DGrant Gibson

Ralph Waldo Emerson states that the one thing mankind seeks with insatiable desire is to forget ourselves, to be surprised out of our own propriety. To lose our sempiternal memory, our eternal/dateless memory, and do something without knowing how or why; in short draw a new circle. As nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm and spontaneity , we can only draw into a new circle by letting go through the energy of abandonment. This letting go

“David Cameron today announced the most ambitious change to the welfare system since it began, promising to re-introduce a culture of responsibility that he said had been lost.

The Welfare Reform Bill will replace the complex array of benefits with a single Universal Credit, strip benefits from those who repeatedly turn down job offers and introduce new health check-ups for those who claim a disability stops them working.

Speaking in east London alongside the architect of the reforms, Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, the Prime Minister said: ‘Never again will work be the wrong financial choice. Never again will we waste opportunity. “

This is an excerpt from an article written in the Daily Mail about the massive changes taking place in the UK. This new normal I believe will become the economic standard round the world to aid in the correction of countries stretched to the breaking point in their local economies.

How does the name Felicity Loudon, Cadbury Chocolate, and a £27m country estate all package together into a new chocolate bar? As a heiress to the Cadbury fortune, she and her husband have decided to sell the country estate to aid with capital to fund the launch of her new venture, a chocolate company. Why would a 61 year old women, together with her husband John, a 72 year old former merchant banker, choose this route at this time in their life? The answer? Perhaps a sweet mixture of revenge, drive, quality and patriotism. The recent sale of Cadbury Chocolates, founded in 1824 by her great-great-grandfather John Cadbury, is the motivation behind the heiresses plans. She said: ‘I can’t accept that Cadbury has gone to America. To a plastic cheese company. I won’t accept it. I want to start again. I want to make chocolate and I’m jolly well going to do it.’

A name like Donald Trump always seem to be placed with words like smart, savvy, quick read, intelligent, leader, rich, network marketing owner, real estate developer, casino owner, and the like. But it seems the No. 1 lesson students learn at Donald Trump’s online business program is How To Max Out Credit Cards 101, a new lawsuit charges. Perhaps a new dictionary meaning for the word of the day Max.

Charlie Munger, partner and confidant to Warren Buffett, of Berkshire Hathaway, recently spoke to an interviewer from the BBC about the markets and economic instability around the world. Over the years I have only heard him speak a few times to the media. The usual questions were asked of Mr. Munger about today’s serious economic situation. His answers were much more cohesive in thought, complete, with depth, and much to the point than most of us may find comfortable. But then again, comfort is not what a true man makes. He revealed what I believe to be the fault in the marketplace; greed and shortsightedness.

We are taught from an early age that we live in a world that is extremely competitive. If you don’t claw your way through life you will be left behind. In family, friends, sports, business, social environments, networks, alliances, everywhere. Keeping your eye out on guard and building a thick skin to stand your ground is what it will take to make it through life. Or is this the case? Is there a possibility, something different, a better answer to the so called dog eat dog world we are told we live in? Is there a case for the person who just wants to go forward in life desiring to do things creatively with no concern for competition?

Business is business is business. Life is life is life. Ever the twain shall meet. Or do they? Is business acumen a learned process or is an entrepreneur just born? Is the true art of business just a matter of controlling what needs to be controlled to be successful or is the heart of the matter start in the heart? Is passion outside of you or inside? Is the ability to do business a method of circling from the outside to keep everything in correct order? Or could it be that the heart of your matter is right in your own heart?

Business and life can easily slip into the abyss of madness. In real life and business you can quickly spot the good and the bad, but one of the greatest challenges is to observe and deal what the ninja writings understood to be the art of shapeshifting of the madness, or in laymans language, craziness. If you are ethical, watch out. You will be challenged by the unethical behavior of the madness. If you try to do things right, watch out. Appearances make it seem right. If you try to reason, watch out.

But when you look around, you’ve got to ask: ‘Where have all the leaders gone?’ Where are the curious, creative communicators? Where are the people of character, courage, conviction, omnipotence, and common sense? I may be a sucker for alliteration, but I think you get the point. – Lee Iacocca
Where Have All The Leaders Gone is the name of the new book by Lee Iacocca available on Amazon here
So, the question has been asked. It must be a serious concern when a leader like Lee Iacocca has written an entire book to address this one question. He does not need the money.

How many times have you been told to just believe? If you counted you might be surprised. It would probably be hundreds if not thousands of times over a period of years. Well, of course it is important to believe in what is important to believe in. We all believe in something just by the act of living everyday. We go about our day from our perceptions on things from our beliefs.