Yesterday, the 14-year old in the blue and white checked shirt demonstrated remarkable calm under pressure.
As success becomes imminent, a new fear is born. The fear of looking arrogant. A confident entrepreneurial startup founder must exude confidence.
Exude.
That’s pretty intense. And to some, intimidating. It reminds people of their decaying dreams.
It’s time to follow the fatherly advice i have consistently shared with our 14-year old.
Why focus on the ones who will say jealous things? And we all know how those behind-someone’s-back conversations go, because we’ve all been jealous, so it’s no secret.
It’s the difficult path that others laugh at.
Not because it’s difficult, but because it’s lonely.
Three days ago, in a blast from the past, a friend offered this email excerpt from nearly a decade ago, from a Disney Institute (DI) engagement i led. While i do not recall the situation, Craig did. The crazy thing though, it sounds legit:
• • • • •
About 5 or 6 years ago, when you came to Columbus with DI.
I was standing with you, after it was over, at the front of the room, when a guy came up and started rattling off things he had heard about Michael Eisner. I remember it distinctly, because it was a lot of material that was in a 2006 book, Disneywar. (I had recently finished reading it, too.) It was clear he was trying to get validation to some dirt he had in mind.
You handled it flawlessly. I don’t remember specifics. But it was to the effect that Michael had done a lot of good for the company.
I do remember that after that, you told me that you had spent some time with Mr Eisner and that he is a good guy. You told me you’d tell me about it someday. 🙂
I believe you had said you were his specific handler, when he was in town. I couldn’t tell if this was during your Resort Operations days or during your DI days.
Either way, I look forward to hearing about it. Eisner may have had a rocky end with the company. But, he did some incredible things, righted the ship and set the company up with a great base to build on for the 21st century.
OK, done geeking out.
🙂
craig
• • • • •
Consistency is the hallmark of a reputation.
By the way, what prompted Craig’s email was this post, also from three days ago.
Dressing for success in t-shirt and cut-off jeans.
Lower right, barley distinguishable, the business sign of my public office – My French Cafe.
A photographer making selfies cool again.
We’ve been talking for the past few years about getting together for lunch. Seriously. Years.
It happened yesterday.
Jake, a 19-year Disney veteran, left Disney right after 9/11 because he had a dream that couldn’t be realized in a corporate setting. His ideas were stifled. September 11th made it even worse.
He took action.
He recounted the first year of applying for multiple gas credit cards to make ends meet as a struggling entrepreneur. He also spoke of living on Campbell’s Soup because that was the best he could afford.
He just hired his 19th full-time employee and the first with a six-figure salary.
Just a hunch, pretty sure he had some hope of recruiting me. Flattered.
Ever have a moment when you inspire yourself because of your convictions?
Allentown, PA Cemetary, vaguely related to today’s post.
A 15-year old Disney leadership flashback applied to yesterday.
Last week while in Denver at the Authority Rainmaker event, an email from Orlando:
Are you available next Thursday May 21?
A former client has initiated a request for my Disney consulting services. Had no idea of the details last week, but in the past three days we hammered everything out.
Then yesterday a call. “Jeff, we are postponing the session for two weeks. One of the leaders in another department passed away from a sudden heart attack.”
Stunned. Saddened.
We worked through this and then before hanging up i asked:
If the speed limit is 55, how fast can i drive before you would become uncomfortable? And let’s assume 100 would be reckless. He said somewhere near 85.
My job is to rattle the cage of every person in the room.
