Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Fear - Less Magazine SEPTEMBER 2010
Fear - Less Magazine SEPTEMBER 2010
Alex Gibney
on the creative process
6
20 16
Build Feel
your fear pain to
toolbox its core
2 3
contents fear.less
Publishers Ishita Gupta
4 EDITOR’S LETTER 20 FOLLOW YOUR HEART Executive Editor Ishita Gupta
Tom Kelly
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4 5
editor(s) letter
There is no right way. Let’s start off with works for me. Take what you like and toss
that. Fall is right around the corner (“sum- the rest. (Repeat, rest, repeat): THERE IS NO
mer with a kiss of fall,” a friend put it) and RIGHT WAY. TRUST YOUR INTENTIONS & DE-
with the seasonal change so with it comes my CISIONS. BE WARY OF ALL GENERAL ADVICE.
personal desire to shed old habits and create STOP SEARCHING. LEARN (from others. FROM
new grooves in my brain. Happy grooves. This YOURSELF), JUST DO THINGS. SO WHAT. MIS-
season of change brings relief, and I’m glad TAKES MATTER, MAKE THEM A LOT.
for it. What I’ve noticed in the latest “season”
of my life (being a New Yorker, publishing a Not very lama-esque. But Ishita-esque. It
magazine, working with inspired and creative feels like me, and as the seasons change and
people, pushing myself and getting pushed
back) is that there is no right way.
I’m (clearly) not the Dalai Lama, but I’ve It’ll produce some really happy grooves.
done my fare share of searching, and though
xo Ishita
we usually shy away from general lessons
in fear.less, I want to share with you what
6 7
MAKE IT
HAPPEN
You just have to trust the
“ process.
”
Alex Gibney is an Oscar HYPOTHETICAL
and Emmy-winning director and HORRIBLES IN
producer. His work includes “Enron:
AFGHANISTAN
The Smartest Guys in the Room,”
“Jimi Hendrix and the Blues,” “The
I’ve had moments in
Human Behavior Experiments” and
Afghanistan where
the Academy Award-winning “Taxi
bombs exploded very
to the Dark Side,” about a taxi driver
in Afghanistan who was tortured and
near my house, and
killed at Bagram Air Base in 2002.
once a journalist
Gibney is president of Jigsaw was killed by someone
Productions an independent wearing chest
production company producing explosives at a spot
films, music documentaries and TV I had been just a few
miniseries. minutes before. So
there’s no question
A PARENT’S You’re not sure how you’re go- of the forest. As a young man, I
life. I wasn’t able to sleep, it was ing to get there, and you don’t was flailing around saying, “Oh Fear of failure and competition are
WORST FEAR know the path to reach the end, my God, we don’t know what still very much a driving force in
so consuming.
”
but by being confident or fooling the structure is! This is terrible!” my career. I recently read a book
yourself into a confidence that Sometimes I would impose a on sociobiology that changed my
I’m usually thinking more about
you’ll get there, it allows you to structure, to the film’s detriment. thinking about fear called “The
my family than I am about myself
go forward. If you visualize fail- It got me to a semi-finish line, Moral Animal” by Robert Wright.
in those moments, and although good school and you don’t know find the story or structure. It
ure in the forefront of your mind, but it wasn’t the best thing to He talks about how anxiety can
I’m concerned for my safety, I if you can keep a roof over their overwhelmed me to the point
heads, it’s a terrifying thought. where I felt paralyzed, unable to you’re done. You somehow have
certainly felt a responsibility for
to imagine yourself succeeding,
“
them. It’s much tougher to take These thoughts racked me with move forward. I was thrashing
those kinds of risks when people
are depending on you.
fear for many years and were
the worst moments of my life.
about in a desperate state, always
trying to find a way to the issue
which allows you to then move
onto a path of success. If you’re It overwhelmed me to the
I wasn’t able to sleep, it was so of the film. But in a documenta- lost in the woods and you pan-
ic, you get yourself into a much point where I felt paralyzed, un-
”
consuming. ry, you’re trying to discover the
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10 11
because they wouldn’t have fear sively and completely as possible. stories where I think some fun-
of failure as a motivator. Fear still damental wrong has been com-
motivates me - I imagine releas- When you’re done, you need to mitted. That kind of pisses you
ing a film and everyone walking envision that you’ll be judged off and makes you want to do
out saying, “What a joke.” The by other people. You don’t want something about it. I’m telling
worst thing is if people yawn and to spend too much time think- that story. I’m not worrying too
think, “Man, this is boring.” Just ing about what others think, but much about “Is Dick Cheney go-
because I’m at a certain level in you need to be aware of it. At ing to be angry with me?”
my career doesn’t mean the fear the same time, use yourself as a
has disappeared. But if it weren’t gauge. “Would I be interested in
there, I don’t think I could push this? Would I walk into a theater
myself to do the work. to watch this?” It helps to imagine
yourself as the audience of your
.................................. film.
WALK INTO
FEAR
If anything, fear makes me
“ work harder.
”
Jacqueline Novogratz A LOT OF ARMS TO
is the founder and CEO of CATCH YOU
Acumen Fund a nonprofit ven-
ture fund that uses entrepreneurial
I never felt too much
approaches to redefine solutions to
fear, even as a little
poverty. Acumen Fund finances en-
kid. My mother tells
trepreneurs who bring affordable
a story about when I
clean water, housing and health care
to the poor. Prior to Acumen Fund,
was 6 and how I really
Jacqueline directed The Philanthropy
wanted to walk
Workshop at the Rockefeller Founda- to school, because
tion and founded Duterimbere, a mi- the nuns cleaned
crofinance institution in Rwanda. Her the sacristy in the
book “The Blue Sweater” tells stories morning, and it was
of a new philanthropy, emphasizing about a mile away
bottom-up solutions over traditional from our house. To get
top-down aid. there...
“ Part of the
haps that’s the nature of being an
As a young person, the thing I entrepreneur - you can’t visual-
was most scared of was public
blessing of
ize failure, only success.
speaking. The first time I had to
talk to a big group of people, I
having a big
“ To me,
was absolutely terrified. I used to
practice my speeches 20 times if
family is that if it was a big one, and I’d be up
half the night working on it. Now
mediocrity
you fall down, I don’t practice at all unless it’s
really high stakes! But the more I
was always a
.................................. for anybody in a way that real-
ly matters. And if you are good
They’re motivating, containing
fears. The fear that will check you
catch you.
” ing down and
you need to accomplish with the
I just looked at it and thought, humility of knowing you’re a long
“It’s not about you. It’s about
LIMITLESS
having to pick
way from getting there.
giving a message to those peo- One of the fears of being suc-
ple out there. Your job is to go cessful is that perhaps you’ll lose POTENTIAL
Despite this, I would get really out there and be an instrument yourself back your humility. Another is that
you’ll move too far away from
I feel these fears every day. If any-
thing, it makes me work harder.
”
anxious about being the last kid and give love to this audience.” I
up. At some level, if I didn’t have Even as a young person, I’ve al-
talked myself into it, and then I’d the people that you’re ultimately
on the swim team. And some- ways believed that people are
serving and then be less effec- those fears, then I’d hope that
times I was the worst kid on the go and do it. It’s not that the fear capable of extraordinary things.
tive. A third fear, which abso- one of my friends would slap me.
swim team, but I just did it any- isn’t there; it’s a commitment to Human beings really do have un-
looking at the fear and walking lutely needs to be confronted, is
way. What put things into per- In Africa, there was a great deal limited potential, I have no doubt
that you’ll pay the price of losing
“
spective was after a race, when I through it. of uncertainty, and I wasn’t quite
One of the
about that. I believed in starting
some of your closest social rela-
realized I survived and felt much sure what my work’s role was ini- Acumen from the thought that
tionships, that you won’t be there
the same afterward as before. I .................................. tially. I questioned, “Should I be
fears of being
bridging charity and the market-
enough for family and friends,
was lucky because I had parents here? Am I doing the right thing? place could solve big problems
because you’re so focused on the
that said, “You can’t be good at Am I good enough for this?” But
ANYTHING BUT successful is
and that the world would recog-
mission that you’re trying to ac-
everything.” Part of the blessing again, maybe it’s entrepreneur- nize more and more how inter-
complish.
of having a big family is that if
you fall down, there are a lot of
MEDIOCRITY ship, maybe it’s leadership, may-
be it’s just getting things done in that perhaps
connected we are.
arms to catch you. the world. You look at that fear, Even if those work out, it’s still
To me, mediocrity was always and you just kind of walk into it. possible you won’t be good
you’ll lose your
”
a much bigger fear than falling You don’t let it paralyze you. enough, that you won’t even
humility.
..................................
down and having to pick yourself know if you’re successful or if
back up. It felt much worse. you’re really changing the world
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THE BLANK
16 17
SHEET OF
PAPER
There isn’t much to be afraid of
“ besides failure.
”
Michael Paterson IMMERSE YOURSELF
is Creative Director at Ogilvy and
Mather Advertising in New York. He Fear is a blank sheet of
started as an account executive in paper. It’s hard to face
London after earning his masters the question, “Where
in modern languages from Oxford do you start?” as a
University. After living in Paris for creative professional.
six years, he came to New York and You address that by
progressed up the corporate ladder, making sure you’re
rising to management supervisor. In
armed with all the
2000, he abandoned his corporate
resources you can
career and, after studying nights and
possibly have. That
weekends and creating his portfolio,
means being swamped
began a new one as an art director at
Ogilvy. Michael has created extensive
in art and culture,
advertising campaigns for clients
and really being
such as IMB, Motorola, Cotton, Inc., knowledgeable about
and Lenovo. what’s going on.
FAILURE: GIVE
before I became an art director as doing and thinking creatively.
FROM
These uncertain times are a huge
a negative thing. If I hadn’t done You must actually generate ideas
IT A GO
opportunity for people. There are
that, I don’t think I would have
DARKNESS TO rationale for staying in business,
a lot of people who don’t like what
they do who can now choose to
the drive or enjoyment for what
as well as develop them in others,
because if you lose that connec-
SUNLIGHT so confronting my fear was the
only option.
reevaluate how they spend their There really isn’t much to be
I do now. That experience of not
doing what I loved makes this
tion to the blank sheet of paper,
you cease to become a creative
time. People will speak to me afraid of besides failure, and time that much more valuable. I person. The best creative people
Before this job I was doing some- and ask, “What do you do?” When what is failure anyway? If you try
The transition when I gave it all look at everything from that per- are the ones who continue to do
thing entirely different, so I know I say I’m an art director, I can’t something and it doesn’t work, is
up was a very exciting moment spective, that you’ve got to go those two things as they become
the difference between being a tell you how many times they’ve that really a failure? If you cause
of flowering in my life. Really, it one step at a time and learn from more successful. I couldn’t wake
creative professional and being responded, “Oh, that sounds like a problem for somebody else or
was like the sun coming out af- each experience. up and get to work every day if
stuck in a job you’re not sure is fun. What’s it like?” And I tell you harm someone, that’s dif-
ter a huge long period of dark- them how I love getting up in the I didn’t have that motivating me.
right for you. I’ve always been ferent. But I always have in the
ness. I thought to myself, “You morning and can’t wait to come .................................. The reason I come in is the ability
creative, even as a kid, always had back of my mind, “Well, at least
only live once,” and to me it to work, which doesn’t even feel to create something.
an interest in art and photogra- nobody died, it’s not that big a
meant, “Why not actually live?”
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20 21
FOLLOW
YOUR
HEART
You must keep utilizing what
“ works for you.
”
Tom Kelly
At the age of 24,
entered the Self-Realization Fellow-
ship monastic order, taking vows of
simplicity, chastity, and obedience.
There, he spent the next 25 years as
B efore I went
into the ashram
I was in college,
taking all the religion
a monk steeped in meditation and and spiritual classes
humanitarian service. In 1999, Tom I could. I knew there
left the monastic life to expand his was something in
training and share his self-transfor-
my life that I had to
mation with others. He founded the
Soul Center in Encinitas, Califor- understand – and in
nia, where he brings Raja Yoga college the knowledge
to the community through classes, was just pumping in
spiritual coaching and meditation.
Tom is an inspirational speaker who
from the inside-out – I
travels worldwide to teach the trans- didn’t feel it was right
formative power of yoga. for me. I realized that I
wanted to try to lead
the life of a monastic...
“
learn the life of a monastic and to stay close to peace and out of
I didn’t
“
had my heart set on a particular fear. It sure won’t be easy, but
ashram. After a long year of wait-
I had so much fear in my THE DOORS nothing of value is ever achieved
ing on the wait list, I followed my
know from one CLOSED easily.
heart into the ashram and was
mind about whether I’d be able
day to the next BEHIND ME
”
very excited about going in. The
to live this life...
“
I don’t be-
day I arrived, I was over the moon
because I knew this was my life’s
how I was go- When I came into the ashram, the
purpose, and I couldn’t believe I
was actually in. After waiting for
ing to make it biggest fear in my mind was the lieve we’re put
in situations
fear of living in the strict envi-
”
so long, it was wonderful.
through. ronment and of leaving my fam-
”
plan, so I thought, “This guy’s a
my head.
soul, it’s no cakewalk, because
mind reader!” So I asked him if he Nothing made sense to me. Noth-
there’s a force in this world that
was. ing. It was so hard to live with the
opposes the good, and as soon
decision I made, and it felt like
as we get serious about evolv-
life or death - just plain survival.
The second day, however, my “It’s written all over your face,” ing our consciousness, that force
I didn’t know from one day to the
head started to get in the way. I he said. Then he explained to me gets more active. But I don’t be-
next how I was going to make it
started to question: “Is this really logically that it didn’t make sense lieve we’re put in situations that
through. All I relied on was guts
right for me? This is really serious. to wait so long to come into the are truly too much for us, even
and faith, the things that got me
What have I just done? There’s no ashram and then leave after two though we think they are. There’s
in there. I actually cried a lot of
turning back from here.” I knew days. “Why don’t you just give us a spiritual guidance team behind
tears that first year.
that this way of life was some- one year here and see if you’re everything, orchestrating what’s
thing you couldn’t just do half- not happier at the end of the going on. They’re aware that if
way - that it was going to be very year,” he said. It sounded logical, I think God wanted me inside we have to go through some bad
demanding for me personally. So and being so young and scared, I the door, with 15 other people, karma, they’ll put us in a situa-
I started to doubt my decision. didn’t have a rational argument, in a very intense environment, tion where we’ll face it and be-
I doubted all day and the strife so I said, “I’ll give it one year.” because he knew I wouldn’t be come much stronger than what’s
kept building and building all day Now, that still didn’t take any of able to leave even though I really coming at us.
long and even into the night, to the doubts or pain away, and the wanted to. The only way is to just
the point where I couldn’t sleep fears didn’t go away, but it did follow your heart, regardless of
After my first year I had another
that night because my heart was help me to at least commit for what your head, your habits, or
meeting with the head monk and
eclipsed by so much fear. I had one year. Only now do I realize the world, say to you. That’s how
he asked, “Well, are you happier?”
so much fear in my mind about that it was part of what I needed you’ll be victorious. You have to
And I had to say yes. I was hap-
whether I’d be able to live this to go through early in my life - to have “counter-intelligence,” and
pier. Perhaps because of a deeper
life, whether I was disciplined face my fears head on - and I had counter the things that seem like
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24 25
“ As soon
“ I looked
conscious awareness and skills down that day have come true ment to the next if we’re going
so that when you face some un- since I left. Not one has materi- to be alive or if our loved ones
cakewalk.
” down.
”
of fear, so that you can prepare down the opposite of your fears.
“
Fear and
yourself for when you do. You’ll probably realize that that’s
who you really are, and then fol-
commitment to my soul, which
had given me clarity and courage
I thought, “There’s no way I can
low that. Then always follow that.
Always follow your heart even if courage are
constructed
leave here. I have to stay.” What’s
“
it makes absolutely no sense to
You have
to follow my heart in the past, I
interesting is that even though I your head. Follow and trust love.
was able to keep my fears at bay I’m talking about doing it right
”
year after year for 25 years, and ever you’re at and whatever
entity...
time; I just thought they were mind that leads you straight to
ing what you
as long as I was happier each you’re doing. There’s no time to
feelings guiding me to stay in where you need to go.
year, then that way of life was waste. The good times are a time
the ashram – rational feelings, I
”
lusion, we are truly empowered.
you.
to bank on your soul. It’s the re-
BALE HAY pository, the center of the wealth Then one morning I looked at
each fear, every single one, and MOVIE When you turn inward, toward
your soul, you gain a power un-
WHILE You need to have the eye of the
of the universe. That’s the pro-
active approach to dealing with wrote the opposite of each one daunted by the “reality” of life.
THE SUN IS tiger and sense the finish line fear. down. After I wrote the first one,
I couldn’t believe how all of the
We live on a planet of change, of
duality. There’s birth and death,
SHINING
even though it might be lifetimes I still feel fear sometimes, but my
away. There’s a saying, “Bale hay sudden my heart felt lighter just sickness and health, youth and 35 years of spiritual effort has
.................................. by writing it down. I felt that
while the sun is shining,” so when age, sadness and happiness all shown me that fear can be the
things get rough, there’s no lev- when I wrote the opposite of each built into the human condition. greatest thing to help turn your
I have a lot of tools, sharpened
over many years, to recognize eling out. There’s no status quo THE OPPOSITE fear, it almost reminded me, “Oh,
that’s who I am. This fear isn’t
We don’t know from one mo- attention toward light –a great
fear and to practice things that
offset fear almost instantaneous-
on the spiritual path. You have to
have a “go-for-it” attitude, take OF FEAR who I am, this idea beyond my
motivator to change our focus
from the illusion of our world to
“
fear is who I am.” So I proceeded
We feel fear
ly. But that doesn’t mean that it advantage of every opportunity the potential we have within.
of good health and every oppor- When the time came that I seri- to do every single one like that,
doesn’t come back, and when
the pages upon pages of fears I
because it’s
it does, I use another tool. You tunity to meditate, because that’s ously considered leaving the ash- I try to keep my focus on that
what abundance is about. It’s the ram after 25 years, I went on a had written down. By the time I
have to keep utilizing what you thought every day. As soon as I
finished the last one, I knew: “It’s
our funda-
have and what works for you, and abundance of all those wonderful month-long retreat. I started hav- forget that truth, I’m in fear. As
efforts put in over a long period ing significant fears about leav- absolutely time to leave the Ash-
once you find them, using them soon as you choose anything but
ram.”
mental human
becomes 100 percent the focus. of time that store up amazing ing the ashram after being there truth, you’re in delusion, and in
Then you build up a bank account grace when you need it. for so long, and I started journal- delusion there’s fear. It’s that
right.
”
of amazing, wonderful energy, ing my fears in a notebook. After What’s really interesting is that clear-cut - there isn’t much gray.
nearly filling an entire notebook, none of those fears that I wrote
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26 27
You either choose the positive lives. Sometimes we’re so over- handle them and grow – to teach
thought and mitigate the fear, or whelmed by challenges and dif- us lessons, not to defeat us.
you choose the negative thought ficulties that we don’t realize that
and remain in the darkness of everything is still divvied up by Now, I’m approaching almost 40
fear. We’ve all been hypnotized to God. We’re only given as much years of steady spiritual living, 25
forget how to do this. It has to be as we can handle to grow but years in the monastery and when
a practice of remembrance – of never enough to smash us. I be- I’m in a state of grace, I’m fear-
steady focus. We don’t just need lieve that our trials to come to us less. And I know for a fact that
reminders every now and then, in moments when we’re able to sincere effort brings grace. Grace
we need to initiate the willpower comes when you are totally, sin-
to remember all the time. This cerely wanting to know truth,
“
constant practice is something
We’re only
from wanting to be a good per-
anyone can do. son, from wanting to do the right
given as much
thing. It’s all in degrees. So the
.................................. more that you make steady, daily
as we can han-
progress and give daily remind-
STATE OF
ers to yourself, the more fearless
”
We should recognize that there’s
a divine orchestration behind our to smash us..
RESPONSE
ABILITY
THE ROOM A FEELING OF “We just came off a lower
floor, and there was flames
FALLS APART CALM and smoke. We’ve got to go
up higher.”
The first 10 seconds after the When the building came back
plane hit our building, the to vertical, I felt that I was ..................................
room fell apart. For five or six physically fine and I could
seconds, the building swayed
towards the Hudson River
think rationally. I could walk
about freely, I wasn’t trapped,
SCREAMING
about 6 feet, and then it came and I had my flashlight with FOR HELP
back to vertical and stopped. me. I had this feeling - not
During that oscillation, I was calmness, but optimism. I
I tried listening to this woman
terrified that the building was had a sense of certainty that
but was interrupted by hear-
going to fall over. I would be OK.
ing this banging noise and
muffled screaming. I shut
After the first plane hit, we Since the ’93 bombing, I had my eyes and tried to concen-
weren’t sure that it was a hi- volunteered to be a fire mar- trate on what I was hearing.
jacking. We knew it was se- shal on our floor, so I felt a Turns out it was a stranger
vere, because we could look responsibility to help people screaming for help on floor
up next door and see ma- evacuate and get to a safe 81. I left our group to go and
jor damage, but we really zone. I led a group of seven help, even though it pulled
thought it was an accident or people down the west hall- me out of the group of peo-
just a one-off situation. But way to the center core where ple I was leading down the
our tower was hit 17 minutes we began our descent down stairs. They turned around
afterward, and then I knew in stairway. The plan was to go and went upstairs, doing
an instant that it was terror- to the center, find a stairway what they thought was best
ism. and start our descent. It was and listening to that woman,
only three floors down when and I was now focused on go-
.................................. a woman came up the stairs ing to get this stranger. After
and stopped us, blocked us some probing in the smoky
from going further. She said, darkness, I found the man
sense of cer-
her story, but they didn’t make it
I went in on the 81st floor with
out. I only heard her talk for 10
a co-worker of mine named
tainty that
seconds as she blocked us from
Ron DiFrancesco. Ron was in
going down the stairs.
my group of six or seven that I
OK.
”
a lot of stories would be differ- smoke. We were walking slowly.
ent. I would have led that group It took awhile to move a short
down, we would have dug our distance just because it was dark
way through the debris, but Stan- and so full of smoke that we re-
When we came back to the stairs, ley would have been stuck where ally didn’t know where we were
I didn’t see any flames that the
going. We were just responding
woman had mentioned, so I went
to this stranger’s voice. Halfway
“
down to investigate with this
new friend of mine. Stanley and
I picked our way through the de-
That’s how it there, Ron, who was right beside
me, was completely overcome by
bris, through the 81st and past unfolded in that smoke. Stanley, who I hadn’t met
yet, was screaming, “Help, I’m
”
the 78th floors. There were some
flames in the wall, but we just
kept going. At the 74th floor, all
moment. buried, I can’t breathe,” and Ron,
who was 2 feet away from me,
was just sputtering, completely
of a sudden, we were in normal
overwhelmed and gasping for
conditions. The lights were on, he was and he would have died. oxygen. But somehow, around
and there was fresh air. There It’s bizarre to think about. me was this bubble of fresh air,
was about an inch of water flow-
like I was in a space helmet or a
ing underfoot from some bro-
I went because my grandmother diver’s mask. Ron left me, went
ken pipes, but once we got to
back to the stairs and went up.
“
instilled some simple values in
Despite my NO
the 74th, I remember thinking, Ron said he was almost asleep
me, and I put myself in Stanley’s He caught up to the other peo-
“We’re fine. We’ll just walk out of when he heard a voice within him
ple who were walking up, while I
ONE DREAM
floor and got Stanley. thing. He said he knew that he
really needed help. So in I went.
been blessed
.................................. had to see his wife and children
again, so he fought his way back
That’s how it unfolded in that Ron actually survived. He went up
with the ability Despite
to the stairs through the smoke.
A CRITICAL
my experience, I’ve been
moment. My friends didn’t make to the 91st floor, 10 floors higher.
The first upper floors weren’t blessed with the ability to fall
DECISION
a bad decision; they just made an That’s where he caught up to ev-
to fall asleep
obstructed; about 80 or 81 was asleep when my head hits the
unfortunate one. They were given erybody, and they said they were
where the damage started, and pillow. I don’t have nightmares
information at the time, and they starting to lie down on the floor
when my head about
Ron picked his way through the that day or anything like
In retrospect, the dilemma I was accepted what she was saying. thinking they could get fresh air
debris as Stanley and I had done that, but I did have one dream of
trying to understand in that ear- Maybe if I had stayed in that con- closer to the floor. He said people
hits the pil-
earlier. He ended up following us significance. September 11th was
lier moment was, “Should I lis- versation I could have convinced started falling asleep. That was
down and out of the building. a Tuesday, and on the following
”
ten to the woman or go to help everyone to go down and not up. the phrase he used. They were
the stranger?” If I were someone
else, I wonder if I would have
I don’t know. unconscious.
.................................. low. Monday night, I fell into a dream
where I was lying in my bed with
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32 33
my head off the pillow. To the
foot of my bed came José Mar-
peared. About two seconds later,
my alarm went off. And from that NO DOUBT from New York Telephone. Our
tech staff used the equipment to
the ones doing the comforting.
So we all went on never know-
Board of Governors of Opportu-
nity International (http://www.
rero. moment, I knew that José was create a makeshift trading floor. ing when that emotion was going opportunity.org), a global enter-
fine and my co-workers were Any doubts about my faith evap- to hit us or who it was going to prise that provides micro-busi-
fine, and I have had no trouble orated after that dream. I was hit next. And we did it together ness loans to the poorest of the
“
Stanley and I had passed José on
the stairs on the 68th floor - he
was walking up. He’s the only
telling this story. raised a Protestant Christian, and
of course it’s natural to question the rest of – much easier than trying to do
it alone.
poor in 29 developing countries.
In 2004, Brian was the recipi-
person that Stanley and I saw in
the stairs in our entire decent.
what’s real and what’s possible,
but now, I just have absolutely no us managed to .................................. ent of the Norman Vincent Peale
Award for Positive Thinking.
”
THE
body overtook us. There were no
firemen or policemen walking up
to question
been accused of being an opti-
to recover.
the stairs. We didn’t see anybody mist, so it’s kind of natural for
me to continue that optimism. AFTERMATH
what’s real and
with this one exception. I said,
“José, where are you going?” He It’s not new, but it is reinforced. Two weeks after moving into the
For the next five years, until his
what’s possi-
said, “I can hear Dave Vera up temporary office, we had coun-
above, he’s on the walkie-talkie .................................. selors on the floor. We were go- retirement in August 2006, Brian
served as president of The Euro
ble, but now, I RECOVERY
helping people. I’m going up to ing to group sessions and indi-
help him.” He didn’t come back vidual therapy. Only a few people Brokers Relief Fund, a public
charity that continues to finan-
just have abso-
down. couldn’t come back to work. For
them, it was and remains a great cially support the families of his
company’s 61 victims.
lutely no doubt 11, our company had a meeting
But a week later, José came to Less than a week after September difficulty.
the foot of my bed in my dream.
death.
”
- just José with this lovely smile can and financially help the fami- any given day, Susie would break Wyckoff Reformed Church and is
that he was known for. I looked lies of our victims. We lost 61 down, and five or six people in on the Board of Trustees at New
at him and I was almost accusa- people out of 250 employees in her immediate area would come Brunswick Theological Seminary,
tory. I said, “José, you’re alive! our World Trade Center office. to her area and say, “That’s OK, where he also chairs the Invest-
How did you do that? You fooled Susie, we’re here together,” and ment Advisory Council. In addi-
everybody. That’s amazing!” He then the next day it would be tion, he is on the
We were fortunate. Prudential
didn’t respond to me, other than .................................. Securities gave us a full floor of Harry who would break down,
a smile and a nod of the head. He one of their office buildings. Dell and Susie would now be one of
conveyed a message, without him came in with computers from
verbalizing it, of “You’ll figure it their warehouse. We got support
out.” So, I stared at him for an-
other second or two, and then I
shut my eyes and shook my head.
In that split second, he disap-
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34 35
Having been an EMT, I thought I instead of mine for a minute. death. The destruction. Losing
could help and I walked towards co-workers, some of them great
the Trade Centers. No one could It stopped me worrying about friends. We were supposed to
get too close as it was blocked my own life, and I thought, “I’ve launch new software that morn-
off. We’re standing there, and I got to help this other person,” ing, and one of the guys who just
remember looking up and seeing because he was whimpering and had a baby said, “You don’t have
smoke coming out of the second crying. Even though I don’t have to come in. My kid gets me up,
building and that another plane kids, I went into a protective, nur- I’ll be here at 7 a.m.” On Monday
had hit, and then all of a sudden, turing mode, and it took my mind night, I watched the Giants foot-
the top of the second tower start- off of my own personal predica- ball game to the end. It went re-
ed to fall, and we started running ment. I felt stronger and some- ally late, so when my alarm went
away, and that’s when I really felt how, things started making sense off the next morning and I was
fear, when I thought this building in my head. The dust was making rushing to take the earlier bus,
was literally going to just collapse it impossible to see so I decided I thought, “Oh, others are there
on top of me. to follow the sound of breaking anyway. I don’t have to rush, I’ll
glass not knowing whether it was sleep in a bit more.” So I did that,
None of the other fear in my life an explosion or going to lead and that’s probably what ended
came to the extent of this. The to safety. Someone had broken up saving my life.
ash just overtook us – tumultuous open a window as several doors
dust and cement and asbestos on nearby buildings that we felt I don’t know if you ever make
and burning flesh, and you were for were locked. We both jumped sense of something like that.
inhaling it, not able to breathe. It through. Over time, you learn to accept
was pitch black, and you couldn’t it, but I’m not sure it ever to-
see your hand in front of you. While on that sidewalk, I re- tally goes away. There are days
People were walking the streets, member feeling that I got a little when I’ll get emotional and cry
crying, covered in gray toxic ash, strength from the thought that and days where I can talk about
everyone was scared to death. I my grandparents, and my father it like it happened to someone
was crawling on the sidewalk, who had already passed on, were else, but I don’t think you’re ever
thinking, “Oh, my God, they’re saying to me, “Get up! You can’t really over it. To this day, I have
going find my body and tell my die on the sidewalk!” Even just an emotional attachment that I’m
I
was on the bus when just in shock, and then think- mother, ‘Your daughter died the touch of another human be- not sure will ever go away. I’d say
on the streets of New York.’” So ing gave me courage to say, “I’m that by the end of August through
I saw smoke pouring ing that the top of the build- many thoughts go through your just not ready to die. It’s not my mid-September, I’m somewhat
mind. It dawned on me I was on a depressed every year. Last year
out of the buildings, ing could fall over, it was too sidewalk in NYC and within feet of
time. My life can’t be over yet.”
was the first time I went away
Something just kicked in.
and I just remember seeing much. I started screaming at me should be a door of a build- during that time to Italy, and on
ing. I realized I had to get inside the 11th, I hoped that being away
this five-story hole. I imme- the top of my lungs on this and out of the dust for clean air.
.................................. would help, but it didn’t. I woke
diately called the Help Line at bus that it was no small plane I heard another person crawling up crying about it and was mel-
work and a man named Calvin and they should all get out of
and whimpering and knew we had
to get up. I said, “Come with me,”
NOT TRAINED ancholy the whole day. No matter
where you are in the world, this
Dawson answered. He said he there. Then we got discon- to this man next to me, and I was FOR THIS day has a certain meaning, and
holding this complete stranger’s I think it’s just something that
was told it was a small six- nected. My cell phone no lon- hand, and I’m dragging him with I remember I had a lot of survi- I’ll live with the rest of my life. It
me. We’re both nervous, scared, was such emotional turmoil and
man plane that hit the other ger worked... but it helped me to have another
vor guilt. I kept thinking, “Why
so tragic. I wasn’t trained to be
am I alive and they’re dead?
building. At that point, I was person there and to be nurturing, Why was my friend up there?” It in the front line of war like sol-
worrying more about him than didn’t make any sense to me. The diers are, and even soldiers who
just me, to just focus on his fear go to war, no matter how much
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36 37
you try to train them, come back ery night for about a year after stairs, downstairs, outside, in-
traumatized. I don’t have anxiety my grandmother passed, and side, you ran down the stairs or
around it, there’s just a sadness. finally one morning I awoke real- you ran when the building was
izing I didn’t cry last night so I falling, it brought us together.
.................................. must finally be starting to heal. I To be honest, those are the only
still cried for a while but on and people who truly understand how
off as time passed, it got better. it affected my life that day.
YOU’RE YOUR
OWN BEST I embraced my pain, forcing my-
self to do things and go out, and
..................................
Karen
my family and friends, no mat- that just prolongs the agony. I
ter how traumatic the situation, find the more I really let myself
but more than that, I got cour-
age from my own inner strength.
feel it, the better it gets and the
less time it takes to get through
Preziosi worked as
There were weeks on end where it. I feel that that’s more realistic, the Vice President of infor-
if I didn’t get up and go to work, not courageous. What’s worked mation technology, financial
for me is to look it straight in
I lay in bed and cried. But slowly, and business software for
you get back to real life, and the eye and say, “Yes, I’m feeling
pain.” Lying in bed, wallowing in Maxcor / Euro Brokers Inc.,
over time, you get stronger. It
came from inside myself, and it and really looking at it directly located in 2 World Trade
although it took some time, I helped me get over it, although Center. The September 11,
started to feel like I could over- the transition was slow. But then
it’s two steps forward, one step
2001, attacks claimed the
come, that I could tune in to my
own inner strength and that it back the entire way. The first an- lives of 61 of the company’s
would get me through. niversary was the most difficult. employees. Karen volun-
It was like I had climbed 12 steps
teered to raise money for
up the healing ladder only to fall
You’re your own best friend, and
back down eleven of them. relief funds that stemmed
you’re the only person you can
from the tragedy and also
rely on 24/7. Even though some-
one else can talk to you, the truth .................................. produced a Euro Brokers
is, sometimes you just have to memorial website for her
go through the things you have
to go through. Everyone grieves
SHARING lost friends and colleagues,
differently, and you’ve got to find GRIEF which helped publish a re-
membrance book for the
your own way of getting through
it. Personally, and I believe this
I created a memorial website, families and friends on the
was true even before 9/11, I re-
which turned into a memorial first anniversary. Now Karen
ally needed to embrace the pain
book, and I think that hearing works in the voice brokering
of life and feel it to my
other people’s grief and talking
to them about it was therapeu-
division for BGC Partners.
core, like when my grandmother tic, in a way. Sharing grief with http://wtc.technol-
died in my arms. I believe you people at the company was help- ogyshoppe.com/
have to embrace the pain, make ful too, because although every-
love to the pain and that will get body’s story was so incredibly
you through the pain. I cried ev- different, whether you were up-
fear.less
I HAVE NO COMPETITION AND NO RIVALS.
EVERYBODY’S GOT THEIR OWN PACE, THEIR OWN
TRIP. I DON’T TRY TO KEEP UP. IF YOU DON’T TRY AND
KEEP UP, YOU JUST SOUND LIKE YOURSELF, WHICH
SHOULD SOUND LIKE THE MOMENT.
Grace Jones