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Love Everyone, Trust a Few!

These days, every day seems to bring with it yet another test of man's ability to withstand the news without indignation or anger. I am not sure what you felt after seeing three rabbis and three mayors from the state of New Jersey led away in handcuffs after an undercover FBI sting operation uncovered bribes and the selling of human organs.

This was not an episode of the Sopranos, it was not a mafia deal gone bad, these were citizens occupying positions of trust. So what to make of this.

Well, I have been saying on media interviews since the financial meltdown that this was just the tip of the iceberg, and that there were more Bernie Madoffs and more of what the world of business of the past decade has been producing. And there is still more to come.

Eliot Spitzer was indeed on to something, unfortunately he had indiscressions, but his credibility as a district attorney must never be underestimated.

And now Canada has our own Bernie Madoff, Earl Jones, who has bilked millions out of their life savings in another Ponzi scheme. So how do celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and alleged self help gurus play a role in these mounting crimes?

The world of business has been operating for many years on auto pilot., And despite what we would like to believe , it still is. Familiar behaviour is hard to break. The addiction to money and power is also difficult to break, because there is nothing else to replace it for many people in their lives. Religion isn’t an answer, because most of the Mafia kingpins are devout Roman Catholics, and as we have seen even ultra orthodox Jews are falling victim to crime. Some of Enron swindlers were devout Christians.

It’s rather comedic, and in some ways tragic when Oprah Winfrey, the self proclaimed Goddess in the U.S., especially in the eyes of American women, and mother of all that is right and holy continues to send double messages to her worshipping fans.

The network last week aired a show in which she had couples challenging them to get rid of “stuff” and to go for a week with not driving their cars and walk their kids to school.. Also, no T.V. for a week. The message was to stop buying things and appreciate what they had.

The same Oprah who got upset at Nordstrom’s for not opening the store early so she could go on a private spending spree. So Oprah closes the show by challenging everyone in the audience to stop buying “more stuff”, and to appreciate what they already have. Nice idea. Except immediately after the shows credit s, the announcer tells everyone about the Oprah Summer Giveaway- Cars, refrigerators, vacations, blackberries, all kinds of STUFF. And then right on cue the audience leaps up and starts screaming, and waving their hands like scenes from a Baptist Bible Revival gathering. And guess who is leading the charge, edging them on, the Queen of all that is good and right, Oprah herself.

And so you wonder why America has lost its way! The images keep repeating themselves. It’s a losing game for people who worship false idols and truly are addicted to money, power and success. And then there is Donald Trump, the self proclaimed guru of the financial world, who was quoted in a book about his life, as being a millionaire, not a billionaire. He sued the author, claiming it ruined his reputation.

How many more lessons, how many more idols must people worship to get the message that it is time to turn away from those who are narcissistic and ego driven to the point where they take everyone who is desperate enough to follow them down the dark road to financial and personal destruction.

I encourage you to read Desiderata again and the eight fold path of the Buddha and you will see how easy it is to change your perspective on things. It just requires breaking the addiction to celebrities and “gurus” of all types disguised as saviors. And yes, even the President of the United States, or for that matter any politician.

As the Dalai Lama says; “Love everyone,trust a few”.

VANCOUVER HOSTS WORLD ZENBIZ DAY AND DALAI LAMA

CHANGING THE WAY THE WORLD DOES BUSINESS



Vancouver B.C. June 10, 2009 A gathering of like minded entrepreneurs, visionaries, futurists, and corporate leaders committed to changing the way the world does business will take place in Vancouver, Canada on Sept. 12, 2009.



Two weeks before the special visit of the Dalai Lama who is on a mission to bring world peace through personal peace and compassion,The Zentrepreneurship Centre, founded by local author and visionary Allan Holender, will stage an all-day event , called "World ZenBiz Day"!



The Norman Rothstein Theater will be the venue. According to Holender, who wrote his "new thought" book "Zentrepreneurism", three years ago as a guide for the the 21st century of business; "It's time to change the way the world does business from one of selfishness, greed, and corruption, to one of selflessness, purpose, and profits with integrity."



Since the financial meltdown in 2009, the world has become a different place to do business in, we have indeed been humbled. " We were at the lowest level of trust since the 1930s' before the meltdown, and now we are even lower in our faith and trust of government and companies. Bailouts and spending more money to get more will not heal our economy or our world, but compassion and respect will."



The event scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.pacific time will feature presentations from Zentrepreneurs who are "leading from the front". Conference organizer, David R. Smith, himself a Zentrepreneur, who has a consulting practise in Toronto, say's; "Zentrepreneurs are the world's visionary leaders and mentors for the next decade, they are breaking ground for a new paradigm in business thinking. But more importantly they are bringing us hope and promise not just for now but for future generations." He follows a zen-like approach to his own business by acting with right understanding, right intent, right speech, right action, right livelihood, and right mindfulness.



"Social entrepreneurship", Holender says, can best be described as doing good by being good. "This new paradigm is replacing the old business philosopy of if I do good, what's the payoff. Social entrepreneurship is really about applying practical, innovative and sustainable approaches that benefit society in general. The companies that succeed on this path will be on the cutting edge."



Just as the CEO (Chief Embezzlement Officer is being replaced by the Chief Enlightenment Officer), bottom-line thinking is being replaced by "blended bottom-line thinking". How will what I do in business and life impact my employeees, my company, my community, and my planet. This new frontier of social entrepreneurship is now entering the hallowed classrooms of some of the finest academic institution business schools,and is becoming part of the MBA program of studies at many world class Universities.



"Speakers are still being selected", according to Smith, "We are witnessing a radical shift towards a more enlightened form of capitalism, which bodes well for the healing of our ecomony, our planet, and the people inhabiting our planet. We are very clear about who we want speaking at the event. We do not want motivational speakers., instead we want inspirational speakers with the right intention. When you motivate, you serve yourself, however when you inspire, you serve others".



Presentations will include:



How to Zen Your Business; Infusing your corporate culture with trust, compassion and purpose. Transparency in relationships to shareholders, employees, and the general public. Transparency is the hallmark of an enterprise that has integrity. Firms that present truthful information operate openly, and stand behind their word make their risks more manageable. ‘People are expecting more from the companies they’re doing business with and more from the companies they’re buying from’.



Becoming a Zenlightened Leader: Directors who fail to direct and managers who fail to lead are at the root of what ails the corporate world today. A recent survey of thirteen thousand workers in all major industries shows that fewer than two out of five employees trust their senior leaders.Unless a company can resolve the crisis of confidence among its employees, it has little hope of restoring the trust and confidence of investors and customers.



Creating Zenployees in the Workplace:How do you inspire your workforce? The conditions are not favourable: pension funds are underwater, stock options have disappeared, and health benefits are diminishing. This presentation will focus on overcoming low morale and guiding workers to a significant and productive career. Once workers feel like valuable team members, they start to view their own personal success as part and parcel with the company's success. "The fusion of one’s personal vision with one’s professional mission will hallmark the next hundred years", writes Holender in his book.This presentation will provide you with ideas on how you inspire your employees to become “zenployees”enabling them to feel a sense of passion and purpose in the work they do.



The Age of Enlightened Capitalism: For decades, environmentalists have been warning us that human economic activity is exceeding the planet’s limits. Of course we keep pushing those limits back with clever new technologies; yet living systems are undeniably in decline. This presentation features a blueprint for a new economy, explaining how the world is on the verge of a new industrial revolution--one that promises to transform our fundamental notions about commerce and its role in shaping our future.

The event will be live streamed around the world, and will be watched by millions as they gather for "watch parties" in living rooms, offices, board rooms, open air pavilions, theatres, coffee houses, villages, anywhere there is an internet connection.

Tickets for the all day live event in Vancouver are $10 each and available now at http://zenbizday.eventbrite.com Proceeds will be used to host future events. If you would like to participate in volunteering, provide goods and services, or explore sponsorship opportunities, contact David R. Smith at drsmithzenbiz@yahoo.ca

Direct all media enquires to David R. Smith at drsmithzenbiz@yahoo.ca

Your Moment of Zen 3/21-22/09

"Above, below and around you, all is Spontaneously existing, for There is nowhere which is Outside Buddha-Mind."-Huang Po

COMING SOON- CONVERSATIONS with Allan Holender "A New Kind of Blog Talk Radio"-Real Conversations with Real People". Stay tuned....

Your Moment of Zen 3/20/09

"Wise people, who know and understand the soul, are indifferent to both pleasure and pain; they have risen above sensations".- The Upanishads

COMING SOON! CONVERSATIONS with Allan Holender- "A New Kind of BlogTalk Radio"!

Your Moment of Zen 3/10/09

"Conquer your circumscribed consciousness and expand your spiritual powers without limit. You can go as far as you want to go, past all limitations, and live a supremely victorius existence. "- Parmahansa Yogananda

The Corporation-The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power

Award winning author and screenwriter looks at the past, present, and future of The Corporation!

Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) March 17, 2009 -- Voice America, the world's premiere web radio network, announces the appearance of renowned author, screenwriter and law professor Joel Bakan exclusively on the highly acclaimed ZenBiz Radio Show on Wednesday March. 18th at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time, 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time at http://ping.fm/wOYoh

The film, "The Corporation", winner of 26 International awards, including the 2004 Sundance Film Festival, was based on Joel Bakan's book, "The Corporation-The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power."

Provoking, witty, stylish and sweepingly informative, The Corporation explores the nature and spectacular rise of the dominant institution of our time.

Part film and part movement, The Corporation transformed audiences and dazzled critics with its insightful and compelling analysis. And now five years later from Enron to AIG, Bakan asks the rhetorical question; "Have we learned anything"?

Bakan will talk about the hyping of worthless stock and corporate fraud that facilitates the wealth of those extracting enormous and unjustified salaries and perks.

As well, he notes that over the last 300 years corporations have amassed such great power as to weaken governments ability to control them.

Indeed congress has gotten its piece of the action as corporate leaders share part of their profits with the very politicians charged with regulating them.
Some politicians even own stock in the companies they regulate.

Find out about his compelling prediction about the future of the corporation in America.

Exclusively on ZenBiz Radio at http://ping.fm/Sslk5 ZenBiz Radio airs live on Wednesdays at 11 AM Pacific / 1 PM Central / 2 PM Eastern on the VoiceAmerica Business Channel. To access the show, log on at http://ping.fm/yHqMO All shows will be available in Allan Holender's Content Library on the VoiceAmerica Business Channel for on-demand and podcast download.

Your Moment of Zen 3/17/09

"The Self exists both inside and outside the physical body, just as an image exists inside and outside the mirror".- Ashtavakra Gita

Your Moment of Zen 3/16/09

"Then in the end one leaves the body together with one's possessions. Knowing this, the intelligent man Enjoys possessions and gives. Having enjoyed and given in line with his means, uncensored he goes to the heavenly state."- Addita Sutra

For an hour of zenful business talk Join Allan and Bruce Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m. pst for ZenBiz Radio on Voice America Business www.voiceamerica.com . (Joel Bakan of "The Corporation") is the featured guest.

DOWNLOAD ALLAN'S E-BOOK TODAY FOR $9.95 at www.zentrepreneurism.com

EXCLUSIVELY ON ZENBIZ RADIO WED. MAR. 18TH

The Corporation-The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power

Award winning author and screenwriter looks at the past, present, and future of The Corporation!



Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) March 18th, 2009 -- Voice America, the world's premiere web radio network, announces the appearance of renowned author, screenwriter and law professor Joel Bakan exclusively on the highly acclaimed ZenBiz Radio Show on Wednesday March. 18th at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time, 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time at http://ping.fm/INwUH



The film, "The Corporation", winner of 26 International awards, including the 2004 Sundance Film Festival,was based on Joel Bakan's book, "The Corporation-The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power."

Provoking, witty, stylish and sweepingly informative, THE CORPORATION explores the nature and spectacular rise of the dominant institution of our time.

Part film and part movement, The Corporation transformed audiences and dazzled critics with its insightful and compelling analysis.

And now five years later from Enron to AIG, Bakan asks the rhetorical question; "Have we learned anything"?

Bakan will talk about the hyping of worthless stock and corporate fraud that facilitates the wealth of those extracting enormous and unjustified salaries and perks.

As well, he notes that over the last 300 years corporations have amassed such great power as to weaken governments ability to control them.

Indeed congress has gotten its piece of the action as corporate leaders share part of their profits with the very politicians charged with regulating them.

Some politicians even own stock in the companies they regulate.

Find out about his compelling prediction about the future of the corporation in America.

Exclusively on ZenBiz Radio at http//www.voiceamerica.com

Download Allan's Book TODAY For $9.95 at www.zenbiz.net Start Zenning Today!

Your Moment of Zen 3/14/15

"All that we are is the result of what we have thought"- Buddha

WATCH JOHN STOSSEL ON 20/20 TONIGHT!

We wanted to pass along this letter from John Stossel about his "20/20" special airing tonight, March 13, on "Bailouts and Bull," 10 p.m. ET.

Following is the letter from John:

***

Hi,


Please forgive the impersonal email, but I want to let you know about my bailout special! With the help of Drew Carey and Reason TV, we look at Big Government's promise to "fix" the economy and other bull.


Here's what ABC lets me say about it:

The Conceit of the Ruling Class


Politicians and pundits say government must do "something." It sound like a Viagra ad: "Does your economy have performance issues? If it's hard to achieve and maintain growth, 'stimulus' is right for you!" But shouldn't "stimulus" come with a warning label? "Side effects may include hyper-inflation, dollar devaluation, horrible debt, growth of welfare state, and unrealized expectations. Stimulus has not been proven successful, so it should not be used in the hopes of achieving actual growth ..."

While politicians claim that "all" or a "consensus" of economists agree that something "big" must be done, more than 300 economists say that the government's action do more harm than good. I interview some, calculate the amount the stimulus costs per taxpayer (about $16,000) and ask lawmakers: Where will you get the money? If too much debt was a problem, why is more debt now a solution?

I confront House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer about his claim that "all economists agree."

Land of Opportunity


Even before the current recession, we were told that the American dream was out of reach for many. Arthur Brooks of The American Enterprise Institute says: Don't believe the doom and gloom -- wages and living standards have been on the rise since the 1950s. Despite what folks like Barbara Ehrenreich claim ("It is definitely harder to be middle class today than it was a generation ago"), the American dream is alive and well. Ehrenreich published "Nickel and Dimed", a best-seller that argues that it's almost impossible for an entry level worker to make it in America. College student Adam Shepard decided to test her theory. He picked a city out of a hat, went there with $25 in his pocket, telling no one of his college degree. Soon he had a job, an apartment, enough savings to buy a used truck, and thousands of dollars in the bank. He says he thinks Barbara Ehrenreich "wanted to fail." I confront Ehrenreich.

Universal Pre-K


Yesterday President Obama made a speech promoting Universal Pre-School. The promise sounds wonderful: Let's help sweet little pre-schoolers get a strong start in school. But SHOULD that be the job of our government? President Obama says, "We'll see a $10 return for every dollar we spend." I investigate those statistics. They turn out to be largely bull, based on a tiny study of severely disadvantaged kids. States like Oklahoma and Georgia have already spent billions on universal Pre-K and have nothing to show for it. Even the famous Head Start turns out to have no noticeable effect by the fourth grade. Dumping more money into an already failing government-monopoly school system? Give me a break.


Run for the Border


Do you sleep better at night knowing there's an expensive fence on America's southern border? Will a giant wall really secure our country? So far, those wanting to come here just go around the wall, climb over it, or cut holes in it. If we further reinforce the entire southern border, then what about Canada? Won't terrorists, illegals, and drug smugglers just come across from the north? And what about the miles of east and west coast beaches? Will we patrol our coastline with machine guns? In fact, half the illegals in America entered legally by using tourist or student visas, and staying after their visa expired. It's absolute BULL to think an expensive fence will keep anyone determined to get in this country out.


Killer Commute


Got traffic on your morning commute? It's only going to get worse. Drew Carey and I profile workers with terrible commutes. Wouldn't traffic flow better if we had some extra lanes on the freeway or new roads? Wouldn't it be good if they were paid for by someone other than taxpayers? Some politicians say yes: privatize the roads. Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels did that with the Indiana Toll Road. Of the company that now leases the road, Daniels says: "They either build and maintain a road that is attractive enough and inexpensive enough, or they'll lose money. Your first insurance that they're gonna run a better road than the politicians did is, if they don't, people won't drive on it and they'll lose a lot of money. They have every incentive to make traffic flow swiftly, to make that drive as pleasant and safe as possible." Indiana taxpayers made billions of dollars on the lease, but Congressman Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., says :"Privatizing existing taxpayer infrastructure is not a solution for anybody." I confront Defazio.

Medical Marijuana


Melissa Etheridge, Montel Williams and thousands more say that without medical marijuana, they would be very sick. Fortunately for them, 13 states now allow medical marijuana. Unfortunately for them, U.S. government says federal rules trump state law, and the federal government classifies marijuana as worse than crack cocaine. This is odd, since politicians from the party in power like Barack Obama, John Kerry and John Edwards have all joked about their own marijuana use. Charlie Lynch made the mistake of running a medical marijuana dispensary that tried to obey all the state laws. But still fell afoul of federal prosecutors. He now faces up to 100 years behind bars in a federal prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced March 23.

Your Moment of Zen 3/13/09

"If you don't find a teacher soon, you'll live this life in vain".- Bodhidhama

Your Moment of Zen 3/12/09

"A superior man in dealing with the world is not for anything or against anything." He follows righteousness as the standard".- Confucius

Your Moment of Zen 3/11/09

"Freedom from the desire for an answer is essential to the understanding of a problem"- Krishnamurti

To purchase the e-book that is changing the way the world does business go to www.zentrepreneurism.com

ZENBIZ RADIO MEDIA ALERT!!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at 11am Pacific

'Conscious Capitalism"- Changing the World for Good

Be the Solution: How Entrepreneurs and Conscious Capitalists Can Solve All the World's Problems shows how business can become the most important force for good in the world.

Written by Michael Strong, with an introduction by John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, it includes articles by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, Co-Chair of the U.N. Commission on the Legal Empowerment of the Poor Hernando de Soto, and others.

Michael Strong is also co-founder and CEO of FLOW, a non-profit devoted to "Liberating the Entrepreneurial Spirit for Good." FLOW's co-founder and largest supporter is John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market.

Michael and John created FLOW out of the belief that entrepreneurs and markets were the most effective means of creating a better world. Michael has had a long interest in, and commitment to, mindfulness practices, including tai chi, yoga, and meditation. Michael Strong will be our very special guest!

LISTEN ON-LINE LIVE AT www.voiceamerica.com

Your Moment of Zen 3/10/09

"You work that you may keep pace with the earth and the soul of the earth. For to be idle is to become a stranger unto the seasons, and to step out of life's procession, that marches in majesty and proud submission towards the infinite.- Kahlil Gibran

ZENBIZ RADIO MEDIA ALERT!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at 11am Pacific

'Conscious Capitalism"- Changing the World for Good

Be the Solution: How Entrepreneurs and Conscious Capitalists Can Solve All the World's Problems shows how business can become the most important force for good in the world. Written by Michael Strong, with an introduction by John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, it includes articles by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, Co-Chair of the U.N. Commission on the Legal Empowerment of the Poor Hernando de Soto, and others. Michael Strong is also co-founder and CEO of FLOW, a non-profit devoted to "Liberating the Entrepreneurial Spirit for Good." FLOW's co-founder and largest supporter is John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market. Michael and John created FLOW out of the belief that entrepreneurs and markets were the most effective means of creating a better world. Michael has had a long interest in, and commitment to, mindfulness practices, including tai chi, yoga, and meditation. Michael Strong will be our very special guest.

Listen on-line live on Voice America Business

www.voiceamerica.com

Your Moment of Zen 3/9/09

"The blue mountain bordering the sea does not move, but the mind of the bird over the waves breaks free and follows the course of the river."--Daishi

Your Moment of Zen 3/7/8/09

"May not one take muddy water and make it clear by keeping still".- Lao-tzu

Don't forget to listen to the re-broadcast of ZenBiz Radio on Voice America today (Saturday) at 12:00 noon pacific at www.voiceamerica.com

ZenBiz Radio- "Changing the way the world does business, one listener at a time".

Your Moment of Zen 3/6/09

"Do not seek the truth. Only cease to cherish opinions"- Zen saying

Your Moment of Zen 3/5/09

"If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him"- The Dhammapada

Your Moment of Zen 3/4/09

"If you are not happy here and now, you will never be." - Taisen Deshimaru

* Listen to archived ZenBiz Radio Shows at www.voiceamerica.com

ZenBiz Radio Media Alert!!

Tommorow on ZenBiz Radio at 11:00 a.m. pacific, 2:00 p.m. eastern on Voice America Business at www.voiceamerica.com

"The Game Changers"

Today, the stale and stilted business storylines of the Industrial Age are giving way to the fresh and exciting narratives of the Networked World and the global economy.

This new arena calls for a new generation of players. These players understand that the new narratives will be improvised, not scripted. They focus more on preparation than on outcomes.

They make every action meaningful and productive. They combine optimism with pragmatism. They balance competition and cooperation. Roles and character. Life and work.

They know that the past is a memory, the future a dream, and that right here, right now is the only thing that matters. They are The GameChangers.

Based on his book, GameChangers -- Improvisation for Business in the Networked World, our guest this week Mike Bonifer invites listeners to hear and share stories about players and brands who are changing the game.

Your Moment of Zen 3/3/09

"Men are suffering from the fever of violent emotion, and so they make a philosophy of it."- Sarveoalli Radhakrishnan

Your Moment of Zen 2/2/09

"I believe that the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness. That is clear. Whether one believes in religion or not, whether one believes in this religion or that religion, we are all seeking something better in life. So I think, the very motion of our life is towards happiness...." - Dalai Lama

As the economic crisis deepens, climate change approaches critical levels and global tensions increase, the need to break the monopoly on television daily news has never been greater. We must know why the crisis is happening and what we can do to defend ourselves. Corporate TV news won’t ask the real questions, let alone provide answers.

The scale of the problems facing us demands original and profound solutions. If ‘necessity is the mother of invention’, get ready for an era of unprecedented imagination and innovation. But there will be no progress without a fight against forces wedded to the status quo. We are entering a period of action, where people take solutions into their own hands and create a bold vision for new ways of living and doing business.

Check out Real News Network at www.therealnews.com

Your Moment of Zen 2/28.3/1

"Fear comes from this selfish idea of cutting one's self off from the universe".- Swami Vivekananda

Your Moment of Zen 2/27/09

"Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness"- Confucius

Your Moment of Zen for Thursday Feb.26/09

"To free oneself of knowledge is to die, and thus one lives"- Krishnamurti

Your Moment of Zen for Wednesday Feb 25/09

"The main purpose of life is to live rightly, think rightly, act rightly".- Mahatma Gandhi

ZENBIZ RADIO MEDIA ALERT

Don't miss tommorow's show on ZenBiz Radio on Voice America Business at 11:00 a.m. pacific, 2:00 p.m. eastern

"Surviving, Thriving, and Sustaining"!

If a lot of the things we depend upon break down, can you survive? One of our guests this week, who practices under the single name Shahee, says yes!

Shahee is a raw food chef - and he notes that a raw, local diet is a good substitute for pharmaceuticals. His latest project is the building of a bus to be his mobile home and clinic, running fully on ecologically sound systems and with very simple technology cobbled together out of parts available from any junk pile..

Find out how to thrive if the trucks stop showing up with fuel for the pumps, groceries for the store, and if the power goes out and stays out.

Our other guest Susan Davis, is passionate about and committed to Sustainable Design & Green Building. She is co owner of Spectrum Fine Homes, Inc and GreenPoint Coach.

Susan takes a unique holistic approach to planning and building; addressing the spirit of the occupants, the building itself, and the health of the environment. Join in at www.voiceamerica.com

Your Moment of Zen for Tuesday Feb. 24/09

"Whoever gives reverence receives reverence: whoever brings sugar eats almond cake"- Djalal ad-Din Rumi

Your Moment of Zen!

Dear fellow Zenners,

Each day I hope you will pause for a moment, take a breath, and just absorb these zenful thoughts, it will truly be your Moment of Zen !

Monday Feb. 23

"There is only the one reality, neither to be realized or attained. To say, "I am able to realize something" or "I am able to attain something" is to place yourself among the arrogant"- Huang Po

You have only three things to do.

1. Do no evil; try to find out what causes harm to yourself and others and try to refrain from doing them in body, speech and mind as much as possible.

2. Do good; try to find out what causes good and what helps yourself and others and try to do those things as much as possible.

3.Tame your mind; try to learn how to work on your negative emotions and habitual patterns and try to tame them. This is where the view and meditation comes in. All these are ways to become a better human being.

Quote of the Day from The Zenman:

Friday Feb. 20 "Of all the strategies, to know when to quit may be the best".

Saturday/Sunday Feb 21/22 "Where beauty is, then there is ugliness: where right is, also there is wrong. Knowledge and ignorance are interdependent, delusion and enlightenment condition each other. Since olden times it has been so. How could it be otherwise now"- Ryokan

The Proliferation of Ponzi and Pyramid Schemes
World expert looks at why they are exploding during these uncertain times

Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) February 17, 2009 -- Voice America, the world's premiere web radio network, announces the appearance of international fraud expert Robert L. Fitzpatrick, exclusively on the highly acclaimed ZenBiz Radio Show on Wednesday Feb. 18th at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time, 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time at http://ping.fm/h5FZ2

Robert L. FitzPatrick is an expert in examining fraud in North America.. He is an internationally recognized authority in multi-level marketing schemes and pyramid fraud, and is a leader in the campaign for stronger regulation of investment and business opportunity schemes.

Fitzpatrick is also co-author of False Profits, the first book to critically examine the multilevel marketing industry.

He recently appeared on "Marketplace" on the CBC television network in Canada exposing the shocking picture of the Canadian authorities allowing an obvious scam artist to ply his trade all over the country.

Ponzis and Pyramids do indeed represent a dark side to our culture and economy and exposing or examining their realities represents a place of light and courage but can also be quite disturbing.

Fitzpatrick will touch on the deeper questions as to why the schemes are proliferating, why they are tolerated and protected by government and why would otherwise seemingly honest people fall for them so readily - and defend them so vehemently.

Don't miss this exclusive inside look at Ponzis and Pyramids only on ZenBiz Radio at http//www.voiceamerica.com.

ZenBiz Radio airs live on Wednesdays at 11 AM Pacific / 1 PM Central / 2 PM Eastern on the VoiceAmerica Business Network, with a replay the folowing Saturday on VoiceAmerica's Variety Network. To access the show, log on at http://ping.fm/uhLlw All shows will be available in Allan Holender's Content Library on the VoiceAmerica Business Network for on-demand and podcast download.

The VoiceAmericaTM Network offers the latest conversations in a talk radio format, providing education, interaction, and advice on key issues live, on demand as well as through pod cast download. If interested in hosting a talk radio show on VoiceAmerica Network, contact Jeff Spenard, President of Internet Radio at 480-294-6417 or at jeff.spenard @ modavox.com.

Contact Executive Producer Dave Kredell at 480-294-6409 for advertising / sponsorship information or other show details

LAST DAYS TO REGISTER!!!

LANGARA COLLEGE OFFERS FIRST COURSE ON "ESSENCE OF ZENTREPRENEURSHIP"

Langara College in Vancouver is offering a new course on the "Essence of Zentrepreneurship" in Spring 2009.

Explore enlightened approaches to business planning, leadership, management, professional relationships and social entrepreneurism.

Discover how Western enterprises and business people can implement insights from Eastern philosophies into their search for more meaningful work and find ethical paths to lasting prosperity.

Instructor Allan Holender is the author of the recently published book Zentrepreneurism-A 21st Century Guide to The New World of Business.

Allan gained his knowledge through first hand experience as a business owner, "serial entrepreneur", CEO, Manager, leadership expert, teacher and writer. He is also a popular media personality and commentator in Canada and the United States, having hosted a nationally syndicated business radio show on the Talk America Network.

Note: Course includes the textbook.

$359 1.8 CEU's/ILUs

3 days- Sats Feb 21, 28, Mar. 7, 2009- 1000-1600 (CRN50590)

Call to register 604.323.5322

How Close Might Our Society Be To Collapse"?

LISTEN TODAY TO ZENBIZ RADIO FOR THE ANSWER!! ON VOICE AMERICA BUSINESS AT 11:00 a.m. pst http://ping.fm/9e1Xw


"Embodied Intelligence in the Face of Chaos and Uncertainty"

It sometimes seems that no matter where you look, the world appears to be falling to pieces. Financial markets have plummeted. People are losing their jobs. The environment is wracked by immense shifts. Yet some people know, in their bones, that despite the turmoil and disarray, opportunities abound for them.

How do you find your silver lining in all this mess? Join Allan and Bruce as they interview Dr. Susan Bernstein, an expert in optimizing "embodied intelligence" in the face of chaos and uncertainty. She'll discuss the four forces of panic and how to avoid t hem.

Bruce turns "The Stewart Report" this week over to a topic that most people would really rather not think about: how close might our society be to collapse? Bruce will explore when the tipping point of collapse could be reached - and how listeners can take a good hard look at their own communities and determine whether they'd be a safe place to be in a collapsing society!

Check it out on ZenBiz Radio Today at 11:00 a.m. pst. on Voice America Business: http://ping.fm/9e1Xw

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Finding the Sweet Spot

This week, Allan Holender and Bruce Stewart will be interviewing Dave Pollard, the author of Finding the Sweet Spot: The Natural Entrepreneur's Guide to Responsible, Sustainable, Joyful Work. Dave Pollard has been an advisor to entrepreneurs for most of his professional career. His approach is highly zentrepreneurial: it is as much about removing the stress from your life as it is about making a viable living. Allan will also be sharing his thoughts on the killer epidemic in American culture- "The Relentless Pursuit of Success". And catch the new weekly feature ZenBiz Buzz with Allan and Bru ce. This will truly be your moment of Zen.

PONZI SCHEMES PROLIFERATING


Federal and state authorities are reporting a growing number of financial scams that echo the alleged Madoff fraud, as strapped investors seek access to their cash amid increasingly hard times.

At least six suspected multimillion-dollar fraud cases have emerged this month alone, many of them alleged Ponzi schemes, in which investors are lured by promises of lofty returns but are actually paid off from new victims' funds. For the full Wall Street Journal story go to Allan's blog at www.zentrepreneurism.com

Ponzi Schemes Poliferating!

Wall Street Journal

JANUARY 28, 2009

By STEVE STECKLOW

Federal and state authorities are reporting a growing number of financial scams that echo the alleged Madoff fraud, as strapped investors seek access to their cash amid increasingly hard times.At least six suspected multimillion-dollar fraud cases have emerged this month alone, many of themalleged Ponzi schemes, in which investors are lured by promises of lofty returns but are actually paid offfrom new victims' funds.

On Tuesday, authorities arrested Arthur Nadel, the missing Florida hedge-fund adviser, who wasaccused by federal authorities of defrauding clients of millions of dollars. His arrest came as Spanishbanking giant Banco Santander SA said it would offer thousands of its private-banking clients !1.38billion ($1.82 billion) in compensation for losses arising from investments in Bernard L. Madoff'salleged $50 billion Ponzi scheme, the first financial company to do so.

Todd Foster, a lawyer for Mr. Nadel, says his client voluntarily surrendered to the authorities and is cooperating with them. He says "we aren't in a position to comment on the criminal charges now,"adding that investment "losses don't necessarily equate with fraud."

In the latest case to emerge, Nicholas Cosmo, a Long Island, N.Y., investment-firm owner, surrenderedto federal authorities Monday. Mr. Cosmo allegedly raised more than $370 million between 2006 and2008 by promising investors 48% annual returns from funding commercial loans, according to a federal affidavit in support of his arrest.

But little money was lent, and only about $746,000 remains, according to the federal affidavit.
According to his attorneys, Mr. Cosmo intends to work with authorities "to allay investors' concerns." A federal judge in New York's Eastern District ordered him held pending a bail hearing Thursday.

The rise in financial-fraud reports preceded the Madoff case's emergence. A review of recent Securities and Exchange Commission civil actions shows an increase in cases in which the agency alleged Ponzi schemes. The agency, which doesn't keep an official count, brought at least 23 Ponzi cases last year, upfrom 15 in 2007. It has already filed four in 2009.

That tally doesn't include actions on the state level,where allegations of securities fraud are routinely pursued. The SEC declined to make anyone availableto discuss its Ponzi cases.
More schemes are emerging now, experts say, in part because of the economic downturn. Tough times have prompted people to seek to cash in their investments, only to find out their money is missing.

New investment also dries up in slumps, making it harder for fraudulent funds to replenish their coffers andmake the payments needed to keep their operations going.

The recent economic boom may have made some investors especially susceptible to Ponzi schemes andother investment frauds, investigators say. That's because legitimate but secretive hedge funds and other investment firms reported years of strong gains, making eye-popping returns seem more plausible."When you have serious economic problems, people who have been content with where their money hasbeen sitting sometimes need it," says Bill E. Branscum, a private investigator in Naples, Fla., who has probed dozens of Ponzi schemes. "And in needing it and in finding out that they can't get it, that servesto reveal Ponzi schemes that may have gone unnoticed."

Three weeks ago, the SEC accused a Philadelphia-area investment fund manager, Joseph S. Forte, with running a Ponzi scheme since at least 1995 that claimed returns as high as 38% and raised $50 million.Mr. Forte didn't return phone calls made late in the day.

Meanwhile, Idaho's securities regulators are investigating allegations by investors in Idaho Falls that they lost up to $100 million in an alleged Ponzi scheme by Daren Palmer, a local money manager. No charges have been filed. Mr. Palmer didn't return phone calls made late in the day.
There was also the case of Marcus Schrenker, an Indiana financial adviser who was arrested in Florida earlier this month after allegedly trying to stage his death in a plane crash as investigators probed his businesses.

He faces charges in Indiana and Florida; his lawyer has said Mr. Schrenker isn't mentallycompetent to stand trial in Florida.The biggest case, of course, is the one allegedly carried off by New York money manager Mr. Madoff,who has estimated inflicting losses of $50 billion on his investors. Mr. Madoff's attorney, Ira Lee Sorkin, declined to comment.

In scale, all of the SEC's other alleged Ponzi cases pale in comparison with Mr. Madoff's alleged scheme,which lasted for decades. The second-largest SEC case last year, one that the agency says primarily targeted Orthodox Jews, totaled about $255 million, according to SEC records. Excluding the Madoff case, the alleged schemes cited in the past 13 months generated more than $1.1 billion from unsuspecting investors, according to SEC records.

The Ponzi scams alleged by the SEC sprung up all around the country: in Texas, where participants,many of them elderly, invested $45 million in a phony hedge fund that supposedly produced annual returns as high as 61%; in a currency-trading scheme in Georgia which promised returns of 10% a month; in Florida, where two companies raised $30 million by allegedly convincing investors they would earn money by exporting gadgets like Apple iPods to South America. The SEC alleges that the companies purchased few electronics and used "newly invested funds to make principal and interest payments toexisting investors."

An attorney for the defendant in the Texas case, Rod Cameron Stringer, had no comment. An attorneyfor the defendant in the Georgia case, James G. Ossie, said his client "hasn't yet responded to the allegations of the government" but that "he's been cooperating with regulators and wants to makerestitution to all his clients." The defendant in the Florida case, Andres Pimstein, pleaded guilty last month to related criminal charges of wire fraud "in connection with a multi-million dollar investment'Ponzi' scheme," according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Mr. Pimstein couldn't be reached for comment. According to SEC filings, many of the alleged victims in the agency's cases believed they were receiving huge returns from exotic investments, including hedge funds, private placements of securities and Ponzi operators "always need a disguise," says Robert L. FitzPatrick, a Charlotte, N.C., consultant andexpert on Ponzi and pyramid schemes, a similar form of ruse in which investors lure other investors. "

It normally includes some kind of rather vague description of the way it earns money." He notes that legitimate hedge funds, which are lightly regulated, generally lack transparency. The Ponzi scheme's namesake, Charles Ponzi, a Boston-based con man, peddled an exotic investment.Mr. Ponzi raised millions of dollars in 1920 by promising 50% returns in 45 days by exploiting exchange-rate discrepancies in international postal coupons, used to buy stamps. But authorities said he wasn't even buying the coupons; he later pleaded guilty to mail fraud.

In many of the SEC cases, the perpetrators allegedly siphoned off money to fund lavish lifestyles. An SECcivil complaint last year accuses a California investment adviser of using millions of his clients' money"to pay for lavish personal expenses, such as upkeep on his Ferrari, limousine services and shopping trips." The defendant, Robert C. Brown Jr., of Hillsborough, Calif., couldn't be reached for comment late in the day.

The SEC has accused South Florida investment adviser Anthony A. James of misappropriating at least$2.4 million in client funds to buy a six-bedroom home, a Porsche and season tickets to the Miami Heatbasketball team. In that case, filed in September, the SEC alleges that between 2001 and January 2008,Mr. James, principal of James Asset Advisory LLC, received at least $5.2 million from about 44 clientswho were told their money would be invested in stocks, bonds and mutual funds.

The SEC alleges the money never was invested. Instead, the agency says, Mr. James misappropriated atleast $2.4 million for personal expenses. They also say that "like a classic Ponzi scheme," he and hiscompany "transferred approximately $2.8 million from new clients to existing clients to repay principal or to create the illusion of profitable trading."

Bruce M. Lyons, Mr. James's attorney in the SEC case, says his client doesn't dispute the allegations and that he's "trying to arrange to make everybody who was involved in the transactions whole."—Philip Shishkin and William M. Bulkeley contributed to this article.

Write to Steve Stecklow at steve.stecklow@wsj.com

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Taking Charge for Yourself

This week, Allan Holender and Bruce Stewart will start sharing their on-going dialogue about life with you. Allan - the author of Zentrepreneurism - and Bruce - the founder of Accendor Research - will share in conversation their parallel journeys toward the Zentrepreneurial road. Hear how the book came to be, and a little bit about Allan's journey through the slings and arrows of the kinds of schemes that ensnare so many budding entrepreneurs. Hear how Bruce, disgusted with the behaviours of both the corporate managers and entrepreneurs he worked with, had to overcome his own beliefs to found his own Zentrepreneurial company.

Missed the Live Show ? This episode is rebroadcast at 11pm Pacific. Past Episodes are available On Demand and Podcast Ready

MEDIA ALERT!!

If you missed the inaugural ZenBiz Radio Show with Dave Stewart you can listen to the re-broadcast at 8:00 a.m. pacific Saturday morning on www.voiceamerica.com

LISTEN UP! ZENBIZ RADIO LAUNCHES WITH GUEST DAVE STEWART TODAY AT 11:00 A.M. PST ON VOICE AMERICA www.voiceamerica.com
"A NEW KIND OF TALK RADIO FOR GOOD"!

LISTEN TO ZENBIZ RADIO WITH DAVE STEWART TOMMOROW ON VOICE AMERICA!!


Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 11am Pacific

Welcome to the inaugural episode of ZenBiz Radio

Zentrepreneur of the Week A day after the historic inauguration of Barack Obama, Dave Stewart, music icon and humanitarian will be Allan Holender's guest. Allan and Dave will discuss Dave's commitment to humanity through his music, why he feels the world is ready for the message of Zentrepreneurism, and what causes, music projects and entrepreneurial ventures he is currently working on. Dave's music tribute video to Obama, "American Prayer", shown at the Inauguration ceremony will be talked about, as well as Dave's heroes, what he is most passionate about. He'll also be asked the question Allan asks all his guests: "What did you love to do most when you were 10 years old?" - inspirational, engaging and entertaining talk you shouldn't miss!

Missed the Live Show ? This episode is rebroadcast at 11pm Pacific. Past Episodes are available On Demand and Podcast Ready

Listen LIVE to VoiceAmericaBusiness!
Be sure to tune to ZenBiz Radio Wednesdays at 11AM PST.

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MEDIA ALERT

Allan Holender will be interviewed today at 1:00 p.m. pacific time on Achieve Radio. You can listen live on www.achieveradio.com

ZENBIZ RADIO IS ON THE AIR!!



Faced with global issues such as poverty, genocide, climate change, financial collapse, greed, and corruption, it’s easy to feel powerless. We want to do good and change the world, but too often feel paralyzed by the fear that individuals can’t make significant impact. ZenBiz Radio with Allan Holender and Co-Host Bruce Stewart is a new kind of talk radio for good!



ZenBiz Radio is a media project about making a difference : Inspiring interviews with zentrepreneurs who are creating a new world of business for good! Stories About Creating A Business As Well As A Life! Zentrepreneurism is a wake-up call—a call to action, to change, to re-invent and to harness each and every person’s unique ability to help build a better world for business.

ZenBiz Radio is an engaging, informative, and empowering radio show with interviews and conversations with zentrepreneurs from around the globe, some well-known and others less so, who have been inspired to do their part to effect meaningful social change. These notable advocates, activists, and social entrepreneurs share the causes they are passionate about and give advice on what each of us can do to positively impact our employees, communities, and those of others around the world.

From music icon Dave Stewart, who has aligned his corporate mission with notable causes such GreenPeace, TED, and Pangea Day to Arran Stephens, founder of Natures Path Organic Foods, affectionately known as the “hippie capitalist”, who sees money as “green energy”-”From a more enlightened centre within, we can use money for great good, or if selfish and greedy, we can use it to harm and congeal”. These personal journeys illustrate the power of the individual to motivate change.



We are now accepting a limited number of founding partnerships anywhere in the world for this new media convergence project, ZenBiz Radio will air on the Voice America Talk Network. Wednesday’s at 11:00 a.m. pacific http://ping.fm/9e1Xw



If you would like to explore this partnership opportunity please contact Dave Kredell our ExecutiveProducer dave.kredell@modavox.com It would be very exciting to have you join us on the next phase of the journey. Since the birth of Zentrepreneurism three years ago we have taken our message around the world to over 21 different countries and with 817 members enrolled in the World Wide Association of Zentrepreneurs, it is now time to spread the word around the globe through a virtual medium. Go to www.zentrepreneurism.com to learn more about joining WWAZ and the movement.



A great opportunity awaits for us to engage together globally in a mutually beneficial, purposeful, and profitable project. Coincidentally We are scheduled to launch January 21, 2009, the day after one of the most significant events in the history of the United States of America, the election of Barack Obama, it’s first African American President. Obama has called for an end to selfishness and greed, and to change the way Wall Street and the White House do business.



ZenBiz Radio will do it’s part and we encourage you to join us in this zenful revolution!. We will accept proposals till January 15th.



I look forward to you joining me on ZENBIZ RADIO!



Yes We Zen!



Allan

The 9 Predictions for 2009



1. People are going to:



Re-Invent themselves
Re- Adjust themselves
Re-Educate themselves
Re-Purpose themselves


2. People are going to fuse their personal vision with their professional mission, thus creating purpose and passion in their life, and profits with integrity in their business.





3. People will re-evaluate the relentless pursuit of success. This relentless pursuit of success has had massive repercussions for one's mental and physical health: Broken marriages, broken relationships, broken trust and broken dreams



4. Motivational books will be replaced by inspirational books, because when you motivate you serve yourself, but when you inspire you serve others.



5. People are going to be climbing the consciousness ladder instead of the corporate ladder.



6. We are at the lowest level of trust in government and companies since the 1930's. 2009 is going to be the year of "Building Trust".



7. 2009 is going to be all about building trust with your employees, your suppliers, your partners , and in all your personal and business relationships.



8. Greed, power and selfishness will be replaced by credibility, integrity and intent of mutual benefit.



9. Truth and transparency in the business world will no longer be hoped for....it will be demanded.



copyright Allan Holender 2009

MEDIA ALERT

Allan will be interviewed on The Terry Spence Show on CFAX Radio in Victoria, B.C today from 2:00-3:00 p.m. pacific time. You can listen online as well on www.cfax1070.com
Terry and Allan will be discussing his 9-point “path to business enlightenment”, and giving his views on how best to succeed in the current world economy.We will also have the opportunity to take calls from listeners and answer any questions you may have.

Join us if you Zen!