A Handshake in Texas
It predates 5500 years of written history. Some scholars say it originated as an act of peaceful intent because it shows that a hand holds no weapon. Others suggest it represented the sealing of a bond, symbolic of the mutual commitment to a promise or oath. In ancient Greek it was called a “dexiosis,” meaning “to give someone the […]
Why I Don’t Worry As Much
October ’62. Cuba. Missiles. Blockade. Nuclear fallout drills at school… I’m only 14… but old enough to know things aren’t right. An American U-2 spy plane had photographed “hidden” Soviet SS-5 land-based nuclear missiles sitting in Cuba, just 99 miles off the Florida coast. Those flying atomic bombs are pointed our way. President Kennedy sternly warns the Soviet Union […]
No Is the Master Skill
Joel Osteen is among the most successful televangelists of all time. His sermons are viewed by millions of Americans, and are broadcast in over 100 countries. His ministry’s annual revenues are hundreds of millions of dollars. A prolific author, Joel has produced a string of #1 best sellers. Barbara Walters named him one of the […]
Sales Built on Scarcity
“The first rule of selling is scarcity…’It’s a one of a kind. It’s irreplaceable. There will never be another one like it.’ Scarcity causes buyers to act. Scarcity causes buyers to pay more.” Every home in America is unique. Even if a home is in a subdivision surrounded by hundreds of others very much like it, […]
Defining Moments
I’ve written and spoken a lot about how the fears we all have (failure, rejection, embarrassment) are merely dents to the ego. They are what I call “mental bruises.” Yet these fears are often the greatest inhibitors to achievement. What you don’t try you won’t achieve. Because our fear of failure is often more powerful than our […]
Assumption Is Death
A father and his daughter, Katie, go to a movie theater and see a long line of people waiting to buy tickets. Katie walks to the back of the line. Her father walks directly to the front and buys tickets. Dad then waves, motioning for Katie to join him at the front. She does, and as they […]
Just Do It
The 1980s was known as the “fitness decade”. On April 24, 1982, actress turned exercise guru Jane Fonda released her debut aerobics video, Workout. Then there was Jazzercise. While it was invented in the 1960s, this new form of exercise didn’t catch on until the 80s. By 1984 Jazzercise had about 350,000 participants and 2,700 instructors nationwide. In […]
Greg’s First Pitch
Ah…baseball. America’s favorite pastime. It’s a national tradition that dates back to the 1860s. The MLB is the oldest major sports league in the world, officially founded in 1869 when the first professional team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings, was established. Over the decades baseball has become deeply embedded in American culture. I bet almost everyone can […]
How It Was Given
Tex Earnhardt was my best friend. After opening his first Ford store (with 2 cars to sell) in 1951, he eventually became a TV celebrity and auto business icon. On April 19, 2020, Tex passed away at the age of 89. Tex was the kindest, most caring, and most genuine person I have ever known. He was […]
Put Down The Glass
A college professor stands at the front of his class holding a full glass of water. “How heavy does this glass of water feel to me?” he asks. One student replies, “16 ounces.” Another says, “12 ounces.” A third student guesses, “20 ounces.” “Actually,” the professor replies, “the exact weight of this glass of water is irrelevant to how […]