@hcapriles mi propuesta, las 8 estrellas!

@hcapriles, Henrique, no se cómo llegarte... Pero espero que alguien en tu equipo le pare a esta propuesta.

Mucha gente propone ideas, y la mayoría pasan de largo. Hoy me senté a buscar inspiración en las estrellas... Y no tuve que mirar muy lejos, las conseguí en nuestra bandera.

Salgan con ideas de 8 proyectos grandes, denles nombres que resuenen y expliquen a niveles básicos lo que signifiquen.

Lo que veo es que hay un pueblo venezolano con hambre que se deja llevar por ideas que resuenan con ellos, no personas, discursos ni mucho menos política. Han visto, a pesar de corrupto, el ejemplo de un gobierno que les ha dado pan y techo a algunos, quienes jamás se sintieron parte de una sociedad. Esa categórica esperanza los hace creer que les viene más de eso, y diluye el ruido que provocase cualquier corrupción y negligencia por parte del chavismo.

La cantidad de "Chavistas con Capriles" que pueden existir es innumerable. La mejor manera de ganárselos es saliendo a la calle a darles ideas específicas de como ellos ganarán al elegir a Capriles: en panfletos!

Presenta un plan: Un proyecto. Algo por lo que sueñen- tangible y basalo en un símbolo nacional- la bandera!

"crearemos el METVEN. Movimiento para la Educacion de Todos" el cual promete que todo niño bajo tal edad recibirá acceso a programas especiales de educación avanzada con tal y tales puntos.

Usemos insignias como METVEN, y creemos 7 otros más: VESOTO, PAN, DEN... Etc que cada programa se enfoqué en un tema diferente, de manera que todo venezolano se sienta identificado con por lo menos dos de ellos!

Que el venezolano cuando vaya a votar se olvide de todo ese chantaje y ruido que producen nuestros medio y se acuerde: "Capriles me prometio mejor vivienda, educación pa mi chamo recién nacido, préstamo para microempresario (así que tengo chance de montar un negocio)... Capriles me prometio un futuro concreto"

Que los medios hablen y difundan los 8 programas que propone Capriles... Las 8 estrellas de nuestra bandera sirven de inspiración.

Esta propuesta, Capriles, es nacionalista y espiritual, por el progreso y el bien.

8 estrellas, 8 planes... Una Venezuela!

Cuenten conmigo,

David Akinin

How to live forever and other life lessons from Byron Wien

How to live forever and other life lessons from Byron Wien (Vice Chair, Blackstone Advisory)…Definitely worth reading

Market Commentary Supplement
Byron Wien

Blackstone is pleased to offer the following Market Commentary Supplement by Byron Wien.
Learn more about Byron.

Life’s Lessons
February 2013

I was scheduled to speak about the world outlook at an investment conference recently and shortly before my time slot the conference organizer said the audience was more interested in what I had learned over the course of my career than what I had to say about the market. I jotted a few notes down and later expanded and edited what I said that day. I have since been encouraged to share my thoughts with a broader audience.

Here are some of the lessons I have learned in my first 80 years. I hope to continue to practice them in the next 80.

1.
Concentrate on finding a big idea that will make an impact on the people you want to influence. The Ten Surprises, which I started doing in 1986, has been a defining product. People all over the world are aware of it and identify me with it. What they seem to like about it is that I put myself at risk by going on record with these events which I believe are probable and hold myself accountable at year-end. If you want to be successful and live a long, stimulating life, keep yourself at risk intellectually all the time.

2.
Network intensely. Luck plays a big role in life and there is no better way to increase your luck than by knowing as many people as possible. Nurture your network by sending articles, books and emails to people to show you’re thinking about them. Write op-eds and thought pieces for major publications. Organize discussion groups to bring your thoughtful friends together.

3.
When you meet someone new, treat that person as a friend. Assume he or she is a winner and will become a positive force in your life. Most people wait for others to prove their value. Give them the benefit of the doubt from the start. Occasionally you will be disappointed, but your network will broaden rapidly if you follow this path.

4.
Read all the time. Don’t just do it because you’re curious about something, read actively. Have a point of view before you start a book or article and see if what you think is confirmed or refuted by the author. If you do that, you will read faster and comprehend more.

5.
Get enough sleep. Seven hours will do until you’re sixty, eight from sixty to seventy, nine thereafter, which might include eight hours at night and a one-hour afternoon nap.

6.
Evolve. Try to think of your life in phases so you can avoid a burn-out. Do the numbers crunching in the early phase of your career. Try developing concepts later on. Stay at risk throughout the process.

7.
Travel extensively. Try to get everywhere before you wear out. Attempt to meet local interesting people where you travel and keep in contact with them throughout your life. See them when you return to a place.

8.
When meeting someone new, try to find out what formative experience occurred in their lives before they were seventeen. It is my belief that some important event in everyone’s youth has an influence on everything that occurs afterwards.

9.
On philanthropy my approach is to try to relieve pain rather than spread joy. Music, theatre and art museums have many affluent supporters, give the best parties and can add to your social luster in a community. They don’t need you. Social service, hospitals and educational institutions can make the world a better place and help the disadvantaged make their way toward the American dream.

10.
Younger people are naturally insecure and tend to overplay their accomplishments. Most people don’t become comfortable with who they are until they’re in their 40’s. By that time they can underplay their achievements and become a nicer, more likeable person. Try to get to that point as soon as you can.

11.
Take the time to give those who work for you a pat on the back when they do good work. Most people are so focused on the next challenge that they fail to thank the people who support them. It is important to do this. It motivates and inspires people and encourages them to perform at a higher level.

12.
When someone extends a kindness to you write them a handwritten note, not an e-mail. Handwritten notes make an impact and are not quickly forgotten.

13.
At the beginning of every year think of ways you can do your job better than you have ever done it before. Write them down and look at what you have set out for yourself when the year is over.

14.
Never retire. If you work forever, you can live forever. I know there is an abundance of biological evidence against this theory, but I’m going with it anyway.

Former Bolivian President, Goni, speaks about Venezuela, Chavez and Latin America

Goni, a Latin America democrat and political veteran, was scheduled to speak at YU's Latin American Business Club on March 5th, 2013 for weeks. Hours before his speech, news of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's (may he rest in peace) death filled media outlets. In the earlier hours of the evening, Nicolas Maduro, standing Vice-President under the Chavez regime, reported the President's passing and called the Bolivarian country to national mourning.

President Sanchez de Lozada was scheduled to speak about the cornerstone of democracy, his perspectives on the Latin American region, and prospects going forward. Notwithstanding, he re-engineered the begining of his talk to focus on the current Venezuelan situation, and what Chavez's death means to Cuba, Venezuela and the region.

I was able to record a video of most of the very eloquent and praiseworthy talk given by Goni. There's also a second part which you may find in Youtube!

More on Goni:

Familiarly known as "Goni", the University of Chicago graduate is a Bolivian politician, businessman, and former President of Bolivia. A lifelong member of the Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario(MNR), he is credited for using "shock therapy" to save the Bolivian economy. This measure was used by Bolivia in 1985 (when Sánchez de Lozada was Minister of Planning in the government of President Víctor Paz Estenssoro) to cut hyperinflation from an estimated 25,000% to a single digit within a period of 6 weeks. More broadly, he is credited with having engineered the restructuring of the Bolivian state and the dismantling the state-capitalist model that had prevailed in the country since the 1952 Revolution.

Sánchez de Lozada was twice elected President of Bolivia, both times on the MNR ticket. During his first term (1993–97), he initiated a series of landmark social, economic and constitutional reforms. His second term was between 2002-2003.

Currently Goni is a strong advocate of democracy, and speaks at universities and conferences nationwide giving his perspectives and sharing his experience.