I assume you had a wonderful week. Mine was grand. Speaking of grand. Once upon a time, there was a frog who lived together with many other frogs at a pond. Right next to that pond stood a tree, around which the frogs hopped and quacked. And this one particular frog decided, courageously, to climb that tall tree. He would go further than any frog before him had ever climbed. Yes, he would make it all the way to the top.
When the frog began climbing the tree, the others shouted, “Stop. You can’t climb that. No frog has ever made it all the way up. Turn around. That’s impossible. You’ll kill yourself. You’re not strong enough. Come back to us.”
Yet the frog kept climbing happily, higher and higher. All the way to the top.
How did he reach this incredible goal?
Let me briefly return to my grand week. A new joint project with my friend Mazze Wiesner premiered a few days ago at the sold-out Mercedes-Benz Customer Center in Sindelfingen. The evening was clearly under a lucky star. Mazze’s grand music, paired with my inspiration, elevated the concept of a keynote to the next level of emotional experience. The audience clapped, sang, snapped their fingers, and realized that sometimes “there’s also a way past the A…”. (A little insider for everyone who was there live.)
And that brings me back to the opening story. Can you hold on to your dream, your intention, your goal—no matter what others say? Arnold Schwarzenegger always talks about the “naysayers.” The people who automatically say no. Please stay away from that type of person.
What was just as beautiful in Sindelfingen was that many members of our Caribbean Rebels community were there live. Because this is a group made up of “yessayers.” People who say yes to themselves. People who say yes to life. And this live exchange over dinner, breakfast, and the hours afterward is priceless for all of us. That’s where the theory of words meets the practice of everyday life.
All the Rebels have experienced their own successes in recent days, weeks, and months. Some have also experienced setbacks. And they see those, too, as opportunities to learn and discover something new—instead of sinking into complaint. Surround yourself as often as you can with people who let your positive thoughts grow and who cheer you on.
So ask yourself today: Who is a real ray of sunshine in my contact list? Call that person and simply tell them how much you appreciate that they always see the bright side of life. And if you don’t have anyone like that in your phone yet, go out into the street and give someone a heartfelt compliment.
The best part? You’re not doing it for them—you’re doing it for yourself. If you do that once or twice, you’ll notice what it does to you and your mood. And just like that, you’ve found the simplest way to feel even better yourself.
With that in mind, I wish you… oh wait, you’re right. I still owe you the answer to the opening story. Why was the frog able to climb the entire tree?
Well, the frog was deaf.
While the other frogs were jumping up and down like crazy, shouting “Stop” and all that other nonsense, he looked at them and thought they were cheering him on and believing he would make it all the way to the top.
Be deaf to the opinions and ideas of negative people.
I wish you beautiful moments. I’m about to pick up Rüdi, and this afternoon we’re heading to the PUR musical at the Theaterhaus in Stuttgart. Enriching his world—and mine at the same time.
We’re off… into Adventureland.
