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Home » Family Articles » The Sponge

The Sponge

Sponges are funny things. They come in all manner of shapes, sizes and colours. They're very amenable, ready to serve whenever needed and never complain. Indeed, a sponge can sit for days on end, usually when we forget where it is, calmly watching its world go by without even a twitch. Always ready, however, to respond at an instant to any household emergency.

It wipes, it washes, it absorbs, it cleans and when we wring it to within an inch of its existence, it smiles and does it all over again.

Ah, yes, the sponge is a valuable companion. Bath Sponge is full of fun. It squidges and suds and playfully bounces from the walls without danger of damage - to wall or bath occupant. Such a friendly thing.

Outdoors Sponge is a robust creature. Put it in a bucket of cleaning concoction and it effortlessly creates glimmer from grime, converting the much loved but well-used family sedan into a Chariot of the Gods, a Head of State's limousine, a veritable Rolls Royce in a sea of Mitsubishis...but I digress...

My son has a sponge in the shape of a dolphin. It didn't mean to look like a dolphin - that's just how it ended up after being thoughtfully picked and plucked by industrious little fingers.

Dolphin Sponge has quite an interesting time. Apart from replacing the Teddy Bear as my son's sleeping toy, it chases the cat - being tossed, of course, by those same little fingers - and just last night accompanied my husband on fire-fighting duty! How exciting it must have been for that little Dolphin Sponge to ride in a fire engine, sirens blaring, peeking out from my husband's pocket at searing flames. I chuckle when I think of how that little Dolphin Sponge must have longed to help "mop up" after the hoses were turned off.

He arrived safely back home and into the hands of the little boy who created him, eager no doubt, to embark on another exciting adventure.

Ah yes...a world without sponges would be a world so sadly less... "spongy".

There's something in that for all of us, don't you think?

Cheers.

© Carol Dorman

And here is another random article you might be interested in...

Are You A Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda?

The impetus for this article came from one of the 40 to 50 e-mails we get each week that go like this:

"Dear Chuck & Sue,

Can you recommend a business that will help me earn $10,000 to $20,000 each month. I need to start earning this type of money as quickly as possible.

Sincerely,

I want To Be A Millionaire By Next Tuesday"

We kid you not. We get e-mails like this everyday. They are the types we call shoulda, coulda, and woulda.

If you are a Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda, then this article is really going to tick you off. I hope it makes you angry, very angry.

Angry enough to change your ways or at least stop you from wasting your time and everybody else's.

Those that get angry see themselves all too well in this piece. They don't like being challenged. They are the people who will never do anything. They will never change.

You know who you are. You're the person who goes to discussion boards and asks "Does Carleton Sheets work in _____". Go ahead, fill in the blank. Name a city or state. You can, of course, fill in any other name or business in place of Carleton.

You're usually answered by those of us who have been around the block as follows, "No, Sheets doesn't work, you do".

Not liking that answer, you move to another group and ask the same question. Getting a similar response. And so on, and so on, etc.

You're the type of person who is afraid to spend a $100 - $200 to better yourself, your financial situation, your family's situation.

You're afraid to take a risk. You need a iron clad guarantee that whatever you do will make you money. Preferably by next Tuesday.

You're the type of person who gives great lip service to the concept of it takes work. But you're unwilling to put forth any effort.

You're afraid you may fail. IT, whatever your particular IT is, will not work for you.

You'd rather continue to moan and groan about your job, your life, your finances, your ______. Go ahead, fill in the blank again. I can't begin to come up with all the things you find to complain about.

Are you getting a good look at yourself in the mirror. I hope so. I hope by now your spitting nails. If you're not, then you are probably hopeless.

If you're not spitting nails, then you should skip the rest of this article.

Why?

Because I am going to let you in on some secrets that can change you from a shoulda, coulda, woulda to an I should, I could, I would and I did person.

First, let's dispel a myth. There is no legitimate get rich quick method, short of the lottery that I know about.

Getting rich takes hard work, perseverance and guts. It takes education. It takes a willingness to take calculated risks. It takes a willingness to fail before you succeed.

In short, it takes everything up to this point that you're not. But you can change.

Following is how to get started.

1. Embrace the concept that you and only you can make it happen. Why? Because the world really doesn't care about you. The world will go on, regardless of whatever you do or don't do.

So decide to make it happen. This is the most important step.

2. Educate yourself in whatever area your interested in. And no, this is not a plug for our educational material. We know ours is excellent, but that choice is up to you.

But for Pete's sake, buy somebody's. Start somewhere. If you truly can't afford to purchase, look on the web. There is some good free info out there. Go to the library. Read magazines or journals in your area. Do something to educate yourself.

3. Learn to weigh the pros and cons of different types of businesses or investment areas. Be willing to take a calculated risk. If an area looks promising, try it.

Just don't quit your day job.

There are many businesses you can start on a part-time or spare time basis. This is one of the reasons we recommend Lease Purchasing so highly to those we consult with. It is ideal for starting slowly.

4. Understand that it is not going to happen overnight. Make a firm decision to work whatever you try, long enough and hard enough, to give it a fair chance to succeed.

All true, solid, successful, long term businesses take effort and time to develop properly.

Learn to measure your progress toward your end goal.

5. Don't be afraid to fail. Much can be learned from failure. And remember, you never really fail, unless you quit and give up.

Keep trying. You'll eventually succeed.

Those of you who have read our book or spoken with us, know that we are perfect examples of not giving up.

We had four successful businesses, lost them in the economic downturn in California in the early 90's. We went through some hard times, but never lost sight of what we wanted.

We have re-built a successful business and are doing better than we ever did.

Just keep trying.

There you have it. The five secrets to our success.

Is it easy, no. But nothing worthwhile is.

Can you do it. Of course. Now get going and change your life.

Copyright 2004, DeFiore Enterprises