DO NOT TALK TO THE PARROT

Susan’s washing machine quit working so she called a repairman. Since she had to go to work the next day, she told the repairman, "I'll leave the key with my next door neighbor. Fix the washing machine, leave the bill on the counter, and I'll have somebody send you the payment. "Oh, by the way, don't worry about my Rottweiler. He won't bother you. But, whatever you do, do NOT, under ANY circumstances, talk to my parrot! I REPEAT, DO NOT TALK TO MY PARROT!!!" When the repairman arrived at Susan’s apartment the following day, he discovered the biggest, meanest-looking Rottweiler he had ever seen. But, just as she had said, the dog just lay there on the carpet, watching the repairman go about his work. The parrot, however, drove him nuts the whole time with his incessant yelling and name calling. Finally, the repairman couldn't contain himself any longer and yelled, "Shut up, you stupid, ugly bird!" To which the parrot replied, "Get him, Spike!" That’s what happens to people who do not follow instructions. Following instructions is simply discipline in action. Discipline is inevitable. We either discipline ourselves, or life brings other people to do it for us. Don’t you hate those awful pink fences that line up the major streets in our Metropolis? Fences to keep people from jaywalking, fences to keep vehicles in their proper places, fences to keep buses from wandering and the question is why are those ugly fences there in the first place? Because motorists and pedestrians do not want to follow instructions and so somebody has to do something to force us to follow. Fences enclose. Fences restrict freedom. But the irony behind those fences is that they were put there because of a lot of people’s insistence to do what they want rather than obeying orders and following instructions. Now there is the great analogy about pink fences and our personal life. We all long for freedom and the ability to "do whatever I want." And yet, the successful people who seem to have the most freedom also happen to be the most disciplined, the most focused and self-directed people I have ever met. Many people think that freedom is the right to do whatever they want, whenever they want, sleep all morning, enjoy happy hour, act on impulse and charge their credit cards to the max. Take a little sip here, take a little drag there, snort it up, gulp it down, inject it into their veins, jump from one bed to another and pretty soon they find themselves losing the very freedom they want; chained by chaos, conflict and frustration living an undisciplined life that leads to disappointment and pain. Discipline is inevitable. We either discipline ourselves, or life brings other people to do it for us. We either manage our lives on our own, or we lose the very freedom we cherish. We either practice self-discipline or pretty soon our creditors “convince" us to work more hours. Our bosses "persuade" us to work harder or longer or smarter. Our families "encourage" us to do our work, fulfill our responsibilities and "behave ourselves." Taken to the extreme, eventually people with uniforms and titles like "guards" or "warden" will structure our time and our lives for us. Look at the way we rear up our kids. Children are not expected to know how to structure their lives, so parents teach them. Parents get them up for school and remind them to make their beds or do their chores. Parents are charged with teaching children that joy is the REWARD for effort and discipline. This is why it is good to have children involved in competitive sports. As they practice, work hard and fulfill their commitments, they gain skill, and skill leads to victory and celebration on the playing field, and in life. Freedom therefore is the RESULT of a great life, not the raw material. If we start by living a free and undisciplined life, true freedom slips away. It gets lost in a thousand petty or careless "little" decisions that eventually deny us the life we want. You know the old cliché, but it still rings true today. You cannot have freedom without responsibility. Simply put, you cannot live an undisciplined life and expect to be free to live the life you want. Do you know how freedom is destroyed? The answer is simple. By abusing it as well as taking it away. Begin with a handful of daily commitments that suit your unique situation. Pray. Work. Exercise. Eat healthy. Read. Stay faithful – in your work and in your family. Be productive. Do it now! Build the habit of personal discipline. It's the road to personal freedom. And when we have learned discipline as a people…then maybe…those pink fences would go away. By: Francis Kong

Some helpfull tips to Office Workers

I have found this one from francis Kong writings, I found it little interesting simply because of its lessson and the memories come back to life,i am not working presently in a company anymore. I have my own little entrepreneural things i am busy with right now. I miss those day getting up early, rushing up early drive like a race car driver just to make it on time..And the feeling of yeeeeeeeeees!!if i make it on time, not late maybe 30 secondsbefore the bell rings..I dont blame the traffic my house simple too far from my work then...Hope you will find reading this interesting to!!

DIFFERENCE MAKERS HAVE COURAGE

By Francis Kong

Have you ever met people who are almost always late for work every day? Well this was what happened.

As the pretty office assistant, entered her office half an hour late her boss stood there with a mean look on his face said, “Miss Gomez, you should have been here half an hour ago!”

And Ms. Gomez gave a surprised look and said, “Why? What happened?”

One wag says: "My boss refuses to accept 'the early bird catches the worm' as a valid excuse for leaving work everyday at 2:00 pm

Another one says: "The trouble with being punctual is that nobody is there to appreciate it."

Are you always on the rush?

I am. I rush from one speaking engagement to another.

I rush from one meeting to another and the terrible traffic in Manila really deprives people the opportunity of living a quality life.

I must have heard at least 2 speakers joking about this. They say that the 2 most popular nationalities in the work place are Russians and Argentinean. And there I was sitting down trying to figure out what he was talking about until he explained and said, “You always hear people say: “Rush yan!” or “Urgent yan.” And I kind laughed and agreed that it is indeed the case.

But famous author and popular motivational speaker Zig Ziglar offers us wise advice. In an article entitled “Difference Makers Have Courage,” Ziglar says:

Workers are basically honest and they are almost always at work on time. However, for most workers, the last one hundred yards to get to work are pretty hectic. There is the mad dash into the parking lot, the rush to the building, the clocking in, the sprint to the coffee pot, and the unloading of bags, briefcases and outer garments. The work day frequently starts five to ten minutes after the paycheck starts. Maybe in our country it starts a whole lot later. But Ziglar says: Typically, workers who are supposed to work until five o'clock usually do exactly that. However, about ten minutes before five they begin to clear off their desks, pack their bags and slip on their garments or shoes as in the case of the ladies. If video cameras were in place, we would be able to see these people in the three-point sprinter's stance, ready to make a mad exit when the clock strikes five. We would see them hustle to the car, jump in and screech out of the parking lot, complaining about the dangers of the freeways. This approach creates unnecessary stress, reduces productivity, and shortens our life span.

Solution: Get to work ten minutes early and get that cup of coffee. Go to your post and casually prepare your work station. By starting time you can be in full production. At the end of the day, work until five o'clock. Then pack up and head for home. It will be quieter and safer and you will feel more relaxed.

The benefits to this approach are many.

First, you'll feel better about yourself because you'll know you've put in a full day's work.

Second, you'll be more relaxed and able to accomplish a great deal more.

Third, you will impress your employers.

End of article.

But please allow me to add some comments to this.

That 10 minute difference means a lot of difference but what about trying to wake up a whole lot earlier by hitting the bed earlier the night before.

Turn off the TV, prepare your clothes and your things for the next day, read a book or listen to quiet music and then turn the lights off earlier than usual. This way you wake up earlier and can get to your work place not only on time but just a bit earlier too. Reduces stress and makes you a lot more productive than ever.

Traffic and work pressure is no longer a problem. Because had they been problems then there would have been a solution. They are now facts of life so learn to live with it.

I do. And then of course never forget to make time for prayer and meditation…it’s the only way for us to keep our center and sanity as well.