======================= VOTT IF ... you could get a short, humorous, informative e-mail each week that was insightful and meaningful to your life? ======================= Valuing Ourselves The values of 'successful' people often generate sympathetic vibrations within ourselves! Benjamin Franklin is said to have lived his life by thirteen 'virtues'. Here are several of them (from Ben Franklin’s Wit & Wisdom, Peter Pauper Press): Temperance: Eat not to dullness. Drink not to elevation. Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation. Order: Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time. Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve. Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself, i.e., waste nothing. Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; if you speak, speak accordingly. Justice: Wrong none by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty. Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes,or habitation. Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles or at accidents common or unavoidable. Time Tippies One of the important aspects of time management is to keep up with the paper work. Unfortunately, for most people having "everything in its place" usually amounts to leaving it on the desk in one or more increasing piles. It is not a good idea to create these 'storage' skyscapers. Paperwork should generally be handled only once using the following plan (in order of preference): 1) dump it! 2) delegate it (but make sure it is worth dumping it onto someone else) 3) do it (if it deserves that attention) 4) place it in a follow-up file (make sure you are clear on the date for following-up) 5) file it permanently (only if it is vital for the future) Paper need not clog up our time - or our lives. Inspiration Every year, Australia hosts a tough 600 km race from Sydney to Melbourne that takes five days to complete. In 1988, a 61 year old man wearing overalls and galoshes named Cliff Young showed up to participate in this big race that attracts world class athletes with corporate sponsors. As Cliff walked up to the table to take his number, people thought he was crazy. When the press questioned his ability, he explained that he had grown up on a farm where he had to round up some 2000 sheep who roamed over 2000 acres. When storms rolled in he would have to run them for 2 or 3 days. He believed he could run this race since it was only two more days than what he was used to. They broadcast news of him and all of Australia was watching this crazy guy who shuffled along in galoshes. Generally, the participants ran 18 hours and slept 6, but Cliff didn't stop after the first 18 hours. He kept running. Every night he got just a little bit closer to the pack. By the last night, he passed them. By the last day, he was way in front of them. He won first place by nine hours! When asked what enabled him to win, Cliff explained he didn't know you were supposed to sleep. He was used to trying to outrun a storm. We salute this man whose simplicity gave him no physical, mental or emotional limitation. Funecdotes As a young lawyer, Abraham Lincoln once had to plead two cases before the same judge on the same day. Both involved the same principle of law, but in one he appealed for the defendant and in the other for the plaintiff. His eloquence won the case in the morning. In the afternoon, he argued the opposite side with equal conviction. The judge, half smiling, asked him what caused his change of attitude. " Your Honor, " said Lincoln, " I may have been wrong this morning, but I know I'm right this afternoon. "