The Simple Life - A Reverse Truth
June 18, 2008
It has come to amuse me over recent years: the way we use the expression “The Simple Life”. I recall back in the 1970’s, in my 20’s, I had a yearning for having a smallholding in an idyllic setting, growing vegetables, plants and whatever took my fancy. Already by then, such a notion was regarded as wanting a return to the “simple life”.
Not many years later came a popular tv situation comedy in England called The Good Life. It made for a good comedy situation too: a well to do couple in a slightly upmarket and unjustifiably snobbish suburb of London, trying to scrape a living from growing vegetables and raising wildfowl in their modest sized garden. They had a yearning to return to the “simple life”, but within the comfort zone of suburbia.
Pass It On - The Three Golden Gates
June 10, 2008
The three golden gates is something I first heard about from one of my first pastors, Richard Land. It did not originate with him but I have always been glad that he chose to repeat these words to me. Richard is now heard across the nation daily on hundreds of family life radio stations.
He said that before you say anything to anybody you should see if it can pass successfully through all three of the golden gates. If it couldn’t make it through all three gates it was probably not something that should be spoken at all.
How A Biscuit Taught Me A Priceless Life Lesson
April 7, 2008
There are no two greater ironic comparisons than that of a biscuit and life. For over two decades, I’d feverishly tried to bake biscuits. Being a baking ‘connoisseur,’ I was quite disheartened that I could easily knead & bake home-made yeast, cinnamon rolls and croissants - but try as I did, I could never grasp the technique of making southern-baked biscuits.
Regardless whether I used the quick mix or home-made recipe kind, somehow my biscuits either came out of the oven with the texture of mortar, fell apart like charcoal briquettes or tasted like salty play-doh. In any event, it was my solemn quest to bake these tasty breakfast breads some time before I die.
The Inspiration Factor
March 19, 2008
The first thing that an aspiring leader must realize is that they must be inspiring! That is, they must be capable of, and willing to inspire people on to greater things than if the leader were not in their lives.
So, is this too grandiose an ideal for the average local business owner? Absolutely not. The people who work at your business, school or organization need to be inspired by you on a regular basis.
It is what keeps them from giving up.
Remind them of the big picture
They aren’t just serving food, they are helping families spend time together, so make it enjoyable.
What We Can Learn From J. Paul Getty
February 9, 2008
J. Paul Getty planned to enter the U.S. Diplomatic Service, but, when he got out of college, the Oklahoma oil boom caught his attention. Since his father had already prospered in the oil business, he was irresistibly attracted to the prospects of wildcatting, and he decided to postpone his diplomatic ambitions for two more years.
He worked on other wildcatter’s rigs and borrowed money from his father to raise money for oil speculation. His father only gave him small amounts of money and demanded prompt repayment.
J. Paul Getty spent his money frugally, and also saved money through haggling over prices.
