Terry L. Sumerlin
Terry L. Sumerlin Quick Facts
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Article
LIFE'S CAUSES AND EFFECTS
Someone has observed that we are always free to choose, but weâre not free to choose the consequences of our choices. We see proof of this principle in Washington and on Wall Street. The present state of the economy is the consequence of many years of bad fiscal choices. Recovery will depend on better choices. Young people also demonstrate the accuracy of this same concept. Unfortunately, though they are free to sow wild oats, they have no choice regarding the crop with whi
August 22, 2011
Article
THE FIND SUCCESS UNIQUE UP ON IT
Henry John Dutschendorf, Jr. was an architecture major at Texas Tech University. In 1964 he quit school and moved to Los Angeles to pursue another career. According to my source, the young man was informed he had no creative ability, and was advised to go into another field.nnSome time later, this college dropout began to manifest obvious signs of affluence. His friends became curious. What happened? As it turned out, the student with no creative talent had hit it big. Heâd
March 22, 2007
Article
KEEP THOSE GOALS IN PERSPECTIVE
Do you want to build a business, change a relationship, improve your health or quit a bad habit? Do you want to earn a million dollars or be debt free? I canât promise you any of these things, but I can promise this: You stand a better opportunity for achievement in these areas if you set goals, and if the goals are compatible with all your other goals. Youâve probably heard others make the same observations. What we sometimes fail to point out is that we must also be ver
July 14, 2006
Article
THE CURE FOR BELLYACHIN'
It was a quiet Thursday morning at the barbershop. J.B was in the shop reading the paper and I was seated at the desk in the office, talking on the phone. Suddenly, the front door opened and someone asked, âIs Terry here?â Quickly I ended my conversation, and opened the office door to see who had come in.nnI was pleased to see one of my regulars, a very successful businessman that I especially like. He said that his wife and son were outside in the car, and he wanted to k
May 19, 2006
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A Collection Of Assorted Attitudes
It is possible that barbers hear more answers to the question, âHow are you?â than just about anyone. Some of the answers are funny, but all of them hold a certain fascination for me. Although I am genuinely interested in people, Iâve made a hobby of asking folks how theyâre doing and then collecting their answers. Here are few samples from my collection.n nâI canât complain.ânIt sounds as if the person is determined to suffer silently, but would like to be pers
March 31, 2006
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SPLITTING HAIRS OVER BALDNESS
I’m a barber with no hair, and the oddity of it is such that it seems to startle people into saying something. So, regularly, there is someone who – in jest – comments about my bald head. Generally, it’s in the form of, “You’re not going to cut my hair like yours, are you?” And, I usually laugh along with the customer. nnI’ve had plenty of time to get used to being bald and to references to it. I started losing my hair when I wa
February 27, 2006
Article
NETWORKING 101
âExcuse me, weâve never met but would you mind giving me a list of all your friends and business contacts so that I might sell them my products and services?â Who would make such a foolish request? Yet, some of the things that are done in the name of networking are just about as foolish.nnNetworking is one of the most effective, and most widely used, means of promoting your business. Itâs a process of connecting with others, to help build each otherâs businesses thr
December 30, 2005
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A LITTLE SEASONING
The week before Christmas is usually one of the busiest times of the year at J.B.'s Barber Shop. It seems that everyone wants to look nice for family, photos and parties. So, we look forward to the increase in business. However, I must admit that I don't generally look forward to the holiday, as such.nnFor years, Sherry and the kids considered me kind of a Scrooge. Thus, they learned to just tolerate my annual moodiness.nnI finally reached a point where I felt guilty about my
December 19, 2005
Article
DON'T OPEN THAT DOOR - YET
Every day, several times a day, I saw the same sign. It was taped on the inside of the door, leading from crew quarters to passenger staterooms. As a guest lecturer aboard the Coral Princess, bound for Panama, I was considered part of the crew. I was one of those to whom the sign applied. It simply said: âPlease remember that you are about to enter a passenger area.ânnIâve never had opportunity to find out specifically what the cruise line had in mind with those words.
November 21, 2005
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A SIMPLE WAY TO MAKE A LIFE-CHANGING DIFFERENCE
When our schedules permit, Sherry and I begin our day at a McDonalds that is conveniently located across the highway from Judson High School (Converse, TX), where she teaches. One morning as we were sipping coffee and chatting, she related the success she was having with one of her eleventh grade math students. It didn’t take long for me to realize the success was not accidental. nnSherry said that on the first day of school, when the girl walked into her classroom, she
October 10, 2005
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REPLACE WISHES WITH GENUINE HOPE
Customers at J.Bâs Barber Shop hope theyâll get a good haircut. No question about it. You can tell by the way they talk. Itâs not a wish. Itâs definitely hope.nnâWhatâs the difference?â you ask. Thatâs best answered with an illustration. nnMany times Iâve asked Sherry for a new corvette for my birthday. I still donât have one, but I keep hoping. I also hope she remembers my birthday. Of the two, only the latter is legitimate hope. The other is simply a wis
September 5, 2005
Article
HOW TO SUCCEED AT PRACTICALLY ANYTHING
I don't know how many times I've been asked, "How do I get into the speaking business?" The question always frustrates me. I'd rather be asked something I can really answer, like how to become a barber. nnOne inquirer said something, though, that caught my attention. He said he had speaking down to a science, and that he could speak exactly 20 minutes, 19, or whatever was needed. Always the exact length of time, though! nnWhile there are certainly speakers who need to pay att
June 27, 2005
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