Want to Find Inspiration? It’s Right in Front of You.
Welcome to the Why to Wow newsletter which is all about inspiring the hearts and minds of people worldwide with the Power of Differentiation. In the Why to Wow newsletter, I share my experiences over the last 40+ years helping leaders differentiate their brands and products. I hope it will inspire you to discover and share your own brand’s uniqueness with the world.
“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” ― Mark Twain
We are not here to merely sell things or earn a little more profit. We are here to make a difference. Allow the following true stories from our Difference Talks podcasts to inspire and rekindle inspiration for those you influence.
Don Hunter grew up poor in rural Indiana. He was surrounded by friends and family who were resigned that their lot in life was to remain right where they were, never to leave or do better. An ambitious person, Don worked hard mowing lawns and doing handiwork as a young teen, saving money to buy himself his first new pair of shoes. Until then, he had only worn hand-me-downs that, in many cases, were a decade or more old. Excited, he gathered up his savings, walked across the local airfield his family lived next to, and stepped into a store to purchase his dream: a new pair of Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars. He meticulously recalled every word the salesperson said as he was fitted for his ideal pair. He pulled out a wad of dollars and proudly walked home wearing his new sneakers. This moment told him he could succeed if he worked hard enough. Today, Don is the CEO of one of the world’s most prestigious private golf clubs, Haig Point, in South Carolina. He shares this story with every new employee to illustrate that they can achieve what they dream.
While attending his daughter’s wedding, successful business leader Bob Chapman had an epiphany. As he watched the bride and groom lovingly interact with their young friends, he realized that in his business life, each of his employees was somebody’s precious child. This forever altered his life, as he went on to write a top-selling book, Everybody Matters: The Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People Like Family, and founded an organization that trains leaders to treat their employees with love.
Ranaan Meyer was a double bassist in the Philadelphia Orchestra. Five thousand people were ready to hear the orchestra one night when a power outage killed the lights and sound system. The musicians could not read the music in the dark, and the audience was restless. The conductor turned to Ranaan and a fellow musician and asked if the two could improvise and entertain the 5,000 people in the crowd. They were known for their “goofing around,” playing “mashups” of classical, hip hop, and country. Scared to death but up for the challenge, they improvised for the crowd, earning a standing ovation. Shortly after, they began receiving requests to perform their music across the country. Today, Ranaan’s trio, Time for Three, is an Emmy and Grammy Award winner known for its improvisation and ability to merge classical, rock, hip-hop, and country music genres. Ranaan then created the Honeywell Arts Academy to nurture aspiring young musicians to create, collaborate, and achieve their dreams.
Difference-maker #1: “Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans.”
This is a quote from John Lennon. We must accept that stuff will happen, whether we are prepared or not. Leaders use the unknown to fuel greater things.
Difference-maker #2: We must always realize we are people helping people.
No matter the title or position, it’s about human beings. Your aha moment might be the catalyst for someone else. Like Don Hunter’s sneakers or Ranaan Meyer’s surprise power outage jam session, use your experiences to help others. Share and celebrate you aha moments.
It’s crazy to think that a pair of sneakers or a power outage could spur people to a better life. Or that a wedding reception would be the pivotal moment that drove a CEO to create a truly human approach to leadership. What is the inspiration that you can use to help others? These three stories and the individuals behind them have been featured on the Difference Talks podcast. Please access the episodes here for some real inspiration.
Podcasts I Recommend
I encourage you to listen to Dr. John Dentico's podcast, Throttle Up OS, all about rebooting your thinking and redefining leadership.