It seems that everywhere we go, we're seeing more and more examples of companies who are imitating other companies' products. They range from the $25 reproductions of expensive wristwatches sold on the streets of big cities to cheap imitations of designer handbags by the side of the road. Needless to say, this negatively impacts the business and reputations of the reputable companies who produce superb products. The same thing happens with golf clubs and clothing. One company produces a new model made of fabulous materials, and another company imitates that one with cheaper materials and reproduces it for a much lower price.

Sometimes, however, the real thing does not look like the real thing. The Susan B. Anthony dollar is a classic case. It was produced by the United States government and carried the full value of a dollar. However, it was kept in circulation for only a few years for a very good reason. It looked too much like a quarter, and that created confusion. The public thought a dollar should look like a dollar, not a 25-cent piece. The "dollar" seemed like "chump change," so it became another memory and fell out of circulation.

The message is reasonably simple. If we produce something of value, it should give the appearance of value in order to be respected and appreciated fully. If we are genuine, our performances and appearances should reflect the truth of who we are. Most kids want their parents to be "real," and most employers want and expect the same of their employees.

Along these lines, we frequently hear people say, "This person is the next …" and then name an athlete, musician or other professional, when in reality, we're all one of a kind. We're not here to fill anyone else's shoes; we're here to run in our own and do the best we can with what we've got. Be the best you, and I'll see you at the top!

The Good in Disaster

When Thomas Edison was 67 years old, his factory caught fire one night and burned to the ground. When he first discovered the fire and realized it had gotten pretty well out of control, he ran home to his wife and encouraged her to come watch because she never had seen a fire like this! The loss was complete. The factory burned to the ground, and Edison had no insurance on the building or its contents.

The question is this: How did Edison handle this disaster? First, he crawled up on a bench and took a nap. Second, when he awakened, he told his people there was good in every disaster. He said: "We have just burned all of our mistakes. Thank God we can start anew." Edison's crew responded under his leadership and went to work. Three weeks later, they produced the world's first phonograph.

It's not what happens to you but how you handle what happens to you that can make the difference. There are some things no one can control. However, we can control how we handle difficulties, whether they are major traffic delays, unexpected rainstorms that cancel golf games or fishing trips, or even our disappointment when our children do things that we disapprove of. Most of those things are inevitable. Realistically, there are no smooth seas all the way across the ocean of life, so we need to respond to difficulties in positive ways. When we take this approach, we often can turn a hopeless situation or an unfortunate incident into one of the best things that happens to us.

So learn to handle those disappointments, defeats and setbacks. Turn them into positives, and I'll see you at the top!

To find out more about Zig Ziglar and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. Subscribe to Zig Ziglar's free e-mail newsletter through info@zigziglar.com.

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