Sanctuary Sunday - In Memoriam, Indira Gandhi

Perhaps this post is better left suited for a Wednesday's Women of Courage writeup. It really felt like a good thing to put up today, although October 31st is the day many parts of the world, including these United States, celebrate Holloween.

On this day in 1984, Indira Gandhi, then Prime Minister of India was gunned down by a pair of Sikh extremists acting in retaliation for the storming of the Sikh holy shrine of the Golden Temple in Amritsar earlier that June.

She is the world's longest serving woman Prime Minister.

The night before her death she told a political rally: "I don't mind if my life goes in the service of the nation. If I die today, every drop of my blood will invigorate the nation."

In the days following the death of the prime minister up to 1,000 people are thought to have died. The army were ordered to go into the cities and quell the violence.

Mrs Gandhi's son, Rajiv, was sworn in as her successor within hours of her death. He went on to win a landslide victory in the general election in December 1984.

On 6 January 1989, Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh were hanged for killing Mrs Gandhi. Balbir Singh was acquitted.

Rajiv Gandhi was himself assassinated by a suicide bomber on 21 May 1991.

Click here for a great article on how things have changed since the Gandhi Era.

Lifestyle Lifter's - Holiday Checklist V.1

On your mark. Get set. Go! The annual holiday season is fast approaching and if you are like most of us, there is a feeling of "Where has the year gone, and how can it be November already!"

Well, consider this your wake-up call.

After today, there are 26 days left until Thanksgiving as celebrated here in the US. There are 56 days left until Christmas.

Have I gotten your attention?

Today's post is one of a series we will be doing on "Holiday Tips for the Wise". Many of you have a very hectic schedule. Some call it the "Jet-Setter's Lifestyle".

Holiday Tip # 1: Divide and Conquer!

For those of you with more money than time, may I suggest an email to my good friend, Pamela Tobiason (pam.tobiason@familyconciergeandmore.com) of Family Concierge and More.

Pam, her expert staff and her many connections can take on all of your shopping, scheduling and personal calendar needs during this busy Holiday Season.

Holiday Tip # 2: Get your Invitations and Holiday Cards Out Early!

This year, in lieu of a Holiday party, we are hosting a "friend-raiser" in support of Jane Do No More, Inc. We have partnered with Papyrus and Spark who have graciously offered to send an invitation from their elegant line of Letter Pressed stationary to each of our invitees (see graphic above).

Set an Outlook entry today to send an email on Monday to Dani LaTorre, Papyrus Flagship Store Manager (Store02285@srgretail.com) for help on all your Custom Printing Needs.

In a world where more and more people choose e-cards for convenience, nothing says "Classy" more than receiving a hand-addressed Envelope containing a beautiful invitation or Holiday Card.

Make sure you order these early (printing times vary by style) and get them in the mail well before the US Postal Service deadline for Holiday delivery. "better late than never" is not a good thing when a card arrives on New Year's Day that says "Merry X-Mas"!

Look for more Tips in next week's installment of Lifestyle Lifter's.

Until then, have a Happy and safe Halloween (one day left)!

Thursday's Truths - Microloans Make a Difference!

My apology to my faithful viewers. I have not had an opportunity to post since last week! There are a lot of exciting things happening with the WWRG network, including last evening's event put on by our local chapter of 85 Broads which featured the Grameen Foundation and their work to provide microloans to women in disadvantaged nations so that they can lift themselves and their children out of poverty.

I was honored to be a Power Host at the event, and led a group of women ( and a few enlightened men!) through a exercise on how the process of loan making works.

The impact of these loans is impressive. Here are a few statistics courtesy the Grameen Foundation:

• 9.4 Million...
  ...of the world's poor have been helped by our MFI partners, allowing them to begin their journey out of poverty.
• More than 1 Million...
  ...microloans have been generated through our Growth Guarantee program. (Estimate based on average loan size.)
  
• $160 Million...
  ...in local currency has been leveraged to support microfinance programs in 13 countries.
• 25,000...
  ...Village Phone operators are working in 6 countries around the world.
• 300,000...
  ...daily transactions are supported through Mifos at microfinance institutions around the world.
• More Than $2.3 Million...
  ...in in-kind services have been contributed by 140 Bankers without Borders volunteers in 9 countries.

Many of you know that I am committed to getting the word out about Global Women's Issues including the fact that greater than 70% of the world's poor are women and children.

I encourage you to support organizations such as the Grameen Foundation and others like it. Also, please familiarize yourself with the UN Millennium Goals, which seek to eliminate world poverty by 2015.

TGIF - What Ifs? vs. Why Nots?

Today would be a great day to plan your weekend. Yes, I said PLAN! This is different than worrying.

The great statesman, Winston Churchill said “Let our advance worrying become advance thinking and planning”

Many of us think that if we worry about something, it will focus our energy on making sure the event or task goes well.

Wrong.

Here are some typical beliefs and false assumptions about worry (Shearer & Gordon, 2006), and courtesy AnxietyandStress.com:

Intolerance for uncertainty: "If I think about this enough, I should feel a sense of certainty."

Intolerance for discomfort: "If I can just think this through, I won't have to feel this way."

Inflated sense of responsibility and culpability: "If bad things happen, it's my fault."

Distorted risk assessment/emotional reasoning: "If it feels likely, it is likely. If it feels dangerous, it is dangerous."

Perfectionism--mistakes are unacceptable: "Mistakes mean I wasn't in control and screwed up."

Pessimism/presumed incapability: "Bad things will happen to me and I won't be able to deal with it."

Misconstrued virtue: "Worry shows how deeply I care about my children."

Overvaluation of the thought process: "Because I have a thought, it is, therefore, an important thought, and I must give it my full attention and get it settled. I can anticipate and avoid discomfort by worrying."

"Meta-worry" or worry about worrying: "I'm making myself sick. I'm going to bring on an early heart attack. I'm out of control. I'm weak. If my faith was stronger, I wouldn't worry."

Implicit magical beliefs: "Worry prevents bad things from happening. It keeps loved ones safer."

Please use today to ask yourself "why not?", not "what if".

Why not plan that trip to an exotic destination that I have wanted to take, but I am too busy to take?
Why not ask the person next to me struggling with their own issues if I can help?
Why not ask, "what are my dreams?"

For as Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

Thursday's Truth - A Woman's Vote Counts Now More Than Ever!

It has been almost a century since women received the right to vote. After years of battle (the very first efforts to gain this right are thought to have been mounted in 1848), the Nineteenth Amendment to our Constitution was signed into law in August, 1920.

As depicted in the photo on the left, there were considerable numbers of men who did not think it was a woman's right to vote, or work, or do anything but what were then traditional roles. This scene may appear humorous now and in fact this tactic was used by one female writer to draw attention to the issue.

In 1915, writer Alice Duer Miller published these Five Reasons We Don't Want Men to Vote:

• Because man's place is in the army.
• Because no really manly man wants to settle any question otherwise than by fighting about it.
• Because if men should adopt peaceable methods women will no longer look up to them.
• Because men will lose their charm if they step out of their natural sphere and interest themselves in other matters than feats of arms, uniforms, and drums.
• Because men are too emotional to vote. Their conduct at baseball games and political conventions shows this, while their innate tendency to appeal to force renders them unfit for government.

This year's mid-term elections here in the US are becoming a battle ground for women's votes. A number of issues that are part of the platforms presented by both political parties are considered "women's issues", such as the economy, and healthcare.

A report out later today published by the National Women's Law Center and the Rebecca Project for Human Rights will cover the plight of an unseen and largely forgotten group of women - those who live in our nation's prisons.

The report noted the number of women in prison — more than 115,000 as of 2009 — has risen at a higher rate than that of men since the introduction of mandatory sentencing policies for many drug offenses. It said most of the women are nonviolent, first-time offenders, and about two-thirds have at least one child under 18.

This is tragic, because without a parent, many of these children will themselves be susceptible to the forces that cause violent crime - poverty, lack of education, no job.

We need women, more than ever to get out and vote this mid-term election. Seek the truth in what the candidates are saying. Carefully choose who will lead our national and state and local governments. We need policies and programs that allow women (and men) to raise their families in an environment that fosters respect for the individual and a strong work ethic.

Wednesday's Women of Courage - Today is Love Your Body Day

The Now Foundation and their Women's Health Project have declared today " Love Your Body Day".

This is the thirteenth year that this event has occurred. In 1998, then NOW Foundation President Patricia Ireland declared, "We are sounding the alarm that advertising can be hazardous to women's health." "On Love Your Body Day, women across the country will celebrate our bodies and reject unhealthy stereotypes. We will also put advertisers on notice: Stop profiting from campaigns and products that are bad for women," Ireland said.

As with women's poverty issues, a subject I wrote about recently, I see very little change. In fact, it appears the situation is getting worse.

According to Elizabeth McGee, NOW Foundation Special Projects Director, fashion models also send a dangerous message to young people. According to the California Department of Health Services, the average weight of a model is 23 percent lower than that of an average woman; 20 years ago the differential was only 8 percent. The constant bombardment of images of emaciated women on billboards and television and in magazines sells products at a terrible price to our communities. Findings show the diet industry is booming and thousands of young women suffer from eating disorders; it is estimated that 20 percent of college women battle bulimia.

Please take time today to think about your own image. Love your body, and your mind. Treat them both with respect, and have the courage to resist the temptation to do things that are not positive to your self-esteem.

But most importantly, be a role model for younger females who have never had a more opportune time to make a difference in the world.

Tuesday's Treasure - Oct 19th,1987 could happen again!

My apology, in advance, to those of you who were logging in today hoping to find a post on a Treasure that I pass along, such as beautiful Wakaya Island.

Today marks the 13th anniversary of "Black Monday" when stock markets around the world crashed, shedding a huge value in a very short time. The crash began in Hong Kong, spread west through international time zones to Europe, hitting the United States after other markets had already declined by a significant margin. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) dropped by 508 points to 1738.74 (22.61%).

The recent "flash crash" that caused a similar drop in stock prices, and the increasing number of Sovereign Nations on the brink of bankruptcy make the likelihood of another market meltdown occurring, very real.

I have a report, dated August 2005, written by a Canadian Asset Management firm that I keep handy whenever I talk to others about how our government has surreptitiously intervened into our stock market, and our entire financial system since the 1987 crash, largely through it's shadowy and privately owed Federal Reserve System.

Leave it to the Canadians (a bulwark of sensibility and straightforwardness) to tell the world the truth about what our leaders have been doing for over two decades of free market manipulation.

If any of you are interested in a copy, please contact me.

Although I no longer have a direct affiliation with a Private Wealth organization, I can certainly refer you to a trusted Financial Advisor who understands the risk of another meltdown and can help you prepare for the next shock wave that will inevitably occur.

Monday's Motivational Makeover - The Cleaver Effect

This past weekend was full of exciting news for women. The Women's Forum wrapped up in Deauville, France after four days of incredible speeches, programs, and sharing among the more that 1,200 women (and a few enlightened men) in attendance this year. Click here to download a video of some of the event's activities.

Saturday marked the passing of Actress Barbara Billingsley. In her signature role as June Cleaver in "Leave It to Beaver," which ran for six seasons, Billingsley personified the ideal middle-class mother and housewife in an era when relatively few American women with children worked outside the home.

My, have things changed. Or have they.

As I reported yesterday, Sister Mary MacKillop was canonized by The Catholic Church and became Australia's first Saint. Also known as Saint Mary of The Cross, she was a 19th century "whistleblower" nun who activists say should be the patron of victims of sexual abuse by priests because she was punished for exposing it.

Together with Father Julian Tenison Woods, Sister Mary founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart and a number of schools and welfare institutions throughout Australasia with an emphasis on education for the poor, particularly in country areas.

Most of the world's women and children live in poverty. Efforts such as those of Sister Mary, and her canonization will no doubt raise awareness around the plight of women and their children around the globe.

Growing up in the 1960's, I watched Leave it to Beaver, and other popular TV shows of the period such as Father Knows Best, My Three Sons, and Dennis The Menace.

My mother worked her way up the corporate ladder before choosing to become a "stay-at-home-mom". But she never bought into the June Cleaver lifestyle. Perhaps this is why I believe in co-investment by women and men in the duties of house, parenting, and career.

Here are some frightening statistics I came across recently that show that as a global team (women and men) we have a long way to go to before poverty is eradicated, and gender equality is more than lip service:

# In 2004, women in the United States were paid 76 cents for every dollar men received for comparable work.

# African American women earn only 71 cents and Latinas 59 cents for every dollar men are paid. Asian Pacific American women earn 86 cents for every dollar men make.

# Nationwide, working families lose $200 billion in income annually due to the wage gap between men and women.

# If married women were paid the same as men in comparable jobs, their family incomes would rise by nearly 6 percent, and their families' poverty rates would fall from 2.1 percent to 0.8 percent.

# If single working mothers earned as much as men in comparable jobs, their family incomes would increase by nearly 17 percent and their poverty rates would be cut in half, from 25.3 percent to 12.6 percent.

# If single women earned as much as men in comparable jobs, their incomes would rise by 13.4 percent and their poverty rates would be reduced from 6.3 percent to 1 percent.

# Half of all women with income from a pension in 2002 received less than $5,600 per year, compared with $10,340 per year for men.

# The 25.6 million women who work in predominantly male jobs lose an average of $3,446 each per year; the 4 million men who work in predominately female occupations lose an average of $6,259 each per year—a total $114 billion loss for men and women in predominately female jobs.

# In the global economy, women account for 60 percent of the world’s 550 million working poor—even though they make up 40 percent of the world’s workforce.

source: http://www.aflcio.org/issues/factsstats/

If you are in a position of influence at your company, organization, or school, please take this opportunity to reach out to a woman who may be struggling with burdens of poverty or raising children in a single parent home.

Provide them the motivation and support they need to overcome these burdens. The worst thing you can do is ignore the problems that face them, and perhaps someday you.

For as Sister Mary MacKillop often said, "never see a need without doing something about it". (1871).

Sanctuary Sunday - A New Saint for Bold Women

Yesterday marked the end of the 6th edition of the Women's Forum 2010 which was held in Deauville, France. By all accounts, this was the most exciting and well attended event in its short but significant history.

I hope all of the women in my network that were able to attend now find themselves safely back home, no doubt energized, but perhaps exhausted! I also hope that those of you who had to settle for "virtual attendance" at this year's event through viewing blogs such as WWRG, will plan to go to the next installment in Fall 2011.

Another significant event happened yesterday in the ever widening world of women's influence.

Australia received its first Catholic Saint, and she is woman! This event may not be as significant to those of you who live on other continents. But for my friends and the Faithful in Australia, this is cause for joy and jubilation.

Her name is Mother Mary MacKillop.

Born in 1842, MacKillop grew up in poverty as the first of eight children of Scottish immigrants. She moved to the sleepy farming town of Penola in southern Australia to become a teacher, inviting the poor and the Aborigines of the area to attend free classes in a six-room stable.

She co-founded her order, the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart, with the goal of serving the poor, the sick and the disadvantaged, particularly through education.

I encourage you to read more about her and the five other Saints also canonized yesterday by following this link.

Enjoy your Sanctuary today, wherever it may be. Please reach out this week to someone living in poverty. Find a way to help educate children who live in disadvantaged areas. Saint Mary MacKillop thanks you.

And so do I.

Thursday's Truths - Women Entrepreneurs at Women's Forum 2010

Day one of the Women's Forum 2010 being held in Deauville, France features speakers including Jennifer Halliday, Global Director of Business Development, Zinio, LLC. and Vivmag, LLC.

One of the major themes running through this Event is how women are becoming increasingly involved in global entrepreneurial activities.

Here are a few findings that were presented in today's session:

- opportunity and necessity are the two primary reasons to get involved in entrepreneurial activities.
- Across the world, women in richer countries are starting an increasing number of businesses with high economic potential and in high-tech sectors.
- In countries with low levels of economic output (GDP), entrepreneurship offers a way out of poverty.

As I reported in an earlier blog, 20% of all entrepreneurs in China are women. Here in the US, Chinese-Americans like Shauna Mei are starting up successful ventures, and capitalizing on the educational and career opportunities that this country presented to them.

There are many exciting programs scheduled for tomorrow's (10/15/10) session including one by Jeanniey Mullen, Global Executive Vice President and CMO of Zinio, LLC and Vivmag, LLC,

Also on tap tomorrow is a session sponsored by Ernst & Young of an inaugural group of CEO Male Champions. The business leaders will come together to define – through specific and actionable dialogue – what it means to be a CEO Champion of women’s advancement and empowerment.

Enlightened men are increasingly becoming involved in previously exclusively all-female groups. I am privileged to have been named as one of the first "Guys Who Rock" by 85 Broads, a global and exclusive members-only network of over 22,000 women (and a handful of enlightened men!)

Wednesday's Women of Courage - Aude De Thuin

Beginning October 14, 1200+ of the most powerful women on the planet will descend on Deauville, France to take part in the 6th Annual Women's Forum, often referred to as the "Davos for Women".

Were it not for the courage and vision of it's founder, Aude de Thuin, who took a personal financial risk to put on the first Forum in 2005, this important event would not have been possible.

In a recent Forbes.com article "Why the world needs a "Woman's Davos"", De Thuin describes herself as " independent-minded, and stubborn". She has spent most of her life as an entrepreneur, having put herself through college working as a model.

When asked why she set out to start the Women's Forum in 2004, she told the interviewer that going to the mostly all male Davos event would be fruitless, since just a small number of women are attendees and small business is not well represented. After being denied bank loans, she sold one of her ventures and put the money toward the first event.

When she became doubtful whether she had done the right thing, her husband told her to "trust your intuition". She took the first courageous step, and never looked back.

This year's Forum promises to be the best ever. Attendance is up 20% over last year, and her list of sponsors has grown to include some of the top firms in the world.

I encourage you to login to the Forum website and view the programs and initiatives they have in play, and consider getting involved.

I hope to see many of you there for the 2011 meeting.

Tuesday's Treasure - Deauville, France

This week, I am devoting most of this blog to coverage of "the Davos of Women" - the Women's Forum 2010 taking place in the seaside resort town of Deauville.

With only 4,500 residents, this is one of the world's only seaside resorts that can be enjoyed all year round, and thus has gained international repute as a result.

According to website Information France, "Through the years, the town has managed to develop harmoniously, preserving its historic, architectural and cultural heritage, while at the same time keeping step with an ever-changing tourist sector. Indeed, only two hours from Paris, this rendez-vous of elegance and art de vivre promises visitors a complete change of scenery, with its many turn-of-the-century villas, traditional half-timbered houses,colourful sun umbrellas on the beach and famous Promenade."

Because of it's beauty, several wealthy women, including Greek shipping heiress, Chyrss Goulandris, have homes there. Her villa is reputed to be where William The Conqueror planned his invasion of France.

French clothing designer, Yves St. Laurent had a home there which he shared with his succession of French Bulldogs always named Moujik.

Deauville is full of delightful restaurants, shops, and hotels. Later this week, I will bring you a few suggestions so that those of you in my network who are going there this week, can take time to "do up the town" with some of the other 1,200 + delegates attending this year's Forum.

Monday's Motivational Makeover - More on Change and the Women's Forum 2010 this Week!

Over this past weekend I posted some information on an exciting event that is taking place October 14- 16 in Deauville, France.

It is the Women's Forum for the Economy and Society, an annual event where powerful women, and a few enlightened men meet to discuss the economy, and the future of women in industry, government, and philanthropy. In addition, and perhaps most importantly in our increasingly virtual world, it is a chance to network "face-to-face" with each other.

This event is supported by an "A-list" of sponsors including Accenture, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, Proctor & Gamble, Qualcomm, and Zinio.

There are numerous programs that take place over the course of the event, but I would like to share a few that I think will interest my viewers and members of my network in attendance:

Zinio and Qualcomm will have a presence there and have partnered together on a global “Change the Page” tour that coincides with the launch of a tremendous "revolution of digital reading" study performed by the Harrison Group. This study, titled "America’s Appetite for Digital Consumption", is a benchmark in the next wave of change ( http://www.changethepage.org/). Together, Zinio and Qualcomm are addressing the Reading Revolution and how the publishing and technology worlds are joining forces to address and evolve the way people read.

While this survey reveals that tablet based technologies and eReaders have widespread consumer appeal, this study reveals that “unlike other new technologies, this revolution is not about the technology itself, but rather, it is about the role that content plays in people’s lives.” Complete copies of the research can be purchased by contacting The Harrison Group.

Those of you who faithfully follow this blog may recall that I have written about Zinio in the past.

They provide a platform able to run on multiple devices, and a single solution to access a rapidly growing universe of content (including this Blog!). It's more than an application – they're a world-class digital products and services company that unites readers, what they read, and the many devices they read on. From design to distribution, their cross-platform suite of applications – UNITY™ – engages readers like never before on their iPads, iPhones, desktops, laptops and Android devices. For advertisers, they offer the chance to take advantage of a format that’s more engaging, with higher returns than any other digital platform.

In my opinion, Zinio delivers a new standard for digital publishing.

At the Women's Forum, Zinio and Qualcomm will be sponsoring the Writer’s Corner which takes place in the Discovery Hall. Within this area, Zinio and Qualcomm will show the evolution of reading from stone, to paper, to print to computer through a series of powerful imagery, ending with a sneak peak of the Mirasol Biomimicry Screen’s and Zinio interactive digital content.

A few interactive workshops that Zinio are participating in or conducting are listed below:

- Exclusive VIVmag focus study with Rising Talent group

Rising Talents aims to distinguish highly talented young women who will become influential figures in our economies and societies in the future. The initiative is an example of the values illustrated by the Women’s Forum since its creation. It was launched in 2007 under the impulse of Aude de Thuin, Founder and CEO, as a corporate and personal commitment to promoting women leaders and bringing the vision of rising generations to the Forum. Each year, 20 to 25 young women are invited to attend the Women’s Forum Global Meeting and join the Rising Talents network

This exclusive group will get to interact with VIVmag one-on-one on the iPad in order to generate key learnings from this savvy group on how women read interactive, dynamically designed digital magazines like VIVmag. The seven pillars of VIVmag will be showcased; beauty, style, healthy eating, fitness, travel, awareness and wellness and Rising Talent women will provide their feedback on the VIVmag experience – a luxury digital magazine

- Speaking Engagement by Qualcomm’s Cheryl Goodman, Director of Marketing, Qualcomm MEMS Technologies, Inc.

Information is fundamentally changing. A single animated movie now contains more data than entire libraries. There is one final frontier in this digital revolution, however, and it is perhaps the most important: print. No single moment in history has seen so much information move from one format to another with such significant implications. Print content now stands to enter new realms of use in arenas like education, social welfare, industry and entertainment. This is not only a technological revolution, but a revolution in intrinsic human reading behavior. The implications of this migration are empowering for those driving the revolution and daunting for those who lag on the adoption curve. In this session, participants will hear from women leading and enabling this reading revolution. Cheryl Goodman, hails from Qualcomm, a global leader in next generation wireless solutions and who’s mirasol display technology aims to preserve what makes print great. The compliment to Qualcomm’s hardware and wireless solutions are software platform solutions, is Zinio, the global leader in digital content distribution.

- The Future of Publishing

Cheryl Goodman and Pierre Geslot of ORANGE will address the Future of Publishing and Technology (I'll provide more info in a follow-up post later this week!)

As you can see, Change is happening in every aspect of our lives, and these programs describe the "cutting edge" of the technology that is helping drive it.

I will have another update on this event as the week progresses and some feedback from my viewers fortunate to experience this important women's event "live", so that you can experience all the energy and excitement "virtually".

Celebrities, Philanthropies & Charities - Women's Forum for The Economy & Society 2010

This week, the 6th edition of The Women's Global Forum Meeting will begin on October 14 and conclude on October 16. This year's theme is "Change - make it happen".

The Women’s Forum Meetings aim to bring together leaders from all over the world – women and men – representing the business world, the government, academic circles, culture, etc. in order to give new perspectives to key issues in our present and our future; to create a powerful, global network in order to strengthen the influence of women throughout the world; to draw up innovative and concrete action plans to encourage women’s contribution to society and promote diversity in the business world.

I am honored to have several of my network.attending this event, which is billed as the women's equivalent of the World Economic Forum which takes place annually at Davos, Switzerland.

Among them are Jeanniey Mullen and Jennifer Halliday of the Zinio organization. They are event partners along with their one-of-a-kind, all digital magazine for women - Vivmag. They are participating in several of the programs during the event, and I am hoping to bring you some of their insight as they progress.

Lifestyle Lifters - Imagine a World at Peace

Today marks what would have been John Lennon's 70th Birthday. It is hard to imagine that there is anyone on the planet that does not know who he was or what he stood for.

His mission to promote world peace is carried forward by his widow, Yoko Ono, who was a driving force and a true soul mate.

She is in Iceland today marking John's untimely death over 30 year's ago with a series of celebrations .

While many think that when she and John got together, her influence over him was a bad thing. I think that it was just the opposite.

If John were alive today, I believe they would still be united in working tirelessly for World Peace, just as Yoko continues to do to this day.

This relationship was truly a forerunner to what is now becoming a new era of co-investment by women and men to solve world problems.

It is often said, "behind every man is a great woman". In this case, they worked side-by-side, arm-in-arm. And since John has left us, Yoko continues on.

Let us continue on. Please take time today to remember John and give thanks to Yoko and her continued efforts to bring about World Peace.

Thursday's Truth - Women and Private Banking

As many of you know (or can find out by clicking on my picture in the sidebar), I have experience in Private and Investment Banking, at both start-ups, and Majors.

Part of the reason I got involved with this industry in the first place, was to learn and apply the knowledge I gained in these organizations, to issues concerning Women of Wealth. This Blog is an outreach to this group, and came about because my research indicates that better than half of the world's wealth is controlled by women, and over 80% of household purchases are made by them, as well.

What has been lacking, in my opinion, is a true "personal, all-women oriented" alternative to Private Banking. The following article from Forbes.com brings up some good points regarding Private Banks, many of which I agree with based on my experience in the business.

The truth is, women invest differently than men. They also like to have not only personal services, but truly private ones, for no other reason that in an age where identity theft and social networks are both increasing in number, it just makes sense.

I have some recommendations for those of you who are currently seeking Private Banking Services, or any personal services for that matter. Please contact me and I'll be happy to discuss.

I now count among my extended staff a Personal Assistant/Concierge, and a Personal Trainer/Chauffeur/Bodyguard (yes, they really do all three!).

Women of Wealth have the means to make a difference in the world and establish a legacy for generations of women to come .

But they must be careful with whom they place their trust to help them get there.

Wednesday's Women of Courage - Shauna Mei

In my Tuesday's Treasure post yesterday I featured a new website - AHAlife.com - that was created by my 85 Broads colleague, Shauna Mei.

Shauna spoke at a recent 85 Broads Power Breakfast, and gave us all some background on her life and new passion.

Everyone in the room was moved when she described her journey from a child born in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China to attending MIT, working at Goldman Sachs, and living and working in Manhattan as a fashion industry executive in successful firms she either founded or co-founded.

She also shared with us that when her Mother found out she was pregnant with a girl, she insisted on keeping the child despite pressure to have an abortion. Shauna said that her Mother felt that the child that was inside of her was special and would grow up to achieve great things.

Her Mother was also told that the fetus had a heart defect. Again, she held fast to her conviction to see the pregnancy through.

Shauna's accomplishments bear witness to how right her Mother's intuition was.

Miraculously, her heart has healed on it's own, eliminating the need for life-threatening surgery.

Courage to survive, courage to compete, courage to press on regardless.

These are traits that drive Women of Courage to achieve greatness.

And thanks to the courage of a Mother, passed on to her Daughter, Shauna now inspires us to do the same.

Tuesday's Treasure - The AHA! Life

I recently joined a social network that truly speaks to my need for simplicity. It's actually not just a social network, it is more of an online community structured very much like my favorite activity in Kindergarten - "show-and-tell".

The brainchild of former Fashion Industry and Wall Street Executive, Shauna Mei, AHAlife.com is a place where I can see what I and others have curated (show) and learn how this item was conceived, manufactured or otherwise acquired (tell).

1 Product. 24 Hours. 100% Inspiring—that's what it's all about. AHAlife.com showcases and sells one hand-selected item each day and tells the story behind the making of the product, along with a designer profile and sometimes a video or audio slideshow that takes you inside the creative process.

Simply brilliant!

Recent offerings include a Canon G12 Camera embellished by Diane Von Furstenberg, a Crystal Clutch Handbag designed by Marchesa, creator of red carpet confections beloved by Hollywood style icons Blake Lively, Naomi Watts, and Demi Moore, and a Buy Her Bag Not Her Body bag, made of recycled rice sacks in Cambodia by survivors of human trafficking.

Certain product purchases receive "karma points" for supporting a brand that donates part of its profits to a good cause.

I get good Karma just being a part of the AHA life community. Try in on for size. It will surprise and delight you.

Monday's Motivational Makeover - More on Anti-Aging

Due to an overwhelming response to last week's post on Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara, and his tips on how to stay younger, and live longer, I am devoting today's Motivational Makeover to yet another example of how proper nutrition and exercise play a key role in Anti-Aging.

There are also clear benefits to maintaining a healthy lifestyle when faced with a disease such as Breast Cancer, a leading cause of death in Women.

According to the website devoted to his book, The China Study, Dr. T. Colin Campbell was a researcher at MIT and Virginia Tech working to promote better health by eating more meat, milk and eggs -- “high-quality animal protein … It was an obvious sequel to my own life on the farm and I was happy to believe that the American diet was the best in the world.”

He later was a researcher on a project in the Philippines working with malnourished children. The project became an investigation for Dr. Campbell, as to why so many Filipino children were being diagnosed with liver cancer, predominately an adult disease. The primary goal of the project was to ensure that the children were getting as much protein as possible.

“In this project, however, I uncovered a dark secret. Children who ate the highest protein diets were the ones most likely to get liver cancer...” He began to review other reports from around the world that reflected the findings of his research in the Philippines.

Although it was “heretical to say that protein wasn’t healthy,” he started an in-depth study into the role of nutrition, especially protein, in the cause of cancer.

The research project culminated in a 20-year partnership of Cornell University, Oxford University, and the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine, a survey of diseases and lifestyle factors in rural China and Taiwan. More commonly known as the China Study, “this project eventually produced more than 8000 statistically significant associations between various dietary factors and disease.”

The findings? “People who ate the most animal-based foods got the most chronic disease … People who ate the most plant-based foods were the healthiest and tended to avoid chronic disease. These results could not be ignored,” said Dr. Campbell.

In The China Study, Dr. Campbell details the connection between nutrition and heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, and also its ability to reduce or reverse the risk or effects of these deadly illnesses. The China Study also examines the source of nutritional confusion produced by powerful lobbies, government entities, and irresponsible scientists.

The China Study is not a diet book. Consumers are bombarded with conflicting messages regarding health and nutrition; the market is flooded with popular titles like The Atkins Diet and The South Beach Diet. The China Study cuts through the haze of misinformation and delivers an insightful message to anyone living with cancer, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and those concerned with the effects of aging. Additionally, he challenges the validity of these low-carb fad diets and issues a startling warning to their followers.

Sanctuary Sunday - The Cab Ride

I hope you are all enjoying this day, wherever your sanctuary may be.

I receive many emails containing stories, musings, and reflections. This one spoke to me personally, having lost several relatives this year, including my ninety plus young Mother.

This one is for you, Mom:

The Cab Ride

I arrived at the address and honked the horn.
After waiting a few minutes I walked to the door and knocked... 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase.
The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters.
In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said.
I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.
She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness.
'It's nothing', I told her.
'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated'.
'Oh, you're such a good boy', she said.
When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?'
'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly.
'Oh, I don't mind,' she said.
'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice”.

I looked in the rear-view mirror.
Her eyes were glistening.
'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice..'
'The doctor says I don't have very long.'

I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.
'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.
For the next two hours, we drove through the city.
She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds.
She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said,
'I'm tired. Let's go now'.

We drove in silence to the address she had given me.

It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.
Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up.
They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move.

They must have been expecting her.
I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door.
The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

'How much do I owe you?' she asked, reaching into her purse.
'Nothing,' I said.
'You have to make a living,' she answered.
'There are other passengers,' I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.
She held onto me tightly.
'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light..
Behind me, a door shut.
It was the sound of the closing of a life.

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift.
I drove aimlessly lost in thought.
For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk.

What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift?

What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?
On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID.

BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.

Lifestyle Lifters - Cupcakes For Cancer

In my TGIF post yesterday, I brought to your attention the fact that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Today, I want to introduce you to one of my favorite places to get a "lift" - from a delicious treat. The name of the shop is "Crumbs". The one in our small town here in the Gold Coast of Connecticut is always packed.

This month their entire chain is offering a "Pink Cupcake" - vanilla cake filled with vanilla cream cheese frosting topped with light pink vanilla fondant with a mix of pink ribbon quins and pink and white sprinkles around the edge. 20% of proceeds from all sales will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Coalition.

I speak often of how women and men need to co-invest in anything they do. I think you will find this article in Women's Day a prime example of how husband and wife, Jason and Mia, co-owners of Crumbs have made this approach successful.

There are several Crumbs locations on both the East and West coast. Sorry to those of my visitors from outside the US - there are no international shops yet.

But wait a while. I have a feeling it won't be long before the whole world has access to their fabulous line of baked goods!

TGIF - October is NBCAM - Thank Goodness I'm Fine!

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And while this disease predominantly affects women, one percent of the cases diagnosed every year are in Men.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States, aside from skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), an estimated 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed among women in the United States this year.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women (after lung cancer). Although African-American women have a slightly lower incidence of breast cancer after age 40 than Caucasian women, they have a slightly higher incidence rate of breast cancer before age 40.

Breast cancer occurs less often among women in Asian countries (such as China and Korea) than among women in Western countries (such as the United States and Europe). In Hong Kong, where the population stands at nearly 7 million, 2,273 new cases were diagnosed in 2004 and 454 women died from it.

Research has shown, however, that breast cancer now is being diagnosed more frequently among women living in Asian countries, especially among younger women. This is an alarming trend. According to breastcancer.org , the researchers don't explain why this is happening. In the past, the diets and lifestyles of Asian women supported a lower risk of breast cancer compared to Western women. The average woman living in an Asian country:

• eats more fresh vegetables
• is closer to her ideal body weight
• is more physically active
• is less likely to drink significant amounts of alcohol

These are some of the same habits that lead to a longer, healthier life. Click here to go to my recent blog on noted Physician Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara and his tips for anti-aging.

It's possible that some of the increase in breast cancer diagnoses is the result of more younger women in Asian countries adopting a typical Western diet and lifestyle. Research has shown that Asian women who live in the United States and have adopted a typical Western diet and lifestyle have breast cancer rates similar to the general U.S. population.

It's also possible that other environmental factors are contributing to the rising rate of breast cancer among women living in Asia. Much has been written about higher levels of pollution that have been brought about by rapid industrial growth in China. Environmental factors such as air and water pollution have been associated with cancer.

The researchers also point out that a large number of women in Asia (70%) don't get regular mammograms. Because breast cancer rates are increasing, Asian governments and healthcare systems will have to work harder to boost awareness of breast cancer risk and the importance of annual screenings.

Happily, today, there are about 2.5 million breast cancer survivors living in the United States. Since 1990, more and more women have been surviving breast cancer, largely because of early detection through mammography and improvements in treatment.

Take time today to reach out to a Breast Cancer patient. Chances are good you know one personally - in your family, or where you work. Look for one of the many events in your area that are scheduled as part of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and commit part of your Time, Talent, or Treasure to help fight this disease.

But most importantly, click here to familiarize yourself with the benefits of early detection.

The life you save may be your own.