bold

Dan's Coffee Run - Ideas for Making A Difference!

One can make a huge difference in the most simple of ways. Be inspired by Dan's simple gesture that makes such a difference in the lives of others:

Video from KarmaTube


Seth Godin on Art and Inspiration

Art isn't only a painting. Art is anything that's creative, passionate, and personal. And great art resonates with the viewer, not only with the creator.

What makes someone an artist? I don't think is has anything to do with a paintbrush. There are painters who follow the numbers, or paint billboards, or work in a small village in China, painting reproductions. These folks, while swell people, aren't artists. On the other hand, Charlie Chaplin was an artist, beyond a doubt. So is Jonathan Ive, who designed the iPod. You can be an artists who works with oil paints or marble, sure. But there are artists who work with numbers, business models, and customer conversations. Art is about intent and communication, not substances.

An artist is someone who uses bravery, insight, creativity, and boldness to challenge the status quo. And an artists takes it personally.

That's why Bob Dylan is an artist, but an anonymous corporate hack who dreams up Pop 40 hits on the other side of the glass is merely a marketer. That's why Tony Hsieh, founder of Zappos, is an artist, while a boiler room of telemarketers is simply a scam.

Tom Peters, corporate gadfly and writer, is an artist, even though his readers are businesspeople. He's an artist because he takes a stand, he takes the work personally, and he doesn't care if someone disagrees. His art is part of him, and he feels compelled to share it with you because it's important, not because he expects you to pay him for it.

Art is a personal gift that changes the recipient. The medium doesn't matter. The intent does.

Art is a personal act of courage, something one human does that creates change in another.


Some Words from a Weary Soul by Jen Engevik

Today marks the end of the 37th week of this year. Once again I find myself a bit weary after working on several large projects for clients. Finally, I feel as though I can breathe a bit.

Yesterday was a wild one that found me writing the following in my notebook:

It is another day in the hood,

another day of experiencing,

feeling my heart beating,

stomach churning....

Today I started off by feeling so centered and sure...

As time rolled on I became stressed,

then really stressed,

then very stressed.

Wrapped up my work and then tried to catch a train to San Berdoo...

ended up quickly climbing the stairs of the metrobridge-

Once at the top,

across the bridge I sprinted in my heels,

almost tossed my cookies (boy I felt out of shape)...

was running so fast,

but before I even had a chance to get down

the other side of the platform...

the damn train took off yonder -

I wanted to cry...

But now I'm on a train to the City of Angels

Skipping along the tracks and writing too..

--

For whatever it's worth, sometimes I feel as though life is a never ending challenge...just willing us to remain centered and sure. It's not easy. It's not always fun.

After my train landed in LA, I was walking toward the street when I crossed paths with an African man with a turban on  his head & huge smile on his face. We both said "hi," and I couldn't help but ask, "What makes you so happy today?" His answer...

"I'm like this everyday...I just have this strong sense that everything is going to work out just fine. I look at it like this...sometimes good things just come along when you least expect them."

By the time I got to the street, my ride swooped me up and we were off to the Dodger game. A block past Union Station, there was a sign wrapped around a post that read "BOLD"...and something told me it's all going to be Ok...

- Jen Engevik

Project BE Bold


Hope Solo Officially Named the Boldest Person of July 13, 2011

Hope Solo - Team USA 2011

Project BE Bold solutes Hope Solo as the Boldest Person of the Day! Because of her supreme performance in today's World Cup Semifinal against France and her amazing work over the past couple of weeks, the US Soccer team is headed to the World Cup 2011 finals.

Hope Solo was born on July 30, 1981 in Richland, Washington where she was a stellar student and athlete. As result of her commitment to excellence, she helped lead Team USA to Gold in the 2008 Olympics and has since been noted by soccer experts as the best female goalie in the sport.

Solo overcame adversity when her father unexpectedly died of heart failure in 2007. A Vietnam Veteran, Jeffery was her first soccer coach when she was just five years old. She once told reporters that she had a "deep, deep love" for her father and was heartbroken when he passed away.

Solo's approach to life is the epitome of bold. Her philosophy is that true success is possible when one stays focused, keeps connected to goals each day, and lives in the present. Many are unaware that she underwent shoulder surgery in September of last year. As she works tirelessly to protect her team from loss, her shoulder aches - yet she doesn't complain. She stays in the zone.

"I've been prepared for this through heartaches, through personal struggles," Solo said. "This is what it's all about. It's about defying the odds for me. It's about proving people wrong. It's about playing the game I'm passionate about. This is what I live for. I've prepared my entire life for this moment."

Project BE Bold solutes Hope Solo and wishes her luck as Team USA goes into the World Cup Finals this coming Sunday at 11:45am PST/2pm EST.

- Project BE Bold

 


Touched by an Angel by Maya Angelou

 We, unaccustomed to courage
 exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.

Love arrives and in its train
come ecstasies old memories
of pleasure ancient histories of pain.

Yet if we are bold,
 love strikes away
the chains of fear from our souls.

We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love's light
we dare be brave.

And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are and will ever be.

Yet it is only love which sets us free.

~ Angelou Maya ~

- Post by Jen of Project BE Bold