The Invisible Mentor

Posts Tagged ‘Albert Einstein’

Interviewee Name: Delane Cooper, Goldsmith

Company Name: Delane

Website: http://www.delane.ca

Avil Beckford: Tell me a little bit about yourself.

Delane Cooper: I am a goldsmith and jewellery designer. I used to be in technology for a couple of decades helping build datacentres. I started off in California, lived in New York, got married and moved here to Toronto.

Avil Beckford: What are five life lessons that you have learned so far?

Delane Cooper:

1. Have a focus.
2. Just do it.
3. Find meaning.
4. Think differently.
5. Stay on target.

Avil Beckford: When you have some down time, how do you spend it?

Delane Cooper: I spend it meditating and reading

Avil Beckford: What process do you use to generate great ideas?

Delane Cooper: I sit, pull out a design journal that I have, and I put these words down and actually work on them: Focus, Act, Connect, Deviate and Evaluate and I go through that process on a regular basis for all designs when I am sitting at my bench.

Avil Beckford: What’s your favourite quotation and why?

Delane Cooper: My favourite quote is by Mary Anne Radmacher, and it goes like this, “Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends. Continue to learn. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.” And I love this quotation because a very good friend of mine shared it with me while we were having a cup of tea. And it was one of those bad, entrepreneurial days, and I asked her, “How does one stay motivated? How does one have life balance?” because I felt I was putting so much work into my business but not spending enough time with my husband. This quote just seems to summarize what I was experiencing, what I was feeling in these short couple of sentences. I basically read this quote out of my calendar every second day.

Avil Beckford: How do you define success?

Delane Cooper: I will use the quote from Albert Einstein, “If A is success in life, then A = X + Y + Z. Work is X, Y is play and Z is keeping your mouth shut.

Avil Beckford: In your opinion what’s the formula for success?

Delane Cooper: Once again, I will use the quote from Albert Einstein, “If A is success in life, then A = X + Y + Z. Work is X, Y is play and Z is keeping your mouth shut.

Avil Beckford: What are the steps you took to succeed in your field?

Delane Cooper: I made the hard decision and went back to school, which took about three years. I went online and learned from others. I continue to seek out other entrepreneurs from other fields and learn from them as well. There is a great website http://www.sprouter.com and what’s fantastic about it is it connected me with a lot of entrepreneurs from all over the world. Each entrepreneur may have a different type of business whether it be technology, selling some sort of widget, to someone like myself being creative creating jewellery. As entrepreneurs, we all experience the same ups and downs and hurdles. It’s a great place to seek resources and that’s been quite helpful.

Avil Beckford: What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?

Delane Cooper: Identify what you have fun doing and make sure you enjoy the ride. The ride’s going to have a lot of ups and downs, but know that if you are in it for the ride, the benefits are going to be fantastic in the end.

Avil Beckford: If trusted friends could introduce you to five people that you’ve always wanted to meet, who would you choose? And what would you say to them?

Delane Cooper:

1. John Lennon: Thank you for giving us words through music when words could not be said.
2. Georgia O’Keeffe: Thank you for bringing colour into our lives.
3. Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Thank you for sharing the story of your life and for being brave.
4. Albert Einstein: I would like to know what kept him motivated every morning. I read a lot of his quotes, and he must have been a fantastic individual, not only intellectually, but very self-motivated to get up and continually do experiments on a regular basis, whether they failed or were met with success. I would say, “Thank you for failing your way to success.”
5. Gandhi: Wanting to know how to put people first, and just groups of people, their lives, their livelihood, calling governments when they are doing wrong. Gandhi was very inspirational. “Thank you for sharing your fears and insecurities.”

Avil Beckford: Which one book had a profound impact on your life? What was it about this book that impacted you so deeply?

Delane Cooper: The book is called Illusions: The Adventures of the Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach. What I got out of this book is that life is an illusion and it’s all about how we choose to take part in it. This book was given to me when I was 20 years old and I have read it probably eight times since, and I’m 41 now.

Avil Beckford: If you were stranded on a deserted island, what are five books that you would like to have with you and why?

Delane Cooper:

1. Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah, Richard Bach
2. The Fountainhead, Ayn Rand (Ayn Rand Box Set)
3. The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran
4. Pride And Prejudice, Jane Austen
5. Love, Illustrated and designed by Gian Berto Vanni, Story by Lowell A. Siff

I would say the books were all suggested by my mother, very close friends or my husband. When I read these books, I feel like I’m experiencing what my husband or my mom or my friends experienced, and that they are there with me reading these books.

Avil Beckford: What one music CD and movie would you like to have with you (on the deserted island) and why?

Delane Cooper: The CD would be All The Seasons of George Winston Piano Solo. I find that the piano is a very unique instrument and this compilation reminds me that life is all about the seasons. There is always a winter, followed by spring, which then is followed by summer and fall. The movie would be Cinema Paradiso, which reminds me to never forget where I came from and always know where I’m going.

If you cannot view this George Winston Thanksgiving (Piano Solo) 1998YouTube video click here.

If you cannot view the Cinema Paradiso YouTube video click here.

Avil Beckford: What excites you about life?

Delane Cooper: Not to be simple, but life itself. There is just so much going on when one wakes up. You never know what’s going on, from the joy of my husband telling me, “I love you,” to getting an amazing email from a client, and then sometimes you have some of the tragedies that we have recently witnessed like in Japan.

Avil Beckford: How do you nurture your soul?

Delane Cooper: Through meditation and enjoying the company of friends, my husband and my lovely dog Pelasso.

Avil Beckford: If you had a personal genie and she gave you one wish, what would you wish for?

Delane Cooper: I would wish or at least hope that my mother who adopted me knows that she saved a child who has blossomed to be a participating adult in this world. That’s what I would wish for.

Avil Beckford: Complete the following, I am happy when…..

Delane Cooper: When I’m with my friends enjoying a great meal, and sitting at my jewellery bench creating a beautiful piece of jewellery to be part of someone’s life.

How can you use this information? What do you have to add to the conversation? Let’s keep the conversation flowing, please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. Many readers read this blog from other sites, so why don’t you pop over to The Invisible Mentor and subscribe (top on the right hand side) by email or RSS Feed.

Book links are affiliate links.

A friend and I decided to attend a meditation event hosted by Meditation Toronto, “The Night Before New Year’s Party.” I was amazed by the number of people who attended, and most of them were in their twenties, which surprised me. I commented to my friend that so many people attended during the holiday season because they must be searching for more meaning in life.

We attended because we thought it would be mostly meditation, and I enjoy meditating, but the talk took up most of the time. I enjoyed myself though. The speaker, Yoga Master Balakilya indicated that there is no difference between one day and the next, and an old year and a new one. That made sense to me. Think about the popular quote, ”The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results,” attributed to both Albert Einstein and Benjamin Franklin. So if you do not make concrete changes, the old year will be more or less like the new – the same-old, same-old.

The Yoga Master suggested that a place to start would be to ask yourself, “Who Am I?” Because of our roles and responsibilities in life, the first things that come to our minds when answering that question would be: Mother, father, brother, sister, son, daughter, male, female, Canadian, American, Australian, British, African American, Caucasian, Chinese, CEO, advertising executive, writer, singer, soccer player and so on. If you stripped away all your roles and responsibilities, what would be left if you probed deeper.

Now, how would you answer, “Who Am I?”

For those interested in meditation, one of the three we did was the Gauranga, click here to try it.

How can you use this information? What do you have to add to the conversation? Let’s keep the conversation flowing, please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. Many readers read this blog from other sites, so why don’t you pop over to The Invisible Mentor and subscribe (top on the right hand side) by email or RSS Feed.

Photo Credit: Yahoo Image Search via Apture

There is a story which says that when Einstein was a teenager he developed the “Distraction Index”, a method of deep concentration, which allowed him to concentrate totally upon whatever he was doing for up to 42 minutes. I found one reference to this information on the web several years ago.  I also called the university to confirm, but no one could find the information. However, I just conducted research on the Internet again and I found a lot more information, as well as a video which I have included in this post.

Anything “Einstein” makes for a compelling story, so let’s assume for a second that the Einstein Distraction Index information is correct. The ability to focus is important in an age where there are so many things competing for our attention. This is a great technique to focus. One of the best ways to learn to focus is to get a magazine, which will be filled with many distractions. The goal of the drill is to be distraction free for a specified period of time such as three minutes, five minutes, whatever amount of time you choose. It is best to start off with a small amount of time and work your way up.  Einstein is said to have been distraction free for 42 minutes. Wouldn’t it be great if you were distraction free for a time period greater than 42 minutes? Each of us has a bit of genius inside.

• On a blank piece of paper, write the phrase “I won’t be distracted by that anymore” at the top
  of the page
• Set a timer for five minutes and start to read the magazine
• Each time you’re distracted, make a note of it and read the phrase you wrote out, silently to
  yourself
• Start reading your material again
• When the timer goes off, count the number of distractions that you had in five minutes

If you’re honest when doing this simple exercise, you’ll be surprised by the amount of distractions that you have had in five minutes. When you can be focused for five minutes without distractions, repeat the process for seven minutes and then for 10 minutes. If you keep on doing this you’ll be able to learn how long you can be distraction free.

Einstein’s Secret Method for Deep Concentration and Focus

If you cannot view the YouTube video click here. (Watch up to 2 mins and 15 secs)

This is a another good technique to teach  to your children. Let’s keep the conversation flowing, please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. Many readers read this blog from other sites, so why don’t you pop over to The Invisible Mentor and subscribe (top on the left side) by email or RSS Feed. I created a Mini Learning Toolkit and you can grab a copy by clicking here.

Note: I learned how to use the “Distraction Index” from a High Speed Learning course taught by Lydia Danner, several years ago.

Photo Credit: Fotopedia via Apture

Video Credit: Einstein’s Secret Method for Deep Concentration and Focus Uploaded by SearchResults100 on Feb 4, 2012

Related articles

• 12 Blog Posts People are Reading on The Invisible Mentor (theinvisiblementor.com)

I know there is a lot of information, but go through it slowly and think about it. At some point I will have a PDF of the interviews for download. While reading, jot down the information that applies to your unique situation. How would you answer the interview questions. After you have read the interview extract what you perceive as five great ideas.

Tell me a little bit about yourself.

I am a 48-year old woman, married to a Danish man. We have four children together ages 9-23. Our daughter is the oldest and only the two youngest live at home. I am from Houston, Texas, and moved to Denmark (to a small town north of Copenhagen) in 1985.

Since 1988 we have lived in an old house, built in 1922, which we have refurbished and continue to change and maintain. We also have a fairly big lot, by Danish standards, and one rooster and 11 hens. I spend a lot of money on organic vegetables and fruit as well as milk. I have cut down on the amount of frequency of our meat consumption. I also whole-heartedly support Obama and am very concerned about the environment.

How do you integrate your personal and professional life?

I have had domestic help for years. We just got an au pair and that has really helped. Housework is important but boring, time consuming, and perpetual. (Note from Avil: au pairs share responsibility for the family and some of the housework)

What’s a major regret that you’ve had in life?

That I haven’t travelled more. Still so many places I haven’t seen.

What are five life lessons that you have learned so far?

1. Learn to listen.
2. It is better to give than receive, especially when it’s unexpected.
3. The golden rule still applies.
4. Love is infinite—your children teach you this.
5. Good health, physical and mental, really is priceless.

When you have some down time, how do you spend it?

Food, friends, family, films

What process do you use to generate great ideas?

Swimming laps, jogging, and listening to great talk radio.

What’s your favourite quotation and why?

There’s a better way to do it. Find it! Thomas Edison

How do you define success?

I think it has something to do with being honest, realistic, and altruistic to an extent.

In your opinion what’s the formula for success?

Devoting time to focus on the right things

What are the steps you took to succeed in your field?

Not so sure that I have but I do keep up and change the content of a course to be as relevant as possible.

What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?

If you don’t love it, leave it. Do something else. There are a lot of options.

If trusted friends could introduce you to five people that you’ve always wanted to meet, who would you choose? And what would you say to them?

Nelson Mandela, Obama, Bruce Springsteen, Albert Einstein, Peter Drucker. I wouldn’t say much, just listen and feel

Which one book had a profound impact on your life? What was it about this book that impacted you so deeply? Did you have an emotional or intellectual attachment to this book? Why?

Maybe Robert Pirsig’s Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance because it is so brutally honest and goes into such depth about quality.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what are five books that you would like to have with you and why? Summarize the book in two sentences.

Books I haven’t read yet. Comprehensive books about philosophy, literature, history, art and science/technology

What one music CD and movie would you like to have with you (on the deserted island) and why?

That’s really tough. It would have to be something that didn’t make me feel lonely.

What excites you about life?

Having choices, freedom and happiness

How do you nurture your soul?

Eclectic choices in reading, music and food

If you had a personal genie and she gave you one wish, what would you wish for? Or, if I gave you a magic wand, what would you use it for?

That the natural aging process on my body wasn’t so overt

Complete the following, I am happy when…..

I feel loved

What are three takeaway from Lynn’s interview? How can you apply Linda’s interview? Which aspects resonated with you? What are your five great ideas? Here are 10 great ideas that I pulled from the complete interview.

10 Great Ideas

1. Simplify difficult to understand information
2. Understand the different learning styles so that you can improve communication (Three learning styles are visual, auditory and kinesthetic)
3. People have different perspectives on what they perceive as being important
4. Read, read, read
5. Travel and see the world
6. Keep improving the way you do things. Thomas Edison said, “There’s a better way to do it.”
7. Focus on the things that will take you where you need to go
8. Change to remain relevant
9. You always have options
10. “If you don’t love it, leave it. Do something else.”

Let’s keep the conversation flowing, please comment. Many readers read this blog from other sites, so why don’t you pop over to The Invisible Mentor and subscribe (top on the left side) by email or RSS Feed. I created a Mini Learning Toolkit and you can grab a copy by clicking here.

About Lynn Kahle

Originally from Houston, Texas, Lynn has lived in Copenhagen, Denmark since 1985. She holds a degree in Industrial Distribution from Texas A&M University and worked in industrial sales (pipe, valves and fittings) in Texas and joined Brüel & Kjaer in Denmark in the electro-acoustics department, heading up sales and marketing of studio microphones.

Since 1989, Lynn has been an associate professor of international marketing at Copenhagen University College of Engineering, global business engineering department, and is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Copenhagen Business School’s marketing department. Her topic is Experience Innovation, which is what led her to the GEL (Good Experience Live) conference and Creative Good. She produced euroGel2006 in Copenhagen and is the moderator for Executive Council 9.

Lynn is married to a Dane and they have four children, an old house, and lots of Wyandot hens and one rooster.

Bookmark & Share

Note: The link  for the book is an Amazon affiliate link.

I interviewed a business coach and asked him what his favourite quote was. He responded that he had two favourite quotes. I will focus on one quote to demonstrate a point. My interviewee said that the quote was often attributed to Einstein, but he had seen variations of the quote. He wanted to find out definitively who the quote was by. The quote is “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over but expecting to get a different result.” I did a quick search on the Internet and here is what I found:

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over but expecting to get a different result” Albert Einstein

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over but expecting to get a different result” Benjamin Franklin

Now we have a dilemma because these are the same quote. I called the library’s answer line and asked them to check their quotations reference books to see who the quote was attributed to. Either version of the quote wasn’t in any of the reference books that they checked.

I went to the reference library and conducted some additional research. I found “The New Quotable Einstein” by Alice Calaprice, senior editor at Princeton University Press. I went through the entire book manually because there was no way to do it electronically, and I couldn’t find the quote. I contacted the author and explained the situation. Alice Calaprice is an Einstein expert and is very familiar with, and has access to the “Einstein Papers.” She responded that she had never seen that quote in all the years that she had been researching Einstein, and that there are many quotes on insanity and genius that people love to attribute to Einstein though he rarely used those words.

Should I assume that the quote must be by Benjamin Franklin? Not likely! I have not been able to find a definitive answer so whenever I use the quote I say popularly attributed to Einstein and Franklin. The point I wanted to illustrate to you is that because several people are citing information and attributing it to a source, doesn’t mean that the information is accurate. It simply means that they are all citing from the one source so you have to exercise some due diligence. Though this wasn’t a paid project, I have worked on other projects where this same issue arose. Would you be willing to put in the time and effort to find the correct answer? If you have ever faced this dilemma please let me know how you handled it.

Related Post

How to Analyze Information