The foreboding weather did not deter me and 130,000 other book lovers from gathering on the US national mall for the 9th. annual book festival.
How else does one feed our creativity and imagination but through the word?
As we pull out of this steep recession, we will need to tap our genius to create new wealth generating engines to erase the enormous debt being accumulated.
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Harvard Business recently interviewed Jeff Dyer of BYU who just completed a 6 year study on how Innovators DNA work, i.e. what makes folks such as Apple’s Steve Jobs, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos tick?
The study uncovered five key skills common to innovators:
Associating
Questioning
Observe details and in particular people’s behavior
Experiment
Networking
These skill can all be summed up with one word
Inquisitiveness
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Books , not video games and television is the winning element to spur such tendencies. Take a closer look at the poster above and see if you do not agree.
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This event was also filled with nostalgia for me. The PBS children programming stars were out in full force. There was Curious George, and Authur, and Elmo, and Cleo, and Martha.
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The character that struck a special cord with me was Mr. McFeely of Mr. Rogers neighborhood. I took a pic with him to share with my daughters, and was about to leave when he prompted me to stay! He wanted to sign postcards for my girls, now young women in college! He was so right. The line awating his signature contained many college students.
The festival also offered a great glimpse of the future, the digital library. There was a digital bookmobile that was a high-tech feast. One could sample ebooks, audio books, and learn how to get these materials on their mobile devices, and electronic readers.
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Reading is indeed fundamental, regardless of what form it takes. Spark some innovation by reading to a child, or sharing a book. Join me and treasure reading as Francois Fenelon did.
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“If the riches of the Indies, or the crowns of all the kingdom of Europe, were laid at my feet in exchange for my love of reading, I would spurn them all.”
Here we are on September 23, 2009, 100 days from the 2009 finish line.
We might have set lofty goals for the year , but time and circumstance might have derailed our plans.
Is there a means of getting back on track?
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Why is December 31, 2009 Important right now?
One of the most valuable lessons to be learned, in terms of achieving goals, is to begin at the end. When working towards any goal, most people begin at the logical beginning . The problem with starting at the beginning is most of us are focused on where we are right now. It is natural to begin from where our current strengths and weaknesses are. Then what we normally do is put one foot forward based on those things.
So What’s wrong with that?
We may spend valuable time chasing things that don’t matter and ignoring the things that do matter either because of ignorance or unwillingness to commit to finding a better way. Those that have the greatest chances of finding the solutions to their problems or challenges are the people who seek first to discover what it is that they do not know. To have the right answers, you need to possess the right questions.
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Are these your questions?
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. What specific results have you achieved so far this year?
2. Are you healthier, wealthier, and wiser?
3. Are you winning, losing or just holding ground?
4. What results are you committed to achieve
by the end of the year?
5. How have you grown and what have you
learned this year?
6. Is there any unfinished business that needs
to be tended to in your life?
7. Are you actively pursuing what’s most
important on a daily basis?
8. What habits do you need to change to
ensure better results?
9. What is the key issue that inhibits your
ability to perform at your best?
10. Want to do something to positively change your situation?
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Here is what I will be doing.
1) Listen to a free online seminar to get me focused on my initiative to finish 2009 strong. If you want to join me, go to:
The recognition of the spectacular performance of our athletes in Berlin began last week.
Our global star is being honored with a lofty title and and a highway being renamed in his honor.
Usain Bolt & Prime Minister Golding
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Both these honors certainly affirm Bolt’s standing in the local community. However, Bolt is clearly the driving engine behind the global brand. The current posture does not allow much leverage except for social proofing.
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There is another means of exercising additional leverage. Here goes:
Make Hon. Usain Leo Bolt an ambassador at large with specific portfolio to China.
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Ambassador-at-Large is a Diplomat of the Highest rank and/ or a Minister who is accredited to represent his country. But unlike the Resident Ambassador (who is usually limited to a country)and/or embassy, the Ambassador-at-large is entrusted to operate in a Region or sometimes a seat of international organizations like the United Nations . In some cases an Ambassador at Large may even be specifically assigned a role to Advise and Assist the Government in particular issues. Historically, Prime Ministers have designated special diplomatic envoys for specific assignments, primarily overseas but sometimes also within the country as Ambassadors-at-Large.
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Why China?
Jamaica needs to develop an Asian presence given the diminishing tourism dollar from the west.
Bolt already has star power in China following his Olympic historic performance.
Yellow yam could find a ready export market.
Mandarin patois would be funny as hell.
Seriously, the Chinese youth are looking for ways of busting out of their rules-based, regimented country. Jamaica’s expressive culture could provide an alternative to the suspected American culture.
The internet provides an inexpensive means of building bridges between both cultures.
This service would give Bolt a new platform to conquer and a more diverse global network.
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So do to think that is out of the box idea is for the bird. So what is your idea?
Suppose as a teenager you found out the details of a family tragedy and you felt compelled to find out the details, what would you do?
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Alex Haley, the author of Roots may have had a much better circumstance than Beverley East, author of , Reaper of Souls, the historical novel that tells the compelling story of the Kendal train tragedy of 1957.
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Beverley East, Author
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Her family had migrated to England, and her dad had silently borne the pain of losing 14 members from his young children, but now the puss was out of the bag. What would this curious daughter do? Well, with a resolute determination, Beverley sets out to find all she could about this tragedy.
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On vacations back to Jamaica, while others walked the white sandy beaches, Beverley could be found toiling away in libraries gathering every fact, every lead that would give her a full appreciation of the events and impact of this tragedy.
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The results is a historical novel that tells the story of the Scotts who leave three of their children at home before boarding an ill-fated excursion train. Using the backdrop of real events from the 1957 Kendal Crash, the story follows Eve, Austin and Esther as they struggle to find purpose and joy after suffering the depths of despair.
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This is no somber, dark tale, but a thriller extraordinaire, filled with conspiracy, child ghosts and a pile of dead bodies.
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This is the way author Colin Channer characterized this fine work as follows. ” Beverley East has put her heart and soul into this gripping family saga that shuttles between the past and present with the locomotive power of a speeding train. With terminal points in England and Jamaica, Reaper of Souls is a tumultuous journey teeming with characters who will live with you in memory for a very long time.”
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I had the distinct privilege to listen to Beverley read from her brilliant work, bringing alive the many characters to animate this compelling story.
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After listening to her colorful presentation, I just knew I had to get a fuller telling of her story. This led to the following interview.
but if you are not concerned about where your next slice of bread is coming from, you may just have Norman Borlaug to thank. I honor this man , who may not be well known, but is the father of the green revolution.
Dr. Norman E. Borlaug
March 25, 1914 – September 12, 2009
He received the nobel prize in 1970 for his work that reversed the food shortages in India and Pakistan in the 1960s.
Because of his genius, global food production has expanded faster than the human population growth, averting the mass starvation that was predicted.
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He sparked the green revolution by making a case for high-yield cereal crops, inorganic fertilizers, and a novel irrigation scheme. Let me share a sense of his effort.
In 1950, the world produced 0.69 Billion tons of grain on 1.7 billion acres.
In 1992, the world produced 1.9 Billion tons of grain on 1.73 billion acres.
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Sure he has his detractors, especially those who think that his approach wreacked havoc on the environment.
However, could it be a means of getting us to a place, where we can add the sustainability component?
One of the most influential phases I grew up with was:
It encouraged me to ensure I did my best and develop my talents to the best of my ability.
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When my kids came along, I had the privilege of tucking them in and reading that bedtime story. So happened the kids would get stuck on their favorite story and would plead with me to read it each night. Even to this day, I find myself reciting that story. I used to try to cut it short should I see them dozing off. I would loudly declare “The End”.
I was reprimanded to read the middle!
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Going to the local libraries was also a weekly ritual. We also managed their media intake through limiting TV time to educational television and the occasional Disney movie. Call me old fashion, but today I am very proud of my girls and their love of books and their love for learning.
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Yes, reading is fundamental. We however live in a media saturated world that undermines the development of this critical habit. The tragedy is there are kids who would just love to sink their teeth into some great reading material, but their minds are starved for the lack of solid reading materials.
This gives us a golden opportunity to support the illiteracy cure in Jamaica.
You have books in your basement, library or attic seeking young eager readers, or willing to sponsor a barrel to transport books, or support this worthy effort in some way. Your small effort will be combined with others to be the cure for illileracy.
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simply click here, Ja’nice’s Read Across Ja website.
September 7 would have been the 90th. birthday of Miss Lou.
Dr. the Hon. Louise Simone Bennett Coverley
She was a thought leader that use her gifts of words and presence to influence the Jamaican culture to embrace its preciousness. In honor of her, we share one of her works.
Dutty Tough - Louise Bennett
Sun a shine but tings no bright;
Doah pot a bwile, bickle no nuff;
River flood but water scarce, yawl
Rain a fall but dutty tough.
Tings so bad dat nowadays when
Yuh ask smaddy how dem do
Dem fraid yuh tek it tell dem back,
So dem no answer yuh.
No care omuch we dah work fa
Hard-time still een we shut;
We dah fight, Hard-time a beat we,
Dem might raise we wages, but
One poun gawn awn pon we pay, an
We no feel no merriment
For ten poun gawn pon we food
An ten pound pon we rent!
Saltfish gawn up, mackerel gawn up.
Pork en beef gawn up,
An when rice and butter ready
Dem just go pon holiday!
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We interrupt this fine work to share the wisdom of a passionate senior Jamaican.
