UNDOING CAN BE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT THAN DOING

"It is easier to stay out than get out."

Mark Twain 19th century U.S. humorist/writer/lecturer.

What will you do today you'll wish you hadn't done tomorrow?

NEWTON'S ADVICE

"The great consolation in life is to say what one thinks."

Voltaire, 18th century French writer/historian.

Sure, until saying what you think creates problems you'd rather not have.

Newton's third law ("For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction") may not apply equally in all situations, however it's a good idea to carefully consider the potential consequences of what you say and do before you say and do it.

CONDITIONAL UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT

"If you are not too long, I will wait here for you all my life."

Oscar Wilde, 19th century Irish poet/dramatist.

There are those who will be there for you when you need them, just not all who say they will, every time.

Be certain who will before you need them to be.

UNDERSTAND?

"Seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand."

Saint Augustine, 3rd century theologian.

Belief first; understanding will follow and when it does you can then decide what to do with what you now understand.

Not before.

I THINK SO

"Many people would sooner die than think. In fact they do."

Bertrand Russell, 20th century British logician/philosopher.

Something to think about, no?

THE VALUE OF WOULDA, COULDA, SHOULDA? ZERO

"Opportunity always looks better going than coming."

Unknown.

Like the horse you didn't expect to win, the one you didn't bet on that actually did.

Or the investment you didn't make and now realize you should have.

The trick is not to identify missed opportunity.

You need to identify opportunity before it actually is opportunity.

WORK OR WAIT FOR CHANGE

"Nothing is irreparable in politics."

Jean Anouilh, 20th century French playwright.

True in all forms of politics; office, personal, as well as governance.

The message is, whatever you don't currently approve of won't be around forever.

You have recourse.

You can work for change or wait for it, the choice is yours.

POWER TEST

"Power is like being a lady... if you have to tell people you are, you aren't."

Margaret Thatcher, 20th century British politician.

True no matter what level of authority you think you find yourself at, and if you think otherwise, you're not at whatever level of authority you thought you were.

THE REASON YOU SHOULD, THE REASON YOU SHOULDN'T

"We work to become, not to acquire."

Elbert Hubbard, 19th century American writer/publisher.

Actually, we should but not all of us all the time do.

And pity those who do not understand the difference.

I CAN PROMISE YOU THIS

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the former."

Albert Einstein, 20th century German born theoretical physicist.

Appropriate as we make our way through this year's political season.

Most anyone can promise most anything.

Believe only what you see being possible after very careful consideration, not just what you'd like to see happen.

IF IT'S YOU, OWN IT!

"Circumstances are beyond human control, but our conduct is in our own power."

Benjamin Disraeli, 19th century British politician/author.

If you more often cite circumstances, not you, as the reason for your failures, you just discovered the real reason.

KNOW THIS

"Take the attitude of a student, never be too big to ask questions, never know too much to learn something new."

Augustine "Og" Mandino, 20th century American author.

One, because you're not as big, as important as you think you are, and two, because there is way more you don't know than that you do.

NOT ALONE EVEN IF YOU WANTED TO BE

"No employer today is independent of those about him. He cannot succeed alone, no matter how great his ability or capital. Business today is more than ever a question of cooperation."

Orison Swett Marden, late 19th/early 20th century American author.

My career has largely been starting, running, sometimes succeeding, sometimes failing, in my own companies.

In all those times, the outcome was the result of what I did, what my partners did, and what our employees did.

You may think it won't be that way for you, and if so, that is your first mistake of many yet to come.

IN ADDITION TO WHAT YOU KNOW, KNOW HOW!

"Information's pretty thin stuff unless mixed with experience."

Clarence Day, 20th century American cartoonist.

How much of what you believe you know how to do, but have never done, turns out well?

Knowledge alone isn't enough.

LOOK AT YOU???

"I am amazed by Tina Fey. And I am Tina Fey."

Tina Fey, American comedian/actor.

This works because you know Tina Fey.

You know she's poking fun at herself.

It doesn't work for those who seriously tell you how great they are.

Don't be that person.

WHAT (ELSE) HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME?

"Nothing recedes like success."

Walter Winchell, 20th century American newspaperman.

An interesting play on words making the point that continual success requires continual success.

You're only as good as your last accomplishment.

TO HAVE THE THIRD, YOU MUST HAVE THE FIRST TWO

"You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor."

Aristotle, 3rd century BC Greek philosopher.

And from honor and courage comes self-respect.

Without the first two the third is impossible.

TURNABOUT IS NOT JUST FAIR, IT'S IMPORTANT TOO

"There is as much greatness of mind in acknowledging a good turn, as in doing it."

Seneca, first century BC Roman philosopher/playwright.

You know how good you feel when someone acknowledges you.

You'll feel just as good having done so for others.

MORE SO THAN NOT

"After all, life is really simple; we ourselves create the circumstances that complicate it."

Unknown

True.

We create drama where none existed, worry without cause, and anger that outlasts its cause.

Life would be much simpler if none of that were true.

LEAST OF ALL YOU

"Never allow a person to tell you no, who doesn't have the power to say yes."

Eleanor Roosevelt, former first lady of the US, politician, diplomat.

This is about allowing others to tell you what you can and cannot do and become.

Fail because you tried and couldn't do/be what you wanted to do/be, not because you never tried because someone told you you'd never succeed.