Orrin Woodward of Team - Courage

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."- Henry David Thoreau

"A great deal of talent is lost to the world for want of a little courage. Every day sends to their graves obscure men whose timidity prevented them from making a first effort."- Sydney Smith

Saw these and was reminded of Orrin Woodward - a man who has the courage to dream.

Why not live the life you imagined? Can you honestly say that today's four meetings at work were about what you reallly value in life? Think back. Think hard.

What will be the reward for all your effort, for all the years of attending meeting after meeting after meeting after meeting? Will you be pushed out without the pension you thought you were going to get? Or will you get a smaller than expected pension to match those ever-diminishing medical benefits? What kind of life will you really have?

You can have the life of your dreams. All that is required is that you make the effort - that you begin to change some things.

That's what Orrin Woodward did. That's what you can do.

All it takes is a little courage.

Orrin Woodard of Team - Choice
William Jennings Bryan said: "Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."

Orrin Woodward made a choice several years ago and created his destiny. And because he did, and because he created a system that you can plug into called the Team, you can choose to create your destiny. You don't create a destiny by waiting for it.

Here are a couple more thoughts to get you started:"Act as if it were impossible to fail."- Dorothea Brande

"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to success is more important than any other one thing."- Abraham Lincoln

Be resolved and get moving. You will win.

Orrin Woodard of Team - Choice
William Jennings Bryan said: "Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."

Orrin Woodward made a choice several years ago and created his destiny. And because he did, and because he created a system that you can plug into called the Team, you can choose to create your destiny. You don't create a destiny by waiting for it.

Here are a couple more thoughts to get you started:"Act as if it were impossible to fail."- Dorothea Brande

"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to success is more important than any other one thing."- Abraham Lincoln

Be resolved and get moving. You will win.

Orrin Woodard of Team - Action
A couple of great quotes:

"We cannot do everything at once, but we can do something at once."- Calvin Coolidge"

An idea not coupled with action will never get any bigger than the brain cell it occupied."- Arnold Glasow

One thing I've always admired about Orrin Woodward is that he is a man of action. He gets things done. Because he takes action, the Team has become an idea whose time has come. There is no stopping it. It will become the biggest business on the planet.

That's pretty big.

Thanks for your example Orrin. Keep moving.

Orrin Woodard of Team - A Man for Others

On page 140 of Jeffrey Marx’ book “Seasons of Life”, we find that Joe Erhmann’s code of conduct revolves around four masculinity traits which Joe claims form ”the moral and ethical foundation” of a man built for others. As I read, I couldn’t help but think of Orrin Woodward – truly a man built for others.

 

He accepts responsibility.

He leads courageously.

He enacts justice on behalf of others.

He expects God’s greater rewards.

 

I encourage you to get the book to read what he has to say about these traits.  It will be food for thought. I’ve personally watched Orrin Woodward accept responsibility, lead courageously and enact justice. That’s what his business, The Team, is all about. First, embracing the traits himself and then, creating a system that levels the playing field for anyone with the courage to want to improve their life.

 

As far as expecting God’s greater rewards, let me quote from the book as to what Joe meant by that.  Here’s Joe explaining it to Jeff: (p145)  “I think there is a time when God is going to reward people that were relationally just and lived a life filled with cause.  You don’t need to “get it all” in this world. You can say “no” to an awful lot of things (italics his) so that you can be focused on other people.  Ultimately, there is a day of reckoning.  And that is for all eternity.  You don’t have to have the biggest house, the biggest car, all that kind of stuff once you get there, and by knowing that, by expecting God’s greater rewards, you can free up your time and energy to be about other people, to be about your causes.”

 

A few years ago, Orrin Woodward decided to be about other people and to be about his cause – creating, with God’s grace and some work, the best business on the planet. Best because it gives everyone an equal opportunity to enjoy success.  Orrin didn’t necessarily expect great rewards.  He expected that God would be true to his character and would be just.  And of course, God is.

 

Because Orrin had great vision, was willing to take responsibility and lead courageously, and willing to teach others to do the same, the Team will one day be a household word.

Orrin Woodard of Team - More on Character

Ran across a poem in a great little book recommended to me by Jim Hunter entitled "Season of Life" by Jeffrey Marx.  The verse brought to mind Orrin Woodward, a man who can look at "The Man in the Glass" and be proud of himself.

When you get what you want in the struggle for self

and the world makes you king for a day,

then go to the mirror and look at yourself

and see what that guy has to say.

For it isn't your mother, brother or friends

whose judgement you must pass.

The person whose verdict counts most in your life

is the one staring back in the glass.

You can go down the pathway of years,

receiving pats on the back as you pass.

But your final reward will be heartache and tears

if you cheated that guy in the glass.

Orrin Woodward refuses to cheat the guy in the glass. That's why I and several thousand others choose to follow him as he puts together the best business this world has ever seen.

Orrin Woodard of Team - A Goal (2)
In my last post I quoted the book "Conversations With Millionaires" and Mike Litman's interview with Jim Rohn, who had an intersting take on becoming a millionaire.

In their conversation Rohn said, "When I was 25 years old, my mentor said, 'I suggest Mr. Rohn, that you set a goal to become a millionaire...... for what it makes of you to achieve it."

Again: Set a goal to become a millionaire for what it makes of you to achieve it.

Rohn continues, "Do it for the skills you have to learn and the person you have to become. Do it for what you'll end up knowing about the marketplace, what you'll learn about the management of time and working with people. Do it for dicovering how to keep your ego in check....for what you have to learn about becoming benevolent.... for what you have to learn about society and business and government and taxes and becoming an accomplished person to reach the status of millionaire. All that you have learned and all that you've become to reach the status of millionaire is what's valuable. Not the million dollars. If you do it that way, then once you've become a millionaire, you can give your money away. Because it's not the money that's really important. What's important is the person you have become."

This is one of the best pieces of philosophy I have ever heard. And the man I know who did it the right way - the way described here, is my mentor, Orrin Woodward. Sure Orrin has gone from a struggling Platinum to fully qualified Founders Executive Diamond in the six 6 short years I've known him. But how he did it is what has earned him my admiration and respect. Orrin made himself the project. For the past six years, I have watched Orrin focus on improving himself and serving his team. He epitomizes the philosophy that Jim Rohn speaks about in the "Conversations..." book. Orrin Woodward has incredible results in all aspects of his life. That's why I'm following his lead as he builds his business.

Orrin Woodard of Team - A Goal
In the book "Conversations With Millionaires" Mike Litman interviewed Jim Rohn who had an intersting take on becoming a millionaire. In their conversation Rohn said,"When I was 25 years old, my mentor said, 'I suggest Mr. Rohn, that you set a goal to become a millionaire.' I was intrigued by that. You know, it's got a nice ring to it - millionaire. Then he said, 'Here's why.' I said, 'Gosh, you don't need to teach me why. Wouldn't it be great to have a million dollars.' Then he said, 'No, then you'll never acquire it. Here's why. Set a goal to become a millionaire for what it makes of you to achieve it.'"

Lets go over that again. "Set a goal to become a millionaire for what it makes of you to achieve it."

Wonderful advice. And I've watched Orrin Woodward on his journey. I'll go into more detail about this in my next post.

Orrin Woodard of Team - Reading

As I considered Orrin Woodward's voracious appetite for books, (the man reads 2-3 books each week and has done so since we made our acquaintance some six years ago) I was reminded of these pithy comments regarding the subject, made by a prodigious reader himself, Morton Blackwell of the Leadership Institute:


"Some people bluntly say they don't read.

Others offer an excuse: They would read if only they had the time.

I will also be blunt: People who don't read cheat themselves. By not reading, they limit what they can achieve, make mistakes they could avoid, and miss opportunities that could improve their lives. Finally, as the gaps in their knowledge become apparent, they must reconcile themselves to not being taken seriously."


Well said Mr. Blackwell.

So dear reader, I wonder....
Are you being taken seriously?

Orrin Woodward of Team - Listening
Ran across this paragraph on listening today which put me in mind of Orrin Woodward, co-author of "Launching a Leadership Revolution".

"In our time-starved society, attentiveness and listening skills seem to have fallen to the wayside. In order to make those with whom you communicate feel important, brush up on your listening skills. Make sure to give the speaker your undivided attention: regardless of how great you are at multi-tasking, treating an individual as a "task" is not a good idea. Eye-contact, nodding in agreement, asking leading questions and using your face to provide feedback also contribute to a positive communication experience that will foster the growth of the relationship."

Sound advice. I wonder if anyone is listening...