The Seed of Hope

A gift for tomorrow

My Walk in Life

A thought occured to me as I was trying to decide which post I should make on Monday morning. There are about twenty-five or so "offerings" in my laptop ready to go. I don't know why it has become a huge issue for me to decide which one is next....

I got up this morning around 4:30 and decided to finish reading The Shack, which is on the New York Times best seller list (it's on my recommended reading list as well). I won't tell you what The Shack is all about; I will tell you that it offers a fresh new perspective on not only the way we look at God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but a new way (for some of us) of having a relationship with Him.

I'm sorry....I took the "long way around" getting to my original thought, which I am sometimes prone to do! I'll continue.

I realized this morning that while my "focus" on the issues contained in this website is a broad stroke of the brush (faith, business, life, etc.), everything I do in life, every action I take, every step I make, points back to God. It's all about Him, my relationship with Him, and what He has done for me. What I'm saying is that while the offerings on these pages may fall into different "categories", they all center around what our benevolent Creator has done for me.

If you're comfortable with that, we'll be seeing more of each other!

Contact me: sam@theseedofhope.com

Posted by Sam Maniscalco on 11/14/2008 at 8:19 AM | Categories: Thoughts & Quotes -

You want to know WHAT?

 

Applying for a job at Salon M²? The first thing you have to do is fill out an application for employment, which consists of two pages.

 

The first page is what you would expect to see when applying for a job: personal information, education, experience, and references, which is nothing out of the ordinary. You’ll probably consider it to be almost too easy to fill out; it’s what some would call a “no-brainer”.

 

It’s when you turn to the second page and begin to read that a look of bewilderment may register on your face. You may even sneak a peak to see if I’ve noticed your look of surprise. If you do, you can bet that I’ll be looking, and that I’ll be smiling back. I always love it when that happens!

 

Okay, before you come in to fill out an application just to satisfy your curiosity, I’ll tell you what’s on the page.

 

Three questions:

 

  • What are the top five priorities in your life?
  • What are your long-term career goals?
  • How can you best achieve these goals?

 

At first glance these three questions seem relatively easy, don’t they?

 

But I’m not asking you to glance. I’m asking you to really think about the answers to these questions; I mean really think about it. Why? Two reasons:

 

As a leader in our business, I must know where you want to go before I can attempt to guide you towards your destination. If money is the top priority in your life, we will work towards that end. If your family is on the top of your list, I’ll know that we need to grow your career while making sure that your schedule gives you plenty of time at home. If God is at the top of your list, we’ll focus on career growing while implementing your faith in doing so. You see, once we determine your priorities we can plot a course for your goals, and how best to achieve them. What I want is for you to enjoy your journey as much as your destination.

 

That’s the first reason. Have you figured out the second?

 

Most of us (myself included) never take the time to set our priorities, to make a list of what’s really important to us. I remember the clarity of purpose I received the first time I answered these questions. Even more enlightening was answering those very same questions six months later. It’s amazing how our priorities change with time, achievement, and living life. What’s important to you today may be of little or no significance in a month, or a year.

 

So go ahead, fill out the second page. Answer the three questions. Do it for yourself. Be honest with your answers. You may be surprised.

 

And don’t worry; I’m not looking. I promise.

 

Contact me:sam@theseedofhope.com

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by Sam Maniscalco on 11/09/2008 at 4:17 PM | Categories: Business -

Sharing

You are correct in thinking that today is not Monday, which is supposed to be the day for new posts. This one couldn’t wait; well it could have waited. I just didn’t want it to!

 

I realized this morning that there is something that I need to share with you. Oddly enough, what I want to share with you is an invitation to share your thoughts with me, but perhaps not for the reasons you may think….

 

I don’t know if I have read, or heard this before, but it’s something that has etched itself into my mind, so I feel that I should convey it to you:

 

The smallest key can sometimes open the largest door.

 

Okay, I don’t know what that statement means to you, but I’m going to tell you what it means to me (you knew that was coming, didn’t you?).

 

If you’ve read “Our Story” you know that my world shifted on its axis, that the path of my life took a different course, because of three small words (“You get it.”) spoken by someone that I’d just met.

 

I don’t know this for sure, but if Scott Cook had not shared that simple thought with me, my life would not have taken the dramatic turn that it did, and many of the events that followed, including the inspiration for this website, might never have happened.

 

I believe with all that is in me that I have some “nugget of truth” for you. I also believe that you may have one, if not more than one, of those nuggets for me. If it is in you to share your thoughts with me, please do; I’ll be a better person for it.

 

If you don’t feel comfortable sharing with me, then share with yourself! You may be wondering “How do I share with myself?” I’ll explain:

 

If you read something that I’ve shared with you, and it triggers a thought, or a chain of thoughts, take note of it, and make a note of it. Some of my greatest “aha” moments, some of my greatest discoveries about myself, were a direct result of recording my thoughts, regardless of how seemingly insignificant they were at the time. Those small “discoveries” about me led to HUGE ones!

 

It’s when we look within that we see our fears or weaknesses, which we really don’t want to see at all do we? I mean, who wants to feel the hurt that often hides inside? No one does. I urge you to do it anyway. Why?

 

While you’re looking around in there (your mind) you are going to find some strengths that you never knew you had, and you are going to be overcome with, well, with a sense of satisfaction and elation that is beyond my description. This, in turn, will set you on a path of self-discovery that will be beyond your description!

 

Again, I welcome you to share your thoughts with me, for my benefit, but especially for yours. If nothing else, please, please share with yourself; you’ll be glad that you did.

 

The smallest key can sometimes open the largest door. That “door” is the portal to your mind.

 

Contact me: sam@theseedofhope.com

Posted by Sam Maniscalco on 11/07/2008 at 5:57 PM | Categories: Life -

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