Techies.com revealed some interesting results of its survey geared to Net professionals. They responded to the question -- What is most important to you?

• Having my skills and abilities pushed to the max -- 32%
• Spending time with my family -- 30%
• Making loads of money -- 26%
• Having plenty of downtime -- 7%
• Contributing to the well-being of my family -- 5%

And on the retail front for those of you designing the interiors of new brokerages, Retail Operations & Construction Magazine reported these big-picture trends in retail fixturing:

• Sold surface materials
• Unpainted wood and composites
• Natural finishes, or very light stains that allow the material to show through
• Laminates, but with textures and finishes that make them appear to be something else (like wood or metal) and less like plastic
• Pre-dyed veneers
• Bright colors in injection-molded plastics
• Metal and metallic colors, both real and faux
• Continued use of wire
• Powdercoated wood, which allows sculpting for logos or other symbols
• Construction media in various combinations, such as wire with glass and plastic, or metal mixed with wood
• A comeback for stainless steel and chrome used for fixture bases

Transforming Tomorrow

Cavett Robert, the founder of the National Speakers Association shares these words of wisdom with us:

“It may be true that life is a grindstone, but it is equally true that whether it grinds us or polishes us is determined alone by the substance of which we are made . . . That which has proven to be a stumbling block to one individual is a stepping stone to a more courageous soul.”

Trials are part of life -- the way you deal with them is your choice. Are your trials grinding or polishing you?