This gift of story came from Robert:

Some years ago, a large American shoe manufacturer sent two of its sales reps to different parts of the Australian outback. The company hoped that it would drum up some business among the Aborigines. It was a risky venture, but the firm realized how many new customers could be gained if the venture was successful.

After each rep had spent a few weeks in the outback, the shoe company received two faxes: “There is no hope for new business here,” reported one rep. “The Aborigines don’t even wear shoes! It’s not part of their culture. Couldn’t we have researched this earlier Read the rest of this entry »

This one comes from Cliff.

A pencilmaker told the pencils 5 important lessons:

1st: everything you do will always leave a mark

2nd: you can always correct the mistakes you make

3rd: what is important is what is inside you

4th: in life you will undergo painful sharpenings w/c will make you a better pencil

and the most important is.. 5th: to be the best pencil you can be, you must allow yourself to be held & guided by the hand that holds you!

Here’s one from Glendz on How to Stay Young:

1. Throw out nonessential numbers.

This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay them.

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning.

Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop. ”

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often … long and loud. Laugh until Read the rest of this entry »

I got this quote submitted by Chichi … It is a great quote from Theodore Roosevelt about the critic — we always know how things can be done better, but it is the doing, not the criticizing that get the medals.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. -Theodore Roosevelt

As I keep telling the people, ” There never was a status of honor erected for the person for what he said he will do, or intended to do.”

Here’s the second Gift of Story. This is from Emmylou, which she says comes from a a story from Steve Goodier’s popular book ” A Life that Makes a Difference.”

“How do you account for your remarkable accomplishment in life?” Queen Victoria of England asked Helen Keller. “How do you explain the fact that even though you were both blind and deaf, you were able to accomplish so much?”

Ms. Keller’s answer is a tribute to her dedicated teacher. “If it had not been for Anne Sullivan, the name of Helen Keller Read the rest of this entry »

Happy Holidays!

Take time to live life, and sometime to spend with your family.

Take time to keep old friends, and also make new ones.

Worry less, and have more fun.

Push your knowledge and limits, and set new ones.

Next year, is going to be the year of the cowdog. Have a happy Mooo BowWow year!

During my birthday last week, I asked my colleagues that instead of giving me presents, they give me the gift of story…. something that is touching, and give us life’s lessons can be as valuable as any physical present, I said. Or any quotes, or life’s lessons that they have to share.

Many of my friends responded, and I am going to slowly post them.

In fact, I am creating a new category, the Gift of Story to put them. I hope even if it is not my birthday, if you have nice stories to share, send it to me!

Here is one that came from Charis Bacolod.

I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed Read the rest of this entry »

Tim Berners Lee, creator of the worldwide web, writes his first blog…

A new global study conducted by Burson-Marsteller with the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) names Bill Gates, Microsoft’s chairman and chief software architect, the world’s most admired business leader. The 2005 CEO Capital™ study asked more than 600 global business influentials in 65 countries to write in which CEO or chairman they admire most in the business world today. Complete story here….

Here are some links you might be interested to read:

- Is it better to franchise or to go solo?

- The best and worst of Technology for 2005

- Web sites that allows users to send email to the future.

- China now world’s fourth largest economy, if including service adjustments and Hong Kong. Only behind United States, Japan and Germany.