Got Time For One More Leadership Example From jeff noel?

So in 1999, the Doc says, “With your Family  history of heart disease, you need to exercise and diet to lower your cholesterol out of the danger zone, okay? You don’t want to die of a heart attack like your grandfather or have debilitating strokes like your grandmother.”

Next day I ran to our neighbor’s mailbox. Did that each day for a week. Then 2 mailboxes a day for a week, then 3… Ten years later.

Here’s jeff noel in Lahti, Finland – 5,300 Masters athletes representing 80 countries at the 2009 Masters Track & Field World Championships.

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jungle jeff – The Wellness Fanatic?

Masters World Championships, Finland
Masters World Championships, Finland

jungle jeff is absolutely a wellness fanatic.  Most don’t realize this.  Why would they realize it?  Why should they?

I started with one push-up per day for a week and then each new week, add one more push-up per day.  After six weeks, that’s six push-ups per day.

Also started running one mailbox per day for a week and then each new week added another mailbox.  After six weeks, I was running past six mailboxes.  Then walked back.

Through continuous improvement techniques learned at work (fortune 100 company), managed my boredom, injuries, motivation and goals – and after a decade, guess what happened this past Summer?

From one push-up per day ten years ago, to representing the USA at the WMA Master’s Track & Field World Championships in Lahti, Finland.  Men’s 400 meters, 50 – 54 age group.

So, excellence can be attained in virtually anything, but you have to be willing to set an impossible goal, work incredibly hard and never give up.  Ya with me?

Walt Disney Had No MBA

Walt Disney didn’t have an MBA.  Neither did his older brother, Roy Disney. So?

So, maybe you don’t need an MBA to be successful.  Maybe you do. There are people in both camps – some insisting it’s mandatory, some it’s a complete waste of time and money.

Guess what?  I’m in the middle. I think you don’t need one and you do need one.  So that’s what I’ve set out to do.  Get one and not get one.

Confusing?  It won’t be.  As the days pass and we get nearer to the autumnal equinox, this paradox will become clear.

It’s a four year degree, which I began January 2008.  There are big life choices.  We all get to choose.

For example, ten years ago I chose to be healthier, so I started doing one push up each day.  The second week, two push ups each day. Third week, three a day, and so on.

Last month, I represented the United States in the Master’s Track & Field World Championships, in Lahti, Finland.

Disney Truly Makes Me A Better Person

Disney Truly Makes Me A Better Person.  Why?  How?

Because I understand completely how Disney operationalizes it’s culture.

“Culture is what people think and do, without thinking”.   — jeff noel

One of the easiest ways is to use traditions.  Our Country does.  All great Countries do.  So if it works for Countries and for Companies, why couldn’t it work for individuals?

Here’s a You Tube video describing the power of a simple “family tradition”:

Our son will always remember our Twistee Treat tradition. Always? Guarantee it. How?

Because of the repetition.  Why do we celebrate holidays year after year?  It gets ingrained into our being.  It’s who we are.

When that happens, people do things without even thinking. It was Monday, in Lahti, Finland.  I was there representing Team USA at the Masters Track & Field World Championships.

Even with all the distractions, I knew it was Monday and that meant Twistee Treat day.  Maybe this is so simple it’s flying right over your head.

Until I understood this phenomenon, I could not break through to greater success. Carpe diem, jungle jeff 🙂

Walt Disney Loved Pictures & Travel

Walt Disney Loved Pictures & Travel.  Who doesn’t?  Here are a few photos from this month’s travels to Finland & Chicago.

The Masters Track & Field World Championships in Lahti, Finland and the Western Hemisphere’s tallest building in Chicago: (note, you may click on photos to enlarge to read)


Thought representing the USA at World’s and stepping out on The Ledge, were impossible.

Disney has helped me realize the only limitations I have are those I impose upon myself.  In passing this on to our son, I am reminded, “To teach is to learn twice”.

Carpe diem, jungle jeff 🙂