It has taught (or maybe re-taught) me the power of a hug. That there is never a better time than right now to give someone a hug. I hug more people, more often, even at work.
Remember how crowded (assuming you went) Church was that first Sunday?
Funny thing, I remember a lot of Christians sort of complaining about “all those people”.
And I quietly thought to myself, “This is the way Church ought to be every Sunday”.
In 2000, I began teaching world-class Leadership Excellence to others, and a key life lesson was revealed to me in the form of an epiphany.
While I judge myself on my intentions, everyone else judges me on my behaviors.
What a wake up call this proved to be. (and the hidden message in this post is it’s the exact same for you)
To make a long story short, our son’s name is Chapin. His name was partially inspired by the Harry Chapin song, “Cat’s in the Cradle“, from 1974.
He’s going to turn out just like me. This is why it’s critically important I am obsessed with being a good and decent person.
It’s the same in business too. We’ve all seen leaders, who are too busy to notice key things – just like the father in the song – and therefore lack the awareness to set a better example.
I’m sure you’ve got nothing to worry about though.
Carpe diem, jungle jeff
PS. I’m not claiming to be a perfect leader by any stretch of the imagination. Do claim to be proactively searching and addressing my blind spots.
Thought representing the USA at World’s and stepping out on The Ledge, were impossible.
Disney has helped me realize the only limitations I have are those I impose upon myself. In passing this on to our son, I am reminded, “To teach is to learn twice”.
What has just rattled my own cage is today’s post by Seth Godin. Click here to read “Competing with the Single-Minded” and be inspired to challenge the status quo.
Ignoring the facts does not change them. If I have to explain this to you, you are in trouble. Seriously.
It’s a wonder the Ostrich isn’t extinct. Carpe diem, jungle jeff
Disney Wonder (Social Media update). This is different than the Disney Scoop, which is the motion Disney Cast Members learn, to pick up specks of trash without stopping.
I often wonder where I’d be right now if I’d been quicker to embrace social media.
Which naturally leads to wondering about businesses, if they wonder about what I wonder about.
The power to reach the masses grows exponentially as the Internet tools are mastered and maximized.
In keeping with the “Family” theme this month, you might be asking, “So what does this have to do with family”?
For starters, our son has written two blog posts from his first two days back at school. He’s a third-grader.
If your retirement plan is all locked and loaded from your company, you certainly don’t need any radical thoughts from jungle jeff on what the future might look like.
Do what you fear, but don’t get arrested. Sometimes, if not more often, we must do what we fear to overcome it.
This has been challenging, considering all the places I’ve lived and worked – 35 years in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Idaho, Florida and Washington State.
Bottom line, my thirst for pushing boundaries tends to threaten others. Since turning 50 in June, I have flat out accepted this is who I am – a game changer. Maybe this will be September’s theme. Maybe not.
Let’s go back two days to The Ledge, at the western hemisphere’s tallest building:
Went out on The Ledge five times. Would have done it even more, except it was a very busy Friday night in Chicago.
“So what”? Exactly. So what! I’ve never been more impatient with the status quo.
Turbulent times call for unprecedented creative efforts. In order to teach our son patience, I constantly remind myself to relax and be patient. One day soon, some one will ask, “Will you share your vision with us”?
While I went to The Ledge five times that night, Walt Disney lived his whole life on The Ledge. Wonder if we’re related. Carpediem, jungle jeff
Friday evening, I walked to the Willis Tower (formerly The Sears Tower). The 1.5 miles took about an hour, with the numerous photo stops.
Going there was a mission. A mission to stretch myself.
Spent two full days in Chicago, exiting, motivating and inspiring a great organization to reach even greater heights. To go out on the ledge, so to speak and challenge themselves to do something they think can’t be done – destroy the status quo.
I felt an absolute calling to go to the ledge. The ledge is a very scary place to be.
How can professional speakers – motivational speakers – inspire others to do impossible things if they themselves aren’t motivated and aren’t capable of doing impossible things?
Walt Disney never asked his associates to do anything he thought was impossible. Walt always thought things were possible, even if everyone around him didn’t.
Same with me. I’ll never ask my son, wife, or anyone else in our family to do anything impossible.
jungle jeff traditions are inspired from Disney’s successful business models. If it works for Disney, it can work for you and me.
So in 1996, when my Grandmother was given six weeks to live and a few years later my Dad was fading from early onset, rapid progression Alzheimer’s, I sent many Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and other Disney Character post cards to them in Pennsylvania.
I wanted them to know that I loved them and choose a seemingly insignificant way to do so, simply placing the stamp upside down.
If or when our son ever notices, there will be a story behind it. A good story. A story to help him learn about his Great Grandmother, his Grandfather, and me in more detail, using a very simple example.
Roy Disney, Walt’s brother, recounted Walt on his death bed pointing out the hospital ceiling tiles. Walt told Roy, “In this square mile we’re gonna do this. In that square mile we’ll do that”.
On Walt’s deathbed, he was still talking about making a 43-square mile swamp the world’s vacation kingdom.
Walt had passion, and, great people who knew how to keep his values alive, long after his death.
Will people remember what I value after I’m gone? My son sure will. It just takes some effort on my part to ensure it with some stories from everyday life.
Walt Disney – the man and the company – history is preserved and perpetuated through stories.
Our country does the same thing, and maybe you’ve never wondered, “Why”?
People forget. Important details get lost. Values, reasons, Morales, lessons. Roots grow shallower, not deeper, when the story is shallow.
On a trip recently, a friend was writing several postcards to important people in his family. What a wonderful tradition. There’s probably a story about how he got started. He said he always writes the same people – a tradition.
Had to wonder, since I send a fair number of postcards, does he put the stamp upside down, like I always do?
People think I’m careless and not paying attention to a simple little detail, which is what Walt Disney made famous – close attention to the smallest of details.
That couldn’t be farther from the truth. I’m absolutely 100% intentional placing every single stamp, every single time, upside down.
