“A thing is important if anyone thinks it important.” - William James
 
Are minor things getting in the way of what is really important?

“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.” - Plato
 
Are you afraid of the light shining on your life?  

“The foundation stones for a balanced success are honesty, character, integrity, faith, love and loyalty.” - Zig Ziglar
 
What stones form the foundation of your life? 
 

“You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage – pleasantly, smiling, non-apologetically – to say ‘no’ to other things. And the way you do that is by having a bigger ‘yes’ burning inside.” - Stephen Covey
 
Is the flame burning inside you enough to say “no?” 

Gene Autry died in 1998 at the age of 91. For many years one of Hollywood's most significant "western" stars, Autry, went beyond his entertainment popularity to achieve great business success. Perhaps some cause and effect can be established by recalling his "Ten Cowboy Commandments." These commandments were distributed to Gene Autry's Radio Rangers, circa 1930, and also published in Seth Godin's compilation The Official Rules of Life.

Ten Cowboy Commandments:

1. Do not take unfair advantage of an enemy.
2. Be a patriot.
3. Be gentle with children, elders, and animals.
4. Do not possess racially or religiously intolerant ideas.
5. Don't drink or smoke.
6. Help people in distress.
7. Respect your elders, your parents, and your nation's laws.
8. Be a good worker.
9. Always tell the truth.
10. Never go back on your word.

“The warrior never hides their scars. They know their scars are the story of their life. The one who has no wounds has never fought a battle.” - Erwin Raphael McManus
 
What have you learned from the scars of your life?

Everyone Can Play
 
 
At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:
"When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?" The audience was stilled by the query.
The father continued. "I believe, that when a child like Shay, physically and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes, in the way other people treat that child." Then he told the following story:
Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do you think they'll let me play?" Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.
Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could play, not expecting much. The boy looked around for guidance and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning."
Shay struggled over to the team's bench put on a team shirt with a broad smile and his Father had a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The boys saw the father's joy at his son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field.
Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.
At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given a bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.
However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing the other team putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least be able to make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.
The game would now be over, but the pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.
Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the head of the first baseman, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!" Never in his life had Shay ever ran that far but made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.
Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!" Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to second base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball, the smallest guy on their team, who had a chance to be the hero for his team for the first time. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions and he too intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.
All were screaming, "Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay" Shay reached third base, the opposing shortstop ran to help him and turned him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third! Shay, run to third" As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams and those watching were on their feet were screaming, "Shay, run home! Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the "grand slam" and won the game for his team.
That day, said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world. Shay didn't make it to another summer and died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making his father so happy and coming home and seeing his mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

​Source: Rabbi Paysach Krohn, a popular lecturer and best-selling author of the Art Scroll Maggid series of short stories

“It is a fine thing to have ability, but the ability to discover ability in others is the true test.” - 
Elbert Hubbard
 
Do you see the good and the potential in others?

"Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye." - Helen Keller

Do your daily activities allow you to look life in the eye?

“Though the wounding wasn’t your fault, the healing is your responsibility. Though your past may not be your fault, your future is your responsibility. Though their choices were not your fault, your choices are your responsibility. Even if it’s not your fault, it’s still your responsibility.” - Erwin Raphael McManus
 
How are you being responsible for making the world a better place?

“We either make ourselves miserable or make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.” - Carlos Castaneda
 
How do you view the daily work of reaching your goals?
 

A Smile
 
 
A smile costs nothing, but gives much.

It enriches those who receive, without making poorer those who give.

It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.

None is so rich or mighty that they can get along without it, and none is so poor, that they cannot be made rich by it.

A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in business and is the countersign of friendship.

It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad and it is nature's best antidote for trouble.

Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed or stolen - for it is something that is of no value to anyone, until it is given away.

Some people are too tired to give you a smile.

Give them one of yours, as no one needs a smile so much as those who have no more to give.
 
Author Unknown

"Winning is not a ‘sometime’ thing. You don’t win once in a while, you don’t do things right once in a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit, unfortunately, so is losing."  
 
Vince Lombardi
 
Are your daily habits leading you to the winner’s circle?

"Don’t settle for style. Succeed in substance." - Wynton Marsalis
 
Is there substance behind your style?

"Do the work. There is no privilege greater than the pressure to excel, and no greater reward than earning the respect and fear of others who can only stand in awe of your results." - Tim Grover
 
Are people in awe of the results your work has produced?