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  #1  
Old September 7, 2000, 12:23 AM
Dien Rice
 
Posts: n/a
Default "I was born with a plastic spoon in my mouth...."

This is a reply to Michael Ross's post below.... I thought I'd drag it up here so it doesn't get lost.... :)

Michael, you made some great points I reckon... :)

A lot of these "successful entrepreneurs" were really born with a silver spoon in their mouth.

However, there are real "rags to riches" stories, and like you, those are the ones I find the most inspiring.... :)

One of my favorite "rags to riches" story is Joe Cossman's -- from "rags" at age 28 to "riches" at 29. I can't give the whole story here since it's quite long (I may rewrite it in my own words here some time) -- I know about it from pages 6-14 in the book "Making It!" by E. Joseph Cossman and William A. Cohen.

E. Joseph Cossman spent $50 on a portable typewriter and money on lots of postage stamps, and spent many many hours pounding out letters on that typewriter.

(He was also working for $35 a week during that time too -- he'd work 8 hours at his job at an export company, then he'd work 8 more hours at his kitchen table at home.)

After about a *year* of his own effort, he got his first deal, selling $180,000 worth of soap from the USA to Europe in 1946. His profit from that deal was $30,000 -- and that was in 1946. And he really was NOT rich to do this -- he was clever, hard-working, and had a lot of guts too!

Here's one thing Joe Cossman writes about this.....
During this, my first encounter with "big business," I was to learn that success requires more than work, study, imagination, and faith; it requires other people. And it requires every single percentage point of brain power you can squeeze out of your cranium. ["Making It!" pages 8-9.]

"Making It!" was the first business book I ever bought. However, I still find it one of the most inspiring and eye-opening books there is. In fact, just writing about it has made me want to re-read it again -- I think I'll get a lot more out of it on this reading than when I first read it several years ago.

I KNOW that some people will look at me and Sowpub, and say, "Man, how did that guy get to work with Gordon Alexander?" And you know, sometimes I think about it and wonder about it myself. :)

But the bottom line is I believe that to an extent, we make our own luck. You have to take some risks, and put yourself out there. My point of view has always been that education and knowledge are more important than money. So I've sometimes spent ridiculous amounts of my salary on educating myself, and that doesn't JUST mean buying and reading books, but also flying myself to Ohio as well.... and to me, because of my admiration for him, meeting Gordon is worth far more to me than meeting any Hollywood superstar would be. (I was lucky in the sense that my job had already taken me to Boston for a couple months, to work with some people at Boston University, but I still paid to get from Boston to Akron/Canton airport and back....)

Michael, did you ever see that film "Strictly Ballroom"? (For non-Aussies, this was a small Aussie movie made a few years ago.)

The surface plot is about a ballroom dancing competition. But several times during the film they come to the REAL theme of the movie, which is:

A LIFE LIVED IN FEAR IS A LIFE HALF-LIVED.

I have a funny story to tell about that movie. I was still an undergraduate student when the film was released in 1992.

There was this girl I kind of liked, even though deep down I knew very well that there was no way we were compatible since our personalities were so different. But you know how your powers of fantasy can work sometimes. :)

I'm not sure how it happened, but she asked me in a friendly way if I was interested in seeing "Strictly Ballroom." Seeing my opportunity to spend some time with her, I leaped up and said "YES!"

Otherwise, I wouldn't be caught dead seeing a film called "Strictly Ballroom" -- you know, it doesn't quite fit with the macho image that you care about so much in those testosterone filled days as a young male. ;)

Well, I didn't quite know what to expect from the film. After all, I wasn't really going along to see the film -- I was going along to spend a little bit of time with Nadine (not her real name).

Well, when I was in the cinema, I sat transfixed. The story is about a ballroom dancing competition, and about dancing new unorthodox steps in the competition, and all the opposition and fears associated with doing something different and new.

And throughout the film, several times, is the phrase,

"A LIFE LIVED IN FEAR IS A LIFE HALF-LIVED"

The idea was that, if you are living in fear of doing something new and different, then you are not fully living life. Your life is only HALF-LIVED.

That movie had me stunned. My mind was churning. I was relating the lesson in the movie to my own life. Dare to be different. Dare to be unique. If you feel fear, then do whatever it takes to conquer it. Strike out and conquer that fear.

This movie forced me to ask myself: Do you want a FULL life, or do you just want a life that is HALF-LIVED?

If you want a FULL life, then take a risk and tackle life head-on!

Nadine drove us both back, yet I was terrible company in the car. I was still half-stunned, my mind reeling with thoughts from that movie. She must have wondered what the heck happened to me. I was just half-stunned, my mind so full of possibilities on how I could apply what I had just learned.

Well, we never saw a movie together again.... I think I wasn't very great company for that first movie. :)

But on the other hand, thanks to Nadine, I learned one of the most important lessons in life. Which is, if you fear something, then that could be a sign that it is what you are "supposed" to do. Get out there and do it.

Live your life FULLY. Don't let it be HALF-LIVED due to FEAR.

I've applied this lesson many times in my life, and I still try to apply it now. I hope you enjoyed my little story. :)

Thanks Michael for your stimulating post, which resulted in this particular long ramble of mine! :)

Cheers,

Dien
  #2  
Old September 7, 2000, 12:56 AM
sandy
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: "I was born with a plastic spoon in my mouth...."

Dien thanks for sharing this story with
us...I'll look for the movie...mmm..movies
which "inspire "would be a cool web addition
for this site...there's a website which has
old and foreign films on it...some of the
"good old" movies have great messages....
Check out "The Razor's Edge " with Tyrone Power...One other good movie 'Red Beard' by
Kurosawa(Japanese film maker)
you'll love these...I'll leave it to you
to find a review...but start with the search
engine
www.ask.com

P.S...Mike thanks for your post it was stimulating!
  #3  
Old September 7, 2000, 10:53 AM
Dien Rice
 
Posts: n/a
Default Movie Inspiration

Hi Sandy,

> Dien thanks for sharing this story with
> us...I'll look for the movie...mmm..movies
> which "inspire "would be a cool web addition
> for this site...

Thanks Sandy, that's a pretty good idea! You're full of great ideas. :)

I'd definitely love to hear about what sort of movies others have found inspiring, in life, in business, and in other ways....

> there's a website which has
> old and foreign films on it...some of the
> "good old" movies have great messages....
> Check out "The Razor's Edge " with
> Tyrone Power...One other good movie 'Red
> Beard' by Kurosawa(Japanese film maker)
> you'll love these...I'll leave it to you
> to find a review...but start with the search
> engine www.ask.com P.S...Mike thanks for your
> post it was stimulating!

Thanks Sandy for those suggestions.... I haven't seen either, though I've just read the reviews (Thanks for suggesting www.ask.com, it's a great resource.... I also sometimes check www.imdb.com and www.allmovie.com).... Both movies sound great! I'm going to have to take notes and bring them next time I head out to rent a video.... :)

I know that Akira Kurosawa is considered a legendary director, though I've only seen "The Seven Samurai." I have a brother, James, who has seen everything by Kurosawa that he could lay his hands on. (Thomas is my youngest brother who has posted here so far, but I also have another brother James as well.)

Well, apart from "Strictly Ballroom," another film I've found inspiring though in a *very* different way, is "Wall Street." I love all the characters, and their interplay, and I'm also addicted to the excitement of the stock market.... I've seen this film several times and still every time it draws me in, completely fascinated. It's more a film about what *not* to do than what to do.... Very exciting, nevertheless.

Another film in a similar vein -- also about what *not* to do -- is "Rogue Trader," about Nick Leeson (played by Ewan McGregor) who single-handedly put the world's first investment bank, Barings Bank, into bankruptcy. It's a true story. This film explains why I'm not a day trader!

However, these two films will probably mainly appeal to those who are fascinated by the stock market (like I am).

Gordon, in an earlier post refers to "one of the greatest sales training videos ever made." He's referring to the film Elmer Gantry, with Burt Lancaster. I haven't seen it yet, but it's one of those I'm looking out for!

Anyone else have some favorite films which they have found inspiring? Please let us know so we can give our struggling local video/DVD rental stores some extra business! :)

Cheers,

Dien
  #4  
Old September 9, 2000, 12:41 AM
Julie Jordan Scott
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Movie Inspiration

Dien said:

> I'd definitely love to hear about what sort
> of movies others have found inspiring, in
> life, in business, and in other ways....

****My personal favorite classic is "Sound of Music".....I saw that for the first time when I was three years old, Mom and Sue and I wore matching dresses. I can still remember sitting in the balcony and loving every minute of the singing and dancing!

And who can fail to be inspired by the Von Trapp family defying the Third Reich and climbing the mountain to freedom? And Maria and the Captain, finding true love! And the music, and dancing...loved it then, love it now.

The stage play is even better I discovered as an adult. I wanted to audition to be a Nun, but I was pregnant at the time. Katherine did play Gretl for over 40 performances and I never once tired of it.

***My second favorite is "Field of Dreams" because the main character did the outrageous and stuck with it, no matter how seemingly ridiculous it was!

He listened to his hunches (literally!) and had a great support team in his wife and daughter and his *traveling companions*.

James Earl Jones was SOOOOO outstanding in that role! And the little girl who played Karen, I loved her! Whenever I see her now I say to myself, "Come back as Karen!"

***Finally, this summer I saw 'The Patriot'. Two of your countrymen in that one, Dien. They were both fantastic! For the first time ever I felt WAY too old watching Heath Ledger, but thats another story!

My favorite line:

Sister in law: "You have done nothing for that you should be ashamed"
Benjamin (I think that was Mel Gibson's character's name)"I have done nothing. For that, I should be ashamed."

Terrific commentary on following a Cause, staying the Course and turning the tides on a LOST cause.....I cried extremely hard, and had to come back a second time to take notes and be aware of when to leave if it got too bloody. The music by John Williams really was a terrific supplement as well. The second go around I could shut my eyes and simply listen to the music which helped....a lot!

Anyone else I wonder?

With Purpose and Passion,

JULIE




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  #5  
Old September 9, 2000, 10:09 AM
Dien Rice
 
Posts: n/a
Default What Mel Gibson and I have in common.....

Hi Julie,

> ****My personal favorite classic is
> "Sound of Music".....I saw that
> for the first time when I was three years
> old, Mom and Sue and I wore matching
> dresses. I can still remember sitting in the
> balcony and loving every minute of the
> singing and dancing!

> And who can fail to be inspired by the Von
> Trapp family defying the Third Reich and
> climbing the mountain to freedom? And Maria
> and the Captain, finding true love! And the
> music, and dancing...loved it then, love it
> now.

Okay Julie... I admit it.... I really loved "The Sound of Music" too.... :) It is a great movie! :) Okay, and you squeezed this out of me too....

I also liked "Mary Poppins" too. Just don't tell anyone I admitted this, okay? I keep that spoonful of sugar handy to help the medicine go down.... :)

Though I haven't seen either movie for many many years.... they are both real classics! There are a lot of great "kids" or "family" movies out there....

Have you seen "The Princess Bride" ?

Vizzini: I can't compete with you physically, and you're no match for my brains.
Westley: You're that smart?
Vizzini: Let me put it this way. Have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates?
Westley: Yes.
Vizzini: Morons.

That bit of dialogue from "The Princess Bride" still makes me chuckle.... :) But for balance I'll mention....

"This is Spinal Tap." Now my rougher friends will still respect me. :) Make sure to turn your amps up to 11!

> The stage play is even better I discovered
> as an adult. I wanted to audition to be a
> Nun, but I was pregnant at the time.
> Katherine did play Gretl for over 40
> performances and I never once tired of it.

I read about this on your web page, Julie.... your daughters all sound very talented, and particularly Katherine is an extremely talented actress! :)

> ***My second favorite is "Field of
> Dreams" because the main character did
> the outrageous and stuck with it, no matter
> how seemingly ridiculous it was!

Field of Dreams was a very interesting movie.... I hadn't really heard of it before when I saw it, but it was an unexpected pleasure! :)

> ***Finally, this summer I saw 'The Patriot'.
> Two of your countrymen in that one, Dien.
> They were both fantastic! For the first time
> ever I felt WAY too old watching Heath
> Ledger, but thats another story!

Heath Ledger seems to have a lot of female fans.... By the way, I like to think of myself as a pudgier, slower, and less witty version of Mel Gibson. ;)

Both Mel and I were born in upstate New York and relocated to Australia with our families when we were kids. :)

(I think it's not widely known that Mel Gibson was born and lived the earlier years of his life in the USA, before his whole family relocated to Australia after his father became a winner on "Jeopardy"....)

So.... if you ever get bored of me, just think of me as Mel Gibson's chubbier and slower cousin, okay? :)

Cheers,

Dien
  #6  
Old September 9, 2000, 11:14 AM
Julie Jordan Scott
 
Posts: n/a
Default Dien, You Seem Even Wittier........

Hi Dien!

I think you are even wittier than Mel, and now I will have to go rent "The Princess Bride"...that line alone is worth the rental fee!

> Okay Julie... I admit it.... I really loved
> "The Sound of Music" too....

***One of the reasons I was attracted to Julie Andrews movies is because I thought her name was Julie Ann Drews. My name was Julie Ann Jordan. So I felt a close kinship to her, from a very early age. I guess I could be considered her younger, less British, not as beautiful voiced American Second Cousin twice removed! :-)

I saw Victor/Victoria when I was older and I was totally *shocked*!

> Heath Ledger seems to have a lot of female
> fans....
****Ofcourse when I realized her was Australian I wanted to hear him with an accent. His voice (with an American accent was to die for...with me, (here comes a secret) voices are VERY important.

I know y'all have been dying to hear some of my Aussisms, so here are a couple my friend in Sydney taught me:

Dien: Julie, how have you been lately? You seem to have a lot of projects going on!

Julie: Got that right, I've been flat out as a lizard drinking!

There are some others, but like the French I know, not good for the family audience!

One more thing, Dien, if ever I play Trivial Pursuit in the future, I want you on my team! I am great at Geography and the Arts. You can take Science and Nature and Mel Gibson trivia!

Have a fabulous Sunday....in Australia thats what today is!

With Purpose and Passion,

JULIE


Our New Look
  #7  
Old September 10, 2000, 12:07 AM
Dien Rice
 
Posts: n/a
Default I'm as happy as a dog in a hubcap factory!

Hi Julie,

Speaking of Aussie colloquialisms, like the subject title? :)

> now I will have to go rent "The
> Princess Bride"...that line alone is
> worth the rental fee!

I haven't known anyone who *didn't* like The Princess Bride -- male or female, young or old.... :) There are only a few movies which have been made which seem to me to be "perfect"....

The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins seem about "perfect" to me, and I would also add The Princess Bride. It's a wonderful feel-good story, funny and charming too.... :)

> ***One of the reasons I was attracted to
> Julie Andrews movies is because I thought
> her name was Julie Ann Drews. My name was
> Julie Ann Jordan. So I felt a close kinship
> to her, from a very early age. I guess I
> could be considered her younger, less
> British, not as beautiful voiced American
> Second Cousin twice removed! :-)

Heheh, Julie, that's a great story! Julie, you are lighting up many hearts here online, just as Julie Andrews did with some of her films.... Your "fans" (who have spoken here at Sowpub -- including me) shows this to be true.... :)

> ****Ofcourse when I realized her was
> Australian I wanted to hear him with an
> accent. His voice (with an American accent
> was to die for...with me, (here comes a
> secret) voices are VERY important.

I agree, voices can make a big difference to how someone is perceived.... I've been told by some people that I have a good "radio voice" -- I used to do public radio for fun, about 10 years ago (when I was still an undergrad student)....

I did the 2 am to 6 am slot, so I only had a few fans who (for whatever reason) would be up at that time listening to me say cryptic things and play an unusual mix of music! :) Okay, maybe "fans" is a bit of a strong word.... But I know my Mom listened sometimes (thanks Mom!). For anyone reading this in Melbourne Australia, I used to be on 3PBS-FM. :)

> I know y'all have been dying to hear some of
> my Aussisms, so here are a couple my friend
> in Sydney taught me:

> Dien: Julie, how have you been lately? You
> seem to have a lot of projects going on!

> Julie: Got that right, I've been flat out as
> a lizard drinking!

Heheh!! Yes, that's good Aussie lingo! If you say that here someone will probably buy you a beer! :)

As they say, it's real "strine"!

"Strine" is just the way a REAL true-blue Aussie pronounces the word "Australian" -- it also means Aussie slang.... :)

> There are some others, but like the French I
> know, not good for the family audience!

Heheh... yes, there are some pretty humorous idioms in Aussie lingo! :) But as you said.... not for the easily offended. :)

"I'm so thirsty I could drink the sweat from a Japanese Sumo wrestler's jockstrap."

(Yuck!)

> One more thing, Dien, if ever I play Trivial
> Pursuit in the future, I want you on my
> team! I am great at Geography and the Arts.
> You can take Science and Nature and Mel
> Gibson trivia!

Sounds great! We should have a big SOWPUB session.... :) I think collectively we could beat any other team out there.... :)

Dien




Strine Decoded - An Australian English Dictionary....
  #8  
Old September 7, 2000, 05:02 PM
Paulette Ensign
 
Posts: n/a
Default Some additional places to read about successes

Hi Dien,

> A lot of these "successful
> entrepreneurs" were really born with a
> silver spoon in their mouth.
> However, there are real "rags to
> riches" stories, and like you, those
> are the ones I find the most inspiring....
> :)

I agree with you on both counts above. And, life does turn out to be what we make of it, doesn't it.

There are two additional places to suggest for people to read additional inspiring stories. One is a newsletter recently started by Ron Ruiz (of www.free-publicity.com fame). Ron's new paid-subscriber newsletter is called The Business Fa$tlane. He has a tag line under the title that is "Fascinating and unusual businesses you've never heard of that are making good money right now." Ron is interested in knowing about more stories. Contact him with any suggestions you have.

The second suggestion I'd like to offer for your reading and inspirational pleasure is a book recently released called "Start Small Finish Big," by Fred DeLuca, co-owner and CEO of Subway Sandwiches, and John Hayes. There are 21 other stories in this book besides Fred's. I was fortunate enough to be among them. Each and every story tells a completely different tale, each from a unique perspective. Each one has something in it to incorporate into our own lives. And no silver spoons among them !! And I also get no royalties on that book, so I'm passing the referral on because it's a good read :--)

Happy reading.
Paulette


All About Booklets
  #9  
Old September 8, 2000, 08:20 AM
Dien Rice
 
Posts: n/a
Default Where to find a small part of Paulette's own inspiring story.... :)

Hi Paulette,

> I agree with you on both counts above. And,
> life does turn out to be what we make of it,
> doesn't it.

Yes, it's true.... You have to get out there and, as you said in one of your articles, "cast seeds all over the place, hoping that some would sprout."

Paulette, your OWN story of your success with your first Tips Booklet is one of the most exciting and interesting stories I've ever read. :)

Here's Paulette's story, from her web site www.tipsbooklets.com . If you haven't read it before, then CLICK on the link and READ it! :)

It shows that persistence, and "casting seeds" wherever you can really can work BIG wonders! :)

Thank YOU Paulette! You are truly one of the inspiring people on the Net! :)

Best wishes,

Dien
 


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