No Better - No Worse

"My Mother taught me something when a teacher was putting me in the back of the class and ignoring me. My Mother said

'You are no better than anyone else.

And no-one else is better than you.

You are as good as anyone else.'

That lesson stuck with me all my life and it is how I have lived my life."

Ralph Davila

Medal of Honour

Consider "Keep On, Keeping On" - Author Unknown

Colonel Sanders went to more than 1,000 places trying to sell his chicken recipe before he found an interested buyer. The fact that I can buy Kentucky Fried Chicken today attests to his perseverance.

Thomas Edison tried almost 10,000 times before he succeeded in creating the electric light. If he had given up, I would be reading this in the dark!

The original business plan for what was to become Federal Express was given a failing grade on Fred Smith¹s college exam. In the early days, their employees would cash their pay-checks at retail stores, rather than banks. This meant it would take longer for the money to clear, thereby giving Fed Ex more time to cover their payroll.

Sylvester Stallone had been turned down a thousand times by agents and was down to his last $600 before he found a company that would produce Rocky. The rest is history!

To truly succeed requires some commitment to my goal.

Often people have quit just short of success.

I’ll have one more go.

When I really believe in what I am doing, I’ll give it what it needs to go forward.

I just might succeed.

There is no such thing as failure, really.

Every action produces an outcome.

It may not always be the outcome I am looking for, but it is an outcome nonetheless.

When I monitor the results of my actions and keep correcting what is not working, I am getting closer to the outcome I am looking for.

Persistence overcomes Resistance.

As was said about President Calvin Coolidge: “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with great talent. Genius will not. Un-rewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not. The world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”

Keeping going in the face of obstacles can allow a miracle to happen!

That miracle might just be me J

Spend more time on myself, than I do on my job :-)

These three have real value and make valuable points for me.

"Make measurable progress in reasonable time"
"Welcome all experiences - you never know which one will turn everything on. Be careful of walls, they certainly keep out disappointment, but they also keep out happiness"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfA-qNWLBHo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2AyudSJl_s&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWOJt1kCYP0&feature=related

What I've Learned - Written by: Andy Rooney

I've learned.... That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.
I've learned.... That when I'm in love, it shows.
I've learned.... That just one person saying to me, "You've made my day!" makes my day.
I've learned.... That having a child fall asleep in my arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.
I've learned.... That being kind is more important than being right.
I've learned.... That I should always say yes to a gift from a child.
I've learned.... That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help them in some other way.
I've learned.... That no matter how serious my life requires me to be, I need a friend to act goofy with.
I've learned.... That sometimes all I need is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.
I've learned.... That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.
I've learned.... That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.
I've learned.... That I am glad God didn't give me everything I asked for.
I've learned.... That money doesn't buy class.
I've learned.... That those small daily happenings make life so spectacular.

I've learned... That under a person's hard shell is usually someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.
I've learned.... That the Lord didn't do it all in one day. So what makes me think I can?
I've learned.... That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.
I've learned.... That when I plan to get even with someone, I am only letting that person continue to hurt me.
I've learned.... That love, not time, heals all wounds.
I've learned.... That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.
I've learned.... That everyone I meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.
I've learned.... That there's nothing sweeter than sleeping with my babies and feeling their breath on my cheek.
I've learned.... That no one is perfect until I fall in love with them.
I've learned.... That life is tough, but I'm tougher.
I've learned.... That an opportunity is never lost; someone will take the one I miss.
I've learned.... That when I harbor bitterness, happiness docks elsewhere.
I've learned.... That I wish I could have told my Dad that I love him one more time before he passed away.
I've learned.... That I should keep my words both soft and tender, because tomorrow I may have to eat them.
I've learned.... That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve my looks.
I've learned.... That I can't choose how I feel, but I can choose what I do about it.
I've learned.... That when my newly born grandchild holds my little finger in their little fist, that I'm hooked for life.
I've learned.... That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while I'm climbing it.
I've learned ... That it is best for me to give advice in only two circumstances; when it is requested and when it is a life threatening situation.
I've learned.... That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

I am thankful

I am thankful for this day I have been given to make of myself what I choose.

I am thankful for those friends around me.

I am thankful for those I am able to support.

I am thankful for those who support me.

I am thankful for the 6 areas of my life I can grow in - Mental, Physical, Spiritual, Family, Financial, Social.

I am thankful for the life I have lived to date - for the opportunities I have been given, the ones I will be given, and especially for those I have in front of me right now.

Life is choices - I am thankful I have choices in front of me.

I am thankful for the water I drink, the food I eat, for my shelter, warmth, clothing and care.

I make of this day a life I am proud to be part of.

How do I craft an exceptional life? by Robin Sharma

How do I craft an exceptional life? Ultimately, life goes by in a blink.

Might I live the same year 80 times.

To avoid getting to the end and perhaps feeling flooded with regret over a live half-lived, I read (and then apply) these tips:

1. I exercise daily.
2. I am serious about gratitude.
3. I see my work as a craft.
4. I expect the best and prepare for the worst.
5. I keep a journal.
6. I plan a schedule for my week.
7. I know the 5 highest priorities of my life.
8. I say YES to staying on task.
9. I drink a lot of water.
10. I improve my work every single day.
11. I have a mentor.
12. I have a paid coach.
13. I get up at 6am each day.
14. I eat only the food my body needs.
15. I identify heroes that move me.
16. I am a hero to someone.
17. I smile at strangers.
18. I am the most ethical person I know.
19. I only "settle" for excellence.
20. I savour life’s simple pleasures.
21. I save 10% of my income each month.
22. I spend time at art galleries.
23. I walk in the woods.
24. I write "thank you" letters to those who’ve helped me.
25. I forgive those who’ve wronged me.
26. I live that leadership is about influence and impact, not title and accolades.
27. I create unforgettable moments with those I love.
28. I have 5 great friends.
29. I am stunningly polite.
30. I unplug my TV.
31. I read daily.
32. I avoid the news.
33. I am content with what I have.
34. I pursue my dreams.
35. I am authentic.
36. I am passionate.
37. I say sorry when I know I should.
38. I grasp every moment to celebrate another person.
39. I have a vision for my life.
40. I know my strengths.
41. I focus my mind on the plenty rather than the lack.
42. I am patient.
43. I always keep going – there is ALWAYS something left.
44. I clean up my messes.
45. I use impeccable words.
46. I travel.
47. I honour my parents.
48. I am a great teammate.
49. I give none of my energy to critics.
50. I spend time in the mountains.
51. I know my top 5 values.
52. I focus on achieving results rather than simply being busy.
53. I innovate and iterate.
54. I speak less. I listen more.
55. I am the best person I know.
56. I make my life matter.

In order for people to eventually look up to me, I am best served to be reaching higher.

Make someone happy?

Absolute contradiction.

A person is happy because happiness springs from them like water from a well.

A person cannot be “made” to be happy – it is either within them or not.

I have to have decided that I will look on the positive side, do positive things and think positive thoughts.

No-one can COMPEL me to do those things and be internally driven.

INTERNAL DRIVE, rather than "External Direction" is the key.

I cannot compel another. When their life script is all about suffering and what isn’t and doesn’t work that is who they are choosing to be.

Not only is there nothing I can do to directly change that, there should be no expectation that it must change.

A person is entitled to live their life as they choose.

If it doesn’t fit in with me or suit me, then I have the right and responsibility to make other choices.

What is love?