On Risk

This came to me as one of those emails that was forwarded a bunch of times and cc'd to a lot of people. I don't know where it originally came from. Before I posted it here I checked to see if the quotes were real and they are so enjoy.

Life without risk is not living. If you keep doing what you've been doing then your going to keep getting what you've been getting. So if you want something different to happen in your life you are going to have to change something about your life and that usually involves RISK. I enjoyed this article and I hope you do to.

Rik

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By Author Unknown -

Risk is the potential harm that may arise from some present process or from some future event. It is often mapped to the probability of some event which is seen as undesirable. Usually the probability of that event and some assessment of its expected harm must be combined into a believable scenario (an outcome) which combines the set of risk, regret and reward probabilities into an expected value for that outcome.

Conventionally risk is expressed by the relation Risk = Hazards x Vulnerability.

The Risk Quotes describe the probability of taking chances in one's life. These quotes actually describe the nature and the strength of the people to take some sort of chances in their life and to gain something out of those risks. It may be acknowledged that the risks taken by the people may be calculated or the uncalculated ones depending upon their ability to withstand their decisions.

In futures trading Risk, is the probability of loss of trading capital. Market risk may be one of the things considered by fundamental traders but it is not all of it. Market risk if it exists in futures, may not be considered at all by technical traders who base there decisions on price action. Prices move first and fundamentals come second. The probability of harmful consequences, or expected losses (deaths, injuries, property, livelihoods, economic activity disrupted or environment damaged) resulting from interactions between natural or human-induced hazards and vulnerable conditions.

And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
Anais Nin

Great deeds are usually wrought at great risks.
Herodotus

Happiness comes of the capacity to feel deeply, to enjoy simply, to think freely, to risk life, to be needed.
Strom Jameson

Those who trust to chance must abide by the results of chance.
Calvin Coolidge

Risk - If one as to jump a stream and knows how wide it is, he will not jump. If he doesn't know how wide it is, he'll jump and six times out of ten he'll make it
Persian Proverb

Life is a risk.
Diane Von Furstenberg

If you don't risk anything you risk even more.
Erica Jong

In America any boy may become President and I suppose it's just one of the risks he takes.
Adlai Stevenson

If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure.
J Danforth Quayle

Be wary of the man who urges an action in which he himself incurs no risk.
Joaquin Setanti

If you're never scared or embarrassed or hurt, it means you never take any chances.
Julia Sorel

Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinions of others, for those voices. Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself. Face the truth.
Katherine Mansfield

I don't think about risks much. I just do what I want to do. If you gotta go, you gotta go.
Lillian Carter

Great deeds are usually wrought at great risks.
Herodotus

In order for people to be happy, sometimes they have to take risks. It's true these risks can put them in danger of being hurt.
Meg Cabot

First weigh the considerations, then take the risks.
Helmuth von Moltke

Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash.
George S. Patton

Our lives improve only when we take chances - and the first and most difficult risk we can take is to be honest with ourselves.
Walter Anderson

First weigh the considerations, then take the risks.
Helmuth von Moltke

What you risk reveals what you value.
Jeanette Winterson

Be wary of the man who urges an action in which he himself incurs no risk.
Joaquin Setanti

It seems to me that people have vast potential. Most people can do extraordinary things if they have the confidence or take the risks. Yet most people don't. They sit in front of the telly and treat life as if it goes on forever.
Philip Adams

Our lives improve only when we take chances - and the first and most difficult risk we can take is to be honest with ourselves.
Walter Anderson

You miss 100% of the shots you never take.
Wayne Gretzky

If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much room.
Jayne Howard

To win without risk is to triumph without glory.
Pierre Corneille

The universe will reward you for taking risks on its behalf.
Shakti Gawain

Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much because they live in the grey twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.
Theodore Roosevelt

There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction.
John F. Kennedy

Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash.
George S Patton

It seems to me that people have vast potential. Most people can do extraordinary things if they have the confidence or take the risks. Yet most people don't. They sit in front of the telly and treat life as if it goes on forever.
Philip Adams

The policy of being too cautious is the greatest risk of all.
Jawaharlal Nehru

When you are ...

"When you are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, Faith is knowing that one of two things will happen; There will be something solid to stand on or you will immediately learn to fly."
An Unknown Author

This was sent to me by my friend Adam J. Kovitz

Reason Season or Lifetime ...

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.

When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person..

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, To aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.


Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Give until it hurts

So it's time once again for the Nutcracker produced by the Space Cost Ballet and performed at the Kings Center. I took Friday off to assist in the last minute details for the production. I was busy all day. The saying when "It's when we let go, that we get what we want" is so true. It is through giving and taking your eyes off yourself that you truly grow. By serving others you become fulfilled. Just thoughts on the business of life.

Desire, like the atom, is explosive with creative force.

Desire is a powerful emotion. One that can be channeled for good or bad. Be careful for the dark side has an alluring appeal. Think of others not of yourself make that your desire. Make it so that others benefit through you. Make that your Desire, do what is necessary to make it so. Once your Desire is controlled the results will be explosive.

Happy Thanksgiving

Did you know:

The Pilgrims did have Turkey at the first Thanksgiving,
Wild Turkey. For the Pilgrims Wild Turkey was easy to hunt because they were in abundance and large in size. Even though they could fly, they could not fly very far.
Their feast would have also consisted of Goose, Rabbit, Lobster and Codfish..

An estimated
375 Million pounds of Turkey are eaten every Thanksgiving,
65 million Sweet Potato's are consumed
80 million pounds of Cranberry's are eaten
55 million Pumpkin Pies are consumed

In 1955 fully stuffed, frozen and ready to cook Turkeys were introduced to the public

For 50 years the President of the United States has pardoned a Turkey from Thanksgiving day doom, starting with Harry Truman.

Breaking the wishbone started with the Greek and Roman Empire who brought the tradition to Europe and the English brought it to America.

Stuffing recipes were also brought from Europe. In the first Thanksgiving it was possible that the birds and fish were stuffed with herbs, onions and oats. The most popular stuffing today is breadcrumb, cornbread and oyster.

Corn on the Cob was not only given to the settlers by the American Indians but also one of the first crops they taught them to grow, which was a part of the first feast.

Mashed Potato's were not likely a part of the celebration as they had not been a part of the settlers diet in 1620.

Sweet Potato's were a Native American vegetable and were most likely at the first Thanksgiving.

Pumpkin and Apple Pie are the most popular desserts at Thanksgiving.

1969 Astronauts enjoyed food packets of roasted Turkey and the trimmings in space.

The popular TV show Friends had a Thanksgiving episode in everyone of the their 10 years on the air.

The 3 most popular way to eat Thanksgiving left overs is sandwiches, soups and casseroles.

Sage advice

It's about letting go so you can get what you want.

The value of a # 2 pencil

The value of a # 2 pencil

Little Susie was not the best student in Catholic School. Usually she slept through the class.

One day her teacher, a Nun, called on her while she was sleeping.

'Tell me Susie, who created the universe?'

When Susie didn't stir, little Johnny who was her friend sitting behind her, took his pencil and jabbed her in the rear.

'God Almighty!' shouted Susie.

The Nun said, 'Very good' and continued teaching her class..

A little later the Nun asked Susie, 'Who is our Lord and Savior?'

But Susie didn't stir from her slumber. Once again, Johnny came to her rescue and stuck her in the butt.

'Jesus Christ!!!' shouted Susie.

And the Nun once again said, 'Very good,' and Susie fell back asleep.

The Nun asked her a third question...'What did Eve say to Adam after she had her twenty-third child?'

Again, Johnny came to the rescue. This time Susie jumped up and shouted, 'If you stick that damn thing in me one more time, I'll break it in half!'

The nun fainted.

Mastermind

It was on Tuesday evening and again on Wednesday morning. A double shot! Seems like it's going to be a monthly occurrence. Which is a good thing. I was in the middle of a personal business crisis, enough said about that. The point is this. If you are experiencing a challenge in your world then take your eyes off yourself and help someone through their challenge. So that is what I did. I didn't do it consciously I did it because I committed to the groups. The groups that I am talking about are Two Mastermind groups that I belong to. I was very close to blowing off both meetings because of the above mentioned personal business crisis. But no I made a commitment to those groups. That was the affirmation. The groups held me accountable. So regardless of my current situation I was going. I went with the mindset that it was good to get out of the office and that I was going to get something out of it.

On the way to the meeting Tuesday night I thought of a line from Star Wars by Yoda the Jedi Master "Easy is the path to wisdom for those not blinded by themselves".

The resources that the members bring to the meeting and the depth of discussion make it an event that literally changed my perspective on the day. And now days later are still at work. In today's business environment you can try do it on your own but you will never accomplish the level of success that is truly possible. The mastermind keeps you focused gives you the ability to bounce thoughts and ideas off other entrepreneurs / CEO's. You may think that what you are going through is unique to your situation. However, the fact of the matter is that others have experienced what you are experiencing and can assist you through it. As I mentioned above I personally belong to a couple of mastermind groups. You may think that's just another form of networking. Not so. Yes the Mastermind can help you network but that is not it's purpose. The Mastermind is a safe place where you can help others and by helping others help your self develop into a more successful business person. This can only be accomplished when you take the time to open your mind up to give and to receive. The mastermind can do that but only if you'll let it. If you are not part of a Mastermind group seek one out. You will be surprised what can happen.

If you are unable to find one then start one.

Tonight I was a panelist on the 3 Days Live Webinar with Hunter Paschal. As usual we covered Short Sales and keeping people out of Foreclosure. The focus tonight was on attitude not technique. The topic Attitudes of Wealth. The theme was a simple one you can have the technique down but if your mindset isn't right then it's just not gonna happen. It's the difference between tactics and strategy, but that's a topic for another blog post. Back to the Attitudes of Wealth which from tonights discussion can be summarized as the Secrets of Success. Here is the slide from the Power Point each point should be read and thought about. Think about how you can apply them to your life and see what a difference it will make.

Courage

One of my Facebook friends "Barbara Baxter Friedman" posted this today Sept 10th I had to share it and comment on it. She wrote "WOW! Just found this quote that I have not seen before. Hope it is as motivating for you as it was for me: "Everyone has talent. What is rare is the courage to follow that talent to the dark place where it leads." -- Erica Jong, Author"


So I thought about it and this is what I came up with:

Courage is a Blue Pill / Red Pill choice (reference the Matrix) Morpheus says to Neo "You take the blue pill and the story ends. You wake in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill and you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes." Going down the Rabbit hole is the darkness. We all start off being afraid of the dark / unknown. Think about the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of OZ. He had the courage all the time he just didn't realize it until it was time to step up and show it. The same is true with us. We all have the ability to succeed. Its fear of the dark that keeps us from stepping up. What will people think? Just like the Matrix if you do nothing you wake up in your bed and nothing changes. If you want your future to be better than your past you have to do something different today. That takes courage, Doing something different and stepping up everyday.

This is just funny - military and other humor

Subject: military and other humor... this is a gotta read!




Two Term Politcal Endorsement


Somebody got it right!
Regardless of your political persuasion,
I love the sentiment here!
We must limit politicians to two terms: one in office and one in jail.
++++++++

Military Wisdom

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"If the enemy is in range, so are you."
Infantry Journal
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"It is generally inadvisable to eject directly over the area you just bombed."

U.S. Air Force Manual
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"Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword obviously never encountered automatic weapons."
- General MacArthur
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"You, you, and you .. Panic. The rest of you, come with me."
- U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt.
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"Tracers work both ways."
- U.S. Army Ordnance
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"Five second fuses only last three seconds."
- Infantry Journal
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"Any ship can be a minesweeper....Once."
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"Never tell the Platoon Sergeant you have nothing to do."
- Unknown Marine Recruit
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Clean it, if it's Dirty.
Oil it, if it Squeaks.
But: Don't Screw with it, if it Works!
USAF Electronic Technician
------------------------------------------------------------------

"If you see a bomb technician running, keep up with him."
USAF - Ammo Troop
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"Yea, Though I Fly Through the Valley of Death , I Shall Fear No Evil.
For I am at 80,000 Feet and Climbing."
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"You've never been lost until you've been lost at Mach 3."
- Paul F. Crickmore ( test pilot )
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A Navigator's Definition of Latitude & Longitude:
Latitude is Where We are Lost,
&
Longitude is How Long We've been Lost There!
USAF Navi-guesser
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"The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire."
---------------------------------------------

"If the wings are traveling faster than the fuselage, it's probably a helicopter --
however, it's probably unsafe in any case "
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"When one engine fails on a twin-engine airplane,
you always have enough power left to get you to the scene of the crash."
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What is the similarity between air traffic controllers and pilots?
If a pilot screws up, the pilot dies;
If ATC screws up, ... The pilot dies."
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The three most common expressions (or famous last words), in aviation are:

"Why is it doing that?"
"Where are we?"
And
"Oh Shit!"
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" Airspeed, altitude and brains. Two out of three are needed to successfully complete the flight."
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"Mankind has a perfect record in aviation. We never left one up there!"
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"Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a person on the ground who is incapable of understanding or doing anything about it."
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"The Piper Cub is the safest airplane in the world; it can just barely kill you."
- Attributed to Max Stanley (Northrop test pilot)
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"There is no reason to fly through a thunderstorm in peacetime."
- Sign over squadron ops desk at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, 1970
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"If something hasn't broken on your helicopter, it's about to."
---------------------------------------------

"You know that your landing gear is up and locked when it takes FULL power to taxi to the terminal."
---------------------------------------------

As the test pilot climbs out of the experimental aircraft, having torn off the wings and tail in the crash landing, the crash truck arrives; the rescuer sees a bloodied pilot and asks, "What happened?" The pilot's reply: "I don 't know, I just got here myself!"


Southern Charm

Two informally dressed ladies happened to start up a conversation during an endless wait in the LAX airport. The first lady was an arrogant California woman married to a wealthy man.

The second was a well mannered elderly woman from the South. When the conversation centered on whether they had any children, the California woman started by saying, "When my first child was born, my husband built a beautiful mansion for me."


The lady from the South commented, "Well, isn't that precious?"

The first woman continued, "When my second child was born, my husband bought me a beautiful Mercedes-Benz."

Again, the lady from the South commented, "Well, isn't that precious?"

The first woman continued boasting, "Then, when my third child was born, my husband bought me this exquisite diamond bracelet."

Yet again, the Southern lady commented, "Well, isn't that precious?"

The first woman then asked her companion, "What did your husband buy for you when you had your first child?"

"My husband sent me to charm school," declared the Southern lady.

"Charm school?" the first woman cried, "Oh, my God! What on earth for?"

The Southern lady responded, "Well for example, instead of saying 'Who gives a shit?' I learned to say 'Well, isn't that precious!' "

Time goes on

Been Tweeting not blogging.

Just added Twitter updates to the Blog.

Press One for English

As we sit here on the eve of the 4th of July I reflect on what others have done to ensure our Freedom. Lives were sacrificed so that I may sit here today and write this without the fear of being persecuted by a Government for my thoughts and words and actions. There are some who may not agree with me. That is their right. This whole Press one for English thing is maddening. Millions arrived on these shores speaking a language other than English. On entering their new country they learned the language of the land. A Music video came across my desk this morning called Press One for English. It is enjoyable and makes a point.

Our Countries Past and Future

I just finished reading the three referenced articles in this email.
I was deeply moved by each one. The last article talking about
D-Day and the men involved in that conflict bear significance to
our countries current situation. Take the time to read the rest of
this email and the three referenced articles.

Rik

----- Original Message -----
From: Michael M. Dunn
Sent: Saturday, June 20, 2009 3:07 AM
Subject: Note from AFA President -- Martin, Skantze, and Brokaw


Saturday June 20, 2009
AFA Members, Congressional Staffers, Civic Leaders, and DOCA members, I have three "op-eds" to bring to your attention.

The first, by General (Ret) Gregory S. Martin argues that the lens to measure DOD "rebalancing" of the force should be viewed over 20-30 years. He also argues that DOD's decision to terminate the C-17 and F-22 production lines; cancel the next Combat Search and Rescue Helicopter, the Presidential Helicopter, the multiple kill vehicle, the next generation bomber and the Transformational Satellite communication system; and moving the Airborne Laser program to a research and development effort delivered a potentially destructive blow to America's air and space industrial base. You can find the op-ed on our web at: http://www.afa.org/edop/2009/edop_6-17a-09.asp

The second op-ed, by General (Ret) Lawrence A. Skantze, notes that the Air Force is making a major contribution to the fights in Iraq and Afghanistan, but is not getting the credit it deserves from the media. He also notes the many stories of bravery from our Airmen. You can find the op-ed on our web at: http://www.afa.org/edop/2009/edop_6-17b-09.asp

The last piece, by Tom Brokaw, was written on 6 June of this year. I challenge all you to ask your children/grandchildren/spouse what of significance happened on 6 June … in an earlier year. In the piece Mr. Brokaw cites the bravery and sacrifices of the "greatest generation." If you have not read his book (The Greatest Generation), I highly recommend it to you. The link can also be found on our website at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124424941651290763.html.

For your consideration.

Mike

Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO

To comment on this, visit AFA Blog. (Google account is required)

Flag Day

Today is Flag day in the United States. Even though this is a global village I live here and am proud to be an American. I'm also proud to be an ExPat from New Jersey, a Floridian, a Brevard County resident and so one. I'm proud of the places that I've been and the people I've had the pleasure to meet. All that said today is Flag Day and I'm flying the Colors.

Twitter Limits explained

Twitter has restricted my account and I am only following 2000 people. Why is that?

I was all over twitter looking for this answer and finally Googled it. Took me a few results to get to this one. Fortunately I was already following Bill Austin and he was following me. Bill had the answer as to why Twitter was limiting people. THANK YOU BILL. Twitter thinks they have the answers. I have found old friends and new friends who were friends of friends by following people. That is where the social comes in. I have my Picture, Bio posted and have interfaced with my followers by returning Direct Messages and responding to their Tweets. I can see that there is a benefit to following more than 2000 people. Had I not been looking for people to follow I would not have found Bill Austin. It is especially frustrating when people follow you, and then you can't follow them back. So here is what Bill Austin has to say about Twitter follow limits:

The answer to all of these questions is simple and straightforward. When you get to the point that you are following 2000 people, twitter will restrict your account until more than 1818 people are following you. Once you reach above that number, your account is always restricted to 1.1 times the number of people who are following you … - So … If you have 2200 followers, you can follow 2420 people. If you have 3826 followers, you can follow 4209 people. … and so forth.

here is the Explanation on Bill Austins Web Page

Hope this helps

Rik

Charity Auciton for our Military

Back on 30 May 2009 at the Cocoa Beach Comfort Inn and Suites the Cocoa Beach Area Chamber of Commerce's Military Affairs Council held its Annual Charity Fund Raising Auction to raise money to provide Holiday Meals to our troops who can not make it home to their families. It is very rewarding to know that we have raised funds for such a worthy cause. The items that we auction off are all donated and the facility is donated as well. Dave Spain is an avid supporter of our military and we appreciate him and his organizations support. The auction was poorly attended this year due in some part I'm sure to the economy. We had a good time anyway and still managed to raise some money for a good cause. You can watch some of the auction

An Easily Understandable Explanation of Derivative Markets

This came across my desk and i just had to share it with everyone


An Easily Understandable Explanation of Derivative Markets

Heidi is the proprietor of a bar in Detroit . She realizes that virtually all of her customers are unemployed alcoholics and, as such, can no longer afford to patronize her bar. To solve this problem, she comes up with new marketing plan that allows her customers to drink now, but pay later.

She keeps track of the drinks consumed on a ledger (thereby granting the customers loans).

Word gets around about Heidi's "drink now, pay later" marketing strategy and, as a result, increasing numbers of customers flood into Heidi's bar. Soon she has the largest sales volume for any bar in Detroit .

By providing her customers' freedom from immediate payment demands, Heidi gets no resistance when, at regular intervals, she substantially increases her prices for wine and beer, the most consumed beverages. Consequently, Heidi's gross sales volume increases massively.

A young and dynamic vice-president at the local bank recognizes that these customer debts constitute valuable future assets and increases Heidi's borrowing limit. He sees no reason for any undue concern, since he has the debts of the unemployed alcoholics as collateral.

At the bank's corporate headquarters, expert traders transform these customer loans into DRINKBONDS, ALKIBONDS and PUKEBONDS. These securities are then bundled and traded on international security markets. Naïve investors don't really understand that the securities being sold to them as AAA secured bonds are really the debts of unemployed alcoholics. Nevertheless, the bond prices continuously climb, and the securities soon become the hottest-selling items for some of the nation's leading brokerage houses.

One day, even though the bond prices are still climbing, a risk manager at the original local bank decides that the time has come to demand payment on the debts incurred by the drinkers at Heidi's bar. He so informs Heidi.

Heidi then demands payment from her alcoholic patrons, but being unemployed alcoholics they cannot pay back their drinking debts. Since, Heidi cannot fulfill her loan obligations she is forced into bankruptcy. The bar closes and the eleven employees lose their jobs.

Overnight, DRINKBONDS, ALKIBONDS and PUKEBONDS drop in price by 90%. The collapsed bond asset value destroys the banks liquidity and prevents it from issuing new loans, thus freezing credit and economic activity in the community.

The suppliers of Heidi's bar had granted her generous payment extensions and had invested their firms' pension funds in the various BOND securities. They find they are now faced with having to write off her bad debt and with losing over 90% of the presumed value of the bonds. Her wine supplier also claims bankruptcy, closing the doors on a family business that had endured for three generations, her beer supplier is taken over by a competitor, who immediately closes the local plant and lays off 150 workers.

Fortunately though, the bank, the brokerage houses and their respective executives are saved and bailed out by a multi-billion dollar no-strings attached cash infusion from the Government. The funds required for this bailout are obtained by new taxes levied on employed, middle-class, non-drinkers.

Now, do you understand?

To what value Social Networking

What to do first. Blog, Tweet, Facebook, Linkedin, call prospects, send out marketing letters, Groups sites that you are part of, email. All are good tools to further extend your social and business network. The question is are they bringing direct results to your bottom line. How can it be monetized? I've been at the above for the last 2 hours. Been pretty busy but how do you quantify it. So I'll leave it with that and move on for now.

Networking is about relationships

Over the last couple of day I have been to a couple of different events. Stepping out of the old comfort zone. The lesson is so clear. To make things happen in your life requires action. You have to get out and go to where the people are. This thing called networking. Meet people, find out what they do, see how you can help them. Find out what they do so that you can make a connection. As you continue to network with folks you discover many things about them that you didn't know. That is where the richness comes in. The event that I was at on Tuesday was a wonderful event that was under attended. The information that was conveyed literally could have changed the ways people did business. There was the ability to gain knowledge with out having it cost lots of money. Funny thing about people, this was a great event that was available to all. There were 6 speakers who are experts in their field who were there to give freely and no one showed. Well I was there and I know these people now. Some I knew before I got there and others I have added to my network. Tonight I was at an event that was packed there were hundreds there wasn't enough time to talk with everyone. The good thing was that I knew a lot of the folks there and was having fun chatting with those who I just met. I was even able to make some connections that should help those folks get it done. Life is good. It's not about meeting someone and puking all over them what your business or product or service is. It's is about relationships. Find out what people are about and how you can add value to their life. One person, one deal, one event can change someones life. That normally happens when you are out seeing how you can help others and not yourself.

No matter how hard you try you can't push a rope.

The universe knows when your pulling it's leg. The universe also knows when you are committed to something. Good or bad it knows. The effort that you put into convincing the universe will pay off as well. Good or bad. So be careful about the direction you choose because the universe will know. And of course no matter how hard you try you can't push a rope.

The journey continues

Today is a random compilation of thoughts brought to you by many hours behind the wheel.

On being where you are supposed to be ... (which is what I was doing)
I have heard it said that 80% of success is just showing up.
So if you show up at an event things might happen that would not have happened if you were sitting at home on the sofa.

On sticking your hand out and saying Hi my name is...
If you show up and wait for someone to notice you it may be a long wait.
So say Hi my name is __________ whats your name and how can I help you.
You will be surprised what you might learn by showing up and being interested in some one else.

On going out of your way to make something happen.
Sometimes it takes a little initiative to keep things moving forward.
So you had to go way out of your way to further it along.
Small price to pay for big results.

On helping to fight poverty and charity work.
The best way to help poor people is to not be one.

Ask yourself this question every day:
Are you doing something productive to make money?

It doesn't matter old or young just utilize what you have been given.
Know where your going, don't look back and make it happen.

And this just in from the chinese restaurant fortune cookie.

"As soon as you feel too old to do a thing do it"

It's about fundamentals

It's about getting back to basics. For those of you who are old enough to remember Vince Lombardi the famous football coach. He talked about winning, He said "Winning is not a sometime thing: it's an all the time thing. ... Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing." He stressed fundamentals. If you practice the fundamentals when the time comes you know what to do. I understand that he started every training season with the same speech. He talked with his team about the basic fundamentals of the game. As I understand it this is what he said: "Gentleman this is a football". It doesn't get much more basic than that. So with your life learn the things that are necessary to make you better. One of my favorite sayings and I don't know who to attribute it to is this. "It is what we think we know that keeps us from learning." So rather than think that you already know something. Look at it from a different perspective. Go back over a known subject review the fundamentals and see what you can learn that will help you be better at what you do.

Never lose sight of your vision

Another day draws to a close. I just got off the phone with the director and founder of the HALI Foundation for Autism Seth Walter. Seth and I have been going back and forth on the this for going on 2 years and we are finally starting to see real results. All of the hard work is about to pay off. And that boys and girls is the lesson. There were many times that it looked grim for the home team. But every time we took a hit we stopped, analyzed it and moved forward. So that project is really coming together and it's because we never took our eyes off the goal. So off to get ready for tomorrow.

Back in the saddle

It's been a wild ride these last few weeks. Now it's the middle of February. So whats the success formula. ACTION, ACTION we want ACTION. Easy to say hard to do. I was blindsided with a bout of bronchitis. That really wasn't fun and I lost an entire week. Then while still on medication went off to one of JT Foxx's events in Chicago while still sick and haven't really hit my stride yet. Not that I don't want to. So the word for today is this. Every one suffers setbacks. Some are from external sources and some are from internal sources. And oh by the way the event was AWESOME. So here is the trick and just so you know "The Universe knows when you're pulling it's leg". So that said here we go. You need to know what change you want to make in your life it needs to be measurable and quantifiable. I have many things that need to be accomplished in order to move forward. I started today. The measuring starts now. So even in the slump I was continuing to do the things that will make you successful. Although not as well as I should have been. But that is behind us now and we are off. So more tomorrow.

Half way through January What have you accomplished?

Well here it is Half way through January 2009. Tomorrow we will have a new President. A day the world has been waiting for. Every 4 years we choose a President and then in January there is an inauguration. Some times it the same President sometimes its a new President. This time we have a new President. It's an orderly change of command. No guns, no troops, no surprises. Thats one of the things that makes this country what it is. Tomorrow all the anticipation will be over. Seems to me that since the election everyone has been sitting around waiting for this day. Things will change. Not because the Gov't does something. Things will change because we do something. As long as everyone gets back in to the game. Everyone getting back in and taking action. That will be a change. Seems to me that everyone has been sitting on the sidelines, all suited up, waiting to get into the game. Well Jan 20 thats the day. Everybody change what you have been doing. Don't sit and wait it out... Get into the game. The economy only works when we do. We can sit and have a pity party or we can have a celebration of change. People are showing up expecting one thing and getting another. So now your out of work or lost a contract. Seems to me that all that happened was that somebody moved your cheese. Well it's time to go looking for the cheese in a new place. If you haven't read "Who Moved my Cheese" then now is the time. Get Who Moved my Cheese at Amazon.com. This is a very exciting time to be alive. Take the initiative and make change work for you.