A column devoted to quick bits of wisdom chosen by some of our industry leaders has become an annual tradition at DIRECT. We all can get inspiration and a lift from great thoughts. Feel free to share your favorites with us, too.
Terry Borders, Camping World: The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We can’t change the fact that people will act in a certain way. The only thing we can do is play on the one thing we have, and that is our attitude. I’m convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. – Charles Swindoll
That’s a long one, but I’ve included it because it’s so worthwhile. Terry has it posted on her office wall. She condensed it for this column, but the important message comes through loud and clear.
Here’s another great one that Terry found in a fortune cookie and has taped to her computer.
You are capable, competent, creative, careful. Prove it.
Marsha Everton, The Pfaltzgraff Co.: The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. – Eleanor Roosevelt
Marsha strongly believes that creativity and imagination are critical to success in business as well as in one’s personal life. Creativity and imagination come from dreaming with your eyes open.
She says, “In a world economy that is shifting from the Industrial Age to the Information Age, one of the basic keys to success is the ability to rapidly absorb new information and change. That requires constant thinking outside the box, breaking old rules and creating new ones, thinking in entirely new ways and never, ever standing still. Adversity is opportunity in disguise.”
When Marsha has a problem, she knows she needs a solution. But she also understands that she may have to get creative about the solution.
Marsha believes: “The solution often requires viewing the problem with a set of `new eyes.’ If you can dream with your eyes open, you can see adversity as opportunity.”
Sara Horton, The Arthritis Foundation: The worst they can say is `no.’
This one came to Sara from her father and she uses it every day, especially when she has to do something she doesn’t want to do. It reminds her that nothing will happen if you don’t try, and if you try and fail, it’s not the end of the world.
If something smells, check your upper lip first.
I love this one! Sara’s grandfather taught it to her mother and it helps Sara remember how her actions affect the world around her and that it’s easy for anyone to contribute to a problem without even knowing it (it could be right under your nose!).
Cheers, cheers!
Due to a stroke, Sara’s grandmother had trouble saying what she was thinking. Instead of giving up, she came up with quick little sayings that expressed her primary emotions. This one represented happiness. We should all remember that sometimes only a few words really can say it all.
Glenn Rizzo, Mercedes-Benz USA: If what you did yesterday starts looking good to you, then you haven’t done anything today.
Glenn notes that Benjamin Franklin said: Empty the coins in your purse into your mind and your mind will fill your purse with coins.
Glenn says that as an ex-jock he feels sports have taught him a lot about life and teamwork: “Over the years I have sat through many pre-game pep talks as well as halftime motivational speeches. This concept has carried down to my corporate life daily.” I think Glenn’s first quote is so dead-on that it’s hanging on my desk bulletin board.
Joe Shad, Rogan Corp.: There are people who make things happen. There are people who watch what’s happening. There are people who wonder, `What happened?’ Exactly where do YOU fit in here?
A real no-nonsense quote! Joe works at a company that has an excellent philosophy. He states, “You don’t land in the hot seat if you fail – you will, however, if you don’t try.”
Carl Tott, The Tog Shop: A manager is a person who makes decisions that otherwise would not be made.
Since Carl believes in giving his managers decision-making responsibility, this is a perfect saying for him. He feels so strongly about this, he had copies of the quote made and put in each supervisor’s department.
While it seems like a simple saying at first, when you think about it you really understand that making what are sometimes tough decisions is the difference between a real manager and one who’s just pretending!
And what are my favorite quotes this time? The Internet has become a fantastic source of truly thought-provoking sayings. When time permits, I visit one of the several sites devoted just to quotations and get some quick wisdom for the day.
Here are four current favorites. Read them in order, as they have even more meaning that way (and read the last two quotes whether you’re a man or a woman; they apply to either).
A person who aims at nothing is sure to hit it. – Anonymous
Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars. – Les Brown
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power. – Abraham Lincoln
No man is ever old enough to know better. – Holbrook Jackson (Ladies’ Home Journal, January 1950)
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