Disney Leadership Keynote Speaker
Five daily blogs about life's 5 big choices on five interconnected sites.
What song did you pick?
Two days ago, I asked, “If your life were made into a movie, what would be the featured song?”
Okay, so I have a confession. This question is too difficult to answer without considerable thought.
I mean, it will be the song featured on your movie’s soundtrack, right?
My other challenge? I’m sort of a music connoisseur and have way too much to choose from. Most of us are like that – the love of music.
Think about it and I’ll see you tomorrow.
First thing on the list today, inspired by the Third Day song I’m currently listening to:
It’s simply joyful to know that so many people visit each day. Your visits humble me, inspire me.
Second thing on the list: If a movie was made of your life, what song would be featured?
If it’s easier, what top two or three songs? Hard to pick just one.
Humble servant.
Profoundly simple.
Easy to remember.
Easy enough for others to remember it.
But not powerful enough to get others motivated to think long enough, and hard enough, to do anything about theirs.
There once was a man from Nantucket, ….
Okay, sorry, forgive me please.
There once was a man from Spring Grove, Pennsylvania, who traveled around the country, by bus, by (someone else’s) car and by bicycle.
In 1984, he and his wife of one year, flipped a coin. Palm trees and sunshine won out over mountains and wide-open spaces.
As the years went by, he read many a good book. Gained a ton of knowledge, and even hand-crafted a personal vision/mission statement.
A 463-word vision/mission statement.
Until one day, while teaching to others the critical importance of a leader’s vision, he had a flash of brilliant insight.
The reason people don’t remember fancy, wordsmithed corporate vision/mission statements is due to one glaring reason.
With only a few glorious exceptions, they are way too fancy and way too long.
So he set out to do something about it.
And he labored and poured his heart and soul into it. He took a 463-word vision statement and made it shorter.
Much shorter.
He made it 461 words shorter. For real.
He made it two words.
It’s fun to dream big dreams, isn’t it?
We did this constantly as children, a little less often as adolescents, and even less as teenagers.
Well, maybe we dreamed more as teenagers, but mostly about sex relationships.
But when did we stop dreaming about flying, or becoming an astronaut, artist, inventor, teacher, parent, Olympic athlete, President, CEO, farmer, race car driver, explorer, adventurer, writer, etc?
When?
When life started to get complicated.
When we can return to simplicity, our dreams will start to flourish again.
How do I know? Because I’m writing this for you to read.