Words on Wednesday: A children't poet reminds us that anything is possible

"Listen to the Mustn'ts, child. Listen to the Don't. Listen to the Shouldn'ts, the Impossibles, the Wont's. Listen to the Never Haves, then listen close to me...Anything can happen, child. Anything can be." —Shel Silverstein

What we learn from others...

My mom had a childhood friend recently pass away. He was a radio sports jokey and I learned upon his death that he reported the news for several hours on 9/11. He didn't have to; he could have continued to report the sports. Instead he gave his listeners what they wanted and needed—the news of what was happening in the US. I learn from this that no matter who we are or what we do, sometimes we need to reach beyond this to give people what they need. Thank you, George, for teaching me this and being a true friend to my mom.

What my daughter taught me....

This summer I choose to renovate in my house and we were to move back in yesterday and we couldn't, so we are still living at my mom's and I noticed last night that my 10 y.o. daughter was taking this better than I, when she said, "It's just a few more nights. It's nothing major." and in that moment I realized I had a lot to learn from daughter then and in the future.

"It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer." — Albert Einstein

Wednesday's words on life

"Life is under no obligation to give us what we expect." —Margaret Mitchell

Margaret Mitchell Biography

Wednesday's words: The value of curiosity

"Curiosity about life in all of its aspects, I think, is still the secret of great creative people." —Leo Burnett, advertising pioneer

On being prepared....

For a networking meeting yesterday, members were asked to bring in an item that represented their business and I heard so many people say, "I forgot it at home" that I heard myself say an equal number of times, "Pack it the night before" that I realized that enough people know that you less likely to forget an item or hunt for keys if you pack you bag the night before.

The ingredients: a kid, a parent and punishment

Over the weekend my daughter acted out and had to be punished and she said that I had hurt her feelings and betrayed her (I said I would do one thing and then read the situation and did another) and so she wanted to punish me and at first I resisted and then gave in thinking, heck, even parents need a to be put in line.

(P.S. I am still waiting for my punishment, while my daughter has lost "screens" for today and maybe tomorrow too.)

Two for One Deal Today

1. What is support?
           In life and business, we hear the phrase, "support of family and friends," but my business mentor made me realize that true support comes from with in and "support of family friends" is just the decoration on the cake.

2. Keeping the end in mind
           Yesterday my daughter go upset when we left the ice skating rink even though she had been told before we left the house that we would only have an hour and half and realized that at age nine she was learning the important concept of keeping the end in mind from the beginning of a project and for the cold walk home argued with me about (Hey, I know some adults who don't have this concept down pat).

Have I learned anything today? YES

In speaking with my business mentor, she said that people like to know upfront what things cost so they  know if they can afford them and this really resonated with me—one because there are no prices on website (soon to be corrected) and two because my 9 y.o. is very conscious of what things cost and how much she is spending (Thank you, Helen).

Wednesday's words: Downhill "Skiing"

"If the going is easy, beware!. You may be going downhill." —Greg Taunt

Wednesday's Words...Power vs. Freedom

"Power is about what you can control. Freedom is about what you can unleash." —Harriet Rubin

More words

"People think you are crazy if you talk about things they don't understand." — Elvis Presley

Tuesday's Tip: Starting your own business

Don't just ask family friends and former colleagues their opinion of your idea, seek out your potential audience and ask them

Today I learned a lesson form my plumber

Our furnace had a leak so the plumber came and told me that the little hot water tank was shot and that this problem is so common that he keeps a tank on the truck in the most common size and mind kept repeating the phrase, "Being prepared pays off." (and literally in the case of the plumber.)

Wednesday's words from my grandma (RIP)

"It's cold out, wear a sweater." Grandma (a.k.a Syd)

WWII, Pilot checklist and the lesson of To-Do lists

Many months ago, while reading the Checklist Manifesto (by Atul Gawande) my Great-Uncle, then 92 years old, showed me his B-29 bomber manual from WWII and right there was the pilot checklist that Mr. Gawande references in his book and I saw first hand the importance of checklists, also known now as a to-do list and every time I do my list I think of "UB" and his manual.

(This is just one of the many insights I have gained from listening to my great-uncle tell stories about his youth, WWII and his working life).

I salute you, UB and all the other veterans of war for their service in protecting our freedom and those of our fellow men, women and children in this world.

Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande at Amazon

Being nice goes a long way....

Today I had to make a customer service call and since I was nice, the gentleman was nice back and over the weekend my daughter dumped her father's mail pile on the floor in an attempt to make him clean through it and I realized that we need to do a better job teaching her that if you are nice, people are nice back (I tried explaining this to her, but she was in no mood to listen).

(Eventually I sorted my husbands mail to make going trough it easier and to get it off the floor and he was appreciative—take that dear daughter.)

More words.....

"Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and then give your whole heart and soul to it.— attributed to the Buddha

Wednesday's Words: Mind your tongue

"WAIT, Why am I talking?"— Patti Fuereisen