Society Nurtures APTITUDE ~Beeaje Quick

Most people get interested in stocks when everyone else is. The time to get interested is when no one else is. You can't buy what is popular and do well. ~Warren Buffett

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Beeaje Quick

Beeaje is among the most eclectic and creative artists and thinkers of our century, and is dedicated to inspiring others through his many artforms.

If today were my last day on Earth and I could share 500 words of brilliance with the world, here are the important things I'd want to pass along to others...

There is a bountiful spectrum of inspiration to draw from in life. One way to channel inspiration is from the divine influence within us, commonly delivered in the form of a feeling. Each one of us gravitates to colors and smells we like, or do we? It's no secret that we are heavily influenced by marketing, economics, and cultural upbringing, so it might be fair to contest that our natural inspiration can become manipulated, arresting our core development. I use my own experiences to illustrate this point.

When I was a teenager, I wanted to become a cartoonist, but a teacher said that cartoonists usually possess an aptitude for drawing, and since I had no discernible ability, I was encouraged to do something else. Then I boldly announced I would become a writer! Another teacher concluded that I had very poor language skills and offered a similar contention: "Writers usually possess a facility for words, and you are an immigrant with poor language skills." This teache...

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Live with an open, wise and compassionate heart ~Bob Stahl

Resist and the tides will sweep you off your feet... Allow, and grace will carry you to higher ground. ~Dana Foulds

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Bob Stahl

Bob founded and directs mindfulness-based stress reduction programs, and is the author of A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook.

If today were my last day on Earth and I could share 500 words of brilliance with the world, here are the important things I'd want to pass along to others...

If this was my last day on earth, my words to all of you would be is to live with an open, wise and compassionate heart. Please do no harm: to yourself and to all beings. Please recognize the sacredness of life and cherish it. You may want to consider being a vegetarian so you don't contribute to hurting animals. Respect the earth and treat her with care. Live simply. Grow a garden. Walk in the woods. Enjoy your friends and be of service to others. The secret of love is that the more you love others the more you will be loved.

Practice mindfulness everyday. Why not be fully present in your life since the only moment you ever really live in, is the present moment. Be mindful in daily life when you are eating, walking, talking, being at work or at home. Remember, the moment you realize you are not present, you are. The moment you recognize you have been trapped by your thoughts, you can begin to step out of the trap.

Practice S.T.O.P. from time to time
"S" Sto...

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The degree of success you have is directly proportionate to the risks you're prepared to take. ~ Ken Vrana

The degree of success you have is directly proportionate to the risks you're prepared to take. ~ Ken Vrana

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Ken Vrana

Ken is a former Hollywood writer and producer and the founder of the breast cancer charity The 1in8 Foundation.

If today were my last day on Earth and I could share 500 words of brilliance with the world, here are the important things I'd want to pass along to others...

The well-known actor Jack Lemmon once told me, when I asked him for his recipe for success, that "The degree of success you have in this world is directly proportionate to the risks you're prepared to take."

I'd always remembered that no risks, no significant success. When I left Hollywood a few years later, because I didn't want to raise my then infant daughter Caiti, in Los Angeles, my plans were to try and get into law school. I know at age 50 that this was going to be a huge challenge, first because of my age and second because I'd forgotten how to study.

When I applied to local law schools, here in North Carolina, I was denied admittance because they said that my under graduate grade point average was not high enough. I tried to argue that those grades were 40 years old, and that I had gained substantial knowledge since then, working at places like the White House, owning my own ad agency and becoming a successful writer and producer in LA.

I also...

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Work less...earn more--and have more fun! ~ Ernest Oriente

Work less...earn more--and have more fun! ~ Ernest Oriente

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Ernest Oriente

Ernest is an executive coach, the author of Smart Match Alliances and the founder of PowerHour.com.

If today were my last day on Earth and I could share 500 words of brilliance with the world, here are the important things I'd want to pass along to others...

Do you know what genius work is?

As a leader within your company, are you spending today doing genius work...the kind of work that is the most valuable and best use of your time? Genius work can be defined as a peak performance state-of-mind. This means that when you are immersed in the genius work you most love and you are working on the projects that require your maximum attention, the results will be world-class! Doing genius work also means that you are focusing on the activities and the action steps that will deliver high impact results, on both a professional and personal level.

Defining genius work
"If I could only focus on two key areas today, what would the most valuable and best use of my time be?"

This is the easiest and fastest way to define genius work. As a leader in your company, genius work might include an important interview to hire a new SuperStar, a presentation to your Board of Directors on your financial performance or meeting...

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Question: what is 100 x 365? ~Lawrence Chernin

Always remember that there is a retirement home waiting somewhere and so we have to surpass ourselves everyday, make every day undying. Climb our own personal Everest and do it in such a way that every step is a little bit of eternity. ~Muriel Barbery

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Lawrence Chernin

Lawrence is a chip designer in Silicon Valley, an architect and the founder of BrainiacDating.com.

If today were my last day on Earth and I could share 500 words of brilliance with the world, here are the important things I'd want to pass along to others...

Question: what is 100 x 365? A relatively small number nevertheless, but likely bigger than the number of sunsets that you and I may experience in our lifetimes. Ever watch the changing colors of the light from yellow to purple and wonder how we came to be to experience the sun in all its majesty? What makes the colors, how do we see them, and what does our brain reveal? This is what makes us human and different from a rock. Did you try to ever hug a rock? Not to belittle rocks, but life is short, and every day one is alive is a magical gift to be able to wake anew and to experience a new daily adventure that is beyond any monetary value.

Life is not about trivial things like money and possessions, rather it's the earth and above and below and with all its life - to be inspired by and to be cherished. Make a note to go outside soon and to hug a tree, then look up to its tall branches swaying in the wind, and imagine just how many sunrises and sunsets it has witnessed. Th...

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Don't get so focused on one goal that you miss other opportunities that might pop up right beside you. Sometimes the journey is more fun than reaching

Don't get so focused on one goal that you miss other opportunities that might pop up right beside you. Sometimes the journey is more fun than reaching the end. ~Jason O'Neill

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Jason O'Neill

Jason is the founder of PencilBugs.com.

If today were my last day on Earth and I could share 500 words of brilliance with the world, here are the important things I'd want to pass along to others...

After having my business, Pencil Bugs, for five years, my life is definitely different than most kids my age. The one thing that hasn't changed, though, is that I still get to be a regular kid. My parents believe kids should be kids first and that childhood goes by too quickly so we all work to keep things balanced.

In 500 words, I can't begin to write all of the things I have learned from the experiences and opportunities I have had but I did publish my first book, Bitten by the Business Bug: Common Sense Tips for Business and Life from a Teen Entrepreneur, in which I share my stories, advice, and life lessons. Here are just a few life lessons I want to share with you now.

Success does not equal wealth and it is not always about the money. Even if you are wealthy, it is more important what you do with the money than how much you have. The same goes for donating to a charity. Some people think that how much they give is more important than what they do. Even the smalles...

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It is not important how we come to the events in our lives...what is important is how we deal with those events. ~ Troy Evans

It is not important how we come to the events in our lives...what is important is how we deal with those events. ~ Troy Evans

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Troy Evans

Troy is a former bank robber who managed to earn two college degrees while in prison and is now a professional speaker and author.

If today were my last day on Earth and I could share 500 words of brilliance with the world, here are the important things I'd want to pass along to others...

Time is our most valuable commodity bar none. It is, hands down, the most precious thing we have, yet it is the one thing with which we are most often wasteful. You can't recycle it, regain it, rejuvenate it, rediscover it, or reuse it. Once it's gone, it's gone. Now, I'm not saying we shouldn't have relaxation time, hobby time, lay on the couch and read a book time, or sit in the sun and do absolutely nothing time. It's all about balance in our lives. But we all need to have some type of time management tool that assures us that we are using out time as effectively as we can. And to help drive home this importance of time I want to share some different perspectives with you...some perspectives that you may never have stopped to consider:

To realize the value of one year, ask the student who has failed his final exam
To realize the value of one month, ask the mother who has given birth to a premature baby.
To realize the value of one week, ask the editor of a weekly ...

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