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It's always a
pleasure to hear that our Quote of
the Week selections are helping you in your place of work.
§
Jim, a
church pastor in Florida, tells us that the quotations from past issues have been useful
in sermons.
§
Another
reader, actor G.
Anthony Joseph,
says, "I love your quotes! I
printed out last week's on persistence to read to my acting class. I will
use it again next week at Van Mar Academy of Motion Picture and TV Acting
Academy, and in my seminar at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in
March. Thanks, and keep them coming." By the way, don't miss G. guest starring in the JAG episode
"Standards of Conduct" for CBS. You may already have seen him
in "The District" on CBS and "American Family" on PBS.
Please write and tell
us how these quotes have added power to your communications. Your
feedback helps us tailor our quote selections to your needs. Happy
holidays, to you and yours.
Ric Moxley – Managing Editor
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I keep
my ideals, because, in spite of everything, I still believe that people
are really good at heart.
— Anne
Frank, Holocaust Victim
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Key Point
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Anne Frank had many legitimate reasons to lose
faith in the possibility of an inherent goodness in people. If she
could uphold her ideals about humanity, then certainly you and I can as
well! She also wrote, "Think of all the beauty still left around
you and be happy." Remarkable. Anne, who died at age 15 in Auschwitz,
unintentionally left a legacy that has made hers a household name: her
personal diary. It records her experiences and feelings while she was
in hiding for two years with her family and then imprisoned in a Nazi
death camp. Her words continue to inspire and humble people of all
ages, more than 50 years after her death.
Anne Frank stated that she keeps her ideals. The
American Heritage® Dictionary describes an ideal as a conception of
something in its absolute perfection — as a standard or model of
excellence. An ideal is an honorable or worthy principle. Principles in
the business place allow us to have ideals or standards that inspire
excellence in employees, focused toward common objectives. Having
ideals established and communicated keeps employees motivated toward
integrity and unity in their efforts.
Ideals in business help us define recognized levels
of excellence. Let's explore opportunities to use this quote to make
your point.
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Marketing Value
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For the salesperson, who
invariably faces daily opportunities for discouragement, consider the
value of keeping these thoughts from Anne Frank close to your heart. If
you take personally the no's that are naturally the larger percentage
of responses you receive while seeking out the yeses, you may lose
heart before achieving success . . . unless you can hold to your
ideals.
Anne Frank had reason to lose her ideals: her hope
in humanity. Neighbors and former friends betrayed and persecuted her
for her heritage. The threat of internment forced her to survive by
hiding from Nazis and potential traitors in a small home with many
others for more than two years. Nazis imprisoned her and family members
in Auschwitz. In
spite of all this personal tragedy, endured between the ages of 13 and
15 (before succumbing to typhus after nine months in Auschwitz), Anne
Frank maintained her belief that people "really are good at
heart." No doubt, this helped her survive as long as she did —
long enough to create and maintain the diary that continues to move and
inspire people around the globe today, a half- century after her death!
That, you see, is the power of ideals: of
principles. Maintain your ideals so you may rise above the daily
discouragement of painful encounters with associates, customers, and
prospects. Seek the greater good in others that must surely be there
somewhere. If a young, teenage girl in a Nazi death camp could find it,
so can you in your difficult circumstances.
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In Speaking . .
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This quotation from Anne Frank's diary supports
themes and topics such as perseverance, hope, determination, goals,
optimism, and the value of principles. Her words can be spoken to
individuals or teams in times of discouragement, to remind them that
things could certainly be worse.
Using a quotation in your speech of such historic
significance, couched in an understanding of the place and time and
events in which they were written, can momentarily transport the
discouraged from the wallowing grounds of self-pity to a much brighter
place — to the words and feelings of idealism exhibited in the writings
of this imprisoned, young woman. It can remove the venom from our own
lesser trials; to see the value of preserving ideals; breeding hope and
perseverance of historic proportions, just as it did for Anne Frank.
If your audience has a sense of humor, or if you
must keep the atmosphere light, you could instead employ this quote
from Groucho Marx: "These are my principles. If you don't like
them, I have others." The point, made with humor, is the same: we
need ideals: principles. They guide us as individuals, as families, and
as employees.
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In Writing . .
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Words have enormous power — the power to heal or
destroy. Here is a striking example! These words, and many others
written by Anne Frank in her diary, have moved and motivated people for
decades, empowering them to rise above their own despair.
In writing words of encouragement, consider using
this quotation from Anne Frank as a means of motivating your reader. In
the song Move On, the popular ’70s and ’80s band Abba says, “What
really makes the difference between all dead and living things? The
will to stay alive.” That determination — to survive, to overcome
obstacles and trials — usually results from maintaining focus on a
principle or ideal.
Although eventually succumbing to disease, Anne
Frank nonetheless survived years of malnutrition and imprisonment (some
in hiding, some in a Nazi death camp). How can such a feat be
accomplished without ideals? It can’t, of course. She had them. So
should you. And the recipient of your written encouragement can
likewise be comforted, or even inspired, by this intriguing perspective
on the inherent goodness of humanity during the worst of times.
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Beyond the Workplace . . .
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Recent economic conditions have forced some
companies to downsize, putting many people out of work and into the job
search business. It is likely that anyone reading this Quote of the Week newsletter has
at least one friend, relative, or neighbor searching desperately for
employment.
At times like these, it is easy for bitterness or
depression to infiltrate the spirit of the résumé-toting job seeker who
is dealing with daily feelings of rejection, both from being “let go,”
and from not yet securing employment. While platitudes may have less
value than just a plain ol’ shoulder to cry
on or an understanding heart, you may need to use words to help this
person see some light at the end of their tunnel (as proof, look at the
booming greeting card business). Consider using these thoughts from
Anne Frank: “I keep my ideals, because, in spite of everything, I still
believe that people are really good at heart."
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What is Your Favorite Quote?
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Do you have a favorite quote that has either served
you inspirationally in the workplace or has been a nice bit of spice in
speech or in writing? Write
and tell us about it. We may feature your quote in a future issue
to inspire others.
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Let WriteWorks Help
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Are you searching for the right turn of phrase and
not sure if you've got it? Whether for a speech or for written
communication, call on WriteWorks when your words need to count. We can
wordsmith your proposals, presentations, articles, reports, speeches, brochures,
manuscripts, help files or instruction manuals to assure that they
succinctly and effectively bring home your message. With our extensive
network of freelance writers and editors, we can quickly find the
perfect writer to ensure the success of your communications. Contact us
to discuss your needs and learn how easy — and beneficial! — it is to do business with us.
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