Merman’s Post

**Engagement is Like Conducting a Choir** 1. **Listening and Understanding**: A great conductor listens carefully to each voice and understands its strengths. Similarly, effective engagement requires listening to and understanding the unique perspectives and contributions of each participant. 2. **Inclusivity**: Every voice in the choir matters, from the sopranos to the basses. Engagement should be inclusive, valuing the input of all stakeholders and ensuring everyone feels heard and appreciated. 3. **Adaptability**: A conductor adjusts the tempo and dynamics based on the choir's performance. Effective engagement requires adaptability, being open to feedback, and making adjustments as needed to keep everyone motivated and on track. PS: I’m offering a “love letter” to Vox Camerata for their upcoming performance - “Musica Intimae: Us, Them, and Other Love Stories” They are the lovely folks in this photo, led by Shahril Salleh (PhD) Join us: Matinee Tickets (3:30pm to 5:00pm): https://buff.ly/3VKN8Rw Gala Tickets (7:30pm to 9:00pm): https://buff.ly/3VMELES

🎭 YOU MAY NOT REALLY KNOW MOST PEOPLE AS WELL AS YOU THINK YOU DO 🎭 Ah, the age-old dilemma: knowing someone. Or thinking we do. We interact, we smile, we exchange pleasantries. But do we really know what’s beneath that polished surface? Spoiler alert: not always. People are like onions (or parfaits, if you prefer Shrek's analogy) – layered, complex, and sometimes they make you cry. Our understanding of others is often a delightful cocktail of limited interactions and our own creative interpretations. It’s important to remember that everyone’s got their own unique backstage drama that we might never see. From my own life’s soap opera, I’ve learned that rushing into friendships or professional alliances can sometimes lead to plot twists worthy of a prime-time slot. It’s tempting to share and connect quickly, but trust me, slow and steady wins the race (and keeps your secrets safe). In this grand play called life, some actors are better at hiding their true selves than others. So, let’s play it smart. Keep some cards close to your chest until people prove they’re not just Oscar-worthy performers. Even then, a little mystery never hurt anyone. Remember, trust is earned, not given. And while you’re at it, keep a few secrets tucked away for good measure. After all, it’s better to be safe than the star of your own cautionary tale. A word to the wise is sufficient. 🎭 #TitaFridayPH #TrustWisely #KnowYourPeople #LifeLessons #StayCautious #BuildingTrust #PersonalExperience #ProfessionalAdvice #LifeWisdom #TrustAndVerify #InnerWorlds

Dennis, my brother and Co-Founder of Jonicbiz, brings healing vibes and soothing melodies to the masses with his soulful rendition of a Billy Eilish song. 🎶💖 #JonicbizFamily #CoFounderTalents #DennisSings #BillyEilishCover #SoothingMelodies #SoulfulTunes #MusicHeals #CalmingVocals #SiblingLove #BrotherLove #MusicTherapy"

I will try to attempt to explain it how I see it. To understand, consider how policies integrated within the United States were in response to nuclear annihilation. These were very real lived experiences. Israel was United State’s defense policy. It is this partnership Biden defends. Another reason why we should not have an individual whose age is disconnected with today’s generation led. Biden is defending a policy from the cold war that defined his generation. From this perspective - to cut Israel off, is to cut America’s own leg off. From here - Israel and the United States' partnership were imprinted onto its governance model. Trauma can be structurally imprinted on a nation’s goverance model. Now - the United States, due to various complex factors, does not need #Israel, however, Israel faces an #existential crisis without it. Further, US policies have been shifting away from Israel for decades. In this sense - the war is meant to cause disruption, especially in democracies, and help push right-wing governments. In the case of the United States - Israel’s genocide is an attempt to get #Trump a win. In Canada - push a win for the Conservative Party of Canada. By the way - its not #Russia, #China, or #India the main culprit but #Israel who is interfering in #Canadian and #American elections. I mean - everyone is trying to drive divisions and break national cohesion from the corporation to individual nations but only #Israel and corporations hold the levers to distrupt #UnitedState’s elections. Sure, its about power and consolidation of wealth but which has weaponize fear and a precieved existential crisis by #Israel. Here, behind their hate is fear. It is also a win for China - why? Because China will become the lead of the civilized world. For Israel - an authoritarian right-wing government in democracies and in the United States will allow it support to carve itself out a greater Israel. From where #Israel and their government stand - a democratic United States must fall - even if China leads the international order. It’s why it's an existential war for Israel. It's was big risk - one that has left Israel isolated from the United States itself. I mean - at some point, those who run the United States must wake up and understand that the United States' descent into authoritarianism, which is very likely the fall of democracy - though, human civilization will continue because where the United States is failing, #BRICS will lead. However, that puts at risk the future of its nation, and its people who will suffer. From this point - their partnership has reached a breaking point. Good - a day that brings a glimpse of hope for the United States of America and the democracies of the world. Plus - its the democracy that best protect #Jewish lives today and for all the tomorrow’s to come.

My article published in the newspaper Pioneer today. Life's beauty often lies in its imperfections, as Graham Nash beautifully encapsulates: Life is not perfect. It never will be https://lnkd.in/g52ZRVAm Earlier published articles can be viewed at https://lnkd.in/gKvUytvM #musingsofapioneer #musings #article

Ah, Miles... Miles Davis' career exemplifies the creative essence of jazz... Contrary to many jazz purists' judgements, Miles never "sold out" when he created brews of jazz mixed with rock, funk, soul, and pop. His relentless drive to evolve through various styles of music (as well as taking up painting during the 1980's), was his way of expressing his creative energies... regardless of whether he alienated his established audiences (or possibly because he did alienate them?). Like the greatest innovators in any discipline, whether music, visual, written or other art forms, whether in business, sports, sciences, academics, Miles found new ways to explore and achieve his objective--creative expression that impacted his audiences in new, exciting, and relevant ways. Despite often being misunderstood and criticized for not following the "rules" of jazz composition or performance, not cowtowing to people's assumptions regarding his race, or not observing "proper" social behavior, Miles pressed forward into new realms. Not always successful in ways that he or others might like, in comparison to Babe Ruth (most strikeouts in achieving the homerun record for decades) and Michael Jordan (game-losing misses in making record game-winning shots), Miles arguably has a lower misses-to-hits ratio with his experiments than they achieved. Miles was inarguably an insightful, courageous, innovative, hard-driving leader who also was often mercurial, unstable, and insecure. Still, he attracted, collaborated with, and mentored numerous skilled musicians who have been recognized as high achievers and leaders in their own right. I believe we should measure Miles' greatness based on his impact on the course of creative jazz and related music styles, directly and through the musicians he influenced. But after all these words, the proof is in the listening. Check out an album from each of Miles' five major phases of evolution across almost 50 years and enjoy!

Are you familiar with this famous opening line from the soap opera Days of Our Lives? “Like sands through the hourglass, so are the Days of Our Lives”    Do you see time as finite or expandable?   You know time is precious, but do you act like it every day?   Daily Shake Up No. 892 highlights the nature of time as both finite and infinite. Limited and expandable. Precious and forgotten. We all say we want more time, but the truth is we would squander extra time the same ways we squander the time we have. Time is not the problem – it’s our approach to time that’s the problem. We say time is precious, but do we act like it’s precious? We say time is precious, but are we typically present in each moment of time. We say time is precious, do we notice and learn from the situation where time stands still or disappears? Time is precious but only if we act like it’s precious. Time is expandable and can be amplified when we are present in and with the time we have. Don’t wish for more time. Practice making more of the time you have. #SnowGlobeLeadership #NischwitzGroup #SnowGlobeLiving #Leadership #Time #Presence #BePresent

Woodie vs Tupac: Who Inspired Who? In this video, we delve into the debate between Woody and Tupac, discussing their influence on each other and the generational impact. Watch to find out who truly inspired who! #WoodieVsTupac #InfluenceDebate #GenerationalImpact #MusicLegends #Inspiration #DebateVideo #PopCulture #MusicalIcons #InfluentialArtists #MusicHistory

Amidst the intertwining of Brothers Grimm tales and Welsh Gods mythology, "Slippers and Songs" unfolds as a captivating Twelve Dancing Princesses retelling, marking the debut of the Brodyr Alarch series. #Fantasy #Romance #WelshGods #BrodyrAlarch #BrothersGrimm #FairytaleRetelling https://lnkd.in/ezcNFuX4

What "Bohemian Rhapsody" Teaches Us About Being a Great Leader---party on Wayne.   I fell in love with "Bohemian Rhapsody" the first time I heard it. When I was younger, its amazing music just blew me away. Now that I'm older, I appreciate it even more because it reminds me of what it takes to be a great leader. It's like the song has different layers, just like the skills you need to lead well. To start with, it took Freddy Mercury close to a decade to write, refine and finally record the record. At first, the band members hated the song as it was such a departure from their usual type of music and it was also radical for its time. This resembles the time it often takes to take an idea from business plan development to execution. The song starts off slowly and thoughtful. That resembles when  a company is just starting out. A good leader, like a good songwriter, has to set the stage, know where they're going, and get everyone on board with the plan. Then, the song suddenly jumps into that opera-like part – it’s all over the place but in a good way. It’s like when a business is growing fast, and things are crazy. A leader’s got to handle all that chaos, keep everyone working together, and make sure the company keeps its story straight. There is a part when the song gets really intense and all the members of the band take turns at vocals, using their varied skills to represent a different tone in the song. Similarly, a good leader must know when to call upon the varied skills of its management team to come through. When the song gets really rocky and intense, that's like a company going full speed, taking risks, and making big moves. A leader’s got to be energetic and confident, just like Freddie rocking out. But, always leaning on each of the band members to go all out on each of their instruments. He sings but the guitar and the drums blare their sounds in support of his lyrics. But, in a sudden twist, the song ends how it started – nice and calm. That’s a big lesson. After all the growth and excitement, sometimes a company needs to slow down, get stable, and plan for the long run. Just like the song, a good leader knows when it’s time to cool things down and get ready for the next big thing. The song works because, while Freddy leads, the rest of the band, the team, makes it all come together flawlessly. So, yes, "Bohemian Rhapsody" is not just an epic song, but it’s also like a mini lesson in leadership. Freddie Mercury was not just telling a story with different music styles. He was showing us how to lead through different times – the slow, the crazy, the exciting, and the calming down. I miss Freddy’s genius songwriting skills, but while he was here, he left us a musical masterpiece whose lessons can be implemented in our daily lives, even when the music isn’t playing. Party on Garth…..