Before I head out, I thought I’d share my reading list for the next week. Here are three books that have been recommended to me, that I’m going to attempt to fire through. In no particular order:

‘Soccernomics‘ by Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski. This blends football with Freakanomics and apparently busts plenty of myths about who does well and why and, I quote, “Why are the people who run soccer clubs so dumb?”

‘Only the super-rich can save us‘ by Ralph Nader (pictured). This is Nader’s utopian fantasy, and through fiction he does his best to convince us that maybe, just maybe, his vision isn’t crazy at all.

‘Eternal Life: A New Vision‘ by John Shelby Spong. Spong is described as the most articulate voice for a new Christianity. And for this weak agnostic, his quest for truth and unwavering hope is something I’m hoping will rub off on me a little.

Have a safe and happy holiday!

So, we have two posts available and there’s plenty of space here for you to lead and take some risks along the way. In fact, it’s mandatory.

Both positions offer the opportunity for you to make your mark and carve out your own future with us as aim to grow globally in 2010. The sky is indeed the limit.

Click on the links below for more details on both posts:

Director: Partnerships and Development

Manager: Outreach and Communications

Our Athletes for Africa email focused on the community and asks you to, “…give a gift that will last lifetimes.” You can see it here.

The second, through GuluWalk, was a tongue-in-cheek poke at our gift obsessions and the fact that not every child wants a video game this Christmas. Instead we ask you to, “give a gift that actually makes a difference.” Click here to take peek.

The second one (pictured) has offended a few people, but so far it’s getting more people to actually click through and make a donation. We’re testing. Trying new things. We’re measuring what’s works and what doesn’t, while keeping in mind our audience, supporters and the passion they already have for our work. What do you think?

Oh, and we’re doing it all with Google Analytics, you should check it out. More on this to come.

An experimental solution is now in motion in Malawi that provides cash ($4 to $20/month) directly to the extended families who take the children in. It’s more cost-effective, it stabilizes the family unit and promotes independence. So far, these children are healthier, better fed and more likely to be in school. That being said, researchers admit, “the program has yielded ‘fabulous benefits’ but cautioned that the country needed better safeguards to prevent corruption and fraud in the future.”

What struck me most about the article though, was the reluctance of so many governments, foundations and large donors to take a risk with a program like this.

In fact, I just met with a potential donor, and budding entrepreneur, who was equally leery of a new program we’re aiming to seed. His response, and what I’ve heard over and over again, was, “Why not fund what’s already working. I want to be confident I’m going to get a good return on my investment.”

That doesn’t sound all that entrepreneurial.

It’s interesting how we’re willing to take risks at home with the vision of doing great things, but are cautious across the pond. Do we really need to invest only in what’s working (and I use that term loosely) or should we be seeding more and more ‘pilots’ and ‘ideas’ that are chasing something great?

And really, if we’re afraid to fail, are we truly ever going to be a partner in change?

No slight to The Mark, but we first pitched this to all of the major Canadian newspapers, and no one would touch it. Most inferred that it just wasn’t newsworthy or that it was dated. We beg to differ. But, you tell us. Here’s an excerpt:

It is a curious feeling to wake up one morning and have the focus of your career banished from your government’s vernacular. But this is what recently happened to both of us.

An internal DFAIT email was leaked this summer which outlined a series of shifts in the language of Canadian foreign policy. These changes were politically directed, coming from Foreign Affairs Minister Cannon’s office.

The terms “gender equality,” “child soldiers,” “international humanitarian law,” “good governance,” “human security,” “public diplomacy” and “The Responsibility to Protect” have been blacklisted from government parlance.

While already limited to an unprecedented degree on what they are allowed to say in public, Canada’s civil servants and diplomats are now banned from using certain words.

You can read the complete editorial right here.

Okay, here’s the story.

Thinking in stories is fundamentally human. Oh, and be suspicious of stories.

For a while I’ve been leery of the TED talks. They’re these tight, well-orchestrated pearls of wisdom and inspiration (and some are very good),  but there’s something about them that seems way too easy, too scripted . . . too perfect. Life isn’t actually like that. We all know it, we just don’t want to admit it. It’s not a great story.

I’ll let Tyler Cowen tell you the rest. He nails it here. This is the best 15 minutes I’ve spent in front of my laptop in a very long time. A very, very long time.

Considering what I do for a living and some of the advice I give, the hypocrisy in this post hasn’t been lost on me. I struggle with ‘the story’. I suppose that’s why I’m trying to get more comfortable with messy and agnostic, even about the things I believe in.

Thomas Huxley said it best, “Only one absolute certainty is possible to man, namely that at any given moment the feeling which he has exists.”

The rest of it’s dogma.

Chris Carder, the president and co-founder of ThinData, is convinced it’s ‘stories’.  In fact, he has a great one. He was leading a fledgling organization that was on the verge of shutting its doors . . . . . when ‘lending a helping hand’ returned the favour. Click here to listen in.

I’ve never met Chris and simply stumbled upon his story.

At the very least, this is inspiration for everyone out there who might still be huddled around the kitchen table with their great idea.

I suppose the lesson here though is . . . . . get out of the kitchen and get in front of someone, anyone.

What sparked the idea for this post, is an interview I did last week for an alumni newsletter back at my alma mater, the University of Ottawa. I was being encouraged to reminisce about my days riding the pine for the Gee Gees basketball team. Good times. They also asked about my life today, Athletes for Africa, etc. One of the final questions really got me thinking, “Who or what inspires you most?”

My response? Creative people.

Seriously, they amaze me. Musicians, artists, writers – - the list goes on.

Creativity is the greatest risk, with the biggest potential reward. When you’re creative you’re intellectually and emotionally invested, and very few of us are truly capable of it…..or so we think. Most of us end up as a cog in the wheel, we find a comfortable niche and we make our impact inside the box. And our focus? Professional development, and the building of our ‘skill sets’.

When’s the last time a ‘skill set’ ever attracted you to campaign or a movement?

I’ll wait.

As objective as we like to think we are, we’re emotional animals. Intrigued, engaged and drawn into what ‘connects’ with us. And we’re driven to share that connection.

When’s the last time you booked off an hour in your schedule to ‘create’, to meander aimlessly with no end in mind or to simply flip what you’re doing on its head for another perspective? Try it. It’s changing how I work, and live (even if it’s not always easy).

Love him or hate him (but how can anyone hate Zelig), Woody Allen (pictured above) has it right:

“If you’re not failing every now and again, it’s a sign you’re not doing anything very innovative.”

Want to create change? Get off the assembly line and wander.

Thanks to some great advocacy voices out there, namely Chris Blattman, Texas in Africa and Africa is a Country, I was lead to this “panel discussion” on, as Chris puts it, “A new approach to Darfur”. Click here to watch, it’s a thought provoking two-and-a-half minutes.

And last night, I caught up to my PVRed Jon Stewart interview on The Daily Show with former Illinois state governor Rod Blagojevich (pictured). This is the Comedy Network, but it’s journalism at its best. Watch it here.

Why exactly is the best ‘news’ and debate getting instigated by some of the biggest (self-proclaimed) clowns on television? Here are two thoughts.

The Truth: It’s funnier than fiction, seriously. The foundation of both of these segments is that the facts are laid bare. It’s a platform for great comedy. Oh, and even better journalism.

It’s Accessible: The format attracts a broad audience because the aim is to entertain first, educate second. You can’t tell your story if you don’t have their attention.

These two clips are conversation starters, period. Are they insensitive, even offensive? Maybe.

Perhaps, as advocates in a crowded space, we need to take a few more risks with what we write, what we say and how we say it to jump-start the debate. You tell me.

All of the tired cliches were true of Milos. My wife Kim says it best, “He was a big teddy bear of a guy.” He was the easiest person to talk to, had absolutely no ego and was never, ever in ‘a mood’. My oldest, eight year old Isaac, is also a hockey teammate of one of Milos’ sons, Kenzo. Isaac wondered aloud, “So we won’t get to see Milos at the rink this year?” Milos touched everybody.

This tragedy has been an unfortunate reminder of just how fragile we all really are.

Days before we lost Milos, I had the pleasure of getting Milos’ new band, Pottery Road, their first-ever gig. It was a casual pub night for my boys soccer team, where they belted out everything from the Stones to Tom Petty to Elvis Costello. I’d never seen Milos happier. They wrapped up their set with words we should all ponder a little more often, “What’s so funny ’bout peace, love and understanding.”

I’m now reminding myself every day to hug Kim and boys more and tell them I love them; work to live, don’t live to work; and stop wondering about tomorrow, next week and beyond and . . . . . just ‘be’.

After Milos’ memorial I bumped into Pablo Neruda’s ‘Muere Lentamente’. It reminds me of him. In fact, it does a pretty damn good job of describing Milos, and it’s a continuous reminder for me to get over myself and what I are think are ‘big problems’ (which aren’t) and again, just ‘be’. Enjoy or ignore. I’m ranting.

Muere Lentamente by Pablo Neruda

You start dying slowly
if you do not travel,
if you do not read,
If you do not listen to the sounds of life,
If you do not appreciate yourself.

You start dying slowly
When you kill your self-esteem;
When you do not let others help you.
You start dying slowly
If you become a slave of your habits,
Walking everyday on the same paths…
If you do not change your routine,
If you do not wear different colours
Or you do not speak to those you don’t know.

You start dying slowly
If you avoid to feel passion
And their turbulent emotions;
Those which make your eyes glisten
And your heart beat fast.

You start dying slowly
If you do not change your life when you are not satisfied with your job,
or with your love,
If you do not risk what is safe for the uncertain,
If you do not go after a dream,
If you do not allow yourself,
At least once in your lifetime,
To run away from sensible advice…