Tag: C-Level

My Biggest Blind Spot

Biggest blind spot?  You really want to know?  It’s embarrassing actually.

What makes it embarrassing is the fact that I was so clueless about it. Seriously clueless.

To teach is to learn twice, and as I worked hard to apply what I was teaching (1999-ish), an epiphany appeared.

By the way, it’s likely that I hold some sort of State or National record for epiphanies.

It has been a life changing event for me.  Life changing!

Tomorrow, I’ll share it.  Sometime soon, why not give some consideration to a huge change you need to make, but are clueless you need to make it.

Oh, I get it, this is uncomfortable, and I’m full of garbage, right?

Anyone remember the Disney movie, Miracle?  The athletes literally hated their coach.  Yet their coach had them do something that no one had done in twenty years.

Click here to get a taste of how a jerk helped an team of non-superstars do the impossible.

PS.  If you didn’t click on the hyperlink Miracle, you owe it to yourself to do it now. Unless you’re a chicken$h!t.  Carpe diem, jungle jeff 🙂

The Power Of Our Example

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.

Missing It?

Missing it?  Absolutely missing it.

What then?  And btw, this is today’s second post.  Read the next one after this, if you don’t want to miss a thing.

I miss posting about this Disney website.

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 🙂

Back To School

Back to school for our third grader.

Thank you to my wife for all her hard work to shop, organize and take care of all the preparations necessary for a successful end to summer vacation.

Third grader, nine years old, 70-plus pounds.  Who woulda thought?

Our son had a great summer at the Disney – YMCA child care facility. He learned how to dance in front of others.

And it was easier than you might think.

Part of the class culture, led by his YMCA teachers, was every day starting with music and dancing on the playground.  Every day.

What happens when you do something every day?  You get used to it. And you get good at it.  This strengthens your self-esteem.

Because of the way my brain works, it is only natural to connect this insight to business.  Yours and mine.

Great results happen when dedicated effort is practiced everyday and fun is part of the culture.

What surprised me about writing this post was that it surprised me, because I shouldn’t be surprised.

This is common sense, just not always common practice.

Carpe diem, jungle jeff 🙂

jungle jeff, Risk Taker

jungle jeff, risk taker, on The Ledge.

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.

But maybe I should.  Carpe diem, jungle jeff 🙂