John's Blog

More Inspirational Quotes

John Hruska — Thu, 22 May 2008 14:08:49 -0500

"Courage is not the lack of fear. It is acting in spite of it."

-- Mark Twain, author

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People who want to move mountains must start by carrying away small stones.

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"Most successful men have not achieved their distinction by having some new talent or opportunity presented to them. They have developed the opportunity that was at hand."

-- Bruce Barton

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"Learning is not attained by chance; it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence."

-- Abigail Adams

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Daily Thought: When you build bridges you can keep crossing them.

-- Rick Pitino

More Inspirational Quotes

John Hruska — Sun, 18 May 2008 07:04:33 -0500

"Learning is not attained by chance; it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence."

-- Abigail Adams

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"There is no excellence uncoupled with difficulty". Ovid

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Set S.M.A.R.T. goals: Ones that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Tangible.

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Stand firm for what you know is right, it's wise, as I have found. The mighty oak was once a nut that simply held is ground. Agnes W. Thomas

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"Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die."

-- Carrie Fisher

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Daily Thought: No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings.

Short Sale Glossary Terms

John Hruska — Sat, 17 May 2008 06:37:56 -0500

Bankruptcy: A legal alternative that allows the borrower to clear any debt obligations by restructuring the payment terms. A bankruptcy stops the foreclosure process until the bankruptcy process is completed or the court allows the lender to resume the foreclosure.

Deed in Lieu: Voluntary conveyance of title in exchange for a discharge of debt. The house must be free of other liens and must have clear title. In simple terms, the borrower agrees to transfer title of the property to the lender, who accepts the property in exchange for the total debt.

Deed of Trust: A legal document that dictates the terms of a loan used to buy a property and transfers the ownership of the property to a third party called a trustee until the loan has been paid in full.

Default: Occurs when the borrower does not meet its legal obligations according to the loan terms.

Forbearance: Under a forbearance agreement, the lender agrees to stop the foreclosure process and determines payment terms that, at a certain time, will bring the borrower current.

Foreclosure: A process in which a lender attempts to recover the amount owed on a defaulted loan. The lender has the option of selling the property or repossessing the property. The beginning of a foreclosure process starts after a borrower defaults on mortgage payments and the lender files a Notice of Default or Lis Pendens.

Lien: A legal claim on a property by a lender or other entity (called the lien holder) against the property owner that owes the money.

Lis Pendens (LIS): A publicly recorded notice of a pending lawsuit against a property owner that may affect the ownership of a property. This process is required in a few states to begin the foreclosure process if a borrower is in default.

Modification: A transaction in which lender agrees to modify any or some of the terms of the mortgage. This is a process where an existing note is modified, but not cancelled. Changes may include: extending the term of the loan, changing the monthly payments, changing the interest rate, etc.

Notice of Default (NOD): A publicly recorded notice stating that a property owner is behind scheduled loan payments for a loan secured by a property. This process is required in a few states to begin the foreclosure process if a borrower is in default.

REO (Real Estate Owned): A class of property owned by a lender, typically a bank, after an unsuccessful sale at a foreclosure auction.

Reinstatement: Occurs when the property owner pays off the amount in default to bring the loan payments current in order to stop the foreclosure process and return to the original terms of a loan.

Short Sale: (Also called "Short Pay" or "Pay Off") A process in which a lender agrees to receive a lower amount of an owed debt in exchange for the sale of the property to a third party.

SUCCESS DEPENDS ON USING NOT OPPOSING

John Hruska — Sat, 17 May 2008 06:34:06 -0500

The world is primarily constituted on the basis of harmony.
Everything works in cooperation with something else.

Personal relationships are the fertile soil
from which all advancement, all success,
all achievement in real life grows.

Put yourself in another's place.
Only then will you know why they think and do certain things.
Once you understand how quickly people will grant your requests
when those requests appeal to their self interest,
you can have practically anything you go after.

It's through cooperation not conflict,
that you'll achieve your greatest success.

Four Things You Should Never Do If You Fall Behind On Your Mortgage

John Hruska — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:36:15 -0500

Number One:

Absolutely DO NOT ever deed your property to a third party without absolute confirmation your loan has been paid off!

Note: if you believe this option is best for you, please consult with an attorney - not the buyer's attorney - before completing the transaction.

If you deed your property to a third party, that party then controls the property. The new owner can rent the property (and keep the rent), attempt to sell the property to make a profit, move into the property or use the property in other ways.

What the new owner might not do is make mortgage payments, and that could become a big problem for you.

Just because you no longer own the property does not mean you are no longer responsible for the mortgage loan obligations. The lender made the loan to you. And until it is paid off you will be primarily responsible for the mortgage obligation.

If you give up control of the property and the new owner does not pay on the loan, the damage to your credit could be catastrophic.

Number Two:

Do Not sell your home at a huge discount.

Unless the actual foreclosure sale is less than 45 days away, you have time to explore options. Take a day or two and make a few phone calls. As a general rule, if someone is pushing you hard to get you to sell your property to them, it's probably because the deal they are proposing is very favorable - to them.

If you have equity in your home, it belongs to you. Let's see if we can get it to you.

For a Free, no obligation assessment, just call or send and email. You do not need to even give us your name.

Note: No one will call you on the phone unless you specifically request it.

Number Three:

Do Not authorize a prospective buyer to deal directly with your lender.

The buyer has one goal and one goal only, and that is to negotiate a low, probably very low, price with your lender. The buyer will ask your lender to accept a discounted payoff.

The negotiations could go on over an extended period of time, and if the transaction does not work out the buyer may elect not to buy your property. It could leave you with very little time to resolve the situation and avoid foreclosure. Further, you have no control over the information that goes to your lender or the accuracy thereof. It is entirely possible that the buyer could handle the negotiation and presentation of information in a way that makes it very difficult for you to resolve your loan situation later.

If, however, you believe that your best option is to allow the buyer to work directly with your lender, make certain you consult with a real estate professional and/or an attorney before signing a contract. If you are going to do a Short Sale get representation from a real professional. It costs you nothing - the lender pays the fees. Someone should be looking out for you.

We can help, and it costs you nothing. We have fought for homeowners like you many times - and won. The lender wins also. They do not want to take your property through foreclosure. That's why they will negotiate to get the deal done.

Number Four:

Do Not do nothing.

A surprising number of people just accept what they see as the inevitable, and let foreclosure run its course. Don't let it happen - the damage to your credit will follow you for years.

Take a little time to explore potential options. You do not want a foreclosure on your credit record. It will hamper your ability to get a consumer loan or a car loan for at least a few years, and it will be very difficult to obtain another mortgage for a very long time.

Also, in some cases, doing nothing and letting the property go to foreclosure leaves you open to the lender coming back to you AFTER the foreclosure in an attempt to collect. When a lender agrees to and completes a short sale, they release their rights to this option.

More Inspirational Quotes

John Hruska — Thu, 15 May 2008 12:34:43 -0500

" Winning starts with beginning."

-- Robert H. Schuller

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"Hope, purpose and determination are not merely mental states. They have electrochemical connections that affect the immune system.

--Norman Cousin

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"Nothing ever built arose to touch the skies unless some man dreamed that it should, some man believed that it could, and some man willed that it must."

-- Charles Kettering, inventor

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"Sometimes you must fight and win, just because all the pain and suffering you experienced up to this point on your quest would be rendered futile if you were to surrender now."

-- Alvin Day

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The secret of success is the consistency to pursue. -Harry F. Banks.

Saving Your Credit

John Hruska — Tue, 13 May 2008 07:45:22 -0500

Consider the effect on your credit report:

You will suffer much more damage to your credit report with a foreclosure than you will with a short sale. It will also take considerably longer to restore your credit rating once your financial difficulties are resolved.
In general, here's what happens:

One of Your Option's is: Full Foreclosure or a Deed-In-Lieu of Foreclosure:

Expect about the same things to take place. Quite often this means a loss of between 200-280 points on your FICO score. A pre-foreclosure FICO of 675 could drop to as low as 395, essentially eliminating you from many years of future credit approvals. It may be as long as three years before you can qualify for another home loan.

Best Option = Short Sale:

Expect to suffer some credit score damage, but nowhere near as much. Loss of FICO points will be around 75-125 and your report will show it listed as a 'pre-foreclosure in redemption', which is far less negative. You will most probably be able to secure a new home loan in about a year and a half.

In any case, it is a good idea to consult with a lawyer, tax accountant (CPA) or a good real estate agent who is experienced with short sales.

More Inspirational Quotes

John Hruska — Tue, 13 May 2008 07:42:39 -0500

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared with what lies within us."

-- Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., Supreme Court Chief Justice

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"Don't lose faith in humanity; think of all the people in the United States who have never played you a single nasty trick."

-- Elbert Hubbard

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Don't let your pride become inflated

-- you may have to swallow it someday.

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"A man's mind, stretched by a new idea, can never go back to its original dimension."

-- Oliver Wendell Holmes

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Quote of the day: "You can free yourself from aging by reinterpreting your body and by grasping the link between belief and biology."

-- Deepak Chopra

How John could help if you are upside down and can no longer make your mortage payment?

John Hruska — Wed, 07 May 2008 23:26:47 -0500

Our Short Sale Specialists Can Help You Achieve a Fresh Start

Having difficulty making your mortgage payments?
Do you want lenders stop calling?
Do you want to dispose your debt?
Your mortgage adjusts soon and you cannot afford paying the new rate?
Want to sell your house but there is not enough equity?
Do you want a fresh start?

Regardless of your circumstances, we have powerful solutions available. John Hruska is part of the the leading SHORT SALE REAL ESTATE TEAM in Northern Illinois.

More Inspirational Quotes

John Hruska — Wed, 07 May 2008 23:08:23 -0500

Set your goals quickly, and adjust them later if you've aimed too high or too low. Many of the goals that have the greatest positive influence on our lives are those we set in unfamiliar territory.

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"If you have not consciously made the decision to be rich, excellent, and healthy, then you have unconsciously made the decision to be poor, mediocre, and unhealthy." - Wallace D. Wattles: Was a self-help author

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There is no excellence uncoupled with difficulty. Ovid

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"The meeting of preparation with opportunity generates the offspring we call luck."

-- Anthony Robbins

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"There's only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving and that's your own self."

-- Aldous Huxley, writer

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Daily Thought: I must govern the clock, not be governed by it.

-- Golda Meir

Do you qualify for a short sale ?

John Hruska — Tue, 06 May 2008 20:17:22 -0500

Do I qualify for a Short Sale? Do You....

Owe more on your property than what you could sell it for, especially after real estate commission, closing costs, late payments, interest, etc?
Have difficulty covering your expenses each month?
Not have money in the bank to cover the difference of what you could sell your house for and what you owe the bank?

Are You Having Trouble Making The Payments? Are You....

Feeling the stress mounting with each missed payment and phone call from your bank?
Have difficulty covering your expenses each month?
Getting confused as to what your options are at this point?

Foreclosure Sale Date Approaching?

We still can help, but you MUST call us right away. We have a few programs that could help you if a foreclosure date is near.

What is a Short sale ?

John Hruska — Mon, 05 May 2008 18:39:35 -0500

Definition of a Short Sale:

The amount owed on a property is greater than the actual value and the lender agrees to forgive the difference to avoid foreclosure.

For all the homeowners who are upside down and can no longer make their mortgage payment, until now the only option was, well, letting the lender foreclose. The reason homeowners are in this situation is:

1. Unexpected hardship - Job loss, change in income, increased debt, family emergencies, etc.

2. Creative mortgage financing - ARM and/or payment adjustment, deferred interest program (option ARM), 100% financing, purchase money, subprime mortgage, 40/50 year mortgages, etc.

3. Market conditions - Values decreasing, no equity, speculators, flippers

Foreclosure is not a good option since it can adversely affect your credit record for up to 10 years. Typically, the loan will show up as "paid" on your credit report; however there can be a notation that says "settled for less than originally owed." This is much more favorable than having a foreclosure on your credit report.

We will list and market your property, negotiate a short sale with your lender, find a buyer for your home, and ultimately sell your home and allow you to move on with your life. Our main goal is to help you walk away free and clear and put this difficult time in the past.

Village Offices to Move - Oswego, IL

John Hruska — Sat, 03 May 2008 14:08:02 -0500

Village Offices to Move

Village of Oswego Offices Move to New Village Hall

On Friday, May 2nd, the following Village of Oswego offices will be relocating to our new Village Hall: Administration, Building and Zoning, Clerk's Office, Community Development, Community Relations, Finance, Human Resources, Public Works, and the Village President and Board of Trustees. The address of the new Village Hall is 100 Parkers Mill, Oswego, IL 60543.
These offices will work on limited availability during that day. Please note the Oswego Police Department will not be affected by this move and will be open for residents. For more information, please call 630-554-3618.

More Inspirational Quotes

John Hruska — Sat, 03 May 2008 13:44:26 -0500

"Your chances of success are directly proportional to the degree of pleasure you derive from what you do."

-- Michael Korda

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Always ask yourself what steps a leader would take, and then take them. -Brian Koslow

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Quote of the Day "The best way to predict your future is to create it."

-- Stephen Covey

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"Never fear shadows. They simply mean there's a light shining somewhere nearby." - Ruth Renkel

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As soon as you know yourself, you will know how to live.

-- Goethe

More Inspirational Quotes

John Hruska — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:44:19 -0500

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."

-- Henry David Thoreau

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Daily Thought: Be open to your dreams, people. Embrace that distant shore. Because our mortal journey is over all too soon.

-- David Assael, Northern Exposure

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Unless you are able to overlook idle gossip you will always be busy with unnecessary trouble.

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"You control your life by controlling your time."

-- Conrad Hilton

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"Your chances of success are directly proportional to the degree of pleasure you derive from what you do."

-- Michael Korda

More Inspirational Quotes

John Hruska — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 08:49:41 -0600

To please people is a great step towards persuading them.

-- Lord Chesterfield

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"In the long run you hit what you aim at. Therefore, though you should fail immediately, you had better aim at something high."

-- Henry David Thoreau

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"Most misfortunes are the results of misused time."

-- Napoleon Hill

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"I know the price of success: dedication, hard work and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen."

--Frank Lloyd Wright

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"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." - Antoine De Saint-Exupery

Bottom of the Box Breakfast Sundae

John Hruska — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 04:13:51 -0600

Ingredients

1/2 cup mixed berries of your choice
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
1/4 cup cornflakes or Cheerios from the bottom of the box

Preparation

In a small serving glass, layer the ingredients beginning with the berries, yogurt, cornflakes or Cheerios and repeat another two times to finish with the Cheerios or cornflakes on top.

More Inspirational Quotes

John Hruska — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 04:09:16 -0600

"The most important things to say are those which often I did not think necessary for me to say

-- because they were too obvious." - André Gide, The Journals of André Gide

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"I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have." - Abraham Lincoln

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"Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision."

-- Peter F. Drucker, business strategist

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"Let not your mind run on what you lack as much as on what you have already."

-- Marcus Aurelius

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"If money is your hope for independence, you will never have it. The only real security that a man will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience and ability."

-- Henry Ford

More Inspirational Quotes:

John Hruska — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 14:03:45 -0600

Long-range purposes keep you from being frustrated by short-term failures.

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The poor man is not he who is without a cent, but he who is without a dream. Harry Kempe

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Daily Thought: I pay no attention whatever to anybody's praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings.

-- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

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A man who gets treed by a lion but enjoys the scenery is an optimist.

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"You can't dig a new well by digging the same hole deeper."

-- Edward De Bono

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"The will to conquer is the first condition of victory."

-- Ferdinand Foch, French marshall

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"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."

-- Antoine de Saint

The day after Thanksgiving...What will you do?

John Hruska — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 07:31:44 -0600

Well I hope all of the fellow active rainers had an enjoyable holiday. The question I was wondering is how will you all spend your day after. I can't belive these stores that are opening at 4:00am. I remember last year when I thought 6:00am was too early. Could anyone need a gift or a deal that bad??? I was guilt of being an early morning shopper 4 years ago when I went out to purchase a laptop computer. I think after looking back, I didn't really save any money. I saw the same system weeks later for the same amount of money.

Others may feel they ate too much and want to get an early morning workout in their day. My brother in law, reminded me that this is on our Friday morning list of things to do.

However you plan to spend the day, Enjoy ! Be safe with the shopping madness and additional traffic .

More Inspirational Quotes

John Hruska — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 07:22:46 -0600

"The secret of getting things done is to act!"

-- Dante Alighieri, poet

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"Once you have a clear picture of your priorities- that is values, goals, and high leverage activities- organize around them."

-- Stephen Covey

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"Everyone who got where he is had to begin where he was."

-- Robert Louis Stevenson, poet

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"Laziness is a secret ingredient that goes into failure. But it's only kept a secret from the person who fails."

-- Robert Half

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Daily Thought: You can't turn back the clock. But you can wind it up again. - Bonnie Prudden

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"Good education is the essential foundation of a strong democracy."

-- Barbara Bush

Happy Thanksgiving !

John Hruska — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 10:26:00 -0600

Traditional celebration

Thanksgiving meals are traditionally family events where certain kinds of food are served. As is evidenced by the tremendous level of travel, significant effort is made by family members to gather for the Thanksgiving celebration. Family participation is notably inclusive ranging from the very youngest to the most senior. First and foremost, turkey is the featured item in most Thanksgiving feasts (so much so that Thanksgiving is sometimes facetiously referred to as "Turkey Day"). Stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, corn, turnips, rolls, pecan pie, and pumpkin pie are commonly associated with Thanksgiving dinner. Often guests bring food items or help with cooking in the kitchen as part of a communal meal.

There is very little commercial activity associated with the Thanksgiving celebration itself. While Thanksgiving greeting cards are sold they are not widely used. Gifts, beyond food or drink items brought to share, are typically not expected or exchanged. Home made knick knacks or trinkets, especially those made by children, are often used as decorative items. These knick knacks or trinkets are often kept for many years.

In keeping with the holiday theme of giving thanks, during the socializing or meal, people talk about what they are thankful for or tell about experiences during the past year which have caused them to feel grateful.

The Thanksgiving holiday was established as a national day of giving thanks and praise to God. The religious heritage of Thanksgiving continues in the tradition of saying grace at the beginning of the Thanksgiving holiday dinner.

The Thanksgiving season is also a time of generosity. People contribute food to annual Thanksgiving food drives and donate to charities.

More Inspirational Quotes

John Hruska — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 10:20:02 -0600

The optimist sees an opportunity in every calamity; a pessimist sees a calamity in every opportunity.

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Daily Thought: I've always thought that a big laugh is a really loud noise from the soul saying, "Ain't that the truth." - - Quincy Jones

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Daily Thought: Reputation is what other people know about you. Honor is what you know about yourself.

-- Lois McMaster Bujold

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"We are not held back by the love we didn't receive in the past, but by the love we're not extending in the present."

-- Marianne Williamson

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The world is full of unsuccessful men of talent." - Ray Kroc

More Inspirational Quotes:

John Hruska — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 12:09:50 -0600

The Fsbo Guys say: "Stop making excuses for being too busy. Plan, organize and execute...now!"

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Most dialogue is really monologue in duet.

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Those that hug illusions seldom embrace opportunity.

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Make no mistake, my friend, it takes more than money to make men rich. A.P. Gouthey

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"An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea."

-- Siddhartha Gautama

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"Nothing ever built arose to touch the skies unless some man dreamed that it should, some man believed that it could, and some man willed that it must."

-- Charles Kettering, inventor

More Inspirational Quotes

John Hruska — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 10:36:44 -0600

"In the long run you hit what you aim at. Therefore, though you should fail immediately, you had better aim at something high."

-- Henry David Thoreau

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I am certainly not one of those who need to be prodded. In fact, if anything, I am the prod." - Sir Winston Churchill

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"Nothing is a more powerful agent for attracting and keeping talented people than a clear vision, especially if the organization is living that vision and achieving its goals."

-- Gary Hoover

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Asking saves a lot of guesswork.

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"The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital."

-- Joe Paterno, football coach

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The Fsbo Guys say: "Stop making excuses for being too busy. Plan, organize and execute...now!"