This Week's Word & Thought: Focus

I watched a very interesting and thought provoking documentary last night on HBO.  It was “Becoming Warren Buffett” and was nothing like I assumed it would be.  It takes you through how Mr. Buffett became one of the wealthiest people on earth and in history.  One of the surprises is that he is at the top of the list of those most generous with his fortune.  His intent is to give it away in accordance with his wife’s wishes before she died of a stroke in 2004.

The film also gives you some insight to the man and what drove him.  It is obvious that he is a mathematical genius and has an incredible ability to retain information.  However, the other aspects that are not obvious is his humility, self-deprecating attitude, his absolute belief in integrity, and the one word that both he and Bill Gates used to describe themselves, “Focus!”

Did you know that his wife, Susie, was a very active participant in the Civil Rights Movement and that she eventually made her home in San Francisco where she continued to be very active in equal rights for all.  That her influence was so great on him and his children that all three children head charitable institutions funded largely by Warren Buffett.  That because of Susie’s influence, he developed a much more broad and liberal view of humanity and has setup his fortune to predominantly go towards service to human kind.

Here is a link with some info on the documentary.  I encourage you to watch, learn and enjoy.  http://bit.ly/BuffettDocumentary

It is remarkable what you can accomplish when you have FOCUS.

“Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” – Warren Buffett

And my favorite quote of his regarding business is…

“Rule No.1: Never lose money. Rule No.2: Never forget rule No.1.” – Warren Buffett

One last thought about Mr. Buffett I wanted to share.  He is one of those super successful business people that lets me know it is not evil to be successful in business.  It is only evil to be greedy for power or wealth.  Using your success to help others is pretty remarkable.

I wish you great success and the love to use it to better the world.

Namaste,

Tom

This Week's Word & Thought: Imagine

Imagine, to me anyway, is one of the most powerful active words in the English language.  It has brought to us the adventures of Harry Potter and the saga of Luke Skywalker.  Imagining the impossible has led to the mapping of the human genome and now cures for certain cancers and crazy unlimited ways to improve human health.  It has also led to the splitting of atoms, the potential in the future for unlimited fusion energy and it has even led to scientific theories on the folding of time and space.  Yes, “Maximum warp Mr. Sulu!”

And what about all that is the beginning of AI?  Think of the potential and think of all the sci-fi movies we have watched about AI.  It is both awe inspiring and perhaps a bit scary.

Now, just imagine what we could do or give back to humanity if we put the power of IMAGINE to work on solving the human condition for those less fortunate.   One of the most emotional and poetically beautiful words ever spoken, or in this case sung, were John Lennon’s Imagine.  Here are the words.  If you get a chance this week, find the song.  Listen to it.  Then commit to never losing your imagination on how to improve life for those less fortunate or those who live in fear and with hatred surrounding them simply because they are somehow different.

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace, you

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people sharing all the world, you

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Now imagine I just gave you a big hug!

Namaste,

Tom

This Week's Word & Thought: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Since yesterday was a national holiday with an emphasis on Dr. King’s accomplishments and that he is also in my top five most respected individuals, I just had to say something.  Probably two of my biggest reasons for my admiration are that he fought for equal rights in general and that he always did so in a peaceful way.  

Was he perfect? No.  Are any of us?  No.  

I have selected some of my favorite sayings from Dr. King that point to his belief in inclusion and the manner in which to succeed is without violence.  I hope you enjoy and they provide you something to ponder.

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.”

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

“In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

“Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

“Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.”

“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”

Here is to you and making a difference.

Namaste,

Tom