I had to share this with you. Opening my emails I came to this one this morning, and it really made my day, and made me think as well. Thank You Zain, webmaster, for the
Think and Grow Rich E-Book Site. You have an awesome day as well!
Best,
Shane
Hi Shane, Are you feeling frustrated? Or overwhelmed? Perhaps 2010 hasn’t started out quite how you’d liked. I don’t know about you but that’s how I’m feeling at the moment. It’s been over 2 weeks since I last communicated to this mailing list and I feel bad about that. As you might know, in my last email I asked you to send me your problems and any areas where you feel blocked. And you what…? A lot of people replied to that – so, yeah… I’m feeling overwhelmed at the moment (goodness, am I feeling overwhelmed!). I’m sorry if you’re one of the many people who I’ve not had time to personally reply to.Please hang in there – I’m working on clearing the email back log (only around another 97 emails left to reply to!)… but it’s difficult as this Think and Grow Rich site isn’t my full time job… and there’s no “team” here, only me! If, like me, you’re also feeling overwhelmed or frustrated then I hope this message will help. As usual, I’m going to give you a metaphor followed by a small action or something to think about at the end (I’ve noticed that seems to be my format!). The last few weeks the UK has seen some really heavy snow. Even here in Brighton, I was surprised as we’ve had a good 4-5 inches – snow like this in England is something I’ve not seen since I was a kid in the late 70s. My kids have enjoyed making snowmen and having snowball fights. It’s been lovely albeit a little on the cold side for my liking… For those of you in warmer climates (and never experienced snow), let me tell you… there’s nothing quite like a blanket of fresh snow covering *everything* – roads, fields, cars, houses – it really is quite beautiful! When you look out over what you thought you knew, you suddenly realise that everything has changed. The world has, for that moment, been completely transformed. All of the things you took for granted disappear under an amazing layer of pure whiteness. It really is wonderful to behold when you stop and just take a moment to enjoy the beauty of fresh, white, snow. But beauty can also bring with it a great deal of frustration (…and even danger). With the roads iced over, the schools have been shut. My kids have been enjoying time off. The flipside is that my kids have been home and I’ve not been able to work. As a freelance Web Developer building sites, that does have quite a major impact on my time and workflow. As a single parent, I’ve had to have more of my “Dad” head on to sort out the minor arguments after the wonders of snow have faded and the frustrations of cabin fever start to appear. It’s not been easy. We’ve been “snowed under” both in the literal and metaphorical sense recently! As you can imagine, my work has been piling up… so, yes, even more frustration has set in!
Returning from collecting my children from my ex-wife’s one snowy day, I noticed something that I would like to share with you now, Shane. I live on a hill and so walking up, through the snow, has been a somewhat perilous affair. After fresh snow has settled, you usually find that the paths made by other people become icy and very slippery. The best course of action walking in these conditions is actually to tread on fresh snow rather than where other people have already walked. What I came to realise is this: “Sometimes, the road *less* travelled is less dangerous than the one that most people take”. Do you know this feeling? In a funny kind of way, that may also be why you downloaded the Think and Grow Rich eBook. If, like me, you feel that the path that you’ve been taking is a slippery slope down the hill – filled with dangers and uncertainty of where to step – then here’s what I’d like you to do… Stop. That’s right. Just take a moment, right now, to stop and consider where you are. In the fresh snow, everything looks the same. It’s easy to feel lost and without direction as there’s no reference point that you’re familiar with. So… just stop for a moment. Now, consider where you are *right now*. Maybe you could even *enjoy just being* in the moment. And then simply “acknowledge” where you are. All of the beauty around you and the hidden dangers that you know lie underneath. Consider your physical and mental environment. And just take it all in for what it is…
Right now, just stopping, allow yourself to know that you are “safe”. Like being on a hill, looking out across the icy whiteness – feel yourself having a sure footing where you are right now. Look around and really take in where you are. It’s time to start planning a new path… and – if you’re feeling lost or directionless – let me just say: “it’s easier than you think”. Pick a point. Where would you like to be? Where are you going? What exciting journey do you have ahead? As you consider these things, write it down. That is your direction – where you’re going to. All you really need to do is to start taking action.
And I do mean “write it down”. This is *very* important. If you now have a sense of Think and Grow Rich (or any other resource), you’ll know that while you have an idea in your “head”, it’s *just* and idea. Nothing more. The moment you start to write things down you’re “taking action”. You’re making something “real”. The idea that you now have is “becoming” – it’s taking shape and already starting to materialise just by you writing and the words and the words coming out on the page. The ink is real. Your ideas are now becoming real! So write down what you want to do!
I know that the the path that you’ve chosen may seem like a long way away. It may seem overwhelming that you’ve chosen to go so far… that’s okay. Just start with one step. One single, simple, step at a time. You can get to where you want to be, just planning your way ahead. For me, I know that I have goals and dreams that I’d love to fulfill in 2010 (and the decade ahead!). One of them is to help build a resource full of useful metaphors and actions that can help people to move forward with their lives. That’s one of my goals… I don’t know how it’s going to be done just yet, although that’s where I’m focused and one of my destinations. And, you know what, Shane? I’d really appreciate it if you would join me on this journey. There’s nothing quite like excellent company when travelling! I hope my metaphor and simple action steps are useful to you. Another thing that I’ve been reflecting on which may also be helpful to you is this: “Growing something wonderful, takes time”. My initial approach to 2010 was to “jump in” and go full steam ahead… well, as I look back over the last couple of weeks, I feel that the universe has been trying to tell me something… The snow has been a wonderful metaphor – it’s the world’s way of saying: “There are things to finish off before you start again!”. Like the seasons changing, I now realise that there are things (like the site I’m currently working on) that I have to complete before I can start fresh and with something new. Take the time to *complete*. After “completing” (and only after you’ve completed), should you consider taking the time to start sow your seeds for the year ahead. Nurturing and tending to them, slowly, and with the due care and attention they deserve can only be done if you have the time to devote to them. These “seeds” (simple thoughts) will become the opportunities that will present them to you when the time is right. Make sure you grow them right – in order to do that, you’ll need to finish off anything else that stops you from giving your new seeds the attention it deserves. For the moment, I’m still finishing things. Sowing seeds will be next “season”… what seeds are You planting for the year ahead, Shane? Anyway, I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this mail. Perhaps it’s given you something to consider and reflect upon yourself. If you’ve gained something from this and want to share it – forward it to a friend. Also, feel free to email me and let me know if there are other areas where you feel “stuck”. Around a quarter of the people who replied the last time did have issues and I’m replying one email at a time. I really would like to know as it will help me start on my journey for 2010. While I may not get round to replying personally immediately, I will get round to it… apologies in advance for the delay!
Cheers, Zain PS: Thanks again to everyone who’s sent their problems and issues to me. It’s sparked an idea for a new website that I’m hoping to build for you soon. The feedback has really helped and I’ll be addressing your issues one by one… Hopefully, it’ll be like a snowball effect going down the hill. At the moment, I just need a bit more momentum to really get some good movement on this project! PPS: If you didn’t get the reference to the subject line of this email, then check here:
http://www.last.fm/music/The+Byrds/_/Turn!+Turn!+Turn!?autostart
I hope this track lifts your spirits. Enjoy!
46 Sandown Road, Brighton, East Sussex BN2 3EJ, UNITED KINGDOM
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My Daddy knows his NASCAR history.He traveled to a many of track and can recall historical events from NASCAR’S early year.Recently a picture of drivers from back in the day was published in our local newspaper, “The Star”, here in Shelby, N.C. Of course he was right on it, with a story as well. The following is an excerpt from that article, and an article published in 1957, that features a statement the senior Mr.France made about my Granddaddy’s work with NASCAR. Many thanks to “The Star” and a special thanks to Jackie Bridges for publishing the story and recognizing my family’s contribution to the sport.
Tuesday, Dec 15 2009, 10:13 am
Jackie Bridges
bridges@shelbystar.com
While a handful of people guessed about the identity of the race car drivers in this photo submitted by Don Blanton, Roby S. Combs of Shelby had the best memory and the mementos to back it.
The son of Roby Combs Sr., Combs has been around racing since he was 3 years old. His father was a car owner for Buck Baker and then served as a NASCAR flagman from 1953-1972. His mother was chief steward, the person who signs in the drivers at the race track.
“I’ve seen these people so much, because we have so much memorabilia,” he said. “I was going to racing when this picture was made.”He thinks the photo is from the early years of NASCAR, because the flagman is Alvin Hawkins and he was one of the first flagmen for NASCAR. He’s not sure where it was made but could have been Hillsboro, Wilson or the Charlotte track on Wilkinson Boulevard. Also in the photo is Joe Eubanks in the front with the dark helmet, dark shirt and goggles hanging around his neck. Next to him is Buddy Shuman. Combs said that Shuman was killed Nov. 13, 1955, at a hotel fire in Hickory. The guy in the back wearing sunglasses is Red Byron. Steve Philbeck of Shelby also identified Byron by comparing the photo with one in his copy of “40 Years of Stock Car Racing” by Greg Fielden.
“He was the first NASCAR champion,” Combs said. “His car owner was Raymond Parks from Atlanta. Raymond is 95 years old and my brother, Phil, and I go to his birthday party every year in Greenville, S.C. Raymond was the Hendricks of the early years.”
Roby and Phil are still involved in racing, working go-cart races 10 months out of the year. Their father died in May 1984. He was 61 and “too young,” his son said“
Here are some excerpts from an article Roby S. Combs shared about his dad that was published June 18, 1957, in The Star.
“When spectators view a race, they don’t watch the flagman or official starter often. Their gaze is riveted on the whirling cars that tear screeching into a turn or roar past the stands.”
“But behind every big stock car race is the flagman or official starter, a symbol of organized racing authority. The whole show is in his hands, and it is a tremendous responsibility. Shelby’s Roby S. Combs is a familiar sight at every big NASCAR race on southern stock car tracks. He is an official steward and starter for all the major southern races sanctioned by NASCAR, the National Association for Stock Car Racing. His swirling flags have kept order and discipline on hundreds of tracks from Martinsville, Va., to Daytona Beach, Fla., over a period of seven years.
“Roby has covered 100,000 miles in the last two years alone, traveling to and from races. With him on practically all of his trips go his family: his wife, Irma, and their son, Steve, 10 … A regular bed or pallet for Steve had been standard equipment on all their weekend journeys to far-flung stock car tracks from Weaverville to Fayetteville.
“Said NASCAR President Bill France of the Shelby starter: ‘Roby is a shining example of safety-mindedness. His quick thinking and presence of mind have saved many a driver and they trust his judgment implicitly. I always feel that a race is in good hands when I see Roby on the flagstand. He’s the best in the business.’”
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