Today we are celebrating the inauguration of this company’s production line number nine. For Thais, nine has always been a lucky number. But we must admit to our honourable guests that we do not stop, even for luck; we are resolved to take more steps, and build a tenth, an eleventh, and a twelfth production line, or more, as circumstances permit. And having been in close contact with all levels of management and the staff of this company, all of whom are hard-working and dedicated team players, I am truly confident that no matter how many lines we undertake, these people will ensure that [name of company] maintains its good fortune and stability.

Motivational Speeches
It is typical of children that they are always dreaming of being someone else, of going somewhere else, of living in another time. But grown-ups realize that the universe starts right here, at home, in ourselves, and if it’s not changing here, it’s not changing anywhere else.

But how can we ever learn to fix engines if we don’t try ourselves, if we don’t practise, if we don’t get our own hands dirty, if we don’t make mistakes? And if we don’t fix our engine, how will we ever drive?

Living in a modern, organized, fully developed society as we do, we have been trained and accustomed to relying upon the State and its services for our needs. Gas is converted into heat for our homes without any effort on our part; we just pay the bill. Electricity for lighting, entertainment, refrigeration, and a long list of appliances comes to

our aid with the touch of a button. Turn the tap, and clear, drinkable water flows into our lives. Travel, communication, education, clean, crime-free streets, expert counselling, welfare payments - so much is accessible and ready to use that we have come to expect all these services as our right, or even something we own by paying bills or taxes.

How many gas stations have we seen with that clear, socially acceptable, and shameless message, “Self Serve”, or simply “Self”? TV, radio, print media, billboards - all have the same message . . . “we do it for you”, “the customer is always right”, “you deserve the best”, and even “spoil yourself”. Shopping, banking, education, politics - everywhere, everyone is in the business of pleasing, protecting, justifying, and elevating the self.

When we started to walk, our mothers got down on the floor, at our level, held us out at arm’s length, then let us go to take our first steps. If we were about to fall, our mothers were ready to catch us. If we turned in fear at the danger of walking by ourselves, our mothers were there to reassure us and soothe our fears. And so we learned to walk on our own, one step at a time. We needed the strength of our mothers behind us to accomplish that.

We have an entire society devoted to amusement, entertainment, and addiction. Television, video, computer games, the internet, and chat rooms keep us occupied. Sports, physical fitness, and hobbies fill the empty spaces of our lives. Shopping, vacations, and making money provide us with a cycle of activity that diverts us from facing the reality of our existence. And what is that reality? That we are alone in this world, with no other mission than to discover the truth and live by it.