Bells and whistles

If you give people what they want, they will not be happy. If you do not give them what they want, they will go somewhere else. A good salesman convinces you of what you did not know you wanted.

In our society, we can have anything our hearts desire. But people are always searching for more. Things do not satisfy, yet human beings fill their lives with such.

It is not enough to do something well: you must persuade others you have done well. The majority of the struggle is in overcoming their apathy. I believe quality will win in the end, but that may be a long way off.

There are many tricks that can be employed to gain attention. I suggest using whatever works. Focus solely on quality and you will perish in obscurity.

Many are dazzled by bright lights and pretty colors: that is the hook to draw them in. And in they will plunge: hook, line and sinker. It was not the product but the packaging that mattered.

So, be sure to make it appealing. Take the time to give them what they want, or they will find someone else who will. If the outward appearance is not pleasing, they will not bother to look inside.

Without hesitation

We must make our own opportunities in life. Anything that is given can be taken away. But if you create something, it cannot be taken without a fight.

Your eyes should always be on the prize. It is why you work so hard: to achieve a dream. There is no obstacle that cannot be overcome through patience, perseverance and perspicacity.

The desire to succeed is not enough. One must employ all their faculties to be successful. If you hold anything back, you have lost already.

He that hesitates has failed. There are too many in the struggle to have a hope of winning without giving your all. And even that may not be enough.

If you can give up, do so now before you spend a great deal of energy for nothing. Do not be the person who wakes up one morning wondering why they ever bothered. Quit while you are behind, and learn to be content.

But if you cannot give up… if you will not relent… if you shall not back down, then fight! Charge into the fray and take no prisoners. Live without fear, love without measure, and wage war without hesitation.

Worth doing

I am supremely confident that I do not know how things are going to turn out. So much is out of my hands. Still, I have set my course and will see it through.

Pride believes in many things, and they are all wrong. Honesty admits there are obstacles to be overcome. But the end result remains to be seen.

Dreams keep the mind busy and give the heart a goal. I cannot say it will all amount to nothing. But even if I knew, would it not be worth the doing?

I did not set out to achieve fortune and fame. Nor did I spend countless hours only to consume it all on my own lust. I am doing what I love, and it is my earnest desire that others will love it too.

No matter what you do, pour your heart and soul into it. Quality is better than quantity, and it shows in everything. Whether seen or not, it cannot be denied.

You cannot stop doing what you truly love. It is in every beat of the heart, when you breathe in and out, the beginning and end of your days. When it goes, the soul goes with it. 

Know limits

I am diabetic: that is a limitation. There are many things I can do, and others I no longer should. Only by recognizing our limitations can we truly hope to overcome them.

That which does not adapt shall perish. And pride will merely hasten a trip into the earth. But wisdom sees the obstacle and plans accordingly.

One cannot pass through a wall by closing their eyes and stepping forward. Reality has a way of establishing its existence whether or not you wish to see it. The sudden, painful collision is the undeniable proof.

     

If you cannot go through, you can always go around, over or under. That which obstructs is stationary, thus its inherent weakness is exposed. Even if it moves, it can always be outmaneuvered.

There are things that cannot be overcome, but they are quite few. At heart, there are no limits. But what the spirit wills, the flesh cannot always supply.

I fight against my limitations, yet recognize their existence. Heart and mind must both be employed if success is to be achieved. Yes, there is a wall and it is too wide to go around and the ground is too hard to dig through. It’s time to start climbing.   

Little and much

People doggedly pursue success, and some achieve it. But it is vitally important to ready oneself for what comes next. After all, success is not the end… but the means.

Things do not make one happy.  There is nothing wrong with enjoying them: we work our entire lives to provide ourselves with those brief moments of bliss. But happiness is born within, and all the trappings in the world will merely serve to suffocate a miserable soul.

If you cannot enjoy little, you will not appreciate much. Big things get in the way of simple pleasures. When the eyes are large, the heart is lacking.

Impressing others is a vicious cycle. You must constantly provide wonder, or their interest will cease. Friends do not care about what you have, but who you are.

Think about what you want: why do you desire it? Is there a real purpose, or is it just to gain acceptance? Do you wish to produce something, or consume it on your lusts?

It is easy to be a victim of your own success. There are many who perish in the pursuit of vanity. To truly appreciate a mighty oak, you must never forget that it was once but a seed.  

Showing is knowing

Confidence is a two-edged sword. If overconfident, pride will lay you low. However, if one lacks assurance, they lack the drive to succeed.

Belief in oneself must always be honest. Lies cannot stand against the billows of scrutiny. At the slightest breeze, it will all fall down.

Those who lie, inevitably lie to themselves. And they start to believe their own press. Soon, they are ensnared in the web meant for others.

Believe only in that which is demonstrated. Show what you can do, and the naysayers will be silenced. Or their words will fall on deaf ears.

Accept constructive criticism. If someone is trying to tear you down, it will be obvious. They will have nothing good to say.

Once you know your abilities, what they say becomes meaningless. Listen to them anyway. Let it stoke the desire to succeed, and leave them behind still grumbling.

Building a future

The future is born of what we do today. No great invention can make one’s life complete. As wondrous as our technology is, it merely provides us tools with which to enrich our existence.

We have advanced so much in such a short period of time. I remember when computers were used as overpriced calculators and electronic typewriters. Games were simple and phones were used only to make calls.

It is easy to get lost in a time like this. The internet has become a substitute for human contact, bringing people together who cannot so easily meet. It is not the technology, but what we do with it, that is the problem.

As much as I love social networking, I make it a point to spend time with people in person. There is something about just sitting down with friends and talking. To break bread with the ones you love is a gift beyond measure.

We lead hectic lives, so it is important to find time to relax. Conversation is becoming a lost art form. Communication is the cornerstone of civilization, and is essential for the functioning of a healthy society.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. The past is filled with people who were not so different from us. With their hands, they built our present. With ours, we build the future.