Archived September, 2011

Five Steps to Function With Gumption

Thursday, September 29th, 2011

 

Five Steps to Better Function with Gumption

Five Steps to Better Function with Gumption

When you function with Gumption, you take 100% personal responsibility for your thinking, your getting things done, and your interactions with others. You give up excuses and blame. If we said, “Functioning with Gumption is like a box of chocolates,” we’d have to finish the saying, “you get to choose the exact chocolate that you want.”

 

Here are five steps you can take so that you will not only feel confident in your choice, but so you’ll also be aligning your life to function with Gumption.

 

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I’m Not a Smart Man … But I Know What Urgent Is

Monday, September 26th, 2011

 

Forrest many not have been a smart man, but he knew what love is.

Forrest many not have been a smart man, but he knew what love is.

 

As Jenny ascended the stairs at the Gump house, Forrest proposed marriage. She turned him down, saying, “You don’t want to marry me.”

 

Forrest was clearly disappointed and asks her, “Why don’t you love me, Jenny?” Then without waiting for her reply, he states, “I’m not a smart man, but I know what love is.” He walked out the front door to the porch to stand alone with his thoughts.

 

I love that line. “I’m not a smart man, but I know what love is.”

 

It demonstrates the confidence Forrest had in his abilities and shows an awareness of his own limitations.

 

Forrest knew his limitations – but he also knew what he knew.

 

He knew his ability to love.

He knew who he was as person.

He knew what he valued.

He knew what he wanted in life.

 

Sometimes I feel like Forrest Gump myself … not very smart … or at least a little slow to catch on. It takes me longer to figure some things out. For example:

 

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Have a Nice Day!

Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

 

“That man did come up with an idea for a T-shirt and he made a lot of money off of it.”

“That man did come up with an idea for a T-shirt and he made a lot of money off of it.”

During his famous Run Across America, Forrest meets a man who is struggling in the T-shirt business. The man wants to put Forrest’s picture on the T-shirt, but because “he couldn’t draw that well and didn’t have a camera” … he didn’t know what to do.

 

At that exact moment, a semi truck passes in front of both men, the tires hit a large puddle, and mud splashes right up into Forrest’s face.

 

The T-shirt man gives Forrest a yellow shirt and says, “Here, use this one. Nobody likes that color anyway.” Forrest wipes his face, returns the shirt, and graciously says, “Have a nice day.”

 

It was a simple and kindly way for Forrest to conclude what could have very easily been interpreted as an unpleasant experience – instead, he turned and said, “Have a nice day.”

 

The man stops running and examines the shirt. A muddy “Happy Face” is visible.

 

In a voice-over, Forrest says, And some years later, I found out that that man did come up with an idea for a T-shirt and he made a lot of money off of it.”

 

Movie fiction? Absolutely.

The power of being gracious? Not to be underestimated.

The possibility of new ideas arising from a single act of kindness? I’m a believer.

 

When you wish someone a nice day, there are no limits to how nice their day may become.

 

 

Next Blog Title: I’m Not a Smart Man … But I Know What Urgent Is

Next Blog Date:  September 26, 2011

 

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Is Your Meeting Agenda Like a Box of Chocolates?

Monday, September 19th, 2011

 

Has your meeting’s agenda been set and sent?

Has your meeting’s agenda been set and sent?

Have you noticed the proliferation of phone-in meetings or conference calls the past few years?

 

Today, I’m specifically concerned with the agenda, or lack thereof, for meetings held over the telephone.

 

I recently attended a scheduled monthly conference call for an association group of which I’m a member.

 

The leader did not distribute an agenda prior to the meeting, and in my mind it created two main problems. There was no road map to follow, and the group time was spent less than efficiently.

 

So, I’m taking a stand and saying every conference call or phone-in meeting must have a pre-distributed agenda. I want the agenda in advance just like I want to receive one for any face-to-face meeting I attend around a conference room table.

 

Without a meeting agenda, the conference call will be like a box of chocolates … the participants will not know what they’re gonna get. And the leader could end up with results resembling an empty box.

 

Here are the five reasons an agenda is absolutely necessary for conference calls.

 

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Stories of Gumption – My Siblings

Thursday, September 15th, 2011

 

stories-of-gumption
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

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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Stories of Gumption – My Father, the Family House, and Another New Chapter

Monday, September 12th, 2011

 

stories-of-gumption
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!

 

Historically, the elderly would stay in their homes until they died – at least the fortunate ones. Oftentimes, they were forced to leave the family house and live out their remaining days with either caring relatives or in a nursing home. This unpleasant relocation became necessary when they reached the stage of life where caring for themselves was simply no longer possible.

 

The family home of 58 years sold as Dad moves to retirement community

The family home of 58 years sold as Dad moves to retirement community

 

The old house was filled with 40, 50, 60, or even 70 years of memories, antiques, memorabilia, and lots and lots of junk. Wading through all of the stuff, giving mementos to family members, finding charities to benefit from still usable items, and filling a dumpster with everything else was a job left to the survivors. That process, while potentially therapeutic for the memories, was a task more necessary than fun.

 

Thank you, Dad!

 

Thank you for doing today what we won’t have to do tomorrow … or in five, ten, or in seventeen years, three months, and twenty-one days when you celebrate your 100th birthday. God willing, that is what we will do on your 100th birthday – celebrate all together!

 

This week, my father will complete the sale of the family house of fifty-eight years and move into a retirement community.

 

Today, I salute my father as a man who is still living his life with Gumption. At age eighty-two, he is making a bold move. Any time one starts a new chapter in life, it takes courage. Starting the closing chapters takes foresight and shows great compassion.

 

Thanks, Dad, for doing today what will make your next five, ten, or seventeen-plus years more comfortable for you, Amy, me, and my siblings. You are a man of Gumption. You are my hero.

 

Here are a few more of my personal thoughts about Dad, the family house, traditional elder care, and a new way for the elderly to care for themselves.

 

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Stories of Gumption – Gary’s World Trade Center Story

Friday, September 9th, 2011

 

stories-of-gumption
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.

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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What Do You Do When Your Dream Comes True?

Thursday, September 8th, 2011


Jenny's-Dream-Had-Come-True

Jenny’s dream was to be a folk singer … like Joan Baez

 

When Forrest sees Jenny playing the guitar and singing Bob Dylan’s Blowin’ In The Wind in the sleazy Memphis strip joint, he says tenderly in a voiceover, “Her dream had come true. She was a folk singer.”

 

So what happens next?

 

Jenny gets harassed by the guys in the front row, has a confrontation with Forrest on stage, ends up storming off the stage, flags down a passing truck, and asks the driver:

Jenny: “Can I have a ride?”

Driver: “Where you going?”

Jenny: “I don’t care.”

 

Doesn’t seem like much glory in that dream coming true for Jenny.

 

Here is my take on dreaming, having your dreams come true, and most importantly – living your dream.

 

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How To Be Another Kind of You

Monday, September 5th, 2011

Transforming from entertainer to speaker was Steve’s way of becoming another kind of you

Transforming from entertainer to speaker was Steve’s way of becoming another kind of you

 

In my last post, Jenny discussed her dream of being another kind of you. Forrest naively asked, “Aren’t I going to be me?” Jenny replied, “You’ll always be you, just another kind of you.”

 

Jenny wasn’t talking about an improved same-old-person. She wasn’t referring some new fancy clothes on the same-old-body. And she wasn’t talking about cosmetic changes like a new hair color or some make-up.

 

No, Jenny’s dream was about becoming someone with a new mindset and new outlook on living. A person willing to gets things done with moxie. A person resolved to take charge of her communications and interact graciously with others. Jenny was talking about a transformed you.

 

Here are six steps you can take to become another kind of you.

 

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Do You Ever Dream About Who You’re Going To Be?

Thursday, September 1st, 2011
Jenny-Dreams-Of-Being-A-Singer

Jenny describes her dream of playing the guitar and being a singer

 

There is a scene in the movie that takes place during Forrest’s college days. Forrest has taken a trip to Jenny’s college to pay her a visit. Jenny and her date drive into the parking lot in a classic Chevrolet Corvair. Forrest watches them park the car and start behaving romantically. Forrest senses trouble for Jenny when her date becomes aggressive with his romantic overtures. After a minor ruckus in the parking lot, Forrest offers Jenny the chocolate box. She scolds him for trying to protect her. Jenny recognizes Forrest’s naïveté and takes him indoors and out of the rain.

 

Once they get dried off in the dorm room, the now talkative Jenny asks, “Do you ever dream, Forrest, about who you’re going to be?”

      

The literal Forrest asks back, “Who I’m going to be? Aren’t I going to be me?”

 

Jenny continues, “You’ll always be you, just another kind of you. You know? I want to be famous. I want to be a singer like Joan Baez. I just want to be on an empty stage with my guitar, my voice. Just me. And I want to reach people on a personal level. I want to be able to say things, just one to one.”

 

Jenny’s dream captured the essence of what dreaming is all about – remaining who you are but transforming yourself into another kind of you.

 

That is what we call growth.

When we grow, we become open to new experiences.

With new experiences comes learning.

With learning comes maturity.

With maturity comes wisdom.

With wisdom comes the ability to live life to our dreams.
 

Do you ever dream about who you’re going to be?

 

 

Next Blog Title:   How to Be Another Kind Of You

Next Blog Date:   September 6, 2011

 

Steve Weber is a Forrest Gump tribute artist, speaker, event maker, blogger, and aspiring author. He uses the simple, yet powerful, truths of Forrest Gump to turn meetings into events. You can learn more at SpeakingGump.com.

 
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