Food For Thought For Wednesday, February 8th, 2012
Sharpen the Saw
There was once a woodcutter who was working feverishly to saw down a tree. A young man came across the woodcutter and asked “What are you doing?”
“Can't you see” the woodcutter replied, “I am sawing down this tree.” The young man sat down and asked the woodcutter to take a break and sharpen his saw as he looked exhausted. The woodcutter explained to the young man that he had been sawing for five hours straight and did not have time to take a break. The young man looked at the woodcutter and said “If you sharpen the saw, you would cut down the tree much faster.” The woodcutter said “I don’t have time to sharpen the saw. Can you not see I am too busy.”
Preserve and enhance the greatest asset you have – You.Take time to refresh your skills, your knowledge and your mind.
Adapted from "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" – Stephen R. Covey
Food For Thought For Tuesday, February 7th, 2012
The Boat Builder
A boat builder decided to retire to spend more time with his family. His employer said that he would be sad to see him go. One last request was before he went that he would build one last boat. The boat builder reluctantly agreed and rushed to complete a six birth cruiser to the luxury standard specified. The workmanship was poor and the finish was below standard.
On the day the boat builder was due to complete his work, his employer arrived. The employer handed the key to the boat builder saying “This is my gift to you!” The boat builder was shocked. He thought, "If I had known this was for me I would have built the boat perfectly." Now he was not sure if he even wanted this gift. We do the same in life. We sometimes do not give ourselves, our families and our work the best effort and seem disappointed with our situation when we realise we could have done it differently.Your life today is the result of your attitudes and choices in the past. Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today. Food For Thought For Friday, February 3rd, 2012
Acres of Diamond
There was a farmer in Africa who was happy and content. He was happy because he was content. He was content because he was happy. One day a wise man came to him and told him about the glory of diamonds and the power that goes along with them. The wise man said, "If you had a diamond the size of your thumb, you could have your own city. If you had a diamond the size of your fist, you could probably own your own country." And then he went away. That night the farmer couldn't sleep. He was unhappy and he was discontent. He was unhappy because he was discontent and discontent because he was unhappy. The next morning he made arrangements to sell off his farm, took care of his family and went in search of diamonds. He looked all over Africa and couldn't find any. He looked all through Europe and couldn't find any. When he got to Spain, he was emotionally, physically and financially broke. He got so disheartened that he threw himself into the Barcelona River and committed suicide. Back home, the person who had bought his farm was watering the camels at a stream that ran through the farm. Across the stream, the rays of the morning sun hit a stone and made it sparkle like a rainbow. He thought it would look good on the mantle piece. He picked up the stone and put it in the living room. That afternoon the wise man came and saw the stone sparkling. He asked, "Is Hafiz back?" The new owner said, "No, why do you ask?" The wise man said, "Because that is a diamond. I recognize one when I see one." The man said, no, that's just a stone I picked up from the stream. Come, I'll show you. There are many more." They went and picked some samples and sent them for analysis. Sure enough, the stones were diamonds. They found that the farm was indeed covered with acres and acres of diamonds.
What is the moral of this story? There are five morals:
1. When our attitude is right, we realize that we are all walking on acres and acres of diamonds. Opportunity is always under our feet. We don't have to go anywhere. All we need to do is recognize it.
2. The grass on the other side always looks greener.
3. While we are dyeing the grass on the other side, there are others who are dyeing the grass on our side. They would be happy to trade places with us.
4. When people don't know how to recognize opportunity, they complain of noise when it knocks.
5. The same opportunity never knocks twice. The next one may be better or worse, but it is never the same one.
Food For Thought For Thursday, February 2nd, 2012
MILK BOTTLE STORY
When Charles Wilson was president of GE, he was asked by the president of a small mid-western company how his experience as president of a major company could apply to the president of a very small company.
Wilson answered by detailing a job he had when he was a kid. He worked for a dairy and his job was to fill the milk bottles.
The bottles were different sizes. Some were pint, half gallon and others were gallons. They all had different size necks.
On his way home from a ten hour work day, he asked himself what he was learning. The answer was that no matter what size the bottle, the cream always came to the top.
Sanjay Sabarwal. Esq
General Counsel
Ziba Beauty
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Artesia, CA 90701
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