Tag: Motivational Speakers

Racing the Grim Reaper
If you missed out on the last Salon, We’re walking each other home. Check it out here.

Let’s Do This!
1. Racing the Grim Reaper
2. In Sparta
3. The Dan Sullivan Question Redux
4. Rise and Kill First
5. Happy Birthday, Bruckner
6. When Does Science Become Spirituality?
7. Never mind …
8. Dear Apostrophe (a love letter)
Racing the Grim Reaper

“We’re all just walking each other home” – Ram Dass

You know that I write legacy stories, don’t you?

It’s all rather wonderful because I get to hear stories by people who are infinitely more interesting than me, and they’ve packed more experiences into their pinkies than I’ve done in a lifetime.

It’s also all rather sad. Most of the people I write stories for (or about) are over 70. I typically get hired by their children who want to capture a life and want to share memories with their children.

It occurred to me that by the time I’m in the picture, it’s a race to get the story out before the Grim Reaper walks them home.

Sometimes I get to them before they’re walked home. Sometimes I don’t. Three weeks ago I was on a Zoom call to Australia with an enigmatic, eccentric, interesting and razor-sharp intellect. He wanted to tell his story, and he wanted me to help him write it. Today, I got a text from his sister-in-law to say that he died yesterday. He was 75.

The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation, and go to their grave with the song still in them. Henry David Thoreau (Walden).

I’m not sure if there’s a lesson here. If there were one, for me it would be that I shouldn’t waste another minute and that I should write my story soon. I’m, after all, racing against the Grim Reaper and losing.

It’s too late for me, but may not be too late for you: go and sit with your parents and grandparents. See them. Hear them. Listen to them and transcribe their story on your heart. They did, after all, write you into their story so that you can write your own magnificent story. They sacrificed for you and love you more than you’ll ever fathom. Go now … love them back.

If it is too late for you, like me; author your story to bear testament to those that wrote you into the world, and through your words, deeds and actions, let them be known.

In Sparta

In most cultures men/women can choose their career … be it an architect, lawyer, doctor, policeman or whatever.

In Sparta there was no choice in the matter. As a newborn son, if you survived the scrutiny of the magistrates and were deemed fit, your only job for the rest of your life was to serve in the military.

If you were judged physically unfit, you were taken to the wild gorge at Mount Taygetos, and left for the wolves. Your mother neither wept, nor protested.

This concept of ‘you only have one job’ resonates with me. Read more.

The Dan Sullivan Question Redux

In the last Salon I said that The Dan Sullivan Question was the best sales book ever. I pointed folks to an Amazon link. It appears that there is only a hard copy of the book. I have the E-Book, but that appears to have been taken off the e-shelf quicker than books exposing the Illuminati. I have the summary version if you would like to read it. Just pop me a note and ask for The Dan Sullivan Question and I’ll be sure to send it to you.

Rise and Kill First

If you’re at all interested in how Israel came into being and the role of Mossad in its survival and thrival (I know that’s not a word), then this is the book for you.

I was in Teheran in 2011when Mossad assassinated an Iranian scientist on his way to work. Not a great time for a westerner to be there, I’ll tell you that much. But, I’m here now and that’s a story for another time.

Interesting fact. Since World War II, Israel has assassinated more people than any other country in the Western world. During the presidency of George W. Bush, the USA carried out around 48 targeted killing operations. Under the presidency of Barack Obama, 353 such attacks were carried out.

Happy Birthday, Bruckner

This is my brother, Bruckner. He turned 69 on 5 October. I’m going to visit more!

When Does Science Become Spirituality?

Now, here’s a thing! When do science and spirituality meet, or interface? When does science become spirituality?

Way back in my hippie era, where everyone was a peace-master and wearer of baggy, multi-coloured clothing, protesting on the steps of the UCT Campus Hall or St. Georges Cathedral and listening endlessly to ‘Hair’, was de-rigueur – I read a book by Fridjof Capra called ‘The Tao of Physics’ that explored the possibility of science meeting spirituality. Capra was a nuclear physicist who researched theoretical high energy physics, and spoke about his epiphany in digging deeper and deeper into atomic physics – to quarks and quasars – and realizing that ultimately what was on the ‘other side’ was spirituality the “direct, non-intellectual experience of reality”. Radical stuff in those days!

My question to you all – is this – “Have we come any closer to a deeper understanding of this, yet – some 45 years later?”

Steve Johnson – Scientist

More resources:

http://www.sutrajournal.com/science-and-spirituality-by-fritjof-capra

https://gratefulness.org/resource/dsr-common-sense/

http://www.theyogicjournal.com/pdf/2018/vol3issue1/PartQ/3-1-177-791.pdf

Never Mind …

Another influential language tip from the hypnotist, Max Kaan. Never mind …

This is a great pattern interrupt. Regardless of where the conversation is going, when you say “never mind”, you are able to direct the conversation back to where you want it to be. “Never mind, that the price is competitive, never mind, the two-year guarantee, it’s our same day repair service that wins hands down.”

Dear Apostrophe (A Love Letter)

The apostrophe and I are great friends. by Tiffany Markman. She’s not over-sensitive (unlike the semi-colon); she’s just a simple creature with simple needs – and two key contributions to the English language.

We began our collaboration some 30 years ago. In those days, she’d regularly forgive my misuse of her good nature. Then we became allies. And now, as the rest of the world continues to abuse her, I have crafted a token of my love, understanding and support. Want to see it?

If you think someone else will enjoy this work, please forward it to them.

If this is the first time you’ve seen this Salon newsletter, go and check out the archives and subscribe if you’d like to receive more of them.

Jacques de Villiers is a legacy writer and author of What If Hollywood Doesn’t Call? A Fractured Monk’s Guide To Enlightenment.
October 8, 2020
Burn the Haystack. Find the Needle.

I’ve no doubt that you’ve heard the idiom “Like looking for a needle in a haystack.”

It’s based on the idea that it’s hard to find a sewing needle in a haystack. It means when something is almost impossible to find.

It got me thinking about the Holy Grail and the Arthurian legends attached thereto. Just in case you’re not up to speed. The Holy Grail was the cup used by Christ in the last supper. And, in which Joseph of Arimathea received Christ’s blood on the cross. As far as I know, nobody has found the Grail yet. It’s rumoured to be in Ethiopia according to Indiana Jones.

Thus, a Grail quest refers to something that we desire but it is just about impossible to achieve.

If you’ve spent any time with yourself you’ve no doubt craved something for just you, haven’t you?

We all want something. And, it’s different for all. What is it for you? Power, money, fame, relationships, status, peace, friendship, harmony, fulfilment, security, cars, houses and heaven?

Here’s the question, “If you want something, why don’t you already have it?”

Why is the thing that haunts our dreams so difficult to find? Like the proverbial needle in the haystack?

I might have an angle, and an answer. But, first let me just put it out there … wanting wealth, power, money and fame is just a sideshow. It’s not why you’re dancing on this planet with your allotted 2-billion or so seconds. In my opinion, you and I are here to get our heart, soul and spirit right. We’re here to stand in awe of the magnificence that we live in. We’re here to live in gratitude for that which we already have and that is still waiting for us.

So, now that I’ve sucked the fun out of wanting ‘stuff’, let’s go there anyway. Perhaps, the reason we don’t get what we want is because of one word: Excuses.

Burn your damn excuses!

I think the human condition is one overflowing with excuses and justification. We always have a reason why we couldn’t, shouldn’t and didn’t.

We try. We don’t do (stealing the concept from Yoda). Or as Carlos Castaneda wrote, “A warrior lives by acting, not thinking about acting.”

I believe that if we were to complain less, justify less and make fewer excuses, we would be a lot nearer to our goals.

We also have an insatiable need to complicate what is simple, don’t we? And, we use complication and the drama we create in our lives as excuses to why we are not where we should be.

The Gordian Knot

Let’s go back in time to see if there’s another way to deal with ‘complication’. When he was appointed king, Gordius dedicated his oxcart to Zeus, tying it up in a peculiar knot. An oracle foretold that he who untied the knot would rule all Asia. Many people tried to untie the the ‘Gordian Knot’. It persisted in thwarting everyone for 100 years. Then, in 333 B.C, 23-year-old Alexander the Great arrived in Gordium.

He couldn’t resist attempting to untie the legendary ‘Gordian Knot’.

He struggled with it for a while and became more and more frustrated in his attempts. He unsheathed his sword and said, “What does it matter how I loose it?” With one powerful stroke he severed the knot and the whole of Asia opened up to him.

Perhaps it would be an idea for you and me to stop complicating your lives and making excuses. Stop thinking about acting and start taking action. Cut our ‘Gordian Knot’ so that ‘Asia’ can reveal its splendour to you and me.

Just burn the haystack. Find the needle. Do it now. Life is too short to mess about, it’s too short for excuses and it’s too short to watch opportunities pass you by. Go for it because as the old saying goes, “we regret more the things we didn’t do than the things we did.”

September 5, 2015
Curb your judgement

After his book launch an author complained that one of his best friends never bought his book. He ranted, saying that he expected his friend to support him by buying his book. He got nods of agreement from the the rantees.

The author went as far as saying that he was prepared to terminate the long-standing friendship because of this ‘shameful’ behaviour. All, once again nodded in agreement. Except for one.

He asked, “Is it true that your friend had to buy your book?” He went on to ask if it wasn’t conceivable that the friend expected the author to maybe give him the book for free because of the virtue of their long-standing friendship?

He also asked if the author was prepared to break up a friendship over the price of a R150 book? The same friend who had helped the author out of many a tight spot and had been nothing but supportive throughout the blood, sweat and tears that writing brings out of one.

It is easy to get on one’s high horse and judge someone for a perceived slight. But, who knows that person’s situation? The friend may have been going through a hard time financially and just managed to scrape enough money for the petrol to get to the book launch. The friend may be an inch away from debtors prison, his wife may be leaving him and he is barely hanging on. You see, one doesn’t always know the other side of the story.

Take taxi drivers for instance. A seriously easy (and mostly-deserved) target for our ire. Generally, they’re hated for the way they take over the road, cut in front of us, stop at will and break every rule of the road. Monsters, one and all, aren’t they?

But, is this true?

From my understanding, a taxi driver has to make a set sum of money for his boss before he starts making any money for himself. Let’s call it R1 500. This means that he has to get as many passengers into his vehicle and drop them off as quickly as possible so that he can do this again and again and again. He may only start making money for himself late in the afternoon and could walk away with the princely sum of R200 for being up before the crack of dawn. This kind of pressure can’t possibly lead to sterling behaviour.

Remember, like us he is a parent, a husband, a son and a human being. He is just trying to do the best he can do under the circumstances. Just like you and me. Perhaps our judgement should go to the taxi bosses whose yoke enslaves these drivers?

My housekeeper was late for the umpteenth time. I got angry with her. She explained, that for the piddly (my words) R150 a day I paid her to clean up my mess, she had to get up at 4 am and catch two taxis. Then she had to do the same going back home. I can’t remember the detail, but her taxi fare was in the region of R70. So, her take home pay was R80. I don’t know about you, but I’m not sure I would go through the stress she does to work for R80 a day.

I don’t get angry with her much anymore.

I’m mindful that the universe doesn’t revolve around me, that other people have their own issues, hopes and dreams. And, that whilst I’m judging them, they too may be judging me because my behaviour is strange and abhorrent to them too. Perhaps a better way is to look at every situation with curiosity rather than with judgement.

[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://www.jacquesdevilliers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Screen-Shot-2015-06-20-at-11.43.17-AM.png[/author_image] [author_info]Jacques de Villiers is the strategic account director for the Jacques de Villiers Group. He helps set both his clients and his partners up to succeed. For his own account he speaks and trains on, personal excellence, leadership, marketing and copywriting.[/author_info] [/author]

July 31, 2015
Gold or God

I was thinking about North and South America the other day as one does when one is sitting in Benoni at a Spur restaurant.

For some reason I was thinking about why North America was ‘wealthy’ and that South America wasn’t. One is ‘first world’ and the other is well … ‘third world’.

I have a notion that when the Spanish settled in South America they went there for the gold. When the Pilgrim Fathers went to North America they went for God.

The focus on spirit and something bigger than themselves and gold gave the Pilgrims an unshakeable purpose. They went to America to find the religious freedom they couldn’t get in Britain at the time.

I think that’s what made all the difference.

So, maybe this is true for us too. When we’re so focused on our paycheques and lose sight of what’s important we have third-world thinking.

I believe that the human being was put on this earth for something more than just the gold.

We were put here to answer a calling and to follow a path with heart. Of course, the trick is for each of us to find that calling in our own way.

And, that’s the tough part. To find our purpose we need to take that road less travelled by and go in search of knowledge. We need to use the knowledge to fight and overcome our inner battles so that we can find the authentic essence within in us. We need to be clear as to how we can make something meaningful in the short space of time we have.

I, like you, live in the real world too. So, I’m not against ‘gold’ at all. I’m mindful that when we feel insecure because we don’t have the means, purpose and meaning can fall by the wayside. I’m just saying that gold must not be our focus because there’s no way it can make us happy, ultimately.

In our striving for purpose and meaning I’m of the opinion that we would be better served by focusing on Saraswati (the goddess of knowledge, music and art) and not on Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth).

You already know how it works, don’t you? When we focus on Saraswati, Lakshmi gets curious and follows.

When you find your purpose your heart will sing and good fortune will follow.

July 10, 2015
Attention is superior to intention

It was when I was rereading Etsko Schuitema’s Intent: Exploring the Core of Being Human the other day that I came across this aphorism: Attention is Superior to Intention.

Eckhart Tolle made the same observation when he said, “Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus on your life.

And, to add some more weight to this, Carlos Castaneda said, “A man of knowledge lives by acting, not by thinking about acting.

These quotes and more, highlight the weakness in setting goals for our lives.

Our goals are full of good intent. We want the fancy car, we want to lose weight, we want to quit smoking, we want to travel, we want to be rich, we want a loving relationship and the like.

However, most of us are not prepared to pay attention to the process of getting our intention.

Unless we focus on the actions and do the work to get to our end destination, all the visualisations and affirmations in the world won’t get us any nearer to our dreams.

I believe that many of us miss the boat because we’re not prepared to pay attention to the work we have to do in the moment to achieve our dreams. Just in case you think I’m judging, I’m not … I’m as guilty as the next man of not working as hard as I should. I miss the boat plenty.

Perhaps some of us are just not prepared to pay the price to get what we want. Perhaps I can just be blunt enough and say it, “We are lazy and want our success handed to us on a plate”.

As Thomas Edison said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.

I think many of us have bought into the saying “work smarter and not harder”. And, maybe it has given us an excuse not to work too hard. The problem is that we are not working smarter either. So, if we take away hard work and smarts, we’re pretty much left with nothing.

We are also misled by the media’s portrayal of people that are ‘overnight successes’. I think if we interrogate these so-called ‘overnight successes’ we’ll find the opposite is true. We’ll find that they worked extremely hard, over a long period of time whilst enduring failure after failure to achieve ‘overnight success’. 99% of ‘overnight success’ stories are myth.

I suppose the trick is to figure out what it is that we really want in our lives. Then set action plans to achieve what it is we want and then use every moment wisely and knuckle down and do the work.

Because as you know, the only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.

July 9, 2015