Jack Valenti (age 82 & just now retireing "on my own terms") on how he survived three years in the Johnson administration & 40 years as the movie industry's top lobbist in Washington where no one can recall anyone ever having said a bad thing about him:

"I've always played it on top of the table because I believe that is the smart thing to do. You never lie, you never cheat . . . and you always repay a favor".
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seems a pretty radical way to conduct business in Washington . . . hls

"The only real security in a relationship lies neither in looking back in
nostalgia, nor forward in dread or anticipation, but living in the present
relationship and accepting it as it is now."

Anne Morrow Lindbergh
1906-2001, Author

"Big thinkers are specialist in creating positive, forward-looking, optimistic pictures in their own minds and in the minds of others."
David J Schwartz

This is going to change all the landscape of the car industry!

Yahoo! News - Trade Official: China Car Imports by 2010

"Smile at each other, smile at your wife, smile at your husband, smile at
your children, smile at each other - it doesn't matter who it is - and that
will help you to grow up in greater love for each other."

Mother Teresa
1910-1997, Roman Catholic Missionary

"Smile at each other, smile at your wife, smile at your husband, smile at
your children, smile at each other - it doesn't matter who it is - and that
will help you to grow up in greater love for each other."

Mother Teresa
1910-1997, Roman Catholic Missionary

Yesterday I spent the morning in a meeting with Ernesto Sirolli, along with 40 other interested persons in Business growth in Abilene. It was one of the best meetings I have ever attended and Ernesto offers a real solution to rual economic development.

Enterprise Facilitation is a program to promote business opportunities rather than developing or implementing economic development plans or programs. The following illustrates the implementation and operation of an Enterprise Facilitation program:

The Sirolli Institute goes into the community and makes a presentation to interested parties at the community’s or community organization’s request. After this initial meeting, a core community leadership group forms and invites the Sirolli Institute to assist in the formation of a 30-40 member Enterprise Facilitation Local Board of Management.

Local Board of Management membership is composed of community leaders and local citizens with expertise in areas such as law, marketing, education, financial management, real estate, and small business. This Board is recruited and trained by the Sirolli Institute in the Enterprise Facilitation method which includes both their governance and operational responsibilities. The role of the Local Board of Management is to provide referrals and contacts with local resources to the Enterprise Facilitator. The Enterprise Facilitator and up to 11 board members are also trained by the Sirolli Institute.

Enterprise Facilitation

Delivered 2 of Malcolm Beck's books to our new Mayor Norm Archibald and Stormy Higgins.
Education will be the key to making this work. Getting Abilene into water conservation and retention, soil conservation would be a great effort and help our city for decades to come.

Sure way to get 2 opinions on any subject: Ask an economist a question. This in light of Alan Greenspan being reappointed yesterday as the Federal Reserve Chairman. It really is puzzling to me that we talked of a "new economy" a few years back and the most powerful man is 78 or 79 running it?

Why and How to use Biosolids
Garden-Ville is making compost from San Antonio biosolids and yard trimmings. It is being used all over the city on lawns, around trees and in gardens to grow flowers and vegetables. With the exception of not making enough for all the customers, there have been no complaints. After many years of study and records keeping, spreading compost on lawns and farmlands has shown to cut water needs from 30 to 60 percent.

"You don't get to choose how you're going to die, or when. You can decide
how you're going to live now."

Joan Baez
Singer/Songwriter

"Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don't wait for
something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how
really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it's at work or with
your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored."

Earl Nightingale
1921-1989, Radio Announcer and Author

I read with interest today that people in Dublin had celebrated the book Ulysses by James Joyce.
A few years ago, myself and 2 others started a book reading club, our first book was Ulysses. We disbanded after 2 weeks as a book reading club.
I read 25 pages and gave it up.
Who knows what Joyce was trying to say.

"When your day isn't going well, there is comfort in knowing that a new
day is less than 24 hours away."

Joyce Prophet
Promotional Consultant

I'm setting in my backyard on a Wi-Fi network connected via e-mail and instant messaging to anyone in the world. The world that my daugher will grow up in will have instand communications anyplace on earth. My how fast we move!

www.speakenterprises.com sells small sighs 50 for $89 dollars. I've not found any cheaper anywhere.

I'm reading an interesting book on Composting. That is taking organic waste and turning it into top soil. There's a whole science in this and nature does it very well. As soon as a plant, animal dies microbes start the process of making compost, old leaves, wood chips, and cow, horse manure. Nitrogen rich ingrediants replinish the soil, they come from animal and some plants.
The ecosystem is a closed end system meaning every part works perfectly.
Allmost all our trash can be composted except plastics and metals.

"By working together, pooling our resources and building on our strengths,
we can accomplish great things."

Ronald Reagan
1911-2004, Fortieth President of the United States

This is well worth reading.
RubelShelly.com

See outsourcing is effecting all kinds of businesses. News: "It is estimated there are about 80,000 women employed as sex workers in Britain, a number that has remained fairly static for the last five years. But in the same period the industry has become dominated by foreign sex workers. "

Linda Miller our General Manager wrote this for our conference call:

RECOGNIZE WHAT TURNS OFF YOUR CUSTOMERS:

Research in customer service repeatedly indicates that 60-70 percent of lost customers leave because of problems other than product quality or price. They get frustrated by the experience of doing business with the company; they feel they are not valued.

Get a few people together and ask them to describe some pet peeves about their experiences as customers and you'll get some very emotional reactions. Everyone can recall situations where they were treated poorly, inconvenienced, or bought prodcuts that just didn't measure up.

3 Categories of Customer Turnoffs"
1. Value Turnoffs - poor workmanship
2. Systems Turnoffs- Employee training, computer glitches, unmarked merchandise 3. People Turnoffs - Failure to greet, smile or assist customer. lack of knowledge, rude

"He that cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he himself
must pass if he would ever reach heaven; for everyone has need to be
forgiven."

George Herbert
1593-1632, Poet

I spent last weekend under a tent in Lubbock for our 2nd Tent sale in conjuction with www.aviacandles.com Jeff Hudnall, we had a great time-Jeff sold a ton of candles, we sold a ton of mismatched, assorted stuff. Got to drive by Bobby Knight's house, Eat at Cagles Steak house and River Smiths, Can't beat that.
Jeff flew one time to Little Rock from Dallas on a B17, his dad flew those in WW2, before he got the plane he called his dad and said, DAD I'm about to fly a B17 to Little Rock, his dad replied SON, if there's not a puddle of oil under each engine don't get on the plane,those planes leaked no one could stop them--and if they were dry that ment NO OIL. Sure enough the next day Jeff went out and walked around the plane to check it out, a puddle of oil under each engine. The pilot told him not to worry that was a good sign, if they leaked, just as his dad as said.
Tomorrow Jeff's dad 82 goes in for Colon cancer surgery in Fla, I told Jeff to tell him the B17's are still leaking, and don't get on one if it isn't.
All the best to Mr.Hudnall a B17 pilot in WW2.

"Whenever anyone has offended me, I try to raise my soul so high that
the offense cannot reach it."

Rene Descartes
1596-1650, Philosopher and Scientist