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 Jim Cathcart, author of Relationship Selling
Not long ago my friend and colleague Gerhard Gschwandtner, publisher of Selling Power Magazine interviewed me for his publication. He asked me about my most memorable sales experience.
It didn’t take me long to think of it; the sale was to Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Company and I was being considered as the potential keynote speaker for their 100 Year Anniversary dealers convention.
Here is the story in video with a special surprise at the end of the video. I hope you enjoy it.
If you’d like to train your own sales team to think like this then please give me a call.
In the Spirit of Growth,
Jim Cathcart
800-222-4883
info@cathcart.com
by Motivation Expert, Jim Cathcart
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?
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:
“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?
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.
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.
by Jim Cathcart
There is a powerful rebirth going on in the Rock & Roll music community. Baby Boomers are picking up their guitars again. And I’m one of them.
Every generation is imprinted with the music of their era. Whatever you listened to most between ages 10 and 25 will forever be “your music.” As people start to change careers or entertain ‘retirement’ there is a corresponding urge to recapture the joy, optimism and hope of your youth. This often becomes “Grandpa is getting a tattoo and playing loud music”, at least metaphorically.
But it really is happening in some profound ways among the Baby Boomers. These 78 million who were born between 1946 and 1964 have always had powerful effects on society and today is no exception. I was born in 46 and graduated high school in 64. Think of those milestone years: 46 was the first year of peace after WWII and 64 was the year The Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show.
Today Cover Bands (groups pretending to be) are quite common and, in many cases, really good! There are a dozen Beatles groups touring, plus cover groups of: The Rolling Stones, The Eagles, The Monkees, The Rat Pack, and many more. This transcends genre. You’ll find Country, Folk, Rock, and Swing groups all active. Check the summer concert series at your community parks, local shopping malls, village theaters, colleges and resort venues. It’s really good entertainment and… most of the performers have grey hair, or none.
Much like the “Mid-Life Crisis” that these Boomers made famous when they were 35 to 45, this “Re-Boom” is no small deal. Ask yourself, how many people do you know whose parents are getting back into music or performance in some way? Mine sure never did, but then we Boomers did take a new path from the earlier generations.
Personally, in 1968-71 I was playing guitar and singing in night clubs and lounges in Little Rock, Arkansas and anywhere I traveled to as well. My initial dream goal was a career as a singer/guitarist. My role models were; Glenn Campbell, Elvis, John Denver and a few more. Then I discovered the field of Training & Development and spent a generation building my business there.
So today, in addition to traveling the world speaking to business audiences about Relationship Selling and Self-Leadership, I am also performing in clubs and at large events on a regular basis. In the past 24 months I’ve played and sang for 800 executives in Caracas, Venezuela; and for 200-300 in Bogota’, Colombia; Santiago, Chile; Macau, China; Vancouver, Canada; across the domestic USA and on a cruise ship in Barcelona, Spain and Juneau, Alaska.
The trips were primarily for speaking engagements but I was able to generate extra performances through a bit of advance planning. And MAN is it fun!!!! I’m having the time of my life and the audiences are singing along and sometimes even dancing in the aisles.
Meanwhile back at the ranch: I’m now the regular 1st Tuesday performer at a local night club and I often perform at local events and living room concerts for special groups. Last week I played for an event at Sherwood Country Club, one at the Westlake Village Inn, Bogie’s Lounge; and at a Music-at-the-Beach event in Ventura Harbor.
Where is your passion? What have you not practiced even though it used to give you great satisfaction? Maybe it’s time to stop procrastinating and pick it up again. Let the energy it brings serve to enrich your life. You don’t have to get as motivated as I have about it, but find some ways to devote a few hours a week to doing things you love. You’ll be more fun to be around and a lot happier inside. Call me if you want to set up a Jam Session. And please check out my music website. Jim Cathcart Sings
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