When Love Makes the World Go Mad

They say the love of money is the root of all evil. But I disagree, the crazy, annihilating, zero-sum kind of love is the root of all misfortunes. And this goes at all levels too!

Outline:

Stranger Things

Announcements

News and Opportunities

Love, Power, and Lasting Change

---

Welcome to my Newsletter!

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Stranger Things

• Certificate of Completion as an Outstanding Camper with a Gift Bag from Hamas to the newly released, emaciated hostages out of the dungeons of Gaza

• New Uber service offering from the International Committee of the Red Cross

• The Riviera of the Middle East-Gaza’s Trump complete with Trump Tower, Maralago-style palaces, and beach-front properties for the billionaires

• Soon-to be US acquisitions? Canada, Greenland and Gaza, more to come…

• X is going to be a popular baby name followed by Muhammad and Liam this year

Announcements

Because this is a love month, I’m giving out 60% discount for annual subscribers (for 12 months). This is my launch offer. I look forward to hearing from you. This window of opportunity closes on the 28th February and there’s nothing quite like it yet on this multi-verse. So, what are you waiting for?

Happy Valentine’s Day!

• If you’re looking for a Speaker for your International Women’s Day #IWD2025 event, look no further. Please see my Speaker profile here.

• Pick my Brain Service- I'm extending this indefinitely for executives and leaders grappling with a particular question/decision-making dilemma regarding their strategies and change efforts. There are so many hot-button issues within purpose-driven organizations that need to be addressed this year. Contact me.

• The Sentimental Provocateur is open for subscription. If you’re reading this but not subscribed, do so and pick the option that works for you. The Annual Paid Subscriber will also receive….”drum roll”… 1-on-1 coaching/advisory support scheduled 2x a year as your needs arise. We get on a Zoom/Google Meet and discuss practical solutions to painful problems or innovations whether as an individual changemaker or as part of your organization’s leadership. This is a non-metered, subscriber-initiated, and solutions-orientated coaching program. You can bank it for future use too. Your paid subscription entitles you to have full access to the archives.

• Global Voices for Peace, A Peace Anthology authored by Susan Hartley and contributed by yours truly and other distinguished Rotary Peace Fellows and Rotarians as well as peace luminaries is ready for Pre-order.

  The release is anticipated to be in spring.

• As a celebration of International Development Week #IDW 2025 in Canada this month, I’m making my Provocateur’s Self-Assessment Tool available for free, no strings attached. The tool will enhance your understanding on the gaps of your provocateur-leadership in social impact sectors in relation to the 5Ps Framework- Passion, Purpose, Provision, Practice, and Paradigm. Great for just starting with their careers, also good for mid-level professionals evolving their practices based on new paradigms and dilemmas.

Where Am I Speaking /Writing Next?

• Startup Canada Podcast (online), to be released in April

• The Life by the Page Podcast (online), Feb 21

• The Above the Bar Podcast (online), Feb (TBA)

• Leading Boldly Summit (for International Women’s Day) -March 3-8

• Banff Systems Summit, Banff, Alberta, Canada (TBA)

• ??? - This could be your organization/network/university/Board Group/retreat event

News and Opportunities

• Apply for UNLEASH Hack Canada for 18-35 years old changemakers residing in Circumpolar North

• Free Elevator Pitch Training, The Brand Arrow, starting Jan. 30th up to February 2025

• Apply for the 2025 Fellowship Program, In-Sight Collaborative

• Apply for the 2025 Rotary Peace Fellowship Program, Rotary International (if you’re serious, I can help)

• Register to the 2025 Rotary Calgary Convention

• Apply for the 2025 AsiaGlobal Fellows Program, The University of Hong Kong

Excuse me! In what authority do you say that?

Love, Power, and Lasting Change

I was in a law office two years ago, talking to the lawyer-owner about consulting and consulting processes. She bought a consulting service which includes a huge framework for which I retorted, “That framework should better get you more money.” She went ballistic.

Buyer’s remorse, maybe. Please don’t buy something that you really don’t know if this will address your current need or not. Some will give you the long, arduous road to redemption through methods/frameworks/templates that you really don’t need at all. Walk away from salesmen who give the formula that’s just too easy to plugin, no sweat whatsoever from you. It doesn’t work that way in real life.