"The other day they asked me about mandatory drug testing. I

said 'I believed in drug testing a long time ago. All through

the '60's I tested everything.'" ~

Bill Lee

(My nephew is in dress whites with a mustache...)

It's been an exciting week, my nephew has returned home from deployment after 6 months at sea. This was his last deployment before he retires from the US Navy, after 20 years of service. (unless he chooses to continue on...)

He and his family will be traveling back to Oklahoma today to visit family and friends. I wish I was in Oklahoma to personally tell him "thank you and I'm glad he's home and safe" .

US Military News Story Number: NNS090820-08
Release Date: 8/20/2009 3:31:00 PM

By Kevin Copeland, Commander, Submarine Force Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Scranton (SSN 756) returned home Aug. 20 after concluding a regularly scheduled six-month deployment as part of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Strike Group.

"Scranton's highly trained crew, in keeping with its unbroken tradition of uncommon professionalism, tenacity, and pride, met or exceeded every expectation in accomplishing all tasks assigned," said Cmdr. Wesley Guinn, commanding officer. "We travelled more than 30,000 miles in some of the most treacherous underwater environments, and because of the impressive skill and enthusiasm of her crew, the submarine was underway on time every time and never missed any mission obligations."

While living up to its motto, "On Time, On Track, On Target," Scranton conducted operations in support of national security interests and maritime security operations. In executing the maritime strategy, Scranton further demonstrated the submarine force's great capability in providing global presence.

Although the deployment was a great success, the crew is happy to be home and glad to reunite with their families.

"As stressful as the separation during deployment can be, it does teach us to never take our precious families for granted," said Guinn. "The crew is uniformly excited and anxious to spend some quality time rediscovering our families again. After all, a strong family relationship at home makes a better Sailor on the ship."

During the deployment Scranton conducted port visits in Souda Bay, Crete; Bahrain and Diego Garcia.

Fast-attack submarines like Scranton have multifaceted missions. They use their stealth, persistence, agility and firepower to deploy and support special force operations, disrupt and destroy an adversary's military and economic operations at sea, provide early strike from close proximity and ensure undersea superiority.

Built by Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Scranton was commissioned Jan. 26, 1991. It is 360 feet long, displaces 6,900 tons of water and can travel in excess of 20 knots while submerged.

The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be.

Here are some facts about the1500s:

Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, don’t throw the baby out with the Bath water.

Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof when it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof.

Hence the saying. It's raining cats and dogs.

There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.

The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, Dirt poor. The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entranceway. Hence the saying a thresh hold.

(Getting quite an education, aren't you?)

In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that
always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes Stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme, Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old.

Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, bring home the bacon. They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat.

Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.

Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust.

Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would
sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a wake.

England is old and small and the local folks started running out of
places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift...) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be, saved by the bell or was considered a ...dead ringer.

And that's the truth. Now, whoever said History was boring!!!

Educate someone. Share these facts with a friend.

You want your business to grow – HIRE MORE WOMEN!!!

There have been many “ceilings” in the past pertaining to women. A lot has changed in the last couple of years. Consider these facts based on reports by the U.S. Department of Labor and the Center for Women’s Business Research in 2003:

·    Women-owned businesses are growing at twice the rate of all U.S. firms

·    One in every 11 adult women owns a business

·    Women entrepreneurs generate nearly $2.3 trillion in revenues to the U.S. economy

·    More than 18 million workers are employed by a woman business owner

With a successful team and business comes freedom. With freedom comes quality of life. And, with quality of life comes the opportunity to make a difference and leave a legacy.

We are only here once and we all want to be remembered. 

Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, did not hesitate when she said, “Make your people feel important.” She truly understood the recognition is a need we all crave; and that there are no exceptions.

I completely understand this powerful principle… “hire more women, and love them like family.”

I left a secure job as a corporate real estate broker 4 years ago to become an entrepreneur. I laid my heart on the line when overcoming my fears and doubts to building a successful organization in online marketing. I learned the importance of life balance, the power of choice, respecting others and removing the chains that bind you.

I understand the power of kindness and compassion… I understand that companies don’t succeed, people do.

Believe and Achieve

Do you believe you can have the life you want to have, or do you think that it belongs to that “other” group of people?

“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” ~Napoleon Hill

I grew up in a middle class family, my father was a dairyman and my mother was an accountant for a wholesale grocery warehouse, I was average in high school. I attended college briefly, I worked a little country store close to my home, then attended trade school and got a real estate license.

In the beginning I was living paycheck to paycheck and living way above my means. I really did not know whether I was cut out to be a real estate agent or not… I did not know everything there was to know about real estate. I figured out shortly that I really didn’t have to be an expert on real estate, all I needed to do is get people infront of other real estate experts until I became an expert. And, I know that I could do that.

Twelve years later, I was saying goodbye to the real estate industry and saying hello to becoming a full-time entrepreneur. The reason I was able to “fire my boss” so soon, was I found myself in an environment that started changing my belief level. I started associating myself with people that were successful entrepreneurs and reading lots of inspiration and self-development books.  

“The only thing that stands between a person and what they want in life is the will to try it and the faith to believe it is possible.” ~Rich DeVos, co-founded Amway Corporation 

Do you believe in the possibility of your dreams coming true?

Separating the good from the great… the great consistently do more than is expected. Those leaders who understand this, whether you are a business leader, a coach, a teacher or a parent, will eventually rise to the top.

Learn more about my Team, women or men, I am not prejudice…. I will coach you to the Top!

by Ron White

There were few things that marked my boyhood as strongly as westerns. Every Sunday, I arranged my afternoon around "The Lone Ranger," "The Rifle Man" and "Bonanza." Then, if I was lucky, I would catch a glimpse of what I considered to be the definition of the word "man" – John Wayne – in a late-night western.

My grandmother had a painting of him in her living room, and in my blue-collar family he was a hero. Maybe it was because the characters he portrayed exhibited the qualities that my family lived—blue-collar, hard-working and honest. I am proud to say that I have a doctorate in John Wayne.

In 1972, Wayne played a character in which he mentored young school boys on a cattle drive in the film "Cowboys." Because of his leadership and example, these boys became men before the end of the cattle drive. They would avenge "The Duke's" death after he was gunned down in cold blood. This was my favorite John Wayne movie, perhaps because I also was a young boy and I subconsciously knew that I was being mentored through a television screen by the rugged cowboy. Today, I believe I am a better businessman because of it.

If "The Duke" were a businessman in 2009, I assure you that he would:

Famous quotes by John Wayne...

- First and foremost, be honest. This cowboy would never lie to make a sale and neither should you. His resume wouldn't exaggerate and you could rely on his word.

- Be a hard worker. John Wayne would be the first cowboy on his horse preparing for the cattle drive, and he would be the first in your office, spending his time working to the point of exhaustion.

- Defend the weak. Whether in "Stagecoach," "True Grit," "Cowboys" or another film, Wayne never took advantage of the weak. Instead, he protected those who couldn't protect themselves.

If he was in your office when a salesperson or professional was struggling, there is no doubt in my mind that he would ride alongside them and offer assistance to make the team better.

- Feo, Fuerte y Formal.  These were the words that Wayne wanted on his tombstone. They translate to: "He was ugly, strong and had dignity." He was a physically strong man at 6'4''. Yet, it was his strength of character that was referred to here. In your business, you would be a magnificent success if others say you have strength of character. This means not giving in when things look bleak. "The Duke" wouldn't.

- Have dignity. This, again, comes from his self description. Dignity means relying on yourself for your success and abandoning the victim mentality. Wayne would not be a victim if he worked in your office. He would not blame his lack of success on the economy, co-workers or his boss. Instead, with dignity he would take his future into his own hands and rely on no one but himself for his success.

John Wayne was the definition of the word "man" and would be the definition of the word "businessman" if he worked in your office in 2009. As a young boy, I watched John Wayne ride off into the sunset on June 11th, 1979. Though I was confident one day that I would be a cowboy, I ended up a businessman. Today, I am a better businessman because of John Wayne´s lessons.

Thanks to John Wayne for the life lessons on hard work, honesty, dignity, strength and compassion. With a tip of my hat, I give him a hardy, "Thanks partner."

Ron White

About Ron White

Ron White is an expert on memorization. He won the 2009 USA Memory Championship and has performed numerous feats that demonstrate his amazing ability. He now travels the world teaching others his concise program of memory enhancement using simple steps and techniques to achieve stunning results.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." ~The Declaration of Independence

by Kevin Gerald

It's something we all have in common. We're curious about the future, wondering, “What's going to happen in my life tomorrow, next week and next year?’ It's human nature to think, analyze, and study life. Sometimes the conclusion of that study is to worry about the future.  Today, there are so many negative messages bombarding us through the media. People are worried about paying the mortgage, putting food on the table, whether or not they will have a job tomorrow, putting their children through college, retirement and caring for their families. These are real concerns of life, but I'm convinced that simply worrying about what's going to happen tomorrow won't change the outcome.  

Many people assume that the future is a mystery that we have little or no control over. Some view themselves as victims of fate, dependent on the next lucky break. They sing a powerless mantra of Qué Será, Será and plod through life. The truth is that our greatest power is our power to choose.

When I was in my late 20s, I recognized how quickly life passes by. I began giving serious thought to my future and I meditated on the ways that it was being formed. As I began to study my life and the lives of successful people ahead of me, I discovered a number of forces at work that create the life we live. Once I identify the forces that got me where I am, I can use those forces to my advantage to form my future. Here are a few that I found:    

Force of Beliefs
Changing your belief system can change your life. You can have something right in your heart, but wrong in your mind and no amount of good intentions or right motives will compensate for self-sabotaging beliefs. Do you think you got the short end of the stick? Do you believe you have insurmountable adversity? Do you wonder whether you are a chump or a champ? Do you believe that you are strong or weak?  

- Remember this: your most dominant beliefs always win. So choose to believe good things about yourself and your future.

Force of Relationships
Going anywhere substantial is impossible alone. For instance, when I board an airplane to take me to another city, there are teams of people who are involved in my journey. There are members of the security team who keep me safe. There are the pilots I trust to be competent and qualified to get me to my destination. There are the flight attendants, who make the journey comfortable and more enjoyable. This team helps me get to where I want to go. My journey is better, safer and complete because of these people. In the same way, your life's journey will involve people connections.

- Evaluate the relationships in your life, taking the initiative to surround yourself with people who will help you get to the places of your highest potential.  

Force of Habits
Great people have great habits. The power of our success or failure is in what we do repeatedly. One does not become a coffee drinker because he drank one cup of coffee, or a smoker because he smoked one cigarette, or a generous person because of one gift given. We improve our lives when we change our habits. Don't put all your energy into getting rid of bad habits. Instead, focus on developing good habits to replace the bad ones. For example, giving compliments breaks the habit of being critical, eating healthy foods breaks the yearning for unhealthy foods, and paying attention to time breaks the habit of being late.

- Put your energy into developing good habits.

Force of Words
More than a sound, words are a creative force. They have the power to bring encouragement, blessing, healing and wisdom or hurt, shame and discouragement. Words change the course of history. The words of Abraham Lincoln and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. pointed us toward the goals of justice and equality, and Patrick Henry's "Give me liberty or give me death'' speech connected with his countrymen and rallied them to victory in the Revolutionary War. Words have the power to bless or curse the future. The people you influence are counting on you to speak words of life, truth and hope.

- Think about this: how would your life be different if your words were more positive, uplifting and encouraging?

This is what I love about the future: We can do something about it. These are just a few of the factors that impact our life. We don't have to feel powerless, pessimistic or anxious about what lies ahead. I believe we can partner with God to live the best lives He has called us to. It is never too late to decide that you're going to take ownership of the choices you make in life. Our greatest power is our power to choose.

BIO:
Kevin Gerald is a sought-after motivational speaker and author of several books. In leadership and life, Kevin purposes to locate and communicate wisdom. He and his wife, Sheila, are the lead pastors of Champions Centre in Tacoma and Bellevue, WA. His book and message series, Forces That Form Your Future, are available online at Kevin Gerald.

"We can have no "50-50" allegiance in this country. Either a man is an American and nothing else, or he is not an American at all. " ~Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States

Here it is, another Fourth of July. Traditionally, this is a day to gather with friends, maybe fire up the barbeque and play with kids until the sun sets and the fireworks start. But in thinking back on the meaning behind this day, we must never forget that our nation was baptized in the blaze of a very different kind of "fireworks." Yes, this is a day of rest and relaxation, as well it should be, but this year…I'd like to ask you a favor. At some point during the day, I hope you'll take time to think and reflect on what it is we're truly celebrating on the 4^th of July -- our Independence Day. Of course the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4^th, 1776 but it's so much more than that. On this day, 233 short years ago, a small group of men dedicated themselves to a higher purpose, an ideal they believed in so greatly, they signed their name to its expression and in doing so put their very lives at risk.

Never has a simple act of signing one's name carried such weight, such a profound commitment. By signing the Declaration of Independence, 56 men stood in direct defiance of the British government. They became marked men, and willingly so. As I was doing some research on the significance of July 4^th, I came across some interesting facts about these men. Today as we all enjoy the freedom our forefathers guaranteed us; join me in honoring the extraordinary sacrifice of 56 extraordinary Americans.

Of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence:

Five were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes burned to the ground. Two lost sons serving in the Revolutionary Army, and two more had sons captured. Nine fought and died in the Revolutionary War.

If you ever feel like your lone voice can never be heard, that the political system isn't set up for "regular" Americans to change the course of history, remember: The signers were flesh and blood, mortal men with a divinely-inspired aim.
 
Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists, eleven were merchants, and nine were farmers and large plantation owners. They were well educated, smart enough to know that by signing the Declaration of Independence, they were signing their own death warrants. They did it anyway, and God bless them for it.
 
As we enjoy our liberty on this 4^th of July, or any day of any month, we must never take that liberty for granted. Too many have given too much. In the words of the Signers themselves, "For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."
 
Their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor -- I think that's a price paid worth a few minutes of reflection, don't you? But let's not be solemn in that reflection. I say rejoice and share this information with your friends and family, especially your kids. The Signers asked for nothing in return for their pledge, but I say that we show our thanks with a pledge of our own:  To remember, to be grateful, and to carry on in their spirit. America is the greatest country this world has ever and will ever know, and it will stay that way so long as "we the people" remember that just like in 1776.
 
It's US that surrounds them, and we'll never back down.
 
Happy Independence Day, and God bless America.

Glenn Beck

All mankind is divided into three classes:

• those that are immoveable
• those that are moveable
• and those that move

~Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

Which one are you?

This Week's Jumpstart

An early Happy 4th of July wish to all of my U.S. readers! And for those around the world, I wish you freedom. When you look up the word freedom in the dictionary, you'll find many definitions, but the one I like best says: The capacity to exercise choice; free will.

What's your definition of freedom? Time freedom, financial freedom? Isn't it interesting, though, that in order for you to experience or gain freedom you must sacrifice something? Perhaps I should frame it another way, with other words -- discipline or choice. Jim Rohn says discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment. So let me ask you... What results have you accomplished and are you satisfied with your results?

If so, congratulations! If not, what simple disciplines or "choices" can you make that will make a world of difference in your accomplishments?

That's something to think about this week. But don't just stop at thinking! Act! You have the ability and the skills to create more freedom for whatever it is you want in your life!

-- Denis Waitley

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." ~The Declaration of Independence

by Ron White

His name was Jason Dunham and he was a corporal in the United States Marines. The story picks up with Jason as he was talking with the men in his unit. They wondered whether a person could jump on a grenade and survive by putting it under his helmet. Deep down they all knew that it most likely wouldn't work, yet on the streets of Baghdad all topics of conversation can soon become quickly exhausted and hypothetical solutions to real-life problems can pass the time.

Unfortunately for Jason Dunham, the circumstance that he had hypothesized about arrived just a few weeks later. However, fortunately for his unit, Corporal Jason Dunham was there. In this life and death scenario, there is no time to think. There is only time for fight or flight. Jason chose fight and performed above and beyond the call of duty. He threw his helmet and body over a grenade and gave his life for his friends. Jason was nominated for The Congressional Medal of Honor. He was 20 years old.

Your stance on political matters or world issues is irrelevant in this scenario. Jason did not do this for you. He did not do it for the people of Baghdad. He didn't do it for the U.S. government or a politician. He did it for the men beside him, period.

To give your life for your friends is perhaps the greatest thing one person can do for another. It is also one of the rarest acts of civilization.

In 1981, shots rang out and bullets screamed through the air to pierce the flesh of the 40th President of the United States. No sooner had the gun powder been ignited than secret service agent Tim McCarthy stood up as straight as a board and extended his arms to make himself a large barrier between would-be assassin John Hinckley and President Reagan. While others ran for cover, Agent McCarthy stood looking directly at his potential death with firm resolve. Tim was shot square in the chest and, believe it or not, that was exactly his goal. As he positioned himself spread eagle to take a bullet for a man, an office and a nation, others cowered in trembling fear. Because of amazing grace, agent McCarthy survived.

What causes men and women to lay down their lives for another? It takes a lot. First and foremost, it takes a realization that life isn't about you. It is about making a difference, about making an impact and about giving.

Jason Dunham and Tim McCarthy were able to respond the way they did because:

• They decided how they were going to respond long before the event occurred.
• They were not selfish people – the farthest you could be from selfish, as a matter of fact.
• They realized that life was not about them; it was about making a difference – it was about others.

I hope with all my heart you are never placed in a situation where you have to choose between your life and those around you. Yet, every day you are in situations where you have to make choices. You must decide right now how you will respond.

The lesson to extract from the lives of Corporal Dunham and Agent McCarthy is that of an overall attitude on life. That attitude, simply put, is that it is better to give than receive. It is honorable to view the lives and well-being of others above yourself. If we can take any pearl of wisdom from the extraordinary lives and attitudes of these two men, it is that making an impact on the world is not always about recognition, power, money or personal gain. Sometimes the greatest success is one who gives himself up so others can succeed. That is the mark of the ultimate high achiever.

Decide today how you will respond in your moments of crisis - whether it is financial, personal or life and death. As you plan your actions, remember the selfless lessons of Corporal Dunham and Agent McCarthy.

-- Ron White

WHEREAS, The Senate of the United States; devoutly recognizing the Supreme authority and just government of Almighty God in all the affairs of men and nations, has, by a resolution, requested the President to designate and set apart a day for National prayer and humiliation.

And Whereas, it is the duty of nations, as well as of men, to owe their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions, in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.

And, insomuch as we know that, by His Divine law, nations like individuals are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world, may we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war, which now desolates the land, may be but a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole People. We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown.

But we have forgotten God.

We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us!

It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.

Now, therefore, in compliance with the request, and fully concurring in the views of the Senate, I do, by this my proclamation, designate and set apart Thursday, the 30th day of April, 1863, as a day of national humiliation, fasting, and prayer. And I do hereby request all the People to abstain, on that day, from their ordinary secular pursuits, and to unite, at their several places of public worship and their respective homes, in keeping the day holy to the Lord, and devoted to the humble discharge of the religious duties proper to that solemn occasion.

All this being done, in sincerity and truth, let us then rest humbly in the hope, authorized by the Divine teachings, that the united cry of the Nation will be heard on high, and answered with blessings, no less the pardon of our national sins, and the restoration of our now divided and suffering Country, to its former happy condition of unity and peace.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this thirtieth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty seventh.

Abraham Lincoln,
President

William H Seward,
Secretary of State

What are You Listening For? . . . . Sunday Sermon Masterpiece Collection, Vol. I

It was high noon in midtown Manhattan. The streets were buzzing with activity—crowds of people scurrying to lunch, car horns honking, brakes screeching, a siren wailing. Two men were making their way through the throng of noon-time lunch-goers. One was a native New Yorker, the other a Kansas farmer on his first visit to see his city cousin. Suddenly, the farmer stopped and said to the city dweller, "Hold on! I hear a cricket!"

His cousin replied, "Are you kidding? Even if there was a cricket around here, which isn’t likely, you would never be able to hear it over all this noise."

The farmer remained quiet for a few moments, then walked several paces to the corner where a shrub was struggling to grow in a large cement planter. He turned over several leaves and found the cricket. The city dweller was flabbergasted. "What great ears you have," he said.

"Not at all," the farmer replied. "Your ears are as good as mine. It’s a matter of what you’ve been conditioned to listen for. Here, I’ll show you." Whereupon, he pulled a handful of coins from his pocket and let them clink to the sidewalk. As if on signal, every head on the block turned. "You see," said the farmer, "you hear what you are tuned in to listen for."

Plant these "seeds" well and water often. Enjoy!

A Young Psychology Student serving in the Army decided to test a theory. Drawing kitchen duty, he was given the job of passing out apricots at the end of the chow line.

He asked the first new soliders that came by, "You don't want any apricots, do you?" Ninety percent said, "No."

Then he tried the positive approach: "You do want apricots, don't you?" About half answered, "Uh, yeah, I'll take some."

Then he tried a third test, based on the fundamental either/or selling technique. This time he asked, "One dish of apricots or two?" And in spite of the fact that soldiers don't like Army apricots, 40 percent took two dishes and 50 percent took one!

Quote:

"As long as you're going to think anyway - you might as well think BIG!" ~Donald Trump

by Denis Waitley

By re-energizing and renewing yourself frequently, you will avoid burnout and become much more motivated and productive. Don’t keep your nose to the grindstone for years and wait for retirement to travel. Balance and consistency are the keys. Enjoy the process, not just the result. Don’t fight the passing of time. Don’t fear it, squander it, or try to hide from it under a superficial cosmetic veil of fads and indulgences. Life and time go together. Do enjoy each phase of life. Do make the most of each day, and draw maximum joy from each moment.

Many people today are concerned with quality time – time generally defined in part as that spent on recreation, personal pursuits, time with children, spouses and friends. While I certainly believe quality time is important, I believe two other aspects of time are equally important.

First, one must also spend quantity time. The average father spends less than 30 minutes each week in direct one-on-one communication with each of his children. How can we possibly expect good family relationships with so little communication?

Second, one must spend regular time. Many supervisors and company presidents go for weeks, even months, without seeing many of their employees. There’s no substitute for regular meetings and open forums in which managers and team members can share ideas.

Time has a dual structure. On one hand, we live our daily routines meeting present contingencies as they arise. On the other hand, our most ambitious goals and desires need time so that they can be assembled and cemented. A long-term goal connects pieces of time into one block. These blocks can be imagined and projected into the future as we do when we set goals for ourselves. Or, these blocks of time can be created in retrospect as we do when we look back at what we’ve accomplished.

It’s not in the image of our big dreams that we run the risk of losing our focus and motivation. It’s the drudgery and routine of our daily lives that present the greatest danger to our hopes for achievement. Good time management means that you maximize the daily return on the energy and mental effort you expend.

Ways to maximize your time productivity:

• Write down in one place all the important contacts you have and all of your goals and priorities. Make a back up copy, preferably on CD, DVD or Zip disc. Write down every commitment you make at the time you make it.

• Stop wasting the first hour of your workday. Having the chat and first cup of coffee, reading the paper, and socializing are the three costliest opening exercises that lower productivity.

• Do one thing well at a time. It takes time to start and stop work on each activity. Stay with a task until it is completed.

• Don’t open unimportant mail. More than a fourth of the mail you receive can be tossed before you open or read it, and that includes e-mail.

• Handle each piece of paper only once and never more than twice. Don’t set aside anything without taking action. Carry work, reading material, audiotapes and your laptop computer with you everywhere you go. Convert down time into uplink time.

• Spend twenty minutes at the beginning of each week and ten minutes at the beginning of each day planning your to do list.

• Set aside personal relaxation time during the day. Don’t work during lunch. It’s neither noble nor nutritional to skip important energy input and stress-relieving time. Throughout the day, ask yourself, “What’s the best use of my time right now?” As the day grows short, focus on projects you can least afford to leave undone.

• And as we said at the beginning of this message, take vacations often, mini-vacations of two or three days, and leave your work at home. The harder you work, the more you need to balance your exercise and leisure time.

Action Idea: Plan a relaxing 3-day vacation within the next three months without taking any business work with you. Reserve it on your calendar this week.

-- Denis Waitley

Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful fathers out there. I enjoyed reading this short story by one of my favorite motivation speakers "Jim Rohn". I hope you enjoy it too.

"Invest in your family and they'll invest in you. Inspire them and they'll inspire you. With your inner circle take care of the details. When my father was still alive, I used to call him when I traveled. He'd have breakfast most every morning with the farmers. Little place called The Decoy Inn out in the country where we lived in Southwest Idaho. So Papa would go there and have breakfast and I'd call him just to give him a special day. Now if I was in Israel, I'd have to get up in the middle of the night, but it only took five minutes, ten minutes. So I'd call Papa and they'd bring him the phone. I'd say, 'Papa I'm in Israel.' He'd say, 'Israel! Son, how are things in Israel?' He'd talk real loud so everybody could hear - my son's calling me from Israel. I'd say, 'Papa last night they gave me a reception on the rooftop underneath the stars overlooking the Mediterranean.' He'd say, 'Son, a reception on the rooftop underneath the stars overlooking the Mediterranean.' Now everybody knows the story. It only took 5 - 10 minutes, but what a special day for my father, age 93." -- Jim Rohn

It takes time to build a corporate work of art. It takes time to build a life. And it takes time to develop and grow. So give yourself, your enterprise, and your family the time they deserve and the time they require.

Americans are incredibly impatient. Someone once said that the shortest period of time in America is the time between when the light turns green and when you hear the first horn honk.

The twin killers of success are impatience and greed.

How long should you try? Until.

Some people plant in the spring and leave in the summer. If you've signed up for a season, see it through. You don't have to stay forever, but at least stay until you see it through.

 written by Jim Rohn

by Harvey Mackay

I had the great honor a few years ago of being inducted into my high school Hall of Fame at St. Paul Central in St. Paul, Minn. Previous honorees include Charles Schulz, creator of the Peanuts cartoon strip; Richard Schulze, founder and chairman of Best Buy; and Dave Winfield, a member of Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame.

Approximately 500 selected students were invited to the auditorium for the ceremony and to hear a few remarks from this year's recipients.

I shared four ideas with students, the first three being:

1) Believe in yourself—even when no one else does,
2) Don't quit and
3) There is no "I" in team.

I want to touch here on my fourth point: Act like your mother is watching.

Let me tell you a true story about Professor Bonk who taught chemistry at Duke University. One year, three students were taking chemistry and all earning a solid "A" going into the final exam. The weekend before finals, they decided to go to another school to party with some friends. They didn't make it back to Duke until early Monday morning, in no shape to take the final.

They explained to Professor Bonk that they had been away for the weekend and had planned to come back in time to study, but they had a flat tire on the way back and didn't have a spare, so they didn't get back to campus in time.

Professor Bonk agreed to let them make up the final on the following day. What a relief! They studied all night. When they arrived for the exam, Professor Bonk placed them in separate rooms, handed each of them a test booklet, and told them to begin.

They saw the first question was simple, worth 5 points. Piece of cake! Then they turned to question 2, worth 95 points: "Which tire?"

Unfortunately the business community does not get stellar grades for ethics the past few years. Too many companies have tried to fool the public.

Ethics and integrity must be the cornerstone of your existence. If you want your employees to tell the truth, a company better start by being truthful with their employees.

Let me tell you about our mission statement at MackayMitchell Envelope Company, which is: "To be in business forever."

What does that mean? It stands for no hidden liabilities ... no cutting corners ... no small print under the small print ... no red flags.

We in the business community need to set a good example for our young people. Surveys show that a disturbing number of students cite recent corporate and political scandals to justify their dishonesty.

It's critical to use good judgment so that you aren't hauled up before a court. And I'm talking about the court of public opinion as much as any court of law. If you don't use good judgment, you're already judged—especially in business.

A mother was invited for dinner at her son Brian's apartment. During the course of the meal, Brian's mother couldn't help but notice how beautiful Brian's roommate, Jennifer, was.

Brian's mom had long suspected a relationship between Brian and Jennifer. Over the course of the evening, while watching the two interact, she started to wonder if there was more between them than met the eye.

Reading his mom's thoughts, Brian volunteered, "I know what you must be thinking, but I assure you Jennifer and I are just roommates."

About a week later, Jennifer came to Brian saying, "Ever since your mother came to dinner, I've been unable to find the beautiful silver gravy ladle. You don't suppose she took it, do you?" Brian said, "Well, I doubt it, but I'll send her an email just to be sure."

So he wrote: "Dear Mom: I'm not saying that you 'did' take the gravy ladle from the house, I'm not saying that you 'did not' take the gravy ladle. But the fact remains that one has been missing ever since you were here for dinner. Love, Brian."

Several days later, Brian received an email back from his mother that read: "Dear Son: I'm not saying that you 'do' sleep with Jennifer, I'm not saying that you 'do not' sleep with Jennifer. But the fact remains that if Jennifer were sleeping in her own bed, she would have found the ladle by now. Love, Mom."

Mackay's Moral: Never lie to your mother ... or anyone else.

-- Harvey Mackay

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Voicings Publ.

Business students at a large university were assigned the task of interviewing a cross-section of the local community and submit a report on the experience.

One student was less than enthusiastic about the assignment. "I considered it to be a complete waste of time," he said, "until I asked a farmer in his late 70s, ‘How much education have you had?’ He answered, ‘Well, I had six years of schoolin` and seventy-two years of learnin`.’"

Schoolin`and learnin` (acquiring knowledge and acquiring wisdom) are not the same. In our present day society, we seem to have little or no time in our busy schedules for practicing the pursuit of wisdom through serious, uninterrupted, quiet reflection on the mystery of life: who we are and what we ought to be doing with our lives. We are crippled in our search for wisdom by a society which insists on describing success as the ability to acquire knowledge and to skillfully apply that knowledge to the pursuit of personal gain.

…As we acquire knowledge at breakneck speed, are we wise enough to realize the need to slow down, and seriously reflect on how to handle it? Are we wise enough to know what to do with it? Are we wise enough to use it to uplift the human spirit and to better our human relationships? Are we wise enough to apply our learnin` to our schoolin`?

by Michael Josephson

One of the toughest jobs in the world is being a teenager. Everything is in transition. Everything is intense—even apathy.

Kids on the brink of adulthood have to cope with inconsistencies and conflicts. The desire to be special and different clashes with the need to belong and fit in. The desire for independence collides with the aversion to self-reliance and personal responsibility.

Here are five suggestions to improve the journey through adolescence:

1. Be yourself. Don't expect anyone else to make you happy, but don't allow others to treat you badly. Hang out with people who bring out the best in you, and be the kind of person who brings out the best in others.
   
2. Don't expect too much or settle for too little. Dependability and self-reliance are the tickets to freedom and independence. Don't waste energy resisting what you have to do. Win trust by doing what you should do.
   
3. Treat responsibility as a privilege, not a penalty. The choices you make today will shape tomorrow. Every act has a consequence. Pleasure lasts for a moment, but happiness lasts much longer. Be careful; just because it feels good doesn't make it good.
   
4. Look ahead. Your life is your ship; be the captain, not a passenger. Figure out what needs to be done to improve your life and make it happen. Your attitudes are more important than your aptitudes. You can't control what happens to you, but you can control what happens in you. Don't whine, win.
   
5. Take charge of your life. Mindless conformity is a prison. Express yourself authentically and don't be afraid to stand out. But don't dress or behave in extreme ways just to be different or to prove you can. You don't need orange hair, a nose ring, or tattoos to be special. In the end, it's more important to be respected than noticed.

via The Prairie Rambler, February 1998

1. Life is not fair. Get used to it. The average teenager uses the phrase "It's not fair" 86 times a day.

    

2. The real world won't care as much about your self-esteem as your school does. This may come as a shock.

    

3. Sorry, but you won't make $40,000 a year right out of high school. And you won't be a vice president or have a car phone, either. You may even have to wear a uniform that doesn't have a designer label.

    

4. If you think your teacher is tough, wait until you get a boss.

    

5. Flipping burgers is not beneath dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping. They called it opportunity.

    

6. It's not your parents fault if you mess up. You're responsible! This is the flip side of "It's my life" and "You're not my boss."

    

7. Before you were born your parents were not boring. They got that way paying your bills and listening to you.

    

8. Life is not divided into semesters. And you don't get summers off. Not even spring break. You are expected to show up every day for eight hours; and you don't get a new life every 10 weeks.

    

9. Smoking does not make you look cool. Watch an 11-year-old with a butt in his mouth. That's what you look like to anyone over 20.

    

10. Your school may be "outcome-based," but life is not. In some schools, you're given as many as times as you want to get the answer right. Standards are set low enough so everyone can meet them. This, of course, bears not the slightest resemblance to anything in real life—as you will find out.

Good luck! You are going to need it—
and the harder you work, the luckier you will get.

Andrew Hund
1993 

Ode to Finals Week!

Twas the night before finals, and all through the college,
The students were praying for last minute knowledge.
Most were quite sleepy, but none touched their beds,
While visions of essays danced in their heads.

Out in the taverns, a few were still drinking,
And hoping that liquor would loosen up their thinking.
In my own apartment, I had been pacing,
And dreading exams I soon would be facing.

My roommate was speechless, his nose in his books,
And my comments to him drew unfriendly looks.
I drained all the coffee, and brewed a new pot,
No longer caring that my nerves were shot.

I stared at my notes, but my thoughts were muddy,
My eyes went a blur, I just couldn't study.
"Some pizza might help," I said with a shiver,
But each place I called refused to deliver.

I'd nearly concluded that life was too cruel,
With futures depending on grades had in school.
When all of a sudden, our door opened wide,
And Patron Saint Put-It-Off ambled inside.

His spirit was careless, his manner was mellow,
When all of a sudden, he started to bellow:
"On Cliff Notes! On Crib Notes! On last year's exams!
On Wingit and Slingit, and last minute crams!"

His message delivered, he vanished from sight,
But we heard him laughing outside in the night.
"Your teachers have pegged you, so just do your best.
Happy Finals to all, and to all, a Good Test!"

Theodore Roosevelt
26^th President of the U.S. and
winner of 1906 Nobel Peace Prize

In the battle of life, it is not the critic who counts; nor the one who points out how the strong person stumbled, or where the doer of a deed could have done better.

The credit belongs to the person who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who does actually strive to do deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotion, spends oneself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at worst, if he or she fails, at least fails while daring greatly.

Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those timid spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.

Here is an amazing fact:

Of the entire 1953 graduating class of Yale University, only 3% had clearly defined and written goals - twenty years later, that same 3% of the class had a net worth greater than the combined net worth of the entire 97% of the rest of the class.

Do you have your GOALS clearly defined and written?

I read an interesting article this weekend and decided that I would like to speak-out.

Do you think body armor should be regulated? I say yes...

In April, here in the United States, 16 people, including three police officers, were murdered in separate incidents in Binghamton, NY and Pittsburgh. In both cases the killers wore bulletproof vests.

Even though Federal laws ban violent felons from owning body armor, I think there should be regulations for the purchase of body armor...the same as there is with gun purchases. I realize that criminals would find sources to purchase them, but the average Joe would have to jump through hoops to purchase body armor.

Today, here in the United States there are NO background checks, NO federal regulations unless you are a violent offender - and even then you can buy them at gun shows or online without any background checks!

My question is "why do you need it if you're not going to commit a crime?"

I also realize that not only does our law enforcements need body armor, but I believe that body armor provides potentially lifesaving protection for civilians too - everyone from judges to journalists. I am sure that those civilians would not have a problem with background checks.

I have family members that are in law enforcement and it really scares me to think that everyday they are out protecting us, they are faced with hardcore criminals who are wearing body armor!

The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question, "Why didn't we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?"

I replied: I had a drug problem when I was young: I was drug to church on Sunday morning. I was drug to church for weddings and funerals. I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather.

I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults. I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn't put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me.

I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profane four-letter word. I was drug out to pull weeds in mom's garden and flower beds and cockleburs out of dad's fields. I was drug to the homes of family, friends, and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline, or chop some firewood; and, if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed.

Those drugs are still in my veins; and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, and think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin; and, if today's children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place.

God bless the parents who drugged us.

Why English Is One of

the Most Difficult Languages to Learn…

We polish Polish furniture.

He could lead if he got the lead out.

A farm can produce produce.

The dump was so full, it had to refuse refuse.

The soldier decided to desert in the desert.

The present is a good time to present the present.

At the Army base, a bass was painted on a bass drum.

A dove dove into the bushes.

I didn’t object to the object.

The insurance for the invalid was invalid.

The bandage was wound around the wound.

There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.

The two were too close to the door to close it.

The buck does funny things when does are present.

They sent a sewer down to stitch a tear in the sewer line.

To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.

The wind was too strong to wind the sail.

After a number of Novocain injections, my lips got number.

I shed a tear over a tear in my shirt.

I had to subject the subject to a number of tests.

How can I intimate this to my most intimate friends?

I spent last evening evening out a pile of dirt.

The United States of America is a nation of 50 states. The United States achieved independence in 1776. It is the world's most productive industrial nation and has played a major role in international affairs for the last 60 years. Geographically, the United States consists of the Rocky Mountains in the west, the Great Plains in the center, the Appalachians in the east, deserts in the southwest, and coastal lowlands and swamps in the southeast.

The United States is the Land of Opporuntiy!

Getting to Know More about My Cash Cow System

The moment you start browsing the Internet and begin to look around for any available work at home opportunity, you are going to be surprised at the companies out there offering you miraculous results only if you join them immediately! You have to understand that the best business opportunity is one which has a steady and consistent Internet marketing system. Without this, you'll be rolling down the Niagara Falls in a barrel with no end in sight and no positive future in the offering! Not only is this frustrating, but you'll begin to feel that the world is made up of scams and there is nothing really genuine out there. Well, you do not not need to feel so disappointed, because My Cash Cow System is a marketing strategy, based upon automatic and organic Internet marketing. Not only is it bringing consistent results, but it has been around for quite a long time. In fact, there are plenty of scams which have been based on My Cash Cow System, which means that it is so successful that it needs to be copied and scammed!

Remember that My Cash Cow System, is not based upon codes which you need to crack. You will also not need to sit up on the computer 12 hours a day, hoping to get some form of success somewhere somehow. And the only problem is that there are so many people out there who have been buying all sorts of products which promise them the earth, but simply do not deliver.

There is no basic or useful product, which has to be sold. These fly-by-night operators are quite capable of taking your moneyand kicking you to the curb!

My Cash Cow System is not going to do that ever. It is a system which gives you consistent results in whichever market niche, you are marketing the product in. My Cash Cow System's marketing plan has already identified the target markets and will teach you how to aim your attention, as well as intentions to get to your goals successfully. This is going to be done by the tools given to you, when you join My Cash Cow System.

The foundation of this system is sound. In fact, you're giving the prospects exactly what they want. By fulfilling the demand for the product, you have already got a market and you are going to be successful with My Cash Cow System.