Striving towards Excellence

From Reader's digest (July 1994 issue)

Years ago, I read that it was the responsibility of parents not to pave the road for their children, but to provide a road map. So as my son, Adam, prepared to leave for college, I jotted down a few words of counsel and put them in a binder. After his mother and I had helped him move into his hostel room, I presented him with the bound pages.

A few days later, Adam called me, " Dad" he said, " the book is one of the best gifts I 've ever received. I'm going to add to it and some day give it to my son." Every once in a while life hands you a moment so precious, so overwhelming, that you almost glow. I had just experienced one.

Some of the words I gave him were reproduced in the November 1993 issue of Reader's Digest. Here are some more:

* Compliment three people each day.
* Watch a sunrise at least once a year.
* Look people in the eye.
* Say " thank you" a lot.
* Say " Please" a lot.
* Live beneath your means.
* Buy whatever kids are selling.
* Treat everyone you meet as you want to be treated.
* Donate some of your blood every year.
* Make new friends but cherish the old ones.
* Keep secrets.
* Don't waste time learning the "tricks of the trade", Instead learn the trade.
* Admit your mistakes.
* Be brave. Even if you're not, pretend to be. No one can tell the difference.
* Choose a charity in your community and support it generously with your time and money.
* Use credit cards for convenience, never for credit.
* Never cheat.
* Learn to listen. Opportunity sometimes knocks very softly.
* Never deprive someone of hope, it might be all he or she has.
* Pray not for things, but for wisdom or courage.
* Never take action when you are angry.
* Have good posture.
* Enter a room with purpose and confidence.
* Don't discuss business in the elevator. You never know who may overhear you.
* Never pay for work before it is completed.
* Be willing to lose a battle in order to win the war.
* Don't gossip.
* Beware of the person who has nothing to lose.
* When facing a difficult task, act as though it is impossible to lose.
* Don't agree to do too many things at once. Learn to say 'no' politely and quickly.
* Don't expect life to to be fair.
* Never underestimate the power of forgiveness.
* Instead of using the word "problem" try substituting the word "opportunity".
* Never walk out on a quarrel with your wife.
* Regarding furniture and clothes, if you think you will be using them five years or longer, buy the best you can afford.
* Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the ones you did.
* Forget committees. New, noble, world-changing ideas always come from one person working alone.
* Street musicians are a treasure. Stop for a moment and listen; then leave a small donation.
* When faced with a serious health problem, get at least three medical opinions.
* Wage war against littering.
* After encountering inferior service, food or products, bring it to the attention of the person in charge. Good managers will appreciate knowing.
* Don't procrastinate. Do what need doing when it needs to be done.
* Get your priorities straight. No one ever said on his deathbed, " Gee, if I'd only spent more time at the office."
* Don't be afraid to say " I don't know."
* Don't be afraid to say " I am sorry."
* Make a list of 25 things you want to experience before you die. * Carry it in your wallet and refer to it often.
* Phone your mother.