“Friends are friends.  Nurture your friendships but if being with them is not as productive, then just minimize your time with them.  If they are bad influences like they pull you down with regard to your character, then stay away from them lest you become like them.”  -Ed Pilapil Jr.

"I was not delivered into this world in defeat, nor does failure course through my veins. I am not a sheep waiting to be led to the slaughter. I am a lion and I refuse to talk, to walk, to sleep with the sheep." - Og Mandino

I just can’t recommend you enough reading this article from Forbes : How To Build a Powerful Professional Network. this is one of that posts that every entrepreneur should read. at least us, the kind of entrepreneurs whom bet for social relationships. Relationships are the cherry of the life’s cheese-cake. and this one, my friend, is an article written by a talented cherry picker. trust me.

You may be wondering why it’s important to take care of your social network. maybe you manage it in a very natural way and it’s working, so why to change it after all? Well, it’s all about influence. people around you will influence the way you think, communicate and live. get surrounded by the correct courtesans and you’ll end up becoming a prince, my friend. do it wrongly and you must assume the consequences. so, do your best to get it right, boy.

I’m not going to repeat what you have read in the Forbes article (you already read it, don’t you? if you don’t: please STOP. go to read that page, man!) I just want to remember you how important is this people for your life,  they are companions of your crusade, an encouragement voice to your dreams, diamonds in which you can trust and reasons to enjoy life.

One of my mentors and good friends is a great connector. I really admire this guy. I see him like a clear example of influence and goal oriented life, a priceless part of my inner circle. I come near him for guidance and to learn a little about life while sharing with him, and generally I go home with much more than that. So that’s why I get surprised and felt ashamed when I found this article from The Skool Of Life: How to become a Great Connector and Blah Blah, let me be sincere here, you know what Keith Ferrazi meant when he said ‘The Networking Jerk’? well, I haven’t read their works, but I can tell you I felt exactly like that when I thought in my perspective toward some of my connections. I felt I wasn’t thinking in bring value to their lives first than mine. And man, that’s the core of the relationship. Well, it was crude punch, that I’d take again, these little things remembers me how much I love my people and now I have something to work on for them : ) -props Keith for such a well coined  term-.

Now my question for you dear reader, Are you applying the ‘Give instead of get’ thing with them? What are you doing for your people?

Write by GRACIE CANNELL

Lately I’ve been surprised by the complexity I’ve finished using in my writing works. at Spanish 201 -yeah, I delay a little this subject. didn’t I?- my teacher seemed to feel complete, when I suggested that the problem with my essays was they we’re not clear enough. I almost can draw a relief aura around her, when she knew I understand her. Somewhere in my time-line, I got caught by the pleasures of complex and sophisticated language -that I found very attractive, by the way-. ironically, that provoke in my readers the opposite feeling after a couple of lines. I just heard the John C. Maxwell voice whispering me:

Communicators take something complicated and make it simple

John C. Maxwell

I’ve been trying to inspire deepest feelings in my audience using teachings from communication principles, modern oratory and human behaviors. but it was not working for me. What I really needed was to remember the basics: Few words, say more. Connect their hearts and then, let your truth to forge words that flow by themselves.

And these are 7 things you probably didn’t know about our political status and new president:

1.Santos like Pastrana, graduated from the San Carlos School.

2.He got master degrees in journalism and business from harvard (harvard is almost traditional in our presidents, Uribe and Pastrana got degrees there too).

3.Last year, the prudent fiscal measures took by the Uribe’s government against the global crisis, achieved a Colombia’s growth rate of 0.4 (the latin America average index was -2.6)

4.Uribe’s government reduced the FARC army’s soldiers from 16,000 to 8,000.

5.The Santos grandfather’s brother was Colombia president too.

6.The exports with Venezuela went down 68% between March 2009 and March 2010.

7.Colombia is actually the Latin America’s fourth largest oil producer. It has increased its exports to China, Chile, the US, and Brazil.

I want to finish this listing, saying that the most important achievement of the Uribe’s government, is for me, the return of our nation hope. We believe again in our people good will. the time of fear and pain of our nation is passing to the old pages of history. And a new chapter of our country has started, upon the sacrifice of brave men who did not resign these difficult eight years.

I really thank God for everyone of these great men. Dad, may you bring us peace and development for the next four years? Thanks in advance.

Well I ordered it. Unagi roll. I just wanted to devour some eels -Unagi = eel – to keep my carnivore moral in peace. but what I found was a soft and tasty sushi, maybe I tested it before, but yesterday I discovered it one of my favorite rolls. The SD!’s recommendation for sushi rolls at Sake.

Hope you like it (don’t forget to comment about your favorite one ; )

My today's favorite

My favs >

(Arghhh I can’t add the embbeded showroom in the post!! ok, just hit the link above, while I discover what’s wrong with flash and wordpress ; )

This expresses what I want to tell you today. just trust in God and believe that you’ll found Great things after the curve ; )

Today I was  having a conversation with my little sister Karina -love you honey : )- about her career and what she’s gonna study after high school,   she has some doubts about  -just like many of us at this age-, and was wondering which would be the correct path to seek. that brought some light to our repetitive question: “So how did you came to software architecture!?”.  in my case, I chose Computer Science, after trying Electronic engineering at the State University in Bogotá, Colombia. It wasn’t my type. And I start to get angry with anything related to the career by the second semester. after Technoppia -A lan party coffee near the university I used to visit -yes, it was where I was spent my free time. Ja! you never even imagine it muahaha- was closed. I start to realize that something was wrong after that. why a triviality like a problem with my Lan party partner and provider -sniff.. sniff…- was making me feel so angry?

Well a couple of months passed. and I got it. Computer science was my business. no the electronic engineer thing, nor another similar branch. Computer science was the thing I would like to do the rest of my life.

Then I choose to change my paths and maps to point out that new polar star: CS.

The next year (after a improvised vacations created by my university desertion) I start to work with an startup in Colombia, building software for embedded devices. what eventually -Thank you God, I love too. ok, specially to YOU : ) #1- bring me here to DR, where I found great people who help me a lot in my path with software development.

lets make the history short deleting some non-PG scenes and histories…

I found myself solving repetitive problems with the same solutions time by time, refactoring a lot of my code and documenting my work for the mental  health of my team. when I discovered I need a new approach, a new way to solve problems and bring to the table new solutions.

Taraaaa: Software architecture – two words that summarized things that I wanted to do but I can’t even explain

Well, we’re near of our 3rd year here.

And you know what, it has been great. I like the path that the Lord -yeah, I give all the credit to the Great man here- helped me to choose after these years. and although it wasn’t very clear at the start. to start and give the first step was important. So little sister, just be honest with yourself. choose the path that the Lord puts in your heart and be loyal with it and: Pray, pray, pray hehehhe -I will be with you on this.

Norman Schwartzkopf  said once:

“Courage brother, do not stumble, though thy path be dark as night: There is a star to guide the humble, trust in God, and do the right. Let the road be dark and dreary and its end far out of sight. Face it bravely, strong or weary. Trust God, and do”

I Agree.

PD: It’s 2:22 Am here Karina : O

I wonder, if Steve knew a priori who Ryan is. and the probability to get his chat published in Gizmodo. but certainly, he did a great job defending the polemic position of Apple, to stay loyal to a close politic toward Adobe’s Flash player.

“As for us, we’re just doing what we can to try and make (and preserver) the user experience we envision. You can disagree with us, but our motives are pure.”

Well done Steve. you really know how to express kindly your disagreement.

Nonetheless, I still wonder: Why do you think he answered in first place?

Desde el mismo principio de mi estadía en Santo Domingo, empece a notar ese batallón de fichas en cada esquina.
como un ejercito ancestral de vigilancia de parrandas y colmados, las fichas de domino surgían en cualquier
juntadera o agrupación subversiva del campus -aja!-.

Dominoo!!!

Algo de historia

Recuerdo que en mis inocentes 5 años -maso-, perdí irremediable y sistemáticamente contra alguna invitada llanera en nuestra casa en Bogota, Colombia. así que bien, que puedo decir. como que logro demeritar un poco el deporte dentro de mis libros.

Curiosidad y ego
Sin embargo ayer, mientras esperabamos un juego de estrellas de la NBA -que por cierto no llego jamas… teniamos que madrugar- una amiga logro convencerme de jugar UN POCO, valiendose de mi curiosidad y ego mega-competitivo -my fault, my fault I know-.

1…2…4….4? como que 4!?
Luego de momentos de desconcierto, un auto encierro que le regalo como 80 puntos a mi querida contrincante y una partida super frustrada por la ansiedad del partido de NBA.

La susodicha agresora me explica un par de técnicas de conteo! -si! c.o.n.t.e.o!! cielos nunca me imagine que jugaras llevando un departamento de contabilidad interno Abi! jajaja-.

Pero bien, al cabo de un par de minutos y muchísimas miradas perdidas logramos pasar un buen rato. me gano por 6 puntos : | no es increíble!? 6!!

Hey! una mas para la lista! si tienes una tarde de calma y quietud -ja!- en Santo Domingo. Domino, sofa y café pueden con el trabajo.

Y lo acepto: Me gusto pareció interesante el asunto de las fichitas. : )