Positive Influences
Search for the Positive
The internet is a constant learning experience. As you search for one thing, another pops up. When I returned last week from a conference, I did an internet search on one of the speakers who authored several books that interested me. While scanning down the list, I discovered another book that was co-authored by two of my favorite speakers, Brian Tracy and Ron Arden. Their book is “THE POWER OF CHARM: How to Win Anyone Over in Any Situation.”
The Prize Seat
Get ready for an inside story on these two fascinating men. Brian Tracy is one of the world’s premier experts on professional and personal success. Ron Arden, former actor and director, is an award-winning coach of professional speakers. I know both of them from several years of membership with the National Speakers Association (NSA), the largest professional speakers association in the world.
At an NSA conference, I was particularly interested in a popular session on speech coaching, and entered the conference room early to get a prize seat. I was the first to arrive, so I chose a premier middle seat on the third row. With my conference bag on the floor in front of me, I settled in for an enjoyable and enlightening session. And, I was thrilled that I had outsmarted all of the others who would soon crowd into the room.
Minutes before the session started, there was standing room only and people were turned away at the door.
Circumstances Changed
In walked Ron Arden, who truly is one of the most charming people I have ever known and a speech coach that every speaker dreams of having. He has a way of making the one person he is talking to seem like the only one in a room of 4,000 people.
Ron walked toward the front of the room and people on my row started waving him over to come sit on our row.
“We’ll make room for you. Come on in,” they said.
The Wave
Reluctantly, he turned toward our row, not wanting to inconvenience anyone. As he sat down, it was like the wave. Everyone slid over and I slid forward. I was literally balancing on two chairs. The only way I could have a place to sit was to lean forward for the next 45 minutes with no back support and my knees buried into the metal back of the chair in front of me. Ron was unaware of my cramped position since the program was about to start and he was at the end of the row.
Trying to take my mind of my discomfort, I looked over my shoulder behind me, then turned my head to the right. From my unique vantage point, I observed something that has made a lasting impact on my life. There on the floor in the aisle was Brian Tracy. He had no seat, yet was willing to place himself in an uncomfortable position just to learn. Brian, one of the most well-known keynote speakers and prolific writers in America, with not an ounce of false pride, sat quietly, drawing no attention to himself. I would never have known he was sitting there had I not been forced into the awkward sitting position.
Never Quit
Here were two men that had achieved greatness in their areas of expertise, but they never quit learning.
On another occasion I asked Brian Tracy what he attributed his success to and he told me, “Mentors. Always have mentors to train you.” I had learned a life lesson in seconds from an accomplished person who had spent years training people.
Your Personal Search
You may be in the most uncomfortable place in your life, newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Your life is turned upside down and you don’t like the way you look or feel. Yet, something keeps pulling on you to keep trying. Run, don’t walk, to those who enrich your life with their love, talents, energy. Step into your MyNBCF circle of friends. Let others help you along the way.
I’ll see you later. I’m on my way to the bookstore to get that book.
Thought for Today:
“Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it.” Lou Holtz
Live Life,
Janelle
