Falling down, Dan Ariely, the Jacksons, my sordid musical past

[Note: This article was originally published as a Friday5 mailing to Michael's list. Subscribe here.]

Happy New Year! I hope 2020 is everything you want it to be.

In keeping with the spirit of this not-do-much-work week, the following cluster of videos are for your enjoyment.

Some of the vids are from my YouTube channel. Subscribe to be notified of new ones (ring that silver bell).

[Note: the above photo was snapped in Detroit, Michigan by my pal, Mark Einhaus from Media Hero.]

Fun videos for you

Surprising 1. This fun TED talk features Dan Ariely, burn victim and author of one of my favorite books, Predictably Irrational. I love psychology and Dan poses the fascinating question: "Are we in control of our own decisions?" (17 min.)

Reminiscing 2. I stopped by the Jackson family home in Gary when I spoke at Indiana State University a few months back. My brothers and I also played music together, so it was fun seeing where the Jackson music empire took root. Yeah, their legacy is complicated, but I still enjoyed the visit. (2 min.)

Entertaining 3. So, here's a vid about my music career. Sweetwater Sound, the largest online music retailer in the U.S., played it just before I did a sales coaching session with their great team. (4 min.)

Pratfalling 4. I left the music business to become a professional speaker. As this video shows, I fell down a lot while learning the ropes (ouch!). Recorded at a speaker showcase in Dallas. (2 min.)

Helping

5. My favorite video of the bunch, watch as a baby elephant gets some help out of a mud hole. This will be your best two minutes of the day, I promise! 2 min

Bonus music video

Rene Pothetes and I always have a "go to" feel-good song in high rotation.

Right now, it's These are the Days of Our Lives by Queen (4 min.). Unlike anything the group ever did, the video was recorded when Freddie Mercury was deathly ill. Somehow, he plays over it, and delivers timeless lyrics that are perfect for this time of year.

I'm glad we're connected and hope to see you soon. Invite friends to receive the Friday5 here.