“I am only one but I am one. I cannot do everything but I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.”
Ma’am Tess, brother seminarians, a pleasant afternoon to all of you.
The great philosopher Aristotle affirmed that all of us have the potency for something great. Who knows one of us here will become the next bishop of Basilan or maybe one of us here will be the future Executive Vice President of Sara Lee. Nobody knows. Nobody can tell but it is very much possible because Martin Heidegger said that as long as man exists his potentialities can never be exhausted.
However, the problem with most of us is that we are contented with what we are. We seem to settle for less. If our academic dean would tell us to study harder and push beyond our limits, you may ask – Why should I study harder? What for? For grades? Grades are just numbers and numbers does not measure and define me. Yes! You’re right. Numbers cannot define you but they tell something significant about you.
A person who does not realize his potentials is like a bird that dies without ever having the chance to sing its most beautiful song. If such thing happens to you, you will be full of regrets as you look back at your past because you have not done the things that you should have done. Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside of us while we live. It is said that for all the sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest ones are these: “It might have been.” It might have been successful if I did my best. It might have been better if I push beyond my limits. It might have been wonderful if I believe in myself.
Friends, are there times in your life that you fell that you are bound in chains? Chained from your past, from your shyness, or from your inordinate fears? Are you afraid to be labeled as a second rate trying hard copycat? Are you afraid to fail? Well, try asking yourself: “How is one to know what one can accomplish unless one tries?” There’s no harm in trying. Right?
Then, you need this key. This key will help you unlock those chains and will open the door leading you to greater heights, enabling you to blaze new trails, venture into new frontiers, and hopefully discover broader and wider horizons. This key consists of few tips so that you will b able to realize your potentials and become an achiever in the future
And that is the topic I wish to impart to you today – “Realizing One’s potential and Becoming an Achiever.”
As you can see, I have here three balloons of different colors. Somehow, in our life there are things that we need to get away with things that somehow qualify as those of our comfort zones. Things like laziness, mediocrity and hatred. These three balloons that I have represent these things. And what I’m gonna do with it. I’m gonna prick it with a pin and have it burst. Now, anybody of you would like to demonstrate how to prick a balloon using a pin? Yes, N____. Please do the honor. (The balloon is pricked) thank you N____ for your cooperation. But oh! Can you see this? There is a paper contained inside the balloon. Let me read it. Read to widen your horizons.
This is the first tip in order to realize your potential and become an achiever.
According to Richard Steele, “Reading is to mind, what exercise is to the body.” If you are very much conscious about your health and figure, that’s why you g to the gym and have some exercise, then you should also have to let your mind do the exercise simply through reading. Reading does a lot of marvels to a person. With reading, one can e well traveled and well- informed. One can have something to say about anything under the sun. And these will be one of your passports towards achieving you dreams in the future. Yu know very well that in this modern and competitive world, one needs a wining edge in order to be an achiever. And reading is a very great help.
Researchers show that a house full of books gives youngsters the richest start of all. A love of reading is more important for children’s academic success than their family’s wealth and class. Children from deprived backgrounds performed better in tests than those from more affluent homes if they enjoy reading books, newspapers, and comics in their spare time. The study which covered 31 countries found encouraging children to read for pleasure could compensate for social problems that would usually affect their academic performance.
Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw once said, “Sow a thought, reap an action. Sow an action, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a destiny”. Psychologists say that it takes 21 consecutive days to form a habit. So whether it be forming a bad habit or a good one, the same process applies. If I were you, choose to form a good habit ad I’m sure the fruits will be sweet. Cultivate the habit of reading and you will see marvelous results.
I myself can testify to it. The only reason I could draw why do I easily get the lessons I studied is because of my early training of reading during my childhood. My mother had taught me how to read at the age of four. Since then, I’m always reading anything that I could grasp. As a matter of fact, I have read a total of 87 novels to date excluding non-fiction books, textbooks, magazines , and other reading materials. The result my vision has become blurred but my mind sharpens. I don’t care even if I will become blind because I read much. Anyway we have now the technology that would great wonders in bringing us our sight. Isn’t it? If such thing happens then I am somewhat on the equal footing of Jean Paul Sartre, a great existential thinker who got blind because of reading too much. Then I don’t have to worry. Who know I would have a Simone de Bouvier who would do the reading for me. Thus I would heed what Fr. Dongdong had said, “Read, read and read until you can’t read anymore.”
Og Mandino said that love of books is our pass to the greatest, the purest, the most perfect pleasure prepared for us by God. It endures when all other pleasures fade. It will support us when all other recreations are gone. It will last us until our death. It will make our hours pleasant to us as long as we live.
That’s the beauty of reading. Indeed it widens our horizons.
Now prepare for an explosion of the second tip on realizing one’s potential and become an achiever. Here we go (Prick the balloon.) As usual there is a paper that said Don’t settle for less.
Those who reach the top are the ones who are not content with doing what is required of them. They do more, they go another mile. And another. The measurement of their recompense never enters their mind. They know that eventually they will receive their rewards.
There is but one certain method of achieving one’s goals and that is through hard labor, both mental and spiritual. If I am not willing to pay the price of distinction I should be prepared to resign myself to a future of tears and poverty while I beat my chest in self pity over the futility of a life void of smiles and rewards.
Always do your best. What you plant now you will harvest later.
Go another mile.
The only certain means of success is to render more sand better eservice than is expected to you. No matter what your task may be. This is a habit followed by all successful people since the beginning of time. The surest way to doom yourself to mediocrity is to perform only the work which for you are paid.
The very reason why do I choose no to have my scholastic records uncredited lies on this philosophy. For the information of everybody, I have already studied for a period of 3 and a half years outside the seminary, specifically at University of Bohol. But I choose to retake all the subjects because I want to know how far I can achieve if I do my best.
Had I have my units credited, I would be one of the millions who settled for less, aspiring nothing but a passing grade. But I dare to make a difference.
Think not you are being cheated if you deliver more silver than you receive. For there is pendulum to all life and the sweat you deliver if not rewarded today will swing back tomorrow, tenfold.
Hard work and rewards are like cause and effect, means and ends, seed sand fruits, these cannot be separated. The effect already blooms in the cause, the end pre-exists in the means, and the fruit is always on the seed.
What is the best thing for a river? It is to keep moving. If it stops, it stagnates. The best thing for me is that which keeps my currents flow. Our life must progress and we should not limit ourselves with what we are now. Man’s reach exceeds his grasps.
Never again will I fail to go the extra mile or render less than my pay deserve.
I will do my work, henceforth, with all the intensity I can put forth. Not just my work and no more, but a little more. That little more which in time will be worth all the rest. And if I suffer, as I often will and I’ll doubt the value of my efforts, as I must on occasions. I will still do my work. I will put my heart into it and the sky will clear and from out of the very doubt and suffering will born the supreme joy of life then I would sing either “I can live. I can love. I can reach the heavens above.” Or “I can go the distance. I will search the world, I will face its harms. I don’t care how far, I can go the distance. Till I found my hero’s welcome waiting in your arms.”
I will take every risk and embrace every opportunity that may provide a better life for me. I will despise myself if I look back on my life and realize that I had the talent and the ability to do great things but could not find the courage to try. I know that I can do, and I know how little have I done I have tittered away my opportunities. Take a look at these sand. I let its grains fall through my open fist. When in fact, I can hold it. But I do believe that it s not too late for me, for you, for us. We can still shape a future of success and happiness. We are capable of great wonders and now we know that our achievements will never rise higher than our faith in ourselves. We have new faith. We were made in the image of God. We are not created to fail. Defeat? Possible. Quit. Never again.
That holds the second tip of realizing ones potential and becoming an achiever. Just for a recap, I have already given two simple tips: Read to widen your horizons and Don’t settle for less.
Now, it’s time for the last tip that I could give regarding my topic. May I call another volunteer from the audience to prick this last balloon tat I have? Yes N______ Thank you. Now the third tip is to Love what you are doing.
Reading a lot of things and pushing beyond our limits would not be possible and would be a burden to us if we have not loved doing such things. Love can make wonders in our works. Have you tried working on a certain job with a heavy heart? How do you feel? Personally, I can attest to it because when I do things just out of obligation with a heavy heart, the work becomes a curse and a burden to me. But when I learned to love even those menial jobs, it makes wonders deep inside of me.
You see this? I got these medals and citations because I love what I am doing. Studying my lessons and living here in the seminary are just some of the thing I have learned to love. As a result, good outcomes flow on naturally.
As John Lennon and Paul McCarthy said in their song, ”All you need is love.” To make great things out of simple ones.
Thus whatever my job may be, let me perform it with love and I will not fail. . Henceforth when my days work has ended, I will surprise the world. I will remain at my task, just a little longer, and put love on my work. I’ll let that extra effort be an investment in my tomorrow. Wit such attitude flavored with love, so rare in this selfish worked we inhabit I know I cannot fail.
So there you have it. Three simple tips on realizing one’s potential and becoming an achiever in the future.
Let me close my speech with a short story that follows:”
A 7-year-old boy named Kenny, moved to a county and bought a donkey from an old farmer for $100. The farmer agreed to deliver the donkey the next day. The next day the farmer drove up and said “Sorry son, but I have some bad news, the donkey died last night.”
Kenny replied” Well then, just give me my money back.” The farmer said, “Can’t do that. I went and spent it already.”
Kenny said, “Okay then, just unload the donkey” the farmer asked, “What you gonna do with him?”. Kenny: “I’m going to raffle him off, sell it by lottery, draw a lot to a group of people each paying the same amount for a ticket.”
Farmer: “You cannot raffle off a dead donkey.
Kenny: “Sure I can, watch me. I just won’t tell anybody he’s dead.” A month later the farmer met up with Kenny and asked, “What happened with that dead donkey?”
Kenny: “I raffled him off. I sold 500 tickets at $2 apiece and made a profit of $898.”
Farmer: Didn’t anyone complain
Kenny: “Just the guy who won, So I give him back $2”. Kenny grew up and eventually become the chairman of Enron Power USA.
Friends, I hope you don’t get me wrong. I don’t suggest you to cheat but my point is to be an achiever, aside from the tips given, one must have an attitude. A positive outlook towards life amidst trails and adversities.
I know that many of you here can be great someday if only you realize your potentials and I’m confident that you will.
Thank you so much and have a nice day.
Ma’am Tess, brother seminarians, a pleasant afternoon to all of you.
The great philosopher Aristotle affirmed that all of us have the potency for something great. Who knows one of us here will become the next bishop of Basilan or maybe one of us here will be the future Executive Vice President of Sara Lee. Nobody knows. Nobody can tell but it is very much possible because Martin Heidegger said that as long as man exists his potentialities can never be exhausted.
However, the problem with most of us is that we are contented with what we are. We seem to settle for less. If our academic dean would tell us to study harder and push beyond our limits, you may ask – Why should I study harder? What for? For grades? Grades are just numbers and numbers does not measure and define me. Yes! You’re right. Numbers cannot define you but they tell something significant about you.
A person who does not realize his potentials is like a bird that dies without ever having the chance to sing its most beautiful song. If such thing happens to you, you will be full of regrets as you look back at your past because you have not done the things that you should have done. Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside of us while we live. It is said that for all the sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest ones are these: “It might have been.” It might have been successful if I did my best. It might have been better if I push beyond my limits. It might have been wonderful if I believe in myself.
Friends, are there times in your life that you fell that you are bound in chains? Chained from your past, from your shyness, or from your inordinate fears? Are you afraid to be labeled as a second rate trying hard copycat? Are you afraid to fail? Well, try asking yourself: “How is one to know what one can accomplish unless one tries?” There’s no harm in trying. Right?
Then, you need this key. This key will help you unlock those chains and will open the door leading you to greater heights, enabling you to blaze new trails, venture into new frontiers, and hopefully discover broader and wider horizons. This key consists of few tips so that you will b able to realize your potentials and become an achiever in the future
And that is the topic I wish to impart to you today – “Realizing One’s potential and Becoming an Achiever.”
As you can see, I have here three balloons of different colors. Somehow, in our life there are things that we need to get away with things that somehow qualify as those of our comfort zones. Things like laziness, mediocrity and hatred. These three balloons that I have represent these things. And what I’m gonna do with it. I’m gonna prick it with a pin and have it burst. Now, anybody of you would like to demonstrate how to prick a balloon using a pin? Yes, N____. Please do the honor. (The balloon is pricked) thank you N____ for your cooperation. But oh! Can you see this? There is a paper contained inside the balloon. Let me read it. Read to widen your horizons.
This is the first tip in order to realize your potential and become an achiever.
According to Richard Steele, “Reading is to mind, what exercise is to the body.” If you are very much conscious about your health and figure, that’s why you g to the gym and have some exercise, then you should also have to let your mind do the exercise simply through reading. Reading does a lot of marvels to a person. With reading, one can e well traveled and well- informed. One can have something to say about anything under the sun. And these will be one of your passports towards achieving you dreams in the future. Yu know very well that in this modern and competitive world, one needs a wining edge in order to be an achiever. And reading is a very great help.
Researchers show that a house full of books gives youngsters the richest start of all. A love of reading is more important for children’s academic success than their family’s wealth and class. Children from deprived backgrounds performed better in tests than those from more affluent homes if they enjoy reading books, newspapers, and comics in their spare time. The study which covered 31 countries found encouraging children to read for pleasure could compensate for social problems that would usually affect their academic performance.
Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw once said, “Sow a thought, reap an action. Sow an action, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a destiny”. Psychologists say that it takes 21 consecutive days to form a habit. So whether it be forming a bad habit or a good one, the same process applies. If I were you, choose to form a good habit ad I’m sure the fruits will be sweet. Cultivate the habit of reading and you will see marvelous results.
I myself can testify to it. The only reason I could draw why do I easily get the lessons I studied is because of my early training of reading during my childhood. My mother had taught me how to read at the age of four. Since then, I’m always reading anything that I could grasp. As a matter of fact, I have read a total of 87 novels to date excluding non-fiction books, textbooks, magazines , and other reading materials. The result my vision has become blurred but my mind sharpens. I don’t care even if I will become blind because I read much. Anyway we have now the technology that would great wonders in bringing us our sight. Isn’t it? If such thing happens then I am somewhat on the equal footing of Jean Paul Sartre, a great existential thinker who got blind because of reading too much. Then I don’t have to worry. Who know I would have a Simone de Bouvier who would do the reading for me. Thus I would heed what Fr. Dongdong had said, “Read, read and read until you can’t read anymore.”
Og Mandino said that love of books is our pass to the greatest, the purest, the most perfect pleasure prepared for us by God. It endures when all other pleasures fade. It will support us when all other recreations are gone. It will last us until our death. It will make our hours pleasant to us as long as we live.
That’s the beauty of reading. Indeed it widens our horizons.
Now prepare for an explosion of the second tip on realizing one’s potential and become an achiever. Here we go (Prick the balloon.) As usual there is a paper that said Don’t settle for less.
Those who reach the top are the ones who are not content with doing what is required of them. They do more, they go another mile. And another. The measurement of their recompense never enters their mind. They know that eventually they will receive their rewards.
There is but one certain method of achieving one’s goals and that is through hard labor, both mental and spiritual. If I am not willing to pay the price of distinction I should be prepared to resign myself to a future of tears and poverty while I beat my chest in self pity over the futility of a life void of smiles and rewards.
Always do your best. What you plant now you will harvest later.
Go another mile.
The only certain means of success is to render more sand better eservice than is expected to you. No matter what your task may be. This is a habit followed by all successful people since the beginning of time. The surest way to doom yourself to mediocrity is to perform only the work which for you are paid.
The very reason why do I choose no to have my scholastic records uncredited lies on this philosophy. For the information of everybody, I have already studied for a period of 3 and a half years outside the seminary, specifically at University of Bohol. But I choose to retake all the subjects because I want to know how far I can achieve if I do my best.
Had I have my units credited, I would be one of the millions who settled for less, aspiring nothing but a passing grade. But I dare to make a difference.
Think not you are being cheated if you deliver more silver than you receive. For there is pendulum to all life and the sweat you deliver if not rewarded today will swing back tomorrow, tenfold.
Hard work and rewards are like cause and effect, means and ends, seed sand fruits, these cannot be separated. The effect already blooms in the cause, the end pre-exists in the means, and the fruit is always on the seed.
What is the best thing for a river? It is to keep moving. If it stops, it stagnates. The best thing for me is that which keeps my currents flow. Our life must progress and we should not limit ourselves with what we are now. Man’s reach exceeds his grasps.
Never again will I fail to go the extra mile or render less than my pay deserve.
I will do my work, henceforth, with all the intensity I can put forth. Not just my work and no more, but a little more. That little more which in time will be worth all the rest. And if I suffer, as I often will and I’ll doubt the value of my efforts, as I must on occasions. I will still do my work. I will put my heart into it and the sky will clear and from out of the very doubt and suffering will born the supreme joy of life then I would sing either “I can live. I can love. I can reach the heavens above.” Or “I can go the distance. I will search the world, I will face its harms. I don’t care how far, I can go the distance. Till I found my hero’s welcome waiting in your arms.”
I will take every risk and embrace every opportunity that may provide a better life for me. I will despise myself if I look back on my life and realize that I had the talent and the ability to do great things but could not find the courage to try. I know that I can do, and I know how little have I done I have tittered away my opportunities. Take a look at these sand. I let its grains fall through my open fist. When in fact, I can hold it. But I do believe that it s not too late for me, for you, for us. We can still shape a future of success and happiness. We are capable of great wonders and now we know that our achievements will never rise higher than our faith in ourselves. We have new faith. We were made in the image of God. We are not created to fail. Defeat? Possible. Quit. Never again.
That holds the second tip of realizing ones potential and becoming an achiever. Just for a recap, I have already given two simple tips: Read to widen your horizons and Don’t settle for less.
Now, it’s time for the last tip that I could give regarding my topic. May I call another volunteer from the audience to prick this last balloon tat I have? Yes N______ Thank you. Now the third tip is to Love what you are doing.
Reading a lot of things and pushing beyond our limits would not be possible and would be a burden to us if we have not loved doing such things. Love can make wonders in our works. Have you tried working on a certain job with a heavy heart? How do you feel? Personally, I can attest to it because when I do things just out of obligation with a heavy heart, the work becomes a curse and a burden to me. But when I learned to love even those menial jobs, it makes wonders deep inside of me.
You see this? I got these medals and citations because I love what I am doing. Studying my lessons and living here in the seminary are just some of the thing I have learned to love. As a result, good outcomes flow on naturally.
As John Lennon and Paul McCarthy said in their song, ”All you need is love.” To make great things out of simple ones.
Thus whatever my job may be, let me perform it with love and I will not fail. . Henceforth when my days work has ended, I will surprise the world. I will remain at my task, just a little longer, and put love on my work. I’ll let that extra effort be an investment in my tomorrow. Wit such attitude flavored with love, so rare in this selfish worked we inhabit I know I cannot fail.
So there you have it. Three simple tips on realizing one’s potential and becoming an achiever in the future.
Let me close my speech with a short story that follows:”
A 7-year-old boy named Kenny, moved to a county and bought a donkey from an old farmer for $100. The farmer agreed to deliver the donkey the next day. The next day the farmer drove up and said “Sorry son, but I have some bad news, the donkey died last night.”
Kenny replied” Well then, just give me my money back.” The farmer said, “Can’t do that. I went and spent it already.”
Kenny said, “Okay then, just unload the donkey” the farmer asked, “What you gonna do with him?”. Kenny: “I’m going to raffle him off, sell it by lottery, draw a lot to a group of people each paying the same amount for a ticket.”
Farmer: “You cannot raffle off a dead donkey.
Kenny: “Sure I can, watch me. I just won’t tell anybody he’s dead.” A month later the farmer met up with Kenny and asked, “What happened with that dead donkey?”
Kenny: “I raffled him off. I sold 500 tickets at $2 apiece and made a profit of $898.”
Farmer: Didn’t anyone complain
Kenny: “Just the guy who won, So I give him back $2”. Kenny grew up and eventually become the chairman of Enron Power USA.
Friends, I hope you don’t get me wrong. I don’t suggest you to cheat but my point is to be an achiever, aside from the tips given, one must have an attitude. A positive outlook towards life amidst trails and adversities.
I know that many of you here can be great someday if only you realize your potentials and I’m confident that you will.
Thank you so much and have a nice day.
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