Do you remember Think and Do books?
Before smart boards, Ipads and teacher approved solar powered calculators elementary students were taught how to add, read and write through coloring book sized bundled papers with your name in big black print on the front.
Ten minutes after getting mine Mrs. Knight, Keefe and Stephenson would shout, “Stop drawing skyscrapers, mountain houses and pigeons coops on the front!”
It’s the Think and Do book that influenced the publisher to design my first book “One Man’s 1,021 Thoughts” almost too big to hold. He believed if my true goal was to invite readers to write, the pages needed to be exactly what we’ve grown accustom to.
Big Business mogul and author Art Williams might be on the same path… If the Kindle, Nook or smart phone is your book worm fetish, Art’s leadership guide Pushing Up People towers over Mount Mitchell in size!
But you can’t judge a book by the size of its cover.
Pushing up people is Art’s way of learning how to restructure the daily arrival of employees. Although we’ve spent the past twenty years being talked down to and taught just enough basics to survive; the recession, outsourcing and Wall Street supported downsizing has left the walls of many onetime success stories bare.
Art believes inside qualities are more important than outside. Family backgrounds and education don’t necessarily lead to business success. He points to American history as being a key source of information based on the enormous amount of hard working, dedicated and loyal people that made this nation an industrial empire.
Ford didn’t hire college graduates to build the worlds set of wheels.
In his words, “Universities and big business make every day average people think they’re failures.”
We see and hear it on TV, the radio, Face Book and Twitter: You can’t reach a higher level of life and style without dumping thousands of dollars in the pockets of: We can take you there.”
Inside Art’s heart, “Victory doesn’t always go to the smartest people. Brilliant minds tend to talk a good game while totally intimidating people. Smart people spend too much valuable time analyzing.”
An incredible picture to watch is a martial arts class where the Master or highest level student stands in front of thirty to fifty path makers shouting out commands which are immediately followed by a class room echo, “Yes sir!”
I’m not a rule breaker just a tester. On several occasions I’ve dropped the seventh article of student commitment of establishing trust between teacher and student spouted, “Ever thought about joining us in this sweat bath? It doesn’t seem fair that we’re doing 50 squat thrusts and I’ve yet to see you do one!”
This is very much the reason why I removed my black belt and started the journey over in the back of the class. You learn a lot as a leader when the choice is to no longer be afraid of getting your hands muddy.
Art Williams knows of another leader dubbed the pretty people; not as in looks but privileged. The attitude is bent on being a little better than most with an end result of over confidently seizing control of a department they get credit for running but ultimately it’s the white belts holding true to the sport.
I study everyone I meet…
Keith Hawthorne is a hawk. I first met the car dealer in 1993; an upbeat full of big dreams but deeply dedicated to achieving them kid that hand washed cars so those purchasing them would instantly take note of that new car smell. His loyalty, determination to learning the art of salesmanship while crafting the skills of marketing and finance has lifted Mr. Hawthorne to a center ring inside the core of a of living tree.
Jeff Siegel the man behind the curtain at the Renaissance Festival. A passion for the circus opened his eyes to uncover the roots of entertainment. Not a Ringling Brother’s shout it out loud, “Come one come all…” but a heart held together by strings constantly connected to visualizing how every one of us has the potential of being something great and better. I love listening to him tell me the stories about knowing Penn and Teller before fame caught up with them. I crave his chapters based on collecting circus toys of rides he jumped on while dressed up in kid’s clothes and one day dreams.
I’ve now been introduced to Scott from Tucked Away Storage; proof there’s life after death. Economic twists and unexpected arrivals of unheard of fate put this man on the cold lonely often ignored street. He was homeless! He could’ve turned to drugs, cheap alcohol and handouts from people he’ll never meet but chose instead to lift up his day during every sunrise. From the outside his invested purpose is firmly planted in American business but in reality his every hour vow is to put his open palms back into the channels of lost and thrown away and give life to new beginnings. It’s my mission to make his story wrap around the World Wide Web globe.
Art believes inside qualities are more important than outside. Family backgrounds and education don’t necessarily lead to business success.
He continues, “There has never been a test, there never will be a test that can measure the heart of a man and woman. You can’t look into the eyes of a person and know what they’re made of. You’ve got to put them on the playing field then offer them true leadership that takes on the shape of success.”
I will always believe in you first…
arroecollins@clearchannel.com
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