[Note: This article was originally published as a Friday5 mailing to Michael's distribution list. Subscribe to the Friday5 here.]
Pontificating Looks like I'll be sharing the speaking platform with astronaut Cady Coleman in San Diego this May. I'm very grateful to meet such interesting people and share experiences with you!
Printing The fourth printing of Hmmm...Little Ideas With BIG Results is hot off the press! Get your copy of this best-selling motivational booklet here. Contact me if you're interested in bulk rates for your team. As the booklet says, "The sun is out every day."
Processing Seems like everyone in the world is individually processing the tragic death of Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven other special people. Most of us were reminded that life is precious and to enjoy every day. Lisa Sejkora, a high school principal in Washington, thought about Kobe's death in a different way. She was put on leave after posting, "Not gonna lie. Seems to me that karma caught up with a rapist today." Wow.
Passing The NBA was a mess when attorney David Stern became its fourth commissioner in 1984. Most franchises were in the red. Finals games weren’t even on TV. Stern expanded the NBA from 23 to 30 teams, instituted a draft lottery, negotiated valuable broadcasting deals and marketed its superstar players as movie stars.
Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and later, Kobe Bryant became household names. The value of NBA franchises rose from a collective $400 million in 1984 to $19 billion when Stern retired in 2014. Stern said he marketed the NBA like Disney. “Our theme parks are called ‘arenas,’ and our characters are named Magic and Michael.” RIP Mr. Stern.
Podcasting I'm having a blast with my Talk to Me Podcast, already closing in on 50 episodes. I've interviewed a Vietnam POW, authors, professional athletes and a guy who walked away from the most famous airplane "crash" in history. Watch video versions of the interviews on the "Interview" playlist of my YouTube channel. Subscribe on YT (ring that silver bell!) to be notified of new episodes, thanks!
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