lately

this on what has been happening lately

there's a first time for everything. Niah. Longhouse. The Virginian Rachel. and some translations gig.

first ever Pino Youth (with of course joined by some non-Pino too) service at church and i think it went really well.

and somehow they have dropped in often enough now that i consider them family. by locals for locals and that's the way i like it.

so, for the more to come :) fully expecting it

He never disappoints!

the spunk of an old geezer

the man with the spine and spunk (with some pretty decent sense of humor) speaking his mind.





Dear Mr Lee Iacocca,

Thank you for writing this book. It was for me an accidental find but i appreciate that u decided to share your convictions and experiences with the world.

Though we might be far removed culturally, age wise and even more so on the sphere of experiences (you the influential figure, CEO and visionary leader that you are and me; in my world of the ordinaries), i feel your convictions speaking to a lot of areas in my life and i wonder aloud that maybe just maybe this real honest everyday wisdom is relatable (i'm pretty sure that should be a word.really..) to all who are willing to hear.

May i state or quote on a few of the many things that challenged and inspired me..

1. Your 9 Cs' found me nodding and grunting in agreement many times. thank you for putting these thoughts into words. I think i agree more because somehow these are also something that one would have thought of when relating to experiences of leaders and their leadership and to read it out in the open like that; you can't help but understand and agree.

2. In relating to how the past world leaders responded to the Nazis after their horrific acts in the WWII; the Nuremberg trials you said was a grand example how the leaders then reminded us of our higher ideals and i like what you said 'we didn't become the evil we were fighting.' i really like that a lot.

3. And this you wrote on virtue to a generation of greed-driven America or the world for that matter..

'Instead of greed, how about generosity
Instead of envy, try a little charity
Instead of pride, show some humility
Instead of wrath, let's see composure'

AND...'They actually believed that companies have an obligation to contribute to social welfare.'
Last but not least, this wonderful thought 'Wouldn't it be great if we read more business stories that give us inspiring lift and fewer stories that made us sick to the stomachs? And wouldn't it be a wonderful thing if corporate America (and again the whole world for that matter) got the idea that the best way to do well is by doing good?' Imagine!

4. 'There was a time not that long ago when we were more civil. We gave people the benefit of the doubt. We tried to work out our difference face-to-face, not through lawyers. We'd try to tell people to "have a nice day". Now we say, "I'll see you in court."
It's not our ability to compete that gets harmed by all the litigation. It is the ability to live with one another, to help each other out in bad times, to cooperate because we want to and it's the right thing to do - not because we might get sued.'
I read somewhere once that we live in a world that is too safe. And it became that way because we fashioned it that way out of fear of things unknown or different from what we are used to. Its easier when the only thing you see is the only thing you know and vice versa i guess. But i think its a tragedy because that would make us forfeit a God given responsibility, that is we're supposed to be the agent of change or even influence where we are placed in, no? And should i even dare to suggest, we were designed that way? So, because we are living in a wholly messed up system and world to begin with; unless we see that - why on earth will there be any urge inside of us to change things?

5. 'That's what i'd like to pass on to younger generation - the rewards of being involved. I've started with my own grandkids. I want them to know how lucky they are to be given a position to give back - because they have been given so much.'
And i think, we are in soooo many ways the privileged ones and it starts by wanting to truly know what is going on around us and then to be soo restless that we say 'there must be something that can be done.' and with that, if we just be courageous enough to understand that we are that something. Wherever we are, whoever we are.


So, Mr Iacocca; your little book is truly a pleasure to read. And though we all make our mistakes because we are after all very imperfect - thank u for being 'human' enough to admit that but not letting it stop you from putting your thoughts and ideas out there.




A fan :)