Life in Small Bites: 3.06 Action

By James Yarbrough, Jr

Lessons in taking Action - 'One Bite at a Time'

President Theodore Roosevelt in a speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910 counselled, "It is not the critic that counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement. And at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

Like Robert Frost’s “Two roads diverged into a wood...” two streams of thought diverge into different actions leading to different outcomes. When outcomes don’t match hopes we can wallow remorsefully in the ‘woulda, shoulda, coulda’ (WSC) of unmet expectations, cloaking ourselves in de-energizing disappointment or we can courageously don the armor of responsible action, acknowledging that no one other than self is at the controls and everyday allows us to reshape the WSC.

Allow these Small Bites to be more than empty calories – Reflect on them in a way that they become energizing vitamin boosters for taking action.

• Language: English
• Publisher: James Yarbrough, Jr
• Release date: Jun 9, 2012
• ISBN: 9781938682063

James Yarbrough, Jr

Jim Yarbrough - International Business Development, Experienced Transportation Executive, Leadership Development Author A 25-year veteran in the international relocation, freight forwarding, and warehousing industries, he returned to Bangkok in 1999 to become the Country Manager of Brink’s Thailand, a subsidiary of Brink’s Inc. Jim is a graduate of the University of Southern California (International Relations and Economics) and Master’s program at UCLA (Public Administration and Computer Information Systems). Following service as a US Air Force pilot Jim lived and worked overseas since 1975. He managed and owned warehousing and forwarding companies in Panama, Thailand, Indonesia, and the US. He has taught college level courses in Negotiations, Leadership, and Personal Effectiveness. Jim has always strived to be a positive contributor to his community. He has formerly been the president of several school boards, industry organizations, and charitable institutions. Jim co-founded the Visitor Aloha Services of Hawaii (VASH), a volunteer based program organizing and funneling community and corporate support to tourists who were victims of crime. During his first tour in Thailand Jim co-founded the ‘Adopt-a-Bus’ project which worked to reduce air pollution by retro-fitting catalytic converters on municipal buses. Jim served as the Chairman of the Executive Committee and Director of Operation Smile Thailand for seven years. From 2008 to 2012 Jim served as the Asia-Pacific Director, Resource Development, Habitat for Humanity International. Jim has served as a Governor of the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand for eight years. Jim was recruited by Habitat for Humanity in mid-2008. Jim has been a Rotarian for 25 years while living in Panama, the US, and in Thailand.

Book preview

LIFE in SMALL BITES

Lessons in Taking Action

(After Burners)

By James G. Yarbrough, Jr.

Smashwords Edition

version 3.06

June 2012

Copyright © 2012, James G. Yarbrough, Jr.

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person,please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Today is the last day of the first of your life.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life.

- Anonymous

Life is what you make it. Always was – always will be.

- Grandma Moses

Thank you for purchasing this compilation of aphorisms.

A portion of the revenue received will be donated to

two of my favorite charities:

If you would like to learn more about

these two great organizations, please visit their websites at:

www.habitat.org

www.operationsmile.org

DEDICATION

To my mentors and coaches, my Mom and Dad, Dorothy Ellen and James Sr.

To my children, Robin, George, and Gary, who are my continuous sources of inspiration, pride, and hope.

To my wife, Marlena, who never fails to remind me to live the "Small Bites" that I preach.

To all of the Doers:

Good intentions only provide the drive. It is the driving that gets us where we want to be.

Contents

Introduction

PRE-FLIGHT

If I Could Give You Anything

Suggestions For Using Small Bites

GENERAL WISDOM

The Paradoxical Commandments

One Day At A Time

Desiderata

Believe In Your Heart

ACTION

It is Not the Critic That Counts

Until One is Committed

The Way

High Flight

About the Author

Index of Authors

Introduction

It always begins with: Let me tell you a story... When I was young, my father was a US Army officer. Thankfully, he had strict requirements about respect for elders and authority, personal grooming, decorum, and manners—especially table manners. Practicing these standards has served me well throughout my life.

When I became a parent, I wanted to pass on the teachings that worked for me. Yet as a father guiding my children’s development, I admit that instilling proper table manners was challenging at times—Elbows off the table, chew with your mouth closed, "only put small bites in your mouth" were all endless refrains.

I often took advantage of mealtimes to dispense pedantic morsels—my "small bites of guidance, insights, or philosophy. While many of these small bites" were taken from my own experience and inspiration, most came from the borrowed and appreciated wisdom of others, especially my father. My aim was to provide instructions for establishing personal integrity, personal development, and social responsibility.

In spite of my sometimes reluctant audience, some things must have stuck.

I am very proud of my children, who they are, and what they have accomplished. My children are kind, enthusiastic, and compassionate people. They are living lives of integrity and contributing to their communities. In compiling this compendium of aphorisms and quotations, I not only honor my father, I proudly recognize the