Listener – Page 7 – Disney Brand Loyalty Keynote Speaker

Without Passion

“Without passion, a person gambles with their future”. — jeff noel

This morning as I checked Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, it hit me. There’s a person who Tweets about cooking. “Miss D”, I’ll call her, has a passion that is so clearly visible that I had to tell her it inspires me.

It doesn’t inspire me to cook.

Then what?

It inspires me to be inspired – with big dreams.

Yesterday, I purchased a Macbook for our son’s ninth birthday this week. He doesn’t know he’s getting it. In fact he won’t be expecting it because he knows how expensive they are.

But I’ve been planting seeds. “You should think of ways you can make money”.

So tell me, when is it too early to challenge a child to be thinking about earning money? How crazy is it to encourage children to look at ways other than cutting grass, raking leaves, or doing chores?

Disney’s best leaders are the ones who have passion so clear and so deep, that their team believes anything is possible.

At home, it’s the same way for me. “I believe if your goal isn’t impossible, you’re not reaching high enough”. — jeff noel Carpe diem! 🙂

jungle jeff & Corporate Blogs

Last Sunday, on the connecting flight from Paris to Helsinki, I flew Finnair.

Like Delta Airline’s Sky Magazine, Finnair has a similar publication in every seat back pocket.

In usual fashion, my eyes gravitated to what many would overlook.

Here’s the photo – a picture’s worth a 1,000 words:

Happy corporate blogging. Carpe diem, jungle jeff 🙂

PS. For any potential critics out there that might be saying, “So what’s your point jungle jeff? I thought you said August was going to be about how you are applying what Disney has taught you to raising your son”?

And I say, “Exactly. Did I mention my son has started blogging”?

And did I mention, “He’s eight”?

Carpe diem, jungle jeff 🙂

It’s What You Learn After You Think You…

“It’s what you learn after you think you know it all that counts”.

That quote belongs to John Wooden, former UCLA Men’s Basketball Coach, and ESPN’s recipient of “Coach of the Century”.

Not the basketball coach of the century. THE Coach of the century, any sport.

Our son is pretty certain I know just about everything. Maybe that will last another year or two. Maybe not.

I can’t wait to tell him stories and show him pictures and videos of all that is the same and all that is different here in Lahti, Finland.

In fact, it seems everything is the same here. And still, everything is different.

Everything Disney does is the same as every other company. And yet, everything Disney does is different.

If there are young children in your life, and this doesn’t mean only parents, have you ever stopped to contemplate your role in their learning about similarities and differences?

Or are you like me – tempted to think I know it all?

Carpe diem, jungle jeff 🙂

jungle jeff, Jack & WMA

People who know me, know that when I come to the fork in the road, I take it.

Seriously, of the many labels thrown my way – status quo, normal, conservative – these themes are not.

Like many people, healthy living is important and action is required. After a dreadful cholesterol report a decade ago, an exercise routine began:

One push up per day, for one week
Run one mailbox per day for one week
Second week, add one push up per day
Second week, add another mailbox per day
Third week, well, you get the picture

Now here we are, ten years later, by practicing what I preach, guess where that’s led?

The World Master’s Athletics (WMA) Track & Field World Championships in Lahti, Finland. Seriously.

Reporting live from Lahti, Finland, August 7, 2009. Make it a GREAT day. It’s up to you. If not today, when? Here’s to our health – carpe diem, jungle jeff 🙂

Motivation: One Size Fits All?

Motivation. Who doesn’t want to be motivated? Humans love to be motivated?

Why?

Because we get more done, and what we get done, usually gets done better.

Who doesn’t want that?

But motivation is like a child’s toy, one size does not fit everyone.

This is why there are thousands of toy manufacturers, stores, prices, etc.

There are thousands of ways to get motivated. Thousands to stay motivated.

But have you ever noticed a very young child playing with the box that a nice toy came in, neglecting the actual toy?

Motivation is really pretty simple. But no rules for success will work unless you do.

My eight-year old son understands this. Yet sometimes adults forget.

Get motivated. Stay motivated. Motivate others. It’s our duty as leaders.

Carpe diem, jungle jeff 🙂