Category: Quips and Quotables

Short, memorable ideas, quotes and words of wisdom.

10 Rules for Career Success according to Richard Koch

October 28, 2015

Kennesaw, GA – Richard Koch is a Brit that I have written about before. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Koch

“Everything you want should be yours: the type of work you want; the relationships you need; the social, mental, and aesthetic stimulation that will make you happy and fulfilled; the money you require for the lifestyle that is appropriate to you; and any requirement that you may (or may not) have for achievement or service to others. If you don’t aim for it all, you’ll never get it all. To aim for it requires that you know what you want.” – Richard Koch

This post is written for a special person who will know that this article is for them.

80-20 Principle Book Cover

Here are his 10 Rules for Career Success

  1. Specialize.  Develop core, niche Skills
  2. Choose a niche you enjoy.  Become an expert
  3. Knowledge in your niche IS power
  4. Identify and fanatically serve your best customers.
  5. Identify the 20% Effort that brings the 80% Results.
  6. Seek and Learn from the very best.
  7. Find Self-employment early in your career.
  8. Employ as many NET value creators as possible.
  9. Outsource everything but your core skills
  10. Exploit capital leverage and manage costs

Good luck with your career.  Let me know if I can help in anyway.

#nCourageXcellence

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Movie Review: God’s Not Dead

April 4, 2014

Gods Not DeadBy: Suzanne Ostrander

A couple of weekends ago, my husband and I relished the scarce and exciting opportunity to watch a movie from start to finish without pressing the pause button once. That’s right ladies and gentlemen, my dear spouse and I went on a date while the grandparents babysat our 9-month old son. (Can I get an AMEN?!!)

Long overdue for some conversation that broached topics other than Spongebob Squarepants, spit-up, or suspicious smelling diapers, Nathan and I agreed on the recently released flick “God’s Not Dead”.

The movie tells the story of devout Christian and college freshman Josh Wheaton (Shane Harper), who is prompted by his overreaching Atheist philosophy professor (Kevin Sorbo) to present a scientific, fact-based argument on the existence of God.

Rotten Tomatoes gave the film mixed reviews, due to the production’s stereotypical depiction of religion and morality throughout various cultures.

Be that as it may, I strongly disagree with the assertion that the movie failed to present an all-encompassing portrayal of the Christian experience.

Critics felt that the movie presented the tragically inaccurate message that Christians are always good, while non-Christians are always bad.  In other words, if good is white and bad is black, then the film lacked any notable trace of gray when it came to character development.

I couldn’t disagree more.

Josh Wheaton’s longtime girlfriend is a perfect example of a character who steps outside her moral compass as a Christian without actually abandoning her faith altogether. Committed to her relationship with Josh and their long-term plan of a life together, Josh’s girlfriend shares his Christian faith, but does not support his decision to challenge his professor. She is a Christian, yet her concern for Josh’s academic future trumped her support for him when he decides to challenge his professor and defend his faith.

Does this mean that she is no longer a Christian?

Of course not, she simply erred in her ways as a Christian who mistakenly dips her toes into the quintessential realm of gray.

What other characters represent this proverbial, yet realistic shade of gray? Go see the film and find out! I would love to hear your thoughts!

 

On What Day Did God Cause the Big Bang?

March 18, 2014

CreationMost of you who follow scientific news have heard that scientists have just discovered physical traces from the moment in history when the Earth and planets were created. Because the universe expanded so quickly, it left ripples in light patterns throughout the universe.  These ripples of light were recently discovered by a team of astronomers led by John Kovac of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

With regard to creation, evolution, and faith, I have always been one to embrace the “both” theory.  In other words, who says that God and science have to be mutually exclusive concepts?

Is it too far fetched to pose the question: “on what day did God cause this Big Bang”? This is a question that we will never know while we are living on Earth. God didn’t put us here on Earth for us to iron out these details, though!

Sometimes, believing means that you just believe.

We Can’t Take it With Us!

March 18, 2014

TreasuresinHeavenThe first time I saw this image, I thought it was a bit morbid.  In fact, it is morbid.  It’s showing a hearse carrying away a deceased person with all of his earthly possessions being hauled behind him.  Yet, the absurdity of this image compels us to almost immediately reevaluate the things we perceive as valuable.

Though this image appears smaller on the blog than I would like, if you click on the image, it shows in tiny print the powerful scripture that directly contradicts the image:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy and thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, your heart will be also” (Matthew 6: 19-21).

In short, we can’t take it with us!! I hope you were blessed by this today.

When We Want to Hear From God

February 27, 2014

Christian CommunicationI saw this cartoon earlier this week and, despite its simplicity, it truly spoke to me. As Christians, we need to remember that the Bible is our predominant tool in life.  Can God speak to us in ways outside the Bible? Sure! However, the Bible is His foundation for us.  The Bible is essentially our starting point, our “go-to” solution when we feel lost.

Do not fret if you have ever found yourself aimlessly turning through pages of the Bible not knowing where to start.  It is okay if you have ever closed your Bible and still felt unmoved or not spoken to.

We have all been there.  Just don’t give up, and know that God sees you trying and His promises will not fail!

On a similar note, when you feel like you do not know where to start, I recommend always going back to the book of John.  It may be repetitive, but it is a wonderful starting point for everybody to truly understand God’s love for us.

I hope you are blessed by this posting, and never forget to love one another everyday!

When People Need Christ

February 21, 2014

Be Kinder than NecessaryOne of my favorite life mantras has always been “Always be kinder than necessary. Everyone is fighting some sort of battle”.

This is a great secular statement, but does it correlate with the Bible? I have great news for you: for once, an awesome expression actually does align up with the Bible! That’s right ladies and gentlemen, this one’s got God written all over it. Let’s see what the Bible says about kindness:

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you”. Ephesians 4:32

“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great” Luke 6:35

In short, we all know that people who are unkind to us are the ones who need Christ the most. We become true mature Christians, once we have had the time to regroup and sympathize with the person’s pain.

It still doesn’t make the action okay, and the offender might not warrant a spot back in your life, but are we remembering to pray for this person, too?

Who can you forgive today?

When People Need Christ

February 21, 2014

Be Kinder than NecessaryOne of my favorite life mantras has always been “Always be kinder than necessary. Everyone is fighting some sort of battle”.

This is a great secular statement, but does it correlate with the Bible? I have great news for you: for once, an awesome expression actually does align up with the Bible! That’s right ladies and gentlemen, this one’s got God written all over it. Let’s see what the Bible says about kindness:

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you”. Ephesians 4:32

“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great” Luke 6:35

In short, we all know that people who are unkind to us are the ones who need Christ the most. We become true mature Christians, once we have had the time to regroup and sympathize with the person’s pain.

It still doesn’t make the action okay, and the offender might not warrant a spot back in your life, but are we remembering to pray for this person, too?

Who can you forgive today?

Peter Drucker on Encouraging Excellence

February 18, 2014

Post Capitalist SocietyKennesaw- Peter Drucker emphasized simplicity for decades.  Part of his genius was the ability to take complex problems and break them down into simple observations that can be analyzed.  “A turnaround requires abandoning whatever does not perform and doing more of what does perform”. Post-Capitalist Society

His message to us is to improve effectiveness by concentrating more on what works.  Can’t get much simpler than that.

Encourage excellence by helping others focus on improving their strengths.

Click the link below to be redirected to a video segment of an interview with Drucker on his philosophies:

Liberal Arts is Not Dead

February 4, 2014

Pierre de FermatKennesaw- Who says that Liberal Arts is dead?  One day in 1637, a lawyer and amateur mathematician named Pierre de Fermat scribbled a curious note in his journal: “The equation xn+ yn = zn, where x, y, and z are positive integers, has no solution if n is greater than 2… I have discovered a most remarkable proof, but this margin is too narrow to contain it.”

In his spare time, Fermat studied languages, classical literature and natural science.  He also discovered the fundamental principle of analytic geometry. His methods for finding tangents to curves and their maximum and minimum points led him to be regarded as the inventor of the differential calculus. Through his correspondence with Blaise Pascal he was a co-founder of the theory of probability.

It took mankind over 350 years to prove Fermat’s last theorem.

Spend time today encouraging excellence with someone you come in contact. You may be encouraging the next Pierre de Fermat of our generation.

For a brief history, click the link below:

(http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/204668/Pierre-de-Fermat)

For a video segment on de Fermat’s life and teachings, click the link below:

http://youtu.be/Ij01HGgxnkA

The Angels We Entertain

January 31, 2014

Snowed Out MarqueeBy: Suzanne Ostrander

The Snowpocalypse 2014 will definitely remain in our memories as an eventful day for Atlanta.  Despite our somewhat embarrassing lack of preparation for such an event, we can look back on this event and see the silver lining through the numerous acts of kindness that were displayed.  In my heart, this will always be remembered as the day when strangers helped strangers. So start a fire, grab some hot coco, and enjoy the below heartwarming tales of random acts of kindness in the midst of a city emergency!

“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” Hebrews 13:2

http://www.hlntv.com/article/2014/01/29/weather-atlanta-devastation-snowedoutatlanta

Snowed Out Angels