Business Lessons from the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and the Beatles

You know, it’s actually pretty good advice. However much contempt one (nameless now and forever) may heap upon anti-poverty campaigners who themselves somehow end up stinking rich, one can hardly argue with the principle that mo’ meditation, mo’ betta. I, myself, could internalize the second-last of these a little bit better. Or is that “manifest” instead? I always get those mixed up; maybe THAT is the Secret?

From the Financial Times:

  • Make yourself stand out
  • Choose the right product: easy to sell, impossible to disprove
  • Make good use of celebrity endorsement
  • Innovate around your core strength
  • Charge what the market will bear. If you can persuade people to part with $1m for your world peace fund to go on a training course, then, for heaven’s sake, you should.
  • Lastly, let people feel they are buying not just a product, but also a set of values, a lifestyle. The power of Om.

Indeed, my project for the next week is to revamp the business model to um, maximize transcendental prosperity and expansion manifestation opportunities, particularly as they relate to the bottom line.

Speaking of which, it’s time for my yoga…

add to del.icio.us :: Add to Blinkslist :: add to furl :: Digg it :: add to ma.gnolia :: Stumble It! :: add to simpy :: seed the vine :: :: :: TailRank

Sponsor Shave for a Cure 2008

Elvis shoulda cut and run!As longtime readers know, we at the ol’ raincoaster blog are nothing but a big softie, however much we way threaten you with our tentacles and fangs and use the first-person plural at times; we are just trying to be inclusive of our alter personalities, that’s all. And as an expression of this innner softie-tude, we present the following announcement, from regular commenter Lydia:

This is my youngest brother who, when he was born with Downs, was not expected to live for more than 6 months. He just turned 47! So there! Lydia

Chris is supporting the fight against childhood cancer by shaving his head in the 2008 Shave for a Cure event on January 25th. Chris considers himself very lucky as he has enjoyed good health and the support of friends and family throughout his life. As an added bonus we all know how much he would love to have his head shaved! Please help him raise funds for childhood cancer research. It’s easy to do. Just follow the link and you can make your pledge online. Thanks for helping Chris “give something back”!

Thank you!

Click here to Sponsor Chris Bradshaw!

(PS: sorry if the image doesn’t show up. WordPress is being a touch touchy lately, or perhaps my tech curse {see below posts} is simply spreading)

Fundraiser for Trevor Greene tonight!

Cross-posted from runningthroughrain

Trevor Greene Save the date for No Turning Back – A Fundraiser For Trevor Greene

Date: Wednesday September 26

Time: Doors open: 8pm,

Show starts: 9pm – 12am

MC: Todd Battis CTV News Reporter

Band: So Tight Band & Brickhouse the Band

Place: The Yale Hotel – 1300 Granville Street

Price: $20

On September 26 we are gathering together at The Yale Hotel for a

fundraiser to assist Trevor, Debbie and Grace on their miraculous

healing journey. Captain Greene was attacked from behind and struck with

a taliban axe on March 4, 2006 while sitting in a peaceful Shura

discussing how to bring clean drinking water and basic medical care and

education to the women and children of Afghanistan. His survival has

been called a miracle in the medical profession as he presently

undergoes extensive rehabilitation to speak and to reconnect his brain

and muscles in order to regain function over his entire body. Hosted by

Master of Ceremonies and CTV West Coast News Reporter Todd Battis, the

entertainment line up will feature the infectious sounds of the SoTight

Band (www.thesotightband.com) and Brickhouse

(www.brickhousetheband.com). Tickets to No Turning Back – A Fundraiser

for Captain Trevor Greene are $20 in advance or at the door. Doors open

at 8pm. Show time begins at 9pm. Price of admission includes a silent

auction, 50/50 draws and raffle items. Proceeds from this fundraiser

will go to the Captain Trevor Greene Trust Fund.

Items for door prize, raffle draw and silent auction include two flights

tickets and accommodation to La Penita Mexico, wellness gift package,

one room night in an executive suite and dinner for two, dinner for

four, dinner for two, brunch for two, wine gift basket, chocolate gift

basket and much much more.

Companies that have generously donated are: Casita de la Penita,

Signature Vacations, Foundation for Integrated Health, Fairmont Hotel

Vancouver, Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, Sylvia Hotel, Century Plaza,

Brockmann’s Chocolate, Safeway, The Yale Hotel, In Motion Lotion, Cactus

Club, T tea room and merchant, Terra Bread, Liberty Wine Merchants, The

Atlantic Trap & Gill and Tamsen Ogden Photography.

If you can’t make it to the fundraiser but would still like to

participate following is the trust fund information: Captain Trevor

Greene Trust Fund, CIBC Account #39-31137 (Bank 010,Transit 00500).

You can conveniently purchase a ticket using your credit card through

paypal: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/71765653 . If you do your

tickets will be kept at the door the night of the event.

For more information you can contact Valerie Gibbs by phone at

604.992.4697 or via email at vcg at sfu.ca.

For more information on Trevor here is a few links:

The Globe and Mail’s story

Hazel’s story

My story

Pivot Legal Society Christmas Auction

Hope in Shadows

The 5th Annual Pivot Christmas Auction

CALL FOR AUCTION DONATIONS!
You are warmly invited to attend the 5th Annual Pivot Christmas Auction on Thursday, November 8, 2007. It’s going to be a great time with some amazing performances, so please mark this date on your calendar! We have some surprises in store this year that you will not want to miss.

You can really help make the Auction a success by donating an auction item, with proceeds to charitable projects benefiting homeless and disenfranchised persons.  We are looking for socially conscious gifts as well as electronics, jewelry and one-of-a-kind items that anyone would love to receive (massages, spa treatments etc). Our goal is to raise $20,000 this year.

Silent auction items generally range in price from $100 to $500.  We are also seeking a select number of higher end items to go to open bidding with an auctioneer.

Examples of items we are seeking include:
– eco-vacation and recreation packages (golf, fishing, mountain biking etc.)
– spa treatments, massage therapy and bodywork
– First Nations artwork
– jewelry, antiques, collectibles
– electronics (MP3 players, digital cameras, personal organizers)
– educational toys
– personal training/yoga session(s)

Thanks for your support!  It makes a big impact on our work.  And we hope you can come, because it’s going to be a very fun event this year!

For more information or to make a donation, please email auction at pivotfoundation dot org or leave a message for Lisa Werring at 604-255-9700 x130.

Thank you for your generosity!

Pivot Foundation

Stacy Keach, Jedi Master Chef

Stacy Keach, Jedi Master Chef

Yes, Stacy Keach is a man of many talents. You may be familiar with him as an actor; you may have heard of his charity work; you may know him from his colourful personal history, but are you aware that this veritable Renaissance Man is also a qualified Jedi Master Chef?

Indeed, in the crowded ranks of celebrity Jedi Chef wannabes, only a rare few make it through to the revered rank of Jedi Master Chef. The years of training, the discipline necessary to wield a lightsaber or boning knife equally with not only a straight face, but a threatening one, the dogged pursuit of the scoundrel known as “Santa Clause”, and the ability to instantly recall the correct method for preparing non-weepy custard, are accomplishments beyond the ability of all but a rare, ascetic few.

Undertaking the way of the Jedi Chef is the choice of those remarkable individuals whose paths wind through tangled underbrush, dark valleys, and science fiction conventions.

add to del.icio.us :: Add to Blinkslist :: add to furl :: Digg it :: add to ma.gnolia :: Stumble It! :: add to simpy :: seed the vine :: :: :: TailRank