JIM RON, Mysticism, reading, forums, Numerology, Sun Signs, Divination

Posts: 5109 · Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2010 7:46 am

JIM RON

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Hello, everyone!

You may not have known this, but for the last eight years I have been a member of the U.S. Navy, serving as a reservist. I completed a tour in Afghanistan during 2007. My contract ended this week, and I am a civilian now.

I joined after 9/11. Going to boot camp at age 29 was a tough but invaluable life experience. Each morning, we had seven seconds to get out of our racks. One morning I was disoriented and sat up to get my bearings. That extra five seconds cost my unit an hour of brutal, nonstop pushups, sit-ups and jogging. Everyone learned that day that a group is only as strong as its weakest link. But it was a lesson none of us ever forgot. Today, I am the two-time USA Memory Champion, but not because of my memory skills. I am the champ because of the discipline and attention to detail I learned in the Navy.

I have shared the stage with many powerful speakers and struck deals with big-time businessmen, but none have impressed me as much as Senior Chief Reid. While in Afghanistan, he and I were going on a convoy just days after a series of attacks on convoys. I walked towards the first vehicle and he said, “White, take the second vehicle. If we get hit, it is going to be me first.” The Navy is full of people like that, and it is with a saddened but proud heart that I am walking away.

As the corporate world—where the prize is financial—often struggles to plan and achieve goals, the military is planning missions in which life and death hinge on the outcome. At the very moment that a salesperson is giving up on his goals, a service member is going as far as he can and then further to grasp the victory of his mission.

To all with whom I served: From the 130-degree sands in Kuwait to the mountains of Afghanistan, to two-mile marches in 40 pounds of body armor in the brutal South Carolina summers, to that room without windows in Fort Worth, it was the honor of a lifetime to serve beside each one of you. I am proud of the work we did, and I know you will continue the fighting spirit of the Navy.

I joined simply to serve, but I got so much more than I ever gave. Thank you for making me a better man, leader, businessman and person. Serving beside each of you was the highest honor of my lifetime.

Ron White

1. Hang In There by Ron White

I remember Navy boot camp like it was yesterday. An event that occurred on my second day still causes me to pause when I reflect on it. You can tell a new soldier to boot camp from one who is about to graduate based upon the clothes and ribbons they wear. It was clearly my second day, evidenced by what I was wearing. I was walking single file with my unit down a hall and a sailor who was about to graduate passed us.

He must have noticed my expression. It without a doubt said, “I am tired, intimidated, scared and hungry.” You can’t talk when walking in formation, therefore he whispered out of the side of his mouth as we passed, “Hang in there... you can do it.”

I turned to look at his face, but all I saw was the back of his head. Every night before I drifted off to sleep I replayed those words. I will never know that sailor’s name. He will never know how it turned my attitude around 180 degrees. He will never know that years later I still remember the electricity of encouragement that shot through my body.

I knew that the only reason he knew what I was feeling is because he had been where I was and felt how I felt. He had made it and wanted me to know that I could as well. I was eternally grateful.

Then it was my turn. On my graduation day, I walked into a storage facility and saw three sailors leaning up against the wall. They were new and scared, intimidated, tired and hungry. I walked over to them and whispered, “Hang in there... you can do it.” Within one second tears filled the eyes of the female sailor and one of the males clenched his fist and gave me a million thanks with his eyes.

As I walked away I had goose bumps. I knew that my words would be motivation for the rest of the day and fuel every night to keep them focused on their goal of graduation when they wanted to quit. I hope they passed on the encouragement to another sailor before they graduated... and I know they did.

If you are in a valley, then remember this. Others have been there (including me). Hang in there. You can do it. Whether your goal is boot camp graduation, building a business or raising a family... since others have done it... you can too. Hang in there.

If you are at a peak, do not underestimate what a few kind words of encouragement might do for those around you.

Many find it odd that at this point in my career I am in the Naval Reserves. I generate more income by one person attending my seminar than I do in my one weekend a month. When I was activated, I earned a fraction of my current income. But I do it because it is right for me and in my heart I have to. I also do it because the lessons like the one above are invaluable to me. I hope you found some value in it as well.

2. Quotes of The Week
Kindness

“A word of kindness is seldom spoken in vain. It can be and is often treasured by the recipient for life.” —George D. Prentice

“Note how good you feel after you have encouraged someone else. No other argument is necessary to suggest that never miss the opportunity to give encouragement.” —George Adams

“True self worth, success and wealth can only come about from responsible love, caring and compassionate thoughts and actions.” —Ty Metsker

“I expect to pass through this life but once. If, therefore there can be any kindness I can show or any good thing I can do for any fellow being let me do it now... as I shall not pass this way again.” —William Penn

“Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.” —Henry James

“You have it easily in your power to increase the sum total of this world’s happiness now. How? By giving a few words of sincere appreciation to someone who is lonely or discouraged. Perhaps you will forget tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them over a lifetime.” —Dale Carnegie

“I believe... that every human mind feels pleasure in doing good to another.” —Thomas Jefferson

“The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.” —Thomas Paine

3. The Power of Praising People by Chris Widener

(Chris Widener, my friend and a leading expert on the power of influence, discusses the importance of kind words in the article excerpt below. Enjoy! —RW)

One of the keys to success is to have successful relationships. We are not islands and we don’t get to the top by ourselves. And one of the key ways to grow successful in our relationships is to be “life-giving” people to others. Every person we meet, we either give life to or take life from. You know what I mean. There are people who encourage you and when you are done being with them you feel built up. Then there are others who you feel torn down by. Successful people are people who have mastered the art of building others up.

One of the ways we build people up is to praise them. There is power in praising people! Something begins to happen in them, in you, and in your relationship when you praise someone. Remember a time when someone told you something about yourself in a praising manner? It was great, wasn’t it? You probably liked that person more after they praised you, didn’t you?

Now I am not talking about praising people for the sake of praising people. I am talking about honestly looking for and praising positive character traits and actions of others around you. Don’t lie to people. If they have done something wrong, correct it, but when they do something right, praise it!