This new year 2008, I promise to see the world more for what it is, than what I will like it to be

To internalize my goals more and pursue it with single mindedness, that bothers on blindness and rage

I promise to be more faithful to my family, and help to the best of my ability

To recognize more that my success and who I am is defined by their success too

I promise to recognize that life is too short and hence to enjoy it

To recognize that if I die today, I will probably not regret any play that I have not played or any pleasure I have not enjoyed but rather the work that I have not worked - that is just me

To remind myself, that work as defined by other people is torture, but work that I defined for myself is rewarding in itself

That I can't change other people and I can't make them do a darn thing, but I can influence others by putting my self completely in their shoes and wanting people to do what they already want to do lead to natural harmony

I promise to read more, sleep more, work smarter and not harder, learn a lot, but try to apply everything I have learn

I promise to take more risks but make sure they are calculated risk, to swing for the fences but not with abandon

To recognize when others are telling me the truth, even when it is not palatable.

To complete things that I start, to focus on a few things and see them to completion

I promise to listen twice as hard and speak half as much

To say I love you to my wife more often, to call my Mom more

I promise to be a better husband

To keep to my diet and go to the gym

I promise.. you know this is a wish list y'all.. right?

I have had two conversations today both of which confirms a thesis I have with regards to our products. SIMPLE.

First, I talked to the receptionist in our building Katzia - she had just bought a iPhone (Note - most of the receptionist at Microsoft, I have chatted with have a love hate relationship with the company, they are here but they don't feel like they belong). So I asked Katzia, is that an iPhone, why does it look different? Yes, she said, it is in a case. Do you like it? I love it! And I love it because it is simple - easy to use.

Note that I didn't ask her why she love her iPhone, but she is a net promoter because of its simplicity.

Second, the mail delivery guy was just here and he was trying to figure out his hand help scanner/computer and I joked that computer are designed that way, i.e. not to work when you need them most. He replied, the problem just as with your PC, is that it tries to do to many things at the same time.

OK - this is an old post, the point is keep things simple. I am posting anyway.

So here I was feeling all cool with myself - It is a Sunday morning, Zune (Not iPod) in my hear listening to FU_GEE_LA.

This song brings back  so much memories for me, my Haitian family in CT and all my Haitian homies. Of course, I remember all the UB peeps and I am thinking, it is about time I take a vacation to the east coast. Hit all the clubs from New haven, to Manhattan, from Brooklyn to Jersey. That would be a lot of fun.

Anyways, got to the office and started listening to the version on the official CD. Dang, over produced men -- when it comes to the Fugees, it is all about the bootleg version.

The English word strategy derives from "strategos", a Greek word that means "leader of the army". Thus, strategy implies generalship.

Strategy puts knowledge, insights and experience to the best practical use.

The first rule of strategy is: See things as they are, not how you want them to be. Take a unbiased look at your assumptions and beliefs. Do not dwell on what worked in the past. Live in the present so you can clearly see what you are up against then plan accordingly.

Presence of mind is your ally in balancing out threats or challenges. Do not pay attention to what people say about themselves; judge them by their actions. Further, understand this actions as strategic maneuvers.

Don't drink your own kool-aid, in evaluating yourself, don't take account your thoughts or you ambitions, but rather your actions and result - deal with the reality the way it is. Acknowledge your current condition, however do not let it define you.

Set you mind, to that which you want to accomplish, and pursue it with all that you've got. Decision, Discipline and Diligence.

First, let me start by saying I have no strong opinion on Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - the president of Iran, except the smattering of things I have picked up in the news. For example, he is a college prof., he didn't believe in the holocaust etc. Now, I am going to learn this guy's name and listen a little more carefully to what he says.

However, for a much reviled man to blog, this is very telling, for me it is saying he is willing to engage in some dialogue (open or not) and that is more than can be said for George Bush and his "the internets" and "the Google" blunders.

check out Mahmoud's blog for yourself:

http://www.ahmadinejad.ir/

There are these two places in Nigeria. One, Nnewi is known for the entrepreneurial prowess of her people, while the other is known from the number of Ph.D's they produce.

While technically, I am from the brainiacs side of the country, what I'd rather be is from the business side of town. Yes, I love economics, finance and other subjects like that, but my interest so far has been that theoretically.  But I will like to move it to the realm of the practical.

An ideas?

'Cos I really want to be from Nnewi