Muppets Perform Bohemian Rhapsody

Imagine the Muppets and Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. That has to excite you.

Scare Yourself to Inspire Yourself

It scares me just to watch this video of these teenagers rappelling down the side of this waterfall – and it looks incredibly exciting.

Wow!

Fail Fast, Fail Often, Fail Cheap

Be willing to make mistakes and learn from them. Look at failures as lessons that help you move forward. No particular mistake or failure should be the end of the process. The only decision that you might make that ends the process is the one to quit. Consider mistakes as a cost of growing. Claim your return on that investment by learning from each stumble.

Unfortunately the schools have taught us to avoid failure. The emphasis is on obtaining high marks instead of the learning process. Instead we need to seek success and be prepared to manage the failures.

We tend to learn more from our failures than our successes so if you want to learn faster – fail more often. If you haven’t failed in recent memory then it might mean that you are playing it too safe. For example, if no one ever complains that your price is too high, then it’s too low.

Fail cheap. Don’t bet the farm, because you could lose. Always consider the downside of every venture. Do what you can to diminish the pain.

Thanks to Jim Estill for this powerful advice. I’ve heard him say it often and every time it resonates with me.

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This is part of the Top 10 Tips to Make 2012 a More Productive and Profitable Year as originally broadcast on the radio show Business in Motion on 93.3 CFMU by your host, George Torok. To listen to the 30 minute radio show, visit the Business in Motion podcasts.

Stop trying to be perfect

It’s a waste of time and repeatedly frustrating because you will never achieve that goal. You will never be perfect. It’s not your fault. It’s just not possible. Instead strive to be better. Set a series of achievable steps. That will reward you with an ongoing stream of successes. They might only be small successes but even a small success is better than failure after failure.

Some say that Edison failed ten thousand times before he invented the light bulb. My guess is that he viewed each experiment a success because he eliminated another false possibility.

Success encourages your confidence. Small successes generate the desire to reach out again and be better.

Real life is not a report card. It’s not about getting A or 100 percent because those yardsticks are not measures of real success. That’s just school stuff.

Instead of chasing perfection, chase one small success after another. That’s more practical and rewarding.

I know many successful people but no one that’s perfect. Successful people get comfortable with imperfection. They focus on success.

Fear Should not be ignored

Fear is our most primal and powerful emotion. It is the emotion that is most responsible for our survival. For example, the fear of Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) kept the human race from destroying itself during the cold war between theUSAand theSoviet Union. Neither nation wanted to launch ICBMs against the other because of the fear of retaliation.

 

I’ve heard people, (usually young people) boost “Nothing scares me.”

 

That can sound like a proud boost. But it’s never true. Perhaps people say that because they don’t want others to know about their fears. That deception might help the individual reach a short term goal.

 

The truth is that we all have fears – and we have them for good reason. Acknowledge and recognize your fears. It’s part of you.

 

If that fear is stopping you from doing something that you want to do – then learn how to manage or mitigate that fear.

 

But always respect your fears. That makes you real.

Pain & Hope

Pain and hope might be two sides to the same coin. Both necessary parts of our life – like Ying and Yang.

Pain reminds us of yesterday. Hope draws us to tomorrow.

Pain reminds us of past struggles and failures. Hope paints a picture of future success and joy.

Pain can depress us. Hope can excite us.

Pain immobilizes. Hope activates.

We all have our share of pain dragging us down. When it does, flip the coin.

Wherever there is pain – there is always hope on the other side.

Flip the coin and enjoy the hope.

George Torok

Smile – it’s Contagious

Smiles beat frowns. Whose side are you on?

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight. - Phyllis Diller

The world always looks brighter from behind a smile. ~ Author Unknown

A smile is an inexpensive way to change your looks.  ~ Charles Gordy
A smile is the light in the window of your face that tells people you’re at home.  ~ Author Unknown

Everyone smiles in the same language.  ~ Author Unknown

I’ve never seen a smiling face that was not beautiful.  ~ Author Unknown

The shortest distance between two people is a smile.  ~ Author Unknown

Smile – George Torok

Motivational Speaker

Who are you?

How many times have you heard that question?

How did you respond? Did you state your name? Did you say that you are with the bride’s side of the family? Did you state that you knew the deceased in high school? Did you mumble that you are the child, spouse, parent, or cousin of some one else?

Did you respond with your title? President, manager, or janitor?

Did you respond with a description of your work? Are you a business owner, company executive, accountant, sales rep, mechanic, truck driver, factory worker, nurse, lawyer, clerk, cook, reporter, editor, real estate agent,

Who are you really?

How many times have you asked yourself that question?

Are you an individual or are you only defined in relationship to someone or something else?

We are Borg. That’s one way to answer. Perhaps it’s not about you, It’s about your community.

None of us are one thing. We are individuals living in a complex world. We have many sets of relationships.

Are we defined by relationships?

Are we defined by tribes?

Are we defined by roles?

Are we defined by current, past or future work?

Are we defined by our dreams and hopes?

Are we defined by our pain, mistakes and failures?

Are we defined by our beliefs, opinions and dreams?

Are we defined by our hopes, dreams and goals?

Are we defined by our joys?

Or are you Borg?

Come Back Off the Ledge

Perhaps you’ve seen the TV shows or movies where a police negotiator convinces a frantic person to “come back off the ledge” of a skyscraper. “Take my hand. Don’t jump. You have so much to live for.”

Now imagine that you are that negotiator striving to bring a depressed person back off the ledge.

What would you say to the person who justifies their planned suicide with:

“I can’t find a job. Nobody wants to hire me.”

“My wife left me. I thought we would be in love forever.”

‘I hate my parents. They don’t understand me.”

“I ran out of money. I can’t pay the bank.”

“Cancer. Why me? Why suffer any longer?”

“The love of my life died. I’m alone without him.”

“I’m a loser and nobody cares.”

“Everyone is against me.”

You have the opportunity to save this person and bring them back off the ledge. Say the wrong thing and watch them dive to their death.

What would you say?

I suggest that you think about these scenarios and plan your plea. Why? Because you might save a friend some day and you might save yourself.

Add your own “ledge crisis” to this list and search for the answer because maybe the jumper you need to reach is yourself.

Be ready to motivate yourself with the “come back off the ledge” speech.

George Torok

Canadian Motivational Speaker

Business Speaker

Perspective: Times Change

If you want to understand people – understand their perspective. One of those perspectives is time.

I remember when:

Everyone had a black dial telephone – and party lines

Sunday night TV was Walt Disney and The Ed Sullivan Show

We got our first colour TV

Listening to records on the new Hi Fi – 45s, 78s and LPs

We bought milk in glass jugs from the corner store – I broke one

Getting the strap at school – more times that I care to admit

Wondering where in the world Vietnam was – and why was it on TV every night?

Listening to air raid sirens and wondering if this was the end of the world

If you want to understand me and people like me then you might need to appreciate some of those things.

Give what you want, and you will get more

If you want more people to like you – like them.

If you want others to be nice to you – be nice to others.

If you want to receive more kindness – give it more often to others.

If you want to be respected by others – demonstrate your respect for others.

If you want more understanding – be more understanding.

If you want to feel more lucky – be more grateful.

Cooking Day

I’m lucky. I love to cook, but I don’t need to cook every day. My wife also likes to cook. She cooks more often than me. I enjoy her cooking.

So – I don’t need to cook. But I enjoy cooking and she enjoys my cooking.

I cook because I want to, not because I have to. Whenever I annouce that I will cook she allows me to do that.

Today I decided to cook because I wanted to. Cooking makes me feel good. It gains me a few points. And I get to have some fun in the kitchen.

George Torok

Ecstacy – Cold Wind in Your Face

I love to ski. So you can imagine my ecstasy over my first day of the season on the slopes. It was wonderful as I rediscovered my skiing skills which had been dormant for 10 months.

My friend and skiing buddy, Wayne, was equally excited about our first day of skiing.

However, while we rode a chairlift up the hill we felt the biting wind which was especially chilling on our faces.

My inner voice was thinking, “Damm that’s cold. Maybe we should quit early”. Apparently Wayne was thinking the same thing. That makes two voices screaming “quit”.

Sounds like an easy decision.

No, because another voice was saying, “You came here to ski. It’s too early to quit.”

What could we do?

We skied to another slope facing a different direction. It was less windy. We waited a few minutes at the bottom of the hill to warm up. Then we rode this chair up the hill. It was less windy and all of our voices were singing in harmony – “Let’s go skiing”.

We changed our position, took a brief break and encourage each other to continue skiing.

No challenge or pain is permanent. It might feel devastating at the time. Take a break.

Change your position, perspective or approach and the pain becomes history.

George Torok

Motivational Business Speaker

Canadian Motivational Speaker

I Love to Laugh: Mary Poppins Video

Laugh with Mary Poppins.
Laugh for no reason other than just to laugh.

Christmas can be depressing for some but…

It’s not about what you don’t have. Be thankful for what you have.

Music can be uplifting. Enjoy these music videos.

Run a Marathon

A friend is running his first marathon in less than two weeks. He asked me for my advice.  I’ve run two marathons (42 k) and five 30k races.

Below is what I said.

John Stanton (founder of the Running Room) says,

“The first third is easy, the second third is like a long training run and the
last third is why you get a medal.”

My addtional words were:

Don’t worry about your time – just keep moving.

See a strong image of you crossing the finish line in your mind.

If you trained well, your body is ready. The real test will be what goes on
in your mind.

If you are running a marathon soon I hope that these words help you.

George Torok

Motivational Business Speaker

Marathon Runner, George Torok

Superman a Bad Role Model

Don’t try to model yourself after Superman. He is super – and you are not. Superman was born powerful – and you were not. Superman is near perfect and you are probably not. Superman has only one weakness – one issue – Kryptonite. How many issues do you have?

Don’t try to be like Superman. It is an easy trap to fall into. It is a no win situation. You would never measure up. All he had to do was to arrive on earth as a baby through no effort on his own and instantly he was super.

Batman – a Better Role Model

Batman is a better role model. Why? Because, he is more realistic. Batman is human with human weaknesses, fears and faults. He has suffered the range of physical and emotional pains. At one point his back was broken by a powerful foe – and still he struggled to fight his way back as the protector of Gotham City.

Batman has no innate super powers. He is what he is because of his knowledge, dedication and training. Batman developed his skills.

Success
Both Superman and Batman are comic book heroes. However we can learn from them.

Our real life heroes are more like Batman than like Superman. Real heroes are the underdogs. Regardless of their circumstance they overcome obstacles through learning, persistence and creativity.

Success comes not from divine birth. It comes from vision, effort and skill development. Be prepared to deal with the odd joker who challenges your mission.

George Torok

Canadian Motivational Speaker

Canadian Business Speaker

Daniel Pink on Drive

What motivates people? Is it money? If so, in what circumstances does money motivate improved performance?

George Torok

Motivational Business Speaker

Interviews with business leaders

Confidence the root of success

I believe that we all battle with diminshed confidence from time to time. I know that I do.

These thoughts are for me as much as you.

Success does not preceed confidence. Self confidence is the seed of success.

Nothing that you buy or own can give you confidence. You grant yourself permission to be confident.

You have all the confidence that you need inside of you. You must give yourself permission to let it out.

To look & feel more confident, focus on your strengths. Your strengths define you more than your weaknessess.

Look confident and others believe you to be more successful.

To feel more confident – smile more.

Confidence means taking responsibilty for what you can do and accepting the randomness of what you don’t control.

Confidence is the ability to look good when you don’t feel good.

George Torok

Motivational Business Speaker

Canadian Motivational Speaker

Tag – you’re motivated

Tag – you’re it

Motivation is chasing you. Remember the old game of tag that you might have played as a child. One child was designated as “it” and the role of “it” was to chase and touch one of the other children. Once that child was tagged he became the new “it”.

Passing the role of “it” seemed to share the motivation of chasing. Motivation is very much like the game of chasing. Who was more motivated – the chaser or the chased? I think that the role of chasing was more motivating because that person always seemed to tag someone. The ones running away only had the motivation of escaping while “it” had the motivation of the chase.

When you want to motivate your team – play the role of “it”.

Tag – you’re it. You’re motivated.

George Torok

Canadian Motivational Speaker

Motivational Business Speaker

Scare Yourself

Do something that scares you – at least once a year.

If you want to grow scare yourself. It doesn’t need to be sky diving – although that would work.

What have you done recently that scared you? If you can’t think of anything you are not growing enough.

George Torok

Validate someone today

Watch this 15 minute video to learn the forgotten lesson on how to motivate others. I gurantee this video will make you smile. Watch it and put a smile on someone else’s face. Validate them.

 

George Torok

Canadian Motivational Speaker

3 Tips to Motivate Yourself

Three Tips to Motivate Yourself

Everyone needs to re-motivate themself from time to time. That’s normal. Here are three simple techniques that can help you feel more motivated.

1. Read or listen to motivational stories about others who have accomplished great things. These lessons are best taken from simple folks who struggled and achieved something great. They can be from any field – sports, business, politics, medicine, science, community service, etc..

2. Associate with people who are motivated and tend to motivate you. If that doesn’t describe anyone in your current circle of friends – find new friends fast.

3. Make it your job to motivate others. The satisfaction from motivating others can be a powerful self motivator. Just ask Mother Teresa.

 Find quotes from Mother Teresa here.

George Torok

Motivational Business Speaker

Canadian Motivational Speaker

Looking for motivated marathon runners

Greetings Canadian athletes,

Are you a passionate athlete who draws inspiration from Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope?

At CBC Television, we are presently creating a program which would illustrate in detail what Terry accomplished in 1980. The event will
reacquaint new and existing generations with Terry’s example of athleticism, determination and self-sacrifice.

A team of twelve runners will start the marathon in St. John’s, NFLD on April 12th. Each participant will attempt to run 3,339 miles in 143 days – matching Terry’s daily mileage – arriving in Thunder Bay, ON on Labour Day weekend. Our camera crews will document the journey from the first day of training through to the end of the run, providing viewers with updates on the participants and their fundraising efforts.

Our first episode, to air in April on CBC, will see the introduction of the participants and the stakes set for the run. Terry’s enduring and
building legacy will be highlighted. We are working in conjunction with the Terry Fox Foundation, who in the past have declined proposals where the intent is to symbolically or literally finish the Marathon of Hope. This concept does not infringe on that wish.

If you are interested in participating in, or supporting, this initiative — we want to hear from you. We welcome any questions at any
time along the way.

An ideal candidate would possess the following:

1) They have been inspired by Terry’s story and have a history of supporting Terry’s vision and principles
2) They have the ability and willingness to fundraise
3) They believe and offer evidence that they are capable of physically attempting the run
4) They are willing and able to put aside work/other commitments for 4 and a half months to document their personal journey.

Do you have what it takes to go the distance?

 

If you would like to participate as a runner in this historic event, please reply to marathonofhope2009@gmail.com , sending us your contact information and telling us why you are the ideal candidate for the show.

In addition, we ask that you please create a 3-5 minute video so we can see you in action. Your video should include: Your name, age, hometown and why you want to be a participant in the Marathon of Hope 2009.
Please upload your video to YouTube.

Need extra help uploading your video?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFyIT7rVZ0Q

Deadline for applications:
January 8, 2008

Please notify us immediately by sending the URL when you’ve uploaded
your video.

We look forward to hearing from you!

 

Michelle & Lara,

Marathon of Hope 2009

Motivate your job search

Motivate your job search: HAPPEN

HAPPEN is a non profit organization that helps job seekers find and land their next job.

I delivered a motivational and instructional presentation to HAPPEN group today. I speak to HAPPEN once or twice a year and I have been doing this for close to a decade. Why?

I consider this as part of my community service. I don’t get paid for this annual gig but I’m happy to do it. I am told and I believe that my practical and motivational message helps them.

I suffered the pain of job loss and frustration of job search early in my career in the downturn of the early eighties. That pain and frustration is a big part of my success today. I want to ease their pain – or at least tell them that the pain can be endured. As a marathon runner, I know about enduring both physical and mental pain.

Every person’s pain is individual. No one can claim to understand “your” pain. However they might have felt something similar.

As I spoke today, two very different people caught my attention – one a recent college male graduate and the other a well dressed 40-something woman.

Both took no notes. Both failed to engage with me when I looked directly at them. One conveyed a “I don’t need this crap” body posture and the other glared, ” leave me alone”.

I felt sad for both of them. They had an opportunity to learn and to be inspired – but they refused to partake. Perhaps they had not yet matured in their grieving process to be ready to grow. Perhaps they were still wallowing in “Why me?” I don’t know their pain. I only offered a way forward. It was up to them to accept or decline.

George Torok

Motivational Speaker

What about failure?

What about failure?

While speaking to a high school business class this week I was surprised by this question, “If you work all your life on something and still fail – was it worth it?”

I responded quickly to this question, “Yes.”

I did not clairify my answer at that time. I have since thought about the question and my answer.

I believe that if a person works on a direction all their life that they will be successful. They might not achieve 100% success. But they will be successful in moving towards that goal. For example, a person might work to cure cancer and never reach that during their lifetime. Was their life a success? Yes. Because of the movement they would have made in that direction. Some goals take more than one lifetime to achieve. And the success would never happen without someone dedicating their life to moving things forward.

George Torok

Motivational Speaker

Canadian Motivational Speaker

Motivation:It’s Cold outside

Motivation: It’s Cold outside

It was time for me to get up and go for a run. But it was cold in the room and warm in the bed.

I wasn’t motivated to get up because I was comfortable and getting up would disturb that comfort. So I laid in bed a bit longer. Enventually I got up and went for my run. The transition from warm comfortable bed to cold room and then even colder outside was still uncomfortable.

Once I was moving – it was easier to keep moving. I needed the motivation to move – to make the first moves. That was the hard part. We only need motivation to do things that are uncomfortable. Then we are surprized at how easy it is to keep moving.

I needed motivation to escape the warm bed and open the front door to the cold outside. Once I started those first steps little motivation was needed to keep me running.

We need motivation to change to make those transitions from comfortable to uncomfortable. The transition might only last seconds or minutes.

George Torok

Canadian Motivational Speaker

Motivational Olympic Games

Olympic Games

Motivational Olympic Games

 

I think it is impossible to watch the Olympic Games and not feel motivated. I always feel stirred by watching the events. It’s very different from watching a professional baseball, football or basketball game. I find it difficult to relate to a professional multimillionaire sports star. I find it much easier to relate to an amateur althelte competing on behalf of their country.

I watch professional sports for entertainment. I watch the Olympic Games for motivation – for hope.

There are enough different events that something will resonate with you. I enjoy the fluidity of gymnastics, the mano a mano of boxing, and the splash of swimming. ( I was a high school water polo player.)

The best athletes in the world are competing. They worked their butts off to qualify. They are bursting with pride to represent their country. Only one gets the gold in each event yet all who compete are winners. (That’s am important motivational lesson in itself.)

The Olympic Games takes place once every four years. If you want motivation – watch the Olympic Games – not all of it – that would simply make you a couch potato. Instead focus on the sports that interest you. Observe the efforts, skills and sportmanship of the contestants. Admire the best that you see in people. Ignore the scandals, politics and misunderstandings.

Consider the motivation required by each Olympic Athelete. Then re-examine the motivational challenges in your life to get you to the next step.

Remember – “Swifter, higher, stronger”

Go for the Gold.

George Torok

Motivational Business Speaker

Canadian Motivational Speaker

Motivating students to learn

Motivating students to learn

Teaching students can be both rewarding and frustrating. Tapping into their motivations is key to the learning process because it’s not what you teach that counts – it’s what they learn.

How do you motivate students?

Here’s a comprehensive article that offers 101 ideas for motivating students.

100+ Motivational Techniques to Take Learning to the Next Level

By Christina Laun

Read the full article here.

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A few excerpts that resonated with me:

Make sure students know what to expect. When students know exactly what is expected of them, it makes it easier for them to meet those goals and they may be more motivated to do so.

Don’t over teach. Just because you know a lot about a certain subject doesn’t mean that you should share all the information with your students. Telling them too much can overwhem and confuse them. Let students come to you if they are interested in learning more.

Tell a story. Many students respond better to narratives rather than facts that have been linked together. The human interest or story behind the events makes things more interesting and encourages students to pay attention to topics they might otherwise want to disregard.

Create an environment where students want to learn. If students feel intimidated or uncomfortable in the learning environment in your room, they are much less likely to participate, take chances or go out of their way to learn anything. Make every attempt to create a classroom where students feel they can learn.

George Torok

Motivational Insights: Change

Motivational Insights: Change

All growth comes from change. Not all change results in growth.

 

Revolution and evolution are both about change – one is like fire and the other rust. It is the same process – just at different speeds.

 

Whether your business is great or lousy today – this will change. Be prepared.

 

We love change – when it is someone else that needs to change.

 

You cannot change the universe but you can change yourself and some things around you.

 

If you are content the way you are – you will not change. Change requires strong enough dissatisfaction.

 

 

George Torok

 

Motivational Business Speaker

 

Canadian Motivational Speaker

 

Creative Facilitator