One day a florist goes to a barber for a haircut. After the cut he
asked about his bill and the barber replies, ‘I cannot accept money
from you. I’m doing community service this week.’ The florist was
pleased and left the shop.
When the barber goes to open his shop the next morning there is a
‘thank you’ card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door..
Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his
bill, the barber again replies, ‘I cannot accept money from you. I’m
doing community service this week.’ The cop is happy and leaves the
shop.
The next morning when the barber goes to open up there is a ‘thank
you’ card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.
Later that day, a college professor comes in for a haircut, and when
he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replies, ‘I cannot accept
money from you. I’m doing community service this week.’ The professor
is very happy and leaves the shop.
The next morning when the barber opens his shop, there is a ‘thank
you’ card and a dozen different books, such as ‘How to Improve
Your Business’ and ‘Becoming More Successful.’
Then, a Member of Parliament comes in for a haircut , and when he goes
to pay his bill the barber again replies, ‘I cannot accept money from
you. I’m doing community service this week.’ The Member of Parliament
is very happy and leaves the shop.
The next morning when the barber goes to open up, there are a dozen
Members of Parliament lined up waiting for a free haircut.
And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between
the citizens of the UK and many Members of Parliament
A lot of people are angry with UK politicians — so this could turn out to be one of the most interesting elections for a while.
I have come across this great quote a number of times recently - there seems to be some confusion as to who to credit it to - but I am going to go with: Zen Buddhist Text
Overall it pretty well sums up my own Philosophy For Life
“The master of the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his education and his recreation, his love and his religion. He simply pursues his vision of excellence in whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him, he is always doing both.”
All the copywriters are personally known to Harlan and you simply submit your project and then approved copywriters bid for your project. (A bit like eLance or Rentacoder or 99Designs)
As some of you will know, in a previous life I was a Home Improvements contractor and I met up with one of my old buddies this week - who is an Electrical Contractor (Electrician). As you do, I asked my buddy how business was - and to be frank I was expecting him to say he was struggling / work was short - but he surprised me by saying business was great and in fact he was turning work away.
His secret? - The Trade Ring
Have you ever had a trades person to your home - for example a plumber and you are impressed with their work and then asked for an introduction to another trades person, for example an electrician or a landscaper? I know I have and I also know that usually they have someone they can recommend. Then more often than not they write the name of their recommendation on a scrape of paper (often illegible) which inevitably gets lost.
Well how about that self same trades person having printed on the back of his business card the names of 4 other trades people he recommends - just their first name, their trade and a phone number.
In my buddies case he is in “partnership” with a Plumber, Landscaper, Carpenter and a Painter / Decorator and of course each of his buddies has his name and number on the back of their business cards.
All five TRADES are fully booked at a time when many others are struggling for work.
A simple but very effective idea that could be applied to so many businesses both offline and online.
I have been meaning to do this video for a while — anyone who knows me, knows that I am passionate about being a entrepreneur.
Yet, far too people assume or suggest that whatever success we have was a fluke or luck - almost like we never worked or strived for our success! I find speaking to other successful entrepreneurs that this is something they experience also.
Do not let anyone NEG you out - steal your energy or put you down.
It is not what happens to you that matters - it is how you respond to what happens to you that makes the difference between success and failure.
A must watch video - Napoleon Hill - Think and Grow Rich - only 7 minutes long, but really it still is the best strategy for attracting abundance and wealth into your life.
What I like about this video is the lack of FLUFF – to the point and spot on advice if you ever want to become wealthy.
There are not many videos of Napoleon Hill around that I know of — so this really is a nice bit of LAW OF ATTRACTION History.
It is now over 20 years since I read Think and Grow Rich and I “owe” this book so much.
Napoleon Hill, the author of “Think and Grow Rich,” a book that discloses the secrets to getting rich according to Andrew Carnegie and 500 other very wealthy men.
The Most Positive And Inspiring Video featuring Tony Melendez
A video about Tony Melendez - with English Subtitles - do watch it, you will be glad you did.
Tony Meléndez is a Nicaraguan American guitar player, composer and singer and songwriter who was born without arms. His mother took Thalidomide while pregnant, which caused his disability. Tony Meléndez has learned to play the guitar with his feet.
On September 15, 1987 Meléndez sang Never Be the Same while playing the guitar with his feet in a special performance for Pope John Paul II. Visibly moved, the Pope descended from his chair and embraced Meléndez. The Pope told Meléndez, “My wish for you is that you continue to give hope to others and continue in what you are doing”, which inspired him.
With his band, Tony Meléndez and the Toe Jam Band, has a busy concert schedule. Tony Meléndez also gives motivational talks and has written a book.
“Don’t let the opinions of the average man sway you. Dream, and he thinks you’re crazy.
Succeed, and he thinks you’re lucky. Acquire wealth, and he thinks you’re greedy.
Pay no attention. He simply doesn’t understand.” - Robert G Allen
More start ups succeed during recessions than good times
Burger King Corp, FedEx Corp, Microsoft Corp, CNN, MTV Networks, HP (Hewlett-Packard Development Company LP) and GE (General Electric Co.) all started in a recession.
This is a very inspiring video - something I have known for sometime — so nice to see a video that explains it so well + updates it all for 2009
Recessions do come with Benefits
(there is a short advertisement at start of video - then the video proper will play)
