What’s Your Next Chapter?

If you haven’t had a chance to read the January 2011 issue of Oprah Magazine, you might want grab a copy off the newsstand. Buck up guys, buy a copy for your wife if you don’t want your buddies knowing you taking advice from one of the smartest entrepreneurs of our time.

I found the article interviewing Oprah fascinating. I can see why she is so successful in business. She launches her network this month and I’m betting it will be successful.

I love reading and learning about people who have already had incredible success and just keep on reinventing themselves. Oprah is staking her reputation on this new network launch and judging by what I’ve seen so far, it should give us a good indication where society is moving and where people are most challenged.
Topics she includes run from contests and getting organized, financial planning to the recreation of some well known celebrities. Tune in to find out who.Her master’s program is just what the doctor ordered if you’re looking for role models on creativity and innovation. Celebrity is a great way to connect with your audience and being human has always worked in the past. We expect our heroes to be great but we become inspired by their humanity. There are few business people who are more public with their challenges than Oprah. Many of my friends share all her trials and tribulations and relate to all her challenges. Her magic is that she is still growing and changing. People will give you support if you are out there taking risks. How can you share your experiences with others and connect in ways that you can only dream of?

What else can we learn from Oprah? We learn that she knows how to get great things out of her team, even when she makes unreasonable demands. People will do amazing things if you let them. Putting your butt on the line to create something that will wow people is a great lesson to learn for all of us.

I’ve taken on several new clients that are outside the technology market because they all share one common factor. They want to create something larger than themselves and if they are successful, they will change the world for millions of people. Now that excites me. I haven’t been this excited for a very long time. I’m going on six hours of sleep a night and I wake up ready to take on the world. We will be sharing these projects over the next several weeks.

Oprah proves if you’re not willing to put it on the line, you will be doomed to an existence of becoming average. Who sets out to be average? Not me, but what about you? Great ideas lift the spirit of not only the individuals leading the march but those who are blessed to help carry out the message. In 2011, I’ve made myself a promise to begin writing the next chapter in my life’s story. I hope you enjoy the ride as much as I do writing it.