I first met Nic in 2007.  I read his book 3 times on a trip to Asia.  Mr Boothman was a fashion photographer who honed the craft of rapport building while photographing young “exposed” models on the beaches of the world.  Many of these girls were actually young, modest girls who became very nervous when required to pose in front of dozens of people on a beach in next to no cloths.  His book will teach you exactly how to build rapport at lightning speed.

In my study of Leadership, I have read hundreds of books recommended by dozens of friends.  I remember when Art Jonak (http://www.facebook.com/artjonak) first told me about the book “Influencers”.  It is an amazing book that will surely get you examining looking closer at your leadership style and how you motivate or lead the people around you.  In this book, the writers indicate that the one thing that most leaders have in common is an natural ability to focus people on “Vital Behaviours”.  These vital behaviours are the most important activities in any project, mission or assignment.  When you finish the book, you will, without doubt, be left trying to determine the vital behaviours in your profession.  If you know Mr Jonak personally you are laughing right now.  Art read the book a couple of years ago.  Ever since, he has been leading a mission to determine the Vital Behaviours of his profession.

The goal of my writings are to inspire people to take a closer look at leadership in their lives.  We are all leaders in one capacity or another.  Whether your mandate is to lead an international corporation, a small local business or your family, you are leading.  After reading Nicholas Boothman’s book, you will inevitably be left with a belief that leadership actually starts within seconds of meeting someone.

I remember listening to a leadership CD that Orrin Woodward (http://www.orrinwoodward.com) produced from a talk he gave.  In that CD, he spoke of a typical sales person who is presenting his/her products to a prospect.  He spoke of the fact that people are going to buy from you if they believe in you.  You are going to present your product and the benefits during your meeting, but more importantly you are going to take to time to learn about the prospect and why they need the product, how the product could improve their life.  If you succeed if showing the person the “value add” then they will join you/buy from you.  Orrin, very passionately, said, “That person is either going to buy into your belief or you are going to buy into their belief.  Someone is going to win and someone is going to loose that night”.  What I have realized in leadership is that your ability to “Win” with another person is largely influenced by the subconscious of the prospect.

I don’t think truer words have ever been spoken about leadership and influence.  People will follow you when they have been influenced by you.  So the real question is:  How to influence people properly and when does influence actually start and how to you know if you are properly appealing to the prospect subconsciously?

The more I practice leadership with my own business and people, the more I realize that influence starts much sooner then most people suspect.  God gave us all 5 senses and in some very special cases, when a person has limited ability with one sense, that “disability” is always compensated for in a hightened sense in another area.

If you are trying to sell anything or lead anyone, your understanding of influence will increase your results and abilities.   Your ability to influence someone subconsciously will be increased by how they feel about you.

Where does Influence start?    At the beginning!

You all know the 5 senses:

Smell

Taste

hear

feel

sight

In the 2 books I have mentioned you will see that your ability to lead or succeed is directly proportional to your ability to influence subconsciously.   That influence starts in the first 90 seconds of your time together.   Your ability to influence is determined by your ability to stimulate all 5 senses of your prospect.  Adversely, I have realized that if I somehow, whether I know it or not, offend 1 of these senses, I am less likely to properly influence the prospect or team member.

In the majority of great leadership teaching you will hear emphasis placed on how you look, how you sound, how you talk, what you say, how you say it, and what you are selling/teaching.

What I have learned is that what you are selling/teaching  is the least important of the preceding points.  If one of the senses of your prospect is offended, he/she may not even realize it.  Have you ever heard someone say, “I don’t know what it was about him, there was just something that rubbed me the wrong way”?

If you are trying to sell something or lead someone, then take the time to think about this:

Your ability to influence another person starts when you are first “sensed” by the prospect.  If you take a personal interest in how you look, what you wear, how you talk & how you smell, you will be more successful in anything you do.

If you need some details/directions on how to increase your ability to influence, pick up the 2 books I mentioned.

In Leadership,

Ken

In past articles we have looked closely at the fact that Leaders must be students, that a main focus should be the enhancement of one’s character, that the fool worries more about reputation, the importance of your physical being being healthy and fit, the importance of credibility and many more subjects.  If one were to ask the question “why development leadership?”, the answer would be in order to set the right example.

In Kevin Hall’s book Aspire, he shows one of the origins of the word Leader in 2 parts, “Lea (path) der(finder)”.  a leader is a pathfinder.     In my book Being The Change, I studied 7 of the world’s greatest leaders (in my opinion):  Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, John F Kennedy and Pierre Trudeau.  In all of my research, it has become clear that the greatness that each of these leaders achieved was directly tied to the fact that each had significant influence from mentors.  In fact, in the book Snowball, you will read that Warren Buffett at a very early age hunted his mentor down by traveling to NY, stalking the building where he worked, gaining an audience, working for him and building trust.

I learned clearly in this story that Buffett’s relationship with his mentor was crucial in his life, but what did the mentor actually do?  Well there is a great deal of advice, counsel, suggestion, experience sharing in any good mentoring relationship, the secret is Example!

In Joel Osteen’s book Becoming a Better You, he provides very simple understanding and teaching about how to become a better person and why to become a better person.  What I admire most about this book though is the fact that Joel starts with how you become who you are.  I read this book at the perfect time in my life, when my own leadership and personal mastery journey was starting.  Joel explained that heredity has a lot to do with who you are.  Your parents have had more of an impact on you then you may realize.  As I have studied, it has become clear to me that who we are is most impacted by our Experience and our Environment (the 2 E’s) & most of that takes place in our early years.  Again, it is the example set by our parents.

If we look at any great Leadership learning community, we will inevitably see more strong examples of the power of example.  Most leadership based communities begin with a primary leader, a visionary who starts the process.  As we see that community growing, we will note that other leaders who join the community develop the same mannerisms, habits, speaking styles, even past times.  Again demonstrating the power of example.  A friend & guide in my life, Orrin Woodward is a perfect example.  Orrin is building a fantastic community with his partners.  If you were to take a close look, you will notice similar ideas on Faith, Family, Finance, Following, Fitness, Freedom, Friends & Fun shared by all of the key stakeholders in that community.  Again the genesis of this common stance on key issues spawns from Example.

Bottom line.

It has become very clear to me that if one desires to live a prosper0us life and enjoy all of the benefits of  leading others then it must start with example.  Example must start with a self examination and a decision to life an excellent life.  Once you have made the decision to “Live Intentionally for Excellence (L.I.F.E)”  (credit to Orrin, Chris and the men for that acronym), then it is as simple as finding the right example to follow.

If one is attempting to create a community where others follow with a specific purpose, then the realization that must be made that the leader needs to provide the most stunning example to follow.  This example must include a proverbial internal and external “cleaning of the clock”.  It is believed that one’s specific focus on their health & fitness, their character, their humility, their attitude, their knowledge, their action and many other pieces are all essential elements.

I have found clearly that the more I focus on being in the “best shape” in my body, mind & spirit the more people want to associate with me and join our community.

If you are aspiring to be a leader in an area of your life then understand that it must start with you being the best you can be.  Personal Mastery!

Why?

Example.

This is going to be an exciting year in 2012.  We have just finished our best month since the creation of ELT 2 years ago.  We posted record sales in the Evolv Business and also record sales in EvolvLife Team.

We wanted to take a minute to share some really exciting updates with you.

First of all, have you seen Ken Dunn’s 2012 business goals?  Be sure to check out his facebook page and add your own comments:

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=331668316851889&id=1545038318

Ken will be traveling extensively over 2012.

We wanted to give you some information about the January Schedule.  As you may know, Ken has been working on a new book for the past 7 months, The Greatest Prospector in the world.

This is a fictional story of a young girl who grew up with her father in the Rivers of Alaska.  Laura’s dad was a Gold Prospector, a profession that had gone back for generations in her family.  From a very young age, Laura had decided to follow in her father’s footsteps.  She used to rush home from school daily and dawn her Chest Waders and join him in the streams and rivers panning for gold.  She would spend every waking hour with him learning the craft.

Laura’s greatest education came from the rivers.  Learning to prospect for gold, Laura’s dad taught her 6 secrets to prospecting:

1. 1.  Know what you’re looking for.  Avoid the fool’s gold.
2. 2.  Make your time in the river fun.
3. 3.  Get in the river, even when you don’t want to.
4. 4.  When you find a sign, follow the stream.
5. 5.  Dress warm & stay dry
6. 6.  Work hard for 6 days, rest for 1.

When a land slide killed her father, the 16 year old Laura was forced to move in with her rich uncle in Chicago.

Armed only with the skills she had learned and the memories of her father, Laura went on to make millions in selling and become The Greatest Prospector In The World.

This book is set to become one of the greatest prospecting and sales training pieces ever.

At selected events in January, Ken will be recording a 6 part CD series entitled:  The Greatest Prospector’s Secrets.   This CD set will be sure to teach anyone involved on any selling profession how to create success even if they have never profited in their chosen profession.

We wanted to give you a “head’s up” as to which events that Ken would be giving these trainings at so you could attend and be there to hear it first hand.

The trainings will be recorded at the following events:

Brampton, Ontario                            January 4th

Calgary, Alberta                                 January 9^th

Edmonton, Alberta                            January 11^th

London, Ontario                                January 14^th

Toronto, Ontario                                January 21^st

Punta Cana, DR                                 January  25^th

All details of locations and times are available by clicking on the following link:

http://evolvlifeteam.com/2010/10/event-calendar/

One of the many secrets that Ken has learned over the years that has been directly related to his earning of millions of dollars in sales and networking is that he never misses an event.

If you are in any of these cities make sure you are at the events & if you are coming then bring a friend.

Last year, Art Jonak read the book Influencers, by Patterson, Grenny, McMillan & Switzler and subsequently all his friends did.  Art is an incredible influencer.  In this incredible success, the scientists studied the world’s elite professions in hopes of uncovering what they all had in common.  What behaviours did they use to influences the bahaviour of the masses?

Although that actual what was different in every circumstance, there was one common theme that the elite used to “keep the main thing the main thing”.  All of the leaders that were studied focused on the vital behaviours.  In my book, Being The Change, it found the same thing in the 7 Inspirational Leaders that I studied, “all of the leaders focused on the Core Task”.   I found that each of the leaders determined what was the most important part of what it was they were trying to accomplish and they stayed extremely focused on it.

In Influencers, the authors are digging much deeper, though.  The authors are almost suggestion that the main thing may not necessarily be an action but rather, a vital behaviour could be an emotion.

Since finishing the book, Art has been on a tireless journey, speaking regularly with the top training professional in his industry to try and unearth the actual vital behaviours that would lead to success in the business.

One theory that seems to have come from his thoughts was the fact that it seems that all of the successful in his profession “Verbalize Their Dreams”.  In essence, we are all part of a selling profession where most folks are independent business owners.  It is commonly taught at all levels of this profession that if you want to be successful then you have to have a reason for what you doing, A DREAM.   When we talked about the dream, Another elite level profession and Sailing buddy, Jordan Adler went on to say that everyone of us in our lives has junk going on that he refers to as “Obstacles”.  These obstacles seem to be created to keep us from achieving our goals.  Jordan explained that the successful win by keeping their dreams ahead of their obstacles.  Those who do win, those who don’t are exposing them to a potential MLM Heart Attack.

As Art explained that he was finding that he was not just enough to have a dream but he found that the successful regularly spoke about their dreams openly around others.  Some even profess their dreams, talking about them as if they are already there.

Ironically, I am emersed in the predecessor to Influencers right now.  This book is called Crucial Conversations by the same authors.  In this book, the scientists spent years studying thousands of people who engaged in serious conversations that had the potential to be very damaging if not handled properly.

Half way through the book, I can already see a remarkable theme.  You have to verbalize things that are troubling you.  No crucial conversations ever get a chance to happen if you are not verbalizing what is going on in your mind.

In the book, it reveals how we can engage safely and guide conversation in many areas of our lives from relationship to business.  The main theme throughout all interactions is to verbalize or start the conversations.

Can you see where we are going here?

Yes is it true that God gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth and I am a big proponent  of speak less and say more, however, as leaders we all need to be ready to open our mouths and talk.  What you say will be determined by the nature of what needs to be said.

In conversations of business, if is extremely important to take Zig Ziglar & Jim Rohn’s advice and seek first to understand before trying to be understood, but you have to say SOMETHING!

When it comes to preparing yourself to win, it appears to be crucial to speak openly about your goals and dreams and tell many people.  If I look back at my own success in life, I can say without doubt that I always tell as many people as possible what I will get out of the activity.  I am going to make……..   I am going to drive…….   I am going to help……..  (with the success we are creating).  Yes I realize it is speaking into the future but think about the impact.

When you openly tell everyone about the result before it happens, it helps to keep you committed to the project.  It would be embarrassing if you did not reach your goal after you told everyone.  I realized in myself that I regularly tell everyone what the goals are.

LEADERS LIVE IN VISION!

It is a common thread with all great leaders.  Think about your own experiences with those that you admire.  I am sure you will see that same quality.  They all say what’s on their minds.

In your own leadership journey become comfortable openly sharing what your outcome will be and speak about it with that same strength.  It has already happened.

Use Social Medias like Facebook to let all your facebook friends know your goals and give them the chance to help keep yourself on track.

If you are in a leadership position personally or professionally and something sensitive needs to be addressed, SPEAK IT!.  An organization will not grow if the most important issues do not get discussed.

As always there is a time and a place to verbalize sensitive issues and you can also get incredible guidance from Crucial Conversations, but refusing to verbalize issues of Organizational Importance can have dramatic consequence to the growth of that group.

Bottom Line:

If you thinking it and it has the potential to do good for you or others and your not verbalizing it, you are potentially limiting your chances of achieving it.

Okay, I have been reviewing all of my social media interfaces over the past weekend and have come to the realization that Social Media is now a must have platform for any business.

My companies have earned hundreds of thousands in extra revenue because the the internet, facebook, twitter, youtube, linked in and now Empire Ave.

If you have not joined Empire Ave yet then don’t wait another second. Here is the link. Just click here: http://empireavenue.com/?t=2jo7h4uh

Empire Ave is the newest Social Media center. It is fascinating. It allows you to really test how well you are actually doing socially on the net.

Many people are using social medias inaffectively. I have seen tons of facebook pages with no comments, or recomments. As well Twitter feeds with no re-tweets.

Empire Ave actually give you the ability to have your ability socially online ranked. It is a great litmus test to see how you are really doing.

If you are starting a new business today, definitely make social media a part of the game.

If you are still trying to figure out the social media world, i would highly recommend this Amazon best selling book, Social Media Symphony by Mike Magolnick.

Here is the link to buy it:

http://www.nextcenturystore.com/the_social_media_symphony_mike_magolnick.html#4e53bd2ac495b

Mike currently has 25,000,000 followers on social platforms. He wrote a book on how to optimize it all. Which ones to automate? Which ones to manually do? How to make the best use of your time? Its all there.

If you are just trying to figure out how to get started in properly using the dozens of social media platforms, then it will answer the questions.

For the last year, I have been trying to figure out what is the best way to use social medias. How to Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, etc, etc all work together. How can i optimize the use of this 21st century advertising to increase my brand and, in doing so, drive more people to checking out my virtual properties (aka websites).

To be honest, it has been getting very frustrating. I have been getting headaches. Then a friend introduced me to an awesome book, Social Media Symphony (by Mike Magolnick). You can see it here: http://NextCenturyStore.com/the_social_media_symphony_mike_magolnick.html#4e53bd2ac495b

This book is amazing. If you are at all interested in really figuring out how to work online and earn more money. It is the only book you need. Mike Magolnick is amazing. He has over 25,000,000 followers on Linked In, Facebook, Twitter, etc. His book has already taught me how to unravel the confusion. Finally no headaches.

NOW HE IS DOING A LIVE ONLINE COURSE

When I found out that Mike Magolnick would be running his own online course on all of his experience with the social world, I got really fired up. This course is going to be amazing. It is $299 for 6 weeks. He is doing a webinar every Tuesday night for 6 weeks. As part of the fee, I get a free copy of his book and also a 6 DVD set on the course so I can watch it again and again.

I would say that without doubt the book has made me thousands of more dollars in income. I increased my overall followers by more then 10,000 people within the first month of reading his book.

I know for a fact that I will increase my overall followers by more then 100,000 after taking his course.

What is really cool is that Mike actually teaches the skills to get real engaged followers. That is people that are actually interested in me. That means more people buying my products and listening to my information.

Check out the course:

http://NextCenturyStore.com/the_social_media_symphony_mike_magolnick.html#4e53bd2ac495b

If you are reading this blog, then you are definitely someone who needs to invest $299 in order to make thousands……

In Leadership,

Ken

]]> http://kendunnleadership.com/2011/08/where-you-have-come-from-is-definitely-affecting-where-you-are-going/feed/ 0 http://kendunnleadership.com/2011/07/you-want-more-success-increase-your-credibility/ http://kendunnleadership.com/2011/07/you-want-more-success-increase-your-credibility/#comments Wed, 27 Jul 2011 13:24:37 +0000 Ken Dunn http://kendunnleadership.com/?p=267 You Want More Success? Increase Your Credibility…

Let’s take a look at the difference between the “have’s” and the “have-nots”. Have you ever really stopped to think about why the other guy is having so much success in life your not? Have you ever truly wondered why it is that, for some people, it just seems easier? If you have, then there is probably a chance that you have reached out to someone for advice. I remember when I first started my own professional development journey. It was a very frustrating period for me.

Everyone I talked to was telling me the same thing:

You have to read books!

Readers are Leaders and Leaders are Readers!

Listen to great CDs on Leadership Everyday!

Hang out with Positive People!

Bla, Bla, Bla, Bla, Bla.

Okay, I get the importance of all of that stuff. Those that know me realize that I have truly taken the “become a better person” message to heart. For the first couple of years in my change period, hearing all this great advice would often leave me more frustrated because there was one question that I still could not get sufficiently answered, “Why?”

I am the type of person that really needs to understand why I am doing something in order to get the most fired up about doing it. I totally understood that business is a game of “Know You, Like You & Trust You”. People will only work with, or buy from, people that they K,L &T, but what’s the Link?

It’s Credibility. In order to achieve any success you are looking for as an entrepreneur, you need to build the highest levels of credibility in that area that you can. People will only buy from you, work with you, and follow you, if they see that you are credible in that area. Reading the right books, listening to the right CDs, reading the right Blogs (wink) all work to increase your credibility.

I first realized that it was all about credibility back in 2007 and have been working on it ever since. If you are going to have success in any chosen endeavor, you have to be seen as credible. If you think about that perverbial difference between those that are winning and those that are not winning yet, the difference is the amount of credibility that you have with others.

90% of people starting a new business do not have credibility in that area. Now I am a salesman. I have decided to specialize and increase the most of my credibility in direct sales, however, I have seen the power of credibility enhancement in my successful mortgage business, importing business and even my policing career.

Here’s an example of the power of credibility. When I first entered the direct selling profession in 2003, I called everyone that I could to become a client. I wanted to get this business off the ground quickly. At the time, I was just winding up a 15 year career in law enforcement and also was building a mortgage company. Most of the initial people that I called for the direct selling business were from those 2 areas of my life.

I signed up every one of the first 15 people that I called. 90% of them were police officers. That is incredibly unusual in this business. Most of my friends actually went the first couple of years without signing up anyone. A year later only 4 of the first 15 were still in the business with me. The point that I really want to focus on is why I had such an easy time with those first several people? It was credibility.

Some time later, I asked those original 15 why they joined the business with me and they all said the same thing, “Ken, do you think we are crazy? We just watched you make millions in the mortgage business on a part time basis. Do you actually think we we’re going to miss the second business you started?” It was credibility! I had huge credibility with each of them.

Moral to the story:

If you want to increase your success in the endevour that you are presently involved in, the answer is simple: Increase your Credibility.

The vast majority of people who are starting direct selling businesses, or any business for that matter, are not at a high in their lives. Most often, they are in a transition stage of their lives. If we were going to rank credibility on scale of 1 to 10, then we would find the most of people sitting around a 2-3. If you want to build a profitable business, then you have to create credibility with your customers and potential partners.

Fortunately you can increase your credibility very quickly. Increasing your credibility on a subject matter is very simple and can be done within 60-90 days.

To be credible you have to be seen as someone who has an understanding of the subject that they are talking about. When you start a new business, get to a point that you can talk confidently about the benefits and attributes of the products or services you are selling. Remember, your prospect is always going to be asking, “what’s in it for me?”, so you have to be able to tell them. You also need to be able to explain thoroughly how your company’s compensation plan works. The fastest way to learn these things to be a regular attendee at your company events where these details will be discussed.

In addition, you have to Dress for Success. Of course you need to dress and attire yourself so that you fit the industry or space your business is in. You will have a hard time selling tractors to a pig farmer dressed in a 3 piece suit. You will also have a harder time presenting your direct selling business to a prospect if you are in jeans, shorts or a t-shirt. Generally speaking, Dress 1 notch higher then what is considered the daily norm in that business.

Personal hygiene will also do huge things for your success in business. I realize that it should go without saying, but unfortunately it doesn’t.

Develop and practice good Speaking Skills. I recently attended a course at an incredible speaking school in NY. It is called Speak Easy (http://www.speakeasyinc.com). The course is called: Talk so Others Listen. This course will truly take years off the success track of anyone in Direct sales. When you are building your business and conversing with prospects, a lower tone that is soothing, your ability to speak in short periods with good pauses to allow your prospect to digest your information will always increase your credibility faster.

Put your prospect first. Take the time to get to know who you are talking to. It really was the American Way Company (Amway) leaders who first coined the acronym FORM. When talking to people asked lots of opened ended questions to get to know them, ask about their family, occupation, recreation and mission. Remember they are always going to have that “what’s in it for me” mentality, so you have to get to know them, in order to find their why.

Ironically, most sales people think that they can establish credibility quickly by starting the conversation by reviewing all of their successes in life with the prospect. The sales person honestly believes the prospect will respect them more if they are aware of what the sales person has already accomplished. I actually thought this myself for several years and would start meetings by reviewing my successes in policing, the mortgage business and previous direct sales experience. What I have realized is that doing this does more harm then good and will destroy credibility.

When you start your interaction with this type of success review, the prospect who is in the “focus on me” mindset will most often take your review as bragging and arrogant, even though you were just trying to add value. The only solution is to stay away from it all together. If you are meeting with someone one on one, then try and furnish them with your info through a 3rd party, a document or a website. Do not waste a moment talking about you in the meeting. If you focus on them as described above, then they will like them faster and you will be seen as credible faster.

There are many more tips that I could provide on building credibility fast. These suggestions would include: honesty, sincerity, trust, respect, love, etc. I know that these points may seem obvious to you but to most the connection has never been explained.

I know you are likely thinking that I have just described personal development and that credibility enhancement as a course of focus is just another way to say it.

I would argue that point. Success is the goal. Personal, business, leadership development is the how. Rapidly building credibility with your prospect is the why.

The reason you need to focus on all of the above personal development issues is so that you can build higher levels of credibility with others.

You will enjoy much higher levels of success in business or life when you truly decide to increase your credibility in the area which you are focusing.

]]> http://kendunnleadership.com/2011/07/you-want-more-success-increase-your-credibility/feed/ 6 http://kendunnleadership.com/2011/06/if-beethoven-can-do-it-so-can-you/ http://kendunnleadership.com/2011/06/if-beethoven-can-do-it-so-can-you/#comments Tue, 07 Jun 2011 12:22:09 +0000 Ken Dunn http://kendunnleadership.com/?p=256

Ken Dunn and Victoria Pitt discuss Leadership and Network Marketing

If you just meander through life and don’t try and run fast then you will never really live life to its fullest. Granted if you run fast you are way more likely to hit a wall every once in a while, but it also gives you so much experience to share with others.

At the age of 40, I can tell you the good and bad about the policing profession, I can tell you have to start a mortgage company with no money and take it to hundreds of millions in fundings in less then 3 years, I can help you to start an importing business and make a million in less then a year, I can help you to start a renovation business at home part time with no money, I can give suggestions about starting a direct sales business and earn life changing income. I can also explain the right type of training and support is crucial to your direct selling team.

I can also give some real strong experience based advice on how to avoid lawsuits in your business career, I can also help you to gather funding for a business, to write a good business plan, to be the best dad you can, to discover the fastest way to enhance your selling skills, to avoid loosing all your friends, to balance health, fitness and wealth creation, to negotiate for your what your owed or entitled to without ruining relationships, to buy real estate without and money and why you shouldn’t, which beaches in the world you would have the best experience with your kids, or by yourself. I can also introduce you to introduce you to a friend in as many as 42 countries (and growing), etc, etc, etc.

Bottom line experience is the greatest teacher for yourself and others when you share it. Biggest thing I have learned is not to give any of this advice unless I am asked.

Growing up, I have always ran fast and made several mistakes. It used to drive me crazy when people would say things like, “your young, you don’t understand” “you’re only 22, be patient”. I am finally starting to understand now. In our earlier years, we need to do as much as we can. Try different things, go different places, make mistakes, loose money, think crazy business thoughts and pursue them.

If I could do it over again, the first 20 years of my adult life, I would have sought out mentors sooner, I would have try more sooner, I would have started reading leadership books and listening to Leadership CDs sooner.

I am fired up about the next 20 years. I want to help so many people. I want to experience so much more. I want to grow so much more.

I am so hungry……

Reminds me of a Dr Suess Poem that i was first read when I was 6.

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

You’ll look up and down streets. Look ‘em over with care.
About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.”
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you’re too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And you may not find any
you’ll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you’ll head straight out of town.

It’s opener there
in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.

And then things start to happen,
don’t worry. Don’t stew.
Just go right along.
You’ll start happening too.

OH!
THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

You’ll be on y our way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.

You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed.
You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don’t.
Because, sometimes, you won’t.

I’m sorry to say so
but, sadly, it’s true
that Bang-ups
and Hang-ups
can happen to you.

You can get all hung up
in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You’ll be left in a Lurch.

You’ll come down from the Lurch
with an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then,
that you’ll be in a Slump.

And when you’re in a Slump,
you’re not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted. But mostly they’re darked.
A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And IF you go in, should you turn left or right…
or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?
Simple it’s not, I’m afraid you will find,
for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

You can get so confused
that you’ll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles cross weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place…

…for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or the waiting around for a Yes or No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for the wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.

NO!
That’s not for you!

Somehow you’ll escape
all that waiting and staying
You’ll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.

With banner flip-flapping,
once more you’ll ride high!
Ready for anything under the sky.
Ready because you’re that kind of a guy!

Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored. There are games to be won.
And the magical things you can do with that ball
will make you the winning-est winner of all.
Fame! You’ll be as famous as famous can be,
with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don’t
Because, sometimes they won’t.

I’m afraid that some times
you’ll play lonely games too.
Games you can’t win
’cause you’ll play against you.

All Alone!
Whether you like it or not,
Alone will be something
you’ll be quite a lot.

And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance
you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.

But on you will go
though the weather be foul.
On you will go
though your enemies prowl.
On you will go
though the Hakken-Kraks howl.
Onward up many
a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore
and your sneakers may leak.

On and on you will hike,
And I know you’ll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.

You’ll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You’ll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life’s
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never foget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So…
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea,
You’re off the Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way