Archived Writings - ‘Stories of Gumption’
Tuesday, March 12th, 2013
Stories of Gumption is a regular column that profiles individuals who admirably demonstrate Gumption as we define it. These are the stories of real people who exhibit gumption in overcoming personal challenges, and validate the spirit of Gumption during their journey. Let’s take inspiration from those who seize 100% personal responsibility and show us how to live a life that exhibits Gump-like character traits worthy of applause!
This past weekend, I had the pleasure to speak to 1200+ of Montana’s finest students representing more than eighty high schools across the state. The annual conference of the Business Professionals of America (BPA) Montana Association met in Billings March 10-12, 2013.
BPA is a national organization with 43,000 members in over 2,300 chapters in 23 states. Their tagline is: “Today’s Students. Tomorrow’s Business Professionals.” The mission of Business Professionals of America is to contribute to the preparation of a world-class workforce through the advancement of leadership, citizenship, academic, and technological skills.
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Tags: BPA, BPA Montana, Business Professionals of American, Motivational Speeches, Steve Weber
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Thursday, September 6th, 2012
Stories of Gumption is a regular column that profiles individuals who admirably demonstrate Gumption as we define it. These are the stories of real people who exhibit gumption in overcoming personal challenges, and validate the spirit of Gumption during their journey. Let’s take inspiration from those who seize 100% personal responsibility and show us how to live a life that exhibits Gump-like character traits worthy of applause!
Neil Armstrong (1930-2012)
Neil Armstrong had gumption.
Neil Armstrong had Gumption.
Traditional gumption is defined as sound practical judgment or fortitude and determination. Landing the first LEM (lunar excursion module) on the moon with only seconds of fuel left before needing to abort the mission took intelligence and nerve.
Likewise, you don’t land on the moon without Gumption. He needed the ability to self-control his:
- Thinking
- Actions
- Interactions with others
Neil Armstrong was a celebrity before being a celebrity became an occupation.
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Tags: First man on moon, Gumption, Man on moon, Neil Armstrong, Steve Weber
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Tuesday, July 31st, 2012
Stories of Gumption is a regular column that profiles individuals who admirably demonstrate Gumption as we define it. These are the stories of real people who exhibit gumption in overcoming personal challenges, and validate the spirit of Gumption during their journey. Let’s take inspiration from those who seize 100% personal responsibility and show us how to live a life that exhibits Gump-like character traits worthy of applause!
Last Saturday was the 18th Annual Bitterroot Brewfest. It is the largest fundraiser of the year, benefitting the Bitterroot Chamber of Commerce. It is also the biggest outdoor summer party in Hamilton, Montana.
Proudly, this is the third year I’ve participated on the Brewfest Committee. It’s also the fifth year that I’ve attended. It keeps getting better and better.
Would it be OK if I brag a little bit about the event, the committee, and the dozens of volunteers who make the event possible?
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Tags: Bitterroot Brewfest, Hamilton Montana, Steve Weber, Volunteer Committee, Volunteering
Posted in Steve's Journey, Stories of Gumption | 4 Comments »
Thursday, April 26th, 2012
Stories of Gumption is a regular column that profiles individuals who admirably demonstrate Gumption as we define it. These are the stories of real people who exhibit gumption in overcoming personal challenges, and validate the spirit of Gumption during their journey. Let’s take inspiration from those who seize 100% personal responsibility and show us how to live a life that exhibits Gump-like character traits worthy of applause!
Last week I presented at the Montana School Counselors Association (MSCA) Spring Conference. School counselors have to Function with Gumption to effectively do their job. In many ways, they’re like independent entrepreneurs working within the educational system.
When successful at their jobs, school counselors not only Function with Gumption personally, they also help their primary clients – the kids – learn to Function with Gumption for themselves. That is a big responsibility and an extremely important contribution to society.
Here are a few things I learned about school counselors.
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Tags: Forrest Gump, Function with Gumption, Montana School Counselors Association, MSCA, Steve Weber, Stories of Gumption
Posted in Business, Gumption, Meetings & Events, Steve's Journey, Stories of Gumption | 1 Comment »
Monday, March 12th, 2012
Stories of Gumption is a regular column that profiles individuals or businesses that admirably demonstrate Gumption as we define it. These are the stories of real people who exhibit gumption in overcoming personal challenges, and validate the spirit of Gumption during their journey. Let’s take inspiration from those who seize 100% personal responsibility and show us how to live a life that exhibits gump-like values, gump-like behaviors, and gump-like results … and are worthy of applause!
Last Saturday, I was invited to speak at Lakeland Feed’s 2012 Employee Kickoff event. My task was twofold: Help focus the employees on the primary objective for the coming year. And secondly, showcase Lakeland Feed as the great company it is to all the employees and their families.
Lakeland Feed’s mill and main retail outlet is located in Hamilton, Montana.
Lakeland Feed has experienced steady, consistent growth for more than a decade since being purchased by owner Mike Pflieger. The growth has hyperaccelerated during the past three years as sales have doubled during this period. Lakeland just received one of the seventy-five 2012 Blue Ribbon Small Business Awards® by U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
At its core, Lakeland Feed has created a business model based on gump-like values.
Lakeland Feed’s forty-plus employees demonstrate gump-like behaviors on a daily basis.
Lakeland Feed continues to produce gump-like results on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis.
Here are several reasons why Lakeland Feed has been successful and consistently strives to Function with Gumption.
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Tags: Blue Ribbon Small Business Award, Forrest Gump, Function with Gumption, Gumption, Jack Stack, Lakeland Feed, Steve Weber, The Great Game of Business, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
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Monday, November 21st, 2011
Stories of Gumption is a regular column that profiles individuals who admirably demonstrate Gumption as we define it. These are the stories of real people who exhibit gumption in overcoming personal challenges, and validate the spirit of Gumption during their journey. Let’s take inspiration from those who seize 100% personal responsibility and show us how to live a life that exhibits Gump-like character traits worthy of applause!
I’m sitting in the lobby of Rod’s Auto working on my laptop. Of course, they have WiFi so I’ve brought my office with me. The days of reading magazines or watching some dumb TV show in a waiting area are over … thankfully. Getting your car serviced can be productive work time if you plan accordingly.
Ten days ago, I was driving home from a speaking gig in Dillon, Montana. The trip is a wonderful 150-mile drive that crosses through the Big Hole Valley. Between the Big Hole and the Bitterroot Valley is the Lost Trail Pass. As I was descending the 7,014-foot pass returning to the Bitterroot Valley, I hit the brakes hard, as I had a lot of speed from the decline and was heading straight into one of the many hairpin turns. As I applied the brakes, I felt a definitive shudder in my steering wheel. It was so pronounced I not only felt it, but I even saw the steering wheel physically vibrate.
I ‘tested’ the brakes once more by applying them hard and again felt the same vibration.
As I drove the last forty-five miles back into town, I made the decision that I would stop at my mechanic’s and have it checked out. Here is what happened when I pulled into Rod’s Auto & Align’s parking lot.
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Tags: Function with Gumption, Great Customer Service, Gumption, Motivational Speaker, Rod's Auto, Steve Weber, Stories of Gumption
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Monday, October 31st, 2011
Stories of Gumption is a regular column that profiles individuals who admirably demonstrate Gumption as we define it. These are the stories of real people who exhibit gumption in overcoming personal challenges, and validate the spirit of Gumption during their journey. Let’s take inspiration from those who seize 100% personal responsibility and show us how to live a life that exhibits Gump-like character traits worthy of applause!
Ray Petersen's two-story Haunted House in Victor, Montana
Constructing a two-story building on your property with a single theme and single purpose takes Gumption. It’s a building that essentially gets used once a year.
Eccentric? Maybe … but definitely lots of fun.
Allow me to introduce you to a new friend. His name is Ray Petersen. I met Ray and his bride of 38 years, Judi, just this past summer. Ray and Judi are certainly eccentric when it comes to Halloween. They’ve built their own Haunted House.
Before I first visited Ray’s residence situated on about 10 acres in Victor, Montana, I was told Ray’s place is a little like the Winchester Mystery House. Sarah Winchester believed if she kept building on her house in San Jose, California, then she’d live eternally. I don’t believe Ray is superstitious, but he does enjoy a project.
At 78 years young, Ray continues to put his engineering, mechanical, and building skills to good use and has built a total of fourteen buildings on his property. Some bigger, some smaller … all designed with some particular purpose or theme.
Are you brave enough to come with me into the Haunted House? Boo-ha-haa!!!
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Tags: Arsenic and Old Lace, Forrest Gump, Gumption, Halloween, Haunted House, Psycho, Stories of Gumption, Winchester Mystery House, Witches
Posted in Stories of Gumption | 2 Comments »
Thursday, September 15th, 2011
Stories of Gumption is a regular column that profiles individuals who admirably demonstrate Gumption as we define it. These are the stories of real people who exhibit gumption in overcoming personal challenges, and validate the spirit of Gumption during their journey. Let’s take inspiration from those who seize 100% personal responsibility and show us how to live a life that exhibits Gump-like character traits worthy of applause!
Five siblings: John, Eileen, Steve, Jeanne, Ken
My last post told the story of my father moving from the family home of fifty-eight years to his new home in the retirement community. This week marks the end of one grand era and the start of new chapters. Dad stepped up and made the choice to move. With that choice made, he received lots of help. This is the story of Dad’s helpers.
Today, I salute my siblings. Together, they made it much easier for Dad and Amy to move. They’ve spent the last two months doing what needed to be done. They spent many weekends, days, and hours sorting through memories, treasures, junk, and stuff – lots and lots of stuff. My siblings have Gumption.
Here is why I’m grateful for and thankful to my four siblings.
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Tags: brothers, Forrest Gump, Gumption, Motivational Speeches, Selling the family home, siblings, sisters, Steve Weber, Stories of Gumption
Posted in Steve's Journey, Stories of Gumption | 4 Comments »
Friday, September 9th, 2011
Stories of Gumption is a regular column that profiles individuals who admirably demonstrate Gumption as we define it. These are the stories of real people who exhibit gumption in overcoming personal challenges, and validate the spirit of Gumption during their journey. Let’s take inspiration from those who seize 100% personal responsibility and show us how to live a life that exhibits Gump-like character traits worthy of applause!
On September 11, 2001, my cousin, Gary, was working in lower Manhattan when our world changed. Reprinted here is his first-hand account from that day … 10 years ago.
Gary’s Scary But Lucky World Trade Center Story
This was similar to what Gary was seeing just before the dust cloud overtook everyone on the street. Photo Credit Unknown.
My office was diagonally across the street and one building away from the World Trade Center.
The first boom was about 9 AM. People in the office wondered if it was thunder. But sheets of 8½-by-11-inch paper filled the air outside my 16th-floor windows like a ticker tape parade. People on the sidewalks were looking toward the World Trade Center.
I took the elevator down. A coworker got off a different elevator car, looking disgusted and upset. Guys in the elevator going down said a plane had hit the WTC. On the street, I could see the whole 80th floor of Tower 1 was ablaze. I walked about a block closer. I saw at least five people jump or fall from the smoke between the 80th and 110th floors. I could not see where they were hitting. The low buildings of the WTC were in the way. I was hoping there was a net at the bottom.
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Tags: 9/11, 9/11 Anniversary, Function with Gumption, Gumption, Life Lessons, Motivational Speaker, September 11 2001, Steve Weber, Stories of Gumption, World Trade Center, WTC
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