Inspirational book provides food for thought

Recently, while perusing the SBJ bookshelf a catchall for all manner of printed material that wanders into the office I came across a small volume titled "Don't Wait for Your Ship to Come In ... Swim Out to Meet It."

Billing itself as "Bite-sized inspirations to help you achieve your dreams," the book is published by the same company that puts out "God's Little In-struction Book," Honor Books Inc. of Tulsa, Okla.

Not being a big fan of the self-help/motivational industry, I was surprised that many of the sayings and quotations in the book really spoke to me.

Continually driven by deadlines, meetings, and an endless series of tasks, perhaps nothing impressed me as much as the assertion, "Gain control of your time and you will gain control of your life."

Now those are words to live by.

Some others:

"The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it."

"The only difference be-tween a rut and a grave is the timing."

"Indecisive people are like a blind man looking in a dark room for a black cat that isn't there."

In its 159 pages, this little pocket-sized book has quotes and sayings of use to anyone in business, but especially those who must lead or manage.

For example, it's always easy to focus on the negative, but "a leader looks for opportunities to find someone doing something right."

And I'm sure many personnel managers will chuckle over Cyrus H.K. Curtis' observation, "There are two kinds of men who never amount to very much: Those who cannot do what they are told, and those who can do nothing else."

Ever feel like you're barely keeping your head above water? Take Edwin Louis Cole's words to heart: "You don't drown by falling in the water; you drown by staying there."

Doubting yourself because of others' criticism? Just remember, "The only sure way to fend off criticism is to do nothing and be nothing. Those who do things inevitably stir up criticism." And keep in mind that "There is one guaranteed formula for failure, and that is to try to please everyone."

Then again, maybe your critics are just jealous. After all, "love looks through a telescope; envy through a microscope."

If you're feeling defeated after a project or deal went down the tubes, rally your strength: "Most winners are just ex-losers who got mad."

And if you think opportunity has passed you by, it may be that you didn't recognize it when it knocked. Take a second look. As Thomas Edison noted, "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."

After all, shortcuts to success are usually not all they're cracked up to be. "There is no shortcut to success. If you keep your attention on learning the tricks of the trade, you will never learn the trade," advises "Don't Wait."

An entertaining little volume that might work its way into your next speech, meeting or lunch conversation, at $5.99 I'd say "Don't Wait for Your Ship to Come In," is a business book bargain.