I don't usually read emails that my many friends and relatives send to everyone in the universe, but I was waiting for a document to print and glanced at this one. It's got a lot of great advice and will make you smile. I don't know where this came from originally but here's credit and thanks to Uncle Marvin!
HANDBOOK 2009
Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2008.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.
Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away
like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful..
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.
Last but not the least:
40. Forward this to everyone you care about.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
$20 MILLION - GOOD NEWS FOR THE ARTS
In one of the largest such gifts ever to the Los Angeles Music Center or any of its resident companies, Los Angeles philanthropist Glorya Kaufman donated $20 million to the Dance at the Music Center program, which was recently reported by The Los Angeles Times.
“It’s a record -- and, as far as we know, the largest gift to support dance ever in America,” Music Center President Stephen D. Rountree said.
“It’s a record -- and, as far as we know, the largest gift to support dance ever in America,” Music Center President Stephen D. Rountree said.
She is the widow of Donald Bruce Kaufman, founder with Eli Broad of the home construction and financing firm Kaufman & Broad, now KB Homes.
“We have a terrible economy, and what happens first is that all the arts disappear,” Kaufman told The Times. “And to me, dance is one of the most important that there is.”
Kaufman added that she hoped the endowment would generate funds to expand the dance series’ educational programs funded by the Glorya Kaufman Dance Foundation.
For example, Russian companies that want to tour are planning two and three years out, and we haven’t had the ability to commit to them because we didn’t know about the funding. Now we have the funding to bring companies to Los Angeles that might have come to New York, but no one on the West Coast could have afforded to bring them here.Kaufman’s grant is a catalyst for allowing the dance program to expand its educational and audience development efforts. Included on her list are technological experiments in live blogging -- perhaps inviting audience members backstage to talk with artists or production staff -- or group discussions at intermission via hand-held devices.
I think this is a great example of using a gift to make future plan to expand the current education and touring programs as well as a way to insure future success using technology! It's very encouraging in this rocky time to know that major gift patrons are still out there.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
What Are You Doing for Your Stakeholders?
I've been reading other blogs and pr lately about the difficulty of creating an experience for our "customers" - our donors. Unlike the for profit world, which if they get people to touch it or try a product, they can usually make a sale.
I am going to tell you about a car dealer who offers innovative experiences and then about a nonprofit that's also creating an innovative experience.
On a plane flight recently, I met a fascinating man. He owns a number of car dealerships in the Midwest as well as a very large fleet business. To create a warm, wonderful experience for his customers he offers a free car wash, manicure and massage, - anytime. I think that creates two things - first, a way to get traffic into his "stores" where the relationship can be continued and a way for people to see the new "products." Second, these services create a "buzz" so that people talk about the dealerships with their friends.
On a similar note, a local church just announced a series of "networking" groups "Let's Connect." Their "Business Connection" is a collection of programs and services to help their congregants in this volatile business environment. In the challenging times that lay ahead The Business Connection connects congregants and their businesses with each other so they face the challenges together.
How does this help people see the "product"? The clergy are present, the meetings are in the church and the participants learn more about the "products." The congregants also meet with their fellow members on an ongoing basis, helping to build an relationship with each other (and with the church). Best of all these are emotional encounters.
I think the church, which is looking to hold onto its members and find donors for its capital campaign has found a great way to deliver wins to its stakeholders when they need them most!
I am going to tell you about a car dealer who offers innovative experiences and then about a nonprofit that's also creating an innovative experience.
On a plane flight recently, I met a fascinating man. He owns a number of car dealerships in the Midwest as well as a very large fleet business. To create a warm, wonderful experience for his customers he offers a free car wash, manicure and massage, - anytime. I think that creates two things - first, a way to get traffic into his "stores" where the relationship can be continued and a way for people to see the new "products." Second, these services create a "buzz" so that people talk about the dealerships with their friends.
On a similar note, a local church just announced a series of "networking" groups "Let's Connect." Their "Business Connection" is a collection of programs and services to help their congregants in this volatile business environment. In the challenging times that lay ahead The Business Connection connects congregants and their businesses with each other so they face the challenges together.
How does this help people see the "product"? The clergy are present, the meetings are in the church and the participants learn more about the "products." The congregants also meet with their fellow members on an ongoing basis, helping to build an relationship with each other (and with the church). Best of all these are emotional encounters.
I think the church, which is looking to hold onto its members and find donors for its capital campaign has found a great way to deliver wins to its stakeholders when they need them most!
Friday, March 6, 2009
How We Make Decisions
In a new book, "How We Decide," recently reviewed in the Los Angeles Times the author writes about how emotion and conscious reason combine.
Soren Kierkegaard and some philosophers acknowledged that there is a cognitive dimension to emotion, and later, that reason and emotion may not be entirely separate agencies. The author, Jonah Lehrer does not believe we should all operate like Mr. Spock, (a "hyper-rational" creature).
Interestingly, the author tells us that perfectly intelligent people are unable to make decisions, "even the most trivial ones, when their capacity for feelings are flattened as a result of brain disease or trauma."
According to the review, the book contains a heavy reliance on brain-imaging studies to see how the brain functions. The central point of the book is that by knowing how our minds work we can better use that part of our body. "Doubts are unpleasant turbulence to brains barreling toward conclusions. . . to improve our decision-making IQs we need to make an effort to nurture our inner skeptics."
Even more reason to season that relationship-building session with emotion and a sense of building trust!
Soren Kierkegaard and some philosophers acknowledged that there is a cognitive dimension to emotion, and later, that reason and emotion may not be entirely separate agencies. The author, Jonah Lehrer does not believe we should all operate like Mr. Spock, (a "hyper-rational" creature).
Interestingly, the author tells us that perfectly intelligent people are unable to make decisions, "even the most trivial ones, when their capacity for feelings are flattened as a result of brain disease or trauma."
According to the review, the book contains a heavy reliance on brain-imaging studies to see how the brain functions. The central point of the book is that by knowing how our minds work we can better use that part of our body. "Doubts are unpleasant turbulence to brains barreling toward conclusions. . . to improve our decision-making IQs we need to make an effort to nurture our inner skeptics."
Even more reason to season that relationship-building session with emotion and a sense of building trust!
Monday, March 2, 2009
Create an "experience"
I was talking to my brother this weekend about his experience in retail sales. He is an outside apparel rep and sells to smaller stores in large and small markets.
He believes in the personal approach and just returned from a sales swing through Arizona, Texas, Central and Northern California. I asked, "How's it going - is anyone buying?"
His answer, "They're buying from me because of the experience I create."
One owner told him she was very stressed because of the economy but my brother and his customer service people made her feel so good that his lines are some of the few she is currently buying.
Another store owner increased her order after sitting and talking to him about their kids!
My brother said he is laying the groundwork to reap more benefits when the economy rebounds. "I'm building and strengthening my relationships so that I will be on top of their list for the larger orders when the recession is over."
What can we learn? It's a famous quote "People will forget what you say. People will forget what you do, but they will never forget how you made them feel."
He believes in the personal approach and just returned from a sales swing through Arizona, Texas, Central and Northern California. I asked, "How's it going - is anyone buying?"
His answer, "They're buying from me because of the experience I create."
One owner told him she was very stressed because of the economy but my brother and his customer service people made her feel so good that his lines are some of the few she is currently buying.
Another store owner increased her order after sitting and talking to him about their kids!
My brother said he is laying the groundwork to reap more benefits when the economy rebounds. "I'm building and strengthening my relationships so that I will be on top of their list for the larger orders when the recession is over."
What can we learn? It's a famous quote "People will forget what you say. People will forget what you do, but they will never forget how you made them feel."
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