Time magazine is out with their yearly issue of the 10 things that are going to change everything, or something like that. It contains many articles worth delving into and I highly recommend that you get busy reading it. Make sure and click the articles on the left-hand side of that page, they provide valuable insight into the American mindset.

Recently one of my readers questioned me as to why I’m always critical of America. The short answer is: it’s my responsibility as an educated citizen – it’s my duty to question. Remember, questioning is thinking.

And Time’s editor makes a salient point about the secret to America’s success, here in this :25 second video clip:

The 'seven deadly sins' are pride, greed, lust, anger (also called wrath), gluttony, envy and sloth.

From the very cool website Quirkology comes this short online poll, Sinner or Saint.

Go ahead and take the 21 question poll, it’ll only take 5 minutes and you might learn something about yourself. Remember, before you can figure out how to get where you want to be, you have to know where you are, first.

What do you FIRST see in this picture?

BusinessWeek has an excellent article out this week, Business Schools Revamp the Application

Soon-to-be ancient history

“But until recently one thing that hasn’t changed much in many years is the application process: A paper application, set deadlines, interviews, and recommendations are still its component parts. Today, though, that process is beginning to undergo a transformation.”

“The possibilities of what the future MBA application will look like are endless. Perhaps there will come a day when admissions committee members and applicants see each other via satellite and talk through the essay questions, says Shores. Martinelli says she hopes for an application process that is closer to what the real world of business is like. She would like to see, for example, applicants working on a case as part of a team.”

NASH: Of course, long-time students of mine will recognize that I have been teaching this for years. If you’re not comfortable speaking to a camera, you’d better start learning to be. Ditto for extemporaneous speaking (think interviews).

Don’t be fooled, today Grad School apps, tomorrow, undergrad apps. You can’t say that I didn’t warn you.

One more thing, you’d better start working on your portfolios NOW. Because these changes also apply to job applicants.

After 8 years of living on the street, this young, handicapped (Cerebral Palsy) man was beyond filthy, and he just wanted to go home. For 8 years, people gave him money, but no one would take him home, clean him up and give him the help that he really needed. And so the honor fell to me.

Like you, I take pride in being able to take care of myself – and others – and so I HATE to have to ask for help. Funny thing is, I am always thrilled when others ask for my help. I truly feel honored that they trust me enough to ask for my help.

This request is me trusting you, my dear students. Please CLICK HERE TO HELP NASH.

I still have not recovered from losing my home last year. Because I literally have NO HOME, I am now faced with a choice.

1. I can put my work of helping the poor on hold and focus on working and saving money, in order to establish myself a new home, OR
2. I can ask my friends to each give a small amount, and combine that money to allow me to have a new home and quickly resume my life’s work of helping the poor.

Hmmm, perhaps you’re wondering how it came to be that I have no home? For those of you who know me well, you know the sad story. For the rest of you, let’s just say that, as a reward for my 6+ years of work of helping the truly poor of China, the Chinese government expelled me and cost me my home, all of my furnishings, etc…

So here I am, humbled, and asking for your help. You can learn how you can help me by reading any one of these three links:

If you’re really pressed for time, you can read the VERY SHORT VERSION here.

For those who need to know a bit more before contributing, you can read the MEDIUM LENGTH VERSION here. The true stories of my work in China will change your life, if you let them.

And if you’d like to know even more, you can read the FULL LENGTH VERSION here. It contains links to various media, including a You Tube video that one of my students made about my work, as well as a Chinese newspaper article, etc…(my work in China wasn’t a secret.)

Roman Colliseum

These Latin abbreviations – ‘i.e.’, ‘e.g.’, ‘et al.’, and ‘etc.’ – will drive you crazy, if you let them. There is a better way. Spend a few minutes here and learn their correct usages. All of the following comes from www.ehow.com.

Use ‘i.e.’ to mean ‘that is’ or ‘in other words’. ‘i.e.’ actually stands for ‘id est’, which means ‘it is’ or ‘that is’, so it’s pretty much a literal translation.
Memory Aid: Think of ‘i.e.’ as standing for ‘it es’, i.e., pronounce ‘is’ a little funny.

Use ‘e.g.’ when you want to mean ‘for example’ or ’such as’. ‘e.g’ stands for ‘exemplum gratia’, which more or less means ‘for example.
Memory Aid: Think of ‘e.g.’ as standing for ‘example gratis’ (free example) or ‘e.g.zample’. [Nash: get it? eggample = example]

Use ‘et al.’ when you want to mean ‘and others’. This is an abbreviation for ‘et alii/alia’, which literally means ‘and others’. This abbreviation is used most often when you want to shorten a list of people, often authors of an article, e.g., ‘Jones et al. found that global warming is happening.’
Notice that adding ‘et al.’ to Jones’s name means ‘Jones and some other people he worked with’, so you have to make sure your verb is plural to agree with the subject.
Notice that ‘et’ is not an abbreviation and does not have a period after it.

Use ‘etc.’ sparingly in formal writing. You probably know that ‘etc.’ stands for ‘et cetera’, literally ‘and the rest’; figuratively ‘and so on’. Students and lazy writers often make the mistake of using ‘etc.’ when they can’t think of a third item to put in a series. You should come up with concrete examples to fill out your list rather than use ‘etc.’ If you do use ‘etc.’, it should be at the end of a list of at least two, better three, items. Example ‘bread, soda, milk, etc.’. Never mention one thing and add ‘etc.’ because although ‘etc.’ means ‘and so on’ it should only be used to imply the next item in a logical series. Therefore saying ‘milk etc.’ doesn’t give you enough of an idea of what to expect next.

Always use a comma after ‘i.e.’ and ‘e.g.’ when used in a sentences. Because of what they mean, ‘i.e.’ and ‘e.g.’ are parenthetical phrases that need to be followed up with a comma.

Typically, you should italicize ‘i.e.’, ‘e.g.’, and ‘et al.’, but not ‘etc.’. This rule may vary based on what discipline, genre, or medium you are writing for or in.

“Change is neither bad, nor good, just inevitable.”

Sam Walton (1918- 1992)

Sam Walton was the world’s richest man when he passed back in 1992. At the time, Bill Gates was #2, and when Sam’s estate was divided among his five heirs, Gates grabbed the number one slot. Today, some 18 years later, Bill Gates maintains the first position, but the Walton’s wealth, if added together, would still place them in the top spot – and by a humongous margin. (Gates has an estimated 52 Billion USD, the 5 Walton’s combined have an estimated 81 Billion USD.)

Wal-Mart of China

What’s all this got to do with the inevitability of change? I’m glad you asked. It’s because that opening quote was from Sam Walton, and it is, without a doubt, the most important thing that I learned during my four years working at what was then and still is today, the world’s largest company, Wal-Mart.

This year, Shenzhen Zhong Xue (SZZX) is going to experience more change, as there is a new Wang being installed as Headmaster. To all of my dear students who are anxious about the upcoming changes, I humbly offer the wisdom of Sam Walton, the world’s richest man:

“Change is neither bad, nor good, just inevitable.”

“Ride the Wave”

Don’t fight the change, go with the flow. Embrace it! Think of change as being waves on the ocean; they arrive in different sizes, one after the other. Now think of yourself as a surfer, riding those waves, not fighting them. Remember, you can fight nature, but you can’t beat her. Change is inevitable.

Newsweek magazine has an excellent article titled The Workers of the Future.

Here’s the money quote: “…there is no such thing as job security. You’ve got to be a free agent…” [emphasis mine].

NASH: I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: The only security you’ll ever have is right between your ears.

“Among the things you can give and still keep are your word, a smile, and a grateful heart.”

—Zig Ziglar (1926-); motivational author, speaker

There has been a lot recently published research showing that even if you force yourself to smile, the effects on your physiology are remarkable. And that the consequences aren’t limited to merely yourself, but also act a contagion with all of those whom you come into contact with.

Smile away.

Who’s on your team? Watch this video and learn about the value of teamwork, and what just a few, commited people can accomplish when they dedicate themselves towards achieving something remarkable.

Pay close attention to all of the words that are displayed in this video; you should be familiar with ALL of this vocabulary. You really only need to watch the first 3 minutes. However, this video does offer proof of what I’ve been writing about, things like this.

Illini Prosthetics Team – Commercial from Illini Prosthetics on Vimeo.

One of the teammates was just awarded a USD $30,000 prize from MIT.

Just yesterday I wrote about the 100+ million Chinese who are suffering from hookworms. If you missed that post – and if you love China – then please go read it now. I’ll wait.

See that? You could form a team and conquer this problem. Some day, some one will. Why not you? Greatness is calling you. How can I be so sure? You’re here, aren’t you?

Think about it this way: What if it were you? What if, instead of the wonderful life you’ve been given, you were one of the 100 million, ignorant and suffering. Would you appreciate some help? GO. DO. LIVE.

Approximately one hundred million Chinese – ALL of whom are OUR brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, grandparents and friends we haven’t met yet – have these hideous hookworms living inside them.

The consequences are devastating. We know that when hookworms are eradicated that productivity increases by about 30%. Imagine what that means to a poor family.

I’ve just stumbled across a wonderful group, www.DewormTheWorld.org
We can defeat the hookworm. The medicine itself costs just pennies (less than 4 Jiao per person). So what are we lacking?

LEADERS.

You know, people who are willing to SACRIFICE for their country (countrymen). Plenty of people are willing to work hard to get rich. Show me 20 of my Shenzhong students who are willing to put the same effort into eradicating this parasite and in 3-5 years time, ALL of our brothers and sisters can be free from this horrible pest. [I'm most definitely NOT talking about those who merely want to stand up in front of others and achieve glory.]

This picture shows China suffering from a 5-10% hookworm infestation rate, a 100% treatable and preventable illness. [Note: In the yellow colored countries, hookworm is basically non-existant.]

Without a HUGE sacrifice, this problem isn’t going away. There are lots of people working – and actually, making a living – trying to solve this problem. Unfortunately, they lose their livelihood if the problem is solved, so from my perspective, it seems that their strategy is one of containment – NOT total elimination.

“…25 percent of [American] teens reported smoking marijuana in the last month.”

Take a minute and think about the significance of that number – 25%. Think of your three closest friends, then imagine that one of you is smoking dope.

Yes, one of marijuana’s many monikers is “dope”. That’s because this is a drug that makes people dopey. As in STUPID.

I wrote about this recently here.

Remember, the things you don’t know are more important than the things you do know.

That includes America. What kind of future can a country have when one out of four of her young people are ingesting drugs that they know will make themselves dumber?

“If you were all alone in the universe with no one to talk to, no one with which to share the beauty of the stars, to laugh with, to touch, what would be your purpose in life? It is other life, it is love, which gives your life meaning. This is harmony. We must discover the joy of each other, the joy of challenge, the joy of growth.”
—Mitsugi Saotome (1937-); Aikido instructor, author

NASH: What a great quote. How insightful. How deep. “It is other life.” “It is love.” Right on. These are the true purpose of life.

As an intellectual exercise, let’s also define it by what it isn’t. Ready?

“It isn’t a degree from a prestigious university.”
“It isn’t a new _____ (car; apartment; computer).”
“It isn’t a large bank account (aka financial security).”

The purpose of learning is so that we can live better lives. Today you’ve learned – or been reminded – of what’s really important. How will you use this knowledge? Will you simply file it away as something profound, but not too useful? Or will you apply it to your life in order to ‘live better’? The choice is yours, choose wisely.

When I was but a lad, I thought that it would be ‘neat’ to experience an earthquake. My young, undeveloped mind didn’t grasp the significance of the death and destruction that accompanies major quakes.

For some reason, the earth’s tectonic plates seem to be shifting more frequently – and more violently – lately. If I had to guess, I’d say that this is normal and nothing to be overly concerned about. Unless you happen to be one of the unfortunate souls to be living in an area where an earthquake strikes.

The USGS (United States Geological Survey) offers a pretty cool, somewhat interactive website where you can learn more about recent seismic activity. IF you’re interested. If not, then you don’t need to visit them. However you do need to pay attention to the vocabulary in this post.

“It isn’t easy to acknowledge the truth of our power.”

“Too often we fear our own greatness.”

“We pretend to be powerless, mistakenly thinking that this somehow frees us from the responsibility of power.”

- Steve Pavlina

(His website’s subtitle is: Personal Development for Smart People, you might be interested.)

“You have greatness inside of you.”

– Dean A. Nash (that’s me!)

NASH: I’ve said it so many times, to so many of my Shenzhen Zhong Xue students, and they still don’t get it. Perhaps Mr. Pavlina has explained why.

IF someone has greatness, then they also have the responsibility to use that greatness. And yes, if you were one of my SZZX students, then I am referring to you. That includes you, Platotle. I can hear some of you thinking, “But Nash, it’s not possible for all of your students to have greatness.” To which I answer, “Oh yes it is. That’s because Shenzhong isn’t a ‘regular’ school. The students there aren’t a cross-section of society, they’re a specially selected group.”

We need for you to STAND UP. “Pretending” that you have no special powers does NOT absolve you of your responsibilities. Remember:

little courage = little life

BIG COURAGE = BIG LIFE

And you get to decide. Choose wisely.

In my last post on portfolios, I introduced two free flash websites that I built in just a couple of hours (each).

I’ve decided to embed them here for those of you who were too lazy to click those links. The actual website is embedded, so their links work, but if you’re truly interested in the content, find the links in my Portfolios post and click them.

You’ve probably heard me talk about portfolios before, but if you haven’t, then you should read this first.

Okay, welcome back. Here is a portfolio – There is No Them – that I recently stumbled upon. Of course, I really like it, otherwise I wouldn’t be blogging about it.

And from that portfolio, I was led to this company / website that offers free hosting of your (small) portfolio.

Traditionally, portfolios have been for “artists”, including designers, architects, etc…but as I’ve been explaining, in a world where creativity trumps knowledge, you need to have your own portfolio that demonstrates your capabilities, etc…

Take me, for example. My blog demonstrates my teaching abilities, and I have a link to my lovely student photos. I also have some of my other work online, such as when I shamed Wal-Mart into following their own company rules (and Chinese law) to keep their stairways clear. Or this one that shamed Shenzhen Zhong Xue so that they would STOP cheating on their applications to American universities.

So when I approach people regarding work, I don’t only give them references, I give them examples of my work. You know, I show them my portfolio.

Our young people are capable of SO MUCH MORE than most of us choose to believe. This is true whether we’re talking about kids in America, Brazil, China…Yemen or Zimbabwe. And so, it’s with much pride that I’d like to introduce all of you to a totally student-led, student-initiated online magazine entitled, Nirvana Weekly.

It’s created by the wonderful students of Shenzhen Zhong Xue and is definitely worth a peek. Their latest edition is just out and covers their opinions regarding Google and China. You can check it out here.

And this is as great a place as any to share one of my all-time favorite quotes. It’s from Margaret Mead, who was an American cultural anthropologist: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

And while looking up that exact quote, I discovered another of her gems: “Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.“

Are you a heretic? Unless you’re planning on leading people into the past, you’d best learn to be. At least a little. Because the future belongs to the heretics. Always has. Always will. Don’t trust me, THINK!

You can choose to add subtitles in any of 16 languages – just click the “View Subtitles” writing immediately to the right of the play arrow. (It’s on the bottom left-hand side of the video box.)
Please let me know (via comments) if the video isn’t shown in China and I’ll do my best to upload it to YouKu.

If you’re interested in marketing in general, and especially if you’re interested in marketing as it relates to the publishing industry, then this video is for you.
If you’re interested in public speaking and presentation, then Seth is also worth watching. Take, for example, how he begins his talk with a story. Stories are important, so learn to become a storyteller.
If marketing or publishing aren’t your things, you still should watch the video – consider it a good way to practice for TOEFL. And remember, if you’re watching to improve your English, it’s not important that you catch everything. It is important that you don’t quit.

[NOTE: If the video doesn’t show in China, leave me a message in the comments section and I will do my best to get it uploaded to YouKu.

T-Mobile (one of America’s wireless phone carriers) has created an interesting marketing campaign, appropriately titled “Life’s for Sharing“. And it nicely illustrates the future of advertising. Because traditional advertisers are fighting a losing battle in the war for my – or your – attention. There are simply too many interesting things for me to spend my attention on, for me to waste any of my time (read attention) on something that bores me.
Can you imagine this happening in China? In Shenzhen?