I learned from a jigsaw puzzle

Everything I needed to know about life I learned from a jigsaw puzzle


Jacquie Sewell 


1. Don't force a fit--if something is meant to be, it will come together naturally.

2. When things aren't going so well, take a break. Everything will look different when you return.

3. Be sure to look at the big picture. Getting hung up on the little pieces only leads to frustration.

4. Perseverance pays off. Every important puzzle went together bit by bit, piece by piece.

5. When one spot stops working, move to another. But be sure to come back later (see #4).

6. The creator of the puzzle gave you the picture as a guidebook. Refer to the Creator's guidebook often.

7. Variety is the spice of life. It's the different colors and patterns that make the puzzle interesting.

8. Working together with friends and family makes any task fun.

9. Establish the border first. Boundaries give a sense of security and order.

10. Don't be afraid to try different combinations. Some matches are surprising.

11. Take time often to celebrate your successes (even little ones).

12. Anything worth doing takes time and effort. A great puzzle can't be rushed.

13. When you finally reach the last piece, don't be sad. Rejoice in the masterpiece you've made and enjoy a well-deserved rest.

Copyright 2001 Jacquie Sewell ( jjsewell416@yahoo.com )

Think like a champion

1.

Composure, poise, and presence: Champions maintain balance under the most extreme adversity. They do not panic. They are able to focus,
stay relaxed and continue to walk the walk. They stay positive and act confidently to handle stress.

2.

Self-confidence: Champions believe in their capabilities and know what they can do. They maintain this sense of self even under pressure or
when things are not going well. They remind themselves they have succeeded in tougher times than these.

3.

Eternal hope: Champions fight to the end. They never give up. They continually seek ways to win and experiment with tactics to turn things
around in their favour. They truly believe that there is a way to win and they just have to discover it.

4.

Pacing skills: Champions know when to take a break and relax. They know how to control the clock so they can rest. They know that working
non-stop leads to burn-out. They have the experience to know when to cruise and when to turn it on.

5.

Control factor awareness: Champions know what they can control, what they can only influence and what is out of their control. They focus
only on those things within their control or influence and let go of the rest.

6.

The ability to learn: Champions absorb experience very rapidly. They learn from every outing, good or bad. They seek feedback from others
and consider all sides to infuse new techniques and methods into their play. They see what needs to be done to improve and win.

7.

Coachability: Champions are coachable. They seek help from those who are more experienced. They form collaborative partnership with
those who can help them. They appreciate the art and science of coaching and make it an integral part of their training programme.

8.

A strong work ethic: Champions know that hard work leads to confidence and the belief that they deserve to win because they have paid
their dues.

9.

Commitment: Champions dream big, and they make pact with themselves to reach those goals. They stay on track in spite of setbacks. They
continually remind themselves of their goals and readjust those goals as they are met. They make a commitment to train hard and follow
through, no matter what.


10.

Champions give their best in everything they do.

Seat on the couch

Sometimes life gets you down. Tough colleagues, tough job, tough customers, could be anything.
But I always look forward to the end of the day when I reach home and my little princess is waiting for me.

A seat on the couch


Joseph J. Mazzella
     It had been a long, hard day at work. At the time I was in my early twenties but by the end of the day I felt like I was ninety. Times were tough financially and the only job I could find was in a local lumber mill. That meant long hours for low pay. My days were spent cutting, carrying, and stacking boards with an injured back that never stopped hurting. My fingers were covered in band aids but still split and bled through my torn work gloves. When each day finally ended it was all I could do to trudge tiredly out to my car.

     The drive home was short but felt long. I was so worn out. Each day seemed to take more out of me and the money I earned was barely enough to feed my family. When I got to my front door I did my best to wipe the sawdust off my clothes before going in. Then I wearily hung up my hard hat, took off my cracked, worn, work boots, and collapsed on the couch. I sat there for a while with my eyes closed, trying to rest my aching back. Suddenly, I felt our little dog curling up in a ball next to me. I smiled and petted him for a bit before opening my eyes again.

     When I did my smile widened because my young daughter was standing in front of me holding her favorite children’s book. She looked at me innocently with her beautiful blue eyes and asked if I could read her a story. I bent over, helped her to climb up on my lap, and said, "Sure Sweetie." I felt a warmth and peace around me as I started to read and fresh energy soon began to fill my body and spirit. I knew then that everything was going to be alright and I silently thanked God for His love, for my family, and for my life.

     So many of us spend our lives in the pursuit of happiness. Yet, often all you need to do is take a seat on the couch and watch as love climbs on your lap, peace curls up by your side, and happiness fills your heart. May you always love freely and live joyfully as God intended.

The very least you can do

The very least you can do

Bob Perks
It sounds terrible.

It seems inadequate, maybe inappropriate... to do the very least.

"I heard about their divorce.  I felt bad, but I didn't know what to say.  So, I haven't called."

"He's dying from cancer.  I was his best man at their wedding.  I just can't see him like that. So, I'm not stopping by.  I want to remember him
in better times."

I don't know how you feel about reading those two statements.  They are true.  I heard people say it. So, what's the very least they could have done?

Called.

Sent a note.

We clearly are not called to do nothing at all.

This is when "The very least you can do" is better  than doing nothing at all.

I have heard it called, "burden sharing."  Biblical examples abound.

Romans 12:10 - Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Proverbs 31:8-9 - "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."

I'm not preaching here.  I'm not a preacher.  I am a man, a human being who believes there is always something one can do even if it is the very least.

Like the smile given freely.

The kind word spoken.

Being there and not saying anything.  Your presence says it all.

The next time you see someone in need ask yourself, "What's the very least I can do?"

Then do it.

Sometimes the least you can do for someone is the most anyone has done...ever.

10 potential outcomes

If I could show you how to achieve a 10%-40% increase in your time, income and relational results - would you be interested? If you could go one step further and help your staff, spouse and family achieve these
same results, would that interest you?

One of the hallmark traits of both top producers and successful businesses is the conscious and consistent
investment in personal and professional growth. How much are you investing in your own business and
personal growth?

If you begin today consistently investing in the personal growth strategies that we are suggesting, here are
10 potential outcomes that can be achieved:

1) Gain between 10 and 15 additional forty-hour work weeks per year (multiply one to two hours a day by 365 days a year by applying more productive time management methods each day.

2) Increase your production by 10%-50% without investing more time and effort by improving your selling, networking and negotiation skills.

3) Place yourself ahead of 85% of the population and increase by 90% your odds of achieving financial independence by retirement age simply by having a sound financial philosophy and proven investment plan.

4) Improve your ability to be a more effective and loving parent, spouse and friend by improving your relational skills.

5) Improve your looks, confidence, energy, quality and length of life by having a consistent health/fitness philosophy and maintaining a health plan.

6) Increase every level of performance related to your company, staff and individual performance, as well as all your personal relationships, by mastering the art of communication.

7) Achieve a sense of purpose behind every action as well as increase your long-term success quotient by 95% by having a set of clearly defined 10-year goals.

8) Multiply your efforts and have a positive influence over a larger sphere of people by learning effective leadership and management skills.

9) Affect large groups of people at one time and place yourself in the upper echelon of your particular industry by learning how to give effective presentations to audiences.

10) Gain perspective, encouragement and motivation versus falling prey to the numerous pitfalls and down times so many people are faced with on a daily basis by having the consistent influence of top performers, role models, coaches and mentors in your life.

Success is everything?

by Jim Rohn



Someone once said to me that success isn't everything and I think I know what they really meant. I believe they really meant that money wasn't everything and I certainly agree with that. But I do believe that success IS everything.

First you need to succeed to survive. We must take the seasons and learn how to use them with the seed, the
soil and the rain of opportunity to learn how to sustain ourselves and our family. But then second is to then
succeed to flourish in every part of your life. Good question to ask mature people “If you could do better should you?" And I think almost everybody would answer the question in the positive. If you could improve your health shouldn't you do that? If you can learn more shouldn't you do that? If you could earn more and share more, shouldn't you do that? If you can improve your relationships and spirituality shouldn't you do that? And I think that is what success is really all about. It is not just a destination that is set for everybody to try and go for.

It is like Zig said, "improving in every area of your life to see if you can't with satisfaction at the end of the day, week, month and year and say 'I have made excellent progress this year, for myself, for my family, for my business, my career and my health.'". I think that kind of success everybody recognizes is legitimate and
something we should all strive for.

Interesting phrase in the bible that says strive for perfection - not that we can ever reach it. But it is in the
striving, to be a little bit better today than yesterday, in our speech, our language, our health, everything we can possibly think of.