Columns

Are you a S.N.I.O.P.? A S.N.I.O.P. is a person who is susceptible to the negative influences of other people. This is a common syndrome. We all desire approval from others. Everyone has grown up being conditioned to be concerned about what others think.
Many people tend to be negative, finding problems rather than solutions. So, it’s to be expected that the influence of other people is mostly negative. It’s only when you pay attention to these negative people that a problem arises.

The common assumption is that after the railroad crossed the Louisiana prairies in 1880, Southern Pacific went right to work recruiting settlers to provide travelers and cargoes for their trains. The railroad did push for immigrants to build new towns next to the rails. But according to one of the most important town builders that didn’t happen as quickly or as easily as we might think.

No one is perfect. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. Those who are most successful, build on their strengths while striving to overcome their weaknesses. It’s not unusual for a trait that initially appears to be a weakness to actually be a strength. I came across the following parable which nicely shows this point.
Many years ago, a farmer had to get his household water from a nearby stream. To get as much water as possible from each trip, he used two large clay pots, each fastened securely to opposite ends of a stout pole.