The Bouncer (Turning Defeat into Victory)
(from Spider’s Night on the Boom)
Gary Anderson
www.abciowa.com

I’m a pretty competitive guy, though I try to keep it in perspective. But there are times, often when I least expect it, when life teaches me lessons about the true nature of competition. One of those lessons came on a warm spring day several years ago, in a small town outside Portland, Oregon.

I used to love to watch the high school track team train—especially the distance runners. But that year, my eye was drawn to one girl in particular. Her running style was all wrong—she ran with her arms tucked close to her body, bouncing up and down in a way that must have driven her coaches crazy. My athletic mind scoffed at her strange style, I began to think of her as “the Bouncer.”

But the more I watched her, the more I began to notice something else about this awkward young girl. While she ran, she was oblivious to everything and everybody as she bounced around the track, and always wore a smile that could only be described as serene. For her, running had taken on significance that was difficult to define, and in spite of myself, that young woman with the angelic smile began to intrigue me.

Even so, I couldn’t help wondering how she was going to fare once the real track season began—and it didn’t take long to find out. In early May, the high school hosted its first big track, featuring athletes from every school in the conference.

Since the conference ran the distance races with both boys and girls on the track at the same time, a large group of athletes gathered at the starting line for the two-mile run—including the Bouncer. The gun sounded, and the runners took off in a multi-colored flash.

That year, our school had a very gifted runner named Dave, and he quickly took the lead, one he would never relinquish for that entire season, because he never lost a race.

But the Bouncer quickly fell far behind the pack and as the race progressed. Dave lapped her once, twice, and finally a third time. In fact, every runner, male and female, lapped the Bouncer at least once before it was over. But she just kept running, arms tucked close to her sides, never varying her stride, bouncing up and down—and always wearing the same angelic smile.

I found myself being embarrassed for that ungainly girl who was being lapped again and again. Surely she must be mortified, I thought—but it didn’t seem to bother the Bouncer at all. She didn’t even seem to notice, and just kept doing exactly what she was doing, never changing her stride.

A short while later, the crowd rose to its feet, cheering Dave to another victory, followed by scattered applause for every athlete who crossed the finish line after him. It wasn’t long before the Bouncer was the only one left on the track, running all by herself.

That poor kid, I thought. What must she be feeling? Why didn’t she just give up? There was nothing at stake now, and nothing to be gained by finishing so far behind the pack. Still, the Bouncer never faltered, and her serene expression never changed.

After what seemed like an eternity, the Bouncer finally approached the final turn, a full five minutes behind even the slowest runner. But then, something strange began to happen. As the Bouncer entered the home stretch, a cheer began to rise up from the bleachers. It rose and swelled, growing louder with each stride the Bouncer took toward the finish line until, finally, every person in the stands, regardless of which team they’d come to support, stood and cheered as if the fate of the entire meet hinged on this one lone girl, bouncing toward the finish line.

The Bouncer turned on no extra burst of speed or big kick down the straightaway. She just continued to run exactly as she’d been doing from the opening gun, smiling so sweetly that it made my heart ache. But as she neared the finish line, the roar of the crowd could be heard echoing throughout the valley. And in the midst of all that noise and celebration, the mighty, invincible Dave walked out onto the track and held out his arm to slap the Bouncer’s hand as she crossed the finish line.

It was an incredible moment.

I’ve seen hundreds of races since that day, and I’ve seen thousands of runners cross the finish line. But I’ve never seen anything that embodied the true spirit of victory as I watched on that warm spring so long ago, when I saw a race won—and I mean won—by an ungainly girl I had laughingly called the Bouncer.

So here’s to you, Bouncer, wherever you may be, and may your smile always be as sweet as it was on that day.

© 2004. Gary E. Anderson. All rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Breaking the rules and following your own are advisable at times to create and innovate your own style and discover things. But before doing so, it is necessary however to know what kind of rules you are trying to break and be familiar with the alternatives that you can substitute from the original ones.

Whew! It is just so fun and exciting to explore and try new stuffs that completely according to your own style. Fulfillment and achievement are just two of the rewards that you can get from having things innovated and discovered.

In catalog design, it has to come a long way from the industry’s downscale origins and jam-packed books. With the latest technology that we have plus the aggressive minds unusual use of typography and color make catalogs really look different and trendy.

Catalogs are important to stand out in today’s ever-crowded and critical mailboxes, bear in mind that being different does not necessarily translate into greater sales and profit. Catalog designers have lone been followed many principles in designing simply to sell products.

What you should know to go beyond your limits. First, always place a best seller in the upper right corner of each spread. Whenever readers glance at a catalog from cover to cover their eyes fall to the upper right corner of a spread, so it is better to put strong product there. So placement of items on the catalog matters a lot.

Second, keep the typography simple and limit the number of typefaces you use. Take note that the catalog must be legible, that means no reducing the type to 6 points to help you cram in all the text. Sometimes some elements of the copy need to be represented in type that is bolder or bigger to emphasize and exaggerate to win a sale.

Third, a catalog must always have an order form. It is essential to include a well-designed order form that was easy to fill out and mail, usually with an attached envelope. It is also advisable to use the form as a worksheet to organize their orders before calling or ordering via the Internet.

Forth, be consistent in layouts for it is a mark of excellence. Developing attractive and unique spreads, icons and typographical elements is important in creating an image. You can use colors, backgrounds, or layout format to break up the overall design and style of the catalog. Your aim is to grab the reader’s attention and encourage them to stop and read its content.

Fifth, standard catalog formats are more profitable. Commonly, unique formats attract more the attention or better enhance your brand than a standard full-size, conventional and slim-Jim catalog. It attracts less people with few or no response at all.

Sixth, a full color catalog performs better than one or two color catalog. Four color presentation looks more attractive, grabs more attention and generates more sales that a dull catalog. The choice lies always on the hand of the seller if he wants to improve his business by breaking and bending the creativity of catalog making and see the difference of your own innovations.

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Getting Over Your Fear Of Success

 by: Selena Richardson

The fear of success is more common than some might realize. Just the thought of ‘What it would be like to…’ is enough to set some people off.

One might start talking about how he could never be successful. Well if he keeps saying things like that he’ll end up proving himself right.

Or if one’s a dreamer she’ll keep dreaming about what she wants to achieve. But will she ever take action? I doubt it.

Not until she gets over her fears.

And there are those people who don’t even realize that the fear of being successful is the key to what’s holding them back. It’s like they’re in a holding pattern. They make progress towards their goals and then something always happens to stop their momentum.

So they keep going through this cycle of ups and downs knowing that their dreams are attainable but not realizing that even though it seems like outside forces are holding them back it’s really themselves.

If they were to take a closer look at their situation they would notice that those stops could have been prevented if they would have been paying more attention. They would have noticed that they were sabotaging their own success because they weren’t ready for it yet.

You know you have the potential to do anything you want but either you don’t take action, you say it will never happen or you sabotage yourself somewhere along the way.

Why do we do this to ourselves?

Because we’re afraid of the unknowns that success can bring. That success could be anything, large or small.

It could be losing those extra pounds – you could be afraid of the extra attention that could bring.

Or getting a big promotion – you could be afraid of the extra responsibility.

Or getting your novel published – you could be afraid of being in the public view for the first time.

We’re afraid that people are going to treat us differently if we succeed. We’re afraid of stepping out of our comfort zone and into something new. We dream about success all of the time yet we’re too afraid of what might happen if those dreams were to come true.

So how does one get over this big fear?

You have to face it head on. One way to do this is to take baby steps – small actions that get you closer to your goals. By taking it one piece at a time you’re gradually adjusting yourself to what might happen when you reach your goals.

Daily action towards your goals can help you beat your fears. So with a step by step approach you can reach success.

About The Author

Selena Richardson believes in following your dreams and creating the life you want. To receive more articles like this and a free ebook, subscribe to Creative Possibilities by sending a blank email to mailto:subscribe@creationjourneys.com or visit the site: http://www.creationjourneys.com

selena@creationjourneys.com

Source: High Quality Article Database – 365Articles.com

We’ve all had days when, for whatever reason, we seem to find ourselves living unconsciously, guided by outworn beliefs and feeling stuck in lower-energy vibrations. When these times occur, you can help yourself to shift into higher alignment by remembering the power of appreciation.

Gratitude, thankfulness, appreciation, blessing – these are all states of being that open the garden gate to abundance, prosperity, synchronicity… namely, Serendipity! Begin by paying appreciative attention to what truly matters: the things of your heart, your creative life and sense of self, your family and friends, your community.

Open yourself to engagement, and most especially enchantment. Here are six fun ways to re-connect with your power of appreciation:

1. Reduce your wants and needs to their most basic level. In other words, what is the feeling or quality that you most desire to expand? Beauty, joy, freedom, time, security? Allow yourself to take one small action today to increase that appreciated quality in your life.

2. Spend time alone in play with your inner artistic child. Do something you remember taking pleasure in as a kid. For me it’s things like glitter, iridescent paints, beads, or baking chocolate chip cookies. Ask yourself: “What did I have fun doing at the age of ten or so – what made the hours fly?” Connect with those inspired ideas that whisper “Oh, this might be fun!

3. Take a healthy break from routine. Research indicates that we are actually more productive and efficient when we give ourselves regular “rest and relaxation” periods. Even a few moments of quiet contemplation in the midst of an activity-filled day can help to regenerate your spirit and your sense of gratitude.

4. Visualize the best possible outcome of an aspect of your life. Give it as much detail as you possibly can: color, texture, scent, temperature, touch, sound, and most especially the wonderful, ecstatic, positive feelings associated with your beautiful picture. Then let go of your attachment to “how” it’s all supposed to work out, and let the Divine take care of the details. Meanwhile, you’re listening for the gentle nudges of your intuition and bravely taking small steps every day on the path to your heart’s desire.

5. Consciously focus on the “Fun Factor.” Sometimes we get so wrapped up in “doing” it right, that we forget to “be” appreciative for all the wonderful things that already exist in our lives. Your creative desires are a gift to be savored and explored, they hold a key to limitless possibilities. Invest some time seeking your joy and discovering it delightedly and unabashedly.

6. Do something pleasurable and nourishing for your physical body- do it mindfully, with the awareness that you are deliberately appreciating and nurturing your wonderful self! Eat some healthy, delicious food; go for a brisk walk; or soak your feet in a bath of epsom salts and a few drops of a favorite essential oil.

Watch how the power of gratitude works to create peace, beauty and joy in your life!

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