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Carolyn Smagalski
Action
Founder - Editor - Host
"Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the
ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it
ought to be done, whether you like it or not; it is the first
lesson that ought to be learned; and however early a man's
training begins, it is probably the last lesson that he learns
thoroughly," said Thomas H. Huxley.
 Making
yourself do the thing you know will benefit you the most, even
though you don't want to do it, is the single most important
action you can learn to take. Directed Action. This single
act is like rocket fuel for your dreams. It is the most
important step you can take in reaching your goals.
An astounding example of learning to take directed action is
Nido Qubein. As a teenager, Mr. Qubein left his country, his
family, his customs and his friends. He came to America with
little knowledge of English, no contacts, and $50 to his
name. He did not come here to fail.
There it was. The dream! Anyone who has seen The
Neverending Story can relate to the power of that one tiny
speck of a dream, that one shining idea, a small shining
particle of dust that begins as a dream.
And what a dream he built!
Qubein developed a talent for business, and in 1986 helped to
start a bank. He now serves on the board and executive
committee of a Fortune 500 financial corporation with 97
billion dollars in assets and 25,000 employees. He is also
chairman of a national public relations company, chairman of
Great Harvest Bread Company with 210 stores in 39 states,
chairman of Business Life, Inc., and chairman of the Miss
North Carolina USA program. He serves on the boards of several
national organizations including the YMCA of the USA, which
oversees 2,600 YMCA’s across the country.
Nido has been the recipient of many honors including the Ellis
Island Medal of Honor, a Doctorate of Laws degree, and
induction into Beta Gamma Sigma, the honor society for
business leadership.
He has received the highest honors in speaking awards
including the Cavett, the Speakers Hall of Fame, Sales and
Marketing International's Ambassador of Free Enterprise and
the Golden Gavel Medal.
He is president of High Point University, an accredited
undergraduate and graduate institution with 3,000 students
from 33 countries. He has written numerous books and recorded
scores of audio and video programs.
He is founder of The Qubein Foundation and has granted more
than 600 scholarships, worth over three million dollars, to
deserving men and women.
He has the same 24 hours in a day that everyone else has. He
learned English using flash cards, 10 words at a time, every
day. Every day he built his dream, little by little.
What do you think you could build in twenty years, if you had
an idea and laid just one brick EVERY DAY? How
much effort would it take to lay just one brick? You
really don't need to be a superior person to start out. The
journey will shape you.
The great and beautiful Sophia Loren said, "Getting ahead in a
difficult profession requires avid faith in yourself. That is
why some people with mediocre talent, but with great inner
drive, go much further than people with vastly superior
talent." Have faith in yourself. Take directed action
every day.
Content copyright © 2003-2008 by Carolyn
Smagalski. All rights reserved. This content was written
by Carolyn Smagalski. If you wish to use this content in any
manner, you need written permission.
Contact Carolyn Smagalski
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