Loving Life Blog

Spur of the Moment Reflections

Me and The Phantom of the Opera November 13, 2013

I’m coming home for Christmas! As I bought the ticket and the excitement started rushing up in me, the Christmas song started playing in my mind, “I am coming home for Christmas”, by Peter Jöback.

Then, it hit me…

Peter was a musical artist and rising star when I grew up. My cousins neighbor was his friend, and we were cheering for him when he participated in the “Melodifestivalen” – the pre-contest for the Eurovision Song Contest.

Peter was also managing the audition for the choir to the Lasse Kühlers Dansskola – the dance school where I ended up going for 5 years prior to the Ballet Academy. I was so so nervous for the singing audition. “Vem kan segla… ” (One of the easiest tunes there is.)

Peter was also “one of the Special Guests” in the US tour of Robert Wells Rhapsody in Rock with shows in Chicago, Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles and The Civic Theatre in San Diego 2005. The show, that was the incentive to register my company “Go Blue Promotions” (now dba Herringbone) – while working our butts off to get 1000 people in the audience in San Diego, so my friend Ylva Andell Elias could be a local guest artist singing on stage.

Rhapsody in Rock Peter Jöback

Peter, is now the Phantom of the Opera. On Broadway.
http://youtu.be/r9Mkxw91nK0?t=2m6s

Three years ago I got the question: “Name three things you would do when you become a millionaire.” I think we had 5 minutes.  I shared it in an earlier post: I have a Dream. This was one of the 3 things:

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.

That particular extension of the “Herringbone platform” was not something I had not thought before. But it stayed with me. And last week I got a non-profit in Africa wanting to use the solution – once it is created. (A minor hook).

The future will tell. Maybe I will have Peter to thank for reaching Broadway. Or I will manage the audition for him to be part of the cast…

Is it only me, or is your mind also taking loops like this? What is your dream? You may as well put it in words now… you never now.

What ever happens: Thank you for the music. Peter Jöback with Rapsody in Rock, and Ylva Elias at San Diego Civic Theatre exactly 8 years ago, November 13, 2005:

Enjoy,
Johanna

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Not Johan, but Johan & Nyström February 8, 2013

IMG_5601When it comes to social media and getting your message across, you can sometimes ride on the wave of success created by others.

  • Comment and engage on blogs or articles that have a large number of readers and views
  • Position yourself by stating something controversial, maybe contradictory or variation of an already accepted and established concept
  • Engage in a trending topic on Twitter
  • Comment with a video response to a viral video on youtube

The last one I would have loved to see from (more…)

 

Who I Am – Stepping Out of the Shower February 4, 2013

Filed under: coaching,Herringbone,Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 11:48 am
Tags: , , , , , ,

When I started this blog some 3-4 years ago, I did it because I had an urge to write – although I didn’t quite know about exactly what. Initially I just wrote from my heart and posted, quickly looking to see if it got any hits at all. If someone was reading. Curiously hiding behind the screen.

I got a push to make it public within a week of start by a coach friend of mine. So I did. (more…)

 

Not Joe, but Johan September 26, 2012

Attended the San Francisco Fashion Week event yesterday: “Fashion+Tech Expo & Social Media Panel” on how technology disrupt the fashion industry.

There were a lot of new fashion tech companies exhibiting. The Herringbone team were there to show off our client LLXLLQ – Plus size designer shoes from Italy. The feedback was great. Everyone knows someone who always complain about, or have a huge difficulty in finding stylish and comfortable shoes their size. The LLXLLQ shoes comes in sizes 10-12. I promise you – if you know someone with that size, and let them know about LLXLLQ.com, and if they will buy – they will be grateful to you forever. They will find a pair of shoes their style, and they will love them.  So please do – share the word. If they do it before Sunday September 30, 2012 and use promo code SFFW12 they will receive an extra 35% off. Ride on the wave of fashion!

One comment in the panel discussion at Fashion+Tech , naming a success case using social media was the Old Spice youtube videos. And if you can come up with a concept that others want to copy and make a version of, that will make it viral. Just like the “Call me maybe” videos that Anna wrote about in Bone up! recently featuring versions starting with the Harvard Baseball team, leading up to Romney and Obama…

Today Anna showed me the below video. Am I the only one thinking of the Old Spice Commercial (now with almost 43 million views!) when I see this Gevalia commercial? It is not Old Spice. We are talking about strong, dark, delicious coffee. And no, it’s not Joe – it’s Johan.

Like – not Jo, but Johanna… 😉 Or Simply…

Swede

 

 

 

Hot Dog Redefined. July 12, 2012

Filed under: Herringbone,Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 10:19 am
Tags: , , , ,

Things are not constant. Life changes. Long lasting definitions as well. Things can be changed. Things can mean something new.

Statement from the HOT TUB! with an adorable DOG, Dora, who want to be part of the occasion.

“Hot Dog” suddenly got a hole new meaning.

Keep an open mind…,
Johanna

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My Idea From Heart – On The List… June 12, 2012

From idea to reality in 90 days.

Not very long ago I got a call from Anthony Lee, who in our Master Mind Group had come up with an idea. A TED-like event, with training to prepare for the stage, for ‘everyday heroes’ to share their legacy message.

Shortly thereafter, March 14, I receive the OFFICIAL INVITATION.

[…] In collaboration with the non-profit organization “Leaders Causing Leaders”, I am proud to announce our premier event “Ideas From the Heart” San Francisco.  This is a two day event, June 23-24, 2012, where “40 everyday heroes take an idea that has shaped their lives, and share 40 ideas that will change yours”

IdeasFTH is a Hero’s Journey to the Stage.   Along the way, you will be mentored by four master trainers to incorporate four core elements into your presentation: heart-centered, community inspired, authentically expressed and dynamically impactful.  As a community of heroes, this is the quality of messages we bring to the stage to change lives. […]

A community created event. An enrolled co-founder Ben Patwa, and a greater vision.

40 speakers became 12, and the inaugural event is taking place. With my name on the speaker list. What an honor.

You are welcome to be part of this event and community – maybe you will be the next speaker. What is the ONE idea that you would share from your heart, that you would want the world to know and benefit from? What would be your legacy message? 

Get your tickets here: http://bit.ly/IFTHJune2012

And watch the trailer! Bam! 😉

Johanna

 

Same Same – and Just a Little Different May 13, 2012

Filed under: coaching,Herringbone — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 7:51 pm
Tags: , ,

My a cappella group Keeva had a guest appearance at the Swedish mass today, at the Norwegian Seaman Church.

The spiritually inspired global rhythms and tunes were very well received, “we hardly could sit still in the seats”, “it put a smile on my face and in my heart”, “so nice to hear such a different style of music” and “please come back”.

We had a wonderful time performing there. Even thought it was different compared to what usually is performed – it didn’t seem that foreign for some. The favorite overheard comment when we sang the zulu song Akekho Ofana No Jesu was: “Is that Småländska?” (a Swedish dialect).

Same same – and just a little different. I think music is something that connects with our hearts and speaks the same universal language.

Music can also help a message carry through. Singing a message can give it a different weight. I heard that loud a clear last week-end when participating in a “Mastery of Self Expression” workshop lead by actor [and much more] Larry Gilman from Los Angeles. “Why don’t you speak as you sing?”

On the topic of performance, art and heart – I came across another blog post today: bite-sized wisdom – Anderson (by Thoughts on theatre).

“If you practice an art, be proud of it and make it proud of you. It may break your heart, but it will fill your heart before it breaks it; it will make you a person in your own right.”
– Maxwell Anderson
The heart is a muscle. It rips and tears, but always heals, often making the muscle stronger than before. Take a risk this weekend and chase down something that just might fill your heart to its brim.

My suggested risk from the master is to SPEAK LOUDER. To LIVE MY LIFE OUTLOUD. And that is said to someone who has a social media communications business with the tag line: “Get heard for positive change”. Getting heard online vs. offline: same same – and just a little different…

So from now on I dare you to ask “what?” when I speak. And if you think that I talk abnormally loud – or if I am singing the message – or expressing more than usual… I am just practicing and playing around with the art of self expression. Off line. What is your risk, that might fill your heart to its brim?

Embracing the differences. HELLO WORLD! 🙂
Johanna
This is Akekho from our last performance:

Take a moment to visit the blog Thoughts on Theatre – I bet you will find something that you like.
 thoughtsontheatre.wordpress.com
 

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

 

Yebo Gogo! Freedom! April 28, 2012

Yebo Gogo! Sounds like a new site. A new movement maybe. Sporty. Getting things done? How about a new app!?

Have you thought of creating your own app sometime? What kind? For which platform? How about a mobile webb app?

If you do, there are a number of things to consider.There is an article in Mashable Tech that summarizes it well. These are the key questions covered:

8 Things to Know Before Building a Mobile App

1. What Does It Cost to Make an App?
2. What Should You Charge for Your App?
3. When Will You Get Paid?
4. How Do You Write Your iTunes Description?
5. What’s the Best Way to Beta Test
6. What Happens When You Get Featured on iTunes?
7. How Do You Get Press?
8. How Do You Avoid the Spam?

“If you’re new to the app game, prepare for some sticker shock. Making an app will cost you, at the very minimum, around $10,000. This is for a super-simple program — none of that fancy enterprise or social networking jibber-jabber. Even still, any app worth its weight in code will likely cost you closer to $20,000.
Unless you have some basic design skills, you’ll need to enlist the help of both a programmer and a designer. And these guys ain’t cheap — particularly programmers who, thanks to a pronounced shortage of qualified coders, can pretty much name their prices. (A suggestion for those low on funds: Find some creative way to come up with the cash. I funded my app through Airbnb income.)

Airbnb – I know more people doing that. I met a super nice South African woman, a social media professional peer, who used Airbnb while traveling. I had a drink with her yesterday and had the opportunity to celebrate South Africa’s Freedom Day. 18 years since the first post-apartheid elections was held April 27, 1994. They were the first national elections in South Africa in which the franchise did not depend upon race.

14 years since I was in South Africa with “Project South Africa’98”, a student initiative by 13 students from the student association AIESEC at the Stockholm School of Economics in Stockholm, Sweden. We did a study on “Affirmative Action and Employment Equity in Corporate South Africa” and organized for 7 South African students to come for an internship in Sweden. A fantastic experience.

With that I just want to say: “We are all one” – that is also what a skull symbolizes to me. Therefore this and my first Instagram photo of a Swedish candy, to die for… 🙂

© Yebo Gogo! – Freedom! Raise your glasses! And no, it’s not an app – yet. But I just got an idea… Yebo Gogo – it means Yes Grandma!

See, how it’s all connected!? Or is it that you see what you are looking for? If that is the case – then look for the good stuff!

Enjoy,

Johanna

I can warmly recommend Airbnb – a great way to travel and meet local, great people.

 

I am like an IKEA chair April 27, 2012

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

 

 
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