But out of all the reasons why I love Thanksgiving, the biggest one is seeing people taking the time to express gratitude towards someone or something that they are thankful for in their lives. I only wish Thanksgiving happened more often.

Happy Thanksgiving to you. And thank you so much for reading,

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Thanksgiving, man. Not a good day to be my pants.” ~Kevin James

Whether you’re a Mac or a PC, or an iPhone or a Blackberry, there’s no arguing Steve Jobs was one of the greatest minds of the modern age. A fearless leader. A visionary and an inspiring figure. A man bold enough to think differently, and talented enough to redefine entire industries and change the world.

I’m convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You’ve got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.” -Steve Jobs

We was not afraid to die. In fact, that was his motivation for living a fuller life.

Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life,” Jobs said. “Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure — these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.” -Steve Jobs

Thank you for your legacy Steve. You were the Crazy One.

Just walked into the Starbucks at 40 Front St E, in downtown Toronto, to work for a couple of hours. Ordered a cup of coffee and some VIA for the office. Barista told me they were out of the VIA coffee I was looking for, and before I even blinked in disappointment, he told me my cup of coffee was on the house, and apologies for the inconvenience.

That’s incredible customer service. If a big corporation like Starbucks can do it, can’t we all?

Make the world slightly better today. It starts with the unexpected…

Don’t ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who are alive.” ~Howard Thurman

I had the opportunity to film both the ceremony and the reception/New Year’s party that ensued. It was a fantastic time to celebrate and a great way to start the New Year.

You can watch the video in HD here.

Thanks to Laura and Troy for putting together such a memorable occasion!

Thanks to the good people at Online Schools, you can enjoy this Infographic that shows the current state of the Internet, and what it represents today in our society. Playing with some neat HTML5 technology and some real time data, this Infographic will surely shock you and give you a hint of how much the Web has grown in its few years of existence.

]]> http://www.franklintello.com/enthe-state-internetesthe-state-internet/feed 0 http://www.franklintello.com/enwhy-sign-runeswhy-sign-run http://www.franklintello.com/enwhy-sign-runeswhy-sign-run#comments Wed, 25 May 2011 12:35:25 +0000 Franklin Tello http://www.franklintello.com/?p=849 It’s no secret I enjoy running and participating in all types of events that draw large crowds together along the streets of a city or a town. Besides the obvious health benefits, I find it absolutely exhilarating to run alongside thousands of people, hearing the cheering of family members and friends throughout every kilometer of the course.

I truly appreciate being on my own on some of my long training runs, being left alone with my thoughts and my choice of cheesy music. However, I see these running events as a reward to all the hard work. It’s not every day that thousands of people join you on a run.

I highly recommend you get involved and sign up for a run. You won’t regret it. If you haven’t tried it before, just head to a local running shop and you will find information about races and how to get started. If you are a runner but haven’t raced before, consider adding a bit of excitement to your training and sign up for a race.

Here are some of the reasons I think you should sign up for one:

• You will get in the best shape of your life. Running is a simple sport that requires very little in terms of investment of time and equipment. I took up running to stay fit between business trips where I couldn’t pack my bike or had the time to go for a ride. All it takes is a pair of running shoes and half an hour, and you can get a good quality training run. And once you begin it, you will be surprised at how far you can go after a few weeks.
• You will have an incredible sense of accomplishment when you finish. There’s nothing like crossing the finish line after a long run, especially if you have never done it. Believe me, the feeling is exhilarating. You will feel rightly proud of yourself and of what you can accomplish in all areas of your life.
• You will feel more energetic and productive at work. This is a benefit I didn’t expect when I first started. I thought regular exercise—especially training for a half marathon—would sap my energy. It had exactly the opposite effect. I am never more focused and energetic than when I am in the middle of training.
• You will have a more positive outlook on life and on dealing with stress. The stress of modern life takes its toll. The economic realities of the past two years haven’t helped. Training for a run will also train your perseverance and your discipline, and in term you will be able to deal with any stress more efficiently. You will even sleep better. Guaranteed.
• You will gain the confidence to take on other challenges. This is one of the main reasons I love to run. It gives me the opportunity to tackle my biggest challenge—me. If I can overcome the mental obstacles I encounter on the way to the race, I can put those skills to use in other endeavors.
• You will provide an example for others. True leadership begins with self-leadership. When you lead yourself, you inspire others to want to follow. Maybe it’s a spouse, or a friend, or one of your children. They need to exercise, but they don’t have an example to follow. You can be that example.
• You can help raise money for a worthy cause. This takes running to a whole new level. It’s no longer just about me, but about something significant that makes a difference.
• A great excuse to travel. You can make running a race a weekend event for you and the whole family. Nowadays there are tons of running events in every city, and you can make a whole trip out of the event. A chance to explore a new city. How about the Rome Marathon? A 10K in Madrid? Half Marathon in Paris?

Truth is these are just a few of the reasons I love signing up and participating in running events, and they only begin to scratch the surface of the hundreds of reasons I’ve heard over the years from runners. So take advantage of the good weather and sign up today for a 5K, a 10K, a Half Marathon or a full Marathon.

A few days ago I had the opportunity to run the Toronto Half Marathon, and even though the conditions were less than ideal (wet start, light rain and a bit windy on the course), it really makes no difference when so many people are running together. Passing so many people standing in the rain waiting for their family members or friends go by, only fuels you to stay on target and keep going all the way to the finish line.

Happy training!

Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius—and a lot of courage—to move in the opposite direction.” -Albert Einstein

As I lie awake tonight failing to get any sleep in anticipation for the big day, I can’t help reflecting on some of the most profound and enduring lessons I have ever learned in my life: the lessons my father has taught me.

Some lessons he’s taught me directly, and others he never actively tried to teach me. He simply lived them. Here’s a few of the top ones that come to mind.

Family comes first
From an early age my father taught me the value of family, and how important it was to be at peace with this subject. He’s always used the analogy of having a strong foundation at home, so that you can support any storm that comes your way later on. Over the years he’s always shown unconditional love for every one in the family and I’ve lost count of the multiple times he’s stepped up to support us through anything, no matter how stressful or busy his own day was.

On integrity
I feel like my dad’s written the book on integrity. I admire the way he always has stood by his word, and takes accountability for his actions, at times having admitted to his mistakes and sharing what he’s learned. Never making false promises and teaching me to always under promise and over deliver. He’s without a doubt the most reliable person I know. He’s taught me about the importance of respect and trust, and that once lost, it’s very difficult to get either one back.

Persistence and patience
My first lessons on persistence and being patient came as a child as we spent our weekends and summers away from the city, in a farm where my father would teach me how to plant all kinds of seeds and wait for them to grow. Oranges, bananas, lemons, cherries, corn, papaya, mandarins, tomatoes and lettuce were just a few of the many seeds I cared for under my dad’s supervision as a kid, and in time these lessons sank in and changed my life forever. There’s nothing wrong with wanting things “yesterday,” but the satisfaction of getting something after putting in the time is far greater and deeper than anything achieved overnight.

No great thing is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig, I answer that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen.” ~ Epictetus

Work ethic
My dad’s work ethic is impeccable. He’s taught me the value of being punctual and working harder than anyone else. He used to tell me how important it was to do your very best every day, no matter what your job title was. Whether just starting out as an Intern, being a well seasoned employee in a large company, or filling the shoes of a CEO, he’s taught me the importance of giving the absolutely very best you can every single day. Hard work pays off.

Inquiring minds
When I was a child, my dad would come into my room and drop a book on my bed, asking me to read it. He didn’t do it often, but every time he did I would rush to start reading it, as over the years every single book he recommended proved to be a worth story with lots of profound meaning.

He’s taught me to have “conversations” with some of the greatest minds through reading their books. He’s also taught me to always ask as many questions as possible and to question everything. It’s funny to think about it now, but our immediate impulse upon first hearing the news of him needing bypass surgery, was to consume as much information on heart disease and the clinical procedure itself from all types of sources including books, medical journals, Nat-Geo magazines, documentaries, and anything we could get our hands on, as if knowing more about it could help us conquer this challenge. And here’s the thing. We have no doubts in our minds that it has helped.

On matters of the heart
My dad is a man of few words when it comes to expressing love, but that surely doesn’t lessen the amount he feels. One of the most romantic stories I have ever witnessed in my life was when my father surprised my mother a few years ago. They had decided to buy an apartment in a new complex still being built just outside of the city, and the completion date was still another year ahead. In order to save money, they bought the apartment in its most basic version, unfinished walls, unfinished floors, no furniture, not even electrical fittings, thinking they would renovate and finish it once they had moved in.

He ended getting the keys of the apartment a few months ahead of the scheduled completion time, and secretly worked on getting it finished in order to surprise mom. I remember spending many weekends as a kid helping him clean and pass tools as he worked on different areas of the apartment. For months he secretly worked on making this home a dream for my mom, installing the floor tiles they had picked together, painting every room, new bathrooms, new kitchen, installing new windows, and even getting new furniture for every room (they had talked about bringing the old furniture into the new home just to save some money).

Finally, after months of preparation, one day my dad asked my mom to go for a drive so they could check how the construction of the complex was going. My mom happily agreed still thinking that she would find buildings half finished. She couldn’t believe her eyes when they arrived at the entrance of the apartment complex. She was almost in tears when they went up the stairs and my dad casually handed her a key and asked her to open the door of her new home. Inside my mom found a finished home furnished and decorated beyond her wildest dreams, cooled bottle of champagne and everything included. A tear fest ensued.

Without a doubt, my father is one of the greatest men I know. A teacher whose lessons have shaped my life forever. And there is still so much more to learn from him. I can only wish I can one day become half the father he’s been, and pass on some of these lessons to his grandkids.

To my father and his unbreakable heart.

Update 1: Thank you so much for all your messages and wishes for my dad. It really means a lot to our family. You guys rock!

Update 2: Dad has come out of the quadruple bypass surgery looking better than ever, and even the doctor called him champ! Thanks again for all your kind wishes, our family really appreciates every message of support we have received over the past days.

We don’t have to be superstars or win championships… All we have to do is learn to rise to every occasion, give our best effort, and make those around us better as we do it.” -Coach John Wooden