Another blast fom the past by Orrin Woodward. I love that the message never changes as we travel down the road of LIFE. Enjoy!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Many years ago Solomon stated in Ecclesiastes, “There is nothing new under the sun.” This statement is as true today as the day he wrote it. Yes, we have new technological inventions, but human nature hasn’t changed in the least; therefore, the underlying principles haven’t changed either. Aesop Fables is a collection of short animal stories that teach these timeless truths about people. Here is one of my favorites:
ONE hot summer’s day a Fox was strolling through an orchard till he came to a bunch of Grapes just ripening on a vine which had been trained over a lofty branch. “Just the things to quench my thirst,” quoth he. Drawing back a few paces, he took a run and a jump, and just missed the bunch. Turning round again with a One, Two, Three, he jumped up, but with no greater success. Again and again he tried after the tempting morsel, but at last had to give it up, and walked away with his nose in the air, saying: “I am sure they are sour.”
MORAL: “IT IS EASY TO DESPISE WHAT YOU CANNOT GET”
In the business building arena, the moral is changed slightly to read:
“It’s easy to despise the business that you cannot build.”
When leaders are exposed to their own weaknesses, shortcomings, and incompetencies, they will quickly confront reality and change. However, when non-leaders are exposed to the similar circumstances, they will run to rationalizations, suffering from “sour grapes” syndrome. Since Sturgeon’s Law applies to business, sports, and the arts, why should anyone be shocked the 90% of the people in business are in need of further change in order to produce results? They can achieve victory, but only if they are willing to grow personally. This revelation leaves people with only two choices: change or blame. It’s a sad indictment on our culture today that so many choose to blame rather than to change.
YOU make your own bed in life, but you must also sleep in it. I am proud of the ten-plus new RT’s that we will be recognized in Columbus; they have chosen the leadership path of changing and growing. I love free enterprise because if a person has a better plan and executes it properly then his results cannot be hidden for long. On the other hand, if he is just talking “sour grapes,” his poison ultimately boomerangs upon himself, destroying the love, grace, and thankfulness needed to bounce back. So no matter what else you do, be careful of your thoughts. For your thoughts today eventually become your life tomorrow. Forgive others quickly and sincerely and move on for everyone’s sake. This is the only way to overcome bitterness and resentment – drinking poison so that others may die.
I have failed at many things, but I refuse to blame others for them. In fact, in my opinion, it’s only when you blame others for your life’s defeats that you descend from suffering a loss into becoming a loser. Regardless of what must be confronted, no short-term pain-avoiding blame-game maneuvering is worth that price. YOU deserve to win and the price for victory is accepting responsibility.
Sincerely,
Orrin Woodward
