Baldo Minaudo’s Blog

This all started on July 30th, 2007 when I met for coffee with a outrageous young lady.  When I first saw this woman’s picture, something inside me said I had to meet her.  Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t anything romantic.  Rather, it was something more of a spiritual nature.  I just knew that it was time to and I was meant to meet her. 

Well, we met over coffee and my intuition was right.  We were destined to meet.  During our chat, I was touched and inspired by her life story and the strength of her convictions that allowed her to conquer her childhold illness and limitations.  This was a woman I could relate to.  You will see why in a moment.  In short, my tuition to meet her was bang on, so much so that by the end of our 2 hour coffee we had verbally agreed to co-produce a film based on her song, Butterfly which was inspired by her life struggle.

I have now co-produced this short 4 minute movie in collaboration with Cindy Ashton.   The Butterfly Movie is a pictorial journey into Cindy Ashton’s ‘Butterfly’ song inspired by her personal life story.

Cindy Ashton was born with a 20% chance of survival… She survived 3 heart surgeries.

The doctors told her not to push herself or strain her heart… She became a professional dancer anyway.

Her childhood illness left her with a damaged lung…She became a singer anyway

You’ll hear Cindy Ashton sing…the song, Butterfly in the Movie.

Today as an adult, Cindy is off medication, in minimal pain, dancing freely, singing like an angel and truly enjoying life in the spirit of the butterfly.

The ‘Butterfly’ song reflects the spirit which carried Cindy through her turbulent journey. It is a theraputic story full of hope and healing meant to be shared with others and spread throughout the world.

You can view the Movie at http://www.thebutterflymovie.com (click on ‘Watch the Movie’ at the top right of the website).

Please do watch this inspirational movie and share it with your family and friends.

Baldo Minaudo, Co-producer, The Butterfly Movie

Well, I barely recovered from my snow storm travel adventures when I headed off to the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Conference 2007, popularly known as the PDAC Conference 2007.  The first PDAC conference took palce in 1932 and since then it has been a gathering place for people and companies involved in the search and development of new mineral deposits. Today, the PDAC International Convention, Trade Show and Investors Exchange has become the most important event in the world of exploration, bringing together players involved in the field from all over the world.

This year’s conference was one of the most high-power conferences I’ve been to in a while.  Countries from around the world were promoting their raw resources in the hope of attracting money and companies to invest in developing their resources.  Mining companies involved in everything from gold, silver, copper, zinc, uranium to diamonds were promoting themselves looking for investors.  Some companies were looking to get listed on a recognized stock exchange, while others were already listed on the TSX or some other exchange.

One would expect such activity.  Although I was impressed with the amount of money that was put into the promotions, especially with some of the gifts and packages being handed out.  No, samples of gold, but I did get an opportunity to taste authentic, imported Turkish Delight.  And let me tell you - what an experience that was.  Mmmmm, Mmmmm, Mmmmm. 

On another hand, let me tell you about the social activities sponsored or hosted by individual companies in the evenings.  On second thought, maybe I shouldn’t tell you about them.  Well, let me just say that quality and quantity of liquor was abundant, as well as a great variety of snacks.  It’s amazing just what you can find out when there is a room full of Presidents and CEOs indulging in alcohol.

In case you’re wondering why my blog is a little late this week, just read the above paragraph again. 

I highly recommend that if you want to make some high level contacts then you attend the PDAC Convention next year and network, network, network.

Have a great weekend!

 

Well, I barely recovered from my snow storm travel adventures when I headed off to the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Conference 2007, popularly known as the PDAC Conference 2007.  The first PDAC conference took palce in 1932 and since then it has been a gathering place for people and companies involved in the search and development of new mineral deposits. Today, the PDAC International Convention, Trade Show and Investors Exchange has become the most important event in the world of exploration, bringing together players involved in the field from all over the world.

This year’s conference was one of the most high-power conferences I’ve been to in a while.  Countries from around the world were promoting their raw resources in the hope of attracting money and companies to invest in developing their resources.  Mining companies involved in everything from gold, silver, copper, zinc, uranium to diamonds were promoting themselves looking for investors.  Some companies were looking to get listed on a recognized stock exchange, while others were already listed on the TSX or some other exchange.

One would expect such activity.  Although I was impressed with the amount of money that was put into the promotions, especially with some of the gifts and packages being handed out.  No, samples of gold, but I did get an opportunity to taste authentic, imported Turkish Delight.  And let me tell you - what an experience that was.  Mmmmm, Mmmmm, Mmmmm. 

On another hand, let me tell you about the social activities sponsored or hosted by individual companies in the evenings.  On second thought, maybe I shouldn’t tell you about them.  Well, let me just say that quality and quantity of liquor was abundant, as well as a great variety of snacks.  It’s amazing just what you can find out when there is a room full of Presidents and CEOs indulging in alcohol.

In case you’re wondering why my blog is a little late this week, just read the above paragraph again. 

I highly recommend that if you want to make some high level contacts then you attend the PDAC Convention next year and network, network, network.

Have a great weekend!

 

This article is dedicated to all the people in our lives.  And I would like to begin by thanking my friends Jovian and SweetieNov for asking me when I’m going to post my next article.  It’s good to see that someone is reading some of my work.

Who is your life?  Have you ever taken a look at the people that you have allowed to be part of your life?  Or have you just let people flow into your life without even considering it. 

From my research and work as a trainer in relationship networking, I’ve noticed that the most successful individuals in any society (regardless of how you define success) are those that consciously choose their friends and others they allow into their life.  But, it goes beyond that.  These successful people also realize the impact different people have and the role they could play in their specific life.

So, in order for us to decide who to let into our lives, we should understand different types of individuals and be able to assess them.  By the way, I teach this in my 3 hour workshop, “Reading People”.  Then, we need to understand the role that these people play and whether we need that role filled in our lives. 

Two broad categories of types of people are toxic and inspiring.  Toxic people are those that intentionally or unconsciously give you a feeling of hopelessness and despair.  Usually after you have a chat with them you feel negative, unmotivated and even a failure or as there is no hope.  Inspiring people are those that after you chat with them you feel like taking on the world, like being the best that you can be.  Some individuals are simply pessimists and others are optimists.  The point is that they all have an impact on our lives and simply by letting them into our circle of influence creates an impact on our life, meeting our objectives and our level of success (or failure).

I encourage you to take an inventory of those you talk to and spend time with and assess how them affect you.  Are they helping you in your progress or hampering you?  If they’re hampering you, you might want to consider redefining your boundaries with them or even relationship.  Sometimes it is better to distance yourself from those that are harming you and to get closer to those that make you feel better or are helping your progress.

As part of an audit of your relationships, I also recommend something that I do once in a while.  Simply write down why you appreciate that person being in your life and what you value about them.  Then pick up the phone and tell each one of them.

So in the spirit of practicing what I preach, I would like to thank:

Judee Regan (author of ‘Meaningful Work…the entrepreneurial way’) for her questioning of my values and why I am so loyal to my relationships and core values.  It reminds me of the man that I am and the price I pay for sticking to my values.

Rio (aerospace engineer and personal trainer) for his high energy personality and the way he makes me feel that I’m a good man.

Dr. Helen (world leading researcher at Johns Hopkins Hospital) for showing me that there are others out there who stick to their commitments and do what they say they’re going to do.  And also for her support in my physical conditioning program.

Dr. Amanda (psychologist from the State Univesity of New York) for sharing with me the perspectives of our American friends over the border and for pointing out new ways of looking at things.

Cheryl (H.R. Consultant) for checking in with me once in a while and letting me know what’s going on in the job market.

Dolores Pian (owner of ‘Spaces’) for her words of encouragement when I went through hard times.  She is one of very few people who still sends cards in the mail and which I really appreciate.

Dave Hankala (insurance advisor) for his continued support and sharing of common interests.  Another man who keeps to his word and values clear communication.  David, the lessons I’ve learned from you though subtle have changed my life.

Erika Marquardt (owner of Healing Arts Institute) as a role model for overcoming the setbacks in her life and not letting anything stop her from achieving her goals.  Erika gave birth to her first child within the last three years.

Mary Joe Marco (owner of Kingsway Health & Beauty) who I introduced to another long-time friend David Marco (past owner of Coconut Grove Intimate Apparels and presently a mortgage broker) and who adopted a child from China.  They too are an inspiration to those of us that looking for love at a mature point in our lives. 

Of course there is much more to thank these individuals for than I’m willing to share here and there are many, many more individuals that I appreciate being in my life.  But, you get the point. 

Who’s in your life and how are they affecting you?

Atleast according to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal.  Who wrote the article you ask, well an educated woman of course.

Ah, I see one could say.  Well lets look at this rationally.  We have social scientists researching the preference of men concerning women of various educational levels.  Their conclusion is that men prefer educated women.  Oh really?

Well, they’re sort of right, or perhaps half right.  Personally, yes I prefer educated women.  For a number of reasons, such as I have more in common with educated women, I enjoy conversations with educated women, primarily because they tend to be deeper and broader and I have much more in common with educated women, because I myself have a higher education.

Yet, many of my single male friends, actually most of my male friends prefer women that don’t challenge them mentally or in which they have to engage in deep conversations.  In fact, one of my good friends is an aeronautic engineer and he has an extensive track record of dating what I would call barely educated women. 

So then just who was interviewed by the research referred to by the Wall Street Journal?  Well, unless it was a fully stratified, radom sample, it could have been based on anecdotal research involving individuals within their circle of influence.   Well if they’re educated people, do you think they would hang out with non-educated individuals? 

I think that the Wall Street Journal would be wise to state that well-educated men (rather than all men) prefer well-educated women.

Do you know any I can meet? 

Scientists, philosophers and laypersons have been struggling with the definition and understanding of what love is for thousands of years.  Politicians have used love to gain power and control in many civilization, yet they still could not understand its true nature.

So what is love and what is it about love that makes it so powerful?

What you think I have the answer - me of all people?

Well, guess what, I do have the answer - the answer for me that is.

Love is very simply a state of mind that arises from various influences.  The influences can be both internal and external.  But the buttom line is that something happens in our bodies that puts us in a state of mind whereby suddenly we are no longer the most important person in our lives.  A state of mind where we place someone else, sometimes something else ahead ahead of us.  We know this to be true because people have given their lives for their love. 

Scientists have analyzed the chemicals in our blood and patterns in our brain to identify when someone is in ‘love’.  There are clear things that happen to us when we are in love.  But, I don’t need a scientist to tell me when I’m in love, or when I meet someone in love.  It is in their eyes, in their heart, in their very essence.  And there is nothing more beautiful than someone in love.  Just like an expectant mother in love with her unborn child.

You can take a man’s house, his car, his money, his career, but you take away his love and you destroy him.  For some men that love is their live purpose, for others it is a woman.

Are you in love?  With who or what?

Today I spoke at the “Learning For Life Forum” presented by ACCES (Accessible Community Counselling & Employment Services) and South District Toronto Social Services.  My topic was on Lifelong Learning through Networking.  Afterwards, I participated in a panel discussion on Learning For Life.  On the panel with me were:

* Randy Taylor, Author of “Life Before Can’t” and media personality, who spoke on overcoming barriers to learning.

* Audrey Rose Burns who shared the art of being open to new experiences and learning opportunities.

* Maral Maclagan from TVOntario’s Independent Learning Centre who spoke on innovative, alternative educational resources to achieve your goals.

* Andres Berrio who shared his experience as a newcomer to Canada and his successful transition to employment.

The Moderator for the day was Indira Naidoo-Harris, Producer of South Asian Programming for OMNI TV.  Indira did an excellent job at creating and fostering an interactive and inspirational discussion.  I recommend her for any association that’s looking for a capable facilitator or moderator.

Randy Taylor was also a great speaker and did a great job at helping the audience gain new perspective into the things that hold them back from their success.

Maral Maclagan did an excellent job at sharing with the attendees how the Independent Learning Centre can help them with their learning and to succeed in their career.

On the other hand, I was very much taken back and disappointed in Andres Berrio a refugee who entered Canada only 18 months ago and talked about his experience.  He shared with us as to how Canada has supported him with different programs and how Canadian families have helped him.  He even raved about the food that he ate while living in the house of another family here in Canada.  However, he kept referring to Colombia as being his country and to you people and your country whenever referring to Canada or Canadians.  So, I ask myself why are we doing this?  Why are we bringing individuals into our country, our homes and supporting them when they don’t even consider themselves part of us?  What is it going to take before they actually return the commitment to be ‘Canadian’?  Do we just  keep giving and giving and they keep taking and taking?  When is enough, enough?  Andres Berrio, I hope you read this because what you’ve done is insult the very people and country that have been helping and supporting you.  How about you start being Canadian and give back to our Canada by being part of “US”.

All in all the day was a great success.  Many individuals received much information.  Although, I do believe that in order for some of them to get out of the situation they are in, which is on some kind of support program they will need to change the way they think.

I was reminded of what happens when individuals start getting supported by agencies and programs.  I saw it in the questions and faces of some of the attendees at the Forum.  Many would ask how can I get more support, or I need support.  Very rarely did I hear, what do I need to do to become successful or get the career of my choice.  Why is it that the more that we give to some people, the more they want to take? 

The whole experience has been a great reminder to me about the difference in the mentality of successful people and unsuccessful people.  Those that are successful believe that they can accomplish what they put their mind to.  Those that are unsuccessful believe that they are not good enough or are permitted to succeed, that they have to be given or take what they can.  I’ve learned in live that both of these types of individuals are right.  The question is “Which type have you decided to be?”

Just over three years ago I introduced two of my friends and MetroActive members to each other.  It was an intentional introduction.  David, the father of two, was going through a divorce.  Mary had never been married, but was in her early 40’s and wanted a family.  Both of them are very successful entrepreneurs and great individuals.

So, at a MetroActive Monthly Networking Social I introduced David to Mary.  They hit it off as I know they would.  So much so that although they both had dates lined up for after the event, they ended up canceling those dates in order to spend time together.  In private and personal conversations I was clear with each of them as to what the other wanted.  At first, David was hesitant because he had children and wan’t planning on having any more.  Mary wanted a child without a doubt and she had to be clear with David about it.  With my repeated encouragement they sorted this very important consideration upfront.

Once David’s divorce was final, the couple bought a new home, got married and moved in together.  They planned to have children immediately and started the adoption process in case they weren’t successful biologically. 

Last November David and Mary went to China to pick up their adopted child Synthia.  I should mention here that David is in now in his early fifties and is Jewish, they live in a predominantly Jewish community.  Mary is Chinese and very much Canadian. 

This is a mixed marriage in various ways: 1) they are about 10 years apart, 2) they are from significantly different cultures, 3) they are of different religious beliefs. 

Despite, all this they are happy, married and living a content life.  Today, I visited with them along with dozens of others in order to celebrate a Roman Catholic bapitism.  Both Synthia and Mary received their baptismal rights on this day.  And so the family and community bonds of this family continue to strengthen. 

And I get to watch over the years two individuals I introduced, that were along, now happily in love, building their family together and enjoying their time together. 

God Bless them and everyone out there that is middle-aged and single (which is 35+).  There is hope, just have faith and be willing to do what it takes.  If you are looking, let me know, I may just have a friend or two that I may introduce you to.

 

It’s been a while since my last visit to Atlanta, which partly affected my decision to attend Mike Litman’s and John Di Lemme’s SuccessMania 2006 conference in this city.

Before, I tell you about Atlanta, let me give you a quick review of the conference.  I had chatted with John Di Lemme at the ‘More Heart Than Talent’ conference in Dallas, Texas in January, 2006.  A good Italian boy from New York City, John carries his thick accent well and it goes well with his positive, energy charged presence.  One of the things I like about John is that he involves his family and friends in his career.  It reminds me of the way things are done in Sicily, even to this day.  The family works together to make things happen.

Although, I’m disappointed in Mike Litman because he doesn’t show for his session during opening night. 

The speakers for the conference include: Omar Periu (the Cuban immigrant who’s accumulated great wealth), Stephen Pierce (considers himself special because he got shot), Drew Miles (great information on asset protection, tax saving and wealth building strategies - but only if you’re American), John Dessauer (great perspective on the real estate market adjustment and which segments will outperform others), Scott Schilling, Ann Preston, Jerry Clark (talked about personality types), Mark Gorman (great entertainer and perspective on religion and wealth), John Childers (talked about how he could make you rich through developing your public speaking skills if you take his $30,000 program), Loral Langemeier (still trying to understand what she does and I’m not alone), Mike Litman and John Di Lemme (addressed the personal attitude and approach to achieve success) himself.

One thing I learned at this conference is to make sure that the material covered by the speakers applies outside the United States.  Also, there is a big difference in both the quality of each speaker and the material they present.

The greatest success for me has been a meeting I had arranged through my contact in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada - Thomas Nisbett.  Thomas and I met by chance because of mutual contacts we have.   He had noticed that one of the members of his network was a Director of the Venture Capital Forum, which MetroActive Lifestyle Network, of which I’m the C.E.O. sponsors.  So he placed a call in to me and our relationship has been growing.  When, I told Thomas I was coming to Atlanta, he insisted on me meeting one of his associates.  That meeting has now led to a strategic alliance in two of my ventures. 

Now, let me tell you about Atlanta.  I haven’t been to this city in over 10 years, except for stopping between flights at the airport.  This time I bought myself a weekend pass for the public transportation system and visited some interesting sites.  First I went to the Fernbank Museum of Natural History to visit the chocolate exhibition.  Then I went to ‘The Underground’ a huge three story underground complex with a historical flavour to it.  It’s no where near as large as Toronto’s Eaton Centre (now called the Sear’s Centre by non-Canadians), but it does have a flavour of local artists and vendors.  However, I’m surprised when a jazz player stops playing to tell me no pictures.  How he plans to succeed without getting exposure is a mystery to me.  Or perhaps he’s a wanted criminal - who knows.

While riding the public transit I come across some very interesting individuals.  The people in this town are very much into their sports and proud of their athletes.   In fact, I can say that with the exception of Italians and their soccer I’ve never been to a more sports passionate city in the world.  One man is dressed in logos from different teams from head to foot and then has patches on top of patches and a plastic cowboy hat with some radio station on it.  Maybe he’s trying to win a radio contest or something.  Hey, I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt here.

The hotel I’m staying at is called the Airport Hilton and as I’m typing from inside the Executive Lounge I’m also glancing at the airplanes taking off at the airport about 500 metres from my window.  It’s a clear and expansive view that I’m thoroughly enjoying.  The sunset is beautiful and the only thing that would make it more enjoyable is someone to share it with.

This is a larger hotel and has lots of traffic.  But, if you plan to stay here, be sure to ask ahead of time if there’s a convention in the hotel.  During the last few days, there has been a debating conference on for high school students and I’ve heard them in the hallways right up until three o’clock in the morning.  So much for chapirones - if their parents only knew.

There’s a neat sports diner on the bottom floor of the hotel that has a good selection and reasonable prices.  It’s called speeders and I recommend it if you plan to stay here.  Also, book a suite that includes access to the executive lounge because that includes a good selection of food for breakfast as well as evening snacks from 5-7pm.  It is worth the investment.

Tonight’s my last night in town and I’d like to visit this famous newly opened Georgia Aquarium that so many residents here seem to be proud of.  Apparently, it is the largest in the world.  It’s a toss up between the Aquarium or catching up on my sleep after a full week.

There has been a lot of money invested in this City since I last spent time here.  Flying in I could see patches and patches of housing being built.  The city has a newness about it mixed in with its historical flavour.

One final observation, the people here are very friendly.  Even the utility workers stop to say hi to me and ask me how I’m doing.  When was the last time that happened in New York City? - never.

All in all a positive experience.