Don't Wait

I waited too long to get to know Randy Pausch. I'd been forwarded links to his talk, The Last Lecture many times over the last 10 months or so, and watched the first few minutes before moving on. An hour and 16 minutes just seemed like a long time to focus.

I watched it Monday, in the wake of his death, as well as his presentation on Time Management, which is also a strong topic for a dying man to discuss.

Now, I never would have met Randy had I seen these earlier. I wouldn't have wanted to waste his time, for one thing. That's not the point. The point is, why did I wait? Hearing his lecture would have been useful 10 months ago.

Its amazing how many things we decide are more important than others. How many times did I spend 76 minutes watching a ballgame (on the internet, no less), or reading meaningless articles on Slate or Rotten Tomatoes? I decided Randy's lecture was too much to deal with - too hard to make time for - much like the unread books in the shelf by my desk.

Randy was not unique in the fact that he was dying, just in the fact that he had a better grasp of it. He could have died in a car accident 6 months ago, however, just like you or me. We are all dying, every day. What Randy says, among other things, and what I hope to remember, is that every day we are also living - if we so choose.

Dark Knight

The biggest movie of the year has started out with record setting box office numbers in its first day. In fact, it's midnight showing alone took in 18 million dollars.

Part of the appeal may be a choice made by its co-star, Heath Ledger, to overdose this winter. The interest in this film was already high, but with his James Dean-esque appeal, it has taken on a new glow.

No one, including him, I'm sure, would have made the choice he made knowing the consequences. Whether it was calculated, miscalculated, or in-the-moment - the choices Heath Ledger made have affected his legacy, the 2008 box-office, the Oscar race, and, hopefully, the conversations of parents with their teens.

It is the last of these, the conversations, that could truly represent the legacy of Ledger and even the Dark Knight, in the months to follow. Drugs are dangerous. Risky. Unpredictable. Success does not create invincibility. A posthumous Oscar brings no joy to the recipient.

Go ahead - go see the movie. Enjoy it for what it is - 2 1/2 hours of escapism. But don't let Ledger's choices go to waste. Have the conversation with your tween or teen. Don't wait until you experience your own dark night.

Broken Foot Smell

I broke my leg today.

I took a step down the hall, and it felt like I slipped on water. In truth, the lower part of my prosthetic separated from the upper part, causing it to buckle.

Luckily, I didn't fall, I wasn't crossing a busy road, I wasn't climbing a mountain, and I wasn't giving a speech!

And, luckily, in the back seat of my car was my older prosthetic, ready to substitute.

You never know what can go wrong in life. Sometimes you can plan ahead, sometimes you simply have to move forward. We can try to have a spare, but had I been out of town, I would have had to find different solutions. A wheelchair, crutches, crawling. Sitting there helpless would also be an option, but not terribly productive.

Plan for a spare, and consider your options. If something unthinkable happens, how will you handle it? Will you be left without a leg to stand on?

What is Intuition?

I just had an interview by phone with a young CEO for a company in St. George. They were looking for a contract sales trainer to travel the world part-time.

The call didn't go well. He decided in about 10 minutes I didn't have the 'intuitive abilities' to handle the position. Of course, he was completely wrong - as he didn't realize that it took me all of 10 seconds to realize I didn't want to work with this arrogant child.

What is intuition? A gut feeling? Or the quick assessment of information given?

What I heard immediately? Arrogance. Impatience. Self-entitlement. His tone of voice was aggressive and petulant. He wanted to make it clear he was boss.

Personally, I have no desire to work for someone else, unless it is a PERFECT situation. I knew immediately this was not it, and went into an interview mode designed to end the call quickly.

Midway through the call, he suggested I was too rigid in my approach to training. Hmmm - my clients don't seem to think so.

At the end of the call, he suggested I didn't have the intuitive powers to be successful with his company.

Ahh...he couldn't be further from the truth!

When your intuition hits, do you follow it, or ignore it hoping it will go away? I have found time after time, whether in business or personal relationships, that ignoring my gut feelings is a mistake.

It's easy to do though. We get blinded by money, power, lust, prestige - and we tell our intuition to go take a hike.

There's a reason intuition is called a gut feeling. It's the stomach trying to defend itself from a kick in the near future.

New Book Smell?

Went to Barnes & Noble the other day to pick up a copy of Bobby Fischer teaches chess, a partial inspiration for a speech I gave Saturday night. Found it, went to the register, and suddenly remembered I wanted another book - the One Minute Millionaire. I told the cashier if she could have someone get that for me quickly.

Her response? I can't leave here, I can't talk to anyone, but I could go back to the Customer Service desk (in the middle of the store) and they would gladly help. I told her if she helped me, it'd be an automatic extra sale. There was NO ONE behind me.

Her response? "Do you have a rewards card". I replied in the negative, and she asked if I wanted one.

My response? Why would I want one if she can't get me a darn book?

Sheesh - where is the world going?

America Overrules Idol Judges

So much for throwing the competition. If that was David Cooks goal, America strongly voiced their opinion by making him an overwhelming (12 million votes) winner of season 7's American Idol.

It will be interesting to hear his first album, and track his success vs. David Archuletta, and the previous Idol winners. Will David be able to put his own imprint on the tracks, or will it be another over-produced, milquetoast debut for the Idol winner?

David Cook Throws Idol?

The first part of the American Idol Finale last night was shocking. After wowing the judges and the rest of America the last 3 months, David Cook was - Mediocre.

He wasn't bad, but he wasn't himself. Meanwhile, David Archuletta was on top of his game, performing 'molten hot', as Randy Jackson would say.

I believe David Cook was throwing the competition. He was clearly not living up to his prior performances, was deferent to David A. in body language throughout the show, and made horrible song choices for the two he had some control over.

And why not? Some of the biggest winners of Idol have lost. Aiken & Daughtry most significantly. With David Cook often compared to rocker Chris Daughtry, many thought he would win because Daughtry did not. But Cook knows with victory comes responsibility. He's beholden to Idol, and their often poorly produced first albums. Haven't heard much from Jordin Sparks or Mr. Soul Patrol, have we? And if Ruben Studdard didn't perform on Idol, where else would he sing?

Cook's best chance is to go it alone, and keep greater creative control. At 26, he's far readier to go be an instant success than David A., who will greatly benefit from the guidance of the Idol Machine.

David Cook knows he's the American Idol. But he's willing to sacrifice the title for a tremendous career. By throwing the title, his New Foot Smell will be an amazing first album, and a sold out concert tour.

Could you do the same?