Inspiration and Motivation

Life

IsFacingEverything- Kevin Soh

Quit! Give up! You’re beaten! They shout out and plead.
There’s just too much against you, now, this time you can’t succeed.
And as I start to hang my head in front of failures face
My downward fall is broken by the memory of a race.

And hope refills my weakened will as I recall that scene
For just the thought of that short race rejuvenates my being.
A children’s race, young men, young boys. Oh, I remember it well.
Excitement, sure, but, also fear, it wasn’t hard to tell.
They all lined up so full of hope, each through to win that race
Or tie for first or if not that at least take a second place.
And fathers watched from off the side, each cheering for his son.
And each boy hoped to show his Dad that he would be the one.
The whistle blew and off they went, young hearts and hopes afire
To win, to be the hero there was each young boy’s desire.
And one boy in particular, his Dad was in the crowd,
Was running near the lead and thought, “Oh, my Dad will be so proud.”
And as he speeded down the field, across a shallow dip
The little boy who thought to win, lost his step and slipped.
Trying hard to catch himself, his hands flew out to brace
And mid the laughter of the crowd, he fell flat on his face.

So down he fell and with him hope, he couldn’t win it now,
Embarrassed, sad, he only wished to disappear, somehow.
But, as he fell his Dad stood up and showed his anxious face
That to the boy so clearly said, “get up and win that race.”
He quickly rose, no damage done, behind a bit, that’s all
And ran with all his mind and might to make up for his fall.
So anxious to restore himself, to catch up and to win
His mind went faster than his legs, he slipped and fell, again.
He wished that he had quit before with only one disgrace,
“I’m hopeless as a runner, now, I shouldn’t try to race.”
But, in the laughing crowd he searched and found his father’s face
That steady look that said again, “Get up and win that race.”
So he jumped up to try again, ten yards behind the last.
“If I’m going to gain those yards,” he thought, “I’ve got to run real
fast.” Exceeding everything he had, he regained eight or ten
But trying so hard to catch the lead, he slipped and fell, again.

Defeat! He lay there silently, a tear dropped from his eye.
“There’s no sense running, anymore, three strikes, I’m out — why try?”
The will to rise had disappeared. All hope had fled away.
So far behind, so error prone, closer all the way.
“I’ve lost so what’s the use?” he thought. “I’ll live with my disgrace.”
But, then he thought about his Dad, who soon he’d have to face.
“Get up!” An echo sounded low, “Get up and take your place.”
“You were not meant for failure, here. Get up and win that race.”
With borrowed will, “Get up!” it said, “You haven’t lost at all.”
“For winning is not more that this, to rise each time you fall.”
And so he rose to win, one more. And with a new commit
He resolved that win or lose, at least he wouldn’t quit.

So far behind the others, now, the most he’d ever been,
Still he gave it all he had and ran as though to win.
Three times he’d fallen, stumbling; three times he’s rose, again.
Too far behind to hope to win, he still ran to the end.
They cheered the winning runner as he crossed first place
Head high and proud and happy - no falling, no disgrace.
But when the fallen youngster crossed the line in last place
The crowd gave him the greater cheer for finishing the race.
And even though he came in last with head bowed low, not proud,
You would have thought he’d won the race to listen to that crowd.

And to his Dad he sadly said, “I didn’t do so well.”
“To me you won” his father said, “you rose each time you fell.”
And when things seem dark and hard and difficult to face
The memory of that little boy helps me in my race.
For all of life is like that race with ups and downs and all
And all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall.
“Quit! Give up! Defeat!” They still shout in my face.
But, another voice within me says, “get up and win that race!”
- AUTHOR UNKNOWN

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning… to the end.

He noted that first came her date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years. (1934-1998)

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth…
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own;
The cars… the house… the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard…
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real,
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile…
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy’s being read
With your life’s actions to rehash…
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

Author Unknown

A- ATTITUDE: 90% of game. You’re in control and you design it. If a negative person comes your way, turn and RUN!
ACCOUNTABILITY
B- BELIEF: key to increasing…
1. Increase imagination
2. Visualize it and see it clearly
3. Affirmation, have a powerful one
4. Tell people who believe in your goal
5. Work as if it is already done.
C- CONFIDENCE: Competence drives Confidence. It is built by small successes.

CHANGE: Get excited about change.
CUSTOMERS: Get a lot of them
CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE: Improve the quality of people you hang around.
COMMUNICATION: Develop firm hand shake, no fingertips.
D- DETERMINATION
DELEGATION: Get help in home, first thing.
DISCIPLINE: It will FREE you.
E- EMOTIONAL MANAGEMENT: KEY!!
ENERGY: Watch what you eat and do. Increase your energy because you give it away.
F- FEAR: Face it.
G- GOALS: Goals give passion and passion increases creativity.
H- HUSTLE: Learn how to get job done. BE driven.
HIGH STANDARDS: Surround yourself w/those who support and increase your standards and get away from those who diminish them.
HABITS: You can’t change habits but you CAN/MUST replace them.
I- IMAGE: Get it! Make sure it’s “slammin”.
J- JUDGEMENT: Don’t judge others. God is the only one who can judge.
K- KNOWLEDGE: It gives clarity.
L- LEADERSHIP: It can be developed.
LAUGHTER: Have to have times of gut-wrenching laughter.
M- MONEY MANAGEMENT: Manage it or it will manage you.
N- NUMBERS: Work them.
NAVIGATE: Through life. Don’t drift.
O- OPPORTUNITY: Share it.
OPEN MOUTH:
OBSTACLES: We all have them, keep going anyway.
P- PEOPLE SKILLS: Learn them.
PAYCHECK: Design yours.
Q- QUALITY WORK: make your work irresistible.
R- RESPECT: Respect your position
RECOGNITION: Learn how to give it.
READ: You are what you read, what you listen to, who you associate with. Read, listen, and associate with good quality.
S- SKILLS: School is never out for the pro. Develop them.
STRATEGIC
STARS: Always be one.
T- TIME MANAGEMENT
TRACK: Track your activity seven days at a time.
TALENT: Write yours down and that’s what you give to others.
U- UNDERSTANDING: Rules, people, and patterns.
V- VISION: Have a clear picture of where you’re going.
W- WORDS: Watch every word that comes out of your mouth.
WINNING: You’ve got to want to win. Learn to compete. Competition is good.
X- “X-TREME” FOCUS: Put all excuses aside.
Y- WHY: What is your “why”? Are you doing what you need to do to take care of your folks, your kids? The choices are NOW.
Z- ZEAL: Get in the ZONE and get ZEAL for more. See world differently and create zeal for more. More means better choices!