Christmas Passsion Point

Charless Kovess introduced the importance of "Vision" in a previous issue and now has the results of the survey. He has listed what are considered the top 7 companies visions.

I think his Chrismas message set in California may be of interest and the newsletter is reproduced below.

A Passion Point to Ponder 20 December 2005

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Welcome to the 11th Passion Point for 2005.

Our goal this year with these Passion Points has been to provoke you so that your business, and the rest of your life, become filled with more passion,performance, and improved balance of mental, physical, and spiritual elements. We are grateful for the many emails of gratitude that you sent to us during the year.

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THE POWER OF VISION COMPETITION
You will recall from last month’s Passion Point (16 November) that we conducted a survey amongst our readers, asking for inspirational Vision Statements that we could share with you.

Here are the top seven that appeal most to us, chosen on the basis of our work with teams that are inspired by a powerful vision:

1. Hydro Tasmania's vision is "… being Tasmania's world-renowned renewable energy business".

2. Vision for ANZ’s National Bank Limited :
To be New Zealand's leading bank through quality people, quality service,quality performance.

3. The vision statement of Hobart City Church of Christ is:
To become the living presence of Jesus in the City of Hobart.

4. Haigh’s Chocolates’ vision is to be "National Retailer of Choice selling our high quality chocolates"

5. The school vision of Tannum Sands SHS is encapsulated in the
MOTTO: Creating Our Futures and KEY VALUES: Respect, Responsibility and Excellence

6. Sensis’ vision is 'to make complex lives simpler'.

7. State Water Corporation of NSW's vision is 'to be Australia's most effective water business'.

The winner of the prizes worth over $1100 was randomly selected out of a hat, with all respondents having a chance to win. The winner is Ric De Garis, Managing Director of Kendle Australia. Kendle’s vision is "None of us is as smart as all of us" Congratulations to him!

However, we also had so many respondents, that we’ve decided to give three consolation prizes of a book to each of the following, whose names were also drawn out of the hat:

John Britten of Hydro Tasmania
Annabelle Beaumont of Sensis
Lindsay Byrnes of QBE.

Congratulations to all of you.

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“OUR CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FOR 2005”

A man and a mare once brought Christmas magic to a small boy. They still do, if you read Bret Harte's short story "How Santa Claus Came to Simpson's Bar".

Set in a mountain mining settlement above California's Sacramento Valley, the story begins on Christmas Eve 1862 and ends on Christmas morning. The Christmas Eve storms have swollen the rivers and Simpson's Bar is cut off from the rest of the world. It's a dreary place and, for one small, sick boy -- whose mother had once told him about "Sandy Claws" -- it must have seemed a very dark world. To the boy, Christmas was just a story and, as heis being nursed to sleep by his father, a few men of the town, led by one Dick Bullen, gather and resolve to bring Santa Claus to the boy and
Simpson's Bar.

Between midnight and dawn, Dick rides his wild and ugly mare Jovita to Tuttleville and back. They brave storms, swollen rivers and attempted human intervention; returning to Simpson's Bar before the boy awakes. Dick carries with him a small waterproof bag containing a few small wooden toys. One broken, one almost spoilt by water and one marked. It was the best he could do in the middle of the night.

Harte does not record the child's waking words, only those of Nick Bullen to is father "tell him Sandy Claws has come." Harte goes on "And even so,bedraggled, ragged, unshaven and unshorn, with one arm hanging helplessly at his side, Santa Claus came to Simpson's Bar and fell fainting on the first threshold."

Our Christmas mornings are usually a little less dramatic. Our children's and grand children's gifts are, typically, more than a few damaged and broken toys. Yet, all gifts are borne of the same spirit. It is this spirit which shapes our Christmas and, through our gifts, the Christmas of others. Unlike the town of Simpson's Bar we are not isolated from the world, but like that town, our spirit rises above all and connects us to friends and loved ones.

Unlike Dick Bullen, we need not ride through storms and rivers to buy and bring our gifts to others. Our gifts, whether purchased, or borne within, are just as precious as the spirit that bears them.

Harte gave his gifts to the world too. Little known today, he was once one of America's most popular authors, with over forty films being made from his stories. "How Santa Claus Came to Simpson's Bar" was first published in 1872. Its final words record:

"The Christmas dawn came slowly after, touching the remote peaks with the rosy warmth of ineffable love. And it looked so tenderly on Simpson's Bar that the whole mountain as if caught in a generous action, blushed to the skies."

May your Christmas dawn, and those thereafter, be filled with love. May your actions be as generous as the spirit that lives within you.

QUOTES TO CONSIDER

"Never a lip is curved with pain that can't be kissed into smiles again."Bret Harte (1839-1902), American author.

Are your lips curved with pain, or does your spirit regain the smile that gives so much?

"If of all the words of tongue and pen,
The saddest are 'It might have been,'
More sad are those we daily see:
'It is, but hadn't ought to be!'

Bret Harte (1839-1902), American author.

Are your days and words what they ought to be, or do you see a change of scene; a difference from the might have been?

HAVE A GREAT CHRISTMAS AND SUCCESSFUL, PASSION-FILLED NEW YEAR! THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

Charles Kovess
Australia’s Passion Provocateur ©

Copyright- Charles B. Kovess & David J. Wood of Passionate Performance.Republication welcome provided authors are acknowledged & advised at above address. If you want to see Charles on video, or listen to audio, just go to www.kovess.com and follow the links.

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For a list of keynote speech topics that Charles would love to deliver in a passionate, entertaining, provocative, and educational way to your teams,clients, or prospects, at breakfast, lunch or dinner, see below.

All 137 published Passion Points to Ponder are on our website. If you wish to review them, please visit the site. If you wish to receive a list of the 137 titles of the Passion Points please let us know.

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KEY NOTE SPEECH TOPICS

1 PASSIONATE PERFORMANCE: YOUR KEYS TO MENTAL, PHYSICAL & SPIRITUAL
WELLBEING IN BUSINESS.
2 THE POWER OF VISIONARY LEADERSHIP
3 THE 7 KEY STEPS TO CREATE OUTSTANDING TEAMS.
4 HOW TO RETAIN THE BEST PEOPLE IN YOUR ORGANISATION.
5 PASSION: THE KEY TO YOUR SUSTAINABLE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE IN THE 21ST
CENTURY.
6 HIGH PERFORMANCE BUSINESS LEADERSHIP IN THE KNOWLEDGE AGE.
7 CHANGE: MAKE IT AN INSPIRATIONAL GAME!
8 A PASSION FOR LIFE, AND LIVING IT!
9 KEY PRINCIPLES OF PERSONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.
10 7 STRATEGIES THAT GUARANTEE LOYALTY FROM EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS.

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Best regards from Australia's Passion Provocateur (copyright)
Charles Kovess LL.B.(Hons), LL.M., CSP*
Immediate Past National President
National Speakers' Association of Australia(*CSP means Certified Speaking Professional, the highest membership category of NSAA and the only internationally recognised designation for professional speakers.)
www.kovess.com
NOTE NEW ADDRESS DETAILS
ph 0395622248
mobile 0412317404
PO Box 1412, Central Park East Malvern Vic 3145
Office: 17 Notre Dame Parade, Mulgrave Vic 3170
Author of 'Passionate People Produce' and 'Passionate Performance'
Co-author of '7 Heavenly Virtues of Leadership'