Success

A Gift of Peace and Hope

Music of a Christmas Song

The story behind the carol, "I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day"

-- Author unknown

Tragedy struck the home of America's most popular poet.  On July 9, 1861, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's wife, Fanny, was near an open window sealing locks of her daughter's hair in a packet, using hot sealing wax.  It was never known whether a spark from a match or the sealing wax was the cause, but suddenly her dress caught fire and engulfed her with flames.  Her husband, sleeping in the next room, was awakened by her screams.  He desperately tried to put out the fire and save his wife. He was severely burned on his face and hands.

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Q-TIP IT!

2 Q-tips

by Maureen Killoran

Back in the 1920’s when Polish-American entrepreneur Leo Gerstenzang invented cotton swabs as a safer way to clean his baby’s ears, he called his product “Q-Tip.” Actually, his first name-choice was “Baby Gay” – but that didn’t sell, so the by-now familiar name emerged. Mr. Gerstenzang chose “Q” for Quality . . . and he must have been on to something, because Q-Tip has become a household word (and we’ve developed a whole another set of connotations for ‘Baby Gay.’)

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Worse than a Bad Decision

Andrew Carnegie quote

--Author Unknown

Do you know why 95% of people out there never “have enough” of anything and find themselves lost, confused, and constantly searching for the reason WHY?

The answer is simple…

"Most people will loose more to indecision than they will to a bad decision."
-- Andrew Carnegie

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Feel Good About Who You Are

woman carrying 2 pots on a pole

-- Author Unknown


An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck.

One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water.

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The Boys of Iwo Jima

Statue of the Marines who took Iwo Jima

A True Story by Michael T. Powers

Each year I am hired to go to Washington, DC, with the eighth grade class from Clinton, WI, where I grew up, to videotape their trip. I greatly enjoy visiting our nation's capitol, and each year I take some special memories back with me. This Fall's trip was especially memorable.

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‘Helping Others’ Quotes

two hands reaching toward each other

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."
Anne Frank

"Look up and not down. Look forward and not back. Look out and not in, and lend a hand."
Edward Everett Hale

"When you cease to make a contribution, you begin to die."
Eleanor Roosevelt

"If you haven't any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble."
Bob Hope

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Heart of a Student Athlete

Karl Mecklenburg signing autograph

by Karl MecklenburgÔÇ¿ÔÇ¿

There is no easy or typical path to NFL stardom. Each individual must find their own strength and motivation as they overcome the odds and the obstacles that stand in their way. Along the way I learned the universal unchanging keys to success that allowed me to thrive in the competitive world of professional football and in my present profession as a motivational speaker and author.

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Falling for Richt

Coach Mark Richt

By Mark Bradley - Staff Writer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
(published October 25, 2001)

University of Georgia fans and administrators love their new coach, especially after beating Tennessee.

Athens -- Mark Richt has won five games and is on his second honeymoon. Predisposed to like any new coach, Georgia fans have swooned over this one.

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