Jungle Jeff – Page 12 – Disney Brand Loyalty Keynote Speaker

Pants On The Ground

It’s time for a complete 180 degree turn from the jungle jeff “seriousness”. It’s time for complete nonsense and a laugh or two. You good with that?

Who doesn’t like to laugh? Humans were born with certain predispositions. Laughing is near the top of everyone’s list.

Love or hate American Idol, it doesn’t matter to me. I love it for a few compelling reasons, which aren’t listed here. And what started my loyalty to the show was Simon Cowell’s “brutal honesty”.

If for no other reason, we tuned in week after week to watch him be honest. It was a time when I really needed a role model for “brutal honesty”. Was desperate for it myself and didn’t know how to get it.

So, by watching Simon, we got to see the power – the magic – of brutal honesty.

I actually saw watching American Idol as leadership training. Most others saw it as entertainment.

Brutal honest is essential for world-class results. You could see in the contestant’s eyes, and their body language that Simon’s feedback was the most important of all.

Even if it hurt.

These people were trying to be the best in the world. The next ‘common person’ to sell millions of songs. Millions. Can you comprehend that?

Simon would say what everyone else was thinking but no one had the guts to say. This intrigued me. This motivated me. It also made me laugh.

Are You A Rat, Racing?

Rich Dad Poor Dad defined a term, and helped put perspective on the Rat Race cliche.

Basically, human nature teaches us to buy more or bigger (more expensive) things when we receive a promotion or a monetary raise from our job.

So, our expenses are never less than our earnings. We fail to save money, let alone invest money.

This cycle repeats itself until we die.

What really woke me up to this whole rat race thing was when Robert Kiyosaki said, “If you think your home is your biggest asset, you’re in trouble.”

Wait, that’s exactly what I’ve always thought. And now you’re telling me that it’s wrong?

I Have A Dream

Do you have a dream? Of course you do. Who doesn’t?

Do you know the question behind the question?

No seriously, do you?

I mean, “Do you have a dream so big, everyone considers it impossible?”

Maybe you should.

Last year, after reading Robert Kiyosaki’s bestselling book, Rich Dad Poor Dad, dreams of a different kind began to form.

And this week, I’ll share a few more highlights. Meanwhile, there is a fairly comprehensive Rich Dad Poor Dad summary in the top banner. It’s been there for a year.

You can see a lot when you look around.

Back To The Books

Rich Dad Poor Dad.

Here is the life-changing take-away:

When you work for someone else, you:

Earn
Pay Taxes
Spend

When you work for yourself, you:

Earn
Spend
Pay Taxes

I ain’t the brightest bulb in the box, but I get this. It took a lifetime, and a great book, but I get it now.

Of course, not knowing this most basic of economic structure is very embarrassing.

My Dad had two side businesses. My Grandfather had one too. My wife’s Grammy ran a one-room grocery store for 45 years.

What did they teach me?

Nothing.

How is that possible?

There is no good or decent answer, except to say, “That’s just the way it was back then.”

What a shame. But it is what it is. No bitterness. Lost opportunity to be sure. But no bitterness.

Now, only hope, determination and of course, indomitable will. Like the early pioneers.

Competent Incompetent

Has anyone ever called you a competent incompetent?

If so, consider yourself a rookie. But, a rookie with incredible opportunity.

In today’s rapidly changing work environment, even seasoned professionals may sometimes feel like a competent incompetent.

And there’s just one thing I’d like to say about that. Remember who you are and why they hired you in the first place.

When I first became a professional speaker, I knew nothing, zip, zilch, notta, zero, about public speaking.

This was a good thing, my new boss told me.

What the?

And what’s weird about his comment, I agreed with him.

I was fully aware I didn’t know a thing about my new career path.

Public Speaking for a large Central Florida company was frightening. The people that made up the team I just joined were seasoned professionals.

Me?

The new guy, that didn’t have a clue. But they eluded to the reason why they hired me, over all their other choices.

“You have the most heart! The most passion.”

Here we are, 11 years later.