Only One String

image source: nndb.com

A famous violist in the 19th century, named Niccolo Paganini, played a concert in a room fulled with his fans. At that time he played the violin with  full orchestra accompaniment.

Suddenly one of his violin strings broken off, then a cold sweat began to wet his forehead, but he continued to play the song. Very surprising moment, then the others strings was broken off one by one until only one string only. Paganini still continued to play the violin. When the audiences realized that Paganini only has one string and he kept playing, they shouted, "Great, great."

Paganini then told them to sit down after the applause and cheers. The audiences realized that he could not possibly play again with a string. Paganini salute to the audience and give cues to the orchestra conductor to resume the final part of the song. With sparkling eyes, he shouted, "Paganini with the one string!" He then put the violin on his chin and began continue the final part of the song so beautifully.

It is true that sometimes our live are filled with problems, fears, disappointments and a lot of things are not good. To be honest, we often devote too much time concentrating on our broken string and everything that we feel can not be changed.

Do we still think of strings that broke up in our lives? Is the tone of last string not beautiful anymore?

If so, do not look back, keep going and play the only string. Nicely play the one string.

5 Most Poor Billionaire

When we talk about a billionaire or the richest men in world, we will imagine how their lifestyle for sure and how they spend their money for pride or just show off their wealth.

But these 5 billionaires are precisely 'competing' to show their modesty. They do not ashamed nor ruined their dignity to show their simplicity though God give them richness. interestingly, they do it not because they want to look for sensation but based on some spesific reason which actually very normal and reasonable.

Here are they, the rich men who claim to be 'poor'.

1. Nicholas Berggruen

image source: en.wikipedia.org

A rich man with 20 billion dollars fortune in 2010. But it is not wealth that makes it famous. Nicholas is a billionaire who has no home. He decided to live his life naturally as it is. Even he decided to spend a lot of money to be donated as a social charity in various areas. For him, wealth is about what you give to the world not how much money you have.

2. Yu Youzen

image source: forbes.com

This woman is very unique. How could not, with income from several businesses that she has in China, this woman choose to become a street cleaner. Yes, she is Yu Youzhen, a woman from China who regularly wakes up at 3 am to instantly clean up the streets along 2 miles away. That 53 years old mother does that to teach her children to have work hard spirit without depending to her wealth. Though she has properties which value until $1.500.000, wow!

It seems that her unique lesson is success enough because her children are become a taxi driver and an employee.

3. Ingvar Kamprad

image source: billionairetimes.com

Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of phenomenon Swedich furniture, IKEA has recorded many achievments thorough adfordable self-build furnitures. For Kamprad, how to save money is not only for his customers but also for himself.

There's a quote in among IKEA people, 'IKEA staffs don't drive fancy car nor luxury hotel'. That's also appply for its founder. Kamprad only use business class plane for abroad and for arround the town he rides bus or his 15 years old Volvo 240GL.

4. Mark Zuckerberg

image source: forbes.com

The CEO and founder of Facebook who has 15.4 billion USD still lives same way as he used to do. He admitted that he rides Acura TSX and change it to Volkswagen GTI valued 30.000 USD.

In 2011, he even bought a house for 7 million USD in Palo Alto, United State. He also very modest in attire, he oftenly seen only wears simple t-shirt and hoodie jacket.

5. Zong Qinghou

image source: forbes.com

He is a founder and CEO of Hangzhou Wahaha Group. Zong is a  very humble, focus and modest man. Zhong start his carrier as a soda and candy seller to students until now he is the richest man in mainland China and dominate soft drink as much as 15% market in China.

But Zhong doesn't look like as billionaire at all. He wears simple clothes, eats tofu and pickles for lunch with his staffs in canteen and only spends 20 dollar everyday. He rejects fancy food and prefer to eat simple meals. Even Zhong is very proud with his success that he has, he definitely nover forget with his origins.

An Entrepreneur's Email

pic source: siliconangle.com

An unemployment man is applying for the Office Boy position in Microsoft. The HR Manager interviewed him and tested him to clean the floor. “You hired. Give me your email address, I will send you the application form to be filled also your work start date”, said HR Manager.

That man replied, “But I don’t have computer even email”. “I’m sorry, if you don’t have email then you will never be hired here,” add HR Manager.

That man is hopeless and don’t know what to do. With only $10 left in pocket, he decided to go to supermarket and buy 10kg tomatoes. Then he sells those tomatoes from door to door. Less in 2 hours, all the tomatoes sold and he got his money double.

He repeated his sales until three times and go home with $60. He realized that he could survive by selling tomatoes and start selling tomatoes every day and come home late at night.

He got 3 times profit in a day and repeat day by day. In short time, he bought car, truck then has his own delivery vehicle.

5 years later, he became one of biggest food retailer in United States. He starts to plan his family future and decided to have life insurance.

He call insurance broker and choose protection plan. When in conversation, the broker asked him his email which will be used for insurance purposes.

He answered, “I don’t have email”. That broker shock and wondering, “You don’t have email but already successfully built the imperium company business. Can you imagine what could be happen if you have email?” That man thought for a moment then replied, “Yes. I would be an office boy in Microsoft!”

When one door closed, another door opens. But sometimes we see and regret the closed door too long so we couldn’t see the other door which is open. Never stop trying and do not give up because of a failure.

Buy a Miracle

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Sally was just 8 years old coincidentally she heard her parents talking about her younger brother, Georgi, has several ill. Only a very expensive surgery could save his life but they don’t have money.

She heard her father said, “Only MIRACLE can save him.” Then Sally opened her piggy bank, she took all the money out and count it.

By bringing money, Sally sneaks out and go to the pharmacy. “What do you need?” asked the pharmacist. “I want to help my brother, he is sick and I want to buy miracle,” replied Sally. “What?” the pharmacist a bit confused. “My father said only a miracle can save him. So how much the miracle is?”

“We do not sell miracle, little girl,” replied the pharmacist. “But I have money. Just tell me how much the miracle?”

A well-dressed man that heard Sally and pharmacist’s conversation ask Sally, “What kind of miracle that needed by your brother?”

“I don’t know”, said Sally. Tears began dropping on her cheek, “I just know that my brother is sick and my father said he needs to be operated on. My parents don’t have money to pay it but I have this money”.

“How much money you have?” asked him again. “One dollar, eleven cents”, said Sally confidently.

“What a coincidence!” the man said and smiling, “One dollar and eleven cents, the right price to buy a miracle, which can help your brother!” that man take Sally’s money then hold her hand. “Bring me to your brother, I want to meet him and your parents”.

That man is Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a famous expert surgeon. Surgery does without cost and no need a long time for Georgi back home in good health. Her parents are very happy. Sally smile.. She knows exactly how much a miracle. One dollar and eleven cents! Add with confidence and believe.

When you think that there’s no miracle, you’re wrong! Keep your faith and keep praying!

Five Life Balls

pic source: google.com

Brian Dyson, the former executive of Coca Cola, once said an interesting speech, “Imagine, life is like as acrobat with five balls in the air. You can each name the balls: Work – Family – Health – Friends and Spirit. You have to keep the balls in the air and protect it to not fall.

Even if the situation requires you to release one among five balls, release the ‘Work’ ball because that is a RUBBER BALL. When you drop it, one day it will bounce back to you, but the other balls are the GLASS BALL. If you drop it, you may cause fatal.”

Brian Dyson tries to suggest us to live balanced manner. In fact, we are too protective keep the Work which is a rubber ball, we even sacrifice Family, Health, Friends and Spirit for saving the rubber ball.

For the sake of money or work, we ignore the family. For the sake of success in work, we are being a workaholic and not pay attention to Health. Even for the sake money or work, we are willing to destroy our relationship with Friends that we built for years.

It doesn’t mean that work is not important but don’t make work or money be our GOD in our life.

Remember, even if we lose money, we can still find it again but if Family already sold, where we buy it again? Lost money can still sought but can we buy a friend? Lost money can still sought but can we recuperate our health normally if we are critical illness?

Take care your life priority to remain balance..

Rise Above Humiliation

                                                   Pic source: historicalstockphotos.com

When Abraham Lincoln (1809 – 1865) was a young lawyer, he often consulted with other lawyers on the case. One day, he sat in the waiting room to see a senior lawyer. But when it came time, the lawyer only sees Lincoln glance and shout, “What’s he doing here? Get rid of him! I’m not going to deal with a stiff monkey!” Lincoln pretended not to hear. Even though he knew it was deliberate insult. Although shy, he remained calm. Then when the trial took place, Lincoln ignored. But the lawyer who had insulted Lincoln so cruel, he can defend his client with brilliant. Handling of the case was made Lincoln fascinated. He said to himself, “His reason is very nice. The arguments were precise and very complete. Well organized and prepared! I’ll go home and really be keen to learn the law again.” Time flies..

Lincoln becomes president of United States in March 1861. Among the main critics, there is Edwin M. Stanton, a lawyer who once insulted and hurt Lincoln so deeply, but Lincoln lifted him in important positions as a Secretary of War. He never forgot that Stanton is a smart-witted lawyer, which is needed by country. When Lincoln died, Stanton said, “He is the pearl belonged to civilization.  

Only a person who has character and forgiving like Lincoln can rise and succeed in humiliation! So, keep the mood. Do not let other people’s bad attitude determines how we act. Select to continue to do well and learn to forgive. Make ‘junk’ as ‘fertilizer’ or ‘fuel’ for forward-both within the family, work or where we live.

Unexpected Sustance

                                                     Pic image: mastermarketingla.com

Jan Koum, founder of WhatsApp, born and raised in the Ukraine from a poor family. At the age of 16 years, he was desperate to move to USA, in pursuit of what we know as the “American Dream”. At the age of 17, he could only eat from the government allocation. He almost became a bum. Sleep roofed sky, paved ground. To survive, he worked as a cleaner in supermarket. “Life is so bitter”, Koum thought.

His life is increasingly steep when his mother was diagnosed cancer. They survive only with government health benefits. Koum then studied at San Jose University. But then he chose to drop out, preferring to learn programming autodidact.

Because of his skills as a programmer, Jan Koum accepted to work as an engineer at Yahoo. He worked there for 10 years. In that same place, he friends with brian Acton. Both make application WhatsApp in 2009, after resigned from Yahoo. Both had applied for Facebook, which was raising popularity at the time, but rejected by Facebook. Facebook may deeply regret ever reject their application.

After the official WhatsApp bought up at 19 billion dollars a few month ages, Jan Koum does a touching ritual. He came to the place where he used to be, at the age of 17 years, every morning to stand in line to get food rations from the government. He head to the wall where he had rested queue. Remembering the difficult moments, where even he didn’t have money to buy food. Slowly, his tears melt. He never thought his company was purchased by high price.

He then recalled his mother who was died by cancer. His mother who was willing to sew clothes for him to save. “No money, boy...”. Jan stunned. He regretted that he never tell this happy news ti his mother.

Sustenance came from unexpected way and form. Poor young man who was get free meal now becomes a billionaire.

Freedom Mind

                                             Pic source: americasfavoritetool.weebly.com

The inventor of modern toothbrush is an Englishman named William Addis. He wears bones that he was perforated into small pieces, then fills with fur and glued it into one. William became a millionaire after the idea was developed into a hairy nylon toothbrush and manufactured by the American Company named Du Pont in 1938.

Did you know that when William Addis find the concept of a toothbrush, he was languishing in jail? His body was in prison but his mind was not imprisoned. While many people, who are not in prison, often imprison his mind self. That jail forms into the words:

“No way”

“Never”

”Would not”

“Don’t want”

“Do not brave” and others “no” words, which is often a barrier us to evolve. The Creator gives us the potential to be developed, positively and as much as possible. So, do not allow any state to imprison our minds.

The Conqueror

                                                          Pic source: summitpost.org

Sir Edmund Hillary, the first conqueror of Everest in the Himalayas, was once asked by a reporter what is most feared by him for exploring the natural. He said that he did not fear the beast, a steep ravine, giant ice shelf or even the vast deserts and arid.

“Then what, sir?”. He replied, “A grain of sand tucked in between the toes”. Reporters were surprised, but Sir Edmund continued his words. “If grains of sand come in between the toes, it is often the beginning of a disaster. They could get into skin foot or infiltrate through the nail. Then the foot could get infection and rot. Unwittingly, legs could not be moved. Well, that’s a disaster for explorers, because they had to be stretchered”.

Sometimes a lot of great things we do not fear and we prefer to ignore things that seem trivial, but it can make a fatality in our life.

The Ugly Duckling

                              Pic source: angeline-valentius.deviantart.com

Do you still remember the ugly duckling story? Told there was a goose that lives together with ducks and has different colors of feathers. Therefore, because the feathers color different, the little goose was often ridiculed and treated differently. It takes such a long time until this little goose is realized that he’s not ugly.

He just did not from that ducks bus he’s a swan. Yep, that’s about the story of the ugly duckling. DO you know who the author is? He is a well-known children’s writer from Denmark, Hans Christian Andersen or popularly known as HC Andersen. However, later it was found that the story of the ugly duckling is a personal story of HC Andersen. Apparently, through his story, HC Andersen tells of for years, he embarrassed himself. He hates his nose which is too high and pointy and his ugly sharp face. HC Andersen was a very insecure child. However, eventually writing a story changing ability of everything. At the end of story, HC Andersen, the insecure boy, changed into one of great writer especially in child’s world.

Learn to accept and make peace from yourself then try to focus on the strengths and develop strong suit rather than shortcomings. Look at what happened with HC Andersen. If only he constantly discouraged and embarrassed, perhaps he will not to be a great writer forever.  Stop criticizing yourself and start focusing on the good things you can do.

Source: www.chechouthungerok.org