Tag Archives | Lessons
English: Santa Claus with a little girl Espera...

Does the Christmas Spirit Still Live?

By on December 23, 2011 in Uncategorized

Sometimes we need a little reminder… Yes, my skeptical and jaded readers…there is a living, breathing Christmas Spirit…It lives in us…and it is up to us to share it with not just those we love, but those who need it most.



English: Santa Claus with a little girl Espera...
Image via Wikipedia


DEAR EDITOR:


I am 8 years old.

 Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.

 Papa says, ‘If you see it in THE SUN it’s so.’

 Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?


VIRGINIA O’HANLON.

115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET.


VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.


Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.


 Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.


You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.


No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.



	

	

		
   
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Veterans Day
5 Lessons Veterans Can Teach Us About Life and Business
By  on November 11, 2011  in Personal Growth   

	

	    




Veterans Day






Rather than just celebrating another day off from school, and for many of us work, maybe we should take a look at what we can learn from those brave men and women we celebrate on Veteran’s Day.


The whole is greater than the sum of its parts – When you work together as a team, the results you achieve can be far greater and more productive than anything an individual can accomplish. Enlist help and collaborate as a team when possible.


Do it even if you don’t feel like it – Some days we don’t feel like making calls, writing proposals, cleaning up the kitchen or getting up and driving to work. So what! Don’t even think about whether or not you “feel” like doing something. Just move on to the next item and complete it.


Keep your eye on the big and the little picture – Advice abounds, “think about the big picture” or “just focus on what’s in front of you,” but the reality is…you need to pay attention to both. Place your attention on doing what’s in front of you and pay attention to the details, but also keep in mind the overall goal and what you’re trying to achieve.


Be clear on what you’re trying to accomplish – You need to be very clear on what you’re trying to do and why. What is it that you want out of your life, your business or career and what specifically is the desired outcome for each project or goal. You can’t get where you want to go if you don’t have a destination in mind.


Plan, but be flexible – Plan your actions, decide what you’ll do, how and when, but also be prepared to deviate if necessary. It’s often not possible to plan for every contingency, so when things shift or schedules change be willing to be flexible and regroup.


Can you think of anything I’ve left off? Have you learned a valuable lesson from a veteran that you’d like to share?




Question everything, move forward, enjoy the journey.



	

	

		
   
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The flame of wisdom
Dad’s Wisdom – Still Relevant in Life and Business
By  on September 24, 2011  in Inspiration, Personal Growth, Success, Wisdom   

	

	    


The flame of wisdom
Image via Wikipedia




Wisdom


Today would have been my father’s birthday. It is on days like these when we reflect on those we have loved and lost. And perhaps wished we had listened to a bit more often. Our relationship was often complicated, but valuable, as I think are most of our relationships with our parents.


As I think back on the many things I learned, I have unearthed some pearls of wisdom to share:


    

  • Be responsible – Say what you mean and do what you say; if you make a promise, keep it; if you start something finish it.
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  • Always do your best – Anything worth doing is worth doing right, work hard and take pride in your accomplishments.
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  • You are your best judge – Don’t worry so much about what other people think of you; do what you think is right, live how you want – never mind keeping up with the Joneses.
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  • Family first – Your spouse and children are always your top priority; not work (although you must provide for them), not friends or relatives. The rest of the world matters, but is a distant second to family.
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  • Don’t waste time – Time is precious and too brief; work efficiently and take time for fun; talk with your loved ones, play with your grandkids, have coffee with friends, enjoy your pets and take pleasure in nature whenever possible.
    • 



Do you have an lessons you’d like to share? What did you learn from your parents that has been valuable advice?


Question everything, move forward, enjoy the journey.



	

	

		
   
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Consider the School of “Higher Unlearning” For the Most Valuable Education
By  on September 22, 2011  in Good Reads   

	

	    
Good Reads


One of my favorite rebel thinkers, Jack Uldrich, “Chief Unlearning Officer” at The School of Unlearning has written a thought-provoking, potentially game changing book that takes thinking outside the box to a whole new level. Higher Unlearning: 39 Post-Requisite Lessons for Achieving a Successful Future examines many of those well entrenched beliefs that we cling to, turns them inside out and shows us how and why we need to master the art of unlearning before we can


move forward and be successful both in business and in life.


A few of my favorite gems:


    

  • Argue with yourself (Lesson 4)
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  • Question the wisdom of experts (Lesson 7)
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  • Practice Intentional Imperfection (Lesson 13)
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  • Know Doubt (Lesson 21)
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  • Don’t Just Do Something, Sit There (Lesson 32)
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  • Put on Some Rose Colored Glasses (Lesson 35)
    • 



This is one of those books that you will want to highlight, write in the margins and re-read while you take some time to digest all of Jack’s many pearls of wisdom. The key to success might not lie in acquiring more knowledge and skills; it might be found in unlearning much of what you already think you know.


A fabulous read that has earned a prominent spot on my office bookshelf.


Question everything, move forward, enjoy the journey.



	

	

		
   
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A female acrobat next to a potter
Why Flexibility Might be Your Most Valuable Strategy
By  on August 8, 2011  in Personal Growth   

	

	    


A female acrobat next to a potter's turntable....
Image via Wikipedia




Be flexible.


Once I get something in my mind, a plan, a decision, a thought, I can be like a dog with a bone. It can be tricky to let go of it and go with the flow. I was taught, and to certain degree it’s true, that success and responsibility require perseverance and adherence to the plan.


At the same time however inflexibility creates an enormous amount of inner stress and is often insensitive to other people and their needs. You’ll find that if you adopt the goal of becoming more flexible, some wonderful things will begin to happen. You’ll feel more relaxed, yet you won’t sacrifice any productivity. You may even become more productive because you won’t need to expend so much energy being upset and anxious.


I’ve learned to trust that I can meet my deadlines, achieve most of my goals and get what needs to be done completed without stressing about sticking to the plan. And quite honestly, it’s a lot more fun!


Give it a try! What have you got to lose? Except some Stress…

	

	

		
   
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leadership
Great Leadership is the Key to Success in Business and Life
By  on July 13, 2011  in Success   

	

	    
leadershipIn the wake of completing my transition from part employee-part business owner to full-time consultant and small business owner I have been giving some thought to what makes a good leader.


Leadership is the key to success, both in the office and in the home.


What lessons have I learned that will help me as I move forward building my company and my future?


I didn’t have to look any further than my last and certainly best employer…ever. Messenger Associates, Inc., led by their unbeatable leadership team understand how to lead by example, get the most out of their team and deliver the best value for their clients.


So what did I learn?


Professionalism is paramount – Intelligence is a given, competence a matter of course, but tact, manners and consideration go a long way in developing relationships and building a reputation.


Receptivity is a must – An open door policy to the extreme. Every idea is valuable, every opinion is worthy, and discussion and dissention are to be encouraged. The best ideas do not always come from the top; they are thrown out, tossed around, picked apart and built as a team into something better, something more.


Positivity sets the tone – A positive attitude is not the same as burying your head in the sand. It simply means that you look for the best possible outcome while planning for potential obstacles. If you expect the best from people and encourage them to give it, you will most often find yourself surrounded by the best and brightest.


Relationships matter – A company is about more than the work that gets done every day. A company is about people. It’s caring about the lives of the people you work with. It’s affecting the lives and businesses of your clients and customers. It’s your relationship with the community that surrounds you.


Great leadership is about understanding that people, relationships and business go hand in hand. If you place your focus only on one, you will inevitably damage the other two. But if you can find that combination of all three that is most powerful, you will have discovered the secret.


“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” - Aristotle


If you can learn to adopt this philosophy, then you will have stepped into a place of greater understanding and greater effectiveness.


 Great leadership cannot be taught; it must be observed.

	

	

		
   
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What if Your Ordinary Was Actually Extraordinary?
By  on June 27, 2011  in Personal Growth, Success   

	

	    
We are our most potent at our most ordinary. And yet most of us discount our “ordinary” because it is, well, ordinary. Or so we believe. But my ordinary is not yours. – Patti Digh


As I have mentioned before on this blog, I have been following along with the Trust30 writing challenge, although I think that they should have called it a “thinking challenge.” There are many who do not publically share their written answers, but are instead quietly pondering the prompts in the privacy of their own minds.


Patti’s piece really struck a chord with me. (Read the entire commentary here.) Too often we get caught up in comparisons and expectations. We are so quick to judge and condemn our work and ourselves.


And what are we using as the yardstick? 


Other people’s accomplishments or perceived skills.


External expectations thrust upon us by a misguided or misinformed public.


Internal stories, arbitrary standards that don’t really fit who we are.


What if our “ordinary” is actually exceptional? What if what we view as our normal, everyday behavior, thoughts and skills are truly extraordinary to the world at large?


We will never know if we don’t put ourselves out there. If we don’t pursue that idea we have, if we don’t share our wisdom, if we don’t offer our talents to others we will never truly know what we are capable of.


I challenge you all…


Be your ordinary, not my ordinary or anyone else’s and see what happens!


 

	

	

		
   
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Becoming Wise
By  on May 20, 2011  in Personal Growth   

	

	    
The great thing about getting older is that you don’t lose all the other ages is you’ve been. –  Madelyn L’Engle


Life is a progression.  We are a work in progress and an accumulation of experiences.  Everything that has previously occurred in our lives has happened for a reason and is an essential part of our development.  One of the challenges of our lives is to integrate and absorb the pieces of our lives as we experience them.  It is sometimes tempting to try to deny difficult periods of our lives or put out of our minds significant events, especially if they have been painful or unflattering.  When we try to erase or re-write our past we deprive ourselves of our own hard-earned wisdom.


When we realize that some of our most valuable strengths have developed not in spite of, but because of the life experiences we have had; then we can begin to fully appreciate the depth and breadth of the wise person we have become.



	

	

		
   
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Have You Lost Your Perspective?
By  on April 29, 2011  in Personal Growth, Success   

	

	    


A photo of The Thinker by Rodin located at the...
Image via Wikipedia




Little things can mean a lot, especially when we focus of all our attention on them, obsess and ruminate about them, and can’t seem to let them go.  Sometimes we just keep turning disturbing thoughts over and over in our minds, believing that we will surely figure out a solution if we just think about them long enough and hard enough.


When we engage in this kind of behavior, it is a sure sign that we’re thinking ourselves to death.  When I do this obsessing, I know that I have lost perspective.  I suddenly become the center of the universe, and my problems are the only ones that exist.


It always helps me to step back and realize that whatever problem I am having is probably not of universal proportions.  This perspective helps me to see that I am powerless over my crazy thinking, and that it is making my life insane.


Ask yourself:


Will this matter in 10 years? 10 months? 10 days even?


Then give it the perspective it deserves!



	

	

		
   
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Do You Consider Yourself an Optimist?
By  on April 22, 2011  in Personal Growth   

	

	    
Something to think about…


The Creed for Optimists


    

  • Be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
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  • Talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.
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  • Make all your friends feel there is something in them.
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  • Look at the sunny side of everything.
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  • Think only of the best, work only for the best, and expect only the best.
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  • Be as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
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  • Learn from the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
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  • Give everyone a smile.
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  • Spend so much time improving yourself that you have no time left to criticize others.
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  • Be too big for worry and too noble for anger.
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Prefer an online version?


Optimist International recently introduced desktop designs featuring tenets of the Optimist Creed. The complimentary designs are available for download from the Optimist.org.



	

	

		
   
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