Look Around You

A very special teacher in high school many years ago had a husband who unexpectedly died suddenly of a heart attack. About a week after his death, she shared some of her insight with a classroom of students. As the late afternoon sunlight came streaming in through the classroom windows and the class was nearly over, she moved a few things aside on the edge of her desk and sat down there.

With a gentle look of reflection on her face, she paused and said, "Before class is over, I would like to share with all of you a thought that is unrelated to class, but which I feel is very important. Each of us is put here on earth to learn, share, love, appreciate and give of ourselves... and none of us knows when this fantastic experience will end. It can be taken away at any moment. Perhaps this is God's way of telling us that we must make the most out of every single day."

Her eyes beginning to water, she went on, "So I would like you all to make me a promise... from now on, on your way to school, or on your way home, find something beautiful to notice. It doesn't have to be something you see - it could be a scent - perhaps of freshly baked bread wafting out of someone's house, or it could be the sound of the breeze slightly rustling the leaves in the trees, or the way the morning light catches one autumn leaf as it falls gently to the ground. Please, look for these things, and cherish them.

For, although it may sound trite to some, these things are the "stuff" of life. The little things we are put here on earth to enjoy. The things we often take for granted. We must make it important to notice them, for at any time ... it can all be taken away."

The class was completely quiet. We all picked up our books and filed out of the room silently. That afternoon, I noticed more things on my way home from school than I had that whole semester. Every once in a while, I think of that teacher and remember what an impression she made on all of us, and I try to appreciate all of those things that sometimes we all overlook.

Take notice of something special you see on your lunch hour today. Go barefoot. Or walk on the beach at sunset. Stop off on the way home tonight to get a double dip ice cream cone. For as we get older, it is not the things we did that we often regret, but the things we didn't do.
_________________
I fall and I pick myself up.
I lose hope yet I dream.
I am lost and I find myself again.
I cry and I laugh through my tears.
I despair yet I believe.

Disappointment In God

Talk to many people and you will learn about their disappointment in God. Perhaps they suffered a tragedy or lost someone close to them. Maybe they prayed a prayer that wasn't answered or hoped for a miracle that didn't happen.

But why do some people allow a disappointment to drive them away from God while others take that same disappointment and cling to God all the more?

There is a true story about a woman who was disappointed in how her life turned out. After many childless years, Elisha, God's prophet, prayed for her and she birthed a son. But as a youth, this child suddenly died. The woman found Elisha and said, "Did I ask you for a son, my lord? Didn't I tell you, 'don't raise my hopes'?" 2 Kings 4:28 NIV

She might have gone into mourning, secluded herself in her home, and never trusted in God again. I can understand those actions. But instead, she searched for Elisha and asked him why he had allowed her to raise her hopes. She wasn't ready to give up until she understood. A miracle happened. Elisha prayed for her son, he came back from the dead. (v36).

Maybe that is the difference. Some people experience disappointment and give up. But it is those who cling to God all the more and keep asking for an explanation, knowing there is one, who see their disappointment change to something positive in their lives.

Please heed the lesson of this Shunammite woman and give your disappointment to God. Don't let anything rob you of a life filled with the joy of knowing Jesus Christ. A miracle awaits you just around the next corner.

The Perfect Mistake

My Mother's father worked as a carpenter. On this particular day, he was building some crates for the clothes his church was sending to orphanages in China. On his way home, he reached into his shirt pocket to find his glasses, but they were gone. When he mentally replayed his earlier actions, he realized what had happened; the glasses had slipped out of his pocket unnoticed and fallen into one of the crates, which he had nailed shut. His brand new glasses were heading for China!

The Great Depression was at it's height and Grandpa had six children. He had spent $20 for those glasses that very morning. He was upset by the thought of having to buy another pair. "It's not fair," he told God as he drove home in frustration. "I've been very faithful in giving of my time and money to your work, and now this."

Months later, the director of the orphanage was on furlough in the United States. He wanted to visit all the churches that supported him in China, so he came to speak one Sunday at my grandfather's small church in Chicago. The missionary began by thanking the people for their faithfulness in supporting the orphanage. "But most of all," he said, "I must thank you for the glasses you sent last year. You see, the Communists had just swept through the orphanage, destroying everything, including my glasses. I was desperate. Even if I had the money, there was simply no way of replacing those glasses. Along with not being able to see well, I experienced headaches every day, so my coworkers and I were much in prayer about this. Then your crates arrived. When my staff removed the covers, they found a pair of glasses lying on top.

The missionary paused long enough to let his words sink in. Then, still gripped with the wonder of it all, he continued: "Folks, when I tried on the glasses, it was as though they had been custom made just for me! I want to thank you for being a part of that."

The people listened, happy for the miraculous glasses. But the missionary surely must have confused their church with another, they thought. There were no glasses on their list of items to be sent overseas. But sitting quietly in the back, with tears streaming down his face, an ordinary carpenter realized the Master Carpenter had used him in an extraordinary way.

There are times we want to blame God instead of thanking him! Perhaps it is something we ought to try more often, "Thank you God for not allowing my car to start this morning." He may have been saving your life from a car accident. "Lord Jesus, thank you for letting me lose my glasses; I'm sure they'll be put to good use or there is a lesson to be learned."

Get Paid More and Promoted Faster

Get Paid More and Promoted Faster
By Joe Farcht

Everyone wants to get paid more and promoted faster. It is just human nature. But who knows what they must do to be recognized as a high performer worthy of being paid more and promoted faster? There are many things you can do and I’ve chosen to share three with you.

Develop Good Work Habits:

Most people are time wasters not because they deliberately waste time but because they have picked-up poor work habits, perhaps attitudes, and unproductive ways of working from other people. And they are largely unaware of those unproductive work habits and attitudes. To develop good work habits a person needs to become aware of new ways of working that are more efficient and productive. They can do that by self-study in the area of time management like from the book The Time Trap by Alec Mackenzie. Or they can develop good work habits by being led through a work skill and attitude development process like Mastering Productivity (Leadership Advantage, Inc. program). Practicing new more effective and productive ways of working over a period of time will result in good work habits and attitudes. You will distinguish yourself from others who waste some of their time.

Know How to Set Priorities:

Many people set priorities from the piles of papers on their desk, by the next person who walks in the door, or by a deadline that is looming because of procrastination. According to a survey of 104 chief executive officers, Brian Tracy notes that 84% agreed that the most important work quality was the ability to set priorities. Setting priorities separate the important from the unimportant. I call the important priorities High Payoff Activities (major work activities you engage in to earn your wages). Spending more time in your High Payoff Activities makes you more productive accomplishing the right work. A person setting priorities, working with good work habits and attitudes, and producing quality work is the person who will get paid more and promoted faster.

Exhibit a Sense of Urgency:

If you are known for being quick and responsive, dependable, and a producer of high quality work, then you will immediately stand out from other employees. According to the same survey of Chief Executive Officers, less than 2% of employees have a sense of urgency and are always on the fast track to promotion. If your supervisor knows he or she can depend on you to complete quality work quickly, your future is assured. If your supervisor doesn’t appreciate you for these qualities, get another supervisor who is appreciative.

Good work habits and attitudes, setting appropriate priorities in accordance with your High Payoff Activities, and working with a sense of urgency to complete quality work will make you stand out as a high performer in your company. That status will get you paid more and promoted faster. With the shortage of quality workers in our country, it is imperative to keep high performers. Becoming a high performer provides you with work security for your future.

A Teacher's Lesson

There is a story many years ago of an elementary teacher. Her name was Mrs. Thompson. And as she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children a lie. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same.

But that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard. Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he didn't play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. And Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.

At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.

Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners...he is a joy to be around."

His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle."

His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken."

Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and sometimes sleeps in class."

By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present which was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag.

Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist.

Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to." After the children left she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, and writing, and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children..

Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one her "teacher's pets."

A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.

Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had in his whole life.

Then four more years passed and yet another letter came.. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer -- the letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, M.D.

The story doesn't end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he'd met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit in the place at the wedding that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. And she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.

They hugged each, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference."

Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."

Three Men & A Temple

Truly powerful ambition, in an individual, carries others along with him. Ambition comes from a unique perspective on life. In some, it is limited in horizon. While some others can have a large-hearted, all-inclusive ambition. What is your type?

About 1000 years ago, a sage was drawn to a construction site. He watched from the edge of a clearing in the forest as the workmen bent over their individual tasks.

Finally his curiosity drove him to one workman at the edge of the site, whom he asked "What are you doing, my good man?" The workman looked up briefly and went back to his work "I'm working" he said curtly.

Not satisfied with the answer, the sage approached a second workman to ask him the same question. "You can see I'm breaking stones" he replied.

The sage was made of stern stuff and he wasn't leaving without an answer, so he walked over to a third workman with the question. "I'm building a temple" replied this workman smilingly.

The incident opened the sage's eyes, because all three of them were breaking boulders into smaller stones, but in their minds they were not doing the same jobs.

The third workman was working for a cause much larger than himself and it showed in his approach to work.

You can just do a day's work, or build a career, a team, an organization, or a nation

An individual's overpowering ambition can be the glue that holds together and powers forward a team, an army or a country.

This has been proven time and again by various leaders from history. Alexander The Great and Gandhi are just two names from the past.

If we look at corporates today, examples abound of ambitious leaders who built great institutions. Narayana Murthy of Infosys enjoys creating millionaires in his organization. When he could have focused on making himself a billionaire and then a trillionaire.

Those who share your ambitions should share its results

In the movies, treasure hunters and bank robbers fall out at the end, and one of them tries to make off with all the loot. The corporate equivalent of this goes on all around us.

The reward of a whole team’s work gets unfairly distributed. A leader, who's in the business for the long haul, makes his people shareholders in the fruits of their efforts.

Today, that seems to be the only way to build a lasting institution. Grow people at a rate that keeps them from striking out on their own.

Expand your ambition and your horizon

Grow the small pictures that others see, so your big picture gets progressively even bigger. You can choose your perspective and your role in life. Be the one who builds the temple.

The Force That Controls You!

The Force That Controls You!
By Joe Farcht

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to understand the force that controls what you think and how you act? The thoughts and actions you engage in today, determine the results you experience now and into the future. So, if you understood the force that controls you, you could use that knowledge to change your thoughts and your actions to get the results in work and life that you desire!

This Is Important!

Between 80 and 95% of what you think comes from habits of thought called attitudes. And those habits of thoughts come from your beliefs. And where do your beliefs come from?

Your beliefs come from your teachers. Who were your teachers? All the people you came in contact with and their beliefs. Let’s drill down even more into how we acquired our beliefs.

Some of your teachers were parents, siblings, relatives, school teachers, playmates and others who influenced your life. What beliefs did your parents have about money, raising children, eating, hygiene, work and play, and so on? Were their beliefs the Truth - meaning derived from universal laws and hence always true?

Or were their beliefs influenced by incorrect assumptions, past negative experiences, the imperfect beliefs received from their parents, and the imperfect beliefs of their parents before them? Were siblings, relatives, school teachers, playmates, and other people in your life teaching you the “Truth” or imperfect beliefs?

Your beliefs are handed down to you from others and you think and act from those beliefs resulting in the life you experience today. So the “Force that Controls You” is the beliefs you acquired in the past. The life you experience today is a result of your past thoughts and actions driven by your beliefs.

Knowing the Truth

If we could only discover what the Truth is, then we could change our beliefs and change how we think, act, and then enjoy the life of our dreams. It is simple but hard. It takes time and effort to reflect on the life you are living and ask these questions:

1. What actions am I taking that result in the life I am living?
2. What thoughts and attitudes underlie those actions?
3. What beliefs do I possess that create those thoughts and attitudes?
4. Where did I acquire those beliefs?
5. Were those beliefs the Truth or were they flawed?
6. What is the Truth?

Knowing the Truth will take the acquisition of knowledge through learning, reading, study, and integration of all that you learn. It is called developing wisdom. But once you know the Truth it will set you free to change your beliefs, thinking, attitude, behaviors and create the life of your dreams.

Is this process worthwhile? Absolutely! Can you do it? YES should be your answer!

It’s a big job that can’t be done overnight. What can be accomplished overnight is a decision to pursue this journey of discovery and personal growth. Courage, commitment, and discipline exercised over time will then yield unbelievable results.

Take one day at a time. Begin by taking just a few minutes each day to pursue this journey. As time passes and you make progress you will be motivated to take more time each day and accelerate the development process.

In time, you will experience unbelievable personal growth and development and your life will change for the better. It is worth the effort. Start your journey now!

Make the decision and commit to taking “More Control of Your Life.”