Golden thoughts, ideas and emotions from great people

GET INSPIRED AND BE WISE 

          FROM THE FOLLOWING WORDS OF INSPIRATION

Did you ever stop to think that a dog is the only animal that doesn’t have to work for a living? A hen has to lay eggs, a cow has to give milk, and a canary has to sing. But a dog makes his living by giving you nothing but love.

I have known by some divine instinct that I can make more friends in two months by becoming genuinely interested in other people than I can in two years by trying to get other people interested in me.

Yet I know and you know people who blunder through life trying to wigwag other people into becoming interested in them.

If we want to make friends, let’s greet people with animation and enthusiasm.

Smile

Actions speak louder than words, and a smile says, “I like you. You make me happy. I am glad to see you.”

That is why dogs make such a hit. They are so glad to see us that they almost jump out of their skins.

I would rather walk the sidewalk in front of a person’s office for two hours before an interview than step into that office without a perfectly clear idea of what I was going to say and what that person from my knowledge of his or her interests and motives-was likely to answer. 

Philosophising

Physics

Be dynamic in thought

Be static in mind

Be optic in heart

Be electric in deed

Be sound in character

Mathematics

Add your friends

Subtract your enemies

Multiply your joys

Divide your anger

Albert Einstein observed, “ The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking. We were at when we created them.”

As we look around us and within us and recognize the problems created as we live and interact within the personality Ethic, we begin to realize that these are deep, fundamental problems that cannot be solved on the superficial level on which they were created.

We are what we repeatedly do.

Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.

-Aristottle

Our character, basically, is a composite of our habits. “Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

-Oliver Wendeu Holmes

You can tell people that they are wrong by a look or an intonation or a gesture just as eloquently as you can in words- and if you tell them they are wrong, do you make them want to agree with you? Never! For you have struck a direct blow at their intelligence, judgement, pride and self-respect. That will make them want to strike back. But it will never make them want to change their minds. You may then hurt at them all the logic of a Plato or an Immanual Kant, but you will not alter their opinions, for you have hurt their feelings.

Never begin by announcing, “ I am going to prove so-and-so to you.” That’s bad. That’s tantamount to saying:” I’m smarter than you are. I’m going to tell you a thing or two and make you change your mind.”

That is a challenge. It arouses opposition and makes the listener want to battle with you before you even start.

It is difficult, under even the most benign conditions, to change people’s minds. So why make it harder” Why handicap yourself?

If you are going to prove anything, don’t let anybody know it. Do it subtly, so adroitly, that no one will feel that you are doing it. This was expressed succinctly by Alexander Pope.

Men must be taught as of you taught them not. And things unknown proposed as things forgot. Over three hundred years ago Galileo said” you cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him to find it within himself.

As Lord Chesterfield said to his son: Be wiser than other people if you can; but don’t tell them so. Socrates said repeatedly to his followers in Athens: One thing only I know, and that is that I know nothing.

Well, I can’t hope to be any Smarter that Socrates, so I have quit telling people they are wrong. And I find that it pays. If a person makes a statement that you think is wrong-yes, even that you know is wrong-isn’t better to begin by saying: “well, now, look. I thought otherwise but I may be wrong. I frequently am. And if I am wrong, I want to be put right. Let’s examine the facts.” There’s magic, positive magic, in such phrases as: “ I may be wrong, I frequently am. Let’s examine the facts.”

Nobody in the heavens above or on the earth beneath or in the waters under the earth will ever object to your saying:” I may be wrong. We sometimes find ourselves changing our minds without any resistance or heavy emotion, but if we are told we are wrong, we resent the imputation and harden our hearts. We are incredibly heedless in the formation of our beliefs, but find ourselves filled with an illicit passion for them when anyone proposes to rob us of their companionship. It is obviously not the ideas themselves that are dear to us, but our self-esteem which is threatened… The little word “my” is the most important one in human affairs, and properly to reckon with it is the beginning of wisdom. It has the same force whether is it “my” dinner, “my” dog, and “my” house, or “my” father, “my” country, and “my” God.  We not only resent the imputation that our watch is wrong, or our car shabby, but that our conception of the canals of Mars, of the pronunciation of “Epictetus,” of the medical value of Salicin, or of the date of Sargon I (1^st) is subject to revision. We like to continue to believe what we have been accustomed to accept as true, and the resentment aroused when doubt it cast upon any of our assumption leads us to seek every manner of excuse for clinging to it. The result is that most of our so-called reasoning consists in finding arguments for going on believing as we already do.

When a study was made a few years ago on runway wives, what do you think was discovered to be the main reason wives run away? It was “lack of appreciation.” And I’d bet that a similar study made of runaway husbands would come out of the same way. We often take our spouses so much for granted that we never let them know we appreciate them.

A member of one of our classes told of a request made by his wife. She and a group of other women in her church were involved in a self-improvement programme. She asked her husband to help her by listing six things he believed she could do to help her become a better wife. He reported to the class: “I was surprised by such a request. Frankly, it would have been easy for me to list six things I would like to change about her-my heavens, she could have listed a thousand things she would like to change about me-but I didn’t. I said to her, ‘let me think about is and give you and answer in the morning.”

“The next morning I got up very early and called the florist and had them send six red roses to my wife with a note saying: “ I can’t think of six things I would like to change about you. I love you the way you are.

“When I arrived at home that everything, who do you think greeted me at the door: That’s right. My wife! She was almost in tears. Needless to say, I was extremely glad I had not criticized her as she had requested.

“ The following Sunday at Church, after she had reported the results of her assignment, several woman with whom she had been studying come up to me and said, ‘That was he most considerate thing I have ever heard.’ It was then I realized the power of appreciation.”

There is nothing else that so kills the ambitions of a person as criticisms from superiors. I never criticize anyone. I believe in giving a person incentive to work. So I am anxious to praise but loath to find fault. If I like anything, I am hearty in my approbation and lavish in my praise.

“There is nothing I need so much as nourishment for my self-esteem” –Alfred Lunt

We nourish the bodies of our children and friends and employees, but how seldom do we nourish their self-esteem? We provide them with roast chicken and potatoes to build energy, but we neglect to give them kind words of appreciation that would sing in their memories for years like the music of the morning stars. 

Benjamin Franklin, tactless in his youth, became so diplomatic, so adroit at handling people, that he was made American Ambassador to France. The secret of this success? “ I will speak ill of no man,” he said, “ ….and speak all the good I know of everybody.”

Any food can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do.  But is takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving.

Bernard Shaw once remarked: “ If you teach a man anything, he will never learn.” We learn by doing. So, if you desire to master the principles you are studying in this book, do something about them. Apply these rules at every opportunity. If you don’t, you will forget them quickly. Only knowledge that is used sticks in your mind.

The life of many people could probably be changed if only someone would make him feel important.

The unvarnished truth is that almost all the people you meet feel themselves superior to you in some way, and a sure way to their hearts is to let them realize in some subtle way that you realize their importance, and recognize it sincerely.

Don’t

To get a better position, you need a better disposition.

Don’t get into the habit of arriving late at work every morning. If you can arrive consistently late, it is just as easy to arrive in time.

Don’t continually ask your employer for permission to come late.

Don’t be clock-watcher. If overtime work is occasionally unavoidable, do it with a willing heart.

Don’t try to pass the blame on to others when you make mistakes.

Don’t show bitterness if you are blamed for making a mistake.

Don’t gossip about the other people if your office.

Don’t make unnecessary complaints. If you have a genuine complaint, make sure you put into the right person.

Don’t give confidential information to other members of the staff of worse to outsiders.
Don’t make a large number of telephone calls during the working hours and if your friend rings up, don’t waste hours of your employer’s time chatting to him.

Don’t pick up and read letters, accounts or anything of a private nature lying on a colleague’s desk.

Don’t be a slave to your superiors or arrogant towards inferiors. Maintain your dignity and self-respect and exhibit a regard for the feelings of other people.

-Courtesy “Inspirational Quote”

MOST SUCCESSFUL MAN

The most successful man in this world is the one who thinks positively. The richest person is one whose needs are minimum. The strongest man is the one who has an unshakeable faith in God. The greatest man is the one who is above fear. The large hearted is one who has compassion for fellow human beings who forgives the wrong doer and helps the needy. The healthiest man is the one who keeps himself occupied all the time.

-Holaram Hans

YOU MUST NOT TRUST EVERY WORD

“You must not trust every word or impulse, but cautiously and patiently weigh the matter “perfect man do not easily believe every tale-taller; for they know human weakness is prone to evil, and every opt to slip in speech.

“It is great wisdom not to be rash in what is to be done, and not to insist on our won opinion.

“It is a part of this wisdom, also not to believe everything men say, nor straightway to pour into the ears of others what we have heard or believed.

“Take counsel of wise and conscientious man, and seek rather to be instructed by one who is better, than to follow your own inventions.”

-Thomas A Kempis

WHEN THINGS SEEM WORST, YOU MUST NOT QUIT

When things go wrong, as they something will, when the road you are trudging seems all uphill, when the finds are low and the debt are high, and you what to smile, but you have to sigh, when care is pressing you down a bit rest if you must, but don’t you quit life is queer with its twists and turns. As everyone of us sometimes learns, and many a fellow turns about when he might have won had he stuck it out. Don’t give up though the pace seems slow.

You many succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than it seems to a faint and faltering man; Often the struggler has given up when he night have captured the victor’s cup. And he learned too later when one night came down, how close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out.

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt and you never can tell how close you are, it may be near when it seems afar; so stick to the fight when you are hardest hit. It is when things seem worst that you must not quit.

HOPE LIGHTS A CANDLE

Hope looks for the good in people instead of harping on the worst.

Hope opens doors where despair closes them.

Hope discovers what can be done instead of grumbling about what cannot.

Hope draws its power from a deep trust in God and the basic goodness of mankind.

Hope sets big goals and is not frustrated by repeated difficulties or setbacks.

Hope pushes ahead when it would be easy to quit.

Hope puts up with modest gains, realizing that ‘the longest journey starts with one step.’

Hope accepts misunderstandings as the price for serving the greater good of others.

Hope ‘lights a candle’ instead of ‘cursing the darkness’.

-Sunshine

IF

If a leader makes a mistake, it is a New Movement.

If an Engineer makers a mistake, it is a New Construction.

If a Filmmaker makes a mistake, it is a New Trend.

If a Scientist makes a mistake, it is a New Invention.

If a Musician makes a mistake, it is a New Tune.

If a Tailor makes a mistake, it is a New Fashion.

If a Painter makes a mistake, it is a Modern Painting.

If a Barber makes a mistake, it is a New Style.

-        “ Bhavan’s Institute of English Hanamkonda”

SET STANDARDS AND DEMAND EXCELLENCE

Your must set priorities. I always remember my father said, ‘your heath comes first; without that you have nothing.”

Your need an ability to grab hold of tough problems and not delegate them. It is not fair to allow the person below you take the brunt of making the hard decisions.

Set and demand standards of excellence. Anybody who accepts mediocrity in school, on the job, in life is a person who compromises.

You need a sense of urgency. It is absolutely better to do something, recognizing that it may not be the right thin but better than do nothing at all.

Pay attention to details. Getting the facts is the key to good decision-making.

You need commitment. You can always pick out the person who has a commitment.

Do not waster your time worrying about things you cannot do anything about.

You need the ability to fail. I am amazed at the number of organisations that were set up and the environment where they do not permit their people to be wrong.

Be tough fair with people. Being though means setting standards and demanding performance.

CONQUER FEAR AND YOU CAN COMMAND YOUR DESTENY

Imagination plays a very great part in producing fear. Man lives in constant fear and restless. He is afraid of accidents, disease, dishonour and separation from dear ones and death.

Try to find the cause of fear. Weak will is the main cause. Timidness and fear go together. Fear chills the heart and turns the hairs grey. Fear breeds fear. Fear turns a king into a beggar. Fearlessness turns a beggar into a king. Never entertain even a single thought of fear. Fear kills a man many times before his actual death.

Fearlessness is the greatest virtue. Fear is the greatest vice.

Do not cause fear in any heart. Do not become a course of fear for anyone. Be simple. Be loving, cheerful and compassionate.

Counteract fear by entertaining thoughts of courage, boldness, cheerfulness and faith in Divine.

-Swami Jyotirmayananda

Universal Brotherhood

Man is bringing planets together but himself is moving away from his neighbour. He has been working hard to conquer nature but does not even attempt to know about himself. Communications have brought various countries nearer, but the geographical boundaries are spreading to keep them apart further. He has set his feet on the Moon but has miserably failed to peep into the depths of his own mind. He is trying to become a master of nature but is lowering himself as a slave to his passions. Science and technology are growing fast, but scientific thinking and humanitarian outlook are disappearing faster from mankind.

Man is ignoring human values to achieve his selfish desires for power, honour, fame and excellence. Humanity continues to be divided by religion, race, caste, and creed. Economy, which could have bound men together, is creating permanent barrier among them, resulting in a class struggle between haves and have-nots.

Today we witness the unhappy spectacles of man using his achievements in science and technology to further his division. Science that could help and speed up his prosperity is being misused against humanity. Technology, which would help him earn bread, butter and comforts, is being used to threaten the peaceful existence of man of earth.

Sectarian outlook and selfish desires are a threat to peace in the world. Man should realize that there is only one race on earth. The human race, that there is only one religion-the religion of humanity, that there is only one sentiment worth nourishing-the sentiment of Universal Brotherhood and that there is only one hobby worth pursuing-the hobby of service. Once man realises this, a sense of oneness of human race will be roused in him.

COURAGE IN FACING LIFE

Do not think you are defeated because this time  you have failed.

Do recognize that tomorrow is another day. Next time you may do better.

Do not think failure means you are not good enough.

Do recognize that the important thing is to learn from it.

Do not think that because you want something, or want to do something, it automatically becomes possible.

Do recognize the Vital importance of being practical and sensible about yourself and your ambitions.

Do not think that a big success counts all that much.

Keep a sense of proportion about yourself and what you do so that you are neither unduly depressed nor too happy by what others say.

Do not think other people are more capable than you are.

Do recognize your possibilities. Make a list of your good points. Believe in yourself. Do recognize that a great source of courage, as well as comfort in trouble is to be sympathetic about other people. It makes you determined to fight on for their sake.

Do not think other people should encourage you, support you, and come to your aid.

Do recognize how your courage can be undermined when you are relying on others. Try to rely on yourself.

Never believe that a shattering experience like bereavement or crippling disability is the end of the road.

Do recognize that you owe it to yourself and to others to be brave enough to try to build a new life. Do remember that nobody who loved you would want you to lose hope.

LIFE AT ITS BEST

Why don’t you say to yourself, “I want life at its best. I am going to have it, and I know how to get it.”

Shake out of your mind every negative, depressed, hateful thought; every old disbelief in yourself and in your future. God put you and me into this world to make something of ourselves. We must never forget it. If you have lost the zeal for it and the dynamism of it, get it back.

-Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

TO INCREASE YOUR HAPPINESS

If you like to increase our happiness and prolong life, forget our neighbour’s faults. Forget all the unkind remarks you hear each day.

Forget the temptations. Forget all fault-finding and give a little thought to the cause which provoked it. Forget the short-comings of your friends and only remember the good points which make your fond of them.

Forget all the personal quarrels or histories you may have heard by accident, and which, if repeated, would seem a thousand times worse than they really are.

Give up as far as possible all the disagreeables of life; they will come, but will only grow larger when you remember them and the constant thought of the acts of meanness, or worse still, ill-will only tend to make you more familiar with them.

-Cleremont Herald

KEEP THE MIND FULLY OCCUPIED

Worry does great harm to the body and the mind. Energy is wasted by worry. It drains the vitality of man. Nothing is gained by worry-habit. Be vigilant. Keep the mind fully occupied. The habit will be eradicated. Keep the Divine Flame burning steadily. Have strong determination and strong will. Have courage, fixity of mind and a definite purpose of life. Be not wavering.

-Swami Sivananda

LIVING IS AN ART

These days as young people develop and mature they tend to turn their interest to a few specific things, whereas when younger, they found interest in all things around them.

A young housewife once visited psychologist William Moulton Marston, for help in coping with living. He suggested ten new experiences, simple but meant variety, namely, skating with her children, needle work, reading Dickens, listening to music, buying new records, attending a show with her husband and creating a new dish every week without using a recipe book. Marston felt that for anyone to couch life at least even new points would bring happiness.

Many people will complain they just have no time for many extra activities. Their occupation takes up most of their time and strength. This is putting “all one’s eggs in one basket”.

“ To cultivate variety”, says Marston, “You need not abandon your principal line of concentration-only broaden it. There are plenty of experiences and subsidiary interests within your own chosen limits of specialization to keep you sane, healthy and growing. Go on concentrating but freshen your abilities and energies by trying once everything that contains new fuel for your engine.”

Many people feel they come alive when out of doors, perhaps in the countryside. They are aware of the purity of the world around them and those wonderful, melodious sounds of nature. Some people come alive when they try to point on a canvas, however imperfectly, the beauty of a seascape or landscape. For others again, life becomes exciting and intense when they express their thoughts on paper in story or in prose form.

Handicraft workshops are becoming increasingly popular because in creating something modern, man is finding relaxation and happiness. Truly people who touch life at the greatest number of points are the happiest.

-E. Cunningham

WELCOME PROBLEMS

Welcome problems because they wake you up. When there is a problem, you get energy to rise and solve it.

If life were to spend twenty-four hours of amusement and entertainment, it would be waste of time.

I was taught as a child, “work while you work and play while you play”. When it is time to relax we must relax. However, what usually happens is that when it is time to relax we bring all the business problems to the dining table and when it is time to work, we make a programme to go to some place and avoid work. This creates problems.

It is helpful if your life is organized like a well-arranged wallet. If things are kept in different pockets you always know where to find them.

If you are a clever horse-rider, no matter what the horse does, you are able to control his steps. Similarly, to control the steps of life, once should organize it.

Always keep your mind positive. Where mind is positive, it lacks nothing. Your mind creates setbacks or beauties and gives you back what you feed into it.

You have to unravel your mind and keep it clear. If you have driven on a wrong road for many miles, you have to drive back and restart. Yoga-teaches you to keep your mind clear. When your mind is clear and your thoughts are good, you will have feel will to know what to do next. If you always heave problems, do not grieve. Take the message and find the root of the problem. Then cut the root. When you have the correct knowledge and strength, problems seem very small. They just demand your attention. Problems are given to children in school to solve and learn from. Similarly, in real life too, take the problem as a process of learning. Be stronger than the problems. It is only a message that demands your attention. All problems can become assets. Capital, wealth, learning and possessions. Welcome problems and be thankful for them.

-Ma Yoga Shakti

HAPPY IS THE FAMILY

Whose members cultivate the habit of seeing the best in others;

Who are patient and not irritable.

Who look beneath the surface

And give benefit of doubt

When people might be misunderstood;

Who delight not in picking flaws in the character of others.

But in helping them to be their best; who take no pleasure in telling evil things.

But in forgetting them; who magnify all that is excellent and overcome evil with good.

-Anonymous

MORE LUCID THOUGHT

If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character.

If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home.

If there is harmony in the home, there will be honesty in the business.

If there is honesty in the business, there will be order in each nation.

When there is order in each nation, there will be “PEACE” in the world.

-Chinese Poet

MIND IS LIKE MILK

The mind is like milk. If you keep the mind in the world, which is like water, then the milk and water will get mixed. That is why people keep milk in quiet place and let it set into curd, then churn butter from it. Likewise, through spiritual discipline practised in solitude, churn the butter of knowledge and devotion from the milk of the mind. Then that butter can easily be kept in the water of world. If will not get mixed with the world. The mind will float detached on the water of the world.

-Sri Remakrishna

WHY SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT SUCCESSFUL?

They think “ the world owes them a living”.

They do not keep account of their expenditure.

They are easy dupes of schemers and promoters.

They reverse the maxim, “duty before pleasure”.

They have too many and too expensive amusements.

They do not think it worthwhile to save money.

They take risk in trying to get rich quickly.

They allow friends to misuse upon their good nature and generosity.

They try to do what others expect of them, not what they can afford.

TRUE RELIGION

Religion is neither reading holy books nor visiting sacred place, nor distinction between colour, creed or race; it is neither undergoing severe penance, nor burning candles or incense sticks dense! Friends, greatest religion is humanity, which sees no caste or community, but servers all creatures big and small with resentment for none at all. It’s devotion by cleansing your heart and mind. Leaving all your ego and grudges behind.

LIFE’S MEANING

We have all seen

how destructive the recent cyclone has been;

everyone needs to come to a realisation

that life can change in a second’s fraction

life is precious but short,

don’t let it simply rot;

we mortals one day have to depart,

then why not live in someone’s heart?

But…

One wonders how to be happy, say when corruption and violence become order of the day!

Friends, if you want to put things right,

Let if not be with bloody fight;

In such a short life span

Let forgive and forget be motto of man.

Let’s make up our mind

To leave ego and grudges behind

And pray for new and brighter tomorrow

With no heartache and sorrow.

UPLIFTING THOUGHTS

Develop forbearance. Understand your responsibility. Instead of observing the faults of others and criticizing them, observe closely your won faults. If you are unable to control your speech, use it against yourself instead of against others.

First of all discipline yourself because self-realization cannot be attained without personal experience. Politeness, straight-forwardness, saintliness and forbearance-these are the main qualities necessary for self-realization.

Do not worry about how the others behave with you; be ready for self-upliftment (by improving your own behaviour). If you grasp this truth, then be happy that you have understood the mystery of a very big principle.

The real reason why God has put us in this world is, not only for our own personal benefit, but also for the benefit of others. God didn’t want us to be like sponges just absorbing benefits for ourselves, but rather, he wants us to be like mirrors, reflecting his love to others.

HOW TO USE WORDS

Be accurate

Make the effort to find out the meaning of words. Employ them with precision and urge others to do likewise.

Be concise

Use words sparingly. Avoid putting your good ideas beneath a mountain of unnecessary words.

Be careful

Mean what you say and ay only what you really mean. Heed the advice of the ancient Roman” Better throw a stone at random than a word.”

Be honest

Do not make words an excuse for confused thinking.

Be master of your words

There is no substitution for thoughtful use of God’s gift of speech. As the Epistle of Jamel reminds is, “ If anyone makes no mistakes in what he says, he is a perfect man.”

THE VALUE OF A SMILE

It costs nothing, but creates much.

It enriches those who receive, without impoverishing those who give.

It happens in a flash and the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.

None are so rich they can get along without it, and none so poor but are richer for its benefits.

It creates happiness in the home, fosters goodwill in a business, and is the countersign of friends.

It is rest to the weary, daylight to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and Nature’s best antidote for trouble.

Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is no earthly good to anybody till it is given away.

And if in the last-minute rush of Christmas buying some of our salespeople should be too tired to give you a smile, may we ask you to leave one of yours?

For nobody needs a smile so much as those who have none left to give!

A DROP OF HONEY

If your temper is aroused and you tell them a thing or two, you will have a fine time unloading your feelings. But what about the other person? Will he share your pleasure? Will your belligerent tones, your hostile attitude, make it easy for him to agree with you?

“If you come at me with your fists doubled, “ said Woodrow Wilson, “I think I can promise you that mine will double as fast as yours; but if you come to me and say, ‘let us sit down and take counsel together, and, if we differ from each other, understand why it is  that we differ, just what the points on which we differ, just what the points at issue are,” we will presently find that we are not so far apart after all, that the points on which we agree are many, and that if we only have the patience and the candour and the desire to get together, we will get together.”

If a man’s heart is rankling with discord and ill feeling toward you, you can’t win him to your way of thinking with all the logic in Christendom. Scolding parents and domineering bosses and husbands and nagging wives ought to realize that people don’t want to change their minds. They can’t be forced or driven to agree with you or me. But they may possibly be led to, if we are gentle and friendly, ever so gentle and ever so friendly.

Lincoln said that, in effect, over a hundred years ago. Here are his words. It is an old and true maxim that “a drop of honey catches more flies that a gallon of gall.” So with men, if you would win a man to your cause, first convince him that you are his sincere friend. Therein is a drop of honey that catches his heart; which, say what you will, is the great high road to his reason.

Sincere appreciation is a great thing. It can change a person’s life. It is not a flattery. Flattery seldom works with discerning people. It is shallow, selfish and insincere. It ought to fail and it usually does. Flattery is counterfeit, and like counterfeit money, it will eventually get you into trouble if you pass it to someone else.

The difference between appreciation and flattery is simple. One is sincere and the other is insincere. One comes from the heart out; the other from the teeth out. One is unselfish; the other selfish. One is universally admired; the other universally condemned.

If you stop and pat someone doing his job in the best frame of mind with an awful lot of enthusiasm, he will almost jump our of his skin to show you how much he likes you.

THERE IS A REWARD FOR EVER FAILURE ONE INCURS

There is a punishment

For every success one makes;

And there is a reward

For every failure one incurs;

Paradoxes are inherent in life.

Where seeking alone persists,

There losing too endures.

And where active benevolence obtains

There abundance ever abounds

Where freedom and justice flourish

There unjust ways also do exist.

Pairs of opposites from life’s every stuff,

Wisdom lies in seeing through them,

Accepting, not running away from them.

While the wise withstand wealth

Fortune fades fast for fools

The wise rise above dichotomies

Through cherished merit and virtue;

While the fools succumb to dualities

Through demeritorious deeds and evil.

So, indeed, merit and demerit.

Shape human destiny here, now!

Courtesy: Dhamma

MY LIKES AND DISLIKES

Sincere appreciation is a great thing. It can change a person’s life. It is not a flattery. Flattery seldom works with discerning people. It is shallow, selfish and insincere. It ought to fail and it usually does. Flattery is counterfeit, and like counterfeit money, it will eventually get you into trouble if you pass it to someone else.

The difference between appreciation and flattery? That is simple. One is sincere and the other insincere. One comes from the heart out; the other from the teeth out. One is unselfish; the other selfish. One is universally admired; the other universally condemned.

Tim started his job in the best frame in mind. If you stop and pat his he will almost jump out of his skin to show how much he likes you.

Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.

- Sir Winston Churchill

How to acquire peace of mind?

Popularity, honour, power none of these brings peace of mind. In the modern world with its tensions and conflicting personal relationships, peace of mind can be acquired by the process of constant effort.

By self-effort you can have peace of mind. You can start developing it within yourself. To find peace of mind you have to stop worrying and start living. If you have personal or emotional problems, make a timely decision about them, but do not let them keep eating you.

Your feelings and emotions can help you to a very great extent. They can equally take you down-hill. They are like fire that can cook your food but can burn your house too. Your feelings and emotions must be wisely directed and compelled to work for your success. Too much driving ambition, like a runaway horse, can drag you and injure you. Set your target within the bounds of your capabilities. Constant dissatisfaction with yourself takes the joy out of living.

Take life easy. Your body-a delicate machine cannot be operated at top speed all day. And some time every day, take time to rest.

Do not put off the work you have to do today. Postponement of work will rob you peace of mind. You cannot be happy, when you keep thinking about the work you wanted to do but have not done it!

Do not struggle against problems of life that cannot be overcome. Try to ride with them, whether they are caused by people or by circumstances.

You should make use of your leisure properly. Adopt a hobby- a pleasurable pursuit for spending your spare time. Garden work, photography, collection and study of stamps coins and antiques, etc., are some of the hobbies you can practise for pleasure and profit.

Above all have faith. There is no peace of mind without faith in something- oneself, one’s work and a noble cause.

A genuine attempt to line by some principles is a familiar path to peace of mind.

June 2002

Time Management

Time management is self-leadership. Time exists; it is not something you can change. You can however led your life in such a manner that you can use time to your best advantage.

Time should never be spent; it should be invested. When time is wasted, i.e. used for no purpose, it is spent, not invested. It pays no interest or divided. Time lost is lost forever, it cannot be retrieved.

Time invested in work and employment should be aimed at improving productivity accomplishing more in fewer hours.

-Courtesy: “ Hindustan Chamber Review”

Caring and Sharing builds trust and love

Life is like a precious drop. You have got to value it and nurture it without a stop. In this frenzied pace, kindness, compassion and humility are values not quite considered today. You have the inclination, all you need is to find the time to reflect and do what you believe is best.

Do not hold back or save anything that would add laughter and lustre to your lives. Being wrapped up in your own world would make life dull and monotonous. Do something splendid today, tomorrow, everyday. Every morning is special, everyday, every minute, every breath truly is….. is gift from God. You are His chosen ones and it is obligatory on your part to make this world a better place. Caring for each other and sharing with one another builds trust and love.

-Joanne

(Courtesy: “My Doctor”)

To seek simple living

To live content with small means: to seek simple living rather than luxury; and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable; and to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart; to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await opportunity, hurry never. This is to be my symphony.

-William Henry Channing

How do worms get inside apples?

The worm you find in your apple was born there. Insects bore very small holes in the small green apples and lay eggs in the holes. After a while, worms hatch from these eggs. They live in the apple and feast on it. When the apples fall to the ground, the worms wriggle and come out.

How to brighten the tomorrow?

P.K. Nayak

The English reformer John Ruskin had on his desk a small piece of stone on which was inscribed one word- TODAY. No doubt the future is Today. There is no Tomorrow and the best possible way to prepare for tomorrow is to devote all attention with all our intelligence and enthusiasm on doing today’s work to the best possible extent by today itself.

This is the only possible way to get ready beforehand for the future.

“Our main business”, said Thomas Caryle, Scottish writer, “is not to see what lies dimly at a distance but to do what lies clearly at hand.” But often we neglect our work that lies clearly at hand and worry about the affair that lies dimly at a distance.

Again…..

A vision without a task is a dream,

A task without a vision is a drudgery.

A task with a vision is the hope of the world.

And “a task with a vision wile find its root on doing today’s work,” when we do it with a sense of punctuality.

In the Bible also, we will find Jesus advising his disciples to begin the day with prayer.

“Give us this day our daily bread.” The prayer asks only for today’s bread because today’s bread is the only kind of bread we can possibly eat.

Negligence is more dangerous than ignorance. We neglect our work of today and think of the work of tomorrow which is nothing but an empty dream. Laziness and postponement are the real causes of this attitude and we must get rid of them at the earliest.

We should not forget that our trouble is not due to ignorance but inaction. This is the golden rule. We already know enough to lead perfect lives but we suffer because of our inaction. So, we must jump into action and try to have a bright tomorrow.

Long is the life

Long is the night to him who is awake; long is the mile to him who is tired; long is the life to the foolish who do not know the true law.

-Dhamapada

Four things cannot recall

There are four things that cannot be recalled: an arrow that has left the bow, an opportunity that as neglected, a word that has been broken and a life that has been lived.

-Persian proverb

It is preowned!

In America ‘To call an automobile second-hand is a hated word’ it is used, reconditioned or preowned! Plumbers are called ‘sanitary engineers’, barbers tonsorial experts, undertakers ‘morticians’, a bull ‘a gentleman cow’, etc… American cull out verbs from nouns: ‘enthuse’ is taken from enthusiasm, ‘orate’ from ‘oration’, etc..



......................................

Wit and Wisdom

I had to keep silent!

When I was young, I had to keep silent because my parents alone did all the talking. Now that I am old, I have to keep silent because the young want to do all the talking.

- Democritus

Spend more time in the buses

If you want to understand democracy, spend less time in the library with Plato and more time in the buses with people.

Simeon Strunsky

Not one's own real strength

The crocodile, when in water, can seize the mightiest elephant but out of it easily becomes a prey even to a dog. Is this not all due to the strength of circumstances and not one's own real strength?

Rainy day!

In these days of rising prices, the only thing you can put away for a rainy day is an umbrella.

One virtuous man

If there is one virtuous man in a community, the entire community becomes illustrious because of him, even as a forest becomes known because of one sandalwood tree in it.

A thing done in haste

Nothing should be done in a lingering manner; the same if it were done in haste, becomes ruinous. Would a tender green nut ever ripen hurriedly into a fruit?

-Yogi Vemana

A man is happiest

Time sometimes flies like a bird, sometimes crawls like a snail, but a man is happiest when he does not even notice whether it passes swiftly or slowly.

-        Ivan Turgenev

What to do with living if I ever earn it!

"Why do you read so much?" a friend taunted Abraham Lincoln. "Education has been of no help to you in earning a living. "I am not educating myself to earn a living, "Lincoln made it clear. "I am trying to find out what to do with living if I ever earn it."

The reason!

The reason why the politicians seem so busy is that they spend half the time telling the press what they are going to do and the other half explaining to the voters why they did not!

It begins to glorify it's own utility

A stone, however, may it be a marble one, so long as it does not find it's right place, will be kicked about by passers-by in the street. As soon as it is put in the wall or a floor, it begins to glorify its own utility.

Why don't you at least pretend as I do?

Bernard Shaw shaking hands with a lady: "I am very glad to see you."

Lady: "Well don't you at least pretend as I do?"

A man loses his bachelor's degree!

Marriage is an educational institution in which a man loses his bachelor's degree without acquiring a master's.

Childishly simple!

The structure of all other organs seems childishly simple, when with the brain.

-William Boyd

Time

Time is not measured by the clock, but by boredom.

Lofty ideas

To discuss lofty ideas of poetic excellence, sweetness and loveliness or to produce the sweetest of music before a foolish and impudent person is futile like blowing a conch before a deaf person.

Good done to deserving people

The good that is done by a person to deserving people gives happiness, honor, and respect like the sweet waters in a coconut fruit.

- Sumathi Sathakam

Average man and actor

The difference between an average man an actor is when an average man's house burns down, he calls his insurance agent' when an actor's house burns down, he calls his press agent.

Women are really lucky!

Women are really lucky. When they are born, everybody asks:

"How is the mother?" When they get married, every body says, "What a lovely bride! Moreover, when the man dies worn out in the service of the woman, everybody asks, "How much did he leave her?"

Which generation is educating the other?

Between the parents and the children of today, there exists a new misunderstanding; it is no longer easy to determine which generation is educating the other.

Philosopher!

Philosopher is one who, instead of crying over spilt milk, consoles himself with the thought that it was over four-fifth water.

Life is cruel to men!

Life is cruel to men. When they are born, their mothers get the complaints and flowers. When they are married, their brides get the presents and publicity. And when they die their wives get the insurance.

Worrying!

If worrying does not cause gray hair, then how come it is so common among the parents of teenagers?

Stop, Look, Listen

Stop, look, listen – these three words illustrate the whole scheme of life. You see a pretty girl, you stop, you look, and you marry her. Then for the rest of your life, you listen.

He has to touch it to be sure

If you tell a man there are 300 billions stars in the universe, he will believe you. But if you tell him a bench ahs just been painted, he has to touch it to be sure.

Knows no fear at all!

A flying bird harbors no fear of a fall, a running deer is not afraid of its speed, a swimming fish has no fear of a drown indeed. And a man of God, by thy grace, knows no fear at all!

Favor of a confirmed blockhead

Steadily squeezing, we may even get oil from sand; may drink even in a mirage (appearance of water) to quench our thirst; wandering about, we get a chance to find a hare with a horn. But none of us will be able to get the favor of a confirmed blockhead.

- Bhartruhari

Two ways to advancement!

There are only two ways to advancement, one to build your reputation like a mountain and stand on it; and the other is to dig pits for everyone to fall into, so as to appear the only one without fault.

-Han Suyin

To keep you awake al night

Remember when you sued to put your kids to sleep with bedtime stories? Now they come in at bedtime and tell you stories that keep you awake all night.

Be steady in all conditions

When the sun is rising, its color is red, and when it is setting, its color is the same shade of red. Great people remain steady in all conditions, be it a period of richness and fame, or poverty.

What is proper education?

Proper education should enable the people to make the land more fertile, the mines more productive, the trade more flourishing, and the bodies more active, the minds more original, and the hearts more pure, the industries more varied and the nation more united.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba

To stop smoking is easy!

To stop smoking is easy, I have done it a number of times.

Marriage is a lottery!

Marriage is a lottery but you cannot tear up your ticket if you lose.

God exists!

You want to eat butter. But what will you achieve by simply repeating that there is butter in milk? You have to work hard for it. Only thus can you separate butter from milk, can one see God by merely repeating, "God exists!" One needs mediation.

- Sri Ramakrishna

Twenty minutes!

A mother takes twenty years to make a man of her boy, and another woman makes a fool of him in twenty minutes

- Frost

Stop telling lies

If you stop telling lies about us, we will stop telling the truth about you.

One had no birth and the other no control!

Two persons were talking on birth control. One has no children and the other has 13. A friend came and remarked that he did not understand how they both were talking on birth control when one had no birth and the other no control!

God laughs on two occasions

God laughs on two occasions. He laughs when the physician says to the patient's mother, "Don't be afraid mother, I shall certainly cure your boy." God laughs saying himself, I am going to take his life, and this man says he will save him. The physician thinks he is the master.

God laughs again, when two brothers divide their land, saying to each other. "This is mine, that is yours." God laughs and says to himself, "The universe belongs to me but they say own this portion or that portion."

Compromise makes a poor roof!

Compromise makes a good umbrella but a poor roof; it is a temporary expedient often wise in party politics, almost sure to be unwise in statesmanship.

They need to be buttered up now and then

People do not live by bread alone. They need to be buttered up now and then.

He needs exercise!

By the time a man can afford to hire someone to cut the grass, his doctor tells him he needs the exercise.

People of the land are the real worth

Policy makers realize that the real wealth of their country is not the oil of their soil, the rubber of their plantations, the logs of their jungles, but the people of their land.

They are confused

Some people look as though they are very busy, when in fact they are only confused.

Good resolutions!

Good resolutions are simply cheques that men draw on a bank where they have no account.

-        Oscar Wilde

For a single word of encouragement

Three billion people on the face of the earth go to bed hungry every night, but four billion go to bed every night hungry for a simple word of encouragement and recognition.

- Cavett Robert

Human mind

The human is the richest unexplored area in the world. The mind, like land does not care what we plant, good or bad, it returns what is planted.

Teaching to keep quiet

One reason why the upbringing of the child is so difficult nowadays is that no sooner you have taught it to talk then you have to start teaching it to keep quiet.

A person's name

Remember that a person's name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.

If you want to be happy forever

If you want to be happy for an hour take a nap. If you want to be happy for a day go for a picnic. If you want to be happy for a month get married and if you want to be happy forever enjoy what you do and do what you enjoy.

God governs in the affairs of man

The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of man; and if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that am empire can rise without His aid?

-        Benjamin Franklin

Influence of people who love him

One of the things a man has to learn to fight most bitterly is the influence of those who love him.

A woman stoops telling her age as soon a sit starts telling on her.

To fall in love with God

To fall in love with God is the greatest of all romances; to seek Him the greatest adventure. To find Him, the greatest achievement.

One plus point

The only plus point about being imperfect is the pleasure it brings to others.

Growing old

The worst thing about growing old is having to listen to a lot of advice from your children.

Only person the only person who listens to both sides of the family argument is the woman in the next apartment.

Ideas die quickly

The reason ides die quickly in some heads is that they cannot stand solitary confinement.

Talk is cheap

Talk is cheap – unless you hire a lawyer.

Our youth now love luxury

Our youth now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for their elders, and love chatter in place of exercise. They no longer rise when others enter the room; they contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble their food and tyrannize their teachers.

- Socrates, 5^th Century B.C.

In socialism, all members of the society are equal

Socialism is a beautiful word and in socialism, all the members of society are equal- none low, none high. In the individual body, the head is not high because it is the top of the body, nor are the soles of the feet low because they touch the earth. Even as members of the individual body are equal, so are the members of society.

- Gandhiji

Best thing to give

The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child a good example; to a father, deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you; to yourself, respect; to all men, charity.

- Balfour

Allergy

Allergy is something a doctor says you have when he does know what it is but does not know how to get rid of it.

-All Bernie

Inconstancy!

Inconstancy is the only thing in this world that is constant.

- Jonathan Swift

Poor Memory!

Nothing is so useful in making a long story short as a poor memory.

Love and Affection

There are many things in this world that can be bought for money. But love and affection can only be got by love and affection. Let us not be found wanting in these human values which God so mercifully gifted to us.

Manhole

An open invitation from the municipal corporation for people to live underground.

If you eat slowly!

Doctors say that if you eat slowly, you will eat less. Anybody raised in a large family will tell you the same thing.

Good Judgment

Good judgment comes from experience; and experience, well, that comes from bad judgment.

No Rivals!

He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals.

Tranquillizers instead of Tranquility

Instead of tranquility, we now have tranquillizers.

Argument!

Argument is two people trying to get the last word if first.

What we are on the other 364!

April 1^st is the day upon which we are reminded of what we are on the other 364.

Same mistake twice

A well-adjusted person is one who makes the same mistake without getting nervous.

About Baldness

There is only one good thing about baldness-it is always neat.

They all worship money!

Some men worship rank, some worship heroes, some worship power, some worship God, and over the ideas they dispute but they all worship money.

- Mark Twain

Fashion!

Fashion is form of ugliness so intolerable that fashion-makers change it very often.

Weak cannot have friends!

A conflagration in a forest, fire becomes a good friend to wind, for the latter helps the flames to leap upon fields anew were it a small flame of to extinguish the flame. Really, the weak cannot have friends.

Darkness of bad company

A man should not live in the darkness of bad company where he cannot see the shadows of his own misdeeds.

See the light

Every person has a dark side of h is life-like the shadow under t he lamp; see the light, for it is longer than the darkness beneath it.

Best place

The best place to spend your vacation is somewhere near your budget.

Four wills for a Businessman

A businessman should have four wills and here they are:

A goodwill made in favor of his family; the goodwill of the public; the goodwill of those who work with him, not just for him, and the goodwill of his banker.

Bee and Mosquito

How busy is not so important as why busy, while the bee is praised, the mosquito is swatted.

If opportunity comes disguised

If opportunity comes disguised as temptation, one knock would be enough.

It is foolish to tear one's hair in grief, as though sorrow would be made less by baldness.

- Cicero

There are really six people present

Whenever two people meet, there are really six people present. There is each man as he sees himself, each man as the other person sees him, and each man as he really is.

- William James

Give them work

Why humiliate the naked by giving then clothes? Give them work so that they earn the money for clothes by their own labor.

Trouble with being punctual

The trouble with being punctual is that, nine times out of ten there will not be anybody around to appreciate it.

Two stonecutters

Two stonecutters were asked what they were doing. The fist said, "I'm cutting this stone into blocks."

The second replied, I'm an a team that is building a temple."

Only way

The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don't want, drink what you don't like, and do what you would rather not.

-Mark Twain

If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principle difference between a dog and a man.

Majority of the majority of men devote the greater part of their lives to making their remaining years unhappy.

-Jean de La Bruyere

Nothing is all wrong

Nothing is all-wrong even a clock that stopped running is right twice a day.

Never her age!

A diplomat is man who always remembers a woman's birthday, but never her age.

Every answer

Every answer puts to death an old question but gives birth to a new question.

Modern Home

Switches except the children home control everything in the modern.

Worry

Worry is like sand in as oyster: a little produces a pearl, too much kills the animal.

Nothing wrong with power

I see nothing wrong with power as long as I am the fellow who has it.

- Cecil King

Ignorant in religion

The person who thinks three can be any real conflict between science and religion must be either very young in science or very ignorant in religion.

You are getting old

You know you are getting old when the candles cost more than the cake.

- Bob Hope

Morality

Morality is the attitude we adopt towards the people we dislike.

Poem from the heart

As essay comes from the mind and a poem from the heart.

Except Time

Some parents will spend anything on children, except time.

-        Maurice Seitter

Man is made for the purpose learning

A camel is stronger than a man, an elephant is larger; a lion has greater valor; cattle can eat more than man; birds are more virile. Man is made for the purpose of learning.

- El Ghazali

Sick!

Our hospitals are themselves sick.

Modern Employer

A modern employer is a person who is looking for men and women between 21 and 30 years of age, with 40 years of experience.

Distance Between Man and Man

Science has minimized the distance between moon and man, not between man and man.

Cofidence

Confidence is what you have before you understand the problem.

Bye the time a man realizes

By the time, a man realizes that his father was right; he usually has a son who thinks his father is wrong.

Sixth Sense

Money is like a sixth sense, without which you cannot make use of the other five.

- Somerset Maugham

Inattention of one

When a girl marries, she exchanges the attention of many men for the inattention of one.

-Helen Rowland

Lottery of life

He who trusts all things to chance makes a lottery of his life.

A wonder!

In the old days, a man who saved money was a miser; now a day he is a wonder.

Kids are grown up when

Kids are grown up when they stop asking where they come from and refuse to tell you where they are going.

As long as children get homework!

Adult education will continue as long as children get homework!

Not found the work!

There are lazy men. What may appear to be a lazy man is only an unfortunate person, what has not found the work, for which he is most suited.

- Napoleon Hill

If money does not grow

If money does not grow on trees, how come banks have so many branches?

Best doctors in the world

The best doctors in the world are Doctor Diet, Doctor Quiet, and Doctor Merryman.

-        Swift

Running out of real intelligence!

We are lucky that computers are creating artificial intelligence because we are running out of the real intelligence!

Save us from thinking

There are two ways to slide easily through life, to believe everything or doubt everything, both ways save us from thinking.

- Alfred Korzybski

Goldsmith, child, woman and king are noted for their steadfastness. The secret of success lies in determination.

We laugh at truth!

People laugh at what is unusual. And truth has now become so unusual that we laugh at truth when we meet it.

-        Rajaji

First of human qualities

Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality, which guarantees all the others.

-        Winston Churchill

Silver in tongue

He that has no silver in his purse could have silver in his tongue.

Symptom of wisdom

The strongest symptom of wisdom in man is his being sensible of his own follies.

Exciting business

Life is an exciting business and most exciting when it is lived for others.

-Helen Keller

I live today

I am not afraid of tomorrow for I have seen yesterday and I live today.

Best of all

If I were a cobbler, it would be my pride to be the best of all cobblers.

-        Anonymous

Experience

Experience is the best of all schoolmasters; only the school fees are heavy.

-        Charyle

It takes thirteen muscles to smile

It takes thirty-four muscles to frown and only thirteen to smile. Why make the extra effort?

From listening comes wisdom

From listening comes wisdom and from speaking repentance.

Only animal

Man is the only animal that eats when he is not hungry and drinks when he is not thirsty.

Time is too short for those who toil

Time is too slow, for those who wait.

Time is too long, for those who mourn.

Time is too fast, for those who enjoy.

Time is too short, for those who toil.

Time is eternity, for those who love.

-        Thomas Becket

Perfect example

A perfect example of minority rule is when there is a baby in the house.

-Mark Twain

...........................................

Source: FROM THE BOOK (Not from the Internet)

MANAGEMENT THOUGHTS

A collection by

Promod Batra

Vijaya Batra

First published 1991

First reprint 1995

Price Rs 156 (IC)

Second reprint 1996

Lord Ganeshjee’s BIG HEAD inspires us to think big and think profitably; the BIG EARS prompt us to listen patiently to new ideas and suggestions; the NARROW EYES point to deep concentration needed to finish tasks in hand well and quickly; the LONG NOSE tells us to poke around inquisitively to learn more and the SMALL MOUTH reminds us to speak less and listen more.

Thomas Alva Edison said, “Genus is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine per cent perspiration.” But where does one look for that spark of inspiration in a life groaning under humdrum routine? Or does inspiration come on its own, choosing its own time and palace (like…a bath tub for Archimedes who yelled “Eureka’ (I have found it) and ran out naked when he discovered a way to determine the purity of gold by applying the principle of specific gravity.

One has to look for inspiration with conscious effort. And, what better place to look for inspiration than within ‘inspiring words’. Didn’t somebody say, “The power of thought can move mountains!”

Even a fish wouldn’t get into trouble if he’d keep his mouth shut!

Identify Your Weak Link …And Act Now

One weak link can spell disaster for the whole chain. Hence, analyse yourself. See if you have any flaws and frailties that can play havoc with your organisation.

If you do have an Achilles’ heel somewhere, attend to it. Remove the weakness. And stride ahead from strength.

Small and lean is beautiful, effective, efficient and economical.

Like they say, “The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor can man without trials. “Look adversity in the eye and it will diminish in size. Face it with conviction because only if you go through the wars bravely, you get the medals. And, isn’t it always more fun to win a hard fight than an easy one?

Someone said: “There are three kinds of lies, viz, lies, damnable lies and statistics!” Well, whenever we collect business statistics, we must keep these words in mind. Collection of statistic costs a lot of money and time and if not done wisely, can mean money down the drain.

In several situations, the concept of sense of approximation should be applied. Just make a guess, and very often this may be cheaper and faster than collection detailed information or statistics. Statistics are no substitute for judgement. Therefore, when collected using a bit of common sense, statistics can help in taking better and faster decisions.

Most of us would recall the story about the statistician who, going by the average depth of a river, drowned in the middle.

One statistics, George Bernard Shaw has also very wisely said, “Of all the damnable waster of human life, clerking is the worst. Fifty thousand entries a year that poor wretch makes and not ten of the fifty thousand are ever referred to again.”

Total dependence on statistics can be misleading.

The more you drink the more coordination you lose. That’s a fact, plain and simple.

It’s also a fact that 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine and 1¹/4 ounces of sprits all have the same alcohol content. And consumed in excess, all can affect you. Still, people drink too much and then go out and expect to handle a car.

When you drink too much, you can’t handle a car.

You can’t even handle a pen.

If I had 8 hours to chop a tree I would spend 6 hours sharpening my axe.

“The will win is worthless if you do not have the will to prepare.” Skyscrapers take only a year to build many years to plan. And, patience in planning, impatience in execution has worked wonders.

Your mind is like an acre of land. You have to care for it like a farmer does for better results. You have to sow it (with ideas), till it (with readings), fertilize it (with visits to counterparts), pesticide it (to prevent it from becoming inanimate) to get the best crop of results from it.

There is Chinese saying:

“You can’t pour fresh hot tea into a cup of stale cold tea.”

And there is a Zen story in which an American professor went to the Zen master to know all about Zenism. The master started pouring tea and after a while it started overflowing the cup. The American shouted, “Master, master, no more will go in the cup.” The Master replied, “Yes, like this cup your mind is overflowing with your own ideas. You must empty your mind a little for the new ideas to come in.”

Well, unlock your mind—rather throw away the lock! Keep on using your mind so that more ideas can come in—fresh and new!

The human mind is like a parachute; it only works when it is open.

A closed mind is like a gloomy cave made gloomier by the cobwebs of ignorance and prejudice.

An open mind is like a sunny meadow where fish sprout and blossom.

In the history of mankind, whenever man has opened the shutters of his mind, healthy new ideas have breezed in. And he has vigorously stepped out of his narrow confines to discover continents and oceans, planets and galaxies.

But whatever man has shut out new ideas and gone into hibernation in the safety of old, rigid norms, the human civilization has been shrouded by the gloom of Dark Ages.

Now shake yourself out of your slumber. Step out of the den of stagnant thoughts, into the open field of bold new ideas. Soar high on the strength of an exploring mind to reach unknown heights of achievement and success.

The average man usually empties his pockets onto his dresser or desk before retiring. Personally, I rather enjoy standing over a wastebasket during this process to see how many things I can throw away: notes, memos, scraps of paper, completed self-directions, even knick-knacks which I have picked up. With relief, I deposit all items possible in the wastebasket. It is perhaps more important to empty the mind as one empties pockets. During the day we pick up mental odds and ends: a little worry, a little resentment, a few annoyances, some irritations, perhaps even some guilt reactions. Every night, these should be thrown out for, unless eliminated, they accumulate and subtract from the joy of life.

The human mind can hold only one thought at a time.

A person, who tries to do many things at the same time, ends up doing nothing. Your undivided attention and concentration in doing what lies clearly at hand will finish the job faster and better, too. Start with the easier tasks; having success you can accomplish the difficult ones with added confidence.

George Reeves was a huge man, 6 feet 2 inches, weighing seventeen stone. He was my teacher in the fifth grade. In class, he would suddenly shout, “Silence.” Then he would print in big letters on the blackboard the word CANT. Turning to the class, he would demand, “And now what shall I do? Knowing what he wanted, we chanted back, “Knock the T off the CAN”T.” With a sweeping gesture, he would erase it, leaving the word CAN. Dusting the chalk form his fingers, he would say, “Let that be a lesson to you— you can if you think you can.”

In Tokyo I once met an American, and inspiring man, from Pennsylvania. Crippled from some form of paralysis, he was on a round-the-world journey in a wheelchair, getting a huge kick out of all his experiences. I commented that nothing seemed to get him down. His reply was a classic: “It’s only my legs that are paralysed. The paralysis never got into my mind.

Nothing Dies Faster Than A New Idea In A Closed Mind

When King Solomon was asked to tell the real flowers from the artificial ones kept in the room without touching or smelling them, he opened the window facing the garden, making way for the bees to come in and swarm around the real ones.

Similarly, till the time you keep your mind closed – you will not get to know the difference between the valuable and the dead ideas.

Therefore, lift the inverted bottle that puts out the flame of your mind, doing so will make way for the oxygen of new ideas to come in to make your mental flame burn brightly.

The Winner Never Quits

Two boys were walking down a country road when they saw two milk cans being loaded for delivery in a nearby city. Seeing not one, the boys lifted off the cover of Can Number 1 and dropped in a big bullfrog. Then they lifted off the cover of Can Number 2 and loaded for city delivery.

During the journey, the bullfrog in Can Number 1 said: “This is terrible! I can’t lift of the cover of the can because it’s too heavy. I have never had a milk bath before, and I can’t reach to the bottom of the can to get enough purchase to lift the cover, so, what’s the use”—and he gave up trying and quit! When the cover of Can Number 1 was taken off, there was big dead bullfrog.

The same conditions existed in Can Number 2 and the frog said to himself: “well, I can’t lift off the cover because it’s too tight and too heavy. I haven’t got a brace and bit to drill a hole to save myself, but, by the great Father Neptune, there is one thing I learned to do in liquids and that is to swim.” So, he swam and swam, and churned a lump of butter and sat on it, and when the cover was lifted off, out he jumped.

“The winner Never Quits—and the Quitter never Wins!”

The Tide Always Comes Back

A successful businessman told me what had turned the tide for him when he was doing poorly. It was a picture of a boat stuck in the sand, with the tide out. The title of that picture was “The Tide Always Comes Back.” Don’t ever accept defeat. Never even think, “I can’t.” Instead say to yourself, “ The tide always cones back.” It will, if you will it so.

Don’t Make Best The Enemy of Better

 Many times it so happens that we forget the “better” in our quest for the “best”. If we implement “better”, in nice out of ten cases it would lead us to “still better”. Why go far for an example if you are a married person? Think of your spouse. Is he or she the best person, as you had desired before getting married? Yes? May be you think so now. Good for your marital bliss. But, be sure. Didn’t you make some compromise somewhere in the looks, habits or profession? Now, had you waited for getting the “best” spouse, you would have definitely remained unmarried throughout your life.

Remember: GOOD, BETTER, BEST.

Always start with Good and then implement it. Next, try to improve it to do BETTER and still BETTER. Make it an on-going process for doing the BEST.

Do your SWOT Analysis Today!

SWOT is a good management tool for manager, like a thermometer and a stethoscope is for a doctor! You need an objective mind and genuine friend to help you do your SWOT analysis quarterly. And, the key to success is knowing yourself.

Strengths enable you to put your best foot forward. Weaknesses? Who does not have them? Opportunities are aplenty—even in adversity. Only, one has to evaluate them for what they are. And, Threats are like ticketing time bombs; defuse them by anticipating and talking preventive actions.

Business is like riding a bicycle—either you keep moving or you fall down

The name of game is growth. You are either growing or going out of business! There is new business out there, no matter how first. Concentrate your time, your brains and your resources on your success. Bank your winners and abandon your losers.

We can’t direct the wind; but we can adjust our sail.

Never run yourself down. Believe in yourself, esteem yourself not with egotism but with humble, realistic self-confidence. Stop brooding over the past. Drop the post-mortems. Live enthusiastically. Starting today make the best your can of it. Give it all you’ve got and you will find that to be plenty.

Admit Your Mistakes Gracefully

Even the chairman’s pencil has an eraser on it. We all make mistakes. That is why they put erasers on pencils…even the chairman’s. Do not be afraid of admitting mistakes. We cannot be right all the time. The man who is right only 60 per cent of the time can be a howling success if he is quick to correct his mistakes the rest of the time. The best thing is people really respect a man who admits his mistakes quickly and gracefully. It is the mark of a big man.

Think people, Good people, committed people

“If you want to plan for a year, plant corn. If you want to plan for 3 years plant a tree.

But, if you want to plan for 10 years, plant men.”

One way to encourage excellence is to demand excellence. Very often, you will get it!

Notice it. Say a nice word about it. Talk about it. Write about it. But, always, praise in public, reprimand in private.

You can get more work done with a kind word and a gun than a kind word alone! And, remember, nothing motivates a man more than to see his boss putting in an honest day’s work.

The speed of the boss is the speed of the team

One man makes the difference-- the leader.

Ralph Waldo Emerson rightly said: “An institution is the lengthened shadow of one man.” “History shows whenever a leader has achieved more than ordinary successes, he has gathered his team first. Of course, you have to inspire them, set course, provide the momentum and steer them in profitable directions.

A SPARK OF MOTIVATION WILL FIRE HIM TO GREAT HEIGHT

A businessman told me he was going to fire a certain employee because the man was slow, dull, and sleepy. “Instead of firing him out of the business, why not fire him into the business?” I asked. “ You mean build a fire under him?” he demanded. “No”, I said, “build a fire in him. Get him excited. Get him motivated.” The employer did just that and now he reports of the same employee, “The man is a ball of fire.”

Think people

Good people

Committed people

If each of us hires people who are smaller than we are, we shall become a company of dwarfs. But if each of us hires people who are bigger than we are, we shall become a company of giants.

If you offer peanuts, you will get monkeys!

Pay well—a cheap employee is expensive. If each of us hires people who are smaller than we are, we shall become a company of dwarfs. But, if each of us hires people who are bigger than we are, we shall become a company of giants.

People are like apples!

When you get an apple with a spot on it, remove the spot with a knife; 96% of the time, the spot is not very deep. A spotless apple is very expensive. Remember: most of your employees, colleagues and associates are like apples. You have to remove their weaknesses with your “mental knife” and use their strengths to mutual advantage.

Handle with care

Three words “Handle with care” written in bold lettering is a familiar sight on parcels containing delicate fragile items. If parcels of this nature are treated carelessly, the articles in them are liable to break. For this reason directions are written on top of them, indication that they should be lifted and placed with care.

If we look around us, today we see innumerable individuals who are just like so many fragile objects crying out to be “handle with care”, for the slightest carelessness in dealing with them causes cracks in their oh-so-thin outer shells. These are the people who treat others to outbursts of temper when things are not going exactly as they want, who bear eternal grudges, and who can ever forget or forgive a slighting remark (real or imaginary!). Such people are simply a burden in a dealership.

For a man to pull his weight in society, he should be made of tougher material –like iron, for example, for; even when treated carelessly, iron neither bends nor breaks. In social living, it is only those who are so constituted who can carry on in life unaffected by harsh or unfair treatment.

“If I don’t go, I don’t get”

There lived an old man with a rowboat who ferried passengers across a mile-wide river for ten paise. Asked, “How many times a day do you do this?’ he said, “As many times as I can because the more I go, the more I get. And if I don’t go, I don’t get.”

That’s all you need to know—all there is to know—about business, economics, prosperity and self—respect.

 

THE RATIO BETWEEN HARD WORK AND LUCK IS

Sow an action and reap a habit; sow a habit and reap a character; sow a character and reap a destiny.

Make hard work a daily habit, instead of lying supinely and waiting for a chance fruit to fall in your lap. Water the plant of fortune with drops of sweat. And see it grow and bear fruit!

Lady Luck smiles on those who have the will “to strike, to see, to find and not to yield!” Miracles happen and the impossible becomes possible for those who work ceaselessly and never give up.

Know what you want! Work for it—and the earth will yield its treasures to you!

Working Together Works

Every team—whether in work or in play situations—is like a family comprising husband, wife and children. As they say, the family is like a chariot where the husband and wife are its two wheels. If one wheel breaks down, the chariot overturns. If one wheel slows down, the chariot changes its direction and can even turn around to go back. If one wheel gets jammed, the chariot starts going around in a circle without advancing forward.

Even the horses pulling the chariot have to run at the same speed. That is what working together is all about.. Equality of Sacrifice.. to make things work.

Working Together Works

Have you ever worked why a particular player is not selected in a ream? Possibly, this player is excellent as an individual player but is not wailing to sacrifice personal acclaim for the good of the team.

In a work situation too, there may be an excellent employee but if is not working that extra mile in harmony with his colleagues, he is of no use. Each member of an orchestra has to play the notes on his instrument so that the net outcome is music. If every musician plays a different note, the result will be jarring noise.

Even in a boat race, the fastest team is the one whose members move the oars in perfect unison and of course.. most forcefully.

Working Together Works

There’s no limit to what a man can do, as long as he doesn’t mind who takes the credit. Team building works. Build a core group around yourself. As American billionaire oil tycoon, J Paul Getty calls them “ Men with the millionaire mentally. People who are forward-thinking, cost-conscious and profit-oriented.” And, they will build teams around themselves. It sure will become a pyramid reaching for the moon!

Working Together Works

Even for our body to function physically well, it is very important that its parts work in perfect coordination. If any of the parts suffers a damage or becomes inactive, is has a crippling effect on the whole body. This is the simplest way to explain the concept of “Working Together Works”.

Even in a machine, it is the various components of the mechanism that work together to make it run. The same is true for work situations where everybody must work together.

And, once you are working together, why not do it with a smile? Try asking for a favour form a colleague with your face all lit up. There is a remote possibility that he will refuse. A smile is like a drop of oil that makes the complex human mechanism work without friction. Spread a smile around and your workplace becomes a place. 

If you go through the wars, you get the medals.

Ships are safer in the harbour but they are not meant for that purpose. Only when they cruise on the high seas, they face the stormy weather and the rough waters before finally reaching their destinations.

Similarly, a solider, has no chance of winning medals till the time he goes to the battlefields because that is where he is supposed to be. If he were to just sit back, his bravery and strength would remain concealed.

Only when one takes the risk of getting a few scars does one gain the opportunity of winning laurels.

Parker’s Principle

Everyone likes to do what he likes and not what should be done

It is a common phenomenon in offices. You ask your colleague to do something and just when you are expecting the results, you discover that he has been at something else just because he liked doing what he liked and did not do what should have been done.

Why do individuals behave so? Part of human nature.. may be.

Looked at the other way round, why does one behave contrary to how we expect one to behave. Well, children like to do what they are prevented from doing. But it happens with elders when they are not properly guided. And more important, when they are not properly motivated.

How can we motivate? Money is not the answer in such situations. Don’t just tell the individual about the activity. Show him the goal that it will help in achieving so that he not only knows the force that has to apply but also the direction in which he has to apply it.

Imagine a game of hockey or football where the players can see only the ball and not the goal posts. Nothing less than grouping in the dark.

The answer lies in teamwork. And you, as the leader, have to build in team sprit.

Manage your time as you manage your money

Do you know how generally a 70-year life is spent? On an average, 25 years in sleep, 8years in study and education, 6 years in rest and illness, 7 years in holidays and recreation, 5 in commuting, 4 years in eating and 3 years in transition, i.e. getting ready to do all the above activities.

That leaves only 12 years for effective work. Charles Schwab, and American millionaire paid consultant 25,000 dollars in 1936 to advise him how to best use this precious, irretrievable resource. His advice: “Start your day with a ‘To do list’ and prioritise the vital few after picking them from the trivial many.”

3% CARELESSNESS + 3% LAZINESS +3% OVERSPENDING=90% FINANCIAL WORRIES

Most people believe that they will not have any financial worries of they if they can increase their incomes by 10 per cent. But his is far from the truth. All of us know that financial worries involve everyone—from the peon to the president—those who earn Rs. 300 per month to those who earn Rs. 90,000 per month. Therefore, more money is not the answer. Many times, those how earn more have more financial worries.

It can be because of carelessness. It is rightly said: “Beware of small expenses; a small leak can sink a big ship.”

It can be because of laziness. “A lightning call is the result of a post card not being sent when it could have done the job.

It can be because of overspending. Again “He who earns four but spends five has no need for a purse.”

A little bit of each of these put together contributes to 90 per cent of your financial worries. And for the balance 10 per cent, may luck be on your side. Amen!

Profit is not a dirty word

Profit is the driving for that spurs on. It is the material yard-stick of success in business.

As long you are not profiting (that is, making money by unfair means), you need not feel guilty of making profit. It is your legitimate right, your means to growth, the incentive for you to give better products and service to the customer.

But putting profit before better quality and service is like putting the carriage before the horse—business does not move.

If, on the other hand, we strive for quality and service, our business goes galloping forward. And more profits come rolling in.

That’s SUCCESS!

DO IMPORTANT JOBS NOW BEFORE THEY BECOME URGENT

Procrastination is the thief of time.

The habit of putting off important tasks can rob you of your hours of achievement and success.

Do not forget, that the world’s biggest fires could have been prevented by a small cup of water. And, telegram results when a postcard isn’t sent.

Why neglect the job at hand now and let it crush you under its weight later? A stitch in time saves nine. Attack the task with full gusto and you will be pleasantly surprised at your own competence.

A thousand mile journey begins with a single step. Take the step. Leave inertia behind. See the miles melt away under your feet. Do it now!

“In His wisdom God gives to each of us a limited, finite number of hours a year in which to achieve our goals, both material and spiritual. He gives us these hours in sequence, day-by-day, month by month. If they are wasted, however, they are neither repeatable nor refundable. He gives the same amount to the rich and to the poor, to the young and to the old. Whatever successes we may achieve in this life will come from purpose to which we put God’s priceless gift—time.”

-Leon A. Danco, Ph. D., Center for Family Business, U.S.A.

“Dot---ers’

On being asked by Akbar, Birbal painted the emperor portrait in six days. Akbar asked his other eight Navaratnas to comment. Each one put a dot on the portrait wherever he felt it was not good. Akbar asked Birbal to explain. Birbal thought and called for eight blank canvasses for his other colleagues and asked them to do the portrait. No one came forward. Akbar, with drooping eyes, murmured, “Dot—ers.” MORAL: It is easy to find faults in what others do, but difficult to do it yourself.

You are judged by the way you speak

Once an old sage sat meditating under a banyan tree. He was blind. A man came up and said. “Hey! Old man, did you hear anyone passing this way? The sage replied, “No, my good man, I did not hear anyone.”

After a while another man went up to the old sage and asked, “Old man, did you hear anyone going this way?” The sage replied, “Oh yes, a man went by just now and he asked the same question.” The man went away.

After some time another man came and asked, “Noble sir, did you hear anyone passing this way?

The old sage replied, “Yes, your Majesty. A solider went first and then your Chief Minister. Both of them asked the same question.” The man was surprised and asked, “Good sir, who do you know that I am a king and that the other two were a soldier and a Chief Minister?”

The sage answered, “ Your Majesty. I knew them by their manner of speaking. The first man spoke very rudely. The second man was a little more polite, but Your Majesty was the most polite.”

The king went away astonished at the sage’s astuteness.

Education Without Common Sense, Experience and Exposure is Incomplete

In an ashram, a disciple insisted with us guru that he (the shishya) was ready to go into the world. He agreed to take a test before venturing out. The guru fisted his hand and asked the student to name what it contained. The shishya, after a lot of calculations, told the guru that it was a round object with a hole in it. The guru complimented the student but asked him to name the object. The student made some more calculations and said that it was a grinding wheel. To his surprise, the guru opened his fist which held a finger ring. Education without common sense, experience and exposure is never complete. 

Do not limit the scope of your THINKING

A chicken sees grains on the other side of a wire mesh in vain. While pacing up and down alongside the wire mesh in desperation, it notices that the wire mesh doesn’t extend beyond 3 feet. It walks over to the grains. Moral: Do not limit the scope of your THINKING.

                  

Respect Skill

An American was travelling in Afghanistan when his Cadillac stalled. He did everything, but it didn’t start. Finally, a mechanic came from the hills riding a donkey. He opened the bonnet and hit the cylinder head six times. He asked the American to start it and it did. The American asked, “How much?” The mechanic said, “$100.” On being asked to itemise it, the mechanic said, “10c. for hitting six times and $99.90 for knowing where to hit.” The American paid sheepishly. MORAL: Respect skilled people.

THINK there must be a better way

Your brain is a power of creative energy.

From his amazing thinking-machine spring bold new ideas. Ideas that can work rare miracles. Like the ideas that have moved man from the first wheel to the supersonic jet.

Think! Unleash your creative power. And you will make astounding discoveries. Thomas Edison tried ten thousand times to develop an incandescent lamp and failed tem thousand times. But he kept searching for a better way of doing it and finally invented the electric bulb.

You too can do your miracles of the mind. And find better ways of bettering life.

“Then What?”

Henry Ford always bought flowers for his wife from a shop every Friday evening. Once, he asked the old florist, “Gentleman, you have a good shop. Why not open a branch?” Florist, “Sir, then what?” Henry Ford, “You will then have several branches in Detroit.” Florist, “Sir, then what?” Henry Ford, angrily, “Damn it, you will then be able to relax. “Florist, “That is what I am doing even now.” Ford walked away sheepishly.

Don’t cry over spilt soup

An old Chinese farmer was walking along the road with a stick across his shoulder. Hanging from the sick was a pot filled with soybean soup. He stumbled and the jar fell off and broke into pieces. The old farmer kept going, unperturbed. A man rushed up and said excitedly, “Don’t you know that your jar broke?” “Yes,” the old farmer answered, “I know. I heard it fall. It’s broken; the soup is gone---what can I do about it?” he asked.

Do what you think is right and know whether it was right

What will the auditors say? What will my colleagues say? What ill my neighbours say? These are immobilising thoughts. Remember the story of the father, son and the donkey going to the market. They got so influenced by what people thought of them that neither could ride the donkey. Well, do what you think is right, what you think is proper and as long as it is not in your selfish interest, go ahead and do it. Remember, you can always rectify your wrong decisions the moment you find them to be wrong. On the other hand, if you do not take any decisions at all, how will you ever be able to improve your future decision-making.

Anger Prevention Kit

A match-stick has a head, but it does not have a brain.

Therefore, whenever there is a little friction, it flares up immediately. Now, at times the effects of this flaring up can be devastating as it can engulf a whole lot of things and play havoc and cause destruction.

We have a lesson to learn form this tiny match-stick. All of us heave heads. And unlike the match-stick, we have brains as well. Therefore, our wisdom lies in not reacting on impulse—a habit of great importance when managing people.

 Problems, problems, problems everywhere

What’s wrong with having problems? The only people who have no problems are in cemeteries. Problems are a sign of life. So be glad you’ve got them. It means you are alive. The more problems you have, the more alive you are. If you have no problems, better get down on your knees and ask: “Lord, don’t you trust me anymore? Give me some problems.

Chose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life!

Oh! Give us the man who sings at his work. For him work itself turns into a pleasure. Observe yourself and you will find most of the time you like to do what you like and not what should be done! Find out what your employee can do best and place them in proper job slots.

A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks

Laugh and the world laughs with your; weep and you weep alone. We do not smile because we are happy; we are happy because we smile. “I had the blues, because I had no shoes, until upon the street, I met a man who had no feet. “Think of all we have to be grateful for, and thank God for all our boons and bounties. Think, thank and smile. Say cheese! A bit louder, please!

Shape up or ship out

Today, the world is moving at supersonic speed. Things are changing at a frantic pace. Only razor-sharp reflexes can help you respond to each new challenge and be on the top.

Keep yourself fighting fit! Absorb every new idea. And be alert to every minute change. Or else, your competitors will leave you light years behind.

Today, business is like riding a bicycle—either you keep moving or you fall down. And sink into oblivion.

Now, spur yourself on. And move up. Keep on keeping on!

There’s plenty of room at the top but there’s no room to sit down.

Leadership (Don’t Push; Pull)

General Eisenhower used to teach leadership with a simple piece of string. He would put it on a table and say. “Pull it and it will follow wherever you wish. Push it and it will go nowhere at all. It is just that way when it comes to leading people.

Now, if there are two rings—one tied to each end of the string—and when the string is stretched our and kept on the table and one ring is pushed towards the other, the other ring doesn’t move. However, if it is pulled, the other ring follows it. Now, one ring can be you and the other your employee or subordinate.

Don’t push people into doing things. Pull (motivate) them.

A chain is at strong as its weakest link

In my youth, I heard a great speaker say, “You can become strongest in your weakest place.” As in welding, the broken point becomes strongest when heat is applied. So thought and intensity of faith can weld the weak spots in your personality into greater strength. It’s amazing what in person can creatively do with his own self.

Choose Happiness

An old man appeared on a popular television programme. He had received a prize for having won a contest. He stole the show with his exuberant spirit and quick wit. “It’s easy to see,” remarked the admiring master of ceremonies, “that you are a very happy man. What’s the secret of being as happy as you are? Let us zero in on it.” “Why, son,” the old man answered, ‘its as plain as the nose on your face. When I wake up in the morning. I have two choices. One is to be unhappy. And I want you to know, son, that I’m not as dumb as I may look. I’m smart enough to choose happiness. I just make up my mind to be happy… that’s all there is to it.”

If you are unhappy

Once upon a time, there was a non-conforming sparrow that decided not to fly south for the winter.

However, soon the weather turned so cold that he reluctantly started to fly south. In a short time ice began to form on his wings and he fell to earth in a farmyard, almost frozen to death.

A cow passed by and craped on the little sparrow. The sparrow thought it was the end. But the manure warmed him and defrosted his wings. Warm and happy, able to breathe, he started to sing. Just then a large cat came by and hearing the chirping, investigated the sounds.

The cat cleared away the manure, found the chirping bird and promptly ate him.

The moral of the story is:

1.    Everyone who shits on you is not necessarily your enemy.

2.    Everyone who gets you out of the shit is not necessarily your friend.

3.    And, if you’re warm and happy in a pile of shit, keep your mouth shut.

Customer is the boss

“There never has been … there is not now… and there never will be any boss but the customer. He is the one boss you must please. Everything you own… he has paid for. He buys your home, your cars, and your clothes. He pays for your vacations and puts your children through school. He will give you every promotion you will ever obtain during your lifetime… and he will discharge you if you displease him.”

Everything depends on how you treat this boss---your customer.

The great law, which lies at the foundation of all life---business and personal—is that our rewards in life will be in exact proportion to our service. And, service to our boss---the customer.

Salesman’s Persistence

A young salesman was finally admitted to the office of the president, who chided him, “Young man, you should feel flattered that I allowed you to come in here. I turned down five salesmen today.” “I know,” replied the young salesman, “I was all five of them.”

If you are not busy meeting competition, you are creating it.

Competition is not an enemy, which has to be feared. Meet it halfway and accept the challenge. One way to beat the competition is to serve your customers better. We have got strengths and we have got weakness. But so have our competitors. And, if we sell our strengths against their weakness, we will win.

Become a Tiger salesman!

The “Pussy Cat Salesman” does a fine job of prospecting and establishing the initial contact. He also makes a good presentation, but is not too sharp at replying the sales objections. And when it comes to asking for the order, he becomes a docile pet. In his engagements to be goody, he loses sight of his main objective that is bagging the order.

The “Tiger Salesman” is made of sterner stuff. He is nice to he prospect, but he is also firm. He is persistent and does not give up. In fact, he views every sales objection as an opportunity for telling more about his product. And finally, he does not hesitate to ask for it, that is, the customer’s signature on the bottom line.

In the long run, tigers make more friends and close more sales too.

Ask the customer what he needs

In a company meeting, everybody is giving suggestions on how to make better dog food. On being asked by the chairman, a trainee suggests, “Sir, I am not a dog. Let us get a few specimens and make the one they like.” MORAL: Ask the customer what he needs.

Customer is the profit. Everything else is Overhead!

The customer is not an inconvenience or a pain in the neck. He is our bred and butter. He pays for our salaries and our profits.

The customer is the only goose that lays eggs everyday….forever! So care for him, pamper him. Sow the best possible service and reap a golden harvest…in bumper profits.

A company sailing with heavy load of overheads will soon find itself at the bottom. Axe the overheads. And, make it a monthly exercise, not yearly. But, eliminate only those activities, which are not for the customers, the real boss.

A Satisfied Customer is your best Advertisement

A sale is not a one-time transaction—it is the beginning of repeat business provided you keep the customer satisfied. And there is no other way of doing it than to be prompt in reaching out to him in his adversity and giving him good after-sales service.

No amount of advertising—leaflets, banners, hoardings, wall paintings, newspaper and magazine insertions, radio, jingles, television advertisement films—have the creativity which a satisfied customer has.

If you are sincere in helping him and create in him the confidence that you are always behind him, you will see the word of mouth spread around like wild fire. Not only will he give you repeat business, he will get you the business of his friends and acquaintances too.

The time has come to out yourself into customer’s shoes

Should we tell you the secret of success?

“Find a need and fill it!”

Once you’ve identified customer needs and satisfied them, you’re in possession of the magic wand that will conjure up fabulous fortunes for you.

But, how do you know what the customer wants?

Be seeing things his way, that’s how! What would you want, if you were in his place? Find that. And set out to satisfy it as if your life depends on it. (At least your success in business depends on it, does it not?)

“If there is any secret of success,” says Henry Ford, “It lies in the ability to get the other person’s point of view and see things from his angle.

Cost is long forgotten but quality is remembered forever

Your customer is the goose that lays golden eggs…forever. If you lure him with a low price and deceive him with a low quality product, you have made one big kill, but you’ve lost his goodwill forever.

A lot goes into the making of a top quality product. Your customer knows it. And he is happy paying a good price for something of lasting value. If your product or service is enduring, his happiness is enduring. Remember, ever customer is a one-man advertising agency. If he is pleased, he’ll spread goodwill for you. If he smiles, Dame luck will smile upon you!

Therefore, create quality for him—your customer.

One satisfied customer in 10 years will bring you 100 more

Customer is the profit; everything else is overhead.

Remember, 68% of customers quit because of an attitude of indifference. Apart from selling a good quality product, it is service after sales that is important too. If you yourself in your customer’s shoes you will know how to put a smile on his face. His smile, of course, will continue to ring your cash register!

It costs six times as much to get a new customer as to keep a customer you already have.

Handle a difficult customer with care

A difficult customer is a dark cloud with a silver lining. He is your golden opportunity for providing your mettle as a sales person. Win him over and you have sharpened your technique of satisfying customers and getting more business.

Handle a difficult customer with tact and sympathy. Put yourself in his shoes and see were is pinches. Then mend it. Remove the irritations to make him happy.

See him walk out with a smile on his face. And, you may rest assured, he will get you a hundred more customers.

INSPIRING LINES AND CONTEXTS FROM DOWNLOADED FROM THE NET

SOURCE: Collected form different websites

ALWAYS REMEMBER

It takes a minute to have a crush on someone and it takes an hour to like someone and a day to love some one but it takes lifetime to forget some one.

You meet some people in your life who change you for the better, REMEMBER them kindly. And as for FRIENDS just be LOYAL -nothing more nothing less.

Its true that we don't know what we've got until we loose it but it is also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives.

When one door of happiness closes, another opens but often we look so long at the closed door that we don't see the one, which opens to us.

There are things u love to hear but you would NEVER hear it from the person from whom you would like to hear it but don't be DEAF to hear it from the person who says it with HIS HEART

Never say GOODBYE when u still want to TRY, Never give up when u still feel u can take it, never say you don't LOVE that person anymore when you can't let go

ALWAYS REMEMBER THOSE WHO SERVE

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10 year old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.

"How much is an ice cream sundae?"

"Fifty cents," replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the number of coins in it.

"How much is a dish of plain ice cream?" he inquired.

Some people were now waiting for a table and the waitress was a bit impatient.

"Thirty-five cents," she said brusquely.

The little boy again counted the coins.

"I'll have the plain ice cream," he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and departed.

When the waitress came back, she began wiping down the table and then swallowed hard at what she saw. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies - her tip

ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING

By Francie Baltazar-Schwartz

Jerry was the kind of guy you love to hate. He was always in a good mood and always had something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"

He was a unique manager because he had several waiters who had followed him around from restaurant to restaurant. The reason the waiters followed Jerry was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?"

Jerry replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, Jerry, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.' I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life."

"Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested.

"Yes it is," Jerry said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live life."

I reflected on what Jerry said. Soon thereafter, I left the restaurant industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that Jerry did something you are never supposed to do in a restaurant business: he left the back door open one morning and was held up at gunpoint by three armed robbers.

While trying to open the safe, his hand, shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him. Luckily, Jerry was found relatively quickly and rushed to the local trauma center.

After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body.

I saw Jerry about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins. Wanna see my scars?"

I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place.

"The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door," Jerry replied. "Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live, or I could choose to die. I chose to live."

"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked.

Jerry continued, "The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the emergency room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read, 'He's a dead man.' I knew I needed to take action."

"What did you do?" I asked.

"Well, there was a big, burly nurse shouting questions at me," said Jerry. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes,' I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Bullets!' Over their laughter, I told them, "I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead."

Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.

Attitude, after all, is everything.

BE PATIENT

This is a true story which happened in the States. A man came out of his home to admire his new truck.

To his puzzlement, his three-year-old son was happily hammering dents into the shiny paint.

The man ran to his son, knocked him away, hammered the little boy's hands into pulp as punishment.

When the father calmed down, he rushed his son to the hospital. Although the doctor tried desperately to save the crushed bones, he finally had to amputate the fingers from both the boy's hands.

When the boy woke up from the surgery & saw his bandaged stubs, he innocently said, " Daddy, I'm sorry about your truck." Then he asked, "but when are my fingers going to grow back?"

The father went home & committed suicide.

Think about the story the next time u see someone spill milk at a dinner table or hear a baby crying. Think first before u lose your patience with someone u love. Trucks can be repaired. Broken bones & hurt feelings often can't.

Too often we fail to recognise the difference between the person and the performance.

People make mistakes. We are allowed to make mistakes. But the actions we take while in a rage will haunt us forever.

Pause and ponder. Think before you act. Be patient. Understand & love.

GIVING BLOOD

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at Stanford Hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness.

The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes, I'll do it if it will save Liz."

As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?"

Being young, the boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood.

HAPPINESS

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service where they had been on vacation.

Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his life would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and colour of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every colour of the rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance. As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the scene.

One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man couldn't hear the band he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days and weeks passed. One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone. Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the world outside. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it for himself. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.

It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window. The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall. She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."

Epilogue...There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations. Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled. If you want to feel rich, just count all of the things you have that money can't buy.

"SOMETIMES TO FACE YOUR FUTURE YOU HAVE TO LET GO OF YOUR PAST."

MOTIVATION

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?"

Hands started going up.

He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up.

He then asked, "Who still wants it?"

Still the hands were up in the air.

"Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe.

He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. "Now who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.

"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way.

We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. You are special - Don't ever forget it!

LEARN TO LISTEN

Opportunity sometimes knocks very softly

At the prodding of my friends, I am writing this story. My name is Mildred Hondorf. I am a former elementary school music teacher from DeMoines, Iowa. I've always supplemented my income by teaching piano lessons--something I've done for over 30 years. Over the years

I found that children have many levels of musical ability. I've never had the pleasure of having a protege though I have taught some talented students. However I've also had my share of what I call "musically challenged" pupils. One such student was Robby. Robby was 11 years old when his mother (a single mom) dropped him off for his first piano lesson.

I prefer that students (especially boys!) begin at an earlier age, which I explained to Robby. But Robby said that it had always been his mother's dream to hear him play the piano. So I took him as a student. Well, Robby began with his piano lessons and from the beginning I thought it was a hopeless endeavour. As much as Robby tried, he lacked the sense of tone and basic rhythm needed to excel. But he dutifully reviewed his scales and some elementary pieces that I require all my students to learn.

Over the months he tried and tried while I listened and cringed and tried to encourage him. At the end of each weekly lesson he'd always say, "My mom's going to hear me play some day." But it seemed hopeless. He just did not have any inborn ability. I only knew his mother from a distance as she dropped Robby off or waited in her aged car to pick him up. She always waved and smiled but never stopped in. Then one day Robby stopped coming to our lessons. I thought about calling him but assumed, because of his lack of ability, that he had decided to pursue something else. I also was glad that he stopped coming. He was a bad advertisement for my teaching!

Several weeks later I mailed to the student's homes a flyer on the upcoming recital. To my surprise Robby (who received a flyer) asked me if he could be in the recital. I told him that the recital was for current pupils and because he had dropped out he really did not qualify.

He said that his mom had been sick and unable to take him to piano lessons but he was still practicing. "Miss Hondorf...I've just got to play!" he insisted. I don't know what led me to allow him to play in the recital.

Maybe it was his persistence or maybe it was something inside of me saying that it would be alright.

The night for the recital came. The high school gymnasium was packed with parents, friends and relatives. I put Robby up last in the program before I was to come up and thank all the students and play a finishing piece. I thought that any damage he would do would come at the end of the program and I could always salvage his poor performance through my "curtain closer."

Well the recital went off without a hitch. The students had been practicing and it showed. Then Robby came up on stage. His clothes were wrinkled and his hair looked like he' run an egg-beater through it.

"Why didn't he dress up like the other students?" I thought. "Why didn't his mother at least make him comb his hair for this special night?"

Robby pulled out the piano bench and he began. I was surprised when he announced that he had chosen Mozart's Concerto #21 in C Major. I was not prepared for what I heard next. His fingers were light on the keys, they even danced nimbly on the ivories. He went from pianissimo to fortissimo...from allegro to virtuoso. His suspended chords that Mozart demands were magnificent! Never had I heard Mozart played so well by people his age After six and a half minutes he ended in a grand crescendo and everyone was on their feet in wild applause. Overcome and in tears I ran up on stage and put my arms around Robby in joy. "I've never heard you play like that Robby!

How'd you do it?" Through the microphone Robby explained: "Well Miss Hondorf...remember I told you my mom was sick? Well actually she had cancer and passed away this morning. And, well....she was born deaf so tonight was the first time she ever heard me play. I wanted to make it special." There wasn't a dry eye in the house that evening.

As the people from Social Services led Robby from the stage to be placed into foster care, I noticed that even their eyes were red and puffy and I thought to myself how much richer my life had been for taking Robby as my pupil. No, I've never had a protege but that night I became a protege...of Robby's. He was the teacher and I was the pupil. For it is he that taught me the meaning of perseverance and love and believing in yourself and maybe even taking a chance in someone and you don't know why. This is especially meaningful to me since after serving in Desert Storm Robby was killed in the senseless bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in April of 1995, where he was reportedly....playing the piano.

LOVE OF LIFE

It all started when I was 16 years old. While I was playing outside on my farm in California, I met a boy. He was an average kind of boy who teased you and then you chased them and beat them up. After that first meeting in which I beat him up we kept on meeting and beating each other up at the fence. That only lasted for a little while though. We would meet at the fence all the time and we were always together. I would tell him all my secrets. He was very quiet he would just listen to what I had to say. I found him easy to talk to and I could talk to him about everything. In school we had separate friends but when we got home we would always talk about what happened in school. One day I said to him that a guy I liked hurt me and broke my heart. He just comforted me and said everything would be okay. He gave me words of encouragement and helped me get over him. I was happy and thought of him as a real friend. But I knew that there was something else about him that I liked. I thought of it that night and figured it was just a Friend kinda thing that I was feeling. All through high school and even through graduation we're always together and of course I thought of it as being friends. But I knew deep inside that I really felt differently. On graduation night even though we had different dates to the prom I wanted to be with him. That night after everybody went home I went to his house and wanted to tell him that I wanted to see him. Well, that night was my big chance and all I did was just sit there with him watching the stars and talking about what I was going to do and what he was going to do. I looked into his eyes and listened to him talk about what his dream was. How he wanted to get married and settle down. He said how he wanted to be rich and successful. All I could do was to tell him my dream and cuddle next to him. I went home hurting because I didn't tell him how I was feeling. I wanted to tell him so bad that I loved him but I was too scared and frightened. I let my feelings go and told myself that someday I would tell him just how I felt. All through college I wanted to tell him but he always had someone with him. After graduation he got a job in New York; I was happy for him but at the same time I was sad to see him go. I was sad also because I didn't tell him how I felt. But I couldn't let him know now that he was leaving for his big job. So I just kept it to myself and watched him go on the plane. I cried as I hugged him for what I felt was going to be the last time. I went home that night and cried my eyes out. I felt hurt that I didn't tell him what I had inside my heart. Well, I got a job as a secretary and then worked my way to a computer analyst. I was proud of what I had accomplished. One day I got a letter with an invitation to a wedding. It was from him; I was happy and sad at the same time. Now I know that I could never be with him and that we could only be friends. I went to the wedding the next month. It was a big occasion. It was a big church wedding with the reception at a hotel. I met the bride and of course I talked to him too. I fell in love one more time. But I held back so it wouldn't spoil what should be the happiest day in his life. I tried to have fun that night but it was killing me inside watching him being so happy and me trying to be happy covering up my sadness tears inside of me. I left New York feeling that I did the right thing. Before I left on the flight, he came running out of nowhere and said his good-byes and how he was very happy to see me. I came home and just tried to forget about what went on in New York. I had to go on with my life. As the years went on, we wrote to each other on what was going on and how he had missed talking to me. On one occasion he never wrote back to me at all. I was getting worried as to why he hadn't written anything for a long time after I had already written 6 letters to him. Well, just when everything seemed hopeless and sad in my life, I got a note that said: "Meet me at the fence where we used to talk about things". I went and saw him there. I was happy to see him, but he was broken-hearted and sad inside. We hugged until we couldn't breathe anymore. Then he told me about the divorce and why he hadn't written for a long time. He cried until he couldn't cry anymore. Finally, we went back to the house and talked and laughed about what I had been going and to catch up on old times. But in all of this, I couldn't tell him how I felt about him. In the days that followed, he had fun and forgot about all his problem and his divorce. I fell in love again with him. When it came time for him to leave back to New York, I went to see him off and cried. I hated to see him leave. He promised to see me every time he could get a vacation. I couldn't wait for him to come so I could be with him. We would always have fun when we were together. One day he didn't show up like he said he would. I figured that he might have been busy. The days turned into months and I just forgot about it. Then I got a call one day from a lawyer in New York. The lawyer said that he had died in a car accident going to the airport, and that it took this long till everything was settled. It broke my heart. I was shocked about what took place. Now I knew why he didn't come that day. Again, I was broken-hearted. I cried that night, cried tears of sadness and heartache. I asked questions: "Why did this happen to a kind guy like him?" I gathered my things and went to New York for the reading of his will. Of course, things were given to his family and his ex-wife. I finally got to meet her since the last time we met at the wedding. She explained to me how he was and how he always provided. But he was always unhappy. She would always try everything but she couldn't get him happy, as he was that night at their wedding. When the will was read, the one thing that was given to me was a diary. It was a dairy that of his life. I cried as it was given to me. I didn't know what to think. Why was this given to me? I took it and flew back to California. As I flew on the plane I remembered the good times that we had together. I started reading the diary and what was written. The diary was started with the day we first met. I read on till I started to cry. The diary told of him saying that he had fallen in love with me that day I was broken-hearted. But he was too afraid to tell me what he had felt. That is why he was so quiet and liked to listen to me. It told of how he wanted to tell me so many times, but was too afraid to say anything. It told of when he went to New York and fell in love with another. How the happiest time he had was seeing me and dancing with me at the wedding. He said he imagined it was our wedding. How he was always unhappy till he had no choice but to divorce his wife. How the best time in his life was to read the letters written to him by me. Finally, the diary ended when it said, "today I will tell her I love her". It was the day he was killed. The day I was going to finally find out what was really in his heart. So the moral of the story, If you love someone, don't wait till tomorrow to tell him/her. Maybe the next day will never come at all..

THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION

During my second month of nursing school, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?" Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade. "Absolutely," said the professor.

"In your careers you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say 'hello'.

"I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy. 

.................................

Five Important Lessons Life Can Teach You

1. Most Important Question

During my second month of night school, our professor gave us a pop quiz.  I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one: What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"  Obviously, this was some kind of joke.  I had seen the cleaning woman many times.

She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50's, but how would I know her name?  I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank.  Before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.  "Absolutely," said the professor.  "In your lives, in your careers, you will meet many people and all are significant.  They all deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say 'Hello'."  I've never forgotten that lesson.  I also learned her name was Dorothy.

2. Pickup in the Rain

One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rain storm.  Her car had broken down and she desperately needed help.  Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.  A young white man stopped to help her - generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s.  The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxi cab.  She seemed to be in a big hurry!

She wrote down his address, thanked him and drove away.  Seven days went by and a knock came at the man's door.  To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home.  A special note was attached.  It read: "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night.  The rain drenched not only my clothes but my spirits.  Then you came along.  Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away.  God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others." --Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole

3. Always Remember Those Who Serve

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10 y/o boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat a table.  A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.  "How much is an ice cream sundae?"  "Fifty cents," replied the waitress.  The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied a number of coins in it.

"How much is a dish of plain ice cream?" he inquired.  Some people were now waiting for a table and the waitress was a bit impatient. "Thirty-five cents," she snipped.  The little boy again counted the coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream then," he said.  The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away.

The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and departed.  When the waitress came back, she began wiping down the table and then swallowed hard at what she saw.  There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were 2 nickels and 5 pennies -- her tip.

4. The Obstacle in Our Path

In ancient times, a king had a boulder placed on a roadway.  Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock.  Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it.  Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the big stone out of the way.  Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables.

On approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road.  After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded.

As the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been.  The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.  The peasant learned what many others never seem to understand:  Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve one's condition.

5. Giving Blood

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at Stanford Hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious disease.  Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5 year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat her illness.

The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the boy if he would be willing to give blood to his sister.  I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes, I'll do it if it'll save Liz."

As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks.  Then his face grew pale and his smile faded.  He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?"  Being young, the boy had misunderstood the doctor; and thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood.

......................................

LIFE EXPLAINED

This is why I always say that God has a weird sense of humor... LIFE EXPLAINED.

On the first day God created the cow. God said, "You must go to field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer. I will give you a life span of sixty years." The cow said, "That's a kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. Let me have twenty years and I'll give back the other forty." And God agreed.

On the second day, God created the dog. God said, "Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. I will give you a life span of twenty years." The dog said, "That's too long to be barking. Give me ten years and I'll give back the other ten." So God agreed (sigh).

On the third day God created the monkey. God said, "Entertain people, do monkey tricks, make them laugh. I'll give you a twenty year life span." Monkey said, "How boring, monkey tricks for twenty years? I don't think so. Dog gave you back ten, so that's what I'll do too, okay?" And God agreed again.

On the fourth day God created man. God said, "Eat, sleep, play, have sex, enjoy. Do nothing, just enjoy, enjoy. I'll give you twenty years." Man said, "What? Only twenty years? No way man. Tell you what, I'll take my twenty, and the forty cow gave back, and the ten dog gave back and the ten monkey gave back. That makes eighty, okay?" "Okay," said God. "You've got a deal."

So that is why for the first twenty years we eat, sleep, play, have sex, enjoy, and do nothing; for the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family; for the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain our grandchildren; and for the last ten years we sit in front of the house and bark at everybody.

Life has now been explained.

.......................................................