A leader who creates magic is one to follow. A leader who empowers you to create your own magic is next level. A leader who empowers everyone to work together so we all achieve magic is truly a servant leader. This is the type of leader Cheryl Knowlton is. She will be stepping in as president of the Mountain West chapter of the National Speakers Association. We gathered in the beautiful Salt Lake Valley this past Saturday for our annual…
So you want to be a speaker… Or you want to be a more confident leader… Or you simply want to use your voice with more confidence… Then come see me speak on May 18th! I have been selected to be part of the Paid to Speak event for the Mountain West Chapter of the National Speaker Association in Salt Lake City. I’ll be sharing the stage with 17 other incredible speakers in this “TED Talk” like presentation. Each of…
It’s time to embrace ownership of your life. If you are looking for someone else to do it for you… It won’t happen. No more expecting someone else to solve your problems. Take charge. Be resourceful. Create opportunities. Owning your life starts by intentionally and consistently owning the story you create for your life. Intentionally and consistently creating a better story for yourself starts by creating better thoughts which lead to better actions, better insights, and better ideas. You live…
One year ago this week I asked a group of incredible people what they felt made them great. Today, I am following up to see how they feel about their greatness now. As I specifically invite each of them to evaluate how they feel today and share their response, I extend the same invitation to you. I have been greatly empowered on my journey of creating my story of greatness by those who share their journey. I hope in a…
A 4th grader set up a typical lemonade stand, sold a few cups of sugary joy, and saved a life. That life belonged to Todd Sylvester, a kid failing in college and struggling with addiction so severe he was ready to end his life. But then he found that lemonade stand. And a spontaneous decision to give all the money he had to that little 4th grade girl selling lemonade changed his life. And then saved it. Welcome to your unplanned,…
A Note From Les… If today you are rising from defeat, succeeding in failure, buffeting the storms of life, then this is the day you become the best version of yourself. This is the day you see your eternal worth, the day you step forward in courageous confidence, the day you change for the good. This is the day you love yourself with more grace, and love others with more understanding. This is the day you receive that grace, and…
It’s Monday morning, the start of a new week, a week for both you and me will be extremely busy. As you start out your week, I invite you to think about what it means to be busy. Lee Iacocca counseled us to keep busy. “In times of great stress or adversity, it’s always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive.” Henry David Thoreau took the opposite side of the spectrum and strongly…
I have often found myself, by choice or circumstance, in the arena, battling my fears, trembling in fear, defeated more by myself than the battle. Not anymore! I am in the arena. I know why I am there. I stand in more confidence. I rise when I’m struck down. I empower others to also rise. My inspiration for today’s thought comes via Aaron Kelson, a good friend from our college days, who shared his thoughts on Teddy Roosevelt’s passionate speech…
I joined for the connections and knowledge. I was quickly was embraced by the love and hope. And Wednesday I came home with a guitar. Yep, life doesn’t get much better. Or does it? Time for a story! DREAMING OF SPEAKING I have long enjoyed sharing stories, one-on-one, in front of a group, and on a stage. But that wasn’t always the case. While even as a youth I like to share stories and give talks in church, I didn’t…
My friends Jenna Riser and Emily Marlow have caused me to ponder again on my journey with body image. As I have contemplated I have poured my thoughts into creating. If I may share… First, a couple of stories, And then a gift of poetry. GYM INTIMIDATION I have often felt intimidated in the past when going to the gym because scrawny old me couldn’t lift like other men could. Lifting was unfamiliar, I really didn’t know what I should…