Loving Life Blog

Spur of the Moment Reflections

Parental Courage Redefined July 19, 2012

A year ago I had a visit from Swedish friends. A couple and three children, age  2-6 .

They were in the middle of a three week road-trip in California. The reaction from many was that it was brave to travel with 3 kids.

Yesterday, I had a visit from a Spanish family. A couple and three children, age 9-12.

San Francisco was their first stop on their 8 months world trip travel, well planned out, including 2 weeks summer camp for the kids in the US, and home schooling along the way. You can read about their journey here.

Now THAT is something to me unheard of, and opens up my mind for new possibilities… Adding that trip around the globe back on the list. It’s never too late.

Kudos to courageous parents!

Johanna

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Be Balance May 28, 2012

May 27, 2012 in San Francisco – the city is full with celebrations for the 75th Anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge.

In the presidio area, there are music stages, food trucks and happening all over the place. Walking along the water by Crissy Field, there is one particular area where the busyness suddenly stops. Rock Balancer Bill Dan from Sausalito and his apprentice(?), was performing their Rock Balancing Art.

Bill Dan showed me a picture from when he started 1994. He is the only one with the title of Rock Balancer. Travels the world. Exhibiting and doing work for corporations and events.

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What is the key to creating this? I asked. “Oh this? Connection.”

Want to build something special? Make a connection. And make it last. 

It’s almost unreal. What would your answer have been to the question on Intel’s Facebook Page: Fake or Real?

It brings me to another question: Do you believe what you see, or do you see what you believe? What if the magical is actually real… in more situations than this. And you can make it happen.

Enjoy the day.

Johanna

 

 

Muuuumsfililibabba May 22, 2012

A few years ago my friend Lisa was in a gondola lift in the French Alps, going up to the top. It was packed with people going skiing. Suddenly she hears a couple of Brittish guys express:

“Muuumsfilibabba. MUUUUMSFILIBABBA.”

“What is that?”

“That’s what Swedish people say when the food is really yummy.”

So true, so true. Although, it was a while ago I used that expression. Recently though, I had a yummy situation when I happened to pitch the originator of an idea, without knowing.

I attended an INFUSION/Berkeley Startup Cluster Lunch to hear Forbes reporter and author, Larry Downes, present on The Laws of Disruption. You can get his book: “The Laws of Disruption: Harnessing the New Forces that Govern Business and Life in the Digital Age” (Basic Books 2009)

After the presentation I was talking to the entrepreneur sitting in front of me. His company was focusing on green energy.”Oh – I have someone I should introduce you to. He is working on a [CONFIDENTIAL] for green solutions. It is a really good idea. I am sure you would want to… Hm – who was it… I was just told…. anyway – it will come back to me”.

The topic changes and he asks where I am from, and if I am involved in the Scandinavian Community. “YSC.org – yes, to some extent” I respond. “Do you know Ian?” “Yes! In fact, he stayed with me last week when he was here for a conference! – oh yes! He was the one who told me.” “Interesting – he is my partner.” “Ah – so it is your idea!?”

The day after I receive an email from him with the question: “what is the (funny) Swedish expression that means “delicious” or “very yummy”? It sounds similar to “ums-feely-bah-pa”…”

So now you have it. Mumsfilibababba!

Enjoy,

Johanna

Two risks about sharing your idea: 1) someone might take it and run with it, or 2) people will spred the news and you might not yet be prepared for the customers coming your way…

And by the way: How many of you are reading the actual physical news paper these days?

 

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.

 

The Sweetest Kiss March 29, 2012

Filed under: coaching — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 10:24 pm
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

At first he wasn’t interested at all. Clearly not.

“No – I’m watching TV.” [Breathe – don’t take it personally.]

After a little bit of begging and trying to get his attention he comes around to say hi for a second. Maybe two.

Hanging around a little longer… asking a few questions… about the day, the special event, celebration…

He gets a little excited and wants to share what he had gotten. A helicopter. I would be too.

And then it was time to go to bed. It had been a really long day. So before rushing off I try to connect onces more.

Calling his name calmly ones, twice… three times. He looks at me finally and I throw him a kiss. He lights up and does the same thing back at me!

Then he expresses “no, closer…” and climbs over the table and computer and kisses the screen on the other side.

Mm. The sweetest kiss. That one will last with me for a long time. My nephew has turned 3.

Johanna ❤ ❤ ❤ Wille

 

 
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