Just A Thought: May 2012

Thursday, 31 May 2012

WILLPOWER IS THE OUTGROWTH OF DEFINITENESS OF PURPOSE EXPRESSED THROUGH PERSISTENT ACTION, BASED ON PERSONAL INITIATIVE.

Envious people sometimes attribute success primarily to luck. Nothing could be more wrong. As coach Darryl Royal once observed, "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." Success occurs when you have a definite purpose for your life and you take the initiative to follow through with action. You may make mistakes occasionally everyone does, but any action is far better than doing nothing.

Wednesday, 30 May 2012

A RUDDERLESS SHIP AND A PURPOSELESS PERSON ARE EVENTUALLY STRANDED ON DESERT SAND.

Sternpost-mounted rudder of the Graupner model...

The goals you set for yourself like the rudder of a ship will guide you toward your destination, and without them, like a ship without a rudder, you’ll find it impossible to stay the course. Make goal-setting a habit in your life. If you sometimes have trouble staying focused, set small, attainable goals and stick with the job until it’s done. Examples might include finding a faster, more efficient way to do a routine job. Or taking the most difficult jobs first when you have the most energy and your concentration is at its highest level. Save the easiest jobs for last. A few small successes will inevitably lead to bigger achievements.

Tuesday, 29 May 2012

YOUR REAL COURAGE SHOWS BEST IN THE HOUR OF ADVERSITY.

Soldiers from the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division i...

Some setbacks are so severe that to give in to them means losing the whole ball game. When he assumed command of the Korean War, Gen. Matthew Ridgeway found his forces pushed far to the south, hard pressed by the invaders. Only a determined decision to hold the lines allowed the American forces to keep from being swept into the sea and to eventually regain all the territory they had lost. When a defeat strikes, you may not have the time to withdraw and contemplate your mistakes without risking further setbacks. Don’t succumb to paralysis. It is important to know at that moment what it is you truly desire and to act to preserve your resources and your hope. If you crumble utterly, you will take a blow to your self-esteem that will be hard to repair. Instead, stick to your principles, and you will know, at the very least, that you have protected the most important thing you have.

Sunday, 27 May 2012

THERE IS A VAST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FAILURE AND TEMPORARY DEFEAT.

There is no such thing as failure, unless it is accepted as such. Every defeat is temporary unless you give up and allow it to become permanent. In fact, temporary defeat often makes us stronger and more capable. Each time we try and fail, we learn something that helps prepare us for eventual success. Only in the classroom is there a single correct answer for every problem. If you try an approach that doesn’t work, try something else. When you view adversity as nothing more than a learning experience, your successes in life will far outnumber your failures.

MOST OF US DON’T MIND BEING TOLD OF OUR FAULTS IF THE CRITIC IS GENEROUS ENOUGH TO MIX IN A FEW OF OUR VIRTUES AS WELL.

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 03: (L to R) President a...

It’s a normal reaction to defend ourselves and our behavior when someone criticizes us,even if we secretly recognize that what we’re being told is correct. Those who achieve great success in life, however, are those who have learned to set aside their emotions and learn from others, even when the message is unpleasant. If you find yourself being evaluated by someone else, tell yourself that criticism of some aspect of your performance is not a personal attack. Control your emotional reaction and adopt useful ideas even though you may dislike the manner in which the information is delivered.