The Fall of a Nation

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I know you’re probably pressed for time. Everyone seems to be in today’s chaotic environment. However, as we approach a very important election day, I would ask you to take just a moment out of your busy schedule to read the following article … absorb its true meaning and think about what must be done by all of us if we hope to survive the many challenges we’re currently facing. I think you might find the end of this article to be quite surprising … causing you to rethink our current way of life and start demanding those in Washington to represent you as you intended them to. You might even consider sending this piece on to others in hope of opening a few more eyes to the urgency of the situation.

The Fall of a Nation

I would like to tell you the story of a nation. This nation had its beginnings with a settlement of hardy farmers near the sea and so situated strategically to command a large trade area. From this settlement grew a great nation, and its influence would spread over a great part of the world.

Its people became skilled in crafts, engineering, and commerce until they were the most prosperous mankind had ever known. Its soldiers guarded the far corners of the earth.

Its currency dominated commerce.

Its technology was unequaled.

Its standard of living was the envy of the world.

As time went by, its people began to feel the corruptive influences of riches and much leisure. Old values were fading away, and people gave vent to their frustration in spectacular games and entertainment that was becoming increasingly crude.

Drunkenness and adultery became widespread.

Robberies and beatings were making the streets of its great capital unsafe.

The confusion of the times was being reflected in the high rate of suicides and mental disorders. The effects of all of this was becoming evident upon the national character. There was scandal and dissension within the government itself. Alien forces within were making it increasingly hard to unify the nation and one of its great leaders was assassinated.

As time goes on, we find other troubles besetting the nation. The farmers, the backbone of the state, are being ruined by war and an inflation which resists the government’s attempts to fix prices.

The nation has steadily been exporting its gold so that an adverse trade balance has mounted. The benefits of a great trading area are beginning to be offset by grinding taxation, and its currency is rapidly losing its value, posing a threat to the nation’s stability.

On top of all this, invasion at the far reaches of the domain, by Asian forces, less advanced but great in number, threaten our very way of life.

The empire was falling apart and the capital itself fell on a date documented in history as the end of civilization for centuries to come. And that date … the 4th of September, 476 A.D. The nation … the Roman Empire, which had its beginnings with the farmers of Laotia near the Mediterranean Sea.

It is all documented history. The growth of the nation … the giving away to corruption … the entertainment … the scandals … and the assassination of Julius Caesar.

Also the inflation, the adverse trade balance, and the government’s attempts to fix prices all happened. The invasion of savage Asiatic tribes known as “Huns” was led by Attila, who with other Barbaric tribes, eventually overran the empire and plunged the world into what is known today as “The Dark Ages.”

I will leave it to you to decide if history is repeating itself. The story I have just told you is of the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. Did you have another nation in mind? It’s something to think about, my friends!

About Harry K. Jones

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of professional speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2629 or fill out our contact form.

Cautiously Weigh Your Presidential Choices

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As a frustrated nation, we’ve managed to survive a seemingly never-ending number of brain-numbing political debates as both major parties searched for their Presidential candidates. That behind us, we’ve weathered both party conventions as well. As the world watches, we approach the November finale as more crucial debates dominate the media.

As candidates finesse their final messages to secure our votes, we face the difficult challenge of attempting to decipher truth from empty promise, honest intentions from talking points, and authenticity from prevarication.

Candidates have had years of preparation in conveying a message they feel we want and need to hear before offering our support and, more importantly, our vote of confidence. While I have yet to make that crucial decision myself, I encourage you to join me in doing the necessary homework and research in search of the wisdom necessary to make such a momentous decision—choosing the leader of the most powerful nation on earth. Our future hangs in the balance.

To underscore the importance of intense preparation for this consequential decision, consider the following scenario and the consequences of a poor choice.

It’s time to elect a world leader from three leading candidates, and your vote counts. You see three commercials on television, each prepared by very talented, but questionable, professional campaign agencies. Based on the promotional content, for whom do you vote?

Candidate A:
He associates with corrupt political bosses and consults with astrologists. He’s had two mistresses. He chain smokes and drinks 8 to10 martinis a day.

Candidate B:
He was kicked out of office twice, sleeps until noon most days, used opium in college and drinks a quart of brandy every evening before bed.

Candidate C:
He is a decorated war hero. He’s a vegetarian, doesn’t smoke, drinks an occasional beer and has never had an illicit affair.

Again, who gets your vote?

Candidate A is Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Candidate B is Winston Churchill.
Candidate C is Adolph Hitler.

Be careful. Do your homework. Research thoroughly. Then vote wisely and hope for the best.

About Harry K. Jones

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of professional speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2629 or fill out our contact form.

John C. Maxwell

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Pretty common name. Very uncommon man … for a number of very legitimate reasons. In my travels as a keynote speaker, seminar leader and consultant, I come across more of Maxwell’s books on the shelves of CEOs, managers, and supervisors than any other author I can think of. I’ve dedicated an entire shelf in my own library to Maxwell’s works and can’t imagine a collection that didn’t include at least a few of his classics.

John C. Maxwell is an American author, professional speaker, and internationally recognized leadership expert. Why uncommon? Let’s take a look.

  • He is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Business Week best-selling author, having written more than 50 books which have sold more than 16 million copies!
  • Those books have been translated into more than 50 languages.
  • Maxwell was one of only 25 authors and artists named to Amazon.com’s 10th Anniversary Hall of Fame.
  • Three of his books, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Developing the Leader Within You, and The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader have each sold over a million copies.
  • Every year he speaks to Fortune 500 companies, international government leaders, and organizations as diverse as the United States Military Academy at West Point and the National Football League.
  • Maxwell serves on the Board of Trustees at Indiana Wesleyan University and has a building named after him there, the Maxwell Business Center.
  • Maxwell is the founder of INJOY, Maximum Impact, ISS and EQUIP, an international leadership development organization working to help leaders. It is involved with leaders from more than 80 nations.
  • His organizations have trained more than 2 million leaders worldwide.

In 1985, Maxwell founded INJOY® in San Diego, California, with a mission to develop leaders of excellence and integrity. The company moved to its current location in the Atlanta area in 1997 and established Maximum Impact a few years later to extend that impact reach. Each business develops tens of thousands of leaders each year. This is done primarily through large events, corporate training programs across the United States and Canada, and through high-quality resources in the form of books, audio and DVD training kits, monthly mentoring subscriptions, and small group curriculum.

John C. Maxwell has also achieved the number 1 ranking on the international Leadership Gurus survey for two years in a row. The “Leadership Gurus 30” award identifies the top leadership professionals in the world by merit and public voting. Contenders are judged on their ability to develop and instil leadership in others. Those in the Top 30 Gurus are the “Cream of the Crop,” the world’s top 30 most influential leadership professionals. All not only apply their own leadership principles to achieve superior results in their organizations but develop and influence leaders and leadership throughout the globe.

The research came from e-mails sent to 22,000 business people, consultants, academics and MBAs around the world for nominations and an in-depth public opinion poll.  The criteria for judging the top 30 focused on: originality of ideas, practicality of ideas, presentation style, international outlook, impact of ideas, quality of publications and writings, dispersion of publications and writings, public opinion, and guru factor.

While all of this sounds quite impression, consider the list of competitors who placed below John C. Maxwell. Each is known worldwide for their achievements.

  • # 3 Tom Peters (In Search of Excellence, etc.)
  • # 4 Stephen Covey (Seven Habits, etc.)
  • # 5 Marcus Buckingham (First, Break All the Rules, etc. )
  • # 7 Ken Blanchard (One Minute Manager, Raving Fans, etc.)
  • # 8 Anthony Robbins (Unlimited Power, Awaken the Giant Within, etc.)
  • # 9 Jack Welch (Jack Welch and the G.E. Way, Winning, etc.)
  • #11 Jim Collins (Built to Last, Good to Great, etc.)
  • #14 Harvey Mackay (Swim with the Sharks, etc.)

As you can easily see, Maxwell topped a list of some pretty impressive company.

John C. Maxwell was born in Garden City, Michigan, in 1947. His father, Melvin Maxwell, was a minister in a local Wesleyan church. John followed his father into the ministry, completing a bachelor’s degree at Ohio Christian University in 1969, a Master of Divinity degree at Azusa Pacific University, and a Doctor of Ministry degree at Fuller Theological Seminary. Maxwell received five honorary doctorates of divinity (including ones from the California Graduate School of Theology and Liberty University).

For more than 25 years, Maxwell led churches in Indiana, Ohio, and California. In 1995 he left Skyline Wesleyan Church (near San Diego) to devote himself full-time to speaking and writing. Driven by his passion for leadership and joy of adding value to others, John C. Maxwell has spent decades researching and studying leadership and communicating his insights across the globe.





















About Harry K. Jones

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of professional speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2629 or fill out our contact form.

Empathetic Customer Service

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This is one of my favorite Generational Gems … one which should be passed on to anyone involved with the offer of service in any way.

Once there was a very unique gentleman by the name of Eddie Rickenbacker. He worked as a mechanic and laborer before becoming an American fighter ace in World War I as well as a Medal of Honor winner. He was also a race car driver and automotive designer, a government consultant in military matters, and a pioneer in air transportation.

After surviving the war, he started the Rickenbacker Motor Company to produce automobiles, but the venture flopped. Later, he tried to start Florida Airways, but that flopped too. As a result, he combined Eastern Air Transport with Florida Airways to form his most lasting and successful business endeavor—Eastern Airlines (1938 – 1991). His lifelong leadership of this major international transportation company left an indelible mark on the annals of air travel worldwide. Rickenbacker pushed Eastern into a period of extraordinary growth and innovation. For a time, Eastern was the most profitable airline in the post-war era.

Eastern Airline, one time official airline of Walt Disney World, was known for its exceptional customer service as a result of the insistence and leadership of Chairman Eddie. The following story, told by one of Eastern’s leadership staff members, explains why customer service was high on everyone’s priority list:

In the late 1940s, we were experiencing some major problems mishandling luggage. Rickenbacker tried everything to solve the problem but had little success. The entire leadership team attended a three-day leadership conference in Miami. As we arrived to check in at the hotel, we were informed that our luggage would be delivered to our rooms. We went directly into meetings, assembled for a late dinner, and finally retired to our rooms for the evening. We were shocked to discover our luggage had not arrived.

The next morning we all showed up at the morning session in the same clothes, unshaven, and very uncomfortable. Another day of constant training and strategy sessions, another late dinner, and we again retired to our room to find our luggage still had not yet arrived! Tempers flared, words were shared, and we spent a second very uncomfortable night.

Finally, at 3 a.m., the hotel staff banged on our doors to deliver our luggage. The next morning we arrived at our third day of meetings to be greeted by a stern-looking “Chairman Eddie” who said: “EMPATHY—the grandfather of all wisdom! Now you know how our customers feel!”

Within two weeks after returning home from that conference, we had solved the baggage problem and never again had to deal with it!

This entire country, especially the airline industry, would benefit from a few more great leaders like “Chairman Eddie”!

About Harry K. Jones

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of professional speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2629 or fill out our contact form.

E.T.D.T. Spells Success

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What comes to mind when you hear the name Sam Walton? No, I’m not talking about recent visuals like giant superstores, falling prices, or a smiley face. I’m talking about the Sam Walton of old … the traditional baseball hat and tie, the down-home wisdom, and that old pick-up truck he drove from store to store to support his employees and customers. Those were the good old days of hard work and basic principles.

Sam Walton and his family built an empire that today rules the retail industry worldwide and sees little or nothing that will stifle that growth and success in the near future.

However, that empire started with one store, a few dedicated employees and a man who knew how to inspire, teach and lead his employees. He established goals and knew what he had to do to reach them. He also knew how to convey those special talents to his staff and he did so regularly.

One of the first and most effective principles he established within the culture destined for growth and supremacy was very basic indeed. It was introduced to his employees as E.T.D.T. … an acronym created to remind everyone to “Eliminate The Dumb Things.”

A new employee—a bit unclear of the battle cry—once asked Sam what a “dumb” thing was. Sam’s answer was clear and precise: “A dumb thing is anything that impedes our progress, the progress of our customers or vendors.” He went on to explain “anything” might be a policy, procedure, rule, regulation, process, strategy, idea, tool, etc.

Sam went on to say: “If and when you see a dumb thing, bring it to our attention, explain how and why it’s impeding progress, and suggest a better way to do it.” That’s how he achieved critical employee involvement, received many more suggestions than any of his competitors, reached tremendous customer satisfaction levels, and grew to be larger, more productive and more profitable than his next ten competitors combined.

It’s interesting to note that leaders in every field of endeavor seem to encourage the respect and support of the “basics.” Tom Peters, famed author and consultant, says: “The older I get, the less boring the ‘basics’ become!” Maybe more of us should consider that revelation. It does have a successful track record.

Would your organization benefit by a greater focus on the concept of “E.T.D.T.”?

About Harry K. Jones

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of professional speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2629 or fill out our contact form.

“Paging Dr. Robot”

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We initiated this particular blog feature for the sole purpose of providing real-life examples of out-of-this-world creativity for those who struggle to find such illustrations on their own. I had no idea when we started that it would be so easy to find so many examples every day in every field of endeavor. The situations we’ve shared are far from futuristic predictions that may materialize some day in the world of TomorrowLand. They’re happening now and they’re happening here, there and everywhere.

To review the previous 20 examples we’ve shared … simply click on Out-of-the-Box Thinking in the column on the right titled Categories. If you have personal examples you’d like to share with us, please send them to us.

While today’s example is rather humorous, it might be a bit frightening for some. What’s really astounding is the fact that it’s taking place right now as you read this piece.

Visualize yourself lying in a hospital bed recuperating from yesterday’s surgery in Hackensack University Medical Center. A nurse drops in to tell you that your doctor will be in to see you in just a few minutes. That’s always good news because everyone wants an update on their progress. As promised, the door opens and in rolls your doctor. Yes, I said rolls. Before you can fully appreciate the message your eyes are sending to your brain, you hear your doctor’s voice greeting you from an image displayed on a flat-screen computer monitor mounted on top of the robot … yes, a robot standing at the foot of your bed. Your doctor’s face is looking you right in the eye from the computer screen connected to the Internet via broadband and a wireless network as his familiar and reassuring voice greets you warmly.

However, as you look closer you can’t help but notice that your doctor’s face is mounted on a 5 feet, 4 inch remote-controlled adult-sized robot on wheels weighing 215 lbs. On top of the computer monitor is a two-way video and 24-infrared sensors to navigate its travels. The screen rotates 340 degrees and pivots up and down creating personalized mechanical affectations. He views the patient and surroundings through a video camera located above the monitor, allowing live interactive communication. The robot’s body is covered by a physician’s smock complete with the traditional stethoscope. The more you look at it, the more it actually resembles your doctor … and verbally interacting with him, I mean it, seals the deal.

Your doctor is now able to dial up, connect, and see his patients whenever needed. Driving the robot into the room is more personal than a phone call from the doctor’s office. Dr. Rounder, as the robot is affectionately known by everyone in the hospital, also provides access to electronic patient files. The doctor can view vital signs, CT scans, blood tests and much of the technical data needed for patient care. Of course, when Dr. Rounder is visiting other patients, you continue to be monitored by the medical center’s Magnet award-winning nursing staff.

Sounds a bit far-fetched, wouldn’t you agree? This sophisticated mechanical physician is part of an initiative to improve the quality and efficiency of patient care. Physician-to-patient communication is now possible regardless of whether a physician is out of town or out of the country for that matter.

This unique robot is remarkably personal, providing virtual communication, and patients seem to be very comfortable with him, er, it. In essence, the Hackensack University Medical Center is providing extra coverage patients might not ordinarily get. As you watch Dr. Rounder humming through the halls, you get a sense he’s become a familiar face around the medical center as staff passing by quickly greet the doctor currently on the screen as though he’s really there—physically that is!

What’s next? Only the limits of your imagination, creativity and innovation can make that determination!

About Harry K. Jones

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of professional speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2629 or fill out our contact form.

Little-known Facts about Well-known Leaders – Paul Harvey

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As I look back over the many stages of my life, I find few constants compared to the many never-ending changes which have influenced me. One unusual, but very positive, constant has been a voice … a voice which influenced me to pursue a career in radio in my early years. A voice with idiosyncratic delivery, dramatic pauses, quirky intonations and a folksiness which offered a comfort zone to anyone who heard it. This voice was on the radio and belonged to a man by the name of Paul Harvey Aurandt, better known simply as Paul Harvey.

He’s an American radio commentator with an estimated audience of 22 million people a week—and yet when you hear his broadcast, you feel certain that he’s talking directly to you and you alone. That’s a rare talent indeed. However, Paul’s had lot of practice. He’s 90 years old, one of the oldest syndicated radio personalities in the U.S., and is among the very few remaining radio talents who are older than the medium itself.

Radio has always been part of Paul’s life. Born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he built radio receivers as a young boy. Noting this interest, a high school teacher suggested that he get a job at the local radio station, which he did. Although he started by just cleaning up around the KVOO studio, he later moved on to fill in on the air, reading commercials and news.

He continued his work at KVOO as he attended the University of Tulsa, first as a radio announcer and later as a program director. Radio was in his blood. His career took him to many radio stations in many cities, which is a requirement for success in this industry. He moved on to be a station manager, a newscaster, a director of special events at many stations and also worked as a roving reporter.

After serving in the military, Paul moved to Chicago in 1945 and returned to broadcasting for the local ABC affiliate. He soon became the most popular newscaster in the Windy City. His popular shows included “Jobs for G.I. Joe” and “The Rest of the Story Paul Harvey News and Comment.” He could be heard weekdays in the morning and noon and again on Saturdays. He shared news in such a way as everyone could understand it … and has been doing it ever since. For 20 years starting in the late 1960s, Paul’s televised, five-minute editorial was offered to local stations to follow their news or be shown separately.

In 1976, ABC Radio Networks premiered “The Rest of the Story” as a separate series which captured the imagination and curiosity of listeners as Paul dug into stories behind the world’s stories of famous events and people. This show was so well-received that it lead to a series of best-selling books. Harvey’s son, a concert pianist, created and produced the series. He remains the show’s only writer.

“Harvey’s News and Comment” is streamed on the World Wide Web twice a day. Paul Harvey News has been called the “largest one-man network in the world,” as it is carried on 1,200 radio stations, 400 Armed Forces Network stations around the world and 300 newspapers. His broadcasts and newspaper columns have been reprinted in the Congressional Record more than those of any other commentator. In late 2000, Harvey signed a 10-year, $100 million contract with ABC Radio Networks.

To give you an idea of how well he connected to his audience, consider the fact that loyal listeners have had an on-going relationship with Paul’s wife, lovingly referred to as “Angel.” She was recognized throughout the industry as “The First Lady of Radio,” as one of the great broadcasting figures of the past century, and the first producer ever inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame. Radio obviously runs in this family. Paul lost his beloved “Angel” earlier this year after a year-long battle with leukemia.

Paul is back on the air part time after taking some time off earlier this year to deal with pneumonia, bronchitis, cataract surgery and, of course, the death of his “Angel.” Harvey has returned to telling us “The Rest of the Story” on a full-time basis, but has cut back on his daily news duties. If you’d like more info as to his current schedule, go to paulharvey.com.

Paul is well-known for his simple, but memorable, catch phrases—often imitated but never duplicated. He begins one of his stories with: “Hello Americans, this is Paul Harvey. You know what the news is, in a minute, you’ll hear the rest of the story.” His sign-off is also short, simple, but one that sticks in your mind until you hear him again: “Paul Harvey … Good day.”

It would be interesting to peek into Paul’s home office to get a glance of the many honors he’s achieved in his illustrious career. He’s received 11 Freedom Foundation Awards, the Horatio Alger Award, and appeared on the Gallop Poll list of America’s most admired men. He’s been elected to the National Association of Broadcasters Radio Hall of Fame, and the DeMolay Hall of Fame (a Masonic institution). He’s also been named the Commentator of the Year, American of the Year, Father of the Year, Person of the Year and Salesman of the Year. He’s also the proud recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States’ most prestigious civilian award.

Paul’s best-selling books include:

  • Autumn of Liberty
  • The Rest of the Story
  • Our Lives, Our Fortunes, Our Sacred Honor
  • Paul Harvey’s the Rest of the Story
  • More of Paul Harvey’s the Rest of the Story
  • Destiny: From Paul Harvey’s the Rest of the Story
  • Paul Harvey’s for What It’s Worth

Let’s hope we have access to this unique commentary for years to come. At 90, Paul is obviously in the prime of his life. Good day!

About Harry K. Jones

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of professional speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2629 or fill out our contact form.

Communication as a Strategy

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In my role as a speaker/trainer/consultant, I’ve had the opportunity to work with a large number of organizations across all industries. Each has a tendency to think that it is genuinely unique in its pursuit of success. However, over the years, I have found it to be quite evident that where you find people, you find common threads. It’s the nature of the beast … regardless of the size of the organization.

Most companies divide their leadership into three groups.

  1. Upper Management—top leadership, decision and policy makers.
  2. Middle Management—those who act as a buffer between the other two while trying to execute strategies.
  3. First-line Supervision—those who act as an ambassador between leadership as a whole and the front-line staff who actually carries out the tasks.

If you could sit down with members from each group and discuss the challenges and short comings of the organization, I’m certain you would find a major common thread. In most cases, the group you are talking to will readily admit that any blame and/or faults which may exist can be found in the other two groups! It never fails. Here’s a sample of many of the comments I hear from each of the three groups … regardless of their age, size, industry, product, or service.

Upper Management

  • Supervisors and managers are not communicating effectively.
  • Supervisors are not providing leadership on management issues.
  • They are not confident they know the vision/goals/objectives of the corporation.

Middle Managers

  • They are not sure of corporate direction.
  • They are not sure they can trust information provided to them.
  • They are not sure what to communicate.
  • The tend to treat supervisors as just another worker.
  • They are working extremely hard—making little progress.

First-line Supervisors

  • They feel unempowered.
  • They are disenfranchised—not members of management.
  • They are not sure what is really expected.
  • They are not sure they can trust information provided to them.
  • They don’t trust upper management (two levels above).
  • They don’t feel they have answers for subordinates.

Having heard that kind of feedback, what conclusions might you come to?

The list could easily be a long one, but you would have to agree that the majority of the items on that list should be classified under the title of communication. However, in most cases, the organizations either don’t recognize the common denominator or fail to address it as a critical issue.

Tom Peters, famed author and consultant, says, “The older I get, the less boring the BASICS become!” Maybe the problem arises in the fact that good communication is no longer considered a basic.

About Harry K. Jones

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of professional speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2629 or fill out our contact form.

Paradise Found!

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Now here’s something you’re more than likely to see much more of in the future. It really makes sense under current economic conditions. Consider how many people would love to get away from the many headaches we’re facing today. And what better get-away destination than a tropical island resort? Of course, many people couldn’t afford a trip like that in good times much less than in what we’re facing today.

Fear not—this problem has been solved!

A tropical island resort has been created about 30 miles outside of Berlin in Germany! This location, climate and visual environment isn’t exactly what comes to mind when you think of a tropical island paradise.

However, step inside this gigantic dome, and you’re immediately transported to the destination you’ve been dreaming of.

  • The dome was originally built as an airplane hangar but has since been transformed into a tropical dream.
  • The artificial exotic island environment includes a rain forest, beaches, artificial sunlight, palm trees, and orchids.
  • The resort is kept at 77 degrees with 50% humidity year round.
  • The resort can comfortably hold up to 7,000 guests.
  • There are seven bars and restaurants and numerous spas.
  • Guests can camp on the artificial beaches overnight if they wish.
  • Admission to paradise is only $23!
  • When you put a tropical destination 30 miles outside of Berlin and allow people to come and go 365 days a year, you are looking at a huge cash cow.
  • Which, to my thinking, means you could place one of these gems in just about any major city in the nation and anticipate great success. It’s a win-win situation!

About Harry K. Jones

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of professional speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2629 or fill out our contact form.

Little-known Facts about Well-known Leaders – Robert A. Lutz

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Here’s another one of those unique leaders who falls into that peculiar category of “You’ve probably never heard of him but would have benefited greatly if you had!” Obviously, I just created that category, but I can think of a number of great leaders who would certainly qualify for inclusion. In fact, that’s one of the reasons why we established this particular column. We hope we can shed some light on many of these leaders who are definitely well-known and well-respected in their own circles and industries but relatively unknown by those outside of those areas.

I must admit that I would know little or nothing about Robert A. Lutz if not for my long-time relationship with Chrysler, Ford and General Motors as a trainer and consultant. It didn’t take me long to recognize the fact that he was highly respected by all three corporations and contributed greatly to each in many critical ways as well.

  • He’s not only a very talented man, but he falls into many other genres as well.
  • He’s a “Car Guy” through and through.
  • He’s a proud former Marine fighter pilot and still lives the values he learned in the Corps.
  • He’s the quintessential maverick who says what he believes rather than what he believes others want to hear.
  • He’s a high achiever and very successful businessman who didn’t graduate from high school until he was 22.
  • Born in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1932, he’s a vegetarian who relishes a good cigar.
  • He’s well-known as an avid collector of classic automobiles and military jets.
  • He’s a firm believer in the balance of common sense and free-wheeling creativity, and that’s certainly a rarity in today’s world.
  • He has held senior management positions in four of the world’s top car companies: Ford, General Motors, BMW, and Chrysler.
  • He has a tremendous sense of humor and upbeat look on life. For instance, he often shares his “Law of Life” which he borrowed from an old Rolling Stones song which suggests: “You Can’t Always Get What You Want—But If You Try Sometime, You Just Might Find, You Get What You Need.”

Let’s take a quick overview of an incredible career.

  • He was a U.S. Marine aviator from 1954 to 1959 (and remained in reserves until 1965).
  • He began his automotive career in September 1963 at GM, where he held a variety of senior positions in Europe until December 1971.
  • For the next three years, he served as executive vice president of sales at BMW in Munich and as a member of that company’s board of management. He’s credited in the development of the BMW 3-Series. He is one of few senior automotive executives with experience in both hemispheres and more than one major manufacturer.

Lutz joined the Ford Motor Company in 1974 where he held several senior executive positions until 1986 … Chairman of Ford of Europe, Executive Vice President of Ford International Operations, Vice President in charge of Ford Truck Operations and a member of Ford’s Board of Directors. At Ford he led the creation of the Ford Sierra, initiated development of the original Ford Explorer and spearheaded importation of models from Ford of Europe to the United States.

In 1986, Lutz moved to Chrysler Corporation as the executive initially primarily responsible for product development where he oversaw the development of the Dodge Viper, Plymouth Prowler and Chrysler LH platform automobiles; subsequently he became president and chief operating officer, and then vice chairman. In 1998, Lutz became the Chairman and CEO of Exide Technologies.

In September of 2001, Lutz returned to General Motors as Vice Chairman of Product Development. He then became an Interim President of GM Europe. Lutz has been Vice Chairman of Global Product Development of General Motors Corporation since March 2008 and serves as its Acting Chief Executive Officer of GM Europe.

Read his best-selling book GUTS, and you’ll get valuable insight into not only his rare sense of humor but also his unusual, but successful, approach to business in today’s ever-changing, chaotic and competitive environment. In this book he shares his Immutable Laws of Business. At first glance, you may think he’s way off base. After all, these laws go against everything we’ve ever been taught. However, read on to laugh, understand, and quickly agree with his philosophy.

LAW #1: The Customer Isn’t Always Right.
LAW #2: The Primary Purpose of Business Is Not to Make Money.
LAW #3: When Everybody Else Is Doing It, Don’t!
LAW #4: Too Much Quality Can Ruin You.
LAW #5: Financial Controls Are Bad!
LAW #6: Disruptive People Are an Asset.
LAW #7: Teamwork Isn’t Always Good.
LAW #8: When You Inherit a Really Big Rat’s Nest, Don’t Try to Lure Them out with Food. Use a Flamethrower.

Robert Lutz truly believes that every organization must cultivate a “split personality,” combining common sense with freewheeling creativity. It defines the leader’s role in maintaining a healthy balance between the two. And it argues that a dynamic tension between them is the prime attribute that enables top-performing companies to introduce new products and achieve record profits.

This is a leader you’ll definitely want to learn more about.

About Harry K. Jones

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of professional speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2629 or fill out our contact form.