Inspiration

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." Dr. Seuss

Inspiration

"The quality of events surrounding you in any given moment
in time may be reflecting specific beliefs that you
hold in that moment of time."
— Gregg Braden

Inspiration

"Discover that the most powerful way to help those
you love is to lead by example — and realize
you're leading by example all of the time."
— Joe Caruso

Inspiration

Happy in the morning

I open my cottage door;

A clear breeze blowing

Comes straight in.

The first sun

Lights the leafy trees;

The shadows it casts

Are crystal clear.

Serene,

In accord with my heart,

Everything merges

In one harmony.

Gain and loss

Are not my concern;

This way is enough

To the end of my days.

- Wen-siang

Inspiration

A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play; his labor and his leisure; his mind and his body; his education and his recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself, he always appears to be doing both.
- Francois Auguste Rene Chateaubriand

Inspiration

"Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to exchange for it. Establish your priorities and go to work." H. L. Hungt

Why I like this quote: Being an entrepreneur is not easy. My family has made many sacrifices so that Hand Picked Pumpkin can be both what it is today, and what it will become in the future. Many years ago, I did a lot of soul searching regarding my whole life path. Launching and managing a business like Hand Picked Pumpkin was what I wanted. I exchanged a nice, steady pay-check and benefits for this wonderful roller coaster. I guess posting inspirational quotes each Friday is ultimately more for me but I do it to inspire others. I draw strength from these inspirations and refocus on my priorities. I hope you do too. Now back to work! I've got an SEO call scheduled in 4 minutes.

Inspiration

"Whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should."
-Max Ehrmann

Inspiration

"Knowing is not enough; we must apply.
Willing is not enough; we must do."
— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Why it is important to buy made in the USA

Not sure who the author is but his point hit home.

John Smith started the day early having set his alarm
clock (MADE IN JAPAN) for 6 am.
While his coffeepot ( MADE IN CHINA )
was perking, he shaved with his
electric razor(MADE IN HONG KONG ).
He put on a dress shirt(MADE IN SRI LANKA ),
designer jeans(MADE IN SINGAPORE )
and tennis shoes(MADE IN KOREA )
After cooking his breakfast in his new
electric skillet(MADE IN INDIA )
he sat down with his calculator
(MADE IN MEXICO )to see how much he could spend today.
After setting his watch(MADE IN TAIWAN )
to the radio(MADE IN INDIA )he got in his car(MADE IN GERMANY )
filled it with GAS(from Saudi Arabia) and continued his search
for a good paying AMERICAN JOB.

At the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day checking his
computer(Made In Malaysia ), Joe decided to relax for a while.
He put on his sandals (MADE IN BRAZIL ) poured himself a glass of
wine(MADE IN FRANCE )and turned on his TV(MADE IN INDONESIA ),
and then wondered why he can't find a good paying job.

Inspiration

Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish. -John Quincy Adams

Inspirational Quote

With greater confidence in yourself and your abilities, you will set bigger goals, make bigger plans, and commit yourself to achieving objectives that today you only dream about. - Brian Tracy

Inspiration

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow.
Learn as if you were to live forever."-Mahatma Gandhi

Some music for inspiration

Instead of our usual weekly inspirational quote, thought I'd suggest you visit this site, BetterSoundAdvice.com. Unable to to work - or pretty much do anything - in silence, this site particularly caught my eye.

Happy Thanksgiving

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. -John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Inspirational thought

When restraint and courtesy are added to strength, the latter becomes irresistible.
– Mahatma Gandhi

Inspiration

The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers. -M. Scott Peck

Inspirational thought

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitute is happiness doubled by wonder. - G.K. Chesterton

Inspirational Thought

Everyone stumbles over the truth from time to time, but most people
pick themselves up and hurry off as though nothing ever happened. -
Sir Winston Churchill

Inspirational Thought

There are many wonderful things that will never be done if you do not do them. - Charles D. Gill

Inspirational Thought

I found this interesting quote on my Starbucks coffee cup this week.
"Mother-love is not inevitable. The good mother is a great artist, ever creating beauty out of chaos." - Alice Randall