Deep Stories: Dolphin Tale Movie

To many of us, deep stories are certainly part of ordinary lives.

But what really makes a deep story today?  What makes a story deeply uplifting so we can’t stop talking about it?

. . . Perhaps, it’s the low-key acquaintance of a hero.

. . . Perhaps, we meet a hero that is totally unexpected.

. . . Or maybe, we encounter such as “uncommon hero” that comes into our lives and suddenly . . .  inspire us to reconcile our struggles with the unshakable universal laws of hope, love, unity and will power.

Stories of hope are excellent gifts in the making of humankind.

And, as we see humankind unfolding again and again “no-matter- what,” the anticipated movie trailer Dolphin Tale shows us that those heros are still around us.

This film follows true events in the life of Winter, The Dolphin.   And, I’m sure like me, you just can’t wait to see it on 9.23.11.   I have so many questions about the true events that made this film possible thanks to Warner Brothers and executive producer, Bob Engleman.

Can you imagine?

Being only a baby, Winter got her tale injured when caught in a crab trap and had to be amputated.  Thanks to divine intervention (because … let’s be candid… we need to tie the dots somehow), Winter captures the heart of Sawyer, an 11 year-old boy, who naturally befriends her.

With so much anticipation, I’m dying to see how Sawyer  manages to convince a pioneering doctor, Kevin Carroll (well-known for his prosthetics work), to design Winter’s Tale.  There is not media outlet that can totally do the magic for me until the movie is revealed.  It is touching to think about the “miracle”that restored Winter’s ability to have a normal dolphin life.  Thanks to some Facebook fans, I know that I’m not alone on this.

Meanwhile until the movie is here, we just have to rely on each other,  so please tweet about #dolphintalemovie every time you have news, questions, and stories to share.

Winter now swims and sings to the joy of her new friends, who visit her at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Tampa Bay, Florida, where she lives.

 

 

 

 

 

As we often take for granted how connected we are, one- to- another, I’d like to recommend a wonderful heartwarming book series of tenacity and encouragement that reminds us about the power of adversity, and introduce us to a very special hero again– Winter, The Dolphin.  Craig Hatcoff and daugthers, Juliana and Isabella, authored the book “Winter’s Tail: How a little dolphin learned to swim again,” a non-fiction plot based in the real saga of Winter.

Dolphin Tale Movie is certainly a deep uplifting story that shakes our hearts… realizing once again that it doesn’t matter what we’re going through in life, there’s always hope when we come together as a community.  Would you agree?

LOOK: Live In the Moment This Holiday Season

Every holiday season I enjoy the parties, getting together with family and friends, going shopping, and dealing with the stress experienced when working the typical balancing act between business, family  and social endeavors. However this year, I wanted to push the envelope and add more value to my own holiday experience.

How?

This is a question that I needed to answer fast for my own sanity.

Self-improvement books seem to have the answer.  Most authors advise us to  “live in the moment.” Something extremely difficult for people like me who make a business out of deep planning and anticipation.

Anyhow, despite the odds, I decided to give it a try and see what happens in the course of this month.  What the heck!  December is the month to celebrate the Spirit of Christmas and I really wanted to go out of box to experience its true meaning aside the advertising race.

Ever since I became an entrepreneur in 2006, I’ve done whatever it takes to make it happen for me.  Bunch of networking, volunteering, public relations and marketing were at the top of my priorities.  And while I can write a book about lessons learned in the world of entrepreneurship, what I cherish the most is  the multiple challenges, failures, opportunities and relationships resulting of this hard work.   So, I decided to start right here– giving back to the people and organizations that trusted me while all about me could had been perceived as too “risqué.”

The results?  Amazing.  What a difference it makes to network without the pressure of selling yourself and your business hoping that you will land a lead … and later… convert it into a sale.  For the first time in a very long time, I feel as authentic as I could be.  Listening most and foremost to others.  Understanding their ideas. Supporting local small business owners in every way I can… even the simplest effort of posting a comment in Facebook or tweeting a picture event could make a difference in someone’s business.  Try it.  I think this is the true meaning of giving and social media makes it even easier today.

Another discovery for me this holiday season is having the pleasure to work with my hands.  I wanted to learn something new… something that didn’t relate to my daily routine.  So, I am cooking now.  Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen.  I am cooking.  Not big deal for you perhaps, BUT for someone like me who would do anything to get out of cooking commitment, it’s a big deal.  Would these experiences could embed the true meaning of “living in the moment?” Doing something new that you knew you could do and never did because thinking about what others say or do about it will matter most to you.  A small facial gesture or a tiny break in the sound of your voice would had been enough for me to give up and stick with what I normally do for a living.

I think the real meaning of “living in the moment” lies on our ability to detach from worries, daily routines, business and family pressures present and future, and simply enjoying the moment working with your hands, experiencing joy and a sense of contribution even for the smallest actions, learning something new, meeting new people (that perhaps you never thought could relate to you) and being yourself.  It sounds easy but when you have so much on your plate, it’s probably not.  Take it from someone who took years to arrive to this place of self and start right now if you can and are ready.

I wish you a merry, little Christmas and a Happy New Year.  Let your heart be light and live in the moment!

Q&A: BROTHER CAN YOU SPARE ME THE COURTESY? CASUAL CONVERSATIONS

At 14% unemployment rate, Pasco County can still be a land of opportunity for individuals and business owners.  Lower taxes (compared to other counties in Tampa Bay) and virgin areas to build, with improved highways and commercial areas, Pasco shows potential.    A recent visit to The Shoppes of  Wiregrass made me realize about the power of open space and sharing with the economic and ecological sustainability in mind.  Well, probably not.   Sharing isn’t necessarily encouraged as I found out from my casual conversation with Howard Cohen, general manager at Pagelli’s Italiano restaurant, one of the most recent tenants joining the Wiregrass Mall.

From live entertainment to delicious Italian menus and memorable family experience, Pagelli’s Italiano makes its mark in the enchanting new mall.  Of course, Howard Cohen and his staff make its contribution with their friendly attitude.  Frankly, I was impressed with Howard’s candid ability to join the conversation.

Q. What brought you to Wesley Chapel in the face of a tough economy?

A.    The Shoppes of Wiregrass is a new and clean mall, very organized, safe and open space that people like (management does a good job!) and despite the economy, people still eat and need to enjoy family time.  At “Pagelli’s,” we have different menus for all pockets and tastes; including for those “conscious healthy” customers, who may be watching calories.

Q. Although far from the beach, The Shoppes of Wiregrass appeal beautifully to the eye with its clean, almost sand-white walking ways, but there’s always something to improve, what do you think?

A.    Well, management is good! They have music-live on Thursdays and other events on the weekends for all ages.  The only thing is that I wish there’s more cooperation among other business owners.  For example, we’d like to pay management the fee for valet parking (let’s say on weekends) so our customers don’t have to pay for parking.  But only two or three owners will be on-board but others not.  The lack of cooperation makes it a not too good business practice; and I believe something should be done about it.

Q. Perhaps, management needs to be more proactive to bring co-op solutions among tenants so everyone can have a fair share.

A.    That would be ideal.  Perhaps we need to change the way we see things (it’s part of our culture to do things alone, eat and get fat . . .).  We’ll see.

We could talk with Howard for hours (as I said, he’s very friendly and fan to be around) but Howard had to get on with his job. So I thanked him for his time and views.

On a more practical note, we believe that “cooperation” is the new normal in business today.  We promised Howard that we will bring some ideas to management in The Shoppes of Wiregrass and that we’ll keep him posted on our progress.  Discuss and debate.

LOOK: NEIGHBORHOODS MAKING A POSITIVE CHANGE

As a result of a growing interest in healthier lifestyles and customer requests for healthier dining options, the Pinellas County Health Department has introduced the “Healthy Choices Restaurant Program.” The local restaurants that display the Healthy Choices Restaurant decal have promised to offer sensible solutions for overabundant waistlines by offering “Take Half Home” or “Cook to Order” options.

A few of Clearwater’s participating restaurants are listed below. For a full list of “Healthy Choices Restaurants,” or more information on this program, go to Pinellas Wellness.

Country Harvest 33983 US Hwy 19 N

Nature’s Food Patch 1225 Cleveland St.

Quizno’s Subs 1530 McMullen Booth Rd.

Is The Way We See Problems . . . the Problem?”

The way you look at things may be the key of enduring happiness.

Last weekend, we had a stormy weather in my home town so I  decided to kick back, relax and watch TV on a Saturday        night.  Although not entirely excited, something made stick to  the Hallmark Channel’s Front of the Class.  By the end of the  movie, I was totally sold on the Brad Cohen’s story.

A nationally recognized second-grade teacher, challenged  with Tourette Syndrome (TS), a neurological disorder where a person has both motor and vocal tics, is certainly an ordinary man making a huge difference in the world.    ”Doctors and scientists don’t know the exact cause of TS, but some research suggests that it occurs when there’s a problem with how nerves communicate in the brain.  A disturbance in the balance in neurotransmitters — chemicals in the brain that carry nerve signals from cell to cell — may play a role in TS,” explain the experts.

Can you imagine what’s like to be ridiculed every moment of your life growing up for actions that are out of your control?    Brad, even these days, is often thrown out of churches, museums, movie theaters and golf courses because he is considered an ‘inconvenience’ by others.   Imagine that!   Nevertheless, his courageous vision got me thinking. . .  How in the world you made up your mind and decide to put aside tremendous challenges to make sense of your life?

At my brother’s request, I am reading Stephen Covey again (remember him?).  He was a very popular author in Corporate America back in the 90′s.  Every single company in the country fought to book him as a speaker to explain ” The Power of Paradigm Shift.”  In his book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” Covey says that “only humans experience paradigm shifting, what we call the [Aha!] moment when  someone finally sees the composite picture in a different way.”    I can’t imagine how bounded Brad Cohen could had been with his reality growing up, and yet, be able to turn this powerful light inside-out that gave him the tools to pursue  his dream of becoming a teacher despite his disability.

The movie takes you through a series of events and people that Brad faced early in his childhood going to school, and later in his adulthood, searching for the dream job.  And although some tough moments, Brad never gave up.  There was a light in his soul ignited by his passion to live up his purpose that he only had time and energy to focus on what he ‘could do’ to arrive to his destination.   Then, I remembered Stephen Covey again, “the way we see the problem is the problem,” and decide to put it in practice myself– day by day at work and with my family.  Believe it or not, I felt happy all the time.  I still feel that way.  I wonder if this is the key to endure true happiness forever and ever.

Brad was nationally recognized as The Outstanding Teacher of the Year in the entire State of Georgia, where he lives with his wife and immediate family.  He is now making a big difference in the Brad Cohen’s Tourette Foundation teaching others suffering from TS that it’s okay to be different —  all is needed is to see the problem from the right angle.  What a story!

So what do you think? Is the way we see problems, the problem?  I know it is not that simple.  All begins we our decision to choose the right angle!

About Carmen

Carmen works with people, neighborhoods and organizations to invigorate communities through positive change, art and social media, both ground-based and online. As a Founder and CEO of Carmen Bracamonte Enterprises, Carmen Bracamonte and Market to Flip, The Chronicles of Carmen Bracamonte and The Carmen Bracamonte Foundation, she works closely with clients facilitating community-driven, public/private tourism, health, and art projects in local communities. One of her recent projects include Street Food; Culture 3.0, The Buck Initiative, In Good Company, and Project Tu Salud TV.

Awesome: Little things that made me smile in “The Book of Awesome”

Usually when things go south (like the “new normal” seems to be these days), most people follow the flow and become hopeless, depressed, frustrated and angry— a very human way to deal with tough times— but luckily not the only way.   Fortunately for those of us who firmly believe in the paradigm shift (the way we see the problem, it’s the problem!), there are a few people (typically the ordinary type) who decide to control what’s in their power.  That’s the case of Canadian HR worker, Neil Pasricha, who going through a divorce in 2008, decides to turn his worst year into something positive by writing about just one thing and one thing only that he would find awesome on a daily basics.  Although not a writer, Neil attracted thousands of followers to his “1000 Awesome Things” Blog and landed a book deal, appropriately titled, “The Book of Awesome.”

It’s the little things that we forget about (our brain is quick to register negative emotions better), as described by the publisher, the Book of Awesome is “a high five for humanity and big celebration of life’s little moment,” The Book of Awesome reminds us that the best things in life are truly free and universal.

In simple words tinted with a bit of Seinfeld’s sarcasm, thousands of awesome things are highlighted in the book. Some of my favorites are:

• Popping Bubble Wrap

• Wearing underwear just out of the dryer

• Fixing electronics by smacking them

• Getting called up to the dinner buffet first at a wedding

• Watching The Price Is Right when you’re home sick

• Hitting a bunch of green lights in a row

• Waking up and realizing it’s Saturday

Despite the success of his blog and the release of his book, Pasricha said he has no intentions of changing his daily life in a phone interview with Reuters.  “I commute an hour a day to a job in the suburbs and I work in a cubicle,” he said. “I like work because I like the people I work with. I’m not a writer and I don’t know how to use a semicolon. I just like observing the world and documenting it.”

Learning from ordinary lives and people, we find the best solutions ever.  And that to me, it’s awesome!

Carmen Bracamonte is curious, inquisitive about the world we live in — and leads The Market To Flip initiative where she advocates about social media and marketing with responsibility.

SPOTLIGHT: THE DAY “I GREEN MY PARENTS”

With “Earth Week” celebrations, we went over 1,000 online subscriptions to most reliable sources and spotlighted amazing kids joining the Green My Parents initiative, a national youth movement committed to save over $100 million, seed the green economy and save the planet.  Starting where? Closer than you can imagine — Home.

But before you start, learn to read utility bills, and teach Mom & Dad to do the same. Knowing how much money you spend on electricity, water, gas, etc. will prove how much you save your family. With these steps, an average family could save over $1000.

• Shop Smart. Stop wasting astronomical amounts of money: Study ENERGY STAR. You just killed all the vampires. Don’t invite another energy sucker into your home. Before buying new stuff, find out how much energy and/or water it uses. AJ, a GMP Champion, crunched the numbers for a refrigerator on its last legs. He gave his mom a list of ENERGY STAR fridges and cost savings. Their new fridge pays for itself in three years– average savings is $51 per year.

• Play “Where did my food come from?” A fun, mealtime game ‘Hey, where did this tomato soup, these fish sticks, that salad, come from?’ Start with the youngest person at the table. Let them pick one thing on their plate and ask the question. Challenge your parents to reduce the number of miles travelled for every food item on your plate!

• Shower shorter. Take a 90-minute shower…spread over 30 days. Every 5 minutes wastes up to 25 gallons– that’s 8000 gallons a year. Get your family down to 3 minutes. You’ll need a timer. A family of four could save over $50.

• When it comes to walking, step it up. Challenge your parents to choose one regular, neighborhood route- a trip to the store, school drop-off, or a night at the movies. Now tell them to walk or bike it. Remind them that the bus, walking, biking or carpooling are not “alternative” transportation for kids. Save about half a gallon of gas per trip or $75 a year.

• No, Speedracer, No! What’s the best way to save time, gas and money driving to school or work? Leave earlier. Teach your parents that speeding barely saves time, but increases the costs of fuel, tickets and insurance. For every 10 miles, driving 65 instead of 55 saves less than 2 minutes. Tell them to slow down: boost miles per gallon (MPG) up to 30% and save over $150 a year.

• Drive your age, not your shoe size. Show your parents the most efficient cars on the road. It they are over 40, try a hybrid: some of them get over 40 MPG. Show your grandparents the all-electric vehicles coming out in 2011: the Nissan Leaf gets 367 MPG. Hybrids could save over $900 a year on gas.

• Kick the bottle. Think the price of gas is hard to swallow? Try bottled water! Bottled water can be over $6 a gallon– twice the price gas. People say you should drink 8 glasses each day. If you drink bottled water, you could be throwing away $1000 a year. Help your parents kick their habit: invest in a filter and portable canteens.

Discuss and debate more in our blog.

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HOW TO: MAKE YOUR BUSINESS WEBSITE MORE SOCIAL

Whether or not you have in-house staff or outsource your website projects (design and maintenance), you invest not only money but a lot of energy because they can be time-consuming.  Yes! You’re not alone!  Many business owners (if not all) today face the same challenge.  If you’re waiting to catch up with technology, it’ll be smarter on your part to take immediate action in the right direction.  Make your website more social and focus on delivering appropriate value to your customers.   Simply consider these ideas.

• Encourage participation by design — If you sell/buy products or services, make it easier for your customers to do “reviews” and “comments.”  A website that provides widgets to blogs and social media forums are real winners because they create a way to allow customers express their opinions through product reviews; say what they want and need, and you have direct control to act quickly over any negative publicity.  Good examples of this initiative are Pepsi, Amazon and Best Buy.

• Invest on a Search Engine Optimization Strategy — As search engine optimization changes and social media becomes a bigger part of marketing, companies who build a social corporate web presence on their own site will be positioned for better rankings, more on-site activity and potentially more leads. 



Contrary to popular belief, there are grass-roots ways to see the R.O.I. on your online marketing campaigns.  Social media done correctly — and with social responsibility — can substantially payoff as quickly as 3 to 6 months.

Discuss and debate.

SPOTLIGHT: THE DAY I “GREEN MY PARENTS”

With “Earth Week” celebrations, we went over 1,000 online subscriptions to most reliable sources and spotlighted amazing kids joining the Green My Parents initiative, a national youth movement committed to save over $100 million, seed the green economy and save the planet.  Starting where? Closer than you can imagine — Home.

But before you start, learn to read utility bills, and teach Mom & Dad to do the same. Knowing how much money you spend on electricity, water, gas, etc. will prove how much you save your family. With these steps, an average family could save over $1000.

• Shop Smart. Stop wasting astronomical amounts of money: Study ENERGY STAR. You just killed all the vampires. Don’t invite another energy sucker into your home. Before buying new stuff, find out how much energy and/or water it uses. AJ, a GMP Champion, crunched the numbers for a refrigerator on its last legs. He gave his mom a list of ENERGY STAR fridges and cost savings. Their new fridge pays for itself in three years– average savings is $51 per year.

• Play “Where did my food come from?” A fun, mealtime game ‘Hey, where did this tomato soup, these fish sticks, that salad, come from?’ Start with the youngest person at the table. Let them pick one thing on their plate and ask the question. Challenge your parents to reduce the number of miles travelled for every food item on your plate!

• Shower shorter. Take a 90-minute shower…spread over 30 days. Every 5 minutes wastes up to 25 gallons– that’s 8000 gallons a year. Get your family down to 3 minutes. You’ll need a timer. A family of four could save over $50.

• When it comes to walking, step it up. Challenge your parents to choose one regular, neighborhood route- a trip to the store, school drop-off, or a night at the movies. Now tell them to walk or bike it. Remind them that the bus, walking, biking or carpooling are not “alternative” transportation for kids. Save about half a gallon of gas per trip or $75 a year.

• No, Speedracer, No! What’s the best way to save time, gas and money driving to school or work? Leave earlier. Teach your parents that speeding barely saves time, but increases the costs of fuel, tickets and insurance. For every 10 miles, driving 65 instead of 55 saves less than 2 minutes. Tell them to slow down: boost miles per gallon (MPG) up to 30% and save over $150 a year.

• Drive your age, not your shoe size. Show your parents the most efficient cars on the road. It they are over 40, try a hybrid: some of them get over 40 MPG. Show your grandparents the all-electric vehicles coming out in 2011: the Nissan Leaf gets 367 MPG. Hybrids could save over $900 a year on gas.

• Kick the bottle. Think the price of gas is hard to swallow? Try bottled water! Bottled water can be over $6 a gallon– twice the price gas. People say you should drink 8 glasses each day. If you drink bottled water, you could be throwing away $1000 a year. Help your parents kick their habit: invest in a filter and portable canteens.

Discuss and debate

IMAGINE THAT: YELLOW/RED LIGHTS. ANYWAYS, YOU COULD BE FINED!

We should start exploring Tampa Bay walking or biking, a must-do idea for local urban developers and legislators; otherwise, we are just going to need to get a part-time job to paid traffic violation fees.  As reported by Fox News: “A bill setting statewide guidelines for the use of automatic cameras to fine motorists who run red lights has gotten a yellow light in the Florida House. The measure (SB 325) was delayed Friday so the House could tend to other matters and may have to wait until next week for a vote. It would authorize the cameras that dozens of cities have already installed on questionable legal authority. Violators would be fined $158. It’s named for 30-year-old Mark Wandall, who was killed near Bradenton by a red-light runner in 2003.  His wife, Melissa, was eight months pregnant with their first child.  A similar bill (SB 2166) is set for a vote in the Senate next week.

Discuss and debate.

IMAGINE THAT: TOURISM SHOULD BE MORE LIKE A ROBIN HOOD STRATEGY, BUT NOT ALWAYS!

US Travel Promotion Act, as reported by CNN (3.4.10)

President Obama signed legislation into law Thursday to create the United States’ first national travel promotion program.

“By signing the Travel Promotion Act, President Obama has acted to support the power of travel to serve as an economic stimulant, job generator and diplomatic tool,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association.

The act will create a nonprofit Corporation for Travel Promotion that will promote the United States as a travel destination and explain travel and security policies to international visitors.

The bill received final passage in the Senate last week.

A $10 fee charged to visitors from countries included in the Visa Waiver Program will partially fund the public-private organization. These visitors will pay the fee every two years when they register online using the Department of Homeland Security’s Electronic System for Travel Authorization.

The rest of the funding will come through a matching program of up to $100 million in private sector contributions. If the corporation is able to raise the projected $200 million annually, the organization would be the largest national tourism communications program in the world, Dow said.

National tourism organizations in countries including Greece, Australia and Mexico each spent more than $100 million on tourism marketing in 2005, according to the U.N. World Tourism Organization. The United States spent about $6 million the same year — the last year for which figures are available.

Despite strong global growth in long-haul international travel between 2000 and 2008, the U.S. welcomed 633,000 fewer overseas visitors in 2008 than it did in 2000, according to figures from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Oxford Economics, an economic consulting and forecasting company, estimates a well-executed promotional program would draw 1.6 million new international visitors annually and generate $4 billion in new visitor spending.

Some opponents of the legislation said that charging overseas visitors a fee to promote the United States will deter them from visiting.

“We don’t want foreigners to have to jump through so many hoops that they just give up and don’t bother coming to the U.S.,” Steven Lott, a spokesman for the International Air Transport Association, told CNN before final passage of the bill. The IATA represents airlines around the world.

Lott said improving entry and exit procedures would help U.S. tourism more than a promotional organization.

Dow acknowledged the legislation is not a magic bullet for the industry.

“Let’s not be naive here. Travel promotion is not a panacea for our international travel issues. There’s many things we have to continue to work on such as … continuing to improve our visa process and all the entry processes.”

Dow said he does not think the $10 fee will have a negative effect on visitation, particularly when compared with entry and exit fees for other countries that are rolled into airline ticket prices.

The Department of Commerce will soon begin to fill the 11 positions on the corporation’s board with representatives from all corners of the travel industry. That process is expected to take two to six months, according to the U.S. Travel Association.

At the same time, the Department of Homeland Security will be tasked with establishing the mechanism for collecting the $10 fee from visitors who do not have to pay for visas — a process that could take five to 12 months, the association said.