Diantie's Daily Quote - "Quality is never..."

Today is the third day for the official heat wave. Yes, the sun is out there in the not so blue sky and hurricane Earl is treading its way up the east coast.

Today's quote is "Quality is never an accident. It is always the result of intelligent effort." Author John Ruskin.

We look for it (quality) all the time when we buy clothes especially expensive ones. We want quality for our money. Is it a habit of mine to examine how a garment is stitched before I buy it? Yes. Why? Because we are all looking to see if someone took the effort to produce a "quality" product.

How about customer service? Why do we choose to eat at a specific restaurant or stay at a certain hotel? Quality definitely plays a role in our decision making process.

Sometimes we don't need to look too closely for quality, it stares us in the face!

Diantie's Daily Quote - "The best place ..."

I took my own advice yesterday and had a few scoops of ice-cream. Another scorcher today weather wise but I will still go outside and take a walk; destination, unknown!

Today's quote is "The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm." Author unknown.

There is some truth to this quote. I am reading a book about organization and it specifically mentions delegation. Yes, we can delegate when we need a helping hand. Some people are afraid to delegate out of fear of losing control and some don't know have the patience to train others to whom they can delegate to.

My mother likes to do everything herself when she is cooking in the kitchen; she hardly asks for help. I tend to do everything myself too including the dishes but I occasionally call on my sister to help when my own "helping hand" is busy doing something else.

Diantie's Daily Quote - "Everyone enjoys doing..."

Yes, the Sun is already out and today is expected to be a hot one. Errands have to be done so the water bottle with definitely be going along for the ride.

Today's quote is "Everyone enjoys doing the kind of work for which he is best suited." Author Napoleon Hill.

Very true. I will add to that - and they are very happy doing it.

As a charity worker, I was once asked to serve ice-cream to little children. Sounds easy enough to do, right? Wrong! I quickly learnt that I needed to understand the texture of each flavor and the best way to scoop the ice cream into the cups and not make a mess in the process. Did I mentioned the line of children together with their parents all wanting the ice-cream and that I had to serve multiple flavors and "seconds"? And that it was a hot summer day, to be exact, a Friday evening after work!

Yes, it was a challenge but I enjoyed it. Yes, I will do it again. The next time I will be armed with knowledge and will try to so a little advance preparation.

Stay cool and have an ice-cream while you are at it!

Diantie's Daily Quote - "There is something..."

Right now I have to say that it is a little chilly here in my part of the world. But it is welcoming considering the 90 plus degree temperature that's expected for tomorrow.

Today's quote is "There is something basic about friendship. It is like the structure that holds up a building. It is mostly hidden and absolutely essential." Author Emilie Barnes.

Yes, I totally agree with this quote. We all treasure our friendships and they do hold us up even though we may always realize it. When in need, we usually turn to our friends whether to ask a favor or a question. Friendship is a wonderful thing and I am glad that I have some good friendships.

This quote was given to me by someone whom I met on the train. Thank you K.

Diantie's Daily Quote - "It is more important..."

Yes, I did indeed go for that walk yesterday. The weather was absolutely gorgeous. I wandered over to Time Square and eat two slices of pizza on the way. Right now I can see the sun shining outside my window and its position is to left of the Empire State Building. Nice view!


Today's quote is "It is more important to know where you are going than to there quickly. Do not mistake activity for achievement." Author Mabel Newcomer.

We all like how great it feels after we have accomplished something. If we do several little tasks, we feel good because we accomplished something. Achievement with respect to this quote, is a long-term process of several steps to take before reaching that final "goal". I agree arriving quickly may not be the best way, but as the saying goes "never take your eyes off your goal."

Weekend plans? None at the moment. I think a "heat wave" is in the forecast beginning on Sunday.

Diantie's Daily Quote - "God doesn't look..."

It is starting off to be a nice day here in NYC. Maybe I will go for a walk later and breathe some fresh air.

Today's quote is "God doesn't look at how much we do, but with how much love we do it." Author Mother Teresa.

It just happens to be a coincidence that I chose this quote to write about today as today is also the birthday of Mother Teresa. In my previous quotes, I talked about the secret ingredient being "love" in food. When we are invited to some one's home, most of us can quickly observe the effort that people put into making their home appears welcoming. And we are equally appreciative when they have snacks ready for us to munch on. You have to admit it is a nice feeling that you experience which is a reflection of the "love" that went into all the preparation.

To Mother Teresa, Happy Birthday. You were already blessed!

Diantie's Daily Quote - "Action may not..."

Another rainy day here in NYC. Yesterday I ran an errand at lunch time and came back with my feet soaking wet. Yes, I was wearing slippers. On the bright side, the weather predition is that the weekend will be nice.

In keeping with my string of "happiness" related quotes, here is another one.

Today's quote is "Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action." Author Benjamin Disraeli.

"Money can't buy happiness or put my family back together." Said by Elin Nordegren during an interview.

I know there are still some people that want his/her chance to prove the "Money can't buy happiness" saying wrong.

Diantie's Daily Quote - "Who ever said..."

It's overcast here in NYC right now; rain is in the forecast for today.

Today's quote is "Whoever said that money can't buy happiness didn't know where to shop." Author Gertrude Stein.

Wow! You can actually shop for happiness! My two cents is - shop if it makes you happy but don't count on finding happiness. If you do find happiness while shopping, great!; otherwise, try again.

My Greek proverb - all things good to know are difficult to learn.

Diantie's Daily Quote - "You have to have..."

Currently it is overcast here in NYC. The much needed rain came yesterday and I can safely say that my plants will be alive and well for the next few days.

Today's quote is "You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through." Author Rosalyn Carter.

Another great quote for entrepreneurs. I think the confidence part come easy for most people but the "tough enough" part is what most people struggle with. Why, brick walls may stand in their way; lack of financing; too many "I don't think that's a good idea" to listen to; and the list goes on.

My advice, if you are asked for your opinion on something, be supportive!

Diantie's Daily Quote - "If a window..."

Not much to report in the world of news. "Google Buys Virtual Search Engine Like.Com" caught my attention so I have to read this story later.

Today's quote is "If a window of opportunity appears, don't pull down the shade." Author Tom Peters.

Great quote! Some people can take advantage of windows of opportunity but unfortunately others cannot. At times when the shade is pulled down, it means the person could not take advantage of the opportunity because of lack of financing, family obligations or as simple as lack of strength. How many of us have heard stories from people who told other people about an idea they had and then the idea was stolen before the person was not able to put it into action? About two months ago, I heard a young entrepreneur said it because she lacked the financing.

A wise decision is to know when to pull down the shade as the window of opportunity appears.

Diantie's Daily Quote - "There is just..."

Thunder storms is the forecast for tomorrow so I better hurry up and get my errands done now.

Today's quote is "There is just one life for each of us: our own." Author Euripides.

Many of you have heard someone say "leave me alone to live my life.". Yes, it is said more times than we realize.

I agree with the quote, we should live our own lives!

Diantie's Daily Quote - "Like what you..."

It's seems like it will be a nice day today in New York City. High of 85 degrees is expected which is much better than the 100 degrees we experienced a few weeks ago. We should be thankful for our wonderful weather. Around the world, mudslides are occurring in SW China and flooding in Pakistan.

Today's quote is "Like what you do. If you don't like it, do something else." Author Paul Harvey.

Last week I heard a fellow accountant said that he likes what he does for a living. Wonderful!

The consensus from various surveys is that most people like what they do. While some people do not like what they do and keep a job for financial security, many others enjoy their work.

I like what I do too! But more inspiring for me is ... trying something new!

Diantie's Daily Quote - "All I ask is ..."

Today is starting off to be a nice day weather wise. I can see the sun outside my window and it reminds me of my first trip to NYC many years ago.


Today's quote is "All I ask is the chance to prove that money can't make me happy." Author Spike Milligan.


Cute! I don't know if Mr. Milligan got a chance to prove whether or not money can make him happy but I am sure there are lots of opinions out there on this one. Mr. Milligan was born in India in 1918 so I am sure he has seen what poverty was like back in those days.

Money will but you things and experiences but I will stick to my view of money can't buy you happiness.

Diantie's Daily Quote - "Set peace of mind..."

Running late today with posting this blog; too many things to do. Hurray to me for I have already made dinner!

Today's quote is "Set peace of mind as your highest goal, and organize your life around it." Author Brian Tracy.

Peace of mind is something I always talk about with my friends. Why? Because my favorite past-time is sleeping. It is no secret. If you are not at peace with yourself, then how can you sleep? My good night's sleep is more important to me than wondering how my investments in the stock market are doing.

So do I organize my life around "peace of mind"? Yes, I do and so do a lot of people too.

Diantie's Daily Quote - "I'm trying to read..."

What calms us down? For some, a drink at the bar with friends; listening to music; a walk in the park; a drive along the coast; and yes, eating a good meal! The list goes on.

Today's quote is "I'm trying to read a book on how to relax, but I keep falling asleep." Author Jim Loy.

You've gotta love that quote. Actually, it sounds like me. Whenever I am lying on the sofa and trying to read something, I quickly fall asleep.

I am amazed by the explosion of health and wellness companies that have started during the past ten years. Last week I meet someone on the train who was promoting scented oils as a source of relaxation. Another person was marketing chocolates as a one stop shop for all your aches and pains. Believe it or not, one person practices hypnosis!

Diantie's Daily Quote - "The three great..."

The rain fell a little early this morning which was great for my plants. No sunshine so far for today.

Today's quote is "The three great essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are first, hardwork; second, stick-to-itiveness; third, common sense." Author Thomas Edison.

This is great for entrepreneurs. The hardest one of the three is "sticking to it". People become discouraged after trying something without success. This is where common sense steps in. If you are losing money, know your limit as this maybe also your indicator as to when to quit.

Who is a Food Network fan? Last night I watched Aarti win "The Next Food Network Star". Good for her! Maybe she used the three essentials above.

Diantie's Daily Quote - "To be happy..."

Finally a cool day and a little rain too!

Today's quote is "To be happy, do not add to your possessions, but subtract from your desires." Author unknown.

Yes, I agree. Be happy with what you have! A part of unhappiness is wanting more and not getting it. Be grateful for what you have and be appreciative too!

Diantie's Daily Quote - "The best way..."

I felt the cool touch of the breeze on my skin this morning. What a wonderful feeling after all the hot days we have been having here in NYC. The plants I am sorry to report are not doing so well as it has been way too hot for them.

Today's quote is "The best way to pay for a lovely moment is to enjoy it." Author Richard Bach.

Admission fees to amusement parks are not cheap as we all know. A few years ago, I went to this fair where the admission fees were outrageous and you still has to pay for some of the rides. Parents waited more than half hour on-line with their small children to experience the rides. One parent made a comment that she had paid the admission fee, so she had no choice but to wait so that the children can enjoy themselves. This was painful for me to watch because we all want our "money's worth".

I had my lovely moment today and it did not cost me anything. When I get outside and starting running the errands, I may have another lovely moment.

Diantie's Daily Quote - "Never discourage anyone..."

Some people expect you to be an overnight success and don't understand the motions of the journey. It is our experience, whether positive or negative, that helps us reach that destination.

Today's quote is "Never discourage anyone... who continually makes progress, no matter how slow." Author Plato.

When your friends ask for your opinion about a venture they are excited about, give them positive feedback and encouragement. One day that friend may be the banker you turn to for a loan.

My Greek proverb - "The dream is realized where you do not expect it."

Diantie's Daily Quote - "Only when all..."

How many times when you have a grievance you feel like one fish in the sea? Lots, I'm sure.

Today's quote is "Only when all contribute their firewood can they build up a strong fire." Chinese proverb.

We hear a lot about pooling your resources and brainstorming sessions. These are all great actions and they work too.

What was my contribution to building a strong fire? Signing a petition today. There is always some small way in which you can contribute your firewood. When that opportunity arises, do it!

I don't see any sunshine outside my window. Who knows, maybe it will finally rain.

The stock market just open in NYC and it is already down over 100 points. Remember, money can't buy happiness!

Diantie's Daily Quote - "He who wants..."

Most of us saw the Sound of Music movie. The one quote I took from the movie and always repeat is this one - "When the Lord closes a door, somewhere he opens a window."

Today's quote is "He who wants to do good, knocks at the gate; he who loves finds the gate open." Author Sir Rabindranath Tagore Thakur.

I think I want to be safe and knock on the gate. It takes more than love to venture into an open gate. But I have to admire all the people who take chances and not only open gates but also knock down walls too!

The Dow just closed down 265 points which means that the people who tie happiness to money are not happy today.

Diantie's Daily Quote - "Money won't make..."

Back to my happy quotes.

Today's quote is "Money won't make you happy...but everybody wants to find out for themselves." Author Zig Ziglar.

Yes, there is a lot of truth to that quote. I think for people who are already happy (like me), additional money will help us to pursue our dreams. But for people who are unhappy and think that money will fix their sorrow, then I say no!

Speaking about money, the Dow is down almost 100 points as I write this blog. So don't buy any stocks that you are not "happy" with.

Diantie's Daily Quote - "The five most..."

"Practice what you preach". How many times have we said these words to someone else or about someone? Possibly, lots!

Today's quote is "The five most essential words for a healthy and vital relationship are "I apologise" and "You are right"." Author unknown.

A friend of mine once told me that the two most important words for a successful relationship are "Yes Dear".

I then asked, "what was the most important word?" My answer - communication.

So, how many us use those five important words? Most of us do depending on the circumstances.

Relationships are tough that's why I like friendships!.

Diantie's Daily Quotes - "I have an everyday..."

Sunday, a day of relaxation and a day of prayer for most people.

Today's quote is "I have an everyday religion that works for me. Love yourself first, then everything else falls into line." Author Lucille Ball.

Absolutely true. You should love yourself first. When you take care of yourself, you feel better about yourself. Everything else may not fall in line, but your positive attitude will help you deal your daily tasks.

Diantie's Daily Quote - "Being in a good..."

A nice day is expected weather wise. The temperature should get to a high of 80 and low of 69 degrees. No rain predicted for my neighborhood. Yes, I still have to water those plants outside.

Today's quote is "Being in a good frame of mind helps keep one in the picture of health." Author unknown.

This quote is perfect for me because with all the things that I need to accomplish, I need to be in a good frame of mind and I do need to stay healthy.

Yes, I already prepared a "to do" list and am challenging myself to do it all!

Diantie's Daily Quote - "Most people never..."

Some people have suggested to me that I write my quotes for a week and set a timer to post the blog on a daily basis. I prefer to take the time each day and write the blog. This is a commitment that requires dedication as well time management skills. As I mentioned previously, my goal is to write a quote everyday for a year.

Today's quote is "Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they've got a second. Give your dreams all you've got and you'll be amazed at the energy that comes out of you." Author William James.

This is a great quote for entrepreneurs!

Where is my energy for my "first wind"? I've only used up a little and have lots more to go. I would love to get my "second wind". When I do, then I will know that I have been a success.

Diantie's Daily Quote - "Religions are all..."

Do I need to pray for some rain? How about do a rain dance? The rain does not want to fall in my neighborhood and shower my plants!

Today's quote is "Religions are all alike - founded on fables and mythologies." Author Thomas Jefferson.

When you are exposed to a multicultural environment, the things you learn about other people's religion is amazing. There are many similarities among all the faiths. So yes, I agree with the quote.

A few months ago, I attend a christian church service and was touched by the sermon given. Most of the sermons I heard in past were focused on a few topics, but this particular one had me thinking "what happened next". It was refreshing to hear something new!

Diantie's Daily Quote - "There are those who..."

In my religion, it's been said many times, that you should give without expectation of receiving something in return.


Today's quote is "There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward." Author Kahlil Gibran.

I think I will stick with giving without expectation regardless of the circumstances!

Still no rain and the plants were not watered yesterday! OK, I give water to the plants and I expect them to grow healthy.

Diantie's Daily Quote - "Happiness is a way..."

Nice sunshine day today and I am still waiting for those showers of rain to come pouring down and it has not happened as yet. That means I have to keep watering those plants if I want to reap a harvest.

Today's quote is "Happiness is a way station between too much and too little." Author Channing Pollock.

Yes, this sounds like contentment to me and that is a wonderful feeling.

I say find that way station soon so that you can experience the joy of happiness.

Diantie's Daily Quote - "Spending quiet time..."

We all need quiet time and our "space" to think and function.

Today's quote is "Spending quiet time alone gives your mind an opportunity to renew itself and create order." Author Susan Taylor.

Most avid problem solvers would agree with this quote and I do too. Over the past few weeks, I have been pondering over certain things I need to get done. Why a few weeks? Because I needed to do a thorough research before making a final decision. Am I ready now? I am better prepared to ask the right questions and I feel empowered with my new found knowledge.

There is nothing wrong with taking a time-out or time off to rejuvenate your mind. That is why a vacation is highly recommended and sometimes enforced by companies.

Did you give yourself a time-out today? I will!

Diantie's Daily Quote - "Happiness and sadness..."

More happy related quotes. Today is predicted to be a nice sunshine day. Remember "Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy." (John Denver's Song). And yes, I want some showers of rain as well and that is expected too.

Today's quote is "Happiness and sadness run parallel to each other. When one takes a rest, the other one tends to take up the slack." Author Hazelmarie Elliott (Marie).

Very true and well thought words. Think about it. You are either happy or you are sad.

Yes, I took a look at the pictures from the Chelsea Clinton's wedding yesterday. She looks so happy and fabulous. I like the photo that most of news stations have been showing of the happy couple.