“CAN YOU SLEEP WHEN THE WIND BLOWS?”

The following story is a superb metaphorical exposition of the level of preparedness.

Years ago, a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings & crops. As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals.

Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. 'Are you a good farm hand?' the farmer asked him.

'Well! I can sleep when the wind blows,' answered the little man. Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk & the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work. 

Then one night the wind howled loudly from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern & rushed next door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the little man &  yelled, 'Get up! A storm is coming!

Tie things down before they blow away!' The little man rolled over in bed & said firmly, 'No Sir! I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows.  

Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops & the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew.

REFLECTION!

When you're prepared, spiritually, mentally, & physically, you have nothing to fear. You can sleep when the wind blows through your life?

The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he had secured the farm against the storm.

The above story goes on to talk about trials & tribulations in life & if we do our best to understand, accept & implement the principles learnt by us we will experience a deep sense of security, peace & joy from within! 

We will then be able to 'Sleep when the wind blows!'

Play the Battle Drums

A king had many elephants, but one elephant was very powerful, very obedient, sensible and skillful in fighting skills. In many wars, he was sent on the battlefield and he would return only after being victorious. He was the most loved elephant of the king. Time went by and the elephant started getting old. He wasn't able to perform as before. The king did not send him to the battlefield anymore but he still remained a part of the king's team.  

The elephant once went to the lake for a drink. His feet got stuck in the mud there and he started sinking into it. He tried a lot, but he couldn't pull himself out of the mud. People knew the elephant was in trouble by the sound of his screams. The news also reached the king. The king and the people gathered around the elephant and made various efforts to get him out. But there was no way out.

An old retired minister from the King's court was passing by. He stopped on seeing the king. After understanding the situation, he spoke to the king and suggested that the battle drums be played around the lake. The listeners felt bizarre how the trapped elephant would come out by playing the drums. However, as soon as the drums of war started ringing, there was a change in the behaviour of the troubled elephant.

The elephant slowly stood up and then pulled himself out of the mud on his own, shocking everyone.

There wasn't a lack of physical ability in the elephant. Just the need to infuse enthusiasm within was required. 

To maintain enthusiasm in life, it is necessary that humans maintain a purposeful thinking & mindset and do not let despair dominate.

In today’s challenging times, we all need to infuse enthusiasm in ourselves & the people around us by playing the battle drums. We need to Celebrate Abundance of good health, Joy & Happiness.

Stop asking people how these tough times are treating them. Instead share the happy moments and the interesting things that are happening around.

There are a lot of good things happening around. Let's be grateful for those. Make sure the battle drums are played not to indicate war but to declare victory in the battle of difficult times with the support of the wonderful people around.

The First Sign of Civilisation

Years ago, an anthropologist Margaret Mead was asked by a student what she considered to be the first sign of civilization in a culture. The student expected Mead to talk about fishhooks or clay pots or grinding stones. 

But no. Mead said the first sign of civilization in an ancient culture was a femur( thighbone) that had been broken and then healed. Mead explained that in the animal kingdom, if you break your leg, you die. You cannot run from danger, get to the river for drink or hunt for  food. You are meat for prowling beasts. No animals survives a broken leg enough for the bone to heal .

The broken femur that has healed is evidence that someone had taken time to stay with the one who fell, has bound up the wound, has carried the person to safety and has tended the person through recovery. Helping someone else through difficulty is where civilization starts, Mead said”

Moral of the story: We are at our best when we serve others.

Have You Earned Your Tomorrow

By Edgar Guest

Is anybody happier because you passed his way?
     Does anyone remember that you spoke to him today?
This day is almost over, and its toiling time is through;
     Is there anyone to utter now a kindly word of you?

Did you give a cheerful greeting to the friend who came along?
Or a churlish sort of "Howdy" and then vanish in the throng?
Were you selfish pure and simple as you rushed along the way,
Or is someone mighty grateful for a deed you did today?

Can you say tonight, in parting with the day that's slipping fast,
     That you helped a single brother of the many that you passed?
Is a single heart rejoicing over what you did or said;
     Does a man whose hopes were fading now with courage look ahead?

Did you waste the day, or lose it, was it well or sorely spent?
     Did you leave a trail of kindness or a scar of discontent?
As you close your eyes in slumber do you think that God would say,
     You have earned one more tomorrow by the work you did today?

 

Out of box thinking

The owner of an underwear making company was having a tough time with shortage in his factory. On departure for home, all worker's bags were searched and everything always seemed to be ok. All security measures you can think of were put in place. Auditors were called in, but still no one was caught red handed with even a single underwear yet stock continued to disappear. All workers, including management, were checked on departure, and funny enough, each was wearing just one underwear, and no one was caught with more than one pair.   

Then one day, a very Junior worker (the tea Girl) thought out of the box . It was an idea that was so thought provoking to the boss. Why not check people, as they come instead of when they go out?  Her boss listened to her and the security officer was advised to check all staff on arrival. He got the shock of his life when he found that all the staff, including management, had no underwear on them on arrival at work ...

Today that tea girl is the head of Innovation & Strategy at the factory and Associated Group of Companies!

Put a shark in your mind - challenge yourself

This is a true story and it is very relevant for us in the sales profession

The Japanese have a great liking for fresh fish.

But the waters close to Japan have not held many fish for decades.

So, to feed the Japanese population, fishing boats got bigger and went farther than ever.

The further the fishermen went, the longer it took to bring back the fish.

The longer it took them to bring back the fish, the stale they grew.

The fish were not fresh and the Japanese did not like the taste.

To solve this problem, fishing companies installed the freezers on their boats.

They would catch the fish and freeze them at sea.

Freezers allowed the boats to go farther and stay longer.

However, the Japanese could taste the difference between fresh and frozen fish.

And they did not like the taste of frozen fish.

The frozen fish brought a lower price.

So, fishing companies installed fish tanks.

They would catch the fish and stuff them in the tanks, fin to fin.

After a little hashing around, fishes stopped moving.

They were tired and dull, but alive.

Unfortunately, the Japanese could still taste the difference.

Because the fish did not move for days, they lost their fresh-fish taste.

The Japanese preferred the lively taste of fresh fish, not sluggish fish.

The fishing industry faced an impending crisis!

But today, it has got over that crisis and has emerged as one of the most important trades in that country!

How did Japanese fishing companies solve this problem?

How do they get fresh-tasting fish to Japan ?

To keep the fish tasting fresh, the Japanese fishing companies still put the fish in the tanks.

But now they add a small shark to each tank.   

The shark eats a few fish, but most of the fish arrive in a very lively state.

The fish are challenged  and hence are constantly on the move.

And they survive and arrive in a healthy state!

They command a higher price and are most sought-after.

The challenge they face keeps them fresh!

Humans are no different.

Sales Profession is no different.

We thrive only in the presence of a challenging environment."

If you are steadily conquering challenges, you are happy. Your challenges keep you energized at all times.

They keep you alive!

Put a shark in your mind and see how far you can really go and achieve your objective with ease!

If you constantly run for survival and constantly adapt the change, then definitely you have a hunger to grow.

Practice this in your day to day work and see the change for yourself ...

Happiness is a State of Mind

Happiness is a State of Mind. All of us should try to develop such attitude

 

A man of 92 years, short, very well-presented, who takes great care in his appearance, is moving into an old people's home today.

After waiting several hours in the retirement home lobby, he gently smiles as he is told that his room is ready. 

His wife of 80 has recently died, and he is obliged to leave his home.

As he slowly walks to the elevator, using his cane, I describe his small room to him, including the sheet hung at the window which serves as a curtain.

 "I like it very much", he says, with the enthusiasm of an 8 year old boy who has just been given a new puppy.

" You haven't even seen the room yet, hang on a moment, we are almost there. "

" That has nothing to do with it ", he replies.

" It is already decided in my mind that I like my room. It is a decision I take every morning when I wake up. " 

" Happiness is something I choose in advance. Whether or not I like the room does not depend on the furniture, or the decor rather it depends on how I decide to see it. "

"I can choose. I can spend my day in bed enumerating all the difficulties that I have with the parts of my body that no longer work very well, or I can get up and give thanks to heaven for those parts that are still in working order. "

"Every day is a gift, and as long as I can open my eyes, I will focus on the new day, and all the happy memories that I have built up during my life. "

"Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw in later life what you have deposited along the way. "

So, my advice to you is to deposit all the happiness you can in your bank account of memories. 

Thank you for your part in filling my account with happy memories, which I am still continuing to fill.

Remember these simple guidelines for happiness.      

1. Free your heart from hatred.

2. Free your mind from worry.

3. Live simple.

4. Give more.

5. Expect less.

If you have been blessed by this message, send it to your loved ones and your friends. It is the way we touch each other with simple truths that spread goodness in the world. Who knows, a miracle may happen as a result.

Have a Blessed time. Every day is a Bonus.