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Articles from Terry L. Sumerlin | Selfgrowth.com
- LIFE'S CAUSES AND EFFECTS - by Submitted on Aug 22, 2011 from Terry L. SumerlinSomeone has observed that we are always free to choose, but we’re not free to choose the consequences of our choices. We see proof of this principle in Washington and on Wall Street. The present state of the economy is the consequence of many years of bad fiscal choices. Recovery will depend ...
Views: 806 - THE FIND SUCCESS UNIQUE UP ON IT - by Submitted on Mar 22, 2007 from Terry L. SumerlinHenry John Dutschendorf, Jr. was an architecture major at Texas Tech University. In 1964 he quit school and moved to Los Angeles to pursue another career. According to my source, the young man was informed he had no creative ability, and was advised to go into another field. Some time later, ...
Views: 894 - KEEP THOSE GOALS IN PERSPECTIVE - by Submitted on Jul 14, 2006 from Terry L. SumerlinDo you want to build a business, change a relationship, improve your health or quit a bad habit? Do you want to earn a million dollars or be debt free? I can’t promise you any of these things, but I can promise this: You stand a better opportunity for achievement in these areas if you set ...
Views: 905 - THE CURE FOR BELLYACHIN' - by Submitted on May 18, 2006 from Terry L. SumerlinIt was a quiet Thursday morning at the barbershop. J.B was in the shop reading the paper and I was seated at the desk in the office, talking on the phone. Suddenly, the front door opened and someone asked, “Is Terry here?” Quickly I ended my conversation, and opened the office door to see who ...
Views: 861 - A Collection Of Assorted Attitudes - by Submitted on Mar 30, 2006 from Terry L. SumerlinIt is possible that barbers hear more answers to the question, “How are you?” than just about anyone. Some of the answers are funny, but all of them hold a certain fascination for me. Although I am genuinely interested in people, I’ve made a hobby of asking folks how they’re doing and then ...
Views: 794 - SPLITTING HAIRS OVER BALDNESS - by Submitted on Feb 27, 2006 from Terry L. SumerlinI’m a barber with no hair, and the oddity of it is such that it seems to startle people into saying something. So, regularly, there is someone who – in jest – comments about my bald head. Generally, it’s in the form of, “You’re not going to cut my hair like ...
Views: 875 - NETWORKING 101 - by Submitted on Dec 29, 2005 from Terry L. Sumerlin“Excuse me, we’ve never met but would you mind giving me a list of all your friends and business contacts so that I might sell them my products and services?” Who would make such a foolish request? Yet, some of the things that are done in the name of networking are just about as ...
Views: 806 - A LITTLE SEASONING - by Submitted on Dec 19, 2005 from Terry L. SumerlinThe week before Christmas is usually one of the busiest times of the year at J.B.'s Barber Shop. It seems that everyone wants to look nice for family, photos and parties. So, we look forward to the increase in business. However, I must admit that I don't generally look forward to the holiday, ...
Views: 751 - DON'T OPEN THAT DOOR - YET - by Submitted on Nov 21, 2005 from Terry L. SumerlinEvery day, several times a day, I saw the same sign. It was taped on the inside of the door, leading from crew quarters to passenger staterooms. As a guest lecturer aboard the Coral Princess, bound for Panama, I was considered part of the crew. I was one of those to whom the sign applied. It ...
Views: 897 - A SIMPLE WAY TO MAKE A LIFE-CHANGING DIFFERENCE - by Submitted on Oct 10, 2005 from Terry L. SumerlinWhen our schedules permit, Sherry and I begin our day at a McDonalds that is conveniently located across the highway from Judson High School (Converse, TX), where she teaches. One morning as we were sipping coffee and chatting, she related the success she was having with one of her eleventh ...
Views: 982 - REPLACE WISHES WITH GENUINE HOPE - by Submitted on Sep 05, 2005 from Terry L. SumerlinCustomers at J.B’s Barber Shop hope they’ll get a good haircut. No question about it. You can tell by the way they talk. It’s not a wish. It’s definitely hope. “What’s the difference?” you ask. That’s best answered with an illustration. Many times I’ve asked Sherry for a new corvette ...
Views: 798 - HOW TO SUCCEED AT PRACTICALLY ANYTHING - by Submitted on Jun 27, 2005 from Terry L. SumerlinI don't know how many times I've been asked, "How do I get into the speaking business?" The question always frustrates me. I'd rather be asked something I can really answer, like how to become a barber. One inquirer said something, though, that caught my attention. He said he had speaking ...
Views: 776 - YOU GOTTA PUT ON A GOOD SHOW - by Submitted on May 30, 2005 from Terry L. SumerlinAmarillo, Texas is known for at least two things – Palo Duro Canyon and some of the finest people you’ll find anywhere. It was recently my good fortune to be with some of those good people. I was that district’s keynoter for the annual safety awards banquet of Texas Department of ...
Views: 1009 - THINKIN' AND THANKIN' - by Submitted on May 04, 2005 from Terry L. SumerlinGenerally, when it comes to long distance travel, air is preferred to ground because it gets a person there and back quicker and with less wasted time. However, since my travel took me to Malvern, Arkansas and Lancaster, Texas for two weeks of speaking, I decided to drive. It provided the ...
Views: 825 - REVISITING OUR PRIORITIES - by Submitted on Mar 24, 2005 from Terry L. SumerlinAfter his haircut, the young man stepped behind my chair and, without saying a word, hugged me. I must say, in all humility, it was a great haircut. It wasn’t the haircut, though, that brought about the hug. It was the result of a bond we had established during the haircut. While cutting his ...
Views: 901 - BREAKING OUT OF JAIL - by Submitted on Mar 02, 2005 from Terry L. SumerlinOne of the fringe benefits of doing “enrichment lectures” for Princess Cruises is that, at various times, Sherry and each of our children have accompanied me. We’ve had wonderful times together. Once, when our youngest daughter, Amanda, was with me she asked a question that has sort of stuck ...
Views: 949(1 vote) - SEX, SEX EVERYWHERE - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2005 from Terry L. SumerlinWhile driving to and from the barbershop, I pass a different kind of bar. It’s billed as a place where the waitresses dress in bikinis. As if that’s not enticing enough, a hand written sign on the street disgustingly announces that the place offers “eye candy.” One day, as we passed by, I ...
Views: 3504(1 vote) - DE-FENCE AGAINST I-CAN'T-ITIS - by Submitted on Dec 27, 2004 from Terry L. SumerlinIt was a cool winter morning, and getting cooler. That morning, before I left for the barbershop, I told Sherry that maybe the yard work we had planned for the next few afternoons should be postponed. The clock radio had said it was supposed to be very cold for a few days. It would be very ...
Views: 919 - THANKS FOR NOTHING - by Submitted on Dec 08, 2004 from Terry L. SumerlinWe gathered at our daughter, Amanda’s, and her husband, Russell’s, for Thanksgiving at Rockwall (near Dallas). Our daughter, Jo Ellen, and her husband, Curt, came in from the Tampa area; and our son, Jon, and his wife, Priscilla, were there from the Oklahoma City area. Also, Mom rode up with ...
Views: 977 - AN ALL-TOO-COMMON ADDICTION - by Submitted on Nov 07, 2004 from Terry L. SumerlinIt was a beautiful spring morning in LaJolla, California . I had flown to San Diego the evening before. After a pleasant breakfast, the cab driver had taken me five miles to LaJolla. In an hour and a half he was to pick me up for the trip to the San Diego airport, where I would catch a ...
Views: 828 - SWAPPING COFFEE FOR LOTTERY TICKETS - by Submitted on Oct 18, 2004 from Terry L. SumerlinEvery morning, when at the barbershop, I walk across the street to the convenience store. I come back with three items – J.B.’s coffee, my coffee and my banana. One morning, as I was waiting in line at the register, the cashier scanned the purchases for the customer in front of me. When she ...
Views: 1040 - "DO YOU LIKE HER?" - by Submitted on Sep 29, 2004 from Terry L. SumerlinOne Saturday, I left the shop a little early so that I could change clothes and make it across town in time to officiate a wedding. It was for a very sweet, young couple we know. I was reminded of the time not long ago when Sherry and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. Though we've ...
Views: 1128 - LUCKY DAY THINKING - by Submitted on Sep 20, 2004 from Terry L. SumerlinThe Del Lago Golf Course, near Lake Conroe, was beautiful. It was a nice fall, south Texas morning. Well, as nice as 95 degrees gets in mid September. I’d already spoken four times in two days, and was to speak two more times before heading home. A round of golf, with good friends, sounded ...
Views: 927 - CAT KICKING CONDUCT - by Submitted on Sep 07, 2004 from Terry L. SumerlinThere was once a church that decided to bring their absentee members back into the fold. The preacher went to see one member for that purpose. His visit took him so far out in the country that you’d have to walk five miles back toward town just to start picking up firewood. When he finally ...
Views: 2485 - WOULD YOU LIKE TO FEEL TWENTY-ELEVEN? - by Submitted on Aug 30, 2004 from Terry L. SumerlinSeveral years ago, while speaking in Las Vegas, I had the opportunity to hear the Righteous Brothers. It was an unforgettable experience. Not only did they bring the house down with one standing ovation after another. They brought back memory after memory. Most were surprised to learn that ...
Views: 947 - DON'T LET FINANCES RULE OVER YOUR SELF-ESTEEM - by Submitted on Aug 20, 2004 from Terry L. SumerlinI know a barber who had the opportunity of buying one of the oldest and best barbershops in his city. He had worked there for a few years, and knew it was a good investment. So, he made arrangements with the owner, and took the plunge. However, it wasn’t long before he realized he was in ...
Views: 1056 - THE IMPORTANCE OF FEELING IMPORTANT - by Submitted on Aug 14, 2004 from Terry L. SumerlinAbout twenty years ago, when our married daughters were in elementary school, they had a bicycle accident. Jo Ellen, our oldest, lost control of her bike and ran into her sister, Amanda, who was standing right in her path. Suddenly the front fender of the bike slid rather abruptly between ...
Views: 5286 - COFFEE AND A TIP - by Submitted on Aug 05, 2004 from Terry L. SumerlinOne of the challenges of multi-career marriages is allotting time for the family and for each other. Some years ago, Sherry and I began to realize this and decided to take steps to insure “our time” every day. So, we began going to a convenient place in the evening just to have coffee and to ...
Views: 925 - ADVICE CAN BE FISHY - by Submitted on Jul 24, 2004 from Terry L. SumerlinSome years ago, while Jon was shining shoes in the shop, a customer was giving him business advice. Since the man is retired from a rather successful business, I was pleased that Jon listened. However, the conversation reminded me of how easy it is to take too much advice. I heard of a man ...
Views: 956(1 vote) - GET AN EARLY CURMUDGEON VACCINATION - by Submitted on Jul 17, 2004 from Terry L. Sumerlin“Have you ever heard of a curmudgeon?” the customer asked. To me it sounded like the season’s latest flu virus – the curmudgeon influenza. “I believe your last customer is a curmudgeon,” he said. “He didn’t have a good word to say about anything.” I had to agree with his observation. ...
Views: 1076(1 vote) - A NEW LOOK AT AN OLD RULE - by Submitted on Jul 15, 2004 from Terry L. SumerlinThe pre-teen “cleaned up” real nice and looked good in his new haircut. In fact, I was plum proud of my work. But, he was totally under-whelmed. In an attempt to get a smile, I said, “You really don’t need to be quite so excited about this haircut.” His mom laughed, but he didn’t. After ...
Views: 931(1 vote) - "EVERYTHING I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RAISING KIDS..." - by Submitted on Jun 29, 2004 from Terry L. SumerlinWhile it’s not entirely true that "everything I need to know about raising kids I learned behind a barber chair," it is true that I've learned some things. I was reminded of these things, after hearing a sad statement from a conscientious dad. He said that he and his son are now on different ...
Views: 1074 - A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO A BETTER MARRIAGE - by Submitted on Jun 08, 2004 from Terry L. SumerlinA customer recently told me of a fellow whose wife told him she was leaving him for another man. The fellow’s response was, “Is there anything I can do?” The wife replied, “Sure, you can give me a couple of weeks to find the right guy?” I laughed, as possibly you did, at an obvious joke and ...
Views: 1154(1 vote) - MERELY TALKING VERSUS COMMUNICATION - by Submitted on May 25, 2004 from Terry L. SumerlinQuestion: “If you could live forever, would you and why?” Answer: “I would not live forever, because we should not live forever, because if we were supposed to live forever, then we could live forever, but we cannot live forever, which is why I would not live forever.” - 1994 Miss USA Pageant ...
Views: 724 - MERELY TALKING VERSUS COMMUNICATION - by Submitted on May 25, 2004 from Terry L. SumerlinQuestion: “If you could live forever, would you and why?” Answer: “I would not live forever, because we should not live forever, because if we were supposed to live forever, then we could live forever, but we cannot live forever, which is why I would not live forever.” - 1994 Miss USA Pageant ...
Views: 1275 - MERELY TALKING VERSUS COMMUNICATION - by Submitted on May 25, 2004 from Terry L. SumerlinQuestion: “If you could live forever, would you and why?” Answer: “I would not live forever, because we should not live forever, because if we were supposed to live forever, then we could live forever, but we cannot live forever, which is why I would not live forever.” - 1994 Miss USA Pageant ...
Views: 1132(1 vote)