By Unknown Author
Jerry is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has 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 mood 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 gun point 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 ER 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.
Positive thinking the the first step towards a happy life.
Attitude is everything.
If everyone applies just these, the whole world will live in happiness.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Pickup in the Rain
2:54 PM 0 Comments
One night, at 11:30 PM, 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 a ride. 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 on 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."
Lessons:
Offer help to anyone who needs it
Thank others for helping you.
If you help someone. Someone will help you.
If everyone does just these, the whole world will live in happiness.
A Million Dollar Lesson
2:54 PM 0 Comments
A cab driver taught me a million dollar lesson in customer satisfaction and expectation. Motivational speakers charge thousands of dollars to impart his kind of training to corporate executives and staff. It cost me a $12 taxi ride.
I had flown into Dallas for the sole purpose of calling on a client. Time was of the essence and my plan included a quick turnaround trip from and back to the airport. A spotless cab pulled up.
The driver rushed to open the passenger door for me and made sure I was comfortably seated before he closed the door. As he got in the driver's seat, he mentioned that the neatly folded Wall Street Journal next to me for my use. He then showed me several tapes and asked me what type of music I would enjoy.
Well! I looked around for a "Candid Camera!" Wouldn't you? I could not believe the service I was receiving! I took the opportunity to say, "Obviously you take great pride in your work. You must have a story to tell."
"You bet," he replied, "I used to be in Corporate America. But I got tired of thinking my best would never be good enough. I decided to find my niche in life where I could feel proud of being the best I could be.
I knew I would never be a rocket scientist, but I love driving cars, being of service and feeling like I have done a full day's work and done it well. I evaluate my personal assets and... wham! I became a cab driver.
One thing I know for sure, to be good in my business I could simply just meet the expectations of my passengers. But, to be GREAT in my business, I have to EXCEED the customer's expectations! I like both the sound and the return of being 'great' better than just getting by on 'average'"
Did I tip him big time? You bet! Corporate America's loss is the traveling folk's friend!
Lessons:
Go an Extra Mile when providing any Service to others.
The is no good or bad job. You can make any job good.
Good service always brings good return.
I had flown into Dallas for the sole purpose of calling on a client. Time was of the essence and my plan included a quick turnaround trip from and back to the airport. A spotless cab pulled up.
The driver rushed to open the passenger door for me and made sure I was comfortably seated before he closed the door. As he got in the driver's seat, he mentioned that the neatly folded Wall Street Journal next to me for my use. He then showed me several tapes and asked me what type of music I would enjoy.
Well! I looked around for a "Candid Camera!" Wouldn't you? I could not believe the service I was receiving! I took the opportunity to say, "Obviously you take great pride in your work. You must have a story to tell."
"You bet," he replied, "I used to be in Corporate America. But I got tired of thinking my best would never be good enough. I decided to find my niche in life where I could feel proud of being the best I could be.
I knew I would never be a rocket scientist, but I love driving cars, being of service and feeling like I have done a full day's work and done it well. I evaluate my personal assets and... wham! I became a cab driver.
One thing I know for sure, to be good in my business I could simply just meet the expectations of my passengers. But, to be GREAT in my business, I have to EXCEED the customer's expectations! I like both the sound and the return of being 'great' better than just getting by on 'average'"
Did I tip him big time? You bet! Corporate America's loss is the traveling folk's friend!
Lessons:
Go an Extra Mile when providing any Service to others.
The is no good or bad job. You can make any job good.
Good service always brings good return.
A mothers love
2:51 PM 0 Comments
By unknown Author
A little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen one evening while she was fixing supper, and handed her a piece of paper that he had been writing on. After his Mom dried her hands on an apron, she read it, and this is what it said:
For cutting the grass: $5.00
For cleaning up my room this week: $1.00
For going to the store for you: $.50
Baby-sitting my kid brother while you went shopping: $.25
Taking out the garbage: $1.00
For getting a good report card: $5.00
For cleaning up and raking the yard: $2.00
Total owed: $14.75
Well, his mother looked at him standing there, and the boy could see the memories flashing through her mind. She picked up the pen, turned over the paper he'd written on, and this is what she wrote:
For the nine months I carried you while you were growing inside me:
No Charge
For all the nights that I've sat up with you, doctored and prayed for you:
No Charge
For all the trying times, and all the tears that you've caused through the years:
No Charge
For all the nights that were filled with dread, and for the worries I knew were ahead:
No Charge
For the toys, food, clothes, and even wiping your nose:
No Charge
Son, when you add it up, the cost of my love is:
No Charge.
When the boy finished reading what his mother had written, there were big tears in his eyes, and he looked straight at his mother and said, "Mom, I sure do love you." And then he took the pen and in great big letters he wrote: "PAID IN FULL".
Lessons:
You will never how much your parents worth till you become a parent
Be a giver not an asker, especially with your parents. there is a lot to give, besides money.
Advice: IF your mom is alive and close to you, give her a big kiss and ask her for forgiveness. If she is far away, call her. If she passed away, pray for her.
For cutting the grass: $5.00
For cleaning up my room this week: $1.00
For going to the store for you: $.50
Baby-sitting my kid brother while you went shopping: $.25
Taking out the garbage: $1.00
For getting a good report card: $5.00
For cleaning up and raking the yard: $2.00
Total owed: $14.75
Well, his mother looked at him standing there, and the boy could see the memories flashing through her mind. She picked up the pen, turned over the paper he'd written on, and this is what she wrote:
For the nine months I carried you while you were growing inside me:
No Charge
For all the nights that I've sat up with you, doctored and prayed for you:
No Charge
For all the trying times, and all the tears that you've caused through the years:
No Charge
For all the nights that were filled with dread, and for the worries I knew were ahead:
No Charge
For the toys, food, clothes, and even wiping your nose:
No Charge
Son, when you add it up, the cost of my love is:
No Charge.
When the boy finished reading what his mother had written, there were big tears in his eyes, and he looked straight at his mother and said, "Mom, I sure do love you." And then he took the pen and in great big letters he wrote: "PAID IN FULL".
Lessons:
You will never how much your parents worth till you become a parent
Be a giver not an asker, especially with your parents. there is a lot to give, besides money.
Advice: IF your mom is alive and close to you, give her a big kiss and ask her for forgiveness. If she is far away, call her. If she passed away, pray for her.
You will never be anything
2:49 PM 0 Comments
by Celeste Atkina
Parents generally teach their children that if they try hard enough, they can fulfill all their goals and dreams. Many famous persons have done great things with their lives despite growing up in a life of poverty. Really, there is nothing wrong with parents telling their children that they can do great things with their life. The problem is this: what happens if everyone else around the child is saying otherwise?
For example, I grew up extremely poor. My father was the only one that worked, and my mother never could work outside the home simply because my parents could not afford a babysitter for the three of us. Although we got food stamps on the 10th of each month, the hundred dollars they provided for a family of five did little to feed us. I can recall that my younger brother and I would stare at the calendar and count down the days until the next set of food stamps would arrive because they often ran out a week or two before the next set came in the mail. Even when we did have them, we rarely got to eat anything except beans or potatoes. Heck, we often ate cereal for all three meals, and that was only if my parents were lucky enough to have gotten in the line early enough to receive the cheese and powdered milk hand-outs before they ran out.
Nevertheless, no matter how broke we were, my parents always encouraged us to go to college so that we could do something with our lives. The problem was that when I went to school, there were certain teachers, one certain librarian, etc. that told us that "poor people will always be poor and will never do anything with their lives". The librarian went so far as to make fun of the kids that had food stamps and encouraged the other kids to do the same. I can remember going home and telling my mother what she had said in school, and asked her if it was true that poor people cannot do anything in life. Of course, she always tried to keep us motivated, even in high school when the guidance counselors did not even encourage or discuss college funding with the poorer students such as myself. We were pretty much left to figure things out for ourselves, and many of my friends chose low-paying jobs simply because they did not know they could do anything else or actually believed that they were never going to be anything in life. So, how can one stay motivated in life when others seem to do everything in their power to stomp out the light that illuminates their hopes and dreams?
Well, I am not sure.
Parents generally teach their children that if they try hard enough, they can fulfill all their goals and dreams. Many famous persons have done great things with their lives despite growing up in a life of poverty. Really, there is nothing wrong with parents telling their children that they can do great things with their life. The problem is this: what happens if everyone else around the child is saying otherwise?
For example, I grew up extremely poor. My father was the only one that worked, and my mother never could work outside the home simply because my parents could not afford a babysitter for the three of us. Although we got food stamps on the 10th of each month, the hundred dollars they provided for a family of five did little to feed us. I can recall that my younger brother and I would stare at the calendar and count down the days until the next set of food stamps would arrive because they often ran out a week or two before the next set came in the mail. Even when we did have them, we rarely got to eat anything except beans or potatoes. Heck, we often ate cereal for all three meals, and that was only if my parents were lucky enough to have gotten in the line early enough to receive the cheese and powdered milk hand-outs before they ran out.
Nevertheless, no matter how broke we were, my parents always encouraged us to go to college so that we could do something with our lives. The problem was that when I went to school, there were certain teachers, one certain librarian, etc. that told us that "poor people will always be poor and will never do anything with their lives". The librarian went so far as to make fun of the kids that had food stamps and encouraged the other kids to do the same. I can remember going home and telling my mother what she had said in school, and asked her if it was true that poor people cannot do anything in life. Of course, she always tried to keep us motivated, even in high school when the guidance counselors did not even encourage or discuss college funding with the poorer students such as myself. We were pretty much left to figure things out for ourselves, and many of my friends chose low-paying jobs simply because they did not know they could do anything else or actually believed that they were never going to be anything in life. So, how can one stay motivated in life when others seem to do everything in their power to stomp out the light that illuminates their hopes and dreams?
Well, I am not sure.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Principles of life
3:09 AM 0 Comments
1. Change your mind. Circumstances change, so do moods, feelings, impressions, ideas and people!
2. Have your own opinion. Don't let others dissuade you or bully you! You are allowed to think whatever you want, and so are they.
3. Take time off. Honestly, the world will not implode because you took a break! Take time to recharge and you'll function at your peak afterwards.
4. Let go of "obligations." If you don't absolutely love it, consider letting it go!
5. Questions others. You have every right to make up your own mind and not just follow along, especially if it doesn't feel right for you.
6. Make mistakes. Life would be pretty boring if you were perfect, not to mention how much others would dislike you because they felt inferior!
7. Sleep in. Rest is important, schedule a day where you can sleep in if you want to.
8. Let "it" go. Dragging old resentments and anger will only hurt you.
9. Have "me" time. Having at least one thing that is just for you will go a long way to improve your life.
10. Be grateful for what you do have. Getting stuck in a cycle of i'll be happy when ______, keeps you from being happy, ever. Look around and see how wonderful your life is now!
11. Succeed. Sometime you get in your own way! Fear of failure is less of a factor than fear of success in most cases.
12. Celebrate "small" stuff. This puts in your mind how grateful you are for what is in your life. Success is success, not matter how small! Treat it with the respect it deserves.
13. Feel really good about yourself. It's not bragging or boasting or being arrogant to be proud of who you are.
14. Cry. Again, trying not to only makes it worse! Crying is not a sign of weakness, it's a sign of being sympathetic and caring, not to mention a release.
15. Forgive. "Holding anger and resentment towards another is like drinking poison and expecting it to kill your enemy." Forgiveness is for you, not the other person.
16. Say no! Every yes you say to something, is a no you are saying to your family.
17. Reassess your goals, passions and dreams. As you change, so should your plan.
18. Dream big! Small dreams keep you safe, and small! So dream big because even if you don't fully succeed, you'll be much farther ahead.
19. Feel emotions (even negative ones like fear and anger). To ignore emotions only gives them more power. Acknowledge them and they'll disappear much quicker.
20. Reward yourself. When you reach a milestone, reward yourself. While creating your plan, decide how you're going to reward yourself once each big goal has been reached.
2. Have your own opinion. Don't let others dissuade you or bully you! You are allowed to think whatever you want, and so are they.
3. Take time off. Honestly, the world will not implode because you took a break! Take time to recharge and you'll function at your peak afterwards.
4. Let go of "obligations." If you don't absolutely love it, consider letting it go!
5. Questions others. You have every right to make up your own mind and not just follow along, especially if it doesn't feel right for you.
6. Make mistakes. Life would be pretty boring if you were perfect, not to mention how much others would dislike you because they felt inferior!
7. Sleep in. Rest is important, schedule a day where you can sleep in if you want to.
8. Let "it" go. Dragging old resentments and anger will only hurt you.
9. Have "me" time. Having at least one thing that is just for you will go a long way to improve your life.
10. Be grateful for what you do have. Getting stuck in a cycle of i'll be happy when ______, keeps you from being happy, ever. Look around and see how wonderful your life is now!
11. Succeed. Sometime you get in your own way! Fear of failure is less of a factor than fear of success in most cases.
12. Celebrate "small" stuff. This puts in your mind how grateful you are for what is in your life. Success is success, not matter how small! Treat it with the respect it deserves.
13. Feel really good about yourself. It's not bragging or boasting or being arrogant to be proud of who you are.
14. Cry. Again, trying not to only makes it worse! Crying is not a sign of weakness, it's a sign of being sympathetic and caring, not to mention a release.
15. Forgive. "Holding anger and resentment towards another is like drinking poison and expecting it to kill your enemy." Forgiveness is for you, not the other person.
16. Say no! Every yes you say to something, is a no you are saying to your family.
17. Reassess your goals, passions and dreams. As you change, so should your plan.
18. Dream big! Small dreams keep you safe, and small! So dream big because even if you don't fully succeed, you'll be much farther ahead.
19. Feel emotions (even negative ones like fear and anger). To ignore emotions only gives them more power. Acknowledge them and they'll disappear much quicker.
20. Reward yourself. When you reach a milestone, reward yourself. While creating your plan, decide how you're going to reward yourself once each big goal has been reached.
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