ONE MINUTE CAN CHANGE A LIFE

Express courier delivery box - “Love cannot express the idea of music, while music may give an idea of love”

He almost killed somebody, but one min­ute changed his life. The beautiful story comes from Sherman Rogers' old book, FOREMEN: LEADERS OR DRIVERS? In his true-life story, Rogers illus­trates the importance of effective relationships.

During his college years, Rogers spent a summer in an Idaho logging camp. When the super­intendent had to leave for a few days, he put Rogers in charge.

"What if the men refuse to follow my or­ders?" Rogers asked. He thought of Tony, an im­migrant worker who grumbled and growled all day, giving the other men a hard time.

"Fire them," the superintendent said. Then, as if reading Rogers' mind, he added, "I suppose you think you are going to fire Tony if you get the chance. I'd feel badly about that. I have been logging for 40 years. Tony is the most reliable worker I've ever had. I know he is a grouch and that he hates everybody and everything. But he comes in first and leaves last. There has not been an accident for eight years on the hill where he works."

Rogers took over the next day. He went to Tony and spoke to him. "Tony, do you know I'm in charge here today?" Tony grunted. "I was going to fire you the first time we tangled, but I want you to know I'm not," he told Tony, adding what the su­per­intendent had said.

When he finished, Tony dropped the shovel­­ful of sand he had held and tears streamed down his face. "Why he no tell me dat eight years ago?"

That day Tony worked harder than ever be­fore -- and he smiled! He later said to Rogers, "I told Maria you first foreman in deese country who ever say, 'Good work, Tony,' and it make Maria feel like Christmas."

Rogers went back to school after that sum­mer. Twelve years later he met Tony again. He was superintendent for railroad construction for one of the largest logging companies in the West. Rogers asked him how he came to Califor­nia and happened to have such success.

Tony replied, "If it not be for the one mi­nute you talk to me back in Idaho, I keel some­body someday. One minute, she change my whole life."

Effective managers know the importance of taking a moment to point out what a worker is doing well. But what a difference a minute of af­firmation can make in any relationship!

One minute. Have you got one minute to thank someone? A minute to tell someone what you sincerely like or appre­ci­ate about her? A mi­nute to elaborate on some­thing he did well? One minute. It can make a difference for a lifetime.

From Lifesupport.

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GREAT HAPPINESS FOR LIFE

Crowd at the driving school office counter - “Low self-esteem is like driving through life with your hand-break on.”

The telephone rang and I reached to answer it.

"Hi, Steve," said the voice on the other end. "I just wanted to see how you're getting along."

I had not heard from my old friend for many months. It was good to talk to him. I wondered why hadn't we kept in touch better.

Toward the end of the conversation, he said, "If you need me in any way, I'll be happy to help out." And he meant it!

That call came at just the right time, as they so often do. I needed those words of encouragement. I hung up the phone feeling a satisfying lump of warmth in my chest.

And that day I re-learned something important about life: life is primarily about people -- not plans and schedules, not to-do lists and a million tasks left undone -- it's about people.

To love and to know that we are loved is the greatest happiness of existence. And happiness seems to be something that is in short supply for too many of us! My friend reminded me that it is never enough just to love; we must also express it. What good are our affectionate feelings toward others if we don't find ways to let them know?

George William Childs put it like this: "Do not keep the alabaster box of your love and friendship sealed up until your friends are dead. Fill their lives with sweetness. Speak approving, cheering words while their ears can hear them and while their hearts can be thrilled and made happier. The kind things you mean to say when they are gone, say before they go."

Happiness ... may be just a phone call away.

From Lifesupport.

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SIMPLIFY COMMUNICATION FOR LIFE

I'm taking up jogging again after all this time. And my neighbor, who has been tied up with late nights at work these few months is finally back to his normal working hours and has kindly agreed to be my jogging buddy. I haven't seen the guy for some time now and he now has his own little model kit repair store set up in his garage.

Last week, he asked for my advice on marketing his services. Having ruled out a couple of options, we then toyed with the idea of an email marketing campaign for his store. At first, the dude wanted to print out newsletters for distribution to potential customers but was concerned about the costs. I suggested bulk email marketing but we were both clueless as to how to go about doing it.

We then did some research on email marketing services. We have narrowed it down to using the iContact Email Newsletter Tool. While their prices seem reasonable and fit into my jogging buddy's start-up budget, their list of clientele seems pretty impressive too. And iContact seems to be the solution as it takes care of everything from templates to unsubscribes. Perfect for my jogging buddy, who can't afford to spend too much time on this due to his day job.

THREE POWERFUL WORDS

Plastic model gundam kit - “Imagine for yourself a character, a model personality, whose example you determine to follow, in private as well as in public.”

A funny story is told about General George Patton from his World War II days. He once ac­cepted an invitation to dine at a press camp in Af­rica. Wine was served in canteen cups but, obvi­ously thinking he was served coffee, Patton poured cream into his cup. As he stirred in sugar, Patton was warned that his cup contained red wine and not coffee.

Now, General Patton could never, never be wrong. Without hesitating he replied, "I know. I like my wine this way." And he drank it!

I relate this story because I see something of myself, and perhaps most of us, here. It is diffi­cult to admit mistakes. It is hard to admit when we are wrong.

Three of life's most difficult words to say are, "I was wrong." But they are also three of the most powerful words we can utter. "I was wrong" breaks down barriers between people. It brings estranged people together. And it creates a climate where intimacy and love may flourish. You may be surprised at how positively many people re­spond to the words, "I was wrong"!

Naturally, it is a risk. But to admit when you are wrong is not to confess that you are a "bad" per­son. Simply an honest one. And true friends will appreciate you for it.

Whole and happy lives are built by people who have learned the power of intimacy, in part, through the use of the words "I was wrong."

From Lifesupport.

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COOL HEADS AND WARM HEARTS

Orange ergonomic office chair - “Worry is like a rocking chair--it gives you something to do but it doesn't get you anywhere.”

If you've ever struggled making the right decision, you may appreciate this story:

A young man seemed to take an unusually long time to place his order at the flower shop. When the clerk asked how she could help, he explained that his girlfriend was turning 19 and he couldn't decide whether to give her a dozen roses or 19 roses -- one for each year of her life.

The woman put aside her business judgment and advised, "She may be your 19-year-old girlfriend now, but someday she could be your 50-year-old wife."

The young man bought a dozen roses.

My wife Bev understands that logic. As part of our anniversary tradition, which usually includes an evening out and sometimes a night away from home, I also buy her a single rose.

I made that decision on wedding anniversary number one. But it wasn't easy. My heart argued for giving her one rose the first anniversary, two roses on the second, and so forth. But my head argued that, in twenty or thirty years, a roomful of roses would not mean as much as something simpler -- not to mention the cost! In the end, my heart and head reached a compromise.

So I buy the one special rose every wedding anniversary and then we treat ourselves to a wonderful and romantic evening away. Over the years, Bev has dried every anniversary rose and saved the petals in a decorative jar.

The roses helped teach me something about making decisions. Any kind of decision. I've discovered that good decisions are made with both my head and my heart. Together, cool heads and warm hearts can solve most any problem.

A cool head asks the hard questions. A cool head thinks it through. A cool head objectively weighs the options.

But a warm heart asks the tender questions. A warm heart considers feelings and relationships. A warm heart asks what feels right.

Making the right decision is often difficult. And it seems we never have enough information when we need to decide. But the best decisions are made from both a cool head and a warm heart. It usually takes both of them to get it right.

From Lifesupport.

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