the entrepreneurial mother

I'm not sure where this actually came from, but it speaks for itself really...

An Obituary printed in the London Times* - Interesting and sadly rather true.

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn't always fair;
- Maybe it was my fault;
- The laws might actually be there for a reason.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement. Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame, and I'm A Victim

Not many attended his funeral because so few realised he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

why we love our mothers (thank you Denise den-Bakker)...

Mom and Dad were watching TV when Mom said, 'I'm tired, and it's getting late. I think I'll go to bed'.

She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day's lunches. Rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for supper the following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar container, put spoons and bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning. She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of clothes into the washer, ironed a shirt and secured a loose button. She picked up the game pieces left on the table, and put the phone back on the charger. She watered the plants, emptied a wastebasket and hung up a towel to dry.

She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom. She stopped by the desk, wrote a note to the teacher, counted out some cash for the field trip, and pulled a text book out from hiding under the chair.
She signed a birthday card for a friend, addressed and stamped the envelope and wrote a quick note for the grocery store. She put both near her purse.

Mom then washed her face with 3 in 1 cleanser, put on her Night solution & age fighting moisturizer, brushed and flossed her teeth and filed her nails...
Dad called out, 'I thought you were going to bed...'
'I'm on my way,' she said.

She put some water into the dog's dish then made sure the doors were locked and the patio light was on.

She looked in on each of the kids and turned out their bedside lamps and TV's, hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks into the hamper, and had a brief conversation with the one up still doing homework.

In her own room, she set the alarm; laid out clothing for the next day, straightened up the shoe rack. She added three things to her 6 most important things to do list. She said her prayers, and visualized the accomplishment of her goals.

About that time, Dad turned off the TV and announced to no one in particular. 'I'm going to bed'
And he did. without another thought.

Anything extraordinary here? Wonder why women live longer...?
Cause we are made for the long haul....(we can't die to soon anyway, we still have things to do!)

To all the mothers reading, I salute you!

Following on with the business book theme, and thanks to The Keen Thinker...

There are 11,000 business books published each year which represents an overwhelming amount of information for busy business people to sort through.

In this edition of The Keen Thinker expect to find the same kind of valuable information on the newest books you should be reading (both publisher recommendations and our own), current trends in business thought, advice to make your work life more successful and satisfying, and the chance to win a copy of Your Brain at Work by David Rock.

Enjoy!
your friends at 800-CEO-READ.

Subscribe to The Keen Thinker to avail of your own copy of this on a regular basis.

by Todd Sattersten for ChangeThis.com

The problem? 11,000.
That is the number of business books published in the United States alone every year. Placed one atop another, the stack would stand as tall as a ninety- story building.

Worthwhile as they are, recommendations merely reduce the size of the pile. Our next step is to determine which book is right one.
read on...

As trendwatching.com wanted to keep things straightforward and hands-on this month, they're highlighting "FUNCTIONALL". Which is all about a new breed of products that are simple, small and/or cheap (with a dash of sustainability), giving them global appeal, from India to Sweden. Now, if that doesn't warrant a brainstorming session...

FUNCTIONALL | Captures the phenomenon of simple, small and/or cheap products and services designed for low(er)-income consumers in emerging markets, with cross-over appeal to consumers in mature consumer societies.

Goods and services especially designed for emerging markets often incorporate one or more of the following characteristics:

* Smaller and/or limited number of features, to keep prices low.
* Simpler, or easier to use, for inexperienced consumers.
* Energy efficient (or not using any traditional energies at all) and/or easy to repair and/or waste-reducing.
* Robust, as some of them are used in rugged conditions.
* Well-designed (the democratization of design is a global phenomenon).
* Aimed at helping owners to generate income, or allow users to create self-sustaining systems.

read on... it is well worth it