Mystery Solved: Paul Potts is a Marjon Graduate.
December 2, 2009 by Don · Leave a Comment
This was first posted in early 2008, but was lost in the transition to a new hosting site. Folks keep asking for it, so I’m recreating it here:
Every news account I’ve read, concerning Paul Potts’ educational background, says that he graduated from Plymouth University with a degree in “Philosophy, Theology, and Film and TV studies.” I have spoken of this in earlier posts, like this one, and I am fully aware that probably no one but me (and maybe Paul) really cares what he studied in college. The man can sing. That’s all we are really concerned about. Right?
Well, I have this idea that Paul Potts has a mission beyond singing popera and that it is primarily of a philosophical/theological bent. So: I care. It has taken awhile, but I now have official news to report from the schools in question. Those who want to know exactly what Paul studied and from where he was graduated, read on.
Press accounts, to this point, have indicated that Paul received his diploma from “The University” in Plymouth, England. That would be the University of Plymouth, then…right? Wrong. According to Paola Simoneschi, PR manager at that fine school, Paul did not graduate there. Paola was, however, able to point me in the correct direction: Marjon.
After a bit of delay, owing to a critical staffer being on holiday, the confirmation has arrived from my heroine, Kate Lister. Here is what she says:
AS promised – here are the details:
Paul Robert Potts was awarded a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Humanities Second Class Honours Division Two on 29th June 1993.
And, as I promised Kate, who is Marketing and PR Advisor at Marjon–and why, oh why is she not on the Paul Potts team? The lady is a gem–here is a link to the University College Plymouth St. Mark & St. John. Yes, Saint Mark’s and Saint John’s, packing “over 150 Years of heritage, tradition and experience” is now a University College! And a good one…As for Paul Potts…a Humanities major. Nothing wrong with that, but maybe all my enthusiasm about this philosopher/king business has been in vain. Oh, well. Then again, maybe not. We’ll see.
The Tiger Woods Story
December 2, 2009 by Don · Leave a Comment
When he was two years old, he beat Bob Hope in a putting contest. At five, he appeared in “Golf Digest.” At 22, he became the youngest player ever to win the Masters Tournament. In 2008, he made more money than any other professional athlete in the world: Tiger Woods.
He has been deemed a child prodigy, a superstar, a phenomenon: Tiger Woods.
In the past, I’ve seen Tiger as one of those guys who is just born into destiny and never gets off the trail. Seemingly, he always knew what he wanted and was gifted with the exceptional focus needed to get him there. I’ve admired him, but have never really thought that there is anything I could learn from him. You either have it or you don’t. And I don’t: I wasn’t born with a consuming desire and exceptional focus. Rather, I am fascinated by absolutely everything and can get sidetracked by almost anything. You get the picture.
With the current hoopla over Tiger’s personal life, though, I see a sort of RoadTurn moment for him. How he deals with this situation will either propel him on to a higher level, or head him in a different direction. That’s my take. And I’m not talking about his social standing, but his relationship to himself. I say, “Go, Tiger. Don’t give up. Let the critics have their shots, make the adjustments you need, and keep on going…”
Here are some quotes from the champ:
I get to play golf for a living. What more can you ask for–getting paid for doing what you love.
My main focus is on my game.
I’m trying as hard as I can, and sometimes things don’t go your way, and that’s the way things go.
You can always become better.
One of the things that my parents have taught me is never listen to other people’s expectations. You should live your own life and live up to your own expectations, and those are the only things I really care about it.
I did envisage being this successful as a player, but not all the hysteria around it off the golf course.
Thanksgiving, Carly Simon Style…
November 26, 2009 by Don · Leave a Comment
I was impressed to see Carly Simon perform at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this morning. My own take is “Bravo and Right On, Carly!”
The song I heard was from her Never Been Gone
Let the River Run
We’re coming to the edge
Running on the water
Coming through the fog
Your sons and daughters
Let the river run
Let all the dreamers
Wake the nation
Come, the New Jerusalem
Silver cities rise
The morning lights
The streets that lead them
And sirens call them on with a song
It’s asking for the taking
Trembling, shaking
Oh, my heart is aching
We’re coming to the edge
Running on the water
Coming through the fog
Your sons and daughters
We the great and small stand on a star
And blaze a trail of desire
Through the darkling dawn
It’s asking for the taking
Come run with me now
The sky is the color of blue
You’ve never even seen
In the eyes of your lover
Oh, my heart is aching
We’re coming to the edge
Running on the water
Coming through the fog
Your sons and daughters
It’s asking for the taking
Trembling, shaking
Oh, my heart is aching
We’re coming to the edge
Running on the water
Coming through the fog
Your sons and daughters
Let the river run
Let all the dreamers
Wake the nation
Come, the New Jerusalem
(Lyrics and Music by Carly Simon)
The Child is Right…
November 16, 2009 by Don · Leave a Comment
What is it that the child has to teach?
The child naively believes that everything should be fair
and everyone should be honest,
that only good should prevail,
that everybody should have what they want
and there should be no pain or sadness.
The child believes the world should be perfect
and is outraged to discover it is not.
And the child is right.
Finding Yourself: A Fresh Start
November 11, 2009 by Don · Leave a Comment
It used to be that Armistice Day (aka Veterans Day) was the one day of the year when I was sure to wear a tie. It was out of respect for those who have fought for Freedom. My own experience in the armed forces was rather serene, compared to what others have endured. I wanted to show my appreciation and admiration for the real heroes.
The original Armistice Day was November 11, 1918…the 11th month, the 11th day, on the 11th hour…and it was hailed as the end of the “War to end all wars.” I wish it were so, but it hasn’t turned out that way. Millions more have died in armed conflict…on our streets and on the battlefield. God, help us all.
So it is that I took a fresh look at Armistice today, and here is my conclusion: I’m looking for the Peace that ends all war, and I hope it begins today. What if the whole world were to stop and listen? What would happen then?
In my own life, I’ve begun a fresh assessment of who I am and where I’m headed. The best place to begin is in the beginning, so why not return there and re-evaluate? Can’t hurt. The template I am using was developed by a guy whose marketing techniques seem a little too red and blue, but it’s a solid program with an active and supportive forum.
Check it out and join me. Here’s a link: Finding Yourself.
The Ramifications of Despair
November 9, 2009 by Don · Leave a Comment
My work took me to a Navajo reservation last weekend. It was a real eye-opener. Maybe the last bubble to burst for me. My assumptions and dreams have taken a real beating this year. I’m counting that as a blessing, by the way. Why whine?
We came from Eastern Kentucky, where the roadsides are garbage dumps and the hills are being torn apart and dumped into the streams in search of King Coal–coal that is then used to putrify our air. Wonderful idea. I figured that the Native American lands were exempt from all of this–that the guardians of Earth would be living a simple, pure, spiritual life and that their land would still be honored and protected. Wrong again.
Heading down into the valley, I saw a layer of smog that would rival any major city. The source: Coal burning plants on the reservation. The word I heard (true or false, I can’t say) is that Native industry is exempt from EPA regulations, so they can burn their coal even dirtier than the rest of the country. I could have cried, as I looked out on the thick haze from a mountain overlook and realized that the poison was being generated on the reservation by the tribe.
As I got closer, I saw how the place I left and the place I had come to are even more in synch: Litter everywhere. Bottles and boxes, dirty diapers and aluminum cans–all thrown alongside the road as if the land is a personal refuse disposal site. The realization was overwhelmingly sad. Does anyone left living care? Has it come to this–to a total breakdown of our responsibility to the planet and to one another? Is there not a culture of honor and respect left in this world? Father, help us all. We are lost. We are gone. All gone.
It was my boy, Zeb, who restored my faith. We were visiting an ancient site, where a now vanished people once lived in concert with their surroundings. Zebadiah bent over to pick up a rock as a souvenir, but I cautioned him against it…
“Honor the land, Son, even if the people who own it don’t.”
“But, Dad, it ain’t their land anyway…it belongs to the Creator.”
And the boy is right. Woody Guthrie had it wrong. This land is not “your land” and it’s not “my land.” It’s the Creator’s land–and He will someday deal rightly with those who destroy and dishonor it. And I’ve done (and continue to do) my share of damage, lest I forget that I didn’t walk to Indian Country. I drove.
You know what else that Zeb helped me realize? My life is really none of my business. My Father has the plan. I’m His to use or not use, as He wishes. My job is to look, to listen, and to learn. Then, to share that with you and hope that you will feel safe to share your experience with me.
And you know what my theory is, concerning the failure of this generation to cherish the land and to respect one another? Despair. It is caused by loss of hope, loss of consideration, loss of dignity. We act like nothing really matters. We act like greed is a virtue and that convenience is the highest good. But, it is only an act, you know. If there is any life in you, you know that it is an act. A sad act of complicity and fear and loss. One that will lead only to shame and remorse. Some day.
The Faith of a Child
November 5, 2009 by Don · Leave a Comment
It’s been a tough few days for me, kicked off by a run-in with my direct supervisor at work. I’ve been putting most of my energy and focus into a project that I thought I was clear on. Turns out, though, that her vision is a whole lot different than mine. How did that happen? After thinking about it for awhile, it appears that my desire for the work was so strong that I couldn’t hear or believe anyone who wanted something else. The whole fiasco has pretty well kicked the wind out of me, so I’m back to square one–analysis and planning–but, the truth is that I’ve lost most of my heart for the work.
An article in the New Straits Times (Malaysia) gave me a boost, though. It may do the same for you. You gotta love these kids. They know what they want and how to get there. Oh, to have the gift of a child’s faith. Here they are, finishing the thought, “If I were an entrepreneur…”
“I would make sure that the products I sell bring benefits to my customers. The products would be personally invented by me. My customers are guaranteed to get excellent service from me. I would get their feedback on my products and do my best to improve the quality of my products to fit their requests.” – Nur Afiqah Azizan, 11, Bangi
“I would like to set up an entreprenuer school specifically for unfortunate children, students who come from poor families and the physically impaired. This would help them gain knowledge and exposure to be an entrepreneur so they would have a better future. In addition, I would like to promote Malaysia as an ideal country that offers good products and a full range of local cuisine for tourists to try and enjoy. This initiative would also further promote the 1Malaysia spirit.” – Siti Zainal Sabihah Roslan, 14, Bangi
“I would have a chain of boutiques. I would also love to start my own magazine since I love to write.” – Manpreet Kaur Sandhu, 14, Kuala Lumpur
“I would develop a new awesome Web site for social networking like Facebook, MySpace or Friendster. Maybe I would be like Bill Gates who was an entrepreneur and generated computer software ideas. I would even love to manage a business, even though there’s considerable risks.”
– David Kang Zheng Hoong, 16, Bandar Tasik Selatan“I would like to boost the economy by doing business and helping my family!” – Puteri Alia Halid, 12, Petaling Jaya
“I would invent a custom-fitted shoe line consisting of only hand-painted shoes for all my customers so as not to discriminate against those with really small or big feet.” – Elsheba K. Abraham, 16, Subang Jaya
Fresh Air and Clear Vision
November 4, 2009 by Don · Leave a Comment
RoadTurn is always happy to help get the word out about the Fresh Air Fund –”an independent, not-for-profit agency, that has provided free summer vacations to more than 1.7 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877.”
Here is some Fresh Air news from the summer of 2009:
One out of four school children in the U.S. has vision problems, and 86% do not get their vision checked before age 12.
Many Fresh Air children do not have access to affordable vision care. Glasses break, are too expensive to replace, or are never prescribed in the first place. And often as a result, children’s performance in academics, sports and activities suffers.
For the fifth summer in a row, OneSight offered to bring their traveling optical clinic to all five Fresh Air Fund camp.
New Beginnings
October 31, 2009 by Don · Leave a Comment
On the First of November, 20 years ago, my father passed on. I was at his bedside when he left, and that evening is forever etched in my mind. He did not go gently. His departure was accompanied by an audible “slap”, as if his spirit broke the sound barrier when it released. My brother cried. I went to the tavern.
It wasn’t long before I discovered that my father’s death meant a new life for me . It was strange without him. It still is. Yet, I could not be who I am today, if he had lived. There was a torch-passing of sorts, that went on between us. Surely, the death of one’s father is a primary rite of passage. It was a roadturn. A big one.
On this night, this all-hallowed eve, I am inclined to wonder a bit, to speculate. Can we gain significant change by simply realizing something of importance? Can we take advantage of our ability to imagine, to think, to reason, to decide–and call forth a turn-around event for ourselves? Can I use such a process to make changes that need to occur in my life, without waiting for severity of consequence or situation to force me into them? Of course, I can. And so can you.
Change takes guts, though, and it takes focus. Watching the World Series tonight, I was impressed by the intensity exhibited by the players when they were up to bat, or pitching, or catching. There was total immersion in the moment. The game of life is being played out every day, you know. And this is our own World Series event. If I can bring my desire up to the same level, to the same degree of focus, nothing will keep me from excellence. It’s my choice. No one can stop me, but me…
RoadTurn Returns
October 24, 2009 by Don · Leave a Comment
This blog began as an ongoing commentary about life and life changes. Paul Potts was the inspiration at first, other stories arose, but RoadTurn isn’t about anyone in particular. It’s not even about me. That’s a lesson I need to remember. The story is bigger than any of us; it concerns that amazing, mysterious path that is before us. It concerns our choices, our results, and our observations along the way.
My initial excitement about the Paul Potts story–a guy who went from despair to success, almost overnight–provided me the fuel to keep going during an especially difficult time in my life. Like Paul, my health had faltered, my dreams were flickering, and I was all but bankrupt in every measurable way. I hoped to emulate him, to see my situation miraculously reverse. But it did not. At least not in the same way.
I have certainly seen changes in the more than two years since RoadTurn began. My life now is much different than it was then, but it is also still the same. I have yet to realize my own RoadTurn–that point where one choice makes all the difference. Or maybe, the choice was made a long time ago, and I have yet to follow through. We’ll see. One thing for sure; I can’t give up. I tried to do that. I tried to snuff this blog and go on. My hopes were smashed one too many times. I almost resigned myself to give up the dream and embrace the status quo. But I can not.
So RoadTurn is back. I will develop my business site (right now, called RoadTurn Analytics, an internet presence consulting firm) at another location. This site is for you and me to reflect on the journey and encourage one another along the way. Your comments and ideas are welcome. I wish you and yours the very best.
Don
