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An interview on The Motivation Show podcast with the author of “A Child in Berlin – Courage & Resilience during the Fall of Nazi Germany”

Over the span of four years, one afternoon at a time, professional biographer Rhonda Lauritzen sat across from Heidi Posnien, now an 88-year-old woman who spent her childhood in the heart of Berlin, just a stone’s throw from Hitler’s seat of power. Posnien shared strikingly clear memories of the fear and uncertainty that permeated Nazi-infested Berlin during World War II as well as memories of her mother, Käthe, a rising star in Germany’s opera scene. But perhaps the most remarkable part of Posnien’s story is her survival in a bombed-out apartment during the final weeks of the war when she was just 9 years old.

A Child in Berlin is the remarkable true story of Heidi Posnien, her mother and their courage in the face of Nazi terror as told to Lauritzen. Käthe is a mother who must choose between her conscience and her dreams of becoming an opera star. She discovers the truth about what is happening to her Jewish friends around the time she attends a dinner party presided by Adolf Hitler himself. She realizes she cannot remain among Nazi society and makes the gut-wrenching choice to leave the opera. To support herself and young Heidi, she joins Berlin’s black-market network and ends up dealing in more than just food. As others evacuate the capital, Käthe harbors a secret that anchors them in the epicenter of danger.

While Käthe becomes ever more preoccupied with survival, Heidi and a roving pack of friends make mischief in Berlin’s rubble. The war devolves, and she braves hunger, cold and feelings of abandonment as she shuttles between Berlin and the Polish countryside. Heidi’s ultimate test comes when she must survive alone in a bombed-out apartment during the final weeks of World War II. Her moxie shows how children are capable of far more than adults realize.

Heidi Posnien married an American soldier after the war. She now lives in Huntsville, Utah. Her story serves as a reminder of the resilience and strength of the human spirit, even in the darkest of times. Her firsthand account of life in Nazi-occupied Berlin offers a unique perspective on a pivotal moment in world history. As she nears her 90th birthday, Posnien continues to share her story in the hopes of educating future generations about the horrors of war and the importance of standing up against tyranny.

“I’ve been down in the deepest sorrows, but I’ve also been on the best of highs too,” Posnien said. “I’ve eaten this big, beautiful life; I never let it eat me.”

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐓𝐮𝐛𝐞: https://youtu.be/oXzAuhCd08E?si=Myq_PjzoQ19slCT5
𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5dGSRSIqUDTpKbwil2bXza?si=a33c9c4bfd224b8e
𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐬: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-child-in-berlin-courage-resilience-during-the/id1530745286?i=1000681441884

Categories
Biography and History Leadership Strategy

The Myth of Permanence: Success as a Slow-Acting Poison

The Myth of Permanence

Success as a Slow-Acting Poison

Nothing lasts. Not kingdoms, not companies, not golden eras of innovation. But success has a way of making people believe otherwise. It whispers a dangerous lie: We made it. We figured it out. We cracked the code. Just keep doing what we’re doing, and we’ll stay on top.

It’s a lie that has killed more businesses, movements, and leaders than failure ever could. Failure, at least, forces reinvention. Success sedates. It lulls teams into inertia. The product that once electrified the market becomes an expectation. The edge that made you untouchable dulls. You become predictable. Predictability breeds irrelevance.

And then, irrelevance arrives like winter—slow at first, then all at once.

Look at the ghosts of industries past. Blockbuster, a titan with 9,000 stores, laughed off Netflix’s offer to collaborate. Kodak, a pioneer in photography, literally invented the digital camera and then buried it to protect film sales. Nokia, once the king of mobile phones, mocked the iPhone’s lack of buttons. Their common sin? Believing the summit was a place to build, not a place to climb higher from.

But the greater tragedy is not that they failed. It’s that they refused to change while they were winning.

The Fear of Disruption: Cowardice in the Clothes of Stability

There’s another lie that grips organizations in their prime: Change is risky. It isn’t. Not changing is.

But leadership teams don’t frame it that way. Instead, they disguise fear as logic. “We don’t want to alienate our core customers.” “The numbers are strong—why rock the boat?” “Let’s wait and see what the market does before making a move.” What they’re really saying is: We’re afraid to gamble with comfort.

The irony? The most successful companies, the ones that truly last, are led by people who gamble with comfort constantly. Jeff Bezos banned the words, that’s not how we do things here at Amazon. Apple cannibalized its own iPod business with the iPhone because it knew that if it didn’t, someone else would. Tesla didn’t wait for a crisis in the auto industry to disrupt it.

It’s the ones that move when they don’t have to dictate the future. The ones who wait? They spend their final years scrambling to catch up, desperately trying to buy relevance with budgets that no longer impress.

And so we return to you. To your team. To your company. The numbers are good, maybe even great. But the real question is: Are you already dying, just slowly enough not to feel it yet? Is your current strategy akin to “Silently Running a Going Out of Business Sale?”

Stay tuned for Part II of this article appropriately entitled, “Empires Don’t Crumble—They Fossilize First”

Categories
Biography and History Geopolitics Human Resources

Beyond Redemption: The Repetition of Humanitarian Failures in Africa and Beyond

Beyond Redemption

The Repetition of Humanitarian Failures in Africa and Beyond

The humanitarian sector, long hailed as a beacon of global compassion and assistance, stands at a crossroads. Its historical failures to protect the most vulnerable in regions such as Sudan, the Central African Republic (CAR), and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have become a grim routine, marked by systemic inefficiencies, geopolitical maneuvering, and appalling breaches of trust by those entrusted with safeguarding human dignity. Despite decades of experience, repeated promises of reform, and vast financial contributions from donor nations, the sector remains mired in ineptitude and waste, leaving behind a trail of unmet needs, broken promises, and squandered opportunities.

The UN Security Council: A Paralysis of Leadership

At the heart of these failures lies the United Nations Security Council, whose actions—or inactions—have consistently exacerbated crises rather than resolved them. The Council’s geopolitical gridlock, driven by the competing interests of its permanent members, has rendered it impotent in addressing pressing crises in Africa. In Sudan, CAR, and DRC, resolutions have often been watered down to appease powerful states, prioritizing political expediency over humanitarian necessity. This paralysis has allowed conflicts to fester, leaving peacekeepers and aid agencies unsupported and unprepared for the realities on the ground.

The structural inefficiencies extend beyond decision-making. Funding mechanisms funneled through UN agencies are often misallocated, consumed by bloated administrative costs, or siphoned off through corruption and theft. In CAR, for instance, millions of dollars earmarked for peacekeeping and civilian protection have been lost to mismanagement, while UN Peacekeepers themselves have been implicated in shocking violations, including sexual violence against women and girls. Such atrocities not only undermine the moral authority of the UN but also shatter the trust of the very communities they are meant to protect.

The UNHCR – The UN Refugee Agency

The United Nations

The UNHCR’s plea paints a heart-wrenching picture of refugees braving unimaginable hardships, but behind the emotional veneer lies a glaring lack of transparency. Phrases like “on the ground delivering jackets, gloves, and more” offer no evidence or specifics, leaving donors guessing about the actual impact of their contributions. The push for monthly donations, framed as the “most effective way,” appears more about securing predictable revenue streams than addressing immediate needs.

With no concrete stories or verifiable outcomes, claims of “critical assistance” and “changing lives” feel like marketing slogans, not actionable promises. Oversimplified solutions—such as $36 equating to a survival kit—mislead donors into believing complex logistical challenges can be solved with a single donation. This messaging, wrapped in urgency and emotional appeal, glosses over critical questions: How much aid reaches those in need? Where are the detailed reports of success? Until accountability replaces abstraction, this campaign risks being more about optics than outcomes.

The Cost of Inefficiency: Waste and Misallocation

The humanitarian sector’s operational inefficiencies are staggering. Reports from Sudan and CAR highlight how excessive spending on bureaucratic processes—such as needless meetings, convoluted reporting structures, and overstaffed headquarters—consumes vast portions of aid budgets. These inefficiencies leave frontline workers under-resourced and local populations underserved. In many cases, aid never reaches the most critical locations, diverted instead to safer and more accessible areas that are politically convenient for donor nations and international organizations.

This misallocation of resources is further compounded by theft and corruption, which thrive in the absence of robust accountability mechanisms. In DRC, for example, logistical delays and embezzlement have left communities devastated by conflict without the food, water, and medical supplies they desperately need. These systemic failures erode the effectiveness of international aid, even as donor nations like the United States continue to shoulder a disproportionate share of the financial burden.

The United States: An Unequal Burden

The United States contributes nearly half of all international aid, yet it consistently faces criticism and hostility for its efforts. This inequity is stark when contrasted with the lack of contributions from less-prosperous nations, whose participation in the global humanitarian framework remains minimal. The over-reliance on U.S. funding creates a fragile system, vulnerable to the shifting political winds of Washington. The recent resurgence of inward-looking policies under the Trump administration underscores this vulnerability, as aid budgets are slashed and programs are reprioritized based on political agendas rather than humanitarian needs.

Peacekeepers as Perpetrators

Nowhere is the failure of the international system more evident than in the behavior of UN Peacekeepers in CAR. The very forces tasked with protecting civilians have been implicated in widespread sexual exploitation and abuse. Reports of peacekeepers abusing women and girls—many of whom sought safety in UN camps—reveal a catastrophic breach of trust. Despite years of promises to address such violations, accountability remains elusive. Perpetrators are often shielded by the legal protections afforded to UN personnel, and investigations rarely lead to meaningful consequences.

The Local Aid Conundrum

While international agencies dominate the humanitarian landscape, local organizations—often more efficient and better attuned to community needs—struggle to access funding and support. In Sudan, grassroots Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs) have demonstrated remarkable success in delivering aid where international systems have failed. Yet these initiatives receive only token support from global donors, who prefer to channel funds through large, bureaucratic agencies that can be more easily controlled. This disparity underscores the need for a paradigm shift in how aid is allocated, with greater emphasis on empowering local actors and reducing dependency on inefficient international organizations.

Solutions: Toward a More Accountable and Equitable System

The path forward requires bold reforms to address the systemic failures that have plagued the humanitarian sector for decades. These reforms must include:

  1. Accountability for Peacekeeper Violations: UN Peacekeepers must be subject to independent oversight and held criminally accountable for abuses. Establishing an international tribunal dedicated to addressing such violations would send a clear message that impunity will no longer be tolerated.
  2. Localized Aid Models: Redirect funding from international agencies to local organizations, ensuring that resources reach those who need them most. This requires dismantling bureaucratic barriers and creating direct funding channels for grassroots initiatives like Sudan’s ERRs.
  3. Transparent Funding Mechanisms: Implement strict auditing and monitoring processes to prevent theft and mismanagement. Donor nations must demand greater transparency and accountability from the UN and other international agencies.
  4. Redefining Donor Responsibilities: Encourage broader participation from less-prosperous nations in global aid efforts. This could include establishing mandatory contribution thresholds based on GDP to ensure a more equitable distribution of financial responsibility.
  5. Operational Efficiency: Streamline bureaucratic processes within the UN and other international organizations to reduce waste. Resources saved must be redirected to frontline operations and community-based projects.

In Summation

The humanitarian sector stands on the precipice of irrelevance, undermined by its inefficiencies, inequities, and failures of leadership. Without immediate and transformative reforms, the cycles of crisis and neglect in regions like Sudan, CAR, and DRC will persist, condemning millions to unnecessary suffering.

The time is long past due for the international community to move beyond lip service and embrace a bold, accountable, and equitable approach to humanitarian aid—one that prioritizes the needs of the vulnerable over the convenience of the powerful.

As the managing trustee of an international ministry focused on the poorest of the poor, so much waste is heartbreaking, as we witness the lack of fresh water, sickness, premature death, and food insecurity plaguing countries across the continent.

Categories
Advice Biography and History Culture

A Storyteller’s Legacy

A Storyteller’s Legacy

I am Shen Yi, and this is my story. Of late, I have been reflecting on the rich mosaic of my long life. It’s a spectrum where joy and sorrow weave indelibly into the fabric of my days. I realize how deeply lives are shaped not by our personal experiences, but by the shared tapestry of stories handed down through generations. As the evening of my life deepens into twilight, I find myself contemplating the profound collective journey of humanity, underscoring the transformative power of shared narratives.

In the secluded mountain village of Tso Pema, nestled among the towering peaks of Tibet, I was born into parents who loved life, and the ways of the ancient ones. Mine was a simple life, with a simple upbringing, and I am known to all as Shen Yi. My name, unusual and evocative, was derived from an ancient family tradition, linking me to a legendary ancestor who once traded spices along the Silk Road.

My life, much like the landscape that surrounded me and my parents, was marked by the stark contrasts of fierce winters and vibrant springs. The winters were long, the snow laying thick and heavy upon the roofs of the modest stone houses, often isolating the village from the rest of the world for months. During these times, our family joined neighboring villagers and gathered around the hearth, where the elders, with voices as cracked as the logs that burned before them, would recount tales of ancestors whose lives were vibrant and unmistakably well-lived with courage, sacrifice, and endurance.

As a young girl, I listened intently to these stories, the flickering firelight casting shadows that danced like spirits on the walls. The tales told of ancestors who traversed frozen landscapes, guided only by the stars, and of those who found sanctuary in hidden valleys where springs burst forth with life, heralding the return of color to the mountainside. Despite the harsh climate, lives flourished, and each villager was dependent upon their neighbors. They shared triumph, loss, sorrow, and all the work that made their lives wholesome and complete.

These narratives filled me with a deep longing—a desire to live a life that was as worthy of remembrance as those of my forebears.

My parents and grandparents painted vivid pictures of lives woven with threads of resilience and hope, shaping the perception of my existence. I learned that each generation had faced its trials with strength drawn from the stories of those who had gone before. This realization instilled in me a profound sense of continuity and responsibility; I was a living vessel of my family’s history, and how my actions would one day be the stories told by the fireside to inspire future generations.

 The Whispers of Communal Wisdom

As I, Shen Yi grew older, the wisdom of my community, passed down through stories, became the cornerstone of existence for myself and everyone I knew. I recognized that life was not an isolated place, but part of a larger world. The communal wisdom that had guided my ancestors now rested upon my ever-weary shoulders. It was a wisdom not only of surviving but of thriving—of turning the harshness of winter into the promise of spring, of transforming solitude into solidarity.

The Tapestry of Collective Memory

Deep in my heart, I carried the collective memory of my home and village. Each story, each memory shared by the fireside, added to the intricate tapestry of our communal identity. These stories were more than just recounting of the past; they were the very sinews that connected the present to the time of our ancestors. They held lessons of endurance against adversity, of finding joy in the simplicity of a blossoming tree after the thaw, and of the importance of community in the face of isolation.

The Art of Storytelling

Storytelling was an art form of profound significance as I grew up. It was through stories that the wisdom of the past was communicated to the young, ensuring that each generation could learn from the last. Each of us surrounding this “ancient circle” understood that storytelling was not merely about preservation but about evolution—each retelling was an opportunity to adapt the lessons of the past to the challenges of the present.

Embracing Imperfection in Our Narratives

As I shared these tales with my children and grandchildren, I, Shen Yi, taught them that life’s beauty is often found in its imperfections. The stories of their ancestors were not without fault; they were filled with trials, missteps, and lessons learned the hard way. I too did not live an unmarked existence, I too had difficulties, joys, sorrows, exuberance, and dread. Yet, it was these imperfections that added depth and realism to the narratives, making them more poignant and powerful.

The Dance of Resilience

When despair threatened to take hold, just as the harsh winters threatened to stifle the village, the stories of old would rekindle hope. I learned this dance of resilience from a story after amazing story from our forebears, a dance that celebrated the return of spring, life, and renewal. It was this kind of dance my stories attempted to pass on, a rhythm of enduring spirit that pulsed through the heart of my body, and that of my community.

My life, like the winter shawls and coverings I wear, is woven from the threads of countless stories and stands as a testament to the power of narratives to shape, guide, and inspire. My story, like those of my ancestors before me, calls to the cacophony of friends and neighbors in the ancient circle, across generations, urging us to keep the fires of our tales burning brightly. As we share our stories, as we add our brushstrokes to the canvas of shared experience of human experience, let us remember the lessons of those who walked before us. Let us tell and retell these stories, so that they may light the way for those who will one day walk after us.

Reflecting on my rich mosaic of life—a spectrum where joy and sorrow weave indelibly into the richness of my days—I realize how deeply we are shaped not just by our personal experiences, but by the shared stories handed down through generations. As the evening of my life deepens into twilight, I find myself contemplating the profound collective journey of humanity, underscoring the transformative power of shared narratives.

My time for sharing stories is slowly ebbing into life’s sunset and approaching the night sky. Before I close my eyes for the final time, to dream no more, my wish is for you to embrace the stories that create the treasure trove that you will rely on for ancient wisdom, and hard-won experience, and pull them deep into your heart, so you might share them with new generations.

 

Categories
Advice Biography and History Leadership

The Home Run King’s Economic Home Run- How Babe Ruth Beat the Great Depression

Are you concerned about the impact the next 12-24 months could have on your retirement portfolio? With the stock market constantly fluctuating, it’s hard to know what the future holds. But what if there was a way to secure your retirement income without relying on the stock market?

You might be surprised to learn that Babe Ruth, one of the greatest baseball players of all time, was able to earn $300k in yearly retirement income during the Great Depression without relying on the stock market. And you can do the same.

It all started when Babe Ruth’s manager introduced him to his personal financial advisor, Mr. Heilman. Just months before the Great Depression, Heilman advised Ruth to move all his wealth into “no risk” investments, and it paid off. Not only did Ruth survive the depression, but he also created a wealth of income that secured his lifestyle and family’s financial future.

These “no risk” investments are still commonly used by retirees today and can be part of a Crash Proof Your Finances, you can secure your retirement income and protect your portfolio from potential market downturns.

However, not everyone qualifies for this type of retirement model. There are some restrictions based on age, profession, geographic location, and marital status.

If you have a portfolio of $500k-2m+ and want to learn more about how you can implement a Financial Fitness Strategy Session, and see if you qualify, please keep reading.

Learn how to never lose a dime in any market risk and catch the upside of the market.

We understand that retirement planning can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.

Don’t let the next market downturn ruin your retirement plans. Contact us today to learn more about how you can implement a Retirement Income & Protection Plan and secure your financial future.

Take time out of your life for your Financial Fitness so your assets are in shape and you will never out live your income

For more Healthy Money Tips Listen to our Podcast  “Money 911”

Sign up for a Financial Fitness Strategy Session: Meet with Kris Miller –

Financial Fitness Strategy Sessions

You can reach me at Kris@HealthyMoneyHappyLIfe.com, (951) 926-4158

 

 

Categories
Biography and History Branding Case Studies Marketing Operations Strategy

WATCH: The Real Reason the Long John Silver’s Business is Sinking…

Long John Silver’s is the #1 fast food seafood restaurant in the United States.

But, they’ve been struggling for decades. Long John Silver’s has lost over half their franchises since their peak.  Here’s why…

 

 

 

The Real Reason Long John Silver’s is Struggling:

The original premise for the chain sounded good, at least on paper. During a family, vacation, businessman and restaurateur, Jim Patterson had a flash of inspiration:

Bring the sunny seaside fish and chips eating beach experience from the coast, to families nationwide.

When the chain first started, Long John Silver’s made an effort to impart each location with a seafaring theme reminiscent of the company’s vacation-inspired roots.

The company’s heyday was a ten-year period from about 1979 to 1989, during which it grew from a footprint of one thousand units to an all-time high of 1,500 locations.

Watch the full story on this episode of Company Man.

 

WATCH:

 

Then a String of Devastating Decline in Market share…

The chain has been on a decline since at least 1989 when, in response to mounting debt, it first took its business private. In the three decades since, it’s been handed off from one unhappy owner to another.

They’ve also been plagued with bad marketing (often self-inflicted).

For example, in 2017 they’re marketing team posted a video of a hostage being beheaded with a swordfish in an attempt to “go viral”…

 

 

They were forced to issue an apology:

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On top of some marketing flops, probably the biggest failure is their lack of vision against the original mission to bring people into a coastal dinner experience.

 

Long John Silver's

You know that feeling you get when you have a craving for fried cod, but you also  want a root beer float and a chili dog? Apparently, not too many other could relate either…

In addition to loosing half their franchises since their height, they lost 300 locations over the last 5 years alone and another 60 during the 2020 COVID lockdowns.

While millions of Americans enjoy the convenience of fast food, it appears for Long John Silver’s target audience, they preferred the original quality experience and cheap burgers over fish sandwiches.

For more information visit tylerhayzlett.com

Categories
Biography and History Branding Capital Case Studies Entrepreneurship Growth Industries Investing Management Mergers & Acquisition

Dumpster Diver Created the $1Billion Patagonia Cult With His Last Fifty Cents…

The Billion dollar Patagonia brand was started by a bullied teenager living off fifty cents a day learning how to be, a falconer

And the original source material for the products he made, came from the dumpsters he was diving in.

 

The Bizarre Beginning of the Patagonia Brand

From it’s very beginning, the brand never really cared about being cool or even making money. Instead, it focused on making gear for the sport they loved while being environmentally responsible. Today they’ve become a status symbol for the biggest and richest companies in the world.

Here’s the story of how the Patagonia company was born…

 

WATCH:

 

 

Patagonia’s Roots in Black Smithery, Falconry, and Rock-Climbing…

Patagonia’s founder, Yvon Chouinard was born in 1938 in Lisbon , Maine and raised in a French-Canadian community that spoke little English.

His father, a hard working blue collar man, moved the family to Burbank CA when Yvon was only 8 years old.  An experience that turned out to be a pretty shitty one for little Yvon.

Shitty because Yvon was bullied at school for not being able to speak English. He was also the smallest kid in his class which didn’t help his position. Not knowing what to do, Yvon would just simply run away. He spent most of his time alone in the wilderness. Hunting and fishing by himself.

Then one day, Yvon discovered, of all things, falconry…

 

 

He joined a local falconry club where he made friends and learned how to train hawks and falcons. For the first time, Yvon belonged to something.

One of the members, Don Prentice, was a mountain climber who trained the club how to rappel down cliffs to in order to access falcon nest located high up on mountain rock ledges.

 

So What’s the Blacksmith Connection?

The club became obsessed with the sport. Traveling all over the country rappelling down America’s tallest cliffs. They did it for the most part, without any gear…

Eventually the group turned their attention from rappelling to climbing. Were they’re lack of equipment became problematic (opposed to repelling down, climbing up requires a lot more than a rope).

With only 200 mountain climbers in those days and no store to provide their climbing gear, the group was forced to make their own in the early days of the sport. One of those items were pitons (the stakes mountain climbers hammer into the rock face to clip onto for, “safety”).

 

 

 

“Hey Mountain Climbers, Clean Up Your Shit!”

The problem with the original pitons was they were permanent. Climbers would just  leave the stakes poking out of the side of the mountain for others to use later on…It became an eyesore and Yvon wasn’t having it.

Yvon taught himself how to be a blacksmith (in a chicken coop in his parents backyard) where he invented the first sets of removable pitons, changing the sport forever. They even turned out to be stronger and more reliable than the permanent European pitons they originally used.

He didn’t even charge his friends for them in the beginning. He would just hand them to other climbers to help clean up the mountain side. They were an instant success.

 

 

From Climbing Gear to Clothing Icon…

Pategonia eventually got into the clothing business after Yvon took a climbing trip to Scotland where he bought a Rugby shirt because the material looked tough enough to climb a mountain in (and it looked cool). Plus he thought the collar would help keep the climbing ropes away from his neck.

Climbing in his Rugby shirt back in the states, Yvonn stuck out like a sore thumb in his flamboyant colored shirt. In a good way. Other climbers asked where they could get a “fancy colorful climbing shirt”.

Here’s a review of some of the original 1980s rugby shirts they launched with:

 

WATCH:

 

So Yvon licensed a series of durable and colorful rugby (I mean climbing) shirts. They sold like hot cakes…

But while the clothing brand famously went through many ups and downs over the years, Patagonia today is one of the most recognized clothing brands on the planet.

All thanks to a badass little kid who climbed his way up in life on his own terms.

Watch for the full story…

 

WATCH:

 

For more information visit tylerhayzlett.com

Categories
Biography and History Branding Capital Case Studies Entrepreneurship Growth News and Politics News and Politics

WATCH: Guy Gets Paid to Shoot at Birds All Day in Order to Save Them. Here’s Why….

Somewhere in remote Montana, right now, there’s a guy getting paid to shoot an assault rifle at any bird that lands on his pond. In order to save their lives…

He’s a hero. In order to understand why, you need to know about the Berkeley Copper Mine.

 

The Most Dangerous Water in North America?

The Berkeley Pit is a former copper mine in the western United States, located in Butte, Montana.

Today it’s full of water. Deadly water…

With water that is heavily acidic (2.5 pH level), about the acidity of Coca-Cola, lemon juice, or gastric acid. As a result, the pit is full of heavy metals and dangerous chemicals that leach from the rock, including copper, arseniccadmiumzinc, and sulfuric acid.

It’s a cocktail of death, especially for un-expecting waterfowl.

The levels of copper are high enough in the water table that Montana Resources has mined copper directly from the water itself!

 

But the Berkley Pit is a Graveyard for Waterfowl…

In 1995, a flock of migrating geese landed in the Berkeley Pit and died. A total of 342 carcasses were recovered.

After inspecting the corpses, scientists discovered their insides were lined with burns and festering sores from exposure to high concentrations of copper, cadmium, and arsenic.

The water burned them alive…

On November 28, 2016, several thousand snow geese died after a large flock landed in the pit’s water to avoid a snowstorm. Immediately after the event, officials made efforts to scare birds away and prevent more from landing in the area.

Now, in order to protect any waterfowl from dying a very painful death, this man gets paid to protect them. By shooting at them…

Don’t worry, he doesn’t hurt them, he only scares them away for their own protection. Crazy job…

 

WATCH:

 

 

 

For more information visit tylerhayzlett.com

Categories
Biography and History Branding Capital Case Studies Entrepreneurship Growth Investing Marketing News and Politics Operations Strategy Wealth

WATCH: From Air Mattress to $31 Billion Company. The Airbnb Story

Airbnb was the stupidest idea for a business. The idea was to rent an air mattress in someone else’s occupied apartment. A Literal air bed and breakfast. I mean, who would pay to sleep on the floor of the apartment of a complete stranger?

Turns out quite a few actually. While no longer air mattresses, today Airbnb has over 150 million hosts who’s properties accommodate more than a half a billion guests a year

You Won’t Believe How airbnb Got Started!

Today, Airbnb is one of the most successful short-term rental businesses in the world today. Since its formation in 2008, it has experienced massive growth, starting out with just a few friends renting extra space in their home to an international multibillion-dollar corporation.

Here is the insane inside story of how 3 guys turned that into a $31 billion company.

The story is crazier than the idea. Watch founder, Brian Chesky explain the crazy story of how 3 college kids created one of the world’s largest companies on the stupidest for a business to LinkedIn Founder, Reed Hastings, at a Y Combinator event.

Crazy…

WATCH:

 

 

 

 

 

For more information visit tylerhayzlett.com

Categories
Advice Biography and History Branding Capital Case Studies Entrepreneurship Growth Investing Leadership News and Politics Personal Development Wealth

Mike Tyson’s Was Arrested 40 Times by 13. His Life Advice Will Leave You SPEECHLESS…

“All my life I’ve seen murders and robberies. I came from that world where everything was dog-eat-dog. If you had money or jewelry, if you couldn’t defend it or protect it, you’re going to loose it.”

– Mike Tyson

 

Mike Tyson was first arrested at 10 years old. 38 more times by age 13.

Needless to say, he grew up in a rough neighborhood in Brooklyn. If you couldn’t protect yourself, you got taken advantage of. Mike was in over 400 fights in his life.

He quite literally fought his way through life and still is to this day…

 

WATCH:

 

How Mike Tyson Blew a $600 Million Fortune

By the age of twenty Tyson was one of the most famous figures on the planet. Namely for being the most talented boxers of all time. And for biting off Evander Holyfield’s ear off during one of the most televised matches in boxing history.

Here’s that throwback…

 

 

During his boxing career he amassed over $685 million and he accomplished to spending all of it. Every last penny…

He not only managed to blow through a half billion in cash, he then eventually owed over $50 million in debts, including another $13.4 million to the IRS.

 

So What Did Mike Tyson Spend $685 Million On Exactly?

  • Mike routinely traveled with an entourage so large it rivaled the size of a small country.
  • He owned Siberian tigers and spent hundreds of thousands/year to care for them.
  • He bought over $400k worth of pigeons too…it’s a long story
  • He had fleets of luxury vehicles, a posse of prostitutes, and a 21-bedroom mansion.

 

He was known to spend over $240k month for entertainment and another $100k/month for Jewelry and clothes.

During his lifetime, Tyson reached the peaks of fame and fortune most of us mere mortals will never know or experience. He climbed from the gutter to the height of success. But even at the top of the world by the age of 20, he still had a darkness inside of him…

Watch Mike explain his incredible life story and lessons of gratitude from his personal experiences literally fighting for his life.

 

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