This man is so bright that he speaks 5 languages! He speaks Swahili so if you know anyone struggling with a problem, please send them to TIL and ask for Joseph to be one of the counselors to meet with them. 

Anyone may meet with him yet someone who is from Kenya, Congo (DRC), or Tanzania (who speaks Swahili which is a second language to many of those from these countries in Africa) may prefer to meet with him for biblical counseling. His name here in the states is Joseph and we are so happy to have him on-board with TIL. In the future, we plan to do a pastor's training conference in Kenya when Joseph returns home to help him in his ministry there!

Praise the Lord Jesus Christ for His latest addition to our Truth in Love team!  Welcome Pastor Joseph!

-Mark (trying to speak just one language well - English!)

A couple of months ago, my business partner and I launched Pasefika LIFE.

Pasefika LIFE specialises in assisting our Pacific Island people to accomplish personal growth, self confidence, self respect, cultural identity and success in our everyday lives.

Empowering to Succeed is the programme my business partner and I have developed to assist our young people in the sporting sector to achieve their goals.  We acknowledge a need to further education, support and cultural assimilation in the wider Australian community. 

Through our Empowering to Succeed initiative, we provide our people with programmes, services, referrals and workshops to help promote confidence and discipline to achieve the best in both their sporting lives as athletes and other future endeavours.

Our passion and heart is to reach out to our people in lending a hand up to raise above the stereotypes, the negativity, the complacency, the defeated mindsets - into a life of accomplishment, victory,  prosperous mindsets and growth.

Pasefika LIFE bids for the Australian public to:

 “HELP US, HELP YOU - HELP OUR PEOPLE, BRIDGE THE GAP AND LEAD THE WAY!

COPYRIGHT PASEFIKA LIFE 2008 ]]> http://lancashirecare.wordpress.com/?p=1767 Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:05:31 +0000 sjennings29 http://lancashirecare.wordpress.com/?p=1767 Suicide Prevention Strategy Annual Report, 5th August 2008, NIMHE

Click on the Report Title for the full-text of this document

Abstract: This is the fifth annual report of progress since the national suicide prevention strategy for England was launched. The National Institute for Mental Health in England, part of the Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP), is responsible for implementation of the strategy in partnership with a range of agencies and organisations committed to supporting delivery of the strategy goals and objectives.

How To

The Web video economy is at the tipping point in terms of developing an advertising business model. If you're sitting on video archives or creating content now, Twistage CEO David Wadler has some simple advice: start wringing revenue from those clips. Here's how...

FULL ARTICLE

News

Web-video pioneer Metacafe chugged along as some clip destinations rose and fell. Now the site is gathering content allies.

FULL ARTICLE

News

Recent research indicates that the Web-video economy is crystalizing, but won't nip at the heels of traditional TV advertising for years to come. It's a pennies versus dollars game.

FULL ARTICLE

News

Keeping control of Olympics content drives NBC's decision not to share its live Web coverage of Beijing games with other partners.

FULL ARTICLE

News

The Web video advertising market is a veritable Babel. IAB is trying to get everyone to talk the same language.

FULL ARTICLE

"One of Enthiosys' original Innovation Games, Buy a Feature brings together participants who are given limited amounts of 'virtual' currency, which they can then use to buy product features they deem most valuable."

"Bringing the game to an online forum and tying it to Borland's Management Solutions lets product managers funnel thousands of customers into a single collaborative environment and encourages teamwork to determine what new products should be brought to market or what new features should be built into current offerings."

Press release: "Borland and Enthiosys to Demonstrate "Innovation Games" for BMS at Agile 2008 Conference."

Related posts:

• Prediction markets: Virtual Ventures; InnovateUS; PPX Predictions Exchange.
• Crowdsourcing: Ideaconnection; Ideagora; Ideawicked; Crowdspirit; Ears wide open

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Borland and Enthiosys just announced their partnership at Agile 2008. The companies have integrated Enthiosys' Innovation Games into Borland's Management Solutions (BMS).  The goal is to make it easier for product managers to prioritize development work by enabling customers to "virtually" buy whichever product features they consider most relevant.

Enabling customers to actively provide input helps product managers work through the constantly growing funnel of items related to product updates and upgrades. Originally, "Buy a Feature" involved face to face meetings. Taking this activity online enables wider and ongoing customer participation.  Implementing a virtual currency becomes a means to help participants compare the relative value of  a given set of product features.

J. de Francisco
Chicago, IL     6 August 08

RSS Feed Most recent posts Innovation search engine Newsfeed mashup

Another one is partnering with a friend rather than your SL partner - Double standard is you would go mad if your partner did it but is it really ok for you?

Everything these days seems to be a communication breakdown. Mutual gain and getting on with whatever you want to do has bred a purely selfish race of people who are only in it to get what they want from it and to hell with what anyone else thinks. I'm not lecturing here - I am probably as guilty of this as the next person. Is it easier to conduct yourself in world rather than outside it though...

Let us look at the facts - In world, I am successful, popular, I have a lot of good friends and I work for a lot of great places. I am constantly learning and meeting people and generally having fun. In my RL, I have a nice job, I have great friends and I have a lot of fun - but in that fun I am wondering what is going on in SL what my friends are doing if I am missing something... AARGH! I *love* my SL and most of the people in it, I love who I work with and what I do, but am I completely missing the point? Maybe it is nearing the end of my time in SL, time to hang up the prim shoes and have a long think... Most likely, however,  I'll come home from work and log on eagerly to see what the latest is.

OAN Sci and I are no longer partnered - we are still together (just) but I don't think I will accept his partnership again - not for a very very long time... Purely because I can't trust him not to hurt me.. And before you start commenting Sci, you volunteered the promise you made to me - I never asked for it, so you have no one to blame but yourself if I don't trust what you promise anymore.

A somewhat subdued Lady Kezzy

PS... The Purple Rose is hosting Wisdom and Ndugu Magic - Chapl's Salon Players - Violin and Piano accompaniment, on Saturday 9th at 12pmSLT. If you can make it I thoroughly recommend it.

Here are some criteria for the Strategic Partner decision that have been further tailored to match the needs of a fictional water filter company.  Note how the Must limits and Ideal values set by this company tune the generic criteria pattern to match the specific needs of this company.

The company has evaluated 2 alternatives using the Think It Through tool to better understand the relative merits of each potential partner.

The Tornado Chart can be used to highlight the advantages that make one alternative superior.

A Spider Chart presents the same information, but could be used to compare up to 5 alternatives at a time.

Pamir 1 HPP accounts for 75% of the capacity in the main grid system of GBAO, which is operated by Pamir Energy (PEC), a fully privately owned special purpose company, under a 25-year concession given by the Government of Tajikistan to operate and further develop all existing electricity generation, transmission, and distribution facilities in GBAO. The concession was developed under the Pamir Private Power Project (PPPP), which is a successful public-private partnership between the Government, the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AWED), as the main private sponsor, and the IFC.

World Bank

TLAC and Dorinda Pulliam make an effort every day to accommodate our requests and questions so that we can pull more animals that they don't have the resources to save. 

Dorinda is working with APA! to find more adoption sites (maybe even the Town Lake Running Trail).  She has excitedly worked with us to find homes for the dogs that have been there a long time, even letting us return them at night to sleep in between adoption days, because it is so hard to find fosters for adult dogs.  She has given us access to the euthanasia list each night so we can make sure that we are only pulling dogs that no other group can or would save (thereby eliminating redundency).  She has made her staff completely accessible to us and is dedicated to easing the process of rescue and adoption.  She is 100% supportive of our PASS program and she and her staff are referring people to us that can be talked out of leaving their pets at the shelter.

I just wanted to take a second to applaud the effort being made by TLAC, Dorinda, and city staff.  Together we can make a difference.  We would have no real ability to help animals if TLAC was not so supportive of APA!  Thank you!

Monday was my travel day, and catch up on sleep day. Tuesday I began catching up on emails and voicemails and returning calls from during the Forum week. Wednesday I was finally able to start taking calls and emails from my fellow grads of 708. Today was the first day I could actually start working on my new responsibilities as Club President of CEO Space Denver South, as well as starting to work on some new client materials.

I've had a half dozen conversations so far with partners that I found at the forum, where we will do mutual referrals. For the next couple of weeks I will be swamped with new clients, as well as trying to organize the CEO Space weekly meetings. But this is normal now for the first weeks after the Forum. I estimate that just the new business I have identified this week alone would cover a first timers cost to the forum and then some.

My point is that everyone is swamped with new business, partnerships, and teams after the Forum. It just goes to show you that the value of the forum really is there.

Cardboard Safari has joined with the International Rhino Foundation, an organization that is dedicated to the survival of the world's rhino species through conservation and research, to spread awareness about the plight of the rhino.  Rhinos have existed on Earth for more than 50 million years. In the past, rhinos were much more diverse and widespread (occurring in North America and Europe as well as in Africa and Asia).  Today, only five species of rhinos survive.  All rhinos are under threat of extinction, and all but one species is on the verge of extinction.  Without drastic action, some rhinos could be extinct in the wild within the next 10-20 years.

Cardboard Safari offers premium-quality animal figures made of recycled cardboard.  Rhino, Deer, Moose and Bison heads are currently available in both brown and white cardboard. Each animal puzzle is laser-cut for precision fit, easily assembles using slotted construction and is made to mount on the wall.  

When owner Chris Jesse started the company late last year, he planned to take a stand for the animals that inspire him.  "When I talked with Susie, the Executive Director at IRF, I knew right away that I wanted to be involved.  The IRF supports increasing the rhino population in every way possible - using scientific, educational and financial resources. Partnering with them supports our mission of putting people in touch with wild animals," Jesse said.   Information about rhinos and the International Rhino Foundation will be included with every rhino shipped.  The animal heads are great home or office decoration - for adults and kids alike.  They are available at www.cardboardsafari.com and through over 100 stores worldwide. 

“Partnering with Raices magazine falls right in line with our desire to constantly make more services and resources available to our thriving Condo.com community of buyers, sellers and real estate professionals.” said Richard Swerdlow, CEO of Condo.com “We know our customers will benefit from the information provided in Raices and we are sure that Raices will appreciate the quality and volume of professionals joining our condo.com community daily,” he added.

While Condo.com uses the power of the internet to communicate its message to customers, RAICES uses a 4 color print magazine to reach its audience which currently includes over 100,000 readers worldwide. “Our typical reader is a CEO or top executive in the real estate industry including developers, investment groups, bankers, brokers and consultants in major cities in Europe, Asia Pacific and America. “ says creator Fabio Ostroviecki. “Condo.com is the most important alliance we have in North America. This partnership will fuel our intent to keep growing, provide cross functional tools to our customers and broaden our spectrum of reach. This is an exciting alliance for us and our readers and supports our goal of generating sales for our clients,” added Ostroviecki.

While many companies are struggling in today’s economy, especially in the real estate industry, Condo.com continues to experience rapid growth as the World’s Largest Condo Marketplace. Traffic to the site increased 23% in June, which generated more than 14,000 leads, over 3.4 million page views and over 97,000 visitor hours on the site.

About Condo.com

Condo.com is the most popular global internet portal for the condo real estate industry focusing on multi-family housing and the condo lifestyle. Condo.com has a comprehensive database that includes over 600,000 listings from multiple sources including developers and lending institutions that are traditionally not available to consumer markets. Registered Condo.com customers will get special discounted subscription rates to Raices Magazine among other special offers and exclusive events. For more information, visit www.condo.com or call 877.266.3601.

"iBridge Network is a not-for-profit initiative that uses its Web site to provide understandable and searchable access to innovations developed by university and other not-for-profit research labs. NineSigma and the Network will work together to help connect industry leaders with the research and innovations produced inside the country's colleges and universities."

Press Release:  "NineSigma Welcomes iBridge Network to Innovation Alliance Program."

Related posts:

• "Innovation networks."
• "The European Network of Living Labs."

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Innovation networks are helping companies accelerate research and development.  Some of these address alliances with venture capital firms, strategic coopetition with other enterprises in the same market segment, collaboration with suppliers, distributors and companies delivering complementary products and services, partnerships with universities and public research centers, as well as crowdsourcing and open source programs involving contributions from independent researchers and users.

When it comes down to working with universities, quite a few of the initiatives focus on scientific research, leading edge technologies, forward looking applications and usability, economics and business modeling. A few universities happen to offer cross-functional research programs addressing the technical and the business sides of a given project getting research and business faculty to work together.

iBridge has been running a successful pilot network for two years already. This organization claims to deliver the largest global network of scientists and technologists, helping universities and their technology transfer offices to partner with entrepreneurs and established corporations.

J. de Francisco
Chicago, IL     31 July 08

RSS Feed Most recent posts Innovation search engine Newsfeed mashup

This week we have talked about ways to flex analytical thinking capabilities so as to become more adept at developing and executing strategic directives. One of the ways which has contributed substantially to my personal growth in strategic based thinking, has been its application in a variety of strategic games I have played. Most of these games have simple rules, and can be played by a broad spectrum of individuals ranging from children to adults. When we begin to scratch the surface of these rules, we notice more complexities. Strategy development follows similar lines. To develop and deploy an effective strategy is a challenging task. Listed below are five strategy based games through which I have learnt many valuable lessons.

1. Chess: This game teaches several fundamental concepts, such as preparation, patience and sacrifice, key proponents in development of strategic planning. Chess provides an ideal playing ground to practice, and hone skills needed in these particular segments. It teaches us to see patterns, which may lead to future positions, and how to take advantage of them. At the same time it forces us to continue looking at the bigger picture, to ensure that we are aware of all positions on the board, so as to take advantage of them. To read more about the parallels between chess and strategy please click here.

2. Bridge: Is a game which helps develop skills to work with others, communication, learning to trust instinct and, actual 'table' play. As a partnership based game, effective communication with your partner is critical so as to read and understand the partner's hand. Developing and deploying strategic directives works in the same way. We have to learn to work together to formulate them, at the same time we have to communicate them effectively to the rest of the team, to ensure smooth deployment or play. To read more about parallels between bridge and strategy please click here.

3. Poker: Among the many things which can be learnt from this game are aggression, controlling emotions and attention to detail. Most of these qualities are also required to ensure successful deployment of any strategy. Without them, we see poor execution and unravelling of plans midway, due to the inability to master these factors. It is essential that we develop and be adept at understanding our own thresholds and abilities to find success. To read more about the parallels between poker and strategy please click here.

4. Monopoly: An all time favorite strategy based game, this gives players insights into negotiating, deal making and situational analysis. There are several strategies which players take to win at this game, unfortunately they are often short sighted. This is due primarily because we develop strategies based solely on the short term . These could be in the form of hitting quarterly targets or maintaining specific share price. Most of these strategies do not take into account long term implications of these decisions, which have the potential to be detrimental to the company's future. To read more about parallels between monopoly and strategy please click here.

5. Risk: A game with an end goal of, world domination. It teaches players several principles relating to allocation of resources, partnerships and aggression. Most of these principles form the basis of successful strategies. The ability to fully utilize in-hand resources in the most efficient manner is a challenging task. Furthermore, to progress as an organization,  strategic alliances need to be formed to accelerate the rate of growth. These principles are covered in the game, in a simple yet effective manner. To learn more about parallels between risk and strategy please click here.

On the journey as an entrepreneur, learning has to be an ongoing factor. Using creative methods to exercise analytical and thinking capabilities helps to see situations from different angles. This equips us with the ability to make better decisions, be more productive and reach our goals faster. 

Competing for world domination is what the game of Risk is all about. This is a military based game, where players put their respective armies against each other. The game provides each player with the ability to be involved in strategic maneuvering, brings in an element of luck with the dice and gives ample opportunities to form and break alliances. In a way, it simplifies all the complexities of war, into a simple game where the player with the greatest foresight and a little luck, usually emerges victorious. Unlike Monopoly, this game allows for more creativity and imagination due to the movements allowed on the board. Playing straightforward strategies leaves you exposed, and vulnerable to attacks. 

This interesting game has quite a few parallels to the world of business and strategy:

1. Allocation of Resources: Each player has a finite amount of resources allocated to them. The placement of these resources is a critical aspect of the game. One may choose to have loosely scattered armies all over the board, they may decide to fortify certain key positions with the bulk of their resources, or they may aim to use their resources collectively and be aggressive. Each strategy has its advantages and disadvantages, a similar predicament occurs in the real world when we develop strategies. The deployment of limited resources is critical to whether the overall strategy will be successful or not.

2. Partnerships: Conquering the whole world, even in a game, is an arduous task, one that can rarely be done alone. The game calls for players to partner together, to improve their chances of winning and become a more feared adversary. Without these partnerships one is usually outflanked or outnumbered, and an early exit in the the game is imminent. The same principles apply in the real world. In order to reach goals and objectives, partnerships are an essential component. Choosing partners carefully and correctly is vital to ensure the success of any campaign.

3. Aggression: In my experience of playing this game, the opponent who chooses to fortify a small portion of the board heavily, usually faces eventual defeat. Opponents who choose a defensive style of play, lack the creativity or willingness to go out of their comfort zones, fearing the unknown. Unfortunately such behavior is punished heavily in this game as well as in the real world. When pursuing goals and dreams, being aggressive is often vital to acheive them . Focusing efforts on offensive strategies instead of defensive ones will bring a greater share of victories, rather than defeats in my opinion. 

In the game of Risk there is an element of luck, due to the requirement of rolling a dice. Once the dice is rolled, nothing can be done to change what was rolled. What we do have control over, is how we react to what we may have rolled. In life we have the same choice. We cannot change the hand that we have been dealt. What we can change is how we choose to play it. Remember to keep your end goal in mind, and formulate short term tactics to reach it.

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If you're facing a health challenge your circle of influence is greater than you realize.  You may not have a television special done about your life, but is that how we measure the influence or the mark we've made on the world.  Every day we have contact with people and it's our inner nature that leaves an indelible mark on the lives we touch.

So maybe you're not a TV personality, so let's focus on who you are.  Think about who you have contact with on a regular basis and what part you play in their life.  It could be as simple as helping a child who has fallen at the playground get back up.  Perhaps you decided after you've retired to join the Peace Corps or Americorps or began volunteering in your community.  Perhaps in a year like we're in now you've decided to put on your political hat and become part of a campaign.  You may have chosen to save the lives of animals who without adoption would be euthanized.

It's not about your degree of fame that determines your level of influence; it's the conviction in your heart that is the beacon of hope.  If nothing else, when you are facing a health challenge, hope is the key.  When you've been diagnosed with an illness you do have a choice about how you will live your life.  You can live life isolated and as a victim or you can see what being a part of a community and striving to make the most of each day can do for your health and the health of others.

You have more influence on the world than you can imagine.  You share your values with those at the grocery store, coffee shop and daycare.  By sharing who you are and living life in partnership with others you rub off on people.  We all want to make sure we leave a mark on the world.  If you don't listen to Randy Pausch's lecture or read the book or watch the You Tube of his talk, think about the change you want to see and be in the world.  Don't wait till you're better, doing something incredible will improve your health.  It doesn't have to be a world wide web sensation...keep it simple and the impact will be huge.