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[ritu_sweet_girl]

herez one more..

Philippines -- This speech was delivered during the commencement
exercises of the UP graduating class of 2003 by Mr. Butch Jimenez, the
youngest commencement speaker in the university's history. He once
dreamed of doing so, and it came true!!!
:-)

Students wished they had a pencil or paper to jot down notes during the
speech; some even wished they had a taperecorder. Some members of the
faculty found his speech practical, refreshing, and funny!

Butch Jimenez, head of PLDT's media and strategic communications
department, delivered this speech at the UP Diliman Class 2003
commencement exercises.

What's better than...?
By Butch Jimenez

......Better than being negative

AS college students, you're just about to set sail into the real  world.
As you prepare for the battleground of life, you'll hear many speeches,
read tons of books and get miles of advice telling you to work hard,
dream big, go out and do something for yourself, and have a vision.  Not
bad advice, really. In fact, following these nuggets of truth may just
bring you to the top. But as I've lived my life over the years, I have
come  to realize that it is great to dream big, have a vision, make a
name, and work hard. But guess what: There's something better than that.


So my message today simply asks the question, What's better than...?

Let's start off with something really simple. What's better than a long
speech? No doubt, a short one. So, you guys are in luck because I do
intend to keep this short.

Now, let me take you through a very simple math exam.I'll rattle off a
couple of equations, and you tell me what you observe about them. Be
mindful of the instructions. You are to tell me what you observe about
the equations. Here goes: 3+4=7, 9+2=11, 8+4=13,and
6+6=12. Tell me, what do you observe?

Every time I conduct this test, more than 90 percent of the participants
immediately say, 8+4 is NOT 13, it's 12! That's true and they are
correct.
But they could have also
observed that the three other equations were right. That 3+4 is 7, that
9+2 is 11, and that 6+6 is 12.  What's my point?

Many people immediately focus on the negative instead ofthe positive.
Most of us focus on what's wrong with other people more than what's
right about them. Examine those four equations. Three were right and
only one was wrong.
But what is the knee-jerk observation? The wrong equation.  If 10 people
you didn't know were to walk through that door, most of you would
describe those people by what's negative about them. He's fat. He's
balding. Oh, the short one. Oh, the skinny girl.

Get the point? It's always the negative we focus on and not the
positive.
You'll definitely experience this in the corporate world.  You do a
hundred good things and one mistake-guess what? Chances are, your
attention will be called on that one mistake.

So what's better than focusing on the negative?Believe me, its focusing
on the positive. And if this world could learn to focus on  the positive
more than the negative, it would be a much nicer place to live in.

......Better than working hard
We have always been told to work hard. Our parents say that, our
teachers say that, and our principal says that. But there's something
better than merely working hard. It's working SMART.  

It's taking time to understand the situation, and coming out with an
effective and efficient solution to get more done with less time and
effort.
As the Japanese say, "There's always a better way."  

One of the most memorable case studies I came across with as I studied
Japanese management at Sophia University in Tokyo was the case of the
empty soap box, which happened in one of Japan's biggest  cosmetics
companies. The company received a complaint that a consumer had bought a
box of soap that was empty. It immediately isolated the problem to the
assembly line, which transported all the packaged boxes of soap to the
delivery department. For some reason, one soap box went through the
assembly line empty. Management tasked its engineers to solve the
problem. Post-haste, the engineers worked hard to devise an X-ray
machine with high-resolution monitors manned by two people to watch all
the soap boxes that passed through the line to make sure they were not
empty. No doubt, they worked hard and they worked fast. But a
rank-and-file employee that was posed the same problem came out with
another solution. He bought a strong industrial electric fan and pointed
it at the assembly line. He switched the fan on, and as each soap box
passed the fan, it simply blew the empty boxes out of the line.

Clearly, the engineers worked hard, but the rank-and-file employee
worked smart. So what's better than merely working hard? It's working
smart. Having said that, it is still important to work hard. If you
could combine both working hard and working smart, you would possess a
major factor toward success.

.....Better than dreaming big

I will bet my next month's salary that many have encouraged you to dream
big. Maybe even to reach for the stars and aim high. I sure heard that
about a million times right before I graduated from this university. So
I did. I did dream big. I did aim high. I did reach for the stars. No
doubt, it works. In fact, the saying is true:
"If you aim for nothing, that's exactly what you'll hit: nothing."  But
there's something better than dreaming big.
Believe me, I got shocked myself. And I learned it from the biggest
dreamer of all time, Walt Disney.

When it comes to dreaming big, Walt is the man. No bigger dreams were
fulfilled than his. Every leadership book describes him as the ultimate
dreamer. In fact, the principle of dreaming and achieving is the core
message of the Disney hit song, "When You Wish Upon a Star".

"When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are; anything
your heart desires will come to you. If your heart is in your dream, no
request is too extreme. When you wish upon a star,as dreamers do," as
Jiminy Cricket sang.  But is that what he preached in the Disney
company? Dream?

Imagineering
Well, not exactly. Kinda, but not quite. The problem with dreaming is if
that's all you do, you'll really get nowhere. In fact, you may just fall
asleep and never wake up.  The secret to Disney's success is not just
dreaming, it's IMAGINEERING.  You won't find this word in a dictionary.
It's purely a Disney word. Those who engage in imagineering are called
imagineers. The word combines the words "imagination" and "engineering."

In the book "Imagineers," Disney's CEO, Michael Eisner,claims that
"imagineers turn impossible dreams into real magic."  Walt Disney
explained there is really no secret to their approach. They just keep
moving forward-opening new doors and doing new things, because they are
curious. And it is this curiosity that leads them down new paths. They
always dream, explore and experiment. In short, imagineering is the
blending of creative imagination and technical know-how.
Eisner expounds on this thought by saying that "Not only are imaginerrs
curious, they are courageous, outrageous, and their creativity is
contagious."

The big difference with imagineers is that they dream and then they DO!
So don't just be a dreamer, be an imagineer. You must have all been
given a lecture at one time or another about the importance of having a
vision. Even leadership expert John Maxwell says that an indispensable
quality of a leader is to have a vision.
The Bible also makes it very clear that "Without vision, people perish."
So no doubt about it, having a vision is important to success.  

But surprise! There's something more potent than a vision. It's a
CAUSE.

If all you're doing is trying to reach your vision and you're pitted
against someone fighting for a cause, chances are you'll lose.  The
Vietnam War is a classic example. Literally with sticks and stones, the
Viet Cong beat the heavily armed US Army to surrender, primarily because
the US had a vision to win the war, but the Vietnamese were fighting for
a cause.

In the realm of business, many leaders have visions of making their
company No.1, or grabbing market share, or forever increasing profits.
Nothing really wrong with that vision, but take the example of Sony
founder Akio Morita. He did not just have a vision to build  the biggest
electronics company in the world. In his biography, "Made in Japan," he
reveals that the real reason he set up Sony was to help rebuild his
country, which had just been battered by war. He had a cause he was
fighting or. His vision to be an electronics giant was secondary.

What's the difference between a vision and a cause?
Here's what sets  them apart... No one is willing to die for a vision.
People will die  for a cause. You possess a vision. A cause possesses
you. A vision  lies in your hands. A cause lies in your heart. A vision
involves sacrifice. A cause involves the ultimate sacrifice. Just a word
of  caution.
You must have the right vision, and you must be fighting for  the right
cause. In the end, right will always win out.  It may take  time, and it
may take long. But if you have the right vision and are  fighting for
the right cause, you will prevail. If not, no matter how sincere you
are, if you are not fighting for what is right, you will ultimately
fail.

Two final quotes

Allow me to end with two quotes that I have lived by ever since I
stepped out of UP.  
The first comes from the Bible, which says, "To whom much is given,
much is required."
Having been given the opportunity to study in UP, no doubt, much has
been given to you in terms of an excellent education.
Don't forget that in return, much is now required of you to use that
education not just for yourself, but for others.
And as you move up and start reaching the pinnacle of success, even more
will be required of you to look at the welfare of others, of society and
of the country.

Though I have often dreamed of addressing any graduating class of UP
Diliman, I never really thought it would happen. This brings me to the
second quote I have held close to my heart as I traverse the  destiny
God has laid out for me. "There is no destination beyond  reach of one
who walks with God." My standing in front of you today, as the youngest
commencement speaker of this esteemed university in  92 years, is proof
of how true that quote is.

A final review:

What's better than focusing on the negative? Focus on the positive.
What's better than working hard? It's working smart.
What's better than dreaming? Imagineering.
What's better than doing something for yourself? Doing something for
your country.
What's better than a vision? A cause.
What's better than a long speech? Definitely, a short one.
Thank you and congratulations, UP Diliman graduating class of 2003
"Excellence is not a destination; it is a continuous journey that  never
ends."

[Vatsal]

Not every flower can represent love
               but roses did it.

Not every tree can stand thirst,
               but cactus did it.

Not every monkey can read emails,
               but hey you just did!
       
 
Enjoy your day, and don't forget to smile !

[ritu_sweet_girl]

dunno if it is really inspirational..
but is lovely and loveable..

You have to read this it is absolutely beautiful......


Each year he sent her roses,
and the note would always say,
I love you even more this year,
than last year on this day.
My love for you will always grow,
with every passing year."

She knew this was the last time
that the roses would appear.
She thought, he ordered roses
in advance before this day.
Her loving husband did not know,
that he would pass away.

He always liked to do things early,
way before the time.
Then, if he got too busy,
everything would work out fine.

She trimmed the stems and
placed them in a very special vase.
Then, sat the vase beside
the portrait of his smiling face.

She would sit for hours,
In her husband's favorite chair.
While staring at his picture,
and the roses sitting there.

A year went by, and it was
to live without her mate.
With loneliness and solitude,
that had become her fate.

Then, the very hour,
The doorbell rang, and there
were roses sitting by her door.

She brought the roses in,
and then just looked at them in shock.
Then, went to get the telephone,
to call the florist shop.

The owner answered, and she asked him,
if he would explain, Why would someone would
do this to her, causing her such pain?

"I know your husband passed away,
more than a year ago,"
The owner said,
"I knew you'd call, and you would want to know.
The flowers you received today,
were paid for in advance.
Your husband always planned ahead,
he left nothing to chance.
There is a standing order,
that I have on file down here,
And he has paid, well in advance,
you'll get them every year.

There also is another thing,
that I think you should know,
He wrote a special little card...he did this years ago.
Then, should ever I find out that he's no longer here, that's the card that should be sent to you
the following year."

She thanked him and hung up the phone, her tears now flowing hard.
Her fingers shaking,
as she slowly reached to get the card.

Inside the card, she saw that he had written her a note.
Then, as she stared in total silence,
this is what he wrote...

"Hello my love, I know it's been a year
since I've been gone.
I hope it hasn't been too hard for you to overcome.
I know it must be lonely,
and the pain is very real.

Or if it was the other way,
I know how I would feel.
The love we shared made everything
so beautiful in life.
I loved you more than words can say,
you were the perfect wife.
You were my friend and lover,
you fulfilled my every need.
I know it's only been a year,
but please try not to grieve.

I want you to be happy,
even when you shed your tears.
That is why the roses will be sent to you for years.
When you get these roses,
think of all the happiness that we had together,
and how both of us were blessed.
I have always loved you and
I know I always will.
But, my love, you must go on,
you have some living still.

Please...try to find happiness,
while living out your days.
I know it is not easy,
but I hope you find some ways.

The roses will come every year,
and they will only stop,
When your door's not answered,
when the florist stops to knock.
He will come five times that day,
in case you have gone out.
But after his last visit,
he will know without a doubt!
To take the roses to the place,
where I've instructed him
and place the roses where we are,
together once again.

Sometimes in life, you find a special friend;
Someone who changes your life
just by being part of it.
Someone who makes you laugh
until you can't stop;
Someone who makes you believe
that there really is good in the world.
Someone who convinces you
that there really is an unlocked door
just waiting for you to open it.

[Vatsal]

a professor filled a jar with stones and asked the class "is it full"

class said : yes

He then put some sand in it. the sand took place in the niches of the stones. He said : is it full

class said yes again

then he put cofee in the har
The coffee adjusted in the sand particle
he said is it full
the class laughed and said yess again

The professor said, our life is like this jar

There is always space for everything in life
stones are our basic duties
sand is our social duties
a student asked: what is coffee then

professor said : " No matter we full fill our basic duties and our social onligations, but there is always space for us to sit and have a cup of coffee with friends..."