by Jim Cathcart, Motivation Expert

Rollis Fontenot interviews Jim Cathcart on how to stay motivated, get fit, deal with adversity, and succeed in your career. This special series of interviews brings you an up close and personal insight into the minds and lives of exceptional achievers.

Motivation expert Jim Cathcart shares his personal philosophy of success and self motivation.

by Motivation Expert, Jim Cathcart

“Resume The Boom!”

The economy is in the doldrums because the people are depressed. Much like The Dark Ages when the prevailing mood was gloom and doom, we see very little optimism and hope today. The news is filled with discouraging information and reports that lead us to be more suspicious of each other and skeptical of everything we hear. Each day brings a new expose’ of some corrupt institution or a new regulation that carries with it a host of reporting requirements and restrictions on normal communication. But there is enormous opportunity behind this gloom.

What we need is a “Rennaissance,” a rebirth of the desire to grow and succeed.

When business is depressed it doesn’t go away, it just gets postponed. People still want a new car and many need one, but they’ve delayed their purchase due to economic fears. Couples still want to buy a new home or renovate the one they have but banking and mortgage regulations have caused them to delay.

But the need and desire to buy still exist. In many cases, the money is also available, but the commitments are inhibited by fears and uncertainty. It’s hard to exert initiative when you are confused. So what do we do?

Re-Start with a Dream

Every great advancement begins in the mind of one individual who decides to take action on his or her dreams. They see the goal in their mind or feel the desire in their heart and then they act upon it. That is what we need MUCH more of today: goals and desires.

Step One is to Define What You Want. Until you have a clear target you will not take bold action.

Here’s an exercise to break the inertia:

1. Start a journal page listing all the things that you care about; your family, friends, health, home, country, company, church, body, mind, relationships, skills, tools, toys, everything you can think of. Add to this list over the next week and make it as complete as you can. Get everything you care about onto that page.
2. Take time to review the listings in a leisurely way. Don’t “study” it, just review it. Let it drift before you…and then Notice What You Notice. In other words, reflect on what you are seeing and make notes about what matters most to you.
3. On a separate page start writing what you want. Don’t worry about sequence or priority just start listing what you want or would like to have or do. It could be as simple as a new lamp for the family room or as ambitious as being elected to the presidency of your industry association. Have no concern over whether you can achieve it, just write it down. Take your time and do this over a week or so. Come back to the list each day for a few minutes and add to it or refine it.
4. Once you have the Wants List you are ready to set some new goals. Review the wants and circle the ones that matter most to you. From this short list you will be able to draw some Next Step goals to truly go to work on. This process can be done for a company as well as an individual.

“Without Reflection there is no true learning.” Kevin Buck

It is time for the dreamer in you to emerge once again. Re-ignite the caring genes in you. Start talking about what’s possible. Get others engaged in conversations about how good it could be if we all started contributing toward the growth of our company, community, family or country. The big questions are:

What do you really want?  

What are you willing to do in order to achieve it?

How can you start working on it today? 

Be one of the initiators of the ReBooming of America! Resume the Boom!

I was born in 1946 and graduated high school in 1964. Those dates define “The Baby Boom”; 78 million people born during the 18 years after World War II. Our boom has driven a mega-market for everything from diapers to depends over the course of years.

Today 10,000 baby boomers are turning 65 every day. Read that again…yes, “every day!”

But unlike Mom & Dad and our own grandparents, we aren’t retiring and fading away. We are still active. Socially, financially, professionally, physically and intellectually…we are vitally still engaged in the world.

This presents an interesting opportunity for the rest of the world. How do we cope with and profit from meeting the needs of this huge group? The answer will vary depending upon your field of involvement.

Here are just a few of the emerging needs and wants.

• Learning to use Social Media to stay actively connected
• Special Interest Groups: every imaginable area from hiking clubs to NASCAR to culinary arts to photography, sailing and salsa dancing
• Fitness for Seniors who still desire to compete or advance
• Musical performances: still eager to Rock & Roll
• Discussion Groups: continuing their intellectual growth
• Political Involvement
• Community Leadership & Public Service
• Financial Security
• Leaving a Legacy
• Leisure Travel & Exploration
• Healthcare Services
• Seniors Communities and Services
• Making a Difference in the World

They are also still looking for opportunities to do more.

You might enjoy this brief video from my appearance before 1,500 professional speakers in Anaheim, CA recently. It adds a musical perspective to the message above.

by Motivation Expert, Jim Cathcart

Allan Karl, the world motorcycle tourer, joined me on a ride up the California Coast this week and took the following video. We had stopped for refreshments in Big Sur, California among the giant redwoods, and wouldn’t you know it, the store had some guitars for sale! I borrowed them and played a tune on each one. Here is one of the songs: Don’t Think Twice by Bob Dylan. I hope you enjoy it.

Cathcart Live In Big Sur from Allan Karl on Vimeo.

And here is my first “Music Video” also done by Allan, from some of the other songs I played that day, mixed with actual footage from our ride on the coast highway that day.

Jim Cathcart Performs Roadside In Big Sur! from Allan Karl on Vimeo.

Nola was the store keeper and she enjoyed the music too. Allan and I rode from Cambria to Castroville, then went separate ways. I continued on to Santa Rosa in the wine country of Northern California where I attended the Healdsburg Guitar Festival 2011, presented by Luthiers Mercantile International, Inc. at the Hyatt Vineyard Creek Inn in Santa Rosa.

I’ve uploaded 80 photos from the trip to my Facebook page. You’ll see hundreds of high-end guitars, an assembly of some of the world’s finest guitarists and every imaginable resource one would need if you were to build your own custom guitars. Some of the players included: Tony McManus • Al Petteway • Laurence Juber  • Vicki Genfan  • Teja Gerken • Kinloch Nelson • Stevie Coyle. 

While I was on this trip I had several fun experiences. In San Simeon (Hearst Castle area) I stayed at the Silver Surf Motel and asked the check in clerk, Benjamin, if the hotel by chance had a guitar on site. He said, “I have one in my car!” He brought it in and let me play it. I tuned it for him and then sat by the fountain in the courtyard and played and sang a dozen songs. People came out on their balconies to hear, and many who walked by slowed their pace to hear the music. Then a young couple stopped and he, Brian, opened a case and took out his ukelele! It turns out that he’s a skilled musician and he joined me for a spontaneous Jam Session of about 20 songs. It was magical. He started playing along even before we spoke. Music truly is the universal language.

In Santa Barbara before my main trip commenced, I stopped at the factory & HQ of Seymour Duncan Acoustic to conduct a sales training seminar for their team. Seymour is world famous as the designer of high quality pickups for guitars. He’s also a master guitarist. He told me that he had recently been playing with James Burton who backed up Elvis and many more.

I rode straight through San Francisco and twelve zillion cars & trucks, across the Golden Gate Bridge, through Marin County and on to Santa Rosa. Upon arrival in Santa Rosa I checked into my hotel, freshened up with a swim and went to the opening night guitar event at the Last Day Saloon. It was packed and fun! Be sure to try their Fish Tacos and the Great White beer.

The next day I personally inspected, strummed or played about $2,250,000 worth of guitars! Seriously, there were 118 luthiers in attendance each displaying around 5 of their best instruments which averaged in price around $5,000. Some cost over $20,000 and some “only” $2,400. You’ve got to attend this event at least once if you love guitars. I met the man who did the custom inlays on Martin Guitar Company’s 1,500,000th guitar, the DaVinci, Harvey Leach. I have a brief video of this guitar on my YouTube page.

After a full day of playing guitars and meeting makers I went to the Cellars of Sonoma wine bar nearby and met Robert, their guitarist who was singing in the corner as guests sampled the wines. He let me sit in for a few songs and I had a delightful time entertaining both those in the restaurant as well as those passing by on the sidewalk. Ahhhh, I love this!

The next day, Sunday, I rode through Sonoma, Napa and many vineyards, then down Hwy 680 to San Jose, and on south via farm road Hwy 25 to finally stop in Pismo Beach for the night. There’s a small simple looking hotel there called The Beachcomber Inn (7 rooms) that you must check out. Outside it looks like a simple motel, but the rooms are immaculate! Copper sinks, wood shutters, reading pillows, iPod radio, flat screen TV, microwave, coffee maker, every appointment you can imagine, covered parking and 1/2 block from the water. Grace is the manager and she’s a delight. Skip the big hotels with the same rooms as each other and stay in this boutique hotel next time.

After a great run on the beach this morning I rode home with one stop at Fess Parker’s Hotel (Davy Crockett) in Los Olivos, CA, the wine country featured in the movie Sideways. It is a wonderful life indeed. Thanks for letting me share my adventure with you. Now go make your own adventure plans. You deserve a special treat.

Yesterday I was interviewed by Phil Taylor for the Goal Achievers Network. Here’s the link,

I hope you enjoy it and get many good ideas as to how to keep yourself and others motivated.

by Motivation & Sales Expert, Jim Cathcart

Everyone needs time to reflect in order to learn what the best next steps can be.

“Without Reflection there is no true Learning.” Kevin Buck

Let’s cruise to Alaska together on May 21, 2011. I’m cruising on the world-class Crystal Symphony from San Francisco round-trip to Alaska departing May 21st and returning on June 2nd. We will be stopping in Victoria Island, BC on “Victoria Day” and then; Vancouver, Sitka, Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and more. I’m not booking the cruise, I’m taking it. I will be doing some work for the cruise line while I’m on board but mostly I’ll be traveling as a passenger.

That presents an opportunity. Why don’t you join me and use this once-in-a-lifetime vacation cruise as a time to rethink your business, reflect on your life and take a deep look at the choices you could make. Like me, over 8000 baby boomers are going to turn 65 every day between now and 2029. Most of us are NOT ready to “retire” in the sense that our parents used to do that. In fact, what many of us are doing is recommitting to our careers in a whole new way!

I’m not only now speaking around the world (last year included Macau, China; Bogota’, Colombia; Santiago, Chile; Warsaw, Poland; Whistler, Canada; and Barcelona, Spain) but I’m also playing Rock & Roll guitar and singing in night clubs and at conventions. My business has reactivated in new and exciting ways. I find that my clients are doing the same. What about you?

• Isn’t it time you took a careful, objective look at how your business and your life are working, so that you can make some mid-course corrections?
• What have you been waiting to think about, that might not allow you much longer to wait before you start feeling the effects of putting it off?
• Where is your real talent? Is that what you are using most and best?
• How productive and supportive are your primary relationships? Would a better application of Relationship Intelligence® be valuable to you?
• Would you like to restart your engines and get yourself “back in the game” more effectively?
• Wouldn’t it be great to have someone who you could “think aloud” with just to be sure you’re on the right track?
• If you invested a couple of weeks renewing yourself, your relationship with your partner, and your excitement about your life path, how quickly would that pay dividends in your business?
• If not now, when? If not Alaska, where? If not with me, with whom?
• Where will you get the motivation and clarity of thinking that truly taps your latent potential?

A Powerful and Valuable Time to Think…about what matters to you the most.

I’ll be leading onboard Parlor Discussions with the fascinating people who join me. We will explore ideas that will stretch your mind and touch your heart. You’ll be able to swap ideas with some truly substantial people. For years I’ve been hosting the “Sherwood Parlor Series” in Thousand Oaks, California and we’ve had: Authors, Psychologists, Astronauts, Musicians, Actors, Executives, and Educators from around the world as my featured guests. These insights and this level of dialogue is what you will experience in the Crystal Parlor Series with me.

You will be among a very few with whom I’ll spend up close discussion time at numerous points during the cruise. My focus will be on your needs and interests, and I’ll bring you many compelling ideas and insights. Before we sail I’ll send you a questionnaire to help you identify the topics and issues you’d most like to explore.

After the cruise I will remain on your advisory team for the rest of the year. If you have a question, need an outside opinion, want some reassurance, need a shoulder to lean on, or just want someone who’s really interested in you to listen, then I’m your guy. You will also be able to attend any online events I host during the remainder of the year at no additional fee. If I book two or twenty two webinars, skype conference calls, or the like, then you are welcome to attend as my “inner circle” guest.

It is Alaska! Memories for a lifetime. Imagine walking onto your balcony and seeing this!!!

Crystal Symphony is rated the #2 luxury cruise ship in the world next to its sister ship #1 Crystal Serenity. The folks who book these cruises are people you will really enjoy rubbing shoulders with. There will be a few days at sea so that you can enjoy the ship itself and participate in my programs and the world-class entertainment and education offered by Crystal itself. And there will be days where you can go ashore and explore this exotic and awe inspiring land.

If you’d like to join me and make this a life transforming experience for yourself (and your partner) then drop me a note today. I’m still refining the agenda and making sure that it is the best, most relaxing, and inspiring experience you could ever have. I’ll assure that your cruise experience takes the primary place and the times we spend together will become enhancements to what already will be a life-changing experience.

Check out the cruise schedule and pricing on the Crystal Symphony website, and if you are ready to book a cruise then let me know and I’ll plan to add my value to what Crystal can do for you. If you’d like to join this cruise and spend some quality time with me, call the cruise line today and pack your bags. My fee for this Inner Circle experience is only $1,000 and is separate from the cruise price. Bookings for the cruise will be handled by Crystal Cruises and are not part of the relationship with me or Cathcart Institute. I hope to see you on board.