We the Electorate, In Order to Form a More Perfect Union

The electorate spoke for change and by pulling together we are now moving in a new direction. It was a long road to electing Obama and the train that got us there was driven by volunteers and powered by the technology. Could we have been as successful without the internet?

We used our internet-based social networks to get out to the vote. We used our cell phones to call swing states. We drove our cars around the country to implement voter drives. We carried a message of hope, a message of change, an undying optimism that brought us together towards change as opposed to four more years of living in fear.

Watching the electoral votes stack up for both candidates I had my arms and legs wrapped like pretzels - my expression of concern. Even after McCain's concession speech I was not yet believing that our hopes would come true. Finally seeing Obama and his family standing on stage I felt somber hope for the future and hearing his victory speech I was proud of our country's leadership and the possibility of regaining respect and influence around the world.

Democracy, Liberty, Opportunity and Unyielding Hope!

2012 Olympics

A goal I've always had is to attend the Olympics either as a spectator or volunteer. I am pledging to be involved in 2012 in the UK in some way.

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Take the Leap

People have been sharing some good ideas for celebrating February 29 as it is a leap year. Here are a couple:

1. Let your employees take the day off since it would have been a holiday anyway.
2. Give employees the day off and ask them to volunteer or do something for the planet.
3. Challenge yourself by "taking the leap" do something challenging, new, different.
4. Celebrate my brother-in-law Michael's birthday!

Mission Driven Math

When I was a Freshman in college I enrolled in Microeconomics – or was it Macroeconomics? I lasted a few weeks and then dropped the course. I had never heard business speak prior to the class and it wasn’t fitting into my artist/photography student head. Math in general was not a strong spot. In fact, I scored so poorly in math that I was not allowed to take computer courses in college. How’s that for old school logic?

Well, now I love creating business strategies that are bottomline focused. My favourite tool is Excel. I regularly willingly volunteer to be the one who puts the numbers into a spreadsheet and creates financial forecasts. Yes, I embrace =sum(A2:A10)*B3.

I’m finding that in the charity, not for profit, nonprofit, volunteer organisation world I am a rarity. People are mission driven, which is essential but often find it difficult to link the vision to business acumen. Every day I drive joy from wearing two hats - being the translator between math and mission.