Would anyone like a cookie?

A young lady was waiting for her flight in the boarding area of a large airport.
As she would need to wait for many hours, she decided to buy a book to spend her time. She also bought a packet of cookies.

She sat down in an armchair, in the VIP room of the airport, to rest and read in peace.

Beside her chair where the packet of cookies lay, a man sat down in the next seat, opened his magazine and started reading.

When she took out her first cookie, the man took one also. She felt irritated, but said nothing. She just thought “What a nerve! If I was in the mood I would punch him for daring!”

For each cookie she took, the man took one too.
This was really starting to infuriate her, but she didn’t want to cause a scene.

When only one cookie remained, she thought “Ah……what will this abusive man do now?” Then the man, taking the last cookie, divided it into half and gave her one of the halves.

Ah! That was too much to bear!
She was much too angry now.
In a huff she took her book, her things and stormed to the boarding area of the airport.

When she sat down in her seat inside the plane, she looked into her bag to take her glasses, and to her surprise (or dismay?) her packet of cookies were there, untouched and unopened!

She felt so ashamed! She realized the error of her ways. She had forgotten that her cookies were in her purse.

The man had divided his cookies with her without feeling angry or bitter

…….while she had been very angry thinking that she was dividing her cookies with him. And now there was no chance to explain herself……..nor to apologise.

Remember, there are 4 things you can never recover:

The stone
…after the throw

The word
….after it is said!

The occasion
….after the loss!

The time
…after it’s gone!

You Lucky Devil!

I would like to pose the question does luck play a part in business? If it does, is it possible to increase your luck?

How often have we heard entrepreneurs stand up and take complete credit for their success? Is it possible that there is always an element of chance in business, and therefore there is always an element of luck?It could be luck of timing, the luck of someone else’s mistake or a multitude of other so-called coincidences.

Or is luck nothing more than getting a return on all that intangible work you have put in? Perhaps luck is about ensuring that even the smallest stone does not go unturned.

Or perhaps luck is nothing more than a self-fulfilling prophecy? i.e. if you believe you are a lucky person or that you always get lucky breaks, it may well change your behaviour, your level of confidence and your psychology, which in turn may actually make you luckier. Therefore you seize opportunities that may once have appeared too risky. Whereas if you “ feel” unlucky you probably won’t seize the opportunities or pursue things.

I would like to believe it’s the latter; that believing in luck is a self-fulfilling prophecy and is about recognising opportunities when they arise. But it’s very possible I am wrong.

What’s your view on the part luck has played in your success?



Copyright © Vanessa Vinos/Vision Life Coaching-2007.

Sorry, what did you just say??

One of the fundaments of coaching is being a good listener. It’s certainly not about speaking about all your own achievements and how far you’ve come as a coach . Instead it’s about REALLY listening to what your clients are saying i.e the equivalent of reading between the lines.

Here are some inspiring quotes about listening.
Which of these quotes really resonate with you?
What does one have to do to be a great listener?

“Much silence makes a powerful noise”-African Proverb

“Man who know little say much
Man who know much say little”- Unknown

“Many attempts to communicate are nullified by saying too much”-Robert Greenleaf

“The opposite of talking is not listening. The opposite of talking is waiting”-Fran Lebowitz

“Listen or they tongue will keep thee deaf”-Native American

“There is no such thing as a worthless conversation, provided you know what to listen for. And questions are the breath of life for a conversation”- James Nathan Miller

“It is the province of knowledge to speak. And it is the privilege of wisdom to listen”- Oliver Wendell Holmes

“The first duty of love is to listen”-Paul Tillich

“You cannot truly listen to anyone and do anything else at the same time”-M.Scott Peck

“Well done is better than well said”-Unknown

“When you are arguing with a fool, make sure he isn’t doing the same thing”-Unknown

“Listening, not imitation, may be the sincerest form of flattery”- Dr Joyce Brothers

“Wisdom is the reward for a lifetime of listening….when you’d have preferred to talk”-D.J.Kaufman

“”The best time to hold your tongue is the time you feel you must say something or bust”- Josh Billings


(Source:http://heartquotes.net/Listening.html)