Tag Archives: list

By George’s “Best Butter Tarts – Ever”

At the By George Journal, we know the “best butter tarts – ever.”

First, we must distinguish between commercially- and home-made tarts (nothing will ever be quite like a home-made tart coming out of the oven). By George recognizes best butter tarts in each of these categories.

To find “the best” commercially-made butter tarts, one needs to travel the back way into Cambridge, on regional road 97, to make a stop at Dee’s General Store. This landmark bakery opened in 1996 in Dee’s General Store, which opened its doors a decade earlier. Dee’s famous Butter Tarts (to Die For) are award winners! When The Kitchener-Waterloo Record held a “best bought butter tart contest”, Dee’s tarts came out on top, winning over tried and true tart makers.

Aside from the General Store, Dee today has a bakery in Cambridge (downtown Galt) and her famous butter tarts can be ordered and shipped to your door. More about Dee’s butter tarts on the General Store website.

Dee’s motto: “Never Underestimate the Joy of a Homemade Butter Tart.”

And then there’s Dot’s Gooey Butter Tarts.

By George recognizes a lady in the northeastern Ontario town of Englehart as having made the “best butter tarts – ever.” Dot’s Gooey Butter Tarts are truly second to none. Though Dot may have taken the precise secrets of her perfect fillings to her grave, she did leave this recipe as a guide.

Ingredients

Pastry

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup cold butter
1/4 cup shortening
1 egg yolk
1 tsp vinegar
ice water

Filling

1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 egg
2 tbsp softened butter
1 tsp vinegar
1 tsp vanilla
salt to taste
1/4 cup raisins (or currants)

Instructions

Pastry: Combine flour and salt, cut in butter and shortening. In cup, whisk egg yolk with vinegar and add water. Sprinkle liquid into flour stirring briskly. Gather dough and press together into disc. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for one hour.
Filling: Whisk brown sugar, corn syrup, egg, butter, vanilla, vinegar and salt. Set aside. (You can adjust the filling ingredients depending on your preference of runny vs sticky tarts. For runnier tarts put more corn syrup in; for stickier tarts put more brown sugar.)
On lightly floured surface, roll out pastry to 1/8 inch thickness. Use 100 cm round cookie cutter and fit into 2 3/4 x 1 1/4 inch muffin tray.
Divide raisins into tart shells. Spoon in filling (do not over-fill).
Bake at 450 F on bottom rack for 12 minutes – or until filling is bubbling and golden. Let stand for 1 minute and remove tarts to cooling racks.

Thank you Dot!

By George has declared July as “Butter Tart Month.” Here is a menu of our delectable articles on Canada’s iconic dessert.

Chris George, providing reliable PR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer or experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.

A Definitive List of Ontario’s Best Butter Tarts

1 Reply

Ontario Tourism has compiled a comprehensive list of butter tart bakeries and stores across the Province – and it is much more thorough than the short list Canadian Living magazine published in 2014. This is a definitive list that tourists can plan their travels around!

CLIP AND SAVE THIS DEFINITIVE LIST OF THE BEST BUTTER TARTS IN ONTARIO

Here are seven spots that stood out with multiple rave reviews.

Butter Tarts ‘n More – Little Britain

Betty’s Pies and Tarts – Port Hope

Dee’s General Store – Valens

DooDoo’s Bakery – Bailieboro

The Little Tub Bakery –Tobermory

Don’s Bakery – Bala (photo below)

Harbord Bakery & Dark Horse Espresso Bar – Toronto

And here is the full list!

Marty’s World Famous Cafe – Bracebridge
Wolfe Island Bakery – Kingston
The Farmer’s Daughter – Huntsville
Trudy’s – Bancroft
Kawartha Dairy – Bancroft
Nancy’s Bakery – Sauble Beach
The Little Tart – Haliburton
West Guilford General Store – Haliburton County
Grandma’s Beach Treats – Wasaga Beach
The Buttertart Factory – Campbellford
Doohers Bakery – Campbellford
The Bear’s Den – Deep River
Cox’s – Quetico North
Elliot’s Bakery, Garden & Greenhouse – Wiarton
Fulton’s Pancake House – Pakenham
A Little Taste of Paradise – Sterling
Tazzi’s Cafe – Sault Ste. Marie
Andrew’s Scenic Acres – Milton
Country Mart – Buckhorn
Black Honey – Peterborough
The Bakery – Flesherton

The source article can be found here: Ontario’s Best Butter Tarts – as chosen by you!

AND I would like to add two more…. Baker Bob’s in Almonte and The Pakenham General Store. See the review on these bakeries here.

By George has declared July as “Butter Tart Month.” Here is a menu of our delectable articles on Canada’s iconic dessert.

Chris George, providing reliable PR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer or experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.

Allan Gotlieb and 10 Rules for Canada-U.S. Relations

Leave a reply

Former Canadian Ambassador Allan Gotlieb died last month but his approach to Canada-U.S. relations has revolutionized Canadian diplomacy with our closest cultural and largest trading partner. Gotlieb insights into America and the value of a pro-active diplomatic relations continue to have great relevance today.

Gotlieb’s methodical approach is best described in I’ll Be With You In A Minute, Mr. Ambassador: The Education of a Canadian Diplomat in Washington. It contains the Gotlieb “decalogue” for the conduct of the “new diplomacy” in Washington.

The particular process by which a decision is reached in Washington is often so complex and mysterious that it defies comprehension.
The most important requirement for effective diplomacy in Washington is the ability to gain access to the participants in the decision-making process.
Given the vast numbers of players in the field of decision-making, and the great difficulty of predicting their likely behavior, the highest possible premium must be placed on political intelligence.
Since there are so many participants in decision-making, so many special-interest and pressure groups and so many shifting alliances, a diplomat cannot design any grand or overarching strategy to further his nation’s interests. Every issue involves its own micro-strategy and every micro-strategy is unique.
In Washington, a foreign power is itself just another special interest and not a very special one at that.
A foreign power, as a general rule, has no permanent friends or adversaries on Capitol Hill.
A foreign power, as a general rule, has no permanent friends or adversaries within the Administration.
No permanent solutions are within reach of the ambassador or his government, only temporary ones. Instability is the norm, alliances and coalitions are always being forged, forces and counter forces are always mounting.
Effective diplomacy means public diplomacy. The line between public diplomacy and interference in local affairs is a thin one and thus it must be practiced with considerable fi nesse.
The best and often the only way to gain access to all the key players is through the social route. In Washington, parties are a continuation of work by other means.

Chris George provides reliable PR & GR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? Call 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.

Marcus Aurelius’ 10 Rules for an Exceptional Leader

Leave a reply

MarcusAurelius The Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius ruled from 161 to 180 A.D. Aurelius is renown for being the ideal wise leader whom Plato called the “philosopher king.” His book, Meditations (from which By George has often quoted), has inspired leaders for centuries because of its timeless wisdom about human behavior.

Here are 10 rules, as prescribed by Marcus Aurelius, that every great leader should know and practice.

1. Understand that people exist to help one another. Mankind was meant to live in harmony, “That we came into the world for the sake of one another.”

2. Be mindful of others’ humanity. Every person has dignity and pride.

3. Realize that many mistakes, even egregious ones, are the result of ignorance.
Punishment or chastisement should thus be done in an educational way.

4. Do not overly exalt yourself. “You’re just like them.”

5. Avoid quick judgments of others’ actions. “A lot of things are means to some other end. You have to know an awful lot before you can judge other people’s actions with real understanding.”

6. Maintain self-control. You can choose to spend your time and energy languishing over things that have already happened, or you can choose to be calm and address any problems that arise.

7. Recognize that others can hurt you only if you let them. The only actions that should truly hurt you are things you do that are shameful, since you are in control of your own self-worth and values.

8. Know that pessimism can easily overtake you. “How much more damage anger and grief do than the things that cause them.”

9. Practice kindness. Sincere kindness is “invincible” and more powerful than any negative transgression.

10. Do not expect bad people to exempt you from their destructive ways. It is “the act of a tyrant” to think that you can try to change these kinds of people or persuade them to treat you differently.

To read more on these rules click here.

Read more in the By George Journal of this great leader and sage here: Marcus Aurelius

Chris George, providing reliable PR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer or experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.

Top Ten Baseball Players of the Last 50 Years

Leave a reply

Here are the top ten baseball players of the last 50 years (1970-2020) as selected by the fans in the By George Journal dugout.

First, the honourable mentions go to Gary Carter, Thurman Munson, Mike Schmidt, Kirby Puckett, Rod Carew, Miguel Cabrera, Alex Rodriguez, Carlton Fisk, Joe Morgan, Don Mattingly, Rickey Henderson and pitching greats Tom Seaver, Jim Palmer, Catfish Hunter, Jack Morris, and Greg Maddux.

Player greats who deserve extra special mention — who were close to making the final list and are ball players who’d be that marquee star on any team today: Reggie Jackson, Cal Ripken Jr, George Brett, Ken Griffey Jr., Albert Pujols, Joey Votto, and pitching legends Nolan Ryan, Roy Halladay and Randy Johnson. Also, special mention to a player in a league of his own (but not selected because in the 1970s he was at the end of his illustrious career) Mr. Hank Aaron.

So, from 1970 to today, in reverse order, here are the top ten baseball players:

10. Willie Stargell

Pittsburg Pirates 1962-1982 – Stargell nicknamed “Pops” later in his career, was a left fielder and first baseman who spent 21 seasons in MLB. During his career, he batted.282, with 2,232 hits, 423 doubles, 475 HRs and 1,540 RBIs. Stargell helped the Pirates win two NL Pennants and two World Series championships (’71 & ’79). He was a seven-time All-Star and two-time NL HR leader. In 1979, he won the NL MVP, LN Championship Series MVP Award and the World Series MVP Award.

9. Johnny Bench

Cincinnati Reds 1967-1983 – Bench was a catcher who is a 14-time All-Star selection and a two-time NL MVP. He was a key member of the Big Red Machine that won six division titles, four NL Pennants and two consecutive World Series championships. Known for his prowess on both offense and defense, ESPN has called Bench the greatest catcher in baseball history.

8. Pete Rose

Cincinnati Reds 1963-1986 and manager 1984-89 – Rose, also known by his nickname “Charlie Hustle” was a switch hitter and is the all-time MLB leader in hits (4,256), games played (3,562), at-bats (14,053), singles (3,215), and outs (10,328). He won three World Series rings, three batting titles, one MVP Award, two Gold Gloves, and the Rookie of the Year Award. Rose. made 17 All-Star appearances at an unequaled five different positions.

7. Larry Walker

Montreal Expos, Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals 1989 – 2005 – Walker played right field for 17 years and, in 1997, he became the only player in major league history to register both a .700 slugging percentage and 30 stolen bases in the same season, on his way to winning the NL MVP Award. Walker was the first player in more than 60 years to record a batting average of .360 in three consecutive seasons from 1997 to 1999 and he also won three NL batting championships. From Maple Ridge BC, Walker has been named the 13th-greatest sporting figure from Canada by Sports Illustrated.

6. Mike Trout

LA Angels, 2011-present – Trout is a centre fielder, nicknamed the Millville Meteor, who is an eight-time MLB All-Star, three-time AL MVP (while finishing second four times) and a seven-time winner of the Silver Slugger Award. Trout won the 2012 AL Rookie of the Year Award unanimously. His athleticism on the field has received great praise and is regarded as one of the most outstanding young players in the history of baseball. Trout has led the American League in runs and times of base four times. As of 2019, he led all active major league ballplayers in career slugging percentage (.581) and on base plus slugging (1.000), and was second in career on base percentage (.419) and stolen base percentage (84.75%).

5. Roger Clemens

Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, NY Yankees, Houston Astros 1984-2007 – Clemens is nicknamed “Rocket” and pitched for four teams through a 24 season career. He was one of the most dominant pitchers in major league history, tallying 354 wins, a 3.12 ERA and 4,672 strikeouts (third-most of all time). Clemens is an 11-time All Star and two-time World Series champion. He won a total of seven Cy Young Awards during his career, more than any other pitcher in history. Clemens was known for his fierce competitive nature and hard-throwing pitching style.

4. Cal Ripken Jr.

Baltimore Orioles 1981-2001 – Ripken is nicknamed “Iron Man” and played third base as an Oriole for 21 years. He was one of the most offensively productive third basemen, compiling 3,184 hits, 431 HRs and 1,695 RBIs during his career. He won two Gold Glove Awards for his defense, was a 19-time All-Star and twice named AL MVP. Ripken holds the record for consecutive games played at 2,632, surpassing Lou Gehrig’s streak of 2,130 that had stood for 56 years.

3. Mariano Rivera

NY Yankees 1995-2013 – Rivera spent most of his career as a relief pitcher, 17 seasons as the Yankees go-to closer. He had two nicknames: “Mo” and “Sandman.” Rivera was a thirteen-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion, He is MLB’s career leader in saves (652) and games finished (952). Rivera won five AL Rolaids Relief Man Awards and three Delivery Man of the Year Awards and he finished in the top three in voting for the AL Cy Young Award four times. In 2019, he was the first player ever to be elected unanimously into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

2. Derek Jeter

NY Yankees 1995-2014 – Jeter is a shortstop that spent his entire 20-year MLB career with the Yankees. A five-time World Series champion, Jeter is regarded as one of the primary contributors to the Yankees’ success of the late 1990s and early 2000s for his hitting, base-running, fielding, and leadership. He is the Yankees’ all-time career leader in hits (3,465), doubles (544), games played (2,747), stolen bases (358), times on base (4,716), plate appearances (12,602) and at bats (11,195). His accolades include 14 All-Star selections, five Gold Glove Awards, five Silver Slugger Awards, two Hank Aaron Awards, and a Roberto Clemente Award. Jeter was the 28th player to reach 3,000 hits and finished his career ranked sixth in MLB history in career hits and first among shortstops.

1. Barry Bonds

Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants (1986-2007) – Bonds is a talented all-around left fielder who is considered to be one of the greatest baseball players of all time. He received a record seven NL MVP awards (no other player has won more than three MVP awards), eight Gold Glove Awards, a record 12 Silver Slugger Awards, and 14 All-Star selections. Bonds was regarded as an exceptional hitter, placing within the top five hitters in 12 of his 17 qualifying seasons. He holds many MLB hitting records and his career stats are stellar: .298, 2,935 hits, 762 HRs, 1,996 RBIs, and 2,558 BBs (all-time leader). Bonds is the all-time leader in home runs and walks (2,558) and he also holds the top two spots in single-season on-base percentage. His .609 on-base percentage in 2004 is the highest and his .582 OBP in 2002 ranks second. (Barry Bonds also ranks as No. 6 on the By George Journal‘s Top Ten Baseball Players of All–Time.)

Chris George provides reliable PR & GR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? Call 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.

Top Ten Baseball Players of All-Time

Leave a reply

By George Journal consulted 10 reliable baseball sources to tabulate their respective selections for the best players of all time – and here are those magnificent players…

The 10 sources used for this tabulation are The Baseball Almanac, Baseball Reference, MLB Rank, ESPN, The Score, Britannica, Bleacher Report, Ranker.com, Stadium Talk, and Line Ups.

First, honourable mentions include Shoeless Joe Jackson, Joe DiMaggio, Johnny Bench, Mike Trout, Nolan Ryan. Jackie Robinson, Pete Rose, Sandy Koufax, Cal Ripkin Jr., Randy Johnson and Ernie Banks.

Player greats who were selected by at least one of the sources but did not make the top ten list include: Mickey Mantle, Cy Young, Honus Wagner, Satchel Paige, Oscar Charleston, Alex Rodriguez, Rogers Clemens, and Christy Mathewson.

And so, in reverse order, here are the top ten baseball players of all-time.

10. Rogers Hornsby

Hornsby of the St Louis Cardinals 1915-1926 & 1933, NY Giants 1927, Boston Braves 1928, Chicago Cubs 1929-1932, St. Louis Browns 1934-37. Roger Hornsby had a lengthy 23-year career in which he hit .358, and had 2,930 hits. He won seven batting titles, and had two Triple Crown seasons. In 1926 he took home a World Series, and won two MVPs.

9. Stan Musial

Musial of the St Louis Cardinals 1941-1963. Stan The Man racked up over 3,500 hits in his career, and hit .331. He had 475 stolen bases, and nearly 2,000 RBI. He was a three-time World Series champ, and took home seven batting titles. Musial landed on 24 all-star teams and was a three-time MVP.

8. Lou Gehrig

Gehrig of the New York Yankees (1923-39). Lou Gehrig won six World Series with the Yankees (1927-28, ’32, ’36-38) and his career stats included: .340, 2,721 hits, 493 HRs, 1,995 RBIs. It is Gehrig, not Babe Ruth, who has the Yankees’ career RBI record (1,995). Gehrig also holds the record for highest slugging percentage in a World Series. He slugged 1.727 in a four-game sweep of the Cardinals in 1928.

7. Walter Johnson

Johnson of the Washington Senators (1907-1927). Walter Johnson was baseball’s original strikeout king; he was the only member of the 3,000 strikeout club for over 50 years. Johnson led the league in strikeouts a record 12 times, one more than Nolan Ryan. His 110 shutouts are 20 more than any other player in MLB history. His career record is W-L: 417-279, 110 shutouts (all-time leader), 5,914 1/3 innings pitched, 2.17 ERA and 3,509 strikeouts.

6. Barry Bonds

Bonds of the Pittsburgh Pirates (1986-92), San Francisco Giants (’93-2007). Bonds’ career stats: .298, 2,935 hits, 762 HRs, 1,996 RBIs, and 2,558 BBs (all-time leader). Bonds is the all-time leader in home runs, walks (2,558) and MVP awards (seven). No other player in MLB history has won more than three MVP awards. Bonds also holds the top two spots in single-season on-base percentage. His .609 on-base percentage in 2004 is the highest and his .582 OBP in 2002 ranks second.

5. Ty Cobb

Cobb of the Detroit Tigers (1905-26), Philadelphia A’s (’27-28). Cobb’s career stats: .366 (all-time leader), 4,189 hits, 117 HRs, and 1,933 RBIs. Cobbis the the only player to lead his league in hits eight times, ranks second all time in hits, runs and triples, as well as fourth in doubles and stolen bases. His 54 steals of home are most all time, and his .367 batting average is also the best ever. He led the American League in that category a whopping 12 times, including nine in a row from 1907-15.

4. Ted Williams

Williams of the Boston Red Sox (1939-42, ’46-60). Williams career stats: .344 (all-time leader, 2,654 hits, 521 HRs, and 1,839 RBIs. Williams won two Triple Crowns and two MVPs — yet neither of his MVPs came in the Triple Crown years, or in his famed .406 season in 1941. He ranks first all time in on-base percentage at .482, a number reached in a single season in the past 50 years by only two players.

3. Hank Aaron

Aaron of the Milwaukee Braves (1954-65), Atlanta Braves (’66-74), Milwaukee Brewers (’75-76). Aaron’s career stats: .305, 3,771 hits, 755 HRs, 2,297 RBIs (all-time leader),and 6,856 TBs (all-time leader). Aaron was baseball’s all-time home run leader from 1974 to 2007, finishing with 755 career home runs. Aaron had 20 or more home runs in 20 consecutive seasons, the most such seasons and longest such streak all time.

2. Willie Mays

Mays of the New York Giants (1951-52, ’54-57), San Francisco Giants (’58-72), New York Mets (’72-73). Willie Mays played Major League Baseball for twenty-two seasons and was named to twenty-four All-Star Games. He was the first player in National League history to join the 30 Home Runs and 30 Stolen Bases Club. Mays won twelve consecutive Gold Gloves starting the year the award was first introduced (1957) and up through 1968. Mays finished his career with 660 home runs, third most in big league history behind Aaron and Ruth.

1. Babe Ruth

Ruth of the Boston Red Sox (1914-19), New York Yankees (’20-34), Boston Braves (’35). Forgive us but By George is providing the “fast facts” section from the Baseball Almanac on the best player of all-time.

Babe Ruth is the single most famous baseball player in the entire world. Babe Ruth is also one of the greatest baseball players in the history of the game. The Bambino’s slugging ability was so great, his last name became an adjective – “Ruthian” – used to describe performances of heroic proportion.

Babe Ruth the “champion”: Ruth was a World Series champion seven times, American League home run champion twelve times, RBI Champion six times, On-Base Percentage Champion ten times and the Sluggin Average Champion thirteen times.

Babe Ruth the “home run king”: Ruth was the first player in Major League history to hit 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700 home runs. In 1919, Ruth hit 29 home runs becoming the all-time single-season home-run leader. A year later Ruth hit 54 home runs, breaking his own record as the all-time single-season home run leader and became the first player to hit over 50 home runs in a season. The very next year, he hit 59 home runs, breaking his own record yet again. Finally, in 1927, The Sultan of Swat hit 60 home runs, breaking the mark and establishing a plateau that was legendary for decades. Currently, Ruth still holds records for most home runs in any decade (467 in the 1920s), fastest player to hit 600 home runs (2,044 games) and fastest player to hit 700 home runs (2,418 games).

Babe Ruth the “best left-handed pitcher in baseball”: Ruth was 18-8 with a 2.44 ERA his first full season on the mound (1915). Ruth still holds pitching records for most shutouts in a season by a lefty with 9 (tied by Ron Guidry in 1978) and most innings pitched (14) in a World Series game – a complete game 2-1 victory in 1916. Ruth is part of an elite set of pitchers in Major League history whose career on the mound spanned at least ten seasons and NEVER once included a losing record!

Babe Ruth the “postseason prince”: Ruth set World Series records with 3 homers in a game (and did it twice) and 12 total bases in a game. His 15 postseason home runs, all hit during World Series games, were a record until Mickey Mantle tied him in 1963 then eventually passed him in 1964. And let us never forget the 1932 World Series, legendary and debatable still to this day, courtesy of “The Called Shot”.

Babe Ruth the “nickname collector”: Babe (which some actually believe is his real name due to its use) probably had more well-published nicknames than any other player and here are but a few we have seen in print: The Bambino, The Sultan of Swat, The Colossus of Clout, The Wazir of Wham, The Maharajah of Mash, The Rajah of Rap, The Caliph of Clout, the Behemoth of Bust, The Mammoth of Maul, The Mauling Mastodon, The Mauling Monarch, The Wali of Wollop, and to his teammates, Jidge.

Babe Ruth the “hall of fame legend”: Ruth was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on February 2, 1936, by the Baseball Writers Association of America, as part of the inaugural class of inductees. At the time of his induction, Ruth held literally hundreds of baseball records. The single most prolific hitter in baseball history, a key component in “Murderer’s Row” and a charismatic personality – both on and off the field – that made him a larger-than-life figure and one of the greatest sports heroes, not just in baseball, but in American culture.

Chris George provides reliable PR & GR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? Call 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.

Colin Powell: 13 Rules

Leave a reply

Colin_Powell_1

In his memoir It Worked for Me: In Life and Leadership, Colin Powell provided a valuable list of life lessons accompanied by a collection of personal anecdotes. For this great man, there are 13 Rules to how to live life.

Rule 1. It ain’t as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning. Keep all things in perspective when having to make a tough decision. Give the matter the perspective of some time.

Rule 2. Get mad, then get over it. Do not carry anger for any time. Instead of letting anger destroy you, use it to make constructive change.

Rule 3. Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it. Whatever position you hold, check your ego at the door when you are making major decisions. Foremost, consider the good of the organization and people in the organization. Then, should the action fail, your intentions never do.

Rule 4. It can be done! Exude optimist. Be positive. Leaders are about making things happen.

Rule 5. Be careful what you choose. Consider wisely your choices. Project ahead and assess the best developments for your objective(s).

Rule 6. Don’t let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision. Solid leadership is often a matter of superb instinct. Leaders often stand alone on what they know to be the right decision.

Rule 7. You can’t make someone else’s choices. While good leaders listen and consider all perspectives, they ultimately make their own decisions. Ultimate responsibility is yours.

Rule 8. Check small things. Mind the details. Small details often ensure the success of your big decisions.

Rule 9. Share credit. Share the credit, take the blame, and quietly find out and fix things that went wrong. Success is very much a team effort.

Rule 10. Remain calm. Be kind. The difference between a good leader and a great leader is their degree of kindness. Kindness, like calmness, reassures loyalty and galvanizes respect and confidence.

Rule 11. Have a vision. Be demanding. Your vision must inspire – incite and enthuse. Your purpose is the fuel for the vision. It energizes – drives it. Be compelling and excite those around you.

Rule 12. Don’t take counsel of your fears or naysayers. Fear is a normal human emotion that has the potential to be a paralyzing force. So, acknowledge your fears, stare them down, but don’t let them guide your decisions.

Rule 13. Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier. Perpetual optimism, believing in yourself, believing in your purpose, believing you will prevail, and demonstrating passion and confidence will have an amazingly beneficial impact on those around you. There is something to be said for the leader who refuses to accept defeat but continues to adapt until he is successful.

Chris George provides reliable PR & GR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? Call 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.

Great One-Liners

Leave a reply

My husband and I divorced over religious differences. He thought he was God and I didn’t!
I don’t suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it.
I Work Hard Because Millions On Welfare Depend on Me!
I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.
Don’t take life too seriously; no one gets out alive.
You’re just jealous because the voices only talk to me.
Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.
Earth is the insane asylum for the universe.
Quoting one is plagiarism; quoting many is research.
I’m not a complete idiot — some parts are missing.
Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.
NyQuil, the stuffy, sneezy, why-the-heck-is-the-room-spinning medicine.
God must love stupid people; he made so many.
The gene pool could use a little chlorine.
It IS as BAD as you think, and they ARE out to get you.
Consciousness: that annoying time between naps.
Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?
Being “over the hill” is much better than being under it!
Procrastinate Now!
FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION. It comes bundled with the software.
A hangover is the wrath of grapes.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a cash advance.
STUPIDITY IS NOT A HANDICAP. Park elsewhere!
They call it PMS because Mad Cow Disease was already taken.
He who dies with the most toys is nonetheless dead.
HAM AND EGGS – A day’s work for a chicken, a lifetime commitment for a pig.
The trouble with life is there’s no background music.

This humourist list of one-liners and many more funny stories and jokes can be found in the By George Treasury. (ed. – Y’know e-books make great gifts – check our on-line store: Our E-bookshelf.)

Chris George, providing reliable PR & GR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.

25 FAV quotes of William James

Leave a reply

williamjames Here are 25 of our favourite bons mots of William James.

A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices.
Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.
Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.
Could the young but realize how soon they will become mere walking bundles of habits, they would give more heed to their conduct while in the plastic state.
Human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.
If you care enough for a result, you will most certainly attain it.
In the dim background of mind we know what we ought to be doing but somehow we cannot start.
It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.
It is well for the world that in most of us, by the age of thirty, the character has set like plaster, and will never soften again.
Everybody should do at least two things each day that he hates to do, just for practice.
Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they’ve got a second.
Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task.
Pessimism leads to weakness, optimism to power.
The aim of a college education is to teach you to know a good man when you see one.
The essence of genius is to know what to overlook.
The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.
The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes.
The ideas gained by men before they are twenty-five are practically the only ideas they shall have in their lives.
The world is all the richer for having a devil in it, so long as we keep our foot upon his neck.
The world we see that seems so insane is the result of a belief system that is not working. To perceive the world differently, we must be willing to change our belief system, let the past slip away, expand our sense of now, and dissolve the fear in our minds.
There is but one cause of human failure. And that is man’s lack of faith in his true Self.
To change ones life: Start immediately. Do it flamboyantly.
Truth is what works.
We are all ready to be savage in some cause. The difference between a good man and a bad one is the choice of the cause.
We never fully grasp the import of any true statement until we have a clear notion of what the opposite untrue statement would be.

(ed. – These William James quotes and more can be found in By George Treasury II – in Our E-bookshelf)

Chris George, providing reliable PR & GR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.

10 Lessons on Life shared by Billionaires

Leave a reply

Forbes Magazine catalogues priceless words of wisdom and Forbes staff Keren Blankfeld has done a very great job in compiling a must-read list of life observations in her piece: Billionaires To Graduates: All-Time Best Advice From Their Commencement Speeches

The following list is the top 10 lessons successful business people have shared in commencement speeches to graduating classes:

Life is short.

“As you graduate, can you ask yourselves to live as if you had eleven days left? I don’t mean blow everything off and party all the time— although tonight is an exception. I mean live with the understanding of how precious every single day would be. How precious every day actually is.” – Sheryl Sandberg, UC Berkeley 2016

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” – Steve Jobs, Stanford 2005

“Always remember that the moments we have with friends and family, the chances we have to do things that might make a big difference in the world, or even to make a small difference to someone you love — all those wonderful chances that life gives us, life also takes away. It can happen fast, and a whole lot sooner than you think.” – Larry Page, University of Michigan 2009

Be present.

“Being present is smarter, funnier and undeniably more attractive. When you’re right here, right now, you notice things. You notice the nuance and expressions of the people around you. You notice the things that might make you a new friend or get you hired or even give you a chance of hooking up. You notice today and how wonderful it is. You noticed the people around you might not be as lucky as you are and the people who work their asses off to make sure you succeed.” – Chris Sacca, University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management 2011

Be bold and take risks.

“I will hazard a prediction. When you are 80 years old, and in a quiet moment of reflection narrating for only yourself the most personal version of your life story, the telling that will be most compact and meaningful will be the series of choices you have made. In the end, we are our choices. Build yourself a great story.” – Jeff Bezos, Princeton University 2010

Embrace failure and learn from it.

“It doesn’t matter how far you might rise…. If you’re constantly pushing yourself higher, higher the law of averages not to mention the Myth of Icarus predicts that you will at some point fall. And when you do I want you to know this, remember this: there is no such thing as failure. Failure is just life trying to move us in another direction.” – Oprah Winfrey, Harvard University 2013

“I have always believed and I have taught my children and grandchildren that great success is not built on success. It is built on failure, frustration and sometimes even calamity.” – Sumner Redstone, Northwestern University 2002

Be of service: make the world better.

“In the course of your lives, without any plan on your part, you’ll come to see suffering that will break your heart. When it happens, and it will, don’t turn away from it; turn toward it. That is the moment when change is born.” – Melinda Gates, Stanford 2014

Use your imagination.

“Imagination is not only the uniquely human capacity to envision that which is not, and therefore the fount of all invention and innovation. In its arguably most transformative and revelatory capacity, it is the power that enables us to empathize with humans whose experiences we have never shared.” – J.K. Rowling, Harvard University 2008 (former billionaire)

When a great dream shows up, follow it.

“I dreamed of doing it and finally I achieved it and that is when I came to realize that fantasizing, projecting yourself into a successful situation is the most powerful means there is of achieving personal goals.” – Leonard Lauder, Connecticut College 1989

“Overall, I know it seems like the world is crumbling out there, but it is actually a great time in your life to get a little crazy, follow your curiosity, and be ambitious about it. Don’t give up on your dreams. The world needs you all!” – Larry Page, University of Michigan 2009

Be flexible.

“You don’t need a grand plan. Whatever plan you do have is probably going to change 100 times before you’re 30. And you don’t need to be an expert in something to try it.” – Michael Bloomberg, University of North Carolina 2012

Work hard and be irrepressible.

“Irrepressible is kind of tenacious, but with optimism. You just have it in you. You keep going and going. You could say, isn’t that the same as passion. It’s not. Passion is the ability to get excited about something. Irrepressibility and tenacity is about the ability to stay with it.” – Steve Ballmer, University of Southern California 2011

“It is the hard days — the times that challenge you to your very core — that will determine who you are.You will be defined not just by what you achieve, but by how you survive.” – Sheryl Sandberg, UC Berkeley 2016

Don’t let money drive you.

“The truth is, I’ve never cared for money. I realize that sounds strange coming from a billionaire, and I recognize that many people do work for money, but I would wager that those who become extremely successful are more strongly motivated by the desire to achieve, by a commitment to excellence and by an obsessive drive to win.” – Sumner Redstone, Northwestern University 2002

Read the full Forbes article here: Billionaires To Graduates: All-Time Best Advice From Their Commencement Speeches

Chris George, providing reliable PR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.