No Lectures - Great Advice: September 2009

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Your Sundial

Don't be a sundial in the shade.

Look for your true talents, things you learn quicker than the people around you, and focus on developing those. Don't worry too much about fixing things you are not good at (there will always be too many), unless they are really a road block.

Move your sundial into the sunlight.

Eric D.

Right vs. Wrong

Right is right, even if everyone is against it and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. Kim D.

Courage of Your Convictions

Its important to have the courage of your convictions. If you don't stand up for yourself, no one else will do it for you, and its unlikely anyone will join you in setting things right.

David R., advice from a mentor

People

Big people talk about ideas.
Average folk talk about places.
Little people talk about other people.

Dan A.

If

IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man/Woman, my son/daughter!

Mike S., advice from a poem by Rudyard Kipling (186-1936)

Mike C.

Never pass up the opportunity to keep your mouth shut!

Mike C.

Lead to Your Success

Be very dedicated to whatever professional goal that you set for yourself. While you may change directions or careers, your commitment, ambition, and dedication will lead to your success.

Debbie L., advice from her father

Rules to Live By

Learn from the past
Prepare for the future,
Perform for the moment.

Barbara L., advice from Mark van Hoozer

7 P's

Planned Prior Preparation Prevents Pretty Poor Performance (the 7 P's)

Darlene OE, advice from a former employer

TV Time

Time you spend watching TV is time you could spend developing skills and knowledge to help you be the best at what you do.

Randy P.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Netwoking

Always keep networking. Regardless if you are in a great job or never intend to move...always keep networking.

Steve R.

Integrity

Let integrity lead the way!

Tamika H.

Two to One

You have one month and two ears.

Listen twice as much as you talk!

Shaun K.

Your Actions

Your actions are your best advice.

Suresh V

Live Life

Live life as it comes.

When I am sad or down in life I don’t regret or give up. Live life as it comes saying use to boost me up with lot of energy to win the situations in life.

Syed M., advice from a friend

First Things First

Believe in yourself first if you want the world to believe in you.

Kumar P

Think Ahead

Measure twice, cut once.

Jim W., advice from an uncle

Surround Myself

.... surround myself with people whose gifts and abilities were different or greater than my own.

Jeremy B.

Negative Situations

Always be possitive, even in negative situations. Be nice and courteous to everyone from the receptionist to the CEO.

Bob A.

A Good One

THINK !

Mike K.

Lifes Bridges

Sometimes the hardest thing in life is to know which bridge to cross and which bridge to burn.

Susan R., a David Russell quote shared with her by a mentor

Be

Be authentic

Margaret M.

Daily Question

Ask yourself once a day, "Have I made a difference in someone's life?"

Margaret M.

Identify our Adversary

Identify your adversary, be it a task or competitor, and never underestimate its prowess. Robert J.

Quiet Moment

Have every day a quiet moment for yourself (this does not mean you have to be lazy!)

Gino V., advice from a minister

Think Long Term

Think long term, act short term

Gino V., advice from a minister

Being Wrong

Being wrong is OK.

Attempting to convince everyone that you really were right is a waste of their time and yours.

Phil G.

Easier than Lying

Anyone can make mistakes and anyone can be wrong. Don't lie about it, just take responsibility for it. The truth is a lot easier than a lie. Phil G.

Overcoming Obstacles

If you want something badly enough you will find a way to achieve it. ...no matter what the obstacle.

Dina J.

Really Listen

.... really listen to what someone had to say.

Often people listen with half an ear and miss important information or nuances that are part of the communication process. ....Drop what you are doing and look the person in the eye and hear them.

Patricia R.

Company

You are the company you keep.

Susan B.

Tough Times

Tough times don't last .... Tough people DO! Peter A., note there is a very good book by Robert Schuller with this title

Team Leaders

The most effective team leaders are the ones who recognize "it's not about me" and keep this top of mind.

Claudia S.

The Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.

Take kindly to the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann c.1920
Posted by Leann Stephens

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Make Yourself Uncomfortable

Make yourself uncomfortable sometimes. When you get outside your comfort zone, you are open to new ideas and new experiences that can change your life.

Eileen GK

Don't Be Aggressive

Listen to everyone even if he/she is wrong. Don't be aggressive try to sort it out in a congeal manner.

Satyajeet D.

The Power of Fear

… I realize how this simple phrase was at the heart of the education I received.

…being persistent and never letting fear becoming anxiety or panic.

Fear enhances your awareness of danger and challenges while anxiety and panic prevent you from thinking and acting intelligently.

Philippe F., motto at a boarding school

Smile

Remember to smile -- even when you don't really feel like it!

You will feel better and others will want to be around you. Employers, colleagues and customers like happy, positive people.

Nancy C.

Accountability

Accept accountability for your own choices. Stacey L.

Experience Speaks

Giving and receiving advice is a risky process. It is better, instead, to speak from experience and let the other party draw whatever conclusions that they choose.
Posted by Bob Furlong

Chance

As long as the other person is talking, you have a chance. James K.

Learning

Listen to everyone, but do your own.

Surinder S.

Give it Your Best

....do everything you are doing - no matter how big or small - to your absolute best ability.

Wendy C.

Making the Adjustment

Dad would pick me up every Friday and take me home. He would also say: "Vicki, you always have a home. But remember, if others can make the adjustment, so can you. If they can do it, YOU can do it."

Vicki C., advice from her Dad to a homesick child

Get Smart

Don't get angry, get smart. Vickie K.

Happiness

Happiness is something we choose in advance, free your heart from hate, free your mind from worry, live simply, give more & expect less.

Marwa N.

Somethings

It is better to want something you don't have than to have something you don't want.

Walter E.

Want the Answer?

Don't ask a question unless you really want the answer.

Dennis LC

Only Two Choices

Do or do not, there is no try.

Yoda, Jedi master, from the "Star Wars" series

Up and Down

Be nice to people on your way up..... you never know when or where you'll meet them on your way back down.

Frazer I.

Your Unique Way

... recognize that my way of seeing was unique, my own. My thoughts: Nail down those imaginative thoughts, on paper, ... don't be pinned down by limitations of others. Share your creativity with the world.

Judith VP, advice from the book "Ways of Seeing" by John Berger

Speaking Our Minds

Moral cowardice that keeps us from speaking our minds is as dangerous as irresponsible talk.

The right way is not always the popular and easy way. Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputation and social standing, never can bring about a reform.

Deborah M.

Control

You can't always control a situation, but you can always control how you react.

David F., advice from Elie Wiesel, Nobel Laureate and Holocaust survivor

Getting Noticed

Hard work rarely goes unnoticed -- now that's a motivator to me.

Mieko.

I'm Doing Something

…if someone is trying to make my life difficult, it's only because I am out there doing something instead of nothing.

Mieko

A Person's Name

And make an effort to remember people's name by identifying something in them that reminds them of their name.

Mieko

Pretend

Pretend to be enthusiastic when you are not enthusiastic, and it helps to say it out loud with a smile ---“I am enthusiastic.”

Mieko, quote from Dale Carnegie

Don't Try

I can't please everyone, so don't even try.

Mieko, advice from her aunt

Monday, September 21, 2009

Remember Others

1. Take good account of pennies and the million dollars will follow suit.

2. Others have made it great and so can you, but remember others have fallen from great height so tread carefully.

Suleiman K.

Stay Hungry

Stay focussed, stay hungry and be smarter than the best competitor regardless of your field.

Vibhas S.

Sales Manager Wisdom

1. Just do it (said long before Nike coined the phrase) 2. Do what you say you're going to do. Simple and yet key. Jim M.

Your Choice

You can choose how you feel.

Dee B.

Procrastination

It is easier to apologize than to ask permission. This has helped me break through a lot of procrastination over the years. Marc B

Go Out And Play

To me, this means, go out of the box, think hard about and find out what you really enjoy doing, .....

Selda M.

The Simplest Way

Be truthful! That's the simplest of all.

Vinayak J.

He Knew

At age 19, standing in the back of the church in my beautiful wedding gown, hundreds of gifts piled up at home, music playing, people turning around, my Dad leaned down and looked me in the eyes and whispered, "Honey, we can leave right now. Don't worry about the rest of it."

I did not listen and went down the aisle. I was divorced one year later. He knew. It must have broken his heart.

Teresa, advice from her Father

Friday, September 18, 2009

Help!

Don't be afraid to ask for information or a helping hand.

Most people are very willing to give you the benefit of their knowledge and experience -- and appreciate you reached out rather than screw up.

Karen W.

The Importance of Nice

It’s nice to be important, but is more important to be nice.

Flaviu B.

Be Sincere

Dream big, visualize it, and do what it takes to make it happen.

Always be sincere.

Liz G.

Gravestone Message

Nobody wants "He worked too hard" written on their gravestone.

Mike C.

Experience

Experience is just a word for the sum of all the stupidities you did during your life and is only valid to the person who has it, for it is related to a specific individual at a specific time and during specific circumstances.

So, do things as you see them fit.

Simone H., advice from his grandfather

A Coconut

A problem is like a coconut, the solution is inside.

To reach it, you have to break it into pieces

and the hardest part is the outside.

Gilles H.

Forward Thinking

Keep moving don't look back.

Hiral G.

From Grandfather

1. Never be too busy earning a living to make any money.

2. Decide whatever it is you want to do - and then do a lot of it.

Anthony D., advice from his grandfather

Kindness Starts With...

Be kind to yourself.

Michelle F.

Mistakes

You can make a million and one mistakes, just don't make the same one twice!

Shawn s., advice from a boss

Keep On....

If you rest, you rust! Keep learning, keep hiking, keep pursuing education, keep working out, keep reaching, keep building, keep planning, keep on camping, keep saving, keep golfing, keep being in volved and keep up your faith. Keep on!

Jim B.

Stay Loose

Be flexible.

Sheila N.

Credit and Cash

There are two things you need in life: cash and credit, sometimes credit is better."

William F., advice from his Dad

Your Gift to Yourself

Spend time discovering your innate gifts and offer that to the world. You will not only be happier, but you will make more money doing it!

Staci C.

Marriage

Marry the right person. This one decision will determine 90% of your happiness or misery.

Michael D.

Stupid Test

"I'm not going to tell you what to do and what not to do. Just don't do anything stupid."

The "stupid" test has been working for me for almost 40 years now, in every situation.

Dee J., advice from Mom

The Value of Humor

Keep a good sense of humor. It's amazing how that works in all aspects of life. You get into a lot fewer disagreements if you can laugh about things, and you'll keep a much better attitude if you can laugh at yourself.

Brian P.

Yes - No

Never say NO when you could say YES… and never say YES when you should say NO

Eating Your Words

Make sure the words you use with other people are soft, warm, sweet and delicious for you never know when you will have to eat them.

Jeff B.

Hammering

The harder the hammering the stronger the steel.

Nancy A., advice from her Dad

Readers

Readers Become Leaders

Amanda A., advice from her dad

Assume

Never assume.

Iulia G.

Take Care

To listen to my own needs in the first place. If not, it's difficult to take care of others.

Jean L-L

Immediate Answers

Not everything requires an immediate answer. vSometimes the most important part of a conversation is the pauses while you really think about what you are going to say.

Sarah

Thursday, September 17, 2009

True Essence

Never let anyone tell you , you cant do it. Stay true to yourself, carry yourself with dignity, be truthful, always help others, and never give up on your dreams.

You will fail , but how you respond is the true essence of a man.

Bob P.