Everyone "HAS" a genius. Let's talk to yours?

Elizabeth Gilbert faced down a ­premidlife crisis by doing what we all secretly dream of – running off for a year. Her travels through Italy, India and Indonesia resulted in the megabestselling and deeply beloved memoir Eat, Pray, Love, about her process of finding herself by leaving home.

In this talk she muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses -- and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person "being" a genius, all of us "have" a genius. It's a funny, personal and surprisingly moving talk.

If you have ever entertained the thought of giving up, or at the peak of your performance have had the anxiety that you are never going to be able to top this, then you are not alone. A great paradigm that Elizabeth brings forth is, that it was not you alone, in the first instance, that created that great piece of work. If you show up, consistently, to do your part then in this creative process great work gets done. I am reminded of the famous lyrics "when the music starts will you sit it out or will you dance?" - I hope you'll dance!

Never Quit! because that is easy and guarantees an absence of what you were striving for in the first place.

The Last Lecture - what would you say?

There are limitations in my ability to eloquently introduce Dr. Randy Pausch.

We all have a use by date. Unfortunately, we don't know what it is. Dr. Randy Pausch was given a best medical guess - and it was 3 months. Here he is sharing his unique message with students and faculty of Carnegie Mellon University. The lecture series that he is invited to talk in is ironically called "The Last Lecture."

Imagine you are sitting in this lecture theatre and now see the world as Randy sees it.

This talk has been seen by over 3 million people around the world and counting. Randy has touched millions others with his message on Oprah, Good Morning America and more recently with the release of his book "The Last Lecture".

Suggest you keep a full hour and fifteen minutes free to enjoy the whole piece, then have your children do the same, or your loved one. I promise you, this has the potential to change your life.

Do leave a comment below and tell us what this experience meant to you. Or just click on the e-mail symbol below and send it to someone you love.

The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination

"We do not need magic to transform the world. We carry all the power we need inside ourselves already. We have power to imagine better."
- J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter fame)

After the expiry of 42 years, what if you were asked to give a commencement address at Harvard University! What would you say?

If that is difficult for you to imagine, imagine you were graduating from Harvard University in June 2008, and you were at the commencement, listening to the keynote address. You would be inspired by J.K. Rowling's grace, poise and sense of humor. As you imagine, sit back and enjoy this once in a life time address.

Business - How to have FUN with it!

Here is an interesting question I was asked.

"If you were looking for a new job (or a new investment) and you had a choice between a conservative business setting and a playful, upbeat, and high-energy one..... which would you choose?"

John, sitting on the same conversation says it is the same with selecting restaurants.

"If the quality were comparable, would you prefer to eat in a restaurant where the staff is playful, respectful, upbeat, and engaging... or in a quiet and reserved restaurant?"

The discussion took on an air of excitement and someone mentioned Brad Sugars, an entrepreneur from Brisbane, Australia, who moves to the US and is teaching the Americans to have some good Aussie Fun. Click here for a fantastic one hour of Brad which takes a while to load initially, but the patience is richly rewarded. As are a pen and some paper, to recollect some real dandy tips given to a live audience and everyone has Fun.

Here is a shorter 3 minute clip of Richard St. John sharing his findings on "What is Success?" Hundreds of interviews with some of the greatest leaders in their field. Distilled down to a 3 minute capsule that you would want to see again and again.

Take the lessons - learn, practice and Enjoy.