Cutloose - giving gets you more.

Here’s a stimulating talk from TED.com by Cameron Herold. He says it all so I won’t repeat it! Have a watch:

With its new influx of “philanthropreneurs”  – philanthropists whose preferred vehicle is for-profit enterprise – the field of philanthropy is newly investigating the capacity of capitalism, rather than altruism, to render a positive change. In a different light, contemporary novelist and journalist Daniel Akst considers the same topic, addressing his short essay to graduating college students. In it he compares two graduates who want to good in the world – “Dan”, who pursues journalism hoping to write novels, and “Alex,” who works in the securities industry. Fast-forwarding twenty-five years, we find Alex the philanthropist and Dan the novelist. Who has made the world a better place? Who has made a difference? Akst doesn’t hesitate: Alex. Is he right? If one would do good, might it be an “outright moral obligation” to make money? Why or why not?

Thought provoking stuff from “Giving well, readings for thoughtful philanthropists” by Amy A. Kass More here

Here is a fantastic video from TED.com by Katherine Fulton. It was recorded in 2007 and she talks about emerging trends in philanthropy.

It is not for no reason the video is called “You are the Future of Philanthropy”!

Now there is a brand new network marketing business launching soon where people can contribute not only money directly form the profits they earn but also their own time and energy to help those that cannot help themselves and to projects that are beginning to repair the damage that mankind has done to the planet.

I wonder if this is something Katherine Fulton imagined?

Here’s some good reasons philanthropreneurs are so needed in the world today. There are many, many more reasons. Watch the video, have a good think and then get into action

Boston & the Black Eyed Peas’ music says it all.
I gotta feeling that it’s more than a feeling!

Great music, great feeling great opportunity!

Get involved and make a contribution to your people and your planet.

Once again music tells a great story – communicating with us on many levels. Here too the musicians got together to show us all what we can achieve when we commit to help people, places and creatures who cannot do it for themselves. The more we give together, the more we achieve for each other and for ourselves.Enjoy

Live 8 was, and remains a brilliant moment but what is more important is the brilliant movement of which it was a part. This gives the poorest of the poor real political muscle for the first time.
It is this movement of church people and trade unionists, soccer moms and student activists, that will carry the spirit of Live 8 on. It is this movement, not rock stars, that will make it untenable in the future to break promises to the most vulnerable people on this planet.
That was always why we put on the concerts.

Bono

I love this quote from Malcolm Gladwell’s book “Outliers”

If you work hard enough, if you assert yourself enough, if you use your mind and imagination, you can shape your world according to your desires.

Sometimes you experience something and you just feel good, fantastic in fact. And feeling good is what it’s all about. The more you feel good, the more good feelings come your way. And these good feelings move into other areas of your life and you get into flow and success starts to come more easily to you and that’s the best way – effortlessly.

This is something I have learned through personal study about expanding myself and from fantastic speakers at live events. I’m finding more and more ways of making this happen. I have some great products that show the way.

Music does this to me heaps. Such a powerful thing music – really gets to the heart of how you feel. When you go back and analyse it you can’t put your finger on it. Was it the lyrics? Was it the melody? Was it the volume? Was it the crowd? Doesn’t matter – you JUST FEEL AWESOME. Here’s a great one with Pete Murray and John Mayer. Turn up the volume  and see how you feel after you watch this.

Yes folks you read right!

Here’s a short video clip where Bill Clinton explains the positive impact the direct selling industry has on the US and the rest of the world. The numbers at the end make interesting reading too.

Enjoy!

WOW! Went along to the Carole King and James Taylor Troubadour Reunion concert last night. What an awesome concert. James Taylor’s voice is as strong and powerful and distinctive as ever. Carole King – what energy and passion and I didn’t realise all the songs she wrote that other artists had hits with. People like the Animals, The Byrds, The Shirelles, Blood Sweat & Tears, The Monkees, Aretha Franklin, The Everly Brothers, Gene Pitney, Celine Dion, k.d. land, Natalie Merchant and of course James Taylor.

Their lyrics are so clear and the messages are positive and friendly. They speak of moving forward and love and power and help. What a contrast to much of today’s music which is filled with negative messages and emotions, so much anger – I guess a reflection of part of our world.

What I have learned over the while about changing my life – it starts with what goes on in your head – what you think. And thinking drives behaviour and action and thats’ how we change. The more feeling and emotion that gets mixed in the more powerful it all is.

So things to change first I must change and if we all want a better world to live in the first step is to change ourselves and the way we think and act. Then people will notice the cahnge in us and change too. One small step for man – one giant leap for mankind!

Anyway big thanks to Carole King and James Taylor, awesome show, awesome artists, fantatsically powerful music. I’m off to put the headphones on again, – have a listen to this: