Friday, October 25, 2013

Are you Significant?

OF WHAT IS SIGNIFICANT 
 in one’s own existence one is hardly aware, and it certainly should not bother the other fellow. What does a fish know about the water in which he swims all his life? The bitter and the sweet come from the outside, the hard from within, from one’s own efforts. For the most part I do the thing which my own nature drives me to do. It is embarrassing to earn so much respect and love for it. Arrows of hate have been shot at me too; but they never hit me, because somehow they belonged to another world, with which I have no connection whatsoever. I live in that solitude which is painful in youth, but delicious in the years of maturity.*1
Albert Einstein



What lies beyond our 4 dimensions?

  When I was a child, I used to visit the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco. I would spend hours fascinated by the carp, who lived in a very shallow pond just inches beneath the lily pads, just beneath my fingers, totally oblivious to the universe above them.
I would ask myself a question only a child could ask: what would it be like to be a carp? What a strange world it would be! I imagined that the pond would be an entire universe, one that is two-dimensional in space. The carp would only be able to swim forwards and backwards, and left and right. But I imagined that the concept of “up”, beyond the lily pads, would be totally alien to them. Any carp scientist daring to talk about “hyperspace”, i.e. the third dimension “above” the pond, would immediately be labelled a crank. I wondered what would happen if I could reach down and grab a carp scientist and lift it up into hyperspace. I thought what a wondrous story the scientist would tell the others! The carp would babble on about unbelievable new laws of physics: beings who could move without fins. Beings who could breathe without gills. Beings who could emit sounds without bubbles. I then wondered: how would a carp scientist know about our existence? One day it rained, and I saw the rain drops forming gentle ripples on the surface of the pond.

Then I understood.

The carp could see rippling shadows on the surface of the pond. The third dimension would be invisible to them, but vibrations in the third dimensions would be clearly visible. These ripples might even be felt by the carp, who would invent a silly concept to describe this, called “force.” They might even give these “forces” cute names, such as light and gravity. We would laugh at them, because, of course, we know there is no “force” at all, just the rippling of the water. *2
Dr. Michio Kaku



Follow me to 'The Big Show', maybe your child will be the next to look beyond the ripples? 
http://goo.gl/sHAXv3




*1  By Einstein, Albert (2011-03-14). Out of My Later Years: The Scientist, Philosopher, and Man Portrayed Through His Own Words (p. 5). Philosophical Library / Open Road. Kindle Edition.
*2  Dr. Michio Kaku - Hyperspace and a Theory of Everything

What lies beyond our 4 dimensions?

Never Forget.


Walk alongside 42 LIFE-SIZE, bronze statues of the FOUNDING FATHERS and relive the moment that launched a government ruled by “We the People.”

SIGNERS’ HALL—life-sized and exquisitely detailed bronzes of the Founding Fathers who debated and signed the Constitution in 1787. These statues are so realistic you feel you could clap your hands and they would all come to life. [See the first image in the media player at right.] By Denny Hatch

Will we be left " on the ash heap of history ", will we fall as the Roman Empire did, I am not sure, but it sure seems that way?

Our 'leaders' and I say that with lots of reservation, that they have proven their focus is only on themselves!  Thou I could write for days on this kerfuffle, I won't.

Today I want to release for public use my word "freakazoidal".  It can be used in any context you wish ( Our Government is freakazoidal ). Since it's my invented word, your allowed to change the meaning, or the spelling. Just don't be freakazoidal about it.

As I drift back to today's title 'Never Forget' about the men who wrote and signed the greatest document ever, the Constitution of the United States.

Why teach public speaking to children? Because it teaches confidence, it open's minds, it creates interest outside of the realm of their normal thinking.

I truly believe our children must understand the 'Never Forget', the 55 brave men who created the freedom we still have.

Our children are the future!

York

Monday, October 21, 2013

How do we teach reliability to our children?

“I know that the people closest to me cannot count on me to do the things I say I’m going to do.
That’s what 10 percent of people admitted to in a recent survey we conducted of more than 3,000 respondents.
Think about that for a moment: One out of every 10 individuals knows that their word is so unreliable that even the people closest to them can’t count on them to simply do the things they say they’re going to do."
Rory Vaden, wrote this article today  http://goo.gl/pCXF0e.
Personally I don't remember many childhood lessons from my parents.  But I learned being on time and hard work payed dividends. 
Should we blame our parents for everything, why not, isn't that the theme today?  Rory said " Stop making excuses and start restoring your integrity"
Does a ten year old have integrity,  I am not sure, but we can teach integrity. Learning how important keeping your word is, being on time is, can be a deal changer in their lives.  I truly believe if you start teaching integrity early, they will live it.
 Don't we have extreme issues in our government today with integrity?
Do you want our children to copy, our so called leadership, or will you teach them yourself or find mentors like YSTA.
Over ten years ago when I thought I could write, I wrote a long essay 'The Left Handed Comedy'  on how political correctness and lack of integrity will ruin our country. I have my ideas, you decide.
Friends, I write this blog, not because I think I am a good writer, but just because I am concerned about the children's future, the future leadership of our great country.
Ronald Reagan said,  you could land on the "Ash Heap of History"
 If your more interested in YSTA, please go to           www.youthspeakingtoamerica.com and sign-up.
Thanx
York


Thursday, October 17, 2013

How to change the world?

Friends, money and power win again!  Our (leaders) just kicked the can down the road again.  How do we 'the people' fix the problem, maybe at the voting booth? But I have my doubts.

  But this blog is about how to change the future. How to instill in our children why, morals, ethics, honesty and hard work pay.

At all Toastmaster meetings www.toastmasters.org  we have what we call Table Topics.  This is a exercise in extemporaneous speaking.  The TT master will put together questions, sometimes with a program theme.
About: Toastmasters International is a world leader in communication and leadership development. Our membership is 292,000 strong. These members improve their speaking and leadership skills by attending one of the 14,350 clubs in 122 countries that make up our global network of meeting locations. Toastmasters.org

Most Toastmaster meeting's have these parts:


  1. Business meeting
  2. Table Topics - time 1-2 min.
  3. Prepared Speakers - average time 5-7 min.
  4. Speech evaluations- 2-3 min.
Twice a week now I take parts of this program to a 5th and  8th grade classrooms.
On Monday I asked these TT questions to my 5th graders. Many at a Toastmaster meeting would say these questions are to difficult?  
Then why ask 10 year olds?  Because I see these young minds as the future, possibly the next Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy or Martin Luther King. 
Think about how you would answer these questions, and could you at age ten?

  1. The only sin on earth is to do things badly - John Galt.
  2. Success is more a matter of choice than circumstance - Rory Vaden.
  3. Winning is a habit; unfortunately so is losing - Vince Lombardi.
  4. Don't mistake activity with achievement - John Wooden.
  5. The true test of a character is what he does when no one is watching - John Wooden.
  6. Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there - John Wooden.
  7. You can't live a perfect day until you do something for someone who will never be able to repay you - John Wooden.
Yes, I do explain to them who these great men are.

As they started answering I looked at their teacher Cheryl Rice in amazement, have you ever had that look of a WHAT!  Not one student said, that's to hard, their answers were smart and brilliant.  Honestly I don't remember myself ever really thinking at 10 years old.

Friends, what I like about this fundamental school, is the parents care, the teacher cares, and these students care. I care.

Many of you who read this will criticize my grammar, my inability to write clear sentences.  That's ok, those who criticize will surely do it better? I mean of course, create future leaders. See what the students say: www.youthspeakingtoamerica.com.

I teach don't do things the hard way, as I did. Don't get thrown out of school at 16, with no education, no job, and no money! Then my father had the nerve to say now I had to pay rent, WHAT!

Well friends as Rory Vaden says  "The rent is due every day" , Rory is a motivational speaker, Toastmaster and runner-up in the Toastmasters International Speech contest, 2007.  His book 'Take the Stairs' is a brilliant read, and NY Times best seller.

I truly believe one day one of these young mind may lead the world, become a Toastmaster World Champion, the CEO of Apple, the next Mahatma Gandhi? Maybe just the person who say I know how to "Stop kicking the can down the Road" .

But, friends to stop the 'can' it takes funding, to make 'The Big Show' a big deal it takes funding.  Giving our future leaders the chance to step up on the big stage at 'The Big Show' is a big deal. To become a leader starts now like these 10 year olds are. Helping the YSTA programs grow is a big deal!

See: 'The Big Show' on this blog or www.youthspeakingtoamerica.com.

Thanx
York 

 

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Becoming the best teacher



Friends, how do you become one of those best teachers? Well, I bet most of you reading here have taken education seriously?
If you read my blogs you know I took a different path, and my path ran up-hill. Why I took on a life of entrepreneurism, only God knows.

From selling Newsday subscription's at age 12, winning those trips to Coney Island, Brooklyn Dodger,
New York Yankee and Giants games, was forming my ' Big Adventure' a Pee Wee herman movie.
My 10,000 hours of practice started early. Research by Malcolm Gladwell ( The Outliers ), it's a very interesting read.

Fast Forward to 1958, the day the music died, three legends of early Rock N Roll, Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens, left us in a plane crash.  The day was special I was 16,  they threw me out of school for the last time.

So what do you do when you graduate from the class clown, to hangin out?  Now I was real cool, no job, no money and no education, you get lucky!  I met Bob Riley. Bob changed my life, he taught me the landscaping business.

One of the theme's with YSTA is being a mentor, Bob Riley did exactly that, I owe everything to Bob. 

But of course my 'Big Adventure' was just beginning.
 It's now I WANT TO TELL THE WORLD!

When I look back to 2003, and that flashback, that 16 year old boy who helped me realize why I had become a Toastmaster.
  Coach John Wooden said "Don't let what you can't do stop you from what you can do".

We can all strive to be a better teacher, a better mentor, be like John Wooden!

' The Big Show' speech contest will open on Facebook Dec. 1st.
 See all the rules and how to enter:  http://goo.gl/kYtLkR .

The whole idea here is to reach out, find young speakers and those who don't even know yet they can!

York 

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them."

~Mother Teresa

Friday, October 4, 2013

How do you turn things around?

 'THE BIG SHOW' JUNE 2014

I feel a strong need to be a role model, I think I even met myself at
 age 13, the class clown/trouble maker.  Meeting yourself  is such
a new challenge!  This is when you reach down deep in your
experience as a Toastmaster, father, and teacher, because you
understand, you were there!

You understand the lack of a role model, maybe a parent who 
lacks education?   You must take the lead because you know
how hard life is without a education!

Rory Vaden opens his speech 'Slam' with his back to the audience.
"He asks have you ever been slammed?  I know i'm being judged
right now, because they say never turn your back on the
 audience." As he turns around he asks " how is it that you turn 
things around.
In his close he says,as he turns around
"and that's how you turn things around" !

So how do you turn things around? 

  • First you open the door to public speaking
  • You give our future leaders a voice
  • Involve them in school speech programs
  • Contact a Toastmasters club, and ask if this child can be
  • a guest speaker?
  • Find or ask a Toastmasters club to present the 
  • Youth Leadership Program.
  • Contact a  school or your students teacher.
I have seen how students, as young as nine, gain confidence and
 overcome this fear of public speaking.  Find out what the students
say.  http://goo.gl/w3hlUl 

We are the teachers of the future, please step- up. If you need more
information on how to start this program,
email me: york.ysta@gmail.com or search Youth Leadership at
www.toastmasters.org.
See you at 'The Big Show'  http://goo.gl/kYtLkR

York

Today I started my tenth Youth Leadership Program.  This group of 17, 8th graders will be my biggest challenge.
After I explained what Toastmasters was all about, I showed two videos from the 2007 Toastmasters International Speech contest.
Second place: Rory Vaden 'Slam'
First Place:Vikas Jhingran 'The Swami's Question'





Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Why, 'The Big Show'

This morning I woke around 4am, as I always do I sleep with the radio on. Coast to Coast, I believe is the best radio ever. This conversation was about John F. Kennedy.  A man who died well before his time.

I look at JFK as a man of vision, his vision the space program has brought to mankind, the computer age, Velcro, and Tang to name a few.

The writer of this book ‘Surrounded by Enemies’  http://goo.gl/vtKaM7  Bryce Zabel asks, what if JFK had lived?

Then some how my thinking turned to my passion’ teaching. Then you think about JFK’s passion and yours? Are they quite different?  JFK a Harvard man, me not quite I didn't even graduate the 9th grade, eke!
So if you're here to criticize my grammar, I don’t have time to have these posts edited.  I write to expand my passion, not my flaws.

YSTA is all about fixing my childhood, and giving our children a chance to face the world with confidence.  It’s about helping them understand how important education is. How important public speaking is. How important passion is!

What drives passion, what drove JFK ?   Didn't he have everything, money, society, good looks, and even Marilyn Monroe?  So why want to be the President?  Maybe power, I believe he had vision and the passion to be extrodoriade!  What if JFK had lived?



Bryce Zabel, said he believed JFK learned an important lesson after the failed ‘Bay of Pigs’ invasion of Cuba in 1961. Don't we all learn lessons?

Did JFK, create going to the moon, i’m not sure, but he told the world we would, we did. Sadly he missed out.

Friends, this blog is just about those passions, those visions, the ideas that can change the world, our children.

The creation of Youth Speaking to America is all about vision and passion.
It’s about changing the world one child at a time.

To have the opportunity to open young minds, to see our future, to see the brilliance and the vision of these young minds is my Nobel Prize  http://goo.gl/5wKgjc  !  I ask each class to fill out a vision board.  

It’s in 10 year old Rehna’s IB ( ice breaker ) speech she talks about wanting to win the battle of the books   http://goo.gl/7Ecxaz  .  I thought some books were missing?
  1. Tuesday’s with Morrie
  2. Who moved my cheese
  3. The five people you meet in heaven
  4. Pulling weeds to picking stocks

When you meet  10 year old Will; he could spell words like:

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

Antidisestablishmentarianism

in ten seconds.
Then you listen to Paul’s contest winning speech title ‘Pink Slime’ it was about school food. Sadly the principal missed this one. I wondered is Paul the next great thinker?  One day Maggie handed me some songs she wrote. How do you win your Nobel Prize, become a mentor.

When you see 13 year old Rion Page  http://goo.gl/WNo4bm on the xFactor,  you feel something so beautiful, so powerfull you cry!

It’s exactly why I have created ‘The Big Show’, true not every child is a clone of Carrie Underwood.  I cried again this morning watching Rion, so far over 9 million on youtube agree.

Every day, every class I am blown away, every child is special!

Please help me find our future leaders, mentor them, teach them, tell them about ‘The Big Show’  http://goo.gl/kYtLkR.

York