The Best Way to Help Kids
by August Turak
Ron Bellamy is my personal trainer. He also works long hours managing a team who make bail and sentencing recommendations. He is a father, active in his church, a trainer, and assistant coach of an inner-city football team. Ron shared that they are fundraising to help his high school football team. The team has to share helmets and barely has budget to buy footballs.
Disclaimer: I am NOT nor do I have any interest in investing in football per se.
The Blurred Lines Keeping Us From Better Lives
by August Turak
Let’s face it, living our best lives isn’t easy! We all know life if full of endless opportunities and extreme challenges. Is it possible to clear up the blurred lines that are keeping us from better lives?
I highly recommend Frank Sonnenberg’s new book, ‘Listen to Your Conscience. That’s Why You Have One.’ Sonnenberg, one of America’s “Top Thought Leaders” and influential small-business experts, reveals his best strategies for achieving success, happiness, and inner peace in life.
The following piece is adapted from his book. As you read it, remember: “Follow your conscience. You have to live with yourself the rest of your life!”
The Poor Monk
by August Turak
I was given this moving piece titled: The Poor Monk, from a monk at Mepkin Abbey. It was written by an annoymous monk and spread from monastery to monastery. It is such a wonderful description of the spirtual path that I've decided to share it here on my blog.
The Authenticity Summit: Happy Accidents
by August Turak
August Turak walks us through how others may lead us to the path that can change our lives and others, how life lessons and transformations can be unexpected, how we become our behavior and how life gives us "Happy Accidents" on The Authenticity Summit video series hosted by Kim McGuire.
Walk in Faith
by August Turak
August Turak was interviewed on Walk in Faith in a special two-part series which happens to be one of DeSales many initiatives across The Tablet, NET TV and Currents, Nuestra Voz and the Catholic Telemedia Network (CTN). DeSales Media Group is the communications and technology arm of the Diocese of Brooklyn, publishing news and information with a Catholic point of view.
A Faith Inspired Business Talk with Turak at GLF
by August Turak
On October 10th, 2018 August Turak joined David W. Miller Ph.D., to discuss Business Secrets of the Trappist Monks at the Greenwich Leadership Forum (GLF). The video of this event is now available to the public and we welcome you to watch.
The Greenwich Leadership Forum meets each month to discuss how the values of faith inspire the world of business. Like TED talks for those who believe. GLF brings local business executives and leaders together once a month to engage each other and prominent outside business leaders in open and frank dialogue about the vital link between faith, leadership, and ethics. They consider the resources of two bibles – the Wall Street Journal and the Holy Bible – to find practical wisdom, guidance, and encouragement to deal with the challenges and opportunities facing leaders in the marketplace. Led by David W. Miller, Ph.D., we engage in stimulating and meaningful dialogue.
The Greenwich Leadership Forum meets each month to discuss how the values of faith inspire the world of business. Like TED talks for those who believe. GLF brings local business executives and leaders together once a month to engage each other and prominent outside business leaders in open and frank dialogue about the vital link between faith, leadership, and ethics. They consider the resources of two bibles – the Wall Street Journal and the Holy Bible – to find practical wisdom, guidance, and encouragement to deal with the challenges and opportunities facing leaders in the marketplace. Led by David W. Miller, Ph.D., we engage in stimulating and meaningful dialogue.
Memories Made At Mepkin
by August Turak
Here is a collection of photos from our recent visit to Mepkin Abbey. We extend a very special thanks to the monks and staff at Mepkin Abbey Monastery for the graciousness and hospitality you provided us during our stay.
The BBC and Me: Business Matters & Brother John
by August Turak
I have been chiming in on the BBC Business Matters for years now and I love it. My colleagues in London are fantastic people and they always create a great show. This episode is very special because host, Roger Hearing not only mentioned my new book, Brother John - he and co-contributer, Simon Littlewood (in Singapore) spent over 10 minutes asking me questions and discussing the book. I have to say that I was both tickled and flattered when Mr. Littlewood informed me live on air that he had a large speaking engagement this weekend and would be "plagiarizing" material from my book. What a humbling moment for me.
Mepkin Abbey Q&A
by August Turak
What is a Monastic Guest? As a monastic guest I actually get to live and work side by side with the monks. I have been doing this for many years and it provides a much richer experience.
Why do you go? Many reasons... It's a chance to reconnect with people I love and respect. It's a way to remember what is really important in life. And, it's a way to experience what the monks like to call "the freedom of obedience."
What do you mean by, "the freedom of obedience"? A monastic guest is the lowest head on the monastic totem pole. I just do whatever Brother John asks me to do and I am grateful for the privilege to do it. For most of us,...
Why do you go? Many reasons... It's a chance to reconnect with people I love and respect. It's a way to remember what is really important in life. And, it's a way to experience what the monks like to call "the freedom of obedience."
What do you mean by, "the freedom of obedience"? A monastic guest is the lowest head on the monastic totem pole. I just do whatever Brother John asks me to do and I am grateful for the privilege to do it. For most of us,...
The Road Less Traveled
by August Turak
Taking heat for taking the road less traveled is what makes the road less traveled the road less traveled. However, taking the heat is what makes taking the road less traveled worth taking in the first place.
We are hopelessly spoiled today. We want all the adventure, thrills and potential admiration that comes with taking the road less traveled without paying the price for the privilege.
At 20 I walked away from a bright future and every semblance of "normality" to take my own road less traveled. I was usually ignored, often pitied, sometimes ridiculed, and on more than a few occasions even threatened with violent attack. I mostly just felt lonely, alienated, and misunderstood, but it never occurred to me to...
We are hopelessly spoiled today. We want all the adventure, thrills and potential admiration that comes with taking the road less traveled without paying the price for the privilege.
At 20 I walked away from a bright future and every semblance of "normality" to take my own road less traveled. I was usually ignored, often pitied, sometimes ridiculed, and on more than a few occasions even threatened with violent attack. I mostly just felt lonely, alienated, and misunderstood, but it never occurred to me to...
Enjoying Business Secrets at Mepkin Abbey
by August Turak
Throwback Thursday - In the summer of 2014 the monks of Mepkin Abbey dedicated a new retreat center to my hero and the hero of my book: Fr. Francis Kline. The retreat center is an architectural and engineering marvel with its own common area and chapel. It is worth a trip to Mepkin just to see it.
As a result I was especially moved to get this note a few days later from one of the men who built the retreat center. "Mr.Turak - Good day, Jamie Kilgallen from Charleston, SC here. Truly enjoying your book, "Business Secrets of the Trappist Monks". I work for Jimmy Hightower, President of Hightower Construction Co, - a 56 year old Charleston General Contractor that aspires to be '"selfless" - Jimmy is for sure - and...
As a result I was especially moved to get this note a few days later from one of the men who built the retreat center. "Mr.Turak - Good day, Jamie Kilgallen from Charleston, SC here. Truly enjoying your book, "Business Secrets of the Trappist Monks". I work for Jimmy Hightower, President of Hightower Construction Co, - a 56 year old Charleston General Contractor that aspires to be '"selfless" - Jimmy is for sure - and...
Education and Achievement
by August Turak
I was a sophomore in college and I was strolling across campus with a graduate student in engineering who I had just met. He asked me my major and when I told him that it was Russian history he said disdainfully,
"What are you going to DO with it?"
...
I didn't like the question or his attitude but I played along.
"I don't know. I'll probably be a Russian history professor."
"Do you know how many jobs open up each year in this country for Russian history professors? Maybe three."
"That's great," I said. "That's two more than I need."
Every so often I remember that incident, and I always wonder where I got such self confidence at such an early age. I am an...
"What are you going to DO with it?"
...
I didn't like the question or his attitude but I played along.
"I don't know. I'll probably be a Russian history professor."
"Do you know how many jobs open up each year in this country for Russian history professors? Maybe three."
"That's great," I said. "That's two more than I need."
Every so often I remember that incident, and I always wonder where I got such self confidence at such an early age. I am an...
The Source of Inspiration: How to Get and Stay Inspired
by August Turak
A consistent complaint in corporate America is that inspirational speeches fail to bring lasting results. Most people believe that inspiration leads to action when usually it is action that leads to inspiration. It is the actions we take even when we don’t feel inspired that eventually bring inspiration in their wake.
Imagine losing weight or getting in shape. Few out of shape people feel inspired to go on a diet or start frequenting the gym. As a matter of fact, one of the symptoms of being out of shape is a listless inability to feel inspired about anything. Rather than inspiration, it is usually the desperation we feel when we jump on the scale that initially sends us to the gym.
......
Imagine losing weight or getting in shape. Few out of shape people feel inspired to go on a diet or start frequenting the gym. As a matter of fact, one of the symptoms of being out of shape is a listless inability to feel inspired about anything. Rather than inspiration, it is usually the desperation we feel when we jump on the scale that initially sends us to the gym.
......
Wisdom for the Ages
by August Turak
I recently joined a group of elite speakers at the WISDOM for Modern Workplaces Retreat in Santa Fe, New Mexico, October 3 - 4, 2017. It turned out to be an incredible landmark conference on workplace culture and wellbeing, and I met A plethora of wonderful, wonderful people.
It seemed as if each person I met was even more interesting than the last. I spent two whole days wishing I had more time to spend with the person I was currently talking to!
I think it is safe to say that my talk was well received since I sold every book I brought along as well as taking orders for 15 more.
I have lost count of how many conferences of this type...
It seemed as if each person I met was even more interesting than the last. I spent two whole days wishing I had more time to spend with the person I was currently talking to!
I think it is safe to say that my talk was well received since I sold every book I brought along as well as taking orders for 15 more.
I have lost count of how many conferences of this type...
The Teacher's Path with Pete Reilly
by August Turak
Join Pete Reilly for an interview with August Turak as they discuss Turak's spiritual quest, how it led him to Mepkin Abbey, and eventually extraordinary business success. They discuss how selflessness and a total dedication to service can produce both a transformation fo being and success in the workplace. Reilly states that August's words are especially important for those who work in schools on behalf of children.
Click here to watch the videos.
You are also invited to check out Pete Reilly's book: A Path with Heart
"A Path with Heart" is an invitation to think about great teaching as a journey of personal and professional self-discovery. Master Teachers understand, and research confirms, that it’s not only what we “know” about our subject...
Click here to watch the videos.
You are also invited to check out Pete Reilly's book: A Path with Heart
"A Path with Heart" is an invitation to think about great teaching as a journey of personal and professional self-discovery. Master Teachers understand, and research confirms, that it’s not only what we “know” about our subject...
The BBC and Me on Russia and More
by August Turak
Had a great time last night on the BBC show Business Matters. I was joined by Simon Littlewood, President at ACG Global in Singapore. I am huge fan of the BBC and honored to be an ongoing contributor. You can listen here to the show if by some act of God you missed me last night!!
Overview of this episode:
Moscow says the economy shrank by 3.7% in 2015. Alexei Zakharov, assistant professor at the Higher School of Economics tells us how the government will try to manage the economic decline. Also, we find out why the US Treasury has told the BBC that it considers the Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, to be corrupt.
It has been a turbulent year since Syriza won...
Overview of this episode:
Moscow says the economy shrank by 3.7% in 2015. Alexei Zakharov, assistant professor at the Higher School of Economics tells us how the government will try to manage the economic decline. Also, we find out why the US Treasury has told the BBC that it considers the Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, to be corrupt.
It has been a turbulent year since Syriza won...
The BBC and Me on Pfizer and More
by August Turak
Had a great time last night on the BBC show Business Matters. I was joined by Kate Lorenz, managing director of Ark Relocation, in Hong Kong. I am huge fan of the BBC and honored to be an ongoing contributor. You can listen here to the show if by some act of God you missed me last night!!
Overview of this episode:
A $160bn deal has been struck to create the world's biggest pharmaceutical company. US based drug giant Pfizer, maker of among other things Viagra and Lipitor, would merge with Allergan - the maker of Botox that is based in Ireland. It could save Pfizer hundreds of millions a year in taxes - as it would move its headquarters...
Overview of this episode:
A $160bn deal has been struck to create the world's biggest pharmaceutical company. US based drug giant Pfizer, maker of among other things Viagra and Lipitor, would merge with Allergan - the maker of Botox that is based in Ireland. It could save Pfizer hundreds of millions a year in taxes - as it would move its headquarters...
The BBC and Me on The World Cup and More
by August Turak
Had a great time last night on the BBC show Business Matters. I was joined by Sofia McFarland of the Wall Street Journal in Hong Kong. I am huge fan of the BBC and honored to be an ongoing contributor. You can listen here to the show if by some act of God you missed me last night!!
Overview of this episode:
You might have thought FIFA's reputation could not get any worse, but the suspended president of the world governing body of football has now revealed that the votes for the host of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were a sham. The head of the English Football Association, Greg Dyke, says there may now be ground to demand...
Overview of this episode:
You might have thought FIFA's reputation could not get any worse, but the suspended president of the world governing body of football has now revealed that the votes for the host of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were a sham. The head of the English Football Association, Greg Dyke, says there may now be ground to demand...
Fear and Loathing and the Crusades
by August Turak
One of the many and sundry calumnies hurled at Christianity today is the myth of the Crusades. The current popular narrative (echoed recently by the president) maintains that the Crusades were just another example of Western "imperialism" and Christian hypocrisy: Expeditions mounted under the cynical pretext of religion (by vile white men of course!) for booty and women against an innocent and peace loving Muslim world.
In fact the Crusades... were not an attack: They were instead a COUNTERATTACK. Most Americans are so blissfully ignorant of history that we don't know that all of North Africa and the Middle East including modern Israel, Iraq, Egypt, Turkey and Iran were once solidly CHRISTIAN.
Over hundreds of years and at the point of the...
In fact the Crusades... were not an attack: They were instead a COUNTERATTACK. Most Americans are so blissfully ignorant of history that we don't know that all of North Africa and the Middle East including modern Israel, Iraq, Egypt, Turkey and Iran were once solidly CHRISTIAN.
Over hundreds of years and at the point of the...
The BBC and Me on Refugees and More
by August Turak
Had a great time last night on the BBC show Business Matters. I was joined by Dr. Saqib Qureshi, author of Reconstructing Strategy: Dancing with the Objectivity God. I am huge fan of the BBC and honored to be an ongoing contributor. You can listen here to the show if by some act of God you missed me last night!!
Overview of this episode:
The long war in Syria has left its immediate neighbours struggling to cope with huge numbers of refugees - numbers that dwarf the figures that are proving so hard for Europe's collective leadership to tackle. The UN Refugee Agency's planning figures project a possible 937,000 Syrians in Jordan - and as many as 1.8 million in...
Overview of this episode:
The long war in Syria has left its immediate neighbours struggling to cope with huge numbers of refugees - numbers that dwarf the figures that are proving so hard for Europe's collective leadership to tackle. The UN Refugee Agency's planning figures project a possible 937,000 Syrians in Jordan - and as many as 1.8 million in...