If you build it they will come. So he did. A baseball field in the middle of nowhere. No money to pay for it. No money for food or the mortgage. But he did build it. And, if you watched the movie it had a happy ending. Field of Dreams is widely accepted as the best sports/baseball movie of all time.

There is another Field of Dreams being constructed in Toronto at the SkyDome (some people refer to it as the Rogers Centre.).

I had a chance to drop by the site of 2 World Series championships and a few CFL titles as well last night. I wish I could figure out how to download the pictures and video I shot with my antique cell phone.

The stage is MASSIVE yet simple. I’ll be there again over the next 2 days lending a helping hand wherever they need me, so I’m sure to have a few more thoughts and observations. And maybe pictures. Keep your fingers crossed….

Field of Dreams. I am glad I’ve had the opportunity to play a very, very small part in helping to “build it.” He will come. This weekend. I can hear the voices already….

My mom calls – or at least used to call – me prince.

Then there is His Highness The Aga Khan.

He’s dropping by Ottawa today to begin his Canadian stop on his Golden Jubilee worldwide tour. It’s been 30 years since he first arrived in Canada in 1978. It was November 18th 1978. I turned 6 years old that day.

So, this begins a daily posting here at INSPIRation for the duration of the Aga Khan’s Canadian trip.

Who is the Aga Khan?

For starters, he’s not a rockstar, although his tour would make the Rolling Stones jealous. He’s not a philanthropist, although his development network (www.akdn.org) is the largest non-denominational NGO in the world.

There is a wonderful informational website that describes who the Aga Khan is, who the Ismaili Muslims are, and what things they are up to. I hope you check it out. If you live in Canada and live in an urban centre, chances are you know an Ismaili.

Disclaimer: I am an Ismaili and today is my birthday.

“It’s the economy, stupid.” This statement has been used many times recently. For example, elections on both sides of the border heard this.

I don’t disagree. However, I think it is more than that.

“It’s about likeability.” Now that’s more like it.

Think about it. Being likeable is more important today than at any other time in recent memory. Especially given today’s economic climate.

If you represent a company, more likely than not, you are looking at ways of lowering your expenses. You are looking for your service providers to understand the dynamics of your company and it’s place in today’s economy. One of the characteristics of being likeable is that you can empathize with people. You understand that we all have choices on who we give or take business from.

On Tuesday a real estate magazine called me. The publisher was wondering if the company I work for would be paying a bill and continuing to advertise with them. This call, however, was different. The caller was rude. He did not want to listen. He hung up the phone before I could tell him that I just finished a conversation with my boss and we had decided to advertise with them in 2009. I couldn’t get the words out of my mouth before he hung up on me.

Our decision: As long as I’m working here I won’t agree to advertise with his paper. Why? Because I don’t want to give money to someone who is not likeable. I’d rather save my company $1700 a month and figure out more innovative ways to market the company.

So, what’s the big take-away? Understand that we are under the microscope more now than ever before. Be likeable and you’ll generate more business. Be likeable and you’ll retain customers. Be likeable and you’ll have more freinds. Be likeable.

Want more on this “concept” of likeability? Check out Tim Sander’s best selling book, The Likeability Factor.

A Soldier Died Today

By Lawrence Vaincourt, RCAF Veteran, Second World War
(c) 1985 A. Lawrence Vaincourt

He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast.
He sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past.
Of the war that he had fought and the deeds that he had done,
Of the exploits with his buddies, they are heroes, every one.

Tho’ sometimes to his neighbours his tales became a joke,
His Legion buddies listened; they knew whereof he spoke.
But we’ll hear his tales no longer; he has passed away.
The world is much poorer now; A SOLDIER DIED TODAY.

He will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary, uneventful, quiet life,
Held a job, raised a family and quietly went his way;
The world won’t note his passing, Tho’ A SOLDIER DIED TODAY.

When Statesmen leave this earth, their bodies lie in state.
Thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell their stories, from the time that they were young.
The passing of a soldier tho’, goes unnoticed and unsung.

It’s so easy to forget them, it was so long ago,
When our young men left for battle, but this we should know.
It was not the politicians with their promises and ploys
Who won for us the freedom that our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger, with enemies at hand,
Would you want a diplomat with his every shifting stand?
Or would you prefer a soldier, who has sworn we will defend;
His home, his kin, his country; he’ll fight until the end?

He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us; we may need his likes again.
For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldiers part
Is to clean up all the troubles that the bureaucrats did start.

If we cannot do him honour while he’s here to hear our praise;
At least let us pay him homage at the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline in a paper that would say:
Our country is in mourning “A Soldier Died Today”.

I’ve stopped using Technorati to post interesting articles. It’s just too complicated to use and search for articles I’ve bookmarked.

So, I’m back on del.icio.us. It’s easier for me to use and easier for someone to search articles I’ve bookmarked.

Sorry to those of you who have followed my stuff. I hope this “new” bookmarker will make it easier.

Heads up techie people: Make tools simple and easy to use. Then u will become popular. If you want.

Do you bookmark interesting sites and articles on the web? Thoughts?

I was trying to come up with an interesting title for this post. Seeing that it’s my 61st contribution, I thought, “Why not?”

What I really want to get out there to you today relates to what happened last night. No, not the Leafs losing in overtime (Yeah, there was a hockey game on!).

Barak Obama is President-Elect of the USA. A black man. A Democrat. A populist. An idealist.

There are lots of things one could call the “leader of the free world.” We tend to label people based on the groups they belong to. Just once I’d like to see a person judged or viewed through the prism of their decisions and actions.

Statements like, “I’d never vote for THAT party.” or “I always vote THIS way.” are ignorant and short-sighted in my opinion.

Partisanship is dogma. It’s dead. Or at least it should be.

Whether you are a Democrat, Republican, liberal, conservative, American or not – Today Barak Obama has the most intense job in world for at least the next 4 years. You want things to change for the better? It’s time to work together for the good of all. To create oppotunities. To foster entreprenuership. To ensure that no one gets left behind. To protect the world’s resources for our future generations.

America: I dare you to put aside political differences. I dare you to make yourself good again.

We’re watching.

And hoping.

I think Bob Dylan sang about change. In fact, I’m sure many an artist and poet has written about change.

And change seems to be the theme these days.

Gas prices are dropping. Real estate sales are slowing down. The Kanj, Vanessa and Clarence have moved back to the ‘Stoke and have already taken ownership of a shiny red car. The Conservatives (not to be confused with the Progressive Conservatives) are back in power in Canada. The Liberal Party is looking for a new leader. America is at a crossroads between “that guy” and “more George Bush”. The Toronto Maple Leafs are finally rebuilding. Pat Gillick just won his third World Series with the Phillies. The stock market is up. Or is it down?

Change.

I do know this: If I expect a different result I need to do something different. Doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results is insane.

Yes, there are changes happening. Across the globe, in your country, your city and in your home. We are not exempt from change. The choice we all need to make is this: Are we going to allow these changes to dictate to us how we live out the rest of the year and 2009 and beyond? Or are we going to take charge and start to implement the kind of change we want to see for ourselves in our own lives?

I invite you to comment and share.

Instead of writing about the just completed Canadian election (lowest voter turnout EVER), this post is dedicated to the issue of poverty.

Today, bloggers throughout the world are dedicating their posts to the issue of poverty. More specifically, poverty alleviation.

I don’t consider myself a blogger nor an expert on how to eradicate poverty.

However, there are many people and organizations who are doing their part for the cause. And so I dedicate this post to them. Check them out.

1. The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) focuses on health, education, culture, rural development, institution-building and the promotion of economic development. It is dedicated to improving living conditions and opportunities for the poor, without regard to their faith, origin or gender.
2. Loans that change lives. Really? Sure! http://www.kiva.org/
3. Nobel Peace Prize recipient Muhammad Yunus

2009 is fast approaching. Today’s economic unrest has many people running like chickens with their heads cut off (not that I’ve seen this happen…). Hope the article below helps all of you.

Starting – The First Step Toward Success

By John C. Maxwell

Salespersons are coached in the power of a first impression. Orators devote hours to opening statements. Journalists are admonished never to bury the lead. Sprinters practice racing out of the starting blocks. Interviewees are taught the importance of their initial handshake with a potential employer.

In leadership, as in many other areas of life, the beginning often determines the end. False starts and weak foundations can be ruinous. Here are five insights to help you start successfully.

HOW TO START SUCCESSFULLY

1. Start With Yourself

As Gandhi famously said, “Be the change you want to be in the world.” By starting with yourself, you build the self-confidence needed to attract and inspire others. Leading yourself well is a precursor to accomplishment, and accomplishment earns respect. In order to make deposits in the lives of followers, you have to have a beginning balance in your leadership account. Start leading by proving your mettle – to yourself and to prospective followers.

2. Start early

Sadly, many leaders squander their early years and spend the rest of their careers trying to make up for lost time. In leadership, as with finances, decisions made early in life accrue the most interest. When we choose poorly or establish bad habits, we put ourselves in debt. Then, we must not only repay our loans, but the interest on them as well. On the flip side, when we invest our time and talent wisely from a young age, we reap the benefits of compounding interest on our leadership.

Specifically, where should leaders start? What areas should take precedence at the beginning? From my experience there are 10 things you should do as a leader prior to reaching age 40:

1. Know yourself
2. Settle your family life
3. Determine your priorities
4. Develop your philosophy of life
5. Get physically fit
6. Learn your trade
7. Pay the price
8. Develop solid relationships
9. Prepare for the future
10. Find purpose for your life

If you’re over 40, it’s never to late to make improvements. Unfortunately, an old dog doesn’t easily learn new tricks. Undoing years of misplaced priorities and poor self-management will take extra effort.

3. Start Small

Don’t expect to understand what it takes to get to the top, just take the next step.
Think big, but start small. Doing so encourages you to get started, and keeps you from being frozen by the magnitude of the vision in front of you. When you accomplish a small step, you gain confidence that you can accomplish the next step.

The success found in starting small comes when you diligently apply the lessons you learn. As my friend, Dick Biggs, has said, “The greatest gap is between knowing and doing.” Commit to mastering the details under your control, and follow through when experience has given you instruction.

4. Start with the end in view

“Most people spend more time planning their grocery shopping than designing their future.”
~ Tom James, Personal Development Coach

To start with the end in view, you need energy and direction. Let your passion pull you forward, and let your planning give you guidance. In order for passion to be a driving force in your life, you must identify a purpose for you life. To locate your purpose, consider your strengths, interests, and past successes. What roles do you find most enjoyable? What brings you the greatest sense of satisfaction? Examine the areas that make you feel strong and angle your career toward them. Also, find people who have been successful in the area of your interest. Listen to them and watch their lives.

For planning to give you direction, you need to write down goals. Goals lend structure to your purpose, and they keep you leading “within the lines.” They focus your action and move you toward your overall vision.

5. Start Now

We exaggerate yesterday, overestimate tomorrow, and underestimate today. Embrace action daily. Don’t wait until it’s too late before you begin to pursue the visions implanted in your heart. Make each day your masterpiece; you’ll be surprised where you end up after stringing together a few months of superb days.

I’ll leave you with one final thought:

“How wonderful it is that we need not wait a single minute before starting to improve ourselves and our world.” ~ Anne Frank

Review – Five Steps to Starting Successfully

1. Start Early
2. Start with Yourself
3. Start Small
4. Start with the End in View
5. Start Now

About the Author

John C. Maxwell is an internationally recognized leadership expert, speaker, and author who has sold over 16 million books. His organizations have trained more than 2 million leaders worldwide. Dr. Maxwell is the founder of EQUIP and INJOY Stewardship Services. Every year he speaks to Fortune 500 companies, international government leaders, and audiences as diverse as the United States Military Academy at West Point, the National Football League, and ambassadors at the United Nations. A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Business Week best-selling author, Maxwell was named the World’s Top Leadership Guru by Leadershipgurus.net. He was also one of only 25 authors and artists named to Amazon.com’s 10th Anniversary Hall of Fame. Three of his books, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Developing the Leader Within You, and The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader have each sold over a million copies.

“This article is used by permission from Leadershp Wired, Mi’s premiere leadership newsletter, available for free subscription at www.maximumimpact.com.”