I recently had the opportunity to deliver three sessions of Stoke the Fire Within to the sales staff of The Papers, Inc, a printing and publishing operation that specializes in niche publications (photo below).
Part of the program was focused on positive attitude. As soon as one session was over, one of the ladies came forward and said, “Your program has led me to put back the sign I used to have on my bathroom mirror that reads, ‘I am awesome!‘”
That’s a great idea! Keeping a positive attitude takes work, and setting the tone for the day with that posted up in the morning certainly helps.
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Do you have a bucket list, or a list of goals you would like to accomplish in life that go beyond professional goals? My bucket list for years has included going up in a hot air balloon at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. My biggest fear in life is heights, so soaring up thousands of feet in a balloon had me a bit worked up, but I did it and loved it (even if it did take me 20 minutes to look over the edge of the balloon basket!). I took the picture below from inside the balloon….
The motivational message I took from this Balloon Fiesta is where it came from and what it has become. Whether you are with a company or educational institution, you can be inspired by their history.
Over 41 years ago, radio station KOB in Albuquerque decided to celebrate their 50th anniversary with a hot air balloon at their festivities. The radio station manager, Dick McKee, then got to asking around what the largest gathering of hot air balloons ever was, and learned it had been 19 in London. They set a goal of getting in 21 that year, but came up short with 13 in their parking lot as several could not make it.
That was 1972. They stuck with it and since have had over 1000 hot air balloons in the air at once. Their annual event is now the largest gathering of hot air balloons in the world, and is the most photographed event in the world. Hundreds of thousands of people come to Albuquerque each October to witness it. It’s not perfect. Our landing had us just miss an RV and hit the ground hard three times before banging into a tree and a big rock, but everyone of the 14 in the basket would have done it again in a heartbeat. To be up there amidst all those other balloons, and to see one decorated as a zebra glide under you, and one designed as Darth Vader go above you, is bucket list stuff. All because of the idea from the radio station guy back in 1972.
A powerful example of what an organization is capable of accomplishing!
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While in Albuquerque I had a long conversation with a man named Richard Martin, who shared great wisdom with me. Richard had been in the 1st Marine Division in World War II and served everywhere from Guam, Guadalcanal, Pearl Harbor (after the attack) and China after the war. As a Corporal his life was threatened many times. “When I think of the battles,” he said, “my mind goes into a collage.”
He told me that during all of it the war created in him a drive to make a wish list, a set of set goals for after the war. They were:
- To find a proper lady
- To have a nice family
- To get his college education
- To live a happy life
He is 87 now and happily married to Jane and they have a wonderful family. He got his college education and has lived a happy life. One of the things he did for years was fly (for fun) a PT 19 open cockpit plane that had equipment exactly like that of what came off the assembly line.
Richard told me the Marines teach you to go after things. He didn’t mean things like material possessions, but to go after the kind of fulfilling life you have the potential to live.
“Go after things!” Richard went after a fulfilling life with the foundation of a wholesome set of 4 goals, and has reached his dreams.
The radio station in Albuquerque went after a goal of having the most hot air balloons together in one place, and now have the most photographed event in the world! After the war, Richard didn’t just sit back and hope things would happen. He took dead aim after his goals, and is happy as a lark pushing 90.
One of the videos I share in ‘Stoke’ and/or ‘How to Build a Positive Attitude and KEEP the Darn Thing!!’ is of Fred Hoitop. Years ago when I was in TV News, there was an annual city tennis tournament. Not once did they ever call me with a good feature story (not that they were expected to). Like Richard says, I had to go after it. I called down to their headquarters and asked many questions about possible feature ideas. At first they didn’t get where I was coming from but after awhile I heard a voice away from the phone say, “Oh, tell him about Fred Hoitop!”
I learned about Fred and went down to do a story on an 80 year old man that insisted on playing the top seed in the first round every year, figuring he might surprise the heavily favored opponent. It had not worked out that well.
Fred had lost in the first round for 40 …. straight …. years!
It turned out to be a marvelous story as Fred’s optimistic attitude and commitment to fitness touches the hearts of every group I play it to in Talks. But like Richard says, it never would have happened if I had not gone after it.
What is it you will take action on today? You are your group might end up with the most photographed event in the world one day!
