Welcome to the weekly Encouragement letter #6(12.9.99) (Previous letters-http://encls.web.com)

You are in a race whether you want to be or not.

In a race, all runners run, but only one gets the prize.

Run in such a way as to get the prize.

Once you decide that you want to be the one who wins, the one who gets the prize, then you have another question: "How do I maintain what I have until I obtain the prize?"

Here are ten principles that will help you:

Pursue work compatible with your interests- your vision and goal- and work with your abilities and talents.

Albert E.N. Gray, former president of Prudential Insurance Co., wrote a booklet called, "The Common Denominator of Success."

In it, he said that successful people do the things other people do not like to do. Also, he pointed out that those people who only do what they like and do not want to spend time on tasks that are tedious, boring, or strenuous usually are the people who fail at life.

The moment you decide to have a turning point in your life, you will have some great opportunities o quit, to throw in the towel, to give up, to say, "It's not worth it."

But there is a difference between quitting and wanting to quit. Just because you want to quit- which is natural-does not mean you have to quit.

Someone has said, "No pain, no gain." How true!

Striving for success is like climbing a mountain.

It is great to reach the top, but learn to enjoy the climb.

There are some things that will happen during a mountain climb:

• You will be stretched. * You will be pulled. * You will run out of breath and have an opportunity to quit or to stick to your goal. * You will learn how to pace yourself for the long haul.

You may have great talent, but without character development or the developing of skills, you may not be able to build that talent into a successful career.

4.Prepare for tomorrow.

One of the ways to prepare for tomorrow is to develop a vision and a goal. You need to get involved in continuing education.

The 20thcentury has been called "the information age," and we are overwhelmed with data. The point for us as individuals is that in our chosen fields of endeavor, what we know now will probably be obsolete in five years- or less.

5. Never be embarrassed to ask for help.

Ben Feldman, a great insurance salesman-still selling at seventy-seven-for the New York Life Insurance Co., said: "Only a fool learns by his own experiences."

We can all learn from other people, especially those who have succeeded in the fields that we have chosen.

Look for constructive criticism. Assume that people around you may have some insights into you that you do not have. It is important t reach to others if you need help. Do not try to "go it alone."

Find help if you need it. The first person we should approach for help is the Lord. He is always available to help us. Matthew 7:7,8.

Successful people leave footprints in the sand.

Find successful people with whom to associate.

"Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counselors they are established." Proverbs 15:22.

Then find someone to pattern your life after, someone who exemplifies excellence in some form in his or her, life. Watch how this person acts and works and speaks. Then apply those principles to your own life.

"…Christ also suffered leaving us an example.. to follow in His steps: who did no sin…." 1Peter2:21,22.

Hence, we have the Perfect model in the Lord Jesus Christ. Also in apostle Paul. 1Coritnhians 11:1.

A leader is not a title….it is not a particular type of personality….a leader is someone who goes ahead and does what has to be done before it has to be done.

Look for the good in a person. Project an attitude of forgiveness. Give favor to people, and you will reap favor. Do more than is expected of you.

Everyone can be a leader in something. Remember, however, that people have a right to higher expectations of you when you decide to move out and be a leader.

".. ye shine as lights in the world.." Phil.2:15,16.

Drift, drown, or decide.

Eliminate procrastination, maintain momentum, and you will get the job done.

Be accountable to somebody. Have a vision, set goals and put timetable on them. Start working towards realizing those goals. Do something today in that direction.

If I could not play but one note on the piano, I would want it to be natural, to be my note.

I want to be myself as God intended me to be.

"It is better to die with a good name, than to live with a bad one." -Malay Proverb.

You can learn from past mistakes, but there is no point in spending a lot of time looking back unless that is the direction you want to go!

You can not unscramble eggs. Learn to go on. Press toward the goal.

Here's what a winner has finally testified: " I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13,14.

"So let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus….who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2. (All references from the Bible).

Be encouraged.

In the race with you to win,

Yours,

Othniel.

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