With Eyes But Cannot See
Here is a nice story I got from the Net. It’s credited to anonymity but nevertheless, very important for me to share so read the words closely.
There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, "If I could only see the world, I will marry you."
Products of the Past
A teacher arranged her young students into a circle. She then went around the circle and asked each one a question.
"Robert, what sound does a cow make?"
Your Past Will Come To Haunt You
Here are some thoughts to think about. People mouth clichés all the time. They use it even without thinking.
Today I will challenge you to think through what you say. So listen to this carefully.
My House is a Mess
I really wanted to go. To be away three days means turning down a couple of invitations for me to speak but I blocked off the dates so I can bring my entire family for a “family retreat” organized by the nice folks of Christ Commission Fellowship. This is important to me.
The three days of fun-filled activities were great. The lectures superb and it’s such a great feeling listening, learning and absorbing this time when most of my life is predicated on standing on the stage and delivering a lecture. All through out the teaching and the testimonials, the one prevailing thought of mine is that nobody grows into becoming an expert in parenting.
Making the Most of Time
I meet with a small group of friends every Tuesday night. We would have dinner, discussion and fellowship and this group of mostly young business people wonder how I could juggle so many activities within the day. This became their topic. The insightful one among them Henry said, “That is because Francis has not only known the way to pack in activities within the day, he has found the rhythm to do it.”
That’s cute I thought to myself. I could be the next rap star. But Henry has a point here. Many people lose opportunity simply because they waste time. Money lost can be re-earned but time wasted is irredeemable.
Becoming an Enlarger
Dr. John C. Maxwell is a very prolific author. Our company Inspire Leadership Consultancy has been licensed to do his leadership training programs here in our country. I would love to share with you an article Maxwell wrote many years ago. And as the whole country prepares to go to the polls, I hope that the new set of elected officers would learn from the lessons presented here. Maxwell writes:
Before the NBA ever heard of Shaquille O'Neal, Dikembe Mutombo or Tim Duncan; back before anyone knew the name Hakeem Olajuwon; in the days before Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ruled the hardwoods, Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell changed the nature of professional basketball with the way they played the center position.
I Had ADHD
When I was a child I had ADHD (Attention Deficiency Hyperactivity Disorder). Of course there was no medical name for it at that time. I couldn’t sit still. When I was told to sit still I could not think. I think best when I was moving. They punished me because I did not follow the rules. I hate mathematics. Although famous speaker and author Marcus Buckingham said that there is no such thing as “bad mathematics students,” only “bad mathematics teachers” there is however a situation wherein some people are dyslexic when it comes to numbers. This is of course another deficiency. And this explains the reason why multi-Billionaire in British Pound currency Richard Branson of the famous Virgin brands is deficient. He is dyslexic.
Well let’s go back to my story. Today I will be the object of our study. There is no person in the world apart from God who knows me as well as I do.
A Timely Reminder
"When there is a lack of honor in government, the morals of the whole people are poisoned. There is no such thing as a no-man's land between honesty and dishonesty. Our strength lies in spiritual concepts. It lies in public sensitiveness to evil. Our greatest danger is not from invasion by foreign armies. Our dangers are that we may commit suicide from within by complaisance with evil, or by public tolerance of scandalous behavior." - President Herbert Hoover
Flipping Burgers and Rock Stars
Bernie just finished his training session at the local Hamburger Fast-food company. So he was a little nervous being behind the register for the first time. His first customer ordered a soda.“Bernie,” the manager said, "remember to say 'Welcome to our restaurant to each customer before they order."
His second customer ordered a Cheeseburger. This time, the manager approached Bernie again, and said, "Remember to ask each customer if they want fries with their order." Bernie at this point felt so uncomfortable having the manager come and correct him every time he serves a customer. At this point a man came in wearing a ski mask, approached Bernie at the register and pointed a gun in his face. "Give me all the money you got in that register kid! "Bernie took one look at his manager, thought to himself, and quickly said, "Would you like that for here or to go?"
Speaking Brings Fulfillment
Had a blast speaking to the awardees and top performers of an internationally known cooking ware company. Excited too to speak to parents of special children tomorrow morning. I make sure I continue to speak in schools, giving parenting seminars, faculty development seminars and leadership seminars for students and have never charged fees and refuse honorarium. This is the least I can do to give back to my country and my community and wonderfully, this is what really brings meaning and fulfillment to what I do.