Continuation of Sep Newsletter- Dr. Sandy Magnus

Dr. Magnus is just one of thousands at NASA. She is just one of thousands who had a hopes and dreams many years ago. She accomplished the Extraordianry in life because she not only had hopes and dreams but she had written goals and visualized herself an astronaut. But what made her extraordinary is that she took action. And, she was extraordinary also because there were many in her life who inspired her and created in her life a vision of being able to do anything she wanted to do in life.

Pope John Paul XXIII said, "consult not your fears but consult your hopes and dreams, concern yourself not with frustrations in life but with your unfullfilled potential, and dwell not with your negatives but dwell on all the possibilities in your life."

Dr. Magnus is an example of the thoughts of Pope Jon Paul XXIII. Corky Helms, a person dedicated to his profession as a teacher and mentor and I also know as a great member of Optimist International is also an example of the fact that being extraordinary can be accomplished by anyone willing to do the EXTRA. Corky did the extra in his life and because he did, Dr. Sandy Magnus is our Extraordinary Inspirational Person for September and rightfully so Corky is also the Inspirational Person for September along with her.

Continuation of Sep Newsletter - I Believe by Brian Tracy

I believe the greatest achievements of your life lie ahead of you.

I believe the happiest moments of your life are yet to come.

I believe the greatest successes you will ever attain are still waiting for you on the road ahead.

And, I believe through learning and application of what you learn, you can solve any problem, overcome any obstacle and achieve any goal that you can set for yourself.

- Brian Tracy

TFTD - Friendship

"It is chance that makes brothers, but it is hearts that makes friends." E. Von Geibel

TFTD - Sunshine and rain

"Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there really is not such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather." - John Ruskin

Such is life also.

TFTD - Sunshine

"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air." - Raph Waldo Emerson

A good idea for living a full and fun and interesting life.

TFTD - Sunshine

"Keep your face to the sunshine and you will never see the shadow." Helen Keller

TFTD - Kindness

"Kindness is the sunshine in which virtue grows." - Robert Green Ingersoll

Jason Cox was my guest last night

Jason Cox, founder of the Marrow Match Foundation was my guest yesterday on Achieving the Extraordinary, my weekly call-in talk show on KTSA radio. Hear the broadcast here:

TFTD - SUNSHINE

"Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves." - James matthew Barrie

TFTD - Character

"Any fool can criticize, condemn. and complain, and most fools do. But it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving." - Dale Carnegie

TFTD - Character

"The best index to a person's character is (a) how he treats people who can't do him any good and (b) how he treats people who can't fight back" - Abigail Van Buren (Dear Abby)

TFTD - Believe in ones self

"Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact." Henry James

TFTD Character

"Character - the willingness to accept responsibility for one's own life - is the source from which self-respect springs." - Joan Didion

TFTD - Action

"The HOPES and DREAMS of a thousand people wanting to change the world but who do not take ACTION will not effect the world as much as the ACTION taken by the one person who does." Quote by Ron Graves 8/17/09

TFTD - Change

"To exist is to change; to change is to mature; to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly." Henri Bergson

Betsy Britton Radio Interview August 9

Betsy Britton, a favorite of San Antonio radio listeners for many years, shared her personal story of overcoming childhood rejection in this fascinating interview on August 9. I share it here with you. Click on the audio toolbar to hear her story.

Achieving the Extra-Ordinary Broadcast August 2

My guest on August 2 was Dr. Becky Whetstone. Becky is a licensed professional counselor and marriage and family therapist who is well-known to San Antonio radio audiences. I invite you to click on the audio toolbar below to hear my interview of her.

TFTD - Vision

"Depression losses its power when freesh vision pierces the darkness." Peter Sinclair

TFTD - Imagination

"The biggest thing I've been thankful for is my imagination. When people said, 'it's impossible; it can't be done,' that's where my imagination came into play." Michael Phelps, Olypic Swimmer

TFTD - Life and age

If you knew that today would be the last day of your life what would you do, who would you call, who would see? Think about this unless of course you have a gurantee that today will not be your last.

TFTD - Happiness

"Being asked 100 times how you are doing will not mean as much to a person as being told once that they are loved." - Ron Graves, August 10, 2009

TFTD - Happiness

"Let's be grateful for those that give us happiness; they are the charming gardners who make our soul bloom." - Marcel Proust

TFTD - Success

"We were born to succeed not fail." Henry David Thoreau

TFTD - Work

"He that would have the fruit must first must climb the tree." James Allen

TFTD - From Dale Carnegie

"One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon - instead of enjoying the roses blooming outside our windows today." Dale Carnegie

My Interview with Louise Locker

My guest on my radio talk show, Achieving the Extra-Ordinary, on Sunday July 26 was Louise Locker, otherwise known in San Antonio as "Elf Louise."

Listen in on the conversation with this extra-ordinary woman here:

TFTD - APTITUDE vs ATTITUDE

It is not your APTITUDE that determines where you go with you life, it is your ATTITUDE!

Ron Graves Aug 3 2009

Typing errors in my continuation of newsletter posts

I hit the submit key before the spell check key in the two continuation of my newsletter posts. I do want to say that Knowville should read Knoxville (Tennessee) Optimist club plus please forgive a few other typo's. Thanks Ron

Continuation of The Four Way Test of Rotary

The Four Way Test is a great thought process to our daily lives. If I had to break it down into a one line test it would be the line almost everyone has heard in their lives and it is:

"Do unto others as you would have others do unto you."

One does not need to be Biblical or a member of a non-profit group or a volunteer in the community to live by this great test in one's life. Try it each day for a month and see how your life can change.

Continuation of Inspirational person of the month- August

"Sir, I am not just a janitor. I helped put someone on the moon!" This man recognized that he was not just a janitor, but had a bigger vision and purpose for his life.

During my travels, I am finding more and more companies that have no spirit whatsoever. Zilch. Nada. There is not spirit in the people who work for theses companies. Instaed I hear ickering. Jealsous. Envy. Saccasm. A culture that zaps people of their enthusiasm and energy. And they wonder why there are morale and performance issues?

We are all leaders! Every single one of us. Don't be one of those leaders that only lead when there is a big project or deadline at stake. Because it won't last and it certaily won't lead to greatness. Stimulate excitement and allow it to move you and your team by fueling up with high-octane purpose! Only you know what the purpose and vision is - and only can you can decide. When you are in charge, you have the best view and vision so you'll need to communicate your vision to others. And once they are part of your purpose and vision, they'll work harder and longer for you. You've probably heard of the phrase, "Imirror what I receive." You see, there may be times whn you'll break down and can't find the motivation to do what is necessary. But your family, friends, co-workers, teammates - whomever they may be - will continue to encourage you along the way.

A shared vision and purpose keeps us energized and together.

Copyright @2007 Optimist Club of Knowville, All rights reserved website by the Bryan Group

One never knows when something said or done will make such a difference in another's life.
The janitor was not just a janitor. Inspirational people come in all types and sizes. The common man is my inspirational person of the month because he realized he was part of something larger than life.