2012-17 - Be bold...

If you have something to say, say it. If you have a point to make, make it clearly and unambiguously. There is nothing to be gained by timidly hiding behind vague insinuations. Get your opinion out in the open. Say what you mean to say, with confidence and clarity.

When you're clear about what needs to be done, take decisive action and do it. Not halfway, not half-heartedly, but with courage and determination. See it through to completion, boldly overcoming the obstacles which will surely arise.

Failing to speak up for what you approve of, gives support to what you oppose. Failing to decide, is a decision to fail. Failing to take action, allows opportunity to slip through your fingers.

You know who you are. You know what you believe. You know what must be done, and you know how to do it. Be confident. Be bold. The opportunity is now. Get it done.

~ Ralph Marston
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"Be bold, be bold, and everywhere be bold."

~ Herbert Spencer
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2012-15 - Would anyone know the difference?

A friend tells me the story of a father who took his two boys to play mini-golf. At the ticket office he wanted to know the price.

"Five coins for adults, three for those over six years. Under six years entry is free." said the gatekeeper.

The father replied, "One of them is three, the other seven. I'll pay for the oldest."

"You could have saved three coins, saying that the oldest was under six; I would never have known the difference." responded the gatekeeper as he handed over the tickets.

The father solemnly replied "That may be... but the boys would know."

~ Author Unknown
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"Integrity is what we do, what we say, and what we say we do."

~ Don Galer
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2012-14 - Positive alternatives...

Rather than being annoyed, be amused. Instead of getting angry, become curious. In place of envy, feel admiration. In place of worry, take action. In place of doubt, have faith. Negative energy is just positive energy that's flowing in the opposite direction. There's no need to fight or run away from that negative energy. All you need to do is change its direction. The more negative you are, the more positive you can be. An automobile that can travel 70 miles per hour to the east can also travel just as fast when going west. But first, someone must turn it around. When you sense yourself becoming negative, stop and consider what it would mean to apply that negative energy in the opposite direction. Turn your sadness into caring. Transform your complaints into useful suggestions. Change your bitterness into determination. The energy is already there. All you need to do is change its direction. ~ Ralph Marston ==========  "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." ~ Winston Churchill ==========

2012-13 - Experience...

The more you've done it, the more confident you'll be. The more confident you are, the more effective you'll be. The more effective you are, the more successful you'll become.


The way to start this ball of momentum rolling, is to take the leap of faith, and take action. Even the smallest effort creates a positive momentum. Even if you learn just a little bit each day, that's more than you knew the day before. Every day, every challenge, is an opportunity to add to your experience.


Think of experience as a bank account. Every day, you have the option of making a deposit in your "experience" account. And once the experience is there, you can "withdraw" it again and again without ever decreasing the account balance. Plus, each new experience serves to make the older ones even more valuable.


Experience builds upon itself when you're willing to learn and to continue taking action. Taking action has its own direct rewards, and as a bonus you also get experience, which continues to bring you value long after the job is finished.


Get Up And Get Going, Right Now!


Don't pass up this opportunity to get yourself some more experience.


~ Ralph Marston

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"A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions."


~ Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

2012-12 - Overcoming Obstacles...

A famous Sufi master was invited to give a course in California.

The auditorium was full at 8 am - the time announced - when one of the assistants came onto the stage.

"The master is just waking up. Please be patient."

Time passed, and people started leaving the room.

At midday, the assistant returned to the stage, saying that the master would be starting the lecture the minute he finished talking to a pretty girl he had just met. Most of the remaining audience left.

At 4 pm the master appeared - apparently drunk. This time, all but 6 people stormed out.

"I will teach you this," said the master, ceasing to act drunk. "Whoever wishes to go down a long path, must learn that the first lesson is to overcome early disappointments."

~ Author Unknown
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"Life is full of obstacle illusions."

~ Grant Frazier

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