Do I have to?

Why can’t someone else do it?

I’ll get to it tomorrow.

Those are questions and comments that we’ve all made at one time or another. Even in childhood, there were repeated attempts on our part to pass the buck or a chore to a sibling.

Last week I had the distinct honor of attending Peter and Tamara Lowe’s “Get Motivated!” seminars in Fort Worth. Several thousand people gathered at the convention center to listen to world class speakers share their thoughts on succeeding in life.

Isn’t that what we all want, to succeed in life whatever field of work we’re engaged in?

I think it goes without being said that there is a God-given desire to do well at anything we do.

The gathering comes packaged as a “business seminar,” but government employees were discouraged from attending so they didn’t sanction an event deemed “too religious,” even though a former president and secretary of state were among the speakers. Go figure.

A cross section of speakers offered everything from tips on investing in the stock market to a brief but tactful invitation to accept Christ.

I’m guessing that’s the part Uncle Sam was offended by. I can only assume that if that had been offering the tenets of Islam it would have been acceptably diverse and politically correct.

But I digress. That soapbox came out of nowhere.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch ...

The inclement weather didn’t seem to dampen the crowd’s enthusiasm to be inspired at the feet of some of the nation’s leading motivational speakers.

If inspiration via passionate information was their goal, most of the speakers scored.

The late Benjamin Disraeli said it so well, “The most successful people in life are generally those who have the best information.”

The quick style of going from one speaker to the next after a 30-40 minute delivery filled with stories and enough one-liners to fill the Christmas stockings of a family of 12 kept the brain in information overload most of the day.

Motivation can be a tricky thing because it’s one thing to impart good information and quite another to move people to action with that information.

The legend of motivation himself, Zig Ziglar, said it so well over the years, “It’s your attitude, not just your aptitude that determines your ultimate altitude.”

Sitting there throughout the day, one was soon made aware that it wasn’t so much about the speaker as much as it was about how we, the listeners, processed the information and inspiration being delivered.

It all boils down to personal responsibility, doesn’t it?

Former Microsoft President Rick Belluzzo spoke about investing and success, which often involves change.

“Dramatic changes open the door for dramatic improvements,” he said. “I am convinced that the difference between success and failure in a function of how we respond to change.”

Of course, he’s well aware that the thing most of us fear is change.

We become comfortable in our little zone and as creatures of habit; it’s upsetting when our routine is interrupted.

Yet, as disruptive as change can be, more often than not it is the vehicle to greater success in our field of service.

New York’s former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, one of America’s heroes in the aftermath of Sept. 11, his courageous leadership helped to steady our fears.

“Obstacles appear in our path every day,” he said. “Opposition, uncharted territory ... we’re forced to choose. Each time we flex our determination, we prepare ourselves to stand strong in times of great adversity – even when our lives are on the line.”

After years of distinguished military service, having served as both the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under President Clinton and secretary of state for President George W. Bush, General Colin Powell has separated himself clearly as a strong leader among leaders.

“Over the years, I’ve observed many leaders from the battlefield to the boardroom and these commanding leaders share traits that you can use to win the respect of your team,” he said.

One of the most important aspects of leadership said Powell, was to “promote hope.”

President George W. Bush offered his first major public speech since leaving office and inspiring a sense of stability and cautioning us against big government.

A bit political you ask? Perhaps. But true to himself and his principles despite all the naysayers.

He has a firm belief that time will vindicate his firm belief in being aggressive in the fight against terror. I tend to concur with that.

He went on to encourage people to be true to themselves in their pursuit of success.

All in all, it was a good day. Like the thousands who attended, I walked away not only inspired to succeed at my vocation but to be a better person.

I got motivated!



Randy Sheridan of Burleson is a speaker, counselor and mediator. He can be reached at drsheridan@aol.com.