On Monday, January 12th, I was tagged by MultiMedia Producer, Angel McClinton to reveal ten honest things about myself.  Unlike the incredibly talented Angel McClinton, I haven’t included a video presentation with my ten things.  Before I get started, you might want to click on Angel’s name to see her video and forget all about reading my ten things.  Just kidding.  Kinda! 

Alright.  Ten things?  Hmm.  ***Fingers drumming my desk***  Ten things?  Oh, I know where to start:

1. At age 14, I made the big bright colored concert posters that you use to see stapled to telephone polls around your city.  Well, not your city, unless you lived in Wichita, Kansas.  It was my first business venture.  Thank you Dad!

2. While running that business under my Dad’s supervision, I attended a James Brown concert, and I was allowed to go backstage to meet the legendary King of Soul.  I don’t remember meeting anyone else that night.

3. Do you remember the Ronald McDonald from the commercials that played in the late 70′s?  Yes, I met him too.  He made an appearance at a McDonald’s near my Dad’s home on Hillside in Wichita, Kansas.  Man, I love McDonald’s french fries!

4. When I was 15 years old, I was inspired by Martin Luther King, Jr. and John F. Kennedy to pursue the secrets behind their ability to motivate people to take action.  I used to stand in front of my bathroom mirror and act as if I was one of them.  What a difference one person can make!  What a difference you can make, if you choose to do so.

5. I lost my way for a time.  What do I mean?  I started skipping school on a regular basis and smoking marijuana joints like they were candy cigarettes.  Do you remember those candy cigarettes?  I digress.

Anyway, I almost dropped out of high school.  I had lost the vision for my life.  However, one evening while working the night shift for a janitorial service, I had a revelation that hit me like a ton of bricks. I remember it like it was last night.  I was attempting to buff the floors to a glimmering spectacle when a thought occurred to me:  “If I don’t finish high school, I’ll probably work here the rest of my life.”

The next night my supervisor called a staff meeting and announced that he was laying me off because of my inferior ability to do the job.  As you might imagine, I went after him to inflict bodily harm!  Fortunately, my co-workers grabbed me as I lunged at him, and he locked himself in the broom closet.  Once I was able to calm down I left without incident.  That was one of my wake up calls!

The Turn Around

6. It was the end of my junior year of high school when I lost my janitorial position.  My grades were terrible.  In fact, I spent the first part of my summer vacation taking class to catch up.  I was determined to head in a new direction.

One weekend, I was looking through the newspaper for a new job and came across an advertisement for a book that promised me riches, happiness, and love.  Needless to say, I managed to come up with the money to invest in the book.  When the book arrived I read it from cover to cover within a couple of days.  Amongst the many techniques for running a direct mail business, I learned how to unleash my creativity, visualize, and hypnotize myself.

No, I didn’t start up a direct mail company and become a multi-millionaire.  Writing salesletters was more than I could wrap my mind around at that time.  But I did return to school after summer break and finish each semester on the honor roll.

There’s so much more!  For example, my college years at Oklahoma State University Technical School in Okmulgee, OK and University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK.  But, I have to save some for another time.  Moving on.

Let’s fast forward to some other turning points in my life.

7. I worked as a Staff Accountant at an S&L in Northern Virginia. That S&L was eventually taken over by the RTC. As it turns out the “big wigs” made some poor real estate loan decisions. I was astounded by the executive-types’ efforts to deny that the bank was in trouble. Why? We did the books! They kept that up until the very day the RTC came in and shut the bank down.

As a result of my experience in corporate America, I decided to pursue a totally different career path that started with walking on burning hot coals. Yes, I’ve attended Tony Robbins’ seminars! I enjoyed it so much, I made the decision to work in the east coast franchise. It was a wonderful, life altering experience!

Eventually, I ended up traveling the country selling Tony’s B2B event, “Strategic Influence – The Power of Personal Marketing.” Unfortunately, he doesn’t conduct that seminar anymore. I don’t know why because it was one of his best seminars.

8. In addition to walking on burning hot coals, I’ve also gone bungee jumping and sky diving.  By the way, the bungee jumping and sky diving activities were prior to my discovering Tony.

9. Even though I’ve delivered presentations in front of hundreds of people, I’m really not the type of person who wants to be the life of the party.

10. I secretly want to be a lounge club singer. Just kidding! I really do enjoy singing.

BONUS: I worked on President Ronald Reagan’s security detail during his visit to the University of Oklahoma. That’s it. Now it’s my turn to tag some folks.  Let me think!

Sharon McPherson

Felicia Slattery

Carla Young

Blair Warren

T.C. Coleman