Grow a Little New Wood by Francis Kong

Times have changed. In 1900, fathers prayed their children would learn English. Today, fathers pray their children will speak English. In 1900, if a father put a roof over his family’s head, he was a success. Today, it takes a roof, deck, pool, and 4-car garage. And that’s just the vacation home. In 1900, a father waited for the doctor to tell him when the baby arrived. Today, a father must wear a smock, know how to breathe, and make sure film is in the video camera.

In 1900, fathers passed on clothing to their sons. Today, kids wouldn’t touch Dad’s clothes a mile away. In 1900, fathers could count on children to join the family business. Today, fathers pray their kids will soon come home from college long enough to teach them how to work the computer and set the DVD player. In 1900, fathers shook their children gently and whispered, “Wake up, it’s time for school.” Today, kids shake their fathers violently at 4 a.m., shouting: “Wake up, it’s time for soccer practice.” In 1900, a father came home from work to find his wife and children at the supper table. Today, a father comes home to a note: “Jimmy’s at baseball, Cindy’s at gymnastics, I’m at gym, Pizza in fridge.” In 1900, fathers and sons would have heart-to-heart conversations while fishing in a stream. Today, fathers pluck the headphones off their sons’ ears and shout, “WHEN YOU HAVE A MINUTE..” In 1900, a father gave a pencil box for Christmas, and the kid was all smiles. Today, a father spends Five thousand Pesos at a toy Store, and the kid screams: “I wanted PlayStation 3!”

Things have changed. So what do we do? Give the kids everything they want? You know the answer. No Way! This is a better idea. Teach them the value of growth and learning. And how do we do that? By growing a little everyday ourselves.

Not long before Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s death at age seventy-five, someone asked him how he continued to write so beautifully and remain so vigorous. Longfellow pointed to an apple tree that was full of colorful bloom and said … “That is a very old apple tree, but the blossoms this year seem more beautiful than ever before. That old tree grows a little new wood each year. And I suppose that it is out of the new wood that these blossoms come. Like the apple tree, I try to grow a little new wood each year.”

Our children watch us and then they imitate us. If they see us reading books, then this gives them better incentives to do the same. But if the kids see us spacing out in front of the boob tube, do you still wonder why they’re glued to their screens too?

We need to grow a little new wood each year. So how do we grow? You start first with getting out of your comfort zone. Learn something new. Develop a new skill, learn a second language, brush up on your computer literacy or get into a new sport. Embrace the challenge. Be ready to fail because that is the entry point to success.

Constantly have this thought fixed in your mind: “When you’re green you’re growing but when you’re ripe you’re rotting.”

The owner of a green house had a gardener who was careful, methodical and a hard worker. But, in spite of his diligence, the plants did not prosper under his care. The owner then hired a more experienced gardener and soon the plants began to thrive. The unsuccessful gardener explained what had happened… “When I transplanted the flowers I removed them carefully from their pots. I disturbed them as little as possible. This new man didn’t treat them that way. He was rough with them. He didn’t mind disturbing their roots. I thought he would ruin the plants because of his heavy-handedness, but they are growing.” He then went on to explain that the roots of the plants in the pots were packed tight. The successful gardener, by his apparent roughness, had loosened the soil and given the roots a chance to breathe, and stretch and grow stronger. In shaking them up, he actually made growing easier for them.

Are there not times when we need a little shaking up in order to stretch our mental, physical and even our spiritual roots and grow stronger in the faith? Paul, the major contributor in the New Testament says: “For it is when I am weak that I am strong,” and so just like him, we need to look at our apparent failures as experiences in growth. Failing doesn’t have to mean you’ve accomplished nothing. It can mean you can learn something. Failing doesn’t have to mean you are disgraced. It can mean you were willing to try. Failing doesn’t have to mean you don’t have what it takes. It can mean you have to do something in a different way. Failing doesn’t have to mean you’ve wasted your life. It can mean you have a reason to start afresh. Failing doesn’t have to mean you are inferior. It does mean that you, like everyone else, are not perfect. And that’s all right. By not being perfect you are acknowledging your membership in the human family. So don’t be afraid. Grow a little new wood every day.

Choosing the Right Bull by Francis Kong

A young man wished to marry the farmer's beautiful daughter. He went to the farmer to ask his permission. The farmer looked him over and said, "Son, go stand out in that field. I'm going to release three bulls, one at a time. If you can catch the tail of any one of the three bulls, you can marry my daughter."

The young man stood in the pasture awaiting the first bull. The barn door opened and out ran the biggest, meanest-looking bull he had ever seen. He decided that one of the next bulls had to be a better choice than this one, so he ran over to the side and let the bull pass through the pasture out the back gate. The barn door opened again. Unbelievable. He had never seen anything so big and fierce in his life.

It stood pawing the ground, grunting, slinging slobber as it eyed him.

Whatever the next bull was like, it had to be a better choice than this one. He ran to the fence and let the bull pass through the pasture, out the back gate.

The door opened a third time. A smile came across his face. This was the weakest, scrawniest little bull he had ever seen. This one was his bull. As the bull came running by, he positioned himself just right and jumped at just the exact moment. He grabbed... but the bull had no tail!

Life is full of opportunities. Some will be easy to take advantage of, some will be difficult. But once we let them pass (often in hopes of something better), those opportunities may never again be available. So always grab the first opportunity.

Most people seek the path of least resistance. And this is why they never grow.

Go to the gym. I learn a lot of lessons there.

Get into those exercise gear and by the way, just finding time to exercise is already a major accomplishment in my busy schedule. Skip the machines and go straight to the department of dumbbells and weights. Pick up the lightest one because it’s the easiest one to do and you know as well as I do that this is a waste of time. Burn those muscles. Feel the heat. Go to the limits and you leave the gym tired but satisfied and the results for the next few days will show you that your decision to do the hard ones have been correct.

Same principle in life.

Many people refuse to accept challenges because of fear.

But you hear them say things like:

• I’m not accepting the new assignment because I have other priorities in life.
• If at first you don’t succeed try something else.
• I’ll get around to doing it once I find the time.

And then the opportunity passes and they wonder why nothing good’s happening to their lives.

Success people have always been turned off with the path of least resistance because they have always chosen the path of great perseverance.

This is what life is all about.

Get out of your comfort zone.

Learn new things. Explore the world. Stretch yourself.

Meet new friends. Learn from people.

And why not go into the diligent study of God’s Word.

Accept His Call and go out and change the world.

Love God with all of your heart, soul strength and mind and be ready for that brand new life adventure you’ve always been looking for.

Don’t go for the thin and scrawny bull with no tail, choose the biggest one and the fiercest one. Nothing ventured nothing gained.

In other words, attempt great things for God and be sure to give Him the Glory.

TRULY RICH SEMINAR by BRO. BO SANCHEZ

Janmck Hilado Trainings
presents:

How To Be Truly Rich Seminar
LIVE IN CEBU
by Bro. Bo Sanchez

Held at the:
CAP AUDITORIUM
Jones Avenue, Cebu City
June 4, 2011
8:30AM-12:00PM

Ticket price is P497 Only!!! Few seats left only!! So get yours now!

For more info visit: http://trulyrichseminar.blogspot.com/

Or Contact:
Jan Hilado / Love Hilado
09228845847 / 09229355747 / 2660821
janmckingley@gmail.com
www.janmckhilado.com

When you listen to Bo Sanchez, you’ll change the way you think, enlarge what he calls your “psychological wallet”, and prepare you to receive abundance into your life. And through this seminar…

1. You’ll discover the invisible prisons of your mind that have kept you in financial bondage all these years—and how you can finally break out of those internal prisons!

2. You’ll discover the negative, emotionally-charged, beliefs that have kept you stuck in your financial level all these years—and how you can face them and change them.

3. You’ll conquer the common external obstacles that have always prevented you from moving forward on your road of material abundance.

4. You’ll learn to take 100% responsibility for your financial life, no longer blaming others for your money problems—thereby giving you the power to solve them!

5. You’ll learn how to be spiritually open to the pacific ocean of God’s blessings around you waiting for you to claim them.6. You’ll learn the powerful secret of how to attract wealth to your life.

Attend our Weekly Cebu Feast- Light of Jesus Cebu by Bro. Bo Sanchez
Every Tuesday at CAP AUDITORIUM Jones Avenue Cebu City
7Pm to 9PM (free entrance)
See you all guys at The Cebu Feast - "The happiest place on earth"...

http://www.thefeastcebu.com/

MONEY MAGNET SEMINAR by JOHN CALUB in CEBU!

Janmck Hilado Training
Presents:

HOW TO BECOME A MONEY MAGNET COMPREHENSIVE SEMINAR
-LIVE IN CEBU-
by John Calub

Be a multi-millionaire using the most powerful money management system in the world!

The seminar will be held at the
SM CITY TRADE HALL CEBU
June 11, 2011
8AM - 6PM

Ticket Price is only P350!!

Tickets are selling like hotcakes!! So get yours now!!
Bring along your Friends, Team, Office mates and Loved Ones...

Normally this is sold for P8000 but now, John Calub is giving it for only P350!!!
LIMITED SEATS Available!!!

Check us on Facebook:
Money Magnet Seminar in Cebu by John Calub

For more info visit:
http://moneymagnetcebu.blogspot.com/

Or Contact:
Jan Hilado / Lovely Hilado
0922-8845847 / 0922-9355747 / 266-0821
janmckingley@gmail.com
www.janmckhilado.com

The Qualities of Skillful Leadership by Jim Rohn

If you want to be a leader who attracts quality people, the key is to become a person of quality yourself. Leadership is the ability to attract someone to the gifts, skills, and opportunities you offer as an owner, as a manager, as a parent. I call leadership the great challenge of life.

What’s important in leadership is refining your skills. All great leaders keep working on themselves until they become effective. Here are some specifics:

Learn to be strong but not rude. It is an extra step you must take to become a powerful, capable leader with a wide range of reach. Some people mistake rudeness for strength. It’s not even a good substitute.

Learn to be kind but not weak. We must not mistake kindness for weakness. Kindness isn’t weak. Kindness is a certain type of strength. We must be kind enough to tell somebody the truth. We must be kind enough and considerate enough to lay it on the line. We must be kind enough to tell it like it is and not deal in delusion.

Learn to be bold but not a bully. It takes boldness to win the day. To build your influence, you’ve got to walk in front of your group. You’ve got to be willing to take the first arrow, tackle the first problem, discover the first sign of trouble.

You’ve got to learn to be humble, but not timid. You can’t get to the high life by being timid. Some people mistake timidity for humility. Humility is almost a God-like word. A sense of awe. A sense of wonder. An awareness of the human soul and spirit. An understanding that there is something unique about the human drama versus the rest of life. Humility is a grasp of the distance between us and the stars, yet having the feeling that we’re part of the stars. So humility is a virtue; but timidity is a disease. Timidity is an affliction. It can be cured, but it is a problem.

Be proud but not arrogant. It takes pride to win the day. It takes pride to build your ambition. It takes pride in community. It takes pride in cause, in accomplishment. But the key to becoming a good leader is being proud without being arrogant. In fact I believe the worst kind of arrogance is arrogance from ignorance. It’s when you don’t know that you don’t know. Now that kind of arrogance is intolerable. If someone is smart and arrogant, we can tolerate that. But if someone is ignorant and arrogant, that’s just too much to take

Develop humor without folly. That’s important for a leader. In leadership, we learn that it’s okay to be witty, but not silly. It’s okay to be fun, but not foolish.

Lastly, deal in realities. Deal in truth. Save yourself the agony. Just accept life like it is. Life is unique. Some people call it tragic, but I’d like to think it’s unique. The whole drama of life is unique. It’s fascinating. And I’ve found that the skills that work well for one leader may not work at all for another. But the fundamental skills of leadership can be adapted to work well for just about everyone: at work, in the community, and at home.

Lead Without Title

The best leaders love to learn. And the greatest organizations are learning enterprises – places where ideas are the currency of success. Yet, so many amongst us resist learning and embracing the new ideas that change brings with it. The deeper question is why?

What I’ve realized, as I travel across the world helping people Lead Without a Title, is that the very act of learning something new means you must also disrupt your thinking of yesterday. To accept or even just to entertain a new idea means you must leave the safety of your former way of perceiving the world and open up to something foreign. And that means you’d have to leave the protection of your comfort zone/Safe Harbor of The Known and sail out into the unknown – even for just a moment.

The unknown is a pretty scary place for most people. Ordinary people get threatened there. Victims get frightened there. And so the average person in business (and within life) avoids learning and exposing themselves to any idea or influence that might cause them to have to rethink the way they think and re-behave the way they have always behaved. But the fascinating paradox is that trying to avoid new ideas to stay safe is actually enormously dangerous – and infused with risk.

On the other hand, those who make the choice to Lead Without a Title have a lust to learn. They remain blindingly curious. They read books daily. They drink coffee with brilliant people. They have long conversations with role models whose ideas provoke/challenge/irritate them. Real leaders truly get that learning and ideation is the fuel of life. And that all it takes is a single idea to change the game at work (and rescript the story that is your life). Sure they too feel uncomfortable or even scared when faced with an idea that confronts their most closely cherished beliefs. But they understand that to resist the idea is to resist growth. As well as their next level of Mastery+Progress+Leadership. And so they move forward. Into an uncertain yet gorgeously exciting future.

Try It – Maybe You Can by Zig Ziglar

I love the story of the 90-year-old lady who, when asked if she could play the piano, responded that she didn’t know. “What do you mean, you don’t know?” she was asked. The lady smilingly replied, “I’ve never tried.” Good answer that I hope will open some eyes, ears and thinking. Many of us have talents we’ve never benefitted from because we have never “tried” to do a specific thing.

Nearly everybody recognizes the name of Nat “King” Cole. He was universally admired for his beautiful, silky-smooth voice. He could sing ballads as few have ever done. What many people do not realize is that he started his career as a piano player. One night in a West Coast club, the featured singer was ill and the owner demanded to know where he was. When Cole responded that he was sick, the club owner said, “If we don’t have a singer there’ll be no check.” That night Nat “King” Cole became a singer. The rest is history.

For the first seven years of his career, Will Rogers performed rope tricks. He was a genuine cowboy and very much a “man’s man.” He held the attention of the audience with the rope tricks he performed. One night someone in the audience asked him a question. His candid response brought a considerable amount of laughter. Then someone else asked a question and Rogers’ response again was humorous. That night his career as a full-scale humorist was launched. But he was far more than a humorist. He had the home-spun wisdom that not only encouraged and entertained, but also gave people information and inspiration they could use in their everyday lives.

Message: You might not be able to carry a tune, do rope tricks or give humorous, home spun advice but you do have a song to sing and ability that needs to be developed and used.

The next time someone asks if you can do something you’ve never done before, don’t automatically respond “no.” Think about it. Maybe you should give it a try. Who knows? Maybe you have talents you’ve never recognized. Give it a shot and I’ll SEE YOU AT THE TOP!

Zig Ziglar is known as America’s motivator. He is the author of 29 books and numerous audio and video recordings. See him in action!

John Calub

Meet John Calub

Motivational Speaker, Sales Guru and Certified Firewalk Instructor

Professional Experience

Meet the Philippines’ number one motivational speaker – John is a speaker who offers his years of street-smart experiences from starting out as an entry-level employee to CEO and President of his own training and coaching company, John Calub Training, Incorporated. He was the top salesman for six consecutive years in two corporations. As a self-made multi-millionaire, John shares his wisdom to thousands of people around the globe as to how they can their highest dreams and aspirations.

Training Background

John received his professional training here and abroad from world-renowned gurus such as Tom Peters (author of the best-seller, “In Search of Excellence”), Sam Reese (CEO of Miller Heiman, the leading developer and provider of strategic sales process solutions for top corporations in the U.S.), Martha Rogers (author of the ground breaking international best-seller, “One-to-One Marketing, Building Relationships One Customer at a Time”), Neil Rackham (author of “SPIN Selling”), Tony Parinello (author of “Selling to the Very Important Top Officer”), Jack Daly (CEO of Professional Sales Coach, Incorporated), John Maxwell (Author of “Developing the Leader in You”), Jack Canfield (author of the best-selling book “Chicken Soup for the Soul” and “The Success Principles”), Tony Buzan (author of “The Mind Map Book”) and Jay Conrad Levinson (author of “Guerilla Marketing”). He is the first and only Filipino personally trained by the Father of the Global Firewalking Movement – Tolly Burkan (He is also known as The “Mega Guru” of gurus such as Anthony Robbins, T. Harv Eker, Peggy Dylan ,etc)



How to be Successful in Everything
In order for us to be successful in anything that we do (finance, family, health, social life, personal development), it is important for us to do ONLY two (2) things:

1. Understand the Laws of God
2. Abide by God's Laws

Surprised?! It's actually something that we already know. Gees! In fact, John Calub mentioned in the seminar that almost all of the things that he will reveal to us that day is already known to us but the sad part is that we don't actually apply these practical knowledge and principles.

In fact, the Bible talks about these two things in achieving success in all areas of our life:

"8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." - Joshua 1:8 (emphasis added)
According to John Calub, God has created the universe to operate under specific laws in which the universe shall operate within. So far, there are about 100+ laws which have been discussed by many great thinkers and master mentors such as Mr. Charles Haanel (The Master Key System), Bob Proctor (Six Minutes to Success), T Harv Ecker (The Millionaire Mind), Tony Robbins (The Giant Within), Jim Rohn and many more.


Four (4) Characteristics of God's Laws
According to John Calub, God's laws have four (4) distinct characteristics which is very important for us to understand. God's laws have the following characteristics:

1. God's Laws are Universal - This means God's laws apply to all regardless of race, creed and color (and may I add religion or belief). For example, the Law of Gravity (which is, by the way, one of these laws) will apply to everyone whether you believe in Allah, Buddha, Stones, Cows, or Jesus The Christ. As an illustration, if someone jumps from a cliff (don't ask me why she jumped), the Law of Gravity will not stop her fall just because she believes in hypnosis or angels or levitation or if she is a Christian, Muslim or Buddhist. The Law of Gravity will work because God's laws are universal
2. God's Laws are Specific - This means God's laws are very accurate and calculated. For example, it has been established that 1 year has 365 days, 24 hours in 1 day, 60 minutes in 1 hour and 60 seconds in 1 minute. Women carrying a baby has to carry it for 9 months otherwise the baby will have fatal consequences. Did you also know that the earth revolves around the sun at exactly the right place and that we'd be scorched if we were a little closer to it and we'd be freezing when slightly farther from it? That's how exact God's laws are.
3. God's Laws are Unchanging - The laws of God will never change. The Law of Gravity is the same today as it is thousands of years ago. I wonder whether this law would apply to Jesus if He agreed to the devil when the latter told Him to jump off the cliff since the angels will be on his aid to rescue Him? I believe that the reason why Jesus did not jump because he knew the laws were universal and it applied to all including Himself. He replied by saying "... Do not test God." But I also believe that He could have jumped off the cliff and the angels would save Him because it was also written in the Bible that the angels will protect Him and not even His feet will touch the ground from a fall. To give another example, the gestation of a pregnant women has not changed since the beginning of time. Ever since, it has always been 9 months of gestation for a mother to bear her child.
4. God's Laws are Everlasting - God's laws will stand the test of time. Aside from it being unchanging, God's laws will never be destroyed. It will always be there even if people will invent technologies to reverse these laws. For example, the human race in all his wisdom have been able to extend the live of people through breakthrough medical technologies and sort of reverse the effects of the Law of Decay (one of the universal laws). But really, have you actually heard of someone living up to a thousand years old? Even in the old testament days, no one has gone against the Law of Decay. The good thing is that the other beautiful laws such as the Law of Return, the Law of Abundance and the Law of Attraction is also everlasting and exists until today.

Why Is It Important To Know These Characteristics
So now that you know the four (4) characteristics of God's laws, what's in it for us? I think the greatest thing about understanding these characteristics can be explained in one word: DEPENDABILITY (or if you want, RELIABILITY). As mentioned in the beginning of this post, there are two (2) things that we need to do to be successful.
(1) Understand God's Laws and
(2) Abide by God's Laws. So, if I know that these laws are applicable to all (Universal), accurate (Specific), consistent (Unchanging) and can stand the test of time (Everlasting), then I can "bet" everything that I have to understand these laws and apply it and I know that great things are in store for me. Now, that's powerful! Do you agree? What other advantages can you think of? Please share it here as I am and will continue to be a student of these laws.

John Calub Events Announcements:
* Attracting Wealth, “How To Program Your Mind For Success in 21 Days”
April 2, 2011 (Saturday, 8 am to 6 pm), SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City

* The Firewalk Bootcamp, “Mastering The Laws of Prosperity To Fireproof Your Dreams In Challenging Times”
April 8 (Friday), April 9 (Saturday) and April 10 (Sunday), 2011, Tagaytay Country Hotel

* Money Magnet Seminar in CEBU
June 11, 2011 (Saturday) SM Trade Hall
For Cebu reservations, contact 0922-8845846 ( Tony ).

THE STRENGTH TO ADMIT by Francis Kong

Have you ever been wrong?

The expected answer is “Of course.”

And now comes the clincher. What do you do when you know you’re wrong?

In a talk I gave for my friends in the software industry, I prompted the prestigious audience and said, “You have to say the 3 most important words. What are they?”

And then my friend Ricky Gumaru of PMAP blurted out the 3 words, “It’s Your Fault!”

And I laughed like crazy.

Everyone wants to be right. Some people will do anything to be right, even if they're wrong.

Why is it that being right is such a big thing with some people?

Can’t they be wrong? Can’t they be human?

Motivational speaker Brian Parsley says: “Here's the big question: Who cares if you're right? You teach your children from an early age to apologize when they're wrong because it's the right thing to do. Yet, as adults, you forget this basic principle.

I've seen adults make a scene in an office environment "defending their rightness." I'm not implying you should back down from your principles, but most arguments are more about ego than facts.”

And Brian is right.

There are advantages in admitting you’re wrong.

1. Strength of character.

Only secure and confident people are strong enough to admit their mistakes. Insecure people insist on being right all the time. The moment they admit their mistakes and rectify it, they learn from it and their character is built.

1. Sterling reputation.

What is worth more than money? A good name. Even the Bible says that a good name is worth more than gold and silver. A damaged reputation can take years to build back if destroyed. People respect honest people who are big enough to admit their mistakes. It is a show of strength as the person exhibits a willingness to take responsibility for his actions.

1. Increased Respect.

There's a misconception that if you tell people you made a mistake they won't trust you anymore. The opposite is the reality. People will trust you more because they know you're willing to tell the truth whether it's in your favor or not.

So guess what? You messed up. And now that you know the advantages in admitting you are wrong what should you do?

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Admit your mistake and get over it.

The ability to admit you are mistaken is a great display of strength and character. But equally important is your ability to move on and overcome. When you try to cover it up with lame excuses or blaming others, you lose your credibility. If you make a mistake that impacts someone else in a less than favorable way, do both of you a favor by letting him or her know.

2. Give people permission.

Brian Parsley says: “Most people don't admit their mistakes because of fear. They're afraid they won't be forgiven. If someone admits a mistake to you, let them know it's okay. Share with them a mistake you've made in the past. This one act can give your relationship a bigger boost than years of no conflict. It shows you care and allows them to be human. If you don't think you're going to have a long-term relationship, still give them the dignity you would want back from someone if you admitted your mistake.” So be gracious. There are 2 certainties in life. No it’s not death and taxes.

The 2 certainties in life are these:

1. There is a God and
2. You are not Him so be gracious.

There is no such thing as a perfect person. There are only stupid people who pretend to be perfect. Do not trust them. They are charlatans. These people should be crucified on the cross. And so get real and face the fact that you will make mistakes. It’s all a part of growing as an individual. Many of my life’s most valuable lessons come from the mistakes I have committed. And even as I learn from my own mistakes I need to be alert and learn from the mistakes of others too. Not to spite them but to learn from them.

Life is too short. You just don’t have the time to make all the mistakes you can learn from. Smart people learn from their own mistakes. Smarter people learn from the mistakes of others.

You Can’t Please Everyone by Zig Ziglar

To attempt to please everyone is a surefire formula for misery and lack of success in life. As a speaker and author, I communicate a considerable amount of information. It is my conviction that I must give people information to put them in better position to make good decisions. It is not my place to tell them which decisions to make.

As an example, according to Dr. Josh McDowell, parents who permit their twelve-year-old daughter (we have no data on boys) to date have just given her odds of nine-to-one that she will be sexually active before she finishes high school. If they choose to let her wait until she’s sixteen to start dating, they’ve given her odds of four-to-one that she will not be sexually active before she finishes high school.

Regardless of moral or religious convictions, most will agree that sexual activity precedes pregnancy. Most will also agree that teenage mothers and their children have a high failure rate in virtually every phase of life. With this in mind, I recently shared this information with an audience, expecting – at the very least – appreciation.

What I got was a fax from a very angry man. He was livid that I had had the audacity to tell him when to let his daughter start dating! There’s always the possibility that he simply was not listening, but if he was serious and resented getting the suggestion on proper dating age, then I am dumbfounded. I will be more careful in the future to let the audience know that I’m giving the information so they will be in a better position to make a wise decision on behalf of their daughters. I believe it offers a logical approach to help solve a monumental problem in our society. Think about it. You cannot please everyone, but if you’re convinced that your position is morally sound, stand by it and I’ll SEE YOU AT THE TOP!

This article is an excerpt from Over the Top. You can buy the whole book now! Zig Ziglar is known as America’s motivator. He is the author of 29 books and numerous audio and video recordings. See him in action!

KEEP ON STRIKING AND KEEP IT HOT by Francis Kong

An ambitious young man had been trying for months to be granted an interview with a major computer manufacturer. After making dozens of attempts he finally managed to get the HR Director to take his call. The young job seeker asked if he could get into their well-known training program. With dozens of qualified candidates already in his files, the HR Director replied, "I'm sorry but I can't interview you now. Why don't you call back in about five years?" Now that was really a very rude remark but guess what happened?

The smiling young man replied, "Morning or afternoon?"

Now don’t we love people who do not surrender easily?

Confucius says: "It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop."

Talk about perseverance.

One day, a man was sitting at home when he hears a faint a knock at the door.

He gets up, opens the door, and sees... no one. He looks around in the dark a bit before he just shrugs his shoulders and goes back to the living room. But a couple minutes later, he hears the same faint knock. He runs to the door, swings it open, and still sees no one until... he looks down and there's a SNAIL on the step! He picks up the snail and throws him into the woods.

Two years later, the man hears a faint knock on the door. He opens it and looks down - the same snail is there. He looks up at the man and the snail says "Now, what was that all about?"

Famous motivational speaker Zig Ziglar gives us his thoughts on this. According to Ziglar, “Somebody once said the difference between a big shot and little shot is that the big shot was the little shot who kept on shooting. There's much truth in that witticism. The reality is, no matter what our target might be, we seldom hit it on the first try unless the target is low, which means the accomplishment--and the rewards--will be insignificant.”

In bow shooting, experienced archers test the wind by using the first shot to judge its strength and direction, enabling them to zero in on the target with their following shots. In short, archers learn from their mistakes. That's good advice for all of us. Success in business, athletics, science, politics, etc., seldom comes on the first effort. Walt Disney went bankrupt a number of times and had at least one nervous breakdown before he made it big. Athletic skills are acquired over a long period of time and after countless hours of practice. Authors by the hundreds can tell you stories by the thousands of those rejection slips before they found a publisher who was willing to "gamble" on an unknown.

It's more than just a cliché that persistent, enthusiastic effort produces powerful, positive results, that failure is an event--not a person--and that the only time you must not fail is the last time you try. Whatever your target might be, chances are good that you're not going to hit the bull's eye on the first effort you make at being "successful." The key is persistence and the willingness to try again in the face of those early misses.

You can learn from those early mistakes and if you do keep on shooting, it's just a question of time before you, too, are hitting the bull's eye.”

We often times see the glamour of a person’s success. What we don’t see is the tremendous amount of effort and perseverance thrown into the work before the win. We see the champion whose hands are raised before the adoring public in the middle of the ring but what the public does not see is the tremendous amount of punches the champion absorbed before he finally hits the bull’s eye.

There is no short cut to success. It’s always toiling and striving and sweating it out and fighting the voice that rings in our head “Give up Francis, this is not getting you anywhere…” It’s refusing to give up when it seems like the effort is futile. Same thing in business, same thing in career and it’s certainly the same thing in the Christian life.

Basketball legend Michael Jordan says: "I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game-winning shot . . . and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

Oliver Cromwell says it very well: “Not only strike while the iron is hot, but make it hot by striking.” Guess what the wisest man in the book of Ecclesiastes has to say about this:

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.

And by the way, it’s a beautiful day today. Go to church!