en*light Life

We found this little video that has a wonderful end message. Hope you enjoy!

This inspirational book reads like a Chicken Soup for the Soul type of book full of stories to inspire. Auriela McCarthy, who also has an online radio show (see: http://www.webtalkradio.net/content/view/227/30/), witnessed transformation occuring in people once they were told inspirational stories that connected with whatever personal trauma they were experiencing. Although she claims that this is not a “how to” book, her book has something to inspire anyone. Power of the Possible is based on true stories, of people that have healed emotionally and physically by changing their beliefs. Many have benefitted from hearing their stories.

If you would like a sample, you can review 2 chapters of Auriela’s book by signing up for her newsletter at her website: http://www.aurielamccarthy.com/Welcome.html

Buy the book from Amazon.com:

No matter how hectic the holidays may be, having friends and family to celebrate with makes everything worth while. My godmother’s family (or my second extended family) is featured in the video below. The song was written by one of the talented daughters of this amazing family. Hope this video inspires the holiday spirit in you.

Also, there is also a special contest on their website. For a chance to win, visit: http://www.mistletoekisses.net/

The 400 Richest Americans
Secrets Of The Self-Made 2007
by: Lisa LaMotta

As kids, America’s richest entrepreneurs dreamt of curing patients, flying jets, writing plays and bagging base hits for the Chicago Cubs. Instead, they started hundreds of companies, employed hundreds of thousands of people and bagged $1.06 trillion.

Sure, there was some ducking and weaving. When asked for the next billion-dollar idea waiting to be exploited, Donald Trump replied, “If I knew, I wouldn’t tell.” Logging tycoon Tim Blixeth’s answer: “Stay tuned to 2008!”

One message came through loud and clear, though: It’s good to be the guy in charge–and the money’s nice too.

The top eight spots on the Forbes 400 belong to entrepreneurs, as opposed to well-paid corporate soldiers or the silver-spoon set. The combined net worth of the top eight hit $237 billion, or 15% of the whole pie. And of the entire list, 270 (or 68%) are self-made, up from 261 last year. Average net worth of all self-made members: $3.9 billion.

While their conquests run the gamut, from real estate and oil to media and technology, these billionaire-entrepreneurs also have a few things in common, according to our 20-question survey.

In the accompanying slide shows, 21 self-made members of the 2007 Forbes 400 list offer an exclusive, introspective and often playful peek into their best days, worst qualities and hardest lessons.

We also coaxed them into sharing their thoughts on how to invest $100,000 right now (a few said put it with them); luck’s contribution to their success (95%, says Kenny Troutt, founder of Excel Communications); and the pitfalls of leaving too much to the kids (money man Richard Rainwater says $50 million is too much, while $1 billion each works for supermarket and oil titan John Catsimatidis).

They even told us with whom they would most want to share a cocktail–two said “me.”

A healthy chunk admitted that they are impatient to a fault. (Patience might be a virtue, but it might not make you rich.) As for guilty pleasures, food was especially delicious–Sandy Weill, former head of Citigroup (nyse: C - news - people ), goes for chocolate sorbet and pizza with jalapeños.

Then again, who’s got time for guilt when you’re worth $2.4 billion? Says media mogul Mort Zuckerman: “There used to be guilt associated with most of my pleasures, and now there is none.”

When it came to best days in life thus far, weddings and births took the cake–with one glaring exception. Casino kingpin Phillip Ruffin’s best day ever: Aug. 10, 2007, when he says he put “$1.24 billion into my checking account

Other answers were all over the map. Favorite books ranged from, yes, War and Peace to The Black Stallion; some even cited books they themselves had written. The group’s study-to-party ratio in college bounced around too–not least because a few didn’t go to college.

Great wealth doesn’t come without a few bruises, and the group was fairly forthcoming–even poignant–when it came to sharing hard lessons learned. Manufacturing titan Michael Heisley had to admit that “wealth is one of the most corrupting influences in my life.” Kenny Trout’s epiphany: “Money does not buy happiness.”

Of all the respondents, though, 86-year-old James Sorenson, the largest shareholder in Abbott Laboratories (nyse: ABT - news - people ) and a junk-food enthusiast, perhaps best captured the fundamental spirit of entrepreneurship. Asked for the hardest lesson he had to learn, he replied: “To spend my energy and resources investing in my own ideas, rather than those of other people. I need to drive my own vision.”

And that’s why he’s worth $4.5 billion.

Slideshow can be viewed at:  http://www.forbes.com/2007/09/19/secrets-self-made-ent-manage-cx_ll_richlist07_0920guiltypleasure_slide_5.html?thisSpeed=15000

Links to the full interviews: http://www.forbes.com/2007/09/20/citigroup-abbott-trump-ent-fin-cx_bn_richlist07_0920secrets_land.html

When he was just 14 years old, Malawian inventor William Kamkwamba built his family an electricity-generating windmill from spare parts, working from rough plans he found in a library book called “Using Energy” and modifying them to fit his needs. The windmill he built powers four lights and two radios in his family home. 

William appeared at the TEDGlobal Conference  (video can be viewed here) where he talked about his invention, and shared his dreams: To build a larger windmill to help with irrigation for his entire village, and to go back to school. Following Kamkwamba’s appearance at TED, there was an outpouring of support for him and his modest but hugely promising work. Members of the TED community got together to help him improve his power system (by incorporating solar energy), and further his education through school and mentorships.

You can read the ongoing details on his blog (which he keeps with help from his mentor).

We wanted to take a moment to share this inspirational video of a speech that Steve Jobs’s gave at Stanford University.  His wish to all to “Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish” is a great message, and powerful words to live by!

For a text version of Steve’s powerful speech:

http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/jobs-061505.html