Sometimes they come in little fruits! 

I met Charles Lee (@mymberry) through my friend Chris Drake (@firehost).  In doing so I met an inspiration man, entrepreneur and story in perseverance and faith.  Below is a short bio on Charles Lee and mBerry as well as a video that promotes his partnership with Chef Homaro Cantu (@Homarocantu).  Chef Cantu is a molecular gastronomist and owner of Chicago restaurants Moto and iNG.  Full Story here.

Live is a miracle, taste some of it here…

Excerpt from W.P. Carey School of Business @ ASU…  The first time Charles Lee popped a miracle berry tablet into his mouth and then bit into a lemon, he was stunned. The lemon tasted naturally sweet.  “I don’t know if it even sunk in,” says Lee, a 2009 ASU finance graduate. “It was a shock. I wasn’t sure it was the same lemon I’d tried before.”

It was, thanks to the fruit that is taking the world by storm. Miracle berries, which resemble elongated cranberries, temporarily alter the taste buds so that sour and bitter foods taste sweet. The berry has become a novelty at parties, where guests eat the fruit and then sample a variety of foods (such as Brussels sprouts, vinegar, pickles, tequila, beer and citrus) for an experience that fools the tongue into perceiving sweetness.  The sensation lasts an hour or so.  After reading a New York Times article about the berry in May 2008, Lee was intrigued. He was ready to graduate with an eye on entering law school but lacked the money for tuition. Maybe the miracle berry could prove a fi nancial miracle for him.  Lee is a self-proclaimed food lover and believes that the pleasures of food are best shared with friends and family. He envisioned enjoying the miracle berry not only by himself but with a foodcurious community.

Having taken a rigorous course in supply chain management and with his background in fi nance, Lee began to explore the possibility of importing the miracle berry—“Its actual name,” he says, “just like apple or peach.” The fruit is grown only in the world’s moist, tropical climates. Florida had a few farms cultivating the berry trees but with each berry priced at about $3, acquiring the fruit in bulk was prohibitive.Fresh berries had to be shipped overnight, further boosting the cost, and the wait for shipment was as long as two months, given its sudden popularity.Lee discovered that a Taiwanese company was processing the berry as a freeze-dried tablet. “That made the berry shelf-stable and convenient,” he says, as
well as affordable.  In July 2008, Lee founded mberry, a company that imports miracle berry in both its fresh and tablet forms. Lee immediately had orders from distributors around the world.

And now, the miracle story continues…

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Six years ago, Jobs delivered his only commencement speech — one that is often cited as the speech of his life. “Death is very likely the single best invention of life. It is life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new,” he told the crowd at Stanford University. “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”

From the things that really matter to a career that REALLY mattered!

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by Jon Thoma (pictured here #48)

It is always sad to see a hero fall.

It has happened to me a few times, and for a few different reasons. Mario Lemieux was taken from the game of hockey as he reached his prime to battle illness. Tiger Woods lived a double life and is now a shell of the man who used to make the world shake with the reverberating roars of galleries across America. Those were my sporting heroes.

Men who stood at the pinnacle of their respective professions and made a legitimate difference in people’s lives.

I thought that watching them lose their air of invincibility would be the hardest way to see a career end. I thought that I would never feel so hopeless again, because I would never be as young and impressionable as I was when I let these men become such a large part of my life.

Then again, I thought Jim Tressel was invincible.

Let me start by saying that I will not blame my teammates for any of this. Am I mad at them? Yes. I am mad as Hell at them for some of their actions. I am furious they cast aside our symbols of brotherhood and victory for a few hundred dollars. Those rings and Gold Pants were supposed to remind us forever of what we were a part of. Those rings were supposed to clank off of each other as we shook hands at our 2010 Rose Bowl Champs 25th anniversary banquet. Those rings were a part of our legacy to be carried on to our grandchildren as they looked at us in our rocking chairs and wondered how in the world we used to be champion athletes.

But who am I to tell someone what is important? Show an 18-year-old some money and give him some power, and you have a recipe for disaster. Put yourself in their shoes and tell me you would be able to resist temptation. You can’t. Tell an 18-year-old that he is the greatest enough times, and he will believe you. It comes with the territory.

Coach Tressel made the choice to try to account for his young players’ transgressions and move forward into the season with one of his most talented teams ever. It’s a choice he now undoubtedly regrets.

In my brief time at the top level of the amateur game, I learned one thing to be true without fail: If you succeed, people will hate you. And if people hate you, they will try to bring you down. Look at Auburn. If they went 2-4 through their first six games, would jealous Mississippi State boosters have come out of the woodwork to rat out Cam Newton? Fat chance. And along those lines, there is an even fatter chance that both Gene Chizik and Cam himself knew nothing of Cecil’s plan to shop his son. Examples are abundant. Bob Stoops knew nothing about the tens of thousands of dollars Rhett Bomar took for working a no-show job? Yeah, and I’m dating Beyonce. Dig deep enough anywhere you want, you’re eventually going to hit the dirt.

The difference is that when the others got caught, there was no proof. Coach Tressel reached out to people he thought may have an influence on future decisions made by the players (the quarterback’s “mentor”), and in doing so, sealed his own fate. The nail in his own coffin came in the form of a concerned e-mail.

Do I think Coach Tress was in the dark about the alleged ongoing violations by his players? No way. I always thought that man knew everything. My freshman year he approached me, a mere walk-on back-up punter, and asked me how my parents and two sisters were doing. He referred to them all by name! We had about 120 players on the team and he knew every person in all 120 immediate families. He knew because he cared.

He made a promise to our families to take care of us and he did everything in his power to fulfill that promise. He made us read books that would help us in life, write reports about those books, and present them to the team. The first thing we did every day was reflect and pray. There were constant reminders about how lucky we were to be playing a game for a free education and a chance at a better life. He made us sit through hours of brutal meetings with the compliance office almost every week. Believe me, we all knew what was legal and what was not legal. He brought lawyers and policemen in to warn us about the dangers of drunk driving, nightlife, and hanging out with the wrong people. He put us in hospitals to interact with patients, and introduced us to the military. He taught us that there was more to being an Ohio State football player than just football.

We had a responsibility to present ourselves in a positive way, as we were representatives of so many things so much bigger than ourselves. Apparently, some of us could not handle that honor.

To some of us, there were different priorities, and becoming a man under the watchful eye of millions around the world was too much. George Dohrmann from Sports Illustrated suggested that Jim Tressel lost control of his football team. Quite the contrary. The Ohio State Football culture took over Columbus. Coach was the only reason there WAS any control on this football team. Ask the troubled former receiver. Ask the star quarterback. Our mistakes occurred away from his watchful eye.

Our mistakes had nothing to do with Jim Tressel.

Coach Tressel had one goal for each and every one of his players. He wanted to put us in the best position possible to succeed. Both on the field and off. He taught us that complacency was not an option, and that we could only be the best men that we could be if we learned every single day. He taught us everything he could, and gave us resources to learn what he could not teach us.

I want to look him in the eyes and thank him for the chance he gave me. I want to thank him for the life I live today and the doors he opened for me along the way. I want to thank him for introducing me to BuckeyeNation. I want to thank him for my rings and for my gold pants. I want to thank him for allowing me to live my dream and for the happiest moments of my young life.

He always said, “On your best days be great. On your worst days, be good. Every other day, get better.” Let’s just say that today, the Ohio State community is only good. But thanks to our Coach, we will always be better.

Go Bucks! — Jon Thoma

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It would be a shame to forget the valued lessons of managing all the touch-points that make new products successful. Without teamwork the core idea, purpose and message can be lost in translation. By focusing your efforts on listening to — then serving those who touch your customers — the harmony you hear is sound of a team tuned into what your customer values.

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Believe in the power of Brands and what it means to discover whether you have one of enduring value?

I believe watching below will be the best 18 minutes or your day.

Thank you Simon Sinek.

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THIS WAS AN EMAIL FROM A FRIEND, ORIGIN UNKNOWN, DOESN’T MATTER AS MESSAGE RESONATES FOR ALL

1 – First Important Lesson – Cleaning Lady.

During the second month of college, a professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one:

“What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?”

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall dark-haired and in her 50′s, but how would I know her name?

I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

“Absolutely, ” said the professor. “In your careers you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say “hello.”

I’ve never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

2. – Second Important Lesson – Pickup in the Rain

One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.

A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960′s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man’s door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached. It read:

“Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband’s’ bedside just before he passed away…

God Bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others.”

Sincerely,

Mrs. Nat King Cole.

3 – Third Important Lesson – Always remember those who serve…

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.

“How much is an ice cream sundae?” he asked.

“Fifty cents,” replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.

“Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?” he inquired.

By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient.

“Thirty-five cents,” she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins… “I’ll have the plain ice cream,” he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left…

When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish were two nickels and five pennies…

You see, he couldn’t have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip

4 – Fourth Important Lesson. – The obstacle in Our Path.

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the King’s wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.

The peasant learned what many of us never understand…

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition!

5 – Fifth Important Lesson – Giving When it Counts…

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister.

I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, “Yes I’ll do it if it will save her.”

As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded.

He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice,”Will I start to die right away”.

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.

GREAT LESSONS INDEED, EXAMPLES FOR A BETTER LIFE

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Here’s a collection of some of the greatest “Woodenisms.”

“Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.”

“Never mistake activity for achievement.”

“Adversity is the state in which man mostly easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then.”

“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”

“Be prepared and be honest.”

“Be quick, but don’t hurry.”

“You can’t let praise or criticism get to you. It’s a weakness to get caught up in either one.”

“You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.”

“What you are as a person is far more important than what you are as a basketball player.”

“Winning takes talent; to repeat takes character.”

“A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment.”

“I’d rather have a lot of talent and a little experience than a lot of experience and a little talent.”

“If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?”

“If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything. I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes.”

“It isn’t what you do, but how you do it.”

“Ability is a poor man’s wealth.”

“Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.”

“Consider the rights of others before your own feelings and the feelings of others before your own rights.”

“Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”

“Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.”

“It’s not so important who starts the game but who finishes it.”

“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.”

“It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.”

“Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.”

“The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team.”

“Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.”

“Success is never final; failure is never fatal. It’s courage that counts.”

Source: CoachWooden.com

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This most definitely is posted for my enjoyment more than anyone who may visit here. But alas, that’s the way it should be, Blogs are all about sharing what we care most about!

Click here to see the NEW Tressel Ball Review

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Watch this

A Buckeye Confession:
I love the Buckeyes and I will support them for a lifetime and beyond as I am sure they play in football in heaven!
I also love that Jim Tressel has restored The Ohio State University to its rightful position among the most elite programs in College Football that we have not enjoyed since Woody Hayes roamed the sidelines.
That’s not the confession, those are the facts.
The confession sounds more like step 1 in a 12-step program… “My name is Kevin and I have an addiction!” My Buckeye addiction is one that often causes me to react irrationally for anything short of perfection. I know anyone reading this may chuckle, because you might not know me, but you know a Buckeye fan like me. You may make fun of me/us at our expense, but I know those same people would give anything to be in a position where your team is part of a national conversation, albeit for better or worse.
We are a passionate, loyal, loud and yes, sometime a cantankerous group of fans and alumni. Every bit of our enthusiasm comes from one simple fact; we LOVE The Ohio State University Buckeyes. Since 2002 I have attended three National Championship Games with the Buckeyes and three other BCS games. Going 3 for 6 is pretty good in any book when playing on that grand of a stage.
Recently we have had trouble “winning the big one” and as such I have joined others that practice our annual rite of passage and second career of coaching the Buckeyes. For the first time I can remember, many are taking out their anxiety of getting bashed themselves by rival fans or football pundits by taking Jim Tressel’s offensive game plan and play calling to task. I too have participated in this debate, but not at the peril of supporting a great man and a world-class football coach. I support our head coach and would have no other but Jim Tressel at the helm of this great team.
So whether other Buckeye fans support this “confession” or post is of little consequence to me, like everything good put on a blog or tweet, it is an honest and transparent admission of the state of mind of this rabid Buckeye fan. And just as I may debate and disagree with Republican tactics I still hold true to my conservative values, I do disagree with our offensive game plan & tactics, especially in recent big games. BUT I still support my team, The Ohio State Buckeyes, and our leader and coach, Jim Tressel.