Gil Friend’s Post

The Leelaby Journal, No.4 What Changes Are Necessary to Achieve Your Goals? As the world recently celebrated the Chinese New Year (by the way, welcome, Dragon!), today’s Leelaby post will focus on Fire (or Agni, as it’s called in the Leela game). 🔥 Fire symbolises the energy of transformation that is to embark on a new chapter, one must first undergo transformation. 🧙♂️ It brings to mind, the moment in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets when Harry witnessed Fawkes burning and being reborn. In that scene, Dumbledor said: “…And about time too. He’s been looking dreadful for days…And then they are reborn from the ashes”. https://lnkd.in/eScgFxKu Agni is one of my favourite squares in Leela because it emphasises change, often an essential step in achieving our goals. You know the saying: "If you change nothing, nothing will change." - Here, you can ask yourself in what other “form” or state you can achieve what you want. - What changes do you want to make? - What resources do you already possess to achieve your goals, and what else do you need to do? - Considering the current situation, can you attain what you desire? I would even encourage you to take 5-10 minutes to jot down the first things that come to mind. It’s funny how often I “give homework” to players during the game. Of course, it’s optional, but it’s an effective way to organise your thoughts and outline a plan of action. I've been undergoing my own transformation, and I must say it’s been challenging. Nonetheless, I still feel excitement when I land on Agni. It serves as a reminder that there’s more I can and should do and that transformation and change are imperative should you desire a meaningful and expansive life. Thanks for reading and remember: They Who Play Grow! Best, M #growthmindset #transformation #leela

In this captivating video, Douglas Vandergraph embarks on a transformative journey, sharing his wisdom on the simplicity of life. By unraveling the profound significance of understanding the rules of the game, which are governed by Universal Laws, Douglas sheds light on the essence of our existence. While the exact number of these laws may be subject to debate, Douglas firmly believes that seven major laws hold the key to shaping the outcomes we desire. These laws, akin to the fundamental principles of physics, serve as the guiding principles in the "Game of Life," empowering us to consciously create the life we envision. Douglas's genuine desire to inspire others is evident as he fearlessly presents himself as a living testament to the transformative power of taking chances, continuous improvement, and making a positive impact on the lives of others. What is it that you yearn for in your own life? Allow Douglas to illuminate the path towards achieving your aspirations. Through this remarkable video series, Douglas aspires to touch the life of at least one person, echoing the timeless words of Dr. Seuss, "To the world, you may be one person, but to one person, you may be the world." Follow Douglas on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gpipzhPN Relevant Keywords: #universallaws #universallaw #universallawofattraction #lawofattraction #successadvice #lifeadvice #outcomes #results #success https://lnkd.in/eCWEBfmw

This is looking down into a valley. This picture is a perfect representation of how when we are in the valley our character, our behaviors, our inner beauty takes shape so something that never would have been without the pressures of the valley The point of this post is don't underestimate the positive influence of being in the valley. A better version of you is on the horizon.

I had to abridge this article. I also recommend his autobiography. NEXTDOOR seems to present a similar opportunity. The Junto was a weekly meet-up or "mutual-improvement club" ….Franklin Circles, have chosen the most effective — just nine simple prompts: 1. Is there something you need help with? 2. Is anyone here starting a new project and is there a way we can help? 3. Anyone who’s doing innovative work? 4. Is there anyone whose friendship we want? 5. How can we use our networks to help each other? 6. Is there anyone we can mentor and encourage? 7. Can we give one another any personal/professional advice? 8. Can we improve anything about the circle itself? 9. Are there ways the circle should be connecting with and contributing to nearby communities? "It is so rare to have an opportunity to be in a room of smart, thoughtful people where the focus of conversation is solely on our ethical selves. ... I was challenged to face things about my own habits that were painful but constructive, and I came out absolutely the better for it both personally and professionally." Creating a sense of belonging can affect more than just happiness and well-being — it can even improve health as well. Sometimes for years!

Introduced to me by Juan Kingsbury, Yemi Penn (Nee Solanke) is one of the more fascinating people I’ve meet recently. Based in Australia, Yemi is a curious rebel, original thinker, and beautiful soul. I love the line from her bio: “An engineer by profession, an entrepreneur by passion, a transformation thought leader by mission.” Like many guests, we could have covered a lot of topics but settled on the concept of “Rebellious Curiosity”. We both answered the following: - How did curiosity get you in trouble as a kid? - How do you re-kindle curiosity as an adult? - What's the relationship between curiosity and engineering?

175+ years of existence! Many companies have come and gone but New York Life continues to succeed because they continue to put the customer first. Read more about the company's illustrious history! #newyorklife #begoodatlife #history

The Future of Humanity (continuation) I think that Dr. Greer and his team are doing an outstanding and excellent work. If the governments had this courage, the world would be a much better place today. I think we all have a lot to learn. What Dr. Greer is doing is what the Presidents should do. The issue is that the criminal organization might one day take over the world if it has not done so already secretly. This is a true danger. So, the clock is ticking. Nobody has the right to keep the existence of other civilizations secret. We are all God’s children. We have the right to know. This is why we are 100 years behind and facing all kinds of challenges. We will continue to face these challenges until we realize that we have to stand up and fight. To those afraid to come forward: The 20th of June marks a big change. Reach out to Dr. Greer. He will know how to help you. This is the big fight coming. It will determine if our civilization dies or grows. We have all the technology that we need in order to survive but because of the greed for power, we are oppressed and in darkness. This will not succeed. I can imagine that those who are involved cannot sleep at night. The opportunity to come forward is arriving.

Latest blog post via link below. Regardless of our specific purpose, we are to live a life impact. I have shared a couple of nuggets from Dr. Michael J. Sorrells on authentically doing just that! https://lnkd.in/dQEyaAuM

I've always loved this quote by Meister Eckhart, and I especially love it as we say goodbye to summer and welcome the onset of autumn. To me, it speaks to the nature of life and the markets, reminding us that every curve or turn is simply a new beginning. In my personal journey, and as a financial professional, I appreciate how a change in season can bring about new perspectives and opportunities. So, here’s to September, to new beginnings, and to trusting the journey ahead. #SeptemberBeginnings #FinancialSeasons #PersonalProsperity

Organizational Deviance: Robert Merton's Insights   I’m very pleased to have found this exclusive oral history interview with the late and great sociologist, Robert Merton.   Merton was intrigued by functional analysis’ original emphasis on the positive consequences of social structures and individual actions. This exploration led him to scrutinize dysfunctions, borrowing from medicine and biology, to understand the adverse effects of social structures on specific segments of individuals.   Merton also emphasized the dysfunctions of bureaucracy, a departure from Max Weber's tradition, which primarily highlighted its positive functions. Similarly, in exploring social conformity, he questioned the lack of attention to deviant behavior. This led him to unravel the factors contributing to deviance, especially the disparate rates among different segments of the population.   Merton's focus on the internal dynamics of societies, like the interplay between the American dream and deviance, shows his broad perspective. Social Structure and Anomie theory extends beyond deviant behavior, and goes into the differential access across diverse opportunity structures, where social, class, and ethnic structures play important roles.   Practical applications of Merton's theory emerged in white-collar crime and organizational deviance. The introduction of the term "white-collar crime" challenged conventional assumptions about crime statistics; this reshaped our understanding.   Merton described the complex dynamics of organizational reward systems. Here, growth is a central evaluative factor, whether reflected in stock price increases or other metrics. Negotiating this reward system intensifies short-term pressure, exacerbated by an emphasis on goal definition. This places substantial demands on people both within the organization and those overseeing its outcomes. The collective aspiration to drive organizational progress occasionally leads to responses manifesting as organizational misbehavior. Contrary to being a mere historical contingency, this phenomenon resembles social structure and anomie theory; it suggests the persistence of certain pressures over time.   #Deviance #AnomieTheory #Sociology #RobertMerton #OpportunityStructure #WhiteCollarCrime #OrganizationalDeviance   Watch the full interview with Robert Merton: