It is always so nice when someone captures your thoughts around cyberspace. Tony Malkovic posted a note all the way back in October on Science Voice... and I could not be happier by the way he summarized my words:
“What entrepreneurs get out of venture capital is not the money, it’s the support, it’s the capacity to create wealth. It’s the knowledge of what to do and what not to do, so you can maximise your resources.” - Alicia Castillo Holley, Wealthing Group
Here is the link to the highlights of the event:http://www.sciencewa.net.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2320&Itemid=710
Organized last year to foster innovation and investments, the Leading Lights conference was another step in the right direction.
It will take many more to get this trend comming, but we are getting there.
Showing posts with label Alicia Castillo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alicia Castillo. Show all posts
Friday, June 26, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Tweet, tweet, tweet
We are still working on understanding how do we create wealth.
Basically we can do that two ways: we create new markets or we reduce costs. In both cases, our net profit incresases, allowing us to feed that back into the economy: growing and spending: we then create new jobs, demand new services, pay more taxes. Everybody wins.
We create new markets by finding uncontested market space: in our own industry, in the industry next door, in an industry that is in itself being created.
Let's see a new market: twitter
I just succumbed to twitter, (http://twitter.com/aliciacastillo) thanks to John Kremer, a marketing guru for authors. As I am not to wait until my books sell, I sought his expertise. From twitter, I moved to tweetlater and to postlater and to tweet analytics.... I envisioned there would be at least a hundred companies promoting the better use of tweets.
Chris Pirillo, a well known geek has posted several youtubes on tweets...
Alex Mandossian, another marketing guru, started a group to maximize the use of tweeter, for only $30/ month. I am sure they will be sharing best practices, secrets and so forth.
I laughed at twitter first but I am curious to see where this all would go to.
and well, yes, I tweet, I use tweetlater and I have a life.
I couldn't tweet without tweet later. http://snipr.com/k6rzf
here is to your tweet,
Alicia
Basically we can do that two ways: we create new markets or we reduce costs. In both cases, our net profit incresases, allowing us to feed that back into the economy: growing and spending: we then create new jobs, demand new services, pay more taxes. Everybody wins.
We create new markets by finding uncontested market space: in our own industry, in the industry next door, in an industry that is in itself being created.
Let's see a new market: twitter
I just succumbed to twitter, (http://twitter.com/aliciacastillo) thanks to John Kremer, a marketing guru for authors. As I am not to wait until my books sell, I sought his expertise. From twitter, I moved to tweetlater and to postlater and to tweet analytics.... I envisioned there would be at least a hundred companies promoting the better use of tweets.
Chris Pirillo, a well known geek has posted several youtubes on tweets...
Alex Mandossian, another marketing guru, started a group to maximize the use of tweeter, for only $30/ month. I am sure they will be sharing best practices, secrets and so forth.
I laughed at twitter first but I am curious to see where this all would go to.
and well, yes, I tweet, I use tweetlater and I have a life.
I couldn't tweet without tweet later. http://snipr.com/k6rzf
here is to your tweet,
Alicia
Thursday, February 5, 2009
No, we are not dead
I write this note as I fly from San Francisco to Houston. I have just been in Silicon Valley for few days, an amazing place for innovation, entrepreneurship, and venture capital. Many think and say that venture capital is dead. Nothing farther from reality. Silicon Valley's energy is impressive. There, one feels a bit removed from recession, politics (Obama's inauguration) and the global crisis. I like the mentality. Not much time to think negatively. Each problem requires a solution and every minute used to think about the problem is one minute lost in seeking solutions.
Yes, investments by venture capital fell by 8% during 2008, reaching almost US$11 billion in Silicon Valley, more than one third of the US$ 28.3 billion invested in the USA. The number of transactions fell by 4%, only 4%! Many thought that venture capitalists take their money to invest elsewhere, and especially the seed capital
would suffer considerably. Well, we are not dead yet.
However, with less available capital, a uncertain market, and few exit alternatives, the seed stage is
actually the most interesting. It makes sense, although some VC Funds will continue to provide cash to support their existing investments.
On the other hand, there is an explosion of business plan competitions. We made an investigation and over US$5 million dollars will be given away, mostly associated with a College or University. We came up with a list of 60 top notch business plan competitions. Drop me a line if you want some info. I'll add it all to my upcoming book: Funding your million dollar company. Stay tunned. And I would love some stories on funding too.
Now, more than ever, we need to nurture entrepreneurship, even in large corporations.
Everyone can do something. Overlooking at Silicon Valley I feel inspired, but I know that inspiration is only HALF of success, the other half is ACTION.
The financial crisis represents many opportunities, being in crisis does not mean we are paralyzed; we are no fools and definitely, we are not dead.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
The power of intent
Welcome to 2009. The year starts with an interesting mix of uncertainty and hope. In moments like this we need to be more like players than watchers of our lives... and there is nothing like the combination of purpose and group support to do so. I don’t know of any successful person who has not used intention and leverage. Do you?
Let’s start with purpose/intention. I like to use the word intention better, as it is more mmm flexible. Intention gives power to effort because how we live is partially determined by our actions. It is true that circumstances beyond our control also have an impact of our lives, but why worry about something we can’t control when we can take care of something that we do control, like our thoughts and actions?
This is why I chose the theme of the intention to start 2009. Our intention serves as a focal point, a point of support out there in the future, against which our actions can be leveraged. Without it, many of our efforts are spent in vain. When we are clear about our intention, we can rule out distractions and focus on what we want to achieve, whilst having more time, not less, to relax and enjoy life.
But having an intention in our mind is not good enough; it needs to be expressed. It requires a statement, a declaration that can be shared with and by others. An explicit intention is like a mark, a note, a piece of information, it creates a reaction, it invites others that share your intention to be part of it. It tells the world: this is my boat, come ride!
Sometimes we don’t want to be focused because we can be inefficient, what we want is not aligned with what we think we ‘must’ want, and for many other reasons. Truth is that having an intention sends a clear signal to others, and helps you manage your life much much better. Successful people recognize that life is easier and much more fun when we invite others to be part of our success and viceversa. Collaborating and exploring in a group gives great benefits to all involved.
Therefore I invite you to think about your intention for 2009 and express it out loud…
My intention for 2009 is to continue building my career as an international speaker and author. I plan to publish two books, give presentations in 10 different countries, have an impact on 500 people and generate US$100,000 in speaking fees in 2009. I’m off to a great start, visiting San Francisco and Houston. In April/May I’ll be in the Middle East and in Central America and South America, and in September in California again. I am planning my activities around my intention, my friends and providers are able to help me inmensely because what I want is very clear. It is working beautifully.
I hope I can help with your intent for 2009, and specially I hope that what I do has an impact in your life (then I’ll be short by 498 others :-).
So, what is your intention for 2009?
Let’s start with purpose/intention. I like to use the word intention better, as it is more mmm flexible. Intention gives power to effort because how we live is partially determined by our actions. It is true that circumstances beyond our control also have an impact of our lives, but why worry about something we can’t control when we can take care of something that we do control, like our thoughts and actions?
This is why I chose the theme of the intention to start 2009. Our intention serves as a focal point, a point of support out there in the future, against which our actions can be leveraged. Without it, many of our efforts are spent in vain. When we are clear about our intention, we can rule out distractions and focus on what we want to achieve, whilst having more time, not less, to relax and enjoy life.
But having an intention in our mind is not good enough; it needs to be expressed. It requires a statement, a declaration that can be shared with and by others. An explicit intention is like a mark, a note, a piece of information, it creates a reaction, it invites others that share your intention to be part of it. It tells the world: this is my boat, come ride!
Sometimes we don’t want to be focused because we can be inefficient, what we want is not aligned with what we think we ‘must’ want, and for many other reasons. Truth is that having an intention sends a clear signal to others, and helps you manage your life much much better. Successful people recognize that life is easier and much more fun when we invite others to be part of our success and viceversa. Collaborating and exploring in a group gives great benefits to all involved.
Therefore I invite you to think about your intention for 2009 and express it out loud…
My intention for 2009 is to continue building my career as an international speaker and author. I plan to publish two books, give presentations in 10 different countries, have an impact on 500 people and generate US$100,000 in speaking fees in 2009. I’m off to a great start, visiting San Francisco and Houston. In April/May I’ll be in the Middle East and in Central America and South America, and in September in California again. I am planning my activities around my intention, my friends and providers are able to help me inmensely because what I want is very clear. It is working beautifully.
I hope I can help with your intent for 2009, and specially I hope that what I do has an impact in your life (then I’ll be short by 498 others :-).
So, what is your intention for 2009?
Friday, December 19, 2008
It's all about bouncing
I couldn't a better message to end this year's wealth drop. It's all about bouncing back... as per Rob McBride's interview. The world's economices rose and fell in 2008: China as a screaming giant showing off a magnificent Olympic Games, India no longer in back office, the US refusing to admit trouble, Latin America and Africa tired and half asleep, Europe as a mature adult worried about the long term future, and Asia showing off Chindia.
Something happened in the last couple of months and now, we just want to get over the holiday period and start a new year.
I think it's time to slow down, reconsider what is important. Take the opportunity to spend TIME doing what we LOVE and being with those who make us feel FANTASTIC... Robt thinks it is a great time to bounce back. I was puzzled and here is what we talked about. If you like more interviews, add a comment or send us a line.
Rob is an entrepreneur who lives in Venezuela and works in 3 languages: English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Rob, what is your business about?
We provide tools for people to manage challenging situations to achieve personal and professional excellence.
How did you come up with the idea of the company?
After a sharp downturn in my last "work." It was December 13, 2001. I was in Rio de Janeiro. I realized that life is like a ball. Sometimes we are up and sometimes down. The most important thing is not where we are at a particular time but our ability to bounce at least once more ...
What has been your greatest success?
Seeing the birth of my two daughters. I realized how amazing life is!
What has been your greatest failure?
The first "great" event as a speaker. It was with more than 100 people in a half-day workshop in the Naiguatá Hall at Hotel Tamanaco -one of the top Venezuelan Hotels- with financial advisors. It was just what I dreamed about, with a group of people who did what I did, and the topic that fascinated me most: Change. I underpreformed, and did not achieve my goals, it was clear that I had not reached their expectations. Fortunately, it was also one of the best lessons I have learned and the reason why I am so good at what I do today.
What message would you give to someone who wants to be an entrepreneur?
Follow a burning desire, your idea, developed the first step of what you feel you have to do and then throw yourself into it, with the confidence that you can make adjustments in the process if necessary ...
Thanks Rob... definitely thinking about bouncing gives a different perspective to failing.
---
As you can see the future is built on the road, acting, not only thinking ... If you are affected by the financial crisis, thinking that successes and failures are part of life helps. I love Rob's message, because it gives a very refreshing vision of how to handle the possibility of a failure. He says that you can use the same energy when you are going down to bounce right back up.
you can check his site at www.inspire.com.ve
On behalf of the team Ventures Latinas and Alicia Castillo Wealthing Group, we send them our best wishes for the holiday season... Peace, joy, warmth... and get ready because one thing is for sure: 2009 will not be a boring year!
All the best,
Alicia Castillo Holley
Something happened in the last couple of months and now, we just want to get over the holiday period and start a new year.
I think it's time to slow down, reconsider what is important. Take the opportunity to spend TIME doing what we LOVE and being with those who make us feel FANTASTIC... Robt thinks it is a great time to bounce back. I was puzzled and here is what we talked about. If you like more interviews, add a comment or send us a line.
Rob is an entrepreneur who lives in Venezuela and works in 3 languages: English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Rob, what is your business about?
We provide tools for people to manage challenging situations to achieve personal and professional excellence.
How did you come up with the idea of the company?
After a sharp downturn in my last "work." It was December 13, 2001. I was in Rio de Janeiro. I realized that life is like a ball. Sometimes we are up and sometimes down. The most important thing is not where we are at a particular time but our ability to bounce at least once more ...
What has been your greatest success?
Seeing the birth of my two daughters. I realized how amazing life is!
What has been your greatest failure?
The first "great" event as a speaker. It was with more than 100 people in a half-day workshop in the Naiguatá Hall at Hotel Tamanaco -one of the top Venezuelan Hotels- with financial advisors. It was just what I dreamed about, with a group of people who did what I did, and the topic that fascinated me most: Change. I underpreformed, and did not achieve my goals, it was clear that I had not reached their expectations. Fortunately, it was also one of the best lessons I have learned and the reason why I am so good at what I do today.
What message would you give to someone who wants to be an entrepreneur?
Follow a burning desire, your idea, developed the first step of what you feel you have to do and then throw yourself into it, with the confidence that you can make adjustments in the process if necessary ...
Thanks Rob... definitely thinking about bouncing gives a different perspective to failing.
---
As you can see the future is built on the road, acting, not only thinking ... If you are affected by the financial crisis, thinking that successes and failures are part of life helps. I love Rob's message, because it gives a very refreshing vision of how to handle the possibility of a failure. He says that you can use the same energy when you are going down to bounce right back up.
you can check his site at www.inspire.com.ve
On behalf of the team Ventures Latinas and Alicia Castillo Wealthing Group, we send them our best wishes for the holiday season... Peace, joy, warmth... and get ready because one thing is for sure: 2009 will not be a boring year!
All the best,
Alicia Castillo Holley
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Global Entrepreneurship Week
It’s Global Entrepreneurship Week and all over the world, people are moving their minds, hearts, and pockets to find a common goal: create wealth.
I learned about entrepreneurship and creating wealth at Babson College. Its founder, Roger Babson, wanted to create a distinctive way of thinking and acting that would lead to what Jeffry Timmons later called “the Silent Revolution.” I had the privilege of graduating from Babson’s MBA class and meeting and discussing many ideas with Jeff, whose legacy expands beyond his life. I would like to dedicate this wealth drop to Roger and Jeff.
The concept of creating wealth is fantastic because there is no way to create prosperity without sharing it. Thus, governments are quite keen on exploring this topic, and along with them investors, yes, even in today’s financial situation!. The Global Entrepreneurship Week represents an amazing international effort, led by large corporations who see a bright future ahead, and supported with enthusiasm around the globe. What a refreshing thought, so different from the distressing news about the financial markets and the crisis!
I’ve always seen my future bright and interesting, although sometimes I have seen it through a dark tunnel that I know I have to walk. Ouch!
It has always paid off. I just realized that I don’t deal with depressed people because entrepreneurs and inventors create. They are too busy discovering ways of doing things to worry about dramas or to feel victims of other’s actions. In most cases, it turns out in a different way than we plan or expected, but the use of our energy to create positive worries is much healthier than to share misery and to feel that we are like seaweed in the ocean, at the mercy of the tide. No way!
As most of my work involves Global Entrepreneurship, I want to share with you the four critical success factors of Born Global Firms:
1. Global Vision: It’s all about the people who create the vision.
People involved in the Strategic Intent of the Firm have a pre-conceived notion of globalization. They know it is possible because they’ve done it.
Experience, Knowledge, Connections are firmly rooted in the managers or founder’s previous global experiences.
As simple as: I’ve seen that before or I’ve done that before!
2. Global appeal: Offerings cross over cultural barriers.
Global Firms make no adaptation to their offerings: Products, services, marketing, etc
They have a USP (Unique Selling Proposition) that appeals to consumers regardless of culture and location.
BONUS! Having the same offering provides a systematic approach that minimizes mistakes, improves efficiencies, and provides clear message.
3. Global reach: Reach customers rapidly, effectively and at low cost.
They collaborate in local markets.
They compete in global markets.
Change of mindset from smaller economies: more is less (100% of 10 is 10), less is more (10% of 1000 is 100). Everybody wins.
4. Global Implementation: Find ideal partners. It requires a mindset to collaborate and think about your best fit.
- What do you need
- What do you require
- What is your negotiating range and what are the deal breakers?
- What is the (aligned) reward system
- How to take the dip and cut loses
- How to establish elegant ways out
Don’t depend on legal frameworks, the best contract is never reinforced. What ifs…
I could not think of better times to go global. With suppliers and part time employees and clients in almost all continents, we have system that works smoothly around the globe. There are very few barriers to global entrepreneurship, if you are reading this, you have none.
Enjoy the celebration,
Alicia
http://www.enterpriseweek.org.uk/about/global_entrepreneurship_week
I learned about entrepreneurship and creating wealth at Babson College. Its founder, Roger Babson, wanted to create a distinctive way of thinking and acting that would lead to what Jeffry Timmons later called “the Silent Revolution.” I had the privilege of graduating from Babson’s MBA class and meeting and discussing many ideas with Jeff, whose legacy expands beyond his life. I would like to dedicate this wealth drop to Roger and Jeff.
The concept of creating wealth is fantastic because there is no way to create prosperity without sharing it. Thus, governments are quite keen on exploring this topic, and along with them investors, yes, even in today’s financial situation!. The Global Entrepreneurship Week represents an amazing international effort, led by large corporations who see a bright future ahead, and supported with enthusiasm around the globe. What a refreshing thought, so different from the distressing news about the financial markets and the crisis!
I’ve always seen my future bright and interesting, although sometimes I have seen it through a dark tunnel that I know I have to walk. Ouch!
It has always paid off. I just realized that I don’t deal with depressed people because entrepreneurs and inventors create. They are too busy discovering ways of doing things to worry about dramas or to feel victims of other’s actions. In most cases, it turns out in a different way than we plan or expected, but the use of our energy to create positive worries is much healthier than to share misery and to feel that we are like seaweed in the ocean, at the mercy of the tide. No way!
As most of my work involves Global Entrepreneurship, I want to share with you the four critical success factors of Born Global Firms:
1. Global Vision: It’s all about the people who create the vision.
People involved in the Strategic Intent of the Firm have a pre-conceived notion of globalization. They know it is possible because they’ve done it.
Experience, Knowledge, Connections are firmly rooted in the managers or founder’s previous global experiences.
As simple as: I’ve seen that before or I’ve done that before!
2. Global appeal: Offerings cross over cultural barriers.
Global Firms make no adaptation to their offerings: Products, services, marketing, etc
They have a USP (Unique Selling Proposition) that appeals to consumers regardless of culture and location.
BONUS! Having the same offering provides a systematic approach that minimizes mistakes, improves efficiencies, and provides clear message.
3. Global reach: Reach customers rapidly, effectively and at low cost.
They collaborate in local markets.
They compete in global markets.
Change of mindset from smaller economies: more is less (100% of 10 is 10), less is more (10% of 1000 is 100). Everybody wins.
4. Global Implementation: Find ideal partners. It requires a mindset to collaborate and think about your best fit.
- What do you need
- What do you require
- What is your negotiating range and what are the deal breakers?
- What is the (aligned) reward system
- How to take the dip and cut loses
- How to establish elegant ways out
Don’t depend on legal frameworks, the best contract is never reinforced. What ifs…
I could not think of better times to go global. With suppliers and part time employees and clients in almost all continents, we have system that works smoothly around the globe. There are very few barriers to global entrepreneurship, if you are reading this, you have none.
Enjoy the celebration,
Alicia
http://www.enterpriseweek.org.uk/about/global_entrepreneurship_week
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Surprise me
A surprise provokes fascinating emotions. This wealth drop is dedicated to those who find ways to add a spark to our lives by doing the unexpected. By the way, thanks Carlos for the postcard from South Africa. Quite a surprise!
It was Lynda Dorrington, CEO of Form, an Australian Organization, who inspired me to develop the theme. Ever since I came to Perth, Lynda has relentlessly foster a discussion to make the city more vibrant. She has pushed the envelope bringing experts from overseas and has engaged top notch research to understand what it takes to transform Perth into the Creative Capital of the world. www.form.com.au.
So, where is Perth? It claims to be the most isolated city in the world, yet I’ve been to other isolated places. It is one of the most beautiful and cleanest cities I’ve ever seen; with lakes, parks, soft hills, the bluest sky you can only imagine, a fresh smell of Eucalyptus and plenty of birds and bike ways. It is the only city that I know where you can literally go for swim from downtown, or fish and actually eat what you catch, right there on the steps of the city centre. There is a certain ‘nostalgie’ of the past, with plenty of houses keeping the traditional tuckpointed walls and tile roofs.
Lynda seeks more participation to her discussion, yet being a global citizen myself, I don’t think we should limit the conversation to our residents. What creates a vibrant city? I like a city that has surprises… but I generally like surprises, it keeps us alert and alive. When was the last time you surprised someone?
Well, I’m just about to try to do so. Just read on…
I don’t know what creates a vibrant city but having been to 13 airports in the last 3 months across four continents I can tell you that the world is becoming boring, or well, how can I say it? Predictable! Q’l horror as the Swiss would say.
Yeah… we like predictability so we can feel secure and plan accordingly, then something kicks in. An external change or the need for chaos. Yes, I know, I’ve also been hit by the financial crisis… even so, we can only take so much predictability, it kills our creativity and innovation.
So, we need to revert to something unusual. I like a city where I can be surprised, just like I like surprises. When you send me a note it is fantastic. I don’t expect it, and I love it, whether it is a positive or a negative comment.
Surprises keep us agile and alert. Companies that surprise us capture a space in our minds. They raise above the rest, they treat us in unusual ways, either as customers, employees, suppliers or as part of their community. We need to add more of that. Both on our businesses and at our personal level.
When was the last time you surprised someone? When did you develop a product or a service that would surprise your customers?
Well, I am just about to release two books and a DVD… on three completely different topics I’ve been working on for years: the 10 unwealthy habits, Falling in love with your life, and How to fund your million dollar idea. Now, if you want to get a deal on any of them, preorder now at $10 each, pls postage, on any number or combinations you might want to add. Just drop us a note and we’ll keep you on file and send you a paypal request when it is ready to ship.
I would love to surprise you even more running a contest… and here is the thing, next week I’m going to a place called Halls Creek, to explore ways that we can transform the lives of some of these kids… and we are going to need A LOT of help. I want to find a way to convince them to switch from living from well fare to paying taxes.
What can I do to surprise these kids, so used to arrogant white fellows telling them what to do?
Bring that on!
Alicia
PD: whether you are in the part of the world that is living on crisis or not, give someone a surprise.. and if you want to surprise Lynda at www.form.com.au leave them a note on what makes a city creative? There is an interactive button on the site.
It was Lynda Dorrington, CEO of Form, an Australian Organization, who inspired me to develop the theme. Ever since I came to Perth, Lynda has relentlessly foster a discussion to make the city more vibrant. She has pushed the envelope bringing experts from overseas and has engaged top notch research to understand what it takes to transform Perth into the Creative Capital of the world. www.form.com.au.
So, where is Perth? It claims to be the most isolated city in the world, yet I’ve been to other isolated places. It is one of the most beautiful and cleanest cities I’ve ever seen; with lakes, parks, soft hills, the bluest sky you can only imagine, a fresh smell of Eucalyptus and plenty of birds and bike ways. It is the only city that I know where you can literally go for swim from downtown, or fish and actually eat what you catch, right there on the steps of the city centre. There is a certain ‘nostalgie’ of the past, with plenty of houses keeping the traditional tuckpointed walls and tile roofs.
Lynda seeks more participation to her discussion, yet being a global citizen myself, I don’t think we should limit the conversation to our residents. What creates a vibrant city? I like a city that has surprises… but I generally like surprises, it keeps us alert and alive. When was the last time you surprised someone?
Well, I’m just about to try to do so. Just read on…
I don’t know what creates a vibrant city but having been to 13 airports in the last 3 months across four continents I can tell you that the world is becoming boring, or well, how can I say it? Predictable! Q’l horror as the Swiss would say.
Yeah… we like predictability so we can feel secure and plan accordingly, then something kicks in. An external change or the need for chaos. Yes, I know, I’ve also been hit by the financial crisis… even so, we can only take so much predictability, it kills our creativity and innovation.
So, we need to revert to something unusual. I like a city where I can be surprised, just like I like surprises. When you send me a note it is fantastic. I don’t expect it, and I love it, whether it is a positive or a negative comment.
Surprises keep us agile and alert. Companies that surprise us capture a space in our minds. They raise above the rest, they treat us in unusual ways, either as customers, employees, suppliers or as part of their community. We need to add more of that. Both on our businesses and at our personal level.
When was the last time you surprised someone? When did you develop a product or a service that would surprise your customers?
Well, I am just about to release two books and a DVD… on three completely different topics I’ve been working on for years: the 10 unwealthy habits, Falling in love with your life, and How to fund your million dollar idea. Now, if you want to get a deal on any of them, preorder now at $10 each, pls postage, on any number or combinations you might want to add. Just drop us a note and we’ll keep you on file and send you a paypal request when it is ready to ship.
I would love to surprise you even more running a contest… and here is the thing, next week I’m going to a place called Halls Creek, to explore ways that we can transform the lives of some of these kids… and we are going to need A LOT of help. I want to find a way to convince them to switch from living from well fare to paying taxes.
What can I do to surprise these kids, so used to arrogant white fellows telling them what to do?
Bring that on!
Alicia
PD: whether you are in the part of the world that is living on crisis or not, give someone a surprise.. and if you want to surprise Lynda at www.form.com.au leave them a note on what makes a city creative? There is an interactive button on the site.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Why do we add sugar to the saltshaker?
I wonder if we know about the difference between determination and stubbornness. It is rather small, most of the time we use them interchangeably. Yet, there is a subtlety I want to share with you today.
I am as determined as stubborn, that is why I’ve made my dreams come true. As a typical entrepreneur I asked different questions. For example, instead of: can I do that? We think about How can I do that? Instead of will I fail? We think will I learn?
Those little differences have a big impact. Anybody can see the power of those subtleties and start a chain reaction on its own. Then nobody knows where the change come from. Most likely the starting points go unnoticed.
Let me tell you a family story. When he was 7-8 yrs old, my brother George put sugar in the saltshaker. I don’t remember how long it took us to realize that. We never questioned what was in the saltshaker, it was white, it was granular, it should have been salt. You can imagine his grin when we complained at the dinner table about the low quality of salt “they don’t make salt as they use to”… until the day that mum caught him in-fraganti (hands-on) putting the sugar in.
So you see? Sometimes little differences go unnoticed. I am interested in how those differences go along on fostering or hindering entrepreneurial mindset and action. Let’s look at society’s mixed messages: Don’t be selfish, but succeed selfishly, and then, give yourself to a ‘better cause’. You go figure it out, I can’t. No wonder it is hard to think about developing our dreams, specially our entrepreneurial dreams. We don’t have the means to do it. We keep putting salt in the salt shaker because that is what we expect to do. As one of my clients told me, “I just didn’t think about it”. And then life goes on, without exploring small differences that have a huge impact like stubbornness and determination. Those little differences help us take small steps, innovating, experimenting, learning to master few basic things.
Society expects us to move a mountain, but the best way to accomplish that is one stone at a time. Do you know how you lose weight? One milligram at a time. Same for dreams, you make your dreams one grain of salt or sugar at a time. Ok, yes, it doesn’t work for moving sofas, but you get the picture.
Most people think entrepreneurs wake up in the morning thinking about how many risks they will take that day. And there are so many closet entrepreneurs who can’t figure out how to move a mountain because they don’t see that all it takes is a change in a grain of salt or sugar. What would happen if we took action today to make a small change?
Let’s change stubbornness for determination. Both are needed to accomplish something despite difficulties. Stubbornness focuses on getting a message across and forcing a result. Determination focuses on exploring to analyse and change in order to achieve results. A determined person is inspiring; a stubborn person creates rejection. The energy and the input make them as similar as salt and sugar. Entrepreneurs find a way to achieve their goals using either one.
How do we build an entrepreneurial mindset, one grain at a time, what can you do to start contributing to the wealth of the world. What do you need to let go to move from stubbornness to determination. How can you help others. What can we do to help.
My invitation is to explore how to change stubbornness for determination, so we can take a small step. The world needs more entrepreneurs and more inventors. The world needs your creativity.
That is what we learn from putting sugar on the saltshaker.
Alicia
I am as determined as stubborn, that is why I’ve made my dreams come true. As a typical entrepreneur I asked different questions. For example, instead of: can I do that? We think about How can I do that? Instead of will I fail? We think will I learn?
Those little differences have a big impact. Anybody can see the power of those subtleties and start a chain reaction on its own. Then nobody knows where the change come from. Most likely the starting points go unnoticed.
Let me tell you a family story. When he was 7-8 yrs old, my brother George put sugar in the saltshaker. I don’t remember how long it took us to realize that. We never questioned what was in the saltshaker, it was white, it was granular, it should have been salt. You can imagine his grin when we complained at the dinner table about the low quality of salt “they don’t make salt as they use to”… until the day that mum caught him in-fraganti (hands-on) putting the sugar in.
So you see? Sometimes little differences go unnoticed. I am interested in how those differences go along on fostering or hindering entrepreneurial mindset and action. Let’s look at society’s mixed messages: Don’t be selfish, but succeed selfishly, and then, give yourself to a ‘better cause’. You go figure it out, I can’t. No wonder it is hard to think about developing our dreams, specially our entrepreneurial dreams. We don’t have the means to do it. We keep putting salt in the salt shaker because that is what we expect to do. As one of my clients told me, “I just didn’t think about it”. And then life goes on, without exploring small differences that have a huge impact like stubbornness and determination. Those little differences help us take small steps, innovating, experimenting, learning to master few basic things.
Society expects us to move a mountain, but the best way to accomplish that is one stone at a time. Do you know how you lose weight? One milligram at a time. Same for dreams, you make your dreams one grain of salt or sugar at a time. Ok, yes, it doesn’t work for moving sofas, but you get the picture.
Most people think entrepreneurs wake up in the morning thinking about how many risks they will take that day. And there are so many closet entrepreneurs who can’t figure out how to move a mountain because they don’t see that all it takes is a change in a grain of salt or sugar. What would happen if we took action today to make a small change?
Let’s change stubbornness for determination. Both are needed to accomplish something despite difficulties. Stubbornness focuses on getting a message across and forcing a result. Determination focuses on exploring to analyse and change in order to achieve results. A determined person is inspiring; a stubborn person creates rejection. The energy and the input make them as similar as salt and sugar. Entrepreneurs find a way to achieve their goals using either one.
How do we build an entrepreneurial mindset, one grain at a time, what can you do to start contributing to the wealth of the world. What do you need to let go to move from stubbornness to determination. How can you help others. What can we do to help.
My invitation is to explore how to change stubbornness for determination, so we can take a small step. The world needs more entrepreneurs and more inventors. The world needs your creativity.
That is what we learn from putting sugar on the saltshaker.
Alicia
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