Big Issue: Why Can't We Be Friends... On Facebook?

BigSpeak Social Media and Personal Branding expert Dan Schawbel recently tackled the timely and tricky issue of social media connections and the workplace, in recent interviews and articles for TIME and Fox Business. 

 

http://moneyland.time.com/2012/01/17/is-it-a-bad-idea-to-friend-co-workers-on-facebook-how-about-your-boss/

 

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2012/01/16/blurring-lines-between-work-and-personal-life-on-facebook/

BigGift: Jon Bul Dau Brings Sight to Sudan

Born in war-torn Sudan, BigSpeak's John Bul Dau has experienced challenges in his life that most people never imagine. One of 27,000 “Lost Boys of Sudan,” driven from their villages when the northern Arab government attacked the ethnic minority population of Southern Sudan in 1987, John Bul Dau led groups of displaced boys across Sudan for hundreds of miles facing starvation, disease, and violence.

Today, John Bul Dau is a compelling motivational speaker whose life is defined by his uncompromising commitment to the future of his native country, as evidenced in an inspirational holiday update he sent to our offices today:

"WOW! I cannot begin to say how happy I have been for the last three days!  

We have world-renowned eye surgeons plus four other doctors who've flown in to our dirt airstrip near Duk Lost Boys Clinic in Duk County in a Cessna Caravan plane. These selfless doctors have been performing at least 178 eye surgeries as of today to restore sight. 

Watching these patients celebrate after the 'Miracle' doctors take the patches from their eyes and they can see after being blind is awesome!

I have watched many, many of these patients jumping up in celebration, singing their songs, seeing their loved ones again after long time of blindness, and embracing the doctors ."

 

The Duk Lost Boys Clinic opened in 2007 to serve people of Duk Payeul in the State of Jonglei, Southern Sudan. By February 2009, it had provided care to more than 20,000 patients. All this in an area where there was no medical doctor for 75 miles and where virtually all travel is on foot.

 

                                 

BigBoard: Conant Makes the Cut – Tapped for Fortune’s Executive Dream Team

According to Geoff Colvin, Fortune’s Senior Editor-at-Large, vanguard leadership goes beyond the C-suite to the boardroom. Recently, he compiled not only the attributes necessary in a great board, but also assembled a stellar list of candidates to fill out his “Dream Team.” Colvin contends that a great board combines several competencies, including global perspective, financial expertise and a deep understanding of infotech. Where to find those traits?

The contact list of all time.

Included among Colvin’s top picks for leaders in global business and government, was BigSpeak’s own Douglas Conant, who saved Campbell Soup from a precipitous downward spiral. Others named were Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, FedEx’s Fred Smith and Caterpillar’s James Owens.

View the complete article and entire All-Star line-up here.

Find out more about celebrated CEO and speaker Doug Conant here.

BigTalk

BigSpeak Social Media Expert, Dan Schawbel recently interviewed BigSpeak Change Management Guru, John Kotter about the significance of creating a sense of Urgency in today's business climate. Check out the interview here:

Listen to John Kotter: Create a Sense of Urgency in Your Life

BigSplash Update: She's Off!

Last night at 7:45 Eastern time, 61 year-old long-distance swimmer and BigSpeak motivational speaker, Diana Nyad set off from the shores of Havana, Cuba in an attempt to swim from the island nation to the coast of Florida -103 miles away.
Originally planned for the summer of 2010, last year's attempt was cancelled due to bad weather.

The swim is planned to take approximately 60 hours and Diana will be constantly monitored by a small support team stationed on boats and in the water nearby.
The team at BigSpeak wishes Diana the best on her amazing adventure and we look forward to some incredible new stories upon her return.

Big Swing

Sunday, Darren Clarke became the third Northern Irishman to secure one of golf's four majors in the last 13 months by winning the prestigious British Open. His secret weapon: BigSpeak performance expert and renowned sports psychologist Bob Rotella. According to UK media outlets, Clarke attributed his turnaround in fortunes to a quick chat with the celebrated golf psychologist - and hours later, emerged as an Open contender.

The 42-year-old Clarke bumped into Rotella earlier in the week, having worked with him previously, and after a couple of pointers went out and shot a two-under 68 to put himself on the first page of the leaderboard.

Clarke hasn't finished in the top 40 in his last five events, and felt pleased with his performance, stating, "I've been lucky this week as I've seen an old friend of mine, Bob Rotella."
This isn't the first time Rotella has worked his magic at the Open, coaching 2007 champion Padraig Harrington, in addition to other major tournament victors, including Ernie Els and Trevor Immelman. Congrats, Bob, on another spectacular triumph!

BigLaunch

BigSpeak inspirational speaker, World Surfing Champion, best selling author, environmental advocate, filmmaker and successful entrepreneur, Shaun Tomson will be appearing on the Today show, Tuesday June 7th, to launch a new version of his best selling book Surfer's Code.

Shaun was at the pinnacle of his professional and personal life - a former world-champion surfer, a successful entrepreneur and an inspirational speaker when his 15 year-old son, Mathew died in a tragic accident. In a new chapter of his best-selling book, Surfer's Code, he writes about the strength derived from his father, who survived a vicious shark attack at the height of a promising Olympic swimming career, to riding the world's most dangerous waves. Shaun provides a personal account of facing life's biggest challenges by looking forward to the future and the light that shines ahead.
You can catch Shaun in-person this week in NYC as he will be speaking and signing the new Code at two events in the city - June 8th at The Simple Space in the New York Gallery Building - and June 10th at Saturdays Surf NYC.