One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.
He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.
As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!
MORAL : Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells if we never give up! Shake it off and take a step up.
Haven't committed to any resolutions yet? Try these on for size:
1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.
3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less from people and more from yourself.
My birthday is between Christmas and new years. So my season of celebrating always continues after Christmas. But for each of us there are reasons to keep the party going after December 25th. First consider this; even if you're not a person of faith, every time you say or write a calendar date, you are referring to Christ. It has been 2013 years since he walked the earth, that's why this year is 2013!
The carol, twelve days of Christmas, refers to the 12 days from Christmas to January 6, which is the Epiphany. It's the day the 3 wise men reached Baby Jesus in Bethlehem. It is believed that in times of religious persecution in England during the 17th century, Christians would share and teach the gospel by reciting this carol or poem which was later set to music. 1. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus. 2. The two turtledoves are the Old and New Testaments. 3. Three French hens stand for faith, hope and love. 4. The four calling birds are the four Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. 5. The five gold rings recall the first five books of the Old Testament, Mosaic Law. 6. The six geese a-laying stand for the six days of creation. 7. The seven swans a-swimming represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit as described in the book of Isaiah chapter 11, verse 1 & 2. 8. The eight maids a-milking represent the eight Beatitudes. 9. Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit. 10. The ten lords a-leaping are the Ten Commandments. 11. Eleven pipers piping represent the eleven faithful Apostles. 12. Twelve drummers drumming symbolize the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles Creed. There's is a story behind every story. There's always more to learn. In 2014, I wish you a world of discovery wonder and delight!
Today, on his 94 birthday we remember and commemorate Nelson Mandela's accomplishments and contributions. The hallmark of his leadership style was trust. The greatest leaders in the world gravitated toward Mr. Mandela because they could trust him to consistently live up to his life's mission of peace and freedom.
1. Lacking Courage
Leaders that don’t stand up for what they believe in are difficult to respect and trust. Too many leaders today face the dilemma of assimilating our being their authentic selves. Employees want leaders who are willing to stand up for them, promote them and show confidence in them.
When leaders lack the courage to enable their full potential and that of others, it becomes a challenge to trust their judgment, decisions, awareness and capabilities.
2. Having a Hidden Agendas
Leaders today are often viewed as devious and manipulating. Employees want to follow leaders who live by a set of value and continually strive to reach team and organization goals. To avoid the impression of shadiness, leaders must state their motives plainly, explain rationale behind decisions, and clarify purpose.
3. Being Self-Centered
Employee catch on to leaders self-serving intentions. When a leader is only looking out for him- or herself employee expect the worst of them. Employees then start to look out for themselves. That means they might resist cross training and mentoring, and refrain from sharing ideas and solutions. Great leaders are great coaches and are always looking to help their employees grow and prosper.
4. Damaging a Reputation 5. Showing Inconsistent Performance
People are more inclined to trust those who are consistent. A leaders credibility is not only built on their character but their track record of results as well. Employees gain trust in a leader as they see consistent performance. Leaders who are consistent with their behavior and performance are those who can be trusted. This is why leaders need to refresh their leadership style, skills, and competencies regularly.
6. Avoiding Hands-On Work
Delegation is fine when don't appropriately and with a purpose. Leaders should not dump unwanted task on others just to avoid work. Employees expect leaders to be willing to get their hands dirty. Leaders should be engaged in the work and daily operations. When everyone has to work late, the leader is not exception. When others take a pay cut, the leader is the first to be affected.
7. Lacking Purpose
Leaders must understand that they goal is to help others succeed. I heard a comedian say that he used to think it was his job to make people laugh then he realized it's his job to give people an opportunity to laugh. It took a while for me to understand this, but essentially he was saying his role is not to force anything or anyone. Leader should be a conduit; a catalyst; and at the core - a servant.
Mandela once said it's not the fact that you lived that matters, it the difference you made while you lived that does. “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” -- Nelson Mandela
One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.
