James Smith’s Info Serv

Author: Jenny Flintoft

In the 1920’s, some friends of Ernest Hemingway bet him that he couldn’t write a story in 6 words. Hemingway responded with: “For Sale: baby shoes. Never worn.”

Now, does that tell you the whole story? No. Does it get you curious? Yes. Absolutely. And there will be some people who will go down a negative route when considering what that story may mean; others will choose a more positive route.

What is your story? What does it tell? Is it the story you want, or the story you feel you’ve been left with?

Being part of a story that inspires you can lead to you feeling more Fired Up. Having a story that drags you down, or one you feel disappointed with, definitely won’t. Often we continue to be the lead in a story that really isn’t us, that really doesn’t suit us. I don’t mean you have to be the hero of an action story, or the lead in a romance – you just have to feel that the story of your life that is playing out in front of you is one you’re happy to see unfolding before you and to be part of. Here are some six word stories I’ve heard from other people:
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Author: John Vespasian

Past mistakes have taught me many lessons. The most essential has been to make me realize the crucial value of ideas. You will find many obstacles on your way to a better life, but wrong ideas often constitute the largest hurdle to be overcome. Ignorance can keep you down for a while, but having wrong ideas can literally destroy your life.

Philosophical convictions play such a determinant role because they focus your mind on a goal and allow you to advance relentlessly in that direction. On the other hand, having wrong values is equivalent to putting blinders on your eyes. If you have a mistaken philosophy, you won’t be able to perceive opportunities.

You cannot move forward until you stop leaning backwards. You cannot take effective action until you stop chasing counter-productive targets. The following two poisonous ideas build enormous obstacles to success.

1. FEELING ASHAMED. You can make yourself ashamed of being too quick or too slow, too small or too fat, too ignorant or too old, or for who knows what. Whether your particular reason is one or the other, it doesn’t matter. You should not allow any of them to discourage you from moving forward.

If people criticize you, listen carefully, see if they have a point, try to improve whatever it is, assuming that it is something under your control, and move on.
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Author: Michael Angier

I’ve always been fascinated by dreamers. And making dreams come true for myself and others is what my life is about.

When I was in my teens, I started to think seriously about where I wanted my life to go. Like many young people I had visions of doing something significant. I also knew that most people abandon their dreams. So I promised myself that I would never give up trying, no matter what difficulties might come.

And the difficult times did come—some of them more painful than I could have imagined. But I kept my promise. I’ve never given up. I’ve been blown out of the sky several times, but I’ve always been able to put things back together and lumber down the runway to bluer skies.

My greatest fear had always been that I might reach the end of my life and feel that I hadn’t fulfilled my purpose—that I hadn’t made a lasting difference in the world. I no longer have this fear, but I’m still driven to make the most of my talents, my experiences and my resources.

During my 30 years of personal development research, I’ve seen many people—good people, hard-working people, talented people—not experience the success they deserved.
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Do you remember the story of The Wizard of Oz?  In this story we saw the characters of Dorothy, who had wanted to run away from home because she thought there was a better place somewhere.  We also met the scarecrow who believed he had no brain, the lion who thought he had no courage, and the kindly tin man who assumed he had no heart.

Together the four of them set off to the Emerald City to find the wizard in hopes that he could bestow upon them these virtues and find a way for Dorothy to go back home.

Even though Dorothy had thought she had wanted to be somewhere else, once she arrived in Munchkin Land she realized that hers dreams of being in a different place were not what she thought they would be.  Disappointed in the reality she desperately wanted to return to Kansas and be with her loving family.

How many of us can relate to their dilemma? For some reason we think there is greener pasture on the other side or that we do not possess the characteristics necessary to fulfill our dreams.

From a very young age, many of us are told that we can not do this or that because we do not have the talent or that we are not wise enough, or strong enough, or smart enough. What happens is that we end up living our lives in character with what others have told us about ourselves and in our personal belief system about ourselves.

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I’ve got some bad news for you; you won’t get the opportunity to read this incredible book entitled The Stevedore in the White Fedora. This novel, filled to the brim with stirring passages, was going to captivate your imagination and take you on a breathtaking adventure to some of the most infamous ports of the world. Replete with intrigue, passion, action, suspense, drama, and hot romance, this book was assuredly going to reach the top of the best-sellers list. And the ensuing movie based on that captivating story was going to rivet you to your seat to the point you would forget all about your popcorn and cola.

The only problem is … the book has not been written yet. And it never will be. That’s because Isaac Will, who had the whole splendid script in his head and who kept promising himself he was going to take time off to write it someday, died of a heart attack four days ago. Mr. I. Will’s funeral will take place at 3:30 today, in Somerset Cemetery.

Those who knew him well selected for his tombstone a fitting poem by James Albery:

He slept beneath the moon,
He basked beneath the sun,
Lived a life of going-to-to soon,
And died with nothing done.
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