Smoking is NOT "An Addiction!"

It’s a habit. It’s one that is easily broken if YOU want to quit. There are too many people out there “enabling” your smoking by calling it “an addiction.” I smoked for 45 years, and at the last, smoked three packs a day, plus a few cigars. Then one day I got tired of it. I decided I didn’t want to smoke any more, so I simply never “lit up” again. I walked around for three weeks with an open pack of cigarettes in my pocket so it couldn’t be said that I “removed temptation.” I kept that pack until it crumbled to dust, then threw the dust away. My wife was probably the first to notice I was no longer smoking because she no longer had to empty those ubiquitous ash trays. The rest of the family probably figured it out when the place no longer smelled of cigarettes. I told nobody when I quit because I didn’t want any “help.” I never smoked again, and haven’t, to this day. Some years before I had stopped smoking for five years, just to prove to myself that I could. People kept telling me I couldn’t. I started again five years to the day later, because at the time I, personally, didn’t really want to quit smoking. But this time, it was MY decision to quit smoking, and I had no trouble. There WERE a few days at the first when I “hungered” for a smoke, but I was able to resist easily. I didn’t even use any of those ubiquitous “chewing gums”or other expensive ways you see advertised to get you away from “your addiction.” I just stopped, and I’m not sorry. I STILL enjoy the SMELL of someone ELSE smoking a cigarette, but, unlike other “former smokers” who are deathly afraid if they SMELL someone smoking, they won’t be able to resist smoking themselves, I am not “tempted.” People keep asking me why I still go into the smoking sections in restaurants. I’ll sit in either. I tell them it’s not a problem for me. You can do it, too--if YOU want to do it and are not doing it simply at the urging of someone else. That’s how “personal motivation” affects it. (Just common sense)

Lies and Misinformation

I'm really getting tired of the lies and misinformation being put out as truth by not only the media, but also by business in advertising. One such place is the emphasis on "self-esteem" in the media AND in various ads. Self-esteem is simply your opinion of yourself based on LACK of knowledge of your talents and abilities. They willfully HIDE such information(if it's negative) from you so you will "think of yourself as a beautiful person." Self IMAGE, however, is your view of yourself because of KNOWLEDGE of your own talents and abilities. Another area is oil. Even President Bush has been heard to talk about "our oil addiction." That's false! We are NOT "addicted" to oil, nor are we "addicted" to air, water, and fire. These are NECESSITIES of life! Without them, life, as we know it, would END. That is NOT an "addiction." Another is a political ad that says a certain candidate "has been named the most corrupt." By whom? Her opponent or his friends, of course. So listen to those who push such ideas with skepticism. (Just common sense)

Enshrining Mediocrity

Today in schools, they hold track meets, where they give "blue ribbons" to EVERYBODY who "participates" so as not to damage" the "self-esteem" of the students. They mix up "self-image" (which is your opinion of your own talents and abilities through recognition of the PROOF of them) with "self-esteem" which is the same, but WITHOUT proof. It is keeping from them the idea that they might not be as good as someone else. They think this will somehow "damage" them. What it really does, is "enshrine mediocrity." It makes everybody somehow "even." It does not. Those students know who won the competition, even if those who organize it will not allow it to be mentioned. This is one of the stupidest things I've seen liberals do, but they're doing it everywhere. They will not allow those who would excel at ANYTHING to do so. They say they want "an even playing field," but what they really want is for NOBODY to lose and nobody to win. If a company makes more money than another, they want to "move the goal posts" so that companies with less talented management are able to "compete." (This is not "competition") This kind of thinking removes all incentive to compete because the competitors know they cannot win, and they cannot lose. This is what socialism does: remove incentive. (Just common sense)

Are YOU A "Rainmaker?"

A "rainmaker" in a law firm is the one who brings in the most business. But the term works in all kinds of business, too. Are YOU a "rainmaker" in your business? Or are you someone who is "just there?" Rainmakers are the ones who make the most money because they are the most valuable to their employers (even if they are their own employers), which is why they make the most money. If you aren't a "rainmaker," resolve to become one, and your income will increase accordingly, whether you're working for someone else or for yourself. (Nightingale-Conant)