The other day I was organizing my office and I came across an article I had picked up in a newspaper from India. In the article it talked about a 93 year old Indian woman who wanted to learn English. The article went on to say this was a dream of this woman’s for some time.
Many people tried to persuade her not to spend her last few years on something that wouldn’t benefit her. But this zealous grandmother refused to listen to the nay-sayers. So at the ripe mature age of 90 years old, this resilient lady enrolled herself in the local elementary school. She preferred this class room setting over adult school because she said “I go to bed around 7 pm, so night school is out for me.” As I looked at the picture attached to this article, this 93 year old grandmother sitting on the floor next to other small children, it made me smile.
It was a three year process for this grandmother to realize her dream, as the other students moved on; she remained in the same class until she reached her goal. The elementary school teacher that taught this grandmother said “It was a joy to have her in the class each day, and the children absolutely loved her.”
If any one knows that it’s never too late, certainly Jessie Ratliff does. This seventy-five year old great-grandmother from South Carolina does. After dropping out of high school in the 10th grade, 56 years later, Jessie crossed the staged and received her GED.
Hit with a tough economy, and a small unemployment check, Jessie knew personal development was her only chance. Armed with determination and perseverance, she hit the books.
"She came in; she worked; she went right to work and had no problems with the work," said teacher Margie Smith.
But Jessie didn’t stop there she has enrolled in Trident Tech to further her education.
If you have every eating at the well known eatery Kentucky Fried Chicken, then you have
Harland David Sanders, better known as Colonel Sanders to thank. At the age of 65-years old, he took the plunge to franchise his small chicken eatery all across the United States.
I don’t know about you, but I’m glad he didn’t think 65 was too old or too late.
Today make the choice to go after what you other wise thought was too late, IT’S NEVER TOO LATE!!!
THINK BETTER, LIVE BETTER!!!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
BEFORE YOU QUIT, “PUSH RESET”
Each year if you are like me you set goals for yourself to achieve on your way to your destiny. And if you are like me you experience certain obstacles, distractions and so forth. Sometimes they are self imposed, other times they are life imposed, either way, and they can knock us off course. This causes many of us to want to quit and give up. We experience frustration and de-motivation, and may be willing to forfeit our goals.
Well several weeks ago, I walked into my church on a Thursday evening and picked up a nugget that may help you out. I know it helped me out.
We are mid way through this year and hopefully you have reflected on the first six months of the year to see if you are on course. What did you discover? Are you on track or off track? Well if you find yourself off track, don’t beat yourself up. Stop calling yourself a failure. Today I’m going to share with you what my Pastor and mentor thought me.
PUSH THE RESET BUTTON!!! Yep that’s it. Don’t cry about it; don’t waddle in it, simply press reset. There are a few things that “PUSHING RESET” allows you to do. What I like about “PUSHING RESET” is this; you are not giving up, but starting over.
The other week I was playing Ms. Pac Man and it wasn’t going like I planned. I was trying to get to stage three without losing a man. Even though it wasn’t going like I planned, I wasn’t ready to stop playing. So what did I do, I looked down at that red button that said RESET, and I pushed it.
What does RESET allow you to do? Here are a few things “PUSHING RESET” will allow you to do.
1. Refocus on your goal
2. Refresh yourself for the journey
3. Reestablish priorities in your life
4. Redefine your course
5. Reexamine your tools for the job
So at this mid way point, ask yourself do you need to “PUSH RESET.” You still have time to accomplish some great things this year.
THINK BETTER, LIVE BETTER!!!
Well several weeks ago, I walked into my church on a Thursday evening and picked up a nugget that may help you out. I know it helped me out.
We are mid way through this year and hopefully you have reflected on the first six months of the year to see if you are on course. What did you discover? Are you on track or off track? Well if you find yourself off track, don’t beat yourself up. Stop calling yourself a failure. Today I’m going to share with you what my Pastor and mentor thought me.
PUSH THE RESET BUTTON!!! Yep that’s it. Don’t cry about it; don’t waddle in it, simply press reset. There are a few things that “PUSHING RESET” allows you to do. What I like about “PUSHING RESET” is this; you are not giving up, but starting over.
The other week I was playing Ms. Pac Man and it wasn’t going like I planned. I was trying to get to stage three without losing a man. Even though it wasn’t going like I planned, I wasn’t ready to stop playing. So what did I do, I looked down at that red button that said RESET, and I pushed it.
What does RESET allow you to do? Here are a few things “PUSHING RESET” will allow you to do.
1. Refocus on your goal
2. Refresh yourself for the journey
3. Reestablish priorities in your life
4. Redefine your course
5. Reexamine your tools for the job
So at this mid way point, ask yourself do you need to “PUSH RESET.” You still have time to accomplish some great things this year.
THINK BETTER, LIVE BETTER!!!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
RAISE YOUR VALUE
For every one of you reading this blog, you have a great opportunity before you. But I’m sad to say, that many of you will not take advantage of this great opportunity. What is this great opportunity I speak of, it’s the ability to add value to your life. Hopefully today’s blog will inspire you, upset you, push you or make you take responsibility for you.
Many people live life without ever learning the laws that govern life, life runs on a cycle, a system. Learning the system is the key to living a worth while life. Let me ask you a question, where ever you live in this world, do you know the laws that govern success in that region?
Let me explain it this way, all over the world, the profession of farming exists, but the climates for farming are different around the world. If you lived in Ghana, Ghana only has two seasons, raining and dry season. India has four seasons, winter, summer, monsoon and post-monsoon. America has four, but they are winter, spring, summer, and fall. Travel to Germany and be met with autumn, winter, summer and pro-longed summer.
As a farmer, you would have to know the environment you live in to properly plant and harvest successfully.
What I have learned in all my travel is that there is a principle that works in all environments. It is the principle of “RAISING YOUR VALUE.”
I have personally experienced this principle and seen it work all around the world. And the exciting thing about a principle is that it works for everybody.
Many people I talk with want to raise the amount of money they earn, but are not sure how do to it. This causes a great deal of stress for many people. One of the most common ways I have seen a person try to earn more money is by working two or three jobs. But there is a better way to approach this issue.
Here is the key to earning more money, simply learn more. If you want to earn more, learn more. I know it sounds simple, but think about this. Where ever you work, it is what we call the “Market Place.” If you bring more knowledge to that market, the market will pay you more. Why does one person at McDonald’s earn $7 and another earn $22 per hour. They are working the same hour, so you are not paid for your time, but for the VALUE you provide in that hour.
Why does a manager earn more, because they have learned and acquired knowledge about a particular area of the market they work in. As it relates to this market, they add VALUE. Take this same person and place them in another market and their VALUE to this new market may go down.
How does this $7 employee move to the $22 level? By adding VALUE to them selves, if this person, LEARNED all the ins and outs about their job, what makes it work, what will it take to make it grow? They begin to acquire knowledge, in no time they will be recognized for the VALUE they are bringing to the company.
Remember, the way you EARN more, is to LEARN more!!!
Think Better, Live Better
Many people live life without ever learning the laws that govern life, life runs on a cycle, a system. Learning the system is the key to living a worth while life. Let me ask you a question, where ever you live in this world, do you know the laws that govern success in that region?
Let me explain it this way, all over the world, the profession of farming exists, but the climates for farming are different around the world. If you lived in Ghana, Ghana only has two seasons, raining and dry season. India has four seasons, winter, summer, monsoon and post-monsoon. America has four, but they are winter, spring, summer, and fall. Travel to Germany and be met with autumn, winter, summer and pro-longed summer.
As a farmer, you would have to know the environment you live in to properly plant and harvest successfully.
What I have learned in all my travel is that there is a principle that works in all environments. It is the principle of “RAISING YOUR VALUE.”
I have personally experienced this principle and seen it work all around the world. And the exciting thing about a principle is that it works for everybody.
Many people I talk with want to raise the amount of money they earn, but are not sure how do to it. This causes a great deal of stress for many people. One of the most common ways I have seen a person try to earn more money is by working two or three jobs. But there is a better way to approach this issue.
Here is the key to earning more money, simply learn more. If you want to earn more, learn more. I know it sounds simple, but think about this. Where ever you work, it is what we call the “Market Place.” If you bring more knowledge to that market, the market will pay you more. Why does one person at McDonald’s earn $7 and another earn $22 per hour. They are working the same hour, so you are not paid for your time, but for the VALUE you provide in that hour.
Why does a manager earn more, because they have learned and acquired knowledge about a particular area of the market they work in. As it relates to this market, they add VALUE. Take this same person and place them in another market and their VALUE to this new market may go down.
How does this $7 employee move to the $22 level? By adding VALUE to them selves, if this person, LEARNED all the ins and outs about their job, what makes it work, what will it take to make it grow? They begin to acquire knowledge, in no time they will be recognized for the VALUE they are bringing to the company.
Remember, the way you EARN more, is to LEARN more!!!
Think Better, Live Better
Thursday, July 8, 2010
WAKE UP AND LIVE YOUR DREAMS PART 2
Last week I told you about my friend who after some life challenging events found the guts and faith to pursue her dream of becoming a Police Officer. And to top it all off she is over forty years old. But I told you I had two friends, so this week I want to tell you about my other phenomenal friend who is pursuing her dream.
In 2005 after eight-teen years of hard work and dedication, my friend found herself forced out of her corporate position with a Fortune 500 company. After making all the right moves and connecting with all the right people, the grim reaper of down sizing would knock her off the corporate latter.
Angry, hurt, disappointed and fearful, my friend begin to ponder her next move. Quickly she came up with the idea that she would use her corporate experience and become a consultant. The only problem was this little voice that kept saying “Now is the time to pursue your dream.” But after all these years could this still be my dream my friend thought, or was this just crazy talk?
After wrestling with the idea of chasing her dream, she put every reason why this was not a good idea to pursue this dream. First off, it would mean a huge decrease in pay. Secondly, pursuing this dream meant going back to school. And thirdly, it was just out right crazy.
But here is the problem with purpose, it never shuts up, you can ignore it, but it never shuts up. After much deliberation and prayer, my friend made the move to pursue her dream. She would go back to school to get her teaching credentials and become a teacher.
She had run from that small voice that kept saying “You were born to teach.” My friend realized that life at it’s longest is short, and you better start doing what you love. She confronted her greatest fear at the time, which was the drastic difference in income, and decided on fulfillment and life purpose.
When I asked my friend what she had learned, here is what she said “Never allow money to determine your destiny, if you are happy doing what you do, you are already rich.” I’m so excited to celebrate with my friend this upcoming December when she not only gets handed her credentials, but her life long purpose.
My friends let these two women be the spark that gets your fire going. Your passion is waiting on you to grab a hold and ride into the sunset with no regrets in life.
Think Better, Live Better!!!
In 2005 after eight-teen years of hard work and dedication, my friend found herself forced out of her corporate position with a Fortune 500 company. After making all the right moves and connecting with all the right people, the grim reaper of down sizing would knock her off the corporate latter.
Angry, hurt, disappointed and fearful, my friend begin to ponder her next move. Quickly she came up with the idea that she would use her corporate experience and become a consultant. The only problem was this little voice that kept saying “Now is the time to pursue your dream.” But after all these years could this still be my dream my friend thought, or was this just crazy talk?
After wrestling with the idea of chasing her dream, she put every reason why this was not a good idea to pursue this dream. First off, it would mean a huge decrease in pay. Secondly, pursuing this dream meant going back to school. And thirdly, it was just out right crazy.
But here is the problem with purpose, it never shuts up, you can ignore it, but it never shuts up. After much deliberation and prayer, my friend made the move to pursue her dream. She would go back to school to get her teaching credentials and become a teacher.
She had run from that small voice that kept saying “You were born to teach.” My friend realized that life at it’s longest is short, and you better start doing what you love. She confronted her greatest fear at the time, which was the drastic difference in income, and decided on fulfillment and life purpose.
When I asked my friend what she had learned, here is what she said “Never allow money to determine your destiny, if you are happy doing what you do, you are already rich.” I’m so excited to celebrate with my friend this upcoming December when she not only gets handed her credentials, but her life long purpose.
My friends let these two women be the spark that gets your fire going. Your passion is waiting on you to grab a hold and ride into the sunset with no regrets in life.
Think Better, Live Better!!!
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