Top
of Newsletter Archive
March
2005
What
have you learned in life?
I’ve
learned that:
You
can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.
We
are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.
You
can keep going long after you can’t.
Heroes
are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless
of the consequences.
Sometimes
when I’m angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn’t give me
the right to be cruel.
Maturity
has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you’ve
learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.
Friendship
continues to grow, even over the longest distance.
It
isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn
to forgive yourself.
Our
background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible
for who we become.
You
shouldn’t be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.
Your
life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don’t even know you.
Either
you control your attitude or it controls you.
The
people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.
Top
of Newsletter Archive
April
2005
OPTIMISM: The optimist sees opportunity in every danger; the pessimist sees danger in every
opportunity.
ATTITUDE: The environment you fashion out of your thoughts…your beliefs…your ideals…your
philosophy…is the only climate you will ever live in.
RISK: Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.
DEDICATION: The person who makes a success of living is the one who sees his goal steadily
and aims for it unswervingly. That is dedication.
DARE: One doesn’t discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore.
VISION: The future belongs to those who see possibilities before they become obvious.
FOCUS: Obstacles are the frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.
ACHIEVE: Start by doing what’s necessary, then do what’s possible, and suddenly
you are doing the impossible.
CHANGE: Each new season grows from the leftovers of the past. That is the essence of change,
and change is the essence of life.
TEAMWORK: Teamwork divides the task and doubles the success.
CONFIDENCE: Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and
magic in it.
COURAGE: The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them,
glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding go out to meet it.
INTEGRITY: In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like
a rock.
Top
of Newsletter Archive
May
2005
A
“no” uttered from deepest conviction is better and greater than a “yes”
merely uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble. (Mahatma Gandhi)
If
we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.
(Thomas Edison)
Virtue
does not always demand a heavy sacrifice – only the willingness to make it
when necessary. (Fredrick Dunn)
Great
discoveries and achievements invariably involve the cooperation of many minds.
(Alexander Graham Bell)
A
great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do. (Walter Gagehot)
Some
cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go. (Oscar Wilde)
A
good sense of humor is essential to deal with the world’s reality. (Anonymous)
An
error doesn’t become a mistake until you refuse to correct it. (Orlando A.
Battista)
If
you can count your money, you don’t have a billion dollars. (J. Paul Getty)
Some
succeed because they are destined to, but most succeed because they are determined
to. (Unknown)
The
people who make a difference are not the ones with the credentials, but the ones
with the concern. (Max Lucado)
Always
be a first rate version of yourself, instead of a second rate version of somebody
else. (Judy Garland)
I
have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work. (Thomas
A. Edison)
Research
is what I’m doing when I don’t know what I’m doing. (Wernher Von
Braun)
Top
of Newsletter Archive
June
2005
There
was a little boy with a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told
him to hammer a nail in the back fence every time he lost control.
The
first day the boy drove 37 nails into the fence. Then it gradually dwindled down.
He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into
the fence.
Finally the
day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. His father suggested
that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.
The
days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the
nails were gone. The father led his son to the fence.
“You
have done well, but look at the holes in the fence,” he said. “When
you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like the nail holes. You can put
a knife in a person and draw it out. It won’t matter how many times you say
‘I’m sorry,’ the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad
as a physical one.”
Top
of Newsletter Archive
July
2005
Your
words, your dreams, your thoughts have power to create conditions in your life.
What
you speak about, you can bring about.
If
you keep saying you can’t stand your job, you might lose your job.
If
you keep saying you can’t stand your body, your body can become ill.
If
you keep saying you can’t stand your car, it could be stolen or break down.
If
you keep saying you are broke, guess what? You will always be broke.
If
you keep saying you can’t trust a man or trust a woman, you will always find
someone in your life to hurt and betray you.
If
you keep saying you can’t find someone to love you, your very thoughts will
attract more experiences to confirm your beliefs.
Turn
your thoughts and conversations around to be more positive and power-packed with
faith, hope, love and action.
The following
is the philosophy of Charles Schultz, the creator of the “Peanuts” comic
strip. You don’t have to actually answer the questions. Just read straight
through and you’ll get the point.
1. Name the five wealthiest people
in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name
the last five winners of the Miss America contest.
4. Name ten people who
have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy
Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade’s
worth of World Series winners.
How did you do?
The
point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate
achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish.
Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
Here’s
another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided
your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through
a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4.
Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5.
Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
Easier?
The lesson:
The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials,
the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.
Don’t
be afraid to believe that you can have what you want and deserve.
Watch
your thoughts, they become words.
Watch
your words, they become actions.
Watch
your actions, they become habits.
Watch
your habits, they become character.
Watch
your Character, for it becomes your “Destiny.”
Top
of Newsletter Archive
August
2005
Your
words, your dreams, your thoughts have power to create conditions in your life.
What
you speak about, you can bring about.
If
you keep saying you can’t stand your job, you might lose your job.
If
you keep saying you can’t stand your body, your body can become ill.
If
you keep saying you can’t stand your car, it could be stolen or break down.
If
you keep saying you are broke, guess what? You will always be broke.
If
you keep saying you can’t trust a man or trust a woman, you will always find
someone in your life to hurt and betray you.
If
you keep saying you can’t find someone to love you, your very thoughts will
attract more experiences to confirm your beliefs.
Turn
your thoughts and conversations around to be more positive and power-packed with
faith, hope, love and action.
Don’t
be afraid to believe that you can have what you want and deserve.
Watch
your thoughts, they become words.
Watch
your words, they become actions.
Watch
your actions, they become habits.
Watch
your habits, they become character.
Watch
your Character, for it becomes your “Destiny.”
Top
of Newsletter Archive
September 2005
Two
Wolves
Cherokee
Wisdom
One
evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a
battle that goes on inside
people. He said, "My son, the battle is between 2 "wolves" inside
us all.
One
is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy,sorrow, regret,
greed, arrogance, self-pity,
guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false
pride, superiority, and ego.
The
other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence,
empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."
The
grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather:
"Which
wolf wins?"
The
old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."
Top
of Newsletter Archive
October 2005
It
had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and
life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit
of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think
about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working
on his future, and nothing could stop him.
Over
the phone, his mother told him, “Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral
is Wednesday.” Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as
he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.
“Jack,
did you hear me?”
“Oh,
sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It’s been so long since I thought of him. I’m
sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago,” Jack said.
“You
know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had
a man’s influence in your life,” she said.
“He’s
the one who taught me carpentry,” he said. “I wouldn’t be in this
business if it weren’t for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things
he thought were important…Mom, I’ll be there for the funeral,”
Jack said.
As
busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown.
Mr. Belser’s funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his
own, and most of his relatives had passed away.
The
night before he had to return home, Jack and his mom stopped by to see the old
house next door one more time. Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment.
It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time.
The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture,
every piece of furniture…Jack stopped suddenly.
“What’s
wrong, Jack?” his mom asked.
“The
box is gone,” he said.
“What
box?” Mom asked.
“There
was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked
him a thousand times what was inside. All he’d ever tell me was ‘the
thing I value most,’” Jack said.
It
was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except
for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.
“Now
I’ll never know what was so valuable to him,” Jack said. “I better
get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom.”
It
had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from work one day
Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. “Signature required on a package.
No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days,”
the note read.
Early
the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like
it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read,
but the return address caught his attention.
“Mr.
Harold Belser” it read.
Jack
took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the
gold box and an envelope. Jack’s hands shook as he read the note inside.
“Upon
my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It’s
the thing I valued most in my life.” A small key was taped to the letter.
His heart racing, as tears filled his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There
inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over
the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover.
Inside
he found these words engraved: “Jack, Thanks for your time! Harold Belser.”
“The
thing he valued most…was…my time.”
Jack
held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments
for the next two days.
“Why?”
Janet, his assistant asked.
“I
need some time to spend with my son,” he said.
“Oh,
by the way, Janet…thanks for your time!”
Top
of Newsletter Archive
November
2005
HAPPY
THANKSGIVING
RULE
1: Life is not fair – get used to it.
RULE
2: The world won’t care about your self-esteem. The world will
expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.
RULE
3: You will NOT make $40,000 a year right out of high school. You won’t
be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.
RULE
4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait ‘til you get a boss.
RULE
5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had
a different word for burger flipping – they called it opportunity.
RULE
6: If you mess up, it’s not your parents’ fault, so don’t
whine about your mistakes, learn from them.
RULE
7: Before you were born, your parents weren’t as boring as they
are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes
and listening to you talk about how cool you are. So before you save
the rain forest from the parasites of your parents’ generation,
try delousing the closet in your own room.
RULE
8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life
has not. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they’ll
give you the test as many times as you want to get the right answer.
This doesn’t bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real
life.
RULE
9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don’t get summers off
and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself.
Do that on your own time.
RULE
10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to
leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.
RULE
11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you’ll end up working for one.
Top
of Newsletter Archive
Happy
Holidays – Happy New Year!
A
man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year-old
son waiting for him at the door. “Daddy, may I ask you a question?”
“Yeah
sure, what is it?” replied the man.
“Daddy,
how much do you make an hour?”
“That’s
none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?” the man said
angrily.
“I
just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?”
pleaded the little boy.
“If
you must know, I make $20 an hour.”
“Oh,”
the little boy replied, with his head down. Looking up, he said, “Daddy,
may I please borrow $10?”
The
father was furious, “If the only reason you asked that is so you
can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then
you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about
why you are being so selfish. I work hard everyday for such childish
behavior.”
The
little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door. The man sat down
and started to get even angrier about the little boy’s questions.
How
dare he ask such questions only to get some money? After about an hour
or so, the man had calmed down, and started to think: Maybe there was
something he really needed to buy with that $10 and he really didn’t
ask for money very often. The man went to the little boy’s room
and opened the door.
“Are
you asleep, son?” he asked.
“No
Daddy, I’m awake,” replied the boy.
“I’ve
been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier,” said the man.
“It’s been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you.
Here’s the $10 you asked for.”
The
little boy sat straight up, smiling. “Oh, thank you Daddy!”
he yelled.
Then,
reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills. The
man, seeing that the boy already had money, started to get angry again.
The
little boy slowly counted out his money, then looked up at his father.
“Why
do you want more money if you already have some?” the father grumbled.
“Because
I didn’t have enough, but now I do,” the little boy replied.
“Daddy,
I have $20 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early
tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you.”
