Inspire Me (May 2008)

True stories, quotes and information on inspiration, leadership and kindness to provide hope and direction in your life.

Someone may have already sent this to you, but thought it was worth another look:

212 Degrees

At 211 degrees, water is hot.

At 212 degrees, it boils.

And with boiling water comes steam.

And with steam, you can power a train.

In 212° the extra degree, we learn the key to achieving results beyond our wildest expectations. It is this surprisingly simple metaphor that has motivated millions to reach for the stars.

How many opportunities have you missed out on because you were not aware of the possibilities that could occur if you applied a small amount of extra effort beyond what you normally do?

You are now aware. And with awareness comes responsibility…the responsibility to act.

I encourage you to use just one of the suggestions below this week and let me know what happens!

212° As a Friend

Choose to visit or talk with one extra friend each week and create 52 additional discussions among friends for the year.

212° As a Spouse

Invest $100 each year in blank greeting cards and mail one each week to your spouse (at home or at the office) — more than 52 “love notes” are sure to create more than a few “love moments.”

212° At Work

Add a few hours each month to your professional development outside of the work day knowing that you’ll have invested the equivalent of a full work week during the year in your most valuable asset…you.

212° As a Leader

Act in accordance with the understanding that your role has an objective of developing and encouraging others to succeed by becoming the best they can possibly be.

212° At Home

Eliminate one half hour of television watching each day and you get 182.5 hours each year to allocate elsewhere in your life. (that's the equivalent to four and a half weeks of time).

You Can't Measure Heart

Column By Zig Ziglar


Some things cannot be measured, and the heart is one of them. I think of three former NFL football stars. Mike Singletary, according to the experts, was too short and his 40-yard speed was not that great.

However, they could not measure his heart and they did not measure his speed for the first five to fifteen yards, and at that distance he was exceptionally fast.

As a result, when a running back broke through the line of scrimmage... Singletary was able to stop him in the first couple of yards. That made quite a difference.

Emmitt Smith's 40-yard speed was not earth shattering... but again, the experts could not measure his heart nor the burst of speed he was able to generate the instant he touched the ball.

As a result, he was able to break through the hole at the line and pick up five to eight yards on a consistent basis and frequently break for much longer runs.

Jerry Rice is the other classic example. His 40-yard speed also was not record-breaking, but his commitment to excellence was not measurable. Videotape of Jerry Rice shows him running stride for stride downfield with a defensive back until the pass is thrown to him. At that point, Jerry
turns on the afterburners and frequently leaves the defensive back well behind.

There's something here for all of us to learn. We can measure I.Q., speed, strength and a host of other things, but the will to win and the commitment to excellence will enable a person of average ability to excel. So, use what you've got, including your heart, and I'll see you at the top!