Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Commitment To Change

Anyone can be an ACE: Attitude + Commitment = Excellence” - Robert Inman

You have now decided to start adopting some of the changes I have expressed at various times. I have to congratulate and commend you for taking that first step. But doing so is like anything that you have decided to embark upon. You must resolve to be committed to carrying through with your decision.

Your progress will never go forward if you don't stay focused and fully committed to the change. Like 'Twelve Step' programs or an athletes drive to finish a long distance marathon, both require commitment to the end result. Starting and stopping will never get you where it is you want to be. It will cause delays and frustration along with increasing self doubt.

So resolve to make a change and stick with it. There will be the ups, the downs and the seemingly lack of progress at times. But long-term commitment to a change will result in excellence within your life. Now all you need is the attitude....more next time.

Monday, July 31, 2006

Life In The Trenches

Life is not a continuum of pleasant choices, but of inevitable problems that call for strength, determination, and hard work.”
- Indian Proverb

A couple of days off from writing due to a water line break at my home. It is interesting that life will some times interrupt your enjoyment. Of course I could bore you with the details but I will try to pass along something that you can learn from.

Late afternoon on Friday the inevitable 'wet' spot in the ground surfaced. One will try to deny the existence of it, hoping that the problem will go away. Many of us have the tendency to face life this way. Ignore it, close your eyes and just maybe it doesn't exist. No such luck this time, out came the shovel to start digging dirt and mud.

Part of me felt while digging that I was back on the farm. Cleaning out hog pens shoveling that which fills most hog pens. A wonderful way to spend an evening but the birght spot being that I found the water line right away. Found the leak, a mad dash to the hardware store and the leak was fixed...for fifteen minutes...another leak sprung.

Murphys Law of course dictated the moment, for where one leak appears there will always be one more. This water pipe was made of plastic and nearly twenty years old, best to replace the entire length down to the water meter. Only 75 feet from house to meter, between two trees and through hard Georgia clay.

The digging would begin the next day with two of my sons working hard on a three inch wide trench. The good news is we only need to dig down about one and a half feet, a small positive in the miserable heat and humidity. I was proud of how they worked and it is the first time I have ever seen someone bend a Pickaxe. But how were we ever going to get through this. The area of tree roots seemed almost unbearable.

Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.” - Newt Gingrich

So why not call in a plumber or go rent a trenching machine? Well, I am my father's son and you can save money by putting in some hard work, the money saved is worth much more. It took a lot of thought and self encouragement to continue and complete the trench. A new water pipe, no worries of another leak due to an old pipe. Time with two of my sons watching their hard efforts and physically, it was good exercise for me.

The job finished and the yard landscaped, the feeling of accomplishment was good. The same can be said of anything you do in life. When faced with an obstacle that seems too great to overcome, keep pushing through. You will find it very rewarding on the other side.

Life grants nothing to us mortals without hard work.”
- Horace (Ancient Roman Poet. 65 BC-8 BC)

Thursday, July 27, 2006

CAN













Today I would like to pass along a link to an inspirational story of what one person would do for another. A story that tells of the true love a father has for a son.

Each of us know that we would go to great lengths for our children. Each of us have a huge place in our hearts for each of our children. And in this life, our human spirit is to lift those around us.

To show this particular father is not meant to over shadow what you may do in life. It is intended to provide us an example of the many things we can be. There are other great stories of people doing extraordinary things. Taking a step beyond the average is something that is in each of you. Go beyond the average, go beyond the ordinary and make a change in someones life.

Go to YouTube to see the CAN video. The pair call themselves Team Hoyt and you can read more about them on their website. It is a very inspiring video that can help move you to change as well.