The temperatures in Harbin, China, are The temperatures in Harbin, China, are often as low as minus 40°C and remain often as low as minus 40°C and remain over a half year under the freezing point. over a half year under the freezing point. But the people of Harbin have turned this But the people of Harbin have turned this disadvantage into an advantage. disadvantage into an advantage.

This city -- located in Chinese Manchuria, This city -- located in Chinese Manchuria, northwest of Vladivostok in Siberia -- is northwest of Vladivostok in Siberia -- is home of the annual home of the annual Harbin Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival,Festival, which has been held since which has been held since 1963, interrupted for a number of years 1963, interrupted for a number of years during the Cultural Revolution until it was during the Cultural Revolution until it was resumed in 1985.resumed in 1985.

Sculpting teams come from all over Sculpting teams come from all over the world to participate: Russia, the world to participate: Russia, Japan, Canada, France and even Japan, Canada, France and even South Africa.South Africa.

And the festival has grown into a And the festival has grown into a massive event, to which millions of massive event, to which millions of tourists come from the ends of the tourists come from the ends of the earth.earth.

The greatest achievements begin with The greatest achievements begin with one person’s vision becoming shared one person’s vision becoming shared

by many.by many.

Achievements begin with hard lumps.Achievements begin with hard lumps.

People who work out of love and People who work out of love and inspiration will always out-achieve inspiration will always out-achieve

those who work out of force or those who work out of force or necessity.necessity.

You will achieve You will achieve more and be more and be happier in your happier in your own life if you own life if you follow your own follow your own dreams.dreams.

Have a vision for Have a vision for your own futureyour own future..

Great achievement always Great achievement always requires ‘delayed requires ‘delayed gratification’ -- sacrifice gratification’ -- sacrifice now for something greater now for something greater in the future.in the future.

One lesson of the current ‘Great Recession’ is One lesson of the current ‘Great Recession’ is that society as a whole suffers that society as a whole suffers

when too many people try when too many people try to borrow from tomorrow to borrow from tomorrow

for today.for today.

When ‘I’ becomes more When ‘I’ becomes more important than ‘we.’important than ‘we.’

And when personal gratificationAnd when personal gratification takes priority takes priority overover ethics and integrity in business and in ethics and integrity in business and in

our personal lives.our personal lives.

But before But before we can lead we can lead others we others we must first must first rule rule ourselves. ourselves.

True True nobility is nobility is

achieved in achieved in servant-servant-

leadership, leadership, when the when the

‘greatest of ‘greatest of all’ make all’ make

themselves themselves ‘last of all ‘last of all

and servant and servant of all.’of all.’

We must discover We must discover who we are who we are

inside. We must inside. We must believe in believe in

ourselves. A ourselves. A positive attitude positive attitude correlates much correlates much more highly with more highly with

success in life success in life than a than a

high GPA.high GPA.

We must accept our ‘response-ability’ – our We must accept our ‘response-ability’ – our unique human ability to determine our unique human ability to determine our

response no matter the stimuli or response no matter the stimuli or circumstances of our lives.circumstances of our lives.

We must also recognize We must also recognize our infinite potential our infinite potential

within.within.

The human brain is the greatest computer ever The human brain is the greatest computer ever ‘invented,’ yet scientists say we use less than ‘invented,’ yet scientists say we use less than 10% of it. What if we could tap 100%?10% of it. What if we could tap 100%?

Our capabilities would increase not Our capabilities would increase not tenfold but rather a thousandfold. I’m tenfold but rather a thousandfold. I’m here to help you tap into your infinite here to help you tap into your infinite

potential.potential.

Yet it ultimately takes synergy Yet it ultimately takes synergy (people working together) to make (people working together) to make

something really special occur. something really special occur.

No one No one can do it can do it alone.alone.

Together Together we can we can reach reach the stars!the stars!

Think ‘win-win.’Think ‘win-win.’We succeed only to the degree We succeed only to the degree

that we help others succeed.that we help others succeed.

Then when we add the light of inspiration…Then when we add the light of inspiration…

… … something truly miraculous something truly miraculous can occur.can occur.

Don’t look back when Don’t look back when you’re old and say: ‘I you’re old and say: ‘I could have done great could have done great things if only I weren’t things if only I weren’t so busy doing little so busy doing little things.’things.’

Ask yourself: ‘What one thing could I be Ask yourself: ‘What one thing could I be doing differently now that would make all doing differently now that would make all

the difference?’the difference?’

Then Then do it!do it!

Don’t let the things that truly matter be sacrificed Don’t let the things that truly matter be sacrificed to the gods of self-indulgence OR triviality -- to the gods of self-indulgence OR triviality --

demands of life that demands of life that have little enduring importance.have little enduring importance.

Plan your path to Plan your path to greatness. Adapt greatness. Adapt as needed...as needed...

……but never, ever but never, ever give up.give up.

Figure out your life’s Figure out your life’s mission – and always mission – and always keep the No. 1 thing keep the No. 1 thing the No.1 thing.the No.1 thing.

Your voyage won’t Your voyage won’t always be smooth, but always be smooth, but keep focused on the star keep focused on the star that leads that leads to your lifetime to your lifetime goals.goals.

Plan each step, and Plan each step, and keep climbing one keep climbing one small step after small step after another.another.

And if you fall, And if you fall, pick yourself up pick yourself up and start again.and start again.

Along the way, be Along the way, be genuine. Share your genuine. Share your inner self with others.inner self with others.

Be brave within yourself Be brave within yourself and encouraging to others and encouraging to others around you.around you.

Have empathy for others. Truly listen and feel Have empathy for others. Truly listen and feel their needs as your own. Lead by their needs as your own. Lead by

example, and serve with love.example, and serve with love.

And, ultimately, our greatest joys in life And, ultimately, our greatest joys in life will be in the relationships will be in the relationships we build we build with with those those whowhojourneyjourneywith with us.us.

All of our All of our achievements achievements

will be will be meaningless meaningless if we end our if we end our

journey all journey all alone.alone.

Smile a lot. Truly Smile a lot. Truly appreciate all the appreciate all the blessings of life.blessings of life.

Enjoy Enjoy your your

journey.journey.

But But particularly particularly

enjoy the enjoy the people who people who

make the make the journey journey

with you.with you.

And in the end…And in the end…

……you will have no regrets.you will have no regrets.

You will have bridged You will have bridged the challenges the challenges of lifeof lifetogether...together...

……and reached and reached the other side…the other side…

……with joy…with joy…

……from a life well from a life well lived…lived…

……and achievements…and achievements…

……you cannot you cannot now dare dream.now dare dream.

And when the sun sets on And when the sun sets on this life, somewhere else it this life, somewhere else it will be rising with new joys will be rising with new joys and new opportunities.and new opportunities.