Soccer time in New York City...

It's the time of soccer macth in New York... trying to anticipate the feeling of competition of the World Cup coming soon. One week ago we had the first match in Queens (you can see the picture) between Europe&South America vs Asian Countries After 80 minutes of hard match, 11 against 11, the final result was 5 to 3 for us. But, the next challenge is coming soon, next week we'll play again...so, keep in touch for the news. The world competition is just started!!!Below you can also find the official pictures of the two team... but, as you can see, it's just for the competition...the rest is simply friendships in this huge city, where it's possible to became friends following the passion for the soccer. And for my italian friends who are waiting for the AIESEC soccer transition match of June... I can tell them...I'm doing my job...now it's your turn..:-) go go go

Some personal thoughts…our dreams and MR BUT…

Today I had the chance to talk with some interesting persons, sharing my ideas and understanding their thoughts. Going back home by train, I started to think about the relationship between "personal dreams" and "real life".
Do you know when we would like to do something of really interesting, working in a wonderful place, trying to achieve our dreams but… we meet always some BUT???

We can call him MR BUT, always present in our life.
When we talk about "dreams", it seems that our sentence are not complete without MR BUT.

Did you never heard "I would like to go in Australia BUT I have no money to spend now" or "I would like to know more BUT the time was over"???
MR BUT is always present BUT…also for him it works the BUT RULE. So, we can make the example of "personal dreams" and the "necessity to earn money to live" and try to make him one of our best friend..;-)

"You cannot live just with your dreams, BUT you can dream your life"

So, as you can see, if MR BUT is one of your friends, you can appreciate his qualities. In our case… he helped us to understand that we need to work hard in our life and not just dream…. but we can also enjoy our life and all the opportunities we meet everyday with the same passion we live our dreams…
Did you never heard about "DREAMING WITH OPEN EYES"?.. It’s one of my favourite activities.. and everyday I can find something of special around me… :-)
If you don’t believe…just try…at least you will meet MR BUT and you can try to became one of his friends…;-)
Keep in touch for the next

Is this the end of corporate strategy?

Reading the Financial Times of Monday March 6 2006, I found this interesting article regarding the idea of Joseph Bower (Harvard Business School), about strategy in the company management. Below you can find some part of the entire text. Enjoy the reading.

Is strategy back? It has not been fashionable recently for chief executives to offer grand strategic vision. Growth and profitability are the market’s immediate priorities, driven by demands of impatient hedge funds and institutions. Who has time for strategy when "execution" is all that really matters?
Last week, though, Arun Sarin, chief executive of Vodafone, was criticised for failing to deliver a convincing plan for the struggling mobile phone operator, even though he had been presented on his appointment in 2003 as a cool strategic thinker. Shareholders are running out of patience with businesses that seem to be floundering in a time of rapid change.
Sometimes companies fail to adapt to change quickly enough because they lack alternative options. "Thinking outside the box" is beyond many managers because they are rooted so firmly inside their divisional box that they cannot or dare not look beyond it.
This is one of the insights offered by Joseph Bower, the Donald Kirk David professor and chair of the General Manager Programme at Harvard Business School.
Prof Bower has been studying and writing about corporate strategy for four decades and last year published with faculty colleague Clark Gilbert, From Resource Allocation to Strategy, a collection of academic writing in the field.[….]
Prof Bower says: "most of us, when you ask us to do something, we do what we know how to do. Think about musicians. What will they play? They play the instruments they know, from repertoire they know. They are no different from managers. Managers give you options based on what they know to do, and their repertoire." […]
"We design boxes precisely so that people will be in them. That’s the whole idea. And if you are looking at the problem that requires a different skill set you are probably going to have to get some different people. Or find it elsewhere within the organisation." […]
Organization are hard to change because processes, once established, are persistent. And whatever head office may want to see happening, managers on the ground are taking decisions every day based on the evidence in front of them.
Strategy often emerges gradually and can be seen clearly only in retrospect. One of the most urgent challenges for corporate leaders, Prof Bower believes, is to make it possible for this bottom-up process of strategy development to emerge. […]
Prof Bower says: "when we talk about strategy we love to talk about abstractions. But what we need are brilliant ideas that exploit concrete things. If you are building a plant it has to be the right one in the right place." […]
The biggest difference between strategy formulation these days and when Prof Bower began his research in the 1960s is the factor of time. The postwar world, up until the oil crisis of 1973, was benign for business. Competition was less intense and corporations had time and space to change. […]
Prof Bower has had a personal insight into how things have speeded up in recent years. "A good friend of mine runs a company in Europe. He became CEO, and in his first news conference and analyst meeting he had to announce flat earnings. He wasn’t smooth about it. And the hedge funds just clobbered his stock.
"He couldn’t believe it. He lost almost 20 per cent of the value of the firm, for telling the truth, albeit in a awkward way. Afterwards he learnt how to tell the truth smoothly, or in an upbeat way. Fortunately he also had the results to back that up. But it’s really tough out there now."
Decisions do have to be taken fast but that does not spell the end of the strategy. Companies need to adapt and change quicker, and have an approach that makes such changes easier. But the lead for that has to come from the top. The truth is, strategy back – and it never really went away.

New Friendships in New York

Good morning and.. enjoy all the week end is coming on(english). It's the time to share with you my news regarding friendships in New York. After the beginning of my school of english, I had the opportunity to know a lot of new people, coming from different countries...It's like a Global Village in New York and everyday it's amazing how much you can learn from other people.
Below you can find some pictures of the time we are spending together... living this city...that never sleep...above all if there are people coming from Italy, French, Spain, Japan, Korea singing song all the night.....

Snow in New York...going back to the reality

It`s snowing...(english) this is one of the wonderful esclamation that any childrens always enjoy so much... So, it`s time to play with the snow, going back home full of water inside your shoes...and with your red cold face.
That`s a beautiful story, right?

...but not if your house, your car are completely under the snow.. And you have also problem in order to open the door.
Anyway, everyone can survive if it snow just for one day..It was exacly what happened in New York during this week end.
And going back to the reality, monday morning New York city started again its quick-moving life. At the end, it remains just a lot of snow in the cross-walk and a great story to tell in the future: «I remember that february 2006.. I never seen in my life so much snow in the city as in that time...and... If I don`t make a mistake... Was just the week end after that Pittsburgh Steelers wons a superbowl».
So, winter is not at the end... Keep in touch and enjoy the snow... Maybe will be some other surprise from Mother Nature.

Emotion from Winter Olympic Game in Torino

What could be the feeling (english) of an italian person watching the opening cerimony of winter olympic games held in his native country?

GREAT emotion

If this person is also living abroad... This emotion will be twice. I was really proud of my country at the end of the cerimony.. when all the athlets were on the ground listening «Vinceró» from the voice of Pavarotti.
In that moment all the feelings of everyone who love competition, friendships, sport, cultural diversity..became one single thing.. Winter Olympic Games 2006 in Torino.
Proud to be a people who loves sport.. Proud to be a citizen coming from the hosting country of olimpic games..
And yesterday I enjoyed the dance skating gold medal of people representing Russia. For them, no end better than this I could image after the accident that happened some years ago in the same competition. Congratulations guys.

Walking between the war against terrorism and...personal privacy

Hi to everyone,

everyday(english) we could read some cool article from newspaper... and yesterday I read this one... that could be more useful in order to reflect on something that's happening in country like USA or...in Italy. What is right and what is wrong I don't know...I just know that day by day we are losing our personal privacy, being under control of some intelligence body. Is this the way we are going to live...or we have some other option?

Enjoy your reading... and if you want to leave your opinion, just submit it.

Peter Tanner, a freelance writer

OPINION FROM THE WORLD: MY TOTAL TERRORIST PROTECTION PLAN

"You don’t have anything to hide, do you? You’re a patriotic, law-abiding American citizen, right? Good.
We are on the same side. So you’ll be delighted to learn that I have come up with a plan to give you total protection from terrorists. (Homeland Security is probably going to suggest this any day now, but I beat them to the punch.)

How will I do this? Simple. I’ll soon be sending my congressman an exciting new initiative I call Patriot Act III (nicknamed "Freedom’s Best Buddy"). This bold plan will allow Homeland Security to put a high-definition TV surveillance camera in every room, in every home of America.

You will find it easy to love this new security break-through. Our trained intelligence agents won’t miss a thing; when we see people on their knees, praying toward Mecca, you can be sure we’ll be keeping close track of them. When we hear anyone talking about the Constitution – and especially the Bill of Rights – we’ll be monitoring them 24/7. When we find potential trouble-makers, like Quarters and others who seem to be unhappy with some new presidential powers, you bet we’ll keep an eagle eye of them. When we spot possible terrorists wearing inappropriate or inflammatory t-shirts, our cameras will be able to zoom in on every word on the t-shirt to see if it’s unpatriotic. And you know can trust your government: We promise not to let anybody else the tapes we make of you and your family discussing your medical problems, or arguing over finances, or making love. We wouldn’t ever do that. Cross our hearts and hope to die.

Here’s even more good news: At no extra cost, the TV surveillance cameras will also include a special device that actually lets you vote in the privacy of your own home. It’s easy: you just look up at the camera and, in a loud, clear voice, state which candidates you want to vote fore. It will be completely confidential, of course. And you can depend on our advanced voting computers to never make a mistake.

You probably have some questions, like: Isn’t it expensive to put TV surveillance cameras in every home? And how will we pay for this? Glad you asked. No, it’s not that expensive. We’ve negotiated a very favourable contract with Halliburton to provide these surveillance camera below cost. They offers us this price for only 24 hours, and we gabbed it. Their operators were waiting for our call. We’ll pay for all this in the normal way, of course. We’ll be asking Washington for additional cuts in welfare, food stamps, child care and Medicaid.

And we are sure that every red-blooded US representative will go along with "Tannen’s Total Terrorist Protection Plan". After all, elections are coming up, and the fight to keep America secure is Job One, right? So, relax. Be safe. And be thankful you live in this bastion of freedom and democracy. Good Bless America.

"

Visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art...

Hi to everybody(english)...the trip is going on, and today I spent the best 10 dollars of the last year going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Walking on the Fifth Avenue/82th street you can find a huge building (see picture).
Ancient Art, Chinese, Cypriot,Islamic, European, Japanese, African, American and bla bla bla.... in few world, you can admire many collections of various artist and culture. I was not so excited to visit Greek and Roman Art Area, but I think it's normal for someone like me that comes from country like Italy, with place full of these resources.
Things that I liked so much were European Paintings of Nineteenth Century. Works of Degas, Manet, Cezanne, Monet, Matisse, Renoir, Van Gogh...and also of our dear Picasso, are located inside this Museum. It's incredible the amount of time that I spent observing all the different style and the wonderful paintings created by these artists. So...after this "aperitivo", I think I need to put in my travel note for the future also "Sua maesta' Le Louvre"... below you can find some of my favourite pictures of the afternoon.

In order, some pictures from Egyptian Art and works of Van Gogh(2), Picasso, Manet.

Keep in touch for the next...

Reflection time: la laurea e lo status del neolaureato

La fine degli studi universitari e la ricerca delle nuove esperienze da vivere: lo status del neolaureato (italian)
“Per i poteri a me conferiti… la dichiaro Dottore in…bla bla”. Sono questi i momenti che premiano una carriera universitaria fatta di esami, interazione, nuove amicizie e soprattutto di sogni per il futuro. Tuttavia si impiega ancora qualche giorno prima di realizzare quanto accaduto e il tuo nuovo status. Sino al momento della discussione finale della tesi, si ha ancora qualcosa dinnanzi da completare. Subito dopo questo momento la domanda “E adesso?” che ormai gira nella propria testa già da un po’, si fa molto più pressante. Passata l’euforia iniziale viene a materializzarsi pian piano quelle che sono le scelte per il futuro. Un misto di sensazioni tra alti e bassi. Tanti sogni da volere realizzare ma anche ostacoli che si incontrano sul terreno. E’ in questi momenti che ci si rende conto di quanto sia importante vivere il più a fondo possibile gli anni dell’esperienza universitaria, coltivare le conoscenze, le iniziative, e costruire quei passi necessari che possano in qualche modo indicarti come intraprendere la strada che si vuole perseguire.
L’importanza di acquisire sicurezza in sè stessi, di aggiornarsi su quanto accade nel mondo, la capacità di farsi delle idee proprie e di non aver paura di farle conoscere, sono solo alcuni di quei tratti necessari in questo percorso. Possedere un titolo di laurea nel 2005 in Italia non è più sufficiente a garantire un impiego lavorativo. Non vi è dubbio sull’importanza che questo ricopre nella crescita personale e culturale di un giovane, ma vi sono tanti altri aspetti, quali ad esempio il relazionarsi con gli altri, il parlare in pubblico, il mettersi continuamente alla prova, che vanno coltivati contemporaneamente al periodo di studi.
Forse il nostro sistema di educazione non è tra i più efficienti al mondo da questo punto di vista, ma ciò non toglie l’enorme ricchezza culturale che ogni Ateneo ha a disposizione, le numerose iniziative che ogni giorno vengono realizzate e le potenzialità per farsi promotori delle stesse.
Molto dunque dipende dall’intraprendenza di ognuno di noi, dalla nostra capacità di “fare le prove per il futuro”, di sviluppare il nostro ingegno e la nostra capacità. Nel mondo lavorativo si parla di “Capitale Umano”, ma si tratta esattamente delle continuazione di quanto appena accennato. Starà qui la chiave per introdursi nel mondo lavorativo? Forse non basta solo questo, ma di sicuro tutto ciò rappresenta qualcosa di rilevante se non altro per la crescita personale di un individuo, per la sua capacità di creare delle relazioni e per poter trasmettere fiducia nelle persone che vogliono investire su di te. Tra quel mondo ideale che vede ognuno di noi lavorare nell’ambiente in cui desidera, e quello che purtroppo si avvicina al reale e che vede giovani ragazzi inviare centinaia di curriculum pur di avventurarsi in qualche mese di stage, da qualche parte e a fare qualcosa, c’è un enorme divario. Tuttavia l’ampiezza di quest’ultimo dipende anche da noi stessi, dall’attitudine e dalle conoscenze maturate e dallo spirito con cui si approda
al momento di quella fatidica frase.
E se venisse trasformata in “Per i poteri a me conferiti, spero che lei abbia fatto anche altro oltre agli esami universitari”, avremmo forse qualche difficoltà in meno nel ricoprire quello status di neolaureato?

Walking...listening...dreaming... with "Amarantine"

(english)Listening music is one of the most beautiful things I can do. I like so much walking around the city listening my favourite songs and dreaming with open eyes... that the day after will be always better then day before.... and be happy of my life.
Yesterday I bought a new cd, "Amarantine" of Enya. It's incredible the peace that this music transmit me. Below you can find the words of the main song. Enjoy it, enjoy your life. The trip is going on...

Amarantine

You know when you give your love away
it opens your heart,
everything is new.
And you know time will always find a way
to let your heart believe it's true.

You know love is everything you say:
a whisper, a word,
promises you give.
You feel it in the heartbeat of the day.
You know this is the way love is.

You know love may sometimes make you cry,
so let the tears go,
they will flow away,
for you know love will always let you fly
how far a heart can fly away.

You know when love's
shining in your eyes
it may be the stras
fallen from above.
And you know love
is with you when you rise,
for night and day belong to love.

Amrantine, Amarantine, Amarantine,
love is, love is.
Love...

Little Italy

Little Italy - NYC: (english) like its name, it's coming so little. Italians are not living here. Main street where you can find the same atmosphere of the past is Mulberry Street (in the picture). It's always a pleasure walking on the street and see "Ristorante italiano", "Mozzarella, soppressata&italian foods". But... most of the time this is only the appareance... and you will find chinese and mexican people who tried to cinvince you to go inside the restaurant...telling you: "mangia, mangia". And the italian answered: "No thank you, I prefer my mum's cuisine!" (No grazie, preferisco la cucina di mamma!). Keep in touch for the next news.

New York City View

New York City View: this is the view of Manhattan from the boat.

Ellis Island...knowing the past to understand the present

Ellis Island - NYC.(english) It was this place where each immigrant lived the first months of their life in this new land. It was here that took place health and legal visits for everyone and where people knews his destiny: in or out? Between 1892 and 1954, approximately 12 million of peole coming from other countries entered the United States through the port of New York. Immagine how many stories this walls could tell us! And... who really has built this nation? This National Monument is now the natural "thank you" to all immigrants who contributed to the grow of New York and of USA.

Conoscere il passato...per interpretare il presente: Ellis Island (italian) In questi primi giorni ho avuto modo di visitare numerosi luoghi della città. Sono tre tuttavia quelli che mi hanno maggiormente colpito, ovvero: l’attraversamento del Brooklin Bridge, Ground Zero, Ellis Island. Ed è proprio da
quest’ultima che voglio partire.
Ellis Island è un’isola che si trova di fronte Manhattan ed era l’isola in cui approdavano tutte le navi degli immigranti. Era qui che venivano effettuate le visite sanitarie e legali dei passeggeri. A volte si rimaneva in queste strutture per qualche mese prima di conoscere il proprio esito, ovvero il rimpatrio oppure la possibilità di acquistare il biglietto per l’ultimo viaggio verso quella
terra chiamata “America”.
Sono state circa 12 milioni le persone che sono passate da questo luogo e che sono poi approdate negli Stati Uniti, creando quella forza lavoro in grado di generare la grandezza dell’attuale nazione.
A seguito della sua dismissione, questa struttura venne utilizzata poi come luogo di prigionia o di esilio per tutte quelle persone in attesa dell’espatrio a causa delle proprie idee politiche. Stiamo naturalmente parlando soprattutto del periodo della Guerra Fredda. Successivamente è stato
abbandonato per poi essere ristrutturato negli anni ‘90 e divenire così monumento nazionale in memoria di tutti gli immigranti che hanno reso grande gli USA e l’America in generale.
L’emozione più grande è quella che si prova visitando la struttura interna, i laboratori dove venivano visitati i passeggeri. Si possono trovare vecchi passaporti, testimonianze di chi ha vissuto quei momenti. Leggendone alcune si rimane veramente bloccati, fermi nella riflessione
più profonda e nella comprensione di quello che è stato non solo il passato di questa nazione, ma anche il nostro. La disperazione di persone che cercavano la fortuna altrove, il sogno dell’America, la lontananza da casa…spesso per sempre.
Qui di seguito ho voluto raccogliere due delle testimonianze italiane presenti nella struttura.
Per non dimenticare e soprattutto… per riflettere su quanto deriva dal passato sulla
diversità culturale presente nel mondo.

Ellis Island entrance

Ellis Island:(english) this is the door where all immigrants entered for the healty and legal visit. Personally, I felt great emotion thinking about how many people crossed this door...Following images describes just some of thousand story of immigrant, who represent our country and the link with the dream of this new land, called "America". If someone will come to NY, please don't lose the opportunity to come here, live this place and take the time to reflect...

An old italian story

Old Italian story - "Well, I came to America because I heard the street were paved with gold. When I got here, I found out three things: first, the street weren't paved with gold: second, they weren't paved at all: and third, I was expected to pave him."

“Bene, sono venuto in America perché avevo sentito che le strade era pavimentate d’oro. Quando sono arrivato qui, ho trovato tre cose: primo, le strade non erano pavimentate d’oro; secondo, le strade non erano affatto pavimentate; terzo, io ero atteso per pavimentarle.”
Una vecchia storia italiana