Do we believe that there is equal economic opportunity out there in the real world right now for each and every one of these groups? If we believed in the tooth fairy if we believed in the Easter Bunny we might well believe that.

I've also committed my time and resources to many local organizations like Christmas in April Catholic Community Services and Hudson County Meals on Wheels.

Christmas gives us the opportunity to pause and reflect on the important things around us - a time when we can look back on the year that has passed and prepare for the year ahead.

There's an adage that is an apt description of the new dynamic at work between brands and consumers connected through social media: People support what they help to build. But now that many brands are launching community-driven cause marketing campaigns the challenge becomes what to do next?

The companies that make meaningful contributions while also listening to the voices of others are the ones that will genuinely engage their community who will then go to work for them.

Work with your competitors when the interest of the community and planet are at stake.

The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more.

I don't know that there is much the United States can do except work with the international community.

Luck? I don't know anything about luck. I've never banked on it and I'm afraid of people who do. Luck to me is something else: Hard work - and realizing what is opportunity and what isn't.

The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls looking like hard work.