Loving Life Blog

Spur of the Moment Reflections

I Firmly Believe May 9, 2012

Filed under: Herringbone — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 9:27 am
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I have had The Dream in my head now for so many years, been focusing on it, drifting away from it while being drawn into other projects, been poked about it and returned to it, time and time again – not knowing exactly how to move forward, but being clear that it is something I can’t let go of. Every year that has passed there are new learnings and insights that I have made, and technical introductions that would be applicable – all contributing to the big picture. I start to feel, that now is the time. I can’t express how touching it is to hear support and “WANT” from others. Yesterday alone I got one phone call, one skype call and one email with different messages – the same supportive bottom line. Let me share the email from my friend and supporter Karl Mettinger with a poem he wrote. Enjoy.

To Johanna
May 8 2012 8 pm

I FIRMLY BELIEVE

(Uncensored without the New device called EyePhone)

I firmly believe
in resurrection, in life eternal, in righteousness in heaven and on earth!

I believe in our mission impossible
To help make us all to become one global family
And in
Shared resources,
Shared responsibilities,
Shared values and beliefs
And shared dreams!

I firmly believe in helping one another
To grow to our full potential
To blossom and carry fruit,
Good fruit that we all can share.

Life is too short not to set out from our comfort zones
In Life boats or Viking ships
to conquer new land
And make safe landings
where we rightly belong.

This is the time
To celebrate
New journeys
New beginnings
New spring seasons and summers
New harvests and seasonal fruits

Where do we go from here?
Where our dreams and visions take us
To the Holy Land of dreams fulfilled
To the dark corners of the world
to discover and explore

I firmly believe
In our mission to build bridges
To help people share one another’s wisdom and visions and dreams
And to help bringing together
All peoples to One Family!

I firmly believe
In the tech revolution
In Facebook
Twitter , Google and Wikipedia,
I believe in mobile phones, Skype
Androids and IPad.

Social networking can help us connect
But also the simple smile and invitations to conversations
As we walk our paths
or speed through
the highways

We need one another
One another’s eyes and ears
Hands and feet
Our bodies to hold onto
To caress and express
Our feelings
And create the worlds to come….

Karl Mettinger

Thank you Karl. I believe too.

Johanna

 

I am like an IKEA chair April 27, 2012

Filed under: Herringbone — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 10:55 am
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I think I got the best complement ever last week when I asked Rakesh about his perception of me, or why he asked the question the day before “if I am an excited person”.”Do you think I am?”, I asked him. The response was: “NO, I don’t get you. You are like an IKEA chair: you have a really good idea, and you are about to produce it not knowing that the market really wants it, and you will sell for a billion dollars”.

The truth of the matter is: I do believe that the market want this.
And funny enough: I already had IKEA in my vision statement.

This is my 2010 Dream – Vision – Purpose – Mission – statement, per the Michael E. Gerber E-Myth/Dreaming Room model:

Dream (WHAT):

To enable and capture transformational journeys worldwide.

Vision (HOW):           
To create the IKEA of transformational journeys documented.

Purpose (WHY & for WHOME):
Enable every individual who wants to make a change in their life and impact in this world to reach their dream, and at the same time inspire others.

Mission (HOW):
Create a state of the art journal software that will help the user ENVISION the future, EMBRACE the presence and ACHIEVE more than imagined, with the output of a well designed e-book or printed book.

Not only has Facebook and Timeline become, sort of, one of the competitors. Now, seeing the below video from CNN, I am  fearing that IKEA itself is tapping into my field… Although, the Herringbone solution is much more straight forward. ;) I bet you would be willing to give it a try.

Enjoy,
Johanna

http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed&videoId=showbiz/2012/04/24/conan-assembling-ikea-furniture.tbs

 

Tell A Story Day – With a Red Thread April 27, 2012

Filed under: coaching,Herringbone — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 10:35 am
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I was curious about the origin of the apparently in US and UK celebrated “Tell-A-Story Day”. Today April 27th every year in the US and 6 months later in the UK. So I find out that the “World Storytelling Day” has a bit more of a known history. It started around 1991 or 1992 in Sweden and has spread around the world.

I’ve been told that I find a Swedish connection to anything. It just so happens.

That said: grab the opportunity! Which story will you tell today? Which story could you share that would make someone laugh, learn, or lead? What is the “read thread” in your life story? Share it from your heart.

Go do it! I am going to share a story about IKEA…

Enjoy,
Johanna

The read thread in story is a direct translation from the Swedish expression “den röda tråden”, meaning: the connecting dots, the “main thread”, a theme reappearing in several connected texts or phenomena.

I like the other symbolisms that are out there too, such per Wikipedia:

The red string of fate, also referred to as the red thread of destiny, red thread of fate, and other variants, is an East Asian belief originating from Chinese legend and is also used in Japanese legend. According to this myth, the gods tie an invisible red string around the ankles of those that are destined to meet each other in a certain situation or help each other in a certain way. Often, in Japanese culture, it is thought to be tied around the little finger. According to Chinese legend, the deity in charge of “the red thread” is believed to be Yuè Xià Lǎo (月下老, often abbreviated to “Yuèlǎo” [月老]), the old lunar matchmaker god who is also in charge of marriages.

 

Are you excited? April 18, 2012

Filed under: Herringbone,Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 7:28 am
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I got the question yesterday from a visiting, fairly new, friend of mine: “Are you an excited person?” “Me? Yes… I am smiling – can’t you tell?”

What type of question is that? I should have asked: what is the perception of me? I will ask him. Later. What do you think?

Right now, the answer would be clearly: hell yeah! How could I not be?

Waking up 6am after 5 hours of sleep with this song in my head:

If I didn’t have a guest sleeping in the other room I would put it on speaker and sing it out loud. And if this video didn’t have the lyrics I would make up my own.

From now on I am not going to say “could I bounce an idea with you?”… Or “I’ve got an idea…” – because that is not how it feels like.

From now on I will say “Please, speak with me – I have a bomb – and it’s a darn good one”. That is, how it feels like.

Thank you Rakesh and those of you else (Thomas Fogdö, Rosh Khan, Gerome, Dorian, Will, Sturdy, Laura, Carlx2, Helene, Emma… The list start to grow) who thinks it’s a great idea. I’ve started taking “that’s a crazy idea” as a complement. It has got some power in it!

Feel the excitement – keep the momentum – and go do it! Maybe I can go and sing that song quietly in the shower?! It’s gotta come out… :)

Good start of a new day. Hope it rubbed off on ya’!

Enjoy,
Johanna

 

Well, that flight was interesting! April 12, 2012

Filed under: coaching,Entrepreneur,Herringbone — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 5:36 pm
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Love flights. Just had an open conversation with the woman, entrepreneur and coach, next to me on the plane to Utah. We spoke about my Herringbone software/platform – supporting and capturing journeys of change worldwide. Even pulled up the two year old investor pitch.

This was the reaction:

“People need this. The world need this. This is heart and soul. And future.
[...]
You can give me that!? I want that. Get some funding this weekend. I want to be cutting edge with my coaching. I’m a California girl now – oh yes – that’s what you got to be!”

Anne Martin, who went from lawyer, to 18 year entrepreneur, to reinvention coach and recently moved to San Francisco.

Well, that was an interesting flight! What an injection of inspiration and confirmation.

Want to invest in me!?
Johanna

 

The Baby or The Bone April 9, 2012

Filed under: coaching,Herringbone — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 6:04 pm
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Yes, No or Always?

Life is full of choices. Some choices are easier to make than others. For some people it is easier to make a choice than others.

At the end of the yoga class with Rusty Wells this past weekend we, the students, were given the choice:

1) Happy Baby’s Pose

or

2) Fish Pose

It made me think back of the time when I chose my business name. Herringbone. Symbolism is of importance to me – that name is loaded with symbols and “the reason why”. I wanted to make sure that it also made sense for the yoga community. What I had in mind to create with Herringbone did also apply to them. In the middle of a yoga class back then, we were guided to some movements – I misunderstood, and thought that another name for Happy Baby’s Pose was Fish Pose. What a perfect coincidence! I thought. Even better is that, Fish Pose has an impact on the fifth chakra in yoga which is located in the throat and focuses on communication. Herringbone is about communicating, and making voices heard for positive change.

And to quote Rusty: “If you choose Fish – don’t eat one – be one.” The good thing with being a foreigner in another country is that you can make sense of things, the way it relates to you or your language. This one fully does. Be a Fish – communicate well. It’s obvious – no?

If you have difficulties to make choices, one approach to get out of that is to simply make powerful choices. Make them fast and clear – feel how they feel – stay with it, or make a new one. This is – by the way – coming from the practicing master ;) .

Or Happy Easter Pose?

If you want more choices than the Fish Pose or the Happy Baby – check out this image – it’s all yours, it is Easter after all.

If you want them all – go for it! Why cut ourselves short if we don’t have to?

Johanna

The story about The Bone – I might have to save for later…

 

Lady in Red | Come with me and I’ll take you places March 10, 2012

Filed under: coaching,Inspiration,Social Media — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 4:06 pm
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In 15 days I will celebrate my 5 year anniversary on YouTube. You know – it’s nothing I really have thought of celebrating – but there are a few reasons why.

  1. When I created the YouTube account 5 years ago, the reason was to share a rehearsal recording from a wedding ceremony with a friend in Paris who was inquiring for singing at her wedding, and the file was too large to email, and I decided to try a new channel…
  2. When uploading the video I had the option of making it public or private. I remember selecting the public setting, with a mixed feeling of excitement and fear. This was the first time I had performed in a trio – and that was a very big thing.
  3. When viewing the videos on YouTube I hid behind the computer screen, almost underneath the table – the few people whom I showed it to can attest. And yes, my face turned red, blushing, too – that is part of my signature at times.
  4. In a conversation on this topic with video marketer expert Dan Safkow at Blog World in LA in Nov 2011, I realized that I have YouTube to thank for partly getting over my stage fright.
  5. My first video uploaded today has 27,652 views. My channel has 63,309 views in total. 23 Subscribers. And I am not hiding below the table ;)

I joked about that I would start a YouTube channel or video series called Lady in Red. Lead the way and show others that they could do the same thing. Break through stage fright. So here it is. I say as my Norwegian room mate in San Diego – actually – the man who got married in the wedding we sang at: “Come with me and I’ll take you places”.

Please join me in the celebration by doing 3 things… ;)

  1. Subscribe to my channel: click here
  2. Create your own YouTube Channel – and announce in the comments below what the link is so, that we can subscribe to yours.
  3. Ask for Herringbone’s services for help, if you want to optimize yours. YouTube moved all accounts to their new profile set-up this past March 7. There are quite a few nifty things you can do.

This is the YouTube Debut Song, Ulf Lundell’s “Kärleken förde oss samman” (Love brought us together) featuring Helene Vik (now 3rd team – not yet announced – member at Herringbone) and Ylva Elias (Biotech Sales Professional and Singer, San Diego).

Enjoy,

Johanna

 

I Have a Dream January 16, 2012

Filed under: coaching — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 11:12 pm
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One year ago I got the question asked: “Name three things you would do when you become a millionaire.”

I think we had 5 minutes – it was in a group setting. These were my answers:

1) Eradicate the Jante Law in Sweden and create an entrepreneurial retreat center at the farm house my father left behind in the middle of the forest in Småland, Sweden.

2) Realize the vision of the Herringbone platform, selecting a true Herringbone story from Africa and turn it into a musical on Broadway, NYC – with performing cast from Africa.

3) Enjoy life with family and kids.

Someone said you should Dream Big… Michael E. Gerber always says: “Dream big, think small, and act even smaller”. If you don’t, it can be rather over whelming!

What is your Dream? Start sharing it – otherwise it will never happen. And watch out – someone will ask you “by when” – and then you are hooked.

Enjoy the ride, and Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!

Johanna

 

Me, a Fighter? January 14, 2012

Filed under: coaching — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 1:24 pm
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"Little Boy" by Martin Johansson, Malmo, Sweden

There were a few incidents last year, when I in response to invitations where I expressed my vision for something got in response a stream of comments of the kind:

“Oh, Johanna, you are so kind…”

“Sweet Johanna,… “

“Thank you Johanna, that is so nice of you….”

I guess, being seen as nice, sweet and kind is really good – and I am absolutely sure that all comments were sincere and well meant. However, it mobilized a different feeling in me. “Jävlar anamma” would be the Swedish expression. When searching for a good translation/explanation of the expression I found:

1) There is book called “Power Language – the book with “jävlar anamma” (“Makt Språk – boken med jävlar anamma!“) by Lars och Martin Melin

2) Boden Fortress Radio Bunker (Swedish: Radiobunkern i Boden) is a communications bunker, part of Boden Fortress, outside the city of Boden, Norrbotten, in northern Sweden. It was used for the first radio broadcast in Swedish history. [...] At 15:00 local time on 12 July 1921,[6] the first radio broadcast in Swedish history was sent from the bunker.[3] Radio commissioner Axel Jenner conducted this historic broadcast, with the Swedish king Gustav V listening some 35 km away in Luleå.[2] Due to a misunderstanding between Jenner and his radio telegrapher, the first words uttered in the broadcast were “jävlar anamma”, a Swedish profanity in the style of “damn” or “darn”, literally meaning “embrace the devils”.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This week was the last of two weeks having a Swedish high school student for an internship in the Herringbone office. Read about her experience in the Herringbone blog – bone up! I am not sure what  in our conversation led up to her statement: “You are a fighter.“

This week I also went through stuff from the office of my prior job of 8 years, and found the photo in this post that I used to have on my wall. I guess it was the fighter in me that was inspired by this piece of art called “Little boy” by Swedish artist Martin Johansson.

I think there is a fighter in all of us. Sometimes it is more present and visible than other times. Many of us let the fighter sleep. If need be, the fighter can be mobilized instantly. If well taken care of, the fighter turns more into a flow of force. More like an intentional way of being based on an embraced inner knowing. Still – a little bit of edge is always good and some “skin on the nose”, as we say in Swedish. So…

Here’s for some jävlar anamma – not to a fight, but to the fighter in you – for what you believe in. 

With love,

Johanna

 

A lot of dough December 19, 2011

Filed under: coaching,Inspiration,Swedish-American — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 10:50 am
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In my past days I have successfully made cinnamon roles that were pretty – but small and hard as stone, so you could almost hurt someone with them, should you want to…

This year, would be my first year of five in San Francisco that I actually have a traditional Glögg Party. Along with that goes saffron bread. Now, scarred from the memory of the past I wanted to make sure that these were presented in the light they deserve.

Off I went to get the ingredients. One thing remained on the list. Fresh yeast. Trader Joe’s – no. Safeway – no. Whole Foods – no. [Shame the one who gives up!] Rainbow Groceries – YES! I don’t know how you guys (Americans) do it. Baking with dry yeast – ain’t working for me. Or maybe it was because I got the advise to heat the liquid (milk, butter…) a little extra for the yeast to have effect – and by the time I added the egg and turned my back away, it had coagulated… It became pancake of everything, as we say in Sweden.

This time… I got a lot of dough. Cha-ching!!

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Practice makes perfect.

Hubedubedo – signing off,

The Swedish Chef

Btw – I got the comment when I started this blog “Why should you write a blog? Who would read that?” At least I am having fun. I hope you get a smile out of it too. Maybe get inspired. I hope the one who said that initial comment do. He has a pretty amazing story to tell. I am sure you do too. Just saying… [#herringbone.fm 2.0]

 

 
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