America appears to have lost faith in its spirit of voluntarism at the local community level. Interestingly, however, Orrin Woodward explains Wikipedia success as a direct result of voluntarism. Voluntarism, in a word, isn't dead, just dormant. Read Orrin's hilarious article and you decide whether government or voluntarism is right for America. 

America was a land propelled by voluntarism in the early republic. Many social programs were formed by volunteers who saw a need and filled it. Voluntarism is the ability of citizens to handle their own needs through voluntary social means. In contrast, Government social programs require compulsion to get people to do and 'enjoy' the benefits of the latest Government program. As more Government is involved in our social life, the less voluntarism we see.

Why have American lost faith in the ability of Voluntarism to handle their needs, especially in the face of the explosive success of Wiki and other crowd favorites. Wiki is nearly an all volunteer online encyclopedia that has more searchable subjects than the largest purchasable encyclopedia at no cost to the consumer. How is that possible? It's possible because entrepreneur's like Jimmy Wales dreamed, worked and executed without government's support.

It's also possible because people love to volunteer their skills and abilities to help others. Recognition is a strong driver of behavior and proven abilities are rewarded by the crowd. Sturgeon's Law stated that 90% of anything is crud, but that still leaves 10% of the volunteers will do great work and freely lead the community to accomplish the tasks. 10% of millions of volunteers time lead to great products at nearly no cost.

The same Voluntarism could be used in our communities and reduce the oppressive load of government intervention in our lives.

For the sake of example, imagine if the Government instead of Jimmy Wales had started Wiki. Can we even fathom the cost and coerciveness involved in taking Wiki from concept to working online encyclopedia? The first thing that would happen is politicians would fight to have the project located in their state and millions would be spent before a project bureaucrat was assigned to lead the program.

Secondly, thousands of people would file for jobs to work the various areas of their expertise, subsequently raising the cost of the program into the tens of millions. Work would begin, but then politicians would argue over definitions and do a full investigation of the alleged propaganda or hate crimes against some of our historical figures and events. Congress would demand and oversight committee to ensure each subject article is covered in an acceptable style to the powers that be. Work would be delayed as some of the subjects are kicked around Congress and backroom deals are made to grease the skids.

The public grows weary as the promised 3 year deadline comes and few articles approved and online. A grassroots movement starts with a new group of politicians promising to go to Washington and clean up this Wiki mess. Politicians promise to reduce the bloated mass of rotting bureaucracy if only they were in power. The masses are promised free Wiki and more if they will show up and vote for change. The new politicians are elected in a landslide and they start the process over again.

The new politicians will fight over which state will house the new and improved Wiki project. Backroom deals will settle the dispute and the offices are not moved after months of negotiations between political powers. After more months of debates in Congress, a vote passes to water all articles down to not offend anyone and maintain unity of our nation. Plus there were concerns that some citizens would not understand the deeper concepts and since we are all equal, that would not do.

Six years and hundreds of millions of dollars and lost freedoms later, the Government announces the success of another Government program. How did they do it you ask? Instead of finishing with the Government employees writing the articles, the government reviews the Census data educational records and compels (drafts) volunteers to finish all needed articles. After making a few examples or recalcitrant's who would not cooperate with the IRS - Information Requesters Society - all articles were finished in another year under threat of fines, prison time, and higher taxes.

Politicians from both parties speak eloquently of the bi-partisan cooperation necessary to make Government work for all Americans. Wiki days are initiated at public schools to share how Big Government provides Rights to all Americans. TV stations run special reports and Congress states they can do even more if Americans are willing to give up just a little more of their freedoms and hard earned dollars. Through all the celebration and hoopla, a man like Jimmy Wales thinks to himself, "You know, if I was assigned to do that Wiki thing, I think I would have done things differently."

But Voluntarism is a concept dead on arrival wherever Government is involved. Entrepreneurs like Jimmy are not wanted in Big Government land; they just don't like to conform to all the rules.

Do we really need Government involved in all our social programs? Have they ever proven to get the job done without compulsion and threats? Have they ever hit a budget target? How many Government programs are ever terminated for lack of effectiveness? The good news is that our Government did not really do the Wiki project, but the bad news is that the Government is the odds on favorite to do our Health Care.

Go ahead Americans, it is time to sit back and ponder how we have been so lucky to enjoy the benefits of Big Government largesse in our lives. You shall reap what you sow and we are reaping the whirlwind.

God Bless, Orrin Woodward

Posted by OrrinWoodward at 4:20 PM EDT

Updated: Saturday, August 31, 2013 11:15 AM EDT

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Dan Hawkins, one of the founders of LIFE Leadership shares his thoughts on the world-class leadership training from LIFE. Orrin Woodward has stated publicly that Dan Hawkins is one of the hungriest students of leadership anywhere. His legendary story of mechanic to millionaire ought to be heard by all. 

LIFE Leadership information that makes a difference

One glance around the lanscape of our country today can bring up a lot of concern. The financial problems both in homes and in government. The divorce rate which has climbed in recent years to over 50%. Many young americans deciding not to get married or have kids. Unemployment, underemployment and people just giving up on finding work is staying stubbornly high. Moral decay at all levels of society which we can only imagine the impact on our children’s future.

At some point my wife and I decided we did not want to be just one of the statistics, another family managing a divorce and low resources. We realized that the information we have been consuming for 26 years just was not working. Both of us had college degrees and full time jobs, however, we still struggled in all aspects of LIFE.

About ten years ago we began learning principles from the best selling authors at the LIFE Leadership company. To say our lives are drastically better would be an understatement. We started our family deciding to only have one child because we could hardly afford one. We were afraid to bring a child into such a broken world  and beside we already had no time how could we properly raise more than one! Now, through better information, we have created a successful business that allows us to be financially independent and have time to focus on our priorities. We have never been happier as a couple and have child 4 and 5 on the way. What changed? Our information!

Getting new information can change everything, in fact it is the only way to change anything.

No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.

Albert Einstein

LIFE Leadership gives you the edge

The LIFE Leadership company produces information that can give you the edge in your current profession. I am blessed to travel across North America and hear story after story about lives being improved using the LIFE information. Let me share one with you today.

A couple of weeks ago a young lady approached me at a LIFE LIVE event to share her testimony. She had been listening to the LIFE materials for a couple of months when the boss asked her to come into his office, he had something he had noticed. A little afraid of what this meeting was about due to others being let go as recent as last week, she went into his office. “What has changed with you over the last couple of weeks?” the boss asked. “Well, I have joined a group called LIFE Leadership.” she responded a bit timidly. “Well I have noticed a couple of things, your attitude has greatly improved, you are taking a leadership roll and getting people to work so well together. I have been very impressed, keep up the good work!” Walking out with a smile, this young lady had never receive such a compliment from her boss. The materials from LIFE are making a difference. Further more, if just being recognized was not enough, the boss called her back into his office two weeks later to give her a $5 an hour raise! The raise alone covered her monthly subscription in less than 2 hours of working one day a month! You see, getting better information makes a difference!

Get a better LIFE with LIFE Leadership

What areas of life would you like to see improved? Do you want to set yourself apart at work? Stop by the LIFE Leadership website today! Try one of our monthly subscriptions and let me know how it is changing your LIFE!

God bless,

Dan Hawkins

Posted by OrrinWoodward at 7:54 AM EDT

Updated: Monday, August 26, 2013 7:55 AM EDT

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Curtis Spolar, LIFE Leadership new PC is personally mentored by Orrin Woodward. Mr. Spolar's principle-centered leadership is in huge demand across North America on LIFE stages. Here is an example of his teachings. 

Mr. Entrepreneur has an idea.

Mr. Saver has the money.

Mr. Laborer has a job.

Mr. Entrepreneur has a dream to cure cancer.  He feels with a few years of hard work and money to invest, he can fulfill his dream. Mr. Entrepreneur has no money, so he go’s to Mr. Saver.  Mr. Saver loves Mr. Entrepreneur’s dream but also loves what he has saved and doesn’t want to lose it.  Mr. Saver asks him if he has anything of value.  Mr. Entrepreneur says his house is paid off.  Mr. Saver says “Great! You sign your house over to me and if your idea doesn’t work I’ll get your house.  Mr. Entrepreneur agrees to the terms.  Mr. Entrepreneur spends countless nights falling asleep at his desk.  Years have gone by and nearly all the money and finally he’s done it, a cure!  Mr. Entrepreneur saves lives all over the world and creates tens of thousands of jobs.  Society wants to recognize this achievement so every year in September we have something called Labor Day and celebrate the fact that Mr. Laborer gets a job.

Today’s society has been taught to punish the entrepreneurs and build up the fact that someone gets a job.  Sam Walton is a great example of that.  Some in our society want to criticize WalMart for having a handful of owners and around 1.4 million employees in the U.S.  Sam Walton, like the Mr. Entrepreneur in the example, found a need and filled it and the people voted with their dollars  his success.  Some might say, “Building a giant retail company, is not on the same level as curing cancer”.  We are not talking levels, we’re talking about finding a need, filling it, and creating a better quality of life for everyone and getting rewarded for taking the risk.  This means that a single mother with four children can now walk into a WalMart and her $200 goes further.  This is a good thing, this is a win/win for the entrepreneur and the customer.  Mr. Entrepreneur found a need, filled it,  got rewarded, and the customer received value.

At the start of this great country, most were business owners.  We grew up on farms and we worked hard because we owned those farms.  Today we are taught to count on an entrepreneur for a job and that business ownership is not something we need to pursue.  Many never develop a strong desire to help make sure that the company they work for survives because they don’t own the company and after all it’s us against them.   And if we  don’t like the circumstances we can always vote new people into office to regulate that entrepreneur into giving us what is thought to be our fair share.

Sam Walton is to be congratulated not blamed for giving people a job.  Blame should be given to an education system that enslaves a person into having victim mentality while thinking Mr. Entrepreneur is their enemy.  If we change that type of thinking in our education system then we will empower more people to believe they can succeed.

LIFE LEADERSHIP is a new education system that helps people control their own destiny by changing the information they take in.  I would like to thank LIFE LEADERSHIP along with all the other Mr. and Mrs. Entrepreneurs of this world for being part of the solution and not adding to the problem.

For a great talk on Sam Walton, go to the LIFE LEADERSHIP site under special order cd’s.  ”Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame: Sam Walton” LLR-468 by Orrin Woodward.

God bless,

Curtis Spolar

Posted by OrrinWoodward at 1:03 PM EDT

Updated: Wednesday, August 14, 2013 1:05 PM EDT

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George Guzzardo shares leadership truths in this article below. Orrin Woodward and George Guzzardo have been business partners for over 20 years now and business is good with LIFE Leadership. Indeed, Orrin and George both love reading books and leading people; thus, they make a great team. 

Anyone looking at our world today sees a glaring lack of leadership. Life Leadership has developed an array of information designed to fill the leadership void seen in these times. Leadership qualities once developed will make a difference in our businesses, schools, communities, country, and the world. No one is excluded from leadership. Anyone can develop these qualities and the rewards are far beyond words. The internal satisfaction from growing leadership qualities is difficult to describe but the external effects are endless in the way leaders influence their world.

CHARACTER: I love leadership because it forces a person to come to grips with their own character development. A leader takes responsibility for their own status quo and challenges themselves to change and grow.  A leader develops the character to confront when they see a need. Our communities can simply use more leaders. Leaders throughout history have always demonstrated the passion to right what they see is wrong. A leader becomes tired of those who make excuses or blame someone else. The lack of character we see almost every day in politics or business does not have to be the norm.

RESPONSIBILTY: Responsibility is key to leadership. Who is responsible? . Almost 50 % of the marriages fail for a lack of taking responsibility for one’s own performance.

According to enrichment journal on the divorce rate in America:

• The divorce rate in America for first marriage is 41%
• The divorce rate in America for second marriage is 60%
• The divorce rate in America for third marriage is 73%

Take finance for example. When you give a child an allowance, they are responsible for what they are given. When a business has a profit / loss sheet the owners are responsible for it. When the government is given a budget, they are responsible for it. What if the criteria for a bigger allowance, profit / loss, or budget was the stipulation that those who are responsible must learn to manage what was given first before they received more? In other words performance must be measured and in order to achieve a competent performance, a leader must have the character to accept responsibility. No passing the buck if you are a leader.

PERFORMANCE: I love leadership because a leader performs. You would not trust or follow a leader if this were not the case. A leader also resists the temptation of complacency. Far too many times a leader achieves success in an area only to level out and become average because they become amazed with their credentials. Think again if you fear the weight of leadership as being too heavy to achieve a high level of personal performance. Any time you stretch your performance beyond your perceived limits, you leave the comfort zone. Performance is how a leader grows.  Leaders are constantly finding ways to grow. This forces a leader to leave their comfort zone, which is a previous accepted norm of activity. When a leader develops the character to accept responsibility they move into performance mode.

SCOREBOARD: Best selling author Orrin Woodward describes the scoreboard in his best seller Resolved 13 Resolutions. Leaders love the scoreboard. A leader looks at the scoreboard as a reality check. If the scoreboard measures the results of performance then a leader faces the facts. When a leader recognizes a relationship is going bad they learn conflict resolution. You can plan to have a better relationship and measure it.  When finances are going bad the scoreboard gives a base line to move forward from. A leader is always measuring performance against the scoreboard. A leader learns and grows from what engineer’s call “failure mode analysis,” A leader will adjust their performance and make things right. When a leader makes a mistake they use it as a teachable moment. Confronting the brutal reality builds trust with the leaders constituents. A leader of character takes on the responsibility to perform and then uses the scoreboard to sharpen other qualities.

LEARNING: When we make the commitment to become responsible for our own actions it puts us in learning mode. In their best selling book Launching a Leadership Revolution, the authors state, “Level 1 leadership is being a student.” A student makes a habit of being in learning mode. A leader is always looking to solve a problem. They know that learning provides solutions. When one begins the process of discovery, they learn to think independently. They begin to see the world in a different light.

By Greg Toppo, USA TODAY

A long-awaited federal study finds that an estimated 32 million adults in the USA — about one in seven — are saddled with such low literacy skills that it would be tough for them to read anything more challenging than a children's picture book or to understand a medication's side effects listed on a pill bottle

We see a soaring illiteracy rate in our society, which correlates to a lack of leadership, ability to think independently, and take responsibility for problem solving. Literacy has always been an enemy to socialism and a proponent of freedom. It gives the individual the means to seek knowledge independently. The first step to taking responsibility is being able to think independently and we can’t think independently if we don’t learn. If we don’t think independently someone else will do the thinking for us. There is a direct correlation to needing big government to take care of us, and our ability to think independently. Out of 117 men who signed the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution, one in four went to college, they were educated by parents, church schools, tutors, academies, apprenticeship, and themselves.

Next time you think that leadership isn’t for you remember what Harry Truman said, “The buck stops here.” Don’t underestimate the importance of developing these leadership qualities. The leader knows the end result is making a difference in their lives, the community, and the country, and ultimately the influence we need in the world today. Isn’t it time to develop these qualities of leadership so we can make the difference we so sorely need?  God Bless, George Guzzardo

Posted by OrrinWoodward at 8:05 AM EDT

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Tim Marks new book is one of the most talked about new releases in LIFE Leadership. There are so many examples of wisdom and encouragement that Orrin Woodward said it was one of his favorite reads of the year. Even if you hate to read, this book is worth reading. Here is another segment from Tim in his book. 

Hey gang!  Here is another excerpt from my new book, Confidence of a Champion, released through LIFE Leadership.  One of the most powerful tools in your success journey is the ability to connect with people and strike up a conversation successfully.  Here, I share 8 rapid-fire tips to make that happen!

God Bless, Tim

____________________________________________________

With the goal of helping you kick-start your progress towards meeting new people and creating new and amazing relationships, here are some tactics you can apply today to take action and get the ball rolling:

1. Think “I Like You” in Your Head First.    People can tell if you have warmed up to them and if you are feeling friendly towards them.  If  you are arrogant or stuck up, good luck on making new friends.  Who would want to be around you?!  And, who would want to stare up your nose at you while you are staring down your nose at them?  (Especially if you haven’t trimmed the old nose hairs lately and you need a hedge trimmer to clear out the forest growing in there!)  So, when you look at people, literally think the words to yourself, “I like you”.  Your whole spirit towards this person will change, particularly if we are Christians and see the other person as God’s creation and want to bring a little joy into their day.  (If the other person is     grumpy, all the more reason. Remember, hurting people hurt people.)

1. Believe the Other Person Will Like YOU!  Les Giblin talks about this in his great book, How to Have Power and Confidence in Dealing with People.  Assume they are warm and friendly and will respond in a positive way.  So much of success is  expectation!  If you expect the conversation will go well, you’re halfway there.  Will people always respond positively?  Nope.  But you sure can tip the scales in your favor by having an expectant mindset. If you’ve faced a cold shoulder before, don’t let a couple of bad  experiences shape your whole view of meeting new friends!

1. Be Cool.   Don’t come across as too anxious, over-eager or desperate, or you will make them feel uncomfortable.  (It helps if you aren’t actually feeling anxious or desperate to begin with.)  If you’re eying someone like a piece of meat or a meal ticket, they’ll immediately sense that you have an ulterior motive and it will get weird really fast.  Don’t come on too strong or too fast.  Take it slow and easy.  If you’re overeager, you’ll scare them away.  A good way of visualizing this is to imagine feeding pigeons in the park.  Pigeons want bread crumbs.  However, if you run into the park      waiving your arms and screaming, those pigeons will fly away in fear, even if they were starving!  If we play it cool and take a sincere interest in others, we’ll have greater success in attracting them.

1. Take a Chance!       A great leader in our business community really pioneered this hrase a while ago.  Take a chance!  All of life involves a little risk, and that includes making new friends.  The great thing about chances is that  they can pay off huge rewards!  Take  a chance on the stranger next to you.  Make the first move.  Be bold.  Have a backbone.  Stand tall.  Pursue victory.  Refuse to give in to fear!  Resolve to be a person of courage and character.  Take control of the fearful little voice that is whimpering inside you, making excuses why you shouldn’t try to say hi.  Squish that voice like a bug under your heel and take a chance!
   

1. Play “Smiling Chicken”.  It takes some effort just to make eye contact and smile, and then say “Hi!”  When I first started doing this I thought my face would crack! It’s not normal for a choleric (a personality type which is hard driving and dominant ) or for an engineer to smile and “be nice”, and I still need to work at it today.  In fact, to practice this I used to literally drive down the road and “smile talk” to myself in my rear-view mirror before speaking engagements.  (It might sound crazy, but it looks even worse, particularly to passerby!)  Although these might sound like pretty simple steps, it can feel overwhelming.  Just look right at their face and let your face break into a big friendly smile.  Smiling breaks the ice and opens the door to getting them to say “hi” back at you!  Smiling tells people you are friendly, positive, and you are approachable, and these are all attractive  qualities.  If you are not used to doing this, you might want to try a fun game called “Smiling Chicken!”  You’ve all heard of the game “Chicken”.  With that game, you are driving your car towards your competitor at full-speed, and whoever  flinches first and turns the car off of the road is declared the “loser”.  (This is obviously a terribly dangerous     game that I absolutely do not condone; I’m simply offering an     illustration.) Now, here is “Smiling Chicken” game.  The game goes like this: as you are approaching a stranger, your goal is to catch their eye, break out in a smile, and inspire them to smile back at you!    Try doing this to ten strangers and see how many people you can get to smile… it can become a lot of fun!

Posted by OrrinWoodward at 8:24 AM EDT

Updated: Friday, August 2, 2013 8:32 AM EDT

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Tim Marks' new book Confidence of a Champion is making waves across North America. Tim's encouraging manner and writing style have led to two bestsellling books in just a couple of years. Indeed, Tim has become one of Orrin Woodward's goto guys in his quest for one million people in LIFE Leadership. Tim is a leader who has built a team of thousands of people to success. Tim shares his thoughts on momentum from his new book below. 

You’ve had days in your life when everything seemed to be going your way.  All the traffic lights turned to green.  You closed every sales call you made.  Every crucial confrontation was resolved in a way that strengthened the relationship.  Every step had a bounce in it.  Your spirit felt lighter, food tasted better, the sun was shining, and you were on fire for life.

When we are feeling good, we become people magnets.  Opportunity comes out of the woodwork.  People want to work with us.  If we are a coach or leader of some sort, our team responds to our guidance.  Things are clicking.  We just feel like we are on a roll.  It’s such a simple concept, but so often ignored: when you’ve had a victory, use that positive feeling to your advantage.  Take action right away, push the gas pedal down even further and create even greater results.

One teacher used the power of momentum to transform his students’ belief in themselves and ultimately their results.  In 1974, a Bolivian-born mathematics teacher named Jaime Escalante took a job at Garfield High School in East Los Angeles, an area more commonly known for producing gang members than math whizzes.  However, Escalante was not your average math teacher.  He had a ferocious love of the subject and of inspiring young minds.  He also had a rock-solid belief that these kids were smarter than they, their parents, or even the school administration thought they were.  Most people had written them off simply because they lived on the wrong side of the tracks.  Escalante knew better.

One of the first things Escalante did was raise the bar of excellence for his students.  He would demand they answer a math question just to be allowed into the classroom.  He made them do a test at the beginning of each day.  And he didn’t just offer basic math; he offered advanced placement calculus.  You can only imagine the reaction these C, D, and F students had toward this, let alone the status-quo principal of the school.  But Escalante started talking to the students about getting jobs in engineering and science.  He began to cast a vision that they would make it into university, that they could be at the top of their class, and they could change the entire direction of their lives.  He started to breathe belief into them that they could do something extraordinary.

After a few years of teaching, he laid down a challenge: the school would have students take the highly difficult Advancement Placement Calculus exam.  This was a very difficult exam, and no one wanted any part of it.  But this man was on a mission to change the culture of his school and to make a breakthrough for his students; he knew that he just needed a small victory to get the ball rolling.  If he could show the students that some of their peers were capable to taking the AP Calculus test and passing, he knew the other students would begin to believe in themselves a little more.

And so, Escalante rigorously pursued that first victory.  In 1978, he convinced five students out of 3,000 to take the test.  Two of them passed.  This was the first small victory that Escalante could leverage.  Building on that victory, he won over the minds of a few more students the next year.  In 1979, he convinced nine students to work with him and take the test; seven of them passed.  Word of his students growing success began to spread through the school.  Kids who thought they never stood a chance started to believe that if their friends could do it, maybe they could as well.  In 1981, Escalante attracted fifteen students, and fourteen passed the AP Calculus test.  The ember of belief had been nurtured into a small flame under Escalante’s guiding care.

In 1982, eighteen students passed the test.  In 1983, his class size doubled overnight, as did student success: thirty-three students took the AP Calculus test and thirty of them passed.  And by 1987, seventy-three students passed the test.  Escalante wasn’t just inspiring the students at Garfield; he was inspiring the entire country.  Everyone wanted to know what this guy was doing.  A book about his remarkable achievement was released, titled Escalante: The Best Teacher in America.  This inspired the 1988 movie Stand and Deliver, starring Edward James Olmos as Escalante.  Not surprisingly, having a Hollywood movie made about your high school math teacher is not a normal occurrence for most students, and only added further fuel to the fire.  By 1991, the momentum Escalante had created attracted 570 students to take the advanced math placement exams.

What was Escalante’s secret?  Momentum!  Lowell Thomas said, “Do a little more each day than you think you possibly can.  By pushing yourself a little farther, by stretching for that “impossible” goal and attaining it, you can create a tiny victory.  Each victory builds our belief and confidence that we can reach greater heights.  Never squander a victory; use the confidence it produces to take further action and build momentum, just as Escalante did with his remarkable students.

Posted by OrrinWoodward at 10:52 AM EDT

Updated: Monday, July 29, 2013 10:55 AM EDT

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George Guzzardo conveys why leaders have been speakers throughout history. LIFE Leadership builds leaders, speakers, and authors through a systematic process of learning. Thousands have benefited from the program and, knowing Orrin Woodward, millions will soon be reached. Here is George's article. 

A LEADER SPEAKS

Part of being a leader is conveying a vision with passion that connects with the audience. Over the last one hundred years less emphasis was placed on the importance of rhetoric in our school systems. In fact many people may not even understand the word rhetoric because of the loss of importance placed on it. Rhetoric is the ability to use language effectively. It was valued by past civilizations. They placed great emphasis on speech. This is a key component to leadership. That is why LIFE Leadership is committed to providing products that compliment a leaders presence, projection, and passion. You will find, however, that the element of a great speaker is more than good grammar and appearance. When you examine the great leaders of history you will find that they inspired their constituents.  They were great connectors and they had a message that they were passionate about. They had something important that was heavy on their hearts. They were passionate that their message would have an impact on not only those in the audience but on the times in which they lived. Great speakers are not necessarily loud, fire and brimstone speakers. Some were actually quite and calm and were difficult to hear. But, they had a message that connected to the hearts of those in the audience. When people heard their message it went from their heads to their hearts.

Cicero, Edwards, Whitefield, Henry, Spurgeon, Churchill, and King to name a few all had something in common. They had a message they were passionate about that was critical to their times. Their message is still just as critical to our times now.

Marcus Tullius Cicero spoke about the fall of the republic from the corruption in government. As the Roman Republic was in decline, Cicero examined the causes of private and public confusion. “Long before our time, the customs of our ancestors molded admirable men, and in turn those eminent men upheld the ways and institutions of their forebears. Our age, however inherited the republic as if it were some beautiful painting of bygone ages, its colors fading through great antiquity; and not only has our time neglected to freshen the colors of the picture, but we have failed to preserve its form and outlines.”

Jonathon Edwards and George Whitefield awoke the people from their slumber to the importance of values and virtues. John Pollock wrote about the observation of “a prominent New Yorker who went to see Whitefield speak to a crowd of all denomination, Dutch and English; some Jews…Whitefield took his stand on a little hill, a natural pulpit. No notes, yet the discourse flowed logically and reasonably with a delightful simplicity: no long words, his delivery the product of art. Whitefield spoke directly to the crowd, his voice having a strange ability to sound as if he stood beside them, and they quieted.” They heard, “We are unprofitable servants, we have done not near so much as it was our duty to do.” “What have you been doing?”

Patrick Henry was passionate about holding on to the principles that are necessary for freedom. Jefferson once said, “I never heard anything like it. He had more command over the passions than any man I ever knew.” John Adams wrote that Henry was a man “of deep reflections, keen sagacity, clear foresight, daring enterprise, inflexible intrepidity, and untainted integrity, with an ardent zeal for the liberties, the honor, and felicity of his country and his speeches,” and his contributions to the Patriot cause would never be forgotten.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon convicted his audience about the necessities of timeless principles and the price that would be paid if the foundations collapsed. “There is a more dangerous spirit now abroad, entering into Nonconformist pulpits, and notably preventing the testimony of some…by those who reckon themselves to be men of culture and intellect…Their theology is fickle as the wind. Landmarks are laughed at, and fixed teaching is despised, “Progress” is the watchword, and we hear it repeated ad nauseum…It is progress from the truth, which being interpreted, is progressing backwards.”

Winston S. Churchill is best known for ability to communicate to his people what it would take to win the war of freedom. His speeches literally turned his country around.  In 1897 he said, “Of all the talents bestowed upon men, none is so precious as the gift of oratory…Abandoned by his party, betrayed by his friends, stripped of his office, whoever can command this power is still formidable.” He was also a staunch believer in the value of learning leadership from the study of history. “The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you can see.”  “Think what your actions now will mean, years hence, when you remember them again. What kind of person will you wish you had been, what kind of sacrifices will you wish you had made, when you or those who survive you look back upon this from the future.”

Martin Luther King was a man whose passion to pursue a dream led to the fulfillment of breaking the shackles of oppression and opened the door to freedom more than any recent leader. In 1968 he said, “Non violent resistance does not seek to defeat or humiliate the opponent but to win his friendship and understanding.” He knew the passionate pursuit of our dreams was the measure that would lead to confronting our fears. “First we must unflinchingly face our fears and honestly ask ourselves why we are afraid. The confrontation will, to some measure, grant us power. We shall never be cured of fear by escapism or repression, for the more we attempt to ignore and repress our fears, the more we multiply our inner conflicts.” 

Best selling authors Orrin Woodward and Oliver DeMille write about the need for leaders to step up in their new best seller ‘Leadershift’.  “You can try to fit in and to impress, or you can lead.” “In contrast, think of Lincoln, Churchill, and Ghandi – these are men who made the hard choice. They rejected trying to impress and instead they led.” Are we hearing the messages from those leaders from the past?  When you read you will hear those speakers, their passion, and their messages. They are singing in unison to us today. They are calling us out with the hopes that we will heed their warnings, “Will we lead?” God Bless, George Guzzardo

Posted by OrrinWoodward at 9:50 AM EDT

Updated: Saturday, July 27, 2013 9:52 AM EDT

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Claude Hamilton is set to release his first book Toughen Up through LIFE Leadership. Evidently, Orrin Woodward highly anticipates its release. Below is an article Orrin recently wrote on Claude's new book. This is Claude's first book so everyone is excited to read more about his success journey.

I have attached my foreword to Claude Hamilton’s first book Toughen Up. I am so pumped for everyone to read and experience what a tough life, lived with honor, can accomplish. The book will be released in another month so look for it on the LIFE Leadership site. God Bless, Orrin Woodward

Claude Hamilton

Claude Hamilton’s life ought to be written about in every North American newspaper and magazine. Not because of his amazing results in life, although they are mighty impressive, but more because of the nearly insurmountable struggles he had to overcome in order to achieve this success. Nothing has come easy for Claude and Lana Hamilton. Indeed, that is why I love the title of his new book Toughen Up, since that is exactly what the Hamilton’s did to win in the game of life.

Since age 12, when he joined the Royal Navy Sea Cadets, Claude has reached the top pinnacles of leadership in every field he has entered. The reason for his consistent success is described in detail in the book the reader is holding in his hands. The Eight Strengths will guide, challenge, and inspire anyone seeking the principles for longterm success. Moreover, the chapters are so engaging, that I finished the book still wanting more. How Claude taught so many lessons in so few words is beyond me.

The teaching, however, this is just the tip of the iceberg in this book. Claude’s personal stories anchor each of the Eight Strengths, helping the reader view the principles in action. If success is measured by how far a person climbs from where he started, then Claude Hamilton is one of the most successful people I have ever met. With so many around him making poor choices and living lives of quiet desperation, Claude’s set himself apart through the consistent application of his Eight Strengths.

On a personal note, I consider it an honor to have a front row seat in Claude’s life for the last seven years. During this time, I have watched him apply each of these principles in his life and business, choosing principles over short-term profits whenever the conflicted. His friendship, encouragement, and attitude have been a huge blessing to me. In the many hours of life and leadership discussions with Claude, I had heard many of his stories and all the core principles before. Nonetheless, reading them in this book while visualizing the joys, pains, and fears Claude must have felt in the moment moved me.

Accordingly, I warn you in advance that Toughen Up is a roller coaster ride of emotions as the reader empathizes with the Claude’s dreams, struggles and eventual victory. It’s a book that readers will turn back to again and again for information and inspiration on the success journey. Thank You Claude Hamilton for having the physical, mental, and spiritual toughness to “finish what you started.” Because Claude finished, others will be inspired to begin.

Orrin Woodward
Chairman of the Board LIFE Leadership
NY Times Bestselling Author of Launching a Leadership Revolution and LeaderShift

Posted by OrrinWoodward at 7:24 AM EDT

Updated: Friday, July 19, 2013 7:27 AM EDT

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Dan Hawkins shares a wonderful message on fatherhood and leadership in the post below. Dan has become one of Orrin Woodward's best leadership students and is leading thousands of people in his LIFE Leadership community. He is only in his mid-30s and the future is bright. 

I have been so blessed to have three beautiful daughters and have twin girls on the way! I truly believe being a father is a calling, a responsibility. One of my missions is to travel the world and reach fathers to help them understand how important they are to their kids. The statistics are stagering on how the lack of the presence of the father affects the lives of children.

I challenge you, father to father, step up and make a difference in a child’s life today!

Here is a short video from a talk I gave to a group of men at a LIFE business event. Our kids need us to be present and active in all areas of their lives. What better place to invest your time then into your kids who will be your living legacy for generations to come. How will you be remembered, what stories can your kids share about your involvement in their lives?

God bless,

Dan Hawkins

Posted by OrrinWoodward at 11:33 AM EDT

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Bill Lewis recently posted on Kouzes & Posner book Credibility. Bill, according to Orrin Woodward, founder of LIFE Leadership, is one of the best teachers of leadership fundamentals period. The post below is a good example of Bill's teaching ability. 

Story from the book “Credibility”

Once there was a village in Nigeria where the people made their living by farming.  The village lay in a large green valley that was lined with palm trees and bushes.  Surrounding the village were fields with crops of yams, corn and other vegetables.  Just beyond the fields was a deep river that the villagers called “Baba.”  In the rainy season, the river  overflowed and the people were fearful of its power.  So, at a place were the river wound beyond the fields, they built a strong dam to hold back the water.

There was a man in the village named Modupe, which means “I am grateful.”  Modupe was a shy, quiet man whose wife had died and whose children were all married, so he moved to the top of the mountain overlooking the valley and lived alone.  There he built a small hut and cleared a small piece of land to grow his vegetables.  The people rarely saw Modupe but they respected and loved him.

One year at harvest time, the rains were unusually heavy, but the crops had done well and there was much to do, so no one paid it any mind.  As Modupe stood by his house on the mountain, he noticed that the river, swollen from the rains, was straining the dam.  He knew that by the time he could run down to the village to warn the people of the flood, it would be too late and all would be lost.  Even as Modupe watched, the wall of the dam begun to break and water started to seep through.

Modupe thought of his friends in the village.  Their crops, their homes, and their very lives were in danger if he did not find a way to warn them.  Then an idea came to him: he rushed to his small hut and set it afire.  When the people of the valley saw Modupe’s house burning they said, “Our friend is in trouble.  Let’s sound the alarm and go up to help him.” Then, according to custom, men, women, and children ran up the mountain to see what they could do.  When the reached the top of the hill, they did not have time to ask what had happened – a loud crashing noise behind them made them turn and look down.  Their houses, their temple, and their crops were being destroyed by the river, which had broken the dam and was flooding the valley.

The people began to cry and moan at their loss, but Modupe comforted them.  ”Don’t worry,” he said “My crops are still here.  We can share them while we build a new village.”  Then all the people began to sing and give thanks because they remembered that, in coming to help a friend, they saved themselves.

Not sure if the story is true or not but what a great example of serving your neighbor.  There are many lessons we can take from this example but I would like to focus on two:  helping friends in trouble and a culture of serving.

When Modupe saw that his friends were in trouble he didn’t think, “Man, that’s too bad, I hope they figure out something, I wish there was something I could do, what if I burn my house and they don’t come up to help?   He immediately thought I have to help my friends and then he thought of a plan.  In life we see so many people who just turn a blind eye.  We could do something or we have information that could help but we don’t.  We are afraid of what that person might think.  We are afraid of what other people will think.  We are afraid of sacrificing something of our own.   Ninety nine percent of the negative things we think could happen, usually never do.  What usually does happen is we end up making a big impact in someones life.  If you see someone that you think you can help, be the good Samaritan.

The second lesson was they had a culture of serving each other.  Modupe wasn’t worried that burning his own house wouldn’t work because Modupe’s community had a culture of serving each other.  He knew they would come to help him and by helping him they ended up helping themselves.  There is an old statement that says, “If you help enough people get what they want you will always get what you want.”  If your organization has a culture of serving the customer, you cannot lose.  Even though you may not see the return, in the immediate, you will always see it in the long term.  Set your goals around how many people you need to serve to accomplish your goal.  Doing this accomplishes two great things.  You get to your goal but more importantly you model the serving attitude.  The compounding affect of a serving organization creates amazing results.

Are you serving your God, wife, kids, business partners?  If so are you serving them the way they want to be served or the way you like to be served?  What ways can you improve your service to your team? Can you be more patient, understanding, goal focused, give time, explain thought process, help overcome obstacles, give ideas or just listen.  Whatever it is, if you model the behavior I can guarantee that others will follow your lead.

Bill Lewis

Posted by OrrinWoodward at 9:03 AM EDT

Updated: Friday, July 12, 2013 9:05 AM EDT

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