How often do you let other people's nonsense change your mood? Do you let a
bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive colleague ruin your
day?
Of course, for an instant you will probably be set back on your
heels.However, the mark of a happy & successful person is how quickly one
can get one's focus back to what is important.
I learned it in the back of a London black cab. Here's what happened. I
hopped in a taxi at the Bank and we took off for Moorgate tube Station. We
had been driving about 200 yards when suddenly a black car jumped out of a
parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks,
skidded, and missed the other car's back end by just inches!
Here's what happened next. The driver of the other car, the guy who almost
caused a big accident, whipped his head around and instead of apologizing,
started yelling bad words at us.
Now, here's what took me by surprise. Instead of getting angry or annoyed,
my taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. He was actually friendly
towards the other man!
I said, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent
us to the hospital!' And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now
call, 'The Law of the Rubbish Bins.
Many people are like rubbish bins. They run around full of garbage, full of
frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their bin piles
up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they will dump it
straight on you.
When someone wants to dump on you, do not take it personally. Just smile,
wave, wish them well, and move on.
So this was it; The 'Law of the Rubbish Bins.
I started thinking, how often do I let 'Rubbish bins' run right over me?
And how often do I take their rubbish and spread it to other people: at
work, at home, on the streets?
It was that very day I decided that I was not going to do it anymore. I
then began to see be aware of rubbish bins. I see the load they are
carrying. I see them coming to drop it off. And with the grace of our
beloved Lord; I too have learnt just to smile, wave, wish them well, and
move on.
" THE LAW OF THE RUBBISH BINS "
"Do More Than Asked" - By Zelig Pliskin
There are people who prefer to do favors for others when they volunteer to do so. When they are asked, they often consider it a burden. The benefit of being asked by another person is that then you know for certain what this person’s needs actually are. Show that fulfilling this person’s request is something that you really want to do. How? By doing more than you have been asked to do.
At times we might do what we have been asked to do because we find it difficult to say no. We know that we should do acts of kindness and therefore do things out of embarrassment. Our going beyond the specifics of what was asked of us is an expression that our true inner will is to do acts of kindness.
Many people hesitate to ask for favors because they don’t like to be a burden to others. They don’t want others to do things for them just because those people would feel guilty for refusing. When you do more than you have been asked, you demonstrate your sincere willingness to help. We go the extra mile when we enjoy what we are doing or we feel that this is the right thing to do.
Doing more than you have been asked will enable the recipient of your kindness to feel better about all that you have done for him before, are doing now, and will do for him in the future. The extra thing you do could be a relatively minor thing, but the benefits are major.
The author heard these examples from friends:
"I asked him to lend me five hundred dollars. I was overwhelmed when on his own he offered two thousand dollars and he told me, ‘Thank you for asking. It’s my pleasure.’ "
"I asked my friends if I could stay at their home for a few days. They told me their house was available for even a month. The entire week I was their guest I felt totally at home."
"I asked my neighbor if she could watch my children for a couple of hours so I could rest. My neighbor offered to have them stay overnight so I could get a good night’s sleep. I felt grateful beyond words."
"I asked a few questions about how to use my new computer. I was treated to a full three hour lesson."
"I asked for a lift and expected to walk from my neighbor’s house to my own. Instead, the driver went out of his way to take me the full distance that I needed."
When Do Ideas Die ?
When Do Ideas Die ? and what to do about them?- Edward de Bono
Why Ideas die...
1. When enough people attack the idea.
2. When there is no enthusiasm or passion for the idea.
3. When the cost of trying out the idea is considerable and there are other priorities demanding funds.
4. When the idea appears to be risky.
5. When there is no one senior to champion the idea.
6. When an idea does not seem feasible at first appearance.
7. When there are ego problems between those promoting the idea and those opposing it.
8. When the idea is seen as 'the same as' an old idea or something that is already being done.
9. When a change of circumstances or strategy lessens the value of the idea.
10. When the idea has been tried and has failed.
There may be many more reasons to add to the above list.
When new ideas die, they are assigned to a sort of cemetery. They may never be looked at again. Or they may be reviewed periodically.
If an idea genuinely offers value then it is always worth reviewing it periodically to see if that value can now be delivered or if the value is now even more significant.
There are concepts of value and concepts of delivery. As usual in creative thinking, it is important to extract and spell out the concept that seems to be in use in the new idea.
If the concept of delivery is made clear, then this concept might be challenged and an alternative way of delivering the same value might be found. If the concept of value is made clear, then there might be other forms of value derived from this basic concept.
Even when an idea 'dies', the concept behind the idea need not die at the same time. The concept can survive while efforts are made to see how it might be delivered through a practical idea.
When an idea dies, it is important to spell out very clearly why this has happened. Is it a matter of cost? Is it a matter of implementation? Is it a matter of feasibility and practicality? Is it a matter of risk? Is it a matter of low value? In practice, it will usually be a combination of several of these. It may simply be a matter of low motivation for the idea. That is always difficult to admit.
Keep analyzing your ideas and idea bank. It may spring surprises
QUESTIONS THAT U CANT ANSWER(TRY IT OUT)
1. The maker doesn't want it; the buyer doesn't use it; and the user doesn't see it. What is it?
2. A child is born in Boston , Massachusetts to parents who were both born in Boston , Massachusetts . The child is not a United States citizen. How is this possible?
3. Before Mount Everest was discovered, what was the highest mountain on Earth?
4. Clara Clatter was born on December 27th, yet her birthday is always in the summer. How is this possible?
5. Captain Frank and some of the boys were exchanging old war stories. Art Bragg offered one about how his grandfather led a battalion against a German division during World War I. Through brilliant maneuvers, he defeated them and captured valuable territory. After the battle he was presented with a sword bearing the inscription "To Captain Bragg for Bravery, Daring and Leadership. World War I. From the Men of Battalion "Captain Frank looked at Art and said, "You really don't expect anyone to believe that yarn, do you?" What's wrong with the story?
6. What is one thing that all wise men, regardless of their religion or politics, agree is between heaven and earth?
7. In what year did Christmas and New Year's fall in the same year?
8. Why are 1990 American dollar bills worth more than 1989 American dollar bills?
9. A farmer has 17 sheep and all but 9 die. How many are left?
10. How many times can you subtract the number 5 from 25?
11. How could you rearrange the letters in the words "new door" to make one word? Note: There is only one correct answer.
12. Even if they are starving, natives living in the Arctic will never eat a penguin's egg. Why not?
13. Which is correct to say, "The yolk of the egg are white" or "The yolk of the egg is white"?
14. In Okmulgee , Oklahoma , you cannot take a picture of a man with a wooden leg. Why not?
15. There were an electrician and a plumber waiting in line for admission to the International Home Show," One of them was the father of the other's son. How could this be possible?
16. A clerk in the butcher shop is 5' 10" tall. What does he weigh?
*ANSWERS*
1. A coffin.
2. The child was born before 1776.
3. Mount Everest (it just hadn't been discovered).
4. Clara lives in the southern hemisphere.
5. World War I wasn't called "World War I" until World War II.
6. The word "and".
7. They fall in the same year every year. New Year's Day just arrives very early in the year and Christmas arrives very late in the same year.
8. One thousand nine hundred and ninety dollar bills are worth one dollar more than one thousand nine hundred and eighty-nine dollar bills.
9. Nine.
10. Only once, and then you are subtracting it from 20.
11. "One word"
12. Penguins live in the Antarctic.
13. Neither. The yolk of the egg is yellow.
14. You have to take a picture of a man with a camera, not with a wooden leg.
15. They were husband and wife.
16. Meat.
Inspiring Thoughts
"Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation.
Yourcharacter is what you really are while your reputation is merely whatothers think you are."
"Do not wait; the time will never be 'just right.' Start where youstand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, andbetter tools will be found as you go along."
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."
"Some men see things as they are and say, "Why?" I dream of things thatnever were and say, "Why not?"
"A small trouble is like a pebble. Hold it too close to your eye and itfills the whole world and puts everything out of focus. Hold it at aproper distance and it can be examined and properly classified. Throwit at your feet and it can be seen in its true setting, just one moretiny bump on the pathway of life."
"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can startfrom now and make a brand new ending.""I'm not telling you it is going to be easy - I'm telling you it'sgoing to be worth it"
Rules for Life
These are the 16 rules for life and business written by Bob Parsons, the founder and CEO of GoDaddy.
1. Get and stay out of your comfort zone.
I believe that not much happens of any significance when we're in our comfort zone. I hear people say, "But I'm concerned about security." My response to that is simple: "Security is for cadavers."
2. Never give up.
Almost nothing works the first time it's attempted. Just because what you're doing does not seem to be working, doesn't mean it won't work. It just means that it might not work the way you're doing it. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it, and you wouldn't have an opportunity.
3. When you're ready to quit, you're closer than you think.
There's an old Chinese saying that I just love, and I believe it is so true. It goes like this: "The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you are about to succeed."
4. With regard to whatever worries you, not only accept the worst thing that could happen, but make it a point to quantify what the worst thing could be.
Very seldom will the worst consequence be anywhere near as bad as a cloud of "undefined consequences." My father would tell me early on, when I was struggling and losing my shirt trying to get Parsons Technology going, "Well, Robert, if it doesn't work, they can't eat you."
5. Focus on what you want to have happen.
Remember that old saying, "As you think, so shall you be."
6. Take things a day at a time.
No matter how difficult your situation is, you can get through it if you don't look too far into the future, and focus on the present moment. You can get through anything one day at a time.
7. Always be moving forward.
Never stop investing. Never stop improving. Never stop doing something new. The moment you stop improving your organization, it starts to die. Make it your goal to be better each and every day, in some small way. Remember the Japanese concept of Kaizen. Small daily improvements eventually result in huge advantages.
8. Be quick to decide.
Remember what General George S. Patton said: "A good plan violently executed today is far and away better than a perfect plan tomorrow."
9. Measure everything of significance.
I swear this is true. Anything that is measured and watched, improves.
10. Anything that is not managed will deteriorate.
If you want to uncover problems you don't know about, take a few moments and look closely at the areas you haven't examined for a while. I guarantee you problems will be there.
11. Pay attention to your competitors, but pay more attention to what you're doing.
When you look at your competitors, remember that everything looks perfect at a distance. Even the planet Earth, if you get far enough into space, looks like a peaceful place.
12. Never let anybody push you around.
In our society, with our laws and even playing field, you have just as much right to what you're doing as anyone else, provided that what you're doing is legal.
13. Never expect life to be fair.
Life isn't fair. You make your own breaks. You'll be doing good if the only meaning fair has to you, is something that you pay when you get on a bus (i.e., fare).
14. Solve your own problems.
You'll find that by coming up with your own solutions, you'll develop a competitive edge. Masura Ibuka, the co-founder of SONY, said it best: "You never succeed in technology, business, or anything by following the others." There's also an old Asian saying that I remind myself of frequently. It goes like this: "A wise man keeps his own counsel."
15. Don't take yourself too seriously.
Lighten up. Often, at least half of what we accomplish is due to luck. None of us are in control as much as we like to think we are.
16. There's always a reason to smile.
Find it. After all, you're really lucky just to be alive. Life is short. More and more, I agree with my little brother. He always reminds me: "We're not here for a long time, we're here for a good time!"
Flowing outward
Your circumstances do not make you. Your circumstances reveal you.
The events in your life do not cause you to be one way or another. The events in your life give you the opportunity to express who you are by the way you deal with them.
Like a mirror, the world around you reflects your values, your beliefs and expectations. The things you experience outside yourself resonate with the person you are inside.
To bring about a positive change in your world, you must first make that positive change deep within yourself. Life flows from the inside toward the outside.
Any gains you make on the outside that do not have their origin on the inside will be temporary and mostly meaningless. Real, lasting success on the outside comes only after success has first been nurtured within.
Take great care with the authentic person you are inside. And that real value will flow outward to every corner of your life.
A million dollar lesson
A cab driver taught me a million dollar lesson in customer satisfaction and expectation. Motivational speakers charge thousands of dollars to impart his kind of training to corporate executives and staff. It cost me a $12 taxi ride.
I had flown into Dallas for the sole purpose of calling on a client. Time was of the essence and my plan included a quick turnaround trip from and back to the airport. A spotless cab pulled up.
The driver rushed to open the passenger door for me and made sure I was comfortably seated before he closed the door. As he got in the driver's seat, he mentioned that the neatly folded Wall Street Journal next to me for my use. He then showed me several tapes and asked me what type of music I would enjoy.
Well! I looked around for a "Candid Camera!" Wouldn't you? I could not believe the service I was receiving! I took the opportunity to say, "Obviously you take great pride in your work. You must have a story to tell."
"You bet," he replied, "I used to be in Corporate America. But I got tired of thinking my best would never be good enough. I decided to find my niche in life where I could feel proud of being the best I could be.
I knew I would never be a rocket scientist, but I love driving cars, being of service and feeling like I have done a full day's work and done it well. I evaluate my personal assets and... wham! I became a cab driver.
One thing I know for sure, to be good in my business I could simply just meet the expectations of my passengers. But, to be GREAT in my business, I have to EXCEED the customer's expectations! I like both the sound and the return of being 'great' better than just getting by on 'average'"
Did I tip him big time? You bet! Corporate America's loss is the traveling folk's friend!
