A Message to Inspire Hope and Global Unity for the New Year

Firstly, please know that it is my genuine wish that as you read this message, it finds you in the very best of health and happiness. Health for you and your family is life's greatest gift. Without it there can be no true contentment, regardless of wealth and prosperity. If you have it, count your blessings!  

Whilst some of us prepare for the festivities associated with the Christmas holiday and others are getting ready to enjoy friends and family to celebrate alternate seasonal holidays of faith,  we all share the excitement and hopefulness that is typically associated with ringing in a New Year.

Ringing in a New Year always has an unspoken energy as it encourages us all to start new things. New habits, new promises, new missions of enlightenment, new resolutions to better our own lives financially, in health, in our relationships and the like. 

This past year has brought us many surprises that may make life in 2017 a bit more difficult to navigate as globalization has been met with resistance by protectionist, even in some cases, isolationist desires.

Fear, bigotry and hatred has reared its ugly head as many of the world's political and religious leaders jockeyed for position using division tactics to conquer whatever it is they were hoping to control. As a result things will get very difficult for many. 

Whilst many will continue to profit and live good lives, regardless of leadership, most will fall victim to the whims and policies of the changes that will manifest in 2017 and beyond.

Keeping the aforementioned in mind, perhaps now, more than ever before, we as global citizens, should add to that resolution list, the mission to try to make a difference in the lives of others, in 2017. 

When we as a people become benevolent activists in the global arena of helping to empower others, we become the most powerful part of the perpetual dream of creating a better world for our planet and our children. 

To do this, I believe that we must strive to become creatures of intelligence rather than continue to be complicit in a world filled with people that are being led by their emotions. Intelligence is like the proverbial "krypto-nite" to self serving, conquer with division and hate, political and religious leaders.

In a world that has become devoid of real new reporters and over run with fake "news makers", bigotry and hatred has become the most profitable of stories to report. The advent and subsequent proliferation of online access through the internet has exacerbated this problem. Polarizing is profitable, galvanizing campaigns, not so much. 

Even worse, it seems to be of no coincidence that throughout history, those that made a life commitment to  galvanize, liberate and campaign for the love of one another, ended up dead. Assassination's, crucifixion's, hangings, the history books are filled with tragic endings to those that wanted change.         

While change has its enemies, we as a global brotherhood and sisterhood, can  start to be the change and enemy of all things that are intolerant to the people and indifferent to our plant and its natural resources. 

Sharing such simple things as practicing tolerance and standing up to the intolerant, having a better understanding and awareness of cultures, learning how to be more interested in others, and perhaps most of all, sharing the hope and optimism that together we CAN make a difference in each others lives. In concert we the people can go a long way in creating a better world for our children. 

We all have a voice, and in 2016, in many cases, the voice to do good and galvanize was either squelched, or maybe worse, too lazy (not voting) or not loud enough to be heard.     

Let 2017 be the year of Galvanization and "Intellectual Humility". 

My description of intellectual humility is being intelligent enough to understand the importance of knowing what you don't know, being understated in a way that your reach never extends beyond your grasp and possessing a mind so open, that you wish to learn something everyday, from everyone you encounter. It means being genuinely interested in others, so that you become more interesting to those around you.

I recently published an article where I suggested that we create a mindset of enlightenment called "Imagine Nation". A place where like minded people work together to build bridges rather than not walls. Where we teach wisdom rather than ignorance. The religion and political beliefs of this utopian place coined  "Imagine-Nation" is the practice of EXPANSIONISM.

The expansionism that I am suggesting is simply the desire for expanded knowledge, the openness of expanded understanding, the belief in expanded opportunities, the expansion of one’s overall tolerance and the spreading of the expanded awareness of the inequalities that many face via religious and politically motivated oppression. 

I believe that leadership belongs to those that are seeking solutions, and should be taken away from those that are hoping to exacerbate problems to divide and conquer for their own self serving reasons of ego and wealth attainment.

For 30 years I have been in the global markets and have built long lasting friendships with many people from many places in this world. I know that we can do this, if we do this together. 

Lets all try to make a difference!

PS - Here is the sort of thing that we must figure out a way to end, put into a holiday song. (It makes one ashamed to be part of a human race that continually ignores and tries to justify this sort of behavior: https://youtu.be/yN4Uu0OlmTg

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader" - John Quincy Adams

"May you always have enough of the things you need for yourself and an abundance of the things you'd like to share with others. In this way, your hands will always be extended in friendship and never in want."

James Vena

About the Author - James Vena is an innovative thinker and global entrepreneur who has influenced key decision-makers around the globe in strategic development, growth, leadership and investment. He is respected for his unique and global perspectives, big ideas, team building, partnerships and methodical execution of a strategic plan.

Since retiring as the Founder/CEO of a well-established global trade house, James has earned a strong reputation as an adviser to a wide array of business entities around the globe. James’ s career started as a China trader of commodities in the early 1980's for a large trading house. He left his job to start his own trading company at 26.

Over the next 20 years he developed the company (SATCORP) into an internationally recognized entity with offices in 15 countries, achieving sales over USD 1 Billion before it was sold. After taking a sabbatical in 2005 to care for his cancer stricken wife and help raise his two children, James decided to re-enter the business world in 2010.

Since, he started a few ventures, been retained as an adviser to several businesses around the globe, headed a globalization, restructuring and rebranding effort, advised on several mergers and acquisitions and continue to do so as an independent consultant and advisory board member.

James’s entrepreneurial mindset combined with a gift of articulation and unique style of communication enables him to turn ideas into east to understand and marketable undertakings. Mr. Vena is an ethical culturist that practices benevolent capitalism and teaches socially conscience entrepreneurship. He attributes his successes to his mentors and practicing of intellectual humility. He also now mentors these core principals to groups, individual and aspiring entrepreneurs worldwide.

Check out James Vena’s other posts now being featured in the LinkedIn Pulse here: https://www.dhirubhai.net/today/author/0_2xo7sKMz32aX_5ezTbSzZq?trk=mp-reader-h