HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND PROSPOROUS NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL

“And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been” 

Rainer Maria Rilke

Late 19th/early 20th century Bohemian-Austrian poet/novelist

IT'S ALL IN HOW YOU LOOK AT IT

"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered."

Gilbert Keith Chesterton

Late 19th/early 20th century British journalist/novelist/poet

Not sure this will work as an explanation to stockholders concerning failed investments, but there is value in the thought as you make your way through business and career challenges.

TRUE FOR PEOPLE AS WELL

"Neither have they hearts to stay, nor wit enough to run away."

Samuel Butler

17th century British poet/satirist

When it comes to careers this is true for way too many people, and, as a result, the source of much professional and personal unhappiness.

If you are not happy with what you do, create a plan to become happy.

Leaving things as they are should not be considered a viable option.

UNCOMMON SENSE

"Common sense is not so common."

Voltaire

18th century French writer/historian

If common sense really were (common) wouldn't we see more of it?

BUSINESS WISDOM WISH FOR YOU

"When a man finds no peace within himself, it is useless to seek it elsewhere."

François de La Rochefoucauld

17th century French writer

I wish for peace in the world beginning with peace within each of us first.

Happy Holidays wherever you are, however you celebrate.

EVERYTHING THAT IS DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE

"Happy is he who learns to bear what he cannot change."

Friedrich Schiller 

18th century German dramatist/poet/historian

True, but the larger problem is not attempting to recognize what can be changed and working to see that it is.

The Serenity Prayer got it right.

IT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA AT THE TIME

"The first man to compare the cheeks of a young woman to a rose was obviously a poet; the first to repeat it was possibly an idiot."

Salvador Dalí

20th century Spanish surrealist painter

Which is to suggest, you don't need to share every thought you have no matter how interesting, or poetic, it may seem to you.

Less is often more.

WHO AM I?

"Nothing is a greater impediment to being on good terms with others than being ill at ease with yourself."

Honore de Balzac

19th century French novelist

And it can be much more difficult to understand yourself than it can be to understand others.

But who better to start with than you?

IT'S ON (ME) YOU!

"Weakness on both sides is the motto of all quarrels."

Voltaire 

18th century French writer/historian

As easy as as this is to understand it is that difficult not to be guilty of in practice.

THAT WON'T WORK BECAUSE . . .

"Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities."

Albert Einstein

20th century German, Swiss, US scientist

Think about this the next time you find yourself first thinking someone else's suggestion won't work, before (if at all) you think about the possibility that it might.

ANY COLOR AS LONG AS IT'S BLACK

"Hell, there are no rules here, we are trying to accomplish something."

Thomas Alva Edison

Late 19th/early 20th century American inventor

We often exempt ourselves from rules we make for others (just ask my boys).

I wonder if Mr. Edison saw the irony in his statement?

UP TO THE LINE, ONLY SOMETIMES OVER

"Tact in audacity consists in knowing how far we may go too far."

Jean Cocteau

20th century French author/filmmaker

As with most every good thing, too much often is.

Generally the only time excessive is good is when it comes to moderation.

THAT'S JUST GREAT!

"No great man ever complains of want of opportunity."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

19th century U.S. poet/essayist/lecturer

Nor do they complain about not having good luck, or having too much bad luck.

They work with what they have, attempting to obtain what they need but don't have.

How about you?

HOW WILL YOU SPEND YOURS?

"Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you."

Carl Sandburg

Late 19th/early 20th century American poet

One more I probably shouldn't but nonetheless will quibble with a bit.

Time is the "coin" of our lives but way too many of us are not determining how it will be spent.

We unthinkingly acquiesce to the wishes of others.

If you are going to "spend" the most valuable asset you have, one that cannot be replenished, make sure it is you who decides what you will get in return.

BUT WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?

"Applause waits on success."

Benjamin Franklin

18th century American statesman/scientist/philosopher

Meaning, accomplishment first, reward second.

TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK

"It is with our judgments as with our watches: no two go just alike, yet each believes his own."

Alexander Pope

Late 17th/early 18th century English poet/satirist

Yet one more argument in favor of considering alternative views, in particular, those contrary to what we initially believe to be true.

REST IN PEACE

"It always seems impossible until it's done."

Nelson Mandela

20th century anti apartheid revolutionary/President of South Africa

He taught us all including those who refused to learn.

In so many ways, one of the great leaders of the 20th century.

THE MAGIC OF REALITY

"We must not let daylight in upon the magic."

Walter Bagehot

19th century British economist

We act based on both illusion and reality and knowing each for what it is is important.

Let the magic lead you to what will one day, hopefully, become reality.

OF THIS I'M CERTAIN

"I have lived in this world just long enough to look carefully the second time into things that I am the most certain of the first time."

Josh Billings

19th century American humorist/lecturer

"Certainties" are funny things.

They are until they aren't.

WHICH ONES WHEN?

"Every good servant does not all commands."

William Shakespeare 

Late 16th/early 17th century British poet/playwright

If you are just beginning your business career you are likely saying, "Hah! I knew that."

If you are farther along, with employees reporting to you, you might be saying, "True, but do all my commands."

And if you are at or near the end of your career your reaction might be, "Yes, but the hard part is knowing which ones when."

PLANNING: CHILD'S PLAY

"I had six honest serving men. They taught me all I knew. Their names were: Where, What, When, Why, How and Who."

Rudyard Kipling 

Late 19th/early 20th century British writer

Very close to the foundation of planning (What, How, How Much, When, Who) for achievement of both personal and professional goals.