I stroll through the big city like I have strolled through so many other big cities in this world, and I see the same scenes; a man walking and talking on his cell phone, a boy running to catch the bus, a mother pushing a stroller, a young couple kissing in a park, kids playing football in a vacant lot, churches, traffic lights, billboards. I stand waiting with a group of people to cross the street and glance at the monuments that always show great men deep in thought, bearing the world on their shoulders.
The slippers each student wears from the changing room to the dojo are meant to be neatly lined up at the dojo door. If necessary, when you enter the dojo you tidy up any slippers left askew. You do this, because after a while it feels unsettling to see slippers out of place. You also do this because you know sensei sends a student to make sure everyone and everything is ready, before making his way to the dojo. Neatly lined up slippers is a way of saying "We are ready to receive your lesson." 
(Editor's Note: I have known Mark for a long time and I have taken part in several of his courses. Mark typifies the New Business of our Age, one with not just Heart but Soul as well. It gives me great pleasure to offer this small jewel of his wisdom to you all. You can find out more about Mark and his work on his site 
Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Mary Jaksch of Alleviate world poverty? Isn’t that impossible?
There is so much grinding poverty in the world – how could just one of us possibly make a difference? The reason it seems so impossible is that we tend to focus on the immense number of people suffering from poverty – and on how little we can do individually. So we give up trying.
But there are two points to remember when we think about global problems:
1. Every action counts;
2. We are not alone.
