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Article by Peter J. Normandia. Follow me on twitter.

Colin, a talented friend of mine recently was inspired by the BP Oil incident and made the gut wrenching video below from all of the photos released about the spill. The visuals really hit home for me, choked me up, and inspired me to write some feelings I have had for a long time…

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The BP Oil Spill in the Gulf has really started to highlight a point I think the world has been missing for a long, long time. The truth is, WE are all connected. Yes, we meaning the Earth, all of its inhabitants, and humanity itself. Every creature plays a part in making this world what it is: but a small part of an expanding universe.

Yet for some reason, some time ago, the idea that animals, the Earth itself, or any other living organisms have the equal right to life as humans was discarded as hogwash. Humans are much more important, with a greater right to life, because we have a brain. That incredible brain that separates us as the cream of the animal crop is what allows us, and gives us the right, to F up the world when we want to. Right?

So what if we slaughter species after species of animals or no reason, or we ruin the one planet we have ever found that supports life. As long as someone somewhere is able to make large sums of money, who really cares about the ecosystem and the environment? I mean, if we screw up the earth, we can just move to…um….we can go live on….um…, yeah, exactly.

This is why, I just don’t get it anymore. I am fed up with humanity. On a smaller level, I simply drive down the road (an environmental issue onto itself), and I see animal after animal dead in the street. People don’t care. It’s cool, as long as they get where they are going. Then, on a major disaster level, we see something like the BP oil spill. Everyone is up in arms like this is first time, or unfortunately the last, an oil company has F’ed up an ecosystem. People will hoot and holler, but at the end of the day, it will just continue on, as long as we are able to live comfortably. Some politician(s) will use this to try and drum up votes at the next election. Some entrepreneur will find a way to profit, and the rest of us will simply move on to the next catastrophe.

However, this perspective needs to change, or it will be humanity’s downfall. A friend of mine recently mentioned something he heard and it completely blew my mind. Basically, he put it like this…

When the human body gets a virus, it lives and grows until it becomes a threat. Then the body naturally fights it with everything it has until the virus is dead, or the human is. Right now, we (humanity) are the virus. The Earth is the body, and it is fighting back against us. Volcano after volcano, earthquake after earthquake, tsunamis, etc. The Earth is tired of humanity and is doing its best to save itself and rid its body of the threat that humanity has become. And even if humanity survives, will the Earth?

I just don’t understand the universal logic that humans have a greater right to life than anything else on this planet. I mean we all live here, we all contribute, and we are all part of this once beautiful, sacred planet we call the Earth.

The government will do what they can to help, as long as it helps their supporter’s pocketbooks, or contributes to more votes for them. The majority of humans, probably including myself, will get over this at some point, and move on. This circle of life will continue until at some point, it will come to a crashing halt that will make this nightmare of a recession we are in look like heaven on Earth.

All I can say to everyone is please wake up.

The only way to change our perspective is through one person at a time. So the next time you pass a dead animal in the road, and swerve your car annoyed that it might get some blood on your tires, think of the animal itself. Think of that on a mass level happening everyday. Humanity is slowly biting the hand that feeds it. What started as a few nibbles, has snowballed into a voracious appetite for total destruction of the beautiful planet we live on, and everything that gets in our way.

Unfortunately for us, there is no check anyone can write to buy another Earth. So once again, please remind me, who are the animals with the advanced brains?

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Article by Peter J. Normandia. Follow me on Twitter.

Every Wednesday is Personal Development in Business…

As a business owner, and an American, I’m a little torn about the whole Stimulus package about to be passed by our Government, and I’d like to hear your input. The concept of the Bailout is supposed to be to provide a cash infusion that will stimulate short term growth to get us out of the worst recession possibly ever.

For those that do not think this recession is anything new, I have this bit of news for you. In the late 70s, and even during the Great Depression, there was one major difference between those recessions and this one: our government had money.

That’s right, this is the first time I believe in history where not only is the country broke, but so is our government. They actually are going to just print billions in paper and call it money, something in style since the early 1970s.

Now I have heard about the spending on the war in Iraq, but how about the spending on Healthcare? Does anyone realize as a country, we spent over $2 trillion dollars on Healthcare last year alone? I mean, our Government burns through money faster than me on payday.

However, it is not Barack Obama’s fault we are in this situation, and he is doing his best, and what he thinks is right, to get us out of this rut. I just personally don’t think he has a chance with this bill. However, I am no expert.

History in other countries, specifically Japan in the 90s, has shown that Stimulus packages do not usually have the desired effect. Japan tried that road in the 90s and wasted a decade on it. The way they finally emerged from their recession was by cleaning out all the companies that should have gone under in the first place.

What do you think?

I do not believe in the stimulus package, but I only know what I read. I am curious what the collective opinion is on this major Historical event, and how it will be looked at in hindsight later on. So here are the two viewpoints…

The Yin

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Barack Obama is a great man, dedicated to helping our country. In a crisis of this magnitude it is critical for the government to take control. The package that Congress has passed is going to stimulate the economy short term, create jobs, and help save money by investing in technological upgrades for the government and Healthcare. This will be the defining moment for Barack Obama’s presidency because of the triumph it is destined to be.

The Yang

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Barack Obama has a good heart, but is way too inexperienced to handle this monumental task. This stimulus package is really a spending package that will not only fail to have the desired effect short term, it will actually have a negative impact long term. If the government wants to get involved, they should force the banks that gambled on Sub prime mortgages to go under and be bought up by the stronger banks that did not take that risk. The same should go for other struggling industries. Where one business fails, another will rise. The only way a market corrects itself is by being allowed to run its course.

Now it’s Your Turn

I am extremely interested in getting a collective take from everyone on this monumental event in history. All opinions are welcomed and encouraged. We could all learn something from everyone’s unique perspective.

There are two questions:

1. What industry are you in?
2. Are you leaning toward the Yin, toward the Yang, or somewhere in the middle, and why?

For more info on the possible effects of the recession check out this article.

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Article by Peter J. Normandia. Follow me on Twitter.

Every Friday is Video Day…

Two days ago, at the tender age of 95, one of the most influential martial artists in history, Helio Gracie, passed on from this world.

He is one of the founders of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, also known as Gracie Jiu Jitsu. His list of accomplishments are too long to list. If you are interested, I certainly invite you to check out his Wikipedia page. His story is the stuff legends are made from.

The video up top is an interview from October of 2007. Helio talks about his long lasting legacy and what he considers his greatest accomplishment. As a student of Gracie Jiu Jitsu, I’d like to personally wish the entire Gracie family my condolences during this trying time. I have never met a bunch of nicer, more down to earth people than the Gracie family, and all those that train in their schools.

The video below, as explained in the voiceover, is s great example of why Helio had such a profound impact on the world of Martial Arts. It is two minutes of footage from Helio’s world changing fight against Kimura.

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Looking for a reason to smile this Holiday?

Here’s 11 moments guaranteed to bring joy, even if you’re the Grinch himself…

1. A loved one’s face when you give a thoughtful gift.
2. Hearing a name you forgot existed until it made you smile.
3. Witnessing (or experiencing) the effects a little extra Egg Nog will have on a seasonal drinker.
4. Listening to the same damn New Years Resolutions you heard last year and contemplating whether the person is truly aware of it or not.
5. Observing the ‘Holiday Spirit’ shown by parking-space seekers at the Mall.
6. Seeing someone frighteningly joyful in a Santa outfit, or likewise ridiculous Christmas get-up.
7. The smell of fresh-baked holiday sweets.
8. Re-experiencing the unbridled joy of the holidays vicariously through a child.
9. Getting holiday cards in the mail with pictures of kids from families you don’t even know.
10. The expression on a relative’s face when you thank them for gifts they didn’t know they got you.
11. Your expression when getting thanked for gifts you didn’t even know you got someone (if you are married & male at least)..

Spread the Joy

THe (+) is up to you. In the comments, tell us….

What smile producing moments can you count on experiencing every holiday season….?

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For the past few months, my partner Chris and I have battled countless times about the election. He is an adamant Obama supporter and I am an adamant arguer, which means I like to get his blood boiling by playing devil’s advocate. However, I definitely can say I am a huge fan of John McCain. I love his life story, his class, his hunger to do the right thing, and his never say die attitude. It’s why he got my vote.

I also was a fan of Sarah Palin. I know many people did not like her, especially for VP, but I did. I thought she handled what was thrown on her lap with great dignity, even if she was a bit conservative for my taste. I also come from a Republican household, so I consistently heard how good of a candidate and an American John McCain was. I’m sure that played a big role in my preference.

As the election came, and the overwhelming majority of America spoke by voting for Barack Obama, I felt bad for McCain after the effort he gave.  I don’t think he realistically ever had a chance but he certainly gave it his all. I thought his concession speech was pure class, something not shown by the McCain supporters who booed Obama during it.

I also have great admiration for the camaraderie that developed over time between the candidates. I grew to respect Obama, even if I differed with some of his viewpoints, just by the way he handled the race & his victory.

But then on Wednesday morning (i fell asleep Tuesday night), I watched the new President Elect Obama make his first speech as our future president.

I have to say, that what I saw completely changed my mind about everything.

For one night at least, it was not about politics. It was not about the worst economic crisis this century. It was not about abortion, or whether the war is right in Iraq. It was not about Democrats or Republicans. It was not about any political stance. What I witnessed was a true change in this country, and a change in myself.

I could not get over the elation from Obama’s supporters. If you watched the speech you heard about the African American lady from Atlanta who, at 106 years old, voted for Obama. As Obama spoke about all the things she lived through, I began to understand what this election means to so many people. I began to see the joy and hope in millions of his supporter’s eyes. It was inspiring to see so many people incredibly emotional and proud to be American.

It is not something I have witnessed since shortly after 9/11.  I think that right there shows that Obama was the right choice to lead at this time. The simple fact that his journey has inspired an entire country of young people shows what anyone can do if they believe they can.

If we believe America is a great place, a great place America will become.

Believing in yourself, and who you are, is the critical to your success in anything you do. Many people wait for others to believe in them before they are confident enough to believe in themselves. However, truly great people, believe in themselves long before anyone else does. Their belief in themselves is so strong, that it naturally permeates to others. Their undying attitude inspires the rest of us to say….

‘Yes we can.’

Never was that more clear to me then after I watched the incredible speech Obama gave. I was inspired, not only for my country, but for myself as well. It’s quite a challenge to believe in yourself, however, the opportunity is there for us all. Whether you want to be the next president, make a million dollars, stop world hunger, or simply become a writer, all it takes is the inner strength to believe it is possible.

The rest is just a matter of time.

What will happen from here on out with the President Elect remains to be seen. He has many tough challenges to face and a whole country hoping he can make a change. However, at least for right now, he has made more of a difference in America than I ever imagined possible. He has provided inspiration at a time the entire country is starving for it. He has reawakened the reality of the American Dream. That is something I will always cherish witnessing, regardless of my political stance.

So, from a McCain supporter, congratulations to President Elect Obama. It is very apparent you were a great choice and I look forward with the rest of America to better times under your leadership.

For those that were under a rock the last few days, or for those who want to watch it again, below is the speech from President Elect Barack Obama on Nov. 4th, 2008 in Chicago, shortly after he won the presidency.

Article by Peter J. Normandia. Follow me on Twitter.

This economy sucks, plain and simple.

It’s probably the first time in my adult life I can actually say that. I was born in 1979, so I grew up with Reaganomics while watching Fraggle Rock. I was in High School during the first televised war in Iraq, and barely surviving the University of Maryland when Bill Clinton was explaining why Monica saved her dress without washing it. This was the same time the Mortgage Industry began their now notorious, greed filled run.

However, until last year, I had never experienced such a bad economy as an adult. To top it off, I opened a Mortgage Branch the year before specializing in A-paper loans, so I was smack dab in the middle of the windstorm. As the industry got what was coming to it, I learned incredibly valuable lessons I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

As the old saying goes, ‘what does not kill you only makes you stronger.‘

Here is what the recent downturn in the economy has taught me….

Credit, Dead it!

‘That Credit, Dead it. Think a crackhead paying you back, shit, forget it‘

Such were the words of the Late Notorious B.I.G. (remember, I grew up in the early 90s!).  Substitute ‘a crackhead‘ for ‘a struggling borrower‘, and you have the real truth of today.

Credit was so available to everyone out there, that it became acceptable to live above your means. No longer did you need a used car when you can lease a brand new one. No longer did you need to have 20% to get a house, or even for that matter, did you need to show you could pay back the loan. Instead you could just ‘state’ your income. No need for proof. No need to earn the right to live the American dream. Instead you could live the dream now, and pay back what you owe when you make it. Wow, sounds great.

So I used credit to open up my mortgage branch. $28,000 to be exact. Being that it was a branch company, the credit I used was all personal. I took a calculated risk. I had the loans in the pipeline. I had a great marketing plan that worked like a charm. All I had to do was close these loans that all fit the current criteria. However, in a matter of days, the industry went into the toilet, and the criteria suddenly changed, even for A-paper loans.

Unable to close the majority of loans, I was left with over $25k in personal debt, and no where to write it off because it was personal. Instead of taking my time to build my company, I immediately tried to have it all. I went for the whole pie in one swoop because I had the credit. Why should I not use it? Well, now, unfortunately, I know the answer to that question.

Even though I had some pretty nice stuff that I owned, it still did not feel right. I had gotten most of it on credit.  My house has a mortgage, even though I initially put down 20%. My car is a lease.  However, none of these items give me the joy of being proud because I did not earn them the right way. All I earned, was the right to foot the bill.

The Inner Beauty of Living Below Your Means

I grew up in a pretty affluent area in New Jersey. Most kids in my high school got their cars from their parents, barely worked, and had credit cards that their parents also paid for them. I was not as spoiled, but my Dad was able to buy me a car when I turned 17 for $5,000.  It was a 10 year old BMW, and I loved it. It still, to this day, was probably the best car I ever owned from an enjoyment perspective.  However, in my school, this car was laughed at by some.

‘Dude, you call that a Beemer? It’s like 10 years old.’

Being in high school, I did not know any better. My world was the town I lived in. This was before AOL and the internet had really boomed as a networking tool. All I knew was the life before my eyes. I grew up believing that I should always have nice things. Even though I was not spoiled, I still had it pretty good compared to most, and I got used to it.

As I got older, my young life left me a taste for nice things. To live at the same level I did growing up, I had to start out making what people in my neighborhood made. This was not easy, being that most people in my neighborhood were earning in the top 3% of the country. However, I had the credit. Next thing I knew, I had the house of a successful person, and the bills to go with it. However, my income was not consistently on the same level. Working on commission, I was just able to keep up with my bills most months.

This was the major problem. Because I was just keeping up, as soon as things took a downturn, I was suddenly thrust into a hole. I had a ton of debt, and high monthly expenses to boot. I had to change industries completely, and start a company from scratch doing amazing web work. This was not easy for someone in my financial position. Living above my means could have set me back for years & years.

Luckily, I have great support from my incredible family. Without it, I don’t know where I would be. However, besides the support, they also have taught me something that I did not know. They taught me about the benefit of living below your means. Their generation grew up in that fashion. They understood how to live life before their was credit. I had to learn this the hard way.

As my Father enlightened me, the old school way of thinking was to buy a house with monthly expenses that equal about 1/4 of your income. I think that is great advice, even though it took this dire situation for it to sink in.

Just because you can live above your means, does not mean you should. There is a great beauty in a person that evolves from them persevering through hard times. I know, because I saw the change in myself when I was seriously ill with Crohn’s disease for a year. Persevering through difficult times makes you appreciate the good times.

Learn to love the Struggle

I’ve learned this in Jiu Jitsu: ‘There is no easy road to success.’

If you want to be successful at Jiu Jitsu, you better be persistent. Well, there is no easy road to financial stability either. It is a constant battle, especially in the ever-changing economic landscape that we live in today. It is only through the tough road of living below your means and working toward the things you desire that will satisfy you in life. Going out and purchasing a new toy on credit feels good for a day. Afterward, you are stuck with the bill, and left to juggle that with the rest of your expenses.

However, purchasing something that you earned through your own sweat is a feeling like no other. It makes you proud to own that toy. It makes you feel like a million dollars when you use it, because no one can ever take away the fact that you earned it. This is why we must learn to love the struggle it takes to get where we are going. The easy road is the fastest way, but it leaves you in place you don’t necessarily want to stay.

Prepare for the Worst.

Growing up during relatively good economic times, especially since high school, I never experienced living in hard times. I had heard my parents, grandparents, and their friends talk about the past generation’s experience, but I just assumed it was all part of the past. Today was different. We are not going to make those same crazy mistakes over and over.

Boy, was I wrong.

However, this experience left me with a great lesson. Even when things are going great, and you feel on top of the world, you must always be prepared for a change. If you take the time and patience to set yourself up properly, then when things to take a turn for the worse, you will be prepared to handle it. If you live above your means, then when the slightest change occurs, you will not be prepared to adapt. Financial flexibility is more important then keeping up with the Jones’.

What has this recent down turn in the economy taught you?

As with every mistake I make, it is important to understand the lesson that was learned. These 3 lessons are something I will carry with me for the rest of my life. They will shape the person I become because this is what my business experience has been at a young age. I hope everyone else from my generation has learned a lesson of their own as well.

What is your take on the economic times? Have you been able to adapt, or were you caught off guard like me? How has this change effected the way you will handle your future financial situations?

I recently was asked to join a group of worldwide bloggers in a fight against poverty by participating in Blog Action Day 2008. The idea is that today, October 15th, across the globe, millions of bloggers will be raising awareness about the worldwide poverty problem.

Now, I live in a pretty upscale part of the country. However, I come from Brooklyn, NY, and I have seen my share of poverty. Besides all the local Projects, my Father taught for over 15 years at the Jim Thorpe school in Brooklyn. This school was the last line of schools before they kicked you out permanently. It was filled with poverty stricken families who had turned to crime mostly to survive.

I also worked as a door to door window salesman in good ol’ Washington D.C. during my college days. Let me tell you, canvasing through the ghettos of D.C. definitely opened up my eyes. I met some of the nicest people in the world, and they did not have a dollar.

Another time, for my confirmation, I went into NYC and fed the homeless. Besides the angry people turning back free sandwiches because they were not homeless as I had assumed, it went pretty well. Most of the poverty stricken people were happy to grab something to eat, although a few were surprisingly picky over the selection. ‘What kind of cheese is it?’, one homeless man asked me.

However, until yesterday, I was never really aware of the worldwide stats about poverty. Here is what I found (source)…

• Almost half the world — over 3 billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day.
• The GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the 41 Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (567 million people) is less than the wealth of the world’s 7 richest people combined.
• Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names.
• Less than one per cent of what the world spent every year on weapons was needed to put every child into school by the year 2000 and yet it didn’t happen.
• 1 billion children live in poverty (1 in 2 children in the world). 640 million live without adequate shelter, 400 million have no access to safe water, 270 million have no access to health services. 10.6 million died in 2003 before they reached the age of 5 (or roughly 29,000 children per day).

Needless to say, I was pretty shocked at those numbers. However, it did not stop there…

Almost half the world — over three billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day.

At least 80% of humanity lives on less than $10 a day.

According to UNICEF, 26,500-30,000 children die each day due to poverty. And they “die quietly in some of the poorest villages on earth, far removed from the scrutiny and the conscience of the world. Being meek and weak in life makes these dying multitudes even more invisible in death.”

Less than one per cent of what the world spent every year on weapons was needed to put every child into school by the year 2000 and yet it didn’t happen.

Number of children in the world -2.2 billion ; Number in poverty – 1 billion (every second child)

For more information, you can view the facts here.

Now, being that there is such a vast part of the world that I do not come into contact with on a daily basis, I believe it is easy for me to go about my everyday and just change the channel when I hear something sad on the news. However, after reading these facts, only one thing is for certain…

WE MUST UNITE & TAKE ACTION!

I am not going to tell you how. There are a billion and one ways to help out with poverty, as a quick Google search will show you. What I will do instead, is tell you what I am going to do.

The best site that I came across is called ‘End Poverty 2015 Millenium Campaign‘. Here is a blurb from the about page:

I can not say I have been paying close, close attention, but I have been intrigued by this year’s Olympics. Obviously, the Michael Phelps story and the entire Men’s swimming team was very inspirational, as were many of the celebrated winners. However, something about the 2008 Olympics continues to bother me. As records continue to be broken, and athletes surpass their predecessors in physical feats, it seems something is being left behind:

Sportsmanship.

What happened to honesty?  Sportsmanship?  Grace?  Class?  I am appalled at what the Olympics has become.  No longer is it a celebration of competition.  It is more a conspiracy breeding ground, where even when someone wins a gold medal, you have to wonder if they cheated.  Not only that, but you have numerous frustrated athletes, and their bitter supporters, defiantly disputing losses and the integrity of the games.   I have no problem with competitors naturally being upset or disappointed after a loss, but even if the result was questionable, isn’t it better to let the public speak rather than disrespect the entire competition?

I feel the Olympics has become a giant personal competition for many of these athletes. However, I am not blaming them.  I am blaming society, I think .  That is because the only celebrated athletes seem to be the ones who win the Gold.  I feel that is a poor way to judge the Olympians.  Winning a medal is just the icing on the cake.  The fact that they are in the Olympics is the true celebration.

The real Olympic Gold Medal winners are all of the athletes who understand what a gift it is to be a part of something like this.  They get an opportunity of a lifetime, to represent their entire country, whether it is their first, 2nd, or even 3rd time at the Olympics.  It is something to be treasured for the rest of their life.  It is an accomplishment they will always hold dear in their heart.

Being an Olympian is not about winning, it is about giving it your all.

While winning the gold medal is the #1 desire of each Olympian, it is not what the Athletes should be judged on. The Olympics is a celebration of the competitive spirit.  In my opinion, it is supposed to be about honor, grace, dedication, and pride.  It should not be just about who wins the gold.  It is should be about the journey, not the goal.  Only one person can win the gold medal.  That does not make the rest of the athletes losers.  They all played a part in the games, and that makes them all winners.  Without their efforts, there could never be a ‘winner’.

So here is my little tribute to all of the athletes who competed fairly, counting on no one or nothing except themselves & their support.  What an honor it is to represent your country in the Olympic games and compete in front of the whole world.  I hope that future athletes learn from the mistakes of today, and realize what the Olympics, and sports in general, should really be all about: giving it your all.

Winning and losing are just a part of the game.  After all, even if you cheat to win & nobody ever finds out, you will still have to deal with your reflection in the mirror for the rest of your life.  You will still have to sleep every night knowing the biggest accomplishment in your life is a lie.  I think that is a worse fate than losing.

How do you feel about all the worldwide age scandals, doping charges, cheating and frustrated competitors in the 2008 Olympics?

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