My Intents Community

Can I Borrow $25?

Sunday, April 5th, 2009

A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year old son waiting for him at the door.

SON: ‘Daddy, may I ask you a question?’

DAD: ‘Yeah sure, what it is?’ replied the man.

SON: ‘Daddy, how much do you make an hour?’

DAD: ‘That’s none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?’ the man said angrily.

SON: ‘I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?’

DAD: ‘If you must know, I make $50 an hour.’

SON: ‘Oh,’ the little boy replied, with his head down.

SON: ‘Daddy, may I please borrow $25?’

The father was furious, ‘If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being so selfish. I don’t work hard every day for such childish frivolities.’

The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door.

The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy’s questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money?

After about an hour or so, the man had calmed down, and started to think:

Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $25.00 and he really didn’t ask for money very often The man went to the door of the little boy’s room and opened the door.

‘Are you asleep, son?’ He asked.

‘No daddy, I’m awake,’ replied the boy.

‘I’ve been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier’ said the man. ‘It’s been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here’s the $25 you asked for.’

The little boy sat straight up, smiling. ‘Oh, thank you daddy!’ he yelled. Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills.

The man saw that the boy already had money, started to get angry again.

The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then looked up at his father.

‘Why do you want more money if you already have some?’ the father grumbled.

‘Because I didn’t have enough, but now I do,’ the little boy replied.

‘Daddy, I have $50 now… Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you.’

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little son, and he begged for his forgiveness.
It’s just a short reminder to all of you working so hard in life. We should not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts.

Do remember to share that $50, $100 or thousands of dollars worth of your time with someone you love.

Tags: Can I Borrow $25?
Posted in Inspirational Stories | 5 Comments »

Become a Roman

Wednesday, December 31st, 2008

What disgusted the ancient Romans about barbarians was their lack of discipline. Oxford Professor Peter Heather writes, “As far as a Roman was concerned, you could easily tell a barbarian by how he reacted to fortune. Give him one little stroke of luck, and he would think he had conquered the world. But, equally, the slightest setback would find him in deepest despair” This is exactly why thousands of miles from home, several hundred Romans could slaughter several thousand barbarians.

To survive the ups and downs of life you have to become a Roman. Some of the most talented people I know typically self-destruct every couple years. When things are not brand new or fun anymore many people seem to derail themselves. In some cases, like clockwork. Perhaps the closer some get to achieving goals, the less glamorous reality seems. Something happens! Some type of major setback. A setback that they never fully recover from. Then they are off doing something new.

Does this sound familiar? Do you see this pattern in business or your personal life? Are you having a hard time transitioning from a barbarian to a Roman?

Why do we self sabotage ourselves? Is it fear of failure or success?

I’d like to understand this human dynamic better.

Please let me know why you think so many people never make that transition from barbarian to Roman mentality.

I’ll leave you with quote from a great Roman that may help explain it.

“Our life is what our thoughts make it.” – Marcus Aurelius

Make these words of wisdom a theme for 2009.

Happy New Year!

Tags: Become a Roman
Posted in Inspirational Stories | 2 Comments »

Obstacles – How do you react to them?

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008

“Obstacles” in our path are always present! We ALL have obstacles to overcome. So today I pose the question – How do you react to obstacles in your life? The answer to this question will most likely tell how much success you have enjoyed and why. If you avoid them you probably are easily detoured. If you view obstacles as opportunities you will ultimately see the fruits of your labor.

In ancient times, a king had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king’s wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the big stone out of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. On approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. As the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many others never understand. Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve one’s condition.

Tags: Obstacles, Obstacles - How do you react to them?
Posted in Inspirational Stories | No Comments »

A lesson I never forgot…

Wednesday, September 17th, 2008

During my junior year of business school, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one:

“What is the first name of the woman who cleans the business school?”

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name?

I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade. Absolutely, said the professor. “In your careers you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say hello”. I’ve never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

So to this day I always take the opportunity to greet and try to meet EVERYONE I come in contact with. Not just people that can “do something for me.” It truly is a tragedy to go through life with that attitude. Unfortunately, so many people do.

On my soapbox now, it drives me insane when people ignore or avoid eye contact with the people around them. Living in the NY Metro Area we get a lot of that.

What does it mean? Great question… I’ll have to ask Dr. Phil.

What I do know is that it feels good when I give people a warm smile and will continue to do…

Tags: A lesson I never forgot
Posted in Inspirational Stories | No Comments »

I've learned…

Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008

I’ve learned – That you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them.

I’ve learned – that no matter how much I care, some people just don’t care back.

I’ve learned – that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.

I’ve learned – that it’s not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts.

I’ve learned – that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes. After that, you’d better know something.

I’ve learned – that it’s not what happens to people that’s important. It’s what they do about it.

I’ve learned – that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I’ve learned – that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I’ve learned – that either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I’ve learned – that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.

I’ve learned – that learning to forgive takes practice.

I’ve learned – that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I’ve learned – that sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.

I’ve learned – that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I’ve learned – that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you’ve learned from them and less to do with how many years you’ve lived.

I’ve learned – that you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely or outlandish. Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if they believed you.

I’ve learned – that no matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I’ve learned – that it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I’ve learned – that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn’t stop for your grief.

l’ve learned – that just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other and just because they don’t argue, it doesn’t mean they do.

I’ve learned – that sometimes you have to put the individual ahead of their actions.

I’ve learned – that you shouldn’t be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.

I’ve learned – that no matter how you try to protect your children, they will eventually get hurt and you will hurt in the process.

I’ve learned – that there are many ways of falling and staying in love.

I’ve learned – that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don’t even know you.

I’ve learned – that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

I’ve learned – that writing, as well as talking, can ease emotional pains.

I’ve learned – that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I’ve learned – that the people you care most about in life are taken from you too soon.

Tags: I've learned, I've learned classic
Posted in Inspirational Stories | No Comments »