Today is August 28, 2024. My father passed away of covid-19 on December 12, 2020. My father and mother built their home over 30 years ago. It is a large, beautiful and stately home on the lake in a secure neighborhood within one mile of my home. In today’s world where families are spread across the country, it was a privilege to have my three children grow up with grandparents just a few minutes walk away. Their home contains memories of every holiday, birthday and many other celebrations and family gatherings. It is the only home my children have ever known.
The time has come for my mother to start a new chapter in her life and she will be moving to Dallas, Texas. She will be close to my sister’s family that includes three grand daughters and my mother’s older sister. The process of going through and parting with the collection of a life of memories and things that we hold on to and remind us of special occasions, places or memories is difficult. Yesterday, my mother was sorting through my fathers office and came across a number of treasured items. One of which was a note pad that contained quotes and sayings that my father recorded over the years. Reading through this notebook, I recognize quotes and sayings that were connected to meaningful decisions, events and the life experiences of my father. My father was the constant encourager, patient listener, consummate gentleman, competitive salesman, was not afraid to dream big dreams, always cheerful during difficult times, was a true friend to all, loved my mom unendingly and lived sacrificially. He was true treasure and these notes are just a few of the wise nuggets and expressions that shaped his life and will continue to encourage all. There are too many to include all in this blog, but I felt it worthwhile to share some of these that I am sure will resonate with you.
- The most valuable gift you can give another is a good example.
- A company is known by the people it employs.
- Personality can open doors, but only character can keep them open.
- Uncertainty and expectation are the joys of life.
- The time to make friends is before you need them.
- You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.
- People can be divided into three groups: Those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened.
- People rarely succeed at anything unless they have fun doing it.
- The goal of criticism is to leave the person with the feeling that he or she has been helped.
- The best way to forget your problems is to help someone else solve theirs.
- CAUTION: Be sure the brain is engaged before putting your mouth in gear.
- Once a task you’ve once begun never leave it till you’re done, be the labor great or small, do it well or not at all. – Alice Applegate
- Nothing happens until the sale is made. – Steve Applegate
- Greatness, excellence, honesty, integrity, beauty, dignity are qualities not quantities. They are qualities that include the intangible and immeasurable. They can be judged, but not calculated. Like dignity, greatness must be earned. – Texas Monthly, Pres. University of Texas.
- If you want to sell us something, give us an idea that makes us want to buy it as much as you want to sell it. – Brown and Root, Robby
- Success – The steady progression towards a predetermined goal.
- What this nation needs is integrity, truth and personal accountability. – Warren Berger
- Third and long. – Armco in it’s last days. They did not make it.
- Let discouragement harden your determination not your heart. – Greg Silva
- Where you come from is not nearly as important as where you are going. – Spring Forest Junior High
- You can do business with anybody but sail only with a gentleman. – J.P. Morgan – 1900 N.Y. University Club
- The pursuit of wealth of itself was reprehensible, but the attainment of it as a fruit of labor was a sign of God’s blessing. Wealth was once perceived as an enemy of religion, was not it’s ally. Thrift, industry and their rewards were signs of God’s providence. – The Protestant Ethic & the Spirit of Capitalism, Max Weber.
- Exhaustion makes cowards out of the strongest men. – Vince Lombardi
- Unions are the result of poor management. – Joe Coors.
- The most powerful thing in life is one’s opportunity; it is also the most irretrievable. We must have clearness of vision, courage and a quiet mind if we are to see it and lay hands upon it as it hurries past us on very quiet feet.
- Stand before God on your own merits or on what Christ has done for you. Either meet him as your judge or as your savior. – Carla Applegate
- The quality of man’s life is in direct proportion to his commitment to excellence. – Tom Landry
- Leadership is more important than management.
- The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teach demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.
- Opportunity has the uncanny habit of favoring those who have paid the price of preparation.
- Love forgets mistakes, nagging about them parts the best of friends. Proverbs 17:19
- Many of life’s failures are men who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.
- Any enterprise is built by wise planning, becomes strong through common sense, and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast of the facts. -Proverbs 24:3-4
- A true friend is always loyal and a brother is born to help in time of need. – Proverbs 17:17
- The most important works you and I will ever do will be within the walls of our own homes. – Harold B Lee
- Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning. – Bill Gates
- You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. – Wayne Gretzky
- Epitaph for our generation: Here were decent godless people: Their only monument, the asphalt rock and a thousand lost golf balls. – T.S. Eliot. Materialism: Be as healthy as you can. Live as long as you can. Get as rich as you can.
- The ultimate good will no longer be our own self fulfillment, but pleasing God even if it involves painful self-denial or suffering. Insist on truth, do not back down on moral issues. Do not bow to the notion, however strongly impressed on us, that spiritual convictions are “just your opinion.” We are people under Good’s authority and that authority is expressed in the Bible. – Bible Study notes, Lesson 24.
- Success in business – Openness, honest with employees, give chances for them to have pride, reward them, promote a company personality, respect for employees, celebrate superior performance, clean working conditions, excite people about what they are doing, insist on quality.
Treasure indeed. These are but a few of the nuggets of truth and wisdom that forged the person who continues to be an inspiration to me and hopefully will encourage you.
Thank you dad.
