Social Calendar Ja. presents a Digital Photography Workshop in Kingston with instructors Donnette Zacca and Marvin Bartley on May 26 and 27.

I know this is hard to read so check their site for details!

Mike Michalowicz and Jamaican entrepreneur Khary Sharpe

‘The resume is not the reality.’ This is the message that Mike Michalowicz, U.S entrepreneur, T.V personality and author of ‘Toilet Paper Entrepreneur’, sought to leave with his audience as he shared stories of his entrepreneurial journey to becoming the success he is today.

Caribbean Fortress’ Gale Peart, at the request of Michalowicz, organized the event entitled ‘Entrepreneurial Reflections with Mike Michalowicz’. A friendship spawned when Peart served as his host in 2009, along with sponsors, Mayberry Investments Limited.

This year, affiliate sponsors Social Calendar JA and Karin Wilson and Associates also joined. the event held this time at Liguanea Club in New Kingston.

While explaining to the audience that there is rarely ever an entrepreneurial success without pitfalls, Mike divulged the secrets of building his first computer business including sleeping under conference tables, moving into a retirement village with his young family, and shared a tearjerker of having lost everything soon after landing his first million.

Convinced this was a lesson from God for getting ahead of himself with excessive arrogance and show-boating with several material things, Michalowicz went on to discover that the true meaning of wealth can be found in an unlikely source – a child’s simple gesture. The catalyst for ‘digging’ his way out of enormous debt resided in a change in mindset when Mike’s then 10-year old daughter, Adele, offered, “Daddy, we are not broke. We have this – my piggy bank!”

Armed with renewed hope and confidence from his immediate family, Michalowicz re-charted his concept of wealth and amassed more money than before but now ever mindful one of life’s biggest lessons – that of keeping arrogance in check by staying humble and to never take life for granted.

His appreciation for persons who take the risk of building a business was evident through his delight in noticing that majority of his audience were, in fact, entrepreneurs and business owners themselves.

In the true spirit of fostering unity and growth, Mike was only happy to share some more of the lessons he learned along the way. Along with encouraging all members of the audience that most successful people do not need to prove they are successful. Be ready he said to embrace new opportunities and experiences and where possible become niche specialists for therein lies a unique offering.

He enforced the message that people should do what makes them happy and use that to fuel exponential growth and success. Most importantly, entrepreneurs should acknowledge that friends and families may act supportive of their ventures to spare feelings but one should test their wallets to see if they show the same support.

Connect and do business with who chose to attend a business event on a Saturday night instead of opting for the hottest track and field event in town. This he felt spoke volumes about the attendees’ entrepreneurial commitment and their capacity to do what is required for successful entrepreneurship – making serious sacrifice.

Jamaicans giving up the chance to see Bolt run – are you kidding me? Michalowicz’s love for Jamaica was most evident as he proudly announced that he enjoyed Jackfruit, sugarcane and his new favourite – roadside, roas’ yam and saltfish! The bright smile was pretty telling that when given the chance, he would be returning to our shores over and over again.

The keynote speaker also shared a fun, behavioural psychology exercise that challenged attendees to take on the perceived impossible task of a photographic memory, said to be found among 0.25% of the world’s population, and a highly effective part of business networking. By the end of the evening, the audience gained success with the Michalowicz-taught mnemonic technique. This practical demonstration proved to attendees that with a paradigm shift, however small, nothing is impossible.

Excitement filled the room when it was announced that Jamaica has been included in Michalowicz’s worldwide scavenger hunt where two (2) Penguin-published advance reader copies of ‘The Pumpkin Plan’ are to be hidden island wide. Once the books are found, a photograph reading the book will be posted on Michalowicz’s fan page, the business’ owner will be given an opportunity to be interviewed and the video circulated among Mike’s business network inclusive of U.S media contacts, publisher and high net worth-friends from the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO). Hints will be posted randomly at fb.com/caribbeanfortress and pre-orders for ‘The Pumpkin Plan’ can also be facilitated through Caribbean Fortress Ltd.

During the event, Chris Mills of Chrysalis Communications posted “Really enjoying this talk by @MikeMichalowicz…“ This was quickly cosigned by Connectimass’s C.E.O, Ingrid Riley. Team eMedia Interactive Ltd, was equally impressed. It was however a tweet from Blogger, StacyAnn Hayles that ultimately echoed inner thoughts best “Home from #PumpkinPlanJa – awesome event. Wonder if @MikeMichalowicz realizes that he’s changing lives?”

Business networking and building, solid connections along with award-winning cheesecakes courtesy of Treasury of Desserts, Jamaican pumpkin-carving (a conversation piece) by Chef Theo Smith and pumpkin farming décor by Bridgette Anderson all together added a special element to the evening. Even after speaking, Mike moved around interacting and getting to know the persons who came to hear him speak – an invaluable gesture on his part.

Everyone left feeling inspired and more prepared for the challenges they would face as entrepreneurs. Most, if not all, are looking forward to reading Michalowicz’s upcoming book, ‘The Pumpkin Plan’ that is scheduled for release by Penguin Group on July 5. His first book, U.S bestseller, ‘Toilet Paper Entrepreneur’, is currently available at Kingston Bookshop.

Caribbean Fortress Ltd offers speaker facilitation services and quarterly business events in the Caribbean. C.E.O Gale Peart, is a Director with the Women Business Owners Association (WBO), serves on the Private Sector of Jamaica’s Trade Policy Committee and volunteers at St Andrew High School’s Museum. The next business event is scheduled for August 2012 in Jamaica.

For further information, please contact Gale Peart at (1876) 564-8041 caribbeanfortress@hotmail.com

The Alpha Boys School in Kingston has produced some of the finest musicians to come out of Jamaica.

Founded in the 1880s by the Catholic Sisters of Mercy nuns, it has been the nursery for many of the luminaries of Jamaican jazz, ska and reggae.

For more info on the Alpha Boys School  and the Alpha Old Boys’ Association

Check out this link to an interview on RTE Lyric FM (Ireland) with Jamaican architect, Christopher Whyms-Stone talking about the story of Trenchtown and an historical Irishman without whom Bob Marley’s No Woman, No Cry couldn’t have been written. (Part 1 of 2)

In part 2, Chris talks about his Culture Yard project to restore and celebrate a very special 20th century housing project in Trenchtown, Jamaica.

Check out my visit to the Trench Town Culture Yard

Thanks to YardEdge contributor, Opal Palmer Adisa, for this reflection on being a Jamaican in Paris…

Last August, while alternating between relaxing, meditating and writing in Luxembourg Garden in Paris, I was interrupted from my reverie by a stranger who asked if I were Parisian.

Without a moment’s hesitation I said, no Jamaican, and waited for the customary response, “Oh reggae music, Bob Marley. I love Jamaican culture.” I get this all the time no matter wherein the world I am. Often, to prove how much they know, which often is minuscule, they will hum or sing a bar from one of Marley’s song. It is all well intended, a gesture of commonality, to say, see I know something about where you are from.

But the Eastern European man had no such reference, and merely wanted to talk since he was visiting Paris alone, and like me was inspired by the beautiful garden and what it meant for the city to have such a place for its people. A similar thought had absorbed me earlier about what if there were more such places like this park in Jamaica. Would it help to make us gentler, more peaceful, more compassionate? Would the beauty of nature erode our anger and dispirited souls always on the look out, it seems, for some injustice?

Sitting in that tranquil park, in the cool summer air, far removed from my homeland I pondered the Jamaica that I carried on my back. When I say I am Jamaican in Paris, is it the same as when I say so in Brooklyn or in St Croix? How does the Jamaican that I am, the Jamaica that seems like a cloak affixed to my back show up in the world? And even more importantly do I still have a right to say I am Jamaican since I have not lived there full time for more years that I have lived there?

I remember my American born daughter once asking me if it were a lie to tell her friends that she was Jamaican. I said no because you are; you are raised by a Jamaican; you eat Jamaican food, you have been there many times, and in many ways you are culturally, more Jamaican than you are American.

Then I thought about my second trip to England in the 80’s, and meeting folks in Braxton, who sounded more Jamaican than many Jamaicans I knew, yet had never been to Jamaica, where not born there, but who as a result of parentage had fully embraced and claimed Jamaican heritage.

Then there are others, wannabe-Jamaicans, from different islands or countries in Africa who claim Jamaican heritage because of their identification with Rastafarian culture, or reggae music or that Jamaica is known or the pride and accomplishment they deem an important trait of Jamaicans. How do they carry Jamaica on their backs?

I have stood aside and listened, with amusement and indignation, as one or the other wannabe-Jamaicans, replete with fake accent, profess to others their Jamaicanness. In the past I would say or ask something that would blow their cover, but now I just look on amused.

Identity is a personal choice as well as a cultural cross owing to birth. While traveling through Europe last summer, as in the past, it was important that I was seen as a Jamaican. I often thought of myself as representing the island, and therefore, just like I tell my children, your actions reflect back on me, I wanted to project a positive Jamaica.

The Yugoslavian man in Luxembourg Garden learned about my Jamaica, the Jamaica of writers and artists, spectacular sites that serve as respite to me, the titillating aroma of steam fish and bammi at Port Royal, peppered shrimp in Black River and the soulful, positive vibes of Tarrus Riley and the culturally relevant rhythms, of Queen Ifrica.

As I bid him adieu and resumed by writing these words poured forth:

not cloak but skin

home that colors

the landscape of my knowing

all that i am and will ever be

the rolling-calf stories

from childhood still

cloud my head

green stains my hands

volcanic emerging

to form land and cane

brought people and rum

made us douens

but the yellowing hope

prevails

one people/one land

nanny/garvey/manely

one voice intoning

this is fi me island

this is fi me land

Mike Michalowicz (pronounced mi-CAL-o-wits) started his first business at the age of 24, moving his young family to the only safe place he could afford – a retirement building. With no experience, no contacts and no savings he systematically bootstrapped a multi-million dollar business.

Then he did it again. And again. Now he is doing it for other entrepreneurs.

Michalowicz is a U.S television personality on MSNBC including Your Business and Bail Out! coupled with CNBC’s The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch; is the small business columnist for The Wall Street Journal and the president of Obsidian Launch, a small business consulting firm.

His newest book, The Pumpkin Plan, will be released on July 5, 2012 by Penguin Books. In the words of Guy Kawasaki, Author of Enchantment & Art of The Start, “Another great read from Mike Michalowicz! Mike’s off-the-cuff sense of humor and business savvy ensure that The Pumpkin Plan is a book that entrepreneurs should read for years to come.

Order tickets via eventbrite or upon arrival at our welcome desk: http://mikeinkingston.eventbrite.com/

Hosted by: Caribbean Fortress

Affiliate Sponsors: SocialCalendarJa, KW+A

NOTE: One (1) lucky person will win a FREE copy at this May 5 event in Kingston.

See how you could participate in a fun, worldwide scavenger hunt too at Mike Michalowicz Fan Page

Event Hashtag: #PumpkinPlanJA

Gene Pearson (in white)

Here are some of the sights from the Liguanea Art Festival 2012 held last Sunday in Liguanea, Kingston.

This year things were a little different with some new artists present including well known Jamaican artist, Laura Facey, along with many other artists regularly seen at the fair.

As usual, the fair was well laid out, organized and well supported. There was a shuttle service to the Festival from St. Peter and Paul and Mail Pack which in my experience worked well. There was an art workshop for kids as well as a jonkanoo parade and drummers.

Thankfully, there was mostly no rain (though I think it sprinkled for a bit).

As in past years, there was an amazing array of great Jamaican art including paintings, sculpture, photography, ceramics and jewelry.

Here’s a small selection of what was there…

Ceramic heads by Gene Pearson

Sydney Wilson (our photographer in mirror)

Anji Worton

Paintings by Anji Worton

Ceramicist Trevor Beaumont

Ceramics by Trevor Beaumont

Laura Facey

≈

Japanese Jamaican artist Reiko

Plaster heads by Chung Knight

Betty Wilson and Chung Knight

Sculptures by Fitz Mitchell

Jewelry from sea stones and sea glass by Andy Golding

Rootz Underground will be in concert this Saturday, May 5!

Come out and support Live Music in Kingston as well as the Rootz Releaf Programme.

Pre-sale tickets are available at Bookophilia, Spartan Health Club and Hope Gardens.

Ticket prices are $1500 pre-sold and $2,500 at the gate. V.I.P. tickets are are $3,500. Patrons will receive a tree sapling to plant (whiles supplies last). Gate prizes will include a three month membership to Spartan Health Club.

Rootz Releaf & La Reserva Foundation present “Lions in the Garden”, the second event of five concerts under the “Rootz Garden” banner scheduled in 2012 to benefit several charities- the Nature Preservation Foundation Jamaica, The McCam Child Development Centre, Jamaica School for the Deaf and the Rootz Releaf Program.

The first event held in February, “It’s Growing” featured special guests Toots and the Maytals, Dubtonic Kru, Prophecy & The Band of Reggae w/ Iba Mahr & Droop Lion.

“Lions In the Garden” will be held at The Sunken Garden at Hope Gardens with gates at 7pm and ending at 1am.

The event features the original “Gangalee” Louie Culture who will bring his DJ skills to the garden party, as well as the return of the Mystic Revealers, the foundation roots and culture band who have not performed in Jamaica since the late 1990′s, this performance marks their return to the live scene.

Nomaddz will perform their unique brand of dub poetry accompanied by music that crosses multiple genres as well as Di Blueprint band who will bring their soul-fused one drop riddims and conscious messaging to the party.

Also performing will be the explosive reggae-rock of Rootz Underground, fresh from an 18-date tour of the Western U.S. and Canada.

Video presentations from featured artists on the lineup will be screened as well as footage from the Rootz Releaf school tree-planting projects in Jamaica.

To date the program has visited five schools on the island and the Rootz Garden series benefits this endeavor directly. Expanded environmental school programs are planned for fall of 2012 that include toward zero-waste recycling education and soil conservation.

In partnership with La Reserva Forest Foundation in Costa Rica and Nature Preservation Foundation Jamaica, the Rootz Releaf eco-trust has planted a remarkable 75,000 trees since January 2009.

This tree-planting effort includes action by fans globally who take part in the Rootz Releaf effort individually, denoting their tree-planting on a global map hosted at rootzunderground.com/releaf.

The intention of the live concert series presented by Rootz Garden Productions is to “create awareness for the Rootz Releaf project and to be our voice towards something positive that we’re already doing and what others are doing too.”

Title sponsors for Lions in the Garden are Supreme Ventures Limited, Digicel & Jamaica Money Market Brokers.

Additional sponsors include Wray and Nephew, Digital Prepress Limited, Phoenix Printery, Spartan Health Club, The Sandals Foundation, Grace Kennedy & Co, Farmville Jamaica, The Nature Preservation Foundation, Lore Media, Starlight Entertainment, Riverstone Records, A and E Ambulance, Bookophilia, Barefoot Browning, Corporate Services Association, Guardsman Ltd.

Here’s Episode 1 of MI A GO FOREIGN – Moving to NYC.

Enjoy this sit(dance) com dancehall style with Hanna Herbertson and Cindy Claes!

For more info on what this is all about see Mi a go foreign.

Dancehall dancer and choreographer, Hanna Herbertson teams up with Cindy Claes on MI A GO FOREIGN.

A Work In Progress by Claes and Herbertson, the sit(dance)com is not a finished product but both artists are looking to secure additional funding and support in the near future to take the project to the next level.

Here’s more info on the project…

THE STORY:

Two European girls dream of fame. They are determined to make it and move to NYC. Emigration and immigration come with their ups and downs though. Through unexpected challenges, surprising encounters, moments of doubt and moments of awe, “Carla” (Hanna Herbertson) & “Chicha” (Cindy Claes) forged a strong friendship the very first day they moved to the Big Apple…

THE ARTISTS:

Hanna Herbertson – international dancehall activist who has for years been striving to spread the knowledge and beauty of this culture through music and dance (did we also mention she is a DJ?).

Cindy Claes is passionate about Hip-Hop Theatre and tells stories through dance. She is a dance backpacker, and fell in love with Krumping and Dancehall many years ago.

HOW THE COLLABORATION CAME ABOUT:

Both dancers were hungry for growth and thirsty to expand worldwide. In 2005, Hanna moved from Sweden to NYC and Cindy moved from Belgium to London.

When they left home, their dreams were big. The reality they faced was sometimes difficult, but mostly breath-taking and jaw-dropping. Today they have a whole collection of funny memories, from renting their first room, to misunderstanding voicemails due to language barriers.

They remember falling in love and looking for jobs in cities full of… surprises!!!

PS: In real life, Hanna and Cindy met in Brussels 10 years ago…

They were finally able to collaborate on the project while Cindy came to live in NYC for a few months in 2011.

STAY TUNED FOR EPISODE 1!