National Trails Day

Today, June 4, 2016 is American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day®

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Get out to a nearby trail, wherever you are, and get a hike in this weekend. National Trails Day events will take place in every state across the country and will include hikes, biking and horseback rides, paddling trips, birdwatching, geocaching, gear demonstrations, stewardship projects and more. If you are interested in leading or organizing an event, click on the host materials tab to the left for host guides and prep materials.

We are looking at temps of 115 degrees today so that means heading north where is is easily 25 to 30 degrees cooler. No Excuses!

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Game of Clones

I had the privilege of working with Athena Aktipis to design a science communication tool as a way to explain to the public how cancer cheats. It’s called Game of Clones and while cancer is not fun nor funny I believe sharing information on why it is so hard to cure cancer inspires others to join this fight. Or as Athena explains it in her research on cancer shows us it is no longer about fighting cancer – it’s about learning to collaborate with cancer so we can use cancer clones as cooperative team players. If cancer cheats by changing the way business is done, by acting differently in every body it takes up residence in then we have to look at what can we learn from that? Here is a video on how the public game worked, followed by pictures at the public event.

Game of Clones Explanation from Biodesign Institute at ASU on Vimeo.

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Bio Cancer Tent

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If a ten year old had fun at this event and learned about how cancer cheats, they are better equipped. So that at a family event when Great Aunt Marge raises her fists and yells out “why can’t they cure cancer already?” The ten year old can explain it’s because cancer cheat. This is how we win our future . . . .

A Lesson in No!

Entrepreneur Business Tip –

All day long I will tell anyone who is listening that Seth Godin is a hero of mine and a total genius. Why? Because he is passionate, real and is a truth teller. I love his style of ‘tell it like it is’ and he’s not too big to share the love. Every time I reach out to him he replies immediately. His blog post today (reposted below) is about saying yes. I totally agree with him and it reminded me that I should share how important it is to say NO! and why.

I am great at the no. I say this as a recovering work-a-holic. I used to say yes to everything, constantly distracted by the next opportunity, possibility and shiny squirrel. I have recovered from that and now am very comfortable saying no. Here is the thing I learned. By saying no I honor myself, my time and the person on the other side of the ask because I don’t over book and let them down. On the flip side when I do say yes the person asking feels extra good because they know it is meaningful and it matters. To get my yes is a privilege and those who receive it don’t take it lightly or for granted. That is a respectful win win to all.

Seth’s Post:

Instant yes 

The other day, a friend asked me for a favor. I gave him an instant yes.

The instant yes is precious. It’s earned, it doesn’t last forever, it’s easily abused.

Not the yes of, “I’ll look it over and if it makes sense or fits in my calendar or is profitable then of course, I’ll do it,” but the yes of, “yes.”

Do you want to try our daily special, it’s really good? Do you want to see my new project proposal? Will you come to this event I’m holding? Will you contribute to this discussion? Can I borrow $500?

How many people will give you an instant yes if you ask them? How many times has your organization (or you) earned the privilege of the benefit of the doubt?

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