A lesson in self-grace this morning… I have been going nonstop for 4 days at the NSA – National Speakers Association Conference in Las Vegas. I have learned an incredible amount of great information. I have made great connections. I have actionable steps I can take. I am focused on my Power of Three, which had its solid creation birth at conferences like I am today. Check out this experience I had at Tony Robbins’ Unleash the Power Within a…
We spend a significant portion of our adult life surrounded by the people we work with and those we associate with through our professional pursuits. You most likely spend a lot of time with your coworkers, maybe even more time than with your own family and friends. These connections and the environment within which you work will directly impact the way you feel about yourself. From Proverbs we learn, “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a…
HI, I’M LES PATTERSON. I’m a storyteller and a poet, a leader, a connector, and a business owner. I’m a veteran. I’m a husband, father, and grandfather. Those are some of the important roles in my life. As for me… Well, I’m a person of greatness who strives to make a difference in life. I strive to live my Power of Three personal promises to 1) create a new story, 2) to get back up every time, no matter what,…
As I watch Old Glory majestically unfurl, my heart fills with great hope! No matter the strife, conflict, or war, Old Glory soars as a symbol of that which is most beautiful, most wonderful. She shines brightly, a beacon for those who search for light and hope as they navigate the storms of life, the challenges of their everyday journey. May our gratitude be eternal for those who stood to defend, and may we vow to never forget they who…
As we honor those heroes proved They who liberate from strife They who more than self Their country loved We honor also those heroes proved They who liberate from turmoil Our hearts and souls in strife They who loved us enough We honor those with pilgrim feet Who chart the path of freedom For those bound by repression Shackled by the vices of life We honor those who dare to dream Who see beyond their limitations They who create majestic…
As we approach Independence Day, I pause to honor the families of the “heroes proved,” they who sacrificed their all for the liberties and freedom we hold most dear. We call those families “Gold Star Families.” GOLD STAR FAMILIES These are the Gold Star families I am most closely connected with. Brett & Zell Allred, parents of Michael Allred Ron & Jody Wood, parents of Ronald Tanner Wood Colette Orchard, widow of Clyde Kramme Jennie Taylor, widow of Brent Taylor I…
Today’s story comes together in the final paragraph. That’s true for most stories, and perhaps I don’t need to tell you this. Great writers, of course, would never make such a plea; they simply captivate with their first lines. Such captivation happened when I reread Jason Wright’s book, “Recovering Charles.” “I can’t look up without seeing it.” I knew I was in for a wonderful journey with the very first line. I recall with vivid feelings the lazy summer afternoon…
I first met Mark two years ago not long after I joined the National Speakers Association (NSA). That’s when we took this picture. I was new in the professional speaker world and Mark was one of the icons. I connected next with Mark in the summer of 2020 while attending the NSA Influence conference. Technically, this was at a watch party of the virtual conference and we were gathered at Royal Creek Ranches, a beautiful and rustic retreat center in…
Squished between Memorial Day and Independence Day is Flag Day, an oft-overlooked holiday designed to remember all that our Flag stands for. For over 225 years, Old Glory has proudly flown through times of war and times of peace. On federal holidays Flags fly on white poles through many communities. When a member of the military or law enforcement is killed in the line of duty, Flags fill the yard and line the streets. In September of last year, 20,000…
Hey Everyone! This is Elisa. Remember the Family Circus cartoons when Little Billy would “take over” drawing the cartoon when the creator Bill Keane was on vacation? Today is kinda like that. It’s Les birthday, one of my favorite days of the year. It’s a day to celebrate the birth of a most extraordinary man, my sweet husband. I want to dedicate 2 songs to Les from the movie “The Greatest Showman”. When I saw this movie for the first time,…