If I told you that running a half or full marathon would be one of the most fun and rewarding things you will ever do... would you believe me? Become a Warrior against cancer when you join a whole bunch of other Warriors for the 2nd annual Warrior Marathon. We have chosen the Ogden Marathon in Ogden, Utah, for the 2010 marathon. Considered one of the most scenic marathons in the U.S., you'll jog around gorgeous Pineview Reservoir and then wind your way along the Ogden River, through the canyon into downtown Ogden.
The Empowered Wealth Foundation and Nick's Warriors are teaming up to sponsor the event. We'll have a pre-race dinner party and other activities. The cost to be a Warrior is $30 which includes the official Nick's Warriors T-shirt and dinner the night before. The race is already more than 60% registered... so take time how to register by going to:
http://www.leebrower.com/nickswarriors
Register for both the Ogden Marathon (click on the link to the official registration site) and to be on the Nick's Warriors team.
The Empowered Wealth Foundation and Nick's Warriors are teaming up to sponsor the event. We'll have a pre-race dinner party and other activities. The cost to be a Warrior is $30 which includes the official Nick's Warriors T-shirt and dinner the night before. The race is already more than 60% registered... so take time how to register by going to:
http://www.leebrower.com/nickswarriors
Register for both the Ogden Marathon (click on the link to the official registration site) and to be on the Nick's Warriors team.
Last week we did a ''Legacy Breakfast''. Our kids actually look forward to this opportunity and they frequently remind us when it is time to do another. I describe a Legacy Breakfast in Chapter six of my book, The Brower Quadrant. The essence of this experience is that as we sit there waiting for our order, we select a family to anonymously pay for their breakfast. Seldom do we see the outcome as we are gone before the intended recipients are given their bill with a ''zero" balance. This family unifying adventure has always been most gratifying as together we discuss who we think would most appreciate this anonymous gesture. Frequently we wonder how this act of gratitude might create ripples that will lap on lives in unknown shores. It is not uncommon for the waiter or waitress who attends us to get quite excited about the process as well. Many times they are active in helping us select the beneficiaries and keeping it a secret. Our waitress had recommended two potential recipients: an older couple and a young family. We couldn't make up our minds, so we paid for both of them with a generous tip for the waitress's help. As we were leaving the restaurant, our waitress hurried to catch us. Her eyes were moist as she sincerely expressed her gratitude. She said times have been especially tough and that the guests acknowledged their gratitude by leaving a greathearted gratuity as well. She concluded with, "Today has been an answer to prayer for many reasons." Many of you, or those you know, have similar experiences. I am always looking for new ways to pay it forward. I don't believe in "giving back"... but that is another blog. I do believe in giving it forward. Your thoughts?
Thank you to all those who have shared their comments on the book The Brower Quadrant. I am extremely grateful for all the kind sentiments that have been expressed. Truly, the message of The Brower Quadrant is needed now. I am very interested in all your comments and thoughts; if you have read the book and not shared your thoughts, please do so. You can read others comments at the following 3 links:
- leebrower.com review page
- The Networking Entrepreneur.com blog page
- The Shelfari Reveiw page
Live Life Deliberately,
Lee Brower
- leebrower.com review page
- The Networking Entrepreneur.com blog page
- The Shelfari Reveiw page
Live Life Deliberately,
Lee Brower
Recently I was having dinner with a very successful money/family office manager. I define successful in this context as a leader who has a tremendous amount of expertise, a phenomenal support team, impeccable integrity and admired and respected by his/her clients. Unquestionably, he was very passionate about giving back. His tireless efforts and enthusiasm in support of an international school for disadvantaged orphaned young men and women is very compelling and actually aroused a desire within me to support him in his efforts. He is a very impressive person.
However, as the night progressed we began discussing the children of his clients. To my surprise he adamantly declared that he had no interest whatsoever in working with his clients' children - the second and/or third generations.
"There is no passion there for me," he admitted. "In many cases, these generations do not have the gratitude, the spark, the drive and the interest that their parents have. And, this is what I most enjoy. To me, they seem lost and unappreciative. I have better things to do with my time."
I admired his candidness and in some respects could not argue with him. However, what came to mind was a story from Lynne Twist's book, The Soul of Money. Beginning on page 28, she recounts a story about how she had a monumental, once in a lifetime meeting, with Mother Teresa.
She shares how an obvious very wealthy couple rudely interrupted their meeting and was very disrespectful to Mother Teresa. Lynne was so taken aback that she felt inspired to write Mother Teresa an apology for Lynne's struggle to forgive this couple for what had occurred. I quote from page 35 of her book:
Weeks later I received a letter from her in her own hand. In her reply she admonished me, saying that while I had expressed compassion for the poor, the sick, the faint, and the weak all my life, that would always be a place where my self-expression and service would easily flourish. The vicious cycle of poverty, she said, has been clearly articulated and is widely known. What is less obvious and goes almost completely unacknowledged is the vicious cycle of wealth. There is no recognition of the trap that wealth so often is, and of the suffering of the wealthy: the loneliness, the isolation, the hardening of the heart, the hunger and poverty of the soul that can come with the burden of wealth. She said that I had extended little or no compassion to the strong, the powerful, and the wealthy, while they need as much compassion as anyone else on earth.
"You must open your heart to them and become their student and their teacher," she said in her letter. "Open your compassion and include them. This is an important part of your life's work. Do not shut them out. They also are your work."
Twist goes on to talk about how the financially rich live trapped in a prison of privilege in which material comforts are plentiful, but spiritual and emotional deprivation are real and painful.
I wonder if in our efforts to assist the poor and suffering in the world if there isn't a place for more work with the so called "entitled" generations. By converting wealth receivers into value creators, would that in and of itself have a major impact on those who are economically, politically and socially disadvantaged and destitute?
However, as the night progressed we began discussing the children of his clients. To my surprise he adamantly declared that he had no interest whatsoever in working with his clients' children - the second and/or third generations.
"There is no passion there for me," he admitted. "In many cases, these generations do not have the gratitude, the spark, the drive and the interest that their parents have. And, this is what I most enjoy. To me, they seem lost and unappreciative. I have better things to do with my time."
I admired his candidness and in some respects could not argue with him. However, what came to mind was a story from Lynne Twist's book, The Soul of Money. Beginning on page 28, she recounts a story about how she had a monumental, once in a lifetime meeting, with Mother Teresa.
She shares how an obvious very wealthy couple rudely interrupted their meeting and was very disrespectful to Mother Teresa. Lynne was so taken aback that she felt inspired to write Mother Teresa an apology for Lynne's struggle to forgive this couple for what had occurred. I quote from page 35 of her book:
Weeks later I received a letter from her in her own hand. In her reply she admonished me, saying that while I had expressed compassion for the poor, the sick, the faint, and the weak all my life, that would always be a place where my self-expression and service would easily flourish. The vicious cycle of poverty, she said, has been clearly articulated and is widely known. What is less obvious and goes almost completely unacknowledged is the vicious cycle of wealth. There is no recognition of the trap that wealth so often is, and of the suffering of the wealthy: the loneliness, the isolation, the hardening of the heart, the hunger and poverty of the soul that can come with the burden of wealth. She said that I had extended little or no compassion to the strong, the powerful, and the wealthy, while they need as much compassion as anyone else on earth."You must open your heart to them and become their student and their teacher," she said in her letter. "Open your compassion and include them. This is an important part of your life's work. Do not shut them out. They also are your work."
Twist goes on to talk about how the financially rich live trapped in a prison of privilege in which material comforts are plentiful, but spiritual and emotional deprivation are real and painful.
I wonder if in our efforts to assist the poor and suffering in the world if there isn't a place for more work with the so called "entitled" generations. By converting wealth receivers into value creators, would that in and of itself have a major impact on those who are economically, politically and socially disadvantaged and destitute?
I have picked up countless rocks, choosing one to carry with me each day. Every time I touch the rock, I reflect on specific things I am grateful for, and each night the rock reminds me to capture the day's positive events so they are not lost to memory. I've shared the Gratitude Rock idea with others, and the ripple effect continues to spread.
Many have graciously shared their own Gratitude Rock stories with me and how they have impacted their lives. I began a blog so that anyone can have the opportunity to grow and learn through shared personal experiences. I have included my own story of how the Gratitude Rock came into fruition, as well as a few stories from others collected through the years.
Please send me your own Gratitude Rock story. Be sure to include the specifics of where you found the rock and describe its' physical attributes. What were you experiencing in your life at that time and what were the circumstances? Why is the rock important to you? Who was affected? Did you capture the experience? If we choose your story, we will post it on our blog site and your story will have a life and ripple of its own.
Read some of the stories inspired by my original Gratitude Rock.
