thots to ponder

Excerpt from: Twice as Much in Half the Time,
by Amy JonesWhat does it mean to manage your time (and life) better? Simply put, it means to live your life in such a way that you are able to accomplish more, so that at the end of each day you can realize measurable results and enjoy a sense of fulfillment. This often involves learning to do things differently so that the outcomes are more efficient and effective (and even less time-consuming) than before. After reading from countless resources and speaking to over half a million people on the subject of time management, I have come up with a simple truth. Learning to manage your life and your time isn't rocket science. Anyone can do it! In fact, it is often the simple things you can do that will make profound differences. Sometimes you even have to go backward in order to go forward; so let's go back-to-basics with this example.
First, grab a pencil and paper. Think back to the time you started school, all the way back to kindergarten. One of the first things you learned was how to identify shapes. Next you learned to draw them. On that sheet of paper I want you to do something very simple. Draw one triangle. That was simple, wasn't it? Now, draw as many triangles as you can in twenty seconds. Stop. Count how many you were able to draw. Write down that number. Do you think there might be another way to complete this activity and draw more in less time?
Start at one side of the paper and draw connected W's all the way across the page. Now put a line across the top and the bottom. See how many you can draw in twenty seconds using this method. Wow, that creates a lot of triangles! In only a few seconds you have learned to do this activity more efficiently and effectively in a much shorter amount of time. A seemingly insignificant change can make a significant difference in what can be accomplished in a given amount of time. In fact, you most likely made up to four or five times as many triangles the second time around.
What if you could do four or five times your sales volume by making a simple change? Or what if you could get four or five times as much done each day by making a simple change? Would that work for you?
If so, always be on the lookout for "new" ways to do "old" things, and keep your mind open to using alternative methods and plans of action. This book is filled with simple things that can make a profound difference. Are you ready to learn some new ways to manage your life and your time even better?
Then let's get started!
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There are two kinds of worries - those you CAN do something about and those you CAN'T. Don't spend any time on the latter."

~Duke Ellington

"The word TIME is composed of only four letters, but if you divide the word you will see that there are two extremely important words inside. They are 'I' and 'Me'... In order to make the best use of your time, in order to do twice as much in half the time, you must take TIME for 'I' and 'Me.' You must make time to recharge and be rejuvenated."
~Amy Jones

Personal growth is not a matter of learning new information but of unlearning old limits.

-- Alan Cohen

LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS
Love is like a mustard seed; planted by God and watered by man
--Muda Saint Michael
LEADERSHIP & SUCCESS
Don't tell people how to do things, tell them what to do
and let them surprise you with their results.
--George S. Patton
INSPIRATION & MOTIVATION
My advice is find fuel in failure. Sometimes failure
gets you closer to where you want to be.
--Michael Jordan

"When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on."

~Thomas Jefferson

"Power is of two kinds. One is obtained by the fear of punishment and the other by acts of love. Power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent than the one derived from fear of punishment."
~Mahatma Gandhi

LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS
There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved.
--George Sand
LEADERSHIP & SUCCESS
The leadership instinct you are born with is the backbone.
You develop the funny bone and the wishbone that go with it.
--Elaine Agather
INSPIRATION & MOTIVATION
When we wake up in the morning, we have two
simple choices: go back to sleep and dream,
or wake up and chase those dreams.
--Author Unknown

Introduction from
No Glass Ceiling, Just Blue Sky
By Marcy BlochowiakWomen. What an extraordinary group of people! We are so good at so many things. If you want to get something done, have a woman do it. We love a challenge. We love showing people we can accomplish so much. We also care deeply about others. We just can't help ourselves. It is part of who we are. We love helping people. We love making a difference. We love laughing and being a part. We love contributing. The bottom line is...WE LOVE LIFE.
We live in a time where people of all backgrounds have a chance to build a great team in business regardless of gender. However, it's not uncommon for women to hit a glass ceiling and never see any blue sky. When I was working as a flight attendant, early in my career, you would think I saw blue sky all the time. What I saw, unfortunately, was a system that was seniority based, not performance based, and I realized my options were limited. I made a decision then and there to become an entrepreneur. In ten short years, at World Financial Group, we have built a great team of thousands around the country using the timeless principles I am going to share with you in this book.
As Peggy Anderson said, "Great women are not considered so because of personal achievements, but for the effect their efforts have had on the lives of countless others. From daring feats of bravery to the understated ways of a compassionate heart, great women possess a common strength of character. Through their passion and persistence, they have advanced womanhood and the world."
I remember early on in my career, I was told by several people, "Don't hire any women. They have too many responsibilities. They have children and husbands and charities, etcetera. They will not be able to put in the time it takes to really make their business work."
I listened to that for a brief time and then I accidentally hired some women. I was ready for all the excuses, but I never heard any. I was also blown away by how much they could get done, and how they were performing better than everyone else in the office. I realized we had a secret weapon. You want your business to grow - HIRE MORE WOMEN!
There have been many "ceilings" in the past pertaining to women. A lot has changed in the last couple of years. Consider these facts based on reports by the U.S. Department of Labor and the Center for Women's Business Research in 2003:
Women-owned businesses are growing at twice the rate of all U.S. firms.
One in every 11 adult women owns a business.
Women entrepreneurs generate nearly $2.3 trillion in revenues to the U.S. economy.
More than 18 million workers are employed by a women business owner.
What does all this mean? WOMEN RULE!
I hope to give all the powerful ladies that read this book some insight on how to move their business forward. With a successful team and business comes freedom. With freedom comes quality of life. And, with quality of life comes the opportunity to make a difference and leave a legacy.
We are only here once and we all want to be remembered.

The true measure of your character is what you would do if you were sure no one would ever find out."

~John Maxwell

"Leaders take risks. That's not to say that they are reckless, because good leaders aren't. But they don't always take the safest route. Rarely can a person break ground and play it safe at the same time. Often, leaders must take others into the unknown, march them off the map. Look at wise leaders who take risks, and you will find that they: Gather information wisely. Risk from strength. Prepare thoroughly. Fail successfully. Display flexibility."
~John Maxwell

You Just Never Know
Author UnknownP
Bill worked in a factory on a production line, he was a big, awkward, homely guy. He dressed oddly with ill-fitting clothes. There were several fellow workers who thought it smart to make fun of him.
P
One day one fellow worker noticed a small tear in his shirt and gave it a small rip. Another worker in the factory added his bit, and before long there was quite a ribbon of cloth dangling. Bill went on about his work and as he passed too near a moving belt the shirt strip was sucked into the machinery. In a split second the sleeve and Bill was in trouble. Alarms were sounded, switches pulled, and trouble was avoided.
P
The foreman then summoned all the workers and related this story:
P
In my younger days I worked in a small factory. That's when I first met Mike. He was big and witty, was always making jokes, and playing little pranks. Mike was a leader. Then there was Peter who was a follower. He always went along with Mike. And then there was a man named Murray. He was a little older than the rest of us - quiet, harmless, apart. He always ate his lunch by himself.
P
He wore the same patched trousers for three years straight. He never entered into the games we played at noon, wrestling, horseshoes and such. He appeared to be indifferent, always sitting quietly alone under a tree instead. Murray was a natural target for practical jokes.
P
He might find a live frog in his lunch box, or a dead spider in his hat. But he always took it in good humour. Then one autumn, when things were quiet in the factory, Mike took off a few days to go hunting. Peter went along, of course. And they promised all of us that if they got anything they'd bring us each a piece.
P
So we were all quite excited when we heard that they'd returned and that Mike had got a really big buck. We heard more than that. Peter could never keep anything to himself, and it leaked out that they had real whopper to play on Murray. Mike had cut up the buck and had made a nice package for each of us. And, for the laugh, for the joke of it, he had saved the ears, the tail, the hoofs - it would be so funny when Murray unwrapped them.
P
Mike distributed his packages during the lunch break. We each got a nice piece, opened it, and thanked him. The biggest package of all he saved until last. It was for Murray. Peter was all but bursting; and Mike looked very smug. Like always, Murray sat by himself; he was on the far side of the big table. Mike pushed the package over to where he could reach it; and we all sat and waited.
P
Murray was never one to say much. You might never know that he was around for all the talking he did. In three years he'd never said more than hundred words. So we were all quite astounded with what happened next. He took the package firmly in his grip and rose slowly to his feet. He smiled broadly at Mike - and it was then we noticed that his eyes were glistening. His Adam's apple bobbed up and down for a moment and then he got control of himself.
P
'I knew you wouldn't forget me,' he said gratefully, 'I knew you'd come through! You're big and you're playful, but I knew all along that you had a good heart.'
P
He swallowed again, and then took in the rest of us. 'I know I haven't seemed too chummy with you men; but I never meant to be rude. You see, I've got nine kids at home - and a wife that's been an invalid - bedridden now for four years. She ain't ever going to get any better. And sometimes when she's real bad off, I have to sit up all night to take care of her. And most of my wages have had to go for doctors and medicine.
P
The kids do all they can to help out, but at times it's been hard to keep food in their mouths. Maybe you think it's funny that I go off by myself to eat my lunch. Well, I guess I've been a little ashamed, because I don't always have anything between my sandwich. Or like today - maybe there's only a raw turnip in my lunch box. But I want you to know that this meat really means a lot to me. Maybe more than to anybody here because tonight my kids' ... as he wiped the tears from his eyes with the back of his hand ... 'tonight my kids will have a really good meal.'
P
He tugged at the string. We'd been watching Murray so intently we hadn't paid much notice to Mike and Peter. But we all noticed them now, because they both tried to grab the package. But they were too late. Murray had broken the wrapper and was already surveying his present. He examined each hoof, each ear, and then he held up the tail. It wiggled limply. It should have been so funny, but nobody laughed - nobody at all.
P
But the hardest part was when Murray looked up and said 'Thank you' while trying to smile. Silently one by one each man moved forward carrying his package and quietly placed it in front of Murray for they had suddenly realised how little their own gift had really meant to them, until now.
P
This was where the foreman left the story and the men. He didn't need to say any more; but it was gratifying to notice that as each man ate his lunch that day, they shared part with Bill and one fellow even took off his shirt and gave it to him.
P
THINK, BE KIND ALWAYS...YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT SOMEONE IS FACING IN THEIR LIVES!