a collection of thoughts, quotes, beliefs and musings of intellectuals, famous personalities, philosophers, thinkers who have changed the world with their work and contributions.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Thoughts-The story does not end here
Once upon a time a tortoise and a hare had an argument about who was faster.
They decided to settle the argument with a race. They agreed on a route and started off the race. The hare shot ahead and ran briskly for some time.
Then seeing that he was far ahead of the tortoise, he thought he'd sit under a tree for some time and relax before continuing the race. He sat under the tree and soon fell asleep.
The tortoise plodding on overtook him and soon finished the race, emerging as the undisputed champ.
The hare woke up and realized that he'd lost the race.
The moral- "Slow and steady wins the race. This is the version of the story that we've all grown up with."
THE STORY DOESN'T END HERE
There are few more interesting things.....it continues as follows..... .
The hare was disappointed at losing the race and he did some soul-searching.
He realized that he'd lost the race only because he had been overconfident, careless and lax.
If he had not taken things for granted, there's no way the tortoise could have beaten him. So he challenged the tortoise to another race.
The tortoise agreed. This time, the hare went all out and ran without stopping from start to finish. He won by several miles.
The moral - "Fast and consistent will always beat the slow and steady. It's good to be slow and steady; but it's better to be fast and reliable."
THE STORY DOESN'T END HERE
The tortoise did some thinking this time, and realized that there's no way it can beat the hare in a race the way it was currently formatted.
It thought for a while, and then challenged the hare to another race, but on a slightly different route. The hare agreed. They started off. In keeping with his self-made commitment to be consistently fast, the hare took off and ran at top speed until he came to a broad river. The finishing line was a couple of kilometres on the other side of the river.
The hare sat there wondering what to do.
In the meantime the tortoise trundled along, got into the river, swam to the opposite bank, continued walking and finished the race.
The moral - "First identify your core competency and then change the playing field to suit your core competency."
THE STORY STILL HASN'T ENDED
The hare and the tortoise, by this time, had become pretty good friends and they did some thinking together.
Both realized that the last race could have been run much better So they decided to do the last race again, but to run as a team this time.
They started off, and this time the hare carried the tortoise till the riverbank. There, the tortoise took over and swam across with the hare on his back. On the opposite bank, the hare again carried he tortoise and they reached the finishing line together. They both felt a greater sense of satisfaction than they'd felt earlier.
The moral - "It's good to be individually brilliant and to have strong core competencies; but unless you're able to work in a team and harness each other's core competencies, you'll always perform below par because there will always be situations at which you'll do poorly and someone else does well..
Teamwork is mainly about situational leadership, letting the person with the relevant core competency for a situation take leadership.
Note that neither the hare nor the tortoise gave up after failures. The hare decided to work harder and put in more effort after his failure. The tortoise changed his strategy because he was already working as hard as he could."
In life, when faced with failure, sometimes it is appropriate to work harder and put in more effort.
And sometimes it is appropriate to do both.
The hare and the tortoise also learnt another vital lesson. When we stop competing against a rival and instead start competing against the situation, we perform far better.
To sum up- the story of the hare and tortoise has much to say:
Chief among them are that fast and consistent will always beat slow and steady; work to your competencies; pooling resources
They decided to settle the argument with a race. They agreed on a route and started off the race. The hare shot ahead and ran briskly for some time.
Then seeing that he was far ahead of the tortoise, he thought he'd sit under a tree for some time and relax before continuing the race. He sat under the tree and soon fell asleep.
The tortoise plodding on overtook him and soon finished the race, emerging as the undisputed champ.
The hare woke up and realized that he'd lost the race.
The moral- "Slow and steady wins the race. This is the version of the story that we've all grown up with."
THE STORY DOESN'T END HERE
There are few more interesting things.....it continues as follows..... .
The hare was disappointed at losing the race and he did some soul-searching.
He realized that he'd lost the race only because he had been overconfident, careless and lax.
If he had not taken things for granted, there's no way the tortoise could have beaten him. So he challenged the tortoise to another race.
The tortoise agreed. This time, the hare went all out and ran without stopping from start to finish. He won by several miles.
The moral - "Fast and consistent will always beat the slow and steady. It's good to be slow and steady; but it's better to be fast and reliable."
THE STORY DOESN'T END HERE
The tortoise did some thinking this time, and realized that there's no way it can beat the hare in a race the way it was currently formatted.
It thought for a while, and then challenged the hare to another race, but on a slightly different route. The hare agreed. They started off. In keeping with his self-made commitment to be consistently fast, the hare took off and ran at top speed until he came to a broad river. The finishing line was a couple of kilometres on the other side of the river.
The hare sat there wondering what to do.
In the meantime the tortoise trundled along, got into the river, swam to the opposite bank, continued walking and finished the race.
The moral - "First identify your core competency and then change the playing field to suit your core competency."
THE STORY STILL HASN'T ENDED
The hare and the tortoise, by this time, had become pretty good friends and they did some thinking together.
Both realized that the last race could have been run much better So they decided to do the last race again, but to run as a team this time.
They started off, and this time the hare carried the tortoise till the riverbank. There, the tortoise took over and swam across with the hare on his back. On the opposite bank, the hare again carried he tortoise and they reached the finishing line together. They both felt a greater sense of satisfaction than they'd felt earlier.
The moral - "It's good to be individually brilliant and to have strong core competencies; but unless you're able to work in a team and harness each other's core competencies, you'll always perform below par because there will always be situations at which you'll do poorly and someone else does well..
Teamwork is mainly about situational leadership, letting the person with the relevant core competency for a situation take leadership.
Note that neither the hare nor the tortoise gave up after failures. The hare decided to work harder and put in more effort after his failure. The tortoise changed his strategy because he was already working as hard as he could."
In life, when faced with failure, sometimes it is appropriate to work harder and put in more effort.
And sometimes it is appropriate to do both.
The hare and the tortoise also learnt another vital lesson. When we stop competing against a rival and instead start competing against the situation, we perform far better.
To sum up- the story of the hare and tortoise has much to say:
Chief among them are that fast and consistent will always beat slow and steady; work to your competencies; pooling resources
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Chinese proverb-He who asks
He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Political quotes-From the outside
America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.
- Abraham Lincoln
- Abraham Lincoln
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Sexual quotes-Grateful
"I never yell, I never tell, but I'm grateful as hell."
Benny Hill (1924-1992), when asked to comment on rumors that he had sexual affairs with women who appeared on his shows.
Benny Hill (1924-1992), when asked to comment on rumors that he had sexual affairs with women who appeared on his shows.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Hilarious quotes-Register for the draft
Barack Obama says that both men and women should have to register for the draft.
The first woman he wants signed up? Sarah Palin.
-Jay Leno
The first woman he wants signed up? Sarah Palin.
-Jay Leno
Labels:
funny thoughts,
hilarious quotes,
political quotes
Philosophical quotes-Skeptic
I was once a skeptic but was converted by the two missionaries on either side of my nose.
~Robert Brault
~Robert Brault
Thought for the day-No instruction book
Now there is one outstandingly important fact regarding Spaceship Earth, and that is that no instruction book came with it.
Labels:
thought for the day,
Thoughts,
Thoughts on life
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Love quotes-Eternity
Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity.
- Henry Van Dyke
- Henry Van Dyke
Labels:
Deep thoughts,
love quotes,
thought for the day
Monday, May 24, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Thoughts-Bridges to build
Once upon a time two brothers, who lived on adjoining farms, fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a conflict.
Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.
One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's tool box.
"I'm looking for a few days' work" he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?" "Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you."
"Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor; in fact, it's my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll do him one better."
"See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence --an 8-foot fence -- so I won't need to see his place or his face anymore."
The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."
The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day.
The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing.
About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job.
The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge -- a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work, handrails and all -- and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming toward them, his hand outstretched. "You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done."
The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other's hand.
They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox onto his shoulder. "No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother.
"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, but I have many more bridges to build.
Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.
One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's tool box.
"I'm looking for a few days' work" he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?" "Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you."
"Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor; in fact, it's my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll do him one better."
"See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence --an 8-foot fence -- so I won't need to see his place or his face anymore."
The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."
The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day.
The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing.
About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job.
The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge -- a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work, handrails and all -- and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming toward them, his hand outstretched. "You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done."
The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other's hand.
They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox onto his shoulder. "No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother.
"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, but I have many more bridges to build.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Famous quotes-Character
Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.
- Abraham Lincoln
- Abraham Lincoln
Humor quotes-Appetite for danger
Any man today who returns from work, sinks into a chair, and calls for his pipe is a man with an appetite for danger.
- Bill Cosby
- Bill Cosby
Friday, May 21, 2010
Sexual quotes-
"Every time you sleep with a boy you sleep with all his old girlfriends."
- Government advertisement warning about AIDS, 1987.
- Government advertisement warning about AIDS, 1987.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Political quotes-Recognize
A good compromise, a good piece of legislation, is like a good sentence; or a good piece of music. Everybody can recognize it. They say, 'Huh. It works. It makes sense.'
- Barack Obama
- Barack Obama
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Hilarious quotes-Can't deal
"Did you hear that Marvin Gaye was shot by his father? Some parents cant deal with their kids being Gaye."
Motivational thoughts-Belief
The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen.
~ Frank Lloyd Wright
~ Frank Lloyd Wright
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Thought for the day-Sunday drivers
The trouble with Sunday drivers is, they don't drive any better during the week.
Labels:
funny thoughts,
humor quotes,
thought for the day
Funny thoughts-So poor
My family was so poor that if I hadn't been born a boy, I wouldn't have had anything to play with.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Deep thoughts-The daily work
Wars and elections are both too big and too small to matter in the long run. The daily work - that goes on, it adds up.
- Barbara Kingsolver
- Barbara Kingsolver
Labels:
Deep thoughts,
thought for the day,
Thoughts on life
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Thought Provoking
One day all the employees reached the office and they saw a big advice on the door on which it was written:
“Yesterday the person who has been hindering your growth in this company passed away. We invite you to join the funeral in the room that has been prepared the gym”.
In the beginning, they all got sad for the death of one of their colleagues, but after a while they started getting curious to know who was hindered the growth of his colleagues and the company itself.
The excitement in the gym was such that security agents were ordered to control the crowd within the room.
The more people reached the coffin, the more excitement heated up.
Everyone thought: “Who is this guy who was hindering my progress ? Well, at least he died !”.
One by one the thrilled employees got closer to the coffin, and when they looked inside it they suddenly became speechless.
They stood nearby the coffin, shocked and in silence, as if someone had touched the deepest part of their soul.
There was a mirror inside the coffin: everyone who looked inside it could see himself.
There was also a sign next to the mirror that said:
“There is only one person who is capable to set limits to your growth: It is YOU.
You are the only person who can revolutionize your life.
You are the only person who can influence your happiness, your realization and your success.
You are the only person who can help yourself.
Your life does not change when your boss changes, when your friends change, when your parent change, when your partner changes, when your company changes. Your life changes when YOU change, when you go beyond your limiting beliefs, when you realize that your are they only one responsible for your life.
“Yesterday the person who has been hindering your growth in this company passed away. We invite you to join the funeral in the room that has been prepared the gym”.
In the beginning, they all got sad for the death of one of their colleagues, but after a while they started getting curious to know who was hindered the growth of his colleagues and the company itself.
The excitement in the gym was such that security agents were ordered to control the crowd within the room.
The more people reached the coffin, the more excitement heated up.
Everyone thought: “Who is this guy who was hindering my progress ? Well, at least he died !”.
One by one the thrilled employees got closer to the coffin, and when they looked inside it they suddenly became speechless.
They stood nearby the coffin, shocked and in silence, as if someone had touched the deepest part of their soul.
There was a mirror inside the coffin: everyone who looked inside it could see himself.
There was also a sign next to the mirror that said:
“There is only one person who is capable to set limits to your growth: It is YOU.
You are the only person who can revolutionize your life.
You are the only person who can influence your happiness, your realization and your success.
You are the only person who can help yourself.
Your life does not change when your boss changes, when your friends change, when your parent change, when your partner changes, when your company changes. Your life changes when YOU change, when you go beyond your limiting beliefs, when you realize that your are they only one responsible for your life.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Sarcastic quotes -First time
A conservative is a man who believes that nothing should be done for the first time.
~Alfred E. Wiggam
~Alfred E. Wiggam
Friday, May 14, 2010
Sexual quotes-Distinguish
"Drinking when we are not thirsty and making love at all seasons, madam: that is all there is to distinguish us from the other animals."
Pierre de Beaumarchais, Le Marriage de Figaro.
Pierre de Beaumarchais, Le Marriage de Figaro.
Inspirational quotes-Life's challenges
Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Humor quotes-Getting old
"The best thing about getting old is you're not responsible for remembering things anymore. Even important things. 'But it was your daughter's funeral.' 'I forgot!' You can even make believe you have Alzheimer's disease. It's a lot of fun. You can look around the dining room table and say, 'Who are you people and where is my horse?'
- George Carlin
- George Carlin
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Friendship quotes-Walls
Friends are like the walls of a house. Sometimes they hold you up, sometimes you lean on them. But sometimes, it's enough to know they're just standing by.
Labels:
friendship quotes,
motivational thoughts,
Thoughts
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Love quotes from the movies
Take love, multiply it by infinity and take it to the depths of forever….And you still have only a glimpse of how I feel for you.
-Meet Joe Black
-Meet Joe Black
Monday, May 10, 2010
Sarcastic quotes-Confidence
We have plenty of confidence in this country, but we are a little short of good men to place our confidence in.
~Will Rogers
~Will Rogers
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Thoughts-Fear of bad ideas
A few people are afraid of good ideas, ideas that make a difference or contribute in some way. Good ideas bring change, that's frightening.
But many people are petrified of bad ideas. Ideas that make us look stupid or waste time or money or create some sort of backlash.
The problem is that you can't have good ideas unless you're willing to generate a lot of bad ones.
Painters, musicians, entrepreneurs, writers, chiropractors, accountants--we all fail far more than we succeed. We fail at closing a sale or playing a note. We fail at an idea for a series of paintings or the theme for a trade show booth.
But we succeed far more often than people who have no ideas at all.
Someone asked me where I get all my good ideas, explaining that it takes him a month or two to come up with one and I seem to have more than that. I asked him how many bad ideas he has every month. He paused and said, "none."
And there, you see, is the problem.
- Seth Godin
But many people are petrified of bad ideas. Ideas that make us look stupid or waste time or money or create some sort of backlash.
The problem is that you can't have good ideas unless you're willing to generate a lot of bad ones.
Painters, musicians, entrepreneurs, writers, chiropractors, accountants--we all fail far more than we succeed. We fail at closing a sale or playing a note. We fail at an idea for a series of paintings or the theme for a trade show booth.
But we succeed far more often than people who have no ideas at all.
Someone asked me where I get all my good ideas, explaining that it takes him a month or two to come up with one and I seem to have more than that. I asked him how many bad ideas he has every month. He paused and said, "none."
And there, you see, is the problem.
- Seth Godin
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Mothers day quotes - love
Being a full-time mother is
one of the highest salaried jobs…
since the payment is pure love.
(Mildred B. Vermont)
one of the highest salaried jobs…
since the payment is pure love.
(Mildred B. Vermont)
Hilarious quotes-For a purpose
My wife only has sex with me for a purpose. Last night she used me to time an egg.
- Rodney Dangerfield
- Rodney Dangerfield
Humor quotes-Bathroom privacy
A new father quickly learns that his child invariably comes to the bathroom at precisely the times when he's in there, as if he needed company. The only way for this father to be certain of bathroom privacy is to shave at the gas station.
- Bill Cosby
- Bill Cosby
Friday, May 7, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Political quotes-National debt
I found this national debt, doubled, wrapped in a big bow waiting for me as I stepped into the Oval Office.
- Barack Obama
- Barack Obama
Thoughts on Life-Grand thing
I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing.
- Agatha Christie
- Agatha Christie
Labels:
Deep thoughts,
thought for the day,
Thoughts on life
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Love quotes-Honey sweet
"Lovers, like bees, lead a honey-sweet life."
— Graffiti on a wall of Pompeii.
— Graffiti on a wall of Pompeii.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010
Funny thoughts-New American father
If the new American father feels bewildered and even defeated, let him take comfort from the fact that whatever he does in any fathering situation has a fifty percent chance of being right.
- Bill Cosby
- Bill Cosby
Deep thoughts-Today is special
Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Motivational thoughts-Speech by Bryan Dyson
Speech by Bryan Dyson (CEO of Coca Cola)
"Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them - work, family, health, friends and spirit and you're keeping all of these in the air.
You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back.
But the other four Balls - Family, Health, Friends and Spirit - are made of glass. If you drop one of these; they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for it.
"Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them - work, family, health, friends and spirit and you're keeping all of these in the air.
You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back.
But the other four Balls - Family, Health, Friends and Spirit - are made of glass. If you drop one of these; they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for it.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
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