Taking the path less traveled and following one's dreams -- [AUDACITY], [COURAGE], [FAITH]

This seems like pretty good advice in any situation! What are your thoughts?
(Excerpts:)

"...which decisions did you make that helped the most?
"- The decision to learn to speak in public... "
- The decision to commit. Commitment brings its own reward - in ways that are unimaginable things happen to speed you on your way. But you must commit."

Personal Branding Interview: Phil Town

• By: Dan Schawbel on May 1st, 2009
  

Today, I spoke with Phil Town, who is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Rule #1 and the upcoming author of Payback Time, which debuts in September. In this interview, Phil tells his own story of how he's build his personal brand to be what it is today. Also, he gives you the secret to getting a book deal and becoming a bestselling author, tells you how to invest in this economy and emphasizes the importance of social media in the world today.

Phil, how did you go from an average high school student pumping gas to a #1 NY Times bestselling author and world renowned speaker?

I took the path less traveled and followed my dreams. I wanted to be a soldier since I was a kid so I went in the Army and eventually was awarded the famous Green Beret and joined Special Forces. I liked some parts of what I did in Latin America and Vietnam but it wasn't for me so I got out at age 23. I got a job as a whitewater guide because running drugs looked too dangerous.

I loved running rivers, living outside and I did that on a bunch of rivers for ten years. I had a lot of time off season so I started reading philosophy, got stoned a lot to discover the secrets of the universe, turned to meditation instead, lived in India and France in ashrams so I could ponder the absolute and eventually was so absolutely broke I took an offer to apprentice with an investor who taught me the right stuff and then I went off and made my millions. And then wrote about it so you can do it, too.

There are hundreds of thousands of books published each year. How were you able to stand out? What marketing tips do you have for authors?

"The key thing to understand about the publishing industry is that they don't sell books, they publish them."

Since they don't sell books, they look for authors who can sell the books if they publish them. This ability is highly prized. They will pay you a lot of money for your book if you can show them how it will be sold in large enough quantities that they'll not only get their money back but also make a profit. In my case, I had been on a speaker circuit with several seminar producers and over 2 million people had seen me already. Plus, the seminar producers raised their credibility by raising my credibility so they featured me in ads after the book came out and they put the book out to their subscribers …. all of which drove it to #1.

"Here's the marketing tip of the century: create a large group of fans who will buy your book before you write your book."

In a horrible economy, what three pieces of advice do you have for hardcore investors and what three pieces do you have for a beginner?

• For the hardcores: Be careful. The best investments are usually the one's you don't make. And only buy wonderful businesses and only when they are on sale. Then go do something else and wait for the price to go up as it inevitably will.
• For the beginners: Ditto.

If you had to examine your personal brand throughout the past few decades, which decisions did you make that helped the most?

The decision to learn to speak in public. That led to being in front of people. That led to a book. That led to another book … and that will lead to a bigger audience. And that leads to a lot of fun.

The decision to commit. Commitment brings its own reward - in ways that are unimaginable things happen to speed you on your way. But you must commit.

You have another book coming out in 2010, and you're already preparing now for it's launch, with a Facebook page and Twitter. What role does social media play in your life now and in the future?

It is huge. Unimaginably huge. In two years I will not need a stage to speak on. My audience will be connected to me through social media and web 2.0. These are incredible democratizing tools that allow talent and skill to rise to the top. Learn how to use these tools. Do it now.

—-
Phil Town is the author of Rule #1: The Simple Strategy for Successful Investing in Only 15 Minutes a Week! (Crown Publishing Group, 2006)—the #1 New York Times best-seller and Amazon.com's top-selling business book of 2006. He heads the list of motivational speakers, addressing 500,000 people per year across the nation at the mega-seminar "Get Motivated." An ex-Green Beret and former river guide, Phil is a self-made millionaire several times over. Town usually is found sharing the stage with the likes of President Clinton, Rudy Giuliani, Colin Powell and Zig Ziglar, speaking to groups numbering 20,000. His latest book called Payback Time: How to Outsmart the System That Failed You and Get Your Investments Back on Track, comes out in September.

Source: http://personalbrandingblog.com/personal-branding-interview-phil-town/

Poem - Gibran: A world embracing vision and a singular mission [FAITH], [COMPASSION], [EVANESCENCE]

A visionary and heartfelt poem from this heavenly poet, inspiring renewed faith in our common humanity and in our ultimate redemption as a species! - A.

The power of charity sows deep in my heart, and I reap and gather the wheat in bundles and give them to the hungry. My soul gives life to the grapevine and I press its bunches and give the juice to the thirsty. Heaven fills my lamp with oil and I place it at my window to direct the stranger through the dark. I do all these things because I live in them; and if destiny should tie my hands and prevent me from so doing, then death would be my only desire. For I am a poet, and if I cannot give, I shall refuse to receive.

Humanity rages like a tempest, but I sigh in silence for I know the storm must pass away while a sigh goes to God. Human kinds cling to earthly things, but I seek ever to embrace the torch of love so it will purify me by its fire and sear inhumanity from my heart. Substantial things deaden a man without suffering; awakens him with enlivening pains. Humans are divided into different clans and tribes, and belong to countries and towns. But I find myself a stranger to all communities and belong to no settlement. The universe is my country and the human family is my tribe.

-Kahlil Gibran

The logic and beauty of the oneness of mankind

Dear all,

As a Bahá'í I hold the belief that all people will ultimately be united in "one universal Cause, one common Faith," as Bahá'u'lláh (d. 1892) has stated. But what does this statement really mean? And how might it be achieved?

Bahais from various parts of the world.

The Bahá'í Faith teaches that the one and indivisible God makes His purpose known through Manifestations of God who appear at intervals in history. These Manifestations, which include Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Krishna, Christ, Muhammad and (in our age) the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh, reveal those social and spiritual laws which are necessary for our individual and community development at the time of Their appearance. The teachings of each new Manifestation build on what the previous Ones had taught, and each adds something new to learn. And what might be our "lesson" for this day and age we live in? 'Abdu'l-Bahá (d. 1921) explains it simply thus:

"The gift of God to this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind and of the fundamental oneness of religion. War shall cease between nations, and by the will of God the Most Great Peace shall come; the world will be seen as a new world, and all men will live as brothers." (1)

The Bahá'í nine-pointed star, with the Greatest Name - ("O Thou Glory of the Most Glorious") inscribed.

What a wonderful vision it is we have been given by our Creator! It is of humanity as a garden and the various races and peoples as flowers which adorn and decorate it. Though differing in kind, color, form and shape, yet this diversity increases its charm and adds to its beauty. The oneness of mankind is no longer an empty ideal: The Bahá'í writings and the example of 'Abdu'l-Bahá tell us how to accomplish it. Using His Holiness Christ as a point of reference, He explains:

"...Jesus Christ appeared on the horizon of this world like a Sun of Truth; even so when the people—after forgetting the teachings of Christ and His example of love to all humanity—had again grown tired of material things, a heavenly Star shone once more in Persia, a new illumination appeared and now a great light is spreading throughout all lands.

“Men keep their possessions for their own enjoyment and do not share sufficiently with others the bounty received from God. Spring is thus changed into the winter of selfishness and egotism. Jesus Christ said ‘Ye must be born again’ so that divine Life may spring anew within you. Be kind to all around and serve one another; love to be just and true in all your dealings; pray always and so live your life that sorrow cannot touch you. Look upon the people of your own race and those of other races as members of one organism; sons of the same Father; let it be known by your behavior that you are indeed the people of God. Then wars and disputes shall cease and over the world will spread the Most Great Peace.” (2)

Bahá'ís in all countries are learning through study circles how we can walk together on a path of service to humanity. We also arrange simple devotional meetings in our homes, where the Word of God (like the Bahá'í writings, the Bible and the Koran) provides inspiration, rejuvenates souls, gladdens hearts, and renews o sense of purpose. We also hold children's classes for the moral education of our children.

Regarding our purpose here on earth, Bahá'u'lláh says:

"All men have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization." (3)

Terraces leading to the Shrine of the Báb.

In the same way, He declares that our individual development can only take place through serving our fellow men, by the forbearance, mercy, compassion and loving-kindness we show them, by sharing the happy news of God's latest Manifestation, and by doing a good job in our work and studies. Bahá'u'lláh has stated in this regard:

"O people of God! Do not busy yourselves in your own concerns; let your thoughts be fixed upon that which will rehabilitate the fortunes of mankind and sanctify the hearts and souls of men. This can best be achieved through pure and holy deeds, through a virtuous life and a goodly behaviour." (4)

A Bahá'í father and his young son who were arrested and executed for their belief, 19th century Iran.

"That one indeed is a man who, today, dedicateth himself to the service of the entire human race." (5)

I hope you may join me and several million other people in service to this greatest Cause, the establishment of a permanent and universal peace as the supreme goal of all mankind. And if not, the experience of the worldwide community of some five million Bahá'ís, representative of most of the nations, races and cultures on earth, will be a source of encouragement to all who share their vision of humanity as one global family and the earth as one homeland.

"This is the Day that shall not be followed by night..." - Bahá'u'lláh (6)

Notes:

(1) ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in London, pp.19-20
(2) ibid. pp. 82-83
(3) Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 215
(4) Bahá'u'lláh, Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 86
(5) ibid., p. 167
(6) Bahá'u'lláh, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 34