Self Fulfilling Prophesies
Dec 7th 2008, 6:25 pm
#1
If I have to explain...
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Where ever the road takes me
Posts: 3,999
Self Fulfilling Prophesies
Things are tough and we have a choice; talk them down or talk them up! Following is a story told to many students, maybe we can learn from it:
There was a man who lived by the side of the road and sold hot dogs. He was hard of hearing, so he had no radio. He had trouble with his eyes, so he had no newspapers. But he sold good hot dogs.
He advertised extensively telling people how good they were. He stood on the side of the road and cried: “Buy a hot dog, Mister?” And people bought.
He increased meat and bun orders. He bought a bigger stove to take care of his trade. He finally got his son home from college to help him out. But then something happened.
His son said, “Father, haven’t you been reading the newspapers? There is a big depression. The European situation is terrible. The American situation is even worse.”
Whereupon the father thought, “Well my son’s been to college, he reads the papers and he listens to the radio, and he ought to know.”
So the father cut down on his meat and bun orders, reduced his advertising and no longer bothered to stand out on the highway to sell his hot dogs.
His hot dog sales fell almost overnight.
“You are right, son,” the father said to the boy.
“We certainly are in the midst of a great depression.”
Life is what we make it!
There was a man who lived by the side of the road and sold hot dogs. He was hard of hearing, so he had no radio. He had trouble with his eyes, so he had no newspapers. But he sold good hot dogs.
He advertised extensively telling people how good they were. He stood on the side of the road and cried: “Buy a hot dog, Mister?” And people bought.
He increased meat and bun orders. He bought a bigger stove to take care of his trade. He finally got his son home from college to help him out. But then something happened.
His son said, “Father, haven’t you been reading the newspapers? There is a big depression. The European situation is terrible. The American situation is even worse.”
Whereupon the father thought, “Well my son’s been to college, he reads the papers and he listens to the radio, and he ought to know.”
So the father cut down on his meat and bun orders, reduced his advertising and no longer bothered to stand out on the highway to sell his hot dogs.
His hot dog sales fell almost overnight.
“You are right, son,” the father said to the boy.
“We certainly are in the midst of a great depression.”
Life is what we make it!
Dec 7th 2008, 7:19 pm
#2
It's what the eye see's..
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 839
Re: Self Fulfilling Prophesies
Things are tough and we have a choice; talk them down or talk them up! Following is a story told to many students, maybe we can learn from it:
There was a man who lived by the side of the road and sold hot dogs. He was hard of hearing, so he had no radio. He had trouble with his eyes, so he had no newspapers. But he sold good hot dogs.
He advertised extensively telling people how good they were. He stood on the side of the road and cried: “Buy a hot dog, Mister?” And people bought.
He increased meat and bun orders. He bought a bigger stove to take care of his trade. He finally got his son home from college to help him out. But then something happened.
His son said, “Father, haven’t you been reading the newspapers? There is a big depression. The European situation is terrible. The American situation is even worse.”
Whereupon the father thought, “Well my son’s been to college, he reads the papers and he listens to the radio, and he ought to know.”
So the father cut down on his meat and bun orders, reduced his advertising and no longer bothered to stand out on the highway to sell his hot dogs.
His hot dog sales fell almost overnight.
“You are right, son,” the father said to the boy.
“We certainly are in the midst of a great depression.”
Life is what we make it!
There was a man who lived by the side of the road and sold hot dogs. He was hard of hearing, so he had no radio. He had trouble with his eyes, so he had no newspapers. But he sold good hot dogs.
He advertised extensively telling people how good they were. He stood on the side of the road and cried: “Buy a hot dog, Mister?” And people bought.
He increased meat and bun orders. He bought a bigger stove to take care of his trade. He finally got his son home from college to help him out. But then something happened.
His son said, “Father, haven’t you been reading the newspapers? There is a big depression. The European situation is terrible. The American situation is even worse.”
Whereupon the father thought, “Well my son’s been to college, he reads the papers and he listens to the radio, and he ought to know.”
So the father cut down on his meat and bun orders, reduced his advertising and no longer bothered to stand out on the highway to sell his hot dogs.
His hot dog sales fell almost overnight.
“You are right, son,” the father said to the boy.
“We certainly are in the midst of a great depression.”
Life is what we make it!
Don't have a hat on, but hat off for this posting. Good one!!! With all the "Doom thinking" going on in Europe and the USA, a depression is shoved into everyone's lap if they want it or not. Adapt or go under is my motto, always followed it, and until today, always worked.
Dutchie
Dec 7th 2008, 10:04 pm
#3
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 390
Re: Self Fulfilling Prophesies
It´s always a subject dear to me, where your mind goes your body will follow they say.
Reminds of the story of a german brewer, when the depression hit them almost everything had to go..The stately home, the servants, the fancy clothes, the bank accounts, They actually paid off their bank loans in kegs of beer..
(very sensible German bank, in the midst of a depression you don´t wanna hold unsellable assets like stocks and bonds)
Funnily they saw the end of the depression rather prosperous as they had the whole family making, distributing and selling beer again.
And they all lived in the brewery so they had 100% control of everything, and their customers like the bars all paid cash, and the customers buying in the bars paid cash, and the brewery was able to pay cash so they got good prices...and in the end the banks where begging for their business again because they could deposit cash instead of just "paper money".
So my point is?...They always saw themselves as brewers, despite all the trappings of a posh family they never imagined that they wouldn´t succeed in a business they knew all about starting from square one.
Reminds of the story of a german brewer, when the depression hit them almost everything had to go..The stately home, the servants, the fancy clothes, the bank accounts, They actually paid off their bank loans in kegs of beer..
(very sensible German bank, in the midst of a depression you don´t wanna hold unsellable assets like stocks and bonds)Funnily they saw the end of the depression rather prosperous as they had the whole family making, distributing and selling beer again.
And they all lived in the brewery so they had 100% control of everything, and their customers like the bars all paid cash, and the customers buying in the bars paid cash, and the brewery was able to pay cash so they got good prices...and in the end the banks where begging for their business again because they could deposit cash instead of just "paper money".
So my point is?...They always saw themselves as brewers, despite all the trappings of a posh family they never imagined that they wouldn´t succeed in a business they knew all about starting from square one.
Dec 8th 2008, 6:08 am
#4
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Living in a mirage
Posts: 606
Re: Self Fulfilling Prophesies
Things are tough and we have a choice; talk them down or talk them up! Following is a story told to many students, maybe we can learn from it:
There was a man who lived by the side of the road and sold hot dogs. He was hard of hearing, so he had no radio. He had trouble with his eyes, so he had no newspapers. But he sold good hot dogs.
He advertised extensively telling people how good they were. He stood on the side of the road and cried: “Buy a hot dog, Mister?” And people bought.
He increased meat and bun orders. He bought a bigger stove to take care of his trade. He finally got his son home from college to help him out. But then something happened.
His son said, “Father, haven’t you been reading the newspapers? There is a big depression. The European situation is terrible. The American situation is even worse.”
Whereupon the father thought, “Well my son’s been to college, he reads the papers and he listens to the radio, and he ought to know.”
So the father cut down on his meat and bun orders, reduced his advertising and no longer bothered to stand out on the highway to sell his hot dogs.
His hot dog sales fell almost overnight.
“You are right, son,” the father said to the boy.
“We certainly are in the midst of a great depression.”
Life is what we make it!
There was a man who lived by the side of the road and sold hot dogs. He was hard of hearing, so he had no radio. He had trouble with his eyes, so he had no newspapers. But he sold good hot dogs.
He advertised extensively telling people how good they were. He stood on the side of the road and cried: “Buy a hot dog, Mister?” And people bought.
He increased meat and bun orders. He bought a bigger stove to take care of his trade. He finally got his son home from college to help him out. But then something happened.
His son said, “Father, haven’t you been reading the newspapers? There is a big depression. The European situation is terrible. The American situation is even worse.”
Whereupon the father thought, “Well my son’s been to college, he reads the papers and he listens to the radio, and he ought to know.”
So the father cut down on his meat and bun orders, reduced his advertising and no longer bothered to stand out on the highway to sell his hot dogs.
His hot dog sales fell almost overnight.
“You are right, son,” the father said to the boy.
“We certainly are in the midst of a great depression.”
Life is what we make it!
I really believe that if you can live your life honestly, respecting those around you and making the most of what life offers then you'll create your own success.
Your post has made my day - have a kiss and a hug.
Dec 8th 2008, 7:12 am
#5
**** it we'll do it live
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Dubai
Posts: 7,892
Re: Self Fulfilling Prophesies
We really need people like you in this world to remind us what it's all about. I'm reading a very interesting book called Law of Attraction, PAH, psuedo scientific clap trap, you may as well read the bible, Koran or any other renowned scientific textwhich is just sort of taking further what I have been trying to focus on for a while. Looking at life as a series of opportunities is by far a better way of living life that existing from day to day on doom and gloom.
I really believe that if you can live your life honestly, respecting those around you and making the most of what life offers then you'll create your own success.
Your post has made my day - have a kiss and a hug.
I really believe that if you can live your life honestly, respecting those around you and making the most of what life offers then you'll create your own success.
Your post has made my day - have a kiss and a hug.
Dec 8th 2008, 7:24 am
#6
**** it we'll do it live
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Dubai
Posts: 7,892
Re: Self Fulfilling Prophesies
Things are tough and we have a choice; talk them down or talk them up! Following is a story told to many students, maybe we can learn from it:
There was a man who lived by the side of the road and sold hot dogs. He was hard of hearing, so he had no radio. He had trouble with his eyes, so he had no newspapers. But he sold good hot dogs.
He advertised extensively telling people how good they were. He stood on the side of the road and cried: “Buy a hot dog, Mister?” And people bought.
He increased meat and bun orders. He bought a bigger stove to take care of his trade. He finally got his son home from college to help him out. But then something happened.
His son said, “Father, haven’t you been reading the newspapers? There is a big depression. The European situation is terrible. The American situation is even worse.”
Whereupon the father thought, “Well my son’s been to college, he reads the papers and he listens to the radio, and he ought to know.”
So the father cut down on his meat and bun orders, reduced his advertising and no longer bothered to stand out on the highway to sell his hot dogs.
His hot dog sales fell almost overnight.
“You are right, son,” the father said to the boy.
“We certainly are in the midst of a great depression.”
Life is what we make it!
There was a man who lived by the side of the road and sold hot dogs. He was hard of hearing, so he had no radio. He had trouble with his eyes, so he had no newspapers. But he sold good hot dogs.
He advertised extensively telling people how good they were. He stood on the side of the road and cried: “Buy a hot dog, Mister?” And people bought.
He increased meat and bun orders. He bought a bigger stove to take care of his trade. He finally got his son home from college to help him out. But then something happened.
His son said, “Father, haven’t you been reading the newspapers? There is a big depression. The European situation is terrible. The American situation is even worse.”
Whereupon the father thought, “Well my son’s been to college, he reads the papers and he listens to the radio, and he ought to know.”
So the father cut down on his meat and bun orders, reduced his advertising and no longer bothered to stand out on the highway to sell his hot dogs.
His hot dog sales fell almost overnight.
“You are right, son,” the father said to the boy.
“We certainly are in the midst of a great depression.”
Life is what we make it!
I'm not saying that we shouldnt try to beat it, but what happens in your story when,
His customers dry up as they lose their jobs, stop driving past his stall and buying hotdogs, when the bakery goes bust because the bank calls in its expansion loans, the alternative supplier has put costs up so it can survive so hotdog buns now cost more, the bank have also called in the farmers bank loans so there is no more local meat he's now buying cheap and nasty hotdogs, so of the remaining customers he loses more as his hotdogs now cost more and taste worse. His own bank are now looking at his profits and frankly they now want their loans back as those bigger stoves werent cheap, since he cant sell more hotdogs.......
oh and his son, now having not worked in a big firm cant get a job as his only experience is having worked in a failing hotdog stand business.
The sentiment of not giving in is admirable, the sentiment of "it will be all right jack" is exactly what caused this great big steaming pile of miasma in the first place
Dec 8th 2008, 8:12 am
#7
Truth is the safest lie.
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: @ the beach.
Posts: 7,243
Re: Self Fulfilling Prophesies
Reminds me of one that investors seem to tell people all the time:
It was autumn, and the Indians on the remote reservation asked their new Chief if the winter was going to be cold or mild.
Since he was an Indian Chief in a modern society, he had never been taught the old secrets and, when he looked at the sky, he couldn't tell what the weather was going to be. Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, he replied to his tribe that the winter was indeed going to be cold and that the members of the village should collect wood to be prepared.
But also, being a practical leader, he decided to seek advice from experts.
He went to the phone booth, called the National Weather Service and asked, "Is the coming winter going to be cold?"
"It looks like this winter is going to be quite cold indeed," the meteorologist at the weather service responded.
So the Chief went back to his people and told them to collect even more wood in order to be prepared.
A week later he called the National Weather Service again. "Is it still going to be a cold winter?" he asked.
"Yes," the man at the National Weather Service again replied, "it's going to be a very cold winter. The Chief again went back to his people and ordered them to collect every scrap of wood they could find.
Two weeks later he called the National Weather Service again. "Are you absolutely sure that this winter is going to be very cold?" he asked for a third time.
"Absolutely," the weatherman replied. "In fact, it's going to be one of the coldest winters ever!"
"How can you be so sure?" the Chief asked.
The weatherman replied, "The Indians are gathering wood like crazy."
It was autumn, and the Indians on the remote reservation asked their new Chief if the winter was going to be cold or mild.
Since he was an Indian Chief in a modern society, he had never been taught the old secrets and, when he looked at the sky, he couldn't tell what the weather was going to be. Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, he replied to his tribe that the winter was indeed going to be cold and that the members of the village should collect wood to be prepared.
But also, being a practical leader, he decided to seek advice from experts.
He went to the phone booth, called the National Weather Service and asked, "Is the coming winter going to be cold?"
"It looks like this winter is going to be quite cold indeed," the meteorologist at the weather service responded.
So the Chief went back to his people and told them to collect even more wood in order to be prepared.
A week later he called the National Weather Service again. "Is it still going to be a cold winter?" he asked.
"Yes," the man at the National Weather Service again replied, "it's going to be a very cold winter. The Chief again went back to his people and ordered them to collect every scrap of wood they could find.
Two weeks later he called the National Weather Service again. "Are you absolutely sure that this winter is going to be very cold?" he asked for a third time.
"Absolutely," the weatherman replied. "In fact, it's going to be one of the coldest winters ever!"
"How can you be so sure?" the Chief asked.
The weatherman replied, "The Indians are gathering wood like crazy."
Dec 8th 2008, 8:46 am
#8
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,434
Re: Self Fulfilling Prophesies
a nice sentiment but the ostrich theory is what caused this global recession.
I'm not saying that we shouldnt try to beat it, but what happens in your story when,
His customers dry up as they lose their jobs, stop driving past his stall and buying hotdogs, when the bakery goes bust because the bank calls in its expansion loans, the alternative supplier has put costs up so it can survive so hotdog buns now cost more, the bank have also called in the farmers bank loans so there is no more local meat he's now buying cheap and nasty hotdogs, so of the remaining customers he loses more as his hotdogs now cost more and taste worse. His own bank are now looking at his profits and frankly they now want their loans back as those bigger stoves werent cheap, since he cant sell more hotdogs.......
oh and his son, now having not worked in a big firm cant get a job as his only experience is having worked in a failing hotdog stand business.
The sentiment of not giving in is admirable, the sentiment of "it will be all right jack" is exactly what caused this great big steaming pile of miasma in the first place
I'm not saying that we shouldnt try to beat it, but what happens in your story when,
His customers dry up as they lose their jobs, stop driving past his stall and buying hotdogs, when the bakery goes bust because the bank calls in its expansion loans, the alternative supplier has put costs up so it can survive so hotdog buns now cost more, the bank have also called in the farmers bank loans so there is no more local meat he's now buying cheap and nasty hotdogs, so of the remaining customers he loses more as his hotdogs now cost more and taste worse. His own bank are now looking at his profits and frankly they now want their loans back as those bigger stoves werent cheap, since he cant sell more hotdogs.......
oh and his son, now having not worked in a big firm cant get a job as his only experience is having worked in a failing hotdog stand business.
The sentiment of not giving in is admirable, the sentiment of "it will be all right jack" is exactly what caused this great big steaming pile of miasma in the first place
Oh, and I love you...
Dec 8th 2008, 8:52 am
#9
If I have to explain...
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Where ever the road takes me
Posts: 3,999
Re: Self Fulfilling Prophesies
a nice sentiment but the ostrich theory is what caused this global recession.
I'm not saying that we shouldnt try to beat it, but what happens in your story when,
His customers dry up as they lose their jobs, stop driving past his stall and buying hotdogs, when the bakery goes bust because the bank calls in its expansion loans, the alternative supplier has put costs up so it can survive so hotdog buns now cost more, the bank have also called in the farmers bank loans so there is no more local meat he's now buying cheap and nasty hotdogs, so of the remaining customers he loses more as his hotdogs now cost more and taste worse. His own bank are now looking at his profits and frankly they now want their loans back as those bigger stoves werent cheap, since he cant sell more hotdogs.......
oh and his son, now having not worked in a big firm cant get a job as his only experience is having worked in a failing hotdog stand business.
The sentiment of not giving in is admirable, the sentiment of "it will be all right jack" is exactly what caused this great big steaming pile of miasma in the first place
I'm not saying that we shouldnt try to beat it, but what happens in your story when,
His customers dry up as they lose their jobs, stop driving past his stall and buying hotdogs, when the bakery goes bust because the bank calls in its expansion loans, the alternative supplier has put costs up so it can survive so hotdog buns now cost more, the bank have also called in the farmers bank loans so there is no more local meat he's now buying cheap and nasty hotdogs, so of the remaining customers he loses more as his hotdogs now cost more and taste worse. His own bank are now looking at his profits and frankly they now want their loans back as those bigger stoves werent cheap, since he cant sell more hotdogs.......
oh and his son, now having not worked in a big firm cant get a job as his only experience is having worked in a failing hotdog stand business.
The sentiment of not giving in is admirable, the sentiment of "it will be all right jack" is exactly what caused this great big steaming pile of miasma in the first place
All I'm saying is we have a choice. We can perpetuate the misery and add to the woes of the world, like some do; "The end is nigh!"
Or we can take a positive stance and attempt to make a difference. I'll do the latter, thanks.
Dec 8th 2008, 8:55 am
#10
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,434
Re: Self Fulfilling Prophesies
I'm not talking about burying heads in the sand, although it can be fun depending on who the head belongs to.
All I'm saying is we have a choice. We can perpetuate the misery and add to the woes of the world, like some do; "The end is nigh!"
Or we can take a positive stance and attempt to make a difference. I'll do the latter, thanks.
All I'm saying is we have a choice. We can perpetuate the misery and add to the woes of the world, like some do; "The end is nigh!"
Or we can take a positive stance and attempt to make a difference. I'll do the latter, thanks.
As for me, I drink out of a can...
Dec 8th 2008, 8:59 am
#11
If I have to explain...
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Where ever the road takes me
Posts: 3,999
Re: Self Fulfilling Prophesies
Although cans are an adequate substitute when desperate.
Dec 8th 2008, 11:44 am
#14
If I have to explain...
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Where ever the road takes me
Posts: 3,999
