The Invisible Mentor Top 10 Blog Posts of 2013
As 2013 come to a close ( Read Will 2014 Be Your Best Year Yet?), I took a look at my analytics to determine the top 10 blog posts of 2013. I’m not surprised by the results of the top ten blog posts because I check my analytics frequently, but I have to guess why they are the most popular. With the book reviews that are on my top 10 list, my guess is that they are being read in schools because they are all classics. For the interview with Ron LeBlanc, which I conducted a couple of years ago, he now has a show, Gem Hunt, on the Travel Channel, so many people are researching him. In fact, I have received several emails from people wanting to know how they can contact Ron.
Top 10 Blog Posts of 2013
Book Review – The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde: The Canterville Ghost
, a short story by Oscar Wilde, is a story about role reversal. The story is told through the eyes of the very theatrical ghost, Sir Simon, who appears in many different costumes and personas. Sir Simon suffers great indignities at the hand of the American family, living in the house, who are not afraid of him.
Einstein Distraction Index – A Method of Deep Focus: 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. A researcher with over 18 years of experience, I have never been able to verify the information, and I suspect Einstein never created the “Distraction Index,” but anything Einstein makes for a very compelling story.
The Invisible Mentor Interviews Ron LeBlanc: I met Ron LeBlanc in Starbucks, and I chatted with him for a bit and was fascinated by his story so I asked if I could interview him. At the time, Ron had a sapphire mine and land bank in Madagascar. One of one the events that helped to shape his life was leaving the small town in Ontario where he grew up. Ron is always spreading his wings. Today he has a show on the Travel Channel, “Gem Hunt” and his experiences have prepared him for this role. Part II of the Ron LeBlanc interview.
What Did Napoleon Hill Omit? Invisible Counselors vs. Invisible Mentors: An invisible mentor is a unique leader who you can learn things from by observing them from a distance. The concept of the invisible mentor is not new. In fact, Napoleon Hill, who wrote Think and Grow Rich
, had invisible mentors, except he called them invisible counselors. What isn’t Hill telling us about his invisible counselors?
Book Review: The Railway Children by E Nesbit: Though The Railway Children
by E. Nesbit is a children’s book, it’s a perfect demonstration of why a safety net is so important. In the story, you have a father who is taken away, and we learn he is arrested for being a spy, which is a false accusation. The loss of income of the primary breadwinner forces the family into poverty. The Railway Children, a story of hope, teaches us that life is bigger than us and that the good we do comes back to us.
Book Review – Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: This is the biography of Frederick Douglass, a self-freed slave. The book was not an easy one to read, and it will not be an easy book for anyone who believes in the rights and freedoms of all. After you have finished reading Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
you will get the feeling that his story is incomplete and that there are many gaps, and there are. Douglass deliberately left out a lot of information to protect the identity of other slaves.
Book Review – Peter Pan by JM Barrie: Peter Pan
by JM Barrie is a whimsical, magical story that helps you to start thinking about what could be – the possibilities that life has to offer. Peter Pan and similar stories matter today, more than ever, because we do not take enough time to dream, and step into the world of make believe because we are too busy. Peter Pan allows us to think that we can make the impossible possible.
How to Master a Subject: Are you trying to master a subject? If you answered yes, mastering any subject matter takes a commitment of anywhere from 5,000 to 10,000 hours according to Malcolm Gladwell and Michael Masterson. With the proliferation of MOOCs, massive open online courses, we can shave off a substantial amount of time, but it still takes dedication and commitment to master any topic of interest.
How to Read Faster While Reading Well: Reading faster while reading well requires an understanding of the three habits that hold us back. One we unlearn those habits, which is difficult, but doable, we automatically start to read much faster. Learn other techniques to increase your reading speed without compromising your level comprehension.
Interview with Marsha Carr, Assistant Professor, Self-Mentoring Specialist: Marsha Carr is someone who makes a great invisible mentor, because there is so much that we can learn from her. She is very bold, always being proactive. She defined the concept of self-mentoring, which goes hand-in-hand with invisible mentoring. There are many lessons from her interview.
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Author Bio: Avil Beckford, an expert interviewer, entrepreneur and published author is passionate about books and professional development, and that's why she founded The Invisible Mentor and the Virtual Literary World Tour to give you your ideal mentors virtually in the palm of your hands by offering book reviews and book summaries, biographies of wise people and interviews of successful people.
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