HONESTY IS AN ATTITUDE

By: Solomon

An aging King realized that if he died he has no one to take over the throne. He decided to adopt a son.

He launched a competition and 10 boys made it to the top. The King said to them, "I have one last test and whoever comes top will become my adopted son and heir to my throne".

He gave each boy a seed of corn and told them to take the seed home, plant and nurture it for 3 weeks. The 10 boys took their seeds and ran home to plant their seeds.

In one home, the boy and his parents were sad when the seed failed to sprout. The boy had done everything but he failed.

His friends advised him to buy a seed and plant it but his God fearing parents who had always taught him honesty refused.

The day came and the 10 boys went to the palace. All the 9 boys were successful.

The King went to each boy asking – “Is that what came out of the seed I gave you?" And each boy said "Yes, your majesty". The King would nod and move down the line until the last boy in the line who was shaking with fear.

The King asked him - "What did you do with the seed I gave you?" The boy said "I planted it and cared for it your majesty but it failed to sprout." The King went to the throne with the boy and said, "I gave these boys boiled seeds and a boiled seed cannot sprout.

If a King must have one quality, it must be honesty and only this boy passed the test.” We live in a society where people will do anything for success.

God sometimes does not give us things because He wants to teach us a lesson.

How many people out there have achieved success the wrong way? How many people send their children to expensive schools and build houses, buy expensive cars with stolen money?

How many people are occupying top positions yet they stole the certificates? How many people are successful out there at all costs?

HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE CROWNED AS KINGS IN HEAVEN FOR BEING FAITHFUL UNTIL THE END? I PRAY THAT I BE FAITHFUL TILL THE END!!!

Please be faithful to God no matter what life throws at you, even if life gives you boiled seed.

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IN YOUTH WE LEARN, IN AGE WE UNDERSTAND

Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind;

it is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips and supple knees;

it is a matter of will, a quality of imagination,a vigor of the emotions;

it is the freshness of the deep springs of life.

Youth means a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity,

of the appetite for adventure over the love of ease.

This often exists in a man of 60 more than a boy of 20.

Nobody grows old merely by a number of years.


Be the change you want to see


We grow old by deserting our ideals.

Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.

Worry, fear, self-distrust bows the heart and turns the spirit back to dust.

Whether 60 or 16, there is in every human beings  heart the lure of wonder,

the unfailing childlike appetite of what's next and the joy of the game of living.

In the center of your heart and my heart there is a wireless station:

so long as it receives messages of beauty,hope, cheer, courage and power from men and from the infinite,

so long as you are young.

When the aerials are down, and your spirit is covered with snows of cynicism and the ice of pessimism,

then you are grown old, even at 20,

but as long as your aerials are up to catch waves of optimism,

there is hope you may die young at 80. 

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UNFORGETTABLE PEOPLE

Some people are truly, genuinely unforgettable--and in the best possible way.

They truly believe the unbelievable.
Most people try to achieve the achievable; that's why most goals and targets are incremental rather than inconceivable.

Unforgettable people expect more-from themselves and from others. And they show us how to get there.

And they bring us along for what turns out to be an unbelievable ride.

They genuinely see opportunity in instability and uncertainty.
Unexpected problems, unforeseen roadblocks, major crises--most people take down the sails and batten the hatches and ride out the storm.

A few see a crisis as an opportunity. They know it's extremely difficult to make major changes, even necessary ones, when things are going relatively smoothly.

They know reorganizing an entire sales team is accepted more easily when a major customer goes under. They know creating new sales channels is a lot easier when a major competitor enters the market. They know reorganizing manufacturing operations is a lot easier when the flow of supplies and components gets disrupted.

Unforgettable people see instability and uncertainty not as a barrier, but as an enabler. They reorganize, reshape, and re-engineer to reassure, motivate, and inspire--and in the process make everyone around them more successful too.

They wear their emotions on their sleeves.
Most people are professional.

Unforgettable people are highly professional and yet somehow still openly and genuinely human. They show sincere excitement when things go well. They show sincere appreciation for hard work and extra effort. They show sincere disappointment--not in others, but in themselves. They celebrate, they empathize, and they worry.

In short, they're people. And, unlike many people in a work setting, they behave as if they know it.

Professionalism is admirable. Professionalism--with a healthy blend of humanity--is inspiring.

And because it's so rare, it's unforgettable.

They throw themselves under the bus.
Many people, even if just occasionally, throw other people under the bus. (Unfortunately, I've done it.)

Some people never throw other people under the bus.

But unforgettable people see the bus coming and pull others out of the way, often without the other person knowing--because unforgettable people also never seek to take credit.

They don't need to.

They never stop paying their dues.
Dues aren't paid, past tense. Dues get paid every day.

The real measure of value is the tangible contribution a person makes on a daily basis.

That's why no matter what they've accomplished in the past, unforgettable people are never too good to roll up their sleeves, get dirty, and do the "grunt" work. No job is ever too menial, no task ever too unskilled or boring.

Genuine never feel entitled, setting an example that helps others keep from feeling entitled--except to the fruits of their labor - the best fruit.

They possess qualities that don't always show up on paper but do always show up where it matters most: in the minds and even hearts of people who know them, and will never forget them.

They lead by permission, not authority.
Unforgettable people lead because the people around them want them to lead. They're motivated and inspired by the person, not the title. Often the most unforgettable leaders are informal leaders.

And if they are in charge, their words and actions make their employees feel they work with, not for, a boss.

Too many bosses don't even recognize there's a difference, but unforgettable bosses do.

They embrace--and promote--a larger purpose.
Say you start a company (or are in a leadership position). Your job is to achieve company goals.

Unforgettable people also work to achieve company goals--and usually achieve more than other people--but also work to serve a larger purpose: to advance the careers of employees, to make a real difference in the community, to rescue struggling employees, to instill a sense of pride and self-worth in others.

They aren't remembered just for nuts and bolts achievements but for helping others on a more personal or individual level.

Unforgettable people embrace a larger purpose because they know that while business is business, the best business is personal.

They take real risks, not fake risks.
Many people try to stand out in some superficial way. Maybe it's their clothes, or their interests, or their public displays of support for popular initiatives.

They do stand out, but for reasons of sizzle, not steak.

Unforgettable people stand out because they're willing to take an unpopular stand, to take an unpopular step, to accept the discomfort of not following the status quo, to take the risk of sailing uncharted waters.

They take real risks not for the sake of risk but for the sake of the reward they believe is possible.

And by their example they inspire others to take a risk to achieve what they believe is possible.

Unforgettable people inspire others to achieve their dreams: by words, by actions, and most importantly, by example.

Who can forget a person who helps us achieve our dreams?

I certainly can't--and neither can you.

 

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7 STEVE JOBS QUOTES THAT COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE

By: Jeff Haden

He came, he saw, he conquered...and he left behind some words to live by:

1. "I'm convinced that about half of what separates successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance."

Everyone says they go the extra mile. Almost no one actually does. Most people who do go there think, "Wait...no one else is here...why am I doing this?" And they leave, never to return.

That's why the extra mile is such a lonely place.

That's also why the extra mile is a place filled with opportunities.

Be early. Stay late. Make the extra phone call. Send the extra email. Do the extra research. Help a customer unload or unpack a shipment.

Don't wait to be asked -- offer. Don't just tell employees what to do -- show them what to do, and work beside them.

Every time you do something, think of one extra thing you can do...especially if other people aren't doing that extra thing.

Sure, it's hard. But that's what will make you different.

And over time, that's what will make you incredibly successful.

2. "My favorite things in life don't cost any money. It's really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time."

Deadlines and time frames establish parameters, but usually not in a good way. Most people given two weeks to complete a task will instinctively adjust their effort so it actually takes two weeks -- even if it shouldn't.

So forget deadlines, at least as a way to manage your activity. Tasks should only take as long as they need to take. Do everything as quickly and effectively as you can. Then, use your "free" time to get other things done just as quickly and effectively.

Average people allow time to impose its will on them; exceptional people impose their will on their time.

3. "My model for business is The Beatles. They were four guys who kept each other's kind of negative tendencies in check. They balanced each other, and the total was greater than the sum of the parts. That's how I see business: Great things in business are never done by one person, they're done by a team of people."

Some of your employees drive you nuts. Some of your customers are obnoxious. Some of your friends are selfish, all-about-me jerks.

Stop whining. You chose them.

If the people around you make you unhappy, it's not their fault. It's your fault. They're in your professional or personal life because you drew them to you--and you let them remain.

Think about the type of people you want to work with. Think about the types of customers you would enjoy serving. Think about the friends you want to have.

Then change what you do so you can start attracting those people. Hardworking people want to work with hardworking people. Kind people like to associate with kind people.

Exceptional employees want to work for exceptional bosses. (Here's what exceptional bosses look like.)

Be the best you can be, and work to surround yourself with people who are even better.

4. "Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes. It is best to admit them quickly, and get on with improving your other innovations."

Ask most people why they have been successful. Their answers will be filled with personal pronouns like "I" and "me." Only occasionally will you hear "we."

Then ask them why they failed. Most will revert to childhood and instinctively distance themselves, like a kid who says, "My toy got broken..." instead of, "I broke my toy." They'll say the economy tanked. They'll say the market wasn't ready. They'll say their suppliers couldn't keep up.

They'll say it was someone or something else.

And by distancing themselves, they don't learn from their failures.

Occasionally, something completely outside our control will cause us to fail. Most of the time, though, it's us. And that's OK. Every successful person has failed. Numerous times. That's why they're successful now.

Embrace every failure. Own it, learn from it, and take full responsibility for making sure that next time, things will turn out differently.

5. "Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it."

Don't know what you're passionate about? No problem. Pick something interesting. Pick something financially viable -- something people will pay you to do or provide.

Then work hard. Improve your skills, whether at managing, selling, creating, implementing...whatever expertise your business requires. The satisfaction and fulfillment of small victories will give you the motivation to keep working hard. Small victories will motivate you to further develop your skills.

The satisfaction of achieving one level of success will spur you on to gain the skills to reach the next level, and the next, and the next.

And one day you will wake up feeling incredibly fulfilled -- because you're doing great work, work you've grown to love.

6. "Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower."

Ideas without action aren't ideas.

They're regrets.

Every day, most people let hesitation and uncertainty stop them from acting on an idea. (Fear of the unknown and fear of failure are often what stop me, and they may be what stop you, too.)

Think about a few of the ideas you've had, whether for a new business, a new career, or even just a part-time job.

In retrospect, how many of your ideas could have turned out well, especially if you had given it your absolute best? Would a decent percentage have turned out well?

My guess is, probably so -- so start trusting your analysis, your judgment, and even your instincts a little more.

You certainly won't get it right all the time, but if you do nothing and allow your ideas to become regrets...you will always get it wrong.

7. "Bottom line is, I didn't return to Apple to make a fortune. I've been very lucky in my life and already have one. When I was 25, my net worth was $100 million or so. I decided then that I wasn't going to let it ruin my life. There's no way you could ever spend it all, and I don't view wealth as something that validates my intelligence."

Money is important. Money does a lot of things. (One of the most important is to create choices.)

But after a certain point, money doesn't make people happier. After about $75,000 a year, money doesn't buy more (or less) happiness. "Beyond $75,000...higher income is neither the road to experience happiness nor the road to relief of unhappiness or stress," says a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

And if you don't buy that, here's another take: "The materialistic drive and satisfaction with life are negatively related." (In layman's terms, "Chasing possessions tends to make you less happy.")

Think of it as the bigger house syndrome. You want a bigger house. You need a bigger house. (Not really, but it sure feels like you do.) So you buy it. Life is good...until a couple months later, when your bigger house is now just your house.

New always becomes the new normal.

That's because "things" only provide momentary bursts of happiness. To be happier, don't chase as many things. Chase experiences.

Someday you won't remember what you had... but you'll never forget what you did.

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TO GET AHEAD, BUILD A TEAM

By: Hiroshi Mikitani


If you want to advance in your company, here is a surprising tip: don’t spend all your time looking to your leaders and supervisors for opportunities to advance. Instead, look to the team you manage.

Guiding a team is a chance to improve your own abilities and your own chances for advancement.

How?

You learn people skills. Every employee you manage has different skills and work ethic. They will differ in personality and in quality of work. There will be some you can foster into good workers just by encouraging them. And there will be others with whom you will need to be firm. When you focus your efforts on guiding your team, you will develop an eye for judging people.

You learn vicariously. Sometimes, you will supervise others on tasks that you yourself have never been asked to accomplish. This is an opportunity to learn through the trial and error of those you supervise. When you are responsible for their output, you’ll learn their skills as well as your own.

You will take your own job more seriously. You will develop new skills when you begin managing individuals or a team. Managers have a greater sense of responsibility because they no longer are in full control of the work output. The more successful your team, the greater the chance you will advance.

Managing is work, to be sure, but it is also an opportunity to learn and grow. Managed well, those below you may be your ticket to advancement.

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OBSTACLES

The Obstacle in Our Path In ancient times, a king
had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid
himself and watched to see if anyone would
remove the huge rock. Some of the king's
wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and
simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the
king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did
anything about getting the big stone out of the
way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of
vegetables. On approaching the boulder, the
peasant laid down his burden and tried to move
the stone to the side of the road.

After much
pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. As the
peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he
noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder
had been. The purse contained many gold coins
and a note from the king indicating that the gold
was for the person who removed the boulder from
the roadway.

The peasant learned what many
others never understand. Every obstacle presents
an opportunity to improve one's condition

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I'VE LEARNED THAT...

I've learned that you cannot make someone love
you. All you can do is be someone who can be
loved. The rest is up to them.

I've learned that no matter how much I care, some
people just don't care back.

I've learned that it takes years to build up trust,
and only seconds to destroy it.

I've learned that it's not what you have in your life,
but who you have in your life that counts.

I've learned that you can get by on charm for
about 15 minutes. After that, you'd better know
something.

I've learned that you shouldn't compare yourself to
the best others can do, but to the best you can do.

I've learned that it's not what happens to people
that's important. It's what they do about it.

I've learned that no matter how thin you slice it,
there are always two sides.

I've learned that it's taking me a long time to
become the person I want to be.

I've learned that it's a lot easier to react than it is
to think.

I've learned that you should always leave loved
ones with loving words. It may be the last time
you see them.

I've learned that you can keep going long after you
think you can't.

I've learned that we are responsible for what we
do, no matter how we feel.

I've learned that either you control your attitude or
it controls you.

I've learned that regardless of how hot and steamy
a relationship is at first, the passion fades and
there had better be something else to take its
place. (Amen to that!)

I've learned that heroes are the people who do
what has to be done when it needs to be done,
regardless of the consequences.

I've learned that learning to forgive takes practice.

I've learned that there are people who love you
dearly, but just don't know how to show it.

I've learned that money is a lousy way of keeping
score.

I've learned that my best friend and I can do
anything or nothing and have the best time.

I've learned that sometimes the people you expect
to kick you when you're down will be the ones to
help you get back up.

I've learned that I'm getting more and more like
my grandma, and I'm kinda happy about it.

I've learned that sometimes when I'm angry I have
the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the
right to be cruel.

I've learned that true friendship continues to grow,
even over the longest distance. Same goes for true
love.

I've learned that just because someone doesn't
love you the way you want them to doesn't mean
they don't love you with all they have.

I've learned that maturity has more to do with what
types of experiences you've had and what you've
learned from them and less to do with how many
birthdays you've celebrated.

I've learned that you should never tell a child her
dreams are unlikely or outlandish. Few things are
more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if
she believed it.

I've learned that your family won't always be there
for you. It may seem funny, but people you aren't
related to can take care of you and love you and
teach you to trust people again. Families aren't
biological.

I've learned that no matter how good a friend
someone is, they're going to hurt you every once
in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I've learned that it isn't always enough to be
forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn
to forgive yourself.

I've learned that no matter how bad your heart is
broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I've learned that our background and
circumstances may have influenced who we are,
but we are responsible for who we become.

I've learned that sometimes when my friends fight,
I'm forced to choose sides even when I don't want
to.

I've learned that just because two people argue, it
doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just
because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.

I've learned that sometimes you have to put the
individual ahead of their actions.

I've learned that we don't have to change friends if
we understand that friends change.

I've learned that if you don't want to forget
something, stick it in your underwear drawer.

I've learned that you shouldn't be so eager to find
out a secret. It could change your life forever.

I've learned that the clothes I like best are the
ones with the most holes in them.

I've learned that two people can look at the exact
same thing and see something totally different.

I've learned that no matter how you try to protect
your children, they will eventually get hurt and you
will hurt in the process.

I've learned that there are many ways of falling and
staying in love.

I've learned that no matter the consequences,
those who are honest with themselves, get farther
in life.

I've learned that many things can be powered by
the mind, the trick is self-control.

I've learned that no matter how many friends you
have, if you are their pillar, you will feel lonely and
lost at the times you need them most.

I've learned that your life can be changed in a
matter of hours by people who don't even know
you.

I've learned that even when you think you have no
more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you
will find the strength to help.

I've learned that writing, as well as talking, can
ease emotional pains.

I've learned that the paradigm we live in is not all
that is offered to us.

I've learned that credentials on the wall do not
make you a decent human being.
I've learned that the people you care most about in
life are taken from you too soon.
I've learned that although the word "love" can have
many different meaning, it loses value when overly
used.

I've learned that it's hard to determine where to
draw the line between being nice and not hurting
people's feelings and standing up for what you
believe.

Author: Unknown

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UNDERSTANDING

Samarth, the first Indian to get a million dollars
cash prize for his fine art. This was his welcome
ceremony. The gallery was full of audience. It was
pin drop silence as if everyone was completely
hypnotised by his speech. He began his speech, ‘

I am sincerely thankful to all of you, those who
have made me what I am today. I am not any
extraordinary man. I am exactly the same, what if
you have seen me five six years before. If I have
achieved this honour today, this is only because of
my teacher and my parents whose endeavour and
constant guidance pulled me to this point. I,
genuinely, am thankful to my teacher.’ He sighed a
little then started again, ‘ Although it is my
personal matter, yet I think if I reveal some of my
true experience, may be it will help the younger
generation a lot, of course if they take it in to their
account.’

I was in eighth standard. My dad and mom both
were service holders. We were a small family, two
sisters and me. I was more interested in arts and
games rather than studies. Since I was the only
son of my parents, they were very much worried
about my studies. Particularly, my slow progress
in studies created a lot of discomfort in the family.

Every now and then they were quarrelling and
blaming each other of my upbringing. So many
times they called me separately and advised me
with so many examples but nothing worked out.
When my mom was asking me to do some
homework or to explain any chapter, I just retorted
her bluntly, ‘ I know my work, I am a big boy ,
please leave me alone.’ ‘I can’t even think the way
I was behaving with my parents and my elders
too.’

‘ I remember one day, I was outing with my
friends, one of my friend offered me a cigarette to
taste. I was so obsessed with friends that without
any second thought I took one and smoked. After
sparing a long time with them I came back to my
home. Mom was waiting for me near the dine
table. She could guess well that I smoked. She
didn’t ask me anything simply she gave me a pity
look. That day, for the first time I felt uneasy, I felt
guilty for what even I didn’t know. Something was
hurting me inside because when I went with my
friends I demanded some money, I didn’t ask her
even whether she had any problem or not. Mom
came slowly towards me held my hand and very
softly said, ‘ Sonu, am I not doing enough for you?
Is there anything wrong with me or dad? Why are
you not open to us? You know what! I have no
objection for art or sports, but for that matter also
you have to go through a minimum education. And
by the way, what do you want to be in future? An
artist, a simple player, what exactly you want? I
don’t know what you want but I want that my son
should be a renown officer or in a big position so
that you can earn enough money. Whose mother
doesn’t want that her son should be in a high
position? Do you understand me?’ I spoke nothing.
She waited for some time then softly patted me
and went away to her bed room. Ultimately my
parents fixed a tuition teacher for me. The first
encounter with my tuition teacher was remarkable.
She was an elderly lady. Most probably she was in
her fifties. She was looking very cool and reserved.

I couldn’t appreciate this sudden arrangement of
my parents but no choice was left. Samarth taking
a brief breath said again, ‘ Ladies and gentlemen,
believe me or not ,that teacher had changed me
upside down. I don’t know what magic words she
spelled but eventually it was successful. Really,
now I feel her ethical teaching was a blessing in
disguise. I am just quoting some of our
interactions.’

My teacher, Mrs. Sood entered my study room
lead by my mom. She introduce herself, ‘ Hello,
Sonu! How are you? I am Mrs. Sood. Would you
like to talk to me, please?’
‘I kept silent. I just glared at her.’ ‘Of course it
was a typical behaviour. Perhaps she was
acquainted with this type of behaviour before.’
‘Can I be seated, Sonu?’ she asked. Again I said
nothing. She pulled a chair and sat for a while,
then started, ‘ Sonu, you know what, when I was a
small girl, I had so many dreams like sometimes I
wished to become a doctor, sometimes I was
thinking to be an engineer and sometimes to be a
management head. But eventually I became what
my fate led to me, a teacher. But I am really very
happy what I am today. At least I came in contact
with so many beautiful children like you.’
‘Again, I said nothing.’ She paused a little and
started, ‘You know Sonu! You are a wonderful boy.
I am not joking, I am serious. When your dad
contacted me, he told me everything about you. I
was really surprised that a boy who has so many
good talents, why will not come out? You
understood me?’ she asked me. I was sitting on a
chair putting my head down. I was scratching the
floor with my toes. I didn’t respond anything. I
was surprised to see her patience.' Looking at the
audience Samarth addressed again, ‘ You know
what, for fifteen days continuously, she was
coming to me, doing nothing but showing some
paintings, some good story books and some sport
books too, she was keen to know about my
favourite food and other favourite things. Not only
that every day she was telling me one short story
which had some ethic sense, she never bothered
whether I was listening or not. She was absolutely
confident that at least some words would be heard
by me. But I was unaffected. On sixteenth day
when she came she didn’t talk anything regarding
studies. Very casually she asked, ‘ Sonu, do you
have a chess board?’ I was taken aback at her
question and looked at her repeating her word
‘chess board? Till then I was randomly answering
her questions with only ‘yes’ or ‘no’, but that day
when she asked me about chess, immediately I
answered ‘Yeah’. ‘ Do you know how to play?’ she
asked. This time I forgot how I was behaving with
her, I smiled and instantly said, ‘ Yes, I know.’
‘Bring it, let us play,’ she said. ‘I couldn’t get you,’
I replied. ‘Oh! Come on, bring the chess and let us
play.’ ‘This time I obeyed her nicely. We played
and I enjoyed it completely since I won. I was very
happy. Slowly she became very familiar to me.

‘ Ladies and gentlemen, I beg your pardon for such
a long speech which is too personal but I had
decided before coming to this meeting that
definitely I would express my views that would
help you and the young youths. Please hold your
breath for few minutes more. Then he continued, ‘
The next day when she came, she pulled a chair in
my study room and sat there. ‘Sonu,’ she
addressed me softly and continued, ‘ I will tell you
something, listen to me carefully perhaps this will
be my last story and last example. Is that O.K for
you?’ I lowered my voice said ‘yes, miss.’ She
started, ‘Once there was a long jump competition
in my school where I was working previously. A
seventh class child was very sportive. He used to
participate in almost all sports without any thought
of winning or loosing. But unfortunately because of
an accident he lost one of his leg. So, when he
enrolled his name in long jump everybody was
asking him to withdraw his name. But he was
firmed in his decision, eventually he jumped with
his artificial leg and won the first prize. He got
sever pain in his leg but he did it. It was
incredible. Can you believe it?’ “No, miss, it’s just
wow.’ ‘ Do you know why I sited this example?’ ‘
You know what? There are thousands of boys like
you. Everyone is unique in his own way. The only
thing you require is proper guidance in proper
direction and proper time. The main thing is
determination and concentration.

‘Am I right,
Sonu?’
‘Yes miss, absolutely,’ I replied .‘Can I ask you
one question, Miss?’ ‘Yes ,of course you can.’
‘Now I do understand why my parents have
arranged you for me. But yet I have some doubt,
miss, if I am choosing to go for fine art, is there
anything wrong?’ I asked her. ‘No, not at all, there
is nothing wrong to be an artist but I believe it is
better to finish your 12+ first in better result then
you can think anything else.

However you must
consult regarding this with your parents. They are
your best guardians, trust me.’
She said, ‘ Next day onwards you will concentrate
on your studies. It’s not wrong at all if you want to
go for art or sports but before that you have to
have a minimum qualification. You got it?’ This
way she taught me till I cleared my 10+. After
tenth class she didn’t teach me. I requested her
so many times to teach me the next class but she
refused that. I remember the last day of her
teaching, she smiled at me, patted fondly at my
back and very strongly said, ‘ I trust you, Samarth,
you can do it.’In the meanwhile, I was already
keen to studies and at the same time I attended
the art college at night. I never thought that I
would be honoured in my Art. At last my dream
came true. Ladies and gentlemen, this is my
earnest request to all of you, please do not hurt the
thought of a child. Never ignore his decisions or
feelings because it hurts his ego and once it hurts
his ego he becomes arrogant and unmanageable.
When I completed my education, I realised how
cleverly my teacher, Mrs. Sood applied her
technique of handling me. I am really, really
thankful to her. She told me the same thing what
my parents were telling but the only difference
between my parents and Mrs. Sood was, she
applied things in a different way. She always
respected my views never neglected me thinking
me as a child. The best part was whenever she
was telling me a story immediately she was asking
my views on that If ever I was giving my
statement, she was questioning me with ‘why’
‘what’ and ‘how’. She was very softly saying, ‘
Look Sonu, children of your age are in a crucial
age group of life. You are too immature to
understand the reality. I do respect your decision
but the time has not come for you to finalise your
future now. Please, please try to understand your
parents and try to understand the depth of my
language.’

Samarth gave a sigh of relief as if something he
was waiting for such a long days to reveal, has
come to an end, at the end he once again
addressed to the audience, ‘ Thanks, thanks a lot
for listening to me. My request to all of you, please
remember that ‘Understanding’ is always
reciprocal.

Thanks again.

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10 PEOPLE WITH THE HIGHEST IQ EVER RECORDED

10. Stephen Hawking: 160

A theoretical physicist and cosmologist born in
Oxford, England in 1942, Stephen Hawking is
the living testimony that no physical
impediment can hinder a determined mind from
unleashing its power. Despite having suffered
from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a
disease that rendered him paralyzed, he used
his exceptional IQ (160) to rise to the
occasion.
He introduced to the world the concept of
cosmology as explicated through the
consolidation of quantum mechanics and
theory of relativity. Because of his remarkable
contributions to science, Hawking has been
awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in
2009 — the highest that can be conferred to an
American civilian.

9. Albert Einstein: 160-190

Albert Einstein (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Of course, this list couldn’t possibly go on
without a mention of the epitome of
intelligence. With an IQ estimated between 160
and 190, Albert Einstein is the genius behind
the theory of relativity (E=mc2), which has had
tremendous impact on the world of science. He
possessed such an intriguing ability that after
is death, researchers were prompted to preserve
and dissect his brain in search for clues to his
exceptional brilliance, which to this day, has
remained a mystery.

8. Judit Polgar 170

Born in Hungary in 1976, Judit Polgar is not
only a chess master but a certified brainiac
with a recorded IQ of 170. She lived a
childhood filled with extensive chess training
from her father. The fact that she defeated
nine former and current world champions
including Garry Kasparov, Boris Spassky, and
Anatoly Karpov leaves us no room for doubt as
to why she has been dubbed as the strongest
woman chess player of all time.

7. Leonardo da Vinci. 180-190

An Italian painter born in 1452, Da Vinci is
what most would call the quintessential
enaissance man. With an alleged IQ estimated
between 180 and 190, he is widely regarded as
one of the greatest painters of all time, and
perhaps, the most diversely knowledgeable
person to have ever lived. He was an
established polymath who worked in the fields
of mathematics, engineering, anatomy, geology,
botany, architecture, sculpting, painting, music,
and literature.
More than that, he is particularly famous for
is masterpieces: Mona Lisa, the Last Supper,
and the Vitruvian Man. A true visionary, he was
centuries ahead of his time with his detailed
concepts of the helicopter, calculator, tank and
the double hull, apart from his outlined theories
on solar power, hydrodynamics, and plate
tectonics.

6. Marilyn Vos Savant. 190

Born in 1946 in St. Louis, Missouri, Savant is a
columnist, author, and playwright who made it
to the pinnacle of fame by getting listed five
times in the Guinness Book of World Records
as the woman with the highest IQ ever
recorded (verified at 190) from 1986 to 1989.
In 1986, she started writing Ask Marilyn, a
Sunday column in Parade magazine, wherein
she solves puzzles and answers a variety of
questions from her readers.

5. Garry Kasparov. 190

Regarded as the greatest chess player of all
time, Garry Kasparov is said to have an
outstanding IQ of 190. In May 1997, the
Azerbaijan-born chess legend played against
and got defeated by a supercomputer opponent
that can calculate 200 million moves in every
second. Nonetheless, he stunned the whole
world with his intuition and sheer ingenuity,
leaving it marveling at the amazing power of
the human mind.
In 1999, he conducted Kasparov versus the
World– the greatest and most important game
in the history of chess–where he played
against the World Team, which consisted of
more than 50,000 participants from
approximately 75 countries.

4. Kim Ung-Yong. 210

With a verified IQ of 210, Korean civil engineer
Ung-Yong had his name etched once in the
Guinness Book of World Record under its
“Highest IQ” category. While babies at 6
months old are just learning to crawl, he
already showed remarkable potential when he
started to speak and read in Korean and many
foreign languages. At 4 years old, he took an
IQ test normally given to 7-year old children
and obtained a score of more than 200. At 14
years old, he showcased his genius by solving
complex differential and integral calculus
problems live on Japanese TV.

3. Christopher Hirata. 225

The phenomenal IQ (225) of this 31-year old
Japanese-American astrophysicist lands him
third in this list. At the age of 12, Christopher
Hirata already pursued college-level courses
(calculus and physics), around the time most
of us were just in the 7th grade. At the age of
13, this whiz kid became the youngest
American to have ever won the gold medal in
the 1996 International Physics Olympiad.
At 16, he was already working with NASA on
its ambitious project to conquer Planet Mars.
After he procured his Ph.D. at the Princeton
University, he went back to California Institute
of Technology, where he is currently teaching
astrophysics.

2. Terence Tao. 220-230

Gifted with an amazing IQ estimated between
220 and 230 by the Davidson Institute, Terence
Tao makes it to this list of the people with the
highest IQ in the world. Born in Adelaide,
Australia in 1975, this prodigy first displayed
his incredible intelligence at a mere age of 2,
when he managed to solve basic arithmetic
questions on his own.
At the age of 16, he graduated with both
Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees at the
Flinders University. Moreover, Tao bagged
numerous awards, such as the Salem Prize in
2000 and the Clay Research Award in 2003,
just to name a few. He has been dubbed as
“Mr. Fix It” by Charles Fefferman (a professor
of Mathematics at Princeton University),
because he has enthralled many
mathematicians such that they vie to interest
him in their problems.

1. William James Sidis. 250-300

Born in America in 1898, William James Sidis
was a wunderkind extraordinaire, gifted with an
astounding IQ estimated between 250 and 300.
This polyglot went to a grammar school when
he was only 6 years old and graduated just
within 7 months.
As if that wasn’t impressive enough, at the age
of 9, he was already a Harvard student, but
since he was too young, he was advised to
take a couple of years off just to give his
personality some time to catch up and be on a
par with his intellect. At the age of 11, he
became the youngest student to have ever
enrolled at the Harvard University. He
graduated cum laude at the age of 16, and
entered Harvard Law School at 18.

Source

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BEND BUT DON'T BREAK

One of my fondest memories as a child is going
by the river and sitting idly on the bank. There I
would enjoy the peace and quiet, watch the water
rush downstream, and listen to the chirps of birds
and the rustling of leaves in the trees. I would also
watch the bamboo trees bend under pressure from
the wind and watch them return gracefully to their
upright or original position after the wind had died
down.
When I think about the bamboo tree's ability to
bounce back or return to it's original position, the
word resilience comes to mind. When used in
reference to a person this word means the ability
to readily recover from shock, depression or any
other situation that stretches the limits of a
person's emotions.
Have you ever felt like you are about to snap?
Have you ever felt like you are at your breaking
point? Thankfully, you have survived the
experience to live to talk about it.
During the experience you probably felt a mix of
emotions that threatened your health. You felt
emotionally drained, mentally exhausted and you
most likely endured unpleasant physical
symptoms.
Life is a mixture of good times and bad times,
happy moments and unhappy moments. The next
time you are experiencing one of those bad times
or unhappy moments that take you close to your
breaking point, bend but don't break. Try your best
not to let the situation get the best of you.
A measure of hope will take you through the
unpleasant ordeal. With hope for a better tomorrow
or a better situation, things may not be as bad as
they seem to be. The unpleasant ordeal may be
easier to deal with if the end result is worth
having.
If the going gets tough and you are at your
breaking point, show resilience. Like the bamboo
tree, bend, but don't break!

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The Man Who Achieved Everything in Life

They say that once upon a time, there lived a man
who wanted to achieve everything he was capable
of achieving. He was obsessed with this desire. He
ate, slept, and walked with one and only dream: to
die, having accomplished every single thing he
was able to accomplish.

There were so many things he could do. He felt
like the whole world could be his, if he only set his
mind to it. At times, he was even horrified by the
powers hiding in his mind and heart. He was
certain—in fact—he knew that his potential had no
limits. He knew that he could accumulate power
that would dwarf the power of ancient kings; he
knew that he could write books that would shake
the minds of generations to come; he knew that he
could invent things that would forever change the
lives of millions of people. He lived, constantly
feeling the power within—and that power knew no
bounds.

There was only one obstacle: having such a
potential, but only one life, he had to make a
choice. He had to decide where to apply all of his
enormous abilities. Making that decision was
extremely hard, for any choice meant cutting off
some future achievements. And so in the
meantime, he went to school, graduated, found a
respectable well-paid job, married, and bred
children. And he spent every minute of his spare
time trying to decide where he should apply all his
might. Even though he was not interested in
applying it to his work, his power was impossible
to hide. He was successful in everything he
touched, and he earned great respect of the people
who worked with him. And all the while, he
thought to himself: Imagine what I would achieve
once I concentrate entirely on the area of my
choice.
Time went by, and he grew older.
Some roads he used to dream about became
closed to him. But there was still so much he
could accomplish. And he kept thinking hard while
working, raising children, dealing with everyday
problems, and knowing that his potential had no
limits. And most people who knew him were of the
same opinion, for it was impossible not to realize
this, being around him for a while.
One day, a sudden chest pain made him come
home early. He dragged his feet to the bathroom.
There, feeling weak and empty, he looked in the
mirror. A worn-out, gray-haired man stared back
at him. But his eyes, though red and tired, were
still full of unrealized potential. He peered into
these eyes and, all of a sudden, realized one
simple truth. The next moment, the pain pierced
his heart again, and it stopped beating forever.
Everybody cried, even those who knew him only
slightly. The pain of this loss was staggering. Not
only had he been a good man but they also knew
what great potential had died with him. True, he
had spent his life trying to make the choice, but
imagine what would’ve happened had he made it.
After all, he was so close to making it, and he
hadn’t been that old. He could not have had this
feeling of unlimited potential for nothing. His
potential was truly unlimited. The choice was
about to be made, and very soon he could have
achieved anything. His life could have become a
shining monument, which would have forever
inspired future generations. What a loss! What a
tragedy! They cried and cried and cried. And they
didn't know what he had realized the moment
before he died.


The truth that came upon him was rather simple.
People only flatter themselves by thinking that they
could have achieved this or that if not for such-
and-such circumstances. Yet this is nothing but
delusion. At any given moment, as long as you've
been healthy and haven’t been thrown into the
midst of war, crime or forces of nature, you always
achieve everything you can. You simply lack
something that is necessary for achieving that goal
you've never reached—a talent, a skill, willpower, a
set of priorities, or something else. Like it or not,
realize it or not, believe it or not, but you simply
lack it. You just think you've got what it takes, and
only these insurmountable difficulties have
prevented you from reaching the ultimate heights.
But in reality, what you don't achieve is something
you're not capable of achieving.

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DON'T LET REGRETS REPLACE YOUR DREAMS - JOHN MASON

IN THE LATTER PART of the nineteenth century, when the Methodist Church was holding its denominational convention, one leader stoop up and shared his vision both for the church and society at large. He told the ministers and evangelists how he believed that someday men will fly from place to place instead of merely traveling on horse back. It was a concept too outlandish for many members of his audience to handle. One minister, Bishop Wright, stood up and angrily protested. "Heresy!" he shouted "Flight is reserved for angels!" He went on to elaborate that if God had intended for man to fly, he would have given them wings. Clearly, the Bishop was unable to envision what the speaker was predicting. When Bishop Wright finished his brief protest, he gathered up his two sons, Orville and Wilbur, and he left the auditorium. That's right. His sons were Orville and Wilbur Wright. Several years later, on December 17, 1903, those two sons did what their father called impossible: they recorded the first human flight (four times) Yesterday ended last night. So today is more valuable to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret. A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams. - John Barrymore


Regret looks back. Worry looks around. Vision looks up.
Life can be understood backward, but it must be lived forward. If past history were all that mattered, librarians would be the only successful people in the world.
The past should only be viewed with gratitude for the good things. So look backward with gratitude and look forward with confidence. Your pay is the stay of your fresh start. 
Consider what Vivian Laramore Rader said : "I've shut the door of yesterday and throw the key away-tomorrow holds no fears for me, since I've found today." Use the past as a launching pad not a lawn chair. Dreams of the future are more valuable than the history of the past. 

Experience is at best yesterday's answer to today's problem. Your past is not your potential. Never build your future around your past. The past is over. To succeed, you must be willing to shed part of your previous life.

Daniel Meacham cautions, "keep your eye on the road, and use your rear-view mirror only to avoid trouble." stop taking journeys into the past. Don't make the mistake of letting yesterday use up too much of today.

It is more valuable to look where you're going than to see where you've been. Don't view your future only from the perspective of yesterday. It's too easy to limit everything and hinder the dream within you. "the past should be a springboard, not a hammock," said Edmund Burke. You can never plan the future by looking at the past. Those to whom yesterday still looks big aren't doing much today.

Your future contains more happiness than any past you can remember. Don't look at your past to determine your future. You can't walk backward into your future. The misery can be found by being a yesterday person. Yesterday person trying to get along in a tomorrow world. Don't let your past mistakes becomes your memorials. They should be cremated, not embalmed. 

Those who predominantly tall about the past are going backwards. Those who talk about the present are usually maintaining. But those who talk about the future are growing. The more you look backward, the less you'll see what's ahead for you.

Some people stay so far in the past that the future is gone before they get there. The future frightens those who prefer living in the past. No one has ever backed into prosperity. You can't have a better tomorrow if you are thinking about yesterday today. Yesterday has passed forever and is beyond our control. What lies behind us is insignificant compared to what lies ahead.

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A REASON, SEASON Or A LIFE TIME

People come into your life for a REASON, a
SEASON or a LIFE TIME.
When you know which one it is, you will know what
to do for that person.
When someone is in your life for a REASON, It is
usually to meet a need.
You have expressed.
They have come to assist you though a difficulty,
To provide you with guidance and support,
To aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend and they are....
They are there for the reason you need them to be.
Then , without any wrong doing on your part or at
an inconvenient time,
This person will say or do something to bring the
relationship to and end.
Sometimes they die.
Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes the act up and force you to take a
stand.
What we must realized is that our need has been
met, our desire fullfilled,
Their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and
now it is time to move on.
Some people come into your life for a SEASON.
Because your turn has come to share, grow or
learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make
you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never
done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of
joy.
Believe it, it is real.
But only for a season.
LIFE TIME Relationships teach you life time lessons
things you must built upon in order to have a solid
emotional foundation.
You job is to accept the lesson. Love the person
and put what you have learned to use in all other
relationships and are as of your life.
It is said that Love is blind but Friendship is
Clairvoyant.
Thank you for being a part of my life. Whether you
were, a REASON, a SEASON or a LIFE TIME.

-sunnyskyz

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Uncommon blessing

It started with galore of scoldings for Miss
Josephine Agwu, a mere airport cleaner who found
forgotten $28,000 and other foreign currencies
totaling about N12m and refunded it to the owner.
Some called her dumb-ass, others referred to her
as silly, especially as the owner of the money
showed how not to appreciate goodness.
She became a subject of mockery, both for people
present at the airport who heard of it, and notably
on some social media platforms. But Miss Agwu
held herself with satisfaction that she did the right
thing. Now, her saintly gesture is being
appreciated.
Recognition and appreciation
The Lagos State House of Assembly, last Monday,
concluded plans to invite and honour her. And her
employers have increased her salary from a paltry
N7,800 to N15,000 per month. And in her words,
“FAAN (Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria) said
that they are going to give me automatic
employment, but I have not heard from them till
now.”
And she added: “On the part of my management,
they are happy, all my supervisors. In short, they
are doing good things for me. Now, they carry me
like egg, even my MD.”
Miss Agwu, a cleaner with Patovilki, a
concessionaire handling the cleaning of the
Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja
Lagos, found the N12m while cleaning a toilet
near the screening point of the departure area of
the airport, and took it to the security post.
The owner later came and the security returned the
money to the owner and disclosed how Miss Agwu
found the money and brought it to them. After
counting the money and it was complete the owner
simply looked at Agwu and walked away. This was
the third time she was returning lost bags
containing huge sums of money.
For a cleaner who earns N7,800 monthly for a 12-
hour day job, her act of integrity shocked many.
The Lagos State House of Assembly which just
returned from recess has requested the Clerk of the
House, Mr Segun Abiru, to invite Miss Agwu to the
House. Deputy Whip of the House, Honourable
Abiru Rotimi Abiru, had under Matter of Urgent
Public Importance, raised the issue which
happened on January 23, 2015, calling the
attention of his colleagues to the fact that Miss
Agwu was returning lost money for the third time.
Company policy
The management of Patovilki, Miss Ugwu’s
employers, played a major role in influencing her
action. The company has an in-house policy to
guide every of their employee working at the
airport. In an interview with Saturday Vanguard,
Mrs. Eunice Anumudu, Manager, Airport Zone, said:
“Since the incident, people have been reacting to it
and they have been praising her for what she has
done, and that she did well and several people
have been calling her.”
According to Mrs. Anumudu, “My own impression
as a manager is that she did well because that is
what we told them at the initial time that she was
searching for the job. We told her that as you are
looking for this job, the salary is too small. Can
you do the work? She said ‘yes’, so we told her
that anywhere we put you, you have to behave well
because this is an airport. We have many ogas
here, you don’t know who is who. If they ask you
question that you cannot answer, you look for the
supervisor or the manager to answer the
question.”
Mrs. Anumudu continued: “Wherever we post you
and anything that you see there, don’t take it
home. Take it to the security because that thing
does not belong to us. It is the passenger that has
it. You know, some of the passengers, when they
travel, some of them will leave their bags and
sometimes phones in the toilet.
“So, we told them to behave well, respect
everybody. Since this incident happened, she has
not been promoted to a supervisor or other higher
position, but we contacted our Managing Director
and what she did was to increase her salary. The
MD was happy about what Miss Josphine Ugwu.
She has agreed to increase her salary from N7,800
to N15,000.”
Certainly, not every of the employee so briefed
would have returned the money, which also
portrays Miss Ugwu as an exceptional person.
Sense of fulfillment
Speaking also with Saturday Vanguard, the
beautiful lady, Josephine Ugwu, who has been
catapulted to limelight, relived the experience that
day: “I am from Enugu State, from Obonkpa in
Nsukka Local Government. I live at Agbotukunyo in
Agege. The incident happened on the 23rd of
January 2015. I was on morning duty. So as I was
sweeping around 6:30pm, I saw the bag on the
ground and there were some passengers there so I
thought that the bag could belong to one of them.
But as I closed at 7:20pm, the person to relieve
me on duty came that time.”
“I was going to the toilet again, I saw the same
bag there. Then I told the passengers sitting there
that they should be mindful of the bag because
once they announce the flight they may forget it.
They replied that the bag did not belong to them.
Three of the passengers left, so I then picked the
bag and took it to the FAAN security people. At
first, they put the bag on the screening machine,
before they opened the bag and discovered that
there were many envelops in the bag containing
money in different currencies including dollars.”
“As they were counting it, I saw an NDLEA woman
accompanied by one man and both of them were
coming towards us. They said that the man could
be the owner of the bag. So when they came in,
they interviewed the man and the man mentioned
the amount of money and the colour of the bag.
Before then, they had counted the money and it
was exactly the amount that the man said.”
“Then they carried the money and gave to the man
for him to count. After counting, they asked him if
the money was complete, he said yes and they
snapped him picture. They asked him again about
three times and they told the man that, ‘look at the
woman that picked your bag’, and the man was
looking at me. His name is Mr. Obinna Samuel.
They told him that he should thank his God that if
it were another person, that person would have run
away with the bag but this woman didn’t do that.
So I left and the man took the money and put
inside the bag and went away.”
“Then FAAN security personnel called me back,
and they took my number On-Duty-Card (ODC) and
my name. That was how it happened. People are
praising me, FAAN said that they are going to give
me automatic employment but I have not heard
from them till now.”
Miss Ugwu is aware of how she is being viewed by
some Nigerians. She was reported to have
advised: “People should appreci ate what they
have. People do a lot of bad things because they
are not happy with what they have. With the little I
earn, I try to manage it well. If I can’t manage that
small money that I earn, even if I begin to earn N1
million, I will still not know how to manage it.
“So, I am telling every Nige rian to be happy in
any situation they find themselves. Don’t be faster
than your shadow because so many things will go
wrong. Sometimes things get bad because people
want to be like others. All fin gers are not equal. It
is true that God promised those who serve him
riches, but people should be careful how they go
about it. I am telling people to have pa tience. It is
because people want quick money that is why
some people become thieves.
She concludes: “On the part of my management, in
fact they are happy, all my supervisors. In short
they are doing good things for me, even they are
carrying me like egg, even my MD. They have
added money to my salary. In short, my manager,
Madam Eunice has been doing many things for me
since the incident, praising me. She said that she
knows that she can trust me, and that I cannot see
anything that does not belong to me and I take it
away.”

-Vanguard

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