linda kaplan thaler ( born 1951 ) is an american advertising and non-fiction writer , and chair of the ad agency publicis kaplan thaler .

she has written and composed advertising jingles such as : “ i do n’t wan na grow up , i ’m a toys ‘ r ’ us kid ” ( toys " r " us ) ; “ kodak moments ” ( eastman kodak ) and “ the heart of communication ” ( bell atlantic ) .

she is responsible for the “ yes , yes , yes ” herbal essences campaign , and her agency created the well known aflac duck advertising .

in 1997 , she founded the kaplan thaler group , which merged with publicis new york in july 2012 to form publicis kaplan thaler .

linda kaplan thaler

linda kaplan thaler is leaving her post as chairman of publicis new york , a move that comes about eight months after the agency dropped the moniker of her eponymous shop , kaplan thaler .
linda kaplan thaler , the longtime ceo and chief creative officer of the kaplan thaler group and chairman of what was known as publicis kaplan thaler ( now publicis new york ) , will step down from her position within the holding company at the end of the week .
linda kaplan - thaler shares how you can turn up your grit factor to better put in the hard work needed to achieve success .
linda kaplan thaler speaks at the john maxwell l2 leadership conference on her new book grit to great : how perserveance , passion , and pluck can take you from ordinary to extraordinary . find out more about booking linda kaplan thaler to speak at your next event here : urltoken
kaplan thaler was formerly chairman of publicis kaplan thaler , with clients such as p & g , citibank , pfizer , and wendy’s . she was also previously ceo of the kaplan thaler group , which she grew from a fledgling start - up to a company with over a billion dollars in billings .
as guest judge linda kaplan thaler put it in a wonderful pearl of throwaway wisdom : “there’s the difference between men and women : men say it , women feel it . ”
not surprisingly , mrs . kaplan thaler , a diminutive and sunny mother of two teenagers , is funny herself .
in the 1970s , linda kaplan thaler was fired from her job as an actor in a road show production of
hair
after she refused to take off her clothes onstage .
kaplan thaler group and sibling agency publicis , new york merged in the summer of 2012 , and some16 months later , ms . kaplan thaler ' s agency partner for many years , robin koval , stepped down from her post .
today , linda is a renowned motivational speaker and is president of kaplan thaler productions . linda is also a nationally acclaimed author and , together with robin koval , their newest bestseller ,
grit to great ,
was ranked one of the top business books for 2015 .
ms . kaplan thaler , who founded the kaplan thaler group in 1997 , has decided to
embark on a new chapter ,
according to an emailed message from the longtime ceo and creative officer . she was most recently chairman of the agency .
we will welcome linda kaplan thaler to campus this fall for a “conversations with leaders” event , hosted by the colin powell school . we will formally announce the date and location of the event in early september . to read more about the power of identifying your passion and taking your own life from ‘ordinary to great , ’ pick up a copy of “grit to great” by linda kaplan thaler and robin koval from
leo durocher was wrong ! linda kaplan thaler and robin koval’s the power of nice is the antidote to our increasingly mean - spirited culture . i’m going to send a copy to every political campaign consultant i know .
according to kaplan thaler , the extra mile is now a given . your clients expect it . so after you go the extra mile , keep going .
in negotiation , the cheapest concession you can make is to be nice . and the returns can be high , as linda kaplan thaler and robin koval show in this delightfully readable primer packed with practical advice and entertaining stories . i recommend it with pleasure !
linda kaplan thaler and robin koval take on the conventional wisdom that bigger is better and show how thinking small gives you a true competitive advantage in life . for best results , get small now . this little book can make a huge difference in your life .
advertising hall of fame luminary linda kaplan thaler is the creative force behind many of the industry’s most famous campaigns , including the hilarious aflac duck , kodak moments , and the daring “yes ! yes ! yes ! ” for herbal essences . much of . . .
“you can create million - dollar businesses by solving the tiniest problems , ” kaplan thaler said . “for the next big idea , just look down at your feet . ”
linda kaplan thaler , a proud ccny alumna , has created advertising recognized in virtually every household across the country . from major campaigns for wendy’s , toys ‘r us , and clairol , to the tremendously popular aflac duck , kaplan thaler’s ad agency has played a key role in establishing name recognition for some of the world’s largest companies , and with her co - founder , robin koval , built one of the fastest growing ad agencies in the country .
according to linda kaplan thaler , one of advertising ' s most admired leaders , it is not native intelligence or natural talent that makes people excel—it ' s old - fashioned sweat equity and hard work . in her upcoming book grit to great , and in her inspirational lectures , kaplan thaler shows career - minded , achievement - oriented people—everyone from senior managers to personal assistants and aspiring college grads—that with the right attitude and determination , success is within reach .
ms . kaplan thaler ended up working for 20 years at j . walter thompson and other agencies . in 1997 , she launched her own company out of her manhattan brownstone .
linda is a terrific speaker . linda was able to articulate one of my fundamental managing tenets - be nice . she’s inspiring and she captured the imagination of my team . hers is a most refreshing approach .
kaplan thaler is the founder and chairman of marketing agency publicis kaplan thaler , whose clients include procter & gamble , citi bank , pfizer , wendy’s and hilton . she’s won 13 clio awards and is the woman behind some of advertising’s most recognizable campaigns , from alka - seltzer ' s iconic “plop , plop , fizz , fizz” ads to the aflac duck .
a native new yorker , kaplan thaler is a phi beta kappa and magna cum laude graduate of ccny and currently sits on the advisory council for the colin powell school at ccny .
advertising hall of famer linda kaplan thaler is responsible for some of america’ s most famous and award - winning advertising campaigns , including the aflac duck and the hilarious “yes , yes , yes” commercials for clairol herbal essences . she has composed jingles that are among the industry’s gold standard , including “i don’ t wanna grow up , i’m a toys ‘ r’ us kid , ” and “kodak moments . ” she is a renowned motivational speaker and president of kaplan thaler productions .
here ' s linda kaplan thaler ' s assessment on what it takes to do breakthrough advertising :
if you don ' t have great clients who are willing to walk the plank with you , then it ' s a tree that falls in the forest and nobody can hear it .
on her first day at her first job , linda kaplan thaler was asked to come up with ideas for a five - second kodak ad . she returned with 25 possibilities , and , after review , her boss rejected every one as awful . “i asked as i was leaving what i could do to make them better , ” thaler said , “and my boss looked at me and said , ‘linda , one day you’ll have your own agency . ’” thaler asked why . “because you didn’t complain , ” her boss said , “but instead asked how you could improve . that’s resilience . ”
creator of the famous jingle “i don’t wanna grow up ; i’m a toys ‘r’ us kid” linda kaplan thaler will deliver a talk on wednesday , october 17 , at the bill bordy auditorium and theater from 6 : 00 to 7 : 30 pm . thaler’s talk , “bang ! getting your message heard in a noisy world , ” will launch the department of marketing communication’s new series , trending topics .
and likewise , aflac took a chance when linda ' s agency came up with a duck to represent the company .
linda is a stellar keynote . what every event needs is inspiration , motivation , and practical advice . she’s been there and knows how to share it . linda’s talk lifted the crowd and gave us an energy boost that made the day .
linda kaplan thaler has moved to the top of the advertising industry by following a simple but powerful philosophy : it pays to be nice . in her the power of nice lectures , through her own experiences and the stories of other people and businesses , she demonstrates why , contrary to conventional wisdom , nice people finish first .
ms . kaplan thaler ' s agency is a reflection of herself : an eclectic mix of backgrounds that employs musicians , actors , artists , a stand - up comic , novelists , potters , and painters .
we get the best speakers in the world for our c - suite network conferences . we hold our speakers to the highest bar of excellence . linda kaplan thaler is at the top . she engaged our audience with her wit and insights . her stories of hard work and perseverance not only inspired our audience of top business leaders but gave them tools they could use right away . linda is a pleasure to work with and we highly recommend her as a world class speaker .
thaler , who also worked on the kodak moments and aflac duck campaigns , founded her own advertising agency—the kaplan thaler group—in 1997 ( it recently merged with publicis ) . in 2005 , thaler hosted the oxygen tv series , making it big , in which young professionals competed for their dream job . she is also the author of several best - selling books , including the power of small : why little things make all the difference .
this step may be seen as the natural conclusion of a process that began when publicis new york merged with kaplan thaler ( which she co - founded in 1997 ) in 2012 and later reverted to its previous name after parting ways with president and cco rob feakins , who was himself eventually replaced by andy bird of publicis london . kaplan thaler accepted the chairman title when the merger became official and played a gradually smaller role in the agency’s daily operations moving forward .
when linda started her agency in 1997 , she
had no intention of us growing any bigger than that one piece of business ,
linda told me .
can you imagine my surprise when at the end of four months we had $ 100 million in billings ?
kaplan thaler is also a nationally acclaimed author . her newest bestseller with robin koval , grit to great , was ranked one of the top business books for 2015 . a familiar face in the media , kaplan thaler has appeared on “the apprentice , ” “good morning america , ” “the today show , ” cnn , and as the host of oxygen’s television series “making it big . ” she worked on the presidential runs for clinton / gore in 1992 and hillary clinton in 2008 .
today we recognize and acknowledge linda’s incredible impact on our agency while wishing her every success on the journey ahead . there’s no question , her path forward will be just as bright as the one linda has already blazed . and we will be cheering her on every step of the way .
linda kaplan is a down - to - earth , whip smart , treasure trove of advice and wisdom . she imparts it with humor and humility . she’s a role model and inspiration to every young woman out there who wonders if it’s possible to “make it” out there .
it ' s about the e - factor , the entertainment factor ,
ms . kaplan thaler said in a recent interview with the new york sun .
people will follow the funny . we are an . . . entertainment culture .
“they say you should see the forest , not the trees . but in my experience , it’s not obsessing about details that will derail your enterprise , ” said linda kaplan thaler , co - author of the power of small : why little things make all the difference . “it’s easy to dream . in a dream , everything is perfect . but dreams are realized by obsessing about small things . ”
thaler served as chairman of publicis kaplan thaler , a fully integrated advertising agency that was the u . s . flagship within the publicis worldwide network . its blue - chip client roster included p & g , citi , nestlé , l’oréal , pfizer and wendy’s , to name a few . previously , she was ceo and chief creative officer of the kaplan thaler group , which she founded in 1997 and grew from a fledgling start - up to a company with over a billion dollars in billings . she has also worked on several political campaigns , including the presidential runs for clinton / gore in 1992 and hillary clinton in 2008 .
advertising hall of famer linda kaplan thaler is responsible for some of america’ s most famous and award - winning advertising campaigns , including the aflac duck and the hilarious “yes , yes , yes” commercials for clairol herbal essences . she has composed jingles that are among the industry ' s gold standard , including “i don’t wanna grow up , i’m a toys ‘ r’ us kid , ” and “kodak moments .
in today’s challenging times , bigger isn’t always better . in fact , it’s often the baby steps that put us on the path to delivering a true competitive advantage . kaplan thaler shows how to get more of what you want with surprisingly less than you’d imagine .
that company , the kaplan thaler group ltd . , is now the fastest growing agency in america , with $ 1 billion in billings and 175 employees . among her many blue - ribbon clients is clairol , aflac , trojan , us bank , and revlon .
advertisements must be funny to be memorable , ms . kaplan thaler said , and music is also key . that she and her husband are accomplished musicians and composers has helped her create entertaining presentations , known as
pitches ,
to win clients ' business .
in her grit to great lectures , linda kaplan thaler tackles a topic that is close to her heart , one she believes is the real secret to her own success and in the careers of so many people she knows and has met . new research proves that the real secret to success isn ' t some rarefied “it” factor , it’s the “grit” factor . and each and every one of us can possess it .
kaplan thaler illustrates the surprising power of nice with an array of real - life examples from the business arena , as well as from her personal life , and presents a plan of action covering everything from creating a positive impression to sweetening the deal to turning enemies into allies .
join me in a chorus of thanks and our very best wishes . you can reach out to her at her new email address : linda @ thalerproductions . com .
witty , warm and smart , linda is the real deal . sharing her catalogue of extraordinary life experiences , personal insights and independent research , linda instantly established credibility with our delegates and connected on a personal level drawing a full spectrum of emotion from inspiration to laughter and tears . a truly authentic motivational delivery and a hit with our audience .
linda’s grit to great message set the perfect opening tone for our annual franchise convention . as we celebrated the family culture that makes wendy’s so special , linda paid special homage to our founder , dave thomas , and left us all with a message that lasts – hard work , perseverance and doing what you love are the true keys to success .
moments like this are precisely why kaplan thaler employs a “thread gatherer” at her firm . when her team is brainstorming , some of the best concepts come from random thoughts . the thread gatherer ' s job is to listen in on brainstorming sessions and collect good ideas before they disappear into the ether .
the client , linda said ,
thought we were nuts ,
but the ceo of aflac , dan amos , agreed to test the idea ,
and it scored through the roof .
linda added that aflac
very quickly went to 96 % awareness , so high that we often say now when ducks see other ducks they immediately think of supplemental insurance .
thaler did go on to found her own agency in 1997 , and within two years led the fastest - growing marketing firm in the u . s .
the victories that have come from small acts and ideas like these are proof that grand visions aren ' t necessary for success . “my advice to entrepreneurs is simple , ” kaplan thaler said . “don’t try to invent the wheel , it’s already been invented . the next big thing is the little problem in front of you . ”
. the book debunks the idea that you need a genius iq , virtuoso talent , or extraordinary wealth in order to be successful . rather , kaplan thaler and koval contend that the vast majority of successful people don’t possess some “it” factor ; rather they display what they call the “grit factor” : guts , resilience , initiative , and tenacity .
the art director - writer team of eric david and tom amico noticed that when aflac was repeated several times quickly it sounded like a duck quacking ( especially when tom held linda ' s nose ) .
various parties have credited kaplan thaler with developing such classic campaigns and mascots as the aflac duck , the “i don’t wanna grow up” toys r us theme , the kodak moments concept and herbal essences totally organic experiences , among others . she has won a slew of awards from every relevant organization and was inducted into the advertising hall of fame last year .
thaler is a noted speaker at businesses and colleges across the country , and is president of kaplan thaler productions . she is also a celebrated author and television personality . her collaborations with co - author robin koval have become national best sellers : bang ! getting your message heard in a noisy world , the power of small and the power of nice . their latest best seller , grit to great , has been listed as one of the top business books for 2015 . thaler is a familiar face in the media , having appeared on the apprentice , good morning america , today , cnn and fox news . she hosted the oxygen television series making it big and was a judge on the mark burnett reality series jingles .
thaler made clear that honing these traits should not be conflated with developing ruthlessness in business—quite the opposite , in fact . when founding her own agency , thaler and her partner decided to lead with a distinct moral philosophy : “our mission was to do nothing except make sure that those who worked with us knew how much they were valued , ” said thaler . this kindness assured their success ; it is the necessary complement to grit . “the best thing is to use grit for good , to help each other , ” she said .
advertising hall of famer linda kaplan thaler is responsible for many of america’s most famous , relevant and touching advertising campaigns in the industry , including the aflac duck quack heard round the world and the daring “yes ! yes ! yes ! ” for clairol herbal essences . much of her work has become part of the american pop - culture landscape . she has authored and composed jingles that are among the industry’s gold standard , including “i don’t wanna grow up , i’m a toys ‘r’ us kid” and “kodak moments . ” she holds numerous clio awards and cannes lions for her groundbreaking advertising campaigns .
as a current member of the colin powell school’s board of visitors ( and founding member of the former colin powell center’s advisory council ) linda has been a dedicated peer and staunch advocate for the school and its students .
in my video interview with linda on the occasion of her induction into the advertising hall of fame in the spring , the founder of kaplan thaler and current chairman of publicis new york told me you ' ve got to be true to your 90 - year - old self .
you know , if you ' re afraid to go out and do something , usually your friends and family will want you to play it safe . … but if you talk to yourself as an older person , that older person is probably going to tell you , why didn ' t you go for it ?
is behind some of the most iconic modern - day advertising campaigns from the aflac duck to the herbal essences
orgasmic experience .
the ceo of publicis kaplan thaler also counts among her achievements a 2011 new york women in communications matrix award , awny ' s working mother of the year trailblazer award and a nomination into the ywca ' s academy of women achievers in 2002 .
linda will be leaving us at the close of the week . there , the bandaid has been ripped off and now i can stop writing openings over and over . it’s not easy to announce something like this . linda’s one of a kind and those of us that have worked alongside her will seriously miss the passion , energy and ideas that spring from her . they are overflowing and have served her , and us , very , very well .
in addition to agency executive and creative leader , kaplan thaler has also played the roles of bestselling author and reality tv star–and in the immediate future she will focus on promoting grit to great , the fourth book she has written with truth initiative ceo robin koval , who served as ceo of pkt until 2013 . additional plans include the launch of her own , presumably independent production company .
being nice isn ' t just a good idea in principle—it can pay off in unexpected ways . the staff at kaplan thaler often buy donuts for frank , their office building ' s doorman . they get him coffee when it’s cold out . these small gestures are done out of simple kindness , but when a client from the midwest paid a surprise visit , they suddenly paid off .
the first 20 attendees to arrive at the event will receive a copy of linda’s latest book , co - written with robin koval , grit to great : how perseverance , passion , and pluck take your from ordinary to extraordinary .
a native new yorker , thaler is a phi beta kappa and magna cum laude graduate of ccny , with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in music . she currently sits on the advisory council for the colin powell school at ccny and also served as the 2010 / 2011 president of new york women in communications . she is married to composer fred thaler and has two children .
linda is proudest of
the strength that i ' ve been given by something pretty bad that happened .
years ago linda had cancer and both her parents were alive , in their 90s . her mother had also had cancer .
i was very scared , and she said to me , ' you ' ll see , when you get past this you will become so strong that no matter what else happens in life it will feel like a piece of cake . '
the task at hand was one of the now familiar advertising challenges : creating a video and print promotion for a big - name client . prestige car maker lamborghini played the client this time while new york ad agency kaplan thaler group provided the professional support this time out . ( i suppose series mainstay donny deutsch finally got sick of having his agency’s good name besmirched by laughable fascist propaganda and veggie porno . )
“sam walton just wanted to stock his stores with things that people need and never run out of them , ” kaplan thaler said . “j . c . hallmark just wanted to help people write something nice to others . neither of them had a grand vision . my partner and i had the same attitude . forget about the vision , concentrate on the now . and the now is all about the small stuff . ”
“he thought we’d be callous , brash new yorkers , ” kaplan thaler said . “he came to our building and asked frank what floor we’re on and frank , totally not knowing who this person is , started singing our praises . later , the client told us we’d won his business by the time he got to our office . the big stuff takes care of itself . it’s those little brushstrokes that are often the deciding factor . ”
we take for granted that success is rooted in connections , genetics , or some combination of the two , but research shows that we far overvalue talent and intellectual ability in our culture . the fact is , success is determined by grit ; the hard work , resourcefulness , and resiliency behind many of our most successful figures . in her talk , linda kaplan thaler will explore the importance of having grit in the business and marketing world . she will talk about how she turned long , grueling hours of work and endless perseverance into some of her most successful campaigns , including the aflac duck , kodak moments , and “i don’t want to grow up , i’m a toys ‘r’ us kid . ”
having grown up in the bronx , with no money or connections , kaplan thaler knows that perseverance and determination are what can make the difference and help people excel beyond their wildest dreams , whether in their career or personal life . she is proof positive of the power of grit . a powerful , entertaining and inspiring speaker , her lectures offer stories from the front lines of business on the impact that determination , hard work , and focused attention have on getting ahead .
for the colin powell school , kaplan thaler has been one of the most important voices on what makes a difference for our students—being part of a school that takes their ideas and potential seriously . she has persistently reminded us that one of the board’s truest missions is to help create an environment in which faculty and staff can prepare each of our students for success—a success measured by the dedication and passion students display in pursuit of a better future for themselves and for others around the globe .
almost every great campaign she’s ever worked on was born out of small talk , kaplan thaler said . when her firm landed the aflac account , the company had very little name recognition . “even we even kept forgetting the name , ” she said . “everyone kept asking me , ‘what’s the name of that company again ? ’ and i’d keep repeating , ‘aflac ! ’ finally , one guy said , ‘you sound like a duck quacking . ’ immediately i knew that was our campaign . ”
linda has won just about everything there is to win out there . last year her astonishing career was recognized by the advertising hall of fame with her richly deserved induction . her body of work is packed with iconic campaigns and her leadership and energy has shaped talent throughout the years . this is not the closing chapter however . not at all . linda will be pursuing her passions with a litany of speaking engagements for her best–selling book grit to great . and in her spare time a new production company will be launched . a walk in the park for this tireless entrepreneur !
if there ' s someone that has been the public face of women in advertising to john q . public , it ' s arguably linda kaplan thaler . she has appeared as a judge on
the apprentice
and hosted the oxygen tv series in 2005 ,
making it big .
in addition to her work for toys
r
us (
i don ' t want to grow up , i ' m a toys ' r ' us kid ,
) and kodak ( kodak moments ) , she is co - creator of the aflac duck among other iconic ads . she ' s also the recipient of a wic matrix and the awny advertising woman of the year award , and the first woman to receive a new york women in film & television muse award .
speaking as part of the yale center for customer insights colloquium on marketing leadership on april 13 , thaler described not just the arc of her career , but also what four decades of marketing leadership have taught her about achieving success . the key ingredient , thaler said , is grit , which she has converted into an acronym : guts , resilience , initiative , tenacity . “the thing about grit is that you can develop it when you’re eight , or when you’re 88 , ” she said .
she recalled pitching a campaign to a large client . several agencies were also pitching , and her firm was the underdog . “but we did something nobody else did ,
kaplan thaler said .
on friday night , before our final presentation on monday , we asked the client , ' what’s one thing we could do differently ? ' of the four agencies we were competing with , we were the only one who picked up the phone and asked how we could improve . and we got the job . ”
maurice said it best : “linda is a force in this business and one of the best creative people i have had the pleasure of working with . she knows how to create memorable campaigns that shape brands and fuel businesses . i wish her the very best in her new endeavors . she will be missed”
when linda merged with publicis in 2012 , people expected her goal was to grow into a huge , global agency . but she said her goal was to make sure
everybody stays employed because you all have mortgages and you have kids to put through school . and that gives me great joy .
she said in the note that she will expand her career as a motivational speaker and open a production company with her
award - winning composer husband , fred thaler .
the production company will focus on musical and theatrical projects , the email stated .
i ventured to say that many men think it ' s a weakness to be too nice , but linda said when she and robin wrote the book ,
we were surprised how many men came out of the closet and said , [ whispers ] ' you know , i ' m really nice . '
linda , you were amazing . what can i say about perfection ! ! you were outstanding . you over delivered ! and that is a very good thing ! you are a wow . grit to great will change lives for generations , and i’m so proud that women’s leadership exchange could be a small part of that process !
throughout her career , ms . kaplan thaler , well - known for her talented jingle - writing , has worked on a slew of creative efforts , such as
pitching in
for aflac ;
dawn saves wildlife
for dawn dish detergent ;
you know when it ' s real
for wendy ' s ; and
toys r ' us kid
for toys r ' us . she was also key in the creation of aflac ' s duck and herbal essence ' s
organic experience ,
which made hair - washing seem positively orgasmic .
linda firmly believes acting , comedy and political work have helped her advertising career .
when you work on a political campaign , you get to know how to persuade voters , and when you work in theatre , you get to know the art of how to entertain somebody in a way that they want to buy into your product .
in addition to being funny , ms . kaplan thaler said , ad agencies must do more than ever for the companies that hire them .
we used to do a 30 - second tv spot and a couple of print ads for clients ,
she said .
we still do that , but now we have a second job and a third job and a fourth job . today we will produce a 30 - second and 15 - second television ad ; a 60 - second radio and 30 - second radio ad ; billboards ; print ads ; online banners ; webisodes ; content integration , and brochures .
linda ' s first client , procter & gamble ' s herbal essence , was willing to walk the plank with her when she came up with an outpouring of orgasmic ecstasy for women users of the shampoo . with a very enthusiastic
yes ! yes ! yes !
reaction from the user , there wasn ' t much chance that the commercial would go unheard .
linda’s passion and message was a hit with our audience of entrepreneurs – it connected at a deep personal level . she inspired and energized our forum kick - off which elevated the energy for the rest of the program . many commented it was one of the best keynotes we’ve had at a virtuoso event , and given our who’s who line - up , that’s saying a lot .
linda ' s energy and passion is contagious ,
said publicis north america president - ceo andrew bruce .
it cradles and carries big ideas from their fragile beginnings to impactful communications that just can ' t be ignored or overlooked . she ' s a magnetic personality with energy to burn and ambition to spare . we ' ll miss her . i ' ll miss her .
linda said the reason her agency grew so fast was because
we never concentrated one minute on the future . we always focused on what can we do today . i always tell people don ' t spend one second thinking about a vision , forget about it . don ' t dream your way to success . … we never thought about becoming too big or hugely successful , we just did the best we could every day .
drawing on the latest research in positive psychology and personal success , as well as a cornucopia of stories and practical “how to” tips and exercises , thaler discusses why those who develop and possess the character traits of grit ( guts , resilience , initiative and tenacity ) outperform individuals with genius iq’s , virtuoso talent , unlimited financial resources or a private school education . individuals with high grit quotient do better in school , work , the playing field , in relationships and life . her message is relevant to a broad range of audiences from entry level employees and budding entrepreneurs to c - suite executives . her inspiring message is that grit is something we all can embrace and develop whether you are nine or ninety .
thaler said there are four components that constitute grit . guts , she said , is the pursuit of the uncomfortable ; it is pushing oneself into new arenas . in describing resilience , she mentioned james dyson , creator of the bag - less vacuum cleaner , who persevered through 5 , 126 prototypes to find a model that worked . in discussing initiative , she advised avoiding a “my - way - or - the - highway” mentality , suggesting instead that initiative , like bamboo , must be flexible . “don’t fall in love with plan a , ” she said . “plan b is often the best thing that can happen . ” and , finally , tenacity means holding on when most people are falling off .
if you ask her to talk about her success , she’d probably deflect the question , saying that she’s ‘just a girl from the bronx’ who made it to city college and worked hard . those who know and have worked with her would tell you that’s not the half of it . indeed , she did work hard , at ccny and beyond . as a member of ccny’s class of 1972 , she graduated with a psychology degree before advancing to earn an ma in music . but she’s also built an astounding professional career through positive messaging in marketing and branding . she’s also easily recognized as one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet . in a business that thrives on the next big idea , the old virtue of being nice has been a cornerstone of linda’s approach to her professional life , and is something she brings to every aspect of her work . indeed , her new york times bestselling book , the power of nice , extolls this virtue as a sound business practice .
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this season of “the apprentice” is shaping up , even more than usual , as a case study in how teams work . and the lessons , at least this week , were more subtle .
the all - female capital edge team clashed yet ultimately pulled it together to produce an evocative campaign that , while not exactly polished , sure stirred the emotions . meanwhile , the boys of excel corp . went in all cocky , stuck to the plan and bulldozed ahead to produce ads that were so dull and ineffective that project manager chris actually had to explain the imagery on his posters .
the two teams operated differently , too . capital edge project manager marshawn wisely split up her team and delegated key responsibilities to members who , as it turned out , knew what they were doing . this drew a lot of criticism from kristi , who faulted marshawn for not being more hands - on and making the others do all the work . given that they won , it looks like marshawn made the right decision — especially since all the edgers , save kristi , voted to make her exempt from firing should they lose the next task .
in contrast , excel pm chris tried to run his operation like a football team ; not surprisingly , since he played in the nfl . he came up with a game plan and had his men charge into the fray , brooking no dissent — which meant that he marginalized perpetual outside - the - boxer markus early on . problem was , the guys chris trusted with making key decisions — most notably , mark — tended to make really bad ones . only markus questioned their wisdom , and he was shouted down or outright ignored . markus was vindicated , however , when his team lost .
nonetheless , chris blamed markus for excel’s loss , raising the very familiar argument that he had been too distracted trying to rein in the scapegoat . even though mark sheepishly admitted to making bad creative decisions yet chris chose only markus to face firing beside him . “team synergy in any task is 100 percent necessary , ” he proclaimed .
season 3 contestant alex thomason told maureen moriarty , who writes our “apprentice 101” column , that in off - camera reality , trump actually makes it very clear whom he intends to fire after each loss . i think this episode may have been the first time that we actually saw him telegraph it on screen . he more or less told chris not to drag markus back into the boardroom with him at the end , and made it clear that he held mark responsible for the decisions that ultimately doomed excel .
but chris defied trump , proving yet another example of the stick - to - the - script thoughtlessness that landed him in the boardroom to begin with . in the end , chris was fired because he was too stupid to listen when trump told him whom he wanted to fire instead .
he learned the hard way that the rules governing how teams work on the gridiron don’t necessarily apply in business .
browse previous blog posts by month and year of entry . you ' ll see all the posts for that time period .
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the muse awards , nywift ' s annual gala holiday luncheon , celebrate the vision and achievements of women who work in the entertainment industry . each year , remarkable and accomplished women are honored with this prestigious award . it is nywift ' s flagship fundraising event — a highlight of the new york city holiday season in the entertainment industry — and is attended by an enthusiastic audience of 1 , 200 leading executives from every major studio , broadcast and cable network , and film production facility .
mariska hargitay , lucy liu , lisa f . jackson , kim martin , debra zimmerman & women make movies ( loreen arbus award )
2005 : tina fey , debra lee , julianne moore , susan e . morse
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turning the well - known adage of “nice guys finish last” on its ear , “nice” companies have lower employee turnover , lower recruitment costs , and higher productivity . nice people live longer , are healthier , and make more money . in today’s interconnected world , companies and people with a reputation for cooperation and fair play forge the kind of relationships that lead to bigger and better opportunities , both in business and in life .
our smallest actions and gestures often have outsized impact on our biggest goals : did you double - check that presentation one last time , or hold the elevator for a stranger ? going that extra inch—whether with a client , customer , family member , or friend—speaks volumes to others about our talent , personality , and motivations . after all , if we can’t take care of the small details , how can we be counted on to deliver when it really matters ?
the power of nice is a wonder drug ! it could literally save your career and your life… . and let me suggest a first act of kindness : buy some extra copies for your enemies . i’ll bet they need the power of nice more than you do .
this little book will show you why women should run most corporations in america , and maybe the entire country . reading nice will improve just about everything in your life , and that’s a promise .
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for my money , i would always rather make a deal with people i like who treat me well . if you want to discover the surprising power of nice , read this book . memorize it . use it . you’ll be glad you did .
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once you’ve read the power of small , you will never look at the world the same way again . when you re - orient your perspective to look for the magic in the little things , life’s mountains become manageable molehills .
written in the same short , concise format as the power of nice and leavened with the natural humor that characterizes the authors ' lives–and books– grit to great is destined to be the book everyone in business needs .
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here’s the internal memo from andrew bruce , president and ceo of publicis north america .
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so nice to hear that my toys r us song still resonates with people , but i hope jingles do make a comeback someday . they are the musical reflections of our cultural history .
please help these immigrant families get the legal support they need . we are a humane and caring nation , and we must protect all children , keeping them safely with their loving parents .
bravo to my dear friend robin koval , ceo of truth initiative , on this brilliant new campaign to create awareness of the dangers of opioid addiction .
“live your life . we’ll just chill . ” thrilled to launch our “eggsy” new campaign for extend fertility , a renown egg freezing service . no more stress about ur biological clocks ladies !
thrilled that our musical improv team , “laugh lines” performed our first show at the pit ( the people’s improv theater ) last night . hope some of you catch our next show ! # laughlines urltoken
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i love new york , and today i ' m announcing my candidacy for governor . join us :
with all the press out about toys ‘r us , i want to give a shout out to deyna vesey for creating the theme line for toys ‘r us - “i don’t wanna grow up . ” deyna was the art director i worked w / on the toys r campaign & is a brilliant talent with an awesome ad agency : # kidvertisers
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egg balancing is a traditional chinese practice that has since been popularized in the united states .

although the irregular shape of eggs makes this somewhat difficult , eggshells typically have many imperfections such that the vast majority can be balanced with minimal effort .

despite folklore connecting this practice to the lunar new year in china , the dragon boat festival in taiwan and the vernal equinox in the united states , egg balancing can be done throughout the year and has no connection to the gravitational force of the moon or sun .

egg balancing

use these social - bookmarking links to share equinox egg - balancing tale cracks open .
you could try balancing an egg by simply placing the egg on a rough textured surface or repeatedly using of an egg which will eventually lead to the ends of the egg becoming cracked or flattened .
ghigo , of the university of minnesota , decided to study egg balancing after receiving questions about it from members of the public who had read about the annual spring egg balancing festival in new york city .
with patience and a steady hand , you should succeed in balancing the egg on its end . the egg is supported by unseen salt crystals that are held under the egg and this allows the egg to balance on its end effectively .
this is an encore posting of an article we ran in spring of 2010 about balancing an egg on the equinox .
egg balancing is a traditional chinese practice that is often connected with lichun , the solar term for the chinese springtime , and an egg is used to symbolise new life .
but the equinox having any sway on the outcome of egg - balancing attempts is one myth we can safely lay to rest .
it is basically a function of the shape of the egg and the surface ,
said astronomer frank d . ghigo . ghigo , of the university of minnesota , decided to study egg balancing after receiving questions about it from members of the public who had read about the annual spring egg balancing festival in new york city .
brown , david . “”balancing an egg on vernal equinox : fact or fiction ? ” wcvb - tv [ boston ] 19 march 2008 .
if egg balancing is any easier at the equator than anywhere else in the world , the difference is so slight as to be nonexistent .
although i haven’t mentioned it on twitter yet , i should add this info to the video i posted balancing an egg on youtube today .
fun spot to visit . i hadn’t heard anything about balancing at the egg ( myth or not ) before . love the picture in both hemispheres .
bottom line , balancing an egg is difficult where ever you happen to be . even our guide couldn’t pull it off… that said , veronica did it !
next came the balancing a raw egg on a nail trick , which is also supposed to demonstrate the lack of coriolis effect on the yolk directly on the equator .
the bottom line : this egg - balancing trick is just an old wives ' tale . there is no gravitational change during the equinox that would help an egg balance . standing an egg on its end is something just about anyone can do any day of the year . the feat simply takes the right egg , a little practice , and a lot of patience .
but the truth is , you can balance an egg any day of the year if you have the right egg and practice it .
take the raw egg and try to balance it on a hard surface ( you will have a difficult time keeping the egg balanced ) .
if you can perform this balancing act at the equinox , you should be able to perform it any other time of the year , with the right egg and a bit of practice .
egg balancing , most popular at the spring equinox in march but said to be possible in both seasons , has attracted publicity in recent years - with scientists skeptical and ritual - makers adamant .
egg balancing , most popular at the spring equinox in march but said to be possible in both seasons , has attracted publicity in recent years — with scientists skeptical and ritual - makers adamant .
egg balancing , most popular at the spring equinox in march but said to be possible in both seasons , has attracted publicity in recent years — with scientists sceptical and ritual - makers adamant .
egg balancing has been associated with lichun , the beginning of spring in the chinese calendar . however , lichun falls on february 3rd or 4th and the equinox falls on march 20 . so which day will give you the best chance to balance an egg ? it doesn ' t matter .
i have done it too on easter sunday at 12 noon and using the same egg hrs later no matter how hard i tried that same egg would not stand .
' ' one of the things i learned to do was to try balancing an egg at several different places on the table before giving up , to take advantage of the table ' s slightly varying slopes . ' '
first , the yolk drops a little , so lowering the egg ' s centre of gravity and making your job easier . second , as the yolk drops , it gets closer to the centre line of the egg , again making the egg easier to balance .
you can , with time and patience , supposedly balance an egg on a smooth surface .
please send me a picture of your egg on end along with your name and location .
there ' s one more factor in our favour . egg shells are not perfectly smooth . they have microscopic bumps , which can act as tiny feet to stand the egg up .
the upshot is that , as far as i can tell , there isn ' t too much relationship between astronomical phenomena and balancing eggs .
nonetheless , the vernal equinox brings no special egg - balancing properties with it . standing an egg on its end is something just about anyone can do any day of the year ; the feat simply takes the right egg and a little trial and practice . since the vast majority of people never see or try balancing eggs on their ends on any day other than the equinox , though , many of them come away from the experience believing that something special must have occurred on that particular day . as the associated press reported in 1987 , however , scientific trial shows otherwise :
carefully balance the egg on top of the salt , then gently blow the excess salt away .
you know those kickstarter projects that look utterly ridiculous until you press play on the promo video ? and then everything makes sense ? the “ everstand self - balancing egg ” from london - based product designer kristoph krisjans is one of those projects .
there are no changes in gravity alignment between the sun and the earth , which has sometimes been attributed the eggs balancing specifically on the spring equinox .
this party trick most likely has to with the texture of the egg shell ( a smoother shell probably won ' t grip to the surface as well ) and the skill of the egg handler .
just because science has no known theory to explain egg balancing is no reason not to check it out , ghigo said in explaining his decision to run the experiment . ' ' the evidence , however , certainly suggests that there is no such effect .
“the upshot is that , as far as i can tell , there isn’t too much relationship between astronomical phenomena and balancing eggs . it is basically a function of the shape of the egg and the surface , ” said astronomer frank d . ghigo .
the salt crystals are almost perfect cubes , and they help form a pedestal that supports the egg .
on this equinox ( september 22 , 2009 ) i tried to balance an egg . it worked !
well , there are some of my friends who can ' t make the egg stands either . xd
interesting article , the egg myth is pretty funny , haha . thanks for the background info randy .
egg balancing has been connected with ‘lichun’ , one of the 24 solar terms in a year according to the traditional east asian calendars , marking the beginning of chinese spring on february 4 or 5 when the sun is at the celestial longitude of 315 degrees .
i amaze my friends and family year after year of balancing an egg on the spring equinox . our teacher had us do this for homework… . . in 1983 ! this can also be done anywhere along the equator . experiment , children . hands on is awesome
global egg stand ! if you cannot come to this event in person , do do join us in spirit by standing up an egg wherever you are . remember to translate the time into your local time zone .
a balancing act : is it possible to balance an egg in an upright position ? the key is finding an egg with a yolk centered in the shell . “we stand upright by keeping our own personal centers of gravity within the bounds of our feet on the ground , ” says keller . “this is why standing on two feet is easier than standing on only one foot . ”
' ' on the other hand , i don ' t wish to spoil people ' s fun . i ' m in favor of seasonal celebrations , and if egg balancing ceremonies add to the enjoyment of the festivities , i would encourage people to participate in them . ' '
he concluded that “the mood and persistence of the balancer has a major effect on the balancing rate . if one is impatient or nervous , the rate is low . ”
he concluded that
the mood and persistence of the balancer has a major effect on the balancing rate . if one is impatient or nervous , the rate is low .
' ' the upshot is that , as far as i can tell , there isn ' t too much relationship between astronomical phenomena and balancing eggs . it is basically a function of the shape of the egg and the surface , ' ' said astronomer frank d . ghigo in a telephone interview .
unfortunately , this one doesn’t “stand up” to scrutiny ( sorry , couldn’t help myself ) . there’s no reason why balancing an egg at the equator should be any easier or harder than anywhere else . but there’s no doubt it’s hard . really hard . i remember sinking 20 minutes into that thing .
he concluded that ' ' the mood and persistence of the balancer has a major effect on the balancing rate . if one is impatient or nervous , the rate is low . ' '
another famous way for making an egg stand on end is the columbus method . there is a popular story of how christopher columbus , having been told that discovering the americas was no great accomplishment , challenged his critics to make an egg stand on its tip ; and , after they gave up , he did it himself by tapping the egg on the table so as to flatten its tip . this may ruin your egg a bit , though . once again , it ' s a good yarn .
here ' s everything you need to know about the autumnal equinox and whether you can actually balance an egg on this day .
however , nothing about any of the astronomical events can stop anyone from standing an egg or anything else on end any other day of the year , according to snopes . here’s a video of an egg being balanced during a non - astrological event day :
ever wanted to balance an egg ? this article will show you various ways to pull of this trick and ease your boredom .
carefully balance the egg on a hard smooth surface . if it doesn ' t balance , then you can try another method .
it is believed that during the equinox an egg can balance on end . this is more myth than science , but every year during the equinox , this question arises . yes , with a little patience you can balance an egg on end during the equinox .
thus eggs — one of the most ubiquitous symbols of fertility and birth — have long been associated with the beginning of spring , and hence with the equinox . many , many superstitions involving the breaking , balancing , burying , decorating , reading ( for purposes of divination ) and hiding of eggs have come to be part of the annual spring celebration . ( the linking of egg - balancing with spring celebrations is demonstrated by the fact that the practice is associated primarily with the vernal equinox and far less commonly with the autumnal equinox . )
you might have heard that an egg will stand on end on the spring equinox . we researched the truth behind this science myth .
it ' s true that you can balance an egg on its end on the vernal equinox , the first day of spring . however , you can also balance an egg on the day before the equinox , the day after , or on any day of the year .
some people believe that the gravitational pull of the sun that occurs on the equinoxes can help keep an egg standing on its end . this idea is unproven , but it ' s interesting to test it . another way to stand an egg up—on any day—is to use salt .
many people claim that you can balance an egg or a broom on their ends when the equinox occurs because of of the gravitational pull .
on the day of li chun , a strange phenomenon is known to happen . it is belief that it is much easier to balance an egg on its end during this time . some explanation has it that this amazing balancing act is said to be due to the sun crossing the equator , making night and day equal on all parts of the earth .
come here and you can stand on the line painted on the “real equator , ” and do all sorts of magical equator - like things such as balancing an egg on the head of a nail , and falling over sideways as you attempt to walk the line with your eyes closed . a lot of it is sham for sure , but fun nevertheless .
i balance eggs every year ~ it has become my springtime ritual . i set my intentions ( similar to new year’s resolutions ) , then i dye the raw eggs with easter egg dye . after that , i draw a symbol on each egg , to symbolize each intention . about 30 minutes before the equinox , i start balancing . i almost always get all twelve eggs balanced ( and on a flat surface like the countertop ~ no cheating ) . i have also balanced a broom , for hours !
( that also means that if this spring egg standing theory were correct you could perform the same trick on the first day of fall . )
japanese physicist ukichiro nakaya found in a 1947 experiment that small bumps and dimples on some egg shells produced tripod - like contact with a flat surface . university of minnesota astronomer frank ghigo replicated the experiment in 1984 saying “it is basically a function of the shape of the egg and the surface . ”
is there any science behind the myth ? it is true that you can balance an egg on its end on the vernal equinox , the first day of spring . however , you can also balance an egg on the day before the equinox , the day after , or on any day of the year .
i visited this site in may , i was very impressed with the tub of water experiment , the shrunken heads and the sun dials . it was a trip of a lifetime . i didn’t know till now though , the story behind the balancing egg demo . i also saw cotopaxi on a clear day and did the galapagos and the ecuadorian amazon . i’m saving your website in my favorites .
march 20th marks the vernal equinox , the first day of spring . it ' s a special day of the year , when many people seem to think special things can happen , like balancing eggs on end or brooms on their bristles .
very carefully balance the egg on top of the salt , then gently blow the excess salt away . with patience and a steady hand , you should succeed .
finally a scientist has published research into the matter and concluded that yes indeed , he could balance an egg — actually several eggs — at the moment of the equinox .
what will happen if you try to balance the egg on march 21 st ? or april 20 th ? or october 2 nd ? the egg will balance the same on any day as it does on the vernal or autumnal equinox . it helps if you try it on a rough surface or choose an egg with a bumpy end for better balance . the myth comes from an assumption that during the equinox a special gravitational balance exists . the equinox is about balanced light , not balanced eggs or special gravity .
the local chinese legend was that it was much easier to balance an egg on end on the first day of spring , than on any other day of the year .
the traditional east asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms ( 節氣 ) . li chun is the 1st solar term . it begins when the sun reaches the celestial longitude of 315° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 330° . it more often refers in particular to the day when the sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 315° . in the gregorian calendar , it usually begins around february 4 and ends around february 18 ( february 19 east asia time ) . it ' s also the beginning of a sexagenary cycle . the terms li chun egg balancing or egg of li chun refers to a chinese folk belief that it is much easier to balance an egg on a smooth surface during li chun ( the official first day of spring in the chinese lunar calendar , which usually falls on february 4 or 5 ) , than at any other time of the year . balancing fresh chicken eggs on their broad end was a traditional li chun ritual in china . video captured by using samsung galaxy sii gt - 9100 ( 720p )
finally a scientist has published research into the matter and concluded that , yes indeed , he could balance an egg - actually several eggs - at the monent of the equinox .
the rumor that it ' s possible to stand an egg on its end on the first day of spring , also known as the vernal equinox , is only partly true .
albert einstein , one of the greatest physicists of the 20th century , was asked for his opinion of this ability of the egg to stand on end only on the equinox .
try to balance and egg without the salt around an equinox . you can do it about march 20 , on the spring equinox , or about september 23 , on the autumn equinox . some people believe that the gravitational pull of the sun that occurs on the equinoxes can help keep an egg standing on its end . not surprisingly , those people are wrong . you can balance an egg equally well on any day of the year . however , this makes for a good yarn and a chance to explain scientific methodology over superstition .
could it be true that on one special day of the year an egg can stand upright on its end without wobbling away ? dr karl has been trying to crack the case .
it ' s a rather odd thing to do . you get an egg and then you try to balance it on its more rounded end , the one that is less pointy .
that ' s the science part . and the egg part ?
it really is just a party trick that you can do any day of the year ,
she said .
here’s another classic equator gag . the theory goes that you can balance an egg on a nail on the equator , but not anywhere else . why ? because science . that’s why .
burns speculates that , many years ago , someone probably balanced an egg on the first day of spring and just came to the conclusion that there must be some scientific reason for it .
march 20 , 2017 , is the first day of spring , aka the vernal equinox . is it true you can balance an egg or a broom on its end during the spring equinox ?
it is possible to stand an egg on its head . but it has nothing to do with it being the first day of spring . it can be performed any day of the year .
part of the difficulty is that the yolk is usually a little off - centre . so you can help things along ( that is , cheat a little ) by shaking the egg somewhat vigorously .
actually the myth came from a lack of information in a life magazine article in 1945 , of a chinese tradition of balancing eggs on the first day of spring . in china the season begins halfway between the winter solstice and equinox ( the equinox more logically being in the middle of the season ) .
this entry was posted on june 21 , 2010 at 8 : 23 pm and is filed under astrology . tagged : astrology , astronomy , autumnal , bad astronomy , balance , balancing eggs on end , cosmic , critical thinking , debunking , egg , eggs , equinox , magic , myth , pseudoscience , skepticism , solstice , summer , trick , vernal , winter . you can follow any responses to this entry through the rss 2 . 0 feed . you can leave a response , or trackback from your own site .
there ' s something special about the vernal equinox , but it doesn ' t have anything to do with whether or not you can balance an egg ,
said coastal carolina university physics professor teresa burns .
[ … ] from there we took a five minute ride to the inti nan museum , the site of what is currently thought to be the real equator . here some of us got our picture taken , we witnessed and participated in equatorial party tricks such as watching the water spin in a different direction when move across the equatorial line and balancing an egg on a nail . these tricks were met with a bit of skepticism from some more scientific members of our group . you can read more about these two sites here . [ … ]
to quote wikipedia ,
japanese physicist ukichiro nakaya verified experimentally that eggs in fact can be balanced with ease at any time of the year . he noticed that the shell of an egg usually has many small bumps and dimples , so that , by turning the egg in different directions , it can be made to touch a flat surface on three points at once , in many ways .
that may help you with this method .
so eggs and equinoxes are each quite wonderful in their own way . maybe this is why many otherwise rational people believe that you can balance an egg on its end only on the exact day of the spring equinox .
washington ( ap ) _ the twice - a - year day of equal light and darkness returns on wednesday , and with it that special moment that some people believe is the only time an egg can be stood upright .
using a detailed statistical analysis , ghigo could find no equinoctial effect on the rate of balancing eggs . indeed his performance slipped slightly on that particular day , which he attributed to the equinox having been at 4 : 24 a . m . that year in his location , forcing him to rise and conduct the experiment at an unaccustomed hour .
there ' s another craze going around on facebook and a number of other websites that ' s all about balancing a broom on its bristles . again , some people think that can only be done on the vernal equinox or when the planets align or some other such thing . nope . burns said you can do it any day . it just takes practice .
the pagan peasants who lived and worked on the land kept the practice of egg rolling alive in europe until fairly recently , and it is still practiced in the united states in the form of a public egg - rolling event on the white house lawn hosted each spring by the first lady . the ceremony has not changed a bit since it was performed in mesopotamia in honor of the goddess eostre . little does this modern priestess realize that she is perpetuating an ancient heathen fertility rite !
i recently received an email from lisa vincent , who teaches at the mancelona middle school in mancelona , michigan . she and her class decided to test the egg - myth for themselves , and had her students try it on october 16 , 1999 .
[ … ] equator , a more accurately measured equatorial line than the one at la mitad del mundo ( although it’s still disputed ) . i successfully balanced an egg on a nail on the equator , although this can be done anytime , [ … ]
the equinox , explained : the spring equinox occurs when the earth is tilted parallel to its path of motion around the sun , which makes the length of the day and the night exactly the same . the idea that an egg could balance on this day comes from the thought that since the sun and moon are equidistant from the earth , the pull of gravity is equalized and therefore an egg is less likely to fall over . “this is simply not true , ” says keller . “even were there such a solar influence , it would only work in one place at a time , and that place would be moving at a speed on the surface of the earth of about 1 , 000 miles per hour at the equator . you would not have time to balance your egg !
facebook has been running wild this with pictures of brooms standing up by themselves & eggs standing up on end . everyone is saying this is due to planetary alignment and the way the earth is tilted on its axis this week only . is it true that the equinox can cause a broom to obtain the right amount of gravitational pull to allow it to stand on its own or is it simply a balancing act ?
a chinese folk belief that it is much easier to balance an egg on a smooth surface during li chun ( the official first day of spring in the chinese lunar calendar , which usually falls on february 4 or 5 ) , than at any other time of the year .
li chun marks the beginning of the chinese calendar in the old days . its marked in the chinese calendar to indicate the sun being at celestial longitude 315degree and is celebrated as chinese new year .
in the lunisolar calendar , new year ' s day might be before or after lichun . a year without lichun is called 無春年 ( no spring year ) . 無春年 is also known as 寡婦年 ( widow year ) in northern china or 盲年 ( blind year ) in southern china . marriage is believed to be unlucky in a year without lichun
source wikipedia . during this time it is easier to balance an egg . here is an example of how the egg is laid to stand . latest update : one egg can still be balance on the floor at other times of the year . didn ' t try as many eggs .
i visited here and really enjoyed it as well . interesting that the coriolis effect is so minimal . i also balanced the egg , mostly out of sheer determination though since my partner had done so and would never have let me live it down if i hadn’t done the same .
if you are convinced that an egg will balance more easily on a certain day you will try a little harder , be more patient , and use steadier hands . if you believe that eggs won ' t balance on other days , this belief is transmitted subconsciously to your hands
you may have heard that you can stand an egg on end at the moment of an equinox , particularly the vernal equinox . the urban legend was popularized by a 1945 life magazine article on the subject . it was even featured an episode of the west wing titled “evidence of things not seen” .
( 立春 ) , the fourth of february . it ' s a special day in the chinese calendar as today signifies the beginning of spring . and what did i do again ? i balanced an egg upright on the kitchen top . that ' s all , that ' s all i did .
it is immaterial whether or not the egg can stand at any other time of the year , as some critics have argued . the important thing is to recognize the symbol , the season , the sky and the kindred souls who surround us . to feel the power of participating in a cosmic phenomenon . standing an egg on its end , feeling it as the yolk shifts inside to find its perfect point of balance , is like holding the entire universe in the palm of your hand . cynicism magically disappears in the process of sincere participation . and , like the buds and the birds , of early spring , we , too , are refreshed and renewed .
february 2012 saw the widespread promotion of a more recent wrinkle to the legend : pictures of brooms standing on end circulated via social media , accompanied by claims that the arrival of the equinox also brought special broom - balancing properties with it . just like eggs , though , many brooms can be stood on their ends any old day of the year . the feat works best with newer brooms which have uniform , evenly cut bristles , with the angle of the bristle cut offsetting the lean angle of the broom :
since the earliest times , the egg has been humanity ' s obvious and essential symbol for the significant atmosphere of the vernal season : birth , fertility , growth , eternity . the purely primal power , which comes from the handling of eggs at the equinox , has been a principle influence on many popular spring ritual practices throughout time and across culture .
note : try this experiment without the salt on the spring equinox , or on the autumn equinox . during the equinoxes the sun appears directly overhead at the equator , and the length of night and day are nearly equal worldwide . carefully balance the egg on a hard smooth surface . if it doesn ' t balance , then try the experiment with some salt .
eggs dyed red as the womb were given as gifts at the spring festivals in ancient egypt , persia , greece and rome . greeks still toast each other at the family easter dinner by tapping hard - boiled red eggs , one person to the next around the table . the egg that survives the clinking go - round uncracked brings luck for the year to the person who holds it .
the funny thing about this particular myth is that it contains a kernel of truth… you can stand an egg on its end on the equinox , just as you can at any time of the year – even the solstices , as far away from the equinox as you can get . case in point , last summer ( on june 21st , the summer solstice ) i balanced three eggs on end in my kitchen…
but she said the real science from all this is about finding evidence to support your belief . in other words , don ' t just balance an egg on that one day of the year and then assume that ' s the only day you can do it .
you have to try it other times , too , right ? and that ' s the important part of science , i think .
[ … ] intiñan museum and equator line : this is a museum that sits near the equator . there are two equator lines , one is a mistake and “fake” line , the other is the true equator line . here , people like to do things like balance an egg on the head of a nail and try to walk in a straight line , with your eyes closed , without falling over . $ 4 [ … ]
legend has it that on the spring equinox , you can balance an egg in an upright position thanks to the earth’s position relative to the sun . each season , this idea seems to pop up on the news , in social media , and in schools . we wondered … is it really true ? so we reached out to harry e . keller , ph . d . , ceo of smart science education inc . , for his scientific opinion . here , three things to know about the equinox and eggs :
not only did they get eggs to balance , but they got them to balance on their short ends ! this is a feat i have never been able to reproduce . for proof , they sent me images of their eggs , which i present here . note that the eggs are indeed standing on their short ends . incidentally , ms . vincent told me the eggs remained standing for over a month . usually a random vibration would knock an egg over , but in the image it looks to me like they were standing on a standard high school chemistry class work table and sink , which are designed to be very sturdy . that was a good choice !
for the past 39 years , i have conducted a public vernal equinox ritual in new york city to usher in spring with - - what else ? - - eggs ! the event is astonishingly simple . a crowd gathers . an orange laundry basket containing 360 eggs is passed around . we count down the minutes to the equinox . and when the time is right , we stand up our eggs in unison in salute to spring . eggs on end : standing on ceremony is every bit a traditional vernal fertility ritual , a popular contemporary celebration of the return of green growth and light after the stark dark winter . stood at the first moment of spring , the egg becomes the symbol of a new season , the birth of new life .
if it weren’t for “non - scientists” , the americas would not exist on any map because of the attitude held by early scholars . if it weren’t for non - scientists more than 60 % of all of our health and medicinal products we enjoy today would not exist because it was the long - held use of non - scientific products , such as botanicals and etc . , that finally pushed science to start taking a look at them . now today , science has been left with egg on its face and a multi - billion dollar botanical industry exists to fuel what science has finally accepted as fact . yet the scientific community refuses to accept the simplicity of the fact that they work and must pull them apart and manipulate them in order to come up with something they can explain .
the equinox is the claimed moment of balance when the forces of the solar system become equal .
it will occur at 9 : 45 a . m . ( edt ) wednesday as the sun crosses the equator on its annual trek south , marking the end of summer in this hemisphere , as calculated by calendar makers .
but , on the other side of the coin , he was also able to do so at lots of other times .
ghigo used four samples of a dozen eggs each , which he attempted to balance on their large ends on a formica tabletop each day between feb . 27 and april 3 , 1984 . the spring equinox occurred on march 20 , 1984 .
ghigo found that eggs have many bumps and irregularities and with patience some of them could be made to balance virtually every day - while some eggs would simply never balance , on the equinox or otherwise .
over time , ghigo found , the percentage of eggs he could balance improved , concluding ' ' i think i got better , just through practice . ' '
ghigo kept his four groups of eggs , all grade a large , as separate samples , but did not mark any eggs within the samples , so that he would not know which ones had balanced previously .
nonetheless , he became able to recognize individual eggs as the tests went on , ghigo admitted . and sample group b changed slightly three days before that equinox , when a kitchen shortage resulted in one of his samples being eaten . it was replaced later that day .
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it is not true that a special property of the equinox allows eggs ( or brooms ) to be balanced on their ends that day .
a special property of the equinox allows eggs ( or brooms ) to be balanced on their ends that day . see example ( s )
every year on the vernal and autumnal equinoxes ( on or about march 20 and september 22 ) , the two days per year in which the length of day and night are the same , we hear about a magical property of these days that allows eggs to be balanced on end . rarely does a year go by in which a local tv news station doesn’t send a reporter out to a neighborhood park to capture images of people delightedly placing eggs on the ground and watching in amazement as the eggs stand on end . rarely do we see any new stories reporting that this same feat can be achieved every other day of the year as well .
the equinoxes , which mark the beginning of spring and autumn , have long held a special importance in human society . particularly the vernal equinox , which marks the first day of spring and the end of winter , the beginning of the season in which daylight again outlasts darkness and life springs anew . flowers blossom , trees shoot out new leaves and branches , and animals give birth ( or their eggs hatch ) . these tangible signs of the world’s rebirth were of paramount importance to agricultural societies , and they naturally developed elaborate fertility rites to celebrate the occasion .
the chinese are often cited as having originated the practice of standing eggs on end during the equinox . just as the equinox symbolically restores balance to the world by signalling its rebirth after a season of darkness , the equinox literally balances the day by dividing it into equal portions of darkness and light . if the symbol of fertility , eggs , could be balanced on end during a day equally divided between day and night , this was a sign that all nature was in harmony .
ghigo found the eggs have many bumps and irregularities and with patience some of them could be made to balance virtually every day — while some eggs would simply never balance , on the equinox or otherwise .
over time , ghigo found , the percentage of eggs he could balance improved , concluding “i think i got better , just through practice . ”
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cohen , hennig and tristram potter coffin . the folklore of american holidays . detroit : gale research co . , 1991 ( p . 119 ) .
schmid , randolph e . “equinox returns and eggs keep balance . ” the lewiston daily sun . 19 september 1987 .
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givers
and the obamas
takers .
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the first lady made a surprise visit to detained immigrant children while wearing a jacket bearing the message
i don ' t really care do u ?
on the back .
the long - standing claim that jane fonda turned smuggled messages from u . s . pows over to their north vietnamese captors is false .
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now , make a tiny mound of salt on a hard , smooth surface .
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every year on september 22 the autumn equinox occurs , marking the end of summer .
the autumnal equinox an event which is celebrated around the world and it ' s when day and night will be almost equal in most locations .
the date marks the northern hemisphere ' s autumnal equinox and the summer hemisphere ' s spring equinox .
contrary to popular belief , the event isn ' t all day long , it actually occurs at a specific time when the sun crosses the celestial equator and the earth ' s rotational axis is tilted neither away nor towards the sun .
astronomers also see this as when autumn officially starts in the northern hemisphere - even though meteorologists regard it as starting on september 1 .
the autumnal equinox takes place on september 22 every year but in very rare cases it can fall on the 21st or 24th - although that hasn ' t happened since 100ce .
the next time the date will fall on the 21st is 2092 and in 2393 the equinox will occur on september 24 .
astronomically the september equinox marks the end of summer and the beginning of autumn but for meteorologists autumn begins in the northern hemisphere three weeks before and ends november 30 .
ghigo used four samples of a dozen eggs each , which he attempted to balance on their large ends on a formica tabletop each day between feb . 27 and april 3 , 1984 .
over time , ghigo found , the percentage of eggs he could balance improved , concluding
i think i got better , just through practice .
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draughon draws : n . c . neighbors learn hogs are ' more equal '
on monday march 20 , at 6 : 28 a . m . edt , the sun shines directly on the equator . the northern and southern hemispheres will receive roughly equal amounts of sunlight at that instant . here in the northern hemisphere , it is also known as the vernal or spring equinox .
the sub - solar point , or point on the earth’s surface where the sun is directly overhead , has been moving northward since the december solstice . on the march equinox , it crosses the equator and continues its northward migration until it reaches the tropic of cancer on the june solstice .
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right now chris is on the verge of becoming the season ' s 2nd hurricane . here ' s the latest on chris showing its intensity and movement . it may be a hurricane by 11pm tonight or tomorrow morning . it will remain . . . read more
right now chris is on the verge of becoming the season ' s 2nd hurricane . here ' s the latest on chris showing its intensity and movement . it may be a hurricane by 11pm tonight or tomorrow morning . it will remain stationary tonight and finally move tomorrow .