Young Adults Readers Excerpt from Bill Gates' Book:

For high school and college graduates, here is a list of 11 things they did not learn in school. In his book, Bill Gates talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world. You may want to share this list with some you know.

RULE 1: Life is not fair; get used to it.

RULE 2: The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

RULE 3: You will NOT make 40 thousand dollars a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice president with a car phone, until you earn both.

RULE 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss. He doesn't have tenure.

RULE 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping; they called it opportunity.

RULE 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

RULE 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills; cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you are. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parents' generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

RULE 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life has not. In some schools they have abolished failing grades; they'll give you as many times as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

RULE 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself. Do that on your own time.

RULE 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

RULE 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

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Something to ponder if you don't know what to be thankful for.

"If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep ... you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace ... you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness ... you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation... you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you can attend a church or synagogue meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death ... you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.

If your parents are still alive and still married ... you are very rare, even in the United States.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful ... you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder ... you are blessed because you can offer a healing touch.

If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you, and furthermore, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.

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Life Throws a Brick at You

A young and successful executive was travelling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared, instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door. He slammed on the brakes and spun the Jag back to the spot from where the brick had been thrown.

He jumped out of the car, grabbed some kid and pushed him up against a parked car, shouting, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing?" Building up a head of steam, he went on. "That's a new car and that brick you threw is gonna cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?"

"Please, mister, please, I'm sorry. I didn't know what else to do!" pleaded the youngster. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop."

Tears was dripping down the boy's chin as he pointed around the parked car. "It's my brother," he said. "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up." Sobbing, the boy asked the executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."

Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be okay.

"Thank you, sir. And God bless you," the grateful child said to him. The man then watched the little boy push his brother to the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long walk back to his Jaguar... a long, slow walk. He never did repair the side door. He kept the dent to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention.

Life whispers in your soul and speaks to your heart. Sometimes, when you don't have the time to listen... Life throws a brick at your head. It's your choice: Listen to the whispers of your soul or wait for the brick. Do you sometimes ignore loved ones because your life is too fast and busy leaving them to wonder whether you really love them?

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I am An African

I am an African

Not because I was born there

But because my heart beats with Africa's

 

I am an African

Not because my skin is black

...But because my mind is engaged by Africa

 

I am an African

Not because I live on its soil

But because my soul is at home in Africa

When Africa weeps for her children

My cheeks are stained with tears

When Africa honors her elders

My head is bowed in respect

When Africa mourns for her victims

My hands are joined in prayer

When Africa celebrates her triumphs

My feet are alive with dancing

 

I am an African

For her blue skies take my breath away

And my hope for her future is bright

I am an African

For her people greet me as family

And teach me the meaning of community

 

I am an African

For her wildness quenches my spirit

And brings me closer to the source of life

When the music of Africa beats in the wind

My blood pulses to its rhythm

and I become the essence of music

When the colors of Africa dazzle in the sun

My senses drink in its rainbow

And I become the palette of nature

When the stories of Africa echo round the fire

My feet walk in its pathways

And I become the footprints of history

 

I am an African

Because she is the cradle of our birth

And nurtures an ancient wisdom

I am an African

Because she lives in the world's shadow

And bursts with a radiant luminosity

I am an African

Because she is the land of tomorrow

And I recognize her gifts as sacred

  

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Am a Proud African

I am an African

Not because I was born there

But because my heart beats with Africa's

 

I am an African

Not because my skin is black

...But because my mind is engaged by Africa

 

I am an African

Not because I live on its soil

But because my soul is at home in Africa

When Africa weeps for her children

My cheeks are stained with tears

When Africa honors her elders

My head is bowed in respect

When Africa mourns for her victims

My hands are joined in prayer

When Africa celebrates her triumphs

My feet are alive with dancing

 

I am an African

For her blue skies take my breath away

And my hope for her future is bright

I am an African

For her people greet me as family

And teach me the meaning of community

 

I am an African

For her wildness quenches my spirit

And brings me closer to the source of life

When the music of Africa beats in the wind

My blood pulses to its rhythm

and I become the essence of music

When the colors of Africa dazzle in the sun

My senses drink in its rainbow

And I become the palette of nature

When the stories of Africa echo round the fire

My feet walk in its pathways

And I become the footprints of history

 

I am an African

Because she is the cradle of our birth

And nurtures an ancient wisdom

I am an African

Because she lives in the world's shadow

And bursts with a radiant luminosity

I am an African

Because she is the land of tomorrow

And I recognize her gifts as sacred

 

 

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Over 1,000 Reasons to visit Tanzania with Us

 

1. Wonderfully Diverse and Untouristic Country

Tanzania is a wonderfully diverse country which contains more than its fair share of the continent's natural wonders and yet remains relatively lightly touristed.

Although the big names ... Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar ... do attract decent numbers of visitors, there is very little of the overt mass market tourism that is so prevalent in parts of Kenya and elsewhere.

A second rank of locations ... Selous, Ruaha, Mahale, Tarangire, Pemba, Mafia ... although in many ways equally impressive, are much lesser visited and remain places where one can still feel a something of a pioneer.

Beyond that lies a host of other fabulous locations which remain virtually untouched by outsiders, many of which don't even make it onto this or any other websites as yet.



Game on the plains of the fabulously remote Katavi National Park in Western Tanzania

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2. Best Location for Safari and Tropical Beach

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The combination of a Tanzania safari and beach holiday really is a classic experience, and by far the most popular type of African trip.

Nowhere does this better than Tanzania, which is able to offer a huge range of absolutely top class safari experiences, all in close proximity to some of the very best tropical beaches. Light aircraft connect the parks directly with the coast, which means that you really can be on safari with lions on the morning and snorkelling with lion fish in the afternoon.

This is in stark contrast with safari countries such as Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, from where tropical coastline often takes the best part of two days to get to, often necessitating an overnight in Johannesburg, seriously detracting from the flow of a trip.

The only other country which can provide this safari and tropical beach combination with similar levels of convenience is Kenya, although the mass market traffic there needs to be avoided and high quality beach options are rare and generally overpriced.

A good number of people enquire to us about Kenya and Seychelles combinations, which are commonly pushed by less specialist travel companies. There are viable and can be good quality, but the two areas also require the best part of two days to get between, including an overnight in Nairobi, all of which can slightly take the wind out of your sails. Tanzania and Seychelles has similar issues, but is a more popular option amongst our guests.

The KwaZulu Natal area of South Africa is also able to offer a decent safari and beach combination in close proximity, but this is a sub-tropical coastline, very different from the palm-fringed lagoons of the East African coast.

Dhow sailing into the landing at Chole Mjini Lodge on the island of Mafia

3. Kilimanjaro

Up to 25% of all international visitors are motivated to visit Tanzania primarily to climb Kilimanjaro. We are one of the leading providers of treks on the mountain.



Uhuru Summit on Mount Kilimanjaro

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4. Northern Parks

In the north of Tanzania a group of parks including Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Manyara and Tarangire combine to form what is arguably the greatest safari area in Africa. More than any other, this area brings together the three very powerful elements of awesome volcanic landscape, prodigious gameviewing and superb tribal interaction with the local Maasai people.

This is by far the most popular Tanzania safari area, attracting around ten times the number of visitors than that of the second most popular Southern Parks (Selous, Ruaha etc.). Whilst there are specialists out there who advise against the Northern Parks on the basis that they are over-touristed, we strongly disagree ... this is a spectacular area and one where high quality safaris are still be operated. Everyone needs to see these parks at least once. Some of us have been out on safari here literally dozens of times and still go back for more ... and we are hyper-sensitive to traffic issues!



A little visited corner of the Serengeti close to Sanjan Camp

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5. Serengeti Migration

The wildebeest and zebra migration of the greater Serengeti safari area is one of the best known wildlife events on the planet and clearly acts as a major inspiration for prospective visitors to the country. Over two thirds of all visitors include Serengeti in their trip, although many of these actually come at the wrong time of year to see the migration at its best. In reality the migration tends to play a surprisingly modest part in a much broader and utterly fabulous safari experience that is to be had in these Northern Parks.



Migration herds in the remote north of the Serengeti

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6. Ngorongoro Crater

The second best known element of the Northern Parks is the remarkable Ngorongoro Crater, a huge flat bottomed volcanic caldera which contains within its steep sides virtually all the aspects of a classic East African safari. This is a truly remarkable place, not to be missed.



View across the Ngorongoro Crater from the main southeasterly viewpoint

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7. Maasai interaction

Another real highlight of a Tanzania safari into the Northern Parks is the opportunity to interact with the local Maasai people. Many Tanzania camps have Maasai walking guides and some have a much deeper relationship with the local villages. Walking, hiking and trekking in the fabulous volcanic landscapes of Ngorongoro in the company of genuine Maasai warriors is a real privilege, one which substantially broadens and enriches the safari experience.



Maasai guide from Olduvai Camp in Southcentral Serengeti

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8. Overland Safari

Most of the higher quality safari areas in Africa are operated by air these days, with guests moving around by light aircraft and camps providing all of the accommodation, food and safari services. This tends to lead to a relatively easy, comfortable and reliable safari experience, but one which some people may find a little narrow and tame.

The Northern Parks of Tanzania is one of the last great refuges of the overland safari. Here our guests travel from camp to camp with a driverguide and a private safari vehicle, deploying their time along the way as they see fit. This tends to provide a much greater sense of adventure and a broader experience, since visitors are exposed to the whole of life between and through the parks, rather than being restricted to the areas immediately around the camps. It is a slightly more arduous experience, but should ultimately prove to be more rewarding for the more adventurous visitor.



Vehicles descending into the Ngorongoro Crater

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9. Best Combo with Gorillas in Rwanda

The Northern Parks of Tanzania provide the natural safari for combination with the gorilla tracking lodges of Rwanda, since the two are connected by a light aircraft service between Kigali and Serengeti.



Gorilla in the Ruhengeri Mountains in Rwanda

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10. Best Flying Safari in East Africa

Having laid claim to the best overland safari in East Africa above, we now do the same for flying safari. The high quality reserves of Southern Tanzania and the superb remote reserves of Western Tanzania are generally accessed by air, with camps providing all accommodation food and safari services. In this respect this Tanzania safari experience is similar to that in countries such as Botswana, and Zambia.

Selous, Ruaha, Katavi and Mahale are reserves of the very highest order and each one very different from the next. A flying safari through these regions is therefore able to offer a higher degree of diversity and interest than just about anywhere in Africa.

In terms of budget, a short flying safari into Selous can work out quite cost effective and combine well with largely beach oriented trip in Zanzibar and elsewhere. A longer flying safari covering all stops west to Mahale tends to get very expensive and is therefore only suited to the lucky few who can afford it.



Aerial view of Selous Game Reserve

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11. Chimpanzees at Mahale

Mahale Mountains National Park is one of the most remarkable places we know. Not only is it a stunningly beautiful location in its own right, but the chimpanzee interaction here is, in our opinion, the finest animal experience in Africa. Hard to put into words, but just amazing. Pricey though.


Chimp interaction at Mahale Mountains national park

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12. Motorboat Safari in Selous

Selous game reserve is fabulous for lots of reasons, but perhaps the standout experience is the motorboat safari on the Rufiji river, which is an absolute pleasure. To be honest, close up encounters with elephant are not nearly so common as they are on the Zambezi at either Lower Zambezi or Mana Pools, but the overall experience can be an absolute delight.



Out on the Rufiji river in Selous

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13. Tropical Tanzania Beaches

Tanzania contains the best and most accessible tropical beaches in Africa. The majority of visitors head for the island of Zanzibar, which does have some spectacular white-sand lagoons on its eastern side. The other main islands of Pemba and Mafia are much lesser visited, whilst much of the mainland coast remains virtually untouched.



Beach in Zanzibar

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14. Swahili culture

The coastline of East Africa has a culture which is very distinct from the hinterland. Although the kiSwahili language has spread to become the langua franca across much of Africa, it is here on this coast that the Swahili culture derives and remains strongest.

Swahili is a blend of Arab and African cultures whose origins lie in the great Indian Ocean trades of centuries gone by. The culture brings an exoticism to the coast, with Sultan's palaces and mazed towns looking out over oceans dotted with the characteristic lanteen sails of Arab style dhows.

Before visiting Tanzania many people think that the coast is simply about beaches, when in reality it is quite a cultural odyssey in its own right. And some of the more remote Tanzania lodges can be considered to offer more of a marine safari than a beach vacation.



Rooftop restaurant in Zanzibar Stonetown

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15. Tanzania Scuba Diving

Tanzania offers some of the very best diving in the Indian Ocean. Zanzibar is the default choice, where casual divers will find plenty to keep them occupied for three, four or more days. More dive focussed visitors should also look to one or both of Mafia and Pemba islands, the former offering a wide range of high quality diving and opportunities to swim with whalesharks, whilst the latter specialises in big pelagic wall and drift dives.



Whaleshark under the bows off the island of Mafia

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Lessons in Life

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's okay to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's okay to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over-prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don't ask, you don't get.
49. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
"A REAL FRIEND IS ONE WHO WALKS IN WHEN
THE REST OF THE WORLD WALKS OUT

[skype-status skype_id="guruyuna" user_name="Yuna Tiya"]

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Parable of footprints on the sand

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it. “Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.”

The Lord replied, “My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

 

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What does Love really mean?

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of four through eight year olds, "What does love mean?" The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:

"Love is that first feeling you feel before all the bad stuff gets in the way."

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That’s love."

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth."

"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."

"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your french fries without making them give you any of theirs."

"Love is when someone hurts you. And you get so mad but you don’t yell at them because you know it would hurt their feelings."

"Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired."

"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."

"Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."

"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate."

"When you tell someone something bad about yourself and you’re scared they won’t love you anymore. But then you get surprised because not only do they still love you, they love you even more."

"There are two kinds of love: Our love and God’s love. But God makes both kinds of them."

"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."

"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."

"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn’t scared anymore."

"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don’t see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night."

"Love is when mommy gives daddy the best piece of chicken."

"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."

"I let my big sister pick on me because my Mom says she only picks on me because she loves me. So I pick on my baby sister because I love her."

"Love cards like Valentine’s cards say stuff on them that we’d like to say ourselves, but we wouldn’t be caught dead saying."

"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you"

"You really shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."

"God could have said magic words to make the nails fall off the cross, but He didn’t. That’s love."

 

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Truths for Living

The more generous we are,
the more joyous we become.

The more cooperative we are,
the more valuable we become.

The more enthusiastic we are,
the more productive we become.

The more serving we are,
the more prosperous we become.

The more outgoing we are,
the more helpful we become.

The more curious we are,
the more creative we become.

The more patient we are,
the more understanding we become.

The more persistent we are,
the more successful we become.

 

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This Day is Mine

Today I will search for the goodness in everyone I meet. I will remember that light reflects off the whole world around me, and that how I view that would depend on the glasses I choose to wear.…

Today I will walk through doors and lives knowing that it is my contributions and not my comments that shape the world around me. It is not the big things but the little things for which I will best be remembered; in any case I will be myself.

I will feed where there is hunger, I will comfort where there is loneliness and I will listen to the words, the music and the rhythm of those with whom I share my life. I will bring love where there is hatred, fight for what is right, make amends for any wrongs I may have done and ask forgiveness from those I have harmed. Today I will hug my loved ones.…

This day is mine to work for the Harvest Master.

 

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The 'Second' Ten Commandments

1. Thou shall not worry, for worry is the most unproductive of all human activities.


2. Thou shall not be fearful, for most of the things we fear never come to pass.


3. Thou shall not cross bridges before you come to them, for no one yet has succeeded in accomplishing this.


4. Thou shall face each problem as it comes. You can only handle one at a time anyway.


5. Thou shall not take problems to bed with you, for they make very poor bedfellows.


6. Thou shall not borrow other people’s problems. They can better care for them than you can.


7. Thou shall not try to relive yesterday for good or ill, it is forever gone. Concentrate on what is happening in your life and be happy now!


8. Thou shall be a good listener, for only when you listen do you hear ideas different from your own. It is hard to learn something new when you are talking, and some people do know more than you do.


9. Thou shall not become "bogged down" by frustration, for 90% of it is rooted in self-pity and will only interfere with positive action.


10. Thou shall count thy blessings, never overlooking the small ones, for a lot of small blessings add up to big ones.

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Proverbs for Abudant living

In life we are to encourage and build up each other;
not to discourage and tear down one another.

In life we are to add, not subtract;
to multiply, not divide.

In life we are to leave an enduring impression;
not a careless dent.

In life we are to smooth out the rough roads along the journey;
not create new potholes.

In life we are to sing a joyful song;
not just drone a groan.

In life we are to add our harmonious strains to life's symphony;
not strain the symphony with clatter and clang.

In life we are to soar on eagles' wings.
not to peck and cluck with our beaks in the dirt like chickens.

In life we are to radiate light into unseen places;
not permit unknown fears to dim our radiance.

In life we are to leap in faith;
not to limp with doubt.

In life we are to give freely of our time, our love, our resources;
not to cling on to them greedily.

In life we are to lift up others;
not push them down.

In life we are to open our hands to those in need;
not to clutch our hands in fists of distrust.

In life we are to lend a helping hand to make loads lighter;
not use heavy hands to hold others back.

In life we are to be messengers of peace, signs of joy;
not Chicken Little portents of gloom-n-doom.

In life we are to enjoy, to savor, to remember, to reflect;
not to overlook, to forget, to ignore, to reject.

In life we are to seek conscious awareness;
not doze in the doldrums of half-awake.

In life we are to dare mighty things;
not to fear things gravely.

In life we are to show up, stand up, step forward and speak up;
not to cringe in fear, choosing to sit down, or to step back,
allowing the voices of silence to speak so loudly.

In life we are to exercise proper stewardship of earth's resources;
not pillage the heritage of future generations.

In life we are to move forward through forgiveness;
not grind to a halt mired in bitterness and resentment.

In life we are to be wacky, weird, and wonderful
in our own unique God-given way;
not to be staid-n-proper lemmings, stuck on life's treadmill.

In life we are to reach, to stretch, and to soar;
not to slink in fear, held back by mistrust and doubt.

In life we are to realize: "I am a remarkable Somebody!";
not listen to other's jabs:
"You're a Nobody, an Everybody, an Anybody."

In life we are to comprehend, "I am worthwhile";
not tremble with feelings of worthlessness.

In life we are to create, to laugh, and to live life nobly;
not to despair, to moan, or to live life less.

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Mr. Shaoff's simple strategies to success

My original mentor, Mr. Shoaff, over a five-year period of time before he died at age 49, taught me some extraordinarily simple things. He taught me that life puts some of the more valuable things on the high shelf so that you can't get to them until you qualify. If you want the things on the high shelf, you must stand on the books you read. With every book you read, you get to stand a little higher.

And the "biggie" that forever had an impact on me, "Success is something you attract by the person you become." That phrase changed my life.

Success is not to be pursued, but to be attracted by the person you become. Put your energy into becoming a better you, the best you.

Learn the skills.
Practice the skills.
Attract the success.

 

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An Old farmer's advice

• Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.


• Keep skunks and bankers and lawyers at a distance.


• Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.


• A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.


• Words that soak into your ears are whispered…not yelled.


• Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.


• Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.


• Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.


• It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.


• You cannot unsay a cruel word.


• Every path has a few puddles.


• When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.


• The best sermons are lived, not preached.


• Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.


• Don't judge folks by their relatives.


• Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.


• Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.


• Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't botherin' you none.


• Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.


• If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.


• Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.


• The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.


• Always drink upstream from the herd.


• Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.


• Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.


• If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.


• Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

 

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A Key to Motivation

Keep People in the Know:

Your goal is to become a transformational leader, the kind of person that motivates and inspires people to perform at levels far beyond anything that they had previously thought possible. Transformational leaders empower others by keeping them "in the know," by keeping them fully informed on everything that affects their jobs. People want and need to feel that they are "insiders," that they are aware of everything that is going on. There is nothing so demoralizing to a staff member than to be kept in the dark about their work and what is going on in the company.

Give Regular Feedback:

One empowering behavior practiced by transformational leaders is regular feedback on performance and results. People need to know how they're doing so they can improve if performance is below standards and so that they can be proud of their successes. The more feedback you give to people, the better it is, as long as the feedback is objective and not critical. My friend, Ken Blanchard, says that, "Positive feedback is the breakfast of champions."

Praise Generously:

Be generous with your praise and encouragement. Remember, people are the only asset that can be made to appreciate in value by giving them warmth, respect, approval and by creating a climate of positive expectations.

Set High Standards for Yourself:

What companies and countries and institutions need today are courageous visionary leaders who are committed to creating an exciting future for themselves and others. You have within yourself the ability to evolve and grow as a leader and to make a real difference in the world around you. And the one thing you can know for sure about yourself is that, no matter what you've accomplished up to now, there is far more that you can do.

As you practice the behaviors of effective leaders, you will grow more and more toward the realization of your full potential. It's completely up to you.

Action Exercises:

Here are two things you can do immediately to put these ideas into action in your work.

First, hold regular meetings with your staff and tell them everything that is going on. Invite their comments, questions and concerns. Make everybody feel as if he or she was an insider in the organization.

Second, continually look for opportunities to give positive feedback, praise and encouragement. People need praise and encouragement like roses need rain and sunshine. Take very opportunity to make people feel better about themselves and their work.

 

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Happiness Is a Product of Realization

Clinical psychologists believe that happiness is a product of realization. One must allow oneself to go through a process to feel happiness. They explain the following phase:

• Accept the Pains. You must get in touch with your situation. Sometimes people deny their hardship, thinking that if they don't face them, they will be happier. But it's the other way around. Allow yourself to go through the pains.


• Choose Not to Stay in Pain. They say this is "self-empowerment." You can either be bitter about the pains and feel very powerless. Or you can do something and feel powerful enough to handle them. It's a choice to live with or without pain.


• Forgive Yourself, Other People. But before forgiveness comes in, think about how other people hurt. Then realize that you can see yourself for what you actually are and not how they want you to be. So finding happiness is no longer rooted outside, but it's inside you—what you see, how you view things, what you want. Then it leads to your choice: to live your life with yourself.


• Take Responsibility for Your Life. We sometimes allow ourselves to let other people, circumstances, or pains in the past to rule our lives. So we become very unhappy and very bitter because we live blaming others for who we are, where we're at, or how we should be. It's an exhausting process because you'll forever be blaming other people. Don't be bothered by what others think who you are or the standards they set. Take responsibility for your life.


• Learn to Let Go and Trust Yourself. To be happy means learning to let go of expectations from yourself or from other people. You can't always have your way. At work, you can't always be sure your strategies will work or your plans will happen. But before you let go, have a deeper trust in yourself.


• Learn to Receive Blessings. Think of the little things that make you happy or the people that give you assurance where you're good at. This is called receiving. Most of us have reasons to be happy, only that we don't see them or we take them for granted. We need to have little eyes and little hearts too, and realize that all things that make us happy have been there all along.


• Have Somebody to Turn To. Even if you're in turmoil, there are people who will support you. But often we stick with people who make us very unhappy. If you're unhappy, seek people who will nurture you or look for a partner who will serve as a well-spring of inspiration.


• Be Hopeful. Hoping is better than being optimistic since it's whole and real. Because sometimes, one's optimism can be a denial of hardship. It's easy to be optimistic about things, but inside you, you're anxious about them. Hoping is deeper. It's something you look forward to even when you recognize the difficulties and pains. The more hopeful a person is, the more he recognizes how bad the situation is, and lets himself to bear it. In the end, he knows it will bear good results. You don't deny difficulties. You're touching ground instead.


• Keep the Faith Alive. There'll be points in your life when you can't handle problems alone. Think about someone who's more powerful, and who loves you dearly to take care of you. Having faith in God will give you hope.


• You Can Actually Give Intangible Gifts Even Without Your Conscious Effort. People will tell you later that you've helped them, and gradually, you will feel you're making a difference in their lives. That's a deeper gift. When you help others, they affirm you by saying, "You're good." Then you realize that you're a good person and your goodness is not merely based on meeting deadlines or getting a raise. It's more of proving your self-worth based on being loved for who you really are and not simply for the result you can deliver or the money you can contribute to the company. This strengthens your positive attitude towards difficulties in life.


• Be Grateful. You have to develop in yourself the sense of gratitude. You should be thankful for what you have. But you should recognize that there are things you can do to improve your life.


• It's All in the Mind. We are unhappy because we think we are. Unhappy people are attached to their unhappiness. They refuse to change. When one thinks negatively, then he attracts negative thoughts. If you think that a tragedy will fall on you, somehow you fulfill it. Unconsciously, you make it happen.


• Money Isn't Everything. People accumulate more and more money but the amount of happiness they can "buy" gets smaller and smaller. Although more money may bring greater feeling of empowerment, studies show that personal relationships, spirituality and feelings about oneself most directly influence well-being.


• Discover the Best Friend in You. We can all change for the better. You can be happy even with yourself by discovering the best friend in you. Get real. Don't be hard on yourself with those high, unattainable goals. It's time you don't look for happiness outside you.

 

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The Few Things You Really Need to Remember

Remember that your presence is a present to the world.

Remember that you are a unique and unrepeatable creation.

Remember that your life can be what you want it to be.

Remember to take the days just one at a time.

Remember to count your blessings, not your troubles.

Remember that you’ll make it through whatever comes along.

Remember that most of the answers you need are withinyou.

Remember those dreams waiting to be realized.

Remember that decisions are too important to leave to chance.

Remember to always reach for the best that is within you.

Remember that nothing wastes more energy than worry.

Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

Remember that the longer you carry a grudge, the heavier it gets.

Remember not to take things too seriously.

Remember to laugh.

Remember that a little love goes a long way.

Remember that a lot goes forever.

Remember that happiness is more often found in giving than getting.

Remember that life’s treasures are people, not things.

Remember that miracles can still happen.

 

 

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A creed to Live By

• Don't undermine your worth by comparing yourself to others.
  It is because we are different that each of us is special.


• Don't set your goals by what other people deem important.
  Only you know what is best for you.


• Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart.
  Cling to them as you would your life, for without them life is meaningless.


• Don't let life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live up all the days of your life.


• Don't give up when you still have something left to give,
  Nothing is really over . . . till the moment you stop trying.


• Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect.
  It is this fragile thread that binds us together.


• Don't be afraid to encounter risks.
  It is by taking chances, that we learn to be brave.


• Don't shut love out of your life by saying it's impossible to find.
  The quickest way to receive love is to give love;
  the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly;
  and the best way to keep love is to give it wings.


• Don't dismiss your dreams.
  To be without dreams is to be without hope;
  to be without hope is to be without purpose.


• Don't run through life so fast
  that you forget not only where you've been,
  but where you are going.


• Life is not a race,
  but a journey to be savored every step of the way.

 

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Yuna Ideals

1. Everyone has a God-given Mission: You have a job to do in this world that only you can do. A healthy sense of self is directly related to knowing your mission in life.


2. One Person can Make a Difference: Your efforts might seem insignificant to you but they may be all that is needed to overcome great evil. Take courage and follow your heart.


3. Positive Constructive Action Works Miracles: Complaining can be a waste of precious time and energy. Be positive.

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21 Keys to a happy Life

1. Compliment three people everyday.


2. Watch a sunrise.


3. Be the first to say "Hello."


4. Live beneath your means.


5. Treat everyone as you want to be treated.


6. Never give up on anybody; miracles happen.


7. Forget the Jones’s.


8. Remember someone’s name.


9. Pray not for things, but for wisdom and courage.


10. Be tough-minded, but tender hearted.


11. Be kinder than you have to be.


12. Don’t forget that a person’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.


13. Keep your promises.


14. Learn to show cheerfulness even when you don’t feel it.


15. Remember that overnight success usually takes 15 years.


16. Leave everything better than you found it.


17. Remember that winners do what losers don’t want to do.


18. When you arrive at your job in the morning, let the first thing you say brighten everyone’s day.


19. Don’t rain on other people’s parades.


20. Don’t waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.


21. Keep some things to yourself and don’t promote havoc by backstabbing people you love.

 

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12 Absolutely unbreakable Laws of Leadership

1. The Law of Integrity: Great business leadership is characterized by honesty, truthfulness and straight dealing with every person, under all circumstances.
2. The Law of Courage: The ability to make decisions and act boldly in the face of setbacks and adversity is the key to greatness in leadership.
3. The Law of Realism: Leaders deal with the world as it is, not as they wish it would be.
4. The Law of Power: Power gravitates to the person who can use it most effectively to get the desired results.
5. The Law of Ambition: Leaders have an intense desire to lead; they have a clear vision of a better future, which they are determined to realize.
6. The Law of Optimism: The true leader radiates the confidence that all difficulties can be overcome and all goals can be attained.
7. The Law of Empathy: Leaders are sensitive to and aware of the needs, feelings and motivations of their people.
8. The Law of Resilience: Leaders bounce back from the inevitable setbacks, disappointments and temporary failures experienced in the attainment of any worthwhile goal.
9. The Law of Independence: Leaders know who they are, what they believe in and they think for themselves.
10. The Law of Emotional Maturity: Leaders are calm, cool and controlled in the face of problems, difficulties and adversity.
11. The Law of Excellence: Leaders are committed to excellent performance of the business task and to continuous improvement.
12. The Law of Foresight: Leaders have the ability to predict and anticipate the future.

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The Paradoxical Commandments

1. People are illogical, unreasonable and self-centered. Love them anyway.


2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Do good anyway.


3. If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.


4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.


5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.


6. The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think big anyway.


7. People favor underdogs, but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.


8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.


9. People really need help, but may attack you if you do help them. Help them anyway.


10. Give the world the best you have and you will get kicked in the teeth. Give the best you have anyway.

 

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10 Qualities of a Leader

1. A leader must be able to take criticism. No person in a position of authority will be immune from it. One must learn to sort out the constructive, from which one can learn, and the malicious which one must ignore.


2. A leader must learn to stand adversity. Things will not always go well. Failures will happen. A good leader will bounce back.


3. A leader must be able to delegate authority. He or she must be able to give up power, to trust those under them.


4. The leader must make decisions. The person who cannot take a stand does not deserve to lead others.


5. The leader must be free from prejudices. "Prejudice," someone once said, "is a luxury only little people can afford."


6. A leader must learn to praise others, to share the credit, and to give credit where it is due. If he or she tries to take credit for everything, they will not lead, they will only frustrate those under them.


7. A leader must be able to concentrate under difficult conditions, to keep the goal constantly in mind, to keep his or her head when all about them are losing theirs.


8. A true leader will assume responsibility for their own mistakes.


9. A leader will not try to avoid responsibility for the mistakes of others.


10.  A good leader will grow and learn. Stagnation is not leadership.

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To be Successful-Have a Mentor

During my first years as a speaker and author, the most important factor in my success was the wisdom and experience of my mentors. It would have taken years of research and experience to acquire all the minute details involved in the success I was seeking. Instead, I cut my learning time by at least one half through the guidance of my mentors. The late Cavett Roberts, the dean of professional speaking and founder of the National Speakers' Association, originated the quote, "O.P.E." (Other People's Experience). That's what the mentor-protégés relationship is based upon: other people's experience.

I've found that most people who have become successful in life and/or business are proud to share their knowledge and experience. If you find someone who can act as your mentor, it would be a wonderful experience for both of you. I now act as a mentor for several people. Having discussed mentorship with several friends who are also mentors, we have agreed that there are some tips on the mentor-protégé relationship that would be helpful to pass on. I have listed them in the hopes that you can make the most of one of the best resources available to you—a mentor!

1. As defined by Webster's, a mentor is an adviser, coach/teacher–not a partner or replacement for your active participation. Look upon your mentor as a source of inspiration and information, not a replacement for action.


2. Be very careful of your mentor's time. The quickest way to alienate a mentor is to be on the telephone, e-mail or in his or her office for repeated information and unimportant details. On the other hand, don't be afraid to ask what you may think is a dumb question. There are no dumb questions, only uninformed, unprepared people. If you have already covered the material or problem and you still have questions, make sure you aren't just being lazy. If you do need further clarification and help, then certainly contact your mentor.


3. When working with a mentor take careful notes so you don't have to go back for repeated information. Always take notes; they will help you in preparing intelligent, meaningful questions and in retaining the information.


4. If you are asking advice of a mentor—take it! Proteges, in their enthusiasm, often ask advice and then argue the point. Don't reinvent the wheel.


5. When you receive advice and suggestions from you mentor, report back on the results or action taken. Your mentor may see that you need a slight adjustment or correction. Small game- plan refinements can be extremely helpful. If you are proceeding correctly and all is well, you need to know that also. Reporting to your mentor will give you this knowledge.

Finally, once you have had a mentor, pass on the legacy. It is a wonderful and rewarding endeavor. One of the fastest ways to go from success to significance is to be a mentor to someone else!

 

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R-2 A-2 Formula for Success

 Recognize:      to identify the principle, idea, or technique.

Relate:            to connect or join together, to establish
a relationship to your own life.

Assimilate:     to incorporate; to absorb;
to become a part of your own thinking.

Apply:            to follow through and act upon.

Do It Now!

 

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Practice Kaizen

Continuous improvement—the Japanese call it kaizen—offers some of the best insurance for both your career and the organization. Kaizen (pronounced ky'zen) is the relentless quest for a better way, for higher quality craftsmanship. Think of it as the daily pursuit of perfection.

Kaizen keeps you reaching, stretching to outdo yesterday. The continuous improvements may come bit by bit. But enough of these small, incremental gains will eventually add up to a valuable competitive advantage. Also, if every employee constantly keeps an eye out for improvements, major innovations are more likely to occur. The spirit of kaizen can trigger dramatic breakthroughs.

Without kaizen, you and your employer will gradually lose ground. Eventually, you'll both be "out of business," because the competition never stands still.…

Nobody can afford to rest on a reputation anymore. Circumstances change too quickly. Competition gets tougher and more global all the time. What we consider "good" today is seen as "so-so" by tomorrow.

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Labor that works Miracles

Two thousand years ago on April 15th one of Jesus’ disciples came to him and said it was time to pay taxes (that’s how I know it was around April 15th), but they had no money. In response to his disciple’s statement Jesus said "no problem." Now why could he say "no problem?" Well, word had it that Jesus was a miracle worker. If you hand a problem to a miracle worker what they are inclined to say is "no problem." You’ve got to hang out with people like that.

I belong to a small group and we do business around the world. These guys are all miracle workers. What an incredible group. If you hand any of them a problem guess what they say, "no problem." How many books will they read to solve a problem? As many as it takes. If they need to consult—how much consulting will they do? As much as it takes. How early will they get up? As early as it takes. "No problem"…you got to hang out with people like that. You cannot believe the thrill of being associated with miracle workers, people who will do whatever it takes to get the job done and perform miracles.

When asked about paying the taxes Jesus said it was "no problem." In fact, he said it was going to be easy—he told the disciple to just go fishing. Now it couldn’t have been any easier than that, especially for this disciple whose name was Peter, because Peter was a fisherman. Now if you can fish and you should fish and you don’t fish—then that is why you do not get a miracle. But Jesus told his disciple to go fishing and the first fish that he caught to look in its mouth. Peter, who was used to strange things happening, agreed. Well, the first fish Peter catches, he looks in its mouth and finds coins. Peter then adds up the coins and they are exactly enough to pay his and Jesus’ taxes.

"Wow!," you might say, "That is a miracle!" Here is why we call it a miracle—simply because we don’t quite understand how it works. That’s all. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t work; it just means we don’t quite understand how it works. Which is true of all miracles. In fact, for most of us our whole life is a miracle.

How about this miracle…God says if you plant the seed I will make the tree. Wow, you can’t have a better arrangement than that. First, it gives God the tough end of the deal. What if you had to make a tree? That would keep you up late at night trying to figure out how to make a tree. God says, "No, leave the miracle part to me. I’ve got the seed, the soil, the sunshine, the rain and the seasons. I’m God and all this miracle stuff is easy for me. I have reserved something very special for you and that is to plant the seed."

I have found in life that if you want a miracle you first need to do whatever it is you can do—if that is to plant, then plant; if it is to read, then read; if it is to change, then change; if it is to study, then study; if it is to work, then work; whatever you have to do. And then you will be well on your way of doing the labor that works miracle

 

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The Hundredth Monkey

The Japanese monkey, Macaca fuscata, has been observed in the wild for a period of over 30 years. In 1952, on the island of Koshima scientists were providing monkeys with sweet potatoes dropped in the sand. The monkeys liked the taste of the raw sweet potatoes, but they found the dirt unpleasant.

An 18-month-old female named Imo found she could solve the problem in a nearby stream. She taught this trick to her mother. Her playmates also learned this new way and they taught their mothers, too. This cultural innovation was gradually picked up by various monkeys before the eyes of the scientists.

Between 1952 and 1958, all the young monkeys learned to wash the sandy sweet potatoes to make them more palatable. Only the adults who imitated their children learned this social improvement. Other adults kept eating the dirty sweet potatoes.

Then something startling took place. In the autumn of 1958, a certain number of Koshima monkeys were washing sweet potatoes—the exact number is not known. Let us suppose that when the sun rose one morning there were 99 monkeys on Koshima Island who had learned to wash their sweet potatoes. Let’s further suppose that later that morning, the hundredth monkey learned to wash potatoes.

THEN IT HAPPENED!

By that evening almost everyone in the tribe was washing sweet potatoes before eating them. The added energy of this hundredth monkey somehow created an ideological breakthrough!

But notice. A most surprising thing observed by these scientists was that the habit of washing sweet potatoes then jumped over the sea …Colonies of monkeys on other islands and the mainland troop of monkeys at Takasakiyama began washing their sweet potatoes!

Thus, when a certain critical number achieves an awareness, this new awareness may be communicated from mind to mind. Although the exact number may very, the Hundredth Monkey Phenomenon means that when only a limited number of people know of a new way, it may remain the consciousness property of these people. But there is a point at which if only one more person tunes-in to a new awareness, a field is strengthened so that this awareness is picked up by almost everyone! …

You may be the "Hundredth Monkey"…

 

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Don't send your ducks to Eagle school

THE FIRST RULE of management is this: don't send your ducks to eagle school. Why? Because it won't work.

Good people are found not changed. They can change themselves, but you can't change them. You want good people, you have to find them. If you want motivated people, you have to find them, not motivate them.

 

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Don't argue--Discuss

Discussions can be healthy, since they have the potential to build relationships and result in a "win" for everyone. On the other hand, arguments are rarely good. Why? They are forceful attempts to change another person’s point of view, and thus result in a "winner" and a"loser."Arguments always cause some damage, even if you "win." The next time you find yourself involved in a conflict of opinion, use these guidelines to make it a DISCUSSION—resolving the issue while building the relationship.

Welcome the Disagreement. The other person may have a perspective you haven’t considered, so be thankful for it. Maybe this is your chance to be corrected before making a mistake.

Distrust Your First Inclination to Defend Yourself. Defensiveness is often a natural reaction. But be careful—when you justify yourself, it’s hard to change your position later. Plus, you’ll miss the benefit of the other person’s ideas.

Control Your Temper. Getting angry always makes communication harder, not easier. So simmer down before you blow your top.

Listen First. Give your "opponent" a chance to talk. Don’t defend or debate. Build bridges of understanding, not barriers of misunderstanding.

Look for Areas of Agreement. Dwell on areas where you agree. This establishes common ground, helping you find a solution good for both of you.

Be Honest. Look for areas where you can admit error, then do it. This disarms others and reduces their defensiveness.

Promise to Think Over Their Ideas. Tell the person that you will consider his point of view, and actually do it. He may be right, after all.

Thank Them Sincerely for Their Desire to Help. Most people who take time to disagree with you are interested in positive results, the same as you are. Welcome that.

Postpone Action So You Both Can Think Through the Problem. If need be, suggest another meeting. To prepare, ask yourself some hard questions about your "side," and focus on a mutually beneficial solution.

Be Willing to Agree to Disagree. Sometimes you may need to accept your difference of opinion and move on. Be flexible whenever possible. Follow Thomas Jefferson’s advice: "In matters of principle, stand like a rock; in matters of taste, swim with the current."

 

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The difference between Managers and Leaders

The manager administers;
the leader innovates.

The manager is a copy;
the leader is an original.

The manager maintains;
the leader develops.

The manager focuses on systems and structure;
the leader focuses on people.

The manager relies on control;
the leader inspires trust.

The manager has a short-range view;
the leader has a long-range perspective.

The manager asks how and when;
the leader asks what and why.

Managers have their eyes on the bottom line;
leaders have their eyes on the horizon.

The manager imitates;
the leader originates.

The manager accepts the status quo;
the leader challenges it.

The manager is the classic good soldier;
the leader is his own person.

The manager does things right;
the leader does the right thing.

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Change begins with choice

Any day we wish; we can discipline ourselves to change it all. Any day we wish; we can open the book that will open our mind to new knowledge. Any day we wish; we can start a new activity. Any day we wish; we can start the process of life change. We can do it immediately, or next week, or next month, or next year.

We can also do nothing. We can pretend rather than perform. And if the idea of having to change ourselves makes us uncomfortable, we can remain as we are. We can choose rest over labor, entertainment over education, delusion over truth, and doubt over confidence. The choices are ours to make. But while we curse the effect, we continue to nourish the cause. As Shakespeare uniquely observed, "The fault is not in the stars, but in ourselves." We created our circumstances by our past choices. We have both the ability and the responsibility to make better choices beginning today. Those who are in search of the good life do not need more answers or more time to think things over to reach better conclusions. They need the truth. They need the whole truth. And they need nothing but the truth.

We cannot allow our errors in judgment, repeated every day, to lead us down the wrong path. We must keep coming back to those basics that make the biggest difference in how our life works out. And then we must make the very choices that will bring life, happiness and joy into our daily lives.

And if I may be so bold to offer my last piece of advice for someone seeking and needing to make changes in their life—If you don’t like how things are, change it! You’re not a tree. You have the ability to totally transform every area in your life—and it all begins with your very own power of choice.

To Your Success,

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The Big rocks of life

One day this expert was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration I’m sure those students will never forget. After I share it with you, you’ll never forget it either.

As this man stood in front of the group of high-powered over-achievers he said, "Okay, time for a quiz." Then he pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouthed mason jar and set it on a table in front of him. Then he produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar.

When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, "Is this jar full?" Everyone in the class said, "Yes." Then he said, "Really?" He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. Then he dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks.

Then he smiled and asked the group once more, "Is the jar full?" By this time the class was onto him. "Probably not," one of them answered. "Good!" he replied. And he reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in and it went into all the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, "Is this jar full?"

"No!" the class shouted. Once again he said, "Good!" Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked up at the class and asked, "What is the point of this illustration?"

One eager beaver raised his hand and said, "The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard, you can always fit some more things into it!"

"No," the speaker replied, "that’s not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is: If you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in at all."

What are the big rocks in your life? A project that you want to accomplish? Time with your loved ones? Your faith, your education, your finances? A cause? Teaching or mentoring others? Remember to put these Big Rocks in first or you’ll never get them in at all.

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Attitude is everything

The process of human change begins within us. We all have tremendous potential. We all desire good results from our efforts. Most of us are willing to work hard and to pay the price that success and happiness demand.

Each of us has the ability to put our unique human potential into action and to acquire a desired result. But the one thing that determines the level of our potential, that produces the intensity of our activity, and that predicts the quality of the result we receive is our attitude.

Attitude determines how much of the future we are allowed to see. It decides the size of our dreams and influences our determination when we are faced with new challenges. No other person on earth has dominion over our attitude. People can affect our attitude by teaching us poor thinking habits or unintentionally misinforming us or providing us with negative sources of influence, but no one can control our attitude unless we voluntarily surrender that control.

No one else "makes us angry." We make ourselves angry when we surrender control of our attitude. What someone else may have done is irrelevant. We choose, not they. They merely put our attitude to a test. If we select a volatile attitude by becoming hostile, angry, jealous or suspicious, then we have failed the test. If we condemn ourselves by believing that we are unworthy, then again, we have failed the test.

If we care at all about ourselves, then we must accept full responsibility for our own feelings. We must learn to guard against those feelings that have the capacity to lead our attitude down the wrong path and to strengthen those feelings that can lead us confidently into a better future.

If we want to receive the rewards the future holds in trust for us, then we must exercise the most important choice given to us as members of the human race by maintaining total dominion over our attitude. Our attitude is an asset, a treasure of great value, which must be protected accordingly. Beware of the vandals and thieves among us who would injure our positive attitude or seek to steal it away.

Having the right attitude is one of the basics that success requires. The combination of a sound personal philosophy and a positive attitude about ourselves and the world around us gives us an inner strength and a firm resolve that influences all the other areas of our existence.

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10 Commandments of Success

• Work Hard: hard work is the best investment a man can make.


• Study Hard: Knowledge enables a man to work more intelligently and effectively.


• Have Initiative: Ruts often deepen into graves.


• Love Your Work: Then you will pleasure in mastering it.


• Be Exact: Slipshod methods bring slipshod results.


• Have The Spirit Of Conquest: Thus you can successfully battle and overcome difficulties.


• Cultivate Personality: Personality is to a man what perfume is to the flower.


• Help and Share With Others: The real test of business greatness lies in giving opportunity to others.


• Be Democratic: Unless you feel right toward your fellow men, you can never be a successful leader of men.


• In All Things Do Your Best: The man who has done his best has done everything. The man who has done less than his best has done nothing.

 

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10 commandments of Cellphone ettiquate

There comes a time in any technological revolution when some basic guidelines need to be laid down. It happened when e-mail exploded on the scene and people started to learn some basic dos and don'ts around the new medium.…There are some real abuses of wireless technology being perpetrated all around us, and the time has come to create some social order out of the cell phone chaos…so think of this as the first Ten Commandments of cell phone etiquette, with amendments to follow:

1. Thou shalt not subject defenseless others to cell phone conversations. When people cannot escape the banality of your conversation, such as on the bus, in a cab, on a grounded airplane, or at the dinner table, you should spare them. People around you should have the option of not listening. If they don't, you shouldn't be babbling.


2. Thou shalt not set thy ringer to play La Cucaracha every time thy phone rings. Or Beethoven's Fifth, or the Bee Gees, or any other annoying melody. Is it not enough that phones go off every other second? Now we have to listen to synthesized nonsense?


3. Thou shalt turn thy cell phone off during public performances. I'm not even sure this one needs to be said, but given the repeated violations of this heretofore unwritten law, I felt compelled to include it.


4. Thou shalt not wear more than two wireless devices on thy belt. This hasn't become a big problem yet. But with plenty of techno-jockeys sporting pagers and phones, Batman-esque utility belts are sure to follow.…


5. Thou shalt not dial while driving. In all seriousness, this madness has to stop. There are enough people in the world who have problems mastering vehicles and phones individually. Put them together and we have a serious health hazard on our hands.


6. Thou shalt not wear thy earpiece when thou art not on thy phone. This is not unlike being on the phone and carrying on another conversation with someone who is physically in your presence. No one knows if you are here or there.…


7. Thou shalt not speak louder on thy cell phone than thou would on any other phone. These things have incredibly sensitive microphones, and it's gotten to the point where I can tell if someone is calling me from a cell because of the way they are talking, not how it sounds. If your signal cuts out, speaking louder won't help, unless the person is actually within earshot.


8. Thou shalt not grow too attached to thy cell phone. For obvious reasons, a dependency on constant communication is not healthy. At work, go nuts. At home, give it a rest.


9. Thou shalt not attempt to impress with thy cell phone. Not only is using a cell phone no longer impressive in any way (unless it's one of those really cool new phones with the space age design), when it is used for that reason, said user can be immediately identified as a neophyte and a poseur.


10. Thou shalt not slam thy cell phone down on a restaurant table just in case it rings. This is not the Old West, and you are not a gunslinger sitting down to a game of poker in the saloon. Could you please be a little less conspicuous? If it rings, you'll hear it just as well if it's in your coat pocket or clipped on your belt.

Well, I'm all thou-ed and thy-ed out, so there you have it: the first 10 rules of using your cell phone. Most of these seem like common sense to me, but they all get broken every day.

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7 things you must give to others in order to be successful

A major part of the process of achieving success and living the kind of life that you dream of is to give. Many people think that to get what you want you have to take it. There is a universal truth though that the true path to get what you want is to give. When you give, you get. What you sow, you shall reap. If this is true, then what is it we must give? I'll show you the way…

1. Give Others Your Honesty. The world we live in has a simple rule that most follow: Lie when you have to. Unfortunately, this may make some people wealthy but it make us humans poor. To achieve success is to become wealthy not only in money, but in character. To be successful, truly successful, is to be able to attain your goals and keep your character at the same time!…
   How about you? Are you honest in all things? The problem with little lies is they become big ones. Lies spin out of control. You get caught in one lie and you lie to get out of it etc. In all things and at all times, give others your honesty.


2. Give Others Your Respect. Most of the time we give people respect based on what they have done or what they have accomplished. We gauge whether or not they are "worthy" of it based on what we know of what they have achieved or who they know or are related to.
   But I believe we should have a higher standard: We respect people not for what they have done or for who they are related to or for what they can do for us. Instead, we respect people for simply being.…


3. Give Others Your Vulnerability. We are taught to "be strong." And yes, we should be strong. But we have also embraced something that I think keeps us from having the kind of life that we long for. It is an idea that keeps us from experiencing the kind of relationships that would bring deep meaning to us. It is the idea of vulnerability.…
   "But Chris, make yourself vulnerable and people will step all over you!" It is true that this will happen. But I have also seen that most people will be drawn to you. They will help you. They will open up to you. You see, we are all broken people inside. We all have secrets. Yet everyone plays the poser. When one let's down their veil, others soon follow—and we all win.


4. Give Others Your Care. Too many people are running around this old earth not caring about others. The days of "Look Out for Number One" and "Winning Through Intimidation" are over! Let's bring about a new day when we can care about others and succeed!
   Take the time to show people you care. Listen to them. Empathize with them. Love them. Now, I don't mean that you have to go around hugging everyone—that probably wouldn't fly in corporate America anyway—but we can take some time to step back from business and be human! And I have found that when we do so, our business succeeds as well!


5. Give Others Your Passion. There is nothing this world needs more than passionate people. And people need passionate people. Living in this day and age can be tiring. The hustle and bustle of it all can wear you down and tire you out. Give your passion to others and fire them up.
   Don't just be humdrum—be excited. Give people all the energy you can muster up. And you will find that energy reciprocal. They will get energized and passionate. This in turn will fire you up more when you are already charged and get you going altogether when you don't feel like moving at all!


6. Give Others Your Experience. We all have areas that we excel in and they are usually areas that we have experience in. One of the things we can do to make our lives more meaningful and be of utmost help to others is to show them the way through the experiences we have.
   Sometimes it will be what they should do: Shortcuts to take, people to meet etc. Sometimes it will be what they should not do: Shortcuts not to take and people to stay away from! Whatever it is, we can be of service to others by giving them our experience and ultimately it will make us all better!


7. Give Others Your Help. All in all, what we want to do is to help others. Zig Ziglar says that if we will "help others get what they want, we will in turn get what we want." If we want to be successful, we should consider ourselves servants of other people. What can we do to help them and make them better? This is the true path to greatness and success, not only in business but in life!

 

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Love Story.. So touching !

Girl: Do i ever cross ur mind?
Boy: No
Girl: Do you like me?
Boy: Not really
... Girl: Do you want me?
Boy: No
Girl: Would you cry if I left?
Boy: No
Girl: Would you live for me?
Boy: No
Girl: Would you do anything for me?
Boy: No
Girl: Choose--me or ur life
Boy: my life

"The girl runs away in shock and pain and the
boy runs after her and says...

(The reason you never cross my mind is
because you're always on my mind.

The reason why I don't like you is because I
love you.

The reason I don't want you is because I
need you.

The reason I wouldn't cry if you left is
because I would die if you left.

The reason I wouldn't live for you is because I
would die for you.

The reason why I'm not willing to do
anything for you is because I would do
everything for you.)

"The reason I chose my life is because you
ARE my life."

Read more of my love poems to my wife at httpsss://yuna4grace.wordpress.com/

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You are the best !

Every Day of your Life is a Page of your History, use it Well & Wisely. Tomorrow is not Promised to any one.

Always remember the Purpose Of your Life.In Life,People will hate you, Rate you, Shake you & Hurt you.
How Strong you stand is what Makes you! GOD is Sufficient for you & He is the Best Guardian.

You have to know that you are God's headquarters on the Earth and God blesses the world through you! ..

Blessed day my dear pals. Read more at www.yunatiya.wordpress.com

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"There is only one person who is capable to set limits to your growth: it is YOU.

One day all the employees reached the office and they saw a big advice on the door on which it was written:

"Yesterday the person who has been hindering your growth in this company passed away. We invite you to join the funeral in the room that has been prepared in the gym".

In the beginning, they all got sad for the death of one of their colleagues, but after a while they started getting curious to know who was that man who hindered the growth of his colleagues and the company itself.

The excitement in the gym was such that security agents were ordered to control the crowd within the room.

The more people reached the coffin, the more the excitement heated up. Everyone thought: "Who is this guy who was hindering my progress? Well, at least he died!".

One by one the thrilled employees got closer to the coffin, and when they looked inside it they suddenly became speechless. They stood nearby the coffin, shocked and in silence, as if someone had touched the deepest part of their soul.

There was a mirror inside the coffin: everyone who looked inside it could see himself.

There was also a sign next to the mirror that said:

"There is only one person who is capable to set limits to your growth: it is YOU.

You are the only person who can revolutionize your life. You are the only person who can influence your happiness, your realization and your success. You are the only person who can help yourself.

Your life does not change when your boss changes, when your friends change, when your parents change, when your partner changes, when your company changes. Your life changes when YOU change, when you go beyond your limiting beliefs, when you realize that you are the only one responsible for your life.

"The most important relationship you can have, is the one you have with yourself"

Examine yourself, watch yourself. Don't be afraid of difficulties, impossibilities and losses: be a winner, build yourself and your reality.

The world is like a mirror: it gives back to anyone the reflection of the thoughts in which one has strongly believed.

The world and your reality are like mirrors laying in coffins, which show to any individual, the death of his divine capability to imagine and create his happiness and his success.
It's the way you face Life that makes the difference

YOU WILL MAKE IT IN JESUS NAME, AMEN

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"There is only one person who is capable to set limits to your growth: it is YOU.

One day all the employees reached the office and they saw a big advice on the door on which it was written:

"Yesterday the person who has been hindering your growth in this company passed away. We invite you to join the funeral in the room that has been prepared in the gym".

In the beginning, they all got sad for the death of one of their colleagues, but after a while they started getting curious to know who was that man who hindered the growth of his colleagues and the company itself.

The excitement in the gym was such that security agents were ordered to control the crowd within the room.

The more people reached the coffin, the more the excitement heated up. Everyone thought: "Who is this guy who was hindering my progress? Well, at least he died!".

One by one the thrilled employees got closer to the coffin, and when they looked inside it they suddenly became speechless. They stood nearby the coffin, shocked and in silence, as if someone had touched the deepest part of their soul.

There was a mirror inside the coffin: everyone who looked inside it could see himself.

There was also a sign next to the mirror that said:

"There is only one person who is capable to set limits to your growth: it is YOU.

You are the only person who can revolutionize your life. You are the only person who can influence your happiness, your realization and your success. You are the only person who can help yourself.

Your life does not change when your boss changes, when your friends change, when your parents change, when your partner changes, when your company changes. Your life changes when YOU change, when you go beyond your limiting beliefs, when you realize that you are the only one responsible for your life.

"The most important relationship you can have, is the one you have with yourself"

Examine yourself, watch yourself. Don't be afraid of difficulties, impossibilities and losses: be a winner, build yourself and your reality.

The world is like a mirror: it gives back to anyone the reflection of the thoughts in which one has strongly believed.

The world and your reality are like mirrors laying in coffins, which show to any individual, the death of his divine capability to imagine and create his happiness and his success.
It's the way you face Life that makes the difference

YOU WILL MAKE IT IN JESUS NAME, AMEN

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