Ray’s Daily
April 7, 2021
“Always do your best. What you plant now you will harvest later.”
Og Mandino
While I do not aspire to being the best I do want to do my best. It seems to me that doing what we can to do well will help us to live well. I am pretty happy with who I am these days but still think of my self as a work in progress.
I think always striving to do our best is the key to the good life. Here is an article I just got from Jon Gordon that reminded me of what will help me focus on doing what I can to be who I want to be.
11 TRAITS OF THE BEST OF THE BEST
1. The best know what they truly want. At some point in their lives, the best have a “Aha!” moment when their vision becomes clear. Suddenly they realize what they really, truly want to achieve. They find their passion. When that happens they are ready to pay the price that greatness requires.
2. The best want it more. We all want to be great. But the best of the best are willing to do what it takes to be great. The best don’t just think about their desire for greatness; they act on it. They work hard and do the things that others won’t do, and they spend more time doing it.
3. The best are always striving to get better. They are always looking for ways to learn, apply, improve, and grow. They stay humble and hungry and are lifelong learners.
4. The best do ordinary things better than everyone else. For all their greatness, the best aren’t that much better than everyone else. They are simply a little better at a lot of things. They work hard to master the fundamentals. They don’t do anything different. They just do the ordinary things better.
5. The best zoom focus. The best focus on what matters most and tune out distractions. Distractions are the enemy of greatness and the best don’t let distractions get in the way of their growth and improvement.
6. The best are mentally stronger. Life is not a sprint or a marathon. It’s a series of sprints combined with a boxing match. You’re not just running; you are getting hit along the way. The best are able to overcome adversity and challenges. with mental and emotional toughness.
7. The best overcome their fear. Everyone has fears. The best of the best all have fear, but they overcome it. To beat your enemy, you must know your enemy. Average people shy away from their fears. They either ignore them or hide from them. However, the best seek them out and face them with the intent of conquering them.
8. The best seize the moment. When the best are in the middle of their performance, they are not thinking “What if I win?” or “What if I lose?” They are not thinking “What if I make a mistake or miss the shot?” They are not interested in what the moment produces but are concerned only with what they produce in the moment. The best define the moment rather than letting the moment define them.
9. The best tap into a power greater than themselves. The best are conductors, not resistors. When the best look back on their life and accomplishments they know they didn’t accomplish it alone. They know a higher and greater power guided and fueled them on their journey.
10. The best leave a legacy. The best live and work with a bigger purpose. They leave a legacy by making their lives about more than them.
11. The best make everyone around them better. They do this through their own pursuit of excellence and in the excellence they inspire in others. One person in pursuit of excellence raises the standards of everyone around them. And as they strive for greatness they bring out the greatness in others.
Jon Gordon
~~~
“One finds limits by pushing them.”
Herbert Simon
~~~
A new employee calls the Help Desk to complain that there’s something wrong with her password.
“The problem is that whenever I type the password, it just shows stars,” she says.
“Those asterisks are to protect you,” the Help Desk technician explains, “so if someone were standing behind you, they wouldn’t be able to read your pass- word.”
“Yeah,” she says, “but they show up even when there is no one standing behind me.”
~~~
“View every problem as an opportunity.”
Joseph Sugarman
~~~
A very religious man lived right next door to an atheist. While the religious one prayed day in, day out, and was constantly on his knees in communion with his Lord, the atheist never even looked twice at a church.
However, the atheist’s life was good, he had a well-paying job and a beautiful wife, and his children were healthy and good-natured, whereas the pious man’s job was strenuous and his wages were low, his wife was getting fatter every day and his kids wouldn’t give him the time of the day. So one day, deep in prayer as usual, the pious man raised his eyes towards heaven and asked: “Oh God, I honor you every day, I ask your advice for every problem and confess to you my every sin. Yet my neighbor, who doesn’t even believe in you and certainly never prays, seems blessed with every happiness, while I go poor and suffer many an indignity. Why is this?”
And a great voice was heard from above… “BECAUSE HE DOESN’T BOTHER ME ALL THE TIME!”
~~~
“You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance.”
Franklin P. Jones
~~~
Morris had proposed to young Sherry, and was being interviewed by Sam, his prospective father-in-law.
“Do you think you are earning enough to support a family?” the older man asked Morris the suitor.
“Yes, sir,” replied Morris, “I’m sure that I am.”
“Think long and carefully now,” said Sherry’s father. “There are twelve of us…including uncle Izzy”
~~~
You’re getting old when you don’t care where your spouse goes, just as long as you don’t have to go along.
~~~
Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff announced his plans to expel every illegal immigrant in this country. This policy has a lot of illegal immigrants panicking.
Though not as much as Americans when they find out they have to clean their own houses, cut their own lawns and take care of their own kids. Then you’ll see panicking!
Jay Leno
~~~
She said, “On our anniversary, I told my husband, “I know I married you for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, but I’ve changed my mind. I’m ready now for better and richer.”
~~~
Things You Wish You Would Hear
Try to gain a few pounds.
You’re flossing too much.
It was only a loose wire; there’s no charge.
You can retire right now.
I think you need a smaller size, Ma’am.
Let’s go to lunch. I’ll treat.
I found this hundred-dollar bill right at your feet. It must be yours.
No, Sir, I’m not a telemarketer. I’m with the prize division, and you’ve just won a new car.
No, I don’t think we should get married. In fact, let’s keep separate residences. I’ll pay all the bills for both of them.
No, Honey, you control the remote tonight. It’s too big a burden on me.
I’m with the IRS. We found an error on your return. It seems we owe you a lot of money.
No, your check didn’t bounce. In fact, you have plenty of money in your account.
I know we just met, but would you consider going to the Bahamas with me for two weeks?
You’ve lost weight!
Your house sold for twice what you thought it would!
~~~
“Strange things happen when you’re in debt. Two weeks ago my car broke down and my phone got disconnected. I was one electric bill away from being Amish.”
Tom Ryan
~~~
A Sunday School teacher was telling his class the story of the Prodigal Son. Wishing to emphasize the resentful attitude of the elder brother, he laid stress on this part of the parable. After describing the rejoicing of the household over the return of the wayward son, the teacher spoke of one who, in the midst of the festivities, failed to share in the jubilant spirit of the occasion. “Can anybody in the class,” he asked, “tell me who this was?”
One hand waved in the air. “I know!” The student said, beaming. “It was the fatted calf.”
~~~
“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.”
William James
~~~
Indianapolis, Indiana
Management is not responsible for duplicates from previous dailies. The editor is somewhat senile.
Ray’s Daily has been sent for more than twenty years to people who want to start their day on an upbeat. If you have system overload because of our daily clutter, let me know and I will send you the information via mental telepathy. If you have not been getting our daily you can request to be added by e-mailing me at raykiwsp@comcast.net. Back issues are posted at http://rays-daily,com/ currently there are hundreds of readers from around the world.
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