In 1986 I thought I ruled the world. I had just turned 18 and the world was mine to use as I saw fit. In 1988, I almost died in a car crash that would leave me in hospital for a month and on crutches for three.
In 1997, I was on top of the world. I was in a lucrative job and living the bachelor life to the fullest. In 1998, I had been unemployed for 6 months and two of my friends had died of AIDS.
We're only borrowing good fortune. What we do with it is up to us - carefree only gets us so far.
When George Lucas made Star Wars, he waived his director's fee in exchange for licensing rights. Despite most studios turning down his movie idea, Lucas believed in it and was willing to put his money where his mouth was.
Twentieth Century Fox agreed to the deal, believing that movie merchandise wasn't a big selling point. Star Wars went on to become one of the most successful movies ever, and the toys, video games, soundtracks and other merchandise made Lucas millions.
While you might not be George Lucas, there's no reason why you can't make your own blockbuster. All you need is belief.
Most folks know the story of Noah. How God warned him about an upcoming flood that would last for 40 days and 40 nights. To preserve nature, Noah took two of every animal onto his Ark in readiness for breeding once the storm had passed.
However, you could also look at it another way. If a cow died, Noah would still have had one cow left for beef and milk. He and his family wouldn't starve, and they could come back to land and start afresh.
Moral of the story? Always have a back-up plan.
A new study by the Institute of Marriage and Family Canada comes up with some amazing facts:
On Tuesday, January 12th, Haiti’s “fresh start to a new decade” was brutally interrupted by a devastating earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale. Since then, the human disaster has been unfolding right before our eyes. The earthquake ripped through the heart of the country, leaving a trail of death and destruction in its wake. There are fears that there could be more than 100,000 fatalities and countless more injured and missing. This is the immediate impact. In the long run, the threat of disease, illness, malnutrition, and more is very real.
We know this is just after the holiday season and we know we are closing out a year when people suffered financial strain but Haiti really needs every ounce of support as their country, their communities and their people's lives have been devastated by this tragedy. Maritz Canada is calling on all its employees, friends, partners, suppliers and clients to help make a difference. We will be donating all funds to the Canadian Red Cross and they will be able to get the necessary resources on the ground, where they are needed! Let’s make whatever difference we can. Please, tweet this, share it on Facebook and Linked In (display as your status), email folks to come here: together, we can make a real difference. You can also copy the embed code and display the widget on your own blog or site to spread awareness. You can read about the International Red Cross efforts through their Website at: http://www.redcross.ca/article.asp?id=33898&tid=001 Additionally, you can follow their progress in Haiti via the Red Cross Twitter account found here: http://twitter.com/RedCross. You could tweet: We all share the same planet - here's how Maritz Canada & you can show Haiti that we care: http://bit.ly/6cbuKi #MaritzCares You could update your Facebook or Linked In status: Maritz Canada is supporting the Red Cross in its relief efforts in Haiti - please help however you can http://bit.ly/6cbuKi For more information on Maritz Canada & our efforts to make a difference, contact: Judi Samuels
