Aloha e everyone and welcome to January 10, 2005 of Kaleo O Nani Newsletter!

Hauoli Makahiki Hou Everyone.

Happy New Year and may all your fondest dreams be realized. In the University Of Life & Hope System and indeed in the Culture I was raised in we have a belief system that goes like this;

"we do not seek the meaning of life. We seek to experience it while we live." I wish you a life of quiet elegance, of abundant love and happiness and that you have the wisdom to share time and treasure with family, friends and the needy, human and animals alike. This is your life, it is not a dress rehearsal.

In a Spirit Of Hope,

Nani Linder

Comments From Our Readers from last month:

Beautiful newsletter Dear Nani,

Infused with timeless wisdom.

Best always,

Burt in Arizona

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Dear Nani.  Thoughts that cause one to think surely are nourishment for our well being, when they are positive they also can be healing.  How sensitive and thoughtful you are.  I relish in reading and hearing words that lift the soul.  How true is the old adage,  " how better to light one candle, than to be in darkness."   Words of kindness, compassion, and humaneness can bring light to where there is darkness.  God Bless and keep you.  

Love,  Rose  in Spokane

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Hi there!!!

HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

I have tremendously enjoyed reading your e-newsletter and am interested in working with you in the future. Stay in touch and thanks for the inspiring newsletters!!!

Love and blessings,

Charity Doyl

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Nice job with the Newsletter Nani...........Love, Nancy Donahue, Silver Master Director Sunrider _Montana

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FEATURE ARTICLE ON DIVERSITY
By:  Nani Aki Linder - White Raven

Diversity is about Perception and Attitude, Yours and mine.  

I first heard about Spokane, Washington in the 1970's when our baby sister Ululani married a wonderful man stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base and moved to the city. Ron, Kim and I were stationed on Guam at the time. Occasionally we would hear from Ululani or our dad that people were not exactly friendly towards her and didn't particularly like the color of her dark skin, and it was most evident when she was with her haole (white) husband. Long and short of it is, after the birth of their first child, John Kimo Collins, Ululani left Spokane with her baby son and our brother-in-law followed months later upon discharge from the Air Force. He joined her in Hawaii where they made their home together. Ululani loved Spokane area, it was the attitude of the people that drove her back to, our home state, Hawaii. A few months ago, this same sister, gave up her gavel as the President, Housekeeping Association Of America. Yes, she is listed in the leadership who's who! Imagine the influence of the highest order she would have brought to Spokane and its medical institutions, hotel industries etc., had she felt welcomed and stayed.

Circumstances are different now than when my sister lived here. Today it is not prejudice that begs an indepth discussion , it is one of apathy towards diversity, in my judgment, which needs dialogue and a little first aid. So let's take a chance and have a dialogue.

What does Apathy mean? For me it means, awakening the attitude, perception if you will of standing and shouting "I care, I want my community to thrive and I plan to stand up and be supportive of all initiatives, including the "cultural diverse community" of Spokane ! It means welcoming those of color, creed, religion, gender because under this nation we belong. It means realizing that while we have come along way in civil rights, we have almost thrown out COMMON SENSE with the bath water.

Often in our zest to be politically correct we foster the blame and shame M.O. of diversity. In my opinion, that approach lacks dignity for everyone, because it is the home of resentment and should be thrown out with the bath water. I am of the opinion that inclusion could replace the word tolerance. Why? Inclusion means that "I can", verses tolerance, meaning you have to put up with me which breeds more resentment. (Do you see the circle of non growth?) Yet those who are busy resenting may not know, perhaps minorities didn't choose the word tolerance. I don't know bout you, but I don't want to be tolerated I want inclusion, to join in partnership with you to enhance our world, city, and community. I want our children together to find the value in "seeing everyone worthy of living their values, accepting responsibility, learning to trust and thriving in respect. side by side in joyful common ground." I don't want the bar lowered, I can learn if you teach me, you can learn if I teach you. We have common ground. The one that comes to mind immediately is America was built by immigrants and we are all Americans or working to become one. That is a beginning! We have proven twice in our history, when Pearl Harbor happened and more recently 9/11, when you hurt one of us, you got the whole U.S.A. to deal with was the prevailing wisdom. I invite you to visualize thinking, evolving, living as naturally as breathing air, neighbor to neighbor, that we all belong! Wonderful vision isn't it? Can't see it? look again! Try harder!

For those of you reading this who are Native American Indian you belong, your ancestors were here when Lewis and Clark came and mine were standing on the shores of Hawaii to greet Captain Cook! So stand up, open the door and take your seats at this table of life. You don't need permission to attend this banquet!

My grandfather used to say, "All lessons are not taught in books, but when one comes to that cross road in life, take a deep breath, weigh all options and walk the path of truth wisely. If your don't you destine yourself to fail, have to turn around come back and do it again."

On this day, January 9, 2005 Ululani's middle sister that's me, Nani Aki Linder, CEO University Of Life & Hope faces a similar decision. Do I Stay and build a business here, or sell our house and move on, as my baby sister did over 30 years ago? I have truly been wrestling with this. It depends on how receptive the idea of solving apathy becomes. I see a city of hope just waiting to bloom, but the community has to provide the water, pull the weeds, cultivate and want it. What say you?

I debated the pros and cons of writing this article and decided the following;

"To be effective, indeed to be a leader one must have the courage to speak truth and walk the talk with selfless stride, even knowing the consequences may DOA, ones own consulting and speaking career. This is such a moment. The choice wasn't hard because this most excellent diverse community of Spokane and indeed the entire community at large is worth the risk. I have chosen to say the words that needed to be said because you cannot fix a problem if you don't recognize its existence. Not speaking up is in fact consenting by silence. Now you know, ball is in your court." Nani

E-mail me your thoughts and I will print next month or call. e-mail me at nani@universityoflife.info

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:  I call this consent by silence!

"Bad things no can happen unless good people allow to happen". 

                                                                                                Grandpa Aki  

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MASTERING THE ART OF LIVING
By Nani Aki Linder

Many people have asked me how I got started speaking and how did I pull it together so quickly.  I offer this article as my answer.  It speaks to "when you want to be the best, find the best to help you do it now!  Enjoy

       "Get yourself a coach, a mentor. Get the very best you can find. Then trust this person. If you can't trust this person, get somebody else. Open up. Tell your mentor where you've been, where you are, where you want to be. Get an expert in the field you've set your heart on. Someone who understands. Someone who has been around the track a few more times than you. Listen to what your mentor says. Abide by your mentor's guidance. And march on to glory."

        Burt Dubin, President Speaking Success Institute, Kingman , Az.

Well my friends I read that quote and hired him;

Yes I hired Burt Dubin! Best business move I ever made in my speaking career. My goal was to keep a promise I made to God if he allowed me to live through surgery in August of 1999. God kept his end (read my book "Trial By Fire A True Story Of Hope") and I am keeping my promise.

So, I searched and found the best mentor I could find and told him I wanted to be a World Class Master Speaker, the best in my niche, second to no one and why.

He listened, made me work like the dickens, challenged me to be the best, and take a back seat to no one. He guided me to pull the best out of myself, stand tall and with tenacity (bulldog mind set as Burt puts it) , demand from myself Gods gift of being a World Class Master Expert who speaks on diversity - leadership - effective communication niche. It is truly humbling to see the awesome power within awaken, a gift from Ke Akua each of us has. My gift in keeping my promise was to awaken this power within and radiate the magnificent value of hope for the benefit of others.

Today January 2005 "I am"! My world class mentor, Burt Dubin guided me to building a "high end" world class expert speaking niche in Cross Cultural Diversity, Leadership, mastering communications and the best at revealing my essence in this niche. My clients have made me an expert with their wonderful testimonials and endorsements. It takes work, falling on ones face but each time getting up and going again doing whatever it takes. Ask Burt! Each contract is different and Burt shows you the how to's brilliantly. He held my feet to the fire and I needed that. He also cared personally about me so he wags his finger and clucks when I over did it! These human qualities are a gift that you will not find elsewhere. My advice, look beneath the surface when working with my friend Burt, there is a depth of knowledge there many fail to see. When he invites you to a mastermind, GO! Do what he says, use the words he says, exactly as he says and apply your own human essence to make it your own.

Think a personal mentor is too expensive? Too expensive compared to what? What is it costing you not to solve your dreams to become a world class speaker? Every day you hesitate you are leaving money on the table and a chance to "share your caring essence with the many who yearn for your expertise." Scared! Of course, that is part of life's cycle. I made the choice because not deciding was deciding. Courage is the ability to proceed even if you are scared and frankly I'd be a little worried about you if you weren't. My friends, feelings just are! What you do with them is what matters. When you aspire to be the best, then pick the best mentor there is.

Why would you hire experts such as Burt or myself as your mentor or teacher? Same reason I did, because you are worth it!

New: Limited mentoring offered personally by CEO, Nani Linder at University Of Life & Hope in Cultural Enrichment! (Diversity), leadership and effective communication

Want to be the best that you can be in leadership, cross-cultural awareness and working hand in glove with this, effective communication? I invite you to take my hand, hitch your wagon to my Shining Star Of Hope. You will be glad you did! nani@universityoflife.info email or call 509-467-7714. I personally will begin mentoring a limited number of students beginning in mid 2005.

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Continuing with our Tip Sheets series we add five new tipbits of hope which we invite you to read and comment on.