home

=3/23/2012 - Kirk Weisler is making his dent in the universe.= = = =Kirk is starting with a story of a recent talk....room is set. Michele comes early and in an empty room sits in the back but not only in the back but in a pocket in the room. Kirk goes to say hello....yeah if you don't come early you have to sit in the front row...if you went to your favorite rock gp what ticket would you buy..the front row. If its entertainment people want to be in the front. If its educaton our first inclination is the back....so the lesson for a leader is how d o we get followers to change their seats in life. How you inspire people to change is a key aspect of leadership.= =Another gp. Came in ...at youth kids...they came in and took front row chairs and made new back seats. Think about being and even choosing the right seat. How do I get my followers from the back seat to the front seat. Is the front really a better seat.= =Of the 30 people who came in the first group...of the 30 professional adults how many of them came with something to write with and write on for the 4 hours....2 showed up. Think of this...these are professionals ...and only 2 showed up with something to write with and on.= =I want you to consider this....there is something wrong here....our system is designed to get through not get from the class....= =4 hours I hope he doesn't suck or I expect this class to make a dent in my universe...how big is the difference and who makes the differecne.= =In HS...was the goal to get thought it or from it?= =In College...what are we?=

=Remember...review..or forget. 95% of things we lose in 24 hours. (It is interesting but when I (RAF) gives talks I can tell the serious and successful exex...they have notebooks...they take notes...they review the notes...they use the notes... This is the currency of my life. I am not going to be a victim...I am looking to learn...I am looking to grow...I will make sure that when something is profound said I will learn ..change and grow.= =Study skills is not abt passing college but excelling in life. What If I told you that where you sit you can increase your GPA by .5 pts...where is the magic chair?= =The magic T....the front and up the middle. If you sit there do better in college than if you sit other places= =I need every advantage I can get...as we all do...we need every advantage in life so listen to those who can give you the advantage.= =If one aspirin is good then 2 is better and 3 is getting the best (up to 4)...= =To get the best seats you have to get their early.= = = =BTW (at least 50% of you have no paper and no pens...OMG)- RAF= =If you sit in the magic T- Less distraction, eye contact, sense of connection, care more, more engaged, sense of obligation, less likely to fall asleep....= = = =Knowing the magic T are any of you considering changing your behavior in the future? Your inability to even consider and change in your behavior is quite important for your future.= = = =It is hard to argue against the power of focus. I have met few successful people who said that they have achieved what they have achieved because they were not focused. (It is interesting to note although not a surprise that many of you were not focused on learning or Mr. Weisler. As I sat in the back of the room typing away I had a unique vantage point to assess the texting, gaming, sleeping, "drinking", reading and other non-focused activity. I am certain that when you are going to be a speaker and a CEO you will expect and reward this behavior in your followers....you have to become the person you want others to be).= = = =Taking notes to pass the test or to excel in life? After college I was not in class so I did not have to take notes anymore. Art Coombs told me I have to read more books with less pictures and I want you to be the buyer of empty books. He was my boss and I bought an empty book. Come in with your leadership journal...HUH...remember the bread and milk...that was in there...Kirk...there is no much in there...you did't ask so I thought you knew...why didn't you ask why I wanted you to buy the book. When I hired you I told you that I hired you for what you did bring...your spirit...I will teach you abt this industry...If my stewardship is to be a great teacher and leader for you what is your responsibility..."to be a great learner." Ahhhhhhhhh "When the student is ready the teacher will appear"= = = =I want you to sit up right...lean forward...and look like you are ready to capture the great things......write down everything you feel impressed to write down. I began to learn how to look for the learning needed. I began to harvast great things from low hanging fruit that was around me each time. If you just want to get through nothng...if you want to get from life you will be overwhelmed by what is there for you to learn.= = = =We cannot not communicate. Everything we do we communicate who we are, what we are and what we are ready for.= = = =When you see someone engaged and sharp you want them for your team....you need to look like that.= =The bar is so low....look as good and attractive as you can because you cannot not communicate= = = =When you learn there is a better way to be are you ready to be that?= = = =Change your behavior not for the teacher but for you.= ==Taking away my cell phone is one of the greatest gifts you have given me. All my friends are missing the world because of their cell phones...when you told me that I did not see the distraction...now all my professors like me....now I see it...the magic T, the attention...they all notice the difference in me from the others. You are different from your group please tell me why. The bar is so low.== =There are so many people who are complaining and whining. I will always soo the sunshine. I will not complain and whine.= =I will get as much out of this and not whine and complain. The bar is so low.= =Ninja Tag--- Google it= =Insight changes eyesight...the smell of cookies and the meaning of home. Where do my kids want to be when they come home from school. Is it the cookies or more? The greeting they get from their mother lets them know they are the most important thing in the most important place. The whole neighborhood comes also. How do we become the home with the cookies that all our followers want to come too.=

=Four of my top 5 Leadership Movies= =Napoleon Dynamite---= =Ground Hog Day= =12 angry men= =Charlotte's Web-=

=The Diamond in the Movie Theater.... I am waiting on a line for concessions. This line sucks...how come we can do so much and still have slow lines in a movie theater. My expectations in a movie line...I hope I don't miss the trailers.=

=The girl that is waiting on my is Diamond (name tag) but her face said rough...the living dead...sleep walkers. There she was...I have never had a top customer experience in a movie line. Diamond are you excited about the new year. Well I imagine it cannot be worse than last year. Treat everyone you meet as if they were facing a personal crisis in life and you will be right about 50% of the time.= = = =How can we reach diamond and get her back in the world of the living. How do we as leaders get the spark back in her eyes. Your life will not and cannot get better until you do. No one is coming to rescue you. Stop waiting for that person to save you because it probably will not happen...start growing. Ownership..accountability.= = = =Great leaders teach. Teach to reach so that you can inspire...Teach...have something to offer.= =You cannot give people something you do not have= = = =You cannot give hope if you have no hope= =You cannot give motivation unless you have it= =You cannot give growth if you do not grow= = = =If you are too bright someone is going to dim your switch...we have all experienced that and it has affected us all.= = = =Life is designed to back over you. You do not get diamonds without heat and pressure.= = = =Patrick Lencioni- The 5 dysfunctions of the team?= =- anonymity- feel unknown and uncared for= =irrelevance- nothing we do matters= =immeasurement- no ability to see or understand the scoreboard= = = = = =Employee morale and motivation starts to decline in the first 6 months and continues until....(Harvard study)....leaders need heart so they can help their followers find their own.= = = =great leadership does not happen by accident- soccer goal commercial...the kid knew what to do. He needed a brother/sister to play and watch with him so he arranged for his parents to do the "deed."= = = = = =Fast Company- The Spartans Concord CA...they lost then they stopped losing...11 straight winning seasons. Google Fast Company soul sports machine.=

=Jared was always late- 15 minutes...team leader spoke to him...write him up...why are you late...verbal...strike 1. Picture of kid. Do you love him. Yeh..Would you give your life for him...Yeah. I would do it for my kids. You know why I am here. It is not about you being late to work it is about you being late for life. You said you would do anything for yuour family. Lets talk about how we lie our life. Make a list of companies who will pay you more money for being 15 minutes late. Jared we cannot reward your behavior...so you can't work here. You want to make more money yeah I am the top performer. But we cannot pay you for this behavior. You have a value error not a bad attitude. You think it doesn't matter but it does matter. If you come to work 15 minutes early and you get a raise wouldn't they like it. This is bigger than being late it is about your life.= = = =Life context coaching= = = =I challenge you to go home to wife and baby and tell her you will not come home with a raise because you made it 15 minutes early.= = = =If a team has no soul you are wasting your time= =He has institutionalized the process of building bonds and intimacies among his players= =He has built a culture about how we do it...the standard is high the bar is set= =Team building once a year is like going to the gym once a year...worthless= = = =it is ludicrous to think we can create a great team once a year...a daily process= = = =During off season they camp together= =They pray together= =They fill out a commitment card about how they expect to be better for each game= =After each practice a dinner in someones home= =They must speak the L word each week= = = = = =The 5 love languages - Chapman= =we each have a primary love language= = = =words of affirmation= =gifts- i know you i know what is important I was thinking of you so I got this for you= =time- this is how children speak love= =physical touch- the healing power of...the Art Coombs handshake= =acts of service-= = = = = =Tim Farris- experiments in lifestyle. The 4 hour work week= = = =QBQ= =The Big Moo www.sethgodin.com If I told you there is a cow in the parking lot you would not care. I I told you there was a purple cow you would want to see it. It takes 99% of your time and effort to be average. It takes 1% of your time and effort to be extraordinary. What is your big moo. How do you sign your life. How do you sign your work.= = = = = =What is your big MOO=

=The bar is low...you don't have to jump that high= = = =My hope is that you would never apply for a job you would get offers. You look like someone the world needs and wants.= = = =Story of Lori--Mayo Clinic- Jail House Cafe...they were lined up to get a cup of coffee from Lori. My host was excited to introduce me to Lori. Hey Scott how ya doing...the usual...Hey tall person whats your name...would you like some coffee....hot chocolate. See yah Kirk See ya Lori. She learns everyone's name and their coffee and will not forget it. How you pay..change of a five. At the mention of her name smiles..chatter...nudges...At the mention of her name their was a reaction.= = = =Heart Attacks- enough said= = = =Donut Dan- took a job in an accting firm. They hired Dan as project manager. These projects all have project owners but they do not get done. I will introduce you and we will transition so that there is no anger. The day before Dan started the President was going to be gone. He ordered 800 donuts 2 for everyone in the company. On the first day hot donuts for everyone...Hi I'm Dan. On his one year anniversary he spent his day doing donuts again.= = = =What is your big moo...what could it be. The magic is about these little things. What is remarkable is not that the person does it but how few other people do it.= = = =What you do impacts those around you.= = = =Do you and I spread from person to person.Are they better when you walk n or walk out of the room. What is it that you spread...= = = =what is your net infectiousness factor.= =What do you infect others with?= = = =Corporate vampires- people who suck joy and happiness out of others=

= = =The two ways of walking the the door= =The I'm here way= =The you are here way= = = =If I can make a difference than I want to walk through the door in the very best way I know how= = = =-life's door= = = =get your black belt in door walking now and it will set the stage for the rest of your life= = = =Low Medium High light bulbs- as a team or individual where are you most of the time ...low medium or high= = = =walk through the door with their lights blazing...they recharged the room with energy= = = = = =letting the best of who you are shine and show= = = =we dim it down because we are afraid of judgement and perception= = = =in 10000 insidious ways they will try to dim you down. It is a frightening reminder of what I gave up ears ago.= = = =The world needs you to have more he and light then you ever did before....= = = =Does it take more energy to be bright then it does to be dim= = = =Is it more fun to work with someone in a state of growth and development or stagnation and death= = = =flexible, fun motivated enthusiastic confident happier creative team players resilient positive persuasive influential open to change energetic pleasant= = = =58% of ADULTS HAVE NEVER READ ANOTHER BOOK SINCE HIGH SCHOOL= = = =not a human being a human becoming= = = =How tall will the tree grow...as tall as it possibly can= = = =Given the dignity of choice we are the only ones who choose not to grow=

=My goal is to read a new book every 30 days= = = =Our world is awash in sarcasm cynicism and innuendo....if it doesn't lift, inspire, give hope don't do it. It is not attractive.if it does lift inspire or bless someones life don't do it. Knowing this you can choose to do something about it.= = = =Everyday imagine a bucket by your bed...all the words you will be able to use during the day. ts all free. I learned I must choose the very best words when I speak to others and speak to my self. If all the words were free why wouldn't you choose the very best words...that lift, inspire, grown bless others. Why would you choose those words.= = = =words are free= =The cost of using the wrong word is significant- promotion, love, relationships= = = =Your life follows your language=

=As I was walking away from Diamond I heard her repeat the words I gave her....My year will get better as I do...I asked Diamond= =why she was repeating them...she said Because it sounds much better.= = = =If you see a spider crawling on a fellow peer, be a friend and remove the spider. You know you want them to do the same for you.= = = = =

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

= = = = = = = = = = = =

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =**2/8/2011**=

__**Kirk Weisler [|www.kirkweisler.com] 5 hr workshop for csr 309 notes and comments**__

I don't want you to suck. Kirk is on a mission to lift people to levels that they did not think possible. According to Kirk we have accepted "suck" as our normal level. The good news is that this sets the bar low.

There are very few Simon Cowells who will be honest with you BECAUSE they love you. J Welch calls this False kindness. Would you rather know where you really stand or be led on until the big fall.

Public education can dim you down. Getting through classes instead of getting from classes is the norm. If you are not careful this will be the way you get through life. If you really had a choice would you be a bright beacon of light or a dim bulb.

Here is a story about Kirk's recent visit to a company....The CEO says to him "I want my people to be excited about life again." The last 4 years they have had no professional development no training. Average age of these people is 40...imagine your boss has forced you to go into traIning. Of the 30 professional adults how many show up with stuff to write on...only 2 people show up with pen and paper. They know how to get through a training not how to get anything out of it. They will get exactly what thy expect. They will forget 99.99% of what is said and they won't write it down. Sleep walking through life. As Kirk was telling this stiory how many of you opened a book...how many of you took notes. I have already gotten 5 good things from him in the first 5 minutes of this presentation. He could not have hit this harder....yet as I looked around most of you simply did not take a note..nothing. At the least you should have made him feel good by looking like you are taking notes. Have some respect for yourself and give yourself something to learn. IT IS NOT going to be on the test but its YOUR LIFE. I am depressed by all this.

One girl came in 15 minutes early and sat as far back as she could...why..."you have to come early or you have to sit in the front" She came early so she could get a good seat in the back. It certainly happened in the workshop. Tha back 15 rows filled and when new people came in they did not know what to do even though the front 15 rows were absolutely empty...unbelievable.

If you are not careful you will do the dumb stuff in life. If it is entertainment we want the front row...(unless you have skybox seats*). if it is education we sit in the back. How sad!

I can tell you one thing right now that will increase your grade a half to a full point just by knowing where to sit...nothing to do wth studying. Where is the magic chair? The Magic T....the first few rows and up the middle. If you sit in the magic T your grades will improve just by sitting there.

Knowing this you have a choice....what will you do about it. How much do I have invested in sitting in the back....The next class guess what people will be sitting in the nexus of the T...I would have to get there early to sit in the T. What is it about the T? - less distraction, self-selecction...if I am paying I will sit there, you have to pay attention, this is where the instructor looks and since they have a connection they might give me the benefit of the doubt. You have to get there early and the other brainiacs get there and sit by me...and then you do what they do.

You invalidate your teaching as a leader by doing what you should not do just once. This is a very important principle of leadership. Followers are watching...all the time...you need to live in harmony with your beliefs. They will not respect you, they will not follow you. Be true with what you believe or be false and not be inspiring.

Men don't understand how unattractive sacasm is to woman. You want a successful happy life give up sarcasm. It limits and damns relationships in ways that men do not understand.

Sarcasm also dims relationships at work. Dims teams. Interesting reaction from some of you to this. Kirk felt bad about how he handled the first challenge to this. He actually kept on thinking about this becuase it was not handled in the manner that he beliefves he represents.

Styory about Rebecca....Why are you making cookies everyday and she would answer because I want to. Kirk did not get it. I was critical of Rebecca making cookies everyday. When Rebecca was little the cookie represented the feeling of family....the family she did not have so she vowed that Someday she will be a MOM and I will be "this" kind of Mom. Kirk now sees the power of this becuase he has kids who want to be home..bursting with goodness and chocolate chip cookies. She greets them better than a dog treats people...effusive loving feeling. There is a moral here about how to treat people and relationships. Romance them better than they have been romanced before and they will feel it.

Creating a leadership journal. Where are you going to capture your learning. I want you to sit down and open your journal...put your pen on the top of the page like you will get the most important wisdom of all time. Write down what you feel impressed to write down. You don't need the minutes. You write what is actionable to you. Expectations beget your reality. If you approach classes and life as learning opporutnities and always get 5 things out of it you will.

Sitting in the chair and your posture communicates your attitude. Most people are shut down to learning..they are shut down to potential...they are shut down to opportunity. We see it in the way you sit. Your behavior and your attitude infouence how you see things and how others see you.

You cannot not communicate. Every we do says something important about our essence.

Enthusiasm has ot be something we start now...not tomorrow. We have to get good at it by practicing learning. The difference between people who are willing to learn and wanting to learn is enormous.

The most important books may be the leadership journals you write. Imagine if your great grandparents had kept a Leadership journal and now you have it to read.

There is a correlation between pay scale, influence scale and learning scale.

People will continue to dim you down...take away your excitment.

Here is the typical company scene...You have Great ideas ...you will learn what we all know..he never uses the ideas...welcome to the team.

There are 10k versions of dimming.

Apathetic sounds like pathetic.

All these things Kirk is talking about....they are so easy to do they are therefore easy not to do - I will start it tomorrow. NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU.

you can be depressed..dejected...discouraged ....dispondent or you can be determined. Choose.

We have good people..have the talent and skills but they are burnt out...they need a shot in the arm and need to have hope again. And this is what you can offer. Be the light that makes them bright again.

The story of Diamond...works in the cinema in Fayetteville GA. The female version of Napolean Dynamite. A living dead...a sleepwalker. If you call someone by their name they light up. Diamond is that your real name? Diamond are you excited about the new year? Can't be worse than last year was her response. Can anyone reach Diamond

Most jobs are do this do that clean up don't complain.

How do you reenegage the Diamonds of the world.

Some of you are this person. I haven't felt excitement in some time.

Gallop- a whopping 17% of workers are actively disengaged. Not just unhappy but sabotaging. 54% not engaged..checked out not putting anything in it. Not working against us but not working for the vision doing the minimum going through the motions.

29% working with a passion. Easy to spot...they feel a profound sense of connection with the company.

71% are in cruise control and active sabotage. Here is the opportunity. Imagine going into an interview and citing these statistics and then saying that you are the person that can reengage them on the frontlines.

It's posble to never apply for a job and get a job offer. There are people who hire you becuase they see you when they walk into your comany and see how bright and engaged you are.

Getting a philosophy and outlook that will get you a job and a raise in life.

Story of Jarod at the car wash...3-5 job offers a month...Jarod says the mangers are cool and he gets a great feeling when he transforms a car for someone.

You cannot train sunshine. You can train stuff but radiating the spirit is a choice that cannot be trained.

Let your best self show at all times. We are always applying for a job..all the time. We pretend how we are at all times doesn't matter but it does.

This is pretty amazing. Kirk could not have hit it harder about leadership journals and notes yet 70% of you still do not have a piece of paper out. What is it about what he said that you did not understand. Have we beated the bright out of you already. What is it that you don't get. What is it that you cannot engage with. If Kirk was going to hire 10 people at 100k would he hire the person who was taking notes or not. PRETEND...PRETEND...PRETEND...what does it cost you?

Suck up...send your thanks up the chain of command so high that even though they don't know you they will. Gratitude begets so much

Ground Hog Day is one of the great movies of all time. It is so simple and Bill Murray is so good that people who saw the movie dismiss it. But it is a great leadership movie. The movie is about a weather guy who is full of himself yet jaded. he believes that he should be on the network and not a local station. he goes to cover the ground hog and gets stuck in a never ending loop of the same day over and over. As he seeks to serve his own self interest (he wants to get rich and sleep with the cute girl). He does not get better and becomes miserable...so miserable infact he becomes dispondent that he wants to killl himself. Pivotal scene...homeless guy he ignores...all of a sudden old man falls over and is dead. Next day finds the old man nurses him from the beginng and the guy dies anyway. No matter what he does the guy dies.Places himself all around the community where he can do the most good. His work is becoming better...passion and meaning...helping others...being nice...serving others. The people who dispised him are liking him. Service becomes more important than slfl interest. QWhen he has come to be his best self his life now moves on.

The difference between miserability and remarkabilitiy

5 ways to be miserable []

The big moo by Seth Godin [] ...remarkability. Not a cow but a purple cow. The bike shop...Clean the chain...would you notice it if it had been done...would you care..are you kidding we would notice and we do care. We would travel to get that done. This is the power of the big moo. he astonishing thing is not how difficult it is to have a big moo but how easy it is. It takes 99% of the time to be avg... It takes 1% to be astonishing.

WHAT IS YOUR BIG MOO.... when you interview for example.

The Jail House Cafe....Lori...Good morning Scott...Tall person what's your name...coffee...on the way back...She knows everyone's name and if she doesn't she will She works to remember it and what coffee you want. Will lay out change for the 5 you usually give her when you pay so you do not have to wait. Wow that's remarkable.

I have already met Lori...at the mere mention of her name something heppened in the room. Everyone smiled.There was a physical response. Remarkable

Detail Cleaners...Mike owns it....it was convenient...nothing special...then American xpress cleaners...I have someone pick it up....Terrance...picks up dry cleaning....you appear to be thinking about why you are not doing business with me....less mopney you get it sooner you get it delivered... are we doing business now

You don't have to be discouraged that you cannot invent facebook...there are hundreds of ways to make a business just like those above. Poop Scoopers.

The donut story....1000 donuts Krispy Kreme..word spread the new guy is delivering donuts. In 1 day garnered more social capital than anyone else. Tell me what you can do. Anyone could have done that. Donuts open doors.

A litle thing that is a demonstration of great thoughtfulness

Teach to reach so that you inspre and not have to require to do Great leaders teach past teach through to goal Managers tell Leaders change the way you see it

Never stop dating your spouse.

There are 2 ways to walk through the door. Way 1- I am a big presence ... I am here...I am important. Way 2 - hey it's good to see you..good to see you here. you are important ....which is more powerful?

How do you walk through the door and make your spousal unit...boyfriend girlfriend...friend...kids love you...not just tehnique but intent and that changes the world in a positive way.

Pretend you are a light bulb...3 settings...low medium high....If you culture is a lamp where are you most of the time. In Kirks visits to companies the aswer is that they are low most of the time only one company has said high...waiing for someone to turn you on turn you up...how bright do you want to be.

Why aren't we...why don't we let enthusiasm show more than we do....fear of the peer. If you will be afraid of something be afraid of being dimmed down ...be afraid of dimming others....be afaid of the darkness not the bright

What happens to you when someone lights up for you.

I will dim it down. I will be pathetic like you

If you are feeling down... light up for someone. Lighting up for someone recharges your batteries.

Practice now so that you be an olympic athelete...she/he lights up the room...that's what you want people to say about you.

Language - Our lives follow our language Words have meaning. Words have made us feel worse or better Everyday imagine that you wake up and the bucket is filled with all the words you could use that day...all the words are free and you get to choose which words and how you will use them. Some of the words will make you feel better some worse which would you choose ... there is a language that lifts and inspires...it is a leadership language.

Insight changes eyesight...ideas change your mind

80% of people do not read a book. 1 book per month...goal

Look at your bosses book shelf and read a couple of their favorite books...better communication with them. Pick a leadership book and briong it to the interview...even give a copy to the recruited and discuss what the importance of reading and that book is in terms of your essemce. Even consider a line on your resume the five recent leadership books I have read.

Changed you life by becoming more ...by staying engaged in knowledge

A Big Stink in Denver...the Zoo poo was costingthe zoo money. They saw that people were taking it and using it to grow things. so they developed zoo poo exotic waste...Denver zoop ...now a profit center. []

Lets get back to Diamond. Diamond said...It couldn't be worse than last year...Diamond don't say that...what you say is what you'll be. ...What are you some kind of motivational speaker. My year will get better as I do. OK....there you happy. My year will get better as I do...are you happy now. Didn't expect what happened next. She kept repeating the phrase over and over. Came back to the counter...smiled...dim to medium...you know what I am going to make that my motto this eyar. Why would you do sich a thing...because it makes me fell better when I say it.

Leadership requires some effort. It takes work. But it is the most rewarding work you will ever do. When they go from dim to bright ...when they light up ...it is worth something.

Become the person they talk about.

Feinberg out 2/9/2011

As everyone else has said i enjoyed Kirk's presentation abundantly. I don't want to be a complete cheese-ball or creepy in any way but it really did speak to me. I was always told by friends and family that i hold on to things too much, when others have tried to tear me down and i would let what other people say and do dictate my feelings on things. This has always been hard for me to accept because i am a rather independent and sometimes hard-headed person, who beleives what i believe and respects others beliefs. It seems like two conflicting personality traits, but i guess that's always been the hard part. So when Kirk spoke of not letting others "Dim you down" or "everyone has there own dragons out there trying to dim them down" i could completely relate. I can say this has only been happening for two years now and it makes me think back to over two years ago when i wasnt like that, i was shining on HIGH, i was out getting my Big Moo at every turn. But i've dimmed down, why????? and the part that impacted me most is my dimness was affecting those that i love around me, those that had been there when i was shining bright. I was almost taking it out on those people, for me this is unnacceptable. So because of Kirk i've decided to get back the control of my light, im not on high yet but im getting there. Im being as positively contagious as i can possibly be, to the astonishment of those trying to dim me down (and i have to say to others who may be experiencing people like this in your life, when you start to brighten up after years of them trying to dim you down it does 2 things it makes them brighten up or it makes them try harder to dim you down...so be prepared) im living for me and for the love of my life now. All i can say is "holy hotdogs batman" i think we have the brightest future together :) Thanks Kirk! -Katie Hilbert

I really enjoyed hearing all of Kirk's stories involving all the people he has met. My favorite point that he made was about the Big Moo and related in to the pin lady. It made me start thinking about what sets me apart from other people and what my Big Moo is. -Stephen Deeg

I enjoyed discussing the idea of being on dim and bright. It made me think of all the constantly negative and dim people there are walking around. I've noticed and Mr. Weisler made clear that by simply shedding a positive light, or being a little brighter, everything in life is just...better! Thanks! Katie Lahrman

Many times, the acquisition of knowledge leads to behavioral changes. Mr. Weisler put specific emphasis on the act of being a positive life force. "You can be dimmed or determined," he pounded home. What holds you back -- peer pressure -- is a personal fear of "burning out" and the nudge of others, who have seen themselves dimmed, towards lower standards, less effort, and a lousy attitude. The one thought that played on a loop in my mind during this segment was //the// quote of the movie Gattaca: **"I never saved anything for the swim back."** -Megan Remec

Mr. Wieslers presentation was a Big Moo---it was something small that had a great impact. Aside from enjoying the many stories he told, my favorite part of the presentation was when he said "our lives follow our language." This will stick with me and influence me for the rest of my life. - Jordan Kolb

After Mr. Wieslers presentation the one thing that I could not stop thinking about was when he said, " Light up for someone everyday." The next day I kept thinking about it and it made me be in a better mood and have a better attitude. Something so easy can make all the difference. I was also happy that Kirk didn't just talk about how to be a good leader, but he gave us some great stories to relate too and also some reading material that could benefit us. I really enjoyed this presentation, I guess the next thing is to find my "Big Moo." -Mindy Brouhard

Something that really stuck with me was when he talked about making a list of people and ranking them from most engaged to most disengaged. It really made me think when he asked us where we would be on other peoples' lists purely based on our attitudes from the previous week. I am going to try to have a better attitude about life. Nicole Peterson

I have heard Kirk speak before and enjoyed his presentation as a well thought out display of ideas. I personally do not find motivational speakers motivating and honestly they are usually borderline corny to me- I think that it is the pessimist in me that makes me feel this way. I do believe that he is a very talented speaker and that he will and has profoundly impacted many lives... mine is just not one of them. Genevieve DeSutter

I really liked when he said make excuses...or make a difference! This hit home to me because I used to always make excuses for myself when I felt that I could not do something. I then realized that I was making excuses for myself and that I really could do the things I said I could not. By actually doing and not making excuses, it has changed me and helped me make a difference with the different organizations and groups I am involved with. I also liked what he said about always grow and be life long learners. Many students think that once they graduate they can stop learning. This is not true because if you stop learning you will fall behind. Jennifer DeYoung

Some very important things I got from Kirk 5 hour presentation that I will take with for many years to come is follows: 1.) A new saying, "holy hot dogs batman" 2.) To light up for people. Don't just do things to get by or simply "dim down"...be that person that is excite to see your family friends and be loud and happy. Making someone else feel important will benefit you and others. 3.) Simply "leadership is hard"...if it wasn't then wouldn't there be more leaders to stand up in times of trouble. No one said it was easy. 4.) What's your Big Moo? 5.) Be positively contagious 6.) Vulnerability come with Trust 7.) Find out what the objectives are by interviewing your boss 8.) Gain social capital like Donut Dan and get to know everyone but giving them something to remember you by. Lastly, I like to thank Kirk for taking the time to share what he learned from his success. Andrew G.

I thought that Kirk's presentation was amazing! He really inspired me to try and become the best person that I possibly can! I loved all of his stories that were great and some where inspirational! I think what he said about how you need to "shine" and stay positive will help make you a better person and more successful is something that is so easy to do, yet a lot of people don't do it. I want to have a BIG MOO moment and make a difference in other people's lives! I am going to make Diamonds motto my motto: my year will get better as I do! I thought it was really interesting too what he said about the 5 people you surround yourself with the most. Overall I thought he was awesome and really appreciate him coming to Purdue! -Erin Barker

The entire five hour "motivational" speech seemed to be something a group of high school students should hear as opposed to(upperclassman) college students. It was nice, but did not really provide anything other than a series of nice stories about nice people. It came off as sappy at many points, and I began to feel like I was in a high school youth group meeting. I appreciate the time he took to come out and speak however; Purdue is a far distance from Georgia.

I was very impressed with Kirk's presentation. The content was very good. He's an excellent story teller and feel I benefited from his message. The points I appreciated the most was when he talked about "shining" on others. I couldn't agree more. Our moods, enthusiasm, and personality can greatly effect those that work around us. this struck a cord with me as I began thinking of my current leadership roles I hold in certain organizations.

I agree with another point Kirk made about the importance of surrounding yourself with people better than yourself. I try to do this as often as I can. I feel that I do that almost everyday since I feel most people at Purdue are more intelligent that I am. Learn from the people around you and actively place yourself in situations that facilitate that. I loved the story about the IT guy who was under-qualified. ha

Kirk should have cut about 3 hours out of the presentation. As an effective leader and communicator, it is very important to know your audience and their capacity for learning. No human being can be subjected to 5 hours of information and be expected to benefit from the message. Kirk told 5 stories about the exact same kinds of people; swan man, button lady, car wash boy, etc. etc. Shortning the presentation to 2 hours would have made it more effective. I felt like 90% of the class was not listening after the first 90 minutes.

To Sum up: Great speaker? Absolutley. Great message? YES! Life changing? Not quite. My opinion.. -Travis Iles

I was so inspired last night. I now have a goal to figure out what my Big Moo is. I want to inspire people that Kirk inspired me. This presentation changed my life and how I think. I want to make this year the best year ever. Thank you so much Kirk -Ashley Reinhold

I thought Kirk did an excellent job inspiring leadership and learning. Unfortunately, too often we all go to leadership conferences or events and get pumped up and encouraged to excel; but slowly after a few days or weeks we forget what we have learned and our motivation fades. I hope that we all take at least a small part of what Kirk said to heart and actually make a change. Brittainy Chaffee

I attended a leadership talk for 5 hours a couple of days ago. These are just a few points I thought were very interesting and wanted to share with all of you. Personally I think it will push our life up by a notch if we just practiced atleast half of these points which thinking about it now are very simple to follow. The people who inspired me to write and share these points are Dr. G. Vivekanand, Mr. Narendra Paruchuri and Mr. Kirk Weisler Vamsi Gaddam
 * 1) Keep your friends and family close they are the ones who are always with you, through your hardships and joy.
 * 2) Take advantage of the fact the people around you are willing to help you in some manner or the other.
 * 3) Make your own future. You are the BOSS of your life; do not let others change the direction of your goal in life.
 * 4) STOP LOOKING DOWN, START LOOKING UP. – Kirk Weisler.
 * 5) Work with passion, give your best at whatever you do. ( Mr. Narendra Paruchuri uncle told me this, if you are given a job do it better than anyone you know or can do.)
 * 6) Don’t get caught in peer pressure, It often puts you down. (Example: - Corporate Hazing.)
 * 7) Remember to always encourage people may be at work, at home or wherever you get the opportunity. It’s easy, it takes no effort and the other person feels happy. Don’t be scared or hesitate to encourage others.
 * 8) Be DETERMINED, NOT DISCOURAGED.
 * 9) Be a confident and a good communicator. Half the battle is there.
 * 10) Its not all about money, infact it should not be. Look for where you are happy the most and work with passion. (One of the many other things Narendra uncle shared with me.)
 * 11) A good leader always thinks with both his mind and heart. – Narendra uncle.
 * 12) Work as if today is the day to give your best, don’t ever wait for tomorrow.
 * 13) Today must be a better day than tomorrow, it always has to. YOU have to take a stand, are you going to make a better today?
 * 14) Learn to trust people. It helps you build relations and gives you a personal boost. (This is one thing I realized very late in my life and I regret it.)
 * 15) Don’t let your insecurities stop you from what you feel is right. Follow your heart.
 * 16) LEADERS RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE.
 * 17) Have you had the opportunity to learn and grow at your work place?
 * 18) What have you brought to the table?
 * 19) People want to grow, they want potential advancement.
 * 20) “It takes 99% of the time and work to be average, but it only takes a flash to be REMARKABLE..
 * 21) You become an average of the 5 people you spend most of your time with.
 * 22) Be a Game-changer. A Game-Changer is someone who drives for innovation in a product, process, or a service which has significantly changed the rules of the game. ” – Kirk Weisler
 * 23) Look at life with a positive perception.
 * 24) Are you spreading a positive atmosphere in your workplace?
 * 25) Cheering helps, there is a significant difference with cheering.
 * 26) Build a healthy relation with your peers at work and home to get the best out of you.
 * 27) We all have something in our life we have always been chasing, don’t give it up.
 * 28) The key to life is the eagerness to learn and the happiness of achieving. – Rebecca Weisler.
 * 29) Always be hungry to achieve something in life. Where is the fire in the belly to do great things? - Dr. G. Vivekanand.
 * 30) Always look for the next level. Keep changing your goals in life, new goals must replace old ones. – Dr. G. Vivekanand
 * 31) Reading helps. Reading is a great source of knowledge, don’t miss out. – Mr. Narendra Paruchuri.
 * 32) Do that something special, it can be either for family, for friends for the organization you work for. What gives you the pursuit of happiness?
 * 33) Know your objectives and be on top of things.
 * 34) Do your homework, even if it takes an extra effort, make sure you finish and keep up your responsibilities.
 * 35) “Your life follows your language.”- Kirk Weisler.
 * 36) The purpose of leadership is to make things, people, and situations better.
 * 37) “Do you feel you work with passion and feel a profound connection with your company?
 * 38) In the last 7 days have you ever received recognition or praise for doing good work?
 * 39) Have you given anyone?” – Gallup Management.
 * 40) NEVER GIVE up

"HE IS THE REAL DEAL!" Husband first time buying frozen food and not knowing how he spent so much............$131 Husband second time buying frozen food and not knowing how he spent so much...........$121 Husband third time buying frozen food and not knowing how he spent so much...........~$101 Wife is puzzled and decides to try and comes in with 2 grocery bags without knowing how it happened....$117 Working for Schwan and having super powers that let you sell 400+ dollars worth of frozen food....EPIC WIN .................For everything else.......................there's MASTERCARD Alex Wang

Three very valuable lessons I took away from Kirk's presentation: 1. Your life can only get better if you do. 2. Your life follows your language. 3. Create and choose your reality. -Anna Govert

I had never been to a leadership workshop before and was skeptical yet very excited about this great opportunity. Providing this experience to our class has been the most rewarding and thoughtful thing a professor has done for my experience at Purdue. Kirk provided us with stories though exaggerated were inspiring and influential. What really impressed me the most was not the words or stories that he spoke to us about, but the fact that he chose to become a "motivational speaker." What kind of person would choose to spend their time trying to better himself in order to enhance the lives of people around the world. He takes pictures of every moment that has made an impact on his life. I hope that someday I can realize the moments that change my life so that I can cherish them as well as share them with others. I thought that I would go to this leadership workshop and then go to another leadership workshop and compare the two workshops, but after the first I realized you don't compare them you learn from them both in order to have a broad perspective on leadership and the world. Thank you Kirk for your wisdom, time and your "moo." What will be my "big moo?" 317 out~

"You don't have to be sick to get better." Don't "dim" down. "Your life follows your language." -Sarah Weber

Going into Kirk's presentation I went in with an open mind and clear heart to take in what he was about to give a 4.5 hour presentation over. As Dr. Feinberg stated as we walked into his that he can "Change our lives". This is the exact mentality I walked into Kirk Reisler's presentation with. I walked out a changed person, a changed person at heart, mind and body. He had the ability, as he noted towards the end of the presentation, to tell stories, a characteristic of a leader. The stories that he conveyed to us had truths in them about leadership and life lessons. Upon reflection after the presentation and as I sat down to type my hand written notes up, I started to think once again about the words that he had just spoke. During the beginning of the presentation he began to discuss how his father used people's name tags to address someone by their first name no matter the situation. And as the presentation went on you saw more examples of how to personally effect other people around you, even if they were strangers in ways we may have never thought of or heard of. And later in the presentation he quoted "We all have the ability to let someone know that they matter". As I look back now this seems to be a common idea that he wishes for his listeners to get out of his presentation that we all as leaders have the ability to let others know that they do matter and that they are important to us. -John Giczewski-

Most people cannot articulate their strengths let alone know what to do about them. Many of you completed a character survey and found out what your primary and secondary strengths are...do you know what to do with them? Could you list your primary strength on your resume and turnit into something that would make a recruiter sit up in their chairs. Knowing your strength can you use it wo imporve the quality of your life and the lives of others.

"You don't have to get sick to get better...you don't have to be sick to get better." It works wither way.

Eaton Corp- The game changer board. Interesting...it made me think about whther I have been a game changer in my 30 years at Purdue. The act is that if I were a game changer I would know about it. The fact is that Purdue may not have a culture that recognizes the importance of stimulating game changing. Game changing at Purdue is more likely to occur in research in our fields.

If I get 4 seconds, 4 minutes, or 4 hours with someone I want them to walk away with more not less.

Be contagious...positively more thannegatively

Kirk's reading of Sir Kevin of Devon made me think about a book I must have read as a kid called "The man who lost his head"...I have not thought of that book since 1960 or so. So while sitting there I went to Amazon and to my surprise there it was...a children's classic...I ordered it ONE click (God bless Amazon). I will read it in class when I get it. As I remember it, a guy wakes up one morning and has lost his head...spends the rest of the book seeking and searching for it. A good metaphor for life....some of us never find our heads or our direction or even a good pizza (but that is another book).

"Excuses don't change results"...YO

As I was sitting and thinking and pondering and trying to figure out how you guys can sit in those incredibly uncomfortable chairs...(who said that classroom chairs have to be so uncomfortable...even airplane seats would be better. What would a classroom become if we all had lazyboy recliners...would learning be better?). Anyway I was pondering that the classroom is a "sacred environment" ...why don't we treat it that way.

Interview your bosses boss about what is expected.

Lunch and learn

My year will get better when I do...as I do...if I do.

"Life is full of people who are pointers...The players who take the initiative are the winners...[those who] take initiative are the ones who lead the way....They don't waste time pointing, complaining, or worrying who's to blame. They simply do what is done." -Jenna Wampler

If you have the ABILITY to do something, you should use it to the best of your ability such as reading. If you have the ability to read then you should read 3 or more books a year.

Physical contact makes people connect.

"People cannot be motivated. The organization that links its actions to motivating people is ignoring the fact that motivation is essentially a personal matter"

Learn, grow, READ!

Study for 1 hour a day for 7 years and you will be an international expert on the subject.

Kirk spoke of the Gallups 12. Which is 12 questions given to employees to determine the strength of the workplace. 1. Do you know what is expected of you at work? 2. Do you have the materials and equipment you need to do your work right? 3. At work, do you have the opportunity to do what you do best every day? 4. In the last seven days, have you received recognition or praise for doing good work? 5. Does your supervisor, or someone at work, seem to care about you as a person? 6. Is there someone at work who encourages your development? 7. At work, do your opinions seem to count? 8. Does the mission/purpose of your company make you feel your job is important? 9. Are your associates (fellow employees) committed to doing quality work? 10. Do you have a best friend at work? 11. In the last six months, has someone at work talked to you about your progress? 12. In the last year, have you had opportunities at work to learn and grow?

Try these six also What will keep you here? What might entice you away? What is most energizing about your work? Are we fully utilizing your talents? What is inhibiting your success? What can I do differently to best assist you?

Feet must match mouth

KW spoke about the kid who he told to read Raving Fans and then plop it down on the table to provide the opportunity to talk about his commitment to customer service. S0…Plop a leadership book down on the table at an interview. If they ask about it you talk about the leadership point and what that means and if they do not ask you find a place to bring it up. Find a place in the interview to talk about it…step up by giving them a copy of the book

Being Invisible=miserable, powerless forgotten, lost, underappreciated, poor, used expendable, replaceable….YIKES

Make excuses or make a difference

My year will get better if I do…NO…my world will get better as I do

My pleasure not you’re welcome

The three signs of a bad job…Anonymity, irrelevance, immeasurement – employees have no ability to measure themselves what they are doing..someone else must tell them

culture shapes conduct and you shape culture

Fortune 100 best companies to work for is a good place to start if you are looking for a place to work and a recipe for running your own business

Most companies have a legacy a narrative of sacrifice and mission…learn that and you can be a motivational speaker for that company… KW told the story of a lobby desk associate with a beautiful smile…clueless about the company..she was useless

You can brace for impact when you get to work or you can embrace

Here is a story I will add…KW told me about his brother who on his first day of work (big office multiple floors) bought dozens of donuts and the first morning put n an apron..got a cart and walked up and down the floors telling his name and handing out donuts. Guess what effect this had?

If I caught what you had would I walk away better for it

We are solely responsible for our work…our lives

You are always teaching ownership…accountability

Not you’re welcome you say its my pleasure…Chik Fil A….because you’re welcome implies that it is not something I have to do but want to do.

The founder of Chik Fil A … no matter who I thanked they said my pleasure… my pleasure…I want to be the Ritz Carlton of the fast food industry

Light bulb…low med or high which do you want to be…if your people are like this (low or medium) where is your organization set. Most answer medium why….

It doesn’t matter what I say…they believe that it doesn’t matter…but it does. We have all had experiences when one person flipped the switch…we were better we were worse. We have that power. The power to light them up….You gave me permission to be the kind/leader of person I always was

People may be ready to be on their high setting

Dim is in is the culture….

I want to be in a place where there is still hope…

The spirit the essence has been Beaten out of them …by who by what

People become more like what you say about them….how do you talk about your kids…workers..friends

How would champions walk out of here today…heads down or up….strut your stuff..no we don’t have to put on a show…quiet confidence…how do champs behave in the weight room….how do they great each other…strangers

How do I make leadership a day to day process…would you date your husband/wife once a year or once a week…like the leadership seminars of most companies. Leadership is more than one day a year…it is day to day. If you are not romancing your followers who is. If you are not romancing your girlfriend, wife, boyfriend, husband, partner…who is ?

Letters notes to coworkers…carried it with them for years

Cereal favorite…laughter…sugar induced high….joy the spirit of happy…a happy tone…good feelings went up…the exchange changed the climate…we listened to someone…our eyes were open our light was on…one to one communication. How often are these exchanges happening in corporate America…engagement reaching full potential. What would it be like if someone showed up tomorrow and found their favorite cereal on their desk.

Is it more fun to work with someone in state of growth and development or stagnation

What is it about people in a state of growth and development- shout it out = Energetic charismatic ambitious experimental wiling to try inspirational growing exciting motivated goal oriented engaged attentive passionate contagious more things to talk about more interesting wise flexible stronger resilient

By Purdue123... had an "aha" moment when Kirk explained the "5 Languages of Love." It never occured to me that people show love in different ways, but it is so obvious now that it has been brought to my attention. I discoverd that my love language is touch. I like to hug and generally be close to people, it is my way of showing affection. However the person that I am in a relationship with does not show his love through touch, and before Kirk explained this I was worried that he wasn't showing me enough affection. This was my "aha" moment because it opened my eyes to the many other ways he is able to show me his love. This also showed me how people express their feelings in other ways, and how everyone else isn't going to show emotions the way that I do, which is extremely important for a leader to realize. For example, I might think that because someone is quiet and stand-offish that they don't like their job, but it could just mean that they are shy and have not broken out of their shell yet, and that I need to offer them support so they feel comfortable with their surroundings. Overall Kirk opened my eyes to many things and in return I can use what I learned to be a better leader in the future.

Are you one of those people…are you more fun to work with because…you are in a state of growth and development. Because being in a state of development what if the value of a leader who can do this to others?

A new book a month…would you like to be book buddies?

Who is going to hire diamond…not until she finds some shine

You commute for 12 hrs per week…what if you made this learning time

Readers are leaders... leaders are readers…

RAF- I was in the first class section and sat across the row from Tom Peters. He had a mound of newspapers and magazines..and articles and books. He was tearing pahes out, making notes, recording in a recorder. Not surprising…but what was interesting was he had around his neck a sign that said DO NOT DISTURB

What I see (RAF) when I walk the aisle in first class are being reading and doing work. In the back sleeping or sudoku

Put your name here ­­­­ _ _ took command of her/his own ship

Being great does not require you give up your life it requires that you be extraordinary in your life

The pin lady…enough said

People who make you feel special and visible are very important..I wonder if the pin lady is there as he drove to the airport.

Little act of kindness can fill someone’s bucket

I walked away with so much more than I gave

The pin lady is a blackbelt in remarkability

Be a leader who inspires, not requires....to achieve the results you desire

The Five Love Languages by Chapman- 1.) words of affirmation 2.) gifts 3.) time 4.) physical touch 5.) acts of service

__Some of the books he mentioned:__ Gungho (Ken Blanchard, Sheldon Bowles); Now Discover your strengths; Good to Great; QBQ (by Miller); First break all the rules (Buckingham and Coffman); Nuts! (story about Southwest Airlines); 7 Habits of highly effective people (by Stephen Covey), Six most important decisions you'll ever make (Sean Covey); The Big Moo;

Fast Company article on HS Football Team "Soul of a Sports Machine". 138 undefeated games. 11 undefeated seasons. The players carried commitment cards in their back pockets, had dinners together before the games, volunteered together, said the word "love". http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/75/soul.html

Kirk mentioned that he noticed a difference when he sat on an airplane. The difference was what people were reading in first class compared to what people were reading in coach. He wasn't judging anyone by what they read, but obviously those people who were sitting in first class reading things like Business Week, New York Times, or an informational book were doing something right in life to be up where they were. It makes you wonder where do YOU usually sit on a plane... and what are YOU usually reading? - Amanda Basile

It's not just about picking up after ourselves and others, it's about being the example and having respect for this most beautiful world we've been given, to live life to the fullest, to reach our own potential through our efforts of applying initiative. The "magic T" seating arrangement in class... -Brett Chien

Kirk brought up the story about the poop and the soccer game. It's important to always be a role model to children, and until he stepped up, no grown adult there was doing such a thing. Children lead by example, by observing. The only way we can create great leaders is by taking the initiative, even if that means something as petty as picking up dog poop. -Anita Bokil http://www.dogpoopinitiative.com/

Kirk gave everyone in the room two wine bottle corks. He had us do an exercise where we would hold one cork in each hand in the crook of our thumb. Then he had us grab the cork from one hand while continuing to hold the cork in our first hand. Simple exercise, right? What we came to find was that if one tries to grab both corks at the same time, they would become tangled. To our surprise, Kirk was able to grab both corks and exchange them with little effort and no tricks. All it takes to complete a seemingly impossible task is to make the slightest, yet monumental adjustment. Remember this, and you can accomplish anything. - Tricia Coonan

Leadership through Readership- It is critical that we do not get complacent and lag with our learning. No matter how smart we become, we can always be more well-rounded, write/speak more proficiently, and hone specific skills in our fields. Reading provides a personal learning experience that is tailored to the reader's pace, we can finish books in a day or even sometimes close to a year. That said, it is a convenient way to keep learning and always have good conversation points. - Matt Sampson

Kirk explained that "culture shapes conduct" and that we will be influenced positively or negatively by the people and environments that we interact with or in. Surrounding yourself with positive influences will inspire positive changes in yourself, which in turn, will inspire others. Inspiration and a positive attitude were also touched on by Kirk who explained them to be contagious. - Lauren Reynolds

"Inspire not require." Leaders need to inspire their followers to do there best and complete tasks. They have to motivate their followers to do this, they cannot just require this. It is less effective to just require your followers to do things, you need to give them empowerment to get the tasks done. Also, Kirk had many valuable points on being contagious and having enthusiasm. As a leader you need to be enthusiastic and have energy because your attitudes can greatly influence your followers. So as a leader it is important for you to have a positive attitude because it will influence your followers. - Kristen Uminski

The sad truth Kirk stressed over and over is the bar really is that low. The acts that require almost no effort from us have such an enormous impact, things like greeting people every morning, taking time to learn someone's name, or giving someone a pin out of the bottom of our junk drawer. Imagine the change we could make if everyone was more inspired to do good. -KYLE Fettig

First of all Kirk was an amazing speaker. I've never seen a speaker keep couple hundred college students awake and paying attention for four and half hours. He hit so hard on being a reader, which I believe is a key part of being a leader. I agree with Kirk that leader is a intelligent, well rounded individual, and someone that is a great example. Along with that the people around a leader is are positive influences, they support each other, and push each other to be the best that they can be. You can tell Kirk talks the talk and walks the walk, which makes him so much more influential to know that he isn't just blowing smoke, and that he actually believes in all that he says. - Joel Fulkerson

As a leader in my sorority and in various organizations at Purdue, it is important to me that my peers know how much I appreciate what they do and how much I value our relationships. As soon as I arrived home after Kirk's phenominal presentation, I immediately got out a pad of post-it's and wrote one of the women I work with on an daily basis a short, yet thoughtful note of appreciation. The next morning I awoke to a text expressing gratitude and speaking of how excited she also was to work together for the next year. Kirk proved to me how easy it is to show people you care.- Donna Samburg

So far, I have gotten more out of this class than I have ever in any of my classes at Purdue. Hearing Kirk speak about leadership made me realize a lot about myself and how I can improve my leadership skills and how I am viewed by my peers. I took two separate pages of notes: one for class, and one for myself and how I can appear to be a better leader. The notes I took for myself are ones that I plan to put into effect this semester to make my organization more unified. We are not only an organization, but also a business. I want the members to be excited about coming to meetings, not angry or annoyed. I am going to make them feel more appreciated for their work by saying thank you, writing notes, and getting to know them on a more personal level. I plan on doing exercises with them or asking a fun question to spark the atmosphere. Thank you Kirk, and thank you Dr. Feinberg for inspiring me to become a better person and better leader. Some notes I took:
 * Read "The Soul of a Sports Machine" http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/75/soul.html
 * How do champions look? How do they walk? How do they talk? Do I appear to be a champion?
 * Thank you's can go a long way...18 years later people still remember.
 * Positive energy is contagious

- Valerie Karczewski

What a marvelous speaker, Kirk was amazing and very inspirational. I was sitting there amazed at how inspired I was. I also asked myself the question. Why don’t other majors get to enjoy this talk? Why do other majors not get to be enlightened by this and all of these concepts? I wish my bowling team would have been there. I think next year I will make them because they need to be inspired, and I think if they had an understanding of culture it would make the team better. Kirk talked about leadership, culture, and many other things. When he told the story about his wife saying she was no longer a human being, she was a human becoming. Becoming all that you can be by learning as much as possible whenever possible is one of the best lessons in life. Always be in the growth stage because that is where your light will shine the BIGHTEST! Thanks Prof. Feinberg!! ~Cassondra Desmonds

We were so lucky to have Kirk come speak to us! I agree that this class is turning into something that is thought-provoking and something I think all of us can take with us in life. He had so many great things to say and it for sure takes some talent to hold our attention for that long. I thought his bringing up the low bar that is set we can only use to our advantage...most people if they even realize the low bar will just stoop to that level, but now we can all utilize that and raise the bar in our current and future organizations, as well as inspire those around us to go just a little above a beyond at the very least because even that will make a difference from the norm. I really also liked his point about exploiting your strengths. Part of leadership is realizing what you are great at and what you're not as great at. By doing what we do best and enabling others to do what they do best, we can excel together and realize that we can't/shouldn't try to do it all. He also emphasized not being a victim-take ownership for your decisions and actions, and do your best to overcome that which you cannot control. Find your own solutions. One of my other favorite points was the football team and the process of sustainability of power =passing the torch= this reminds me of the quote about catching a fish and feed someone for a day, but teach someone to fish and they can feed themselves and teach others for a lifetime. By having this leadership "love" process with every new class of players coming through the program, so many kids learn how it can work and understand the importance of how leadership, hard work, and love can result in great things. ~Claire Nesbitt~

I was astonished as I sat for 4 and a half hours and was still compelled to take notes and pay attention because I didn't want to miss anything. Immediately following the presentation last night I went to Wal-Mart where I bought an empty book to fill. "Leaders are Learners" and I want to be both. One other thing that really inspired me was when Kirk said that we are the average of the 5 people we spend our time with. If this is true then I want to spend time with those that will inspire me to change and be better not those who are just like me know and will not inspire change. Doing something even just a tiny bit different than someone else can make a huge difference. I want to find how I can be remarkable and inspire those around me. -Danielle Ogden

Was expecting to be blow away by the presentation tonight. It was stimulating and there were high and low points. I did not leave with that feeling of greatness and that anything was accomplishable like I usually feel leaving such events or videos ive seen. It was far to long to and tiring to be motivated and feel great throughout. I felt like he spent alot of time just plugging books and telling us what each is about. He could have just said read these, it will blow you away and left it to our discretion. He was a good speaker and I think he reached alot of people, including me, but not as much as he could have. He was good, he wasn't "life changing." - Mike Dieckmann

Listen to Kirk speak made me look at where I was in life and where I need to be. Coming into the presentation, I honestly did not know what to expect, so I went into it with an open mind set; with goals of bettering myself and those around me. Listen to Kirk explain how your shine will only shine as bright as you are willing to go. It always amazes me how the ability of one person can influence hundreds of people all by what they say and what they believe in. Knowing nothing about Kirk W., base of my judgement, he's passionate about helping others and bettering those that around him, and he does that so well that he not only increases his value as a person, but to those 5 around him and those who he encounters with on a daily bases. He confirmed that you as a person, no extra bells and whistles, but your stewardship can make you a gamechanger. Once again this was one of the most memorable classes/speeches/advice I have received my 4 years here at Purdue. -Lorenzo Stout

I've heard Rick Weisler speak before and I enjoyed his presentation each time that I heard it. Several of his messages will stick with me such as the analogy to a light with a dimmer and the importance of a handwritten note. -Courtney Heaphy

The thing that hit home the most was his talk about how we all have our own dragons to slay. I am fighting many of my own dragons right now. I have only recently discovered that I have learning disabilities and ADD. Finding this out in my last semester here at Purdue has been a challenge because my whole life it has seemed that everyone around me "gets it" but I don't. I have felt a lot of anger because I keep wondering how much better off i would be if these issues were discovered when i was younger. After hearing Weisler's speech I feel like there is more hope for me to overcome these dragons and be successful.

-Erin Shiely

I was very impressed with the presentation that Kirk gave to the classroom yesterday. He was very good at engaging the audience in his workshop. I also intend on purchasing some of the books that he suggested.

-Brett Damisch

I will definitely remember to "interview" my boss some day. -Jacqueline Oles

In my opinion Kirk Weisler was a very motivational speaker. Considering we had to sit in class for around five hours he did a fantastic job at keeping my attention the whole time, I must say not many people could do that. His approach to leadership was very unique and I believe that is what made him so fascinating. I want to thank Kirk for coming to Purdue and opening up our eyes to different aspects of life. I will now strive to be a better person in my everyday life. Thanks again and keep coming back! Caitlin Schmierer

After 4 pages of notes and 5 hours of lecture... I just want to go out there and start making a difference. Bettering myself with more reading, more learning, more touching people that need to be lit-up, having more compassion for others, leading through positive teaching, is how I want to change this next year by changing myself. I want to be DETERMINED not discouraged, shining bright and not dimly lit, get engaged in my learning and leading instead of withdrawn and miserable. I now want to discover my strengths and express and showcase them in everything that I do. I want to figure out what my big MOO is and showcase it to others to make a positive impact. I want to be more authentic with my positive attitude. I want to be contagious, because Kirk Weisler was contagious and real and inspired me to live my life in a different trajectory than originally planned. Thanks Kirk! Way to go! -Kelsey Schamber

Kirk Weisler was incredibly inspiring and I think that a great deal of that had to do with his ability to be so genuine. By sharing stories and telling us about his family it was evident that he really believed what he said and he really lived it. It is impossible not to want to be better when you hear him speak. I think that every person who was open and willing to listen to what he said came away with a number of great things to learn. I think the best thing I took from him was that by "altering your perspective you can alter your reality." It's so easy to get overwhelmed and become negative or frustrated but if I just make the conscious decision to be positive, then it will no longer be such a negative. I took from it that life is what you make it and it's not going to get better if you just wait for it to change, it will get better "as I do." Thank you so much for sharing with us!! -Elizabeth Iddings

This was my 2nd time hearing Kirk & he is very inspirational. He can turn many thoughts that are negative into positive ones. He is someone that everyone in the world needs learn something from because he thoughts & motivations are very deep & true. -Anne Wilson

Kirk Weisler was such an inspirational person to listen to. He is definitely the real deal and made a great impact on how I want to live my life. I loved how he incorporated his family into all of his teachings proving that he is a firm believer in everything that he is saying. His feet definitely reinforce the words that come from his mouth. I loved how he said, "its takes 99% of your time to be average and it can take a flash to be remarkable". The quotes and lessons Kirk presented us with are something that I am going to keep to help me throughout my lifetime. Thanks Kirk! :)

Alex Smith

Few things Kirk said during his presentation got my full attention. First one is being remarkable. When you say the word remarkable it means you are special or stand out among others. It is always better to stand out in a group than be in a group. This also could mean give 100% effort every single time. Give everything you have and do not have regrets. Another point Kirk discussed during the presentation was the idea of being on dim and bright. After his powerful presentation I couldn not stop thinking about the phrase "light up for someone everyday". In my opinion this is the easiest way to make all the difference. This also could inspire and motivate people to strive and exceed their potential. His stories related to every point he made throughout the presentation, light up for someone everyday is certainly shining on others. Our care, thoughts, emotions enthusiasm and personality can have tremendous effect on those that work with us or around us. Lastly, surround yourself with people better than you. According to Kirk, you are average of 5 people you hang out with.This is so true, from my experience whenever I hang out with friends that are not motivated or willing to do something, I get lazy around them. However when I am around people that are smarter, hard working, inspired, I get motivated to strive to be better than them or at least on same level as them. Thank you Kirk and Professor Feinberg for this wonderful opportunity!

-Hwan Joung-

Kirk Weisler 's presentation truely inspired me and the expereience he shared really touched me. He made me think of another way of seeing people and myself in a positive way. When I tried to use those tools he tought I felt how little change of the attitude could make a big difference!Thank you very much!

-Xinru Chen

Kirk was very relate able and he did an excellent job of telling stories in an inspirational way that definitely made me think twice about certain situations in life! -Leah Eber