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How to Change the World

December 23, 2011 in Personal Development with 3 Comments

When we talk about change, here’s a good starting point:  This is an inscription on the tomb of an Anglican Bishop in Westminster Abbey:

 

“When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits,

I dreamed of changing the world.

As I grew older and wiser I discovered the world would not change –

So I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country,

But it too seemed immovable.

As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt,

I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me,

But alas, they would have none of it.

And now I realize as I lie on my deathbed, if I had only changed myself first,

Then by example I might have changed my family,  Read more »

Make no Little Plans

December 22, 2011 in Personal Development with 5 Comments

Joanne and I just returned from several days in Chicago – our annual pre-Christmas jaunt to relax, enjoy the lights,
and celebrate Joanne’s birthday.  We ate at our favorite restaurants, strolled through the decorated stores, browsed in art galleries, enjoyed the Donny and Marie Osmond Christmas Show at the beautiful Oriental Theatre and talked with friendly people everywhere.  Having done this for many years now, we are quite familiar with the Magnificent Mile, the Water Tower and other notable landmarks.  The primary architect behind the beautiful layout that preserved the Chicago lakefront was Daniel H. Burnham.  Burnham presented his most ambitious work, the Plan of Chicago, in 1909.

Burnham is noted for one famous quotation which is still seen at multiple places around Chicago, including at the base of the Willis (Sears) Tower:  Read more »

What’s happening in your house?

December 16, 2011 in Personal Development with 11 Comments

“As important as your obligations as a doctor, lawyer or business leader will be, you are a human being first. And these human connections with spouse, with children and with friends are the most important investments you will ever make. At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict, or closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a friend, a child or a parent. One
thing will never change. Fathers and Mothers, if you have children, they must come first. You must read to your children, you must hug your children and you must love your children…. Your success as a family, our success as a society depends not what happens at the White House, but what happens inside YOUR house.”

― Barbara Bush

 

 

   Read more »

The Sky is Falling

December 14, 2011 in No More Mondays, Personal Development with 4 Comments

 

 

This is a guest post by Joanne Miller.  She is my wife and affectionately known as Queen Mother in the 48Days community. She writes, serves the needs of others and spends time with her grandchildren.  She doesn’t use Twitter or Facebook but has more connections than anyone I know. If you want to guest post on this blog, check out the guidelines here.

 

“There are croakers in every country, always boding its ruin.” – Ben Franklin

This summer while vacationing in Florida Dan and I were delighted to find a Goodwill bookstore. It was clean, well organized and had an incredible book selection.  We spent a long time perusing the shelves and left with several bags of books we have enjoyed reading.  One book, Ben Franklin’s Almanac of Wit, Wisdom, and Practical Advice by the editors of The Old Farmer’s Almanac has become a particular favorite and Dan and I enjoy sharing with each other tidbits we have learned.  This story was, I thought, particularly poignant since I read it the day before our big Open House.  In light of my observation that the attendees to our Open House were so positive and encouraged, I think it will speak to you:  Read more »

The solution is not pulling down another man’s house…

December 9, 2011 in Personal Development with 4 Comments

“Property is the fruit of labor…property is desirable…is a positive good in the world. That some should be rich shows that others may become rich, and hence is just encouragement to industry and enterprise. Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another; but let him labor diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built.”

From The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln edited by Roy P. Basler, Volume VII, “Reply to New York Workingmen’s Democratic Republican Association” (March 21, 1864), pp. 259-260

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