On the Prowl for New Ideas: A "Newsflash" Courtesy of the Team @ "Take Part"

It is ever so gratifying to see when folks are ever so creative.     I was amazed when I saw these two very innovative ideas on Take Part--A true "vision of the possible" indeed:

So Long, Laundry: Levi’s CEO Says Blue Jeans Don’t Need Washing  .................

These Solar Panel Streets Will Generate Electricity When You Drive on Them

A "Thought 4 the Week" As the New Week Dawns

As a new wk dawns on this 5900th tweet.. pic.twitter.com/26Y1VDas0m
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) May 25, 2014 & noting that

 

Onward :-)

A View of the Week (II): On Why The "urgency of now" is ever more

This is thanks to the Team @ Mashable:

Recycle, eat less meat and stay the hell away from airplanes. How climate experts reduce their carbon footprints: http://t.co/5mjbH5LuIN
— Mashable (@mashable) May 24, 2014

On This Memorial Day Week-End: A "thought 4 the day" :-)

A "View of the Week" From Rick Warren: A life of purpose

I have been working away and revisited this talk today that I have shared w/my students.   The key message is about a "life of purpose" which can create "A Vision of the Possible".   Some "Food 4 thought" for us all to reflect upon on the eve of Memorial Day in the United States.



Wishing all a beautiful Memorial Day Week-End.

Thought 4 the Week: On Trusting Oneself and pursuing one's dreams

As I work away on "Outsiders", I received  this in  my "Virtual Inbox" from Golda Meir that I view as an absolute necessity if we are to truly achieve a "Vision of the Possible":

Trust yourself.

Create the kind of self that

you will be happy to live with all your life.

Make the most of yourself

by fanning the tiny,

inner sparks of possibility

into flames of achievement. 

On the eve of Memorial Day Week-End, the need to examine and recognize the art of the possible by pursuing one's dreams is ever so as these notables remind us all of it: 

All our dreams can come true,
if we have the courage to pursue them.
- Walt Disney

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage.
- Anais Nin

To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream;
not only plan, but also believe.
- Anatole France

The need to be happy, content and trust oneself is where it all begins.      There is no other way.

View of the Week: 100 Years in 10 Minutes (1911 - 2011 in 10 Minutes)

On the Eve of Memorial Day in the United States, it is important to take stock of history.    Hopefully we can all learn from it.

A "VThought(s) 4 the Week" II: How Body Posing Matters!!! :-)

On the Prowl...Enjoy!!!

Post by TED.

Post by TED.

A "V-Thought" 4 the Week :-)

Speaks for itself in more powerful ways that I could possibly muster... Onward:

On Start-Ups: The View from UC Berkeley :-)

This is a very interesting and enlightening presentation on start-ups:

Why accountants don’t run startups sllc from steve blank

The Story of a Visionary: A "Week-End Treat"//The Physician Full Movie (HD)

After a day of service, briefly "dropped in" to the Grid and saw this shared by a friend on Facebook.  It is the story of Ibn Sina, the Great Iranian Physician played by Sir Ben Kingsley.     It is amazing how such men had the vision even then. 

As the Week-End is At hand.: Thought(s) 4 the Week (Speaks for itself)

If you cry because the sun has gone out of your life,

your tears will prevent you from seeing the stars.

- Rabindranath Tagore

Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman,

before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish into air.

- John Quincy Adams

Darkness cannot drive out darkness;

only light can do that.

Hate cannot drive out hate;

only love can do that.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Only when life is difficult, are we challenged to become our greatest selves.

- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

A "View of the Week": What it takes to be Number One

This is a simple click from the team @ SimpleTruths that underscores a sense of the "Vision of the Possible":

 

What It Takes to Be Number One A little movie about Vince Lombardi… Lombardi! Perhaps no single word in the English language communicates such strong visions of excellence, discipline, commitment and, of course, winning. The Lombardi philosophy transcends football. His powerful words capture the fundamentals of success—in any sport, any business or any life. Just watch this inspiring 3-minute movie. You’ll also hear live audio excerpts of Lombardi, giving his most famous speech…What It Takes To Be Number One. Don’t forget to pay it forward, by sharing this e-mail with your friends, co-workers and family! They’ll thank you for it! All the Best, Mac Anderson Founder, Simple Truths Watch Now

A "View of the Week" to insure a "Vision of the Possible".....

Go within every day and find the inner strength

so that the world will not blow your candle out.

- Katherine Dunham

Take time to sharpen the saw.

- Steven Covey

 We need quiet time to examine our lives openly and honestly -

spending quiet time alone gives your mind an opportunity

to renew itself and create order.

- Susan Taylor

It is important from time to time to slow down,

to go away by yourself, and simply be.

- Eileen Caddy

On Leadership, Success & Having a Vision: Brief Thoughts From a Thought Leader of Our Time :-)

As a new week is at hand, I decided to share excepts of what I received from one of the premier thoughts leaders that is published under "Verne's Insight"  today that I periodically share w/my students--what he's discussed is absolutely paramount about a sense of belonging and realizing what is truly within the realm of the possible:

I stopped feeling like I didn't belong anywhere, and realized that I actually belonged anywhere I wanted to be.
	Sophia Amoruso, CEO Nasty Gal

 

5 Roadblocks To Growth -- my latest FORTUNE Venture column is out on the newsstands and online. Here are five roadblocks:

1. Not knowing your ideal customer
2. Failing to scale systems
3. Using an old org chart
4. Trusting your gut
5. Letting your skills flatline

Take 2 minutes to read the details. Thanks to Scot Lowry, CEO of digital-marketing firm Fathom, and Sunny Vanderbeck, managing partner at Satori Capital, for contributing to the column. I particularly like Lowry's idea of leaders referring to their team as "direct supports" instead of "direct reports." Review the five roadblocks at your next management meeting (books Inside Advantage and How Companies Win are key to figuring out the ideal customer).

Founder of Nasty Gal -- Sophia Amoruso, founder and CEO of $100 million online retailer Nasty Gal, released her book this week entitled #GirlBoss. From shoplifter to 30 year old CEO of a company she launched when she was 22, I love the opening quote of her book "The only thing I smoke is my competition!" Diagnosed with ADD (aren't all entrepreneurs!), she threw away all the pills they gave her, homeschooled, started dumpster diving, and today has 350 employees. And she has three pieces of advice (overcoming three more roadblocks): "Don't ever grow up. Don't become a bore. Don't ever let the Man get to you." Anyway, I'm having a blast reading her book just for the pure inspiration and energy (and some serious practical ideas) it's giving me as an aged biz leader! I plan to share the book with my children next. Here's a quick FORTUNE piece on the book.

6 Buffett Lessons -- ...and coming off the annual Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting in Omaha last weekend, here are six odd lessons FORTUNE reporter Jen Wieczner gleaned from the gathering. Take 30 seconds to scan the six and a couple minutes more to read the details. A couple hints: The fact that billionaires are flying private more often IS a great sign for the economy and I'm glad Buffett is bullish on Airbnb - it's all about not letting the Man crush disruptors of the status quo (channeling Sophia!). 

A "Week-End Mojo": On taking chances & Failures:-)

Sometimes, one runs across messages about creating a "Vision of the Possible" in the most unlikely of places.


I have been quite amazed by the first clip on this "Week-End Mojo" by the Indian Superstar  Shahrukh Khan.  It is a commercial--but the message is clear.   It is about not giving up--that's the essential message:




As I was reflecting upon this, my mind yet again drifted to the famous failures and how they worked to realize how the true Art of the Possible should always be pursued.    This is as Steve Jobs Company, Apple, continues to live on as it is now making a big play to buy Dr. Dre's Beats' Electronics:





...and of course, remembering this from the great Tom Peters:
Celebrate what you want to see more of.

 Onward to a new week w/all its' possiblities :-)

A "Thought 4 the Week" 2 share: Remembering the Beauty & Majesty of Our World :-)

&
 

Enough Said..as I finish the rounds on the "Grid" and finish Daily Comments here in "Outsiders"...

On Mother Earth: Brief Notations 4 the Day

The United States Congress was in action again today as it held an ex-IRS Official in contempt and put the mechanism in place to investigate Benghazi.

In the meantime, the United States Government came out with a consensus report that basically noted that the damage to the environment has been done as noted in this New York Times Tweet that has gone out:

U.S. climate has already changed, study finds, citing heat and floods. http://t.co/wdeHk8YnKb pic.twitter.com/SuneERq7ra
— NYT National News (@NYTNational) May 8, 2014

This was dismissed as a Political Stunt by the Republicans as the mid-terms are at hand.    In the meantime, the World Health Organization came out with this and I wondered on Twitter today as to whether the GOP thought this to be a political stunt as well:

I wonder if #GOP consider this politics 2: WHO most polluted cities list sees New Delhi smog trump Beijing http://t.co/P2Tl9c2fb1 via @smh
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) May 8, 2014

This kind of scepticism is just not prevalent in the United States.   Mr. Abbott , the Australian Prime Minister, has been on the same path to scale back commitment to the environment in the name of jobs.   What is gratifying to see is how the People of Australia seem to have buyers remorse.

So much to reflect upon....

On the "Prowl" For the Day: Alibaba will be going Public!!! :-)

Alibaba is about to go public..and As I saw this, my eyes truly popped as I saw this courtesy of the team @ the Business Insider--But the problem is that the IPO is not actually buying into the Chinese Giant itself, but an interesting vehicle called a "Variable Interest Entity" that has been used by other Chinese Firms due to Chinese Government Regulations against Foreign Ownership.   It is still quite impressive, though:

The Only Thing You Need To See To Understand Alibaba Chinese internet company Alibaba has filed for an IPO. It had net income of $2.9 billion on revenues of $6.5 billion for the nine month period ending December 2012. This chart from Quartz is the easiest way to fully understand the size and scope of Alibaba. As you can see, Alibaba is a sprawling company that does a lot of stuff. Read »

A "Thought 4 the Week" as a new week is at hand....

Wishing all a "fab week" & remembering this from John Stuart Mill:1 person with a belief is equal 2 a force of 99 who've only interests
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) May 4, 2014