Alan Weiss’s Monday Morning Memo® – 10/07/2024
As you might suspect, I get letters. Monday Morning Memo generates more feedback than any of my other daily, weekly, or monthly newsletters, podcasts, blog posts, or videos.
And 99.9% is wonderful. Many people agree with me, often with a stressed “Amen!” and some disagree, but always with civility and good intent. I’ve been astutely and legitimately corrected on occasion.
However, after my points here on accountability recently, I received this email last Monday afternoon, while in Rome:
“My father (a boomer of course) keeps sending me your memos, why I can’t really say. I assume he finds something interesting or of use in them but I can’t imagine what that is. You, like the vast majority of your generation, are clearly bumbling idiots who have gotten rich by rejecting all forms of morality and any interest in the well-being of your children and the planet to indulge yourself. You have spent all the money, as well as a bunch of money my generation hasn’t even made yet, started an ever growing number of wars, the only unifying theme of which I can see is supporting fascist regimes such as those in Ukraine and Israel. You have nothing of value to say to anyone, I award you no points and may God have mercy on your soul.”
I’m withholding his name so as not to embarrass his father. I am including this note so that you might consider the fact that such sentiments emanate from someone who feels he has no control and no influence, and blames. others, including his father, for his helplessness.
My parents didn’t hand a perfect life or world to me, and we had no “grievance or entitlement industry” trying to protect us. We played the hand we were dealt. We took control. My parents were far from perfect, but they instilled values which included hard work, independence, and respect. So did our teachers.
We’re all aware of the business founded by an earlier, “hungry” generation, improved by the éclat of a more educated and invigorated second generation, and ruined by a spoiled and cynical third generation.
I’m not worried about this guy’s father, I’m worried about the possibility that this guy might have kids. Who’s going to run the business? Who’s going to run the country?
Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future. —John F. Kennedy
A man can fail many times, but he isn’t a failure until he begins to blame somebody else. —John Burroughs
All blame is a waste of time. No matter how much fault you find with another, and regardless of how much you blame him, it will not change you. The only thing blame does is to keep the focus off you when you are looking for reasons to explain your unhappiness or frustration. —Casey Stengel
If at first you don’t succeed, blame your parents. —Marcelene Cox
LAST CHANCE FOR TOMORROW: The Esteem Machine: Low self-esteem creates high stress levels, guilt, and fear, and “masks” natural talents. You can never succeed to the utmost of your abilities if you’re worried about being “found out” and constantly concerned about how to “wear a costume” pretending you’re someone else.
Join me for 90 minutes and I’ll help you design a program for yourself that you can implement and follow by yourself, daily, to create a far greater sense of confidence and certainty about your true value and worth.
I’ve been helping people do this for 25 years in both corporate and entrepreneurial settings. However, this is the first time I’ve codified it so that, once the process is mastered, you need no further coaching or external support.
In other words, I’ll help you gain the esteem to perpetually power your Esteem Machine.
Oct 8 via Zoom, 10:30 to noon US eastern, recording provided. $450
https://alanweiss.com/growth-e
BEGINS IN ONE WEEK: New Newsletter: Not Without Honor…. (Begins October 15) “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” —The Gospel of Mark, 6:4
Join me for a monthly newsletter that will explore, analyze and predict ramifications of issues and events in global societies. Each issue will focus on topics that will include politics, social mores, the arts, sports, technology, financial affairs, and other contemporary issues.
Develop the ability to discuss current issues with dexterity and insight and become an object of interest to others, whether clients, colleagues, or friends. The discussions will be brief and focus on several issues per edition. Letters and commentary from readers will be welcome.
For example, as we are undergoing the dynamics of morbidity outpacing fertility in most developed countries, there will be a profound labor shortage if actions are not taken rapidly. This includes such diverse political systems as China and the US. There are three key areas, that must be utilized to accommodate what is apparently a multi-generational problem. We’ll discuss what they are and analyze what must be done to successfully resolve the dilemma.
You get the idea. The first issue launches in October. The fee is $500 for the year of newsletters, including all back issues if you join during the year. . https://alanweiss.com/growth
NEW!! The Spontaneous Session: People laugh today when I tell them I’ve “prepared” for a Zoom or live session. They know my speeches are mainly riffs, and that I never change a word or phrase when I’m writing my books. (My all-time best-seller, Million Dollar Consulting, through six editions, has had exactly one paragraph changed by the publisher.)
What I want to do on Halloween is give you a treat by showing the tricks of my trade. I will actually demonstrate how you can be spontaneous and also highly impressive, controlled, and effective. You will walk out of the morning able to use spontaneity in business meetings, social and civic settings, in speeches and presentations, and in conflict. If you stay for the afternoon, you’ll be able to practice this with your colleagues and then with me. If you can do this with me, you can do it with anyone!
If anyone else is providing this kind of help, I don’t know about it. If you stay for the afternoon, I’m buying lunch. And at the end of the day we’ll vote as a group on the best extemporaneous performance of those remaining and I’ll provide a credit for your entire fee to use for any of my future programs.
Stop saying, “I wish I had said….” or, “Next time what I’ll do is….” You don’t have to risk $200,000+ (as I once did) and I guarantee you won’t be risking this tiny investment either in freeing yourself to be even more successful immediately.
October 31, 2024. Las Vegas, venue TBD 9 am to 4 pm (afternoon optional) Full day $1,250, Half day $950 Lunch included with full day. https://alanweiss.com/gro
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Million Dollar Consulting® for the World: GRADUATE: Another 12 modules with videos by me and your peers on contemporary issues such as Raising Fees Aggressively, How to Be Consistently Interviewed, Maximizing Happiness, and Managing Multiple projects. Join the people from 57 countries who are availing themselves of this inexpensive way to dramatically grow their businesses in any economic times. How does 100:1 ROI sound? https://milliondollarco
Want to join me for my Book Sprint? In 60 days complete a proposal for an agent or an acquisitions editor (or the outline and marketing plan for a self-published book). We have an 80%+ “hit rate” for obtaining book contracts, complete with my introductions. The schedule is flexible and I’ll create one around the first people to register. The fee is $4,500—we meet weekly by Zoom with assignments in between and a common Drop Box to review each other’s work. Write me at [email protected].
