Eight Life Lessons by Ed Foreman

ED FOREMAN...from a farm boy to a self-made millionaire by the age of 26 and a former United States Congressman from two different states, Texas and New Mexico. Ed Foreman travels 200,000 miles a year sharing his renowned message of "Successful Daily Living" with corporate executives around the world.


1. THINK about what you THINK ABOUT… and if you catch yourself thinking about unhappiness, ill health and adversity, “change the channel” and think about what you want to happen!

2. When something happens by chance, follow up. Lucky people tend to notice and act on good things that occur by happenstance.

3. Believe that good things will happen. Expectations have a way of coming true.

4. When bad things happen, look for the bright side; i.e., “what did I learn from that?” or, “how do I keep it from happening again?” Don't dwell on it, move on!

5. If the horse dies, dismount. Don't continue to pour money and effort into a lost cause.

6. Don’t look for love in the wrong places… not just romantic love but the love of “stuff.” Stuff is O.K., but understand the delusion of “I'll be happy when I have this or that,” or “when I live over there,” or “when this happens.” Happiness is a state of mind in which our thinking is pleasant most of the time.

7. Failure is a CHOICE made by the undisciplined. Failing to meet your objectives, regardless of what they are, is a choice, because something else has been given higher priority. If you fail, it is because you choose to fail.

8. You don't “catch” depression and you don't “catch” happiness… you “create” them by the thoughts you put into your mind. Carefully choose what you read, listen to and the people with whom you associate.

Take care of him now.

Once upon a time, there was this girl who had four boyfriends. She loved the 4th boyfriend the most and adored him with rich robes and treated him to the finest of delicacies. She gave him nothing but the best.

She also loved the 3rd boyfriend very much and was always showing him off to neighboring kingdoms... However, she feared that one day he would leave her for another.

She also loved her 2nd boyfriend. He was her confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with her... Whenever this girl faced a problem, she could confide in him, and he would help her get through the difficult times.

The girl's 1st boyfriend was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining her wealth and kingdom. However, she did not love the first boyfriend. Although he loved her deeply, she hardly took notice of him.

One day, the girl fell ill and she knew her time was short. She thought of her luxurious life and wondered, I now have four boyfriends with me, but when I die, I'll be all alone.'Thus, she asked the 4th boyfriend, I loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?'

'No way!' replied the 4th boyfriend, and he walked away without another word..His answer cut like a sharp knife right into her heart.

The sad girl then asked the 3rd boyfriend, 'I loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?''No!' replied the 3rd boyfriend. 'Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to marry someone else!'Her heart sank and turned cold.

She then asked the 2nd boyfriend, 'I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me.When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?''I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!' replied the 2nd boyfriend. 'At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave.'His answer struck her like a bolt of lightning, and the girl was devastated.

Then a voice called out: 'I'll go with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go.'The girl looked up, and there was her 1st boyfriend. He was very skinny as he suffered from malnutrition and neglect. Greatly grieved, the girl said, 'I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!

In truth, we all have 4 boyfriends in our lives:

Our 4th boyfriend is our body. No matter how much time and effort you lavish in making it look good; it will leave you when you die. Our 3rd boyfriend is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, it will all go to others.

Our 2nd boyfriend is our family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for us, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave. And our 1st boyfriend is our Soul. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world.

However, our Soul is the only thing that will follow us where ever you go. Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of us that will follow us to the throne of God
and continue with us throughout Eternity.

Thought for the day: Remember, when the world pushes you to your knees, you're in the perfect position to pray.

Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect. It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections. I hope this touched you! Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely.'

No one is permitted to run you down.

To those that are familiar with me and this blog, you will know am with a Consulting firm that specializes in Human resources, Business Development e.t.c. Our Major strength is in taking trainings and speaking at Seminars.In one of such Seminars, i went out with my Managing Partner and i want to share the experience with you.

Adeolu Akinyemi a well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $100.00 bill. In the room of 350, he asked:"Who would like this $100 bill…?"Hands started going up. He said,"I am going to give this $100 to one of you but first,let me do this.

He proceeded to crumple up the $100 dollar bill.He then asked, "Who still wants it?" still the hands were up in the air.Well, he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe.He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty."Now, who still wants it? "Still the hands went into the air.

My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in Value. It was still worth $100. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the
dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way.

We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who LOVE you.

The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but by WHO WE ARE. You are special, Don't EVER forget it."Count your blessings, not your problems.

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

Ask him

Recently i was wondering why people don't take time to hear from God.I ask myself if what you need to do to hear from him is just to spend more time with him.Why is it that people don't hear from God.I mean to get direction and instruction,as simple as where to go,what to wear and even what to eat,that will set the day right for them.

A young man had been to Wednesday Night Bible Study.The Pastor had shared about listening to God and obeying the Lord's voice.The young man couldn't help but wonder,'Does God still speak to people? After service,he went out with some friends for coffee and pie and they discussed the message.Several different ones talked about how God had led them in different ways.It was about ten o'clock when the young man started driving home.Sitting in his car,he just began to pray,'God...If you still speak to people,speak to me.I will listen.I will do my best to obey.'

As he drove down the main street of his town,he had the strangest thought to stop and buy a gallon of milk.He shook his head and said out loud,'God is that you?'He didn't get a reply and started on toward home.But again,the thought,buy a gallon of milk.The young man thought about Samuel and how he didn't recognize the voice of God,and how little Samuel ran to Eli.'Okay, God,in case that is you,I will buy the milk.'It didn't seem like too hard a test of obedience.He could always use the milk...He stopped and purchased the gallon of milk and started off toward home.

As he passed Seventh Street,he again felt the urge,'Turn Down that street.This is crazy he thought,and drove on past the intersection.Again,he felt that he should turn down Seventh Street.At the next intersection,he turned back and headed down Seventh.Half jokingly,he said out loud,Okay God,I will.He drove several blocks,when suddenly,he felt like he should stop.He pulled over to the curb and looked around.He was in a semi- commercial area of town.It wasn't the best but it wasn't the worst of neighborhoods either.The businesses were closed and most of the houses looked dark like the people were already in bed.

Again,he sensed something,'Go and give the milk to the people in the house across the street.The young man looked at the house.It was dark and it looked like the people were either gone or they were already asleep.He started to open the door and then sat back in the car seat.Lord,this is insane.Those people are asleep and if I wake them up,they are going to be mad and I will look stupid.Again,he felt like he should go and give the milk.

Finally,he opened the door,Okay God,if this is you,I will go to the door and I will give them the milk.If you want me to look like a crazy person,okay.I want to be obedient.I guess that will count for something,but if they don't answer right away,I am out of here.He walked across the street and rang the bell.He could hear some noise inside.A man's voice yelled out,'Who is it? What do you want? Then the door opened before the young man could get away.

The man was standing there in his jeans and T-shirt.He looked like he just got out of bed.He had a strange look on his face and he didn't seem too happy to have some stranger standing on his doorstep.What is it?The young man thrust out the gallon of milk,Here,I brought this to you.The man took the milk and rushed down a hallway.Then from down the hall came a woman carrying the milk toward the kitchen.The man was following her holding a baby.The baby was crying.The man had tears streaming down his face.

The man began speaking and half crying,We were just praying.We had some big bills this month and we ran out of money.We didn't have any milk for our baby.I was just praying and asking God to show me how to get some milk...His wife in the kitchen yelled out,I ask him to send an Angel with some.Are you an Angel?'The young man reached into his wallet and pulled out all the money he had on him and put in the man's hand.He turned and walked back toward his car and the tears were streaming down his face.He knew that God still answers prayers.

To me,God's voice has always been real.Few years ago,i needed to see a friend,school was on Holiday,there was no mobile phone.So i prayed about it,that God should make it happen.The next morning the holy spirit woke me up and said 'rise up and go to school'.I have not taken my bath,he said "if you really want to see her,go now".On getting to school i headed to my hostel,he said no 'go to compound E'.I went there but nothing happened,i was dissapointed,but something happened as i turned to leave,there she stood just at the entrance of the hall way on her way out of town having breezed in a day earlier without my knowledge.

I broke down and wept,because i was amazed at how God can lead me,in such a little thing.Since then,i don't joke with asking him for direction,even if it is just a Small thing.We all need more of him,in our daily life.There are times that we will just feel something is prompting us,we will call it "something" because we are not used to the working of the spirit.

We need to trace our way back to our maker,if he is the maker,he is the only one that has the blue print. ASK HIM

If.

If money doesn't grow on trees,then why do banks have branches?
Why does a round pizza come in a square box?
Why doesn't glue stick to its bottle?
Why do u still call it a building when its already built?
If its true that we are here to help others, what r others here 4?
If u r not supposed to drink and drive, why do bars have parking space?

Laugh and Roll.

IF THIS STORY DOESN'T MAKE YOU CRY FOR LAUGHING SO HARD,LET ME KNOW AND I'LL PRAY FOR YOU.THIS IS A STORY ABOUT A COUPLE WHO HAD BEEN HAPPILY MARRIED FOR YEARS.

THE ONLY FRICTION IN THEIR MARRIAGE WAS THE HUSBAND'S HABIT OF FARTING LOUDLY EVERY MORNING WHEN HE AWOKE. THE NOISE WOULD WAKE HIS WIFE AND THE SMELL WOULD MAKE HER EYES WATER AND MAKE HER GASP FOR AIR.EVERY MORNING SHE WOULD PLEAD WITH HIM TO STOP RIPPING THEM OFF BECAUSE IT WAS MAKING HER SICK. HE TOLD HER HE COULDN'T STOP IT AND THAT IT WAS PERFECTLY NATURAL. SHE TOLD HIM TO SEE A DOCTOR,SHE WAS CONCERNED THAT ONE DAY HE WOULD BLOW HIS GUTS OUT.

THE YEARS WENT BY AND HE CONTINUED TO RIP THEM OUT.THEN ONE THANKSGIVING MORNING AS SHE WAS PREPARING THE TURKEY FOR DINNER AND HE WAS UPSTAIRS SOUND ASLEEP, SHE LOOKED AT THE INNARDS AND NECK, GIZZARD,LIVER AND ALL THE SPARE PARTS AND A MALICIOUS THOUGHT CAME TO HER.SHE TOOK THE BOWL AND WENT UPSTAIRS WHERE HER HUSBAND WAS SOUND ASLEEP AND, GENTLY PULLING THE BED COVERS BACK,SHE PULLED BACK THE ELASTIC WAISTBAND OF HIS UNDERWEAR AND CAREFULLY EMPTIED THE BOWL OF TURKEY GUTS INTO HIS SHORTS.

SOME TIME LATER SHE HEARD HER HUSBAND WAKEN WITH HIS USUAL TRUMPETING WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY A BLOOD CURDLING SCREAM AND THEN SOUND OF FRANTIC FOOTSTEPS AS HE RAN INTO THE BATH ROOM. THE WIFE COULD HARDLY CONTROL HERSELF AS SHE ROLLED ON THE FLOOR LAUGHING, TEARS IN HER EYES! AFTER YEARS OF TORTURE SHE RECKONED SHE HAD GOT HIM BACK PRETTY GOOD..

ABOUT TWENTY MINUTES LATER, HER HUSBAND CAME DOWNSTAIRS IN HIS BLOODSTAINED UNDERPANTS WITH A LOOK OF HORROR ON HIS FACE.SHE BIT HER LIP AS SHE ASKED HIM WHAT WAS THE MATTER.HE SAID, 'HONEY YOU WERE RIGHT.' 'ALL THESE YEARS YOU HAVE WARNED ME AND I DIDN'T LISTEN TO YOU'.

'WHAT DO YOU MEAN?' ASKED HIS WIFE.

'WELL, YOU ALWAYS TOLD ME THAT ONE DAY I WOULD END UP FARTING MY GUTS OUT,AND TODAY IT FINALLY HAPPENED.BUT BY THE GRACE OF GOD, SOME VASELINE AND TWO FINGERS, I THINK I GOT MOST OF THEM BACK IN

QFTW

Work out your own salvation.Do not depend on others.

You can turn it around.

There is this story, i love very much when i was in the university,i always use it to encourage people.I came across it again a few days back, and i decided to also share it with my numerous readers.

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well.The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.Finally,he decided the animal was old,and the well needed to be covered up anyway;it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him.

They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.At first,the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly.Then,to everyone's amazement he quieted down.A few shovel loads later,the farmer finally looked down the well.He was astonished at what he saw.

With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing.He would shake it off and take a step up.As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal,he would shake it off and take a step up.Pretty soon,everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

MORAL :
Life atimes will shovel dirt on you,all kinds of dirt.The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up.Each of our troubles is a stepping stone.We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping,never giving up!Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happens.
3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less from people but more from God.

QFTW

Happy Salah! Happy Independent!! Happy New Month!!! Happy Happy Happy Month. Praise God

Quote:
Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success. Happy New Dawn

QFTW (Thought)

Some people run well on roads that lead to nowhere but others take a few steps in the right direction and become heroes.May God direct your steps to where you will be celebrated.Good morning and have a wonderful day and week ahead.

How are you taking it?

Any person who goes through life without experiencing failure is the ultimate failure in life.Why?Because if a person has never failed,they have never attempted to achieve or accomplish extraordinary goals.They have not reached for excellence and have stayed safely within the realm of mediocrity.

Success is not defined by or built upon the absence of failure.Rather,success is felt only when failure is accepted as part of the process and is overcome.An athlete becomes an outstanding success when they set new records.Most highly successful entrepreneurs fail multiple times in the process of setting up businesses.

My colleague was excited to tell us yesterday that her son took his first step,stumble and fell.A child learning to walk falls down many times before taking those successful first steps,then stumbles and falls again and again before being able to walk,and then run.The body needs to learn the failure before it can know the success.

Without the willingness to experience yet another failure,no child would ever walk.Without the willingness to experience failure,no great deed would ever get done,no new thing would ever be accomplished,nothing new would ever be learned.

Those who risk the most,succeed the most. Failure is meant to be an encourager to success; when you fail, the silent words being communicated is,"Try harder".In other words,embrace failure when it comes,don't allow it to keep you down...it demonstrates that you are on your way to success.When u give up then you are failure.

Failure is an event not a person.

Management 07(Resource Investigator)

New vacuum cleaner salesman knocked on the door on the first house of the street.A tall lady answered the door.Before she could speak,the enthusiastic salesman barged into the living room and opened a big black plastic bag and poured all the cow droppings onto the carpet.

"Madam,if I could not clean this up with the use of this new powerful vacuum cleaner,I will EAT all this s...!"exclaimed the eager salesman."Do you need chili sauce or ketchup with that?"asked the lady.

The bewildered salesman asked, " Why, madam?"

"There's no electricity in the house..." said the lady

**********

MORAL: Gather All resources before working on any project...!!

QFTW

If you want to make good use of your time,you've got to know what's most important and then give it all you've got.

QFTW

Don't limit yourself.Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do.You can go as far as your mind lets you.What you believe,remember,you can achieve.

Waffi Dog.

A wealthy Urhobo man decided to go on a safari in one of the games reserves.He took his faithful pet Waffi dog along for company.One day the dog starts chasing butterflies and before long he discovers that he is lost.So,wandering about he notices a leopard heading rapidly in his direction with the obvious intention of having lunch.The dog thinks,"Boy, dis na wahala."Then he noticed some bones on the ground close by,and immediately settles down to chew on the bones with his back to the approaching cat.

Just as the leopard is about to leap,the dog exclaims loudly,"Man,that leopard sweet o,I wonder where I fit get more around here?"Hearing this the leopard halts his attack in mid stride,as a look of terror comes over him,and slinks away into the trees."Chei",says the leopard."That was close.That dog nearly chop me.Meanwhile,a monkey who had been watching the whole scene from a nearby tree,figures he can put this knowledge to good use and trade it for protection from the leopard.So,off he goes.But the dog saw him heading after the leopard with great speed,and figured that something must be up.The monkey soon catches up with the leopard,spills the beans and strikes a deal for himself with the leopard.

The cat is furious at being made a fool of and says,"Here monkey,climb my back make you see wetin I go do that wayo dog."Now the dog sees the leopard coming with the monkey on his back,and thinks,"Wetin man go do now?"But instead of running,the dog sits down with his back to his attackers pretending he hasn't seen them yet.And just when they get close enough to hear,the dog says,"wey this monkey sef.you no fit ever trust am,30 mins don pass since I send am make him go bring another leopard and he still never come back!!"

This adorable creature called W-O-M-A-N

If you kiss her, you are not a gentleman
If you don't, you are not a man

If you praise her, she thinks you are lying
If you don't, you are good for nothing

If you agree to all her likes, she is abusing
If you don't, you are not understanding

If you make romance, you are an 'experienced man'
If you don't you are half a man

If you visit her too often, she thinks it is boring
If you don't, she accuses you of double crossing

If you are well dressed, she says you are a playboy
If you don't, you are a dull boy

If you are jealous, she says it's bad
If you don't , she thinks you do not love her

If you attempt a romance, she says you didn't respect her
If you don't, she thinks you do not like her

If you are a minute late, she complains it's hard to wait
If she is late, she says that's a girl's way

If you visit another, she accuses you of being a heel
If she is visited by another, 'oh it's natural, we are girls'

If you kiss her once in a while, she professes you are cold
If you kiss her too many, she yells that you are taking advantage

If you fail to help her in crossing the street, you lack ethics
If you do, she thinks it's just one of the man's tactics

If you stare at other, she accuses you of flirting
If she is stared by others, she says that they are just admiring

If you talk, she wants you to listen
If you listen, she wants you to talk

Oh God! you created those creature called "WOMAN'
So simple, yet so complex
So weak, yet so powerful
So confusing, yet so desirable

"O LORD, tell me what to do. AMEN"

QFTW

Iron rusts from disuse;stagnant water loses its purity and in cold weather becomes frozen;even so does inaction sap the vigor of the mind

Today is a gift.

A great piece for all to read it will take just a minute to read this and change your thinking.Two men,both seriously ill,occupied the same hospital room.One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs.His bed was next to the room's only window.The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.The men talked for hours on end.They spoke of their wives and families,their homes,their jobs,their involvement in the military service,where they had been on vacation..

Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up,he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake.Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail,the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by.Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it.In his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.Days and weeks passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep.She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.As soon as it seemed appropriate,the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window.The nurse was happy to make the switch,and after making sure he was comfortable,she left him alone.

Slowly,painfully,he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.It faced a blank wall.The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.

She said,"Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."

Moral Of the Story:

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy,despite our own situations.Shared grief is half the sorrow,but happiness when shared,is doubled.If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy.

"Today is a gift,that's why it is called the present."

QFTW

The possibilities are numerous once we decide to act and not react.

Abeg make we laugh.

After a night of drinking,Martins crept into bed beside his wife who was already asleep.He gave her a peck on the cheek and fell asleep.When he awoke he found a strange man standing at the end of his bed wearing a long flowing white robe."Who the hell are you?"Demanded Martins,"and what are you doing in my bedroom?"

The mysterious man answered,"This isn't your bedroom,and I'm St Peter".Martins was stunned."You mean I'm dead?That can't be,I have so much to live for,I haven't said goodbye to my family.... you've got to send me back straight away."St Peter replied,"Yes, you can be reincarnated,but there is a catch!.We can only send you back as a dog or a hen."

Martins was devastated but knowing there was a farm not far from his house,he asked to be sent back as a hen.A flash of light later,he was covered in feathers and clucking around pecking the ground."This isn't so bad,"he thought until he felt this strange feeling welling up inside him.

The farmyard rooster strolled over and said,"So you're the new hen.How are you enjoying your first day here?

"It's not so bad,"replied Martins,"but I have this strange feeling inside like I'm about to explode."

"You're ovulating,"explained the rooster,"don't tell me you've never laid an egg before."

"Never,"replied Martins.

"Well,just relax and let it happen."And so he did,and after a few uncomfortable seconds later,an egg popped out from under his tail.An immense feeling of relief swept over him and his emotions got the better of him as he experienced motherhood for the first time.

When he laid his second egg, the feeling of happiness was overwhelming and he knew that being reincarnated as a hen was the best thing that had happened to him...ever!! !The joy kept coming,and as he was just about to lay his third egg,he felt an enormous smack on the back of his head and heard his wife shouting,

Martins!Wake up,you drunken bastard,you're shitting on the bed."