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...

Orrin Woodward & Ronald Reagan
One of my favorite Ronald Reagan quotes:

"You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we will sentence them to take the first step into a thousand years of darkness. If we fail, at least let our children and our children's children say of us we justified our brief moment here. We did all that could be done." - Ronald Reagan

Reminds me of Orrin Woodward. 

I can unconditionally happily say, Orrin Woodward is doing "all that can be done."

Orrin Woodward & Herb Kelleher
Here's a quote from Herb Kelleher, CEO of Southwest Airlines on Leadership:

"I'd describe leadership as servanthood. The best leaders, I think, have to be good followers as well. You have to be quite willing to accept other people's ideas even when they are in conflict with your own. You have to be willling to subjugate your ego to the needs of your business. You have to be willing to take risks for your people. If you won't fight for your people, you can count on your people not fighting for you."

An accurate description of Orrin Woodward and many of the other leaders on the Team as well.

Orrin Woodard of Team - Washington's Final 10 Maxims

Here are the final 10 of the behavioral maxims so indelibly self-imprinted on our country's first President, and without doubt, upon many other of our Country's leaders, not among the least of whom is Orrin Woodward of the Team.

(Ferry Farm c.1744)

101st Rince not your Mouth in the Presence of Others.

102nd It is out of use to call upon the Company often to Eat nor need you Drink to others every Time you Drink.

103rd In Company of your Betters be not longer in eating than they are lay not your Arm but only your hand upon the table.

104th It belongs to the Chiefest in Company to unfold his Napkin and fall to Meat first, But he ought then to Begin in time & to Dispatch with Dexterity that the Slowest may have time allowed him.

105th Be not Angry at Table whatever happens & if you have reason to be so, Shew it not but on a Chearfull Countenance especially if there be Strangers for Good Humour makes one Dish of Meat a Feast.

106th Set not yourself at the upper of the Table but if it Be your Due or that the Master of the house will have it So, Contend not, least you Should Trouble the Company.

107th If others talk at Table be attentive but talk not with Meat in your Mouth.

108th When you Speak of God or his Atributes, let it be Seriously & [wt.] Reverence. Honour & Obey your Natural Parents altho they be Poor.

109th Let your Recreations be Manfull not Sinfull.

110th Labour to keep alive in your Breast that Little Spark of Celestial fire Called Conscience.

Well, there they are. A few additional table manners and bringing the list to a close, a final strong three regarding spirituality. I need not elaborate, but I cannot resist imploring you dear reader, to pay the closest attention to #110.

I am thankful that our first (and in my humble opinion, our finest) president did, and that my friend, Orrin Woodward does as well.