I discovered that simple words or phrases contained wisdom that, when brought to mind at just the right time, had the potential to become a significant turning point. The more I came to realize this, the more sensitive I became to these words and phrases. I began to collect them and use them when opportunity arose to inspire others.
If you believe . . .
One of the earliest of these phrases was famously attributed to Henry Ford. He is purported to have said, “If you believe you can, or you believe you can’t, you are right.”
I pondered the truth of this statement and added my own corollary: “If you believe you can, you will; but if you believe you can’t, you won’t.”
The experience I have often shared regarding an application of this axiom occurred when I worked in a hi-tech company in San Diego in the late 1970’s. I was manager of the engineering and manufacturing departments and my team of professionals were typically assigned to support nuclear physicists with the projects they managed. One such project was scheduled to be shipped out on a Monday morning.
On the prior Friday afternoon, Joe, the project’s physicist came to me and said, “We just broke our last optical encoder on the machine and we will not be able to ship on Monday. You will have to cancel the shipment.”
I had put forth a significant effort preparing for the shipment. It required organizing a crew of heavy machine movers and orchestrating trucking and manpower. I was not about to give up the plan so quickly. I insisted that Joe join me in the shop to assess the situation.
We went out to the machine on the shop floor to assess the situation. I looked over the inspection machine and noticed that the broken encoder. It was a laboratory version, obvious to me the reason for its failure. I explained to Joe that he should have installed a ruggedized industrial version to survive the rigors of a machine like this one. I asked Joe to get the catalog from the encoder supplier and join me in my office.
When he arrived, I opened the catalog and searched it for the appropriate ruggedized encoder for the project. Further review of the catalog revealed a picture of the company president on the inside covers. I picked up my phone and called information in Cleveland, Ohio where the company was headquartered. The Information Operator provided his phone number and I made the call.
The president’s wife answered and gave her name. I apologized for interrupting what must have been their dinner as it was 6:00 pm in Cleveland. She said her husband was on a business trip and was expected home any minute. I was about to ask her to have him call me, when she said, “Wait, he just came into the garage, can you hold?”
When the man came on the phone, I quickly explained our dilemma and gave him the part number of the ruggedized encoder we needed. I then asked him the really critical question, “Can you get here in San Diego tomorrow?”
He replied, “Yes, I can have my night foreman pack it up and get it to the airport for the 7:00 am flight to San Diego. It should arrive around 2:00 pm. Will that work for you?”
I responded in the affirmative, thanked him profusely and hung up the phone.
I looked at Joe who sat across the desk from me with a bewildered look in his eyes.
I said, “Joe, go get your team and inform them to arrive here at 2:00 pm tomorrow afternoon ready to install that new encoder and test the machine for as long as necessary. It is going to ship on schedule on Monday!”
Joe said to me, “How did you do that?”
I simply said, “I believed I could, so I did. You didn’t believe you could, so you were ready to give up.”
The “I”-CAN . . .
I attended a marketing and sales seminar one day. The facilitator was introduced and came out onto the stage with a small silver can in his hand. As he began to talk, he kept tossing the can from one hand to another. Then he threw it up in the air and caught it. After a few minutes of this can gymnastics, he revealed to us the significance of the can.
He explained that each morning when he awakes, he grabs his can and carries it through his morning rituals. For him, it is his reminder that success comes in a “can” not in a “can’t”.
He urged all of us to buy a small can of tomato paste on our way home. Then take the label off and clean off the past residue. With a permanent magic marker, inscribe and large capital “I” on the top.
I said, “When you go to bed tonight, place it on your night table. When you awake in the morning, take the can with you wherever you go. When you look at it, be reminded that: success come in a can”, not in a “can’t””
When I was serving as a confirmation teacher for three young church members, we were studying the principles that Jesus taught in the Gospel and the expectations God has for us. One of the students shook his head and said, “Wow, that’s really hard to do!”
My response was puzzling to the class. I gave them instructions to bring a small can of tomato paste to the next class. 
The next class began with questions as to the purpose of the cans. We all took our tomato paste cans and I had them remove the paper label. Then I handed each of them a permanent magic marker.
Following my instructions they printed a large capital “I” on the top of their silver can.
I explained, “I want you to take this can home and put it on your night table. When you awake in the morning, take the can with you wherever you go. When you look at it, be reminded that: Success come in a “can”, not in a “can’t”.”
As I was giving this instruction a further enhancing thought came to mind. I told the class that the dismay they expressed in the previous class at the difficulty they felt in living the life Christ hoped they would, inspired me to offer the “I-CAN” solution.
I said, “But if you don’t think that’s sufficient for you, turn the can over.”
I instructed them, “Take your magic marker and print on the bottom of the can “He”. 
When you now look at that can, if you still have doubts, turn it over and realize that if you can’t, God can!”
Try to Catch Someone . . .
I was reading Ken Blanchard’s book “The One Minute Manager” when I came upon the page that read, “Help People Reach Their Full Potential. Catch Them Doing Something Right.” This was for me one of those “Ah-Ha” moments.
It struck me that most people had an eye for catching people doing something wrong so they could be corrected. This was a new perspective for me. While it was fresh in my mind an unexpected incident occurred during one evening at the dinner table.
My thirteen year old son Randy announced, “You will have to make other plans for Friday evening.”
“Why is that?” I inquired.
“Doug got expelled from school today and his parents grounded him for a week,” was Randy’s answer.
Typically on Friday evenings we took Randy to the local gym club where he met his friend Doug to play racquetball. Afterward they walked a few blocks to Doug’s house for a sleep over. Carol and I would do something together for an evening out at restaurant or visit with friends.
Shocked at Randy’s answer I inquired as to the reason behind Doug’s expulsion from school. Doug was one of the nicest kids we knew. He was a real gentleman. How could this have happened I wondered?
Randy explained, “Doug got caught throwing fireworks into the boys’ room at school.”
I immediately jumped out of my chair, leaned over and gave Randy a big hug and said, “Randy! I am so proud of you! You did so well!”
Puzzled at my outburst, Randy said, “Dad, what do you mean? What did I do?”
I said, “Randy, don’t you see? If Doug had access to fireworks, and gave into peer pressure to do such a foolish deed, so did you. But you chose to resist peer pressure. You thought it through and decided it was a foolish thing to do and it would get you into trouble. You took the high road and made a wise decision. That thrills me and makes me so proud of you.”
I found that Randy’s appreciation for his personal strength of character and his ability to make wise decisions was enhanced by this turning point moment.
Turning Points
Believing in yourself, believing you can, such belief (enhanced by trust in God) can turn many situations from failure to success, victim to victor.
Finding clever but effective reminders to appreciate what you can do with your gifts and talents can make the difference between success and failure. To appreciate the presence of God in your life and trust in His support to achieve your honorable goals can enhance your perseverance when facing obstacles along the way.
Catching someone doing something right and praising them in fine detail can change someone’s perspective and help them find the belief in themselves necessary for their own personal success in life.
Powerful turning points are indeed hatched in simple words.
COPYRIGHT © 2014 ALLAN EDWARD MUSTERER