I'd like to share something I came across today.  Here goes:

 

 

You may have heard of the Six-P Formula. It says, "Proper Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance."

When you consider how helpful planning can be in increasing your productivity and performance, it is amazing how few people practice it every single day. And planning is really quite simple to do. All you need is a piece of paper and a pen. The most sophisticated Palm Pilot, computer program, or time planner is based on the same principle. It is based on your sitting down and making a list of everything you have to do before you begin.

Two Extra Hours Per Day

Always work from a list. When something new comes up, add it to the list before you do it. You can increase your productivity and output by 25 percent or more - about two hours a day - from the first day that you begin working consistently from a list.

Make your list the night before for the workday ahead. Move everything that you have not yet accomplished onto your list for the coming day, and then add everything that you have to do the next day. When you make your list the night before, your subconscious mind will work on your list all night long while you sleep. Often you will wake up with great ideas and insights that you can use to get your job done faster and better than you had initially thought.

The more time you take to make written lists of everything you have to do, in advance, the more effective and efficient you will be.

 

Some pictures from a recent trip to the Holy Land - the beautiful city and port of Jaffa with Tel Aviv beachfront in view..

The first four photos were taken in late afternoon. Shortly afterwards, as the sun was setting, I noticed that the windows of the high rise buildings were reflecting the remaining light, all in turn, one building after the other. It was an amazing sight, and the last two pictures try to capture that effect. Before I knew it, the sun had set, and it was time to head to Ben Gurion airport, for our flight home.

Jaffa is an ancient city. Here's some background:

Jaffa is claimed to be the oldest port in the world and was founded by Japhet, the son of biblical Noah. Early Egytian records show that it was conquered by Thutmose III in 1468 BC. Similarly, archeological excavations in in old Jaffa have uncovered the the name of Ramses II, and was then in control of the Philistines. The Dan tribe settled briefly in Jaffa shortly after the Israelite conquest of Canaan. Later, conquered by King David, cedar trees from Jaffa were used in the building of King Solomon's original Temple in Jerusalem around 950 BCE. Archeological discoveries have shown remains from a Canaanite city, a Jewish city built at the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, a third century BCE wall, a statue of Aphrodite, Hasmonean ruins, and traces of Roman occupation. Following the Babylonian exile in the sixth century BCE, Jaffa came under the control of the Phoenecians and then the Greeks.

There's lots and lots more history to the city, but Jaffa remains a beautiful historic area with a spectacular view of the sea and Tel Aviv beachfront.

The ancient port is now a modern sailing facility and a tourist attraction with restaurants and entertainment.

So, do you like the pictures?

 

 

 

During the World Economic Forum at Davos, the winner of the Nobel Prize for Peace, Shimon Peres, told the following story.

  A Rabbi gathered together his students and asked them:

  'How do we know the exact moment when night ends and day begins?'

  'When it's light enough to tell a sheep from a dog,' said one boy.

  Another student said: 'No, when it's light enough to tell an olive tree from a fig tree.'

  'No, that's not a good definition either.'

  'Well, what's the right answer?' asked the boys.

  And the Rabbi said:

  'When a stranger approaches, and we think he is our brother, and all conflicts disappear, that is the moment when night ends and day begins.'

 

 

Photo by Patrick Warrington. Story courtesy of Paulo Coelho.

May God give you ...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.

Ok. So I’ve done it. I’ve finally taken the plunge. I will start a blog.

I came across this website purely by coincidence. But then, does coincidence really exist? So I signed up, decided on a user name and password (all big decisions these), confirmed my email address, and there it was – a blank screen, waiting for my inspired input.

I looked at the video explaining how easy it is to upload a post, with options – either via email or directly through the website. Couldn’t be easier. And it would update my posts to all my social networking sites. Wow, what more could I ask for?

But what to write about? What sort of blogging was it going to be? Mind blowing, inspirational, cultural – what?

I’d have to think about this one. It could be about my family, all of whom I love dearly. It could be about their characters, achievements, etc., and about how proud I am of all of them. It could be about my hobbies, or about life in general. Who knows?

One thing I do know – God knows, and time will tell.