The Best Laid Schemes o' Mice and Men Gang Aft Agley

This week saw the celebration of the Scottish poet Robert Burns' birthday and this famous quote from his poem proved apt. The farmer poet on turning a mouse's nest over in the field fell to contemplating the similarity between a humble mouse's strivings and preparations with those of man, and saw that they had much in common as they are often knocked off course by the unexpected. Many proverbs have their origins in the days when most people gained a living from the plough. The observations they made and the wisdom distilled from them still guide their descendants -- us -- today.

The 2008 project to take a song to success was to be launched this week but has been delayed. Always at it wins the day is good for keeping you going but it is prudent to remember: Make haste slowly.

The need to register the copyrights at The US Library of Congress meant the manuscripts had to be notated. This took longer than expected, with the haste and attention to detail resulting in a migraine. This raises the very important topic that when using proverbs as a guide they must be used with judgement. It is not wise to follow blindly: A danger foreseen is half avoided.

However, Rome wasn't built in a day and it is best to do things right as: Well begun is half done. Next week should see some action. No doubt I will be tempted to start another project once this is launched but it is important to remember that: He who runs after two hares catches neither.

Robert Burns - To a Mouse

...But Mousie, thou art no thy lane,
In proving foresight may be vain;
The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men
Gang aft agley,
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy !

Still thou art blest, compar'd wi' me!
The present only toucheth thee:
But och! I backward cast my e'e,
On prospects drear!
An' forward, tho' I canna see,
I guess an' fear!

The Proverb Practitioner 2

Last week the challenge to use the wisdom of proverbs to guide a project settled on taking a song to success using a video on YouTube to bring it to public attention.

So what is the next step? How can proverbs help? Having put my foot down where I mean to stand and remembering that Zeal is like fire, it needs feeding and watching it seems wise to proceed without delay. Strike whilst the iron is hot but Look before you leap.

A little forethought saves much afterthought. The idea has expanded to include a collection of demos in a software wrapper where users can choose songs they like or dislike and be their own Artists and Repertoire people. The job of an A&R rep is to listen to all the demos wannabes send in but, rather than send out CD's to many companies, this way lets the public be their own A & R guy.

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. With a free copy (unfortunately the offer expired on Jan 7th) of Camtasia I put together a video of the first song: "More Generous with Love" and an explanation of how the software works.

The video invites viewers to visit a web page where they can download the software: Artists & Repertoire. It contains seven songs in different styles with male and female artists. Service without reward is punishment so a small charge has been made to ensure only seriously interested people will listen and, hopefully, provide a cash flow to fund other projects. Pleasing ware is half sold, so lets hope it meets with approval.

The video isn't brilliant but You must crawl before you can walk . This might seem like A bad workman blames his tools, however, Better a flawed diamond than a perfect pebble and anyway, Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and Better an ass that carries than a horse that throws.

All going well, the video will be released next week.

UPDATE
I'm evaluating a multi-media course on blogging from the folks at Simpleology. For a while, they're letting you snag it for free if you post about it on your blog.

It covers:

• The best blogging techniques.
• How to get traffic to your blog.
• How to turn your blog into money.

I'll let you know what I think once I've had a chance to check it out. Meanwhile, go grab yours while it's still free.

OPINION
I have looked this gift horse in the mouth and its seems a good opportunity to learn more about blogging for those of you who would like to start your own. It is a fifteen day course of short videos and if you are a beginner with limited time it could be very useful as it is simple and clearly presented. Being a glutton for info, and already knowing a good bit of it, I went through it in an hour or so and picked up a few good tips. Well worth a look.

Always at it Wins the Day

The road to success is usually long and winding but you will not get to the end without keeping going. Regular steady progress is often better than occasional bursts of effort when the mood takes you.

I'm evaluating a multi-media course on blogging from the folks at Simpleology. For a while, they're letting you snag it for free if you post about it on your blog.

It covers:

• The best blogging techniques.
• How to get traffic to your blog.
• How to turn your blog into money.

I'll let you know what I think once I've had a chance to check it out. Meanwhile, go grab yours while it's still free.

THE PROVERB PRACTITIONER

Last week in the blog entry Small beginnings make great endings we discussed the idea of using proverbial wisdom to guide a project. Today it is time to consider: what, why, when, where and how?

The longest journey begins with the first step, but if you wanted to climb Mount Everest you wouldn't just take a deep breath and charge up. It takes long and careful planning, training, acclimatisation, setting up of base camps and proceeding in careful stages.

Where there's a will there's a way, but above all is the determination to get to the top and the confidence in your ability to do so. From little acorns great oaks grow helps to visualise the end result as it is important to have a clear goal. Millions of people over many centuries have used these sayings as a spur to achievement, and so can you.

What should the project be -- how to chose? The dog that runs around finds a bone. So, with growing confidence and determination the "Proverb Practitioner" must scout (or sniff) out the possible options.

The vast cavern of the Internet caters for just about any and every human interest -- lots of "bones" here. Many people are looking to make money, find friends, achieve personal goals, learn an instrument, language or skill. There is unlimited choice.

However, Don't flog a dead horse. It must be something that will enthuse, excite and prove beneficial. The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. If it doesn't arouse some passion the result might be boredom and a temptation to give up. Stick with what you know sounds like good advice. Why reinvent the wheel?

Have fun searching out your own project, but this "Proverb Practitioner" is an enthusiastic poet and songwriter and sniffing around his own "bone yard" has found a collection of song demos made and forgotten.

One of the problems of being creative is the tendency to want to move on to the next new thing, to procrastinate over doing something with what you already have. Don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today. Perhaps it is time to take action. The usual route is to send a song demo CD to the Artist and Repertoire people of record companies and hope they like you. But they are very busy and you are lucky to get a good hearing. Trial and error constitutes a wasteful method -- try thinking first.

BRIGHT IDEA: We are now in the age of mass participation so why not let the people decide?

But don't be dumb, you can't send the whole world a CD! So, what can be done?

Think! Fortune favors the bold. (Several hours later) How about a video on YouTube with a song embedded -- nothing fancy that requires techie know-how (this is on a shoestring budget) just enough to give people an idea if they think it is cool. After all: Nothing ventured nothing gained.

That then is the 2008 challenge, no more faffing about: take a song from zero to hero by years end. Mistakes, errors, blunders, frustration, procrastination, temptation and gremlins of all sorts will try to get in the way but with a cry of: If at first you don't succeed, try, try and try again and Who Dares Wins it is onwards and upwards.

Have fun.
See you soon.

William

Definition: Proverb Practitioner, someone who guides their activities with the wisdom of proverbs.

Small beginnings make great endings

So, did you keep last year's resolutions? Can you even remember what they were? Perhaps they were too ambitious, too unrealistic -- more wishful thinking than practical reality. Perhaps you should have set a small, realisable goal and on accomplishing that moved on to bigger and better things.

A rolling stone might gather no moss but a rolling snowball grows bigger and bigger. You have to pay attention to specific detail -- the same effort in different circumstances will produce very different results.

We have all heard, with some incredulity, the oft quoted statement of weather forecasters that the fluttering of a butterfly's wings in one part of the hemisphere will produce a hurricane in another. Well... maybe, but we get the message -- something small can be the starting point that creates movement, and through growing momentum, leads to something great.

I hope you have better results from your New Years Resolutions this coming year and I would like to invite you to follow an experiment I will be conducting.

You have heard me talk the talk and now I want to walk the walk. I intend to pursue several projects on the Internet in 2008 to prove the practical value of ancient wisdom. All decisions will be taken with proverbial guidance and I will report each step in the blog for you to follow.

I would like to wish you all a very happy and prosperous New Year.
William Clark

Solid pudding is better than empty praise

Words are cheap -- you can easily tell people how wonderful they are and how much you appreciate them, but showing that worth in a meaningful way might be more appropriate. Say it with flowers might have been an advertising slogan originally but it does have a point. A person who is given a bunch of beautiful, sweet-scented flowers has visual evidence that they are appreciated -- something that all the senses can be aware of.

Tradesmen are no doubt not immune to flattery but a cup of coffee or tea shows tangible gratitude. A retiring worker will appreciate the recounting of his many achievements and worthy contributions to the business' success but a good pension and a retirement present helps to make the words more meaningful.

Presenting the lady in your life with a solid pudding might not have quite the result you intended today, but in years gone by when people were much nearer daily starvation than is the modern reality it would have meant a great deal.

How Proverbs Help

Proverbs have practical applications -- they can help you cope with everyday problems.

Let us assume you have been given a task to do, for example: stage a school play. You consider all the snags and problems: need for venue, props; unruly children, unhelpful parents, over helpful parents; the list is endless, you want to give up.

But wait, the proverb: Where there's a will there's a way pops into mind. Countless others have faced similar and worse difficulties and they have come to see that Faith can move mountains so it must be possible. Heartened, you move on and start.

You want it to be good... There could be a promotion if you impress the Head. So can proverbs help again? Of course: Well begun is half done. Here is some wisdom: start off with the right attitude, get the basics right and all will follow.

You are tired and want to wait, but: Don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today. So, crying: Make hay while the sun shines and Time and tide wait for no man, you leap into action.
After a time you see some achievement but, really, there is a mountain of work to be done, perhaps it's too much. No, remember: Rome wasn't built in a day, just keep going, Lost time is never found again. Keep calm, Slow and steady wins the race.

You progress, but inevitably there are some mistakes: Trial and error waste time, try thinking first, and keep in mind: From little acorns great oaks grow, and for goodness sake Look before you leap. You keep repeating the affirmation: I can and I will.

The kids are coming along fine, enthusiastic parents are making the props, the air is thick with: If at first you don't succeed try, try and try again.

Everything is looking great, but: If something seems too good to be true... The confident young guy who assured you he was a whizz on guitar turns out to know only two chords and that's his limit. Panic! Send him for lessons? No, No good flogging a dead horse, seek a replacement. Every cloud has a silver lining. It turns out the shy boy in the corner has been Hiding his light under a bushel and is a guitar maestro. He's very nervous, you tell him to keep repeating: It will be all right on the night.

Your leading lady has just fallen out with the hero. You cajole her to Let bygones be bygones. You tell him: Faint heart never won fair lady.

The Head drops by and sees all the panic, he smiles benignly and says: To err is human, to forgive divine. You quietly mutter: The devil looks after his own.

A stir heralds the arrival of a new lad. He modestly admits to being the son of an actor and very experienced on stage. You nearly hug him and cry: Cometh the hour cometh the man. He looks embarrassed, the girls all giggle.

The show is a great success but you remember Pride comes before a fall and act modestly and graciously thanking all for their assistance without which your contribution would be nothing. The Head is beaming at you: All is well that ends well.

Seasons greetings to all my readers.

William Clark

Some Evils are Cured by Contempt

Have you ever tried to stop someone doing something that is wrong and realised they just become more obdurate and entrenched in their wrongdoing? Like a limpet that simply grips tighter the more you try to shift it.

By taking a contemptuous attitude and ignoring a problem person you might get the message across that what they are doing is not winning friends and influencing people. When they come to this understanding by themselves it will have greater impact.

Set an example of what is right and if you are looking good, confident and successful others will observe this and wish to emulate it. They will enjoy the idea that they too can then look with contempt at those still mired in evil ways.

Soft Words Win Hard Hearts

This is a truth long known by ladies who in days of warfare and conflict had to ease the mood of men inured to suffering and battle.

But diplomats who wish to bring about peace and reconciliation also have need of such skills. The natural instinct of a battle hardened warrior might be to threaten and bluster but this often just gets the backs of opponents up and guarantees constant conflict.

"Speak softly and carry a big stick", is oft quoted advice for those involved in negotiations. In other words don't try to rub your power advantage into your opposite numbers face but a gentle hint of potential accompanied with conciliatory words can lead to meaningful negotiations.

It costs more to revenge injuries than to bear them

It costs more to revenge injuries than to bear them.

A restaurant mixes up your booking and refuses to return your deposit. You get angry, see a solicitor, he threatens to sue, they pay up then he sends you a bill for more than the original amount. Neighbours in boundary disputes often find themselves in costly litigation for little or no gain. Not worth the candle.

This saying is telling us to at least consider putting up with a slight or small damage or "grin and bear it" if the cost of dealing with it outweighs the gain. However, there is a problem with this attitude because your aggressor, if they decides that your lack of retaliation is a sign of weakens, will simply torment you further. This is the classic behaviour of the bully.

So it all boils down to a judgement call - you can save yourself a lot of bother by putting up with an injury, but if you decide the perpetrator needs a lesson be very careful how you go about it.

Reputation is oft got without merit and lost without crime

Reputation is oft got without merit and lost without crime.

The latest air-head pop star shoots to fame on a lucky-break record and sustains their place in the media spotlight with moronic, outrageous behaviour. A passably attractive girl becomes the girlfriend of a successful star and achieves celebrity status by association. A military commander achieves a victory because his even more incompetent opponent was having a worse than usual off day. Second-rate politicians win elections simply because the public are totally disillusioned with their opponents. These people will often rationalise their success and believe it was due to their inner greatness. When their balloons finally pop they disappear into media oblivion.

People of genuine ability can remain unknown and be "born to bloom and waste their sweetness on the desert air". Those who do gain recognition for their genuine ability are always at the mercy of the undeserved smear or dictates of fashion. Having built someone up the media grow bored and then, like schoolboys who have patiently constructed a sandcastle, take fiendish delight in demolition.

"Life", as they say, "is nine parts cards one part skill".

Too much consulting confounds

Too much consulting confounds.

"Take good advice" is good advice... isn't it?

The trouble is when your ears and eyes are overflowing with information how do you decide what is good and what goes out with the garbage? After all, they also say: "A little learning is a dangerous thing, drink deep or touch not the Pieran spring".

If we assume that there are many roads to Rome and indeed the saying is: "All roads lead to Rome" perhaps we need to find one main source of advice or guidance where the guru has a proven track record, and follow that path.

Good decision makers are people who can cut, like Alexander, "through the Gordian knot", avoid all the irrelevant "noise", "cut to the chase" and "home in" on the essentials. They make it sound so easy but one suspects that long experience or luck plays its part. When it all gets a bit too much for you and the head buzzes with input just remember to KISS:

Keep it Simple Stupid.

Service without reward is punishment

Service without reward is punishment

Service is given and received by many people and varies from the selfless devotion of a mother to the latest slick marketing of something you neither need nor want, with much in-between.

Today, Remembrance Sunday, we remember the armed services and the sacrifices they make in times of trouble. We seek to show our appreciation and offer thanks to all those who gave their lives or suffered dreadful injuries in the pursuit of their duties, not forgetting their loved ones who had to continue alone or under a heavy burden.

For most of us the horrors of war are only in our imaginations and we look upon those brave souls who have been tested in the extremes of conflict as heroes. It is not enough just to admire - we need to show our appreciation in practical ways. Through contributing time, effort and money to appropriate organizations we can demonstrate that we truly do remember them and all the suffering and pain they have endured on our behalf.

Vows made in a storm are forgotten in the calm

Vows made in a storm are forgotten in the calm.

When the pressure is on our desire to be, and to be seen to be, virtuous is great. Most religions teach that there are consequences for wrong doing and that our difficulties and disasters can be seen as a punishment for sins.

In the halcyon days of good times we tend to let our guards down and start indulging in selfish behavior. When hard times come round again we are forced to consider our life styles and accept that perhaps our own actions have contributed to the situation. Our desire to be worthy and good is intensified.

There is a parallel here with politicians who are full of noble ideals and grand intentions in the hard times of opposition but when they finally move into the sunny uplands of government all that gold plating of goodness and virtue starts to wear thin. Eventually the people lose patience and throw them out into the darkness again. And so the cycle goes on.

The eagle does not catch flies.

The eagle does not catch flies.

This is a proverb from the time of the Roman Empire and has passed into many languages. The eagle standard that led the all-conquering army symbolized the mighty ambitions of the rulers of Rome.

Obviously a large bird of prey has to hunt animals of a reasonable size to justify the time and effort and it is this underlying principle that gives the proverb meaning.

One relevant aspect of this saying for today is a caution not to spend time and energy pursuing the insignificant. Everyone is very busy but do we always do too many niggling little tasks when we would be better focussing on major ones? Getting your priorities right means dealing with the big issues and not being bogged down in matters that can wait or be avoided. You might be convincing yourself that you are busy but unless the time and effort produces a meaningful return you are simple wasting time.

Zeal is like fire: it needs feeding and watching.

Zeal is like fire: it needs feeding and watching.

Enthusiasm tends to blaze brightly then fizzle out. How many millions of New Year's resolutions are made annually in a cheery glow of optimism only to have vanished by the end of January?
Sometimes this is because the intention was not properly thought through. The degree of commitment and time was not clearly understood. If a desirable benefit is to be achieved it is usually necessary to be prepared to make sacrifices - the gain must be worth the candle. Ask yourself: is it an achievable worthwhile aim or just a escapist daydream?

Having committed to an enterprise, of whatever sort it, is natural that the original impetus will falter, you should expect this and be prepared for it. It is useful to review and assess your projects from time to time and remember why you started them, and that your goals are worthy of putting up with the downsides. Taking things step by step, with definable goals and rewards along the way, can be an effective technique in maintaining that starting zeal.

May the fires of your life burn forever brightly.

You take more care of your shoe than your foot

You take more care of your shoe than your foot.

How many ladies have risked their feet by wearing fashionable shoes that just don't fit? Probably most. The main purpose of footwear is to protect the feet but the siren call of elegance and allure overwhelm good sense, and the result is ugly bunions, crossed toes and needless suffering. Is it worth it girls? Won't he still love you in a pair of big comfortable boots? If not you could at least give him a better kick!

This saying, at a deeper level, is warning us of the human tendency to get our priorities wrong. We deal with superficialities instead of the real issues. People can become obsessed, for example, with getting money when it is the benefits of money that are important. By budgeting more wisely and making your income go further you can get the same advantages and more time to enjoy them.

Some people will push themselves to a breakdown to afford a big house they do not need, forgeting that it is the happiness of the people living in a house that is the great thing, not merely owning it. Better a happy family in a small house than a miserable one in a mansion.

Wherever a man dwells, there will be a thorn bush near his door

Wherever a man dwells, there will be a thorn bush near his door.

Wherever you live, whatever you do, there will always be problems. Perfection is unknown to mere mortals so you had better get used to life's aggravations because they are never very far away.

Civilization is primarily concerned with Man's attempt to dominate and control his environment. In the early days of life organisms slowly changed, adapted and evolved to the environments in which they lived, but humans learned to adapt the environment itself. But however good we get at it, there is always another problem. Pause for a moment, and Nature seizes the opportunity to fight back.

It follows that your life philosophy must include a "permanent effort" clause. The golden moments when everything is going great do not last, and "constant vigilance" is the watch word. There is always a thorn near you, and the chances are your foot is heading for it.

When the pirate prays, there is great danger

A pirate, we would suppose, is an ungodly, predatory criminal who would laugh sneeringly at his victims who pleaded for mercy and prayed to their god for deliverance. But in his youth he might have had some religious instruction and would know how to pray but have rejected it in favor of a life of excess at other peoples expense. So things would have to be pretty bad before he would drop his wicked ways and turn to god for assistance.

Many people have weak religious convictions and take a skeptical attitude in their daily life but will, in a tight spot, find themselves appealing to forces greater than themselves - a prayer. Winston Churchill, the great war leader, had strict religious instruction in his youth and believed in God without question until as an adult he was exposed to other more scientific-based ideas that weakened his adherence. However, during his turbulent life when he encountered many dangers and difficulties he related that he often found himself praying.

Scientific proof that prayer actually works is hard to come by but most people when they have exhausted their human resources will often pray to what they hope is a greater reality - even the wicked godless pirate. After all, it costs nothing to try except an abandonment of selfish pride.

Where one is wise two are happy

Where one is wise two are happy.
They also say it takes two to make a quarrel and this saying is confirming that. If one individual in a relationship has the sense to avoid an unnecessary row it keeps both parties happy.

Imagine a couple: a very pretty, vain lady without a serious thought in her gorgeous head, prone to rash decisions and ill-thought-out spending sprees. If she is fortunate enough to marry a sensible, well balanced, thoughtful man who loves her deeply and who is patient and understanding, with the good sense to curb and control his wife's waywardness with forethought and planning, she is spared the worst of her own follies and leads a much happier life. Her husband is rewarded through the satisfaction of having such a delightful companion with the greatest of her follies trimmed to a bearable level without totally spoiling the spontaneity that probably attracted him to her in the first place. Result: a happy couple.

And, of course, ladies, it could work in the reverse also.