Hello, I have added a new page to my blog, THE 3 Letters. Every now and then I choose a letter of the alphabet and give 3 words beginning with that letter followed by a short message on each word. Hope you enjoy! BTM
Introducing THE 3 LETTERS
February 26, 2010
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Dream on!
February 25, 2010The following is an impromptu article on dreaming prompted by a long conversation with a friend.
KEEP DREAMING! – Never stop dreaming no matter what. Keep dreaming even if the dreams may seem too far fetched given the reality. Don’t forget the dreams. Don’t worry if your circumstances and your dreams now seem impossible. For the impossibility today is the reality tomorrow. Write those dreams down, keep track of those dreams. You never know when you will need to turn back to that dream you once had! Even if you are going to die tomorrow, keep dreaming. The one who dreams need not be the one who achieves the dream.
CHANGE IS GOOD! – If your situation changes, realign your changing circumstances to that dream. As your situation changes what it means is that you are being re-positioned. You are getting a different angle, perspective ,platform from which to pursue the dream. Don’t allow the hustle and bustle of life to turn you into a robot, where everything becomes automatic. Stop and think, stop and dream!
WATCH OUT FOR COMFORT! – As you dream watch out for comfort zones in life. The comfort zones are sometimes really the dead zones. In these zones there is no change, no growth and the saddest of all, our dreams die. What an irony that the comfort most long for becomes the biggest obstacle to dreams.
THE DREAM – Dreams will always come to those who dare to imagine, to think differently, to see beyond the present, the obvious, to those who dare the impossible. Could prehistoric man ever have imagined that we might set foot on the moon, let alone being able to see what exists outside our own world and galaxies.
CLOSER! -You are closer to your dreams that you could have imagined. Whether this means being your own boss, starting your company, security the job you want, making a difference to your personal or working life, community or even society, it is all possible. You are doing to dream it and you are going to dream big. Dream on! BTM
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Posted by Bruce
It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences. (Audre Lorde)
February 19, 2010This short article was inspired by a quotation by Audre Lorde. Audre Geraldine Lorde (February 18, 1934 – November 17, 1992) was a Caribbean-American writer, poet and activist.
STRENGTH, NOT WEAKNESS! – Our differences should be our strength rather than our weakness. Our differences bring our uniqueness to the fore. Our differences show the endless possibilities of character, personality, creed, race, religion, gender, orientation,.Our difference should move us forward and not hold us back
SYNERGY – We need to look beyond the differences and focus on that we can do together. What can one do that complements what the other cannot? What we can do together is much great than what the sum of our individual efforts working alone. How can we work together without getting in each other’s way but pushing each other to a higher level than we could have gone on our own?
PROGRESS – If we can pull one another up and not push each other down, we can do so much more and go much further. If we can look to where we are going and not be caught up in where we come from and why we are so different, we will be truly amazed by what we can do.
SOLID BASE – With differences come surprises, dynamics, the unexpected and the promises. Our difference should not become a focus on our life but a solid base from which to strive for success. For with our differences we cover more perspectives, more experiences, more angles, we are more encompassing.
UNIQUE – If we could all have been the same, why not just have one person instead of billions who are exactly alike? We could never be the same and never will be, and indeed there has never been and never will be a need for this.
CELEBRATE! – There is no shame whatsoever in our differences. Rather there is great cause to celebrate and march forward, together! BTM
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Posted by Bruce
Lessons from a GPS
February 18, 2010In just a few years the GPS has gone from being the preserve of the few to commonplace. In this short article I draw some lessons from the GPS that could apply to life. For purposes of this article GPS refers to the automotive navigation system or the receivers integrated in mobile phones.
1) DESTINATION - The most sophisticated GPS will not be of any help if you have no idea or clue of where you want to go. You need to have an idea of where you are going before you look for the road to you there. If you have no idea where you are going, any road will take you there. Brilliant or elaborate plans and ideas are of no use if they are not aligned to a purpose, vision and destination. Where do you want to go? We cannot worry about the route before we know where we want to go?
COST – You will get the directions you need to arrive at your venue but there is no obligation or cost to actually follow any of them. We constantly receive guidance from friends, colleagues and family in life and it is all for free. Can you imagine being charged for advice by friends. Then again think of the life changing impact of the guidance we have received over the years.
COMPARE & CONTRAST – More often that not there will be more than one route to get to your destination. There is always more than one way of doing something. Choose the route that suits your situation. On any given situation we are likely to guidance that will vary in scope and perspective. Compare and contrast and possibly come up with a hybrid solution which brings the best of the guidance you have received.
DISCOVER! – Go beyond the obvious and outside your comfort zones to the new things that await your discovery. Sometimes there is more and better outside the tried and trusted. Don’t be afraid to get lost a little because no matter what you will find your way sooner or later. Take calculated risks. Take a new turn and see if you come out on the main route as you expected.
SAVE THE ROUTE – When a route gets you to the destination save it. Reflect on the experiences in your life and learn from them. They are preparing you for the bigger challenges ahead. In future times these will be points of reference for you. The wounds of your struggles may heal leaving behind the scars but do not forget the lessons.
ADAPT - A new destination will need a new route. You cannot use an old route for a new destination. We have to adapt to the changing situations. Today challenges will demand today’s thinking, today’s perspective and today’s reasoning. Are we ready to adapt and not only survive but thrive?
LEARN – The first time you take the route it’s a new experience and you have to follow every turn. The second time you can possibly do it with less guidance than before. A few more times and you don’t need the GPS for that specific route. Master the situations in life and learn through the insights and experiences of others. It’s fine to get lost but at the same place each time. We need to move on to a higher level each time.
MARK DISTANCE AND PROGRESS – The GPS gives an indication of the distance left to the destination as well as the expected time of arrival. We are able to keep track of our progress. Are you keeping track of your progress towards your goals? Do you know how much more time you need to get there, to achieve your goals and fulfil your purpose.
UNEXPECTED TURNS – Always expect the unexpected. Sometimes during the route the GPS could instruct you to make a turn where none exists. Sometimes there are roadworks which make it possible to follow the recommended route. You have to take the new route. Things will not always turn out as expected in life. Do you despair and give up altogether or readjust your bearings and get going once more even if it means a change of plans. BTM
(The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a U.S. space-based global navigation satellite system. It provides reliable positioning, navigation, and timing services to worldwide users on a continuous basis in all weather, day and night, anywhere on or near the Earth which has an unobstructed view of four or more GPS satellites. – Source – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPS)
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Posted by Bruce
Asset or liability?
February 8, 2010This piece is inspired by the accounting concept of asset and liability.
VALUE – Are you adding value to your life? On the work and personal front do loved ones appreciate the difference that you make in their lives? At work are you making a meaningful contribution? If the value added cannot be measure, is it at least felt in one way or another?
DRAIN/ UPLIFT – What effect do you have on the people around you. Do you uplift and motivate others and bring out the best in them or do you you have a draining effect and give negative vibes?
REVALUATION – Do you take time every now and then to evaluate things, to see how things are going? Do you compared your progress against set targets? What do you do when you reckon that things are in serious need of improvement? What do you do when you a very big difference between where you are and where you know you could be if you really do your best. After you mark the adjustment that needs to be made, are you going to go through with it?
FUTURE BENEFITS – What are you doing today to enhance the results tomorrow? Are you working hard so that in future you can enjoy the benefits while you work? Do you take a long term view on things or is it all about the here and now?
DEPRECIATION – What are you doing to safeguard all the efforts of your hard work? If we are not careful it could all lose value overnight.
ASSET/ LIABILITY – The way I see it we are all assets but are we realising that value inside us! BTM
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Posted by Bruce
The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me. (Ayn Rand)
February 8, 2010This piece is inspired by a quote from Ayn Rand (born Alisa Zinov’yevna Rosenbaum) a Russian America novelist, philosopher, playwright, and screenwriter who lived from 1905 to 1982. (source – Wikipedia)
PERMISSION – By virtue of being born, being alive this instant, breathing, dreaming, you already have the permission you need. There is no need for any individual or authority to endorse something you were was born with.
STOP?? – If I let you someone else stop you it’s because you have allowed it. No one and nothing can stop you without your consent. The barriers that will prevent your success are the ones you will create yourself.
TRIES – You can try as many times as you wish. As long as you are playing the game keep aiming and shooting for goal..
DIRECTION – No matter how long or draining the journey is keep two directions in mind. UP and FORWARD. Go up, go forward! Maybe sideways but never backwards and never down. Keep rising!
LIMITS – Here is some useful information about the limits in your life. There are none! There are no limits, there have never been and never will be.
TIME – The time you have to achieve your goals is your lifetime but move swiftly! Whatever you are doing, or even when you are doing nothing, time keeps moving. Like a stream, it’s always flowing. There is no better time than the present. This is the best time for me to prepare for the future, the most appropriate time to build on the past.
Get on and get going. You don’t need anyone to let you. Let’s see who’s going to stop you. BTM
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Posted by Bruce
