No.38 - a most auspicious number according to the Chinese - "Sang Fatt" meaning Growth and Prosperity.
What then do we plant today that will grow and enable us to harvest the prosperity tomorrow?
Perhaps the extract below from one of the greatest motivator - Earl Nightingale - may have the answer - a passage from his writings of "The Strangest Secret"
George Bernard Shaw said, "People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, they make them."
Well, it's pretty apparent, isn't it? And every person who discovered this believed (for a while) that he was the first one to work it out. We become what we think about. Conversely, the person who has no goal, who doesn't know where he's going, and whose thoughts must therefore be thoughts of confusion, anxiety and worry - his life becomes one of frustration, fear, anxiety and worry. And if he thinks about nothing... he becomes nothing.
How does it work? Why do we become what we think about? Well, I'll tell you how it works, as far as we know. To do this, I want to tell you about a situation that parallels the human mind.
Suppose a farmer has some land, and it's good, fertile land. The land gives the farmer a choice; he may plant in that land whatever he chooses. The land doesn't care. It's up to the farmer to make the decision.We're comparing the human mind with the land because the mind, like the land, doesn't care what you plant in it. It will return what you plant, but it doesn't care what you plant.
Now, let's say that the farmer has two seeds in his hand- one is a seed of corn, the other is nightshade, a deadly poison. He digs two little holes in the earth and he plants both seeds-one corn, the other nightshade. He covers up the holes, waters and takes care of the land...and what will happen? Invariably, the land will return what was planted.
As it's written in the Bible, "As ye sow, so shall ye reap."
Remember the land doesn't care. It will return poison in just as wonderful abundance as it will corn. So up come the two plants - one corn, one poison. The human mind is far more fertile, far more incredible and mysterious than the land, but it works the same way. It doesn't care what we plant...success...or failure.
A concrete, worthwhile goal...or confusion, misunderstanding, fear, anxiety and so on. But what we plant it must return to us.You see, the human mind is the last great unexplored continent on earth. It contains riches beyond our wildest dreams. It will return anything we want to plant.
Start planting - possibilities, success, happiness, kindness, generosity, gratitude and hope ....more often !
Monday, March 30, 2009
Thought for the Day No.37
Earth Hour.......Saturday, 28 March 2009 *8.30pm - 9.30pm
Where were you on this hour? How did you contribute to heighten the baby steps being taken around the world?
Did you feel yourself part of the global effort to reduce carbon emissions that are choking Mother Earth.....endangering the wildlife and plantlife on the planet.....melting the ice-caps at the North and South Poles thus raising the sea levels at alarming rates ..... simply making it less livable for our future generations ...our grandchildren or their grandchildren - yes, our own bloodlines and carrying our Family Name into the possible future....if it is still there when the time comes?
I was at home with my wife who was watching CNN and nearing 820pm we got the candles out ready. I then walked down to the hawker centre down my house and bought some food.
As I paid for the packet of food - the lights went off and the waiters started carrying out candles to the various tables where the customers were having their food.
There was no complaints and even a few customers clapped in appreciation and all the stall holders did not grumble or made cynical remarks - I was truly impressed at this collaborative mindset from these usually business-minded people. That they too understand the significance of this moment and willing to do their bit without fuss.
I was so impressed that I sent out sms to many people urging them to join in the golabl effort to share the signifcance of this Earth Hour.
I also received many sms telling me that
- Petaling jaya town is in semi-darkness
- someone staying in an apartment looked out and saw the Komtar and Penang Bridge dimmed their lights
- another said she always could see the the town lights but tonight more than half the lights are out - a remarkable sight she said.
- another took my call for action and began encouraging the shops in the mall he was in to also switch off some of their lights - he said it was so difficult but by 915pm he was happy that 5 shops did what he told them to join in observing Earth Hour
My friends, its not about what can the effect be if I switch off my house lights for one hour or 5 shops comply when 2000 did not - it's the combined united aligned effort and reinforcing our belief that we must continue to do whatever and whenever we can towards saving our endangered planet Earth - and influencing more people to do the same.
Yes, there is Hope for all - when we begin to give back more than we take from Mother Earth
Where were you on this hour? How did you contribute to heighten the baby steps being taken around the world?
Did you feel yourself part of the global effort to reduce carbon emissions that are choking Mother Earth.....endangering the wildlife and plantlife on the planet.....melting the ice-caps at the North and South Poles thus raising the sea levels at alarming rates ..... simply making it less livable for our future generations ...our grandchildren or their grandchildren - yes, our own bloodlines and carrying our Family Name into the possible future....if it is still there when the time comes?
I was at home with my wife who was watching CNN and nearing 820pm we got the candles out ready. I then walked down to the hawker centre down my house and bought some food.
As I paid for the packet of food - the lights went off and the waiters started carrying out candles to the various tables where the customers were having their food.
There was no complaints and even a few customers clapped in appreciation and all the stall holders did not grumble or made cynical remarks - I was truly impressed at this collaborative mindset from these usually business-minded people. That they too understand the significance of this moment and willing to do their bit without fuss.
I was so impressed that I sent out sms to many people urging them to join in the golabl effort to share the signifcance of this Earth Hour.
I also received many sms telling me that
- Petaling jaya town is in semi-darkness
- someone staying in an apartment looked out and saw the Komtar and Penang Bridge dimmed their lights
- another said she always could see the the town lights but tonight more than half the lights are out - a remarkable sight she said.
- another took my call for action and began encouraging the shops in the mall he was in to also switch off some of their lights - he said it was so difficult but by 915pm he was happy that 5 shops did what he told them to join in observing Earth Hour
My friends, its not about what can the effect be if I switch off my house lights for one hour or 5 shops comply when 2000 did not - it's the combined united aligned effort and reinforcing our belief that we must continue to do whatever and whenever we can towards saving our endangered planet Earth - and influencing more people to do the same.
Yes, there is Hope for all - when we begin to give back more than we take from Mother Earth
Monday, March 23, 2009
Thought for the Day No.36
During the current harsh economic environment and tight financial situation affecting many people and organisations - I keep hearing people expecting to have 'guarantees' when considering investments - hence the many offers of "capital guarantee" schemes but still with no 'guarantees' for the income or returns.....effectively these are like the traditional bank fixed deposits with low returns but seemingly 'safe' protected capital.
But what about the investments we make in terms of energy, time and efforts in our workplace as employees or business as entrepreneurs - how do we enforce such guarantees? Or is it realistic to even expect so?
In the prevailing business and financial uncertainties - no job (capital that provides the return) is guaranteed nor the return (salary) because we have seen giant organisations with long history also folding up and no salaries paid to their employees and worst still in some cases all the savings of employees in terms of their retirement funds also disappear.
Hence, for those who are not ready to venture forth and make changes because there are no guarantees of income or even capital - they need to be contented to remain as they are and not complain about their situation or even dare to dream because it will be futile to do so if no change is executed.
In life the rewards are given for the risks taken - not for guarantees.
Of course, the risks has to be weighed and calculated carefully - more so nowadays - we are not advocating foolhardy ventures without proper planning or good potential for success.
Perhaps the following passage aptly summarises the situation....
Life offers no guarantees .....only choices
No certainties ..........only risks and rewards
No predictable outcomes......just the privilege of pursuing our dreams
But what about the investments we make in terms of energy, time and efforts in our workplace as employees or business as entrepreneurs - how do we enforce such guarantees? Or is it realistic to even expect so?
In the prevailing business and financial uncertainties - no job (capital that provides the return) is guaranteed nor the return (salary) because we have seen giant organisations with long history also folding up and no salaries paid to their employees and worst still in some cases all the savings of employees in terms of their retirement funds also disappear.
Hence, for those who are not ready to venture forth and make changes because there are no guarantees of income or even capital - they need to be contented to remain as they are and not complain about their situation or even dare to dream because it will be futile to do so if no change is executed.
In life the rewards are given for the risks taken - not for guarantees.
Of course, the risks has to be weighed and calculated carefully - more so nowadays - we are not advocating foolhardy ventures without proper planning or good potential for success.
Perhaps the following passage aptly summarises the situation....
Life offers no guarantees .....only choices
No certainties ..........only risks and rewards
No predictable outcomes......just the privilege of pursuing our dreams
Friday, March 13, 2009
Thought for the Day No.35
According to B.J. Gallagher and Steve Ventura, the authors of a book on personal accountability titled: Who Are “They” Anyway? - the most important words of personal responsibility are as follows:
The 10 most important words:
I won't wait for others to take the first step.
The 9 most important words:
If it is to be, it's up to me.
The 8 most important words:
If not me, who? If not now, when?
The 7 most important words:
Let me take a shot at it.
The 6 most important words:
I will not pass the buck.
The 5 most important words:
You can count on me.
The 4 most important words:
It IS my job!
The 3 most important words:
Just do it!
The 2 most important words:
I will.
The most important word:
Me
Frank Tyger said it best..."Your future depends on many things, but mostly yourself."
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Thought for The day No.34
Sharing this passage from pravsworld.com -
When life pushes you down - push back!
That's what you are here for.
You're capable, you're creative
you're full of life and energy.
You have what it takes to move yourself forward
around any obstacle
Don't let anything stop you.
Take strength from meeting the challenges
and move ahead.
The struggles you face are just what you need
to fulfill your potential for greatness.
A year from now,
when you look back at today
you'll see that the problem
you're so concerned with right now
was another valuable lesson waiting to be learned.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Thought for the day No.33
Received this recently and thought may be good to share -
What is recession to you?
This story is about a man who once upon a time was selling hotdogs bythe roadside.
He was illiterate, so he never read newspapers. He was hard of hearing, so he never listened to the radio. His eyes were weak, so he never watched television. But enthusiastically, he sold lots of hotdogs.
He was smart enough to offer some attractive schemes to increase his sales. His sales and profit went up. He ordered more and more raw material and buns and started to sell more. He recruited a few more supporting staff to serve more customers. He started offering home deliveries. Eventually he got himself a bigger and better stove.
As his business was growing, the son, who had recently graduated from College, joined his father. Then something strange happened.
The son asked,"Dad, aren't you aware of the great recession that is coming our way?"
The father replied, "No, but tell me about it"
The son said, "The international situation is terrible. The domestic situation is even worse. We should be prepared for the coming bad times."
The man thought that since his son had been to college, read the papers, listened to the radio and watched TV, he ought to know and his advice should not be taken lightly.
So from the next day onwards, the father cut down his order of raw material as well as buns, took down the colorful signboard, removed all the special schemes he was offering to the customers and was no longer as enthusiastic. He reduced his staff strength by giving layoffs. Very soon, fewer and fewer people bothered to stop at his hotdog stand. And his sales started coming down rapidly, same for the profit.
The father said to his son, "Son, you were right". "We are in the middle of a recession and crisis. I am glad you warned me ahead of time."
Moral of The Story: Very often it's all in your MIND! And we actually FUEL this recession much more than we think we do !!!
What can we take away from this story??
1. How many times we confused intelligence with good judgment?
2. Choose your advisers carefully but use your own good judgment
3. A person or an organization will survive, if they have the 5 Cs
> Character > Commitment > Conviction > Courtesy > Courage
The tragedy today is that there are many walking encyclopedias that are living failures.
The more practical and appropriate views on this economic recession is: "This is the time to reunite together for any small or a big organization, this is the time to motivate and retain people which are the biggest asset, this is the time to show more commitments to the customers, this is the time to show values of our company to the world ".
The important question is - 'if I share the same beliefs - how can I contribute to make it better for me, my colleagues and my company?'
What is recession to you?
This story is about a man who once upon a time was selling hotdogs bythe roadside.
He was illiterate, so he never read newspapers. He was hard of hearing, so he never listened to the radio. His eyes were weak, so he never watched television. But enthusiastically, he sold lots of hotdogs.
He was smart enough to offer some attractive schemes to increase his sales. His sales and profit went up. He ordered more and more raw material and buns and started to sell more. He recruited a few more supporting staff to serve more customers. He started offering home deliveries. Eventually he got himself a bigger and better stove.
As his business was growing, the son, who had recently graduated from College, joined his father. Then something strange happened.
The son asked,"Dad, aren't you aware of the great recession that is coming our way?"
The father replied, "No, but tell me about it"
The son said, "The international situation is terrible. The domestic situation is even worse. We should be prepared for the coming bad times."
The man thought that since his son had been to college, read the papers, listened to the radio and watched TV, he ought to know and his advice should not be taken lightly.
So from the next day onwards, the father cut down his order of raw material as well as buns, took down the colorful signboard, removed all the special schemes he was offering to the customers and was no longer as enthusiastic. He reduced his staff strength by giving layoffs. Very soon, fewer and fewer people bothered to stop at his hotdog stand. And his sales started coming down rapidly, same for the profit.
The father said to his son, "Son, you were right". "We are in the middle of a recession and crisis. I am glad you warned me ahead of time."
Moral of The Story: Very often it's all in your MIND! And we actually FUEL this recession much more than we think we do !!!
What can we take away from this story??
1. How many times we confused intelligence with good judgment?
2. Choose your advisers carefully but use your own good judgment
3. A person or an organization will survive, if they have the 5 Cs
> Character > Commitment > Conviction > Courtesy > Courage
The tragedy today is that there are many walking encyclopedias that are living failures.
The more practical and appropriate views on this economic recession is: "This is the time to reunite together for any small or a big organization, this is the time to motivate and retain people which are the biggest asset, this is the time to show more commitments to the customers, this is the time to show values of our company to the world ".
The important question is - 'if I share the same beliefs - how can I contribute to make it better for me, my colleagues and my company?'
Thought for The day No.32
Ten minutes ago I just finished watching the live telecast of the address to the joint meeting of Congress - House of Representatives and Senate by Rt Honorable Gordon Brown, Prime Minister of Great Britain and North Ireland
He started around 12.15am Thursday, 05 March 2009 and spoke for 34minutes ending at 12.49am - amazingly he received 18 standing ovations from the audience throughout his speech.
He definitely came prepared and moved the audience with his oratorical finesse and remarkable use of captivating graphical verbal imagery.
Some of the phrases he used that captured my attention were:
"To find our way out of the economic crisis and downturn is ........educate ourselves......to continue to invest and invent ..............and reskill and retool......
"To conquer our fear of the future with Faith in the future...."
"I now understand why people plant the seeds of a tree whose shade they will never see..."
"......cannot wait for tomorrow today.......we must build tomorrow today.."
"there was this grave with a tombstone in war-torn Luanda in Africa with these words -
Name: David
Age:10
Game: Football
Enjoys: making people laugh
Ambition: Doctor
Cause of death: Tortured
Last words: The United Nations will come to save us
.....but we never came......"
"...that as a child I learnt at my father's church .....whenever we come across hardship and suffering - we cannot and will not pass by on the other side......"
" .....there is no Challenge we cannot Equal
.....no Obstacle we cannot Overcome
.....no Aspiration too high for us to Achieve...."
I hope some of the above quotes from this statesman would ring true in your minds and hearts and in some ways will help you in your journey in life. More so now in these times of troubled and uncertain financial environment that there is still hope - for we are people with the resilience and power to bounce back even much higher ......The Choice is Yours!
He started around 12.15am Thursday, 05 March 2009 and spoke for 34minutes ending at 12.49am - amazingly he received 18 standing ovations from the audience throughout his speech.
He definitely came prepared and moved the audience with his oratorical finesse and remarkable use of captivating graphical verbal imagery.
Some of the phrases he used that captured my attention were:
"To find our way out of the economic crisis and downturn is ........educate ourselves......to continue to invest and invent ..............and reskill and retool......
"To conquer our fear of the future with Faith in the future...."
"I now understand why people plant the seeds of a tree whose shade they will never see..."
"......cannot wait for tomorrow today.......we must build tomorrow today.."
"there was this grave with a tombstone in war-torn Luanda in Africa with these words -
Name: David
Age:10
Game: Football
Enjoys: making people laugh
Ambition: Doctor
Cause of death: Tortured
Last words: The United Nations will come to save us
.....but we never came......"
"...that as a child I learnt at my father's church .....whenever we come across hardship and suffering - we cannot and will not pass by on the other side......"
" .....there is no Challenge we cannot Equal
.....no Obstacle we cannot Overcome
.....no Aspiration too high for us to Achieve...."
I hope some of the above quotes from this statesman would ring true in your minds and hearts and in some ways will help you in your journey in life. More so now in these times of troubled and uncertain financial environment that there is still hope - for we are people with the resilience and power to bounce back even much higher ......The Choice is Yours!
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