What ever it is – keep the dream alive.
“Envision the future, embrace the presence and achieve more than imagined.”
Johanna C. Nilsson (if I may quote myself)
There just gotta be some action in the embracing part… 😉
What is your next step?
Johanna
Photo credit: I fucking love science.
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.
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
OK – so I have had this book since the beginning of the year: The Magic, by Rhonda Byrne, who is one of the authors behind the Secret. “Ja, ja… the law of attraction crap – in your dreams.” One could think. Or one could give it a try.
So I got this book for Christmas, and I decided to give it a shot. It is a 28 day practice. Gratitude practice on different aspects of life. Starting with the past, with an aim to build a foundation, create closure to and set different situations in a enhanced supportive and positive light. Relationships, health, money, work…
I came to day #16 in the beginning of the year. And then I drifted away from my morning routine.
Last week I spoke at an event that had the theme “Freakout Moments” – for female entrepreneurs. One of the other speakers was Kariz Matic (The Matic), and the key take away from her story was: “Small or large events, every day – I meet them with gratitude”. The extreme situation she had experienced was (more…)
An entrepreneurial freakout moment, a business turn around, or simply: making a Whoopi?
Read more on Bone Up! Blog at Herringbone.
Photo by: StevenGregoryPhotography.com – warmly recommended for event photography, professional or children portraits as well as tongue-in-cheek business photos.
Whoopi photo credit: Annie Leibovitz
Originally posted at ShoeRumors.com
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…)
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
America’s Finest City Half Marathon. Check.
That was 10 years ago.
So I thought running one half marathon every 10 years wouldn’t be to overdo it…
This time, it is the Nike Women’s Marathon 2012 – the half version.
Having left my running shoes in Sweden (last year) I got new one yesterday. I am feeling the excitement start to pump up. Feels good to have a goal in mind.
My goal? Under 2 hours. With a certain branding on my t-shirt…
If running is not for you – what “label” of marathon would you be willing to sign up for ? Set a goal. Get some new shoes. And go at it!
Just to check – better be on the safe side when expressions come my way – to avoid any awkward lost in translation moments… : hap·py-go-luck·y (h p -g -l k ). adj. Taking things easily; carefree. happy–go–lucky. – it’s the attitude that makes or brakes you.
Enjoy the ride,
Johanna
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 pmI 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 fruitsWhere 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 exploreI 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 highwaysWe 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 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
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.
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