WORDS OF WISDOM

I'VE LEARNED....that when you're in love, it shows.

I've learned....that just one person saying to me, "You've
made my day!" makes my day.

I've learned....that having a child fall asleep in your arms
is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

I've learned....that being kind is more important than being
right.

I've learned....that you should never say no to a gift from
a child.

I've learned....that I can always pray for someone when I
don't have the strength to help him in some other way.

I've learned....that no matter how serious your life
requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

I've learned....that sometimes all a person needs is a hand
to hold and a heart to understand.

I've learned.... that simple walks with my father around the
block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders
for me as an adult.

I've learned....that life is like a roll of toilet paper.
The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I've learned....that we should be glad God doesn't give us
everything we ask for.

I've learned....that money doesn't buy class.

I've learned....that it's those small daily happenings that
make life so spectacular.

I've learned....that under everyone's hard shell is someone
who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I've learned....that the Lord didn't do it all in one day.
What makes me think I can?

I've learned....that to ignore the facts does not change the
facts.

I've learned....that when you plan to get even with someone,
you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I've learned....that love, not time, heals all wounds.

I've learned....that the easiest way for me to grow as a
person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

I've learned....that everyone you meet deserves to be
greeted with a smile.

I've learned....that there's nothing sweeter than sleeping
with your babies and feeling their breath on your cheeks.

I've learned....that no one is perfect until you fall in
love with them.

I've learned....that life is tough, but I'm tougher.

I've learned....that opportunities are never lost; someone
will take the ones you miss.

I've learned....that when you harbor bitterness, happiness
will dock elsewhere.

I've learned....that I wish I could have told my Mom that I
love her one more time before she passed away.

I've learned....that one should keep his words both soft and
tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

I've learned....that a smile is an inexpensive way to
improve your looks.

I've learned....that I can't choose how I feel, but I can
choose what I do about it.

I've learned....that when your newly born grandchild holds your
little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life.

I've learned....that everyone wants to live on top of the
mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while
you're climbing it.

I've learned....that it is best to give advice in only two
circumstances: when it is requested and when it is a life-
threatening situation.

I've learned....that the less time I have to work with,
the more things I get done.

Anonymous

The Story of the Seed....

The Story of the Seed

by Francis Kong

A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together.

He said, 'It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you. 'The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. 'I am going to give each one of you a SEED today - one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO.'

One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow.

Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew.

Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing.

By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure.

Six months went by -- still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however. He just kept watering and fertilizing the soil - He so wanted the

seed to grow.

A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection. Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot...

But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the boardroom. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful -- in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!

When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives.

Jim just tried to hide in the back. 'My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown,' said the CEO. 'Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!'

All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot.. He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, 'The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!'

When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed - Jim told him the story.

The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, 'Behold your next Chief Executive Officer!

His name is Jim!' Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed.

'How could he be the new CEO?' the others said.

Then the CEO said, 'One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow.

All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive Officer!'

End of story.

I have read variations of this story credited to anonymity but in terms of lesson is worth repeating specially in a country like ours that need to be reinforced with lessons on virtuous leadership.

Scriptures say whatsoever you sow you shall reap.

Plant honesty and reap trust.

Plant goodness and you reap friends.

Plant humility and reap greatness

Plant perseverance and reap contentment

Plant consideration and reap perspective

Plant hard work and reap success

Plant forgiveness and reap reconciliation

Plant faith in GOD and reap a harvest.

I guess the question is what are you planting now?

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BE HONEST

Even if others are not
Even if others will not
Even if others cannot

"He who walks honestly walks securely."
Proverbs 10:9

A message from The Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals.