Custom Search

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking


Written by a former child

Author Unknown

A message every adult should read, because children are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's alright to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, 'Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.'

Each of us (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher or friend) influences the life of a child. How will you touch the life of someone today?

Follow That Dream


I once knew a teenager who was so keen to be a good cabinet-maker that he tried everything he could possibly do to obtain an apprenticeship with someone reputable so he could learn the trade from the best available person... and a great idea that was.

However, the real shame of this situation was that this young guy had such a good nature that he unfortunately found people who would take advantage of that nature, and in short, they ripped him off for a long period of time. There were always wonderful explanations for why his pay wasn't in the bank; always very clever excuses that would keep him hanging onto their promises that the pay would be there the next day, or next week, or soon anyway...

He struggled through three or four years of these no-good businessmen ripping him off - morally, spiritually and financially; but all the while he was learning about life, and holding onto his dream of becoming a great tradesman one day.

Eventually he broke away from these shameless characters and found a company where he would at least start to learn something about becoming a tradesman by beginning to build furniture; handcrafted, exquisite timber furniture in fact.

He would spend his weekends and spare time building this magnificent furniture for his family to proudly display in their homes, and they did just that because they were so proud of him and his new ability, despite everything that could have dampened his spirits... but fortunately didn't. Was he bitter?... No. Did he give up?... No.

After some time of gaining these skills and showing those around him that he had extraordinary abilities because of his passion for what he was doing, he then found a local kitchen manufacturer willing to 'give him a go.' Finally, the chance to start to become what he had dreamed of being... a cabinet-maker.

He not only showed that he was highly-skilled at making kitchens, but he developed the skills required to make and install some of their 'special orders.' Those one-off special orders that took dedication and perfectionism to take them to completion. He developed a reputation within the company for doing this, and started to be given the larger contract fit-outs in major clubs, up-market homes, and shopping centres.

Now he was starting to fulfill his dream; now he was being allowed to show his talents and abilities; now he was being valued and recognized for who he was.

After a few years spent honing his skills and abilities, he decided that he would take that HUGE plunge that many of us have made, and start his own business. He did so about four years ago. With minimal outside help or advice, he started Nichols Kitchens and Joinery, working out of his back shed. Within a very short period of time almost all of his business was coming to him via referrals; word of mouth by his customers to their friends and families. Other kitchen companies would out-source to him whenever they needed special help. Award-winning builders were now getting their kitchens made by him, knowing that the quality was always 100%, and that they could rely on him.

This is a long way from being the young teenager with a dream.

Through his courage and determination (and wonderful nature) and with support from his wife Kylie, Rod Nichols stood in front of a packed auditorium on the shores of Lake Macquarie and received the Business Person of the Year Award, as part of the Australian Community Business Awards.

After 14 years of hard work; hard lessons; and sheer determination in following his dream; he was finally receiving his reward for his efforts.

Well done Rod Nichols!
I applaud you for your accomplishments, and I am also very proud to be your step-father.

I would also like to give recognition to the importance of the encouragement and support Rod received from his family during all the tough times. From his mother Sue, his brother Geoff, and his wife Kylie... They all deserve a round of applause too!

I dedicate this story about following a dream; with courage, determination and persistence; to a wonderful young man, Rod Nichols.

I hope that this story may encourage someone out there who may just need a supportive 'shove' towards what seems to be an illusive dream at the moment.

Go on - you can do it!

Phil Evans
© People Stuff 2005

Remember - "What other people do or say is their stuff; how we react is our stuff."

Phil Evans is a Motivator, Business Coach and Inspirational Writer based in Australia. You can visit his website at: www.peoplestuff.com.au or feel free to email Phil with your comments on his story at: phil@peoplestuff.com.au

Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy for www.wisdom-inspirations.blogspot.com/

If you require any more information or have any questions about our privacy policy, please feel free to contact us by email at muhammad.surya@gmail.com.

At www.wisdom-inspirations.blogspot.com/, the privacy of our visitors is of extreme importance to us. This privacy policy document outlines the types of personal information is received and collected by www.wisdom-inspirations.blogspot.com/ and how it is used.

Log Files
Like many other Web sites, www.wisdom-inspirations.blogspot.com/ makes use of log files. The information inside the log files includes internet protocol ( IP ) addresses, type of browser, Internet Service Provider ( ISP ), date/time stamp, referring/exit pages, and number of clicks to analyze trends, administer the site, track user’s movement around the site, and gather demographic information. IP addresses, and other such information are not linked to any information that is personally identifiable.

Cookies and Web Beacons
www.wisdom-inspirations.blogspot.com/ does not use cookies.

Some of our advertising partners may use cookies and web beacons on our site. Our advertising partners include Google Adsense, .

These third-party ad servers or ad networks use technology to the advertisements and links that appear on www.wisdom-inspirations.blogspot.com/ send directly to your browsers. They automatically receive your IP address when this occurs. Other technologies ( such as cookies, JavaScript, or Web Beacons ) may also be used by the third-party ad networks to measure the effectiveness of their advertisements and / or to personalize the advertising content that you see.

www.wisdom-inspirations.blogspot.com/ has no access to or control over these cookies that are used by third-party advertisers.

You should consult the respective privacy policies of these third-party ad servers for more detailed information on their practices as well as for instructions about how to opt-out of certain practices. www.wisdom-inspirations.blogspot.com/'s privacy policy does not apply to, and we cannot control the activities of, such other advertisers or web sites.

If you wish to disable cookies, you may do so through your individual browser options. More detailed information about cookie management with specific web browsers can be found at the browsers' respective websites.