A few years ago I received a gift from a business banking friend titled, "Thoughts on Courage: Thoughts and Reflections from History's Great Thinkers."


A couple of categories seem appropriate to share with you this early in this new year. They are Confidence and Venture.


• This world has a habit of giving what is demanded of it. If you are frightened and look for failure and poverty, you will get them, no matter how hard you may try to succeed.


• After you've done a thing the same way for two years, look it over carefully.
After five years, look at it with suspicion.


After 10 years, throw it away and start over again. (Alfred Perlman) In other words, if it ain't broke, break it and see if even though it is working you can't take it to another level.


• The difference between going somewhere and nowhere is the courage to make an early start.


• The fellow who sits still and does just what he is told will never be told to do bigger things. (Charles Schwab)


I'll end this column with this thought from John F. Milburn.


Fear is like fire; If controlled it will help you; if uncontrolled, it will rise up and destroy you.


Men's actions depend to a great extent upon fear.


We do things either because we enjoy doing them or because we are afraid not to do them.