What if We Had Stopped Climate Change??

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Good Times with Friends are Transcendental!

I recently caught up with some dear friends from The German School. I had not seen them since third grade and it was as if time had never passed. I wonder, are friendships made during childhood 'transcendental?' Do you have friends that you have not seen in decades and when you catch up again, you click, it works, it simply is meant to be!

Purely Awesome Music..

Free Brain Stimulator Test

I am a big believer in the power of Music and its impact on brain waves. In fact, there is proof that when pregnant women listen to certain types of music, there are powerful, positive effects on the development of the fetus's brain. Furthermore, why is it that when we listen to certain types of music we can concentrate deeper, feel peace, and total relaxation? Is it the music or is it the precise manner in which the tempo, melody, and its subtleties penetrate our brain. I would like to invite you to take the Melodic Subtlety experiment. Please click on this site http://www.dapperandspruce.com/ go to Click here to listen to the power of David's piano and tell me what you feel. Drop me a line... and tell me ... I will be giving a cool gift to those who respond..

The George Washington University Presents

Recently The George Washington University selected my profile ... take a peek, let me know what you think :-)

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Pilar Rivera, BA '96, Globetrotting Entrepreneur
Pilar Rivera firmly believes that we don't belong to just one place, but are all citizens of the world. Her global perspective has taken her places both literally and figuratively in the decade since she graduated from GW. READ FULL ARTICLE

Executive Charisma

I was a reading a book on the topic of Executive Charisma. Executive Charisma is defined as, "The ability to gain effective responses from others by using aware actions and considerate civility in order to get useful things done."

The concept is very interesting. There are certain people who when you first see them, they exude a sense of confidence, and have a swagger in the way they walk that is extremely intriguing - it is that je ne sais quoi ability to influence without saying a word.

So, can Executive Charisma be learned or is it a part of the makeup of our DNA programing.. I wonder.. any thoughts? What do you think is Executive Charisma, and when you see it how do you define it? How can you get it.. here is a start,

1. Be the first to initiate. You must learn, as top executives have, the art of making the first move. That can mean making a decision before other people do, or being the first to greet people you don't know. Leaders go first.

2. Expect and give acceptance. In spite of work pressures and hectic schedules, never treat others in a way that you would not want to be treated.

3. Ask questions. Don't do it to impress, interrogate, intimidate, dominate, embarrass or put people in a corner. Instead, ask questions to improve knowledge and foster a learning spirit.

4. Ask and give favors. It's one of your best tools to bond with others.
Stand tall, straight and smile. You can never, for a second, be caught off guard. You need to convey an air of confidence.

5. Be human, humorous and hands-on. Humor is an essential ingredient of your success. Above all, it means being able to laugh at yourself.

6. Slow down, shut up and listen. Your own words are much less important than what other people have to tell you.

Good Friends

I just finished a long discussion with my best friend from College, and after we talked, I got a sense of "wholeness." It sounds a bit strange, but when we get so busy its important not to forget those people who meant a lot during a transcendental time in life. Think about people, friends in particular, who you have not talked to in days, months, years... drop them a note, say, 'hey how are you.' It feels goooooood. :)

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

How was Yours? Mine was relective... pensive... quiet... rainy.. uhmm does not sound much celebratory.. How was yours?? Do you have any traditions? I am always trying to learn about how people celebrate.. love to year what you have to say..

Three Questions EVERYONE should ask themselves

Dear friends,

Recently I had a conversation with a friend of mine, and we started thinking about life and its meaning and where we go from here and etc.. I know I know.. you are going to say, I am going lunatic, but seriously, sometimes it is good to stop, take a moment and think about the following three questions.. I would love it if anyone is brave enough to share their thoughts with me, and I will share mine with you. :-)

Hugs to all,
Pilar


1. if you had all the money in the world how would you change what you are doing in your life?

2. If you had 5-10 years to live what would you do differently?

3. If you went to your doc, and he said, “I am sorry you only have 24hrs left to live” Think about, What did you miss? Who did you forget? What did you not get to do that you wanted?

Some thoughts..

The Middle-Class Across the World

I am interested to see the world's definition of the "Middle-Class." Is it socio economically related? Educational Level? tell me some thoughts..

The Harvard Business School

Throughout life I have always reached for the BEST, one could say as a kid my folks inculcated in me to reach for the stars.. never settle for the moon. This is an image of me reaching for the Stars. And loving it. :-)

HARVARD here I Come.

WOW! it literally has been months since I have placed an entry into my blog. But life just has been a bit busy. First, I would like to share with my plethora of loyal blog readers (ok, maybe plethora is a bit of an exaggeration) the great news. There is going to be an addition to the family. :-) YUP, my wall of academic achievements is going to be expanded with, in my opinion, la crème de la crème in Higher Education. I am going to HARVARD. To be more exact, an Executive program at The Harvard Business School (HBS). I am excited, super energized, and ready to tackle the challenges this new journey is going to present me. So, HBS roll out the Red Carpet, 'cause this chick is heading with full force.

I have become through the years a fan of filmmaker George Lucas, and since the much-anticipated Star Wars Episode III is finally out, there is lots of chitchat on this phenomenal filmmaker. One of the projects Lucas is now getting involved with is the issue of education, and the deficiencies of the current system. He presents a very interesting theory that the Digital World will obliterate the Industrial Revolution thereby making education a more one-on-one process where students can gather information, and learn by engaging themselves in actual projects not abstract concepts. Technology will then enable them to interact with others, and thus make the whole process more intuitive and productive. Additionally, the issue of IQ was brought up, and I had to think that IQ really is irrelevant, I think EI, or emotional intelligence, is really the most important factor in determining future success. Just some thoughts to get your brain juices spinning.
Photos: By SBG-Media

Building Character

I recently did some pondering with a friend and we came up with the following dogma:
Watch your thoughts they become your words!
Watch your words they become your actions!
Watch your actions they become your habits!
Watch your habits they become your character!
Watch your character it becomes your destiny!


Photos: By SBG-Media

Chairman Bill Thomas at Business/Politcal Event

Here I am with Chairman and U.S. Representative, Bill Thomas at an elite conference event in Washington D.C. In Congress, Chairman Thomas was elected Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee


Photos: By SBG-Media

This is the back-yard of another dream home

Photos: By SBG-Media

This is yet another image of a friend's house in Florida. This represents yet another "dream-house" for me.

Photos: By SBG-Media

This is ONE of my dream sites. It is in the Caribbean. I believe dream homes should be all over the world. From my 'unscientific' survey , I gathered that there are no limitations to dream homes. Folks like Beach, sand, and sunny, breezy, environments (my personal favorites.) Others enjoy the slopes, the snow, the ice, and the wind.. The mountains are also a big attraction. But overall, the old adage applies, home is where the heart is. :-)

Photos: By SBG-Media

"The secret of joy in work is contained in one word: excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it." - Pearl Buck


Photos: By SBG-Media

"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect."- Mark Twain


Photos: By SBG-Media

The Author/co-author of In Search of Excellence, Thriving on Chaos, Liberation Management and his newest title, The Tom Peters Seminar. As one of the leading business experts, Mr Peter's books have been bestsellers in the business category for several years.


Photos: By SBG-Media

Dream Living

Calling ALL TECHIE Smarty Pants, or not such Smarty Pants.. ALL TECHIES.. ;-)

For this Blog to be effective I need to tap into the "Techie" industry. I am referring to ANYONE involved in the technology world. If you are a Software Entrepreneur, High-Tech Venture Capitalist, Info. Tech Investor, Internet Marketing Consultant, Technology firm Business Owner, C-level Technology Executive, or you consider yourself someone with a fine taste for the finer lifestyle, I need you. For some time now, I have been wanting to know what YOU are dreaming when you say, " My dream home consists of...." The question I pose is the following. "If you could have a first or second, or third home anywhere, would you get a:

1. Private island
2. House on the Beach
3. Horse Ranch
4. Country estate
5. Loft/Penthouse in a major City
6. Buy a lot and build a custom home
7. Ski lodge
8. Condo on a golf course
9. ANYTHING you dream.

What are some MUST have amenities?

Inside the home: Smart Kitchen, Self-cleaning & deodorizing bathrooms, other than a totally wireless environment, do you dream of any other quirky technologies? :-)
(Let your imagination or wildest dreams free.)

Outside the home: Waterfront - Beach or Bay with a marina? Golf or River? Mountains or Lake? Anything else you have dreamed?

Ok.. I don't want to keep on writing, I am going to set this puppy loose, and I do hope you help me out.

Gracias - :-)

I will post the results on a later entry.

Positioning Resort Communities

My friend , Jorge Moreno, who is a really fun singer and a Latin Grammy winner.

This was a fantastic event where my company, ALTEEVA, participated in a networking event to launch an exclusive community in the Bahamas. I find that the entertainment component is a critical in launching and positioning a community. For example, I know from experience, that people who experience a night of dancing, great music, and lots of fun will seek to recreate this experience. Of course it is naive to think that music, and entertainment alone will make a successful launch, but good entertainment never hurts. Has anyone experience FANTASTIC entertainment at any event? If so what was it? Did you have a band, karaoke (yup, this is super popular especially when catering to an Asian market segment), Latin dancing.. Share some unforgettable nights. This night was a blast for me. Other entertainers I have found rocks in real life at Resort Community launch and PR events are Sherryl Crowe, an Jimmy Buffet.

Here I am at the Opening of new resort in South Florida, Tony the Tiger is my date. :-) 

ICON - "Where you Live is Who you Are."

SBG "P" = Sunny Breezy Gal "Pilar"  

This is a setting in South Beach (SoBe), Miami Florida, one of the best places to be. The picture is a view of one of the terraces of the ICON building in SoBe. The ICON is truly a spectacular place. The gorgeous interior design was one of the masterpieces of the eclectic designer Phillippe Starck. I really like the motto of the ICON: "Where you live, is who you are." The obvious question that comes to mind then, is J.Lo, or Jennifer Lopez, an ICON? She did after all purchase the penthouse at the ICON for a sum over $9 million dollars..

The marketing, positioning, and branding of this building is AWESOME, and some of the strategies their marketing team used are fantastic, stay tuned to find out some of them.. :-) Has anyone visited any other "iconic" buildings? -

Bobos in Paradise: The New Upper Class and How they Got There

The issue of change is more than ever a constant in the "paradigm shifting," "flavor of the month craving," "reality TV loving," society in which we live. And, so there is a book by David Brooks, Bobos in Paradise, that seeks to examine how the biggest and most powerful demographic group, aka. baby boomers, seeks to re-engineer themselves. When I first saw the tile, "BOBOS" I thought Brooks wanted a literal Spanish translation of the meaning of the word. "Bobos" in Spanish means "Stupid, Dumb." This caught my attention. However, I soon found out what he meant by "bobos" was "bourgeois-bohemians."

Unlike the 80's uber-consumer decade, the 'bobos' generation seeks to justifies its extravagant spending. In my opinion what we are living is the exploration of the 'bobos'class, by the more astute and driven entrepreneurs who understand what the 'bobos' want, yet have not been lured to become a 'bobo' themselves.

As food for thought I give you the following: Think about the rise in hybrid cars, there are waiting lists for this 'sensible,' environmentally conscious, anti-SUV product - a smart entrepreneur thought, hey these people want a car that is 'good' for society. Organic foods, the growth of Whole Foods, where you can find the perfect Quinoa, a product which by the way was consumed by the Mayan tribes thousands of years ago, has all of the sudden become the "new" good carb. Or a new line of high-energy, organic drinks called, Sambazon, whose main ingredient is Acai a berry that has grown in the Brazilian Amazon jungle as long as the jungle has existed - another set of visionary entrepreneurs. Even Starbucks, the favorite retreat of the 'bobos,' where the ability to order a Chocolate Creme Frappuccino, Raspberry Mocha Chip Frappuccino half-calf, machiatto.. ok (here is a little cheat-sheet of all the drinks, for all of those who are Starbucks obsessed. http://www.quicksilverweb.net/sbucks/sbcharts.htm.) All these are little morsels of the reality of the 'bobos' growth.

According to the author, his motivation for the book was that after returning to the U.S after four years in Europe he was welcomed to a paradise of change: Smoking was evil, health was cool, alcohol was out, double lattes were in; obnoxious conspicuous consumption was out, inconspicuous (but still obnoxious) consumption was in. Sheryl Crow and her likes would not be playing at anti-war protests, but rather booking concerts for Goldman Sachs. The Bobos are here, growing, and indoctrinating new 'bobos' at lightning speeds.

And you would think that Brooks would have a lot to say in terms of comparing Europe and this new America (after all, Europe is the home of so much of what Bobos aspire to — or, at least, aspire to visit on vacation). But his silence on this point belies the his argument's biggest weakness, because if Bobos really were enlightened and caring and committed to social improvement (and not, as one might assume, self-absorbed materialists) then the United States would look more like Europe. (Hopefully the Dollar starts looking more like the Euro sometime soon.)

But despite all this supposed incorporation of anti-materialist values, we still work our butts off in search of "the American Dream." We still measure success by the size of our portfolio, the 'iconic' place where we live, the exotic vacations we take ( and I am not talking about Venice or Paris, but rather Machu Pichu, Tierra del Fuego, the jungles of Colombia.) In essence the "bobos" are making the world a better place not by exercising their votes but by slimming their wallets. ;-)

Entrepreneurs know that for "Bobos," their purchasing power is a modern-day spiritual exercise; they decorate their homes with authentic Balinese batiks, they cook with olive oil made by Tuscan peasants, and they eat ice cream made by fat, aging hippies. (Yes, Ben & Jerry.) They run businesses with slogans like "you can't separate your social goals from your business," and they tell everyone that they don't work 100-hour work weeks because they have to, but because they really "love" and are "passionate" about what they do. Materialism and self-absorption still rule the day, albeit wrapped in earth tones, handmade soaps, and a Vaseline rubbed smile from Martha Stewart. (Yup, the 'bobo' chic is out of the big-house and will soon be on prime time. Only in a 'bobo' culture. ;-)

It's good to live in a Bobo world. The Bobos are really a great bunch of people who "have the ability to go down in history as the class that led America into another golden age."

More music

I just heard U2's Vertigo song, and find it funny how he starts the song..

U2 Vertigo Lyrics
-----------------------------------------------


Unos, dos, tres, catorce - (it's funny he sings one, two, three and then jumps to 14 - anyone have a clue why?

.
.
.
.

Hello, Hello
Hola! (Spanish for Hello)
I'm at a place called vertigo (¿Dónde está?) (Where is it?]
It's everything I wish I didn't know
Except you give me something I can feel
Feel

The night is full of holes
Those bullets rip the sky
Of ink with gold
They twinkle as the boys play rock and roll
They know that they can't dance
At least they know

I can sell the beat
I'm askin' for the cheque
Girl with crimson nails
Has Jesus 'round the neck
Swinging to the music
Swinging to the music
Woooao


Anyone have an idea the significance of the Spanish epiteths?

Humor Around the World!

I was sitting tonight with some friends at SnowShoe Mountain http://www.snowshoemtn.com/ after we got back from dinner, and humor is one of those inevitable items that occur when a bunch of witty people get together. So today one of my friends was unbelievable and typed out a list of jokes he found from around the world. I thought I post it to my blog.

Here are some of the top jokes in different countries:

Top joke in UK

A woman gets on a bus with her baby. The bus driver says: “That's the ugliest baby that I've ever seen. Ugh!” The woman goes to the rear of the bus and sits down, fuming. She says to a man next to her: “The driver just insulted me!” The man says: “You go right up there and tell him off – go ahead, I'll hold your monkey for you.”

Top joke in USA

A man and a friend are playing golf one day at their local golf course. One of the guys is about to chip onto the green when he sees a long funeral procession on the road next to the course. He stops in mid-swing, takes off his golf cap, closes his eyes, and bows down in prayer. His friend says: “Wow, that is the most thoughtful and touching thing I have ever seen. You truly are a kind man.” The man then replies: “Yeah, well we were married 35 years.”

Top joke in Canada

When NASA first started sending up astronauts, they quickly discovered that ballpoint pens would not work in zero gravity. To combat the problem, NASA scientists spent a decade and $12 billion to develop a pen that writes in zero gravity, upside down, underwater, on almost any surface including glass and at temperatures ranging from below freezing to 300 C. The Russians used a pencil.

Top joke in Australia

This woman rushed to see her doctor, looking very much worried and all strung out. She rattles off: “Doctor, take a look at me. When I woke up this morning, I looked at myself in the mirror and saw my hair all wiry and frazzled up, my skin was all wrinkled and pasty, my eyes were bloodshot and bugging out, and I had this corpse-like look on my face! What's WRONG with me, Doctor!?”
The doctor looks her over for a couple of minutes, then calmly says: “Well, I can tell you that there ain't nothing wrong with your eyesight....”

Top joke in Belgium

Why do ducks have webbed feet?
To stamp out fires.
Why do elephants have flat feet?
To stamp out burning ducks.

Top joke in Germany

A general noticed one of his soldiers behaving oddly. The soldier would pick up any piece of paper he found, frown and say: “That's not it” and put it down again. This went on for some time, until the general arranged to have the soldier psychologically tested. The psychologist concluded that the soldier was deranged, and wrote out his discharge from the army. The soldier picked it up, smiled and said: “That's it.”

Music and more Music

It's 2 am, and I listening to one of my favorite songs by Sarah Brightman. It's called HAREM. I really http://www.sarah-brightman.com/frame.html. There is a particularly interesting interview depicting how this CD was made. It's a very mysterious piece, HAREM, and it's very enthralling. I first heard of Sarah Brightman through her years with Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber - yup he is a "sir" because he is a 'knight.: He is the creator of some of the most spectacular musicals, Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats, EVITA, Phantom of the Opera and so many more.. http://www.westegg.com/unmaintained/alw/ The link to Sarah Brightman is not only through his music, but also through a marriage. They were married in 1984 but divorced in 1991.

If you get a chance to hear HAREM it will totally transform you.

Comments, kudos, sermons..

This blog entry is a synthesis of what a dear friend wrote me answering the battle of the "Street Smarts" vs. "Book Smarts."

Pilar,The Apprentice? Really? Really!Anyway, I’m glad if you enjoy it. I have a genuine disinterest in this nonsense, however. Frankly, I’m surprised that the world takes any advice from a guy who made his money the old fashioned way (inheritance), taken on too much debt by leveraging it up to the eyeballs (and almost lost everything), and has failed SPECTACULARLY at his only two divesting ventures (airline and casinos). What he has done, however, is cash in on his name. He is, after all, a total marketing phenomenon. I mean, who else could write books about his business acumen and then preside over not one, but two, failed business ventures. However, distasteful he is to me (and I know people who have dealt with him...he’s a total nightmare as a person), I understand you might be more interested in the participants who are seeking their 15 minutes. Maybe lessons are to be learned, but remember that this is “made for TV”. What you see are caricatures and characters. However, if you’re looking for a prediction, I’m not sure I can give you one. Of course, I’m biased, but it depends on what criteria you’re using for success, I guess. Owning a restaurant is not like running a multinational corporation. Maybe it is on a smaller scale, but don’t let that fool you. You still need the basic skills. Now, as you know there’s nothing you can’t learn in the public realm taught in business school. Same, for the most part, in Law School. And, by virtue of selecting lesser educated, BUT nevertheless successful street smarts, you’ve narrowed the gap. What if they chose unsuccessful street smarts? The bottom line is YOU know the answer and don’t need anyone’s help in figuring this out. Oh, well, enough sermon. ;-)

Racing, Racers, and Marketing

I decided to take a little time and write about something that is growing in popularity. I am very attracted to those who enjoy "speed," I do not mean the drug, but rather the velocity of an automobile, boat, motorcycle or any type of mechanical device. As such, I like being around people who like velocity as well, and who have a need for speed. This addiction is being taken to a level that the average Joe would not take it, and as such the growth of car racing. Let's take 2 people I know very well, Alex* races Ferraris, and Diego races BMWs. This is a sport that seems to be growing at tremendous speeds. (no pun intended :-) I see how obsessive this sport can be, and I started to think .. why? It intrigues me from a marketing perspective. My experience of racing is as I see it through my friends.. as an outsider I see them with their "babies" or "race-cars."

The way I see it, owning and riding a race-car can be a double-sided visceral experience. It goes beyond the freedom of zooming untethered along a windy stretch of open road. And for many, the race-car itself evokes fascination and rapture. After all, it's hard to find another product category where customers tattoo their bodies with the name of their car, where racers personify their cars and refer to them as "she," "my baby" and other loving terms.

This intense level of loyalty is at the heart of racing. I wonder why there has not been an accelerated marketing efforts to boost this small but passionate share of the U.S. amateur racing scene. Renowned for its exciting feeling of freedom and danger there's a critical opportunity to initiate a new member into the tribe known as "Racer" and keep him or her happy there for many years and miles to come. :-) So when I look at Alex and Diego and I start to think, what defines a racer? and I came up with the following, "It's a person who has a strong passion to differentiate himself and to partake in a unique culture of individuals." Is this a bit like being an "entrepreneur?" ;-)

From a marketing standpoint I see the "emotional connection" to be the most important. Clubs across the country organize their own series, and create racing seasons, as well as rallies. As I see it with my brief encounter with some of the racers I have witnessed - these guys (it's interesting to see that females are pretty much non-existent in this world) race cars largely for four reasons -- either pride of ownership and personal challenge, controllable risk and danger, insatiable competitive streak, or social companionship. But of course, since I am not a member of the racing 'tribe' or at least yet, I see this as an outsider looking in.

Entrepreneurialism

Tonight I started thinking about the meaning of the word "entrepreneur." I know that the first thought that comes to mind when one thinks of this word is an individual who has an idea, and sets out to create a profitable enterprise that adds value in some manner to society. It's an idea that fulfills a need, a want, solves something, or is better than the existing alternative. However, this definition seems a bit dry in my opinion. I look at myself, and I know that for me, being an entrepreneur is more a visceral feeling. Something I simply have.. I do think you either "got it" or "you don't." entrepreneurship is very difficult to 'fake' or 'copy.' You have to really thrive on the idea of making your "baby" work.. The notion of growing it, taking care of it, fertilizing it is what is thrilling.. I look at the word "entrepreneurial" and I decided to break the work down into two components. Entre and Neurialism. According to Merriam-Websters, "entre" is a variation of "enter"... and the definition is as follows:

enter-Variant(s): or entre entero-Function: combining formEtymology: Greek, from enteron -- more at INTER-: intestine

INTERNAL - intestine.. that to me is the KEY.

neu·ral Pronunciation: 'nur-&l, 'nyur-Function: adjective1 : of, relating to, or affecting a nerve or the nervous system2 : situated in the region of or on the same side of the body as the brain and spinal cord : DORSAL

The second part of the word - "neurialism" is derived from "neural." Once again, it is an internal sensation. It is so strong it affects the neural or nervous system ..

I would be interested to hear some thoughts about other "entrepreneurs."

Modern Millie

Here I am, just got back from a really fun broadway show called Modern Millie. http://www.modernmillie.com/home.htm The show epitomizes broadway at its finest. I absolutely adore all kinds of musicals, and if I could, I would attend a weekly show. :) It made me think of some of the shows I have attended.. Some of the favorites I have seen include, A Chorus Line, EVITA, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Grease, Rent , Les Miserables, Chicago, La Cage aux Folles, The Producers, TANGO... and others.. However, there are still some that I believe I ought to run to Broadway and experience. Such include:
The Phantom of the Opera
Mamma Mia!
Movin' Out
The Lion King

Operas is something I really love as well, Don Giovanni, AIDA, and the unforgettable Kirov Opera company.. They are amazing. Here is some of the repertoire they have presented .http://www.mariinsky.ru/en/opera/spectacle. Last year I went to see Mazeppa http://www.metopera.org/synopses/mazeppa.html at the Kennedy Center. Quite an intense Opera.

However, some years ago I had the great chance to see the show O. http://www.bellagio.com/pages/ent_main.asp This is the IT, the Best, the most amazing show I have ever seen. If you want a "WOW" experience this is the show.

Three Worlds Collide

Ok, so this is the reality of my life. :-) I am the personification of a "global citizen." The fact that I was brought up in a very Latin family, where structure, respect, values, and purity are a must for the youngest of 4. Well, the youngest of 4 where I was the only girl. So here I am, first day of school at the German School. I don't speak a word of German, everyone is German, the books are German, the teachers.. even the lunch that these kids bring to school in their lunch boxes is GERMAN.. I failed to mention all this is happening while I am living in Washington D.C. German in school, French as my foreign language, Spanish at home, English in the world. That is where I will like to begin this Blog. This is how my entreprenurial drive begins..