Professional keynote & seminar speaker using the wisdom & persona of Forrest Gump to inspire individuals and companies to self motivate and control own destiny.
Here is why 50/50 is overrated when it comes to your thinking, actions, and interactions with others.
When you function in a 50/50 mindset, you spend a lot of time keeping score.
When you function in a 50/50 mindset, you spend a lot of time holding back.
When you function in a 50/50 mindset, you spend a lot of time judging the motives of others.
Jenny asking Forrest if he was ever scared.
When Forrest was caring for the dying Jenny, Jenny suddenly asked Forrest, “Were you scared in Vietnam?”
Forrest immediately answers, “Yes.”
He then equivocates, “Well, I … I don’t know.”
It seems to me that we’re all scared at the instinctual level.
It doesn’t matter if the issue is relationships, the kids, your job, a new client, actively participating in your community, or simply picking up the phone and making a call that needs to be made. Our first instinct is typically one of fear.
According to a Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey published on Sunday, November 10, 2012, forty-five percent (45%) of Likely U.S. Voters feel that America’s best days are in the past, but nearly as many (43%) think they are in the future. Twelve percent (12%) are not sure.
Or put another way, roughly one-half of the U.S. population sees the glass half empty, while the other half sees the glass half full.
I don’t know what the historical averages in the U.S. are for optimism/pessimism, but as an optimist, I find these numbers disturbing.
Clearly, we are a divided country politically. Now I learn we’re a divided country attitudinally.
So what can you do?
When you Function with Gumption, you take personal responsibility for the way you think, act, and interact with others.
A person who regularly teaches others has a special obligation to Function with Gumption at all times.
I’m not just talking about just those who have the title Teacher.
I’m referring to anyone who teaches others.
I’m referring to almost everyone.
Parents.
Bosses.
Siblings.
Neighbors.
Co-workers.
Fellow students.
Mentors.
Colleagues.
We all teach each other regularly.
I believe if we all teach with a Gumption mindset, then the world will be a better place.
So, what mindset is healthy for person who regularly teaches others?
When you Function with Gumption, you take personal responsibility for the way you think, act, and interact with others.
Elementary school students who Function with Gumption are just beginning to learn how to be personally responsible.
They are just beginning to understand the concept of being responsible.
They are just beginning to learn how to behave in social situations.
They are just beginning to learn how to follow rules and instructions.
They are learning how to get along with adults (other than their parents).
They are learning how to get along with fellow students.
They are just starting to go from being completely dependent to understanding the concept of being independent.
So, what mindset is healthy for an elementary school student?
When you Function with Gumption, you take personal responsibility for the way you think, act, and interact with others.
Middle school students who Function with Gumption have a special responsibility.
They are right in the middle of the transition from doing what they’re told to do to starting the process of taking personal responsibility.
They are moving from learning to follow rules to understanding why there are rules.
They are moving from the shallow end of the childhood pool to the deep end of the pool.
So, what mindset is healthy to effectively propel a middle school student to the next chapter of his or her young life?
When you Function with Gumption, you take personal responsibility for the way you think, act, and interact with others.
High school students who Function with Gumption have a special responsibility.
They are right in the middle of the transition from being a child to becoming an adult.
They are moving from doing what they’re told to do to deciding what to do.
They are moving from learning to follow rules to making up their own rules.
They are standing on the springboard of childhood about to dive into the pool of adulthood.
So, what mindset is healthy to effectively launch a high school student to the next chapter of his or her life?
Fly Fishing on the Stillwater River
Last week when presenting in Central Montana, I took the opportunity to go fishing on the Stillwater River.
Montana is a fly-fishing mecca. Fly fishermen from around the world come to Montana to fish the state’s hundreds of rivers and streams.
Fly fishing is pretty simple. All you need is a fly rod, some basic equipment, and a simple assortment of flies. Most of the hardcore fly fishermen have lots of highly specialized equipment worth thousands of dollars.
Fly fishing is an industry. There are fly shops, guides, and lots of manufacturers of rods, reels, waders, etc. I’m guessing that the guides don’t get rich from guiding – they do it because it gives them the chance to do what they love to do on a daily basis. And how cool is that?
After my wolf-spotting weekend in Yellowstone Park, I pondered the following question. Do wolves have gumption or Gumption?
Does this gray wolf have gumption?
The answer is Yes and No to both.
Traditional gumption is defined as:
Gumption (capital G, italicized Gump) is defined as:
So wolves are mostly Yes on numbers 2 & 3 for both traditional gumption and Gumption.
But they are a No for number 1 on both accounts.
Let me explain.
The ‘Thinker’ is doing what he does – working hard at thinking.
The first principle of Gumption is mindset. Your mindset is how you think. When you Function with Gumption, you take 100% responsibility for your thinking.
Thinking is hard work.
Being responsible for your thinking is hard work.
Being in control of your thinking is hard work.
So … thinking is hard work.
Here’s why …
406.396.4611 | steve@speakinggump.com 
Forrest Gump is a fictitious character created in the book Forrest Gump, Winston Groom (1986) and the movie Forrest Gump, Paramount Pictures (1994). Steve Weber has been a Tribute Artist portraying Forrest Gump since 1996. Although Steve Weber has worked for the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. under license as Forrest Gump since 1996, nothing herein is intended to imply sponsorship or affiliation with either Paramount Pictures or Bubba Gump Shrimp Company.
