NYC – Sherry Bitting, Senior Public Relations & Marketing Manager/Complex Magazine and me discussing my blog and books.

Please pardon the bad lighting (I know at times it looked like I’m in the witness protection program)…this was me experimenting with a new camera. I felt compelled to share when the content turned out so good!!!

I recently learned that Will Smith is investing at least $1 million in the construction and development of a private school to be named The New Village Academy of Calabasas.  The academy will be run privately, and will include prekindergarten through grade 6.  The motto is “Spiral Up� and the tuition will range from $7,500 to $12,500.

The New Village Academy boasts: Organic low-fat breakfasts and lunches with no fried foods or refined sugar, as well as a curriculum, developed in cooperation with Will and Jada, featuring instruction in Spanish, Technology, and Robotics.

Yes…Yes…Yes…Yes…Yes!!!  This is something that I’m in total agreement!!!  I’m frequently telling all those who will listen that I’m going to start a school based on a foundation of progressive thought.  The driving force behind me wanting to do this is my daughters’ strong sense of self.  I feel it is due largely to them being home schooled until they were in the 4th and 5th grade.

And I absolutely love this quote by Will…“The date of the Boston Tea Party does not matter. I know how to learn anything I want to learn.  I absolutely know that I could learn how to fly the space shuttle because someone else knows how to fly it, and they put it in a book.  Give me the book, and I do not need somebody to stand up in front of the class.”

It reminds me of this great quote by Gandhi that says…”Those who know how to think need no teachers.”

To learn more about this great project, visit www.newvillageacademy.org.

This undated photo provided by Dunkin’ Donuts shows a recent online ad featuring Rachael Ray.  Dunkin’ Donuts has chosen to cancel the online advertisement after complaints of the scarf she wore in the ad offers symbolic support for terrorism.

This is proving the point of the art exhibition in the previous post “thought challenging art.”  There are no winners when we have knee jerk reactions which allow the weak and closed minded to set the pace.

I hate the fact that they’re still getting press on this dumbness!!!

One of the many things that this journey of mine has taught me is when you really want to do something, you’ll find a way…if you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.

This art exhibition at the Freud Museum in London examines cultural fear and paranoia in the Western world.

The three most important lessons I learned were all from the same book, The Intelligent Investor.  It was written first by (Benjamin) Graham in 1949.  They appear in chapters 8 and chapters 20.

The first is, to look at stocks as pieces of businesses, not as little items on a chart that move around, not as ticker symbols, not as something that might split next week or next month or something of the sort.  But, rather, to look at the business, value the business, divide by the shares outstanding, and decide whether you really want to own a piece of that business at that price.

The second one was his commentary about your attitude toward the stock market.  That it is there to serve you rather than to instruct you, and he used the famous Mr. Market example of that.  That attitude is fundamental to making money in stocks over time.

And the final item he talked about was margin of safety. When you buy a stock that you think is worth 10 dollars, you don’t pay $9.95 for it, because you can’t be that precise in estimating its value.  So you leave a considerable margin of safety for both what you don’t understand and for the vagaries of the future.

And those three ideas, which I learned when I was 19 years old, have been the bedrock of everything I’ve done since.

- Warren Buffett

Adam Osborne was a pioneer in the computer book industry.  He founded Osborne Publishing in 1972, specializing in easy-to-follow computer manuals.  By 1977 Osborne had over 40 titles in its catalog.  In 1979 he sold his company to McGraw Hill for a rumored $3 million, using the money to launch Osborne Computer.

In 1981, Adam Osborne introduced the first portable computer, the Osborne 1.  The computer weighed 23.5 pounds and cost $1,795, just over half the cost of a computer from other manufacturers with comparable features.  The computer ran the popular CP/M operating system and featured a full keyboard and a tiny 5″ built-in monochrome monitor.  The company shipped over 10,000 computers a month and was considered a huge success, earning $6 million in 1981 and by the next year into the $68 million range.

One version of the story says that Osborne Computers collapsed when Adam bragged to the media about two advanced computers the corporation was working on and destroyed the consumer demand for the Osborne 1.  The result was inventory glut and the company was forced to file bankruptcy.  But later research turned up that the machine Osborne had boasted of shipped and put the company back on track until a single executive built up massive debt trying to complete the assembly of older inventory.

This picture made me think how the one thing that’s absolute is there’s nothing that’s absolute.

 

Knowing what’s being sold in the first 3-5 seconds is a key factor that I’ve always found to be true in effective marketing.

The artist in me found this video just freaking inspirational!!! I couldn’t help but love how this creative expression invokes the masses to think…and better yet, to reveal their thoughts! All types of concepts came to me while watching!

(major Thank You And You’re Welcome to www.thephenomenal.com)

That’s way too much power for one woman to have……and I must admit…I’m kind of jealous!

(Thank You And You’re Welcome to www.atribecallednext.com where I jacked this the video)

I always embrace my moments of doubts (and trust me, I have many) because it often produces something greater.

Instead of allowing doubt to stop you, look at it more as a sign that you have more to discover.

A quote by Francis Ford Coppola to ponder…

“I don’t think there’s any artist of any value who doesn’t doubt what they’re doing.”

This is a picture of lightning striking while Chile’s Chaiten volcano began it’s eruption…and again I say WOW!!!

This is what happens when someone is blessed with a lot of confidence but not so much…uhmm, I’m really trying to be polite here…lets just say good sense and/or a dental plan.

Please peep the book that he’s is holding!

I love innovative solutions!!!

Wow, it’s so apparent when there’s a lack of a responsible parent.  I think the ability/judgement to say ‘NO’ plays a huge part of that responsibility.

But to give them credit, she is wearing a helmet!

(This is one that I truly hope is photoshop.)

Just because some people think that there’s a sucker born every minute…they don’t have to be so blatant about it.

 

An excerpt from “Becoming A Category of One: How Extraordinary Companies Transcend Commodity and Defy Comparison” by Jim Calloway.

It’s constant white water.  Sometimes change is at once the most fun you’ll ever have and the most afraid you’ll ever be.  Catergory of One companies love challenge, and they always know that it’s more fun going through the rapids than it is standing on the riverbank.  Standing to the side on the riverbank may seem like a safe place to be, but if you don’t develop the will and the skills to get through the white water, you’ll be stuck forever.

I know the sentence structure isn’t the best, but the point is dead on.

The great thing is that you get to decide who the joke is on!!!

“When you reach an obstacle, turn it into an opportunity.  You have the choice.  You can overcome and be a winner, or you can allow it to overcome you and be a loser.  The choice is yours and yours alone.  Refuse to throw in the towel.  Go that extra mile that failures refuse to travel.  It is far better to be exhausted from success than to be rested from failure.”

- Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics

 

 

…it’s time to water your grass!!!

This is a great example of someone knowing the core values of their targeted market.

Uhmm, and staying true to who I am…this would be the best roll of quarters spent since Pac-man!!!

I personally don’t like anything that’s done half assed! 

Come on people…a political correct racist!  I wonder if they thought this would get them a polite beat down from the brothers. 

However this is a great example of the lack of a complete thought process.

Like Kanye and I said in ”Thank You And You’re Welcome”…

If you know you’re the best, it only makes sense for you to surround yourself with the best. NO EXCEPTIONS!

I couldn’t think of a better way to congratulate my friend, co-writer and business partner on being honored as the #1 Hottest MC In The Game as reported at MTV.com!!!

And not to encourage anyone to leave my site, but here’s the link to read the full story…Hottest MCs In The Game’: At Last, We Agree With Kanye West — He Is #1

…why there’s so many unfit people in the world?  Could it be due to just plain old laziness?

…whatever you put into it!

Think about it, can you squeeze juice from a sponge* that was only used to wipe up water?  Be very very very careful of what you allow to soak into your sponge*.  For when life puts its pressure on your sponge* (and it will), it will only squeeze out what you put into it.

*sponge = brain

Above is an excerpt from “Think Think Think And Think Again: The Power of Ideas Designed to Spark Change”

Message to all who have and will come in contact with me…I AM PRESSURE!

There’s nothing to gain by getting upset with me when your true self is revealed due to my presence.  Regardless if it’s greatness or buffoonery, it was there before me.  I suggest you take full responsibility if you don’t like what comes out…for it’s the only way you can make a change. 

And yes, I’m directing this to a specific person, but there no need to name names at this time.  However, I do suggest that they watch their step moving forward…there’s no need to wake a sleeping giant!!!

…it can get you to your goal faster!

 

…but there’s always an exception!!!

 

…that I wished I would’ve come up with by Charles Haanel.

We must ‘be’ before we can ‘do’
and we can ‘do’ only to the extent which we ‘are’
and what we ‘are’ depends upon what we ‘think.

I mistakenly deleted the comments from April 24th to today.

 

A supercell that became a tornado-like vortex over Amarillo, Texas.

Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option.

(Inspired from me being on the Glow In Dark Tour.)

I wish I would’ve come up with that quote by John C. Maxwell.  It made me think how I’m never satisfied when told something is good.  I believe good is the enemy of great.

WARNING: This video from 1974 will change how you look at pop culture!

This isn’t meant to be a diss…but it is what it is.

…simply applying what you know to what another genius has already done.  Brillant, isn’t it?!

…I know a gang beat down when I see one!

I’ve heard of Jamaican Hard Dough Bread, but this is ridiculous!

I wish this wasn’t real, but unfortunately their are some people who really don’t want to figure things out for themselves.

And just to be clear, that’s not my hat!!!

I’ve been known to be a little self-centered as well as an extremist at times, but this is even too much for me.  This had to come from the someone who was tired of having the covers snatched off in the middle of the night.

It funny how my self-centeredness formed that opinion of this picture.  I say that because the romantic in me sees an expression of someone who really likes to snuggle!

“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 other’s 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.”

- Steve Jobs, Apple Co-Founder

I’m not sure if I take more issue with what’s said or how it was said. 

As I was just about to post this, a thought came to me…why is this funny?  Obviously this was an expression of some one’s frustration who’s just trying to make a honest living here in America.  And just because they haven’t conquered the language yet, I put them on blast for ridicule.

Wow, am I turning into this very thoughtful being who no longer finds humor at the expense of others…uhmm…not so much…because funny is funny!!!