Do You Believe This?

I was on vacation last week.

What a blessing it was to be able to get away for a few days and visit Napa Valley, California, with my friend Jill and -- thanks to Jill -- we were there to attend a fantastic charity weekend --The 16th Annual V Foundation Wine Celebration.

The V Foundation was started to raise funds for cancer research and it does so in the memory of Jimmy Valvano.  One of his most famous quotes was "Don't give up, don't ever give up."

If you are like me (and you probably are if you are reading my blog), you may not have heard of Jimmy V.  Jimmy was the head basketball coach at North Carolina State University and his team won the NCAA finals against very long odds in 1983.  He was an inspirational leader and died from cancer just 5 weeks after he gave this 11 minute speech when he won the Arthur Ashe award at the ESPYs.  Do yourself a favor and watch it now.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuoVM9nm42E

His advice to do three things every day is revelatory:

1. Laugh
2. Think
3. Cry

I really believe that this world would be a different place if each one of us did these things every day.  So much of our lives is spent in motion -- just working to get to the next day -- not stopping to think or feel life.  Just this morning, I woke up and thought about all the things I have to do today and said to myself, well this time tomorrow this day will be over -- whew.

Now, is that a good way to start the day?  I can do better.  So can you.

And if you need help with your three things today, watch the speech again.

 

What do you say behind my back?

I got to hear from one of my idols this morning, thanks to the Dallas Social Venture Partners!

Seth Godin is a marketing guru and writes my favorite blog (incredibly titled "Seth's Blog" -- I copied him on my blog title, but decided I needed the last name too.  For now anyway -- Ha!).  Here's how you can subscribe or read him here:  http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2013/02/the-mirror-and-the-periscope.html

This morning he did a one hour presentation geared toward Non-Profits, but his message applies to all.  My aha moment was when he asked us this:

When people talk about you (your agency, your business), what do they say?

If they are not saying what you want them to say, teach them.

How great is that?  Not saying it's easy, but if you can make your story memorable people will love you for it -- at least I hope they will...

This is a project Seth did a few months ago and I think it is spectacular -- a colossal book that no one would ever publish (except him).  There are only 2,000 in existence and one of them is mine -- it is mostly a collection of his blogs (Remember, I told you he was an idol of mine.).  One of the first pages says this:

Tomorrow is too late, yesterday is over and now is exactly the right moment.  So start.

Love it!