Motivational/ Inspirational Stories

Are you a Potato, egg, and coffee bean?


Once upon a time a daughter complained to her father that her life was miserable and that she didn’t know how she was going to make it. She was tired of fighting and struggling all the time. It seemed just as one problem was solved, another one soon followed.

Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Once the three pots began to boil, he placed potatoes in one pot, eggs in the second pot, and ground coffee beans in the third pot.

He then let them sit and boil, without saying a word to his daughter. The daughter, moaned and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing.

After twenty minutes he turned off the burners. He took the potatoes out of the pot and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.

He then ladled the coffee out and placed it in a cup. Turning to her he asked. “Daughter, what do you see?”

“Potatoes, eggs, and coffee,” she hastily replied.

“Look closer,” he said, “and touch the potatoes.” She did and noted that they were soft. He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Its rich aroma brought a smile to her face.

“Father, what does this mean?” she asked.

He then explained that the potatoes, the eggs and coffee beans had each faced the same adversity– the boiling water.

However, each one reacted differently.

The potato went in strong, hard, and unrelenting, but in boiling water, it became soft and weak.

The egg was fragile, with the thin outer shell protecting its liquid interior until it was put in the boiling water. Then the inside of the egg became hard.

However, the ground coffee beans were unique. After they were exposed to the boiling water, they changed the water and created something new.

“Which are you,” he asked his daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a potato, an egg, or a coffee bean? “

Moral:
In life, things happen around us, things happen to us, but the only thing that truly matters is what happens within us.

Which one are you?


Farmers Donkey
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 since the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. So, the farmer invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed shovels, and began to shovel dirt into the well.
All the other farm animals were very upset about this, because the donkey was their friend. But they discovered there was nothing they could do to help him. At first, when the donkey realized what was happening, he cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well, and was astonished at what he saw.
With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off, and take a step up on the dirt as it piled 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 trotted off!

MORAL: Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. But each trouble can be a stepping stone. What happens to you isn't nearly as important as how you react to it. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not giving up!
Shake it off, and take a step up!

Don't judge by looks

A lady in a faded gingham dress and her husband, dressed in a homespun threadbare suit,
stepped off the train in Boston, and walked timidly without an appointment into the
president's outer office. The secretary could tell in a moment that such backwoods, country
hicks had no business at Harvard and probably didn't even deserve to be in Cambridge. She
frowned.

"We want to see the president," the man said softly.
"He'll be busy all day," the secretary snapped.
"We'll wait," the lady replied.

For hours, the secretary ignored them, hoping that the couple would finally become
discouraged and go away. They didn't. And the secretary grew frustrated and finally decided
to disturb the president, even though it was a chore she always regretted to do. "Maybe if
they just see you for a few minutes, they'll leave," she told him. And he sighed in
exasperation and nodded. Someone of his importance obviously didn't have the time to
spend with them, but he detested gingham dresses and homespun suits cluttering up his
outer office. The president, stern-faced with dignity, strutted toward the couple.

The lady told him, "We had a son that attended Harvard for one year. He loved Harvard. He
was happy here. But about a year ago, he was accidentally killed. And my husband and I
would like to erect a memorial to him, somewhere on campus". The president wasn't
touched he was shocked.

"Madam," he said gruffly, "we can't put up a statue for every person who attended Harvard
and died. If we did, this place would look like a cemetery."
"Oh, no," the lady explained quickly, "we don't want to erect a statue. We thought we would
like to give a building to Harvard.

The president rolled his eyes. He glanced at the gingham dress and
homespun suit, then exclaimed, "A building! Do you have any earthly idea how much a
building costs? We have over seven and a half million dollars in the physical plant at
Harvard." For a moment the lady was silent.

The president was pleased. He could get rid of them now.

The lady turned to her husband and said quietly, "Is that all it costs to start a University?
Why don't we just start our own?" Her husband nodded. The president's face wilted in
confusion and bewilderment.

Mr. and Mrs. Leland Stanford walked away, traveling to Palo Alto, California where they established the University that bears their name, a memorial to a son that Harvard no longer cared about! 

THE FROG RACE

There was once a bunch of tiny frogs, who arranged a running competition. The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower. A big crowd gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants.

The race began…

No one in the crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower. They shouted, “Oh, way too difficult!!! They will NEVER make it to the top” and “Not a chance. The tower is too high”.

The tiny frogs began collapsing, one by one except for those who, in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and higher….

The crowd continued to yell, “It’s too difficult! No one will make it!”

More tiny frogs got tired and gave up… But one continued higher and higher. This one wouldn’t give up! And he reached the top.

Everyone wanted to know how this one frog managed such a great feat.

His secret? This little frog was deaf!!


MORAL : Ignore the pessimism of others. It can take your dreams from you. Stay positive.

Can you break the chains? 

As man was passing the elephants, He suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime, break away from their bonds but for some reason, they did not.

He saw a trainer near by and asked why these beautiful, magnificent animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away. “Well,” trainer said, “when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.”

Man was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn’t, they were stuck right where they were.

Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before?

MORAL : Failure is part of learning; we should never give up the struggle in life.
If we have failed once, it doesn’t means we can never do it again. We need to try again and again if we have to success.

Take Actions

Ek shiv ji ka bahut bada bhakt tha..   every morning he gets up & go to the temple & pray that GOD, please meri Lottery nikalwa de..  I want to be crorepati, so please help me..
Lod shiva knows that he is a true & genuine person from inside.. & sache dil se roz unki pooja karta hai, shayad hi us jaisa koi bhakt hoga unka..

one year passes, but lottery nahi lagi..    parvati ji asked lord shiva,  prabhu he is such an innocent man,  aapka sacha bhakt hai..  iski lattery lagwa do..   Lord shiva said, i will do that when right comes..

2 years,   3 years, 10 years passes, still lottery nahi lagi..   Parvati ji ne ab prabhu se pooch hi liya ki kya wajah hai ki aap iski lottery nahi lagwa rahe, jabki ye aapka bhakt hai,  sache dil se aapko poojta hai..  
Lord Shiva said..   Main iski lottery to pehle din hi lagwa deta...  but koi jaake is murkh ko ye bhi to batao ki Lottery lagwane ke liye pehle lottery ka ticket kharidna padta hai..   is ne aaj tak lottery ka ticket hi nahi kharida..

Moral -  Hum apni zindagi me sab kuch pana chahte hain, but kya humne apna lottery ka ticket purchase kiya hai...  kya jo hum kar rahe hain wo hume hamare sapno tak le ja sakta hai..??
Sirf Chahne se kuch nahi hoga..  we have to take step forward..  Believe in Actions..  uske bina kuch nahi hoga..

Don't Jealous, instead Learn from Others

Kavi and Rajan joined a wholesale company together just after graduation. Both worked very hard.

After several years, the boss promoted Rajan to sales executive but Kavi remained a sales rep. One day Kavi could not take it anymore, tender resignation to the boss and complained the boss did not value hard working staff, but only promoted those who flattered him.
The boss knew that Kavi worked very hard for the years, but in order to help Kavi realize the difference between him and Rajan, the boss asked Kavi to do the following. Go and find out anyone selling water melon in the market? Kavi returned and said yes. The boss asked how much per kg? Kavi went back to the market to ask and returned to inform boss the $12 per kg.

Boss told Kavi, I will ask Rajan the same question? Rajan went, returned and said, boss, only one person selling water melon. $12 per kg, $100 for 10 kg, he has inventory of 340 melons. On the table 58 melons, every melon weighs about 15 kg, bought from the South two days ago, they are fresh and red, good quality.
Kavi was very impressed and realized the difference between himself and Rajan. He decided not to resign but to learn from Rajan.
My dear friends, a more successful person is more observant, think more and understand in depth. For the same matter, a more successful person sees several years ahead, while you see only tomorrow. The difference between a year and a day is 365 times, how could you win?

Think! how far have you seen ahead in your life? How thoughtful in depth are you?

Learn & Succeed with IMS !!

A story with a Moral

There is a story of about a sea captain who in his retirement

skippered a boat taking day-trippers to Shetland Islands. On one trip, the boat was full of young people.

They laughed at the old captain when they saw him say a prayer

before sailing out, because the day was fine and the sea was calm. However they weren’t long at sea when a storm suddenly blew up

and the boat began to pitch violently. The terrified passengers

came to the captain and asked him to join them in prayer. But he replied,  “I say my prayers when it’s calm.

When it’s rough I attend to my ship!”

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Is there a lesson for us, here?

If we cannot seek God in quiet moments of our lives,

we are not likely to find Him when trouble strikes.

We are more likely to panic. But if we have learn t

to seek Him and trust Him in quiet moments, then

most certainly we will find Him when the going gets rough.

The South Forty

The farmer set out to plow his “South Forty” one spring morning. This was an important job, but look how

he went about it:

He started early to oil his tractor. Then he found he needed more oil so he went to get some from the

barn.

On the way, he noticed the pigs hadn’t been fed. This sent him to the corn crib where he saw some

sacks. This reminded him that the potatoes were sprouting so he started for the potato pit.

As he passed the woodpile, he remembered his wife wanted some more wood for the house. While he

was picking up sticks, he spotted a chicken that was ailing so he dropped the wood and went to the aid of

the chicken.

He figured the chicken needed a vet, so he got in the truck and started for town….halfway there, he ran

out of gas walked back home.

When the evening arrived, the tractor was still in the barn and the “South Forty” was still unplowed. Poor

farmer. He worked hard and was busy all day—and yet he didn’t accomplish the most important task.

MORAL: To avoid duplicating the farmer’s experience, “Put First Things First.”

PERCEPTION : Donkey and Couple

Different people have different perception. One man's meat could be another man's poison. A couple bought a donkey from the market.

On the way home, a boy commented, "Very stupid. Why neither of them ride on the donkey?" Upon hearing that, the husband let the wife ride on the donkey. He walked besides them.

Later, an old man saw it and commented, "The husband is the head of family. How can the wife ride on the donkey while the husband is on foot?" Hearing this, the wife quickly got down and let the husband ride on the donkey.

Further on the way home, they met an old Lady. She commented, "How can the man ride on the donkey but let the wife walk. He is no gentleman."

The husband thus quickly asked the wife to join him on the donkey. Then, they met a young man. He commented, "Poor donkey, how can you hold up the weight of two persons. They are cruel to you." Hearing that, the husband and wife immediately climbed down from the donkey and carried it on their shoulders.

It seems to be the only choice left. Later, on a narrow bridge, the donkey was frightened and struggled. They lost their balance and fell into the river. You can never have everyone praise you, nor will everyone condemn you. Never in the past, not at present, and never will be in the future.

MORAL : Never bother about what others say if your own conscience is clear.

DETERMINATION & PERSISTENCE

This is a real life story of engineer John Roebling building the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, USA back in 1870. The bridge was completed in 1883, after 13 years.

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In 1883, a creative engineer named John Roebling was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with the Long Island. However bridge building experts throughout the world thought that this was an impossible feat and told Roebling to forget the idea. It just could not be done. It was not practical. It had never been done before.
Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this bridge. He thought about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart that it could be done. He just had to share the dream with someone else. After much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his son Washington, an up and coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built.
Working together for the first time, the father and son developed concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could be overcome. With great excitement and inspiration, and the headiness of a wild challenge before them, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge.
The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington was also injured and left with a certain amount of brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to talk or walk.
“We told them so.” “Crazy men and their crazy dreams.” “It’s foolish to chase wild visions.”
Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project should be scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built.
In spite of his handicap Washington was never discouraged and still had a burning desire to complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever. He tried to inspire and pass on his enthusiasm to some of his friends, but they were too daunted by the task.
As he lay on his bed in his hospital room, with the sunlight streaming through the windows, a gentle breeze blew the flimsy white curtains apart and he was able to see the sky and the tops of the trees outside for just a moment.
It seemed that there was a message for him not to give up. Suddenly an idea hit him. All he could do was move one finger and he decided to make the best use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of communication with his wife.
He touched his wife’s arm with that finger, indicating to her that he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but the project was under way again.
For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife’s arm, until the bridge was finally completed. Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute to the triumph of one man’s indomitable spirit and his determination not to be defeated by circumstances. It is also a tribute to the engineers and their team work, and to their faith in a man who was considered mad by half the world. It stands too as a tangible monument to the love and devotion of his wife who for 13 long years patiently decoded the messages of her husband and told the engineers what to do.
Perhaps this is one of the best examples of a never-say-die attitude that overcomes a terrible physical handicap and achieves an impossible goal.
MORAL : Often when we face obstacles in our day-to-day life, our hurdles seem very small in comparison to what many others have to face. The Brooklyn Bridge shows us that dreams that seem impossible can be realised with determination and persistence, no matter what the odds are.




The Barber Who Didn't Believe

A man went to a barber shop to have his hair and his beard cut as always. He started to have a good conversation with the barber who attended him. They talked about so many things and various subjects. Suddenly, they touched the subject of God. The barber said:

"Look man, I don't believe that God exists as you say so."

"Why do you say that?" asked the client. "Well, it's so easy, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God does not exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God exists, there would be no suffering nor pain. I can't think of a God who permits all of these things."

The client stopped for a moment thinking but he didn't want to respond so as to prevent an argument. The barber finished his job and the client went out of the shop. Just after he left the barber shop he saw a man in the street with a long hair and beard (it seems that it had been a long time since he had his hair cut and he looked so untidy).
Then the client again entered the barber shop and he said to the barber:

"know what? Barbers do not exist."
"How come they don't exist?"-asked the barber. "Well I am here and I am a barber."

"No!" the client exclaimed. "They don't exist because if they did there would be no people with long hair and beards like that man who walks in the street."

"Ah, barbers do exist, what happens is that people do not come to us."

"Exactly!"- affirmed the client. "That's the point. God  does exist, what happens is people don't go to Him and  do not look for Him that's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."
 

The Tea Cup

There was a couple who used to go to England to shop in the beautiful stores. They both liked antiques and pottery and especially teacups. This was their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.

One day in this beautiful shop they saw a beautiful teacup.They said, "May we see that? We've never seen one quite so beautiful."

As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke. "You don't understand," it said. "I haven't always been a teacup.

There was a time when I was red and I was clay. My master took me and rolled me and patted me over and over and I yelled out, "let me alone", but he only smiled, "Not yet."

"Then I was placed on a spinning wheel," the teacup said, "and suddenly I was spun around and around and around.Stop it! I'm getting dizzy! I screamed. But the master only nodded and said, 'Not yet.'

Then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I wondered why he wanted to burn me, and I yelled and knocked at the door. I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips as He shook his head, 'Not yet.'

Finally the door opened, he put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. 'There, that's better,' I said. And he brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. 'Stop it, stop it!' I cried. He only nodded, 'Not yet.'

Then suddenly he put me back into the oven, not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. All the time I could see him through the opening nodding his head saying, 'Not yet.'

Then I knew there wasn't any hope. I would never make it. I was ready to give up. But the door opened and he took me out and placed me on the shelf. One hour later he handed me a mirror and said, 'Look at yourself.And I did. I said, 'That's not me; that couldn't be me. It's beautiful. I'm beautiful.'

'I want you to remember, then,' he said, 'I know it hurts to be rolled and patted, but if I had left you alone, you'd have dried up.

I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled. I knew it hurt and was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked.

I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn't done that, you never would have hardened; you would not have had any color in your life. And if I hadn't put you back in that second oven,you wouldn't survive for very long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I first began with you.

:: Moral Of The Story ::

God knows what He's doing (for all of us). He is the Potter, and we are His clay. He will mold us and make us, so that we may be made into a flawless piece of work to fulfill His good, pleasing, and perfect will.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not tempt you beyond what you can bear; but with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Today I Decided To Quit :: Lovely Conversation With GOD

Today I decided to quit...
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I quit my job,
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My Relationship,
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My Spirituality...
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I wanted to quit my life.
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I went to the woods to have one last talk with GOD.
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"GOD", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"
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His answer surprised me...

"Look around", GOD said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"

"Yes", I replied.

"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good careof them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo." GOD said.

"In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo see. I would not quit." GOD said.


"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Comparedto the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant... But just six months later the bamboo rose toover 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what itneeded to survive. I would not give any of my creationsa challenge it could not handle." GOD said to me.

"Did you know, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots? I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you. Don't compare yourself to others. " GOD said.

"The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful. Your time will come." GOD said to me."You will rise high"

"How high should I rise?" I asked.

"How high will the bamboo rise?" GOD asked in return.

"As high as it can?" I questioned

"Yes." GOD said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."

I left the forest and bring back this story.

I hope these words can help...

:: Moral of the Story ::

Keep Faith in your Heart... Never Give Up...

Some times... Some work need more time to achieve... Give time... Keep patience

Always concentrate on Goal... Never think about when you will achieve your goal. Just do your job.

Give your 100% efforts without any doubt.

Success is not a goal. You work for your goal not for success. Remember, Success is the fruit of your work done.

तीन सवाल :: अकबर बीरबल

महाराजा अकबर, बीरबल की हाज़िरजवाबी के बडे कायल थे. उनकी इस बात से दरबार के अन्य मंत्री मन ही मन बहुत जलते थे. उनमें से एक मंत्री, जो महामंत्री का पद पाने का लोभी था, ने मन ही मन एक योजना बनायी. उसे मालूम था कि जब तक बीरबल दरबार में मुख्य सलाहकार के रूप में है उसकी यह इच्छा कभी पूरी नहीं हो सकती.

एक दिन दरबार में अकबर ने बीरबल की हाज़िरजवाबी की बहुत प्रशंसा की. यह सब सुनकर उस मंत्री को बहुत गुस्सा आया. उसने महाराज से कहा कि यदि बीरबल मेरे तीन सवालों का उत्तर सही-सही दे देता है तो मैं उसकी बुद्धिमता को स्वीकार कर लुंगा और यदि नहीं तो इससे यह सिद्ध होता है की वह महाराज का चापलूस है. अकबर को मालूम था कि बीरबल उसके सवालों का जवाब जरूर दे देगा इसलिये उन्होंने उस मंत्री की बात स्वीकार कर ली.

उस मंत्री के तीन सवाल थे -

१. आकाश में कितने तारे हैं?
२. धरती का केन्द्र कहाँ है?
३. सारे संसार में कितने स्त्री और कितने पुरूष हैं?

अकबर ने फौरन बीरबल से इन सवालों के जवाब देने के लिये कहा. और शर्त रखी कि यदि वह इनका उत्तर नहीं जानता है तो मुख्य सलाहकार का पद छोडने के लिये तैयार रहे.


बीरबल ने कहा, "तो सुनिये महाराज".

पहला सवाल - बीरबल ने एक भेड मँगवायी. और कहा जितने बाल इस भेड के शरीर पर हैं आकाश में उतने ही तारे हैं. मेरे दोस्त, गिनकर तस्सली कर लो, बीरबल ने मंत्री की तरफ मुस्कुराते हुए कहा.

दूसरा सवाल - बीरबल ने ज़मीन पर कुछ लकीरें खिंची और कुछ हिसाब लगाया. फिर एक लोहे की छड मँगवायी गयी और उसे एक जगह गाड दिया और बीरबल ने महाराज से कहा, "महाराज बिल्कुल इसी जगह धरती का केन्द्र है, चाहे तो आप स्व्यं जाँच लें". महाराज बोले ठीक है अब तीसरे सवाल के बारे में कहो.

अब महाराज तीसरे सवाल का जवाब बडा मुश्किल है. क्योंकि इस दुनीया में कुछ लोग ऐसे हैं जो ना तो स्त्री की श्रेणी में आते हैं और ना ही पुरूषों की श्रेणी. उनमें से कुछ लोग तो हमारे दरबार में भी उपस्थित हैं जैसे कि ये मंत्री जी. महाराज यदि आप इनको मौत के घाट उतरवा दें तो मैं स्त्री-पुरूष की सही सही संख्या बता सकता हूँ. अब मंत्री जी सवालों का जवाब छोडकर थर-थर काँपने लगे और महाराज से बोले,"महाराज बस-बस मुझे मेरे सवालों का जवाब मिल गया. मैं बीरबल की बुद्धिमानी को मान गया हूँ".

महाराज हमेशा की तरह बीरबल की तरफ पीठ करके हँसने लगे और इसी बीच वह मंत्री दरबार से खिसक लिया.

-A seed of Honesty

A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together. He said, “It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you.”
The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. “I am going to give each one of you a SEED today – one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO.”

One man, named Gaurav, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed.
Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow.
Gaurav kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants, but Gaurav didn’t have a plant and he felt like a failure.

Six months went by — still nothing in Gaurav’s pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Gaurav didn’t say anything to his colleagues, however… He just kept watering and fertilizing the soil – He so wanted the seed to grow.

A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection.
Gaurav told his wife that he wasn’t going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Gaurav felt sick to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right.
He took his empty pot to the board room. When Gaurav arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful — in all shapes and sizes.
Gaurav put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!
When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives.
Gaurav just tried to hide in the back. “My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown,” said the CEO. “Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!”
All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Gaurav at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front.
Gaurav was terrified. He thought, “The CEO knows I’m a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!”
When Gaurav got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed – Gaurav told him the story.
The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Gaurav. He looked at Gaurav, and then announced to the young executives, “Behold your next Chief Executive Officer! His name is Gaurav!”
Gaurav couldn’t believe it. Gaurav couldn’t even grow his seed.

“How could he be the new CEO?” the others said.

Then the CEO said, “One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead – it was not possible for them to grow. All of you, except Gaurav, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Gaurav was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive Officer!”

* If you plant honesty, you will reap trust.
* If you plant goodness, you will reap friends.
* If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment.
* If you plant hard work, you will reap success.

So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later..

“Whatever You Give To Life, Life Gives You Back”

Just SMILE

About ten years ago when I was an undergraduate in college, I was working as an intern at my University's Museum of Natural History. One day while working at the cash register in the gift shop, I saw an elderly couple come in with a little girl in a wheelchair. As I looked closer at this girl, I saw that she was kind of perched on her chair. I then realized she had no arms or legs, just a head, neck and torso. She was wearing a little white dress with red polka dots. As the couple wheeled her up to me I was looking down at the register. I turned my head toward the girl and gave her a wink. As I took the money from her grandparents, I looked back at the girl, who was giving me the cutest, largest smile I have ever seen. All of a sudden her handicap was gone and all I saw was this beautiful girl, whose smile just melted me and almost instantly gave me a completely new sense of what life is all about. She took me from a poor, unhappy college student and brought me into her world; a world of smiles, love and warmth. That was ten years ago. I'm a successful business person now and whenever I get down and think about the troubles of the world, I think about that little girl and the remarkable lesson about life that she taught me. Parable Of The Pencil The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box. "There are 5 things you need to know," he told the pencil, "Before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be." "One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone's hand." "Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil." "Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make." "Four: The most important part of you will always be what's inside." "And Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write." The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart. Now replacing the place of the pencil with you. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be. One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God's hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess. Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems in life, but you'll need it to become a stronger person. Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make. Four: The most important part of you will always be what's on the inside. And Five: On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to do your duties. Allow this parable on the pencil to encourage you to know that you are a special person and only you can fulfill the purpose to which you were born to accomplish. Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that your life is insignificant and cannot make a change.  Something to Learn A 24 year old boy seeing out from the train’s window shouted… “Dad, look the trees are going behind!” Dad smiled and a young couple sitting nearby, looked at the 24 year old’s childish behavior with pity, suddenly he again exclaimed… “Dad, look the clouds are running with us!” The couple couldn't resist and said to the old man… “Why don’t you take your son to a good doctor?” The old man smiled and said… “I did and we are just coming from the hospital, my son was blind from birth, he just got his eyes today. Every single person on the planet has a story. Don’t judge people before you truly know them. The truth might surprise you. Team Work is the Key !! Once upon a time a Washerman was bringing up two donkeys. Let us say Donkey-A and Donkey-B. Donkey-A felt it was very energetic and could do better than the other. It always tried to pull the washerman's attraction over it by taking more load and walking fast in front of him. Innocent Donkey-B is normal, so it will walk normal, irrespective of the washerman's presence. After a period of time, Washerman started pressurizing Donkey-B to be like Donkey-A. But Donkey-B unable to walk fast, got continuous punishment from washerman. It was crying and told personally to Donkey-A "Dear friend, only we two are here, why to compete with each other....we can carry equal load at normal speed ". That made Donkey-A all the more energetic and next day it told to washerman that it can carry more load and even it can run fast also. Obviously happier washerman looked at Donkey-B.., his BP raised and he started kicking Donkey-B. Next day with smile, Donkey-A carried more load and started running fast. But it was breathtaking for Donkey-B and it couldn't act that way....But the washerman was frustrated, so he harassed Donkey-B terribly, and finally it fell down hopelessly. Then Donkey-A felt itself as a supremo and happily started carrying more load with great speed. But now the Load of the Donkey-B is also being carried by Donkey-A., and still it has to run fast. For some period it did, finally due to fatigue it got tired and started feeling the pain. But washerman expected more from Donkey-A. It also tried best, but couldn't cope up with his owners demand. The Washerman got angry with Donkey-A also and started harassing to take more load... Donkey-A was crying for long time and then tried its best... But it couldn't meet the owner's satisfaction. Finally the day came when due to frustration the washerman killed Donkey-A and went for searching some other Donkeys. Its an endless story....... .. MORAL : In Corporate and Social life......, "Think all colleagues are same and that everyone is capable... Always share the Load equally..... Don't ever act smart in front of your Boss and never try for getting over-credit. .. Don't feel happy when ur colleague is under pressure.. " It doesn't matter if u r A or B, for the Boss u shall be always DONKEY And most importantly, Never Work Hard, Work Cleverly.... . Inspirational The Commitment Of Sylvester Stallone May 1st, 2007 Surely, one of the best examples of the power of commitment and how ‘doing whatever it takes will get you what you want’ is the story of Sylvester Stallone. At his peak, Stallone was one of the most popular and highly paid stars in Hollywood, commanding a fee of US$20 million per movie. was he just born under a lucky star? Was he naturally talented actor? Was he at the right place at the right? Hardly. He was someone who seemed to have all the odds stacked up against him. His family was so poor that his mother had to give birth to him on the doorsteps of a school. A blotched delivery by students caused a facial nerve to be severed, leaving him paralyzed on the right side of his face. As a result, Stallone had to live the rest of his life with slurred speech. He even had to deal with having drooping lower lip and being made fun of because of his name ‘Sylvester’ (associated with the Looney Tunes cat). Despite all these limitations, young Stallone dreamed of becoming an actor and inspiring millions of people through his movies. First he enrolled in acting school and then started going for auditons. Predictably, with his wooden acting, his dopey looks and his slurred speech, Stallone was rejected for every part he applied for. But he never give up. Doggedly he just kept changing his strategy and taking action. The way he landed his first part is a fine example of how he was willing to do whatever it took. When he was rejected after yet another audition, he pulled up a chair in front of the manager’s office and sat down, refusing to leave unless they gave him a chance. After sitting there for hours, they were so moved by how much he wanted a chance that they relented and gave him a part. Although he appeared for a couple of minutes (as an extra), it gave him the first breakthrough he was after. Unfortunately, that experiance was followed by yet another string of unsuccessful attempts at getting another acting job. At that point, his wife told him to give up his ‘stupid dream’ and get a real job. His reply was, ‘If i get another job, I would lose the only thing I have got going for me… my hunger.’ ‘By quiting and getting a job, I would be selling out on my dream’. Stallone actually wound up so broke and desperate that he was force to sell his dog for $50 in order to survive. It was the saddest moment in his life because his dog was the one friend he god left. At the lowest point in his life, he watch a boxing match between the world heavyweight champion Muhammed Ali and Chuck Wepner, an underdog that everyone thought would be defeated within three rounds. What no one expected was Wepner’s determination and tenacity. He lasted the total of fifteen rounds with Ali, just refusing to go down. Sly was so inspired by what he saw that he had visions in his head about a movie that he was going to write. He started writing profusely for 84hours non-stop until he finished the manuscript for ‘Rocky’. He was so excited by the script because in his mind he knew that this was going to be the movie that would change his life and his fortune. But when he went round attempting to sell his script, everyone felt that it was too predictable and that nobody would be interested in watching a movie about boxing. But he didn’t give up. He kept on going and going until one company made him an offer of US$75,000 for the script and the right to make the movie. This should have made Sly overjoyed but his dream was to be an actor and not a writer. So, he told them that the condition of sale was that he be cast as the lead actor. They objected saying ‘You’re a writer! You not an actor!’. ‘There is no way we will let you act!’ But Sly stood his ground and refused to sell the script if he wasn’t the lead actor. They then increase their offer to US$255,000 up to US$1 million, but Sly kept insisting that he fitted the role of ‘Rocky’, and no one else. Although he was broke and hungry, he refused to sell out his dream for a six-figure pay check. That was his level of commitment. Eventually, they reluctantly agreed, on the condition that the movie was made on a shoe string budget of less than a million dollars and Stallone would get only US$35,000 for the writing, and acting. Sly would however, get the percentage of the profits, if the movie made money. He agreed immediately. The first thing Sly did when he got his money was to go in search of the man who bought his dog to buy it back. When he finally tracked down the man, he offered to buy his dog back for US$100. The man declined his offer saying that he was not interested. Sly upped his offer to US$500. Still the man refused. Sly again upped his offer, this time to US$1,000. The man still would not budge saying ‘No amount of money will ever convince me to sell this dog.’ While most of us would give up at this point, Sly knew that if he was committed to do whatever it takes, he would find a way. Eventually, he did get his dog back. He paid the man a whopping of US$15,000 and also gave him a part in the movie as part of the deal. When Rocky was launched at the box office, it grossed over US$171 million and was nominated for ten academy awards (including best actor), eventually winning an Oscar for best Picture and Best Director. Sylvester instantly shot to fame as an action star and lucrative offers came in for future blockbusters, which were to eventuate in First Blood, Rambo and the Rocky sequels. His eventual success came from the fact that to him, becoming an actor was truely a must. Sylvester Stallone believed that when you are committed enough, there is always a way! So start by asking yourself now, is you committed enough to be a Millionaire? Oprah Winfrey Today, I’m going to share a very inspiring story with you. I believe that this real-life story can motivates you and inspires you to take even more actions in your life. After I read this story, I felt that I’m not using my full potential in life, and I’m so motivated after reading it. Have you ever heard of this woman, maybe you have but you didn’t know of her background. This woman was born to an unwed 13 year old mother. Alright, with no father, because her mother was raped and she was the result of the rape. Now if you think of a woman like that would you think that she would have a bright future? Probably not. So when she was born she was abandoned by her mother. She had no family and she was adopted. But to her misfortune when she was adopted the people who adopted her were irresponsible, were very cruel, they sexually and physically abused her over a period of 15 years. She was forced to take drugs, she was sent to a juvenile home for delinquency. She went in and out of rehabilitation for cocaine abuse. She was forced to steal. But the sad and ironic thing is this. At 13 year old herself, she was also raped. She got pregnant and she gave birth to a still born child. Now as I told you the story of this woman, would you feel sorry for her? A lot of us would. And let’s say today this woman is a complete wreck, totally depressed, on drugs, would you blame her? A lot of people won’t blame her, they will say it’s not her fault it is the environment. But what if I tell you what happened to this woman today, she is one of the most successful respected and wealthiest women in the world today. Oprah Winfrey. Have you ever heard of Oprah Winfrey. How many of you have watched her show Oprah Prime Time? Is it inspiring? And on the show she talks about things that inspire people. She talks about social issues; she interviews celebrities like Bill Clinton, Tom Cruise etc. But that was not how she started. When she started her talk show ten years ago she was a nobody, and being a black woman there was a lot of racism. And when she first started her talk shows, do you know who she interviewed? She interviewed people who had been raped, people who went through emotional trauma. People, who are divorced, people who have attempted suicide. And during her 1 hour talk show, she would inspire and counsel them. And people who have attended her talk show, they would say, “My life is better after talking to her and I will conquer the world”. And when people saw her show on TV that’s how they became inspired and that’s how she also became as famous as Oprah. The woman can change lives. And recently someone interviewed her. And they asked her, Oprah, what gave you the ability to do what you do today? You know what she said? It’s because of what happened to me last time. She says it’s because of my tough childhood because of the pain that I went through that it has made me a very strong woman. And today nothing can shake my foundation. And she said when I look at the difficult issues at society, when I look at people suffering, I can talk about it, and I can connect with all these people, why? Because I can empathize, I was there before. And I can use my life as a role model to change their lives. That’s why I am Oprah Winfrey. So successful people they all believe one thing, it’s not what happens to us that defines who we become. It’s what we choose to do about it. And she also said one thing that really inspired me. “Whatever happens to us, it happened for a reason.” Do you believe that things happen for a reason? I don’t know about you, but I believe that everything in life happens for a reason. The worst things that happen to us happen for a reason. But the question is what the reason we want to give ourselves. Do we say for ourselves it is a curse? Or do we say to ourselves that it is a test? (“Why” Is More Important Than “How”) I will leave this inspiring story for you to digest the meaning in it now. You have to find out the reason for yourself, only you will know why. I hope that this story inspires you as well. So if you were born ‘luckier’ than Oprah today, then make sure that you use your full potential to achieve amazing results in your life.   HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED? About a hundred years ago, a man looked at the morning newspaper and to his surprise and horror, read his name in the obituary column. The news papers had reported the death of the wrong person by mistake. His first response was shock. Am I here or there? When he regained his composure, his second thought was to find out what people had said about him. The obituary read, "Dynamite King Dies." And also "He was the merchant of death." This man was the inventor of dynamite and when he read the words "merchant of death," he asked himself a question, "Is this how I am going to be remembered?" He got in touch with his feelings and decided that this was not the way he wanted to be remembered. From that day on, he started working toward peace. His name was Alfred Nobel and he is remembered today by the great Nobel Prize. Just as Alfred Nobel got in touch with his feelings and redefined his values, we should step back and do the same. What is your legacy? How would you like to be remembered? Will you be spoken well of? Will you be remembered with love and respect? Will you be missed? IT IS THE LITTLE THINGS THAT MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE There was a man taking a morning walk at or the beach. He saw that along with the morning tide came hundreds of starfish and when the tide receded, they were left behind and with the morning sun rays, they would die. The tide was fresh and the starfish were alive. The man took a few steps, picked one and threw it into the water. He did that repeatedly. Right behind him there was another person who couldn't understand what this man was doing. He caught up with him and asked, "What are you doing? There are hundreds of starfish. How many can you help? What difference does it make?" This man did not reply, took two more steps, picked up another one, threw it into the water, and said, "It makes a difference to this one." What difference are we making? Big or small, it does not matter. If everyone made a small difference, we'd end up with a big difference, wouldn't we? A little girl went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar  from its hiding place in the closet. She poured the change out  on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even. The  total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes.  Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on  the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way 6  blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with the big red Indian Chief  sign above the door.  She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some  attention but he was too busy at this moment.  Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise.  Nothing.  She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she  could muster  No good.  Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the  glass counter.  That did it!  "And what do you want?" the pharmacist asked in an annoyed  tone of voice. "I'm talking to my brother from Chicago whom I  haven't seen in ages," he said without waiting for a reply >> to  his question.  "Well, I want to talk to you about my brother," Tess answered  back in the same annoyed tone. "He's really, really sick...  and I want to buy a miracle."  ''I beg your pardon?" said the pharmacist.  His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside >> his  head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So >> how  much does a miracle cost?"  "We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I'm sorry but I  can't help you," the pharmacist said, softening a little.  "Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough,I  will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs."  The pharmacist's brother was a well dressed man. He stooped  down and asked the little girl, "What kind of a miracle does  your brother need?"  I don't know," Tess replied with her eyes welling up. "I just  know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation.  But my Daddy can't pay for it, so I want to use my money."  "How much do you have?" asked the man from Chicago.  "One dollar and eleven cents," Tess answered barely audibly.  And it's all the money I have, but I can get some more if I  need to."  "Well, what a coincidence," smiled the man. "A dollar and  >> eleven cents--- the exact price of a miracle for little  brothers. "  He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he  grasped her mitten and said "Take me to where you live. I want  to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have  the miracle you need."  That well dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon,  specializing in neuro-surgery. The operation was completed  free of charge and it wasn't long until Andrew was home again  and doing well. Mom and Dad were happily talking about the  chain of events that had led them to this place.  "That surgery," her Mom whispered. "was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?"  Tess smiled.. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost...one dollar and eleven cents ..... plus the faith of a little child..