Notable Quotes #45

July 29, 2008
Notable Quotes #45  

Good Afternoon!   Typically when I send out Notable Quotes there are 2-4 paragraphs that follow the quotes.  Today will be different.  Two questions…  

1. Do the words you speak plant seeds of success or failure?

2. We all have the ability to remain silent, but do you possess the restraint?    

Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another.
Napoleon Hill

Wise men, when in doubt whether to speak or to keep quiet, give themselves the benefit of the doubt, and remain silent.
Napoleon Hill  

Until Next Time,

Heath

Notable Quotes #44

July 22, 2008
Notable Quotes #44

Good Morning!

I know, I know…What is going on?!?!  You are receiving the Notable Quotes not only on Tuesday, but first thing in the morning!  If you check your email at night, you will notice this actually showed up on Monday evening!  I don’t know what has gotten into me, but I thought I would send out the quotes early!  Here you go.

“If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.”
Thomas A. Edison 

“In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.”
Albert Schweitzer 

“There comes a special moment in everyone’s life, a moment for which that person was born.
That special opportunity, when he seizes it, will fulfill his mission -
a mission for which he is uniquely qualified.
In that moment, he finds greatness. It is his finest hour.”
Winston Churchill

I ran across these quotes and they really made me think.  I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel that the only one holding me back from achieving what I feel and believe I am capable of is…ME! 

Now I don’t want this to become a personal soap box (although on occasion it has been), but this is something that has really been on my mind lately.  I work with a ton of great people, most of them are extremely intelligent, but I see something missing…that fire.  You know the fire that burns deep in one’s gut.  In today’s society we are taught to do well in school, go to college and do well there, and then find a good job with good benefits.  Nothings wrong with that train of thought and it works out great for some; but what about the rest of us?  It’s not that we don’t like working…heck, we love to work!  The difference is we want to work at something that we are truly passionate about…something that adds fuel to our fire!!

I agree with Edison when he said we would be astounded at our achievements, IF we did what we were capable of doing.  Sometimes that means stepping outside of our comfort zone and finding what stokes our fire.  What keeps us up at night longing for daybreak to come so we can work?!?  I hope I have sparked a fire within you or maybe just added a little fuel.  What ever the case, keep fanning the flame, there’s nothing that can stop you from achieving everything you wish.

 

Until Next Time,

Heath

P.S.
I know many people and economist are becoming more and more pessimistic about the second half of this year, but you know what…I am EXCITED!  I firmly believe that great things are going to happen and I can’t wait to share them with anyone and everyone who will listen!

Notable Quotes #43

 July 17, 2008
Notable Quote #43  

Good Afternoon-  

I hope this email finds everyone doing well and enjoying this week.  I can’t believe it but this is the 43rd installment of Notable Quotes!  I honestly didn’t think it would last this long…not only has it lasted 43 weeks, but I have been adding individuals to the distribution list on a weekly basis!  If you know of anyone who would like to be added, please let me know.  Now for the quotes…

Don’t be afraid of opposition. Remember, a kite rises against; not with; the wind.
Hamilton Mabie

“Pick battles big enough to matter, small enough to win.”
Jonathan Kozel    

You can’t shake hands with a clenched fist.
Indira Gandhi

Something interesting happened to me this morning when I got to work…I was told that I never ran from confrontation.  This person also told me that if there was ever a problem, I would tackle it no matter how big or small it was.  I didn’t know how to take that at first.  Then I thought to myself…I can take those comments as positive or negative.  I decided to take them as positive, but also to look at the whole picture. 

Life has an interesting way of placing confrontations in front of us at different times.  Many think that confrontation is a bad thing…It can be, but it can also be a good thing.  How you perceive confrontation to me is the toughest part.  Many times there is the tendency to look at all confrontation as a fight…in other words, everyone is out to get you and you MUST stand your ground and not back down.  I find it hard to believe that the entire world is against you at all times!  Often people become confrontational when they feel threatened.  They may not know any other way of expressing themselves but through confrontation.  If you take the high road and try to defuse the situation or simply LISTEN instead of talking you’ll be amazed at what happens!  (Trust me on that one!) 

I am not naive enough though to think that there isn’t any confrontation at all in the world.  However, after reading the words of Jonathan Kozel, we MUST pick battles big enough to matter yet small enough to win.  Another way to look at it is…Is that confrontation worth loosing whatever it is you are risking?  If it’s not, then find another way to express yourself.  Confrontation often forces us to look at situations differently or through another person’s perspective.  Not everything is worth fighting, let things go and become a better person.  How do you handle confrontation?  Do you run at it full steam ahead?  Do you shy away from it at all cost?  Are you somewhere in the middle?  I challenge us all this week to take a deep look within and see how we can be a voice of reason.

Until Next Time,

Heath

Notable Quotes #42

July 8, 2008
Notable Quotes #42

Hello! 

I hope that everyone had a great 4th of July…I was fortunate enough to be able to celebrate the 4th with my in-laws at the beautiful Lake of the Ozarks.  Our daughter had her first boat ride and it went pretty smooth! 

Now for the quotes! 

“No matter how small and unimportant what we are doing may seem,
if we do it well, it may soon become the step that will lead us to better things.”
Channing Pollock

“Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things
and I’ll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big things.”
Lawrence Bell

How many times have you been at work or some other place and you are asked to do a menial task?  Now how often have you thought to yourself…”I don’t want to do that!  I am better than that!  I can do more than that!!!”  I know I have had those thoughts numerous times.  One interesting thing I have learned is that many times AFTER the “menial task” I get a more ”important task!”  But even more interesting is that many of those smaller tasks are part of a larger important task or project.  I don’t always have the BIG picture in full view.  Quite often I don’t even realize that there is a bigger picture!!

Often times we need those smaller things to give us the background or knowledge needed in order to do bigger and better things.  We are many times laying the foundation for things yet to come.  I do not know anyone who is in a position of high leadership, or any leadership position for that matter, that did not have to prove themselves.  Jack Welch (former CEO of General Electric) started off as a junior engineer making $10,500/yr.  He did well with the projects given to him that he became GE’s youngest Chairman and CEO.  He focused on what he was given, didn’t take anything lightly and ended up leading the most valuable and largest company in the world! (2004). 

What menial tasks have you been given?  What’s your attitude towards doing them?  Have you ever thought that what you are doing could lead you to bigger and better things?!?  If not, take a step back…Look at your situation from different angles.  Most of all do the BEST in whatever you are given, go above and beyond what is asked of you and I can guarantee that at some point, your efforts and attitude will be noticed.  But beware…Just the opposite can happen.  If you are the individual that Mr. Bell is talking about in his quote, you won’t be trusted to do any big things…and I will guarantee that! Give your all in all you do and you will be rewarded! 

Until Next Time,

Heath

Notable Quotes #41

July 1, 2008
Notable Quotes #41

Good Morning!

I want to start off by welcoming new recipients of the Notable Quotes.  These quotes and thoughts are simply meant to get you to think…think about life, your role in it and what you can do to make life and yourself better!  If you know of anyone who would like to be added to the distribution please let me know and they will be added.  If you have missed any of the previous Notable Quotes, FEAR NOT!!!  They are being housed at the Revolution Café blog.  Feel free to read them there, make comments, etc.  If you have suggestions or comments feel free to shoot me an email.  Now for the quotes!

“Vocabulary enables us to interpret and to express.
If you have a limited vocabulary, you will also have a limited vision and a limited future.”
Jim Rohn 

“Be very, very careful what you put into that head, because you will never, ever get it out.”
Cardinal Thomas Wolsey (c.1475-1530)

I am an avid reader.  I know that might come as a shock to some considering I used to hate to read!  I remember when we had “reading time” when I was growing up…It was some time usually in the afternoon and for me it almost always turned into “Nap time!”  My how times have changed.  Reading has taught me so many valuable lessons, and one I continue to have drilled into me is this idea of having a strong vocabulary.  Not only having a strong vocabulary, but also to train or condition myself to have a positive mental attitude and outlook on life, thus being careful what I put into my head.  Those individuals who have become successful usually all possess one common theme: they changed the way they thought, expanded their vocabulary and that often lead to their success.  They have many times said that once they changed their outlook on life, their eyes were opened to opportunities that were always right before them. 

Enlarging your vocabulary also has the same effect as changing your outlook.  If you listen to those that are considered successful, they have a different vocabulary.  Their vocabulary isn’t filled with “I can’t, it’s too hard, life is tough, and it’s not fair.”  Instead their vocabulary is “Why can’t it be done, I’ll find a way, and what other challenges opportunities are ahead?”  Not only have they changed their vocabulary, they BELIEVE in what they say.  You can say a lot of good and positive things, but talking isn’t enough, you have to believe!  I agree with Jim Rohn, limited vocabulary = limited vision and future.

What information are you putting into your head, positive, negative or neutral?  (Be careful with neutral…it takes up valuable space!)  Are you expanding your vocabulary on a daily basis and weeding out or purging unnecessary words or phrases?  Finally, do you BELIEVE what you say?  Again, it’s easy to say the right things, but do you truly believe in the words that are coming from your mouth?!?!  Change your vocabulary, your outlook and only then will your life truly begin to change!

Until Next Time, 

Heath