Carl Icahn
How to become CEO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcWg4897yIM&NR=1
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
What Matters
What Matters: The World's Preeminent Photojournalists and Thinkers Depict Essential Issues of Our Time by David Elliot CohenFrom the Barnes&Noble synopsis:
"Like Jacob Riis’s How the Other Half Lives, Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, and Jonathan Schell’s The Fate of the Earth before it, we believe that What Matters will fundamentally alter the way we see and understand the human race and our planet. What Matters asks: What are the essential issues of our time?"
How many times have we begun a conversation with exactly that question, "What matters?" I haven't read this book, but it seems to me that it could be a great conversation starter and a catalyst for dreaming, planning, and action.
What should a couple of 20-somethings be doing with their time as they embark on making a difference, looking to leverage their education and experiences to make maximum impact?
I believe we should be looking for repeatable solutions to the world's most pressing and pervasive problems. The trick is not first to identify the solution, but to first identify the question that needs to be answered. If we can fully define the scope of the problem to be solved, the question to be answered, we can be the facilitators and agitators of the solution. If that solution is repeatable across the globe...
Monday, October 13, 2008
Monday night 10pm
Monday night 10pm
777
Early last week congress rejected a 700 Billion bailout package and as a result the dow dropped an additional 400 points ending the day down a record 777 points.
What really happened?
A group of about 30 hedge fund manages who give huge amounts of money to political campaigns and introduce people in congress to people who can give lots made a few phone calls.
The middle class investors do not short stocks (when the stock goes down people make $) these top hedge funds do.
The money managers gave their friends in congress a call and said “don’t pass this bill the first time” then proceeded to place a few short bets.
When Congress does pass the bill they will know ahead of time and switch their bets.
Moral of the story: never buy stock
Unless you $10,000+ to perform the proper due diligence on a company you are sure to lose.
One of 2 results in inevitable:
1. It is a bad company and the stock goes down
2. It is a good company so a private equity (or larger public) firm buys it out and you have earned a moderate return but you are back to square one.
Stick with mutual funds until you have bigger $ to invest.
The old invest for the long term is as stone age as cell phone that don’t get email.
The end of the stock market:
10 years from now 2018 the stock market won’t exist. Increased security regulations and the growing disparity in wealth are making private investments more attractive.
Eventually individuals (or families, winners of the genetic lottery) will either have serious $ to invest or practically no money at all.
Which leads to the last and most important point of the evening:
The disparity in wealth in the United States continues to grow and will continue to grow until our country breaks into a revolution. The poorest have no reason to support our current system; denied of health care and education. A future and a family behind bars.
As long as the wealth distribution in this country grows we our being lead to a revolution, my hope for November is the candidate who will slow the disparity.
Blake
777
Early last week congress rejected a 700 Billion bailout package and as a result the dow dropped an additional 400 points ending the day down a record 777 points.
What really happened?
A group of about 30 hedge fund manages who give huge amounts of money to political campaigns and introduce people in congress to people who can give lots made a few phone calls.
The middle class investors do not short stocks (when the stock goes down people make $) these top hedge funds do.
The money managers gave their friends in congress a call and said “don’t pass this bill the first time” then proceeded to place a few short bets.
When Congress does pass the bill they will know ahead of time and switch their bets.
Moral of the story: never buy stock
Unless you $10,000+ to perform the proper due diligence on a company you are sure to lose.
One of 2 results in inevitable:
1. It is a bad company and the stock goes down
2. It is a good company so a private equity (or larger public) firm buys it out and you have earned a moderate return but you are back to square one.
Stick with mutual funds until you have bigger $ to invest.
The old invest for the long term is as stone age as cell phone that don’t get email.
The end of the stock market:
10 years from now 2018 the stock market won’t exist. Increased security regulations and the growing disparity in wealth are making private investments more attractive.
Eventually individuals (or families, winners of the genetic lottery) will either have serious $ to invest or practically no money at all.
Which leads to the last and most important point of the evening:
The disparity in wealth in the United States continues to grow and will continue to grow until our country breaks into a revolution. The poorest have no reason to support our current system; denied of health care and education. A future and a family behind bars.
As long as the wealth distribution in this country grows we our being lead to a revolution, my hope for November is the candidate who will slow the disparity.
Blake
Thursday, October 2, 2008
The Pact
Since Blake has opened the door by sharing a confession, I must make a confession as well. This is a confession for a sin I didn’t even know I’ve been committing, a sin so insidious that for much of my life it has passed itself off as virtue, a sin of the type which doesn’t cause evil so much as it suppresses good (which may be the same thing as causing evil – but that is a different conversation.)
As an ambitious boy become an ambitious young man become an ambitious quarter-aged man, ambition has always provided for me a healthy complement of all its virtues and vices. For I’ve chased my ambitions sometimes with reckless abandon, without the guidance of experience, sometimes without intentionality, and with only the limited perspective allowed by my constantly morphing lens on the world. But I’ve kept moving, and I think that a good thing.
I’ve come to discover, however, that for all this movement, there has been a significant amount of waiting, of hesitation. Yes, I’ve been always waiting – waiting for a sign, for some direction, for guidance, for a voice of reason, for someone to show me the way, for inspiration – always waiting for something to happen. But mostly, just waiting “until I am ready.” I’ve recently come to realize that all this waiting was brought about by a single thing – this sin I’ve committed for too long.
My sin is that I haven’t thought myself good enough. I’ve trained myself to assume I’m wrong, that my perspective is incomplete, that I’ve got nothing new to offer. I’ve tempered my dreams, ambitions, and passions with the dullness of my own perceived limitations – that I haven’t experienced enough, that I don’t know enough, that I’m not good enough. I can’t see well enough, I don’t have clear enough perspective, I’m not strong enough, I’m not smart enough. Whatever I need, I don’t have enough – I’m incomplete and untested.
I didn’t always regard this way of thinking as a sin – no, much the opposite, this has been my virtue. Where others are arrogant, I’ve been circumspect. Where others are foolhardy, I’ve been measured and thoughtful. Where others are prideful, I’ve tried humble. Where others are self-righteous, I’ve been understanding and civil. I’ve guarded against self-righteousness by always assuming there is something I do not know, that there is someone smarter with better perspective, that wisdom can be found in the world and in its people and not within me.
By understanding that I’m not “enough,” I’ve been able to see value in the contributions, thoughts, and perspectives of others. I’ve guarded against self-indulgence, never letting myself wander too far into my own ways of thinking. I’ve openly considered foreign philosophies and ideologies with a default reaction of respect rather than judgment. The recognition of my own fallibility and inadequacy has kept my eyes open to the value in others.
In the days that have passed since I’ve realized my sin, I’ve contemplated its origins. Mostly, I can trace it to guilt. The persons who have shaped my life have suffered in theirs, and I feel guilty that perhaps I have not suffered “enough” to have the proper perspective, to be tested, to be complete. My mother and her family fled their homeland out from under an oppressive regime, and she has worked for all the blessings life has brought her. She certainly is blessed, but she’s suffered to earn it. My father is a “pull-yourself-up-from-your-bootstraps” kind of guy – a self-starting, small-business-owning, killing-his-own-dinner man. He’s found success, and he’s worked for it. He suffered to earn it. And just in their example and in the retelling of their stories and in their life experiences, I have read an implicit corollary – we suffered enough, have you?
The obvious answer has been – no! I was born in the United States of America with all the rights and privileges and indulgences of being a talented, intelligent, athletic white male (my celebrated Cuban heritage not always readily apparent to the world) from a stable, church-going, resourced and respected family. What the hell are bootstraps anyway? I’ve had a leg up from the beginning.
The point of this is not to blame my parents for this sin; the point is to frame a type of survivor’s guilt that has led to the sin – I won the genetic lottery and was born into the catbird’s seat while others have suffered. And the corollary to this? Others have suffered , and because of that they have more to offer.
Well, that’s part of it. Another origin for the sin is my demon – pride. We each carry with us one or more demons, they are our companions – neither friend nor foe – just hangers-on. My demon is pride. I’ve built this sin around me as a box to contain my pride and keep it in check. One cannot be prideful when thinking oneself inadequate, untested, and incomplete. Many people fight demons they cannot see and cannot name. God has blessed me by making the introduction – I know my demon’s voice and I know his tactics – I’ve even seen his face. This knowledge scared me, though, and led me to build and fortify the walls of his prison – I’ve just now realized that prison was mine too.
In his book The Valkyries, Brazilian author Paulo Coelho travels the American desert in search of his guardian angel. His angel travels with him at all times of course, but the Valkyries, a gypsy like group of female bikers who inhabit the Mojave, know how to communicate with angels. Most importantly, they can teach Coelho to see his angel. But to converse with one’s angel, three conditions are necessary – one must break a pact, accept forgiveness, and make a bet.
Earlier in life, Coelho had found great success in the music industry by serving the devil. His success went hand-in-hand with his faithful service to the occult – but one day his bill to the devil comes due. Unable to agree to live life in darkness, Coelho swears off his previous ways and falls to his knees seeking redemption from God. God welcomes him with open arms, but not without punishment. Coelho loses much – friends, money, success. But the punishment he imposes on himself is much more severe – he evades success forever, fearing that success in life, love, and business will bring him back to his evil ways. This is the pact that he learns to break in The Valkyries. He agrees to no longer destroy his own successes, and instead to succeed in service to the Lord.
When I read this book just several weeks ago, I wondered what pact I have made that needs to be broken, but nothing came to mind. It wasn’t until a conversation with my mother some days later that I realized my sin.
So, I’ve recognized my sin and I realize that I’ve made a pact – I’m not good enough. Where in the past this pact may have cultivated positives in my life, it now holds me back. Today, it stunts my growth. It keeps me from taking risks, from sharing my perspective, from forging ideas and ideals. It gives me excuses not to move, excuses to wait. Because I’ve considered myself incomplete, untested, and inadequate, I have squandered opportunities, shied away from triumph, and sought self-improvement rather than service to others.
All that has transpired may have been necessary to bring me to this very point. I can clearly see my faults and my shortcomings, and now is the time to recognize them, acknowledge them, and move past them. It is time to break the pact.
As an ambitious boy become an ambitious young man become an ambitious quarter-aged man, ambition has always provided for me a healthy complement of all its virtues and vices. For I’ve chased my ambitions sometimes with reckless abandon, without the guidance of experience, sometimes without intentionality, and with only the limited perspective allowed by my constantly morphing lens on the world. But I’ve kept moving, and I think that a good thing.
I’ve come to discover, however, that for all this movement, there has been a significant amount of waiting, of hesitation. Yes, I’ve been always waiting – waiting for a sign, for some direction, for guidance, for a voice of reason, for someone to show me the way, for inspiration – always waiting for something to happen. But mostly, just waiting “until I am ready.” I’ve recently come to realize that all this waiting was brought about by a single thing – this sin I’ve committed for too long.
My sin is that I haven’t thought myself good enough. I’ve trained myself to assume I’m wrong, that my perspective is incomplete, that I’ve got nothing new to offer. I’ve tempered my dreams, ambitions, and passions with the dullness of my own perceived limitations – that I haven’t experienced enough, that I don’t know enough, that I’m not good enough. I can’t see well enough, I don’t have clear enough perspective, I’m not strong enough, I’m not smart enough. Whatever I need, I don’t have enough – I’m incomplete and untested.
I didn’t always regard this way of thinking as a sin – no, much the opposite, this has been my virtue. Where others are arrogant, I’ve been circumspect. Where others are foolhardy, I’ve been measured and thoughtful. Where others are prideful, I’ve tried humble. Where others are self-righteous, I’ve been understanding and civil. I’ve guarded against self-righteousness by always assuming there is something I do not know, that there is someone smarter with better perspective, that wisdom can be found in the world and in its people and not within me.
By understanding that I’m not “enough,” I’ve been able to see value in the contributions, thoughts, and perspectives of others. I’ve guarded against self-indulgence, never letting myself wander too far into my own ways of thinking. I’ve openly considered foreign philosophies and ideologies with a default reaction of respect rather than judgment. The recognition of my own fallibility and inadequacy has kept my eyes open to the value in others.
In the days that have passed since I’ve realized my sin, I’ve contemplated its origins. Mostly, I can trace it to guilt. The persons who have shaped my life have suffered in theirs, and I feel guilty that perhaps I have not suffered “enough” to have the proper perspective, to be tested, to be complete. My mother and her family fled their homeland out from under an oppressive regime, and she has worked for all the blessings life has brought her. She certainly is blessed, but she’s suffered to earn it. My father is a “pull-yourself-up-from-your-bootstraps” kind of guy – a self-starting, small-business-owning, killing-his-own-dinner man. He’s found success, and he’s worked for it. He suffered to earn it. And just in their example and in the retelling of their stories and in their life experiences, I have read an implicit corollary – we suffered enough, have you?
The obvious answer has been – no! I was born in the United States of America with all the rights and privileges and indulgences of being a talented, intelligent, athletic white male (my celebrated Cuban heritage not always readily apparent to the world) from a stable, church-going, resourced and respected family. What the hell are bootstraps anyway? I’ve had a leg up from the beginning.
The point of this is not to blame my parents for this sin; the point is to frame a type of survivor’s guilt that has led to the sin – I won the genetic lottery and was born into the catbird’s seat while others have suffered. And the corollary to this? Others have suffered , and because of that they have more to offer.
Well, that’s part of it. Another origin for the sin is my demon – pride. We each carry with us one or more demons, they are our companions – neither friend nor foe – just hangers-on. My demon is pride. I’ve built this sin around me as a box to contain my pride and keep it in check. One cannot be prideful when thinking oneself inadequate, untested, and incomplete. Many people fight demons they cannot see and cannot name. God has blessed me by making the introduction – I know my demon’s voice and I know his tactics – I’ve even seen his face. This knowledge scared me, though, and led me to build and fortify the walls of his prison – I’ve just now realized that prison was mine too.
In his book The Valkyries, Brazilian author Paulo Coelho travels the American desert in search of his guardian angel. His angel travels with him at all times of course, but the Valkyries, a gypsy like group of female bikers who inhabit the Mojave, know how to communicate with angels. Most importantly, they can teach Coelho to see his angel. But to converse with one’s angel, three conditions are necessary – one must break a pact, accept forgiveness, and make a bet.
Earlier in life, Coelho had found great success in the music industry by serving the devil. His success went hand-in-hand with his faithful service to the occult – but one day his bill to the devil comes due. Unable to agree to live life in darkness, Coelho swears off his previous ways and falls to his knees seeking redemption from God. God welcomes him with open arms, but not without punishment. Coelho loses much – friends, money, success. But the punishment he imposes on himself is much more severe – he evades success forever, fearing that success in life, love, and business will bring him back to his evil ways. This is the pact that he learns to break in The Valkyries. He agrees to no longer destroy his own successes, and instead to succeed in service to the Lord.
When I read this book just several weeks ago, I wondered what pact I have made that needs to be broken, but nothing came to mind. It wasn’t until a conversation with my mother some days later that I realized my sin.
So, I’ve recognized my sin and I realize that I’ve made a pact – I’m not good enough. Where in the past this pact may have cultivated positives in my life, it now holds me back. Today, it stunts my growth. It keeps me from taking risks, from sharing my perspective, from forging ideas and ideals. It gives me excuses not to move, excuses to wait. Because I’ve considered myself incomplete, untested, and inadequate, I have squandered opportunities, shied away from triumph, and sought self-improvement rather than service to others.
All that has transpired may have been necessary to bring me to this very point. I can clearly see my faults and my shortcomings, and now is the time to recognize them, acknowledge them, and move past them. It is time to break the pact.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Monday night 10 pm
Blake’s weekly update
Monday night 10pm
I used to dip tobacco and Last Friday the 12th was the two year anniversary of me quitting tobacco.
In case I haven’t shared the story this is what happened: I tried it a few times in high school then a little my freshmen year and often my sophomore year. By the beginning of my junior year I was dipping a couple times a day...after meals after the bar and after class.
The problem was after class nobody else was there to dip and I hated to dip alone (I considered it like drinking alone) so instead of getting annoyed I went out and bought a bunny rabbit.
When I would get back from class I would pinch off a little tobacco put it in the bunny rabbits mouth and then pinch off a little for myself. We would watch scrubs and enjoy a little skool.
Then after about a week the bunny would get really restless and I found the only way to calm him down was to give him a little more dip.
Then after another week I was giving him more dip then I was using so I decided to sell him on ebay.
The next morning when I woke up I got a message from some random girl who mentioned that if an animal rights organization found out they might get pissed off.
So I decided to let him free in the back of the house...but apparently you cant free caged animals.
Well I called the pet store and they took him back. At that moment we both knew it was time to just quit cold turkey.
If anyone wants to save a parking place for a friend on a UF gameday I’d be happy to save a spot at my place.
Lets get this book thing rolling... would we write it or could we get a ghost writer... anyone have an aspiring writer friend?
Good times,
Blake Harris
“different by choice” –Beck’s beer
Monday night 10pm
I used to dip tobacco and Last Friday the 12th was the two year anniversary of me quitting tobacco.
In case I haven’t shared the story this is what happened: I tried it a few times in high school then a little my freshmen year and often my sophomore year. By the beginning of my junior year I was dipping a couple times a day...after meals after the bar and after class.
The problem was after class nobody else was there to dip and I hated to dip alone (I considered it like drinking alone) so instead of getting annoyed I went out and bought a bunny rabbit.
When I would get back from class I would pinch off a little tobacco put it in the bunny rabbits mouth and then pinch off a little for myself. We would watch scrubs and enjoy a little skool.
Then after about a week the bunny would get really restless and I found the only way to calm him down was to give him a little more dip.
Then after another week I was giving him more dip then I was using so I decided to sell him on ebay.
The next morning when I woke up I got a message from some random girl who mentioned that if an animal rights organization found out they might get pissed off.
So I decided to let him free in the back of the house...but apparently you cant free caged animals.
Well I called the pet store and they took him back. At that moment we both knew it was time to just quit cold turkey.
If anyone wants to save a parking place for a friend on a UF gameday I’d be happy to save a spot at my place.
Lets get this book thing rolling... would we write it or could we get a ghost writer... anyone have an aspiring writer friend?
Good times,
Blake Harris
“different by choice” –Beck’s beer
Monday, September 8, 2008
Monday night 10pm
Blake’s weekly update
Monday night 10pm
John and Joaguin the two of you came up with an incredible plan. We need to keep the (self proclaimed) best minds constantly in contact to share thoughts and create a virtual breeding ground for generating new ideas.
Just briefly...it has been a great week in Gainesville. The new pledge class looks solid and Chief Justice John Roberts made it to UF. Game day weekend also went well, Blake had the opportunity to see some old friends and make what I hope will become some new friends.
Excited about this new forum and I think it’s going to be a good year for all of us.
In hopes of increasing the use of this page I am going to make a habit of posting once a week at the same time (Mondays at 10pm).
Good times,
Blake Harris
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has”-Margaret Mead (source: Wiki quote)
Monday night 10pm
John and Joaguin the two of you came up with an incredible plan. We need to keep the (self proclaimed) best minds constantly in contact to share thoughts and create a virtual breeding ground for generating new ideas.
Just briefly...it has been a great week in Gainesville. The new pledge class looks solid and Chief Justice John Roberts made it to UF. Game day weekend also went well, Blake had the opportunity to see some old friends and make what I hope will become some new friends.
Excited about this new forum and I think it’s going to be a good year for all of us.
In hopes of increasing the use of this page I am going to make a habit of posting once a week at the same time (Mondays at 10pm).
Good times,
Blake Harris
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has”-Margaret Mead (source: Wiki quote)
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
Reviving the River of Grass
This South Florida Water Management District Web site details the information gathered thus far in the deal with U.S. Sugar.
http://my.sfwmd.gov/portal/page?_pageid=2814,21528603&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
http://my.sfwmd.gov/portal/page?_pageid=2814,21528603&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
Monday, August 4, 2008
Florida ranks 4th best state for business
From the Tallahassee Democrat:
Florida ranks 4th among best business climates
DEMOCRAT STAFF REPORT
Florida ranked fourth among the nation's best business climates, according to a new survey of U.S. corporate executives released Monday.
Conducted by Development Counsellors International every three years, the "Winning Strategies in Economic Development Marketing" survey has tracked trends in economic development since its inception in 1996.
Florida was identified by 15.2 percent of the 281 respondents to the 2008 survey as having the most favorable business climate. Texas ranked first with 40.8 percent, North Carolina was second with 30.4 percent and Georgia was third with 20.4 percent. Tennessee tied Florida for fourth place with 15.2 percent and Nevada rounded out the top five with 14.1 percent.
Florida ranked fourth in a similar survey conducted in 2002, but dropped out of the top five states in the 2005 survey.
When asked why they selected the states they did as being best for business, the corporate executives frequently cited three factors: a strong labor market, low operating costs and a pro-business climate.
The poll named California, New York and Michigan as the U.S. states with the least favorable business climates. China, India and Mexico were selected as the top countries outside the U.S. for investment.
"With the battle for business more intense than ever, states and their economic development organizations need to pay close attention to the results of this survey," said DCI President Andrew T. Levine. "Whether accurate or misguided, perceptions about a location's business climate often play a crucial role in site selection decisions and where companies invest money and create jobs."
For a free copy of the full "Winning Strategies" survey report or an executive summary, visit www.aboutdci.com/winningstrategies.aspx.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Question for the day - what motivates us?
Florida's Future depends on motivated individuals - but what motivates us?
We can sometimes be motivated by comparison - we see someone who has achieved what we want and desire to emulate him. Maybe we are envious of the position, power, or possessions of another, motivating us to work to be like him. Are we motivated by competition by comparing ourselves to others?
Maybe we are motivated by dreams - we see a desired future and work to bring it to fruition. We see the world not as it is, but as it could be.
Maybe we are motivated by needs - we work to put food on the table, shelter over our heads, to protect our family.
Maybe we are motivated by time (or the lack of it) - as the days slip by, we are motivated to action by a fear of missing out or being left behind?
What do you think?
We can sometimes be motivated by comparison - we see someone who has achieved what we want and desire to emulate him. Maybe we are envious of the position, power, or possessions of another, motivating us to work to be like him. Are we motivated by competition by comparing ourselves to others?
Maybe we are motivated by dreams - we see a desired future and work to bring it to fruition. We see the world not as it is, but as it could be.
Maybe we are motivated by needs - we work to put food on the table, shelter over our heads, to protect our family.
Maybe we are motivated by time (or the lack of it) - as the days slip by, we are motivated to action by a fear of missing out or being left behind?
What do you think?
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
It Ain't Easy Being This Mellow
Jack Johnson is profiled in this month's Mens Journal - http://www.mensjournal.com/feature/johnson/jackjohnson.html
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Reprinted from the Warrior of the Light Online
Paulo Coelho doing what he does best - reprinted from his blog, "Warrior of the Light, a www.paulocoelho.com.br publication." JJJ
 | In the wheel of time |
| I had proposed to publish here, once a year, texts by Carlos Castañeda, an anthropologist who influenced my generation with his tales of meetings with Mexican sorcerers. For lack of space, I have not done so since 2004. Today I woke up thinking: Castañeda, despite all his critics and all his work that later on seemed so disorderly to me, should not be forgotten. So here we present some of his reflections. Intention is the important thing: for the old sorcerers of Mexico, intention (intento) is a force that intervenes in all aspects of time and space. To be able to use and manipulate this force calls for impeccable behavior. A warrior’s final goal is to be able to lift his head above the rut where he is confined, look around him, and change what he wants. To do so he needs to have discipline and pay attention all the time. Nothing is easy: nothing in this world is given as a present: everything has to be learned with a great deal of effort. A man who seeks knowledge must have the same behavior as a soldier going to war: absolutely attentive, afraid, respectful and utterly confident. If he follows these recommendations, he may lose the odd battle but he will never cry over his fate. Fear is natural: fear of the freedom that knowledge brings us is absolutely natural; however, no matter how terrible the apprenticeship may be, it is worse to live without wisdom. Irritation is unnecessary: becoming irritated with others means giving them the power to interfere in our lives. It is imperative to overcome this feeling. By no means should the acts of others distract us from our only alternative in life: coming in touch with the infinite. The end is an ally: when things begin to get confused, a warrior thinks about his death and immediately his spirit returns to him. Death is everywhere. Think of the headlights of a car following us along a winding road; sometimes we lose sight of it, sometimes it appears to be too close, sometimes the headlights go out. But this imaginary car never stops (and one day catches up with us). The very idea of death gives men the necessary detachment to go ahead despite all their tribulations. A man who knows that death is approaching every day tries everything, but without feeling anxiety. The present is unique: a warrior knows how to wait, because he knows what he is waiting for. And while he waits, he wants nothing, and in this way anything he receives – however small – is a blessing. The common man worries too much about loving others, or being loved by them. A warrior knows what he wants - that is all in his life and that is where he concentrates all his energy. The common man spends the present acting as winner or loser, and depending on the results he becomes persecutor or victim. The warrior, on the other hand, worries only about his acts, which will lead him to the objective he has traced for himself. Intention is transparent: intention (intento) is not a thought, nor an object, nor a desire. It is what makes a man triumph in his objectives and lifts him up from the ground even when he has delivered himself up to defeat. Intention is stronger than man. It is always the last battle: the warrior’s spirit does not complain about anything, because he was not born to win or lose. He was born to fight, and each battle is the last that he is waging on the face of the Earth. That is why the warrior always leaves his spirit free, and when he gives himself to combat, knowing that his intention is transparent, he laughs and enjoys himself. | |
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