Serenity Quest

I now work for myself, but when I used to work for a licensing company of entertainment product merchandising the company was a real mafia - only the boys got promoted and it was a real brothel! They managed to complete the whole supply chain covering entertainment of all sorts: movies, music, newspapers, sports, mobile phones, real estate and yet they were so stingy on the salaries.

When I started working there everything was a mess, I had to clean house, take out the garbage, clear the dust, exterminate the rodents, in short make order. The growth percentages spoke for themselves and I felt my contribution to the transformation deserved ROI (return on investment).

I know this is a long story but I'll get to the chase...I requested my raise and was met with resistance. I was patient, knew I would tire of their pettiness. Restless I reviewed my options and the status quo was not one of them. Six months after I had asked for the raise the boss calls me into his room and says "we've decided to give you a raise 27% more." I looked into his eyes and announced that I was leaving the company, they obviosuly did not value my impact and missed an opportunity.

Last sentence I promise...since then their revenue has diminished and one of their spin-offs went bankrupt.

Had they been more transparent their resources would have multiplied rather than their empire crumbling.

Have you ever been to prison? Are you in a prison that you have created for yourself? Richard Gere in the movie Red Corner who is accused of killing a woman in China and when he is finally set free you can see the look of liberty on his face. So I wonder those of you who have done time, what was it like to be set free? What did you learn from being locked up?

My prison was the spousal abuse of my father. I lived it for about 6 years from 5 to 11 years old and although it was a relatively short period of my existence, it was extremely traumatic and marking. Notice I didn't say period of my life but "existence" because I was merely existing just enough to breathe.

That was between 1977 and 1983. Papa was a criminal, came out of prison when I was 5. He quickly got restless needed the action I guess and goes into the "construction" business. He climbs up the ladder fairly fast and on that ascent others below who were jealous were trying to pull him down, Papa wouldn't have that!

By resisting he made himself many enemies and became unpopular, persona nongrata and had to be eliminated. I'll never forget the gunshot wounds they left on his face. All that time I had grown to like him despite the way he would bash my mother's head in and actually how shall I put it...loved him.

Once I set myself free from that prison I blossomed. I invite you to break free from the prison that binds you. Envy is a prison, so is gluttony and lust. So are pride, greed, sloth and anger.

Ya Christophe you were "trop" hier soir! Top of the Top!! You have such incredible talent that I am dying to buy your first CD or DVD! Tu sais you're a real star and like Marianne James says repeatedly why did it take us so long to discover your immense talent??? I am so floored by you - your humble way of being, your sweet demeanor and oh those hips man you got it going on!

Ladies and Gentlemen his name is Christophe Willem and he is the next hottest artist from France to conquer my heart!