Dear Wayne,
As usual reading & enjoying The Maverick Spirit & I read about Dinki Di Confectionery. When you are in Melbourne (or you can mail order) & you want to feel a bit better about Australian made Dinki Di Confectionery, come to one of the 8 branches of The Chocolate Box.
We have our Family owned business making & selling most of the Dinki Di Confectionery that you have mentioned & we all appreciate. We have a variety of our own Rocky roads (inc our latest Chilli flavoured one), superb chocolate coated sultanas and macadamias, clinkers, Sparklers (our version of Freckles) and lot & lots more.
Unfortunately a number of the products that you mentioned are now owned by Cadburys & similar multinationals.
Gary Adler
The Chocolate Box
15 Chapel St, Richmond,
Victoria, 3123
Tel 03 9428 0122 Fax 03 9429 0155
Mobile 0412 357 420
Gary.Adler@chocolatebox.com.au
www.chocolatebox.com.au
Be Choctomistic
Wayne Mansfield The future will belong to those who learn, unlearn and relearn.. The web journey of Wayne Mansfield
Monday, July 31, 2006
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Self-Leadership and more
By Andrew Bryant
Regardless of occupation or profession there is a career development milestone that few pass effortlessly and many never pass at all, and yet making this transition is essential to any growing business.
University training is focused on the students developing professional skills. As a professional you are expected to have a high degree of self-leadership, a component of emotional intelligence that includes self-awareness and self-management.
The nature of organisations is that highly skilled individuals are offered a promotion to managing others or in the case of private practice you may have promoted yourself by hiring staff. Problems arise when the professional assumes the same skills that he or she uses to manage themselves will work with others.
For the transformation to be successful the professional will require more than new skills they will need to take on new values and a new identity.
The foundation of self-leadership is self awareness, “know thyself” is the famous Greek maxim inscribe on that ancient oracle at Delphi. To know ourselves we must learn to ‘step back’ and become aware of our thinking and feeling. As a human we become emotionally intelligent when we rise above limbic system stimulus-response behaviours and engage our cognitive frontal brain to make choices.
Have you ever had a situation turn out badly or ‘lost it’ with a colleague or staff member? If you are not sure why you often behave the way you do then there is room to grow your self-awareness.
Step one is to realise that we respond not to reality, but our mental map or re-presentation of reality. Our inner map is not complete because we filter information through our unconscious prejudices. When you react strongly to a situation or person, you are reacting to your mental that is unlikely to be fully accurate.
When we are self aware we know what ‘pushes our buttons’ and choose to an appropriate response. Next time you feel your heart rate increase, your hands tense or the blood rushing to your face, ask yourself:
“What emotion am I feeling?”
”What is this about?”
”What map do I have about this?”
”What would be the best response?”
These questions train you to step back and observe your own thinking and feeling.
To develop self-awareness and subsequently self-management it is necessary to become conscious of our often unconscious values and intentions. Values are what we deem as significant or important and are as intangible as the wind but can wield the same force as a hurricane. You can access your values by asking the question “what’s important to me about…?” and then asking the same question about your answer.
For example:
Q: “What’s important to you about self-management?”
A: “It helps me be a better manager.”
Q: “So, what’s important about being a better manager?”
A: “It helps me get the best out of my people?”
Q: “So what’s important about getting the best out of your people?”
A: “We we will be more efficient?”
Q: “So efficiency is important to you? What’s important about that?”
A: “Well we can be both professional and profitable.”
Actually we could keep going, but in just four steps we have uncovered the values of people and efficiency and the intention to be both professional profitable.
You attention and energy will be driven by your intention. You intention is equivalent to the CEO of your mind, who has decided on the vision for you as an entity. If you have an intention to be the best professional in your field then you will perceive opportunities to achieve this. If your intention is to grow and develop people then your attention will be drawn to information to achieve this aim (such as this article).
Self management is about choosing your speech and behaviour in line with your intention. It can be distilled down to saying “yes” to what you value and saying “no” to what you don’t.
As an individual professional your intention and values are most likely to be:
Producing high quality professional work
Getting results through personal efficiency
Your self-management would include:
Daily discipline – arrival departure
Record keeping – client and financial
Relationship building for personal benefit
The transition to people leadership or coaching others requires a transformation of values and intention and subsequent behaviours.
Coaching is unlocking a person's potential to maximise their own performance. It is helping them to learn rather than teaching them. Coaching facilitates the coachee to access their best performance by helping them focus, break down tasks and clarify their values. It is therefore often necessary for the new manager to receive coaching before they can coach others.
When coaching others you will most likely have the following intentions and values:
Seeing oneself as a manager/leader
Success through others
Seeing the potential in others
Empathy
Integrity
The whole unit over the individual
From these values you can develop the following skills:
Job design
Selecting people
Listening
Questioning
Outcome setting
Performance measurement
Giving and receiving feedback
Supporting
Rewards and motivation
Of all these skills, perhaps the most difficult is giving and receiving feedback as most people have had little or no training in either. Previous experiences of criticism or judgmental feedback have left many of us ‘gun shy’ when required to give feedback and yet this is the greatest gift for human performance.
Consider a person sitting on a chair facing a wall. Behind them is a bucket that they can’t see and yet their task is to throw a ball into the bucket. This analogy closely resembles many performance management situations. The manager can see the bucket (the goal, performance target) and behaves as if the employee can. When the employee misses the bucket (as is to be expected) the manager scolds the employee or gives non-specific feedback such as “you need to do better” or “that was close”. What the employee really needs is specific feedback that includes direction, distance and the amount of force required to get the ball in the bucket. The best result is when there is a climate of open communication where the employee can ask for specific instruction and receives it without fear of appearing stupid.
The metaphor for coaching is that the coach is a mirror; the coach does not impose his or her own mental map on the coachee but assumes that the coachee has all the resources and capacity to solve their own problems given appropriate feedback.
The payoff for developing coaching skills is an empowered team who are motivated and involved in achieving their performance targets and in many cases will exceed them.
Self Leadership International
Regardless of occupation or profession there is a career development milestone that few pass effortlessly and many never pass at all, and yet making this transition is essential to any growing business.
University training is focused on the students developing professional skills. As a professional you are expected to have a high degree of self-leadership, a component of emotional intelligence that includes self-awareness and self-management.
The nature of organisations is that highly skilled individuals are offered a promotion to managing others or in the case of private practice you may have promoted yourself by hiring staff. Problems arise when the professional assumes the same skills that he or she uses to manage themselves will work with others.
For the transformation to be successful the professional will require more than new skills they will need to take on new values and a new identity.
The foundation of self-leadership is self awareness, “know thyself” is the famous Greek maxim inscribe on that ancient oracle at Delphi. To know ourselves we must learn to ‘step back’ and become aware of our thinking and feeling. As a human we become emotionally intelligent when we rise above limbic system stimulus-response behaviours and engage our cognitive frontal brain to make choices.
Have you ever had a situation turn out badly or ‘lost it’ with a colleague or staff member? If you are not sure why you often behave the way you do then there is room to grow your self-awareness.
Step one is to realise that we respond not to reality, but our mental map or re-presentation of reality. Our inner map is not complete because we filter information through our unconscious prejudices. When you react strongly to a situation or person, you are reacting to your mental that is unlikely to be fully accurate.
When we are self aware we know what ‘pushes our buttons’ and choose to an appropriate response. Next time you feel your heart rate increase, your hands tense or the blood rushing to your face, ask yourself:
“What emotion am I feeling?”
”What is this about?”
”What map do I have about this?”
”What would be the best response?”
These questions train you to step back and observe your own thinking and feeling.
To develop self-awareness and subsequently self-management it is necessary to become conscious of our often unconscious values and intentions. Values are what we deem as significant or important and are as intangible as the wind but can wield the same force as a hurricane. You can access your values by asking the question “what’s important to me about…?” and then asking the same question about your answer.
For example:
Q: “What’s important to you about self-management?”
A: “It helps me be a better manager.”
Q: “So, what’s important about being a better manager?”
A: “It helps me get the best out of my people?”
Q: “So what’s important about getting the best out of your people?”
A: “We we will be more efficient?”
Q: “So efficiency is important to you? What’s important about that?”
A: “Well we can be both professional and profitable.”
Actually we could keep going, but in just four steps we have uncovered the values of people and efficiency and the intention to be both professional profitable.
You attention and energy will be driven by your intention. You intention is equivalent to the CEO of your mind, who has decided on the vision for you as an entity. If you have an intention to be the best professional in your field then you will perceive opportunities to achieve this. If your intention is to grow and develop people then your attention will be drawn to information to achieve this aim (such as this article).
Self management is about choosing your speech and behaviour in line with your intention. It can be distilled down to saying “yes” to what you value and saying “no” to what you don’t.
As an individual professional your intention and values are most likely to be:
Producing high quality professional work
Getting results through personal efficiency
Your self-management would include:
Daily discipline – arrival departure
Record keeping – client and financial
Relationship building for personal benefit
The transition to people leadership or coaching others requires a transformation of values and intention and subsequent behaviours.
Coaching is unlocking a person's potential to maximise their own performance. It is helping them to learn rather than teaching them. Coaching facilitates the coachee to access their best performance by helping them focus, break down tasks and clarify their values. It is therefore often necessary for the new manager to receive coaching before they can coach others.
When coaching others you will most likely have the following intentions and values:
Seeing oneself as a manager/leader
Success through others
Seeing the potential in others
Empathy
Integrity
The whole unit over the individual
From these values you can develop the following skills:
Job design
Selecting people
Listening
Questioning
Outcome setting
Performance measurement
Giving and receiving feedback
Supporting
Rewards and motivation
Of all these skills, perhaps the most difficult is giving and receiving feedback as most people have had little or no training in either. Previous experiences of criticism or judgmental feedback have left many of us ‘gun shy’ when required to give feedback and yet this is the greatest gift for human performance.
Consider a person sitting on a chair facing a wall. Behind them is a bucket that they can’t see and yet their task is to throw a ball into the bucket. This analogy closely resembles many performance management situations. The manager can see the bucket (the goal, performance target) and behaves as if the employee can. When the employee misses the bucket (as is to be expected) the manager scolds the employee or gives non-specific feedback such as “you need to do better” or “that was close”. What the employee really needs is specific feedback that includes direction, distance and the amount of force required to get the ball in the bucket. The best result is when there is a climate of open communication where the employee can ask for specific instruction and receives it without fear of appearing stupid.
The metaphor for coaching is that the coach is a mirror; the coach does not impose his or her own mental map on the coachee but assumes that the coachee has all the resources and capacity to solve their own problems given appropriate feedback.
The payoff for developing coaching skills is an empowered team who are motivated and involved in achieving their performance targets and in many cases will exceed them.
Self Leadership International
Paddy Neowara from Wandjina country
I am Paddy Neowara from Wandjina country in Australia's Kimberley. Come & meet us. We'll show you things like you've never seen before ...
Here's the latest news - with Garma Festival in Arnhem Land looming next week ... and a final Kimberley Bush Uni soon ...
* FINAL KIMBERLEY SAFARI THIS SEASON - Departs AUGUST 24
Last Bush University and Kimberley Safari for 2006 season. Mention this email for special END OF SEASON SALE ! - See tour details at Kimberley Safari
* MUSICAL PREVIEW - Great outback images + music - enjoy & please pass on to your networks. See or download at slideshow
* KAKADU + GARMA FESTIVAL + NEW DATES for SYDNEY- ALICE + GARMA FEST Check out NEW tours & Kakadu
* TANAMI TRACK - Broome to Alice Springs - Song line, Outback caves, Remote Art Communities, Wolfe Creek Crater - 3 options - See Tanami Track
* RAINMAKER JOURNEY - Tune your skills with local Aboriginal rainmakers on Australia's major songline. 5 days from & return to Alice Springs.Ask or see Intro
* ULURU, Kata Tjuta & Western MacDonnell Ranges - September / October
See dates & intro details at Ulurumacs
Feel free to send this on to people you think may be interested. Links & format are preserved by using the forward option below.
Ask about tours - Call us at local rates - see numbers below
thank you & stay tuned !
Richard T O'Neill
Director
Spirit Safaris - Song & Dance Adventures
http://www.spiritsafaris.com
Tel 02 9251 7866 03 9017 6862 07 3137 1607 08 6364 3651
STROKE: Remember The 1st Three Letters...
Hi Wayne
I know that this is a bit morbid
but it's good to know these signs
and be possibly save a life
in the most simple way.
This is good, simple advice that anyone can remember
and I thought your members might appreciate.
from Pete Miller
STROKE: Remember The 1st Three Letters...
STROKE IDENTIFICATION:
During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) - she just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes.
They helped clean her up and got her a new plate of food - while she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself for the remainder of the afternoon.
Ingrid's husband called later saying that his wife had been taken to the hospital and had passed away. She had actually suffered a stroke at the BBQ.
Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today.
A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within three hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke . . . totally.
He said the trick was having a stroke recognized, diagnosed and then getting the patient medically cared for within three hours, which is tough.
RECOGNIZING A STROKE:
Remember the "3" steps.
Doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:
S *Ask the individual to SMILE.
T *Ask the person to TALK ... to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE. (Coherently) (i.e. . . It is very sunny out here today)
R *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.
NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out their tongue . If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke.
If he or she has trouble with any one of these tasks, call 000 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.
A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this e-mail sends it to ten people, you can bet at least one life will be saved.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
The Legend of Butch O'Hare
Dear Wayne
In the spirit of the stories you like to print on your page, how about this? I had a little “wow” at the end. Quite clever. Enjoy!
Sandhan
TWO INSPIRING STORIES WORTH READING BOTH.
STORY NUMBER ONE #1
Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago.Capone wasn't famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshingthe windy city in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder.
Capone had a lawyer nicknamed "Easy Eddie." He was his lawyer for a goodreason. Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie's skill at legal maneuveringkept Big Al out of jail for a long time.
To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only was the money big, but also, Eddie got special dividends. For instance, he and his family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all of the conveniences of the day. The estate was so large that it filled an entireChicago City block.
Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little considerationto the atrocity that went on around him. Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved dearly.Eddie saw to it that his young son had clothes, cars, and a goodeducation.Nothing was withheld. Price was no object. And, despite his involvementwith organized crime, Eddie even tried to teach him right from wrong.
Eddie wanted his son to be a better man than he was. Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things he could not give his son; he could not pass on a good name or a good example.
One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie wanted to rectify wrongs he had done. He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Al "Scarface" Capone, clean up his tarnished name,and offer his son some semblance of integrity.
To do this, he would have to testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great. So, he testified.
Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street. But in his eyes, he had given his son the greatest gift hehad to offer, at the greatest price he could ever pay. Police removed from his pockets a rosary, a crucifix, a religious medallion, and a poemclipped from a magazine.
The poem read:
The clock of life is wound but once,
And no man has the power
To tell just when the hands will stop
At late or early hour.
Now is the only time you own.
Live, love, toil with a will.
Place no faith in time.
For the clock may soon be still.
____________________________________________
STORY NUMBER TWO #2
World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrierLexington in the South Pacific. One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission.
After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized thatsomeone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank. He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to hisship. His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly, hedropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet.
As he was returning to the mother ship he saw something that turned his blood cold: a squadron of Japanese aircraft were speeding their way toward the American fleet.
The American fighters were gone on a sortie, and the fleet was all but defenseless. He could not reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save thefleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger.
There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the fleet.
Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes.
Wing-mounted 50 caliber's blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another.Butch wove in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until all his ammunition was finally spent.
Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to clip a wing or tail in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible andrendering them unfit to fly. Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction.
Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier.
Upon arrival, he reported in and related the event surrounding his return. The film from the gun-camera mounted on his plane told the tale. It showed the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his fleet. He had, in fact, destroyed five enemy aircraft.
This took place on February 20, 1942, and for that action Butch became the Navy's first Ace of W.W. II, and the first Naval Aviator to win the Congressional Medal of Honor.
A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29.
His home town would not allow the memory of this WW II hero to fade, and today, O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man.
So, the next time you find yourself at O'Hare International, give some thought to visiting Butch's memorial displaying his statue and his Medal of Honor.
It is located between Terminals 1 and 2.
SO WHAT DO THESE TWO STORIES HAVE TO DO WITH EACH OTHER?
Butch O'Hare was "Easy Eddie's" son.
In the spirit of the stories you like to print on your page, how about this? I had a little “wow” at the end. Quite clever. Enjoy!
Sandhan
TWO INSPIRING STORIES WORTH READING BOTH.
STORY NUMBER ONE #1
Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago.Capone wasn't famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshingthe windy city in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder.
Capone had a lawyer nicknamed "Easy Eddie." He was his lawyer for a goodreason. Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie's skill at legal maneuveringkept Big Al out of jail for a long time.
To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only was the money big, but also, Eddie got special dividends. For instance, he and his family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all of the conveniences of the day. The estate was so large that it filled an entireChicago City block.
Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little considerationto the atrocity that went on around him. Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved dearly.Eddie saw to it that his young son had clothes, cars, and a goodeducation.Nothing was withheld. Price was no object. And, despite his involvementwith organized crime, Eddie even tried to teach him right from wrong.
Eddie wanted his son to be a better man than he was. Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things he could not give his son; he could not pass on a good name or a good example.
One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie wanted to rectify wrongs he had done. He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Al "Scarface" Capone, clean up his tarnished name,and offer his son some semblance of integrity.
To do this, he would have to testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great. So, he testified.
Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street. But in his eyes, he had given his son the greatest gift hehad to offer, at the greatest price he could ever pay. Police removed from his pockets a rosary, a crucifix, a religious medallion, and a poemclipped from a magazine.
The poem read:
The clock of life is wound but once,
And no man has the power
To tell just when the hands will stop
At late or early hour.
Now is the only time you own.
Live, love, toil with a will.
Place no faith in time.
For the clock may soon be still.
____________________________________________
STORY NUMBER TWO #2
World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrierLexington in the South Pacific. One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission.
After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized thatsomeone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank. He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to hisship. His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly, hedropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet.
As he was returning to the mother ship he saw something that turned his blood cold: a squadron of Japanese aircraft were speeding their way toward the American fleet.
The American fighters were gone on a sortie, and the fleet was all but defenseless. He could not reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save thefleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger.
There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the fleet.
Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes.
Wing-mounted 50 caliber's blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another.Butch wove in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until all his ammunition was finally spent.
Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to clip a wing or tail in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible andrendering them unfit to fly. Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction.
Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier.
Upon arrival, he reported in and related the event surrounding his return. The film from the gun-camera mounted on his plane told the tale. It showed the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his fleet. He had, in fact, destroyed five enemy aircraft.
This took place on February 20, 1942, and for that action Butch became the Navy's first Ace of W.W. II, and the first Naval Aviator to win the Congressional Medal of Honor.
A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29.
His home town would not allow the memory of this WW II hero to fade, and today, O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man.
So, the next time you find yourself at O'Hare International, give some thought to visiting Butch's memorial displaying his statue and his Medal of Honor.
It is located between Terminals 1 and 2.
SO WHAT DO THESE TWO STORIES HAVE TO DO WITH EACH OTHER?
Butch O'Hare was "Easy Eddie's" son.
Friday, July 14, 2006
José Carreras International Leukaemia Foundation
Denial of published information concerning alleged financial support by Mr. Plácido Domingo and a Fundación Hermosa to Mr. José Carreras
In relation to the information published in different websites referring to a supposed financing by a Hermosa Foundation and Mr. Plácido Domingo of Mr. José Carreras’ leukaemia treatment, the José Carreras International Leukaemia Foundation and Mr. José Carreras himself feel compelled to deny all these in formations, especially refuting that any relationship exists or has ever existed between the pretended Hermosa Foundation and Mr. Carreras.
No financial assistance from Mr. Domingo nor from said Hermosa Foundation, whose existence is totally unknown to him, nor from any other source was ever requested, neither received.Moreover, Mr. José Carreras has a special interest in stating that friendship, profound admiration and mutual respect have always presided his relationship with Mr. Domingo.
Mr. José Carreras has started legal action in defence of his own interest and right to honour and has the firm intention of legally acting against any person or corporation publishing non-confirmed and untrue informations on his person.
Urban Myth... maybe
Dear Wayne
A great story and very inspirational, sadly it would appear that it is a hoax, see the link below. I have received this story in various e-mails over the last couple of weeks, so thought you would like to know this.
http://www.snopes.com/glurge/tenors.asp
Sorry to be the bearer of not so good news, I trust you are keeping well.
Be inspired and best wishes
Keith Ready
A great story and very inspirational, sadly it would appear that it is a hoax, see the link below. I have received this story in various e-mails over the last couple of weeks, so thought you would like to know this.
http://www.snopes.com/glurge/tenors.asp
Sorry to be the bearer of not so good news, I trust you are keeping well.
Be inspired and best wishes
Keith Ready
"we cannot afford to lose a voice like that…” July 14 2006
An email just arrived.. with a simple note: "This is a nice story... maybe it should be in "The Spirit" and I agree, so here is the story:
This is a story that perhaps few people have heard…
It’s about two of three tenors – Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and José Carreras who stirred the world through their singing together.
Even those who’ve never visited Spain, know of the rivalry between Catalanes and Madrileños, since the Catalanes are fighting for their autonomy from a Madrid dominated Spain. It so happens that, Placido Domingo is Madrileño and José Carreras is Catalán.
For political reasons, in 1984, Carreras and Domingo became enemies.
Being that they were very popular and much sought after around the world, both stated in their contracts that they would perform only if the other was not invited.
1987, Carreras met up with an enemy more implacable than his rival Placido Domingo. He was taken by surprise with a terrible diagnosis: Leukemia!!
His fight against cancer was a painful one. He was subjected to numerous treatments, besides having a bone marrow transplant and blood transfusions that forced him to travel to the United States once a month. Unable to work under these conditions, though he possessed a considerable fortune, the high cost of these trips and medical treatments depleted his finances.
When at the end of his financial ability, he discovered a foundation in Madrid, the sole purpose of which was the support of treatment for the sufferers of Leukemia. Thanks to the support from the “Hermosa” Foundation, Carreras conquered the disease and returned to singing.
Once again he attained to an elevated and deserved status and attempted to join the foundation. Reading their by-laws, he discovered that the founder, leading contributor and President of the Foundation, was Placido Domingo.
He later found out that Placido had originally formed this organization to help him with his treatment, but had chosen to remain anonymous in order to not humiliate him in accepting help from his “enemy”. But the most moving part of this story is their encounter…
Surprising Placido at one of his performances in Madrid, Carreras interrupted the event and humbly, knelt at his feet, asked him forgiveness and publicly thanked him.
Placido helped him up and with a big hug they sealed the beginning of a great friendship.
In an interview with Placido Domingo, a reporter asked him why he had created the “Hermosa Foundation” at a time when, besides benefiting an “enemy”, he had helped the only other artist that was his competition.
His answer was short and definite:
“we cannot afford to lose a voice like that…”
Sunday, July 09, 2006
The Maverick Spirit - July 10th, 2006
A Too Typical American Story July 10th 2006
I came across this amazing story of a cop suing a school after HE fired a gun in a classroom. I tracked down the article which appears in Early to Rise edited by Michael Masterson. Here is the story... to amuse or maybe educate you on why we get it easy in Australia.
A Drug Enforcement Agency officer, attempting to demonstrate gun safety to a class of grammar school children, shoots himself in the thigh. The videotape makes its way to the Internet, where it appears as a "top 20 video" on a website called Dumb Cop. Claiming the release of the video clip has damaged his career, he hires a lawyer ... who hires a publicist. And suddenly, he's being interviewed on NBC about a suit he's filing against the school system.
The NBC reporter who interviews him characterizes his career as "exemplary" and admires him for playing down his injury in front of the children. "You must have been in great pain," he says in a commiserating tone. "Was it sheer pride that kept you going?"
In the U.S. today, it seems that there's nothing people won't do for money and fame. Any act or accident, no matter how stupid or disgraceful, has the potential to be transubstantiated into the new, shameless American dream.
America's writers and journalists have always had a fascination with miscreants, losers, and bad guys ... and some of them became widely known. But until recently such characters were neither paid nor pampered by the press that publicized them.
In the old days of American idolism, a Jesse James or Clyde Barrow might, through a string of evil and illegal actions, become infamous. But he could never hope to enjoy fame. He might benefit temporarily from the money he stole, but he wouldn't expect additional riches for the rest of his life from interview payments, public speaking fees, and publishing royalties.
Until recently, we also always held our antiheroes in contempt. We loved what we knew should be hated. Nowadays, that distinction is fading fast. Making a sufficient fool of yourself on national television - either by failing miserably as an apprentice for Donald Trump or by blurting out your secrets for Jerry Springer - is a virtual guarantee of additional fame and fortune ... including, if you've really been disgraceful, a movie deal.
Lawyers, journalists, publicists, and media executives have discovered what their predecessors either didn't know or didn't want to find out: There is no limit to America's fascination with the seamy side of our culture ... and the fastest way to cash in on this fascination is to aim low.
In other words, if you are going to be bad and/or stupid, be really, really bad and/or stupid and who knows ... you may end up on the morning news.
It's sad but it's very true. If you judged America by its most popular television broadcasts (the morning news, afternoon game shows, and evening reality programs), you'd surely conclude that integrity and common sense are passe.
Luckily, we have a media that's bigger than network news. Thanks to cable and the Internet, we have hundreds of news and entertainment options. Some of these - not many, but some - are not afraid to call a spade a spade.
You don't need to be an expert in handgun safety to know that:
Accidentally discharging a weapon in a classroom full of children requires an amazing combination of stupidity and ignorance.
Anyone who does so should never be allowed to carry a gun again.
Any publicity that such a person merits should be negative.
Any money that exchanges hands as a result of such an accident should be from the responsible party (the cop) to the true victims (the children).
We can't do much about television's love affair with ratings, our culture's fascination with crassness, or the increasingly popular practice of legal action as a means of acquiring wealth. And neither can you.
What can we do? We can surround ourselves with people who maintain pre-21st century values and we can try to live by those values ourselves. We can work hard and stay smart and do good and hope that - in the end - if we don't get everything we want, at least we will get everything we deserve.
Editor: Great article... pity that it isn't confined to America!! We have Big Brother... and more.
Enjoy this issue of The Maverick Spirit... That's it for today, until next time, continue to enjoy being a free spirit in a complicated world...
Wayne Mansfield
P.S. Did you know that Brisbane used to be called Moreton Bay?? And what do the towns of Farina, Kiandra, Kanowna and Ora Banda have in common? They are all ghost towns!.
P.P.S. Talking about what places used to be called, Melbourne used to be called Bearbrass, Darwin started out as Palmerston, Alice Springs was originally called Stuart and perhaps the most controversial name change was that of the national icon Ayers Rock which reverted to its traditional name of Uluru
I came across this amazing story of a cop suing a school after HE fired a gun in a classroom. I tracked down the article which appears in Early to Rise edited by Michael Masterson. Here is the story... to amuse or maybe educate you on why we get it easy in Australia.
A Drug Enforcement Agency officer, attempting to demonstrate gun safety to a class of grammar school children, shoots himself in the thigh. The videotape makes its way to the Internet, where it appears as a "top 20 video" on a website called Dumb Cop. Claiming the release of the video clip has damaged his career, he hires a lawyer ... who hires a publicist. And suddenly, he's being interviewed on NBC about a suit he's filing against the school system.
The NBC reporter who interviews him characterizes his career as "exemplary" and admires him for playing down his injury in front of the children. "You must have been in great pain," he says in a commiserating tone. "Was it sheer pride that kept you going?"
In the U.S. today, it seems that there's nothing people won't do for money and fame. Any act or accident, no matter how stupid or disgraceful, has the potential to be transubstantiated into the new, shameless American dream.
America's writers and journalists have always had a fascination with miscreants, losers, and bad guys ... and some of them became widely known. But until recently such characters were neither paid nor pampered by the press that publicized them.
In the old days of American idolism, a Jesse James or Clyde Barrow might, through a string of evil and illegal actions, become infamous. But he could never hope to enjoy fame. He might benefit temporarily from the money he stole, but he wouldn't expect additional riches for the rest of his life from interview payments, public speaking fees, and publishing royalties.
Until recently, we also always held our antiheroes in contempt. We loved what we knew should be hated. Nowadays, that distinction is fading fast. Making a sufficient fool of yourself on national television - either by failing miserably as an apprentice for Donald Trump or by blurting out your secrets for Jerry Springer - is a virtual guarantee of additional fame and fortune ... including, if you've really been disgraceful, a movie deal.
Lawyers, journalists, publicists, and media executives have discovered what their predecessors either didn't know or didn't want to find out: There is no limit to America's fascination with the seamy side of our culture ... and the fastest way to cash in on this fascination is to aim low.
In other words, if you are going to be bad and/or stupid, be really, really bad and/or stupid and who knows ... you may end up on the morning news.
It's sad but it's very true. If you judged America by its most popular television broadcasts (the morning news, afternoon game shows, and evening reality programs), you'd surely conclude that integrity and common sense are passe.
Luckily, we have a media that's bigger than network news. Thanks to cable and the Internet, we have hundreds of news and entertainment options. Some of these - not many, but some - are not afraid to call a spade a spade.
You don't need to be an expert in handgun safety to know that:
Accidentally discharging a weapon in a classroom full of children requires an amazing combination of stupidity and ignorance.
Anyone who does so should never be allowed to carry a gun again.
Any publicity that such a person merits should be negative.
Any money that exchanges hands as a result of such an accident should be from the responsible party (the cop) to the true victims (the children).
We can't do much about television's love affair with ratings, our culture's fascination with crassness, or the increasingly popular practice of legal action as a means of acquiring wealth. And neither can you.
What can we do? We can surround ourselves with people who maintain pre-21st century values and we can try to live by those values ourselves. We can work hard and stay smart and do good and hope that - in the end - if we don't get everything we want, at least we will get everything we deserve.
Editor: Great article... pity that it isn't confined to America!! We have Big Brother... and more.
Enjoy this issue of The Maverick Spirit... That's it for today, until next time, continue to enjoy being a free spirit in a complicated world...
Wayne Mansfield
P.S. Did you know that Brisbane used to be called Moreton Bay?? And what do the towns of Farina, Kiandra, Kanowna and Ora Banda have in common? They are all ghost towns!.
P.P.S. Talking about what places used to be called, Melbourne used to be called Bearbrass, Darwin started out as Palmerston, Alice Springs was originally called Stuart and perhaps the most controversial name change was that of the national icon Ayers Rock which reverted to its traditional name of Uluru
Saturday, July 08, 2006
One of those one's I'd rather forget
Hi Wyane,
Just wanted to add my voice to the support people are giving you and the work you do.
It took me a little time to find you again and being back in the loop I really appreciate the inspiration to give to those on your subscription list.
Last year was one of those one's I'd rather forget.. it was very tough personally and professionally.. lots of changes. I had an 8 year relationship go belly up in the worst possible way and in the middle of all that changed jobs. The one thing that got me though was to keep saying to myself "chin up game on". Pertty harsh at times and difficult at times but it got me through and I'm now in a much better place.
Something I was told at the begining of my journey to overcome all the hurt and pain was that I had some life lessons to learn and the person I was with for 8 years was the best teacher for those lessons.
So all I wanted to say to you was keep your chin up, you will get though this.
Keep the inspiration comming
Bronny Pierce
Just wanted to add my voice to the support people are giving you and the work you do.
It took me a little time to find you again and being back in the loop I really appreciate the inspiration to give to those on your subscription list.
Last year was one of those one's I'd rather forget.. it was very tough personally and professionally.. lots of changes. I had an 8 year relationship go belly up in the worst possible way and in the middle of all that changed jobs. The one thing that got me though was to keep saying to myself "chin up game on". Pertty harsh at times and difficult at times but it got me through and I'm now in a much better place.
Something I was told at the begining of my journey to overcome all the hurt and pain was that I had some life lessons to learn and the person I was with for 8 years was the best teacher for those lessons.
So all I wanted to say to you was keep your chin up, you will get though this.
Keep the inspiration comming
Bronny Pierce
Friday, July 07, 2006
Risk and Maverick thoughts
Wayne
Thank you so much for the commitment you live expounding the ideal of Maverick and risk. I thank you for the uplift I receive whenever I read your latest effort, your most immediate thinking.
Your work and positioning is always encouraging and believable. I
Trust you get that sense back from readers like myself to support you in your own journey.
Alison Beckett
Thank you so much for the commitment you live expounding the ideal of Maverick and risk. I thank you for the uplift I receive whenever I read your latest effort, your most immediate thinking.
Your work and positioning is always encouraging and believable. I
Trust you get that sense back from readers like myself to support you in your own journey.
Alison Beckett
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
The Maverick Spirit July 5th 2006
To Risk
“To laugh is to risk appearing a fool,
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out to another is to risk involvement,
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return,
To live is to risk dying,
To hope is to risk despair,
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow,
But he cannot learn, feel, change, grow or live.
Chained by his servitude he is a slave who has forfeited all freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.
The pessimist complains about the wind;
The optimist expects it to change;
And the realist adjusts the sails.”
“To laugh is to risk appearing a fool,
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out to another is to risk involvement,
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return,
To live is to risk dying,
To hope is to risk despair,
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow,
But he cannot learn, feel, change, grow or live.
Chained by his servitude he is a slave who has forfeited all freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.
The pessimist complains about the wind;
The optimist expects it to change;
And the realist adjusts the sails.”
William Arthur Ward
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Matthew Flinders Cat
Hi Wayne,
You are an inspiration, and like any free spirit in a complicated world, you will attract the wrath of petty-minded men. Your words are timely and valued, so keep the resolve ...
Merv Edmunds
Incidentally, Bryce Courtney has written a great story about the cat:
"Matthew Flinders' Cat"
You are an inspiration, and like any free spirit in a complicated world, you will attract the wrath of petty-minded men. Your words are timely and valued, so keep the resolve ...
Merv Edmunds
Incidentally, Bryce Courtney has written a great story about the cat:
"Matthew Flinders' Cat"
Touches a need within
THANK YOU! most often we are so engrossed in our own lives/work/hassles/joys...that we receive information and motivation from different sources, absorb or enjoy them....but forget to acknowledge them.
Every now and again one of your emails touches a need within.....and I take heart and encouragement from the words sent.
THEREFORE A BIG THANKS TO YOU AND 'THE SPIRIT' for the continued messages and I wish you success with your current 'struggle'....but moreover wish you good karma in exchange for all the positives you send out! :-)
Leigh Bryant
Director
Scorpion International Freight Services Pty Ltd.
Every now and again one of your emails touches a need within.....and I take heart and encouragement from the words sent.
THEREFORE A BIG THANKS TO YOU AND 'THE SPIRIT' for the continued messages and I wish you success with your current 'struggle'....but moreover wish you good karma in exchange for all the positives you send out! :-)
Leigh Bryant
Director
Scorpion International Freight Services Pty Ltd.
It's Nice to be Appreciated
Good luck with those ruling monsters Wayne, as I always say Persistence will Win in the end, and You Never Fail until You Stop Trying. Regards from Ian who values all your wonderful Spirit.
Ian Podger
Ian Podger
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