Thanks for being you!
I LOVE YOU!!
I believe in prayer. It's the best way to draw strength from heaven.
CIRCLE OF FRIENDS
I thank you for being you!
HANDY LITTLE CHART - GOD HAS A POSITIVE ANSWER:
YOU SAY GOD SAYS BIBLE VERSES
You say: 'It's impossible'
God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)
You say: 'I'm too tired'
God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: 'Nobody really loves me'
God says: I love you (John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )
You say: 'I can't go on'
God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
You say: 'I can't figure things out'
God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5- 6)
You say: 'I can't do it'
God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)
You say: 'I'm not able'
God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: 'It's not worth it'
God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28 )
You say: 'I can't forgive myself'
God says: I Forgive you (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: 'I can't manage'
God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)
You say: 'I'm afraid'
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)
You say: 'I'm always worried and frustrated'
God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)
You say: 'I'm not smart enough'
God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: 'I feel all alone'
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)
PASS THIS ON. YOU NEVER KNOW WHO MAY BE IN NEED
The first sentence is pretty powerful!
God determines who walks into your life....
it's up to you to decide who you let walk away, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go.'
Father, God, bless all my friends in whatever it is that you know they may need this day!
And may their lives be full of your peace,
prosperity and power as they seek to have a closer relationship with you.
Amen.
Make it a Wonderful Day!!
Finding God for Women
Real Questions... Real Answers
Ever have a question about life, the Bible, and so forth, and wondered whether or not the bible really has answers? Perhaps you've questioned the relevancy of the Bible. How could such an ancient book have answers for people today?
Description
Finding God begins when you realize that you are actually looking for God, even when you were looking in all the wrong places for all the wrong things. Think of this New Testament as the door. Open this door, walk through it, and you’ll find what you’re looking for—you’ll find God. This New Testament with notes written specifically for women is perfect to share with family, friends, and to use for general outreach.Special Features:
53 in-text notes help guide you through your spiritual journey into God's word
32-page Q & A section that addresses some of life's tough issues
Daily reading plans for further study
The most read, most trusted NIV translation in easy-to-read typeface
Table of Contents for Books of the New Testament
Matthew
A former tax collector became a follower of Jesus (and one of his twelve disciples) and wrote his account of Jesus' life and death. Matthe was a Jew writing to a Jewish audience hoping to convice them that Jesus was the Savior who had been prophesied in the Jewish Scriptures. Mark
A follower of Jesus (not one of the twelve disciples) wrote his account of Jesus' life and death. Mark also accompanied Paul on his first missionary journey, recorded in the book of Acts.
Luke
A Gentile (meaning someone who was not Jewish) and a doctor, Luke wanted to convince fellow Gentiles that Jesus was the perfect Savior. Luke also wrote the book of Acts.
John
A follower of Jesus and one of the twelve disciples, John wrote his book much later than the other three writers. He wanted to prove that Jesus is the Son of God.
Acts
After Jesus returned to heaven, his followers began to spread the good news of being saved through him to people all over the world. This book tells the story of the early Christains and the very first churches.
Romans
This letter was written by Paul to the Christians in the city of Rome, capital of the Roman empire. Paul had not yet visited the believers in Rome, but he wanted to write to them an explanation of what it means to be Christians and how the Jews should understand the relationship of their faith to its fulfillment in Christianity.
1 Corinthians
This letter was written by Paul to the church in the city of Corinth. You might recognize some modern churches in this letter, for Paul deals with problems that were arising in the church as a result of the people not understanding how their faith should work out in their daily lives—in marriage, in the foods they ate, in worship, in exercising their spiritual gifts, and in their relationships to fellow believers and to nonbelievers.
2 Corinthians
Another letter from Paul to the church in Corinth. Although the first letter had its desired effect, some people were not following Paul's directives and even questioning his authority. Paul set them straight in this letter.
Galatians
This letter was from Paul to several churches in the Roman province of Galatia. A controversy had arisen. Some of the Jews who became Christians basically thought that any Gentile who wanted to become a Christian needed to become Jewish first. The Jews didn't understand what to do with all of the Old Testament laws, and they didn't understand how the Gentiles should act as Christians. Paul sought to help with this letter.Ephesians
Paul wrote to encourage the believers in the city of Ephesus and other churches in the area. Paul had spent three years at this church and so was very close to these believers. Paul wrote this letter while he was in prison in Rome for preaching about Jesus.
Philippians
Paul wrote to the believers in the city of Philippi, thanking them for a gift they had sent him and encouraging them to rejoice no matter what. Paul wrote this letter while he was in prison in Rome for preaching about Jesus.
Colossians
Paul had never visited the church in Colosse; it had been founded by other believers. Paul wrote to this church about the dangers of teachers who came with wrong teaching that went against the Bible. This letter was also written while Paul was in prison.
1 Thessalonians
Paul's first letter to the church in Thessalonica, helping them to understand more about the future when Jesus would return and how they should prepare for that. These lessons are helpful to us today as well, as we continue to await Jesus' return.
2 Thessalonians
A second letter to the church in Thessalonica, helping the believers to stand strong against those who would persecute them for thier faith.
1 Timothy
Timothy was a young man who became a Christian under Paul's teaching. Timothy spent some time in the church in Ephesus, helping them grow as a congregation. Paul wrote this letter to give Timothy practical advice about leading churches.
2 Timothy
This was probably Paul's last letter ever written. He was imprisoned a second time under Emperor Nero and was ultimately martyred. These are his final words to a dear friend.
Titus
Paul's letter to another man who helped Paul out in ministry and ultimately worked with the church on the island of Crete. Paul gave advice on helping the church there.
PhilemonPaul's letter to a man who was a member of the church in Colosse. Philemon's slave, named Onesimus, had stolen money and run away— only to run into Paul and become a Christian. Paul sent Onesimus back to his master with this letter encouraging Philemon to forgive and accept Onesimus as a fellow believer.
Hebrews
An unknown author wrote to Jews scattered all over the Roman empire with the facts of how Jesus fulfilled their prophecies and was their Messiah.
James
This was James, Jesus' helf-brother and leader of the church located in Jerusalem. He wanted to help the believers live what they believe.
1 Peter
This was from Peter, one of Jesus' twelve disciples. As the first century drew to a close, persecution of Christians became more intense. Peter wrote to encourage the believers to stand strong in their faith, no matter what.
2 Peter
A second letter from Peter He knew that he would soon be martyred for his faith, so he wrote to encourage the believers and to warn them against false teachers who would twist the truth of Jesus' message.
1 John
A letter from John, one of Jesus' twelve desciples, writing later in the first century to encourage believers to stay true to the faith and to avoid heretical teachings.
2 John
A second letter from John, warning the believers to watch out for false teachers and to not even give hospitality to those who taught heresy.
3 John
A third letter from John, this one addressed to a man named Gaius who was hospitable to the Christian missionaries. John wanted to encourage and thank him.
Jude
Jude was another of Jesus' half-brothers, like James (above). Jude wanted to remind the believers to be constantly on the lookout for false teachers.
RevelationJohn (who wrote the Gospel of John and the three letters from John noted above) received a special revelation of what will happen at the end of time. This record assures us that we are on the winning side. One day Christ will return and set up his eternal kingdom.
정광명 淨光明 Clear Light
2005 October 11 NGC 869 & NGC 884: A Double Open Cluster
Credit &
Copyright: Thomas V. Davis (tvdavisastropix.com) Explanation: Most star clusters are singularly impressive. Open
clusters NGC 869 and NGC 884, however, are doubly impressive. Also known
as "h and chi Persei", this unusual double
cluster, shown above, is bright enough to be seen from a dark location
without even binoculars. Although their discovery surely predates written
history, the Greek astronomer Hipparchus
notably cataloged the "double cluster".
The clusters are over 7,000 light years distant toward the constellation of Perseus, but are separated by only hundreds of light
years.
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap051011.html
정광명 淨光明 Clear Light
존재하는 모든 것들의 근본 실체를 이루고 있는것... 정광명 淨光明 Clear Light
죽음의 순간에 나타나는 존재 근원에서 나오는 투명한 빛을 깨달아 영원한 자유를 얻게 되며,
어떤 사후세계도 거치지 않고 공중에 위쪽 방향으로 똑바로 난 큰 길 無上垂直道 를 따라
태어남이 없는 근원의 세계로 곧바로 들어가게 된다
아,
고귀하게 태어나신 어머니...
당신 존재의 근원으로 돌아가는 길을 찾을 순간이 왔습니다
그 근원의 빛을 체험하려 하고 있습니다
이 순간에 모든 것은 구름 없는 텅 빈 하늘과 같고,
아무것도 걸치지 않은 티없이 맑은 당신의 마음은
중심도 둘레도 없는 투명한 허공과 같습니다
이 순간 당신 자신의 참 나를 알고 그 빛 속에 머무소서
이제...
흙이 물 속으로 가라앉고,
물은 불 속으로 가라앉고,
불은 공기 속으로 가라앉고,
공기는 의식 속으로 가라앉는 현상이 나타나고 있습니다
아,
고귀하게 태어나신 어머니...
당신의 마음이 흩어지지 않도록 의식을 집중하세요
그리고 이렇게 결심하세요
"아,
지금은 죽음의 때로다
나는 이 죽음을 이용해 허공처럼 많은 생명 가진 모든 것들에게 사랑과 자비의 마음을 가지리라
그리고 그들을 위해 완전한 깨달음을 얻기 위해 노력하리라."
지금이야말로 당신이 모든 생명 가진 것들의 이익을 위해 존재의 근원에서 나오는 투명한 빛을 깨달을 수 있는 더없이 중요한 시간입니다
당신이 머물고 있는 모든 상대성이 사라진 그 절대의 세계로 부터 큰 기회를 붙잡겠다고 결심하세요
그리고 이렇게 결심하세요
"이 사후세계에서 존재의 근원과 하나가 되어 어떤 모습으로든지 모든 생명 가진 존재들에게 이익이 될 만한 모습으로 나타나리라
무한한 허공처럼 다함없는 모든 생명 가진 존재들을 위해 나는 일하리라."
높으신 스승이시여...
이제 당신은 존재의 근원에서 나오는 투명한 빛을 체험하고 있습니다
지금 체험하고 있는 그 상태에 머물도록 하십시오
아,
고귀하게 태어나신 어머니...
이제 당신은 순수한 존재의 근원에서 나오는 투명한 빛을 체험하고 있습니다
아,
고귀하게 태어나신 어머니...
당신의 현재의 마음이 곧 존재의 근원이며 완전한 선입니다
그것은 본래 텅 빈 것이고, 모습도 없고, 색깔도 없는 것입니다
당신 자신의 마음이 곧 참된 의식이며 완전한 선을 지닌 善, 德 입니다
그것은 텅 빈 것이지만 아무것도 없는 텅 빔이 아니라
아무런 걸림이 없고, 스스로 빛나며, 기쁨과 행복으로 가득한 텅 빔입니다
본래 텅 비어 있고 아무런 모습도 갖지 않은 당신 자신의 참된 의식이 곧 당신의 마음입니다
그것은 스스로 빛나고 더없는 행복으로 가득한 세계입니다
이 둘은 서로 다른 것이 아니라 하나입니다
그 하나됨이 바로 완전한 깨달음의 상태입니다
당신 자신의 마음이 바로 영원히 변치 않는 빛이십니다
당신의 마음은 본래 텅 빈 것이고 스스로 빛나며,
저 큰 빛의 몸으로 부터 떨어질 수 없습니다
그것은 태어남도 없고 죽음도 없습니다
이것을 깨닫는 것으로 충분합니다
본래 텅 빈 당신 자신의 마음이 곧 善, 德 임을 깨닫고,
그것이 곧 당신 자신의 참된 의식임을 알 때
당신은 善, 德의 마음 상태에 머물게 됩니다
아,
고귀하게 태어나신 어머니...
당신께 이렇게 일곱번 기도 드리오니
당신의 순수 의식이 투명한 빛임을 깨닫고
당신 자신의 모습을 깨달아
존재의 근원과 영원히 하나 되소서
그리하여
영원한 자유에 이르소서
The Tibetan Book Of The Dead
고귀하게 태어나신 어머니는
당신으로부터 발하는 눈이 부시도록 투명한 빛으로
영원한 자유에 이르는 근원과 하나 되셨습니다
위로의 글을 남겨주신 친구님들과 함께 나눠주시는 모든분들께
그리고...
마음으로 힘이 되어주신 coolwise 님께
머리숙여 깊은 감사를 드립니다
bluespirit 올림
WHAT MEN LIVE BY
WHAT MEN LIVE BY 
by Leo Tolstoy
'We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not abideth in death.' -- I Epistle St. John iii. 14.
'Whoso hath the world's goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth.' -- iii. 17-18.
'Love is of God; and everyon-e that loveth is begotten of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.' -- iv. 7-8.
'No man hath beheld God at any time; if we loveon-e another, God abideth in us.' -- iv. 12.
'God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him.' -- iv. 16.
'If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar; for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?' -- iv. 20.
I
A SHOEMAKER named Simon, who had neither house nor land of his own, lived with his wife and children in a peasant's hut, and earned his living by his work. Work was cheap but bread was dear, and what he earned he spent for food. The man and his wife had buton-e sheepskin coat between them for winter wear, and even that was worn to tatters, and this was the second year he had been wanting to buy sheep-skins for a new coat. Before winter Simon saved up a little money: a three-rouble note lay hidden in his wife's box, and five roubles and twenty kopeks were owed him by customers in the village.
Soon-e morning he prepared to go to the village to buy the sheep-skins. He put on over his shirt his wife's wadded nankeen jacket, and over that he put his own cloth coat. He took the three-rouble note in his pocket, cut himself a stick to serve as a staff, and started off after breakfast. 'I'll collect the five roubles that are due to me,' thought he, 'add the three I have got, and that will be enough to buy sheep-skins for the winter coat.'
He came to the village and called at a peasant's hut, but the man was not at home. The peasant's wife promised that the money should be paid next week, but she would not pay it herself. Then Simon called on another peasant, but thison-e swore he had no money, and wouldon-ly pay twenty kopeks which he owed for a pair of boots Simon had mended. Simon then tried to buy the sheep-skins on credit, but the deader would not trust him.
'Bring your money,' said he, 'then you may have your pick of the skins. We know what debt-collecting is like.'
So all the business the shoemaker did was to get the twenty kopeks for boots he had mended, and to take a pair of felt boots a peasant gave him to sole with leather.
Simon felt downhearted. He spent the twenty kopeks on vodka, and started homewards without having bought any skins. In the morning he had felt the frost; but now, after drinking the vodka, he felt warm even without a sheep-skin coat. He trudged along, striking his stick on the frozen earth withon-e hand, swinging the felt boots with the other, and talking to himself.
'I'm quite warm,' said he, 'though I have no sheepskin coat. I've had a drop, and it runs through all my veins. I need no sheepskins. I go along and don't worry about anything.
That's the sort of man I am! What do I care? I can live without sheep skins. I don't need them. My wife will fret, to be sure. And, true enough, it's a shame;on-e works all day long, and then does not get paid. Stop a bit! If you don't bring that money along, sure enough I'll skin you, blessed if I don't. How's that? He pays twenty kopeks at a time! What can I do with twenty kopeks: Drink it -- that's allon-e can do! Hard up, he says he is! So he may be -- but what about me? You have house, and cattle, and everything; I'veon-ly what I stand up in! You have corn of your own growing; I have to buy every grain. Do what I will, I must spend three roubles every week for bread alone. I come home and find the bread all used up, and I have to fork out another rouble and a half. So just you pay up what you owe, and no nonsense about it!'
By this time he had nearly reached the shrine at the bend of the road. Looking up, he saw something whitish behind the shrine. The daylight was fading, and the shoemaker peered at the thing without being able to make out what it was. 'There was no white stone here before. Can it be an ox? It's not like an ox. It has a head like a man, but it's too white; and what could a man be doing there?'
He came closer, so that it was clearly visible. To his surprise it really was a man, alive or dead, sitting naked, leaning motionless against the shrine. Terror seized the shoemaker, and he thought, 'Someon-e has killed him, stripped him, and left him here. If I meddle I shall surely get into trouble.'
So the shoemaker went on. He passed in front of the shrine so that he could not see the man. When he had gone some way, he looked back, and saw that the man was no longer leaning against the shrine, but was moving as if looking towards him. The shoemaker felt more frightened than before, and thought, 'Shall I go back to him, or shall I go on? If I go near him something dreadful may happen. Who knows who the fellow is? He has not come here for any good. If I go near him he may jump up and throttle me, and there will be no getting away. Or if not, he'd still be a burden onon-e's hands. What could I do with a naked man? I couldn't give him my last clothes. Heavenon-ly help me to get away!'
So the shoemaker hurried on, leaving the shrine behind him -- when suddenly his conscience smote him and he stopped in the road.
'What are you doing, Simon?' said he to himself. 'The man may be dying of want, and you slip past afraid. Have you grown so rich as to be afraid of robbers? Ah, Simon, shame on you!'
So he turned back and went up to the man.
II
Simon approached the stranger, looked at him, and saw that he was a young man, fit, with no bruises on his body,on-ly evidently freezing and frightened, and he sat there leaning back without looking up at Simon, as if too faint to lift his eyes. Simon went close to him, and then the man seemed to wake up. Turning his head, he opened his eyes and looked into Simon's face. Thaton-e look was enough to make Simon fond of the man. He threw the felt boots on the ground undid his sash, laid it on the boots, and took off his cloth coat.
'It's not a time for talking,' said he. 'Come, put this coat on aton-ce!' And Simon took the man by the elbows and helped him to rise. As he stood there, Simon saw that his body was clean and in good condition, his hands and feet shapely, and his face good and kind. He threw his coat over the man's shoulders but the latter could not find the sleeves. Simon guided his arms into them, and drawing the coat well on trapped it closely about him, tying the sash round the man's waist.
Simon even took off his torn cap to put it on the man's head, but then his own head felt cold, and he thought: 'I'm quite bald, while he has long curly hair.' So he put his cap on his own head again. 'It will be better to give him something for his feet,' thought he; and he made the man sit down, and helped him to put on the felt boots, saying, 'There, friend, now move about and warm yourself. Other matters can be settled later on. Can you walk?'
The man stood up and looked kindly at Simon, but could not say a word.
'Why don't you speak?' said Simon. 'It's too cold to stay here; we must be getting home.
There now, take my stick, and if you're feeling weak, lean on that. Now step out!'
The man started walking, and moved easily, not lagging behind.
As they went along, Simon asked him, 'And where do you belong to?'
'I'm not from these parts.'
'I thought as much. I know the folks hereabouts. But how did you come to be there by the shrine?'
'I cannot tell.'
'Has someon-e been ill-treating you?'
'Noon-e has ill-treated me. God has punished me.
'Of course God rules all. Still, you'll have to find food and shelter somewhere. Where do you want to go to?'
'It is all the same to me.'
Simon was amazed. The man did not look like a rogue, and he spoke gently, but yet he gave no account of himself. Still Simon thought, 'Who knows what may have happened?'
And he said to the stranger: 'Well then, come home with me, and at least warm yourself awhile.'
So Simon walked towards his home, and the stranger kept up with him, walking at his side. The wind had risen and Simon felt it cold under his shirt. He was getting over his tipsiness by now, and began to feel the frost. He went along sniffling and wrapping his wife's coat round him, and he thought to himself: 'There now -- talk about sheepskins! I went out for sheepskins and come home without even a coat to my back and what is more, I'm bringing a naked man along with me. Matryona won't be pleased!' And when he thought of his wife he felt sad; but when he looked at the stranger and remembered how he had looked up at him at the shrine, his heart was glad.
III
Simon's wife had everything ready early that day. She had cut wood, brought water, fed the children eaten her own meal, and now she sat thinking. She wondered when she ought to make bread: now or to-morrow? There was still a large piece left.
'If Simon has had some dinner in town,' thought she, 'and does not eat much for supper, the bread will last out another day.'
She weighed the piece of bread in her hand again and again, and thought: 'I won't make any more to-day. We haveon-ly enough flour left to bakeon-e batch. We can manage to make this last out till Friday.'
So Matryona put away the bread, and sat down at the table to patch her husband's shirt. While she worked she thought how her husband was buying skins for a winter coat.
'Ifon-ly the dealer does not cheat him. My good man is much too simple; he cheats nobody, but any child can take him in. Eight roubles is a lot of money -- he should get a good coat at that price. Not tanned skins, but still a proper winter coat. How difficult it was last winter to get on without a warm coat. I could neither get down to the river, nor go out anywhere.
When he went out he put on all we had, and there was nothing left for me. He did not start very early to-day, but still it's time he was back. Ion-ly hope he has not gone on the spree!'
Hardly had Matryona thought this, when steps were heard on the threshold, and someon-e entered. Matryona stuck her needle into her work and went out into the passage. There she saw two men: Simon, and with him a man without a hat, and wearing felt boots.
Matryona noticed aton-ce that her husband smelt of spirits. 'There now, he has been drinking,' thought she. And when she saw that he was coatless, hadon-ly her jacket on, brought no parcel, stood there silent, and seemed ashamed, her heart was ready to break with disappointment. 'He has drunk the money,' thought she, 'and has been on the spree with some good-for-nothing fellow whom he has brought home with him.'
Matryona let them pass into the hut, followed them in, and saw that the stranger was a young, slight man, wearing her husband's coat. There was no shirt to be seen under it, and he had no hat. Having entered, he stood neither moving, nor raising his eyes, and Matryona thought: 'He must be a bad man -- he's afraid.'
Matryona frowned, and stood beside the oven looking to see what they would do.
Simon took off his cap and sat down on the bench as if things were all right.
'Come, Matryona; if supper is ready, let us have some.'
Matryona muttered something to herself and did not move, but stayed where she was, by the oven. She looked first at theon-e and then at the other of them, and only shook her head. Simon saw that his wife was annoyed, but tried to pass it off. Pretending not to notice anything, he took the stranger by the arm.
'Sit down, friend,' said he, 'and let us have some supper.'
The stranger sat down on the bench.
'Haven't you cooked anything for us?' said Simon.
Matryona's anger boiled over. 'I've cooked, but not for you. It seems to me you have drunk your wits away. You went to buy a sheep-skin coat, but come home without so much as the coat you had on, and bring a naked vagabond home with you. I have no supper for drunkards like you.'
'That's enough, Matryona. Don't wag your tongue without reason! You had better ask what sort of man...'
'And you tell me what you've done with the money?'
Simon found the pocket of the jacket, drew out the three-rouble note, and unfolded it.
'Here is the money. Trifonof did not pay, but promises to pay soon.'
Matryona got still more angry; he had bought no sheep-skins, but had put his only coat on some naked fellow and had even brought him to their house.
She snatched up the note from the table, took it to put away in safety, and said: 'I have no supper for you. We can't feed all the naked drunkards in the world.'
'There now, Matryona, hold your tongue a bit. First hear what a man has to say!'
'Much wisdom I shall hear from a drunken fool. I was right in not wanting to marry you -- a drunkard. The linen my mother gave me you drank; and now you've been to buy a coat -- and have drunk it too!'
Simon tried to explain to his wife that he hadon-ly spent twenty kopeks; tried to tell how he had found the man -- but Matryona would not let him get a word in. She talked nineteen to the dozen, and dragged in things that had happened ten years before.
Matryona talked and talked, and at last she flew at Simon and seized him by the sleeve.
'Give me my jacket. It is theon-lyon-e I have and you must needs take it from me and wear it yourself. Give it here, you mangy dog, and may the devil take you.'
Simon began to pull off the jacket, and turned a sleeve of it inside out; Matryona seized the jacket and it burst its seams. She snatched it up, threw it over her head and went to the door. She meant to go out, but stopped undecided -- she wanted to work off her anger, but she also wanted to learn what sort of a man the stranger was.
IV
Matryona stopped and said: 'If he were a good man he would not be naked. Why, he hasn't even a shirt on him. If he were all right, you would say where you came across the fellow.'
'That's just what I am trying to tell you,' said Simon. 'As I came to the shrine I saw him sitting all naked and frozen. It isn't quite the weather to sit about naked! God sent me to him, or he would have perished. What was I to do? How do we know what may have happened to him? So I took him, clothed him, and brought him along. Don't be so angry, Matryona. It is a sin. Remember, we all must dieon-e day.'
Angry words rose to Matryona's lips, but she looked at the stranger and was silent. He sat on the edge of the bench, motionless, his hands folded on his knees, his head drooping on his breast, his eyes closed, and his brows knit as if in pain. Matryona was silent, and Simon said: 'Matryona, have you no love of God?'
Matryona heard these words, and as she looked at the stranger, suddenly her heart softened towards him. She came back from the door, and going to the oven she got out the supper. Setting a cup on the table, she poured out some kvas. Then she brought out the last piece of bread, and set out a knife and spoons.
'Eat, if you want to,' said she.
Simon drew the stranger to the table.
'Take your place, young man,' said he.
Simon cut the bread, crumbled it into the broth, and they began to eat. Matryona sat at the corner of the table, resting her head on her hand and looking at the stranger.
And Matryona was touched with pity for the stranger, and began to feel fond of him. And aton-ce the stranger's face lit up; his brows were no longer bent, he raised his eyes and smiled at Matryona.
When they had finished supper, the woman cleared away the things and began questioning the stranger. 'Where are you from?' said she.
'I am not from these parts.'
'But how did you come to be on the road?'
'I may not tell.'
'Did someon-e rob you?'
'God punished me.'
'And you were lying there naked?'
'Yes, naked and freezing. Simon saw me and had pity on me. He took off his coat, put it on me and brought me here. And you have fed me, given me drink, and shown pity on me. God will reward you!'
Matryona rose, took from the window Simon's old shirt she had been patching, and gave it to the stranger. She also brought out a pair of trousers for him.
'There,' said she, 'I see you have no shirt. Put this on, and lie down where you please, in the loft or on the oven.'
The stranger took off the coat, put on the shirt, and lay down in the loft. Matryona put out the candle, took the coat, and climbed to where her husband lay.
Matryona drew the skirts of the coat over her and lay down, but could not sleep; she could not get the stranger out of her mind.
When she remembered that he had eaten their last piece of bread and that there was none for tomorrow and thought of the shirt and trousers she had given away, she felt grieved; but when she remembered how he had smiled, her heart was glad.
Long did Matryona lie awake, and she noticed that Simon also was awake -- he drew the coat towards him.
'Simon!'
'Well?'
'You have had the last of the bread, and I have not put any to rise. I don't know what we shall do tomorrow. Perhaps I can borrow some of neighbor Martha.'
'If we're alive we shall find something to eat.'
The woman lay still awhile, and then said, 'He seems a good man, but why does he not tell us who he is?'
'I suppose he has his reasons.'
'Simon!'
'Well?'
'We give; but why does nobody give us anything?'
Simon did not know what to say; so heon-ly said, 'Let us stop talking,' and turned over and went to sleep.
V
In the morning Simon awoke. The children were still asleep; his wife had gone to the neighbor's to borrow some bread. The stranger alone was sitting on the bench, dressed in the old shirt and trousers, and looking upwards. His face was brighter than it had been the day before.
Simon said to him, 'Well, friend; the belly wants bread and the naked body clothes.nulle has to work for a living. What work do you know?'
'I do not know any.'
This surprised Simon, but he said, 'Men who want to learn can learn anything.'
'Men work, and I will work also.'
'What is your name?'
'Michael.'
'Well Michael, if you don't wish to talk about yourself that is your own affair; but you'll have to earn a living for yourself. If you will work as I tell you, I will give you food and shelter.'
'May God reward you! I will learn. Show me what to do.'
Simon took yarn, put it round his thumb and began to twist it.
'It is easy enough -- see!'
Michael watched him, put some yarn round his own thumb in the same way, caught the knack, and twisted the yarn also.
Then Simon showed him how to wax the thread. This also Michael mastered. Next Simon showed him how to twist the bristle in, and how to sew, and this, too, Michael learned aton-ce.
Whatever Simon showed him he understood aton-ce, and after three days he worked as if he had sewn boots all his life. He worked without stopping, and ate little. When work was over he sat silently, looking upwards. He hardly went into the street, spokeon-ly when necessary, and neither joked nor laughed. They never saw him smile, except that first evening when Matryona gave them supper.
VI
Day by day and week by week the year went round. Michael lived and worked with Simon.
His fame spread till people said that noon-e sewed boots so neatly and strongly as Simon's workman, Michael; and from all the district round people came to Simon for their boots, and he began to be well off.
One winter day, as Simon and Michael sat working a carriage on sledge-runners, with three horses and with bells, drove up to the hut. They looked out of the window; the carriage stopped at their door, a fine servant jumped down from the box and opened the door. A gentleman in a fur coat got out and walked up to Simon's hut. Up jumped Matryona and opened the door wide. The gentleman stooped to enter the hut, and when he drew himself up again his head nearly reached the ceiling, and he seemed quite to fill his end of the room.
Simon rose, bowed, and looked at the gentleman with astonishment. He had never seen anyon-e like him. Simon himself was lean, Michael was thin, and Matryona was dry as a bone, but this man was like someon-e from another world: red-faced, burly, with a neck like a bull's, and looking altogether as if he were cast in iron.
The gentleman puffed, threw off his fur coat, sat down on the bench, and said, 'Which of you is the master bootmaker?'
'I am, your Excellency,' said Simon, coming forward.
Then the gentleman shouted to his lad, 'Hey, Fyodka, bring the leather!'
The servant ran in, bringing a parcel. The gentleman took the parcel and put it on the table.
'Untie it' said he. The lad untied it.
The gentleman pointed to the leather.
'Look here, shoemaker,' said he, 'do you see this leather?'
'Yes, your honor.'
'But do you know what sort of leather it is?'
Simon felt the leather and said, 'It is good leather.'
'Good, indeed! Why, you fool, you never saw such leather before in your life. It's German, and cost twenty roubles.'
Simon was frightened, and said, 'Where should I ever see leather like that?'
'Just so! Now, can you make it into boots for me?'
'Yes, your Excellency, I can.'
Then the gentleman shouted at him: 'You can, can you? Well, remember whom you are to make them for, and what the leather is. You must make me boots that will wear for a year, neither losing shape nor coming unsewn. If you can do it, take the leather and cut it up; but if you can't, say so. I warn you now, if your boots come unsewn or lose shape within a year, I will have you put in prison. If they don't burst or lose shape for a year, I will pay you ten roubles for your work.'
Simon was frightened, and did not know what to say. He glanced at Michael and nudging him with his elbow, whispered: 'Shall I take the work?'
Michael nodded his head as if to say, 'Yes, take it.'
Simon did as Michael advised, and undertook to make boots that would not lose shape or split for a whole year.
Calling his servant, the gentleman told him to pull the boot off his left leg, which he stretched out.
'Take my measure!' said he.
Simon stitched a paper measure seventeen inches long, smoothed it out, knelt down, wiped his hands well on his apron so as not to soil the gentleman's sock, and began to measure.
He measured the sole, and round the instep, and began to measure the calf of the leg, but the paper was too short. The calf of the leg was as thick as a beam.
'Mind you don't make it too tight in the leg.'
Simon stitched on another strip of paper. The gentleman twitched his toes about in his sock, looking round at those in the hut, and as he did so he noticed Michael.
'Whom have you there?' asked he
'That is my workman. He will sew the boots.'
'Mind,' said the gentleman to Michael, 'remember to make them so that they will last me a year.'
Simon also looked at Michael, and saw that Michael was not looking at the gentleman, but was gazing into the corner behind the gentleman, as if he saw someon-e there. Michael looked and looked, and suddenly he smiled, and his face became brighter.
'What are you grinning at, you fool?' thundered the gentleman. 'You had better look to it that the boots are ready in time.'
'They shall be ready in good time,' said Michael.
'Mind it is so,' said the gentleman, and he put on his boots and his fur coat, wrapped the latter round him, and went to the door. But he forgot to stoop and struck his head against the lintel.
He swore and rubbed his head. Then he took his seat in the carriage and drove away.
When he had gone, Simon said: 'There's a figure of a man for you! You could not kill him with a mallet. He almost knocked out the lintel, but little harm it did him.'
And Matryona said: 'Living as he does, how should he not grow strong? Death itself can't touch such a rock as that.'
VII
Then Simon said to Michael: 'Well, we have taken the work, but we must see we don't get into trouble over it. The leather is dear, and the gentleman hot-tempered. We must make no mistakes. Come, your eye is truer and your hands have become nimbler than mine, so you take this measure and cut out the boots. I will finish off the sewing of the vamps.'
Michael did as he was told. He took the leather spread it out on the table, folded it in two, took a knife and began to cut out.
Matryona came and watched him cutting, and was surprised to see how he was doing it.
Matryona was accustomed to seeing boots made, and she looked and saw that Michael was not cutting the leather for boots, but was cutting it round.
She wished to say something, but she thought to herself: 'Perhaps I do not understand how gentlemen's boots should be made. I suppose Michael knows more about it -- and I won't interfere.'
When Michael had cut up the leather, he took a thread and began to sew not with two ends, as boots are sewn, but with a single end, as for soft slippers.
Again Matryona wondered, but again she did not interfere. Michael sewed on steadily till noon. Then Simon rose for dinner, looked around, and saw that Michael had made slippers out of the gentleman's leather.
'Ah!' groaned Simon, and he thought, 'How is it that Michael, who has been with me a whole year and never made a mistake before, should do such a dreadful thing? The gentleman ordered high boots, welted, with whole fronts, and Michael has made soft slippers with single soles, and has wasted the leather. What am I to say to the gentleman? I can never replace leather such as this.'
And he said to Michael, 'What are you doing friend? You have ruined me! You know the gentleman ordered high boots but see what you have made!'
Hardly had he begun to rebuke Michael, when 'rat-tat' , went the iron ring that hung at the door. Someon-e was knocking. They looked out of the window; a man had come on horseback, and was fastening his horse. They opened the door, and the servant who had been with the gentleman came in.
'Good day,' said he.
'Good day,' replied Simon. 'What can we do for you?'
'My mistress has sent me about the boots.'
'What about the boots?'
'Why, my master no longer needs them. He is dead.'
'Is it possible?'
'He did not live to get home after leaving you, but died in the carriage. When we reached home and the servants came to help him alight he rolled over like a sack. He was dead already, and so stiff that he could hardly be got out of the carriage. My mistress sent me here, saying: "Tell the bootmaker that the gentleman who ordered boots of him and left the leather for them no longer needs the boots, but that he must quickly make soft slippers for the corpse. Wait till they are ready, and bring them back with you." That is why I have come.'
Michael gathered up the remnants of the leather; rolled them up, took the soft slippers he had made, slapped them together, wiped them down with his apron, and handed them and the roll of leather to the servant, who took them and said: 'Good-bye, masters and good day to you!'
VIII
Another year passed, and another, and Michael was now living his sixth year with Simon.
He lived as before. He went nowhere,on-ly spoke when necessary, and hadon-ly smiled twice in all those years --on-ce when Matryona gave him food, and a second time when the gentleman was in their hut. Simon was more than pleased with his workman. He never now asked him where he came from, andon-ly feared lest Michael should go away.
They were all at homeon-e day. Matryona was putting iron pots in the oven, the children were running along the benches and looking out of the window; Simon was sewing aton-e window, and Michael was fastening on a heel at the other.
One of the boys ran along the bench to Michael, leant on his shoulder, and looked out of the window.
'Look, Uncle Michael! There is a lady with little girls! She seems to be coming here. Andon-e of the girls is lame.'
When the boy said that, Michael dropped his work, turned to the window, and looked out into the street.
Simon was surprised. Michael never used to look out into the street, but now he pressed against the window, staring at something. Simon also looked out, and saw that a well-dressed woman was really coming to his hut, leading by the hand two little girls in fur coats and woolen shawls. The girls could hardly be told one from the other, except thaton-e of them was crippled in her left leg and walked with a limp.
The woman stepped into the porch and entered the passage. Feeling about for the entrance she found the latch, which she lifted, and opened the door. She let the two girls go in first, and followed them into the hut.
'Good day, good folk!'
'Pray come in,' said Simon. 'What can we do for you?'
The woman sat down by the table. The two little girls pressed close to her knees, afraid of the people in the hut.
'I want leather shoes made for these two little girls, for spring.'
'We can do that. We never have made such small shoes, but we can make them; either welted or turnover shoes, linen lined. My man, Michael, is a master at the work.'
Simon glanced at Michael and saw that he had left his work and was sitting with his eyes fixed on the little girls. Simon was surprised. It was true the girls were pretty, with black eyes, plump, and rosy-cheeked, and they wore nice kerchiefs and fur coats, but still Simon could not understand why Michael should look at them like that -- just as if he had known them before. He was puzzled, but went on talking with the woman, and arranging the price.
Having fixed it, he prepared the measure. The woman lifted the lame girl on to her lap and said: 'Take two measures from this little girl. Makeon-e shoe for the lame foot and three for the soundon-e. They both have the same sized feet. They are twins.'
Simon took the measure and, speaking of the lame girl, said: 'How did it happen to her? She is such a pretty girl. Was she born so?'
'No, her mother crushed her leg.'
Then Matryona joined in. She wondered who this woman was, and whose the children were, so she said: 'Are not you their mother, then?'
'No, my good woman, I am neither their mother nor any relation to them. They were quite strangers to me, but I adopted them.'
'They are not your children and yet you are so fond of them?'
'How can I help being fond of them? I fed them both at my own breasts. I had a child of my own, but God took him. I was not so fond of him as I now am of them.'
'Then whose children are they?'
IX
The woman, having begun talking, told them the whole story.
'It is about six years since their parents died, both inon-e week: their father was buried on the Tuesday, and their mother died on the Friday. These orphans were born three days after their father's death, and their mother did not live another day. My husband and I were then living as peasants in the village. We were neighbors of theirs, our yard being next to theirs.
Their father was a lonely man; a wood-cutter in the forest. When felling treeson-e day, they leton-e fall on him. It fell across his body and crushed his bowels out. They hardly got him home before his soul went to God; and that same week his wife gave birth to twins -- these little girls. She was poor and alone; she had noon-e, young or old, with her. Alone she gave them birth, and alone she met her death.
'The next morning I went to see her, but when I entered the hut, she, poor thing, was already stark and cold. In dying she had rolled on to this child and crushed her leg. The village folk came to the hut washed the body, laid her out, made a coffin, and buried her.
They were good folk. The babies were left alone. What was to be done with them? I was theon-ly woman there who had a baby at the time. I was nursing my first-born -- eight weeks old. So I took them for a time. The peasants came together, and thought and thought what to do with them, and at last they said to me: "For the present, Mary, you had better keep the girls, and later on we will arrange what to do for them." So I nursed the soundon-e at my breast, but at first I did not feed this crippledon-e. I did not suppose she would live. But then I thought to myself, why should the poor innocent suffer? I pitied her, and began to feed her. And so I fed my own boy and these two -- the three of them -- at my own breast. I was young and strong, and had good food, and God gave me so much milk that at times it even overflowed. I used sometimes to feed two at a time, while the third was waiting. Whenon-e had had enough I nursed the third. And God so ordered it that these grew up, while my own was buried before he was two years old. And I had no more children, though we prospered. Now my husband is working for the corn merchant at the mill. The pay is good and we are well off. But I have no children of my own, and how lonely I should be without these little girls! How can I help loving them! They are the joy of my life!'
She pressed the lame little girl to her withon-e hand while with the other she wiped the tears from her cheeks.
And Matryona sighed, and said: 'The proverb is true that says, "One may live without father or mother, buton-e cannot live without God."'
So they talked together, when suddenly the whole hut was lighted up as though by summer lightning from the corner where Michael sat. They all looked towards him and saw him sitting, his hands folded on his knees, gazing upwards and smiling.
X
The woman went away with the girls. Michael rose from the bench, put down his work, and took off his apron. Then, bowing low to Simon and his wife, he said: 'Farewell, masters.
God has forgiven me. I ask your forgiveness, too, for anything done amiss.'
And they saw that a light shone from Michael. And Simon rose, bowed down to Michael, and said: 'I see, Michael, that you are no common man, and I can neither keep you nor question you.nullly tell me this: how is it that when I found you and brought you home, you were gloomy, and when my wife gave you food you smiled at her and became brighter?
Then when the gentleman came to order the boots, you smiled again and became brighter still? And now, when this woman brought the little girls, you smiled a third time, and have become as bright as day? Tell me, Michael, why does your face shine so, and why did you smile those three times?'
And Michael answered: 'Light shines from me because I have been punished, but now God has pardoned me. And I smiled three times, because God sent me to learn three truths, and I have learnt them.nulle I learnt when your wife pitied me and that is why I smiled the first time. The second I learnt when the rich man ordered the boots and then I smiled again. And now, when I saw those little girls, I learnt the third and last truth, and I smiled the third time.'
And Simon said, 'Tell me, Michael, what did God punish you for? and what were the three truths? that I, too, may know them.'
And Michael answered: 'God punished me for disobeying Him. I was an angel in heaven and disobeyed God. God sent me to fetch a woman's soul. I flew to earth, and saw a sick woman lying alone, who had just given birth to twin girls. They moved feebly at their mother's side, but she could not lift them to her breast. When she saw me, she understood that God had sent me for her soul, and she wept and said: "Angel of God! My husband has just been buried, killed by a falling tree. I have neither sister, nor aunt, nor mother: noon-e to care for my orphans. Do not take my soul! Let me nurse my babes, feed them, and set them on their feet before I die. Children cannot live without father or mother." And I hearkened to her. I placedon-e child at her breast and gave the other into her arms, and returned to the Lord in heaven. I flew to the Lord, and said: "I could not take the soul of the mother. Her husband was killed by a tree; the woman has twins, and prays that her soul may not be taken. She says: 'Let me nurse and feed my children, and set them on their feet.
Children cannot live without father or mother.' I have not taken her soul." And God said: "Go -- take the mother's soul, and learn three truths: Learn What dwells in man, What is not given to man, and What men live by. When thou hast learnt these things, thou shalt return to heaven." So I flew again to earth and took the mother's soul. The babes dropped from her breasts. Her body rolled over on the bed and crushedon-e babe, twisting its leg. I rose above the village, wishing to take her soul to God; but a wind seized me, and my wings drooped and dropped off. Her soul rose alone to God, while I fell to earth by the roadside.'
XI
And Simon and Matryona understood who it was that had lived with them, and whom they had clothed and fed. And they wept with awe and with joy. And the angel said: 'I was alone in the field, naked. I had never known human needs, cold and hunger, till I became a man. I was famished, frozen, and did not know what to do. I saw, near the field I was in, a shrine built for God, and I went to it hoping to find shelter. But the shrine was locked, and I could not enter. So I sat down behind the shrine to shelter myself at least from the wind.
Evening drew on. I was hungry, frozen, and in pain. Suddenly I heard a man coming along the road. He carried a pair of boots, and was talking to himself. For the first time since I became a man I saw the mortal face of a man, and his face seemed terrible to me and I turned from it. And I heard the man talking to himself of how to cover his body from the cold in winter, and how to feed wife and children. And I thought: "I am perishing of cold and hunger, and here is a man thinkingon-ly of how to clothe himself and his wife, and how to get bread for themselves. He cannot help me. When the man saw me he frowned and became still more terrible, and passed me by on the other side. I despaired, but suddenly I heard him coming back. I looked up, and did not recognize the same man: before, I had seen death in his face; but now he was alive, and I recognized in him the presence of God.
He came up to me, clothed me, took me with him and brought me to his home. I entered the house; a woman came to meet us and began to speak. The woman was still more terrible than the man had been; the spirit of death came from her mouth; I could not breathe for the stench of death that spread around her. She wished to drive me out into the cold, and I knew that if she did so she would die. Suddenly her husband spoke to her of God, and the woman changed aton-ce. And when she brought me food and looked at me, I glanced at her and saw that death no longer dwelt in her; she had become alive, and in her too I saw God.
'Then I remembered the first lesson God had set me: "Learn what dwells in man." And I understood that in man dwells Love! I was glad that God had already begun to show me what He had promised, and I smiled for the first time. But I had not yet learnt all. I did not yet know What is not given to man, and What men live by.
'I lived with you, and a year passed. A man came to order boots that should wear for a year without losing shape or cracking. I looked at him, and suddenly, behind his shoulder, I saw my comrade -- the angel of death. None but I saw that angel; but I knew him, and knew that before the sun set he would take that rich man's soul. And I thought to myself, "The man is making preparations for a year, and does not know that he will die before evening." And I remembered God's second saying, "Learn what is not given to man."
'What dwells in man I already knew. Now I learnt what is not given him. It is not given to man to know his own needs. And I smiled for the second time. I was glad to have seen my comrade angel -- glad also that God had revealed to me the second saying.
'But I still did not know all. I did not know What men live by. And I lived on, waiting till God should reveal to me the last lesson. In the sixth year came the girl-twins with the woman; and I recognized the girls, and heard how they had been kept alive. Having heard the story, I thought, "Their mother besought me for the children's sake, and I believed her when she said that children cannot live without father or mother; but a stranger has nursed them, and has brought them up." And when the woman showed her love for the children that were not her own, and wept over them, I saw in her the living God, and understood What men live by.
And I knew that God had revealed to me the last lesson, and had forgiven my sin. And then I smiled for the third time.'
XII
And the angel's body was bared, and he was clothed in light so that eye could not look on him; and his voice grew louder, as though it came not from him but from heaven above. And the angel said:
'I have learnt that all men live not by care for themselves, but by love.
'It was not given to the mother to know what her children needed for their life. Nor was it given to the rich man to know what he himself needed. Nor is it given to any man to know whether, when evening comes, he will need boots for his body or slippers for his corpse.
'I remained alive when I was a man, not by care of myself, but because love was present in a passer-by, and because he and his wife pitied and loved me. The orphans remained alive, not because of their mother's care, but because there was love in the heart of a woman a stranger to them, who pitied and loved them. And all men live not by the thought they spend on their own welfare, but because love exists in man.
'I knew before that God gave life to men and desires that they should live; now I understood more than that.
'I understood that God does not wish men to live apart, and therefore he does not reveal to them what eachon-e needs for himself; but he wishes them to live united, and therefore reveals to each of them what is necessary for all.
'I have now understood that though it seems to men that they live by care for themselves, in truth it is love alone by which they live. He who has love, is in God, and God is in him, for God is love.'
And the angel sang praise to God, so that the hut trembled at his voice. The roof opened, and a column of fire rose from earth to heaven. Simon and his wife and children fell to the ground. Wings appeared upon the angel's shoulders, and he rose into the heavens.
And when Simon came to himself the hut stood as before, and there was noon-e in it but his own family.
1881.
http://ccel.wheaton.edu/tolstoy/23_tales/23_tales.html
http://www.stetson.edu/~psteeves/classes/whatmenliveby.html
Blue Ocean Strategy
Blue Ocean Strategy How to Make the Competition Irrelevant
Meet the MasterMinds: W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne
How to Make Your Competition Irrelevant
Professor W. Chan Kim and Professor Renée Mauborgne are research partners and coauthors of Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant.
They are members of the faculty at INSEAD, an international graduate business school.
Professors Kim and Mauborgne are on the Thinkers 50 list of the most influential business thinkers of our time. They are also co-founders of the Value Innovation Institute, a global center for connecting innovative ideas with commercial opportunities. The articles they have published in the Harvard Business Review have sold more than half a million reprints.
MCNews: How do you define blue ocean strategy, and why is it important for executives to embrace the idea?
"Number one: stop benchmarking the competition. The more you benchmark your competitors, the more you tend to look like them."
Kim: Blue ocean strategy is about creating uncontested market space. Too many companies are swimming in the red ocean of bloody competition where there is limited room for real growth. The image of the vast blue ocean conveys the infinite possibilities for profitable growth that exist with this strategy.
MCNews: Can you explain your concept of “value innovation” and how it relates to creating a blue ocean strategy?
Mauborgne: Value innovation is a strategic move that allows a company to create a blue ocean. Typically, companies in the red ocean pursue incremental improvements for customers through either low cost or differentiation. Value innovation helps companies make giant leaps in the value provided to customers through the simultaneous pursuit of differentiation and low cost.
It shouldn’t be a trade off between the two; exceptional value and innovation should be inseparable. Offer buyers a huge leap in value, and that will give rise to new markets. That’s how you make the competition irrelevant.
MCNews: When you look at the state of strategic planning in companies, what do you think works well, and what doesn’t?
Kim: Most companies are too numbers-driven. They do lots of comparative industry analysis—especially on the competition—but that blinds them to the big picture.
The focus on numbers does produce some accountability, though. You develop numbers and then make somebody accountable for them. But that approach keeps companies in the red ocean because of the narrow focus on the competition.
MCNews: The numbers-driven process is familiar and comfortable for many executives. Have you found that successful companies resist rethinking strategic planning?
Mauborgne: I think most companies know that strategic planning is an imperfect process. There are certainly many books and articles criticizing it. But they have not had an alternative to it, so companies have kept on using it because it does allow for some degree of accountability.
We offer a compelling alternative. We begin by giving companies three pointers on how to break out of the red and into the blue ocean. Numberon-e: stop benchmarking the competition. The more you benchmark your competitors, the more you tend to look like them. That makes you a me-too organization, which is the opposite of what you want to achieve.
Second: stop being content to swim in the red ocean. Many companies are caught up in competing and don’t even look to the horizon of the blue ocean. And third: don’t count on your customers for growth. Look to non-customers; they provide the most insights into how you can create new, uncontested opportunities—new demand for your products or services.
MCNews: What are the first few steps to help executives see the light about this new way of thinking about a business?
Kim: The most important part is to help people realize that a company is in the red ocean to begin with. People think they are in the blue ocean when they really aren’t. When you show them the true picture, they are always surprised.
The next step is to turn their attention away from the competition and, as Renée said, get them to focus on non-customers—those in the marketplace who are not using the company’s products or services at all. Then people start to get a lot of blue ocean ideas.
MCNews: Putting a new strategy in place eventually translates into day-to-day business activities that affect everyone in the organization. Do you have any suggestions for insuring organization-wide acceptance or buy-in for a blue ocean strategy?
Mauborgne: Building on Chan’s points, we create a willingness in people to change by making them see the limitations of the red ocean. That gets them to listen. Then, we set the aspiration to create a blue ocean by showing how other companies have accomplished that.
We stress how to build a blue ocean strategy through dialog that is inclusive. We talk about how to build execution into strategy from the beginning by getting noton-ly the top few people involved, but people across the organization. Then they are all part of it, have ownership of it, and therefore feel a commitment to execute on the ideas.
MCNews: What are some examples of red and blue ocean companies?
Kim: If you look at the airline industry, the airlines that are either in bankruptcy or close to it remain stuck in the red ocean of competition. Southwest Airlines, on the other hand, created a totally blue ocean by attracting car drivers.
Southwest did not compete head-on against other airlines by offering better meals or other incentives. Instead, they attracted car drivers by making flying closer to the car-driving experience. They offered the speed of the airplane with the economics and flexibility of driving.
Starbucks and IKEA are other examples of companies that have created new markets for their products through value innovation.
MCNews: What advice would you give companies if they want to get out of the red ocean?
"In any industry, no matter how competitive it is, a company can create a blue ocean of uncontested market space."
Mauborgne: In any industry, no matter how competitive it is, a company can create a blue ocean of uncontested market space. For instance, the auto industry has generally been a red ocean industry. But when Chrysler came out with the minivan, they created a blue ocean and soaring new demand.
For us, that’s the excitement of blue ocean strategy. You can create a blue ocean within a redon-e. In the airline industry, another good example is Virgin Atlantic Airways, which went for the high end market. Virgin redefined the travel experience for business and first-class travelers. It’s not just getting from airport A to B, but the experience you have from when you leave your home to when you arrive. So it includes ground transportation, and options like taking a shower on arrival instead of going to a hotel.
MCNews: They offer the opposite of the car driving experience?
Mauborgne: Absolutely. And that’s a key point. You can create a blue ocean at the high end of an industry as Virgin did, or at the economy end as Southwest did. Blue oceans can also be created at the middle point of an industry like Borders and Barnes & Noble have done. There are multiple entry points to create a blue ocean in any industry.
MCNews: I guess the challenge is to have the method and the talent somewhere in your organization to help identify where your opportunities are for a blue ocean strategy.
Kim: That’s right.
MCNews: With more than 6,000 books on business strategy in the market, do you have a blue ocean strategy for your book?
Kim: Unlike other books on strategy, this book is the result of more than a decade of research and practice. Many strategy books conceptualize without providing a framework for what and how to do things. In our book, we generate action steps based on our experience of putting theory into practice.
We are saying that we found a pattern in the way innovation creates new markets. It’s not random, so we can structure it. The book presents the pattern for doing so. That message is actually counterintuitive.
MCNews: Thanks to both of you for your time today.
http://www.managementconsultingnews.com
Can you define what you mean by red and blue oceans, and why use the colors red and blue?
Kim & Mauborgne:
We use the terms red and blue oceans to denote the market universe. Red oceans are all the industries in existence today – the known market space. In the red oceans, industry boundaries are defined and accepted, and the competitive rules of the game are known. Here companies try to outperform their rivals to grab a greater share of existing demand. As the market space gets crowded, prospects for profits and growth are reduced. Products become commodities, and cutthroat competition turns the red ocean bloody. Hence, the term “red” oceans.
Blue oceans, in contrast, denote all the industries not in existence today -- the unknown market space, untainted by competition. In blue oceans, demand is created rather than fought over. There is ample opportunity for growth that is both profitable and rapid. In blue oceans, competition is irrelevant because the rules of the game are waiting to be set. Blue ocean is an analogy to describe the wider, deeper potential of market space that is not yet explored. Like the “blue” ocean, it is vast, deep, powerful –in terms of profitable growth, and infinite.
http://www.blueoceanstrategy.com/pages/QandA_orig.htm
http://www.notterconsulting.com/blueoceanstrateg.html
Week 18 May 31... Critique
the funny thing is... by ellen degeneresA message from the author --
The brunch bunch --
That's why prison wouldn't be so bad --
My most embarrassing case scenario --
God, what a day! --
Gift exchange, or, the art of believable acting --
Silence is golden--
Making your life count (and other fun things to do with your time!) --
This is how we live --
Penny-pinching for today's gal, or, how to land a man --
Working it out --
Smartishness --
The things that are bothering me this week --
My dad was like a father to me --
The serious chapter --
The controversial chapter --
The chapter of apologies --
Dear diary --
A scientific treatise regarding a matter of great entomological concern to all of us --
It's just an ex-pression --
Clothes I have regretted wearing --
Naming my book: The odyssey --
That was then or then was that or anyway, it was before now --
Ellen's personal home tour --
Things to be grateful for --
My self-conscious, or check me out! --
The last chapter --
Bonus chapter.
Week 17 May 24... Work on final portfolio
Sandy BeachWork on final portfolio 
working on retouch each projects... the funny thing is... when you are working on something... you just like what you created... It seems just perfect and you don't want to change... However, when you go back to that work... sometime later... you will see it a lot different possibilities... For example, Gradient Meshes... something is not quite right in some area... play with Gradient Meshes in different directions and the intensity either loosely or tightly... wow^^ what a differences... then you just fall in love with recent changes... now you satisfy on new discoveries what did I learn?^^ may be... someday... if I see these changes again... I might find some area is not quite right again... try with other ways... until find something cool... ㅎㅎ just like life... because that's how it goes... looking forward... presentation of portfolios...
Week 16 May 17... Projects and review
Share today's wisdom as water for the blossoming flower of your love. Projects and review working on retouch each projects...It's fun to find new things...while reviewing what we've learned beforesomething wasn't sure at that timebut you seem to know it...ㅎㅎjust make sure now you know how it works exactly...happy^^let's sit back... and appreciate this poem...about lotus with rain drops...learn lotus's wisdom...and blossom in our daily lives...just like flower of our love...빗방울이 연잎에 고이면
연잎은 한동안 물방울의 유동으로 일렁이다가
어느 만큼 고이면
크리스탈처럼 투명한 물을 미련 없이 쏟아 버린다.
그 물이 아래 연잎에 떨어지면
거기에서도 일렁이다가
도르르 연못으로 비워 버린다.
이런 광경을 무심히 지켜보면서,
‘아하, 연잎은 자신이 감당할 만한
무게만을 싣고 있다가
그 이상이 되면 비워 버리는구나'
하고 그 지혜에 감탄했다.
그렇지 않고 욕심대로 받아들이면
마침내 잎이 찢기거나
줄기가 꺾이고 말 것이다.
법정,
《새들이 떠나간 숲은 적막하다》
Week 15 May 10... Final Project
The hue of that portion of the visible spectrum lying between green and indigo, evoked in the human observer by radiant energy with wavelengths of approximately 420 to 490 nanometers; any of a group of colors that may vary in lightness and saturation, whose hue is that of a clear daytime sky; one of the additive or light primaries; one of the psychological primary hues.
Learning to critique
Targeting an audience
Final Project...
is...
designing...
restaurant menu cover... front and back
1complete design with 2 skeches
my bluespirit concept applys as usual... ㅎㅎ
Restaurant name is Cafe Blue
transparent light blueish glass represent...
the mood of the restaurant...
blue spirit atmosphere
looking forward next class for another ideas....
Will it be the same blue???
I don't know yet...
It depends on my mood on that day^^
Can I predict how will I be???
Well...
It's bed time...
Good night!
Week 14 May 3... Logo Critique
A name, symbol, or trademark designed for easy and definite recognition, especially one borne on a single printing plate or piece of type. Logo critique Logo represents a lot of meanings that it conveys company's title as well as its mission and goals.Also, it should be considered as the best representation of company in public.Because it will be permenent company's trademark as a simbol.Therefore, logo designer should define... it's recognition...Logo should be...as simple as possibleeasy to rememberuse company's representative colorconvey company's mission or goalimply marketing messagesetc...However, the most important thing is...it carrys good spirit to echo for mankind.
