Oct. 16, 2002 – As chair of the Senate Labor and Veterans Affairs Committee, Sen. Norma Pickard-Samuel has received information from the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs concerning exposure by veterans in the 1960s and early 1970s to dangerous chemical and/or biological substances in connection with the Defense Department's Project SHAD.
The acronym stands for Shipboard Hazard and Defense. The project was part of a larger one known as Project 112.
A release from Pickard-Samuel's office stated that on Oct. 9, the Defense Department released declassified documents concerning 28 land and sea tests of the hazardous materials in Project 112. The purpose of Project SHAD was "to determine the vulnerability of U.S. warships to attacks with chemical or biological warfare agents," the release said.
The Defense Department has provided the Veterans Affairs Department with the names of ships and service personnel involved in the testing, and the VA has contracted a three-year study of the health of the Project SHAD personnel. Now, VA officials are seeking to obtain current addresses of these veterans to let them know of their possible exposure and of VA programs to assist them, the release said.
Pickard-Samuel said she has the list of ships and that any V.I. veterans who believe they have a disability as a result of exposure during the testing can file a claim for compensation. She asked that local veterans who may have been involved in such testing contact her office for additional information by calling 693-3536.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
OCTOBER 2002 BRAINSTORM
As you read this October Brainstorm creativity e-bulletin, I will be heading for three weeks in the United States, having a look at the latest creative developments there — undoubtedly some of those will find their way into the November e-bulletin. In the meantime, I hope the following tips and techniques will be helpful.
The central dilemma of all creative people
The central dilemma of all creative people is the love-hate relationship the world has with something new. Here is what novelist Elizabeth Berg said about it in a recent issue of The Writer magazine: "[Writing] is so fraught with should's and should not's and what a story is and what a story is not … oftentimes editors will tell you what they are looking for and then they get something completely different and say, 'Oh isn't it wonderful — it is totally unlike anything we've ever seen.'"
She adds: "So how will that come about if people don't trust themselves to do something altogether different or uniquely their own?"
An interesting demonstration of this is the hit U.S. television series "The Shield." The writer of the original script says he allowed himself to make the script gritty and edgy only because he thought it would be just a writing sample. He never thought it would actually be made; otherwise, he would have censored himself at the start.
Tip: Be alert to the way you may be censoring yourself from having or acting on your more radical ideas. In a notebook or journal, record the first, wildest version of your idea. If you later decide to tone it down or make it more similar to what is already being done, you can still go back to the original and decide whether you have gone too far in the direction of safety.
Try the opposite
I have previously suggested a creativity technique in which you think of what is usually done, and then think about what is the opposite and let that lead you to a new idea. I have recently come across a great example of this, as told by film executive Peter Guber. He was planning to make the movie "Gorillas in the Mist" but realized that it could easily go far over budget if the gorillas, which were to be filmed in the highlands of Rwanda, did not behave the way the script wanted them to. The studio was about to shelve the project when a young intern suggested letting the gorillas write the script.
Asked what she meant, she suggested sending a cinematographer to get lots and lots of footage of the gorillas doing whatever they were doing, and then writing the script around that. That is how the film was made — for half the original budget!
This story illustrates not only the try-the-opposite technique, but also that often it is the least-experienced person — in this case, a young intern — who comes up with an innovative idea.
Tip: If you have not done so already, give the try-the-opposite technique a try. Do not rule anything out too quickly; instead, question the assumptions you are making that someone new to the situation might not make.
Are you a USP?
Gerald Kushel, professor emeritus of mental health counseling at Long Island University, has studied uncommonly successful people and found that they have three important traits in common:
– Inner calm that allows them to focus their attention and energies.
– Clear goals and a sense of purpose.
– A sense of adventure that allows them to take risks and cope with setbacks.
Tip: If you are missing a sense of inner calm, try meditation; if you have no goals, try writing out what you would like to achieve in your personal and business life in the next year, three years and five years; and if you are missing a sense of adventure, find some safe ways to do something new, and determine whether risks that might be good for you can be broken down into steps to make them feel more manageable.
Your one-minute NLP workshop
If you're not familiar with Neuro Linguistic Programming, here is a one-minute introduction to its approach that you can use to deal with any challenge:
– First, decide on your outcomes. What do you want? Be as specific as possible so you'll know when you have it (and in the meantime, whether or not you're moving closer to it).
– Second, brainstorm a variety of ways you can reach your goal. Don't stop at the way things are usually done; be creative to come up with other ways that might be faster, less expensive, less work.
– Third, choose the actions that are most likely to lead to success, and implement them.
– Fourth, assess whether not these actions are taking you nearer your goal at an acceptable speed. If not, don't just do more of the same, but do something different and compare the results it brings you. Keep up this feedback and adjustment loop until you reach your goal.
Tip: This process may sound so simple as to be only common sense … but how many people actually follow it in practice? For an excellent introduction to NLP and its key techniques, I recommend "NLP Workbook" written by Joseph O'Conner and published in the United Kingdom by Thorsons in 2001. However, any NLP books by O'Conner, John Seymour and/or Ian McDermott are good.
Did you know that the "Power Trances" CD by Jurgen Wolff can help you relax, generate ideas, and transform the inner critic? And that it makes a terrific present that friends can use again and again? For information about content and ordering, send an e-mail to BstormUK.
Focus, focus, focus
According to New York Times journalist Lisa Belkin, focus is to this decade what time management was to the last one. Originally everyone lauded multi-tasking, but lately it has been derided as trying to do too many things at once. Belkin mentions the example of the Boston doctor who left a patient in mid-surgery to go to the bank for 20 minutes. The article cites two practical tips. One is turning off your mobile phone when you really want to work but avoiding phone rage on the part of your callers by leaving a message that states when you will be returning calls. The other is booking into a hotel to work for three days incommunicado every couple of months.
The woman who recommends this, Vickie Sullivan, claims she can cram three weeks of focused time into three days and get major projects done that wouldn't get done otherwise.
Tip: Consider whether you are giving yourself enough time each week to focus on the things that really matter. If you cannot do this in your normal environment, consider how you could vary your routine and your locations to make this easier.
A quote to think about
"Anybody can come up with new ideas. What's in short supply are innovative people — persistent mavericks who believe so strongly in an idea that they will do whatever it takes to make it a working reality. — Michael LeBoeuf
P.S. — Our web site is BrainstormNet.com. You might also enjoy my book "Do Something Different," available in the United States from Amazon.com. We also welcome your comments.
[Contents copyright 2002, Jurgen Wolff]
Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
The central dilemma of all creative people
The central dilemma of all creative people is the love-hate relationship the world has with something new. Here is what novelist Elizabeth Berg said about it in a recent issue of The Writer magazine: "[Writing] is so fraught with should's and should not's and what a story is and what a story is not … oftentimes editors will tell you what they are looking for and then they get something completely different and say, 'Oh isn't it wonderful — it is totally unlike anything we've ever seen.'"
She adds: "So how will that come about if people don't trust themselves to do something altogether different or uniquely their own?"
An interesting demonstration of this is the hit U.S. television series "The Shield." The writer of the original script says he allowed himself to make the script gritty and edgy only because he thought it would be just a writing sample. He never thought it would actually be made; otherwise, he would have censored himself at the start.
Tip: Be alert to the way you may be censoring yourself from having or acting on your more radical ideas. In a notebook or journal, record the first, wildest version of your idea. If you later decide to tone it down or make it more similar to what is already being done, you can still go back to the original and decide whether you have gone too far in the direction of safety.
Try the opposite
I have previously suggested a creativity technique in which you think of what is usually done, and then think about what is the opposite and let that lead you to a new idea. I have recently come across a great example of this, as told by film executive Peter Guber. He was planning to make the movie "Gorillas in the Mist" but realized that it could easily go far over budget if the gorillas, which were to be filmed in the highlands of Rwanda, did not behave the way the script wanted them to. The studio was about to shelve the project when a young intern suggested letting the gorillas write the script.
Asked what she meant, she suggested sending a cinematographer to get lots and lots of footage of the gorillas doing whatever they were doing, and then writing the script around that. That is how the film was made — for half the original budget!
This story illustrates not only the try-the-opposite technique, but also that often it is the least-experienced person — in this case, a young intern — who comes up with an innovative idea.
Tip: If you have not done so already, give the try-the-opposite technique a try. Do not rule anything out too quickly; instead, question the assumptions you are making that someone new to the situation might not make.
Are you a USP?
Gerald Kushel, professor emeritus of mental health counseling at Long Island University, has studied uncommonly successful people and found that they have three important traits in common:
– Inner calm that allows them to focus their attention and energies.
– Clear goals and a sense of purpose.
– A sense of adventure that allows them to take risks and cope with setbacks.
Tip: If you are missing a sense of inner calm, try meditation; if you have no goals, try writing out what you would like to achieve in your personal and business life in the next year, three years and five years; and if you are missing a sense of adventure, find some safe ways to do something new, and determine whether risks that might be good for you can be broken down into steps to make them feel more manageable.
Your one-minute NLP workshop
If you're not familiar with Neuro Linguistic Programming, here is a one-minute introduction to its approach that you can use to deal with any challenge:
– First, decide on your outcomes. What do you want? Be as specific as possible so you'll know when you have it (and in the meantime, whether or not you're moving closer to it).
– Second, brainstorm a variety of ways you can reach your goal. Don't stop at the way things are usually done; be creative to come up with other ways that might be faster, less expensive, less work.
– Third, choose the actions that are most likely to lead to success, and implement them.
– Fourth, assess whether not these actions are taking you nearer your goal at an acceptable speed. If not, don't just do more of the same, but do something different and compare the results it brings you. Keep up this feedback and adjustment loop until you reach your goal.
Tip: This process may sound so simple as to be only common sense … but how many people actually follow it in practice? For an excellent introduction to NLP and its key techniques, I recommend "NLP Workbook" written by Joseph O'Conner and published in the United Kingdom by Thorsons in 2001. However, any NLP books by O'Conner, John Seymour and/or Ian McDermott are good.
Did you know that the "Power Trances" CD by Jurgen Wolff can help you relax, generate ideas, and transform the inner critic? And that it makes a terrific present that friends can use again and again? For information about content and ordering, send an e-mail to BstormUK.
Focus, focus, focus
According to New York Times journalist Lisa Belkin, focus is to this decade what time management was to the last one. Originally everyone lauded multi-tasking, but lately it has been derided as trying to do too many things at once. Belkin mentions the example of the Boston doctor who left a patient in mid-surgery to go to the bank for 20 minutes. The article cites two practical tips. One is turning off your mobile phone when you really want to work but avoiding phone rage on the part of your callers by leaving a message that states when you will be returning calls. The other is booking into a hotel to work for three days incommunicado every couple of months.
The woman who recommends this, Vickie Sullivan, claims she can cram three weeks of focused time into three days and get major projects done that wouldn't get done otherwise.
Tip: Consider whether you are giving yourself enough time each week to focus on the things that really matter. If you cannot do this in your normal environment, consider how you could vary your routine and your locations to make this easier.
A quote to think about
"Anybody can come up with new ideas. What's in short supply are innovative people — persistent mavericks who believe so strongly in an idea that they will do whatever it takes to make it a working reality. — Michael LeBoeuf
P.S. — Our web site is BrainstormNet.com. You might also enjoy my book "Do Something Different," available in the United States from Amazon.com. We also welcome your comments.
[Contents copyright 2002, Jurgen Wolff]
Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
OCTOBER 2002 BRAINSTORM
As you read this October Brainstorm creativity e-bulletin, I will be heading for three weeks in the United States, having a look at the latest creative developments there — undoubtedly some of those will find their way into the November e-bulletin. In the meantime, I hope the following tips and techniques will be helpful.
The central dilemma of all creative people
The central dilemma of all creative people is the love-hate relationship the world has with something new. Here is what novelist Elizabeth Berg said about it in a recent issue of The Writer magazine: "[Writing] is so fraught with should's and should not's and what a story is and what a story is not … oftentimes editors will tell you what they are looking for and then they get something completely different and say, 'Oh isn't it wonderful — it is totally unlike anything we've ever seen.'"
She adds: "So how will that come about if people don't trust themselves to do something altogether different or uniquely their own?"
An interesting demonstration of this is the hit U.S. television series "The Shield." The writer of the original script says he allowed himself to make the script gritty and edgy only because he thought it would be just a writing sample. He never thought it would actually be made; otherwise, he would have censored himself at the start.
Tip: Be alert to the way you may be censoring yourself from having or acting on your more radical ideas. In a notebook or journal, record the first, wildest version of your idea. If you later decide to tone it down or make it more similar to what is already being done, you can still go back to the original and decide whether you have gone too far in the direction of safety.
Try the opposite
I have previously suggested a creativity technique in which you think of what is usually done, and then think about what is the opposite and let that lead you to a new idea. I have recently come across a great example of this, as told by film executive Peter Guber. He was planning to make the movie "Gorillas in the Mist" but realized that it could easily go far over budget if the gorillas, which were to be filmed in the highlands of Rwanda, did not behave the way the script wanted them to. The studio was about to shelve the project when a young intern suggested letting the gorillas write the script.
Asked what she meant, she suggested sending a cinematographer to get lots and lots of footage of the gorillas doing whatever they were doing, and then writing the script around that. That is how the film was made — for half the original budget!
This story illustrates not only the try-the-opposite technique, but also that often it is the least-experienced person — in this case, a young intern — who comes up with an innovative idea.
Tip: If you have not done so already, give the try-the-opposite technique a try. Do not rule anything out too quickly; instead, question the assumptions you are making that someone new to the situation might not make.
Are you a USP?
Gerald Kushel, professor emeritus of mental health counseling at Long Island University, has studied uncommonly successful people and found that they have three important traits in common:
– Inner calm that allows them to focus their attention and energies.
– Clear goals and a sense of purpose.
– A sense of adventure that allows them to take risks and cope with setbacks.
Tip: If you are missing a sense of inner calm, try meditation; if you have no goals, try writing out what you would like to achieve in your personal and business life in the next year, three years and five years; and if you are missing a sense of adventure, find some safe ways to do something new, and determine whether risks that might be good for you can be broken down into steps to make them feel more manageable.
Your one-minute NLP workshop
If you're not familiar with Neuro Linguistic Programming, here is a one-minute introduction to its approach that you can use to deal with any challenge:
– First, decide on your outcomes. What do you want? Be as specific as possible so you'll know when you have it (and in the meantime, whether or not you're moving closer to it).
– Second, brainstorm a variety of ways you can reach your goal. Don't stop at the way things are usually done; be creative to come up with other ways that might be faster, less expensive, less work.
– Third, choose the actions that are most likely to lead to success, and implement them.
– Fourth, assess whether not these actions are taking you nearer your goal at an acceptable speed. If not, don't just do more of the same, but do something different and compare the results it brings you. Keep up this feedback and adjustment loop until you reach your goal.
Tip: This process may sound so simple as to be only common sense … but how many people actually follow it in practice? For an excellent introduction to NLP and its key techniques, I recommend "NLP Workbook" written by Joseph O'Conner and published in the United Kingdom by Thorsons in 2001. However, any NLP books by O'Conner, John Seymour and/or Ian McDermott are good.
Did you know that the "Power Trances" CD by Jurgen Wolff can help you relax, generate ideas, and transform the inner critic? And that it makes a terrific present that friends can use again and again? For information about content and ordering, send an e-mail to BstormUK.
Focus, focus, focus
According to New York Times journalist Lisa Belkin, focus is to this decade what time management was to the last one. Originally everyone lauded multi-tasking, but lately it has been derided as trying to do too many things at once. Belkin mentions the example of the Boston doctor who left a patient in mid-surgery to go to the bank for 20 minutes. The article cites two practical tips. One is turning off your mobile phone when you really want to work but avoiding phone rage on the part of your callers by leaving a message that states when you will be returning calls. The other is booking into a hotel to work for three days incommunicado every couple of months.
The woman who recommends this, Vickie Sullivan, claims she can cram three weeks of focused time into three days and get major projects done that wouldn't get done otherwise.
Tip: Consider whether you are giving yourself enough time each week to focus on the things that really matter. If you cannot do this in your normal environment, consider how you could vary your routine and your locations to make this easier.
A quote to think about
"Anybody can come up with new ideas. What's in short supply are innovative people — persistent mavericks who believe so strongly in an idea that they will do whatever it takes to make it a working reality. — Michael LeBoeuf
P.S. — Our web site is BrainstormNet.com. You might also enjoy my book "Do Something Different," available in the United States from Amazon.com. We also welcome your comments.
[Contents copyright 2002, Jurgen Wolff]
Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here..
The central dilemma of all creative people
The central dilemma of all creative people is the love-hate relationship the world has with something new. Here is what novelist Elizabeth Berg said about it in a recent issue of The Writer magazine: "[Writing] is so fraught with should's and should not's and what a story is and what a story is not … oftentimes editors will tell you what they are looking for and then they get something completely different and say, 'Oh isn't it wonderful — it is totally unlike anything we've ever seen.'"
She adds: "So how will that come about if people don't trust themselves to do something altogether different or uniquely their own?"
An interesting demonstration of this is the hit U.S. television series "The Shield." The writer of the original script says he allowed himself to make the script gritty and edgy only because he thought it would be just a writing sample. He never thought it would actually be made; otherwise, he would have censored himself at the start.
Tip: Be alert to the way you may be censoring yourself from having or acting on your more radical ideas. In a notebook or journal, record the first, wildest version of your idea. If you later decide to tone it down or make it more similar to what is already being done, you can still go back to the original and decide whether you have gone too far in the direction of safety.
Try the opposite
I have previously suggested a creativity technique in which you think of what is usually done, and then think about what is the opposite and let that lead you to a new idea. I have recently come across a great example of this, as told by film executive Peter Guber. He was planning to make the movie "Gorillas in the Mist" but realized that it could easily go far over budget if the gorillas, which were to be filmed in the highlands of Rwanda, did not behave the way the script wanted them to. The studio was about to shelve the project when a young intern suggested letting the gorillas write the script.
Asked what she meant, she suggested sending a cinematographer to get lots and lots of footage of the gorillas doing whatever they were doing, and then writing the script around that. That is how the film was made — for half the original budget!
This story illustrates not only the try-the-opposite technique, but also that often it is the least-experienced person — in this case, a young intern — who comes up with an innovative idea.
Tip: If you have not done so already, give the try-the-opposite technique a try. Do not rule anything out too quickly; instead, question the assumptions you are making that someone new to the situation might not make.
Are you a USP?
Gerald Kushel, professor emeritus of mental health counseling at Long Island University, has studied uncommonly successful people and found that they have three important traits in common:
– Inner calm that allows them to focus their attention and energies.
– Clear goals and a sense of purpose.
– A sense of adventure that allows them to take risks and cope with setbacks.
Tip: If you are missing a sense of inner calm, try meditation; if you have no goals, try writing out what you would like to achieve in your personal and business life in the next year, three years and five years; and if you are missing a sense of adventure, find some safe ways to do something new, and determine whether risks that might be good for you can be broken down into steps to make them feel more manageable.
Your one-minute NLP workshop
If you're not familiar with Neuro Linguistic Programming, here is a one-minute introduction to its approach that you can use to deal with any challenge:
– First, decide on your outcomes. What do you want? Be as specific as possible so you'll know when you have it (and in the meantime, whether or not you're moving closer to it).
– Second, brainstorm a variety of ways you can reach your goal. Don't stop at the way things are usually done; be creative to come up with other ways that might be faster, less expensive, less work.
– Third, choose the actions that are most likely to lead to success, and implement them.
– Fourth, assess whether not these actions are taking you nearer your goal at an acceptable speed. If not, don't just do more of the same, but do something different and compare the results it brings you. Keep up this feedback and adjustment loop until you reach your goal.
Tip: This process may sound so simple as to be only common sense … but how many people actually follow it in practice? For an excellent introduction to NLP and its key techniques, I recommend "NLP Workbook" written by Joseph O'Conner and published in the United Kingdom by Thorsons in 2001. However, any NLP books by O'Conner, John Seymour and/or Ian McDermott are good.
Did you know that the "Power Trances" CD by Jurgen Wolff can help you relax, generate ideas, and transform the inner critic? And that it makes a terrific present that friends can use again and again? For information about content and ordering, send an e-mail to BstormUK.
Focus, focus, focus
According to New York Times journalist Lisa Belkin, focus is to this decade what time management was to the last one. Originally everyone lauded multi-tasking, but lately it has been derided as trying to do too many things at once. Belkin mentions the example of the Boston doctor who left a patient in mid-surgery to go to the bank for 20 minutes. The article cites two practical tips. One is turning off your mobile phone when you really want to work but avoiding phone rage on the part of your callers by leaving a message that states when you will be returning calls. The other is booking into a hotel to work for three days incommunicado every couple of months.
The woman who recommends this, Vickie Sullivan, claims she can cram three weeks of focused time into three days and get major projects done that wouldn't get done otherwise.
Tip: Consider whether you are giving yourself enough time each week to focus on the things that really matter. If you cannot do this in your normal environment, consider how you could vary your routine and your locations to make this easier.
A quote to think about
"Anybody can come up with new ideas. What's in short supply are innovative people — persistent mavericks who believe so strongly in an idea that they will do whatever it takes to make it a working reality. — Michael LeBoeuf
P.S. — Our web site is BrainstormNet.com. You might also enjoy my book "Do Something Different," available in the United States from Amazon.com. We also welcome your comments.
[Contents copyright 2002, Jurgen Wolff]
Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here..
OCTOBER 2002 BRAINSTORM
As you read this October Brainstorm creativity e-bulletin, I will be heading for three weeks in the United States, having a look at the latest creative developments there — undoubtedly some of those will find their way into the November e-bulletin. In the meantime, I hope the following tips and techniques will be helpful.
The central dilemma of all creative people
The central dilemma of all creative people is the love-hate relationship the world has with something new. Here is what novelist Elizabeth Berg said about it in a recent issue of The Writer magazine: "[Writing] is so fraught with should's and should not's and what a story is and what a story is not … oftentimes editors will tell you what they are looking for and then they get something completely different and say, 'Oh isn't it wonderful — it is totally unlike anything we've ever seen.'"
She adds: "So how will that come about if people don't trust themselves to do something altogether different or uniquely their own?"
An interesting demonstration of this is the hit U.S. television series "The Shield." The writer of the original script says he allowed himself to make the script gritty and edgy only because he thought it would be just a writing sample. He never thought it would actually be made; otherwise, he would have censored himself at the start.
Tip: Be alert to the way you may be censoring yourself from having or acting on your more radical ideas. In a notebook or journal, record the first, wildest version of your idea. If you later decide to tone it down or make it more similar to what is already being done, you can still go back to the original and decide whether you have gone too far in the direction of safety.
Try the opposite
I have previously suggested a creativity technique in which you think of what is usually done, and then think about what is the opposite and let that lead you to a new idea. I have recently come across a great example of this, as told by film executive Peter Guber. He was planning to make the movie "Gorillas in the Mist" but realized that it could easily go far over budget if the gorillas, which were to be filmed in the highlands of Rwanda, did not behave the way the script wanted them to. The studio was about to shelve the project when a young intern suggested letting the gorillas write the script.
Asked what she meant, she suggested sending a cinematographer to get lots and lots of footage of the gorillas doing whatever they were doing, and then writing the script around that. That is how the film was made — for half the original budget!
This story illustrates not only the try-the-opposite technique, but also that often it is the least-experienced person — in this case, a young intern — who comes up with an innovative idea.
Tip: If you have not done so already, give the try-the-opposite technique a try. Do not rule anything out too quickly; instead, question the assumptions you are making that someone new to the situation might not make.
Are you a USP?
Gerald Kushel, professor emeritus of mental health counseling at Long Island University, has studied uncommonly successful people and found that they have three important traits in common:
– Inner calm that allows them to focus their attention and energies.
– Clear goals and a sense of purpose.
– A sense of adventure that allows them to take risks and cope with setbacks.
Tip: If you are missing a sense of inner calm, try meditation; if you have no goals, try writing out what you would like to achieve in your personal and business life in the next year, three years and five years; and if you are missing a sense of adventure, find some safe ways to do something new, and determine whether risks that might be good for you can be broken down into steps to make them feel more manageable.
Your one-minute NLP workshop
If you're not familiar with Neuro Linguistic Programming, here is a one-minute introduction to its approach that you can use to deal with any challenge:
– First, decide on your outcomes. What do you want? Be as specific as possible so you'll know when you have it (and in the meantime, whether or not you're moving closer to it).
– Second, brainstorm a variety of ways you can reach your goal. Don't stop at the way things are usually done; be creative to come up with other ways that might be faster, less expensive, less work.
– Third, choose the actions that are most likely to lead to success, and implement them.
– Fourth, assess whether not these actions are taking you nearer your goal at an acceptable speed. If not, don't just do more of the same, but do something different and compare the results it brings you. Keep up this feedback and adjustment loop until you reach your goal.
Tip: This process may sound so simple as to be only common sense … but how many people actually follow it in practice? For an excellent introduction to NLP and its key techniques, I recommend "NLP Workbook" written by Joseph O'Conner and published in the United Kingdom by Thorsons in 2001. However, any NLP books by O'Conner, John Seymour and/or Ian McDermott are good.
Did you know that the "Power Trances" CD by Jurgen Wolff can help you relax, generate ideas, and transform the inner critic? And that it makes a terrific present that friends can use again and again? For information about content and ordering, send an e-mail to BstormUK.
Focus, focus, focus
According to New York Times journalist Lisa Belkin, focus is to this decade what time management was to the last one. Originally everyone lauded multi-tasking, but lately it has been derided as trying to do too many things at once. Belkin mentions the example of the Boston doctor who left a patient in mid-surgery to go to the bank for 20 minutes. The article cites two practical tips. One is turning off your mobile phone when you really want to work but avoiding phone rage on the part of your callers by leaving a message that states when you will be returning calls. The other is booking into a hotel to work for three days incommunicado every couple of months.
The woman who recommends this, Vickie Sullivan, claims she can cram three weeks of focused time into three days and get major projects done that wouldn't get done otherwise.
Tip: Consider whether you are giving yourself enough time each week to focus on the things that really matter. If you cannot do this in your normal environment, consider how you could vary your routine and your locations to make this easier.
A quote to think about
"Anybody can come up with new ideas. What's in short supply are innovative people — persistent mavericks who believe so strongly in an idea that they will do whatever it takes to make it a working reality. — Michael LeBoeuf
P.S. — Our web site is BrainstormNet.com. You might also enjoy my book "Do Something Different," available in the United States from Amazon.com. We also welcome your comments.
[Contents copyright 2002, Jurgen Wolff]
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
The central dilemma of all creative people
The central dilemma of all creative people is the love-hate relationship the world has with something new. Here is what novelist Elizabeth Berg said about it in a recent issue of The Writer magazine: "[Writing] is so fraught with should's and should not's and what a story is and what a story is not … oftentimes editors will tell you what they are looking for and then they get something completely different and say, 'Oh isn't it wonderful — it is totally unlike anything we've ever seen.'"
She adds: "So how will that come about if people don't trust themselves to do something altogether different or uniquely their own?"
An interesting demonstration of this is the hit U.S. television series "The Shield." The writer of the original script says he allowed himself to make the script gritty and edgy only because he thought it would be just a writing sample. He never thought it would actually be made; otherwise, he would have censored himself at the start.
Tip: Be alert to the way you may be censoring yourself from having or acting on your more radical ideas. In a notebook or journal, record the first, wildest version of your idea. If you later decide to tone it down or make it more similar to what is already being done, you can still go back to the original and decide whether you have gone too far in the direction of safety.
Try the opposite
I have previously suggested a creativity technique in which you think of what is usually done, and then think about what is the opposite and let that lead you to a new idea. I have recently come across a great example of this, as told by film executive Peter Guber. He was planning to make the movie "Gorillas in the Mist" but realized that it could easily go far over budget if the gorillas, which were to be filmed in the highlands of Rwanda, did not behave the way the script wanted them to. The studio was about to shelve the project when a young intern suggested letting the gorillas write the script.
Asked what she meant, she suggested sending a cinematographer to get lots and lots of footage of the gorillas doing whatever they were doing, and then writing the script around that. That is how the film was made — for half the original budget!
This story illustrates not only the try-the-opposite technique, but also that often it is the least-experienced person — in this case, a young intern — who comes up with an innovative idea.
Tip: If you have not done so already, give the try-the-opposite technique a try. Do not rule anything out too quickly; instead, question the assumptions you are making that someone new to the situation might not make.
Are you a USP?
Gerald Kushel, professor emeritus of mental health counseling at Long Island University, has studied uncommonly successful people and found that they have three important traits in common:
– Inner calm that allows them to focus their attention and energies.
– Clear goals and a sense of purpose.
– A sense of adventure that allows them to take risks and cope with setbacks.
Tip: If you are missing a sense of inner calm, try meditation; if you have no goals, try writing out what you would like to achieve in your personal and business life in the next year, three years and five years; and if you are missing a sense of adventure, find some safe ways to do something new, and determine whether risks that might be good for you can be broken down into steps to make them feel more manageable.
Your one-minute NLP workshop
If you're not familiar with Neuro Linguistic Programming, here is a one-minute introduction to its approach that you can use to deal with any challenge:
– First, decide on your outcomes. What do you want? Be as specific as possible so you'll know when you have it (and in the meantime, whether or not you're moving closer to it).
– Second, brainstorm a variety of ways you can reach your goal. Don't stop at the way things are usually done; be creative to come up with other ways that might be faster, less expensive, less work.
– Third, choose the actions that are most likely to lead to success, and implement them.
– Fourth, assess whether not these actions are taking you nearer your goal at an acceptable speed. If not, don't just do more of the same, but do something different and compare the results it brings you. Keep up this feedback and adjustment loop until you reach your goal.
Tip: This process may sound so simple as to be only common sense … but how many people actually follow it in practice? For an excellent introduction to NLP and its key techniques, I recommend "NLP Workbook" written by Joseph O'Conner and published in the United Kingdom by Thorsons in 2001. However, any NLP books by O'Conner, John Seymour and/or Ian McDermott are good.
Did you know that the "Power Trances" CD by Jurgen Wolff can help you relax, generate ideas, and transform the inner critic? And that it makes a terrific present that friends can use again and again? For information about content and ordering, send an e-mail to BstormUK.
Focus, focus, focus
According to New York Times journalist Lisa Belkin, focus is to this decade what time management was to the last one. Originally everyone lauded multi-tasking, but lately it has been derided as trying to do too many things at once. Belkin mentions the example of the Boston doctor who left a patient in mid-surgery to go to the bank for 20 minutes. The article cites two practical tips. One is turning off your mobile phone when you really want to work but avoiding phone rage on the part of your callers by leaving a message that states when you will be returning calls. The other is booking into a hotel to work for three days incommunicado every couple of months.
The woman who recommends this, Vickie Sullivan, claims she can cram three weeks of focused time into three days and get major projects done that wouldn't get done otherwise.
Tip: Consider whether you are giving yourself enough time each week to focus on the things that really matter. If you cannot do this in your normal environment, consider how you could vary your routine and your locations to make this easier.
A quote to think about
"Anybody can come up with new ideas. What's in short supply are innovative people — persistent mavericks who believe so strongly in an idea that they will do whatever it takes to make it a working reality. — Michael LeBoeuf
P.S. — Our web site is BrainstormNet.com. You might also enjoy my book "Do Something Different," available in the United States from Amazon.com. We also welcome your comments.
[Contents copyright 2002, Jurgen Wolff]
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
TRAFFIC VICTIM WAS HOMELESS BUT NOT ALONE
Oct. 16, 2002 – He may have been homeless, but at the time that he died as the victim of a traffic accident, Bernard Forbes had a friend.
On Backstreet near Rothschild Francis "Market" Square, at the Salvation Army center, Capt. Enoch Sam remembered Forbes as a "happy guy" who showed up every day for lunch.
"When I first got here on the island, he was all right," Sam said of Forbes, "but two years later, his head was gone. He'd just sit on the corner, and that's where he stayed. He was always happy. About once a day, he used to come here to the Salvation Army to get food, and sometimes to get clothes."
Motorists making their daily commute along Veterans Drive may not have known Forbes by name, but they almost certainly knew him by sight. According to recently retired Police Capt. Al Donastorg, the victim of Monday's accident was often seen along the downtown waterfront during the early morning and evening drive times. For a period of time, he decorated his clothing from head to foot with plastic cards and soda cans.
Forbes died around 5:45 a.m. Monday when he was struck by a car heading west on Veterans Drive. Police say it's the second time within a year that a pedestrian was killed while crossing the Charlotte Amalie waterfront roadway.
After the previous incident, authorities appealed to pedestrians to look both ways and use crosswalks when traversing the four-lane roadway. Ironically, police reports state that Forbes may have been using a crosswalk at the time he was struck.
Police said Ronald Braithwaite, 39, was the driver whose vehicle struck Forbes and that he was questioned at the scene, but refused to answer questions. Deputy Police Chief Theodore Carty said the Attorney General's Office is investigating the incident and, based on the findings, will determine "whether to charge or not to charge in the case."
Carty said Forbes had relatives on St. Thomas and family members were notified of his death before his name was released to the media. The Salvation Army's Sam said he was planning to call a local funeral home to see about arrangements for services.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
On Backstreet near Rothschild Francis "Market" Square, at the Salvation Army center, Capt. Enoch Sam remembered Forbes as a "happy guy" who showed up every day for lunch.
"When I first got here on the island, he was all right," Sam said of Forbes, "but two years later, his head was gone. He'd just sit on the corner, and that's where he stayed. He was always happy. About once a day, he used to come here to the Salvation Army to get food, and sometimes to get clothes."
Motorists making their daily commute along Veterans Drive may not have known Forbes by name, but they almost certainly knew him by sight. According to recently retired Police Capt. Al Donastorg, the victim of Monday's accident was often seen along the downtown waterfront during the early morning and evening drive times. For a period of time, he decorated his clothing from head to foot with plastic cards and soda cans.
Forbes died around 5:45 a.m. Monday when he was struck by a car heading west on Veterans Drive. Police say it's the second time within a year that a pedestrian was killed while crossing the Charlotte Amalie waterfront roadway.
After the previous incident, authorities appealed to pedestrians to look both ways and use crosswalks when traversing the four-lane roadway. Ironically, police reports state that Forbes may have been using a crosswalk at the time he was struck.
Police said Ronald Braithwaite, 39, was the driver whose vehicle struck Forbes and that he was questioned at the scene, but refused to answer questions. Deputy Police Chief Theodore Carty said the Attorney General's Office is investigating the incident and, based on the findings, will determine "whether to charge or not to charge in the case."
Carty said Forbes had relatives on St. Thomas and family members were notified of his death before his name was released to the media. The Salvation Army's Sam said he was planning to call a local funeral home to see about arrangements for services.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
PUBLIC MEETING ON NADIR PIPELINE WORK IS FRIDAY
Oct. 16, 2002 – Residents of the Nadir community are invited to a public meeting on Friday evening called by the Public Works Department to present plans for the installation of sewer and water lines in the area.
According to Public Works Commissioner Wayne Callwood, representatives of his department, the Water and Power Authority and the contractors carrying out the work will be present. The pipeline projects extend from the Nadir road along a residential stretch Public Works calls Stromboni Road to the Turpentine Run road, according to a Government House release.
The meeting is set for 6 p.m. at the Nadir basketball court.
At the last public meeting on the matter, held on Sept. 27, the 12 households along the target road near the Clinton E. Phipps Racetrack found out about the project via notices hand delivered to their homes three days before the meeting. The rest of the 150 Nadir Homeowners Association members were notified by a meeting announcement issued the day of the meeting itself. About a dozen persons showed up for the meeting; others said later they had learned about it too late to take part.
As a result of complaints raised at the meeting and elsewhere in the community, Public Works officials delayed the pipeline work, which had been scheduled to start on Sept. 30, for a month.
The project entails Public Works realignment of a sewer pipeline, to be followed by WAPA installation of lines to bring long-promised potable water service to the area.
Public Works officials have said the pipeline can be laid along either of two routes: through Stromboni Road or through the basketball court, depending on which is more cost effective. At the Sept. 27 meeting, residents learned that vehicular traffic through the area will be restricted during work hours for more than six weeks while the work is under way. Project director Charlie Bornman said workers must sink the pipe 20 feet into solid rock so that future work on a planned flood-control project does not disturb the sewer lines.
Bornman said the department is facing a federal deadline to complete the sewage system work. The project is being funded by a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency, and if the territory doesn't complete the job on schedule, the V.I. government will have to return the money, he said.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
According to Public Works Commissioner Wayne Callwood, representatives of his department, the Water and Power Authority and the contractors carrying out the work will be present. The pipeline projects extend from the Nadir road along a residential stretch Public Works calls Stromboni Road to the Turpentine Run road, according to a Government House release.
The meeting is set for 6 p.m. at the Nadir basketball court.
At the last public meeting on the matter, held on Sept. 27, the 12 households along the target road near the Clinton E. Phipps Racetrack found out about the project via notices hand delivered to their homes three days before the meeting. The rest of the 150 Nadir Homeowners Association members were notified by a meeting announcement issued the day of the meeting itself. About a dozen persons showed up for the meeting; others said later they had learned about it too late to take part.
As a result of complaints raised at the meeting and elsewhere in the community, Public Works officials delayed the pipeline work, which had been scheduled to start on Sept. 30, for a month.
The project entails Public Works realignment of a sewer pipeline, to be followed by WAPA installation of lines to bring long-promised potable water service to the area.
Public Works officials have said the pipeline can be laid along either of two routes: through Stromboni Road or through the basketball court, depending on which is more cost effective. At the Sept. 27 meeting, residents learned that vehicular traffic through the area will be restricted during work hours for more than six weeks while the work is under way. Project director Charlie Bornman said workers must sink the pipe 20 feet into solid rock so that future work on a planned flood-control project does not disturb the sewer lines.
Bornman said the department is facing a federal deadline to complete the sewage system work. The project is being funded by a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency, and if the territory doesn't complete the job on schedule, the V.I. government will have to return the money, he said.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
BIRTH OF BAB HOLY DAY TOBE CELEBRATED SUNDAY
Oct. 16, 2002 – The Baha'is of the Virgin Islands will celebrate the Birth of the Bab Holy Day at 10 a.m. on Sunday at various locations throughout the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.
The public is invited to the celebration on St. Thomas at the National Baha'i Center at 129 Contant.
For more information about the Baha'i Faith call 774-3648, send an e-mail to V.I. Baha'i or visit the V.I. Baha'i Web site.
For directions to the site of the activities on St. Thomas, call 777-8126 or 776-5852.
Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
The public is invited to the celebration on St. Thomas at the National Baha'i Center at 129 Contant.
For more information about the Baha'i Faith call 774-3648, send an e-mail to V.I. Baha'i or visit the V.I. Baha'i Web site.
For directions to the site of the activities on St. Thomas, call 777-8126 or 776-5852.
Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
BIRTH OF THE BAB TO BE CELEBRATED ON SUNDAY
Oct. 16, 2002 – The Baha'is of the Virgin Islands will celebrate the Birth of the Bab Holy Day at 10 a.m. on Sunday at various locations throughout the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.
The public is invited to the celebration on St. Thomas at the National Baha'i Center at 129 Contant.
For more information about the Baha'i faith call 774-3648, send an e-mail to V.I. Baha'i or visit the V.I. Baha'i Web site.
For directions to the site of the activities on St. Thomas, call 777-8126 or 776-5852.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news v… click A>.
The public is invited to the celebration on St. Thomas at the National Baha'i Center at 129 Contant.
For more information about the Baha'i faith call 774-3648, send an e-mail to V.I. Baha'i or visit the V.I. Baha'i Web site.
For directions to the site of the activities on St. Thomas, call 777-8126 or 776-5852.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news v… click A>.
MEDICAL CRISIS IMPACTED BY LACK OF PHONE SERVICE
Oct. 16, 2002 – While intermittent phone outages since Innovative Telephone workers went on strike have cause numerous inconveniences, an outage that has lasted for more than a week in St. John's Peter Bay stood in the way of timely medical help on Tuesday for one man.
"We're talking about people arguing over pensions, and now people's lives are at stake," said the villa manager at St. John Savvy, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
He said he had to make a mad dash Tuesday night to the Emergency Medical Services in Cruz Bay to get help for his client, one of 17 homeowners in the Peter Bay area. The manager said the 65-year-old man, who has a heart condition, ruptured his esophagus while vomiting. "He lost massive amounts of blood," the manager said.
After "top-notch" treatment by the island's emergency medical technicians, the manager said, the man was taken to by ambulance boat to Roy L. Schneider Hospital and was subsequently airlifted to Fort Lauderdale.
The manager pointed out that most cellular telephones do not work in Peter Bay because a Tortola service overrides them.
He also noted that it was fortunate that no problems arose at a campaign gala for Gov. Charles W. Turnbull and his running mate, Sen. Vargrave Richards, held at a Peter Bay villa on Saturday.
Thomas Dunn, spokesman for Innovative Telephone, said he wasn't aware of the Peter Bay problem and told a reporter she should have asked for the customer's service order number.
The villa manager said he reported the problem to the 912 repair number more than a week ago. "I kept calling daily, but they told me if it was already reported, I did not need to report it again," he said.
Late last week, he said, he finally reached a supervisor, who told him the problem would be fixed by Sunday. "Today is Wednesday," the manager said.
On Wednesday morning, he drove to Cruz Bay to ask the Innovative union workers walking the picket line for help. They told him they couldn't help.
Dennis Demar, whose wife, Kathy, also manages vacation villas in the Peter Bay area, said he called 912 on Tuesday to report the outage. "The message box was filled up. It said it had reached its capacity and to call the operator," he said.
He said he called the number for the operator and no one answered.
Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
"We're talking about people arguing over pensions, and now people's lives are at stake," said the villa manager at St. John Savvy, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
He said he had to make a mad dash Tuesday night to the Emergency Medical Services in Cruz Bay to get help for his client, one of 17 homeowners in the Peter Bay area. The manager said the 65-year-old man, who has a heart condition, ruptured his esophagus while vomiting. "He lost massive amounts of blood," the manager said.
After "top-notch" treatment by the island's emergency medical technicians, the manager said, the man was taken to by ambulance boat to Roy L. Schneider Hospital and was subsequently airlifted to Fort Lauderdale.
The manager pointed out that most cellular telephones do not work in Peter Bay because a Tortola service overrides them.
He also noted that it was fortunate that no problems arose at a campaign gala for Gov. Charles W. Turnbull and his running mate, Sen. Vargrave Richards, held at a Peter Bay villa on Saturday.
Thomas Dunn, spokesman for Innovative Telephone, said he wasn't aware of the Peter Bay problem and told a reporter she should have asked for the customer's service order number.
The villa manager said he reported the problem to the 912 repair number more than a week ago. "I kept calling daily, but they told me if it was already reported, I did not need to report it again," he said.
Late last week, he said, he finally reached a supervisor, who told him the problem would be fixed by Sunday. "Today is Wednesday," the manager said.
On Wednesday morning, he drove to Cruz Bay to ask the Innovative union workers walking the picket line for help. They told him they couldn't help.
Dennis Demar, whose wife, Kathy, also manages vacation villas in the Peter Bay area, said he called 912 on Tuesday to report the outage. "The message box was filled up. It said it had reached its capacity and to call the operator," he said.
He said he called the number for the operator and no one answered.
Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
MEDICAL CRISIS IMPACTED BY LACK OF PHONE SERVICE
Oct. 16, 2002 – While intermittent phone outages since Innovative Telephone workers went on strike have cause numerous inconveniences, an outage that has lasted for more than a week in St. John's Peter Bay stood in the way of timely medical help on Tuesday for one man.
"We're talking about people arguing over pensions, and now people's lives are at stake," said the villa manager at St. John Savvy, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
He said he had to make a mad dash Tuesday night to the Emergency Medical Services in Cruz Bay to get help for his client, one of 17 homeowners in the Peter Bay area. The manager said the 65-year-old man, who has a heart condition, ruptured his esophagus while vomiting. "He lost massive amounts of blood," the manager said.
After "top-notch" treatment by the island's emergency medical technicians, the manager said, the man was taken to by ambulance boat to Roy L. Schneider Hospital and was subsequently airlifted to Fort Lauderdale.
The manager pointed out that most cellular telephones do not work in Peter Bay because a Tortola service overrides them.
He also noted that it was fortunate that no problems arose at a campaign gala for Gov. Charles W. Turnbull and his running mate, Sen. Vargrave Richards, held at a Peter Bay villa on Saturday.
Thomas Dunn, spokesman for Innovative Telephone, said he wasn't aware of the Peter Bay problem and told a reporter she should have asked for the customer's service order number.
The villa manager said he reported the problem to the 912 repair number more than a week ago. "I kept calling daily, but they told me if it was already reported, I did not need to report it again," he said.
Late last week, he said, he finally reached a supervisor, who told him the problem would be fixed by Sunday. "Today is Wednesday," the manager said.
On Wednesday morning, he drove to Cruz Bay to ask the Innovative union workers walking the picket line for help. They told him they couldn't help.
Dennis Demar, whose wife, Kathy, also manages vacation villas in the Peter Bay area, said he called 912 on Tuesday to report the outage. "The message box was filled up. It said it had reached its capacity and to call the operator," he said.
He said he called the number for the operator and no one answered.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
"We're talking about people arguing over pensions, and now people's lives are at stake," said the villa manager at St. John Savvy, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
He said he had to make a mad dash Tuesday night to the Emergency Medical Services in Cruz Bay to get help for his client, one of 17 homeowners in the Peter Bay area. The manager said the 65-year-old man, who has a heart condition, ruptured his esophagus while vomiting. "He lost massive amounts of blood," the manager said.
After "top-notch" treatment by the island's emergency medical technicians, the manager said, the man was taken to by ambulance boat to Roy L. Schneider Hospital and was subsequently airlifted to Fort Lauderdale.
The manager pointed out that most cellular telephones do not work in Peter Bay because a Tortola service overrides them.
He also noted that it was fortunate that no problems arose at a campaign gala for Gov. Charles W. Turnbull and his running mate, Sen. Vargrave Richards, held at a Peter Bay villa on Saturday.
Thomas Dunn, spokesman for Innovative Telephone, said he wasn't aware of the Peter Bay problem and told a reporter she should have asked for the customer's service order number.
The villa manager said he reported the problem to the 912 repair number more than a week ago. "I kept calling daily, but they told me if it was already reported, I did not need to report it again," he said.
Late last week, he said, he finally reached a supervisor, who told him the problem would be fixed by Sunday. "Today is Wednesday," the manager said.
On Wednesday morning, he drove to Cruz Bay to ask the Innovative union workers walking the picket line for help. They told him they couldn't help.
Dennis Demar, whose wife, Kathy, also manages vacation villas in the Peter Bay area, said he called 912 on Tuesday to report the outage. "The message box was filled up. It said it had reached its capacity and to call the operator," he said.
He said he called the number for the operator and no one answered.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
