take Action - Now

Japan's Tragedy Is Everyone's Tragedy. Take Action. Now.

All of the compassionate peoples of this world, wherever you are, whatever you are doing... Please take a moment away from what you are doing to contribute whatever amount that you can -- we appreciate that these are challenging economic times -- to one of the socially-responsible and charitable organizations which are collecting and providing aid to the surviving victims of a tsunami which devastated much of Japan, a series of aftershocks (that may continue for months....or perhaps years), and now, the very real threat of a catastrophic nuclear meltdown of inestimable proportions.

Those of us at TNNWC send out our condolences, prayers and support to those who  have died or have lost loved ones in this catastrophe. Please join us by contributing as much as you can to the relief effort -- right now. Time is critical. The clock is ticking. Please help.

To find a list of organizations to which you can give your contributions, simply click on this link, or copy and paste it into your browser (TNNWC is not affiliated with any of these organizations):

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_newsroom/20110311/wl_yblog_newsroom/japan-earthquake-and-tsunami-how-to-help

Please be generous. Give Globally. Join the humanitarian effort to save lives. Every cent helps.

Please forward this post to everyone you know. If you need to download it so that you can attach it to a letter ot send to your email list, newsgroups or social media, you can download a copy of this exact document (as a .pdf download) by clicking on http://bit.ly/TNNWCJAPAN

Thank you.

---------------------------------------

Join TNNWC – Become a Member (Your Membership is still absolutely free, and you can start receiving your benefits immediately. If you are a thought-leader, an entrepreneur, a small business, an emerging enterprise or an established entity on a fast-track for growth, either in the U.S. or internationally -- you'll want our publications, our intel, our alerts, our trend reports, and, of course, our unparalleled suite of services). Click on http://www.tnnwc.com/ and press the "JOIN US" button.

This Announcement and Request For Help is co-sponsored by:

TNNWC Group, LLC - http://www.tnnwc.com/ - Publisher of The National Networker (TNNWC) Weekly Newsletter
The Internationalist Page - http://theinternationalistpage.blogspot.com/
The Global Futurist - http://theglobalfuturist.blogspot.com/, and
LINKS 4 LIFE - http://lifelinksiep.blogspot.com/


--------------------------
HUMANITAS MAXIMUS -- SELF-GROWTH, SELF-DETERMINATION AND LEADERSHIP. http://HumanitasMaximus.Blogspot.com - "Learn, Dream, Plan, Implement and Achieve."



***


News Ticker: TNNWC NEWS RELEASES

News Ticker: TNNWC RSS AND DAILY EMAIL FEED

Personal Thank You Notes -- A Rare And Powerful Touch

Personal Thank You Notes -- A Rare And Powerful Touch

If you're a hardened business-minded cynic, as I am, you'll probably think that this is going to be one of those sissy "conventional wisdom" puff piece articles. But you'd be wrong. So there.

Dear Friends, Readers, Colleagues and Fellow TNNWC Members:

A personal note (as a follow-through to a conversation or a meeting) is becoming increasingly rare. A personal thank you note is even rarer. This makes it all the more precious.

A thank-you note, whether it is a small hand-written sticky note or a more formalized email casts a gracious and dignified light on the sender.

When the Founder of TNNWC Group, Adam J.(whatever that stands for ) Kovitz mails me anything, he always encloses a small post-it note saying "thank you." It is one of the things that makes him outstanding in an increasingly hostile and de-personalized society. It is more than a gesture - it's a statement about the character of the sender. I have kept all of Adam's post-it notes [well, to be completely candid, it had occurred to me that they might fetch a high price at auction some day in the not-to-distant future when Adam comes to great fame and fortune...]

I have to start to send more thank you notes to people. They are a rare and personal touch that builds a stronger bridge of friendship and trust between the sender and the recipient. I know how wonderful I feel when I receive one.

I would suggest that you endeavor to do the same.

It will set us apart in an all-too-often indifferent world. It might even (at the risk of sounding mercenary) help win us better social and business relationships.

That is my entire message. If you'd like to go further, there is a personal story, but even if you stop right here, I've given you something to think about.

In fact, I'm going out to buy several quill pens and some fancy stationery right now.

- DC

The Story

Some years ago, during a particularly difficult time in my life, I decided to distract myself by delving into something new; something that would engage me physically, intellectually and emotionally.

I found my needed distraction when I decided, after interviewing several martial arts "masters," to study Jiu Jitsu under the instruction of Soke Joseph Droual of New York Martial Arts Hombu.

Soke (a term of mastery, which some translate to the "Founder," of a unique style, or "The Inheritor" of special teachings) intuitively knew what I needed, and trained me well. I thoroughly enjoyed our sessions. I earned my black belt due to our dedication to each other. Teaching and studying are two parts of a whole process - it truly requires a partnership between at least two persons to make learning possible. We established a close bond.

Over the years, our friendship has grown, and we have very often confided in eachother, exchanged warped jokes, groanworthy puns and musical metaphors. We speak on the telephone briefly (as we are both busy), but with incredible frequency.

Soke recently honored my Colleagues and myself by becoming a Member of TNNWC Group and one of our Advisors.

He is a master of four different martial arts, The Founder of The Internal Energy Plus System, a Member of the US Martial Arts Hall Of Fame, and an anti-bullying and anti-crime advocate and activist working in conjunction with Curtis Sliwa (of Guardian Angels fame), and a number of other organizations chartered to make children safer from the increasingly prevalent bullying and gang activities at schools, as well as organizations which are charged with the mission of empowering and protecting women from violence and abuse, such as NOWSA and has participated in such events as Voices For A Cause.


He's been interviewed numerous times on Long Island's WGBB Radio, as has had numerous mentions in The Long Islander, a popular Long Island newspaper.

This man of accomplishment recently took the time out to send me an email expressing his gratitute for our enduring friendship and for "all that I have done for him." It's ironic. From my perspective, he's done everything for me. I will not publish his letter here, as it was very personal, but I will publish my response:

---------------

Honored and beloved Soke Joe:

Thanks are appreciated, but are highly unnecessary. You are my friend because we were brought together by a greater force to unite our efforts toward a greater and higher purpose.

If anything, I am indebted to you for teaching me some lessons about strategy and courage which have helped save my life (both literally and figuratively), and which have truly transformed me -- You were, and continue to be, the principal inspiration for the way in which I can take a stand in this world when others choose to retreat, to just turn the other way or to simply lie down.

Your teachings and trainings have changed me and have helped me to grow from within -- to strengthen my resolve and commitment to the things which I believe to be right.

Your training, insights, experiences and acumen have become a permanent part of the person whom I've become -- and I never could have accomplished so much without having walked into the dojo that day and asked you to be my teacher.

I will always stand with you.

Thank YOU, Soke.

With great love and respect,

Douglas

####

The Internal Energy Plus Logo
More Info: http://douglascastleiep.blogspot.com/


-----

















---------------
Douglas Castle -   THE DAILY BURST OF BRILLIANCE .001™
http://aboutdouglascastle.blogspot.com/ 
http://www.DouglasCastleBlogosphere.com

Join TNNWC GROUP (start receiving benefits, and become a Member at no charge) -

http://www.tnnwc.com/
---------------

Tags, Labels, Keywords, Terms: Thank-you notes, public relations, friendship, Soke Joseph Droual, Curtis Sliwa, NOWSA, Internal Energy Plus, anti-bullying, teen safety awareness, women's safety, women's empowerment, The Guardian Angels, TNNWC News Releases, Voices For A Cause, USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame, social media, business networking, small business, self-defense, Adam J. Kovitz, Kent Martin, RD Watkins, BuzzBaristas, getting attention, messaging, marketing, differentiating yourself, image-building, lead generation, follow-up, Customer Expectation Management Practice, CEM, communications, blogs by Douglas E. Castle, Soke, widgetbox, Post-It Notes, personal touches...

HUMANITAS MAXIMUS -- SELF-GROWTH, SELF-DETERMINATION AND LEADERSHIP. http://HumanitasMaximus.Blogspot.com - "Learn, Dream, Plan, Implement and Achieve."



***


News Ticker: TNNWC NEWS RELEASES

News Ticker: TNNWC RSS AND DAILY EMAIL FEED

A Government By And For The People - Something Truly Revolutionary In The Volatile Middle East.

This article is a newly re-titled reprint of an earlier article which I sincerely believe is worth posting again. This is something frightening, but potentially wonderful. This is about social media, repressive governments, mass movement, and about an unforeseen and under-appreciated tipping point (with compliments to author Malcolm Gladwell) in the oxymoronic "War On Terror."

Most importantly, though, this article is about what can be achieved when people unite and rise up together, peacefully, toward a righteous objective.

There is a lesson here that I wish I knew how to articulate. I have tried my very best. -DC

ANTI-RADICAL, ANTI-VIOLENT SHIFT IN THE VOLATILE MIDDLE EAST - TRULY REVOLUTIONARY.

A combination of factors, not the least of which is the rapid international adoption of internet and social media technologies, has led to an historically unprecedented upheaval of the civilian populations of Middle Eastern and North African nations against their established leadership.


This movement is not only significant in its implications for the future of the entire region, but it is crucially significant in the way that these protest movements are being led by the public-at-large in each of these nations, and not by military or clerical groups.


Further, these protests, for the most part, have been extraordinarily free of violence on the part of the protesters. The movements within each of the affected countries are massive in size, and are being championed by crowds of unarmed civilians wielding banners and signs bearing anti-government slogans and messages. While the governments of some of these nations have used police and military force against the protesters in order to quash their growing impetus, the protesters are growing in number, in collective voice, and acts of weaponless defiance.


May these protesters win their freedom from oppressive, entrenched regimes – and may they win with minimal bloodshed and casualties among their numbers. There are many in this world who might learn by their stunning example of the power of numbers, and of the potential for non-radicalized change…a change to government by and for the People.


As an American citizen (as well as an Internationalist), I am greatly encouraged to see some of the signs of awakening democracy. I am nostalgic, if not more than a little wistful, as well.


Some further information follows for your review:

From The NEW YORK TIMES Afternoon News Summary

28 February 2011

News Analysis

As Regimes Fall in Arab World, Al Qaeda Sees History Fly By

By SCOTT SHANE

The powerful protests spreading across the Middle East and North Africa have shunned the two central tenets of Al Qaeda's credo: murderous violence and religious fanaticism.

• Egypt Prosecutor Sharpens Case Against Mubarak 12:26 PM ET
• Protests in Oman Spread 11:16 AM ET | Regional Roundup

####

"True democracy is the key to intellectual freedom, ingenuity, entrepreneurship and economic prosperity. It is the Philosopher's Stone which can convert hopelessness to the actualization of great dreams." - Douglas Castle


Faithfully,


Douglas Castle,
for THE INTERNATIONALIST PAGE Blog,
and as Chairman and CEO of TNNWC Group, LLC . JOIN US!




-----
THE INTERNATIONALIST PAGE - "A shrinking world, with expanding opportunities."
http://theinternationalistpage.blogspot.com/



-----
BREAKING NEWS AND INTELLIGENCE:
News Ticker: International/ World News Stories

News Ticker: Global/ International Trends

News Ticker: United Nations Reports

Join TNNWC – Become a Member

Tags, Labels, Key Words and Terms: democracy, unity, internationalism, peaceful protest, free enterprise, entrepreneurialism, ingenuity, government by and for the people, innovation, pardigm shifts, TNNWC Group Services, TNNWC Group Buzzworks, social media, the information revolution, contagious revolution, viral revolution, the power of the populace, peaceful protest, radical islam, al-qaeda, al-jazeera, Al Jolson, articles by Douglas E. Castle, cybercommerce, cyberspace, Humanity, revolution, Technullities, political trends, the energy crisis, drama in the middle east, democracy and small business, democracy and innovation, the power of numbers, unite and conquer, the dream of freedom, RadioDAZZ, TNNWC Newsroom, Kent Martin, RD Watkins, Jared DiCarmine, economic recovery, the seeds of discontent, The National Networker (TNNWC) Weekly Newsletter, RSS feed directories, blog directories, world change, worldview, The New York Times, sanctions


HUMANITAS MAXIMUS -- SELF-GROWTH, SELF-DETERMINATION AND LEADERSHIP. http://HumanitasMaximus.Blogspot.com - "Learn, Dream, Plan, Implement and Achieve."



***


News Ticker: TNNWC NEWS RELEASES

News Ticker: TNNWC RSS AND DAILY EMAIL FEED