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By Tim Hague Sr.
You just might get lucky—and that’s not being trite. During my race on Amazing Race Canada, Lady Luck showed up a number of times on our behalf. As I’ve said before, it’s those who stay in the race who so often seem to get lucky. I can guarantee you this: give up and you’ll never see luck. The truth is that none of us know the end of our stories. There are those times when we’re convinced that there can be no positive outcome and we just want to quit. If that’s not the time to persevere, I don’t know when is. When you’ve gone as far as you can go, you gut it out and hold on. You persevere until you’re thrown off the race, but you never leave of your own accord. I was “lucky” enough to be in the ten percent of individuals with Parkinson’s who are diagnosed before the age of fifty. I was also “lucky” enough to be chosen out of ten thousand applicants to be among the nine teams to run The Amazing Race Canada. And how in the world were we “lucky” enough to win the race? I certainly don’t believe that life is merely a bunch of random lucky moments. But whether you call it luck or divine intervention, there are many times in life when we’re left baffled, scratching our heads, wondering how in the world something came about. Everyone experiences that. Then there are times when something extraordinary happens, and we’re so grateful that we hadn’t given up. Those moments come only to those who choose to stay in their race and persevere. During the final task, it was such sweet success to stand in front of that giant map and know I had the information I needed. Watching it later on television was actually even better. As the race unfolded on TV, some on social media continually derided us as being merely lucky. It was often said that we didn’t deserve to still be in the race, either because we’d hit the non-elimination legs or, for some, because we’d used the U-Turn. The flags-and-flowers challenge was our vindication. Sure, we were lucky, but not with the flags and flowers. You either knew them or you didn’t, and we knew them. Sheryl had reminded us to pay attention, and we had. And therein lies an incredible life lesson. It reminds me of that old saying, “The harder I work, the luckier I get.” We were lucky in the race, and it sure helps when we get lucky in life. However, we also worked hard. We’d made the decision to do our best. In the end, that was good enough. Not only is doing your best all you need to do; it’s all you can do. Sure, there are times when we need to stretch ourselves, to press more fully into a given task, but really, we’re only ever trying to do our best. The race taught me to ask the honest question—What will my best really look like today?—and then work toward living that reality. It’s always the right decision to push hard, to work hard, to prepare and then lean into the task at hand. This is what it means to do your best. Included in that thought is the idea of simplicity. I tend to overcomplicate my life, to strive in making things happen. I’ve come away from the race with a greater appreciation of what it means to simplify my existence by understanding that this doesn’t mean working less hard or relinquishing great aspirations. Rather, it means stripping away the excess in order to focus on what’s most important. In part, this is what it took for us to ultimately win the race. This is the foremost lesson I carry through life, now that I live with Parkinson’s. With all I’ve been given in life, I feel the obligation to find ways to encourage others, and to live with as gracious an attitude as possible. When we get up and do our best, luck often follows. Looking for your next healthcare speaker? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to make your healthcare event a success!
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By Amy Dee
Your heart is beating with excitement; jumping to your feet, you fist pump the air, joining the chants of those around you shouting: “I CAN DO THIS!” Bursting with renewed self-belief, you fly out of the seminar grounded only by the books and CDs purchased (in a frenzy) to maintain the high. At home, you create your vision board. The speaker’s voice on the CD reminds you of the unlimited potential you must awaken to live the life of your dreams. When negative thoughts scratch their way in, you fist pump them away yelling “I CAN DO THIS!” Your life is going to change! And it does… Your dog eats a bad french fry resulting in a staggering veterinary bill, and your dream promotion is given to an unworthy co-worker. In a hissy fit of despair, you binge on alcohol, fast food and QVC until you run out of money and steam. You awaken to a maxed-out credit card and a 12-pound weight gain. Your “giant within” has shrunk to an undersized troll living under a mystical bridge. The motivational book glares at you from the coffee table. The speaker’s voice, once inspiring, now fills you self-loathing. How did that glow of self-belief disappear with a couple puffs from the bad luck dragon? The truth is, the glow was never going to last. While a great inspirational talk can jack up some temporary positive feelings; it cannot bolster your self-belief. Your self-belief will not increase by feel-good speeches, bumper sticker lines on facebook or catch phrase about your greatness. Self-belief is self-grown. Self Belief is grown by struggling through adversities, by pushing yourself to finish when you want to quit and by keeping promises you make to yourself. Four not-instant ways to enhance your self-belief:
The truth is “You can do this!” the question is “Will you?” Looking for your next healthcare speaker? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to make your healthcare event a success! By Ron Culberson. With a master’s degree in social work, Ron Culberson spent the first part of his career working in a large hospice organization as a clinical social worker, middle manager, and senior leader. As a speaker, humorist, and author of "Do it Well. Make it Fun.The Key to Success in Life, Death, and Almost Everything in Between", he has delivered more than 1,000 presentations to associations, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and corporations. His mission is to change the workplace culture so that organizations are more productive and staff are more content. He was also the 2012-2013 president of the National Speakers Association and is a recognized expert on the benefits of humor and laughter.
I’m a vanilla kind of guy. Now, I’m not referring to the pasty color of my skin nor am I suggesting that I am a groupie for the rapper known for “Ice, Ice, Baby.” Instead, I call myself vanilla because my approach can sometimes fade into the background. Let me explain. When I was a kid, the extent of the ice cream diversity in our freezer was vanilla, chocolate, and occasionally, butter pecan. That was it. No cherry lewis, no mocha almond fudge, and definitely no pistachio. The way I understood it, pistachio was the flavor of the upper class. Anytime someone ordered pistachio ice cream on television, they always seemed sophisticated. I never once heard anyone in rural Virginia order pistachio. Now that I’m an adult, I’ve eaten many different flavors of ice cream. And yet, I still don’t feel worthy of pistachio. “Nuttin” personal, I just haven’t gone that route. When it comes to my career as a speaker and writer, I’m believe I’m quite solidly grounded in a vanilla existence. In other words, I don’t particularly lean towards the strong flavors of edginess and controversy. Some might call this approach bland. Some may say it’s boring. And others may say that I’ll never stand out with a vanilla approach. Yet, I wonder if it might just be more universal. Vanilla, for instance, is the most popular ice cream according to frozen dessert aficionados. And when it comes to accompaniments, I think vanilla ice cream compliments most cakes and pies better than anything. So, maybe vanilla can be just as a powerful as pistachio or even basil jalapeño. For me, the choice of vanilla has to do with the flavor of the world these days. It’s a bit overwhelming. I’m not particularly interested in adding seasoning to an already spicy atmosphere. Instead, my taste is for a milder approach. But this is not what gets the most attention. Consider the world of talk shows, for example. Most successful hosts achieved fame because of flavorful comments. Howard Stern, Rush Limbaugh, and Dr. Laura Schlessinger rose to the top of their profession because the things they said were controversial. The controversy got attention. The attention attracted listeners. And the more listeners they got, the more successful they became. But, their comments also alienated people who found the approach distasteful. I once heard a speaker say that you can’t make an impact on people unless you make them uncomfortable. Similarly, one of my graduate school professors said that people won’t change their behavior unless the stress in their lives is so high that it forces them to change. I understand this perspective and appreciate the intent. But then I think of Martin Luther King, Jr. who embraced a philosophy of love and non-violent resistance. His approach suggests that we can influence people by caring, and perhaps the very act of caring will move them towards change. That’s quite a different paradigm. Several years ago, I wrote a column for a well-known online news site. One day, a seemingly innocuous article sent one reader into a rage. The man made assumptions about my perspective that were just not true. He criticized my article and judged me as a person. His comments were so intense, some of them were removed for violating the site’s etiquette policies. The experience left me quite rattled. After that, I began using a more vanilla approach to my writing and speaking. I did not purposely seek to be bland but instead sought to avoid being the person who created ill will or brought out the anger in others. I wanted to put out positive ideas even if it was not as flavorful as the ideas of people who are more controversial. My assumption was that if my positive vibes spread among both my audiences and readers, perhaps I could counter the negativity that seems to be so pervasive in the world today. Will I be famous if I’m vanilla? Most certainly not. But my goal has never been fame or fortune. It has always been to simply to do what I love and to spread a little goodwill along the way. Maybe we don’t need to be famous to have an impact. Maybe we don’t need to be noticed to serve others. Maybe we don’t need to be the national leader of a radical group to influence the world. Maybe, instead, we can make a radical difference for our families, our colleagues, and our community through daily acts of vanilla. There is a quote by Confucius that says, “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” Some people seek to move mountains all at once. Others, stone by stone. As I sit here eating a bowl of vanilla ice cream, I realize that it’s quite delicious. And, it compliments so many other foods. So, if the most neutral ice cream ever made is also the most popular, then maybe we vanilla types really can make an impact on the world. We may not wake up everybody’s taste buds like a big dish of chocolate caramel cookie dough crunch, but we just might make a bigger impact than we realize. And that’s the scoop. Looking for your next healthcare speaker? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to make your healthcare event a success! By Roger Crawford. This was originally published on Roger's blog.
What would you like to attempt that you often thought was impossible? Is it really out of your reach, or is there a reason you do not believe you can do it? Too often, we underestimate ourselves and overestimate others. Below are four possibility-busting beliefs that often make a difference between what is possible and what is impossible. 1. Dwelling on the Negative Remember the old song by Johnny Mercer, “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive, E-Li-Mi-Nate the Negative.” One way to ensure failure is having the negative belief that you cannot succeed before you even try. Our mindset can sometimes convince us that something is impossible before we even make our initial attempt. When we mistakenly believe that we lack the talent or resources to achieve our aspirations, it paralyzes our progress. Here is why having a negative perspective can eliminate potential possibilities: By repeatedly focusing on why something cannot be done, you will look for evidence to support that belief. 2. Defined by Disabilities There is a clear difference between real handicaps and imaginary ones. Real handicaps are limitations that can be overcome, adapted to and accepted. For example, in my life having only three fingers was a clear indication that I would not be a concert pianist. Once you accept your limitations, everything outside of that becomes a possibility. Do not spend your valuable time and resources focused on your deficits and fixing what appears to be broken. Instead, focus on your unique strengths, and build on those assets. If you lead with your limitations, it’s like challenging a ram to a head-butting contest. While you may have a positive attitude and give it your very best effort, you may gain little more than a headache. 3. Anxiety creates imaginary handicaps It’s important not to confuse fear with anxiety. Anytime we step out of our comfort zone, experiencing some fear is a normal, natural response to a new situation. Anxiety, however, occurs when our reaction is an abnormal response to our circumstances. In other words, it is anticipating or imagining a negative outcome regardless of the situation or opportunity. A focus on conceivable failure and disappointment is unrealistic and, therefore, imaginary. Many amazing possibilities are often unrealized, not because of real obstacles, but because of self-imposed limitations. 4. Dreaming Small Marketing guru Seth Godin, defines “going to the edge” as taking an idea to the extreme of possibility and working back from there to areas of thought and creativity that are more reasonable and doable. This illustrates the power of bold dreams as the catalyst for maximum achievement. All of us have the ability to conceive an idea, plan, and nurture it to success. So, why not make your dreams so compelling that they stir your soul and stimulate your motivation. This vision will inspire you to stay focused, put forth an extraordinary effort, while consistently maintaining a positive outlook. You have the purpose, passion, and perseverance needed to achieve your dreams. Remember, the distance between impossible and possible is often found between the ears! Looking for your next healthcare speaker? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to make your healthcare event a success! By Courtney Clark
Being in charge has benefits. When you’re in charge, you can set the priorities. You can boss people around. You can do what you want. We love being in control. Our brains are actually wired to equate an increase in control with a better outcome. We think that when we’re in charge, we’re more likely to get what we want. And if we’re not able to call the shots, we probably WON’T get the outcome we’re hoping for. So when you’re not in control, then what? Should you just give up? Let it go and hope for the best? That all sounds very zen and mature, but most of us aren’t really able to do that. We like that feeling of control too much. So what can we do to get what we want when we aren’t in control? You Can’t Stop It from Raining First, make sure you’re focusing on a problem that’s actually fixable. As Bill Burnett says in the book Designing Your Life, “If it’s not actionable, it’s not a problem. It’s a situation, a circumstance, a fact of life.” When I was 26 years old, I was diagnosed with cancer. For the first several days, I walked around in a fog. What should I do? Was I going to survive? Would I need surgery? Would I need chemo? How much was all of this going to cost? How was I going to tell my loved ones? Who would break the news to my baby sister, who adored me? On the third day, the fog lifted. I knew exactly what to do. I needed to find the best surgeon in the state. I realized that my problem wasn’t that I had cancer. I mean, having cancer is problematic, for sure! But I didn’t have the ability to cure my cancer, so I couldn’t make that the problem I focused on. Instead, I made my problem “How do I survive cancer?” With that problem in my mind, I started my research. I found the best surgeon in the state, we agreed on a plan of action, and treated my cancer. Do you see the difference between “I have cancer,” and “How do I survive cancer?” It may seem like a small difference, but by focusing on something actionable, I gave myself back control in a situation where I could have just felt sorry for myself without any power. If You Can’t Call The Shots, Send a Text When you focus on something actionable, you’re doing something else – you’re taking a small step toward a goal. Have you ever heard the riddle “how do you eat an elephant?” One bite at a time! The only way to get overwhelming tasks done is to start small. When you aren’t in control, they only way you can start is by starting small, because you don’t have the power to do anything big. That may sound frustrating, to only be able to take baby steps. But there’s a reason why it’s actually a really good idea. Doing something, doing anything, helps build up our sense of personal power. It’s a process called “self efficacy,” where we slowly build up a belief that we have the ability to play an active role in our destiny. By choosing a surgeon, I took control over something having to do with my cancer. I can’t control cancer, but I can control that tiny piece of it. Come and Get It If you’re in a situation where you’re not in control, start by noticing the real, actionable problem you’re facing. What can you actually do something about? Not just what’s frustrating or annoying or scary. But what’s fixable? After you’ve identified the problem you can actually influence, break it apart into small chunks. What’s the first small thing you can control? Accomplish that, and then the next small thing, until the path in front of you is clear. It may be uncomfortable, but you should be in situations where you don’t have all the control. If you’re only ever playing in sandboxes where you’re the boss, then you’re playing too small. Get out of the tiny sandbox, head to the beach, and use these techniques to help you get what you’re going for, no matter what stands in your way. Looking for your next healthcare speaker? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to make your healthcare event a success! By John O'Leary. This was originally posted on JohnOLearyInspires.com. When John O'Leary was 9 years old, he suffered burns over 100% of his body and was expected to die. He is now an inspirational speaker and bestselling author, teaching more than 50,000 people around the world each year how to live inspired. John's first book, ON FIRE: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life was published March 15, 2016. John is a contributing writer for Huff Post and Parade.com. John is a proud husband and father of four and resides in St. Louis, MO. Order John’s book today anywhere books are sold.
If you were asked to pick one word that would encourage your team to be as successful as possible this year, what word would you choose? If you are the head of a sales team, perhaps your word would be effort or grit or service. If the team you are leading is in health care maybe it’s healing or extraordinary or presence. And if the team you’re leading is a crew of little ones at home, maybe your word is patience or listening-ears or now! But what if your team was a disparate group of 18 to 22-year-old athletes? What if they came from a couple dozen states, with differing beliefs and values, and from every imaginable upbringing? What single word might bring them together and forge them into champions? The winning head coach of the 2018 College Football National Championship considered this question as the season began, and his answer might surprise you. Let me explain. Finding Power in the Present Coach Dabo Swinney is a successful guy by every measurement these days. He is incredibly successful financially, is one of the winningest coaches over the past decade, just won his second National Championship, and has several times received College Football Coach of the Year awards. He’s got a lovely wife, three healthy kids, and a good life. He’s got it all. But he didn’t always. Growing up in a broken home was difficult for Dabo, and he was sometimes forced to sleep in the family car to avoid the unwarranted wrath of his abusive father. Although he was an extraordinary athlete, Dabo didn’t receive a single scholarship to play football in college, and instead had to make the team as a walk on. After three years of intense practices, studying and preparing, he finished his playing career with a total of 81 yards. When he couldn’t get a job in college football after graduation, he took a job in commercial real estate, but struggled. And after eventually making it back into football, his first season as head coach of Clemson ended with a lopsided loss that almost resulted in him being fired. And yet… One of the key drivers for Coach Dabo Swinney has always been a steadfast belief in work ethic, a deep conviction in his faith, and the certainty that the best is yet to come. Before the start of the 2018 season, he shared his life story with several hundred minority students. He began with these words: “If there’s hope in the future, then there’s power in the present.” What One Word Defined Clemson’s 2018 Season? So, what was the word Coach Dabo Swinney used to unify his team, galvanize their will, and ensure their success? What was the word that would take a group of 105 unique young men and transform them into a team that goes 15-0 and steamrolled their competition? Was it fight or outwork or destroy? No. The word was seemingly more gentile, but undoubtedly more transformative. The word was joy. Joy. Joy often gets confused with happy. But while happy is a fleeting, shifting emotion, joy is a state of mind. It is not easy, and it is not common. But it is a choice and it changes lives. Starting with one – and then a team – choosing it. Joy unified a bunch of college boys to play, work, smile, fight, learn, and win together. And my friends, I am absolutely confident that the decision to pursue that joy will elevate your game, too. Because what I know is this: things may go wrong for you today. You’ll get knocked down. You’ll be let down. You’ll deal with adversity and naysayers and calls that go against you. But in choosing joy, you’ll pop back up and be fueled with both the immense power in the present and the unbridled hope for the future. You’ll be on fire for life and totally unstoppable. Just ask the Clemson Tigers. Looking for your next healthcare speaker? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to make your healthcare event a success! By Donna Cardillo
I recently went into a store that makes their own sausage. It sits in one long continuous looped pile waiting to be portioned out. I asked the woman behind the counter to give me about 1 pound of sausage. She deftly cut off a piece and placed it on the scale. Voila… 1 pound exactly. I said, “Wow…so exact!” She smiled and wrapped it up. Today at the airport I had a large heavy bag to check at the curb. I had weighed it at home before leaving so knew it was 47 pounds, 3 pounds shy of the 50-pound limit. The skycap lifted the bag, concentrated for a few seconds and said confidently, without putting it on the scale, “Weight’s OK.” I responded, “Wow…You can do that just by feel?” He grinned broadly and said proudly, “Yup!” I marvel at and am grateful for all of the people in various lines of work who develop expertise and proficiency in what they do. It makes my life simpler and easier and even adds joy to my day. Notice and appreciate how others do their jobs. Acknowledge and appreciate them for it every day. Looking for your next healthcare speaker? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to make your healthcare event a success! By Vicki Hess
I’ve been listening to the podcast, “How I Built This” with host Guy Raz, which shares interesting stories of entrepreneurs who started their own businesses. Some of the recent episodes include the founders of JetBlue, Eileen Fisher Clothing and Compaq Computers. As an entrepreneur, I’m inspired by the creativity and resilience these business leaders demonstrated in starting their enterprises in spite of small and large hurdles. As the title of the podcast shares, the stories are about building and growth. This got me thinking about how these ideas relate to you – the leaders and individuals working in healthcare today. What are you building? What stories would you share if you were the podcast guest? Leaders and employees in healthcare fall into the category of a Builder or a Buster based on day-to-day performance on the job. The Performance Triangle demonstrates 3 key drivers of workplace behavior: Ability, Opportunity and Motivation. Here’s What Builders Do in Each Category… When it comes to Motivation, Builders are:
Don’t Be a Buster A Buster is someone who does the opposite of the behaviors shown above. Busters are disengaged and come to work and tear down others. They suck the energy out of meetings and customer encounters. They are great at pointing fingers and laying blame. Most folks don’t self-identify as Busters; however, they demonstrate the behaviors that would define them as just that. For today, think about how you would identify yourself. Builder or Buster? Engaged or Disengaged? Satisfied or Dissatisfied? Today’s challenge is to look at one part of the Performance Triangle and figure out how to build your capacity in that area. Looking for your next healthcare speaker? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to make your healthcare event a success! |
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