Aug. 5, 2002 – In a long-term study that looked at water contaminants in marinas and areas adjacent to marinas on St. Thomas and St. John, researchers found the two types of places had similar pollution problems.
"There wasn't really a significant difference between water quality inside and outside marinas," said Lynne Hinkey, who now works with the Seagrant program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Charleston, South Carolina.
However, when marinas and adjacent areas were compared to undeveloped areas, the study found significant differences in water contamination.
Hinkey, who formerly worked with the Seagrant program at the University of the Virgin Islands, and University of Rhode Island graduate student Barry Volson, who got his undergraduate degree from UVI, conducted the study. It was undertaken for the Association of Marina Operators of the Virgin Islands and the University of Puerto Rico Department of Marine Sciences.
The researchers looked at Crown Bay Marina, Independent Boat Yard and American Yacht Harbor on St. Thomas, and at Cruz Bay on St. John. Hinkey said that because Cruz Bay has a large concentration of boats, it was expected to have characteristics similar to those of a marina.
As a control, the study used Great Bay on St. Thomas's East End. Since the study was done before the Ritz Carlton began its recent condominium construction project, the area was still in an undeveloped state. ("Thank God I finished it before the Ritz condos," Hinkey said.)
A subsequent study by Hinkey and Volson measured contaminants often found at marinas. For this study, they picked the two marinas at opposite ends of the spectrum — Crown Bay as St. Thomas's newest marina, which is breezy and has good flushing, and Independent Boat Yard as the island's oldest marina, tucked back in the mangroves.
The scientists looked for petroleum from engines and heavy metals from bottom paint, maintenance, batteries and keels. They also looked at water contaminants from non-marina sources — for example, PCB's from industrial operations such as the Water and Power Authority and pesticides from government and private mosquito-control programs.
Most of the pollutants found were site specific. Petroleum products were found near fuel docks, metals were near areas associated with runoff from maintenance sites, and both petroleum products and metals were found near storm water drainage areas. Many of the contaminants found at marinas are the result of "past usage and practices," not current marina or boating practices, the researchers noted.
Both studies found that site and design are big factors in determining water and sediment quality impacts on marinas. "Those marinas are sited perfectly for what they have," Hinkey said.
She said the clay bottom at Independent Boat Yard binds up the heavy metals found in bottom paint. And at Crown Bay Marina, petroleum from the nearby WAPA plant gets washed out of the sandy soil.
"But there was no plan on the part of either marina," Hinkey said, referring to coincidences that put the marinas at locations right for their conditions.
She also said that boaters get a bad rap for polluting marinas and harbors with the contents of their sewage tanks. "The coliform counts were surprisingly low," she said. In fact, she said, the worst sewage pollution problem is caused by the contents of malfunctioning septic tanks washing down the hillsides into the water below.
The study suggests targeting management practices toward specific sources of pollution. This means marina owners must find out what causes the pollution at their particular locales and determine effective actions to stop it.
For example, Hinkey noted, putting oil containment booms at fuel docks doesn't protect marina waters from petroleum that comes from parking lots and roadways; vegetation planted between the marina and the water is the best general way to reduce pollution of that type.

Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

Aug. 4, 2002 – Financial management is the topic for a one-day seminar on "Smart Money Moves for Women" that will be presented at the end of this month on St. Thomas and St. Croix by the Women's Business Center.
Yvette deLaubanque, executive director of the St. Croix-based Women's Business Center, said many women just don't understand finances. They're so busy running businesses, their jobs and their families, she said, that this necessity falls through the cracks.
Additionally, deLaubanque noted, many married women leave the finances to their husbands. And if their husbands die or leave them, they find themselves on their own "and they haven't a clue," she said.
Each seminar will have three workshops to be led by Mary Grate-Pyos of Financially Focused Inc. They will cover steps to take to become a wealthy woman, getting your financial house in order, and ways to repair your credit rating and eliminate debt.
Grate-Pyos is the author of "Wealthy Women — Wise Choices." A financial analyst and personal financial writer living near Washington, D.C., she is a weekly columnist for the Capitol Spotlight newspaper, a contributing writer for Onyx Woman magazine and president of Financially Focused, an enterprise that conducts financial seminars.
Also at the seminars, Lisa Harper of Warm Spirit, a company that sells body-care products, will be on hand to discuss "entreprenuerial" opportunities with that company.
On St. Thomas, the event will be held on Aug. 28 at Palms Court Harborview Hotel.
On St. Croix, it will take place at Gertrude's Restaurant on Aug. 30.
Both seminars run from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with a book signing and Warm Spirit "pampering" session to follow from 3 to 5 p.m.
The $40 fee for each seminar includes lunch, a copy of Grate-Pyos' book, and a gift from Warm Spirit. To register, call 773-4995.
Grate-Pyos also will lead a financial workshop for college students on the University of the Virgin Islands St. Thomas campus on Aug. 29, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Call 693-1120 for more information on the UVI presentation.

Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

Aug. 4, 2002 – Financial management is the topic for a one-day seminar on "Smart Money Moves for Women" that will be presented at the end of this month on St. Thomas and St. Croix by the Women's Business Center.
Yvette deLaubanque, executive director of the St. Croix-based Women's Business Center, said many women just don't understand finances. They're so busy running businesses, their jobs and their families, she said, that this necessity falls through the cracks.
Additionally, deLaubanque noted, many married women leave the finances to their husbands. And if their husbands die or leave them, they find themselves on their own "and they haven't a clue," she said.
Each seminar will have three workshops to be led by Mary Grate-Pyos of Financially Focused Inc. They will cover steps to take to become a wealthy woman, getting your financial house in order, and ways to repair your credit rating and eliminate debt.
Grate-Pyos is the author of "Wealthy Women — Wise Choices." A financial analyst and personal financial writer living near Washington, D.C., she is a weekly columnist for the Capitol Spotlight newspaper, a contributing writer for Onyx Woman magazine and president of Financially Focused, an enterprise that conducts financial seminars.
Also at the seminars, Lisa Harper of Warm Spirit, a company that sells body-care products, will be on hand to discuss "entreprenuerial" opportunities with that company.
On St. Thomas, the event will be held on Aug. 28 at Palms Court Harborview Hotel.
On St. Croix, it will take place at Gertrude's Restaurant on Aug. 30.
Both seminars run from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with a book signing and Warm Spirit "pampering" session to follow from 3 to 5 p.m.
The $40 fee for each seminar includes lunch, a copy of Grate-Pyos' book, and a gift from Warm Spirit. To register, call 773-4995.
Grate-Pyos also will lead a financial workshop for college students on the University of the Virgin Islands St. Thomas campus on Aug. 29, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Call 693-1120 for more information on the UVI presentation.

Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

Get Ideas: Just Ask
In his book, "Weird Ideas That Work," Stanford professor Robert Sutton suggests that employers use job interviews to get new ideas, not just to screen candidates. He says: Give job candidates problems that you cannot solve. Listen as much as you can. Talk as little as you can.
Tip: You can use this same strategy even if you are not hiring people. The next time a friend asks you how your work is going, tell him or her one of the problems you are grappling with, and ask what they might do in your place. For example, if you are a writer and are stuck on a plot point, ask a friend what he or she thinks could happen next in the story. It can be an advantage if your friend knows little about your field — sometimes the best ideas come from people who are fresh to a challenge and do not know what cannot be done. Remember not to judge their ideas in front of them; just thank them.
What Are You Assuming?
Sutton also has this recommendation: When you know that you need to head in a new direction, but you do not know which road to take, sometimes the best thing is to do whatever is most ridiculous or random. Thinking up the dumbest and most impractical thing that you could do is a powerful way to explore your assumptions about the world.
Tip: The next time you are trying to decide something, come up with a solution that you know cannot possibly work. Then ask yourself why it cannot possibly work. The answers will reveal the assumptions you are making about the situation. Then examine each of the assumptions to see whether it is necessarily true. New solutions may suggest themselves once you have dropped the false assumption.
Go By the Numbers
When brainstorming, either by yourself or in a group, number the ideas that come up, Tom Kelley suggests in his book, "The Art of Innovation." Kelley says it may seem like an obvious idea but it took them ten years to catch on to it at idea-factory Ideo. He says it has two advantages. First, it motivates the participants to have a set number of ideas in a certain time period. Second, it makes it easier to go back to earlier ideas during the discussion.
Tip: According to Kelley, a hundred ideas per hour usually indicates a good brainstorming session. By setting this kind of goal for yourself, you will not have to time to judge each idea as you go along, which is one of the things that often kills a brainstorming session. It also guarantees that you write down every idea (another important guideline for effective brainstorming).
Be Here Now
It is very easy to spend too much time thinking about the past or the future and forget that the only thing that truly exists is now. Many people spend much of their lives in what was or what will be, and do not notice what is there for them in the moment … and thus the minutes, hours, and years of their lives slip away. How to get back to the Now? In his book, "Living on Purpose," Dan Millman suggests a practical strategy: First ask, "Am I relaxed?" (And consciously relax your body.) Second, ask, "Am I breathing fully and evenly?" (And take three slow, deep, relaxing breaths.) Third, ask, "Am I acting, moving, or behaving with refinement, quality, and elegance?" (Then give your full attention to what you are doing in the moment, whether sitting, standing, driving, doing the dishes — and do it with a sense of grace and elegance.) This three-question wake-up call serves to bring our attention back to the body, and back to the present moment … the body stands in the here-and-now.
Tip: The next time you find yourself getting lost in the past or future, try Millman's technique. If you want to make this a habit, write a key word for each step on a little card and keep it visible on your desk.

* * * * * * * * * *
Did you know that the "Power Trances" CD by Jurgen Wolff can help you relax, generate ideas, and still the inner critic? And that it makes a terrific present that friends can use again and again? For information about content and ordering, send an email to BstormUK@aol.com.
Create Your Own Villain
Usually we encourage you to think positively, but sometimes a bit of strategic negative thinking can help, too. Have you noticed how hard people will work when they are fighting an enemy? The more specific the enemy, the better. You can use this power by creating a symbol of whatever is holding you back. Most of the time, this is not another person, but some aspect of yourself. For example, if you're trying to lose weight and shape up, most likely it is your own problems with sticking to your diet and exercise regime that get in your way. You can create an image for this "enemy." Maybe you want to imagine Blimpo — a cartoon-like, hugely overweight and slobby version of yourself. Blimpo hates it when you exercise or when you resist the lure of chocolates because Blimpo wants to make you into his or her own image. Imagine your reaction if, the next time you are tempted, you call Blimpo to mind. You can even play out the reaction of your villain when you resist temptation -— make it big and make it fun.
Tip: Decide what is your biggest enemy — the thing that holds you back from doing or being what you would like to do or be. Create a super-villain to embody that. Each time you are confronted with a challenge, visualise the enemy. Make the right choice, and enjoy the downfall of the enemy! The best thing is this all happens in your imagination. You do not need to tell anyone else about it — all they will notice is that you are doing better than ever before.
And Last But Not Least … A Quote to Think About:
"Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves." — Carl Jung
Our web site is www.BrainstormNet.com . You might also enjoy my book, "Do Something Different," available now in the United Kingdom from book stores and
Amazon.co.uk, and in the U.S. from Amazon.com.
Requests to subscribe (or unsubscribe) should be sent to BstormUK@aol.com.
We also welcome your comments and suggestions and we do not sell or share our mailing lists
Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

Here is your June e-bulletin. I hope it finds you enjoying the summer. Now let us get started with a useful way of looking at life day-to-day…
Use Eagle Vision
Writer Martha Beck says that in some Native American cultures the eagle is a symbol of a type of seeing that stays above ordinary life, putting everything into a larger context. She advises thinking this way during your daily planning sessions. Two questions will help you: What experiences do I want to have in my time on this earth? And, How do I want the world to be different because I have lived? For each item on your to-do list, ask whether it adds to a positive answer to both of these questions. If not, get rid of it –- dump it, delegate it or, if you have promised and cannot avoid it, do it but make sure you do not take it on again.
Tip: Ease into this by using eagle vision once a week at first, then extend it until you are doing it every day. Once you have decided a task is worth doing, switch to mouse vision, which means giving all your attention to the task at hand until it is done. If you want to find out more about these techniques, see the book "Finding Your Own North Star," by Martha Beck.
Use Doodle Power
Fast Company magazine reveals that the design for the stunning new Guinness Building in Dublin, which looks like a giant glass of Guinness, was sketched out on a cocktail napkin. Adrian Caddy, creative director of Imagination, Ltd., which worked on the building’s design, says, "Most good ideas are born out of a little sketch. A crudely drawn doodle has the power to communicate an idea to a really huge audience without much backup explanation. … You can capture a lot of passion and energy in a small space."
Tip: If you make presentations, try giving up the Powerpoint or the slick overheads and make simple drawings to illustrate your points. If you cannot draw a straight line, not to worry — very few drawings require straight lines. The novelty of your drawings will make up for any lack of technique.
Is it Time for You to Fire Anyone?
In the current issue of Inc. Magazine, Norm Brodsky writes about a lawyer friend of his who recently fired three clients because they were rude to his office staff, or took forever to pay their bills, or were generally disagreeable. At first Brodsky thought this was admirable but fiscally foolish, but changed his mind when his company had to deal with a verbally abusive customer. He fired her, too, although it cost his company a large contract. Life is too short, he decided, and he has never regretted it.
Is there anybody in your life who needs to be fired? It could be supplier, a customer, even a former friend who does not respect you. It could even be a store — all too often, we go back to a store even though the service was terrible. The other day I shopped, for the last time, at a supermarket where the counter clerk was more interested in chatting with a colleague than serving customers. Before you ask why I didn’t complain to the manager, he was standing by watching all this. We all deserve respect, and there are a lot of people out there who will give it us, if we just decide to go looking for them.
Tip: The next time you are dealt with disrespectfully, consider firing the person or company responsible. They may not care — but you will feel much better.
Where Are You Sitting?
I have previously recommended the wonderful book, "The Art of Responsibility," by Rosamund and Benjamin Zander. I also found an interview with them on the Tom Peters website, in which Ben Zander talks about how he notices that when he gives a lecture, some people automatically head for the back row. He says when people go into a room, their tendency, without really realizing it, is to take themselves away from the action. Either they want to observe, or they want to hide, to escape, or to avoid participating in some way.
Sometimes he invites them to come sit at the front, not because it is bad to sit at the back, but because he just wants them to consider the options.
He says, imagine what it would be like in a world in which people did not hold back, that they really just came down to the front. Even if they did not have any idea what was going to happen, and yet they were willing to really risk something … If we all lived our lives that way, what a different world we would be living in.
His point: If you decide to sit at the back, that’s fine, but then it is a considered move, not an automatic one of shrinking from participation.
Question: Where do you sit most of the time (literally or metaphorically)? Are you taking the back row seat in your own life? What might it be like to move to the front?
Tip: The next time you find yourself automatically heading for the back row (again, literally or metaphorically) stop to ask yourself what it might be like to try sitting in the front row instead. I bet you will find an opportunity to do this in the next 24 hours.

* * * * * * * *
Did You Know that the "Power Trances CD" by Jurgen Wolff can help you relax, generate ideas, and still the inner critic? And that it makes a terrific present that friends can use again and again? For information about content and ordering, send an email to BstormUK@aol.com.
Christmas in June or July
Also on the Tom Peters website was an interview with author and consultant Harriet Rubin.
One of the things she talks about is three ways of giving presents. One is that she always carries around two books, one she’s reading, and one she’s read and will give to somebody she meets. The second is giving unique gifts on particularly obscure occasions, when people don’t expect them. And, finally, when a potential client rejects you, giving them a present as a way to keep the channel of communication open. These are three great chances to create positive feelings or to feed friendships. I especially like the second one, because everybody likes getting presents, and especially when they are unexpected. They don’t have to be big things, either, just a reminder that you were thinking of the recipient.
Tip: This newsletter is about creativity, and one of the best things we can create is good feelings. Think about whom you could delight with a little present this week (you could even give yourself a present …).
And Last But Not Least … A Quote to Think About:
"People often say that this or that person has not yet found him or herself. But the self is not something that one finds. It is something one creates. — Thomas Szasz
Our web site is www.BrainstormNet.com . You might also enjoy my book, "Do Something Different," available now in the United Kingdom from book stores and
Amazon.co.uk, and in the U.S. from Amazon.com.
Requests to subscribe (or unsubscribe) should be sent to BstormUK@aol.com.
We also welcome your comments and suggestions and we do not sell or share our mailing lists
Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

Get Ideas: Just Ask
In his book, "Weird Ideas That Work," Stanford professor Robert Sutton suggests that employers use job interviews to get new ideas, not just to screen candidates. He says: Give job candidates problems that you cannot solve. Listen as much as you can. Talk as little as you can.
Tip: You can use this same strategy even if you are not hiring people. The next time a friend asks you how your work is going, tell him or her one of the problems you are grappling with, and ask what they might do in your place. For example, if you are a writer and are stuck on a plot point, ask a friend what he or she thinks could happen next in the story. It can be an advantage if your friend knows little about your field — sometimes the best ideas come from people who are fresh to a challenge and do not know what cannot be done. Remember not to judge their ideas in front of them; just thank them.
What Are You Assuming?
Sutton also has this recommendation: When you know that you need to head in a new direction, but you do not know which road to take, sometimes the best thing is to do whatever is most ridiculous or random. Thinking up the dumbest and most impractical thing that you could do is a powerful way to explore your assumptions about the world.
Tip: The next time you are trying to decide something, come up with a solution that you know cannot possibly work. Then ask yourself why it cannot possibly work. The answers will reveal the assumptions you are making about the situation. Then examine each of the assumptions to see whether it is necessarily true. New solutions may suggest themselves once you have dropped the false assumption.
Go By the Numbers
When brainstorming, either by yourself or in a group, number the ideas that come up, Tom Kelley suggests in his book, "The Art of Innovation." Kelley says it may seem like an obvious idea but it took them ten years to catch on to it at idea-factory Ideo. He says it has two advantages. First, it motivates the participants to have a set number of ideas in a certain time period. Second, it makes it easier to go back to earlier ideas during the discussion.
Tip: According to Kelley, a hundred ideas per hour usually indicates a good brainstorming session. By setting this kind of goal for yourself, you will not have to time to judge each idea as you go along, which is one of the things that often kills a brainstorming session. It also guarantees that you write down every idea (another important guideline for effective brainstorming).
Be Here Now
It is very easy to spend too much time thinking about the past or the future and forget that the only thing that truly exists is now. Many people spend much of their lives in what was or what will be, and do not notice what is there for them in the moment … and thus the minutes, hours, and years of their lives slip away. How to get back to the Now? In his book, "Living on Purpose," Dan Millman suggests a practical strategy: First ask, "Am I relaxed?" (And consciously relax your body.) Second, ask, "Am I breathing fully and evenly?" (And take three slow, deep, relaxing breaths.) Third, ask, "Am I acting, moving, or behaving with refinement, quality, and elegance?" (Then give your full attention to what you are doing in the moment, whether sitting, standing, driving, doing the dishes — and do it with a sense of grace and elegance.) This three-question wake-up call serves to bring our attention back to the body, and back to the present moment … the body stands in the here-and-now.
Tip: The next time you find yourself getting lost in the past or future, try Millman's technique. If you want to make this a habit, write a key word for each step on a little card and keep it visible on your desk.

* * * * * * * * * *
Did you know that the "Power Trances" CD by Jurgen Wolff can help you relax, generate ideas, and still the inner critic? And that it makes a terrific present that friends can use again and again? For information about content and ordering, send an email to BstormUK@aol.com.
Create Your Own Villain
Usually we encourage you to think positively, but sometimes a bit of strategic negative thinking can help, too. Have you noticed how hard people will work when they are fighting an enemy? The more specific the enemy, the better. You can use this power by creating a symbol of whatever is holding you back. Most of the time, this is not another person, but some aspect of yourself. For example, if you're trying to lose weight and shape up, most likely it is your own problems with sticking to your diet and exercise regime that get in your way. You can create an image for this "enemy." Maybe you want to imagine Blimpo — a cartoon-like, hugely overweight and slobby version of yourself. Blimpo hates it when you exercise or when you resist the lure of chocolates because Blimpo wants to make you into his or her own image. Imagine your reaction if, the next time you are tempted, you call Blimpo to mind. You can even play out the reaction of your villain when you resist temptation -— make it big and make it fun.
Tip: Decide what is your biggest enemy — the thing that holds you back from doing or being what you would like to do or be. Create a super-villain to embody that. Each time you are confronted with a challenge, visualise the enemy. Make the right choice, and enjoy the downfall of the enemy! The best thing is this all happens in your imagination. You do not need to tell anyone else about it — all they will notice is that you are doing better than ever before.
And Last But Not Least … A Quote to Think About:
"Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves." — Carl Jung
Our web site is www.BrainstormNet.com . You might also enjoy my book, "Do Something Different," available now in the United Kingdom from book stores and
Amazon.co.uk, and in the U.S. from Amazon.com.
Requests to subscribe (or unsubscribe) should be sent to BstormUK@aol.com.
We also welcome your comments and suggestions and we do not sell or share our mailing lists
Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

Here is your June e-bulletin. I hope it finds you enjoying the summer. Now let us get started with a useful way of looking at life day-to-day …
Use Eagle Vision
Writer Martha Beck says that in some Native American cultures the eagle is a symbol of a type of seeing that stays above ordinary life, putting everything into a larger context. She advises thinking this way during your daily planning sessions. Two questions will help you: What experiences do I want to have in my time on this earth? And, How do I want the world to be different because I have lived? For each item on your to-do list, ask whether it adds to a positive answer to both of these questions. If not, get rid of it –- dump it, delegate it or, if you have promised and cannot avoid it, do it but make sure you do not take it on again.
Tip: Ease into this by using eagle vision once a week at first, then extend it until you are doing it every day. Once you have decided a task is worth doing, switch to mouse vision, which means giving all your attention to the task at hand until it is done. If you want to find out more about these techniques, see the book "Finding Your Own North Star," by Martha Beck.
Use Doodle Power
Fast Company magazine reveals that the design for the stunning new Guinness Building in Dublin, which looks like a giant glass of Guinness, was sketched out on a cocktail napkin. Adrian Caddy, creative director of Imagination, Ltd., which worked on the building’s design, says, "Most good ideas are born out of a little sketch. A crudely drawn doodle has the power to communicate an idea to a really huge audience without much backup explanation. … You can capture a lot of passion and energy in a small space."
Tip: If you make presentations, try giving up the Powerpoint or the slick overheads and make simple drawings to illustrate your points. If you cannot draw a straight line, not to worry — very few drawings require straight lines. The novelty of your drawings will make up for any lack of technique.
Is it Time for You to Fire Anyone?
In the current issue of Inc. Magazine, Norm Brodsky writes about a lawyer friend of his who recently fired three clients because they were rude to his office staff, or took forever to pay their bills, or were generally disagreeable. At first Brodsky thought this was admirable but fiscally foolish, but changed his mind when his company had to deal with a verbally abusive customer. He fired her, too, although it cost his company a large contract. Life is too short, he decided, and he has never regretted it.
Is there anybody in your life who needs to be fired? It could be supplier, a customer, even a former friend who does not respect you. It could even be a store — all too often, we go back to a store even though the service was terrible. The other day I shopped, for the last time, at a supermarket where the counter clerk was more interested in chatting with a colleague than serving customers. Before you ask why I didn’t complain to the manager, he was standing by watching all this. We all deserve respect, and there are a lot of people out there who will give it us, if we just decide to go looking for them.
Tip: The next time you are dealt with disrespectfully, consider firing the person or company responsible. They may not care — but you will feel much better.
Where Are You Sitting?
I have previously recommended the wonderful book, "The Art of Responsibility," by Rosamund and Benjamin Zander. I also found an interview with them on the Tom Peters website, in which Ben Zander talks about how he notices that when he gives a lecture, some people automatically head for the back row. He says when people go into a room, their tendency, without really realizing it, is to take themselves away from the action. Either they want to observe, or they want to hide, to escape, or to avoid participating in some way.
Sometimes he invites them to come sit at the front, not because it is bad to sit at the back, but because he just wants them to consider the options.
He says, imagine what it would be like in a world in which people did not hold back, that they really just came down to the front. Even if they did not have any idea what was going to happen, and yet they were willing to really risk something … If we all lived our lives that way, what a different world we would be living in.
His point: If you decide to sit at the back, that’s fine, but then it is a considered move, not an automatic one of shrinking from participation.
Question: Where do you sit most of the time (literally or metaphorically)? Are you taking the back row seat in your own life? What might it be like to move to the front?
Tip: The next time you find yourself automatically heading for the back row (again, literally or metaphorically) stop to ask yourself what it might be like to try sitting in the front row instead. I bet you will find an opportunity to do this in the next 24 hours.

* * * * * * * *
Did You Know that the "Power Trances CD" by Jurgen Wolff can help you relax, generate ideas, and still the inner critic? And that it makes a terrific present that friends can use again and again? For information about content and ordering, send an email to BstormUK@aol.com.
Christmas in June or July
Also on the Tom Peters website was an interview with author and consultant Harriet Rubin.
One of the things she talks about is three ways of giving presents. One is that she always carries around two books, one she’s reading, and one she’s read and will give to somebody she meets. The second is giving unique gifts on particularly obscure occasions, when people don’t expect them. And, finally, when a potential client rejects you, giving them a present as a way to keep the channel of communication open. These are three great chances to create positive feelings or to feed friendships. I especially like the second one, because everybody likes getting presents, and especially when they are unexpected. They don’t have to be big things, either, just a reminder that you were thinking of the recipient.
Tip: This newsletter is about creativity, and one of the best things we can create is good feelings. Think about whom you could delight with a little present this week (you could even give yourself a present …).
And Last But Not Least … A Quote to Think About:
"People often say that this or that person has not yet found him or herself. But the self is not something that one finds. It is something one creates. — Thomas Szasz
Our web site is www.BrainstormNet.com . You might also enjoy my book, "Do Something Different," available now in the United Kingdom from book stores and
Amazon.co.uk, and in the U.S. from Amazon.com.
Requests to subscribe (or unsubscribe) should be sent to BstormUK@aol.com.
We also welcome your comments and suggestions and we do not sell or share our mailing lists
Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

Aug. 4, 2002 – Financial management is the topic for a one-day seminar on "Smart Money Moves for Women" that will be presented at the end of this month on St. Thomas and St. Croix by the Women's Business Center.
Yvette deLaubanque, executive director of the St. Croix-based Women's Business Center, said many women just don't understand finances. They're so busy running businesses, their jobs and their families, she said, that this necessity falls through the cracks.
Additionally, deLaubanque noted, many married women leave the finances to their husbands. And if their husbands die or leave them, they find themselves on their own "and they haven't a clue," she said.
Each seminar will have three workshops to be led by Mary Grate-Pyos of Financially Focused Inc. They will cover steps to take to become a wealthy woman, getting your financial house in order, and ways to repair your credit rating and eliminate debt.
Grate-Pyos is the author of "Wealthy Women — Wise Choices." A financial analyst and personal financial writer living near Washington, D.C., she is a weekly columnist for the Capitol Spotlight newspaper, a contributing writer for Onyx Woman magazine and president of Financially Focused, an enterprise that conducts financial seminars.
Also at the seminars, Lisa Harper of Warm Spirit, a company that sells body-care products, will be on hand to discuss "entreprenuerial" opportunities with that company.
On St. Thomas, the event will be held on Aug. 28 at Palms Court Harborview Hotel.
On St. Croix, it will take place at Gertrude's Restaurant on Aug. 30.
Both seminars run from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with a book signing and Warm Spirit "pampering" session to follow from 3 to 5 p.m.
The $40 fee for each seminar includes lunch, a copy of Grate-Pyos' book, and a gift from Warm Spirit. To register, call 773-4995.
Grate-Pyos also will lead a financial workshop for college students on the University of the Virgin Islands St. Thomas campus on Aug. 29, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Call 693-1120 for more information on the UVI presentation.

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Get Ideas: Just Ask
In his book, "Weird Ideas That Work," Stanford professor Robert Sutton suggests that employers use job interviews to get new ideas, not just to screen candidates. He says: Give job candidates problems that you cannot solve. Listen as much as you can. Talk as little as you can.
Tip: You can use this same strategy even if you are not hiring people. The next time a friend asks you how your work is going, tell him or her one of the problems you are grappling with, and ask what they might do in your place. For example, if you are a writer and are stuck on a plot point, ask a friend what he or she thinks could happen next in the story. It can be an advantage if your friend knows little about your field — sometimes the best ideas come from people who are fresh to a challenge and do not know what cannot be done. Remember not to judge their ideas in front of them; just thank them.
What Are You Assuming?
Sutton also has this recommendation: When you know that you need to head in a new direction, but you do not know which road to take, sometimes the best thing is to do whatever is most ridiculous or random. Thinking up the dumbest and most impractical thing that you could do is a powerful way to explore your assumptions about the world.
Tip: The next time you are trying to decide something, come up with a solution that you know cannot possibly work. Then ask yourself why it cannot possibly work. The answers will reveal the assumptions you are making about the situation. Then examine each of the assumptions to see whether it is necessarily true. New solutions may suggest themselves once you have dropped the false assumption.
Go By the Numbers
When brainstorming, either by yourself or in a group, number the ideas that come up, Tom Kelley suggests in his book, "The Art of Innovation." Kelley says it may seem like an obvious idea but it took them ten years to catch on to it at idea-factory Ideo. He says it has two advantages. First, it motivates the participants to have a set number of ideas in a certain time period. Second, it makes it easier to go back to earlier ideas during the discussion.
Tip: According to Kelley, a hundred ideas per hour usually indicates a good brainstorming session. By setting this kind of goal for yourself, you will not have to time to judge each idea as you go along, which is one of the things that often kills a brainstorming session. It also guarantees that you write down every idea (another important guideline for effective brainstorming).
Be Here Now
It is very easy to spend too much time thinking about the past or the future and forget that the only thing that truly exists is now. Many people spend much of their lives in what was or what will be, and do not notice what is there for them in the moment … and thus the minutes, hours, and years of their lives slip away. How to get back to the Now? In his book, "Living on Purpose," Dan Millman suggests a practical strategy: First ask, "Am I relaxed?" (And consciously relax your body.) Second, ask, "Am I breathing fully and evenly?" (And take three slow, deep, relaxing breaths.) Third, ask, "Am I acting, moving, or behaving with refinement, quality, and elegance?" (Then give your full attention to what you are doing in the moment, whether sitting, standing, driving, doing the dishes — and do it with a sense of grace and elegance.) This three-question wake-up call serves to bring our attention back to the body, and back to the present moment … the body stands in the here-and-now.
Tip: The next time you find yourself getting lost in the past or future, try Millman's technique. If you want to make this a habit, write a key word for each step on a little card and keep it visible on your desk.

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Did you know that the "Power Trances" CD by Jurgen Wolff can help you relax, generate ideas, and still the inner critic? And that it makes a terrific present that friends can use again and again? For information about content and ordering, send an email to BstormUK@aol.com.
Created Your Own Villain
Usually we encourage you to think positively, but sometimes a bit of strategic negative thinking can help, too. Have you noticed how hard people will work when they are fighting an enemy? The more specific the enemy, the better. You can use this power by creating a symbol of whatever is holding you back. Most of the time, this is not another person, but some aspect of yourself. For example, if you're trying to lose weight and shape up, most likely it is your own problems with sticking to your diet and exercise regime that get in your way. You can create an image for this "enemy." Maybe you want to imagine Blimpo — a cartoon-like, hugely overweight and slobby version of yourself. Blimpo hates it when you exercise or when you resist the lure of chocolates because Blimpo wants to make you into his or her own image. Imagine your reaction if, the next time you are tempted, you call Blimpo to mind. You can even play out the reaction of your villain when you resist temptation -— make it big and make it fun.
Tip: Decide what is your biggest enemy — the thing that holds you back from doing or being what you would like to do or be. Create a super-villain to embody that. Each time you are confronted with a challenge, visualise the enemy. Make the right choice, and enjoy the downfall of the enemy! The best thing is this all happens in your imagination. You do not need to tell anyone else about it — all they will notice is that you are doing better than ever before.
And Last But Not Least … A Quote to Think About:
"Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves." — Carl Jung
Our web site is www.BrainstormNet.com . You might also enjoy my book, "Do Something Different," available now in the United Kingdom from book stores and
Amazon.co.uk, and in the U.S. from Amazon.com.
Requests to subscribe (or unsubscribe) should be sent to BstormUK@aol.com.
We also welcome your comments and suggestions and we do not sell or share our mailing lists
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

Here is your June e-bulletin. I hope it finds you enjoying the summer. Now let us get started with a useful way of looking at life day-to-day …
Use Eagle Vision
Writer Martha Beck says that in some Native American cultures the eagle is a symbol of a type of seeing that stays above ordinary life, putting everything into a larger context. She advises thinking this way during your daily planning sessions. Two questions will help you: What experiences do I want to have in my time on this earth? And, How do I want the world to be different because I have lived? For each item on your to-do list, ask whether it adds to a positive answer to both of these questions. If not, get rid of it –- dump it, delegate it or, if you have promised and cannot avoid it, do it but make sure you do not take it on again.
Tip: Ease into this by using eagle vision once a week at first, then extend it until you are doing it every day. Once you have decided a task is worth doing, switch to mouse vision, which means giving all your attention to the task at hand until it is done. If you want to find out more about these techniques, see the book "Finding Your Own North Star," by Martha Beck.
Use Doodle Power
Fast Company magazine reveals that the design for the stunning new Guinness Building in Dublin, which looks like a giant glass of Guinness, was sketched out on a cocktail napkin. Adrian Caddy, creative director of Imagination, Ltd., which worked on the building’s design, says, "Most good ideas are born out of a little sketch. A crudely drawn doodle has the power to communicate an idea to a really huge audience without much backup explanation. … You can capture a lot of passion and energy in a small space."
Tip: If you make presentations, try giving up the Powerpoint or the slick overheads and make simple drawings to illustrate your points. If you cannot draw a straight line, not to worry — very few drawings require straight lines. The novelty of your drawings will make up for any lack of technique.
Is it Time for You to Fire Anyone?
In the current issue of Inc. Magazine, Norm Brodsky writes about a lawyer friend of his who recently fired three clients because they were rude to his office staff, or took forever to pay their bills, or were generally disagreeable. At first Brodsky thought this was admirable but fiscally foolish, but changed his mind when his company had to deal with a verbally abusive customer. He fired her, too, although it cost his company a large contract. Life is too short, he decided, and he has never regretted it.
Is there anybody in your life who needs to be fired? It could be supplier, a customer, even a former friend who does not respect you. It could even be a store — all too often, we go back to a store even though the service was terrible. The other day I shopped, for the last time, at a supermarket where the counter clerk was more interested in chatting with a colleague than serving customers. Before you ask why I didn’t complain to the manager, he was standing by watching all this. We all deserve respect, and there are a lot of people out there who will give it us, if we just decide to go looking for them.
Tip: The next time you are dealt with disrespectfully, consider firing the person or company responsible. They may not care — but you will feel much better.
Where Are You Sitting?
I have previously recommended the wonderful book, "The Art of Responsibility," by Rosamund and Benjamin Zander. I also found an interview with them on the Tom Peters website, in which Ben Zander talks about how he notices that when he gives a lecture, some people automatically head for the back row. He says when people go into a room, their tendency, without really realizing it, is to take themselves away from the action. Either they want to observe, or they want to hide, to escape, or to avoid participating in some way.
Sometimes he invites them to come sit at the front, not because it is bad to sit at the back, but because he just wants them to consider the options.
He says, imagine what it would be like in a world in which people did not hold back, that they really just came down to the front. Even if they did not have any idea what was going to happen, and yet they were willing to really risk something … If we all lived our lives that way, what a different world we would be living in.
His point: If you decide to sit at the back, that’s fine, but then it is a considered move, not an automatic one of shrinking from participation.
Question: Where do you sit most of the time (literally or metaphorically)? Are you taking the back row seat in your own life? What might it be like to move to the front?
Tip: The next time you find yourself automatically heading for the back row (again, literally or metaphorically) stop to ask yourself what it might be like to try sitting in the front row instead. I bet you will find an opportunity to do this in the next 24 hours.

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Did You Know that the "Power Trances CD" by Jurgen Wolff can help you relax, generate ideas, and still the inner critic? And that it makes a terrific present that friends can use again and again? For information about content and ordering, send an email to BstormUK@aol.com.
Christmas in June or July
Also on the Tom Peters website was an interview with author and consultant Harriet Rubin.
One of the things she talks about is three ways of giving presents. One is that she always carries around two books, one she’s reading, and one she’s read and will give to somebody she meets. The second is giving unique gifts on particularly obscure occasions, when people don’t expect them. And, finally, when a potential client rejects you, giving them a present as a way to keep the channel of communication open. These are three great chances to create positive feelings or to feed friendships. I especially like the second one, because everybody likes getting presents, and especially when they are unexpected. They don’t have to be big things, either, just a reminder that you were thinking of the recipient.
Tip: This newsletter is about creativity, and one of the best things we can create is good feelings. Think about whom you could delight with a little present this week (you could even give yourself a present …).
And Last But Not Least … A Quote to Think About:
"People often say that this or that person has not yet found him or herself. But the self is not something that one finds. It is something one creates. — Thomas Szasz
Our web site is www.BrainstormNet.com . You might also enjoy my book, "Do Something Different," available now in the United Kingdom from book stores and
Amazon.co.uk, and in the U.S. from Amazon.com.
Requests to subscribe (or unsubscribe) should be sent to BstormUK@aol.com.
We also welcome your comments and suggestions and we do not sell or share our mailing lists
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.