"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." Leonardo da Vinci

"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's mind there are few." Shunryu Suzuki

"If you're not prepared to be wrong, you'll never come up with anything original." Sir Ken Robinson

Today's image: Mujer envuelta en nube by Memo Vasquez Beautiful shot. Thank you for sharing.

Five things to start doing
in 2009

5. Help others. Be a volunteer, a mentor, a mensch. You get what you give. This year, more than ever, you can make a big difference in someone's life by simply making, taking or returning a phone call.

Don't ignore the email, reply.

Be concerned enough to go in search of need.

Get seriously involved in your community and deeply engaged in your industry by giving your time to helping others less fortunate than yourself.

It all counts, just care enough to do it.

Be dedicated to something bigger than yourself. Give blood, donate canned goods, vote and most important, be there.

Be there to offer an encouraging word, a supportive gesture, a smile, a shoulder, a dollar, an idea and that precious gift of your sincere praise.

Be there to listen.

Be there when others have turned away, failed to show.

Be there to ring their phone, to send that email. Let them know they are not alone.

Be there and make a difference, because you can, because you know, they really need, want and appreciate knowing that someone has not forgotten them, that someone cares.

Be there in nothing less than the way you would want and expect others to be there for you. Mind The Golden Rule. If you fire people, don't be a jerk.

It only takes a few minutes each day for you to be there to help others.

No excuses. Lend a hand. Have a heart. Be there, now. Please. Thank you.

Read and share: How to talk to a friend who's been laid off via Penelope Trunk's Brazen Careerist, here.

Bonus: Blog: PR squared by Todd Defren. Conversations about social media and marketing. A good read here. [Get Todd's free e-book, Brink - A Social Media Guide from the Edge via PDF here]

Bonus 2: Why I Gave Up Trying to Balance Work and Life and Decided to Stay Sane Instead. An interesting post by Sam Davidson, here. [My thanks to Rebecca Thorman for the tip]

Grapes: A killer red from Argentina. Trivento. Select, Mendoza, 2006. A Malbec. Outstanding value at under $10. Drinks like a $50 bottle.