John Burroughs High School in St. Louis, MO., has had more than its fair share of highly successful and world famous graduates – Andy Taylor, founder and CEO of Enterprise Rent-a-Car; Grammy winning musician John Hartford; world-renowned restaurateur Danny Meyer’ Pulitzer prize…
Many would view his childhood as anything but normal. Not too many kids get expelled from school three times – before they reach age twelve – and most don’t leave home at the age of 12 1/2. For Christian, however, his youth…
The Continental Baking Company – of Indianapolis, Indiana, introduced Hostess® Cupcakes back in 1919. Wrapped for on-the-go consumption, they were a big success so Continental expanded in 1926 the line of snacks under the Hostess® brand name. An item that became incredibly popular…
The American West of the 1800’s was a land filled with promise – not just of hope and great opportunity – but also the promise of diverse dangers and hard living. For one young man in his twenties, John –…
Tuskegee is a town of about 12,000 people in the southeastern portion of Alabama. It is home to Tuskegee University – a predominately black school founded in 1881 – that developed a national reputation for academics and philanthropy under the…
Before they had even met – much less conceived him – World War II played a significant role in the lives of his parents. In July of 1941, Ed Nye, the man who would become his father, left San Francisco…
Carville, Louisiana is located in Iberville Parish just south of Baton Rouge. The town was given its name in the late 1800’s in honor of its postmaster. It is home to the National Hansen’s Disease Museum – located at the site of a former sugar plantation…
He was born in Accra, Ghana in 1965 and raised in that country’s chaos of the sixties and seventies. Ghana was under the rule of a military dictatorship whose policies made life difficult, to say the least. Finding food was a daily challenge…
His family left England in 1967, moving to Australia as part of that country’s “populate or perish” initiative which offered financial incentives to immigrants. Born the next year, he was the youngest of five children but only the second to be Australian born. The…
She was born on the Spanish island of Mallorca – the sixth of ten children. She first stood out because of her natural blonde hair – her family warmly referring to her as the ‘blonde sheep’ of the family. The…
By his own account, his childhood was average at best – but more accurately, it was mundane, if not downbeat. The oldest of three boys, he was born in Ryan, Oklahoma on March 12, 1940. His father – a truck…
About the only thing the two boys had in common was the same first name. One was born into a Catholic family in 1962 in Cleveland, Ohio. He grew up with the no-nonsense, hard working, blue-collar persona the city itself…
People who have not been to Pittsburgh, PA might imagine it to be a steel town – dirty with soot-filled skies. The image might be one which includes a town past its prime, comprised of a blue-collar population with a…
Though he was born in Chicago, IL- the fifth of eight children – he was raised in the small town of Clinton, Missouri, his mother’s hometown. She had moved to Illinois in the 1940’s, however, because her family wanted her…
At first glance he was just one of countless blue collar workers living with his wife of 22 years in Queens, NY. It was the early 1970’s – a time of turmoil – anti-war protests, student unrest, civil rights activism- and a…
With over 11,000 outlets, the Rexall Drug Company was the largest U.S. drug store franchise in 1958. The company accounted for 20% of all drug stores – each one owned by a local pharmacist. That business model had been successful since the company’s…
It is said that there is strength in numbers – in 1924, four Chicago businessmen put their faith and efforts into proving that adage. Four men – each of whom had established retail hardware stores – believed their business would…
There are people who seem to be destined for one particular position in life – to fulfill a particular role or profession. Such was the case with a boy born in Henderson, North Carolina in May of 1983. Located near the…
Until the age of thirteen she had lived a quiet life with her parents and older brother in Metairie, La. – just outside of New Orleans. The family – Christian Scientists – attended weekly services together. There, the signs on the wall…
On the surface, it may have appeared to be an unusual collaboration – a stationery shop manager, a banker and an engineer. Seemingly the only common bond was that they were all German – however, they shared a vision for…
Jack Dorsey is without a doubt the most acclaimed alumnus of Archbishop DuBourg High School in St. Louis – though he didn’t distinguish himself there. The fact that it took some time to achieve a bit of renown wasn’t due…
Kevin was one of five brothers living in Kensington, Maryland where his mother was mayor and his father a successful land developer. One of his loves was football, playing for the Maplewood Maple Leafs youth team, Fork Union Military Academy and St.…
What are the chances that someone’s vision comes to life and changes the world? What are the chances that two people with a similar vision each succeed in their pursuit of making it a reality? What are the chances that…
In October of 1955, a banker and his wife welcomed their baby girl into the world in Madras (now Chennai) southern India. At that time it was generally accepted that a girl would follow a certain path to marriage and motherhood. This…
At the age of 24, Karl Elsener opened a cutlery store in the small town of Ibach, Switzerland with the help of his mother – it was 1884. He made and sold quality knives and surgical tools. Competing with other…
Let me share some recent interactions I’ve had with various service providers… “Thanks for taking care of this issue.” – “No problem.” “Would you please bring us a child’s menu?” – “No problem.” “Will you see if you have this…
Born in Stanford, California, he was raised in Berkeley. High school took him to Vermont where he attended The Putney School which combines the New England work ethic with a strong academic program with focus on coeducation and community service. From…
The three had plenty in common beginning with their friendship. Each graduated from the University of San Francisco – one a history teacher, one a writer and one an English teacher. The three – Zev Siegel, Gordon Bowker and Jerry…
The concept that ‘more is better’ seems to have permeated our culture. This is especially true in food service and restaurants as evidenced by larger servings, ‘all-you-can-eat’ specials and unlimited drink refills. The belief is that quantity is the secret…
There were some very noteworthy events in 1966 – the U.S. began an aggressive escalation of military in Vietnam while anti-war protests grew exponentially, Indira Ghandi visited the U.S., the Miranda warning became law, Surveyor 1 landed on the moon…
Lives are filled with changes and twists – his was no exception. Early in his life those changes were driven by his father. whose various occupations included welder, shopkeeper and swimming pool manager to name but a few. His various jobs…
Born in Rockville Centre, NY in 1952 she was the only daughter in a family with four sons. That could have been daunting for her had it not been for her parents. They encouraged her to compete equally with her…
It was right at dusk one summer evening in June of 1975 when Chrissie Watkins left a beach party on Amity Island to go skinny dipping. She wasn’t seen again until her remains were discovered on the beach. The medical…
Is your brand going bananas? It absolutely is. The critical question is this – What are you doing about it? Here’s what I mean. Think of your brand as a banana. It’s a fact of nature that bananas continue to ripen…
His talent was seemingly unlimited. He had burst on the scene with the promise of being one of the best ever. He had an imagination which paired foods and seasonings never before seen – or tasted. He had a flair for creating…
She was born in Oregon, into a family of ranchers and farmers. Her parents had moved to the city to raise her, believing they were providing her with opportunities they had lacked having grown up on farms. Ironically, her desire…
It was 1901 when they started to work on creating a motorized bicycle. The two friends were determined to integrate William’s motor design into a standard bike frame using Arthur’s machine shop connection. Two years later they had a finished…
Charles and John opened their stationery and fancy goods emporium in lower Manhattan in 1837 with a unique approach. For one thing, all items were clearly marked with their price to discourage the haggling common in those days. Another policy…
They were born in Brooklyn – four days apart. That was March of 1951 but they didn’t know each other until they met twelve years later in seventh grade. They would forge a friendship that would last a lifetime. Fast forward fourteen years.…
Two weeks ago I received an email from friend and fellow certified Go-Giver speaker and coach, Linda Ryan. It was an offer to participate in something called a Writer’s Blog Hop. I had never heard of the concept but told…
In 1949 George Orwell published a book which portrayed a world under the oppressive rule of a privileged party with a tyrannical leader known as “Big Brother”. Individualism and independent thinking were deemed criminal in the name of a ‘greater…
In the 1970’s Detroit was booming – Motown, Smokey Robinson, the Jackson 5; Ford, GM, Chrysler all robust; Lions, Tigers, Red Wings and Pistons all vibrant sport franchises. Detroit was in a renaissance of sorts. For one particular youngster life…
Richard was a young salesman in a men’s clothiers store. He knew his sales would have to improve. One day the district manager, a man named Harold, showed up for a store check. The salesman realized he had an opportunity…
This ‘overnight success’ began as an idea over a decade ago. The concept was spawned from a desire to capture on film, the energy and excitement of one man’s passion. An avid surfer, he wanted photos to document the action…
As a ten day old baby he was placed on his mother’s stomach by a doctor who told her that her boy was dead. That was in Coffee County, Alabama in November of 1926. He was buried in McKinney, Texas,…
Born in Charleston, West Virginia on April 7, 1928 he began to really learn about life – about himself – in his very early teens. His first job was running a paper route. As the ‘new kid’ he was given…
New York City is nicknamed Gotham, the City That Never Sleeps, the Big Apple and the Empire City to mention just a few. When people think of New York City Broadway, Wall St., the Yankees, the Empire State building, 30…
There is no debate that in 1878 one of the all-time most successful consumer products was launched by the Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) in Cleveland, Ohio. The story of how that product came to be varies, however. The official company version…
The Musician. At the age of thirteen, in response to a request from his mother, he wrote his first serious musical composition. Not, as one might expect, for his school pageant – but for a theatrical production of Aeschylus’ Prometheus Bound. His music was…
The city had been devastated – massive property damage, unthinkable financial losses, tragic loss of life – when Hurricane Katrina came calling in August of 2005 with her 175 MPH winds and following storm surge. Lives turned upside down. Homes and businesses…
Their livelihood depended on the ability to outrun and outmaneuver federal tax agents and local law enforcement. Reputations were built on who was the best at doing that. It was the Prohibition years, moonshine was their product and cars were their…
It’s a hot, humid summer night – a large bustling crowd surrounds the small white building on historic Route 66 in St. Louis. The building is illuminated – with its distinct dormers clearly visible in the dark of the night…
Caring about – and for – others came very early and quite naturally for him. Born in Canada, he and his twin sister were given up for adoption when they were just 3 1/2. At the age of 6 their…
He was born in Kentucky – a slave state – but made Illinois – a ‘free’ state – his home. Although he read the Bible daily he never belonged to an organized church. He did not have a law degree…
It was March 1957, in Liverpool, England, when a sixteen year old boy started a band and named it The Quarrymen. He befriended a fifteen year old guitarist and added him to the group. That member brought one of his…
It is the time of year when champions are crowned in the world of professional football. There’s the actual football game of course – but I am speaking of the commercials which air during the game. At $4,000,000.00 per :30…
A dream of many an American youth is to play in the Super Bowl. Making that dream bigger is the idea of making the play that gives your team that opportunity. The odds against that dream becoming a reality are…
The first time I was directly touched by him was as a youth at a party at a friend’s house. My buddy’s sister-in-law was there and her presence, maturity and beauty easily drew the attention of this teen-aged boy. What…
One of the greatest college football championship games was played on January 6th, 2014. The undisputed number one ranked Florida State Seminoles faced off with the undisputed number two team – the Auburn Tigers. Played in front of over 90,000…
A new year has begun filled with all of the promise and hope and plans of new beginnings each January 1st creates. In just two short days the new year has brought us any number of significant happenings. Storms are…
Helping people to understand the power of branding is at the core of my own brand – my value proposition – and I began writing my Friday’s Fearless Brand series to do exactly that. In my opinion, any effective learning…
Can you imagine moving into a gorgeous new home, hearing a knock on the front door and hearing this from the man standing there? “Good Morning…I’m your postal carrier. I just stopped by to introduce myself – to welcome you…
He was a child vandal and later a thug. He was the white adopted son of Indians. He was wrongfully convicted of an IRA bombing. A gentleman lawyer, he was the heir to a prominent New York City family. He…
“Did you hear that someone fell into the boss’ dinner table at the Holiday party? Who was That Guy?” “I cannot believe that someone would wear such an inappropriate outfit to work – holiday season or not! Who is That…
Imagine how adventurous one must be to start planning the celebration for their 5oth birthday years before turning 4o. Imagine being so bold as to openly invite the entire world to the party. Imagine the thrill of finding out one…
They are the fourth largest retailer in the United States and the second largest discount retailer. They are a part of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index and rank thirty-sixth on Fortune 500. They rank twenty-second overall on both FORTUNE’s…
On this day fifty years ago an announcement came over the public address system at Dowell Elementary School in El Paso, Texas. “President Kennedy has been shot. School is closing and the students are to be dismissed immediately.” As a…
He celebrated his ninety-fifth birthday less than a week ago. His lifetime audience over his career is estimated at over 2.2 billion people. Among the numerous awards and honors he has received are both the Presidential l Medal of Freedom…
He was born the son of a fishing boat captain in Panama. His family lived in a very poor town – Puerto Caimito. Growing up he and his friends played futbol (soccer) and baseball on the village’s field – the…
On Halloween night in 1963 a six year old boy killed his sister with a kitchen knife. Fifteen years later that boy escaped from the psychiatric hospital he had been committed to and headed back to his hometown of Haddonfield,…
To many he is known as “Mr. Go-Giver”. Together with John David Mann, he co-authored The Go-Giver, an international best-selling book. In it, they put forth the premise that focusing on giving – vs getting – is a profitable way to live.…
He is an international star. His fans span three generations – at least. His image has generated millions of dollars in sales and profit. He has his own song. Heck, he has his own world! It is not all of his fame…
In the past two weeks Friday’s Fearless Brands have both been well known and delivered far reaching impact. ‘Madiba’ – Nelson Mandela – united a sorely divided country. His efforts reached well beyond geographic boundaries and touched the entire world.…
“‘Does it make money?’ is not a bad question. It’s a great question. It is just a bad first question. It starts you off pointed in the wrong direction. The first question should be ‘Does it serve? Does it add value to others?’ If the answer…
He is affectionately called Tata (Father) by millions of South Africans and is known as the Father of the Rainbow Nation. He has received hundreds of awards and honors including the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Soviet Order of Lenin.…
As of today Scott Ginsberg – this Friday’s Fearless Brand – has worn a nametag for 4,706 consecutive days. Yes, he wears a nametag every second of every day. There should be no question as to why he is known…
You may find it ironic – but fear is fearless. Fear will impose itself in virtually any situation or place. Fear often shows up when it is least expected. Simply put, we all experience fear at some point. Those who say they…
In mid-August I purchased a small electronic gadget through Amazon.com. At the time, I did not give much thought to what a fantastic buying experience it was. I found the product immediately using the search function, used one-click to check…
This week the GO! Network in St. Louis was closed. A not-for-profit organization begun in 2008, GO! Network committed to teaching, mentoring, nurturing and supporting people who found themselves in career transition. There was clearly no shortage of members as…
Meet David John Ellis, Jr. this Friday’s Fearless Brand. What’s that you say? Yes, he’s my brother. No, he is not famous. Nor is he powerful. He’s certainly not incredibly wealthy – by monetary standards. Have I resorted to nepotism…
I am truly excited to welcome the first person to guest post to my blog. It is a great pleasure for that guest to be the amazing Libby Gill. Libby is the CEO of a coaching and consulting firm, an…
The Claret Jug is his. He just won The Open Championship by completing a stunning five under par fourth round. It is already being called a performance for the ages. For that he won $2.1 million (61% of which will…
Imagine this as a movie plot. A virtually unknown Mexican-American singer-songwriter from Detroit produces two albums in the early 1970’s which are complete commercial flops in the U.S. so he puts his energy into various labor jobs to support himself…
As a coach and speaker – a branding guy – I guide people in the discovery of their dreams and in creating the successful life they desire. Together we find their clarity of purpose – their why. Building fearless brands…
Recently I was sitting on the veranda of a bungalow in Sri Lanka. I was taking in the scenery – beautiful greenery, flowers, the pool – all of the rustic serenity this retreat resort provided. Warm breezes carried the sounds…
The first and most important plank of building a ‘Fearless Brand’ is to be authentic. This is true for any brand – your company, goods and/or services – but especially true for your personal brand. Your personal brand is ‘in…
First of all, I ask those of you who believe that your brand is your logo, your web site, your name or your slogan, to please take a few minutes and read a previous blog – Powerful Branding in Three…
There are any number of books on leadership and influence (a recent favorite is It’s Not About You) , team building, management and achieving objectives. I have shelves full of them and I’m certain many of you do as well.…
There have been times when I can ‘see’ the words as they come out of my mouth and I try desperately to snag them and put them back. Why? Because no sooner have I uttered them than I know I…
In the midst of over hype, power selling and the seemingly never ceasing compulsion for some to push their message into others’ lives comes a nice little slice of….well….toast. Yes…toast. Well, actually dancing toast. Here is the bulk of an…
“Shifting one’s focus from getting to giving; in this case meaning constantly and consistently adding value to peoples’ lives, is not only a nice way to live life, but a very financially profitable way, as well. ” Bob Burg The…
Have you ever been to a conference touting terrific speakers? Have you ever gone home thinking that at least one of the speakers left you wanting more? I have. Actually, I have at every conference I’ve attended…until The Go-Giver Retreat…
Your brand is your most valuable asset and needs to be treated as such. If you don’t manage your own brand, someone else will. Needless to say, not everyone has your best interests in mind and those that do may…
The movie ’21’ is the fact-based story about six MIT students who were trained to become experts in card counting and subsequently took Vegas casinos for millions in winnings. It was a very entertaining movie with a great cast that…
“Laisse les bon temps rouler!” If you’ve spent anytime in New Orleans you’ve heard this saying. Translation? “Let the good times roll!” South Louisiana is in my blood – literally. With a father born and raised in New Orleans and…
I was recently asked to contribute my thoughts to an article on re-branding being written by a local chamber of commerce. I was flattered and began to ask for more details. The chamber’s marketing director said, “I hope it’s OK…
How many 1/4″ drill bits were sold in the United States last year? Anyone? Class? Beuhler? OK, I have no idea either. However, I’m fairly positive I know how many people wanted a 1/4″ drill bit. My answer is a…
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