Archive for April, 2008

QTIP

QTIP= Quit Taking It Personally

Christine Comaford-Lynch uses this acronym in her book, Rules for Renegades and I find it to be incredibly appropriate for everyday life.

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Posted by First 30 Days on April 23rd, 2008 in New Directions | No comments

The Mystery of It All

Amy Tan (the famous author, yes) speaks of what she calls, “the cosmological constant” — that something we call luck, coincidence, the mystery of chance, serendipity, etc.

We have all felt it and wondered where it comes from. It could be the friend that calls when you think of her, the highway billboard that speaks directly to you, the perfect timing of an event in your life, the gut feeling that turns out to be spot on, meeting someone in a random airport or place you never visit, and so on.

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Posted by First 30 Days on April 23rd, 2008 in Global/Social Change | No comments

Real Change

I was particularly struck by Obama’s speech after yesterday’s Pennsylvania primary. In it, he said:

“I have seen time and time again that real change doesn’t begin in the halls of Washington, but on the streets of America. It doesn’t happen from the top down, but it happens from the bottom up.”

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Posted by First 30 Days on April 23rd, 2008 in Global/Social Change | No comments Read related posts in change movement

Becoming a Butterfly

“Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly.” — Anonymous

Think back to the last time you received terrible news or went through a difficult situation — maybe you got fired, experienced a terrible breakup or were extremely depressed.

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Posted by First 30 Days on April 22nd, 2008 in Global/Social Change | No comments

The African Dr Phil?

Chris Abani is an amazing human being. He was imprisoned three times by the Nigerian government and was even held on death row after being sentenced to death for treason. Now he is free and spreading a message of hope and inspiration. (And he is funny too!)

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Posted by First 30 Days on April 11th, 2008 in Global/Social Change | No comments Read related posts in Chris Abani

In Jimi’s Words

“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.” — Jimi Hendrix

This quote struck me as incredibly wise especially after yesterday’s post on Benjamin Zander’s views of power — do those who you lead feel powerful under your guidance? — and given the state of the world today.

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Posted by First 30 Days on April 11th, 2008 in Global/Social Change | No comments Read related posts in power of love

Give Them the Power

Benjamin Zander, conductor of the Boston Philharmonic and author (with his wife Rosamund Stone Zander) of The Art of Possibility, has some interesting thoughts on power. While it would be all too easy for a conductor to abuse his position and manage his musicians with a controlling and tyrannical style, Zander says that a great leader understands that true power “derives from [his or her] ability to make others powerful.” A leader or manager should not ask, “How good am I?” but instead should look into “what makes [this] group lively and engaged?”

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Posted by First 30 Days on April 11th, 2008 in Global/Social Change | No comments Read related posts in leadership

The Dash

I was at a funeral early this year and heard the pastor recite a poem called The Dash. He reminded us all that when someone dies the tombstone is inscribed with a date, a dash and then another date. We don’t control the dates, but the dash represents the lives we led and we decide how it will look.

As you go about your life, think about what you want your dash to stand for. What was your life about?

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Posted by First 30 Days on April 11th, 2008 in Personal Stories | No comments Read related posts in life balance, the dash

IDIA: I Deserve It All

What you feel you deserve has a massive impact on what happens in your life. If you feel you deserve an average relationship, that’s what you will attract. If you feel you deserve money, you are much more likely to create abundance in your life. Practice saying IDIA: I Deserve It All.

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Posted by First 30 Days on April 11th, 2008 in Global/Social Change | No comments Read related posts in pursuing your dreams

A New Way to Educate

If there was one place where I would love to see dramatic change, it’s in our schools — how we treat and pay teachers, what kids are actually learning and how much individual attention each student receives. I want to see a school system where life skills are taught to kids of all ages, where they are exposed to a world-centric view of what’s happening across the globe, where they are encouraged to pursue a dream and discover what they love to do and where they are taught to accept and even welcome change.

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Posted by First 30 Days on April 11th, 2008 in Global/Social Change | No comments Read related posts in school programs