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Sarah Williams: Challenging Women to Toughen Up
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Allen Stone: Love Where You’re At
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Allison Fisher: The Deadliest Cue
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Shauna Robertson: Chic Over 50
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Sean Swarner: Redefining Impossible
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Tullis Onstott: Subterranaut
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New technology is set to transform global homelessness and build planetary habitats. Growing up, you may remember seeing Sears catalog kit houses in your neighborhood. Those early 20th century “modern homes” offered the latest technology in homebuilding and were easy to assemble with a group of friends. We’ve come a long way since then. How about printing up your own custom home? Technology has caught up with homebuilding methods and now homes can be built using 3D printing. Yes, you can actually download and print up to a 2,000-square-foot house or even entire communities. Austin, Texas based ICON is a newly launched construction technologies company that is pioneering the future of homebuilding. They are using 3D printing to make major advancements in affordability, sustainability, building performance, and customization. ICON developed the Vulcan II, a proprietary printer that uses 3D robotics, advanced software, and cutting-edge materials. “Conventional construction methods have many baked-in drawbacks and problems that we’ve taken for granted for so long that we forgot how to imagine any alternative,” says Jason Ballard, co-founder and CEO of ICON. “With 3D
Stay cool, well lit, and charged up with a solar-powered camping experience! We went camping last August. To my malaise, it turns out my hair doesn’t get that beachy, salty look in the middle of the Everglades in South Florida. Who knew? The people a couple hundred feet south of us knew, that’s who! It was late evening and the lightning bugs were dancing above the swampy sawgrass to the west. Suddenly, I heard an all too familiar sound … a blow dryer. Sweet six-ounce lord and savior! The tent to the south had some sort of power system. It was far too quiet to be a generator, unless the motor sounded like a bad acoustic version of Creedence Clearwater Revival. But that’s a whole other story. What they had was a solar-powered tent. Or, so we found out the following morning… Even though many swear by the tranquility of camping without the distractions of our daily bombardment of digital gadgets and fluorescent lighting, it’s not an ubiquitous preference. Personally, the lack of modern comforts has kept me from enjoying
Enliven your senses and discover your own aromatic journey by creating perfumes at home. Every day we want to put our best face forward for the world to see. We make sure to wear the perfect combination of our choosing. Our hair is styled to perfection, makeup is appropriate for the occasion, and we’re dressed to impress. But have we given much thought about how we smell every day? Most of us imbue ourselves with fragrances designed by big name celebrities, couturiers, or perfumeries. But now, after half a decade in the making, we have an incredible way to personalize and share fragrances of our own making. Introducing the NOTA NOTA perfume machine created by Abdullah S. Bahabri. A New Scentsation! Now men and women can enter the olfactory world of fragrance designers and create unique fragrances with NOTA NOTA. It’s the newest tool in perfume mixology and is intended to become a part of our daily ritual. Just as routine as waking up to your alarm clock, yawning, and brushing your teeth, you can now dip yourself in an
As a sleep scientist, I have focused most of my adult life studying sleep intricacies. I use my PhD in cognitive psychology and ten years of experience in the field to help people improve their sleep. I have worked extensively on a sleep application, Sonic Sleep, to enhance sleep environment and thus, overall sleep quality. Additionally, I provide personalized, insightful solutions to help get to the root of your sleep issues. Our work has been featured on TED, Daily Mail and Time Magazine. Sleep is a critical component in optimizing our daily functionality and overall health. There are four common sleep disorders that hinder the ability to get the restful, regenerative sleep we need. It is important to know the potential signs for each one to get the appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan from a professional. Sleep Apnea Sleep apnea is a disorder that involves difficulty and disruption of breathing throughout the night. The word “apnea” literally translates from the Latin to “without breathing.” Snoring loudly is a common symptom of sleep apnea. This occurs during the night when a
Many individuals use the term anxiety to refer to a great deal of worry. But what does anxiety really mean? And what does anxiety look like? Awareness of anxiety symptoms and treatments can increase the likelihood of getting help and relieving any stress you may be feeling. What is Anxiety? Anxiety means an excessive worry or anxiousness that lasts for more than six months. The fear and worriedness manifest themselves in various extreme forms. These forms could look like physical and emotional ailments or psychological unrest. The toll that anxiety takes on an individual is very severe. For many individuals, it may not seem clear or evident that he or she is experiencing an anxiety disorder due to the lack of knowledge and information about its manifestation (anxiety.org). Research suggests that women are more likely to develop an anxiety disorder in their lifetime than men (McLean, 2011, pp. 1). Gender differences and anxiety has shown that the manifestation of anxiety in both women and men could be presented in a similar fashion. However, research suggests that the main difference is
Free easy-to-use phone apps boost your well-being, help manage weight, sharpen your mind, and more. For many boomers, convenience and simplicity are requirements for any new phone app being considered. If you’re looking to improve your health without a lot of expenditure or travel involved, we have great news for you. We’ve compiled a list of popular lifestyle apps for better health and wellness rated by users this year. Best of all, these apps are all free. Sure, most offer in-app purchases if you want to add more functionality but you can get a lot of benefit by just using the free version. Simply download from Google Play or the App Store and you’re good to go. It’s never too late to start improving your lifestyle! MyFitnessPal Android| iPhone Over 225 million users manage their weight, fitness, and nutrition for free using the MyFitnessPal app. There are over 11 million foods listed in its database, making it the world’s largest compilation. Along with tracking food and counting calories for weight loss, you can keep a journal of all your steps
Breakfast, we are told, is the most important meal of the day, yet most of us are getting it completely wrong. And the worst part is, we THINK we are doing the right thing. Ugh! And what leads us to believe such bullsh*t? Advertising. A good rule of thumb is that if you’ve seen mass advertising for it, you probably shouldn’t be eating it. When was the last time you saw an ad campaign for strawberries, bananas, chia seeds, almonds, green tea, blueberries…. You get what I’m saying, right? For example, we are bombarded with advertisements for cereal. In fact, there is a long, double-sided aisle in most supermarkets devoted to breakfast cereal alone. Beware, folks. Stay away from it. (Both the cereal and the aisle.) The last thing you should be putting into your body after starving yourself for the (hopefully) 8 hours you’ve slept is a big bowl of processed carbohydrates! Let’s just think about this for a second, shall we? Our metabolism has slowed down while we are at rest. We wake up, we grab a box
1. Smartphones The most obvious social crutch used to be smoking. You would see people light up and puff away, not because they really needed or wanted a cigarette but just to have something to do with their hands. Health warnings have led to a huge reduction in smoking in Western countries in the last few decades. It’s no longer socially acceptable and is banned outright in many public areas. So what do people do now? Smartphones are to the current generation what cigarettes were to the last. Primarily designed to help people stay in touch, they are also a popular crutch to avoid social awkwardness. It’s a rare person who finds themselves at a loose end in a public place (waiting for something, eating alone, and so on) and doesn’t pull out their phone to give themselves something to do. Some people with low self-confidence take this even further and may pretend to text someone or even fake making a call. I once saw a girl on a train doing this, but her phone rang while she was talking
If you are venturing back out again into dating after 40 as a lady seeking a long term love relationship and not just a Tinder hookup, then there are 3 tips you must know in order to be smart, safe and successful in midlife courtship. These are 3 must know tips for women for dating after 40 looking to date quality men and find a life long love relationship. 3 Must Know Tips for Women Dating for After 40: You Deserve More Than a Hook Up Ladies, You Deserve a Relationship with a Man Who Loves You By the way, gentlemen, I believe and inculcate that you deserve to be in a relationship with a woman who loves you and appreciates you for the man that you are, too. This is not a one-sided thing. There is no one-sidedness in marriage. There is no winning. Marriage and long term committed relationship always require a win-win approach to relating, love, intimacy, and communication. Dating certainly is different now at midlife than it was in your 20s and 30s. If you are
A journey through Ireland by train on the Belmond Grand Hibernian reveals the history and legends of Ireland through her rolling countrysides and port towns. See off-the-beaten-path sites, explore the famous places, and meet local people who will bring this region of northern Europe to life through storytelling and tours. Suggested journey at a glance: 9 days/8 nights including four nights aboard the Belmond Grand Hibernian, and overnights in Dublin and Belfast This suggested itinerary is just one of many ways to see Ireland on your own customized Ker & Downey journey. Our designers are at their best when crafting a journey unique to you; contact us to get started planning, and read on to see one example of what’s possible on our Ireland by Train journey. Dublin Begin in Dublin, Ireland’s capital city and one of the world’s top cities as listed by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network. It’s at the center of Irish culture past and present, and a historical and contemporary center for education, the arts, and industry. Its history is told in the architecture
With 44 countries in Europe, travelers have plenty of choices. You want mountains? Check. Chic beaches that meet sparkling seas? Check. Delicious food? Check. Vast varieties of culture and history? Check. Since there’s so much to see, we are helping you visit Europe in 2020 with confidence. Keep reading to narrow in on where to go in Europe 2020. Greenland Iceland’s much bigger neighbor is having a moment in the well-deserved spotlight. Go in search of polar bears and the vivid Northern Lights as you circumnavigate the large island. Discover old settlements dating back more than 4,500 years as you hike through the UNESCO-listed Sermermiut Valley. Glide through the ice fjords by kayak or take flight above the Isua Glacier, spotting whales down below. And when your weary feet need a break, settle in for an Arctic sauna experience or chit chat with locals over coffee and cakes in their home. Albania Long left under the radar and in the shadows of Greece, many travelers are surprised to learn of Albania’s equally beautiful beaches. But what makes Albania different is
If it’s your first time to go on safari, your list of wildlife to see probably includes the “Big 5.” The term, originally coined by the big game hunters of the early safari days, refers to the five most difficult animals to see while on foot: lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo. Spotting them on the safaris of today can still be challenging… unless you know where to look. The Big 5 are present in several countries across Africa. South Africa South Africa is one of the best countries to visit for first-time safari-goers and families traveling together. The country offers a lot of diversity with its cities, beaches, culture, and of course safaris. If it’s a Big 5 safari you’re after, the Sabi Sand Game Reserve is the place to go. Of the Big 5, the leopard is the most elusive of all. However, they are frequently spotted on game drives in the Sabi Sand. There are a number of excellent lodges to choose from, but a few of our favorite go-to places that provide unparalleled luxury and
His organization is empowering a community of changemakers within Africa’s prison system. Stooping in a dark, dank prison cell, a young man strokes the hand of a dying prisoner. The prisoner is handcuffed to a soiled cot reeking of vomit and urine. The young man doesn’t even notice. He sees only with his heart; something not many people would accuse barristers of having. But this young legal mind, Alexander McLean has a heart large enough to embrace the suffering prisoners of an entire continent. The Happy Accident McLean should never have been born. He’s a child of accidental birth, at least to his parents; a Jamaican father and English mother. But when God wants to answer the prayers of the forgotten, He creates their solution in His own way. That solution was a little boy called Alex. Born in the southern suburbs of London, England, McLean endured the fitful reactions of 1970s society to mixed race children. Nevertheless, he grew up in a loving home surrounded by loving relatives, including a beloved gran. The Caring Soul The signs of McLean’s
By his example, he’s helping the under-served through the power of music. Change the Tune For Stanford Thompson, music is more than notes and pitches. He believes, like many others, that music can heal broken communities, uplift downtrodden children, and make Philadelphia a better place. Unlike others, Thompson is a world-renowned trumpet player who uses his musical talent for social justice initiatives. His art is undeniable, he’s performed solos with Ocean City Pops Orchestra, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and the North Springs Philharmonic, and traveled as far China, Czech Republic, Germany, Kenya, and Austria playing his tunes. But to Thompson, the sweetest sound doesn’t come from his trumpet, it comes from helping those in need. His organization, Play On Philly, pairs world-class musicians with students who are struggling academically due to life circumstances. He shares his results about the life-changing effects of music and remains committed to the arts through his many leadership positions on the board of the Marian Anderson Award, American Composers Forum, and the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance. Due to his commitment to social justice through music,
One brick at a time, his labor of love empowers lives and communities through education. A man with a wonderful soul wrote a book about walking in the shoes of the less fortunate. If you took a walk in Jim Ziolkowski’s shoes not only would they be covered in dust from foreign lands, they’d make your heart swell with love for your fellow man. In his book, Walk in Their Shoes, he poses the question: can one person change the world? In his life he’s already proven it. Heartland Upbringing Ziolkowski grew up like millions of other kind souls in the heartland of America. Raised in Jackson, Michigan, he enjoyed the peaceful life of small town U.S.A. and all the charming trappings associated with it. Attending Church with his parents was a big part of that wonderful childhood. His faith, deeply embedded in his consciousness, would affect not only his life but the fates of thousands. College Grad with a Conscience After graduating from college, Ziolkowski traveled the world, but not like your typical Eurorail backpacker. After hitchhiking around Europe
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Shadows Their silent mystery suggests a way of being that is different from yet thoroughly tied to the way of being we know as humans. They carry a wonder that comes with childhood and youth, when the world’s shadows can frighten and thrill at once, which is the essence of horror and the strange hope and excitement it creates. It takes youthful imagination truly to apprehend and appreciate shadow puppets, hands forming shadow animals and faces, and shadows in a moonlit room that turn familiar things into unrecognizable shapes that might just harbor a secret or a threat. There is a moment in the 1963 film The Haunting when a few shadows cast by an ornately carved panel seem to form a motionless face. As light from an unknown source dims and brightens, the face sharpens and fades against the menacing sound of a rising and falling voice. How often as a child did I myself lay in bed transfixed and chilled by ordinary, inanimate things coming alive through the accidental formation of shadows? Or was it accidental? When I was
You are having dinner at someone’s home, and you’ve been served something you’d rather not eat. What is the best way to handle the situation? First off, if you accept a dinner invitation at someone’s home and you have any dietary restrictions or allergies, it’s up to you to tell your host in plenty of time ahead of the meal that you have dietary restrictions. It is not recommended however to tell your host your likes or dislikes. That being said, if you arrive to someone’s home and are served something you do not like, it can be very hurtful to tell your host you don’t like something they prepared. I would recommend eating everything else that you can, and cut a piece or two of the food you don’t so it looks like you at least tried it. If your host asks if you didn’t like their meal, I would simply say I had a large meal prior, however that everything they served was so lovely. If you’ve invited a guest to dinner at your house and they bring
By Ed Stafford, illustrated by Christine Barrie | Published September 17, 2019 In this unique and enthralling book, explorer and survivalist Ed Stafford curates 25 great expeditions through the lens of the kit these remarkable explorers took with them. In an environment where lack of preparation could mean certain death, the equipment carried, ridden and sailed into uncharted territories could mean the success or failure of an expedition. Was it simply a case of better provisions and preparation that helped Amundsen beat Scott to the South Pole? And how has the equipment taken to Everest changed since Hillary’s first ascent? Through carefully curated photographs and specially commissioned illustrations we can see at a glance the scale, style and complexity of the items taken into the unknown by the greatest explorers of all time, and the impact each item had on their journey. How it potentially saved a life, or was purely for comfort or entertainment, and how these objects of survival have evolved and adapted as science advances, and we plunge further into the extremes. Expeditions Unpacked offers an intimate view of
A sensational convergence of fantasy and artistry on the big stage makes this visual storyteller one of the best in the business. Let the Show Begin Spectators take to their seats. Whispers slowly cease as the curtain rises and the house lights fade. Lights up, the reveal! Instantly, the art of David Gallo overcomes you and you are swept into another realm. He has set the stage in both mood and expectation at the start of your theatrical journey. His set design provides a canvas, of sorts, for actors and directors to make a story come to life, but the set is a piece of magnificence all on its own. As a scenic designer, Gallo is responsible for the visual appearance and function of the scenic elements used in a production. But he is more inclined to far exceed usual conventions, and instead, creates awe-inspiring works of art and experiential productions. Gallo is one of the most preeminent creators of theatrical environments in the industry. In the quarter century that is his career, his imaginings have breathed life into many
Shooting for the stars: The nurturing of wild ideas into innovations that change the world. What do James Bond and Lipitor have in common? What can we learn about human nature and world history from a glass of water? These are questions physicist, entrepreneur, and author, Safi Bahcall, answers using the science of phase transitions. He became interested in how important ideas were either set aside and forgotten or became major innovations with the potential to change the world. He says, “The most important breakthroughs rarely follow blaring trumpets and a red carpet, with central authorities offering overflowing pots of tools and money. They pass through long dark tunnels of skepticism and uncertainty, crushed or neglected; their champions often dismissed as crazy.” The Gardener’s Hand According to Bahcall, a moonshot is a destination —an idea that culminates into a big goal like landing a man on the moon or curing cancer. A loonshot is how we get there. But what is a loonshot? It is an idea deemed too farfetched and is therefore set aside to be neglected and buried.
Bored city worker turned adventurer inspires women to push their limits and get the most out of life. Some women sit in their corporate cubicles fantasizing about travelling the world. Still others at management level fantasize about naps in the middle of 80-hour work weeks. But Sarah Williams isn’t your typical woman. She was created with the factory setting “limitless” and used her exit from corporate life to flip the switch. From Pushing Papers to Pushing Barriers Williams was by all measures a success. She’d graduated from university and landed a great job in the buzzing financial center of London. By age 32 she was restless and bored out of her skull. The dormant explorer inside her was stirring, ready to awaken a veritable powerhouse of sheer will and human accomplishment. In 2013 she left her job and set off on an 18-month journey around the globe. “I Quite Like Shocking People.” Hoping this expedition would show her a different path forward; Williams proceeded to blaze several all over the globe. She cycled Death Road in Bolivia. She climbed
It’s true: the only one who could ever reach me was the son of a preacher man. Meet Allen Stone, a musician who never falls flat. I was first introduced to Allen Stone in September 2012. A trendy, always in-the-know coworker approached me during lunch and bluntly stated, “Listen, my friend just bailed, so I have an extra ticket to see this dude Allen Stone tonight at the Highline Ballroom in Chelsea.” She either safely assumed I’d never heard of him or accurately interpreted my facial cues before continuing: “He’s a soul singer; covers Bob Marley; and is friends with Macklemore and Ryan. The ticket is only $20 … want to grab a drink after work and join me?” Hip-hop duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis had released Thrift Shop a few weeks prior, and it was off the charts worldwide. If Allen Stone was friends with the most desirable and sought-after artists of the time, he had to be something special. Plus, $20 in New York City was pocket change: One subpar cocktail disguised in a pretty glass costs $20,
Chalking up victory after victory, she’s been hailed the greatest woman pool player of all time. Imagine a high-class billiards room; very elegant with polished wood on the walls and smooth red felt on the tables. It’s full of tuxedoed men making bets and bragging about their technical prowess. Piles of cash line the table for active bets. In walks a lithe blond in a black evening gown, cue stick in hand and ready to rock. While the men are working out how to get with her, she’s already calculated every move of every ball across the red felt necessary to relieve the men of their cash piles. Using precision and killer instinct, she proceeds to do just that. Congratulations. You’ve just met mega-talent Allison Fisher. Child Prodigy Fisher grew up in Tonbridge, Kent, UK, with an innate ability to demonstrate physics in real time on a pool table. She grabbed her first pool cue at age seven after watching snooker with dad and proceeded to blow everyone’s mind with her talent. Born with a fierce competitive streak, she was
She turned a hobby into one of the top style influencer blogs, inspiring women to be confident and beautiful. Ask her about fashion, skin care, makeup, fitness, or hairstyle, and her answer will surely make you feel beautiful and great about yourself. Shauna Robertson, fashionista superstar and founder of Chic Over 50, loves making women feel great with her effervescent personality and style wizardry. Always reinventing her look, she enjoys making endless fashion statements by wearing bold, colorful, patterned, and feminine looks. She loves thinking of what to wear each day, challenging herself to look her best. Blending new trends and classics with age consideration is her specialty. Every 50+ woman will find new inspiration in their closets by getting a daily dose of Chic Over 50. “I may push the boundaries a bit more than most, but I’m not afraid to and don’t do anything outside of my confidence level. If you have confidence, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING!” she says in an interview with Trendeing. Just for the Fun of It Robertson thought she’d have a little fun
Living fearlessly, he’s inspiring cancer patients to dream big, reach high, and never give up. Sean Swarner holds nothing back when it comes to living, in fact, he’s up for any challenge. Obstacles that would instill fear in most, Swarner has added to his list of accomplishments. Climbing the highest mountain in the world? Check. Beating cancer? Check. Competing in grueling athletic events? Check. After beating cancer twice, Swarner decided that there was more to life than school, work, and mundane hobbies. He dropped out of college, sold everything and set his sights on the top of the world. So, he climbed 29,035 feet to the top of Mount Everest, making him the first cancer survivor to do so. He’s also climbed the highest mountain in each continent, competed in the Hawaii Ironman and skied at the North and South Poles. His mind-over-matter attitude is what has allowed him to transform tragedy to triumph. Through it all, he continues to be an advocate for cancer research. He’s the winner of the Never Give Up Award presented by the Jimmy V
Finding life in the underworld could lead to possible discoveries in other worlds. Imagine a young boy standing deep inside the imposing chasms of Carlsbad Caverns, disappointed he couldn’t spelunk any deeper than 1,000 feet. When the advertised “bottomless” pit revealed itself to be a mere 140 feet, its actual bottom concealed in darkness, Tullis Onstott became more than intrigued. Already enthralled with the wonders of indigenous life in the terra above him, he hungered for knowledge about this fascinating underworld. He found his life’s quest: the search for subsurface life. Caves for a Neighbor Onstott was born in otherworldly Carlsbad, New Mexico; the very town named for the epic chasms that would draw him to a career far beneath the earth’s surface. Thousands of visitors pass through the monstrous caves every year jaws agape at the sheer size of it. But Onstott had other fascinations. He wanted to see what lived there, if anything. And if it did hold life, what kind? His life’s work would soon provide the answer not just for himself, but the world. The Science
Creating the best job in the world. Hello, my name is Cyrus Schenck and I run a ski company. People say I have the best job in the world — but let me set the record straight. It’s been 8 years, 6 months and 21 days since I started RENOUN. It’s been one of the hardest things I have ever done — taking more time, and more money than I ever thought necessary to get where we are today. It’s not always been fun, and often times has made me feel stupid and crazy for even attempting to start a company in a shrinking, over-saturated market. Well, maybe because it is a stupid idea to start a business in a market like this. Yet, here I am. I funded RENOUN by washing windows — for 7 years. Yep, I was was washing windows all summer years after we won our first international ISPO Gold award. Years after we sold our 100th ski. Years after our first Patents. RENOUN wasn’t funded by some big investor group or wealthy parents – it
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Nnamdi Okonkwo: Artist of Abundance
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Oliver Clark: Behind Closed Doors in NYC
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How does anyone become the premier expert in the world in their chosen field? To accomplish so rare a feat, it helps to have relentless energy, an extraordinary work ethic, no fear of failure, and at least a decade of hands-on experience. Each of these attributes clearly apply to Larry Jay Levine – the world’s premier expert in federal prison consultation. And just how would one gain ‘at least a decade of hands-on experience’ in the field of federal prisons? Simple – by spending 10 years as an inmate in 11 of them – from high security on down to medium, low, and finally, minimum security. “It could have been worse,” says Levine. “My ex-wife wrote a letter to the court with information on crimes even the prosecutors didn’t know about. Luckily, the statute of limitations had already passed.” The Incarceration, A New Beginning As described on one of Levine’s several websites, he was a Private Investigator in Los Angeles, California before entering federal custody in 1998. He also reveals that, in truth, he was working as an ‘efficiency expert’
There it was, of all places, in the back country of Kentucky, a big beautiful barn with hand-hewn old growth oak and birch beams. After searching all over Texas, Stephen Said, coffee lover and entrepreneur, bought the 165-year-old historical barn, disassembled it, and shipped it to The Woodlands, Texas. This was just the beginning of what would become the infamous Dosey Doe Big Barn that offers patrons Southern-style dining and a live music venue. In an interview with Woodlands Online’s “Faces of the Woodlands,” Said explained, “I was not too excited about how coffee shops were pretty sterile in their looks, all steel and Teflon. I just felt like Texans wanted something that felt like Texas. So ‘coffee,’ ‘Texas’ – I came up with the idea of having it in an actual barn as the dining hall. A Texas native, Said is the son of a U.S. naturalized Lebanese businessman and Dallas homemaker. His family heritage comprised of Christian faith and successful business ventures in Lebanon and Iraq. But when King Faisal and son were overthrown by a faction of
Not long ago, in celebration of “the most inspiring, insightful, inventive risk-takers of 2017,” Entrepreneur Magazine featured a piece titled “50 Most Daring Entrepreneurs.” By my perusal, the list was a provocative mix of exceedingly influential business leaders, all hyper-busy changing their worlds for the better from whatever is their chosen vocation. Some were early stage in their project’s development, others well along, and several others were global (and beyond) titans of industry. Their various pursuits were across the map and included: social media startups, media entertainment giants, various software applications, marketers, restaurateurs, coffee shop moguls, national and international retailers, alternative energy applications, rocket ships to outer space, etc.. And then there was a fitness guy on the list named Randy Hetrick, being acknowledged for the exercise equipment and training systems he’s developed called ‘TRX.’ Interesting. I wondered why this young man and his exercise gear should be considered amongst so illustrious a group of world shakers? We were wise enough to ask and Hetrick was generous enough to carve out some time to answer. In truth, he gave us
A love of cycling and dislike of hills prompted the co-founding of Pedego Electric Bikes. In 2008, Don DiCostanzo and Terry Sherry were at lunch talking about what they wanted to do with the rest of their lives. They were both 50-something serial entrepreneurs who were in between ventures. Best friends since college, they loved cycling but hated hills. They loved the concept of electric bikes but hadn’t found a really great electric bike. Despite having no bicycle industry experience, they decided to create their own. Over lunch, they designed their first bike on a napkin. The first Pedego electric cruiser bike was designed with a nostalgic look reminiscent of 1950s beach cruisers. Overcoming Challenge #1: Manufacturing in China Manufacturing challenges included persuading big-name bicycle components companies to allow Pedego to use their parts. Most were unfamiliar with electric bikes and were reluctant, but DiCostanzo was highly persuasive. Another challenge was finding the perfect factory in China to manufacture the bicycles, eventually they found one. Overcoming Challenge #2: Distributing Electric Bikes In 2009, the first Pedego Comfort Cruiser bikes rolled
The year was 2011. The weather was bright and sunny with a chilly, northerly 70-degree breeze, indicating our wintertime. Our good friends asked whether we’d be interested in joining them on the Sandy Beaches Cruise leaving in a few days out of Ft. Lauderdale. For the unaware, Sandy Beaches is a week-long, music-themed Holland America cruise headlined annually by one of my favorite rock and blues musicians, Delbert McClinton. Because a South Florida ritual is having two bags always packed and waiting in the foyer for last minute cruise invitations, my wife and I were heading off to the port in a flash. Little did I know what life-changing delights we’d be experiencing in the days ahead. As usual, we were having a magical time on our cruise. And why not? Our only responsibility was finding our way from our cabin to the several restaurants and lounges offering limitless food and drink day and night, and to the various music venues scattered around the ship, and then making it back to our cabin at night’s end. Actually, that was the
