| What's Your Excuse? | |
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+5Betty Fasig alj dkchristi Shelagh alice 9 posters |
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alice Five Star Member
Number of posts : 15672 Registration date : 2008-10-22 Age : 76 Location : Redmond, WA
| Subject: What's Your Excuse? Sat Oct 08, 2011 2:41 pm | |
| Steve Jobs was born out of wedlock, adopted, dropped out of college and then changed the world--what's your excuse? |
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Shelagh Admin
Number of posts : 12662 Registration date : 2008-01-11 Location : UK
| Subject: Re: What's Your Excuse? Sat Oct 08, 2011 2:59 pm | |
| I'm still working on changing the world, Alice. It's just taking me a little longer. |
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alice Five Star Member
Number of posts : 15672 Registration date : 2008-10-22 Age : 76 Location : Redmond, WA
| Subject: Re: What's Your Excuse? Sat Oct 08, 2011 3:05 pm | |
| Shelagh, You will do it. |
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dkchristi Five Star Member
Number of posts : 8594 Registration date : 2008-12-29 Location : Florida
| Subject: Re: What's Your Excuse? Sat Oct 08, 2011 3:08 pm | |
| Some people have all the legs up in the world and accomplish nothing; others have nothing to help them and change the world.
Books have been written about the "success factor" but those books are always about those who make it.
It's easier to pinpoint how a person becomes successful than all the many others who do not.
Some people are subject to internal demons that destroy their potential. Others face insurmountable physical and mental obstacles from a world that dishes them just one to many challenges.
Some do everything right - and live unnoticed and struggling lives.
Others do everything wrong - and gold comes their way automatically.
One thing I know for sure; research has been done about those who are subjected to success stories, self-help books, rise and accomplish guru's and lots of "what's your excuse" information. The extra hype only benefits them for a limited amount of time. Their natural life patterns continue.
People who should see their ability to succeed because others in worse circumstances have done well do not see themselves in other success stories. They see themselves as having a unique set of circumstances. |
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alj Five Star Member
Number of posts : 9633 Registration date : 2008-12-05 Age : 80 Location : San Antonio
| Subject: Re: What's Your Excuse? Sat Oct 08, 2011 3:20 pm | |
| There are many ways of changing the world. One is to work at changing one person at a time. Ann |
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alice Five Star Member
Number of posts : 15672 Registration date : 2008-10-22 Age : 76 Location : Redmond, WA
| Subject: Re: What's Your Excuse? Sat Oct 08, 2011 3:37 pm | |
| Ann and DK,
You both speak the truth. Each of us has different abilities and talents. Some of us need to just change ourselves. I am working on that. |
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Betty Fasig Five Star Member
Number of posts : 4334 Registration date : 2008-06-12 Age : 81 Location : Duette, Florida
| Subject: Re: What's Your Excuse? Sat Oct 08, 2011 3:50 pm | |
| To be.
To just be yourself is an accomplishment. To let go of what other people want you to be is something that is profound. To be yourself means you accept yourself, warts and all. I have no excuse.
Love,
Betty |
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alice Five Star Member
Number of posts : 15672 Registration date : 2008-10-22 Age : 76 Location : Redmond, WA
| Subject: Re: What's Your Excuse? Sat Oct 08, 2011 4:32 pm | |
| Thamk you, Betty, For someone who had no early example of how to be loving, you are incredible. You have every excuse and give none.
So proud to know you.
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alj Five Star Member
Number of posts : 9633 Registration date : 2008-12-05 Age : 80 Location : San Antonio
| Subject: Re: What's Your Excuse? Sat Oct 08, 2011 5:04 pm | |
| Alice, read Betty's response again.
It applies to you, too.
You don't need to change anything about yourself.
There is nothing to work on.
Just be Alice.
Ann |
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alice Five Star Member
Number of posts : 15672 Registration date : 2008-10-22 Age : 76 Location : Redmond, WA
| Subject: Re: What's Your Excuse? Sat Oct 08, 2011 5:17 pm | |
| Thank you, Ann, You are the friend I need. Where were you all my life? I sure hope you never change. |
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LeeBrown2010 Three Star Member
Number of posts : 84 Registration date : 2011-09-24 Location : South Carolina
| Subject: Re: What's Your Excuse? Sat Oct 08, 2011 5:25 pm | |
| Hi Alice and Crew!
May not ever be rich or famous but surely doing my part to help change the world one person at time in only one day at a time. And I have been impacted, shaped and molded by many different people, places and things. I have worked with some of the worst addicts and criminals who were brilliant, educated (street-smart, common sense and book smart) and loving individuals plauged by diseases, bad decisions and life's circumstances. They impacted me nonetheless.
Thus the perfect book title for me...Touched By People, Places and Things. I challenge my students to go beyond education and book smarts in their quest to be successful in life.
I agree and like all of your responses....I am Me! I am a Pollyanna for life!
Thanks for letting me share! Lee |
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alice Five Star Member
Number of posts : 15672 Registration date : 2008-10-22 Age : 76 Location : Redmond, WA
| Subject: Re: What's Your Excuse? Sat Oct 08, 2011 5:40 pm | |
|
Lee,
Thank you for sharing. I am so glad you are here.
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alice Five Star Member
Number of posts : 15672 Registration date : 2008-10-22 Age : 76 Location : Redmond, WA
| Subject: Re: What's Your Excuse? Sat Oct 08, 2011 5:53 pm | |
| Confession time:
A friend of mine posed this problem on Facebook. My answer was, " No excuse. I didn't have any drugs!
Really, I don't see being born out of wedlock and adopted as problems. At least most adopted children are very much wanted and not likely to be abused and neglected. Our beautiful, intelligent daughter-in-law was born out of wedlock, adopted and dropped out of college to marry our son. She is an RN now. Her parents are most loving and kind.
I dropped out of college to marry my husband and am glad I did. I went to college later. I am so glad I had the gumption to do it. No Regrets! |
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dkchristi Five Star Member
Number of posts : 8594 Registration date : 2008-12-29 Location : Florida
| Subject: Re: What's Your Excuse? Sat Oct 08, 2011 8:14 pm | |
| I dropped out of college to marry - during Viet Nam - he was drafted. It was a right decision at the time. Took ten years to finish the BA and another ten to finish the M.Ed.
My work was always helping those less able to help themselves gain education and employment. Surely, many of those people have changed the world.
I have seen others receive recognition for accomplishments. Somehow, recognition for my community activities slipped under the radar as I've never been much on self promotion but more apt to help another gain recognition.
If you quietly work in the shadows, you will remain in the shadows. However, I have always been able to sleep at night knowing I tried to do my best and have it make a positive impact on someone else. A good night's sleep and a full heart are rewards in themselves. |
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JoElle Five Star Member
Number of posts : 1311 Registration date : 2008-05-09
| Subject: Re: What's Your Excuse? Sat Oct 08, 2011 8:16 pm | |
| I think I've posted about these two men before but ...
I am impressed by:
This guy grew up without his father, an abusive stepdad, in and out of foster care, and homelessness, and was a poor penniless father. No college. But pursued his goal by working hard.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Gardner
And this guy (yes, he came across the border illegally looking for a better life ... like my father) who now saves lives:
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/25802159/ns/today-today_people/t/once-migrant-worker-today-hes-brain-surgeon/
Thing in common? Being willing to WORK HARD, and do without, to achieve something better. |
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LC Five Star Member
Number of posts : 5044 Registration date : 2009-03-28
| Subject: Re: What's Your Excuse? Sat Oct 08, 2011 9:22 pm | |
| My excuse is that I'm neither as smart nor as ambitious as Jobs. From one of Joelle's articles: - Quote :
- I look around at his lab assistants, their faces a rainbow of colors — intense, smart, listening. Their parents come from many parts of the world. Dr. Q has chosen them to test his theory: that a team of scientists from a diversity of backgrounds might find a cure for cancer more quickly, because each would see the problem differently.
I hope he publishes his results. I'd like to see documentation that this is true; that having a "diversity" of skin colors leads to solving anything faster. I can see how it makes people more careful about what they say. But I would like to see evidence that a group of smart people of multiple colors will solve a problem faster than a group of smart people of one color. |
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JoElle Five Star Member
Number of posts : 1311 Registration date : 2008-05-09
| Subject: Re: What's Your Excuse? Sun Oct 09, 2011 2:03 am | |
| - LC wrote:
- My excuse is that I'm neither as smart nor as ambitious as Jobs.
From one of Joelle's articles:
- Quote :
- I look around at his lab assistants, their faces a rainbow of colors — intense, smart, listening. Their parents come from many parts of the world. Dr. Q has chosen them to test his theory: that a team of scientists from a diversity of backgrounds might find a cure for cancer more quickly, because each would see the problem differently.
I hope he publishes his results. I'd like to see documentation that this is true; that having a "diversity" of skin colors leads to solving anything faster. I can see how it makes people more careful about what they say. But I would like to see evidence that a group of smart people of multiple colors will solve a problem faster than a group of smart people of one color. I think the writer was simply using 'rainbow' as a way of illustrating that they were of various racial/ethnic backgrounds. The diversity comes not from their color, but from their backgrounds. The difference is the points of view and life experiences. Apple recognizes the advantage of a diverse ecosystem of employees. As do many other companies: http://www.ethnoconnect.com/html/articles_09.html |
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LC Five Star Member
Number of posts : 5044 Registration date : 2009-03-28
| Subject: Re: What's Your Excuse? Sun Oct 09, 2011 6:21 am | |
| Apple "recognizes the advantage of a diverse ecosystem" because the government will sue it if it doesn't. The government is currently suing Cabello's, an outdoor hunting/fishing sporting company, because it's "too white." Even though it's mostly whites who are into outdoor hunting/fishing sports. BTW, Apple was the subject of some black group screaming at it recently, demanding to see its "diversity data." It refused. lol
And anytime I see "various racial and ethic backgrounds" -like in Bill Clinton's cabinet- what it really means is a left-wing white, a left-wing black, a left-wing hispanic, etc. |
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Shelagh Admin
Number of posts : 12662 Registration date : 2008-01-11 Location : UK
| Subject: Re: What's Your Excuse? Sun Oct 09, 2011 6:26 am | |
| Which just goes to show how the important things that unite us have nothing to do with the colour of our skins. |
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Abe F. March Five Star Member
Number of posts : 10768 Registration date : 2008-01-26 Age : 85 Location : Germany
| Subject: Re: What's Your Excuse? Sun Oct 09, 2011 8:01 am | |
| Enjoyed reading the responses. Good points in all.
I personally don't think you can change anyone. People will change when they personally feel a need to change. We can set an example and help point the way, but the person must want to change before it will occur. Sometimes struggle can be a benefit. Determination helps.
My father was born by an unwed mother who died when he was 3 months old. His uncle and aunt became his unadopted parents. He never learned the identity of his father although there were suspicions. When he confronted the suspected father, he denied it. That's part of a story I have on my writing shelf.
I'm reminded of the bumble bee. Many succeed because they don't believe they can't.
As DK said, we hear lots of stories of those who made it, but there are many who have tried and failed that we don't hear about. By the same token, many who have succeeded failed many times before they achieved success. Failure is not final nor is success. There are those who succeeded only to lose everything and had to start over. Some just quit. Some understood that success first begins in the mind. One can be successful even though temporarily cash poor. If a person is measured by the bank account, they are poor indeed. |
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alice Five Star Member
Number of posts : 15672 Registration date : 2008-10-22 Age : 76 Location : Redmond, WA
| Subject: Re: What's Your Excuse? Sun Oct 09, 2011 8:47 am | |
| DK,
Your Job is on its way, but if it doesn't arrive, you will content yourself with the successes you have had through teaching. You showed others the way.
JoElle, I am going to watch that movie,
LC, Diversity in all things! Brains , looks, wealth, size, etc.
Shelagh and Abe, Great points,as usual.
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JoElle Five Star Member
Number of posts : 1311 Registration date : 2008-05-09
| Subject: Re: What's Your Excuse? Tue Oct 11, 2011 8:37 am | |
| - Abe F. March wrote:
- ...If a person is measured by the bank account, they are poor indeed.
So true! A non-famous, non-rich person who has found their place and purpose in this world and who is loved by family and friends is much more successful than a rich and famous person who has no personal peace or self respect. Success is not measured in dollar signs. Thanks for the reminder, Abe. You are wise. |
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