Lunch With Tommy

Lunch with Tommy Spaulding -
What a treat we recently had when Tommy Spaulding flew all the way in from Denver JUST TO HAVE LUNCH WITH US! We get speakers/authors/entertainers in the office pretty regulary, but almost 100% of the time it is in conjunction with a concurrent reason to be in town like a local presentation or other business reason. Tommy, on the other hand, said he wanted to come out to Kansas City to meet with us face-to-face so we could truly know who he is and what he is all about.
If nothing else, Tommy showed who he is by doing just that! He said that it is important for people to understand his heart and intentions. I personally LOVE speakers/people who are authentic (but who doesn't love authentic people?)!

Tommy went through some challenges growing up such as having dyslexia and not having all the connections. My personal favorite thing he shared with us was that he grew up reading "How to Win Friends and Influence People," which was given to him by his dad. He utilized that book to work well with people, but he also felt the book could be used/seen as manipulative. He feels that if you use the books' secrets as tactics to get people to agree with you and like you then it's manipulative, but if you use it to enrich a relationship, then its a great thing. That's who he is, "The Relationship King!"

THE SHOWCASE SHOWDOWN

The Dallas Speakers Showcase was my very first experience with a Five Star showcase and I must say it was incredible. To see so many incredible keynote speakers, entertainers, and trainers in such a short time was so much fun. We got a chance to hang out the night before with all the speakers and really get a chance to know them. I had the pleasure of spending a great deal of time with Sam Richter, Steve Ford, Bruce Wilkinson & many more. It was an enjoyable evening watching the championship game of the College World Series with two Big Ten guys (Sam Richter (played football at The University of Minnesota & Steve Ford, whose father, former President Gerald Ford, was an All-American for Michigan and 1SEC guy (Bruce Wilkinson, who is from New Orleans and owns the only Jimmy Johns at LSU). It is interesting to learn about the speaking industry from the guys who impact lives and travel the miles to do it.

The next morning we got up and immediately jumped on the showcase start up. We saw speakers from National Championship Football player Aaron Adair who shared about the passion of life. We heard Sam Richter share some of the most insane secrets of how to use Google and find amazing things. I learned why me and the rest of GenY act the way we do and why my wife Tina (GenX) do what they do by the teachings of Karen McCullough when she spoke about her topic "Generations - There's Value in the Mix! The son of former President Ford, Steve Ford, shared some amazing stories about life in the White House. Dr. John Izzo shared one of the most touching stories about 2 boys from Canada who have set out to end bullying in schools and tied it back to his topic "Step UP-Change Your World!" I would be remissed if I didn't mentioned Christine Cashen & her topic "Stop Global Whining!" I love the idea of people stop whining and start winning! We also heard from Dr. Mark DeVolder who taught one simple lesson that had large impact called "GET ENGAGED!" He shared with us the % of people who are disengaged with work and it was striking, and his solution was to be engaged and only work with people who are "engaged" with their work. One of my favorites that day Jeff Civillico & his amazing juggling act was something to see. Jeff would juggle knives, put a ladder on his chin, and more all while involving the crowd so many ways. I think it was a truly fun day and hope you all can make it to the next one we hold. I know just how special of a job we all at Five Star have and appreciate the unique chance to meet so many unique people!

I know the days of having some almost 100 different people fly in for a Showcase event may be slowing to a close with add the added technology of YouTube, skype, and other tech. Not to mention how busy our personal/business lives have become! But we are human beings who crave human contact with each other and that makes a Showcase event something special. Its the late night hanging in the lobby of a hotel that you learn the parts of a speaker and what makes them do what they do. Its also a blast to get to travel with the best team with the best Speaking Bureau of Five Star Speakers & Trainers!