Decrease Your Limits To Increase Your Rates

The most unfortunate thing that happens to a person who fears failure is that he limits himself by becoming afraid to try anything new.
―     Dr. Leo F. Buscaglia
If you want to increase your success rate, double your failure rate.
―     Thomas J. Watson
.
On This Day In:
2022	Defeated: So Far (Anyway)
2021	Elections Have Consequences
	It’s Cold Way Down There
2020	Fearless Security
2019	I Prefer A Neat Single Malt
2018	Seeking Finer Fruits
2017	Something That Is Absolute
2016	Animate And Encourage
	Out Of Time
2015	In Time
2014	Robust Interconnectivity
2013	What Have We Here?
2012	Tributaries And Eddies
	An Honest Politician
2011	Penultimate

Read Full Post »

When Scratching Can Be Too Late

You don’t hear things that are bad about your company unless you ask.  It is easy to hear good tidings, but you have to scratch to get the bad news.
—     Thomas J. Watson
[When I was young I was taught: “You don’t feel the mosquito biting until after its finished sucking.”    —    kmab ]
.
On This Day In:
2021	Is Too
	Food For Thought
2020	Says Every Generation Since Schools Were Invented
	Chokin’ My Thoughts Away
2019	Dance The Night Away
2018	#45: The Poorest President In History
2017	Bull’s Eye
2016	Gifts
	Jacked 3
2015	I’d Settle For Interesting
2014	Old Math
2013	Adequate Explanation
2012	Superior Discovery
2011	Welcome Home And Thank You!!
	Two Heritages

Read Full Post »

In Business And In Politics

The toughest thing about the power of trust is that it’s very difficult to build and very easy to destroy.  The essence of trust building is to emphasize the similarities between you and the customer.
—   Thomas J. Watson
.
On This Day In:
2019	What Is True For War Is Also True For Elections
2018	Start By Trying
	Day 4: Difficult Day
2017	Outlasting Division
2016	Said The Man Who Trained To Fight For A Living
2015	Tripping On Treasure
2014	The Flower Of Light
2013	Eye Catching
2012	The Holstee Manifesto
2011	Three Crooners For The Shower
	The Soldier’s Faith
	Vacation, Books And Lots Of Movies

Read Full Post »

Up Again

If you stand up and be counted, from time to time you may get yourself knocked down.  But remember this:  A man flattened by an opponent can get up again.  A man flattened by conformity stays down for good.
—   Thomas J. Watson
.
On This Day In:
2022	I’m Still Friends
	More Cherry Than Candy Apple (Or My Continuing G.A.S.*)
2021	The Heart Of Science
	Too Thin
2020	Up Again
2019	Advice From #1 To #45
2018	How Much I Will Miss The Trump Administration
2017	We Need To Continue Experimenting
2016	Consistently
2015	We Must Dissent
2014	Now What?
2013	Judgement
2012	Stuck In My Mind
	Life’s Hope
2011	Just Getting Up
	Directions Please

Read Full Post »

And So Must Good Government

Design must reflect the practical and aesthetic in business but above all… good design must primarily serve people.  Good design is good business.
—    Thomas J. Watson
[I would add:  Good government must serve the 99%, not just the 1%.    —    kmab]
.
On This Day In:
2022	Enduring Success
2021	Dealing With Trumpism, Racism and Fascism In America
	Just Wondering
2020	And So Must Good Government
2019	Are You Done Watching?
2018	Spineless Capitulation By The Democrats
	Woe Is Me…
2017	Sincerely Yours
2016	Only Good To Say
2015	A Series Of Temporary Conditions
2014	Gaps
2013	Duty
2012	Cost Not Price
	Superheroes
2011	The Simple Normalcy Of Everyday Life – “Squirrel!”

Read Full Post »

More Proof #45 Is Incompetent?

Nothing so conclusively proves a man’s ability to lead others as what he does from day to day to lead himself.
—    Thomas J. Watson
.
On This Day In:
2021	Going Home
	In The Morning Hour
2020	Seeking Wisdom
	Relying On The Old Man
2019	More Proof #45 Is Incompetent?
2018	Every Time I Think I’m Falling
2017	Still Testing The Hypothesis
2016	Excessive Weakness In January
2015	That Burns
2014	Hey, I Resemble That Remark… (4!)
2013	Sit, Put, Until…
2012	Lessons For My Son
2011	Reaching The Right Audience
2010	Christmas Trees and Profession of Faith

Read Full Post »

The Far Side

You can be discouraged by failure, or you can learn from it.  So go ahead and make mistakes, make all you can.  Because, remember that’s where you’ll find success – on the far side of failure.
—   Thomas J. Watson
.
On This Day In:
2018	Hold On
	Day 11: Just Plain Tired
2017	Why Don’t You Tell Us What You Really Think?
2016	Discontent
2015	Do You Know Me?
	Appetite For Life Update
2014	Tough Journalism
2013	Things I’ve Learned
2012	Abstainer, n.
2011	Rain, Rain, Rain
	Test Your Strength
2009	End the mistakes…

Read Full Post »

Why #45 (#LazyDonald) Was Destined To Be A Failed Presidency

All the problems of the world could be settled easily if men were only willing to think.  The trouble is that men very often resort to all sorts of devices in order not to think, because thinking is such hard work.
—    Thomas J. Watson
[Actually, “just” thinking can not settle ALL of the world’s problems.  Compromise and diplomacy are also often required…  More reasons #IncompetentDonald never really had a leg to stand on.    —    kmab]
.
On This Day In:
2022	Do Good Works
2021	We Like To Believe So, Anyway
	More SoCal Sounds
2020	I’m Older Now
2019	Why #45 (#LazyDonald) Was Destined To Be A Failed Presidency
2018	Easter In Liverpool
	Star Guides To Destiny
	Growl
2017	Decisions
2016	Along The Path
2015	Make Mine Rare, Please
2014	Passion Flooding
2013	On Purpose
2012	Sans Gall Bladder, Day 4
	How Did You Spend Your Day?
2011	It’s Hammerin’ Time!!
	Convenient Auxiliaries

Read Full Post »

Speak Your Mind

Follow the path of the unsafe, independent thinker.  Expose your ideas to the danger of controversy.  Speak your mind and fear less the label of ‘crackpot’ than the stigma of conformity.
—    Thomas J. Watson
.
On This Day In:
2021	Republican Big Lies On The Internet
	What Did They Say?
2020	We Are All Fish
	Should We Take Another Reading?
2019	A Dynamic And Adaptable System
2018	Speak Your Mind
2017	And I Thought It Was Just Me Getting Old
2016	One For Whole
2015	A Good Present
2014	And Your Point Is?
2013	Our Never-Ending Task
	Furloughed
2012	More Mature Than I Thought
2011	Outlaw’s Music
	Can Do!

Read Full Post »

Young, Fun And Playing Well

If you aren’t playing well, the game isn’t as much fun.  When that happens I tell myself just to go out and play as I did when I was a kid.
—    Thomas J. Watson
.
On This Day In:
2017	Earning Your Blessings
2016	A Suggestion…
	Capable Of Being
2015	Looking For The Needles In The Haystacks
2014	The Definition Of A Gentleman
2013	Thar She Blows (Not)!
2012	Naturally
2011	Been Here, Done That
	Remember
2010	Timeless Classics

Read Full Post »

Push The Envelope

If you want to achieve excellence, you can get there today.  As of this second, quit doing less-than-excellent work.
—   Thomas J. Watson
.
On This Day In:
2017	Ents
2016	Are You Sure?
2015	Distracted
2014	What It Takes
2013	We Are
2012	Utopian
2011	Seen Any Black Swans Lately?

Read Full Post »

Small Hands, Small Grasp

A man’s wealth may be superior to him.
—    Cameroonian Proverb
Really big people are, above everything else, courteous, considerate and generous – not just to some people in some circumstances – but to everyone all the time.
—    Thomas J. Watson
[Pity the man whose great wealth or position shows him to be small.     —     kmab]
.
On This Day In:
2021	These Days Rather Loosely Held
	Harvest Time
2020	Why I’m Happy
	The Wind In My Face
2019	I Think Impeachment Is Another Test #45 Has Already Failed
2018	Second Chances – Rice, Now Trees
	And Then You Have To Start Training Again
2017	Small Hands, Small Grasp
2016	Two Murrow’s
	Election + 1 Week
2015	Not Mine, Anyway
2015	South By South East
2013	Don’tcha
2012	I Hear A Distant Thunder
2011	A Poison Tree

Read Full Post »

Time For More Research, Too

We must all take time to do enough thinking to formulate our own conclusions.
—     Thomas J. Watson
.
On This Day In:
2021	My Thoughts On Global Climate Change
	And Never Understand
2020	Waiting For 20 January 2021
	#45: You Would Cry Too…
2019	#Corrupt45 Fails Another Great Test
2018	Where The Economy Is Headed Thanks To #IncompetentDonald
2017	Time For More Research, Too
2016	Original Thoughts
2015	If They’re Good Enough
2014	Three…
2013	Uncle Joe’s Song
	Live, Then, As If…
2012	Still Trying
2011	Not Deserving

Read Full Post »