The Macy's Magic at South Coast Plaza Home Store - 531

>> Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Everyday we prove that the Magic of Macy's is alive and well! Putting the customer first and setting high personal standards for our workplace and areas of responsibility.

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Thought of the Day - Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success Series

>> Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Skill - A knowledge of and the ability to properly execute the fundamentals. Be prepared. Cover every detail.

- Coach John R. Wooden, (1910-2010)

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Don West, Jr. goes "Inside The Star" of Macy's

>> Monday, July 19, 2010

Macy's and its Star are American Icons and one the Nation's Oldest Retail Chains.


July 19, 2010.

Don West, Jr. announces a new experiment that takes him "Inside the Star" of Macy's. Don is working for and within the Macy's, Inc. retail chain and will be journaling and sharing his experiences along the way.

You can check in on Don's experiment at www.InsideTheStar.com.

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Don West, Jr. joins forces with Kaplan Test Prep to Offer Outstanding LSAT Preparation and Tutoring!

>> Sunday, July 11, 2010

For Immediate Release - July 11, 2010.


Irvine, California, USA. Today I completed my first KTDP, (Kaplan Teacher Development Program), training session. Over 100,000 students per year apply to law schools across the land and each one of them must take the LSAT. By partnering with the nation's premiere test prep brand, I look forward to making a positive impact on scores of individuals who are beginning their quests into the legal profession.

Kaplan's teacher training commences with an "ACE" Discussion. What is ACE?, you ask.

ACE = Absolute Commitment to Excellence


It was quite energizing to begin a training program where everyone discussed and affirmed and mutual commitement to excellence. I am really excited and looking forward to this new dynamic partnership and the opportunity to have hands on involvement with the lives of future law students. As with so many moments to date, I feel the influence of my friend Ann Levine mixed into this new endeavor and always welcome an opportunity to seek to emmulate her excellent example.

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Thought of the Day - Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success Series

>> Monday, July 5, 2010

Skill - A knowledge of and the ability to properly execute the fundamentals. Be prepared. Cover every detail. - Coach John R. Wooden, (1910-2010)

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INDEPENDENCE - Live It!

>> Sunday, July 4, 2010

Today is a celebration of freedom and the right of the individual to choose. Like so many holidays the core principles should be lived every day. We are free to choose! We are free to think, live and love...

You are free! You should be unafraid... you should be INDEPENDENCE!

My regards and best wishes to all on this very Happy Independence Day 2010!

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Thought of the Day - Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success Series

Condition: Mental - Moral - Physical. Moderation must be practiced. Dissipation must be eliminated.

- Coach John R. Wooden, (1910-2010)

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Thought of the Day - Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success Series

>> Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Intentness - Ability to resist temptation and stay with your course. Concentrate on your objective and be determined to reach your goal.

- Coach John R. Wooden, (1910-2010)

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Thought of the Day - Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success Series

>> Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Initiative - Cultivate the ability to make decisions and think alone. Desire to excel.

- Coach John R. Wooden, (1910-2010)

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Making Special Memories

>> Monday, June 21, 2010

A part of Legacy Development is taking the time to create special memories for both yourself and those around you. Today we are taking our newphew to the Lakers' Championship Parade. He is a huge basketball fan and is developing into a very good player in his own right. So, today we embark to make some special memories and bear witness to a tiny sliver of history.

What will be your next legacy moment?

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Happy Father's Day to All!

>> Sunday, June 20, 2010

Today we celebrate and honor our fathers, those who spent and spend selfless hours keeping us on the right path. To my father and all fathers everywhere deep appreciation and heartfelt gratitude from me to you!

- Donald L. West, Jr., eldest child of Donald L. West, Sr. of Huntsville, Alabama, USA.

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Thought of the Day - Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success Series

>> Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Alertness - Be observing constantly. Be quick to spot a weakness and correct it or use it as the case may warrant.

- Coach John Robert Wooden,
(October 14, 1910 – June 4, 2010)

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Thought of the Day - Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success Series

>> Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Self-Control - Emotions under control. Delicate adjustment between mind and body. Keep judgment and common sense.

- Coach John Wooden, (1910-2010)

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Thought of the Day - Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success Series

>> Monday, June 14, 2010

Loyalty - To yourself and all those dependent upon you. Keep your self-respect.

- Coach John Wooden, (1910-2010)

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Family Research - Abram M. Lee, former slave turns 100 - Daily Mail ( Hagerstown, Maryland)

Check out this newspaper page that celebrates my great-great-great grandfather's 100th birthday in 1947:



The Lee Family Line

Abram M. Lee > Marshall W. Lee > Mary Lee Thompson > Janet Elaine Thompson Holmes > Debra Elaine Holmes West > Me.

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Thought of the Day - Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success Series

>> Sunday, June 13, 2010

Cooperation - with all levels of your co-workers. Help others and see the other side.


- Coach John Wooden, (1910-2010)

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Thought of the Day - Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success Series

>> Saturday, June 12, 2010

Friendship - Comes from mutual esteem, respect and devotion. A sincere liking for all.

- Coach John Wooden, (1910-2010)

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Thought of the Day - Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success Series

>> Friday, June 11, 2010

Enthusiasm - Your heart must be in your work.
Stimulate others.
*

- Coach John Wooden, (1910-2010)


* The cornerstones of success to me, in anything, are hard work and enjoy what you're doing. So, one cornerstone is industriousness and the other is enthusiasm, said Wooden.

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Thought of the Day - A Tribute to the Gentlemanly Wizard of Westwood (1910-2010)

>> Thursday, June 10, 2010

Coach John Wooden was a unique and special man who left an unquestionable mark on numerous lives and history itself. His name and works will be remembered and honored.

One of his more noted contributions is his Pyramid of Success and now we begin a "Thought of the Day" series from Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success.


Industriousness - There is no substitute for work. Worthwhile things come from hard work and careful planning.*

- Coach John Wooden
(1910-2010)





* Industriousness is one of the two cornerstones of the pyramid because to be strong, you have to have a strong foundation, said Wooden.

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Kiva - Riad from Lebanon has a loan fundraising on Kiva

>> Saturday, May 22, 2010




Kiva - Riad from Lebanon has a loan fundraising on Kiva

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Robert Elmer Holmes is Turning 80!

>> Monday, May 3, 2010


My maternal grandfather, (my mom's dad), will be turning 80 on June 5th with a big celebration scheduled in Philadelphia. I am very excited and just solidified my travel plans. Pop Pop, as I call him, is one of the major motivations in my interests in legacy and legacy development.

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>> Sunday, May 2, 2010

Meditative walk around the resevoir - Check.

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>> Thursday, April 29, 2010

I am "Not Afraid!"

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A Strategic Question

>> Wednesday, April 28, 2010

What happens when you recognize the objective, lay a deliberate set of plans to reach the objective, followed by consistent application of force?

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Thought of the Day

You never know who is watching, or when they are looking, so live a life that sets a good example at all times!

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Great Things

>> Friday, March 26, 2010

If one seeks to accomplish great things, how do they achieve it; where do they start?

NFL Great Cedrick Hardman provides an answer and insight on the topic of being great...


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Thought of the Day

"Be the change you want to see in the world."

- Mahatma Ghandi

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Photo: The Mad Greek

>> Monday, March 15, 2010


Photo of the Day - Monday, March 15, 2010: "The Mad Greek" - Photo by Don West, Jr. All Rights Reserved.

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Thought of the Day

God has given us two hands, one to receive with and the other to give with.


- Billy Graham

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Thought of the Day

>> Thursday, March 11, 2010

Successful people are always looking for opportunities to help others. Unsuccessful people are always asking, "What’s in it for me?”


- Brian Tracy

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Thought of the Day

>> Wednesday, March 10, 2010

The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.

- Nelson Henderson

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Thought of the Day

>> Tuesday, March 9, 2010

"None of us is as smart as all of us."

- Japanese Proverb

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What is an irrevocable trust?

>> Friday, March 5, 2010

An irrevocable trust is a trust that cannot be changed or amended after it is signed. When properly established one of the primary benefits of this type of trust is that the Settlor/Grantor, [the person(s) who sets up the trust], is no longer considered to be the owner of the trust property, thereby removing the trust property from the person's estate. This effect can potentially reduce the size of the grantor's gross estate thereby protecting the trust assets from being subjected to estate taxes by the IRS.

There a number of different types of irrevocable trusts. All of these trusts share two characteristics:

  • Once they have been established, they cannot be altered or canceled.
  • The grantor cannot also be both the trustee (the one responsible for making investment decisions) and the beneficiary (the one who receives the benefits from those investments).

The three most commonly utilized irrevocable trusts are:


Irrevocable trusts are sometimes used to make gifts to others - the trust beneficiaries - "with strings attached." When making gifts to children or grandchildren, parents and grandparents have a choice, they may either give assets directly to the beneficiary or they can place the assets into trust, accompanied by a set of written instructions that direct how the trust's assets may be distributed and/or utilized. These instructions are often where the strings are attached to the gift(s). By placing the gift(s) in trust enables the grantor to control the use for which the gift is intended.

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Thought of the Day

Pendaareh Neek
Goftaareh Neek
Raftaareh Neek

-Ancient
Zoroastrian Tenants (written in Farsi)



English translation:

Pure [Good] Thoughts
Pure [Good] Words
Pure [Good] Actions

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Thought of the Day

>> Thursday, March 4, 2010

"You can not ride a magic carpet and keep one foot on the ground."

- Don West, Jr.

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Thought of the Day

>> Wednesday, February 3, 2010

For our own success to be real, it must contribute to the success of others.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

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Thought of the Day

>> Tuesday, February 2, 2010

You will never win if you never begin.

- Robert Schuller

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Thought of the Day

>> Monday, February 1, 2010

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.

- C S Lewis

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Thought of the Day

>> Sunday, January 31, 2010

There are certain things that are fundamental to human fulfillment. The essence of these needs is captured in the phrase ‘to live, to love, to learn, to leave a legacy’.

- Stephen R. Covey

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Thought of the Day

>> Saturday, January 30, 2010

If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more,

learn more, do more and become more, then, you

are an excellent leader.


- Dolly Parton

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Thought of the Day

>> Friday, January 29, 2010

Every action of our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity.

- Sean O’Casey

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Thought of the Day

>> Thursday, January 28, 2010

Integrate what you believe in every single area of your life. Take your heart to work and ask the most and best of everybody else, too.

- Meryl Streep

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Thought of the Day

>> Wednesday, January 27, 2010

For every disciplined effort there is a multiple reward.

- Jim Rohn

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Thought of the Day

>> Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things, but just look what they can do when they stick together.


- Vista M Kelly

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Thought of the Day

>> Monday, January 25, 2010

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To risk for another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk rejection.
To place your dreams before the crowd is to risk ridicule.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To go forward in the face of overwhelming odds is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken because the greatest risk is to risk nothing.
People who risk nothing, do nothing, have nothing, are nothing.
They may avoid suffering and sorrow, but they cannot learn, feel, grow, or love.
Chained by their uncertainties, they are slaves.
They have forfeited their freedom.
Only people who take risks are free.
- Author unknown

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Thought of the Day

>> Friday, January 22, 2010

All great achievements require time. — Maya Angelou: is an American Poet

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Thought of the Day

>> Thursday, January 21, 2010

The Life which is unexamined is not worth living. - Socrates

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Thought of the Day - The Family Mission Statement

>> Wednesday, January 20, 2010

A family mission statement is... meant to be the literal constitution of your family life. And just as the United States Constitution has survived for more than two hundred sometimes turbulent years, your family constitution can be the foundational document that will unify and hold your family together for decades - even generations - to come....

By creating and living by a mission statement, families are gradually able to build moral authority in the family itself. In other words, principles get built right into the very structure and culture of the family, and everyone comes to realize that principles are at the center of the family and are the key to keeping the family strong, together, and committed to its destination. Then the mission statement becomes like the Constitution of the United States - the ultimate arbiter of every law and statute. The principles upon which it is based and the value systems that flow out of those principles create a social will that is filled with moral or ethical authority.


- Stephen R. Covey,
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families 93, 142 (1997).

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Thought of the Day

>> Thursday, January 14, 2010

If you are planning for the year, grow rice.
If you are planning for the decade, grow trees.
If you are planning for the centuries, grow men and women.

- Chinese Proverb

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