Monday Morning Motivations Tenacity Pays

Published by Robert A. & Vicki L. Prentice of Professional Development Systems
November 13, 2006 Issue 224

From the Desk of Bob (or "Grandpa Bob!)

Yes, we are excited to announce Grandson #2 has joined us. Our daughter Tasha and son-in-law Nick have a new son. Ethan Joseph was born at 11:50 p.m. on November 8, 2006. He weighed in at 7 lbs and 4 oz and is 19 3/4 inches long. Both he and his mom are healthy and doing great, and we are just button’ poppin’ proud!

Thanks for letting us share. We knew you would all want to know. All of a sudden I am feeling very old now as I write this. Hmmm–There is a season for everything I understand. This must be my season.

Must Press On, Must Press On! Bob

In this week's issue

Life Attitudes

Seeds of Success: Ouch! That Hurts!

The Prairie Beacon

Mr. Attitude's Life Tested Tools

Our New "Subscription" Policy

Life Attitudes

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”
~Albert Einstein ~

“Some of the best lessons we ever learn are learned from past mistakes. The error of the past is the wisdom and success of the future.”
~Dale E. Turner~

"There are things in your life you can control–and there are variables you can't. The more diligent you are at controlling what you can, the more influence you'll have over your destiny. You just have to figure out which are which."
~Carlton Young~

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Today's Administrative Solutions

Seeds of Success: Ouch! That Hurts!

By Robert A. Prentice

One evening while working on my laptop at my desk, the heavy lamp hanging above my desk suddenly came crashing down on my head and banged me but good. The lamp had pulled the decorative board it was attached to along with it as it fell. So, first the lamp hit me in the head and then the board that followed whacked me on the other side of the head. Fortunately, out of the corner of my eye I just happened to see the lamp as it started to fall, and was able to move my laptop out of the way. Whew!

My family watched the whole thing happen, and after they realized I was okay, they started to laugh. I sat there stunned and befuddled at what had just occurred, as they continued to roll on the floor. Okay, so they didn’t actually roll on the floor, but they did find the whole thing quite funny I guess. Maybe they thought I needed a good whack on the side of the head.

That night I wondered what lesson was to be learned from this unique event in my life–how it might affect the way I did things in the future. You see, I believe that everything happens for a reason and mostly that whatever happens is to teach us something.

Reflecting back, first of all, I have made sure to move my desk so that will never happen again. Actually for a variety of reasons, my desk was not in a good place, so it needed to be moved anyway. Once the lamp fell on my head, I definitely had the motivation I needed to take some action on that. Funny how motivation sometimes will just hit you.

Secondly, when I made the necessary repairs, I made sure I did a quality job so no one else would have to endure the pain I did.

Thirdly, I find myself trying to better anticipate the unexpected. This past weekend, I completed a small electrical task and a plumbing task that needed to be wrapped up before winter. Since we have a wood stove, I took some time to replace the batteries in the smoke detectors and make sure the fire extinguishers were good to go, just to be on the safe side.

After last winter’s ice storm that took out our electricity for 72 hours, I have taken great pains to assure we are prepared for whatever this winter will throw at us. The power generator is filled with gas, the wood is cut and stacked neatly by the back door, extra water jugs have been filled, and I am ready for any power outages.

With all the winter traveling my wife and I do, snow and ice tires are on our vehicles, and we are putting together our survival kits. I don’t want a repeat of last year when I hit an icy patch and put my pickup in the ditch.

Now I am sure that some believe I am being kind of nutty about these things; however, I just like being as prepared as I possibly can so I can deal with the unexpected. How about you; are you ready for the unexpected? What can you do to become better prepared? Minimize the “ouch’s” in your life by taking action now.

Bob "Mr. Attitude" Prentice is available for Keynote, conference engagements, and in-house company training assignments Call to schedule Bob TODAY! 800.437.9715

Read on...

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