As many of you know – or maybe you don’t! – David Onley is the first Lieutenant Governor of Ontario with a physical disability. Yes! That guy! The one from CityTV and CP24!
Now you remember! Well, here’s his “acceptance speech’.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
http://www.lt.gov.on.ca/En/InstallationSpeech.html
Karim
You may have heard about the following story in your local sports news. Or maybe not. But I will bet dollars to donuts that we will soon see a ‘disney-type’ movie of this story soon. A book is already in the works. Nonetheless, it is a great feel good story. I hope you enjoy it!
Oh brother, that was a record-breaker
Matthew Chung
Sports Reporter
Toronto Star
Brigham Shearon dodged bad weather in the American south and midwest, fought back the urge to run for his life in Orlando, Fla., and ran out of money between Seattle and Oakland.
But with his brother, Todd, he accomplished his potentially Guinness World Record goal of visiting all 30 major league baseball stadiums in 28 days.
“It’s pretty surreal,” Brigham, 29, said yesterday, two days after watching Game 30 at Yankee Stadium.
The brothers, from Windsor, Ont., started their journey from the Rogers Centre on Aug. 7 to take on Brigham’s severe social anxiety and panic disorders.
The record still has to be verified by Guinness, but Brigham overcame his fear of flying and fought back feelings of panic while watching games.
“I learned that living is better than not,” Brigham said.
Their trip was no hot dog-eating jaunt through the U.S. On the west coast they got by on shared garlic fries and a chocolate bar for two days after waiting for funds.On the second-last day of the trip, Brigham finally got to meet Kansas City Royals pitcher Zack Greinke, who also has a social anxiety disorder.
They plan to publish a book.
Harry Stinson is leaving Toronto and Canada. At least that what he says. My advice? Don’t bank on it. In any case don’t forget to send him flowers and a card. I don’t think he’s taking mail at 1 King West though…
We all know that the Canadian Real Estate market is STILL moving along nicely. However, not many people have heard of success stories that transcend the local or national market. There is one company, however, that is making waves. And they have been for a number of years.
Introducing Steve Morris and Exit Realty.
Steve was recently named one of real estate’s most influential people in a well-known industry magazine. To read the article click HERE.
Karim
So, you must have heard the news that 1200 people will be out of work in Oshawa. They work and will soon be laid off from the GM plant there. That’s the place they make trucks for the US market. Seems Americans are buying less trucks these days?
What does this have to do with Real Estate in Canada?
Well, according to Thomas Walkom of The Toronto Star, A Lot!
“Any time I have seen someone accomplishing something magnificent, they have been a monomaniac with a mission. A single-minded individual with a passion.”
–Peter Drucker
You may recall the movie City Slickers from a while back starring Billy Crystal and Jack Palance. In it, we observed the story of a man (Crystal) who because of a midlife crisis decides to go out with some buddies and rustle cattle for a week.
Curly (Palance), the trail boss to whom they report, really seems to have his head together, and Crystal’s character keeps asking him what the secret is. Curly’s only reply is to hold up his index finger and say, “One thing.”
Finally in frustration, Crystal asks, “Well, what is that one thing?” To which Curly replies, “That’s what YOU have to figure out… No one can do it for you.”
This “Curly Principle” teaches us the same lesson that the renowned management consultant Peter Drucker has observed in highly successful people:
Monomania.
In other words, a single-minded focus and passion for that “one thing.” Jesus taught us in Luke 11:34, “When thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light.”
What are you singularly focused on?
Frequently, I meet individuals who want to have their dreams and yet aren’t willing to give up anything to achieve them. This is self-deception. Choosing to become great in any area means choosing to not be great in another area. There will always be a price to pay. There will always be a sacrifice.
You can only ride one horse really well at any one time. Yes, you may be able to ride two, but nowhere NEAR as well as you can ride one. Nowhere near as agile, responsive or quick. Understand the difference?
“The secret to success in life is making your vocation your vacation.”
–Mark Twain
Several years ago, I was in LA with some good friends attending an Elton John concert. I was asked what seems to be a frequent question among acquaintances, “What do you do for fun and recreation?”
This is always a difficult question for me to answer, because I know there’s an unspoken expectation that I come up with a whole list of activities I’m involved in. Bottom line…
I am a monomaniac.
(And not in the clinical sense of the word either.) My work is my passion as well as my “re-creation” (notice the true meaning of the word). When asked the question, “How is work?” I can honestly answer, “Work is play.”
I absolutely love what I do, and if you can say that too, then that goes a long way towards creating Harmonic Wealth®. I can think of nothing more fulfilling and re-creating than to meditate, study, read, learn, write, create, help and coach others, talk with you and share insights.
Yes, I do hike, workout, ski from time to time, go to movies and I even played golf poorly once. But these are not the things that make life meaningful for me.
Many see their work as a “means to an end,” but for the monomaniac, their work is an end unto itself. Not just a job… a meaningful, passionate mission.
Your work is your passion and your love made manifest through action.
Is this the right approach for you? I’m not qualified to answer that question. What I am qualified to do is to check my own observations and experiences and agree with Drucker and Curly.
To accomplish anything of consequence, anything magnificent and great, you must be willing to literally trade your life for it. To be so passionately focused and committed that nothing will divert you. Nothing and no one can stop you.
My wish is that you find that “one thing” in your life:
Your white-hot passion that brings you tremendous meaning and purpose.
To your continued wealth and happiness,
James Arthur Ray
President/CEOJames Ray International
“We felt that due to 35 McKenzie Avenue being in the price category, and in the location of Rosedale that it was incumbent on our part, to initiate marketing efforts that reflected the financial stature of the house, and location. We are quite fortunate to team up with GTA Exotic Car Rentals who are providing this car. They have been very supportive throughout this marketing campaign. The response from our clients and the brokerage community has been very positive. We are also quite pleased to be selected not only for the disposition, but also for the property management of this truly magnificent home,” said Arun Mehta.
Richmond Realty Group (Ontario) Inc. (RRG) is a full serviced real estate company. Its sister company Richmond Advisory Services Inc. (RAS) is a multi-disciplinary management consulting firm which provides real estate, risk management, and workforce mobility consulting services.
Both RRG and RAS are headquartered in Markham, Ontario.
For more information on the Richmond Group of Companies, please refer to the following link:
http://www.richmondrealtygroup.ca/richmondadvisoryservicesRichmond Advisory Services Inc.
Richmond Realty Group (Ontario) Inc. Brokerage
Mary Corrado
Communications Director
Well, it’s less than a year till the next Olympics. Next year China will be in the spotlight. Will it be the pollution, human rights or athletes who will take centre stage? My bet is on the athletic events. But who knows for sure?
However, I hope stories like these come out more often:
Young world champion Adam van Koeverden uses kayak to promote a humanitarian group
Aug 21, 2007 04:30 AM Randy Starkman SPORTS REPORTER
When Olympic kayaking champion Adam van Koeverden showed up at the recent world championships with the Right To Play logo splashed all over his shiny new boat, everybody figured he was cashing in on a big sponsorship with an online gambling service.
But this was a goodwill gesture borne from the Oakville paddler’s desire to boost a good cause, not his bank account.
Right To Play is a Toronto-based humanitarian group which uses sport to help improve the lives of children in the most disadvantaged parts of the world.
In van Koeverden’s case, it wasn’t just Right To Play but also Right To Win.
The 25-year-old demonstrated he’ll be a force to be reckoned with at the Beijing Olympics, capturing his first world title ever in the men’s K-1 500 metres in world record time and just getting pipped for the gold in the men’s K-1 1,000 metres at the championships nine days ago in Duisburg, Germany.
He also generated a lot of attention for the charity as he was constantly questioned about his flashy new boat. Among those inquiring was British rival Tim Brabants, a medical doctor who beat van Koeverden with a brilliant comeback in the 1,000 metres and was just edged by him in the 500 metres.
“Before the weekend was over, he was already in touch with the U.K. office of Right To Play and he’s going to be an athlete ambassador,” said van Koeverden.
“What a positive thing that is. I managed to recruit a world champion, Olympic bronze medallist and a medical doctor to Right To Play all in one.”
Van Koeverden was on his way to Ottawa yesterday for this week’s Canadian championships. He already managed to get posters produced showing him winning at the worlds in his new boat. He plans to autograph and give them away to kids at the event.
Nobody had ever advertised a charity on their boat before on the international canoe-kayak scene before van Koeverden approached the Portuguese firm which builds his boats, NELO, with the idea.
Being soccer fans, the boat builders equated it with FC Barcelona wearing UNICEF on their uniforms and were quite excited by the prospect. So much so that they produced the boat in two weeks for the worlds in Duisburg.
“It’s always, `How much money is 20 square centimetres of (advertising) going to cost me?'” said Van Koeverden. “I always thought that was an F1 kind of thing and it didn’t have to be a kayaking thing. Kayaking’s more wholesome and there’s never going to be as much money involved — and thank goodness — as there is in F1 or cycling or something like that.”
Van Koeverden worries that too much money would corrupt the sport. He’s hoping that his initiative will get other kayakers thinking more globally and following suit.
“Imagine if everyone in the final were racing for a different charitable organization – how cool that would be?” he said.
“It would be like a celebrity poker game, but instead of making money for them you’re getting some publicity for them.”
The 25-year-old McMaster University graduate has declared he’s willing to part with his prized boat for a sizable donation to Right To Play, but he plans to race it here first at a rare competition in Toronto on Sept. 15.
The best paddlers in the world are coming here for the 2007 Mazda Canoe Kayak Knockout at Marilyn Bell Park at Ontario Place. They’ll be competing for prize money in a series of 200-metre races.
It’ll be a more relaxed atmosphere than the high-pressured scene at the worlds, a welcome break for van Koeverden as he starts to gear up for the Beijing Games.
“Does that add pressure?” he asks. “I put pressure on myself to compete well and race well than any sort of figure of statistic could possibly do. It doesn’t really worry me or anything. If anything, it’s just proves I’m the guy to beat. Good.”
Here it is guys! Read ’em and weep! I mean, enjoy!
Well, it’s not The Donald. In fact it’s Canada’s youngest billionaire, Alex Shnaider. And not only is he the muscle behind the vertically challenged Trump Tower but he’s also a client. The Toronto Star had an excellent article that you can read HERE. Enjoy!