Entrepreneurial Thinking

The Ten Paradoxical Commandments

2011-10-23T17:50:00.000-04:00

I'm in San Francisco this week for The American College of Surgeons and was fortunate enough to attend Mass this morning at Old Saint Mary's Cathedral...the first Catholic Cathedral built in California. The priest closed his Homily with Mother Teresa’s recap of “The Paradoxical Commandments” as written on the wall in her "Home for Children" in Calcutta, India:

1. People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered...Forgive them anyway.

2. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives...Be kind anyway.

3. If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies...Succeed anyway.

4. If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you...Be honest and sincere anyway.

5. What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight...Create anyway.

6. If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous...Be happy anyway.

7. The good you do today, will often be forgotten...Do good anyway.

8. Give the best you have, and it will never be enough...Give your best anyway.

9. In the final analysis, it is between you and God...It was never between you and them anyway.

Dr. Kent M. Keith created the original version in the late 1960’s with a total of 10 "paradoxical commandments". I understand Mother Teresa leaving one of these off but was an extrememly important and paramount to the advancement of our species as well as our understanding of the Universe and of God…and, especially to entrepreneurs...

10. The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

The rest of the original version from Dr. Keith is included below:

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.

May we all remember these as we go through our lives each day...

Entrepreneurial Thinking: My Father's Obituary - June 28th, 2011

2011-06-28T15:44:00.000-04:00

Entrepreneurial Thinking: My Father's Obituary - June 28th, 2011

My Father's Obituary - June 28th, 2011

2011-06-28T15:38:00.000-04:00

Thomas P. Lennon Sr.

On Father’s Day morning, June 19th, 2011 just two days after his 74th birthday Thomas ‘Skip’ Lennon died unexpectedly. A memorial Service will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Sandy Springs on Thursday, June 30th, 2011 at 11:00 AM followed by a reception at the home of Barry and Libby Lennon.

Skip had been an Atlanta area resident since moving his family to East Cobb in 1974 and entering the Insurance industry as an executive with CIGNA. He and his wife Patsy have been living in Roswell for the past 12 years. Although his 40 year struggle with diabetes took its toll on Skip’s body, he always remained incredibly upbeat. He was always making friends and family laugh with a new joke or through his hilarious tales about the “Hoyas that never grew up…”

Skip grew up in Hot Springs, Virginia where his father was the President of The Homestead Resort. He was an incredible athlete playing baseball and basketball throughout his scholastic career. Skip was also a AA1 tennis player and scratch golfer winning multiple championships throughout his life. He attended Stanton Military Academy in Virginia and then went on Georgetown University where he received his B.A. in Accounting and became a CPA with Arthur Young & Company in Chicago., Illinois. After graduating from GU Skip entered the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged. In 1961, Skip then married his wife of 50 years Patricia Anne Boysen in Chicago, Illinois.

Skip remained very active with Georgetown as a member of the Athletic Board and as a member of the famous and beloved “Class of 59’”. Georgetown fostered lifelong friendships within that Class of 59’ that remain as impenetrable as Hoya Saxa (Georgetown’s cheer literally meaning “great rocks”). At Georgetown the key members/friends in the Class of 59’ each had nicknames…Skip’s was the “The Whale” which he is still answering to among his friends like “The Barrel”, “The Carrot “and “Schizo” who have also left us.

Skip was incredibly proud of his Irish heritage giving the Irish Blessing over his friends and family whenever he got the chance. He loved life and lived it to the fullest. He is preceded in death by his brother Patrick Lennon, Father Thomas J. Lennon and his mother Anne Lennon. He is survived by his wife Patricia Boysen Lennon, his sons Tom, Barry and James, his five grandchildren as well as his sisters Theresa Lennon Gardner and Kathleen Lennon Pampillonia and their children and grandchildren.

Perspective On Aging (and life) from George Carlin

2010-02-07T09:02:00.000-05:00

I had to borrow this from Nina Ford Richter who posted this on Facebook. It is really great and shows our tendencies on perspective development and serves as a reminder to live life to the fullest. One should also remember that it is not "what happens to you" in life but how you react (or don't react) to it... Count your blessings everyday and there are usually many more than you think. Marry that with what Richard Carlson wrote in his 1997 book; "don't sweat the small stuff...it's all small stuff".

From the late/great/hilarious George Carlin...

On Aging:

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.

'How old are you?' 'I'm four and a half!' You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key..

You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.

'How old are you?' 'I'm gonna be 16!' You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life ! You become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony.YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!

But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling.. What's wrong? What's changed?

You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone...

But! wait!! ! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!

So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and make it to 60.

You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!

You get into your 80's and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards; 'I Was JUST 92.'

Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. 'I'm 100 and a half!'
May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!

HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay them.

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3.Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever, even ham radio.. Never let the brain idle.. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.' And the devil's family name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6.... The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love , whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever.Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it.. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips.. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity..

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Share this with someone. We all need to live life to its fullest each day!!

Life's journey is not to
arrive at the grave safely
in a well preserved body,
but rather to skid in sideways,
totally worn out, shouting
'..holy sh*t ....what a ride!'

TPLENNON: "Also remember that life is not a dress rehearsal...Expect and plow through your mistakes because there will be many along the way. More importantly it's not how you start, it's how you finish! I personally hope the ride lasts a very long time..."

A Great Entrepreneurial Story

2009-12-28T01:49:00.002-05:00

Here is a story about a classmate of mine from Wheeler High School in Marietta, Georgia. As many struggle through this very difficult transition for the US and other first world economies to a truly global economy driven by offshore collaborative knowledge workforces and global wage equalization, Forrest's story of taking the adversity of losing his job/career with a large multinational corporation, embracing new media marketing and turning his entrepreneurial dream into a successful venture should make all stand up and take note. This is a prime example of adapting to an inevitable and fundamental shift in how we approach starting and running a business. He was staring a pretty dire situation in the face but as he states, "it's how you react" to the cards that life deals you. Instead of allowing the panic of being unemployed with several mouths to feed overwhelm him, he took a step back, embraced the global shift, realized that he had a multitude of free tools to help him market not just to the folks in Helen, Georgia (with a resident population of less than 1,000) but to the almost 6.8 billion residing on this planet. Now that's entrepreneurial thinking!

SEO Trends and Tips for 2009 and 2010

2009-12-08T09:14:00.001-05:00

The following is a very good presentation on Search Engine Optimization (SEO) in the current onine environment...

SEO Trends and Tips for 2009 and 2010

View more presentations from Hillary Bressler.

Keys to getting VC Funding

2009-10-19T08:02:00.002-04:00

At Watermark, I get the same questions time and again from entrepreneurs looking for additional capital for their companies from VC and private equity sources. All these questions can be distilled down to one… ”How do I get additional funding for my business”

Five Keys to getting VC Funding:

1. Company projects a minimum of $50-75M in annual revenue in 3-5 years.

2. Elevator Pitch clear message explainable in 15-20 seconds.

3. Should be a very clean balance sheet, capital structure (not several different classes of stock), etc.

4. Stick to a 10 to 12 slide and no more than 20-25 minute PowerPoint.

5. Show a deal that has proven out the business model(s) through driving revenue and just needs capital to grow/scale the business.

PPT Slides (Make sure there is some visual representation or “eye candy”):

1. Title and contact information

2. “State of the World” as it relates to your business and the “Problem”

3. Clear definition of “The Problem” with specific example

4. “The Solution” with example (backed by case study and revenue drivers)

5. “Business Model” (how you make money)

6. The “Secret Sauce” (showing your strategic advantages)

7. Sales and Marketing Strategy (give current and historical with how you adapted if applicable)

8. Competition (current major industry players and up-and-comers)

9. S.W.O.T. Analysis - Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (tie all of the above together with bullet points)

10. Management Team (Make sure there are at least 2-3 senior executives with operational experience and a track record scaling a business – preferably to a liquidity event)

11. Projections (metrics/benchmarks/timelines are very important)

* Be prepared to immediately send backup materials to interested parties including detail business, strategic and marketing communications plan as well as historical financial statements (audited if possible) and a detailed proforma based on those historical financials and real market data from industry researchers (i.e.: Forrester, Gartner, Frost & Sullivan, IDG, et.al.)

I hope this helps...

All the best,

Tom

A Timely Quote...

2009-10-11T21:45:00.003-04:00

My old friend and entrepreneur Rick Lackey forwarded a great quote to me this week. It speaks to an issue that I sometimes have to deal with when working with start-up companies and CEOs (usually younger and a first time CEO) that will likely have a difficult time transitioning from "visionary" to a real life operating CEO. The problem usually stems from an ego with underlying insecurity that unfortunately hinders this transition. In order to evolve from start-up (especially one that is implementing new technologies, products or innovative business models) to an operating ongoing concern that will scale, the CEO must surround himself with and actually listen to executives that are smarter and more capable than he or she is in their respective fields. The key is to listen. It is also extremely important not lead through intimidation and to be surround by any "yes men". When I do encounter this situation I immediately recite the Serenity Prayer...

Great examples of a few well known entrepreneurs who made the transition are Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates and Michael Dell. Each of these guys have confidence and ego (you have to in order to lead and execute) but each also possess true self-awareness specifically of their own strengths and weaknesses. Each surrounded themselves early on with a management team and advisors smarter and more capable than themselves (yes, even Gates...) in order to evolve and drive their respective companies into what you see today. So, here you go...

"It's better to be in a room where everybody is getting smarter than to be the smartest person in every room."

- Dan Sullivan

Our Amazing and Infinite Universe - The Hand of God

2009-10-06T18:30:00.030-04:00

The Hand of God

My brother James has gone through a spiritual journey over the past many years that have made me the recipient of many great emails. He sent the photo below after we were discussing God's design of our Universe. This photo was captured by NASA’s orbiting ‘Chandra’ X-Ray observatory. It is truly incredible...talk about "reaching for the stars." The magnitude and physics of the energy particles streaming from this pulsar are pretty amazing. The pulsar is the remnant of the Supernova B109 which was formed almost 2000 years ago when its massive star predecessor exploded roughly 17,000 light years from Earth. It is rotating seven times a second which has thrown particles across an expanse of 150 light-years! The star that collapsed was many times larger than our sun with the resulting pulsar that has a field 15 trillion times stronger than the Earth's magnetosphere.The rotation rate is what has created the nebula's finger shaped pillars transferring energy to the gas cloud nearby making it resemble a huge explosion in orange and red.

While doing a little research on this I also came across a Hubble photo taking in 04' of the Helix Nebula which definitely resembles an eye and has been dubbed "the eye of God".

I also came across an article that discussed how primitive we are when looking at an image from the Cosmos such as this. The article discussed the fact that we "apes" interpret such awesome images as "divine" activity or God "tinkering" in the Universe in the name of searching for deity based meaning to our lives. My belief is that God doesn't tinker on any level but He certainly allows us the ability for independent thinking and free will.

Although I am a faith based, extremely spiritual but quite imperfect being...definitely a "work in progress", I am also a futurist along the lines of a Ray Kurzweil (with a fraction of his intellect, however) or Peter Theil. I have had several theological debates with clergy and theologians on "singularity" and God as I believe that science and our logarithmic acceleration of knowledge is all part of the "Plan". Over the weekend I was talking with a like minded friend of mine about the journey and about missing any of the incredibly exciting things happening all around us. We concluded that we, in the spirit of Kurzweil's book, what to "Live Long Enough to Live Forever". If we do through medical advancement and are able to eventually "transcend biology" eventually moving toward "the singularity" what does that mean? Well, most of my friends in the Church talk about being "one with God..." We all have our own individual interpretations of God as well. One things that seems consistent across all religions is that "God is everywhere" and in everything, right? Than the singularity (all things truly connected) means...? Yeah, usually leaves the theologians speechless... :-)

In any event, I find the science behind the natural beauty and mystery of our infinite Universe direct evidence of intelligent design. What we fail to grasp is the moment of creation ("the Big Bang") and the mathematical driven outcomes from the deliberate "randomness" due to the sheer scale of our Universe. It's absolutely incredible to ponder. I just don't understand why certain people are so bent on disproving the case for a creator. Einstein, Strobel, Hawking and many others had/have a very different perspective.

The Utility of Advanced Unified Communications...Really!

2009-09-11T21:59:00.011-04:00

For the past several months I have been working as the EVP of Corporate Finance and "CFO" of Darkstrand, Inc. As the commercialization agent for the National LambdaRail there appeared to be limitless possibilities. Also as an early proponent of the "ASP" (Application Service Provider) which was declared "dead" by Information Week in 2002 and what is now known as SaaS (Software as a Service), Cloud Computing (a misnomer, really), etc., I was well aware that the limiting factor at this point for true commercialization and utility was no longer cost but was connectivity (bandwidth). The NLR network mitigates the bandwidth issue (if connected at 10Gbps) and is demonstrative of what the world will eventually come to know as personal high performance computing (or "PHPC"). The starting point for PHPC where HPC becomes "utility" will be in the office. This will come in the form of telepresence based unified communications. Take it a couple decades into the future and you have yourself walking into the Holodeck on the USS Starship Enterprise where Jean Luc Packard says, "Computer...I want to shoot sporting clays in Antigua"...and you are there!

With the promise of unlimited bandwidth and grid computing coupled with data center virtualization and 10Gb+ Ethernet between supercomputers - everything becomes possible... Now, back to basics and the beginning of the "(r)evolution". As I have been putting together strategic initiatives for Darkstrand and talking to investors it has become evident that will likely become evident in the office over the next few years through perfected unified communications coupled with integrated HD and then 4K telepresence.

You should also check out the iTV wall in Babylon A.D. - the movie is a little hokey but the technology it's just around the corner...

Instead of picking up a phone and dialing a number, you will point & click or use IVR (intelligent voice recognition) to engage a contact in your database (Skype on steroids with all the associated data captured and intelligently stored) and work collaboratively as though you were part of the same computer (remember Tron?). Before you even try to call a colleague, you will know his or her status (the colleague opting in with preferences, of course) including location, availability and perhaps even mood (wouldn't that be a welcomed forewarning?). With "mood" you will immediately know whether to call, email, text or video conference, etc. :-)

I love the promise and prospect of the future... The best part is that we are on a logarithmic path to getting there...

With several open source platforms(that's really the key - mass collaboration accelerating innovation...) downloadable for "FREE" and supported by large developer communities (M1's StarPound, BroadSoft [no quite as open :-)] and others) these capabilities are here now with forward thinkers/companies reaping the efficiencies and increased productivity of and through unified communications. Imagine a completely virtual office with cloud based intelligence helping you manage your business/personal relationships and recommending exactly how to interact based on circumstances. Anything from anywhere access and interacting seamlessly therein...VERY COOL...

If you want the ultimate history lesson and direct analogy or object example (applicable to numerous things including computing) you should read Nicholas Carr's "The Big Switch: Rewiring the World, from Edison to Google". This book directly compared the way companies previously and are now looking at their IT infrastructure and computing resources. Many look to this book as a very influential example to even a manifesto for the inevitable migration for all of us to cloud computing on every level. Carr demonstrates exactly how technology changes industry by analysing the effect of power (originally starting with the dynamo and DC migrating to AC) on companies and how they migrated/innovated to survive. Eventually the power "industry" was formed and power became utility. It is no different with the eveolution from main frame >> PC >> networked PCs >> internal intranets georgraphically dispersed >> web services integration therein >> true cloud/grid computing eliminating internal IT infrastructure and data center (dynamo in power) >> 10Gbps fiber to the home and personal HPC >> and who knows... Imagine walking into your home and your personal cloud based advisor/monitor tells you, "I have monitored an anomaly in your biosystems indicating a possible aneurysm and have notified your personal health services provider" (all HIPAA compliant of course).

Or...you could really go for it and read Ray Kurzweil's, "The Singularity is Near - When Humans Transcend Biology"

Fasten you seatbelt...

All the best,

Tom

UC San Diego's Calit2 Experience

2009-09-05T19:28:00.007-04:00

I have just been in San Diego at the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology or "Calit2" with Tom DeFanti and some of Darkstrand's executive management team. The StarCave is a real world "Star Trek Holodeck" originally developed in the early 90's by Tom and his team and perfected over the years. This is only one of many amazing things we experienced. Everything here is connected through the National Lambda Rail (Darkstrand's Network) and Global Lambda Integrated Facility...

All have incredible commercial applications and will be in the home sooner than you think. Once we have 10G Ethernet to the home, personal high performance computing or "HPC" will become the rule not the exception. Read "The Big Switch" and you'll see it very clearly... Cheers, T

Entrepreneurial Thinking: Absolutely Perfect

2009-08-16T20:50:00.002-04:00

The following video is becoming pretty timely again...Enjoy!

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Innovating Communications to Stimulate Your Business | Enriching Communications - Alcatel-Lucent

2009-08-16T10:27:00.001-04:00

Innovating Communications to Stimulate Your Business | Enriching Communications - Alcatel-Lucent

Shared via AddThis

StomperNet's FormulaFIVE - "F5"

2009-02-02T08:03:00.009-05:00

Hi All:

It's been a too long since I have posted to my blog. I need to find the ultimate time management course for the entrepreneur who finds themselves slammed 24/7 with work, family...everything. That overwhelming feeling we get when we fell that we are involved in too much is perceived as a curse when it should be embraced and look at as an incredible gift from God. Truly the alternative leaves one feeling lost an empty (usually leading to a massive depression in my observation). Anyway, I have been working with Andy Jenkins and the StomperNet team for almost two years now. We have currently been working on the launch for the new FormulaFIVE or "F5" from StomperNet. This coursework has been designed for the entrepreneur as well as the SMB market in order to INCREASE YOUR REVENUE through ADVANCED INTERNET AND NEW MEDIA MARKETING TECHNIQUES as well as help individuals and companies EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY MARKET AND MANAGE YOUR BUSINESS!

I spoke to Andy and Tom at StomperNet that they've added another great bonus to FormulaFIVE - it's called FormulaFIVE day at StomperNet LIVE 7, or "F5 @ LIVE" - and if you've never been to a StomperNet conference, you're in for a real treat.

Get this - you can go to this live event for nothing. Won't cost you a dime to get in, if you are willing to part with $197 to get in the FormulaFIVE program.

CLICK HERE TO SEE FormulaFIVE

Events with seminars like these, with guys the caliber of Paul Lemberg and the StomperNet Faculty, would normally cost several thousand dollars or more - but StomperNet is throwing it in (how do those guys do it?). It's like the Video Professor's marketing program. Believe me, once you work through some of StomperNet's material, you get it and you understand that this is INVALUABLE INFORMATION and THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS EXPONENTIAL!

I'll be at this event myself (it will be my fourth!). Again, these StomperNet LIVE events are not your usual Internet Marketing type. They are extremely granular with everything from live Website Reviews by their faculty to workshops on everything from understanding Google's algorithms and nuances around how slight changes in your overall SEM can reap exponential results. They always have great speakers, and best of all - the networking aspect of the conference is unsurpassed. Oh, they DO NOT pitch any StomperNet products there as the conference is normally ONLY FOR STOMPERNET MEMBERS.

So, if you've been on the fence about joining FormulaFIVE, now they're throwing a full day with Paul Lemberg at a Live event in, and they're going to unleash FormulaSIX right there - the Product Producer module.

I urge you to check out this program - seems like they add unbelievable bonuses to FormulaFIVE every day!

GO TO FormulaFIVE

All the best,

Tom

Watching The Brain Make Ethical Business Decisions

2008-08-19T23:28:00.001-04:00

Watching The Brain Make Ethical Business Decisions

Moral reasoning

August 18, 2008

F ew would argue that people’s views on morality play a major role in the way they operate in their personal and professional lives. But how does moral reasoning “kick in” when a businessperson is in the midst of a dilemma? Just the mention of the executives involved in the scandals at Enron or WorldCom causes many to wonder what made these people capable of such fraudulent behavior. Were their choices prompted by a knee-jerk intuitive reaction formed from ingrained behavior? Can we attribute their actions to thoughts formed through a rational process, prompted by the risks and rewards of the moment? Or, did they lack the moral compass that allows most people to sense when to avoid an unethical situation? According to Rick Gilkey, an associate professor of organization and management at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School and an associate professor of psychiatry at Emory University’s School of Medicine, understanding how the brain processes critical thought on moral issues may provide a useful window into ethical lapses in the workplace.

In new cutting-edge research, Gilkey, along with Diana Robertson, a professor of organization and management at Goizueta, and Clinton Kilts, a vice chair for research and a professor of psychiatry at Emory University’s School of Medicine, employed magnetic resonance imaging to isolate the parts of the brain activated when study participants were presented with a series of narratives depicting a variety of business scenarios for a fictional marketing analyst. Some of the scenarios involved normal business interactions of a strategic or tactical nature, and other situations detailed a moral dilemma for the marketing analyst.

For the initial phase of the research, Gilkey, Robertson and Kilts used sixteen right-handed men, aged from 27-42, in their study, and noted the selection of all male study participants “was motivated by a prominent, though controversial, contention that gender-related differences exist in moral orientation.” (The researchers hope to replicate their study with female participants at a later date.) Says Gilkey, “One assumption we had early on was that there was a region of the brain responsible for dealing with moral problems, or that there was some sort of subset localized area. As it turns out, this wasn’t the case. Ideas and thoughts dealing with novelty and ambiguity come largely from the right hemisphere. But it may then become more routine information and then get stored and encoded in the left hemisphere. You might liken the businessperson’s moral reasoning to that of different players in an orchestra, pulling in all the divergent parts to form a whole.”

In a soon-to-be released paper titled "The neural basis of moral sensitivity to issues of justice and care: an fMRI study," the authors describe their efforts, and they conclude that three brain areas are critical to moral sensitivity: the medial prefrontal cortex, the dorsal posterior cingulate cortex, and the posterior superior temporal sulcus (STS). Based on prior research, Gilkey notes that the medial prefrontal cortex is associated with personality and early memories. Prior research indicates that this area of the brain is also involved in the ability to understand or empathize with someone else’s situation. (Interestingly, the study participants did not receive direct instruction to consider others’ thoughts when presented with the hypothetical business scenarios, and this activation of the section of the brain responsible for empathy may suggest a more intuitive or innate empathetic response on the participants’ part.)

Prior neurological research on moral thought indicates that the dorsal posterior cingulate cortex is associated with “evaluating the appropriateness of solutions to personal moral dilemmas,” as well as emotional memories and first-person perspective taking. However, the posterior STS has been linked to a more integrated brain function, playing a role in combining the various perspectives taken. Gilkey notes that this is when the rationale behind the actions taken might be reached. The findings suggest that moral reasoning is (at least initially) an intuitive response, and somewhat outside of the individual’s immediate awareness. Gilkey adds, “The construction of why it all makes sense, the right or wrong of it, comes after—to justify the intuitive process."

According to Robertson, additional findings illustrated that the brain functions in slightly different ways for matters involving the need for impartiality or equality (justice issues) versus those involving more emotion or compassion (care issues). An example of a justice narrative used in the study involved the fictional marketing executive being pressured by his boss to bend the interpretation of data to confirm the boss’s biases. However, one of the care scenarios described a situation where the marketing executive was conflicted by having to spend large amounts of time in the office on the weekend, when he promised to devote the time to his family.

She notes, “Despite the fact that both are ethical issues, we found distinct differences in the neural activity associated with the processing of justice versus care issues.” Greater activation occurred in the ventral posterior cingulate cortex, ventromedial and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and thalamus for the narratives associated with care issues—all areas of the brain linked to the ability to take another’s perspective and also with emotional memories. However, there was greater activation in the left posterior STS for justice issues—a section of the brain implicitly linked to the “non-emotional” processing of situations and social convention.

Robertson adds, “The results also indicate that social perspective taking (the ability to put yourself in another’s shoes) and autobiographical memory are important components of sensitivity to ethical issues. This corroborates methods used at Goizueta Business School to teach business ethics. Case method teaching requires students to take the perspective of another and to make decisions from that person’s point of view. Discussion-based classes and debates require students to respect and appreciate the perspectives of their classmates. Class exercises and assignments ask that students reflect upon and understand the basis of their own values and ethics, a process that is necessarily autobiographical.”

Gilkey believes that the findings not only corroborate Goizueta’s teaching model, but that they provide a framework for those looking to teach a new generation of ethically aware business students and employees. Says Gilkey, “It’s important to understand how the role of early memory and personal identity affects ethical decision making. The big question will be to find out if we can work to reformulate this identity once it is imprinted. Our findings also have implications for the development of moral sensitivity, suggesting that efforts to sensitize individuals to moral issues [should] focus on methods that tap into introspection based on personal experiences, as well as the use of perspective taking techniques such as role playing.”

While Sigmund Freud might have believed that individual behavior is pretty much set from an early age, Gilkey says that many now believe there may be some truth and some fiction in the notion. He adds, “It’s also possible that we may evolve, or that ethical decision-making skills can be matured or enhanced. As far as the future, we may soon discover that some business people may never be attuned to a more principled leadership model. Our research does indicate that, for the most part, ethical decision-making is an innate capacity that the majority [of people] possess. We’re trying to ensure that the capacity is elicited. The ultimate objective is to determine the most effective management training techniques to develop this capacity.”

Currently, Robertson notes that her research team is seeking funding for future related projects, including an investigation of contextual variables that influence decision-making about ethical issues. “Empirical research in business ethics has explored the impact of variables, such as the potential high risk/high reward for behaving unethically. Such variables appear to have played a prominent role in recent scandals at companies such as Enron and the like. We hope to discover the neural activity associated with these variables and their impact on decision making, [employing] hypothetical business situations presented to research participants as their brains are scanned.

Future research could focus on determining if immoral actions suggest some sort of “dysfunctional concept of self,” a lack of appropriate teaching models from early childhood, the inability to effectively judge a possible outcome of an action, or a combination of these scenarios. Certainly, prior neurological studies do indicate that prefrontal cortex damage has a negative impact on social and moral thought. Following that thought, Kilts adds that there needs to be an understanding of “the access to knowledge of self. It’s critical that as we develop an interpretative awareness of moral consequences, [we determine if] the lack of a concept of an unhealthy self might be indicative of the problems in business today. Could those involved in some of the recent business scandals think they did nothing wrong? Maybe we need to determine who can pick out and be aware of moral conflicts. With that in mind, we need to look to the other part in this—the outer world and not just the inner world (self). A component of this is the ability to evaluate how various outcomes affect others involved. To be interpretatively aware also means to have an awareness of the social ramifications.”

Read more articles like this at Knowledge @ Emory.

Sneak Peek into StomperNet

2008-05-22T11:10:00.005-04:00

StomperNet and Andy Jenkins have done it again. At 8 Minutes and 35 seconds into this latest video, you'll see one of the Game Changing Devices that StomperNet members have at their disposal.

The COUNTDOWN TO STOMPERNET'S BRIEF RE-OPEN has begun.

In the last couple of videos, Andy's been asking folks to adopt "The Long View", you know, a reasoned, rational approach to deciding about StomperNet Membership. Hmmm, apparently that didn't work out so well. The comments on their Videos pages are getting a little silly.

Andy just told me that folks are leaving their credit card numbers in the comments.

SCARY STUFF!

As they're getting a little closer Andy thought it would be cool to do a SHORT video:

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

And this video is NOT for anyone that doesn't want to see what StomperNet is really like.

This video is called "Sneak Peak", because that's what it is. It's a machine gun-paced look at about of StomperNet's total universe. And YES, they know that "Peak" is spelled a funny way. That spelling means "The most extreme possible amount or value" - And that's what EVERYBODY at StomperNet believes your business will become when it's been Stomper-Fied.

Here's a quick Table of Contents:

The "Event Horizon" - our Portal Entry Point.
The Featured Resources. Coaches Corner - *** Note, in the video, youre going to find out that they've been giving personal ONE-on-ONE coaching to ALL NEW StomperNet members.
Behind the Scenes Members Eye View - Wanna know how we market StomperNet? This is the place.
Stomper Guide to SEO - an Online LIVING Guide to the latest SEO Statistics and Rules
Scrutinizer - Stompers Custom Eye-Tracking and Foveal Simulator designed to double your site conversion.
StomperNet Faculty Office Hours - May's schedule for the Faculty Teleseminars.
The StomperDex - It's like a treasure Map, but at the X is REAL POWER, not Johnny Depp. ...you know what? Just watch the video...

WATCH THIS VIDEO!!! - CLICK HERE

Especially the part that starts at 8 minutes and 35 Seconds in. Why? Let me ask you a perfectly obvious question: If you had a personal coach, a STOMPER Trained Business coach to help you grow your business, do you think your business would do better, or worse?

The Stomper Members who have coaches do an average of 68% better. In just 6 weeks, the minimum revenue increase for Coached Members was $495.00 per month. The maximum was $4,900. Do you think those members are gonna stick around StomperNet longer?

So here's the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT I referred to yesterday:

ALL NEW STOMPERNET Members will have access to a StomperCoach...

...at NO extra charge.

Yep, StomperNet tuition is the same as it was when it first opened in 2006 - about $27 a day. Thursday (TODAY!) at 3pm Eastern Time, StomperNet opens the doors.

So go check out the Video!

WATCH VIDEO

Best regards,

Tom

StomperNet Going Natural 3.0

2008-05-21T09:01:00.005-04:00

SUBJECT - StomperNet members show us how they "did it"

Here's 3 short videos (combined into one) from the StomperNet gang, and this time, no expert faculty or staff to watch. Click here for Videos

These videos are from real MEMBERS of StomperNet, and they're going to tell you EXACTLY what they accomplished, and HOW they got these results. I don't think I've ever seen anything like this.

Video 1 - Kristie is going to show you how she went from making $1,000 a month to $10,000 a month - in 45 days. She made $75,000 last holiday season, too! She's learned this stuff so well she's now an expert e-Biz consultant in her home town. And, oh yeah, she started this 18 months ago.

Video 2 - Cassia is going to show you how she started with making only $5,000 a month - and she had been struggling at her business for YEARS. She and her husband Steve got the "Home Study Course" videos when they signed up for StomperNet, and the next month, they DOUBLED. 3 Months later, they hit $27,000 a month, and have been holding there - even while Cassia had a baby and they moved to their dream home in Colorado.

Video 3 - Chris is going to show you how he was virtually killing himself - getting up at 4:45am - 7 days a week, to be a personal trainer at a gym. When Chris joined StomperNet Andy Jenkins couldnt figure out whether he was just a guru groupie, or dead on serious.

Turns out, he was NOT JOKING about his business. Today, he's got 8 OTHER TRAINERS working for him, ranks all over the FIRST PAGE of Google for his Money Keywords, and just got back from a 6 WEEK (not day) vacation - and when he came back, his business was BIGGER than when he left. Oh yeah - Chris has been a Stomper just about 1 year now.

These case studies don't pull any punches either.

Listen for each Stomper's FRANK and Candid discussion of the StomperNet monthly tuition. Listen to how they talk about how both members AND Faculty discuss Controversial topics in the Member Forums.

Listen to how they GO OFF about the StomperNet live events. It's freakishly sharp and honest.

It's Tuesday, and StomperNet is opening again TOMORROW. Already the rush has begun for the very LIMITED number of slots they will make available. And once they're full, and I'm dead serious, they're closing. The last time they closed, THEY WERE CLOSED FOR A YEAR.

Watch those case-studies - they're all successful e-Business owners who took a chance, stuck it out, and WON. They have things to show you.

Tomorrow, StomperNet will make a STUNNING announcement. If you've ever wanted some personal attention for your business, you need to look for tomorrow's announcement. I can't tell you EXACTLY what it is, but... it has improved every StomperNet member's business by 68%.

If you have any direct questions on this email me. Email Tom

All the Best,

Tom

StomperNet Set to Re-open Later This Spring!

2008-03-13T09:16:00.003-04:00

How to make more money with less traffic...

Watch this video to see the frightening true story.

WATCH VIDEO NOW!

This REALLY Happened. StomperNet co-founder Brad Fallon's Wedding Favors site was DUMPED from Google.That's HALF his traffic, HALF his sales, and HALF his entire business. Gone! Just Gone.

What did he do? Brad went and had the best 6 months EVER - without a home page listing in Google. You can watch how he did it, here: Watch Video...

BTW, this is one of StomperNet's now famous Going Natural Videos, a brand new on, in fact. If you haven't seen these kinds of videos before, you're in for a hard-core learning experience. Dan Thies, StomperNet Faculty and SEO Expert, took a million bucks worth of collected data and developed, implemented and PERFECTED a PPC strategy that SAVED Brad's company. What Dan did is crazy - it's nuts - it goes against EVERYTHING in the PPC book. This is a NEW BOOK, and Dan and StomperNet wrote it. You can't read it - but you can also watch... It's for ALL Experience Levels - Expert and Newbie.But don't just take my word for it - go hear about it from the guys who engineered the strategy - they've got the NUMBERS to back it up. Don't miss this video, or you'll miss the chance to DOUBLE your income from PPC - or if you AREN'T doing PPC now, this is the best way to start RIGHT.

Thanks all,

Tom

P.S. They've got more videos in this series in the works already, so if you want to see more incredible instructional videos like this (that you WON'T see ANYWHERE ELSE) - be sure to opt-in on the video page and confirm your subscription.

Absolutely Perfect

2008-01-26T12:29:00.000-05:00

From my beautiful daughter - Catherine

2008-01-09T11:15:00.000-05:00

My wife Karen and I were at parent/teacher conferences earlier this week when Mike Verlander, the head of the Theology department at Holy Spirit Prep tapped my on the shoulder and asked if I had seen what my daughter Catherine had written in Religion 200 Class earlier in the year. He then handed me a copy of what she had written which is what follows. I was deeply touched and emotional when I first read this as was my wife, Karen. To me it represents the true significance of God, faith and family. I only wish I had the insight at age 15 that Catherine shows here. I love Catherine and my family so dearly and will always try to find balance for them in a sometimes crazy entrepreneurial world that is the Lennon home.

Why DO I Believe In God?

Catherine Lennon – September 4, 2007

God has done an incredible amount for me in my life. He caught me when I fell, and he held me up when I felt like I couldn't support myself anymore. He kept the walls from crashing in on me and He gave me my talent; and the world that inspires me and that takes my breath away. He loved me when I loved no one. He cared for me when I thought no one was there. He believed in me when no one else did. When I gave up, He took over and helped me through it all. He believed in me, when I barely believed in Him.

I think I believe in God because I spent so much time trying to live without Him. Eventually in my time of extreme need, I began to break, and I felt like I couldn't carry the cross that was set on my shoulders. Finally, I began praying again frantically and constantly. I felt like God was absent to me, like there couldn't possibly be a God if I was going through what I was going through, but I look back and realize that He was right there the entire time. The problem was not that He wasn't there... He was being blocked by the horrible thoughts, the impudence of the Devil, and my own insolence. I didn't even realize what I was doing. I didn't talk to anyone but God. I resorted to music, which helped bring me back to God. I couldn't really explain why or how I believe in God, because it isn't something concrete, and it isn't something tangible. The reason why I believe in God is because He believes in me. My reason is Love...

Rumors & Innuendo about Tom Lennon in Panama - 2003

2007-12-15T15:58:00.006-05:00

First of all, the only reason I have finally included the "Tom Lennon - Panama Stories" in my blog as well as done some minor "Search Engine Reputation Management" or "SERM" (yes that is really an acronym in the Internet business world) was due to the fact that I was tired of having to explain all this rigmarole every time someone from my business or personal life came to me after doing a Google search. I hope this information is helpful, insightful and entertaining...

Today I was sent a post by Don Winner from the Panama-Guide.com. I don't know Don but I have spent some time on his Panama-Guide.com. People in the U.S. and elsewhere are just beginning to realize the incredible opportunities in Panama. Don has done a great job at pulling together meaningful information and has written some great pieces. Well it seems that Eric Jackson from the Panama News has found my "rebuttal" to stories published in his Panama News by himself and Okke Ornstein. I don't know Eric but I always have empathy for someone who is bootstrapping their business and trying to keep the enterprise alive. After all, that is the core of what being an entrepreneur is all about. However, I do not condone clear breaches of ethics and a lack of integrity around operating that enterprise. I am not one to judge anyone but I always try to be conscious of the things I say and the ramifications those statements may have on others or the world in general. It is also extremely important that when you put yourself in a journalistic position that you exercise the utmost in integrity and accuracy. That is why we have slander and liable laws in the United States.

More Astounding Hipocrisy from Eric Jackson
Sunday, December 16 2007 @ 07:49 PM EST
Contributed by: Don Winner

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Today Eric Jackson writes - "McMurrain associate Tom Lennon is joining the Internet crusade with Don Winner, Roger Gallo et al in trashing me and Okke and this Nazi-style repetition of scurrilous charges will work if not steadfastly challenged." Eric Jackson has publicly admitted he suffers from Bipolar Disorder (formerly known as manic depression). In addition, he admits that he is both untreated and is not taking any medications for mood stabalization or depression. Many people who suffer from this disease which affects some 5.7 million Americans, refuse treatment because the medicines used eliminate both the "highs" (manic cycles) as well as the "lows" (depressive cycles.) "Symptoms of manic states are varied and include restlessness, increased energy, euphoric mood, racing thoughts, poor judgment, intrusive or provocative behavior, difficulty concentrating, and a decreased need for sleep. People experiencing manic episodes often speak very rapidly, seem overly irritable, and may have unrealistic beliefs about their own power and capability. (more)

If Not Steadfastly Challenged? Remember, this statement comes from the guy who (literally) went "nuts" and began an all-out assault on me personally and on all of my sponsors the minute I launched Panama-Guide.com as an English language news website. Don't believe me? Go back and check out the stuff he was writing about the Tucan Country Club, my first significant sponsor, in the end of 2004 and early 2005. He tried to tie their funding to the Watergate scandal. Obviously, the product of a sound mind.

Why Would He Do That? Jackson perceives Panama-Guide a threat, both personally and professionally. Is he being paranoid? See this definition: - "More recently, the clinical use of the term has been used to describe delusions where the affected person believes they are being persecuted. Specifically, they have been defined as containing two central elements: 1. The individual thinks that harm is occurring, or is going to occur, to him or her. 2. The individual thinks that the persecutor has the intention to cause harm." Now, please go back and read the opening paragraph of this article again.

"Nazi-style Repetition of Scurrilous Charges" Actually, I have only filed criminal charges against Okke Ornstein for criminal defamation and slander. I don't know what Ornstein's particular brand of "nuts" is, but I know from personal experience that he's explosively violent - he repeatedly rammed by car, trying to drive me off of the road, simply because I found his house. I needed to know where he lived in order to file a criminal complaint against him. Clyde Jenkins has also filed several criminal complaints for slander, to which Ornstein replied with death threats. Nice guy. And if anyone is using the "Nazi-style repetition of scurrilous charges" it's Jackson, who has not shut the hell up about me or my website since the day I launched it.

Little More Than Weak Journalism: Okke and Eric have made a whole lot of enemies over the years, and some of the people they have written about fully deserved their attention. The problem comes when they prove their inability to discern truth from their own fiction and are unable to reach a type of objective balance in their reporting. I've gotten sucked into several disputes in which people had a desire to "use" the media for their cause, and after a time of investigation I've determined that both sides have their points and that eventually the dispute will be resolved in court. At that point I press on to the next story. Eric and Okke have been crowing about one case (basically) for several years. It's not "news" but basically "olds." Boring drivel. They begin to take things personally, rather than being an objective observer who is simply telling the story so that others can know what's going on. In short, they are not very good journalists.

You Don't Have To Be Nuts To Be A Journalist... But it helps. Like, "just because we're a paranoid schizophrenic doesn't mean they're not out to get us." In reality it takes an inquisitive mind - the kind of person who can sit around and play the "what if" game until you come up with the plausible scenarios that could be going on. Of course, then you have to do the hard part - go get the proof and verification of your wild-assed theory. We're playing those games right now with the Darwins and the missing canoeist guy.

Having An Effect: I have been saying for years that both Eric and Okke would be best served by forgetting all about me and my website and worry about their own endeavors. I have learned, however, that I can't allow their consistent attacks to stand unchallenged. I know that the rest of you people out there who just want to read the news would be much happier to never read one of these kinds of stories again. And, the only person happier would be me, if I never had to write one. I decided a long time ago that I am not willing to just "let it go" any longer, and every time this crap comes up I will answer it. Regular readers are not surprised. Now, with all of that having been said, "Go Giants!" Time for something really important.

Copyright 2007 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

------------------------------------------------------------
Comment on this story at
http://www.panama-guide.com/article.php/20071216194913364#comments

More information on this entire fiasco from 2003 can by clicking on the following links:

Entrepreneurism

2007-12-06T11:46:00.000-05:00

I have assembled a collection of great video bytes from YouTube on entrepreneurism. You can easily scroll through the different videos in the player itself. The Call of the Entrepreneur is a new movie from Action Media I highly recommend. It features a friend and fellow Holy Spirit parent, Frank Hanna. The movie is a great peak into the definition of what it means to be an Ethical Entrepreneur. You can purchase the video at "The Call Of The Entrepreneur"

Best,

Tom Lennon

The Incredible Human Machine from TED 2007

2007-12-06T10:56:00.000-05:00

Having passionately studied Genetics and Biochemistry at UGA in the early 80's, I found this presentation by David Bolinsky from the 2007 Ted Conference absolutely remarkable. I hope you enjoy this incredible look into the fabric of life though the illustrations and animations from David and his team at Harvard. For more "inspired talks by the world's greatest thinkers and doers" visit: TED... Enjoy!

Best,

Tom Lennon

Entrepreneurial Prayer

2007-12-06T10:04:00.000-05:00

With the pressures of being a consummate serial entrepreneur trying to balance very extensive work hours with family, I begin each day with prayer and some quite meditation. It is personally critical for me in order to prepare myself for the day. With all the projects in which I am currently involved, prayer keeps me centered and gives me the strength and resilience to calmly deal with any problematic issues that may arise. I also recommend prayer and positively reinforced thinking about the blessing of having your family while driving home. It allows you to shed the stress and velocity you may have built up during the day so you bring a calm into your home. I hope the following prayer from the CEO Ministry helps...

God Bless,

Tom

Dear Lord,

Today I ask You to please give me wisdom in all my decisions,
knowledge in all my transactions, and understanding in all
my dealings as they pertain to my business. Keep me, God,
from being deceived into illegal transactions, and I set
my heart to walk to integrity, no matter what monetary
potential is available. I know the only way I can be a
prosperous business owner is to remain pure in my motives
and conduct my business according to your Word.
I commit myself to do that now, Lord.

Help me to turn away from all temptations to climb the ladder
of success by stepping on other as I go up. I pray that
I never become so engulfed with my work that I forget my
primary purpose in You – to minister to those around me.
I thank You for Your supernatural strength working in me
that overcomes all stress and anxiety.

Finally, I thank You, God, for blessing my business. I know
that as I put You first in every area of my life, as well
as my profession, You and I stand in a covenant relationship
together. Because You and I are partners, I expect the
windows of opportunity to open up to my business and Your
great blessings break forth in my life. Then I can and
will bless others and give toward the preaching and teaching of the Gospel.

Thank you for helping me see this great truth!

In Jesus name...Amen.

Artificial Intelligence Enters Brave New World

2007-12-04T22:52:00.000-05:00

Health & Science
Artificial Intelligence Enters Brave New World
by Rick Kleffel

Weekend Edition Sunday, December 2, 2007 · The idea of what Artificial Intelligence should be has evolved over the past 50 years — from solving puzzles and playing chess to emulating the abilities of a child: walking, recognizing objects. A recent conference brought together those who invent the future.

A recent "Singularity Summit" brought together those who imagine — and invent — the future.

Story: Listen at NPR