Sunrise shoot with Sun Chaser Shoot Kakis...
Saturday, April 30, 2011
If you can fix the man, you can fix the world!
A story told to me by one of the leaders I used to work with. A very inspiring man.
A man came back from work tired and wanted to rest on his couch. His son wanted to play with him. Not wanting to disappoint his son at the same time the man wanted to rest. So he devised a clever solution.
A man came back from work tired and wanted to rest on his couch. His son wanted to play with him. Not wanting to disappoint his son at the same time the man wanted to rest. So he devised a clever solution.
He took a newspaper page with a world map, tore it into pieces and asked his son to fix the puzzle.
To his surprise, in less than 3 mins, his son came back with the map fixed. Out of curiosity, he asked his son how did he manage to do so because at his young age he didn't know what the world would look like.
The son told his dad that behind the map was a picture of a man. He said, "If you can fix the man, you can fix the world."
Very True indeed...
Friday, April 29, 2011
The Bamboo Story
After studying a variety of options, he decided on Bamboo. The climate, soil conditions and equipment at his disposal could make growing and harvesting bamboo a profitable business. He was convinced he was making the wisest choice and began making the changes needed to become a Bamboo Farmer.
Now remember, our farmer lived in a farming community. For generations his neighbors had all grown traditional crops like corn and wheat. You can only imagine how the idea of growing bamboo was received. Upon telling his fellow farmers his idea, they mocked him calling him foolish, all the time warning him of his impending peril. They were unwilling to accept change or progress. However, the farmer was unshaken, he had done extensive research and was confident of his knowledge. He would not back down from the belief that he could grow bamboo and even turn a substantial profit in the business.
Well, if you know anything about bamboo, you know that the first year it’s been planted...nothing happens. You don’t get so much as a twig or a leaf! His neighbors were ruthless. They had all harvested their crops while he had nothing at all to show for his efforts. He was undaunted and confident in his knowledge. But wait, there’s more bad news. The second year nothing happens either, not a sign of a bamboo tree anywhere. Again he was forced to endure a second year of ridicule by his heartless neighbors. Still, he was unshaken in his confidence.
The third year came...and guess what? Bamboo, everywhere bamboo. His crop grew a foot a day! By the end of the summer he had a virtual bamboo forest. He harvested his crop and sold it for a huge profit. His neighbors were astonished. In fact, several who had once ridiculed him began to show interest in becoming bamboo farmers as well.
The farmer went on for many years enjoying the benefits of his new crop, bamboo. He and his family enjoyed a very happy and successful life, unafraid of growth, progress or change, confident and determined when facing challenges.
This story teaches us two lessons. First, when you have knowledge you have tremendous power. Knowledge gives you confidence to pursue your dreams and goals...regardless of what others think. Throughout history our most prolific leaders, inventors and businessmen were very often the subject of ridicule by their peers. It was their faith and single minded purposefulness that drove them to persevere and ultimately achieve their dreams.
The second lesson is that just because we don’t see immediate progress, doesn’t mean we should give up. The reason the bamboo tree doesn’t grow until the third season is because it spends the first two years growing roots, building a foundation so that when it is ready to grow it will have the stability to stand tall reaching tremendous heights. Without those roots, the tree would fall over with the first strong wind. Had the farmer lost faith, had he not had confidence in his knowledge, he might have tilled the crop under during the first or second year and created disaster for himself and his family.
Source: http://www.ctmartialarts.com/html/bamboo.htm
Pic Source: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Wwclgedx1G8uy7h9nPOIrg
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
“Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. Look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. Think only of the best, work only for the best, and expect only the best. Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. Give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others. Live in the faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you! ”
Christian D. Larson -
New Thought Leader
Photography:
Macro Shot of a Spidey enjoying its dinner!