Mitch Presnick: A Brooklyn Boy Goes To China

11/15/23 • 46 min

An American Entrepreneur Goes to China At the age of 14 Mitch told his uncle that he wanted to go to China. This Brooklyn-born teenager’s statement became his path to a business life that would challenge and change many Chinese business perceptions. After a stint with Anheuser-Busch, Inc. in China, Mitch became the founder of Super 8 Hotels and grew it to over 1,000 locations throughout the country. The route to growing an economy motel chain in China was full of bumps in the road, but Mitch cajoled, bargained, and made it all happen. That is a story in and of itself, one that we explore in the podcast. His entrepreneurial perspective took Mitch on many unexpected adventures. Today Mitch is a fellow at Harvard University where he advocates pragmatism in U.S./China relationships. Part of his relationship with Chinese culture extends to an exploration of Daoism, Confucian philosophy and Tibetan Buddhism. In addition, meditation has had a profound impact on his view of life. Mitch notes that: “Until you meditate, you don’t really understand that you can observe your thoughts. “ And that opens a path into a a greater life changing consciousness. This is an amazing conversation. Please join us. Follow Bump on:

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The Way of Wisdom: The Spiritual Warrior

What is a Spiritual Warrior? Where do we find wisdom, to guide and teach us, as we navigate this road trip called life? This is the first of a series about wisdom. For this inaugural podcast, I’ve invited award winning, best selling author Gary Hensel and Deborah Toyias Kozich to discuss some of Gary’s books. His books are a priceless compendium of wisdom. The sound quality isn't up to the usual standards (it was recorded on zoom) but the conversation is! IF you prefer, you can watch this on the website or on YouTube. Come watch (or listen) to learn more. Follow Bump on:

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Christina Kraft: A Doctor Learns To Heal

A Path to Integrative Medicine This is a story of loss, recovery and finding a new path forward. After years of education and work, Christina Kraft had established a successful dental practice. But her perfect plans for the perfect career were thwarted as nerve pain, bony structures and tissue inflammation meant that she could no longer continue in her beloved dentistry practice. This is what she was meant to do! How could she leave her practice? Where would she go? How would she earn a living? There was no business model for this and even less guidance on a professional level. Who was she if not a doctor? While she mulled over her future, Christina got a job the Miraval Resort in Arizona, teaching yoga and running hikes into the Sonoran mountains. Healing her own mind, body and spirit opened the door to her next step. She enrolled in Andrew Weil’s Center for Integrative Medicine where the curriculum included traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, Ayurveda, mind/body medicine, the role of mindfulness and spirituality and nutrition. It was a curriculum for medical professionals seeking to make a difference. “So my plan was to lean into what I love. And what came next started to emerge.” In an environment that resonated with her own mind/body/spirit experiences, Christina found a path forward. She is now starting a concierge business in integrative health where she can combine her experiences and wisdom in helping others. She reflects: “I’m a healer. I’m a health coach.” And so this phase of her journey is coming full circle, in a new business, with a new orientation, where she continues on a path towards true health. Follow Bump on: