(1) Investments/Markets
(2) Politics/Global Affairs
(3) Theology/Philanthropy
The goal is to generate actionable ideas that encourage stewardship of opportunities/resources to positively impact the world.
“Alta Mensa” means “High Table” in Latin.
January 2020
]]>Strategy is the science and art of the fluid troop leader. Dwight D. Eisenhower once said that “[i]n preparing for battle, I have always found that plans are useless but planning is indispensable.”
“Strategy is about attaining and maintaining a position of advantage over adversaries through the successive exploitation of known or emergent possibilities rather than committing to any specific fixed plan designed at the outset.” (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategy)
Henry Mintzberg refers to strategy as “a pattern in a stream of decisions” to contrast with a view of strategy as rigid, static plans. Max McKeown argues that “strategy is about shaping the future” and is the human attempt to get to “desirable ends with available means.”
If I were to summarize and define “strategy” in one sentence, I would say that “strategy” is the stewardship of “means” (people, resources, functions, capacities, skills, opportunities, capital, time) towards accomplishment of “ends” (goals, desired outcomes, visions, purposes).
Strategy deals with macro level thinking. It pertains to finding and employing necessary and available means towards reaching desired ends. How do you effectively and efficiently get from point A to point B?
When I asked what inspired him to start a gratitude list, he said, “I realized I had a lot to be thankful for.”
We all have a lot to be thankful for. In the busyness of life, it’s easy to take for granted the many and priceless things most of us enjoy. Shelter, family, education, nutritious food and clean water can sometimes be taken for granted.
I’m learning to value every good thing in life, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. As I do, I hope my expressions of gratitude will rise. There is much to be thankful for.
Written by Justin Stephens. Edited by Andrei Duta. This note first appeared on Andrei’s LinkedIn profile.
]]>The status quo is not good enough; normal will never do. You’re seeking to improve yourself and your surroundings. Like you, millions of people across the world are setting goals and have done so throughout generations and centuries.
A Brief History
At the beginning of the year, the ancient Romans made promises and gave gifts to their god Janus, the god of beginnings, from which the word “January” derives. Similarly, the Babylonians made promises to pay their debts and return borrowed items.
Making New Year’s resolutions took many forms but endured throughout the ages and across various cultures. It ultimately found its way into the modern world, including the U.S., where it has been growing in popularity within the last few decades.
Today 45 percent of Americans start New Year’s resolutions; however, a mere 8 percent ever finish them. As an example, the top ten most commonly broken resolutions, according to TIME, are the following:
1. Lose Weight and Get Fit
2. Quit Smoking
3. Learn Something New
4. Eat Healthier and Diet
5. Get Out of Debt and Save Money
6. Spend More Time with Family
7. Travel to New Places
8. Be Less Stressed
9. Volunteer
10. Drink Less
New Year’s resolutions, while easy to make, are also easy to break. Only the few, the 8 percent, persevere. So, below are a few tips that will help you reach your goals this new year.
The Fewer, the Better
It’s tempting to make several resolutions. It seems as though you’d have a better chance of keeping one if many were made. But this is not so. According to Social Psychologist Roy Baumeister, every time you focus on any one of your resolutions, it makes it easier to neglect the others.
Making too many resolutions undermines your success and drains your willpower. So, this year make two or three resolutions. You’ll have a greater chance at keeping them.
Keep It Easy
That’s right. Easy. The purpose of making a New Year’s resolution is not to change your life overnight, or even over the course of 365 days. The purpose is to recognize the necessity of progress and experience personal development.
Therefore, before you commit to run a marathon, consider taking smaller steps first. Perhaps, pledge to jog three times each week. A simple, manageable goal is easier to honor.
Tell a Friend
Before it’s too late, share your New Year’s resolutions with a friend, family member, or colleague. It’s helpful to have a supporting voice hold you accountable.
Celebrate the Milestones
The road to improvement isn’t always easy. It’s an ongoing process filled at times with challenges. It’s critical to reinforce the milestones and celebrate the small victories along the way. It will make goal-setting a more enjoyable process.
I wish you the wisdom to select your New Year’s resolutions well and the perseverance to keep them! May you form good habits and experience success and enjoyment throughout the new year!
Resources:
http://www.statisticbrain.com/new-y…
Lennox, Doug (2007). Now You Know Big Book of Answers one of the amazing thing. Toronto: Dundurn. p. 250.
Julia Jasmine (1998). Multicultural Holidays. Teacher Created Resources. p. 116.
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/a…
http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/resol…
Written by Justin Stephens. Edited by Andrei Duta. This article first appeared in Andrei’s Newsletter.
]]>We know, however, this saying isn’t true; Christmas is about much more than a tree. But when someone forgets to set up the tree, or its needles fall off prematurely, we’re tempted to buy another one before the relatives arrive. Christmas trees are important and today, during the holidays, there’s one for sale on every corner. But this wasn’t always true.
It all started when a businessman, Mark Carr, saw an opportunity to serve his community.
Before 1851 the United States was a rural society. Most Americans could easily cut down and carry home their own trees. But, for those who lived in New York City, it was nearly impossible to access trees of any kind. Carr realized this and travelled by sled to the Catskill Mountains nearby and collected several bunches of evergreens. He hauled them back into the city and sold every single tree from a vacant lot. The Christmas tree market was born. Today in the U.S. nearly 40 million are bought and sold each year.
During this holiday season remember, sometimes it only takes one creative idea to launch a new industry. Always be looking for new opportunities. There are people to serve, problems to solve, and profits to make.
Money really can grow on trees. Even on evergreens.
Written by Justin Stephens. Edited by Andrei Duta. This article first appeared in Andrei’s Newsletter.
]]>Friends of Peter (FOP) is a gathering of unique and beautiful individuals with eclectic skills and talents. FOP is many things. FOP is networking with a soul. FOP is a creative ideation forum. FOP is a dynamic group that thrives under the leadership of Peter.
Who is Peter? Two words: SERVANT LEADER. Peter is a servant leader with a golden heart. As such, I can now think of an additional definition of FOP: support group, service community, and network of servant leaders!
I will close by pointing to one of my favorite writers/thinkers: Robert Greenleaf. I believe he did a superb job in capturing the spirit of servant leadership… the spirit of Peter, the spirit of the individual friends of Peter, and, also, the spirit of the collective Friends of Peter:
“Servant leadership is a philosophy and set of practices that enriches the lives of individuals, builds better organizations and ultimately creates a more just and caring world.
While servant leadership is a timeless concept, the phrase “servant leadership” was coined by Robert K. Greenleaf in The Servant as Leader, an essay that he first published in 1970. In that essay, Greenleaf said:
“The servant-leader is servant first… It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is leader first, perhaps because of the need to assuage an unusual power drive or to acquire material possessions…The leader-first and the servant-first are two extreme types. Between them there are shadings and blends that are part of the infinite variety of human nature.
“The difference manifests itself in the care taken by the servant-first to make sure that other people’s highest priority needs are being served. The best test, and difficult to administer, is: Do those served grow as persons? Do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants? And, what is the effect on the least privileged in society? Will they benefit or at least not be further deprived?“
A servant-leader focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong. While traditional leadership generally involves the accumulation and exercise of power by one at the “top of the pyramid,”servant leadership is different. The servant-leader shares power, puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible.”[/blockquote][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Sun (Swim/NSP day)
Swim (1200+ yards), SCR, NSP* (1-10-1 pull-ups, 2-20-2 push-ups, 3-30-3 abs, 4-40-4 squats), and Stretching (10+ min)
Mon (Swim/Bike day)
Swim (1200+ yards), Bike (60+ min), SCR**, and Stretching (10+ min)
Tue (Swim/Run/CT day)
Swim (1200+ yards), Run/Stair/Treadmill (30+ min), SCR, CT *** (push-ups & abs), and Stretching (10+ min)
Wed (Swim/CT day)
Swim (1200+ yards), SCR, CT (legs and abs), and Stretching (10+ min)
Thur (Swim/Run/CT day)
Swim (1200+ yards), Run/Stair/Treadmill (30+ min), SCR, CT (pull-ups & abs), and Stretching (10+ min)
Fri (Swim day)
Swim (1200+ yards), SCR, and Stretching (10+ min)
Sat (Swim/Bike day)
Swim (1200+ yards), Bike (60+ min), SCR, and Stretching (10+ min)
LEGEND:
*NSP=Navy Seals Pyramids (intense calisthenics routine based on Navy Seals pull-ups, push-ups, abs, squats routine)
**SCR=Speed Calisthenics Routine (25 diamond pushups, 12-20 pull-ups, 25 knives abs, 25 squats with 2X20 lbs weights, 25 curls with 2X20 lbs weights, and stretching routine)
***CT=Calisthenics Trainer (alternate push-ups, pull-ups, legs, and abs in intense, till failure routines)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]