Pursuing Adventures

Ted Koppel: Journalists Used to Serve A Purpose

Yesterday I went to the last Oakland Speaker Series to hear Ted Koppel speak.  I missed a lot of the lectures this year because my monthly meetings happen during the first Tuesday of every month.  I am glad I made it yesterday and it is the journalist versus new media debate.  It is interesting that every speaker I've heard this year has a message for the American public.   And I bet that I will be criticized for writing this blog post as I am not a professional journalist :-) These are just my ramblings anyhow.  And my dream of being a journalist never materialized so I am grateful to social media.  

Ted Koppel started with his Epstein Fart story, which made everyone laugh and I think was simply an icebreaker to connect with the packed theatre.  I am not quite sure how it otherwise related to his talk.  He is a fantastic speaker and I can listen to his voice for hours.  I was also impressed with how great he looks.   I learned that his parents fled Nazi Germany and that he became an American citizen in 1963.

What did Ted Koppel share?

His main theme was that the changes we have witnessed in Television news are both technological and economical.  Journalists, in the past, were obligated to put news into context and provide analysis.   What the public received was information with importance based on events.  Today, this has shifted to the news media need to "being first" with a story.   Being most recent has become more significant than "important" news. 

According to Koppel, one of the worst developments for news happened in 1968 with 60 Minutes. Why?  Because it made money and shifted the economic model of network news.   Now, TV news was expected to make a profit.  In the past, the news department would get a fixed budget that it needed to work within.  "It allowed us the freedom to serve a purpose."

"They gave the news division a few million dollars a year and said, here it is.  Go do whatever it is you people do, and do not come back for any more money." But during the 1970s, when CBS's "60 Minutes" showed that a news division could rake in big bucks, ABC began itching to broaden its news coverage.

ABC wanted to expand the evening news program to one hour, Koppel said, but the network's affiliates were making too much money to give back the time slot.  What he valued about the pre-60 Minutes days is that when he was working for a major news outlet, there was always a producer or editor who checked his work to make sure the facts were right.   This is not the case with most citizen journalists who publish their un-vetted work online.  "In the final analysis," Koppel said, "the most important thing about journalism is editing."

So What Really Changed?

Journalists, according to Koppel, gave us the kind of news they felt the public needed.  There used to be a feeling of mission.  The tech explosion also changed the face of news.   There is no government regulations with bloggers.  What we are getting is Tiger Woods and frivolous information, as long as we are first to report it.

Ted Koppel asked the audience: why are we in Afghanistan?  Someone from the audience, yelled "oil."  His point was well taken, it's not about what the media has been communicating.  Most people are unaware of the geographical positioning of Afghanistan and its proximity to the nuclear challenge and associate the US presence solely on the terrorist threat.  

In 20 years, the US will be faced with a $34 trillion deficit.  All entitlements will come due.  We live in a country where we are all entitled to housing and a mortgage.   And we have lived beyond our capabilities.  According to Koppel. 34% of Americans believe the Bush administration knew about 9/11. 

"Fox is doing brilliantly giving an echo chamber effect.  We all need to listen to what's going on in this country and opposing views.  What is being preached are hateful disgusting messages on the right and left.  There are no accountabilities any more."

There is less interest in reporting today and more focus on keeping the public entertained.   "Don't be surprised if Sarah Palin runs in the next elections and even becomes President."   The medium is allowing the voices of the fringe and extremists to take centre stage.    Koppel would like us to be aware of what Fox is showing so we can speak out.  "NPR has good news stories.  It is linked to the facts and the truth."  Support the news organizations that still care about the core of journalism.

So What's My Reaction as A Citizen Journalist (couldn't resist)?

I wrote my Master's thesis on the impact of television on the American political system so listening to Ted Koppel firsthand was a gift.   I agree with much of what he said as the commercialization of the news did put into question the authenticity of the news.  It drives me crazy when CNN tells us that "they were first on the story."  And when no one still knew about Twitter, CNN would report on what was going on Twitter.  I found this absolutely ridiculous.  I can go on my own directly on Twitter and what I was finding that I usually knew about what was going on (Iran, earthquakes, crashes in the Hudson, etc.) on Twitter.  Not only because of other citizens of the world but because I also follow NPR, BBC, WSJ and other sources I find "trustworthy."

It's not an either or.  It's a combination.  The internet is not evil.  It is just a reflection of the world in which we live.  What does not change is human behavior.  Hitler rose to power, not because of the Internet.  Sarah Palin knows how to work public opinion and human behavior.  Extremists have existed for generations and quite frankly, throughout history.  The fringes on both sides of the equation are not a US occurrence.  It is worldwide and it is deepening and scary.

Social media is not to blame.   We've shifted from a patriach model of getting information from the church and government to news outlets.  And now, citizens have a voice.   It brings the good and bad of humanity into the open.  Is that all bad?

If you want inspiration

Watch live streaming video from worldaffairs2010 at livestream.com

This was by far the most inspirational session I attended at this week's World Affairs Council.

Have you wondered what kind of organization you would get if you mixed the business savvy of a corporation with the passion and heart of a non-profit?   John Wood, founder and executive chairman of Room to Read, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping children across the developing world break the cycle of poverty through the power of education. At age 35, John Wood left his high-paying job as Microsoft's Director of Business Development in China to create Room to Read. What started as a personal goal of delivering 3,000 books by yak to a remote Nepali village in 1999 has become an award-winning NGO providing educational resources to over 3 million children and establishing over 7,000 libraries in impoverished regions of Asia and Africa. Described as an organization that "combines the heart of Mother Theresa with the scalability of Starbucks," Wood joins the Council to share how he was able to develop Room to Read into one of the fastest-growing non-profits in history and how his unique business and non-profit approach guide his vision of educating some the world’s poorest children.

What I heard from TedXAustin

I found out about TedXAustin via Twitter today and what a treat it has been.

 

Every day get up and write three pages.  It's showing up that helps us.

Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind. Youth is the matter of the will, the quality of imagination ... courage over challenge

Who are we?  Our earliest experiences shape who we are.  

Make the pause a priority. Leave room for rest, cognition and more inspiration for the next round of creation. Bravo

People need the opportunity to help themselves.  We need to feel hopeful.  We are moving from a world of have and have nots to a world of know more and know nots

It's one person at a time.  There is nothing unique about change.  Everyone can do it.

"What you do, where you are, matters. -Desmond Tutu - One Peace at a Time"

"If you're looking for a big opportunity, seek out a big problem"

I am a lawyer, I don't believe in emotions.  Daniel Pink

The solution is not to do more things wrong.  The new operating system revolves around autonomy, mastery and purpose.  These are building blocks for our businesses.  

Autonomy: People want to have control over their work. 

Mastery: People want to get better at what they do. 

Purpose: People want to be part of something that is bigger than they are. 

Management did not come from nature.  Someone invented and it won't work.  It's great if you want compliance but if you want engagement, you need self-direction.

Story Telling: Jeannette Walls

Last night I went to hear Jeannette Walls speak.  I didn't know what to expect.  It was at a country club down the street from me that I didn't even know existed.   There were 300 people there; mostly women with a few men sprinkled in to the crowd.   I was with some type A personalities so we were able to sit in the second row and have some decent wine as we waited.

I have to say that it was a great talk and I found myself grabbing a pen and taking notes so I can capture it here:

My fantasy was always that a rich kid would read my story and as a result be nicer to the poor kids in the class.  I had a girl tell me that while she was on vacation in the Bahamas (laughter), she read my book and it made her realize how fortunate she was and how some of the girls who don't dress well may just not have the means to do so.  I feel like my fantasy became a reality.

I learned not to underestimate people's ability to offer something and I am now on a campaign to have people tell their stories.  Even if it's just coming to terms with your own story - just for yourself.  We tell our stories so people can see how similar we are -- maybe we can actually learn something from it without having to live through the pain of it?  At the end, life is what you choose to make it as you shape it and choose to see it.

There are as many reasons for homelessness and you can't put all the circumstances in one box.   My mom told me that things work out in the end.  And when I asked her what if they don't, she told me "then you're not at the end yet."

People don't want charity.  They want to help themselves.   If you allow them to feel they can contribute, they will more likely accept your help.

We are all strong.  I just had the opportunity of having a really crappy childhood to prove it.

When someone told me about Outward Bound, I thought that rich people have to pay for their hardship.  They didn't have to face the adversity in their day-to-day life and learn how to navigate the obstacles.

Don't forget that you have the power to overcome adversity, even if you have to pay for it!!!

Don't ever apologize for your scars.  It just shows that you survived.  We all have texture, which makes you strong and unique.

Moving from Consumers to Citizens - Some important lessons

Lynne Twist recently gave a keynote address based on her best selling book – The Soul of Money.  Lynne described how when we call people rich, we collapse who they are with their financial circumstances. We are whole, complete people despite what we have in material possessions.

Why is money an obsession? Why do we worry, fret and spend time worrying about it? We live in a culture that is a money culture and a consumer culture. Lynne quoted Buddha from 2,000 years ago as saying “The source of all suffering is a lie”. She reiterated that the suffering we all feel is intensified in a bed of lies in our money culture.

The Big Lies

We invented money approximately 4,500 years ago as a way of exchanging goods and resources with one another – as a way of sharing our gifts. If you were a cobbler who needed a pig, you’d need to find a farmer who needed his shoes repaired. The invention of money made the exchange of goods and services more accessible.

We now use money to divide and separate. We assigned its value and meaning and now are at the affect of it. We have assigned a psychological power to money – it has become the be all and end all – the unquestioned answer to almost anything.

We’ve forgotten that WE hold the power – money is a tool and we have made it something more important than that. We have made it more important than the natural world.

The Great Lie of Scarcity

We have created an unconscious body of assumptions of the way of looking at life. It’s not what we see, it’s what we’re looking through. We have created three toxic myths

1. There’s Not Enough

We have mantras such as there’s not enough money, market share, time, love… Most conversations are about what we don’t have enough of. We start thinking “I am not enough” and the second part is that there is not enough to go around. Someone somewhere is going to be left out. Our job is to accumulate as much as we can to be as far away as possible from someone being left out.

2. More is Better

We have an ongoing, unconscious assumption that more is better. The fastest growing industry in the US is the offsite storage business. It’s become a statement of who we are that we have homeless people without shelter yet we spend money to house the “stuff” that won’t fit into the bigger homes we buy because we have so much stuff in them already.

The need to want more is not escaped by having more. It just makes you want more and becomes a never ending story. This leads to a feeling of lacking versus a place of satisfaction.

3. That’s Just the Way It Is

This is the worst lie that keeps everything in place. We develop a source of resignation, people giving up, can’t possibly turn this around, no way to change it.

Where are you caught in the toxic myths?

Money has turned us into consumers – a word that means she who takes, depletes, dominates or destroys.

Who we really are is citizens – we stand for or take responsibility for our well being of our selves, our community, our state and our nation. We need to reclaim ourselves as citizens and let go of treating ourselves as consumers.

The Radical Surprising Truth

Lynne was a student of Buckminster Fuller, a brilliant scientist man who many feel was ahead of his time (invented electric car in 1949 for example) and he made a statement about trust that liberated Lynne from a condition of scarcity.

In 1976, he stated that humanity had recently passed a critical threshold that we will never turn back from. We as a human community of ingenuity and innovation are doing so much more with so much less. We are clearly moving into a world for everyone, everywhere to have a healthy and productive life. This will be true now, in the future, and forever more. A world where there’s enough for everyone everywhere to make it at no one else’s expense. We have moved from scarcity to sufficiency to enough.

He stated that it will take about 50 years for this to come to fruition (from 1976) because all institutions of humankind are routed in you OR me relationships.

Hearing him speak changed Lynne’s life forever as she now saw everything differently. She saw incredible bounty everywhere.

“Sufficiency” and “enough” are distinct from “abundance”. Excess turns to waste. At the heart of it is a principle invented by Lynne:

The Context of Sufficiency - If you let go of trying to get what you want, it frees up energy to turn to and nourish what you already have, which then expands and gives you what you need. What you appreciate, appreciates.

The window to prosperity is through the portal of enough/sufficiency which then expands into abundance.

Lynne then recommended the website www.gratefulness.org – gratitude has 2 branches – gratefulness and thanksgiving.

Gratefulness is where the bowl of life is so full but not overflowing and thankfulness is where you want to give, share and contribute what you have. It is a way of being that has nothing to do with the amount of anything.

She then asked the participants to turn to each other and share for 3 minutes what each of us was grateful for in our lives. A very powerful exercise that shows that what we are most grateful for has little to do with material things in life.

Nobel Peace Prize Winner Mohammad Yunus Challenge: Let's Put Poverty Into A Museum

 

I received an invitation to attend the Tech Awards last night.  It was such an honor and an evening I will remember for a long time.  Apart from Dr. Muhammad Yunus’ talk, 25 Tech Laureates winners came from around the world, representing 12 countries, with projects applying technology for social change.  I actually knew one of them and was able to catch up with him.

Dr. Yunus gave an inspiring speech and issued a challenge to Silicon Valley and the world, to erase poverty. "Let's put poverty into a museum so that we can take our children and show them how billions of people used to live."

Dr.Yunus is one of the world's top innovators. He founded the Grameen Bank with a $27 investment. It was the first micro-loan, a novel approach to banking that has helped to pull millions of people out of poverty.

Yunus, at heart, is a teacher. He started his work as a Professor of economics touched by the misery of 42 people in the village next to the university. Their lives were being destroyed by money-lenders.  He paid off the money lenders, and after failing to convince the bank to lend money to the poor, he started doing it himself.

Dr Yunus said that the world ahead of us is where Silicon Valley will be the midwife.  “To imagine the next 20 years is to write science fiction.”  What struck me was his modesty.  He shared that his effort was a “small effort” that was created from desperation.  “You do strange things when you are desperate.” 

It is so amazing to me what one person can do and now 32 years later, he told us “the poor are more credit worthy than the banks.  The poorest of the poor are a better credit risk than borrowers in the developing world where mortgage defaults have far exceed the Grameen Bank's default rate by several degrees of magnitude.

Dr. Yunus believes that every person has unlimited potential. "Our work has clearly shown that the poor do not create poverty, it is the system that creates poverty."  And he shared so many stories especially around 32,000 students who are changing their lives and having the possibility of pursuing any opportunities in their life time.   He shared one story about a mother and daughter.  The mother is illiterate.  The daughter is a doctor.  Dr. Yunus’ observation?  Had the mother had the opportunities the daughter did, she too could have been a doctor.  But she didn’t have that chance.

He invited Silicon Valley to join him in erasing poverty forever and making it a part of history, putting it into a museum. He said that he was honored to be in SIlicon Valley because the technologies produced here can make a big difference in the world.  Technology can bring out the best in people. 

But the real lesson here is what can happen when a one individual decides to teach ways that help the poor earn to improve their own lives. Dr, Yunus continues to teach us that it may be possible to turn poverty into a distant memory in our lifetime.

So this makes me think what can I do today to make a small difference?

Reflections on ineffective people

It's hard to know where to start.  It's been an eventful week with many highs and lows.   I met some incredible people and had some great experiences.  I am going to focus on that part of the week instead of the insecure, draining egos.   

I am enjoying my espresso and looking out on to Lake Geneva while the sun starts coming out.  They changes the clocks at 3 am and I was up at 4 am.  I had a call with Dubai and then fell back asleep for a few hours.  I am just waking up now with some fresh crisp air coming in through the open door.  I was pleasantly surprised by the Hotel de la Paix.  When I checked in, I asked if it was possible to get a lake view room.  The woman looked at me and said that I paid for a Garden View, which was very true.  I left my bags with them and went to explore the city.  When I came back after dinner, I was in this unbelievably gorgeous room overlooking the lake with a patio.  It was like a dream and I have really been enjoying it.

I am not sure I am ready to go back tomorrow.  Not so much because I miss being home but because of dealing with the bullshit with these people.   If I had any respect for the two guys, I now have absolutely none.  They are pure shells.   One day UJ got angry at me when we were having breakfast.  I am not sure why but in the middle of a discussion, he raised his voice and snapped at me.  Later, he apologized and said his email crashed so he was in a bad mood and he has a tough time understanding me because I am so negative.  I am not sure where that came from but it was pure projection.  I am so done with him even though he tried to apologize.   I totally believe he does not have an ounce of sincerity.

Then, his buddy would walk up to people I'd be in the midst of a conversation and just started talking to them; totally ignoring the fact that he interrupted a conversation.  One guy came to "save" me when it happened the third time.  We had a laugh about it.  People do see what is going on.  I am done with him too.  I wish I could write more but I just can't yet.   But they both played really stupid moves as I will not be a cheerleader.  Quite the contrary, to say the least.

The good news is that despite these silly occurrences, the rest has been wonderful.  Great people.  Great place and many laughs.  I have so many great stories people shared with me.  But I need to get ready for my brunch with a colleague and his wife.

Reporting on Day 2 of Women's Leadership Forum

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2008

 

The day started with an announcement that there is a wedding in this room tonight. "We need to leave at 5 pm. On behalf of the bride and more importantly her mother, it would be great if we can do this."

 

Note: Obama did take photos with the bride and groom …

 

Opening Remarks – Governor Janet Napolitano (AZ)

 

• This is an important time in our country’s history
• This is a record setting Women Leadership Forum
• McCain should never be underestimated
• We need to work harder than ever to make sure that Barack Obama is elected as our President
• How John McCain does in November depends on which version of McCain shows up. He is a talented politician and stand on a few issues can win the vote. In Arizona, we know another John McCain, who is less predictable. He calls himself a maverick. In our world, maverick refers to a rancher who decided not to brand his cattle. They never put the maverick on leadership roles at the ranch
• It’s not that McCain doesn’t have a brand; it’s just that he can’t decide what brand he wants. Out west, John McCain’s sign is a fat big ‘W.’ What this brand means is two wars, a failing economy, etc.
• Need to keep reminding American voters that it’s W all over
• McCain said recently said that he doesn’t know as much about the economy. And I positively, agree with him
• Barack has been a calm leader. Long-term vision to provide real future and hope. He realizes how the federal government puts strains on the states. He also realizes the need to expand healthcare coverage for children
• I’ve been asked how I developed a friendship with Barack. Four years ago, we met at the National Council in Boston. I spoke right before him. It would have been worse to go after him
• I realized then that we have someone to solve our problems not as red or blue states but as the United States
• Americans don’t have red or blue wallets, they have empty wallets

 

The Route Back to Economic Security & Strengthening the Middle Class

Issue Panel and Discussion

Robert E. Rubin, Former Secretary of the Treasury, and Director and Senior Counselor to Citigroup, Inc.

Laura Tyson, Former National Economic Advisor to President Clinton

Moderator: Mellody Hobson, President, Ariel Investments

 

• “It’s always darkest before dawn.” FDR
• MH: Could there be a better time for this panel? Leadership is critical at all times, especially now
• BR: This is the most complex, uncertain and threatening time in my adult life. Four years ago a London investor told me that valuations had gone to access. What happened was a combination of cyclicability. It produced a perfect storm
• LT: We’ll be writing books about this for years to come. There has been an expansion in the US economy from 2002-2007 with slow employment growth. We saw real purchasing power decline and rising healthcare costs. Education costs were rising as well as cost of living. Americans could not save much under these circumstances. People borrowed against their homes. We need to ensure there are solid products going forward. So many factors came together
• BR: I don’t know how long it will take to recover but I believe we will. This is very difficult to get accomplished in a committee structure. You need to be able to move and make decisions quickly
• LT: we can afford this. The dollar is getting stronger. Only institution that people have confidence in right now is the US government. Should we urge government use of $700B and create a stimulus package for a recession?
• BR: Barack Obama is the leader of his economic team. It’s not $700B but a portion of that money since we will get some assets back as part of the process
• LT: Things will need to be done immediately. We can’t wait for January. Congress will confront the need for a stimulus pack. The Senate will mobilize right away. After the election, Obama will work on it but it must be done in real time. First year in office, he will need to focus on Iraq and foreign policy, as well as US going to the Global Climate Change conference. The US has limited credibility with the G7 and needs to focus on the financial crisis, stimulus package and the energy and climate change. The housing spending was driver for the past 5 years. The next 5 years will be on green energy and infrastructure related
• BR: Words are what you want them to mean. The real problem policy makers have to deal with substantive issues and break psychological problems. It’s like a rubber band, you pull it and then it comes back
• LT: Many parts of agenda deal with pressure on the middle class. We have not had an American president out there talking to the American people about the economy. If we had a President like Obama to explain what’s happening, it will help rebuild confidence. We need to jump the start the economy right now with a stimulus package, spending money and staying away from finger pointing. If your house is on fire, you don’t focus on who caused it. You get yourself and your loved ones out of the house
• BR: We need to look at the future but also look at what lessons we learned. It needs to be done very thoughtfully. This is all too interconnected to fail. We do need different regulation. Emerging Markets are brought into this mess. Lehman Brothers was involved with so many other institutions
• LT: There is a challenge for US competition globally. There are countries using the same technologies as the US and we need to be competitive. The solution is around innovation and education. Investing in competitive strength
• BR: Need a different mindset after we get out of this crisis. We need to prepare to consume less, save more and invest in the future
• LT: We are competing today with a high wage workforce.  Germany runs export at surplus. We need to compete on design and skills – make it worth the wages we are paying. We should not despair. We have so much strength to build on. We have not organized to leverage the skills of the middle. A lot of green jobs will be local and can’t be done from any other country. It will create a large number of new job opportunities
• BR: This election is the most important in my adult life. What Bill Clinton did has been lost. Obama can get us back on track to invest in the future. This is a critical juncture that makes this election so critical
• LT: When asked what the one piece of advice she would give Obama on his first day as President, “our sound bite mentality is wrong.” These kinds of questions simplify what we need to do. Obama understand the economic connections. He has the right plan, which he will pull together with the right team and he will continue to listen. My advice would be don’t lose sight of your vision
• BR: I would give him 20 things that we should think about. A President only has limited political capital and institutional capacity and many have tried to do too much. I would tell him to sequence on what is attainable

 

Remarks by Suze Orman, Host of the Suze Orman Show and Best-selling

Author on Personal Finance

 

• I promised myself that I would only talk about personal finance and I’ve prided myself on being neutral
• But I can no longer stay neutral
• People who call my show have absolutely no money. They are all middle class Americans, proud of what they’ve done. These are the people we need to care about. They don’t want to love in a country where the rich is getting richer and the poor is getting poorer. And the middle class is disappearing
• This is not right
• In China, women hold up half the sky. In America, women hold up the entire sky
• It is you who will lose your rights when you get pregnant or raped under McCain
• This is worst state of the economy since the depression
• Obama is about new ideas and innovation. It’s the change we need in the world
• Tell your friends that Suze Orman said that if you really care about the world and its people, you need to act. The ones on the top will be ok. We need to take care of the masses before they all start living in their cars
• If we don’t elect Senator Obama and Biden, that will be the world we love in
• If you care about people more than money, we have only one choice
• We have enough fire power in this room to change the world and I’ve come here to say thank you to all of you for what you do

 

New Energy for America – Investing in Alternative Energy and Green Jobs

Issue Panel & Discussion

Senator Amy Klobuchar (MN)

Van Jones, Author, Green Collar Economy

Nicole Lederer, Co-Founder of Environmental Entrepreneurs

Moderator: John Podesta, President & CEO, Center for American Progress

 

• JP: We’re here to get your mind off the economy. The energy challenge is huge in scope but also in opportunities
• AK: What we really need is moral leadership. This is a call to action for us to get off our oil dependency in 10 years. This is an appeal to this country to do something
• NL: I work with 850 non-partisan businesses. We can’t afford not to invest in the environment right now. There is an opportunity for 500,000 new jobs by 2010 with energy retrofitting and new bio-fuels. And all these jobs will be local. This is our life line and we need to commit whole heartedly to it. There are also plenty of policies that are needed to create jobs in this country. Clean energy can pull us out of this spiral economic crisis
• VJ: We keep expecting Obama to save us. How do we save him and make sure not only that he is elected but re-elected? The answer is in green and clean energy. This can unite our country. Our construction industry is idle for the next 18 months. Let them weatherize millions of buildings. We can manufacture wind turbines here in America.  You can put Detroit back to work; not by destroying the world with SUVs and carbon but by building. The next hurricane will be your energy bills. You can park your car and not use it but not your house. We need a winter jobs initiative of weatherizing buildings and homes
• AK: We have picked up new seats and have a strong Congress on green. We need to invest in infrastructure and green jobs. We need a steady energy policy that will allow us to leapfrog other countries, as well as investment in renewables. It needs to happen faster
• NL: We need a policy to create a flow of financing for green initiatives. We need a cap on carbon emissions and an investment system. There need to be consistent policy tax initiatives and low carbon fuel standard. That will create a market. Policies and training are absolutely key and not a great hurdle for us
• VJ: We need to pass policy to create labor demand and not musical chairs from the old economy. We need to invest our way out of this mess. We need a Green Jobs Act to make sure low income people and the disadvantaged can access training to green industry. Green pathways out of poverty. John McCain’s green is as a green of the slick on the oil slick. He invented the slogan ‘all of the above’ I am for solar panels and I am for burning kittens … all of the above
• AK: John McCain has been around for 26 years and so we know what his green policies are all about. He voted against many policies and didn’t even mention it at the RNC. Under McCain, thousands of nuclear plants will be built. My daughter called yesterday and asked me to get a bumper sticker: “Polar Bears Against Palin”
• NL: Beyond the image making of the green movement, large corporations have demanded action from Congress on carbon emissions. Companies are solving these problems especially in CA
• VJ: We need to make the polluters pay. We need to take a percentage of spending and invest in this area

 

Luncheon - How We Will Win

Campaign Briefing with Senior Strategists & Advisors

 

Standing Up for Women

 

*What’s At Stake – Health Care & Women   

Cecile Richards, President, Planned Parenthood Action Fund

Maj. Tammy Duckworth, Director of Illinois Department. of Veterans' Affairs

Moderator: Neera Tanden, Domestic Policy Director, Obama for America

 

• Healthcare is on the ballot box this election. It’s all about moving forward or backward
• 19 million women are uninsured and millions are underinsured. It is the highest rate of unintended pregnancies and abortions. Despite $1.5M investment in abstinence program for teens, which failed miserably
• We have a disease care system and we need a healthcare system
• Half of all bankruptcies are due to inability to pay for healthcare payments
• This issue of Consumer Reports has a comparison of both parties healthcare plans
• One of three Latinos is insured. 15 million of 45 million are uninsured. There is immense racial disparity
• John McCain would like to allow people to buy insurance across state lines. This plan was written by the insurance companies. It disregards consumer protection under state law. It will hurt Americans
• Obama’s plan is a national health exchange with public and private plan. It’s important for Americans to have choice and a refundable tax credit. This will ensure large national pool that will drive down cost. It will be 10-40% cheaper than individual markets
• Healthcare will be affordable and stop bad insurance practices like medical underwriting
• We need a partner in the White House who champions women’s health

 

*What’s at Stake – The Supreme Court

Nancy Keenan, President, NARAL Pro-Choice

Lilly Ledbetter, Plaintiff, Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.

Danielle Gray, Deputy Policy Director, Obama for

• The appointments in the next administration will have an impact on the next 3 generations - the court is now split 5/4 and the judges that are the youngest are those that are right wing conservatives. Stephens is 88, Ginsburg is 75 so likely one or both will leave in the next 4 years.
• What is at stake includes more then Row v Wade, it includes equal pay for equal work, stem cell research, legality of same sex relations, plaintiff's rights and many more.
• McCain's advisors on judiciary appointments are Ted Olsen and Sam Bromback - both anti-same sex marriages and the most right wing conservatives around
• The Bush presidency appointed 326 judges to the federal judiciary - that is 40% so that now there are 60%republicans on the appellate courts

Protecting our Homeland & Restoring American Alliances

Issue Panel & Discussion

Madeleine K. Albright, Former United States Secretary of State

Dr. Susan E. Rice, Senior Advisor for National Security Affairs, Obama for

Moderator: Melody Barnes, Senior Domestic Policy Advisor, Obama for

 

• Republicans for Obama is the most popular website with 35,000 hits per month. Mainstream Republicans are shocked and horrified by the Bush years and the state of the economy. Pro-choice Republicans are frozen out and are shocked by the nature of the campaign. We have broken with the administration and don’t share the views on the war
• MA: The world is a mess and that’s a diplomatic term. I have never seen such a chaotic time. There are 6 areas we need to focus on:

1. How to fight terrorism without creating more terrorists
2. How to deal with a broken non-proliferation regime
3. Growing gap between the rich and the poor – recruiting poor folks in foreign countries into terrorism
4. Energy policy, rising food costs and pandemics
5. Restoring the good name of democracy
6. Global financial crisis

• There is an unintended consequence to Afghanistan, which is Pakistan who can give us nuclear headaches.   Iraq is the greatest disaster in American history and is worst than Vietnam. The biggest unintended consequence is Iran, which is damaging the reputation of the United States. We need to rebuild alliances, be partners and rebuild the UN
• SR: The next President and VP will face daunting domestic and foreign realities. Obama has the right agenda. There is a responsibility to end the war in Iraq. But we need to be careful getting out as recklessly as Bush got us in. Obama is recommending increasing the strength of our armed forces by 92,000 and train and prepare them. We don’t have the essential capacity to deal with Afghanistan to get energy independence. We need to secure loose nuclear material. We are also looking at creating 5 million green jobs in the United States
• MA: Diplomacy is talking to people you don’t like. Creating peace with your enemies. We need diplomacy
• SR:Iraq war did not start in 2007 as John McCain wants you to believe.

 

Remarks by Senator Barack Obama

 

• T hrilled to see the youth of America mobilize
• Lincoln said that we must “embrace the better angels of our nature”
• Americans need uplift and realism
• We can get out of this crisis. We’ve all risen to the moment
• We can’t do more of the same
• We need new leadership with new policies
• Change is in your gut and your heart
• Renewable energy
• Middle class
• Accountability in wall Street
• Ending the war
• Finally fixing the healthcare system and taking on the insurance companies
• Ensuring every child can compete with anyone in the world
• Daughters have the same opportunities as our sons
• There is a lot of misleading information out there and we need to change the subject and get to the issues. It won’t work this time. American people don’t want the same nonsense

Women Leaders for Obama from Oprah to Michelle Obama

This weekend was amazing.  To be part of history with women from all over the country who realize what is at stake for the US right now was an incredible opportunity that made me think about how much is at stake right now and why we need to make sure we get the right leadership for the US.  There are only 24 days left.  Half the women who attended were going to a battleground state to knock on doors and make calls.  At lunch, they had us each write 3 post cards to undecided women in Florida and Nevada.   Some of the women at my table wrote 40 postcards because they wanted these undecided voters to understand how important their vote is.

You can get involved too ... There is a neighbor to neighbor calling tool at http://www.my.barackobama.com/n2n and a canvassing tool at http://www.my.barackobama.com/votercontact

I took a lot of notes and this just includes Day 1 and I promise to get Day 2 out soon, especially the economic and green panels, which was incredible.  But wanted to get something out so you can see what was said.  Again, these are my notes and I tried to capture as much as possible.

Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor, Obama for America

 

•  We have the heart and soul of this election here. Women and men have come from around the country for this conference. We even have someone from Alaska here
• There are many faces here. Republicans for Obama and Independents who are now friends. We are at a point where we care more about the future than partisanship
•  Woman voters will deliver presidency to Obama. Women who have stepped out and continue to show us what is possible in this world to fulfill our highest inspiration

 

• Welcome and Kick-Off with Special Guest Oprah Winfrey I knew that one day Barack Obama would run for President and I wanted to be part of that day
• This is bigger than all of us
• How do we know we are on the right track?
• We just know
• We are women and therefore, we know things and we do things
• Hillary Clinton changes the future of these elections. We now believe a woman can be the head of state
• The women’s movement brought us the right to run and choose and that means we are all free
• We are here for leaders and servants of America. Barack stands for every woman. He brings new life and new ideas to America. He is a new kind of leader and we’ve heard his call
• will not be the same – we have been impacted by his passion and fire
• I have hope that in our generation, despite our history and cruel challenges, the highest of ideas and dreams can be realized
• We’ve seen all these crazy, silly practices used before to block progress but the American people are not in the mood to be deceived again
• We have 26 days left for this election. We cannot let our guard down during the last six miles. We must be vigilant and contribute every effort to win
• American women are empowered to think and do. We need to help ‘mid-wive’ this election
• And Barack Obama is ‘the’ one and not that one
• We need to support the one our country needs now during this time of peril
• Each of us needs to rise to this moment
• I am asking you: what are you going to do now?
• The answer is we are going to elect Barack Obama as president of the United States of America
• Americans are born to the commitment of justice. We always come back to make things right
• We can make things right
• Yes, we will … 26 days from now

 

Roaring applause ….

 

 

Video from Hillary Clinton apologizing she couldn’t be there in person

 

• We need a fresh start
• America can rise from the ashes of the bushes
• This is a fight for our future and one we need to win
• Barack Obama is the one who will get us there

 

Report from the Front Lines by Governor Howard Dean, M.D., Chairman of the Democratic National Committee 

 

• Remind me not to speak after Oprah and Hillary next time
• Strong belief in our 50 state strategy, which expanded electoral map for the Democrats—NV, CO, VA, NC, IN become battleground states
• We have 220,000 new Democratic registered to vote, compared to 4,000 Republicans in NC
• Ohio has been Republican since 1967 and is now a battleground
• This is an exciting year for all women; not just Democrats
• Obama has raised the most money as a candidate, registered over one million new voters and McCain is playing defense now
• When they say we can’t is when we are at our best. We need to win this victory to change our country
• We have enormous work over the next 26 days
• One key message is please tell people to vote early in the process and the day

 

David Plouffe, Campaign Manager, Obama for America

 David is the chief strategist and Obama’s right hand

• Registered over 1.5 million new voters
• Obama – 70; McCain – 52
• Republicans are sending Sarah Palin to NH where 37% are favorable and 56% are unfavorable – “we should pay for her airfare”
• Some of the battleground states include: NV, NM, CO, IN, OH, NC, FL, VA, MT
• It’s getting nastier and nastier out there. John McCain’s negatives are rising and are out of touch with the economy
• We need to be more aggressive. Focus on the economy every day
• We are laying and effective campaign on McCain’s healthcare plan in battleground states
• Strap on your seat belts since it’s going to be a rough ride
• John McCain and Sarah Palin do not deserve to lead this country
• The economy is in crisis; people can’t pay for healthcare
• Let’s win it. The American people just can’t take it any more

 

Dr. Jill Biden—Introduction

 

• Has been a teacher for 27 years. Received two master degrees and PhD
• I came home after receiving my PhD to signs on the front of their house saying, "Home of DR. Jill Biden."  It was the kind of thoughtful gesture that Joe was prone to do.
• “Teaching is my passion”
• I’ve seen how the last 8 years have affected my students. They can’t afford books, some have quit school and many are struggling
• My students cannot afford another 4 years of Bush; none of us can
• We need a real change that will make a real difference in our lives. We need to bring real change to this country
• Joe Biden has done so much work for the Violence Aganst Women Act and the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. [That act was designed to counteract a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that said Lilly Ledbetter could not sue Goodyear for paying men at her office more than her because she did not learn of the pay disparity until after what would have been the deadline to file the suit.]

 

Remarks by Senator Joe Biden, Vice Presidential Nominee 

 

• After being a single father for 5 years, I started dating Jill. I was in southern Delaware
• I introduced Jill to Mabel who was in her mid-80s and one of his constituents in 1978. Mabel said: boy, you’re marrying up
• Jill is remarkable. She got her PhD in the middle of all this and it’s just because she was tired of getting mail to “Senator and Mrs. Biden.” Now, all the mail comes to Dr. and Senator Biden”
• Barack and I have been influenced by strong women in our lives
• You can tell a man by the number of strong women around him
• Barack could be measured by the fact that he's married to Michelle, a woman who is nothing short of amazing, someone beautiful, talented, and smart, and who has what his mother would call "a heart of gold.
• Senator Dianne Feinstein remarked to him that "All you guys who do well in the Senate have really strong mothers."
• My mother is my best friend in the whole world. She helped me raise my boys and so did my sister
• Biden told a story about his own mother, who for years would not give interviews or talk to the press.  She finally decided to give an interview to David Frost, who insisted on calling him "Joey."  He asked Biden's mom, "What was the most difficult age to raise Joey?" She replied, "Well, I guess after 40."
• Had some glimpse of the challenges faced by women, and the role that government can play in making their lives better or worse.
• It’s all about the future we build for tomorrow. The Supreme Court matters as it influences the choices that are made like equal pay for equal work. It’s all at stake right now
• This was one of the issues raised in my debate with Gov. Palin. At least, I think it was a debate … I do admire her for heroic work of balancing work and family.
• Being a woman is not the same as being THERE for women — they are two different things. Ladies and gentlemen, I guarantee you, Sen. Obama and I will be there for the things that matter for the women of America
• Barack and I will be there for American women
• The first people to suffer in an economic downturn are women, because millions of women make minimum wage.  He said that John McCain voted 19 against raising the minimum wage.  "If John McCain had his way, those women making minimum wage would still be earning $3.35 an hour."
• McCain supports privatization of social security; where would elderly, retired women be now had Bush and McCain been able to push that plan through.
• John McCain voted against the Equal Pay Act, which was to rectify the Supreme Court decision authored by Scalia and Alito in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire The appointments that the next President make to the Supreme Court will last a generation, and so this is vitally important to women
• McCain believes that the Violence against Women Act is unnecessary. He voted against it; he even turned down research on this topic. Tell that to 5+ million women who are battered and hundred of thousands of women in shelters
• John [McCain] didn’t believe there was any need for the Violence Against Women Act. Tell the 1.5 million women who have called the battered women’s hotlines that this was unnecessary. Tell the women who have been battered repeatedly by men who ignore the “Stay Away” orders it wasn’t needed. John doesn’t get it.
• I am so sick of Republicans talking about values. I've had it up to hear with them talking about values.  Well, here's what we value: We value the right of women to be protected in their own homes.  We value a fair and decent minimum wage.  We value the right to privacy.  We value families enough to allow paid family leave and flex time so that people can actually care for sick family members.
• Jill's mother passed away last week, and that Jill was able to spend her last days with her.  To do this, many women would risk losing their jobs or at a minimum, not be able to take paid time off.
• One thing that he said which I plan to send on to my parents is that under the Obama Tax Plan, retired men and women who make under $50,000 a year would not be taxed on their income.  This is something that irritates my mom to no end, the fact that she paid taxes her whole life, and now is getting taxed on what little she gets from social security.
• What he and Obama want most on healthcare "all add up to dignity and respect."  No one in this country wants anything for free, but just an even shot
• The country needs to do better by women, and our country will be much, much better off.  The needs of women are central to Barack Obama's agenda
• In 1931, Hattie Caraway was the first woman to serve in the Senate, after her husband passed away and she finished out his term.  She was later elected in her own right, but was known on Capitol Hill as someone who didn't say much.  She was so quiet that the other Congressmen called her "Silent Hattie."  Now, there are 16 women in the Senate.  In the last 77 years "We've gone from Silent Hattie to Speaker Pelosi!  Now, that's progress!"
• We’ve lost the respect of the world and are motivated like never before

 

Gayle King

 

• I just realized that I should not have my son come home to vote in my state, which is pro Obama and Biden, but stay where he is an vote in the battleground state he lives in
• Michelle Obama is the campaign’s not so secret weapon
• She is so normal and like the rest of us. I was so impressed when she told me “in 15 years of marriage, Barack has never disappointed me.”
• I’ve been divorced and been disappointed oh so many times. I know what it’s like being with a cheater cheater pumpkin eater
• This is a critical time. We can take nothing for granted until every battle is settled
• I know that Michelle is a large part of what makes Obama a success. She has told me that she has faith in the American people and they will make the right decision for their country
• It has made me more proud to be an American and having this leadership in front of us

 

Keynote: Michelle Obama, The next First Lady of the United States

• I love Chicago.  It’s such a great city. Get out of the hotel and explore it
• Bidens are special people; not just Jill and Joe but the entire clan. We are all becoming great friends. All the Obamas and all the Obidens
• This is such a treat to take a break from campaigning and be here. Can you believe we have come this far?
• We are seeing young people finding their voice and not so young folks getting engaged. I have people in their 60s and 70s grabbing my arm and tell me that they never voted before in their lives but want to now
• This is only possible because of all of you
• I come here as a mom whose girls are the centre of my life. Their future and the future of all children is at stake
• My father got MS later in life but he always worked hard and never showed disappointment. There are so many issues at stake today like the economic crisis or the broken healthcare system. We need to make sure kids can pursue their dreams. It’s personal for everyone in this country
• Every where we go, we hear people calling for new solutions
• Barack gets it because he has been there. He has faced these challenges
• We actually have policies that value families and positions on the issues
• Our job is to send Barack and Joe to the White House. Our job is not done yet
• Barack has brought us 80% there and the next 20% is up to the American people and everyone in this room
• We need to stay focused on what we are fighting for and demanding seious conversations. We can’t afford to turn on each other. We can challenge positions without patriotism. We all love this country; that’s why we are doing this—to keep America strong and free. We’ve had enough politics that divide us. Let’s lead by example
• The leadership of women will be critical, because we all know, when you need something done, we can get it done. Talk to your friends and your neighbors and your colleagues. Sit down with your mothers and your fathers and your sisters and your girlfriends and tell them about the issues at stake in this election
• All of you live in a swing state or near a swing state, so when you get home, start knocking on those doors. Start talking on the phone. Help us get the vote out for Barack and Joe. It’s never been more important that all women make their voices heard
• Eleanor Roosevelt said: “A woman is like a tea bag- you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water.”

 

National Women’s Leadership Issues Conference

Some times we plan a lot and then look for whatever it was and some times, life just happens.  A really wonderful friend sent me an invite with a limited time offer to join her and other women in Chicago for the National Women’s Leadership Issues Conference taking place on Friday and Saturday.

Even though I just got home on Sunday night, I am now finishing my laundry and packing up to leave for Chicago soon.  I will have to do a lot of atoning next Yom Kippur because I totally screwed this one up.  Luckily, I am not very religious but traditions are very important to me.

The agenda looks amazing and I am so interested to hear and blog about what I learn over these two days.  I can't vote but I want to be able to bring the messages back to my community.  I think this is such an important time for the world and getting the right person to lead is critical.  For me, it's about getting someone who can bring together a machine behind them that can really drive change and save America's standing in the world.   I wish it was Hillary.  But, we all need to deal with the reality in front of us.

More from Chicago ...

A quick update from Barcelona

It's been an incredible week so far.  I had so much fun presenting on social networking and got some very positive feedback.  The most impactful was that people told me that I made them think, which is a huge compliment in my mind.  I didn't realize how much I've missed presenting and public speaking until this week.  It was so much fun and the people were absolutely great.  I have a lot to write about Geneva but I arrived in Barcelona last night and Leah and I are going to go shopping now for Rosh Hashanah.  we were up late last night catching up but it feels like I was just here yesterday.

I will spend more time writing/blogging this week, which I am really looking forward to.

Heidi Roizen at the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs and Executives (FWE&E)

I went to my first Forum for Women Entrepreneurs and Executives (FWE&E) event last night. Heidi Roizen achieved success as an entrepreneur, a corporate executive, a corporate director and as a venture capitalist. In her current role as founder and CEO of SkinnySongs, she is introducing the first-ever collection of radio-hit-quality music in which the lyrics are specifically designed to motivate people to reach their weight and fitness goals.

Heidi has held leadership positions within a number of industry organizations and is a recognized and popular spokesperson for the technology industry and entrepreneurial community. Emmy-award winning journalist Suzanne Shaw conducted a one-on-one interview with Roizen asking about leadership insights and lessons learned from during her remarkable career.

I really enjoyed the evening as Heidi was an amazing speaker. She was also incredibly funny because she shared her truth. I love real people who say what they believe and are passionate about who they are.   

With Skinny Songs, Heidi said she was running her own show from talking to Martha Stewart's producer and running to FedEx to make the 5:00 pm shipments.  She shared that it's not about having the fanciest title or biggest paycheck that make you successful.  She started her career as CEO and ever since her titles became smaller.  When she launched her new company, her daughter came to her and asked if she should be saying that her mom was a venture capitalist or a lyricist.  When she asked her daughter what she would prefer, her daughter said: "a lyricist, it's much more impressive."

What has she learned?

• "Always take some risk and say screw it.  I am who I am"
• Don't define yourself as the pillar of your career.  You need to pursue your passions and have balance in your life
• Pursue your passion beyond having just a hobby and invest and stick to what you really want to do
• You need to recognize where you don't have talent and find people who compliment your skills
• Networking is a negative term that means climbing the monkey bars.  It's about building relationships and connecting with people you find interesting.  Today, I have a great relationship with Bill Gates but 25 years when I met him, he was an interesting person I wanted to get to know.  I didn't build relationships because of a desire to get close to the people at the top.  Just get to know interesting people
     
• "When you fail, and we all fail all the time, get over it.  Women tend to relive these failures and agnoize over them.  Own up to it, make amends, make sure you don't let it happen again and move on."  It's hard to do but the best approach
     
• Learned not to be too responsive.  Don't answer emails right away and be reactive.  Let it settle and then respond.  Often, it already gets resolved
• Human connection is about taking the time to connect with people and technology makes it so much easier (FaceBook, LinkedIn, etc.)
• Blessed to be living in the Silicon Valley.  The community in SV is helping to change the world
• If you just help people, they'll help you another time.  And if it's not the same people, other people will come through.  It's all about the relationships you build.
• She ended with the 20-40-60 rule.  In our 20s, we worry about what other people say about us.  At 40, we realize it's not important to worry about what people say and at 60, we acknowledge that no one was thinking about us

It's always so great to hear someone inspirational.  I am looking forward to listening to the Skinny Songs CD, which we all received.

The Rhythm of Life

I've been on this emotional roller coaster for the past 2 weeks and haven't been able to really blog.  I try not to blog about work and that is so difficult because it is a big part of my life.  I really struggle with it because I've been going through a bunch of stuff that has been building up inside.

It's so frustrating because it has all been building up inside.  I love it when I follow my own heart and have a sense of being carefree and just living my life.  It happens a lot.  But not in the past 2 weeks.  I've been feeling anxious and not centered at all.   All I keep thinking.about is not worrying about my bank account for a few years and just taking off to travel and write.  I have an outline of a book and with the right research, it can help so many people with their lives.  But I have way too much responsibility right now and my plan that was way too dependent on company stock is far from being materialized.   Don't get me wrong.  I feel lucky that I have a job at a solid organization.  But I am exhausted.  For the past 9 years, I've worked like a maniac making other executives successful.  Most did/do not really care about me but what they can get out of me. 

I had to stop typing since I just got a very strange call from a colleague at work who wants to get together.  I wonder what that's all about.  Breathing.  Don't give other people power.  Stay focused.

At dinner last night I realized that the area that is missing for me is that I had a huge desire to connect with other people locally.  And what I am doing right now is working from home with a very virtual organization.  I need to join a local Board or find another avenue to fill that void.

I have a gorgeous view from my hotel room so I am going to enjoy the beauty of the Bay and then put on my happy face and go mingle at the company conference.

Learning About the Sticky Floor

This past week, I heard Rebecca Shambaugh talk about her book It’s Not A Glass Ceiling It’s A Sticky Floor.  According to Catalyst, companies with the highest representation of women in senior leadership positions experienced better financial performance than the organizations with less women representation at the top. 

Becky distinguished between hitting the glass ceiling and the sticky floor by saying that much of our life destiny is right beneath our own feet.  We have more control of our own destiny than we sometimes think we do!  Opportunities are never lost, someone just takes the ones you miss. And finally, Success is open to anyone who believes and goes for it! 

Here are some highlights from the presentation.  Becky outlined 7 areas of the sticky floor:

1) Driving for Perfectionism: Focus on most important tasks, learn when a job is “good enough” and move on; avoid the tendency to be a pleaser; let go and rely on your team to do the more task-related activities—allow them to also embrace “good enough” and seek feedback and use it to calibrate your own performance standards

2) Building your strategic network: Start identifying your own Board of Directors and align them around your key goals; Map out a broad and diverse network of individuals; be intentional and identify desired outcomes and the best way to approach each individual; consider the Law of Reciprocity and remember the Six Degrees of Separation

3) Making your words count: Less is sometimes better! Avoid filling the room with words, rather provide a clear and concise message and stay on it; know Your Audience! Present relevant facts and quantify statements when that data has impact, rather than just making statements; own Your Message! Avoid “I think” or turning statements into questions such as, “What do you think?;” be aware of the non-verbals; balance emotion with logic, time your contribution and have good information at your fingertips

4) Staying in one place too long-the loyalty factor: Ask yourself what you can gain or lose, short- and long-term, if you don’t take a new job; lay the ground work for future moves by networking and making your work/accomplishments, skills, and interests known to others; put together a plan: Map out what kinds of experiences, training, and exposure it will take to get the next promotion or achieve your ideal job; be willing to take a risk: Take on those “stretch” opportunities—get out of your comfort zone! Ask yourself, “What is the worst thing that can happen?”

5) Asking for what you want: Know your worth: Take time to research your request and don’t just assume that someone will take you seriously; be curious: Don’t jump to assumptions about how the other party views your request or assume that they know what you want or need; make it a win-win: Create bridges between their goals/ concerns and your interests; have a back up plan; and don’t just assume or give up after the first no

6) Capitalizing on your political savvy: learn who needs to know about you—your value or how you can help or support them; determine the best mechanism of knowing what is happening in the organization versus waiting to find out; read between the lines: Understand the intention of people’s words—what they are really saying and feeling; and know how to anticipate resistance in the organization and be prepared to address it proactively

7) Managing work/life: create your personal vision: Map out your life goals, values and priorities; Don’t feel you need to do it all – set realistic expectations and ask for help; establish commitments and boundaries to help you give adequate attention to each of your top priorities; take an inventory of your day-to-day activities – eliminate those that do not support your top priorities; and for you high-achievers, remember to build your strategic life plan and not try to do everything at once

Exploring Bellagio

I just came back from my walk totally sweating.  It's really humid here and today will be a super hot day.  But it's so amazingly beautiful.  This is a really spectacular place on earth.  This is as close a photo of me that I will post on this blog for now but here I am walking toward Lake Cumo ... We are on a private property so I will not be able to come back here during the next few days.

Today's Realization: I don't want to care what people think about me.  But I still do and give other people too much weight.  I am still way too hard on myself for no reason.  If I can let this go, I will be able to live a more authentic life.  There are kindred spirits out there.

Time to shower again, dress and head to breakfast.  The food and coffee here are questionablee but everything else makes up for it.  I am looking forward to some nice and interesting meals.  Someone told me the restaurant at my hotel is excellent.  I am looking forward to some time to just be.  I am looking forward to reading Infidel.  It seems timely.

I have to remember to write about the stories I've heard about JFK's visit here.  I tried to find something on the web but haven't.  I will post some photos of where he stayed.