Archive for the ‘Culture’ Category

Monday, August 1st, 2011

I Was Inspired

I was inspired.

Motivated.

Profoundly moved.

Let me start at the beginning…

Do you remember March 11, 2011?

The day that a mega earthquake and terrifying Tsunami devastated Japan.

We all watched with horror.

Many did what they could to help – donating time; money; service.

And then we move on – other stories take over, other tragedies dominate, other narratives catch our short attention spans.

I just came back from Japan – allow me to report.

Frankly, I wasn’t sure what I would find. People were nervous I was going.

Given the U.S. experience of Katrina and such – even years later – my expectations were not that high.

Should have known better.

Let’s be clear – there is still lots to do and years of work ahead – but that’s understood. Power is still an issue – air-conditioning and escalators and such – nice to have as opposed to necessities are still running low or slow – and that’s understood. Deep infrastructure changes are necessary and sacrifices’ will be made – and that’s understood.

Mornings as I watched CNN I found myself embarrassed watching the so-called U.S. debt crisis – I should say self-created crisis or maybe better self-inflicted….

In my home country some can’t seem to agree to any reduction in anything that might cause discomfort in the short term – but long term would save the economy – while others only want to slash and burn in the short term without any thought to damage in the long term.

And there I was with a country focused on the long term – and ready to do whatever it took in the short term – no matter how discomforting – if it assured the future.

The lesson from Japan?

Listen:

起死回生 (kishi kaisei) Literally: Wake from death and return to life.
This means: Get on with it….

継続は力なり。 (Keizoku wa chikara nari) Literally: Continuance (also) is power/strength.
This means: Don’t give up. Just continuing to hold on will yield/reveal strength and power. Continuing on after a setback is its own kind of strength. Perseverance is power.

And there you have it…

Feeling down?

Beaten up?

Reluctant to make the changes in your life you have to make?

Worried about cutting back?

Get on with it – perseverance is power and the future is bright.

Thank you to my friends in Japan for inspiring me, teaching me, motivating me…

What do you think?

Posted by David on 08/01 at 03:40 PM
  • First of all, I want to thank all of the people belonging to the network for prayers, warm notes and charities extended to Japan. My impression to 'Spend Shift', latest book written by John has dramatically changed after 3.11. Before 3.11, frankly speaking, I had felt there was a kind of psychological distance to the crisis happened ...
    Read more >
    Posted by Masanori Togawa on 2011-08-02 14:34:12
  • Another change for the Japanese - because of the need to conserve electricity Japanese men are going home at 6pm and spending time with the family. This is really a revolution.
    Read more >
    Posted by Charlotte Mordin on 2011-08-02 09:42:05
  • @ Sal: Proud to be part of the Egyptian Revolution and specially "The younger FB and Twitter generation wanted to redefine the laws of the nation and they successfully achieved it." I'm really proud to be part of it...
    Read more >
    Posted by Emad Mahmoud on 2011-08-02 08:14:46
Monday, July 18th, 2011

Not Embarrassed to Say…

Are you a Harry Potter fan?

Have you read all the books?

Seen all the movies? Including the newest?

Played Quidditch…?

Seriously – I am not embarrassed to say that I am.

I enjoyed the books; have seen the movies…not the new one yet…but I will.

And while I haven’t played Quidditch, I do say “STUPEFY” every once in a while….

And I’m sad that with the last movie being released now the franchise comes to an end – sort of – although much like The Lord of the Rings and such I imagine – and hope – that my great-grandchildren will find it new for themselves.

Now the truth is that Harry has always been in my presentation/speech repertoire. I have used the books as an example of how “truths” that have become holy – for example, that kids don’t read – are based on a lack of observation, and while that may be true for books with poor content – the lines around the world to buy the Harry Potter books as they came out, and their continuing success, points to the power of great writing and the ability to still ignite imaginations with the right stuff…if you will.

Yet my Ramble is not about the books or the movies or the industry that surrounds them – it’s about the author J.K. Rowling, who has been a source of inspiration to me since the first book rolled out.

You all know the story – and if not… it’s worth knowing. Poor single Mom – had an idea – pursued it – and the rest – as they say – is history.

She had an idea. She pursued it. She had no money – it didn’t stop her – but rather motivated her – and we all know the results.

Think about this – how often do we allow ourselves to be held back by budgets, by lack of resources, by other barriers that we deem insurmountable?

 Listen:

“Lack of money is no obstacle.  Lack of an idea is an obstacle.”
Ken Hakuta

All it takes is an idea. A real idea. A powerful idea. An idea that inspires. An idea that motivates. An idea that leads to more ideas.

How often do we lament our inability to get there because of the obstacles? It didn’t stop Ms. Rowling…

Time to understand that ideas transcend and trump all. If you have a real idea you have already destroyed the obstacles. All of them.

So go enjoy the movie – I can’t wait – I’m going with my daughter and my soon-to-be son-in-law…both big fans like me…

But as much as you enjoy – learn.

What’s your take?

Posted by David on 07/18 at 03:36 PM
Monday, July 11th, 2011

Where Do You Stand On:

Where do you stand on:

Privacy?;

Invasion of your personal space?;

The eye in the peephole watching you?

No doubt you will all roll your eyes and say DUH…where the hell do you think?

So with the latest privacy scandal rocking the UK, it’s no doubt pretty clear – who in their right mind would ever sanction such a cruel and horrible act as the hacking of cell phones for their treasure trove of private messages? Yet it was done…and ugly.

Yet – many of the same folks thought that WikiLeaks was OK – maybe even a public service – but even they would be incensed if anyone got a hold of their credit card information or home address or whatever…

By the way – this all in a world where we routinely post the most intimate info on Facebook and share what was once confidential without any thought.

Clearly we have begun to lose our own sense of what is public and what is private; what I am entitled to see and what I am clearly forbidden to share; what is mine and what is yours…

Frankly, as despicable as I think the News Of The World is – I can sort of/kind of understand the perpetrators in that we are losing our boundaries  and it’s getting harder and harder to ascertain what is public and what is private beyond that credit card info (yours and mine, of course) I mentioned before.

A few thoughts – one is do nothing that requires privacy – and we might be heading in that direction:

“Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip.”  Will Rogers

Now – while this is a fine thought and maybe a lifestyle to aspire to – maybe – he doesn’t say live in such a way that you wouldn’t be ashamed if the town gossip broke into your home….

The real issue to me is, are we moving forward or backward?

Advancing civilization or decaying?And, to that end, I share with you two quotes – diametrically opposed – and ask you to weigh in….Listen:

“Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage’s whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of his tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men.”  Ayn Rand

“It seems to me, Golan, that the advance of civilization is nothing but an exercise in the limiting of privacy.” Janov Pelorat in Asimov’s Foundation’s Edge

Personally speaking, I think more and more – and see some of my posts from the previous few weeks – Will Rogers has a clear point but that is because Asimov hit it on the head – as I wrote once before – it’s not Big Brother that worries me – it’s a world full of little brothers – all who feel entitled to you….

What do you think?

Posted by David on 07/11 at 03:06 PM