I had the satisfaction the other day of having finished a book. Yes, you would think that those of us who write for a living would be great readers. Some of us are, some of us aren’t. I probably am fairly well read overall, but that covers magazines, newspapers, articles, and the like for the most part…especially if they can be found online!
My wife picked up a book for me this past Christmas and she hit it right on the mark — Condi: The Condoleeza Rice Story. Written by Antonia Felix, the book traces the remarkable life of now Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice from her days living in highly segregated Birmingham, Alabama during the 1950s and 1960s through her years as an academic scholar, college professor, and university provost, all the way up to her present work with the Bush Administration. Written in 2003, the book still has Condi as National Security Advisor to the president, but in 2004 Condi replaced Colin Powell as the Secretary of State.
The book delves into Condi’s life and doesn’t hold back on much. No, not much to criticize about this consummate overachiever, rather plenty of praise for a role model who has triumphed in the face of overwhelming odds, let alone overwhelming adversity.
Condi is not just a leading scholar, but she is an expert in Soviet {Russian} affairs, an accomplished pianist, and an avid football fan. Driven? Oh, yes! But, not in the “possessed” or “obsessed” sense of the word. As a black woman working in a mostly white male environment Condi has established herself on her terms and not on someone else’s. “Twice as good” was the mantra passed down to Condi by her parents who believed that black children had to do everything twice as well as white children in order to be considered equal in a segregated society.
I won’t give all the details of the book away, but there are some highly interesting aspects about Condi that some people probably just don’t know. Personally, I don’t think Condi will run for president on the Republican ticket in 2008 as some desire — instead, she aspires to be president of the NFL — but whatever Condi chooses to do beyond her time working with President Bush will more than likely include breaking new ground and setting the trend for all who come behind her.
Jumat, 27 Januari 2012
Company Chairman
Howard Jonas, founder and chairman of IDT Corp., was 14 years old when he started selling hot dogs on a street corner in the Bronx. Today, he runs a multibillion dollar telecommunications company that is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. What is the secret of his success?
The answer, he says, is in his religious commitment and the title of his most recent book, "I'm Not the Boss, I Just Work Here."
Jonas recalls that as a little boy his father told him how the biblical Joseph, a slave of Egypt, rose to be a master of Potiphar's house.
Potiphar was the prime minister of Egypt. Joseph, a lowly Hebrew slave, had one of the simplest jobs in the household - sweeping the floor. Yet, taking a break when more work could be done didn't seem right to Joseph.
One day Potiphar showed up particularly late and all of the servants had left, except for Joseph. Joseph was sweeping the floor just one more time. Potiphar realized that Joseph was a man he could trust because if this slave wouldn't "steal" a moment's rest from him, he certainly wouldn't steal from the household.
"I've kept this Joseph story in mind as I've built my company," Jonas writes. Jonas believes that people who not only accept but embrace life's challenges are truly actualizing God's will for humanity.
Personally and professionally, Jonas has had enormous success. "Success is not a reward," he writes. "Sometimes it's just a sign of having tried hard and often."
But he also has had more than his fair share of failures as he reveals in "I'm Not the Boss, I Just Work Here." Jonas candidly shares with readers a time in his life in which he struggled with severe depression. Jonas says he wrote this book hoping to inspire and encourage others by the example of his response to adversity and the strength of his relationship with God.
The answer, he says, is in his religious commitment and the title of his most recent book, "I'm Not the Boss, I Just Work Here."
Jonas recalls that as a little boy his father told him how the biblical Joseph, a slave of Egypt, rose to be a master of Potiphar's house.
Potiphar was the prime minister of Egypt. Joseph, a lowly Hebrew slave, had one of the simplest jobs in the household - sweeping the floor. Yet, taking a break when more work could be done didn't seem right to Joseph.
One day Potiphar showed up particularly late and all of the servants had left, except for Joseph. Joseph was sweeping the floor just one more time. Potiphar realized that Joseph was a man he could trust because if this slave wouldn't "steal" a moment's rest from him, he certainly wouldn't steal from the household.
"I've kept this Joseph story in mind as I've built my company," Jonas writes. Jonas believes that people who not only accept but embrace life's challenges are truly actualizing God's will for humanity.
Personally and professionally, Jonas has had enormous success. "Success is not a reward," he writes. "Sometimes it's just a sign of having tried hard and often."
But he also has had more than his fair share of failures as he reveals in "I'm Not the Boss, I Just Work Here." Jonas candidly shares with readers a time in his life in which he struggled with severe depression. Jonas says he wrote this book hoping to inspire and encourage others by the example of his response to adversity and the strength of his relationship with God.
The Bird Who Wore Glasses
Remember the Batman movies? Well, the movie producer of successful movies like these and entertaining children’s television shows such as Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?, Michael Uslan, has released this adorable children’s book. Chatterbox – The Bird Who Wore Glasses is available in a durable, hard-cover format with a lovely cover sleeve that will help prolong the life of the book. At 40 pages and full of excellent illustrations, this book is sure to entertain children.
Sad, red-headed Nancy doesn’t fit in well with the other kids who call her "Nancy Nobody". She wished and wished for a new friend and one day the dream came true when a feathered, sight-challenged friend flew her way. Nancy felt needed, she was loved, and her world was set right by her new funny bird.
John Steven Gurney, a very successful artist and illustrator, colorfully illustrates the large pages with plenty of things to look at. Written in playful, light verse the author does mention things like prayer and "God’s love", there fore it may appeal to a religious audience.
The book includes a CD with 2 songs and the orated version of the story by actress Brittany Murphy (voice of Luanne on King of the Hill, also known for her parts in Clueless and Up Town Girls). This could certainly appeal to the independent child who wants to "read" the book themselves. As well, the CD option may provide a few extra minutes for busy caregivers. The bullying shown in the beginning of the story, though very minor, may be useful for building empathy in the classroom for lonely and segregated individuals.
Children with family pets, especially birds, would definitely enjoy this book. Also, kids that are just becoming used to either themselves or someone they know who has recently gotten eye-glasses.
Chatterbox – The Bird Who Wore Glasses is actually the first book in a series by the author Michael Uslan. Check out the website for the book at: www(dot)chatterboxthebirdwhoworeglasses(dot)com
Sad, red-headed Nancy doesn’t fit in well with the other kids who call her "Nancy Nobody". She wished and wished for a new friend and one day the dream came true when a feathered, sight-challenged friend flew her way. Nancy felt needed, she was loved, and her world was set right by her new funny bird.
John Steven Gurney, a very successful artist and illustrator, colorfully illustrates the large pages with plenty of things to look at. Written in playful, light verse the author does mention things like prayer and "God’s love", there fore it may appeal to a religious audience.
The book includes a CD with 2 songs and the orated version of the story by actress Brittany Murphy (voice of Luanne on King of the Hill, also known for her parts in Clueless and Up Town Girls). This could certainly appeal to the independent child who wants to "read" the book themselves. As well, the CD option may provide a few extra minutes for busy caregivers. The bullying shown in the beginning of the story, though very minor, may be useful for building empathy in the classroom for lonely and segregated individuals.
Children with family pets, especially birds, would definitely enjoy this book. Also, kids that are just becoming used to either themselves or someone they know who has recently gotten eye-glasses.
Chatterbox – The Bird Who Wore Glasses is actually the first book in a series by the author Michael Uslan. Check out the website for the book at: www(dot)chatterboxthebirdwhoworeglasses(dot)com
Time Poverty
There is no question about it - Americans are running out of time. Family dinners are a thing of the past. We run from appointment to appointment, take work home, and cram leisure time into short bursts of stress filled moments. The question is, how did we did get into this predicament? It certainly isn’t because we are inefficient. In the past 25 years, economists estimate that productivity has increased by 70% or more. We have overnight delivery, cell phones, fast food, and instant messaging. Shouldn’t our ability to get more work done give us more time? Where does all this “extra” time go?
According to Dr. Bill Quain, we are spending too much time at work, and not enough time on the things we really want to do. Americans in the 21st century work more hours than peasants did in the Middle Ages, and spend less time at home with their families because of it. We are busy staying busy, but all that work doesn't always translate to a better lifestyle. Our debt is up, and our leisure time is down. In fact, we don’t even take the leisure time we’ve earned. More than 25 percent of Americans will take no vacation days at all next year.
Dr. Bill Quain, an experienced author, businessman, university professor and speaker prescribes a cure for the whole treadmill syndrome. Dr. Quain, known as “The Time Doctor,” says he is the first person to really solve the time problem. His book, “Overcoming Time Poverty: How to Achieve More by Working Less”, doesn’t cost much or take much time to read. But it explains a system for gaining not only more free time but also more wealth, with less work.
While many popular authors and business experts recommend taking more time off from work to improve your quality of life, Dr. Quain says that can be a prescription for disaster. “Most people trade their time for money,” says Quain. “If you work less, you make less! Then, your quality of life suffers.” In his book, he describes a simple, five-step process to create more leisure time, with the money to enjoy it.
According to Quain, the process of overcoming time poverty is different than for overcoming financial poverty. Financially poor people don’t have money, but time poor people do have time. “We all get the same – 24 hours per day. It isn’t a lack of time, it is the way we use that time that matters,” says Quain.
How should we use our time? “Don’t just trade your time, hour by hour, for a paycheck,” he says. “Use some of your time to create equity, and then let the equity make money for you.” In his book, Quain shows readers how to develop five kinds of wealth-and-time generating equity. Instead of working more hours, people can now increase the value of each and every hour – giving them more choices as to how they spend their time.
Quain says that most of us are just playing the wrong game. We work hard to make money, and then work more hours when we want more money. Soon, we have money, but no time.
It is time to play a new game -- make more money in less time. Take a job you like, but get off the "fast track" at work. Then, leverage your time equity outside work to combine the income of a CEO with the leisure time of a retiree.
And that sounds like a perfect prescription for coping with the time challenges of the 21st century.
According to Dr. Bill Quain, we are spending too much time at work, and not enough time on the things we really want to do. Americans in the 21st century work more hours than peasants did in the Middle Ages, and spend less time at home with their families because of it. We are busy staying busy, but all that work doesn't always translate to a better lifestyle. Our debt is up, and our leisure time is down. In fact, we don’t even take the leisure time we’ve earned. More than 25 percent of Americans will take no vacation days at all next year.
Dr. Bill Quain, an experienced author, businessman, university professor and speaker prescribes a cure for the whole treadmill syndrome. Dr. Quain, known as “The Time Doctor,” says he is the first person to really solve the time problem. His book, “Overcoming Time Poverty: How to Achieve More by Working Less”, doesn’t cost much or take much time to read. But it explains a system for gaining not only more free time but also more wealth, with less work.
While many popular authors and business experts recommend taking more time off from work to improve your quality of life, Dr. Quain says that can be a prescription for disaster. “Most people trade their time for money,” says Quain. “If you work less, you make less! Then, your quality of life suffers.” In his book, he describes a simple, five-step process to create more leisure time, with the money to enjoy it.
According to Quain, the process of overcoming time poverty is different than for overcoming financial poverty. Financially poor people don’t have money, but time poor people do have time. “We all get the same – 24 hours per day. It isn’t a lack of time, it is the way we use that time that matters,” says Quain.
How should we use our time? “Don’t just trade your time, hour by hour, for a paycheck,” he says. “Use some of your time to create equity, and then let the equity make money for you.” In his book, Quain shows readers how to develop five kinds of wealth-and-time generating equity. Instead of working more hours, people can now increase the value of each and every hour – giving them more choices as to how they spend their time.
Quain says that most of us are just playing the wrong game. We work hard to make money, and then work more hours when we want more money. Soon, we have money, but no time.
It is time to play a new game -- make more money in less time. Take a job you like, but get off the "fast track" at work. Then, leverage your time equity outside work to combine the income of a CEO with the leisure time of a retiree.
And that sounds like a perfect prescription for coping with the time challenges of the 21st century.
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