Tag Archives: george guzzardo

Leadership Guru in the Making – Dan Hawkins

Posted on December 21, 2012 | 16 Comments

Wow, my mentor has grown again!  His leadership blog was selected as one of the top 50 Leadership blogs to follow in 2013!

Most of my 3 readers know that one of the most influential and profound influences in my life is Dan Hawkins.  dan hawkinsI met Dan about 6 years ago when I was introduced to a leadership development project he was spear-heading in the area (we now refer to that as the LIFE business). Dan was 10 years my junior, talked fast and had a lot of posture.  He knew where he was going and he committed his life to follow the examples set forth by LIFE founders George Guzzardo and Orrin Woodward.

I specifically remember a moment when I was questioning my own leadership journey.  Was I doing the right things and was I following the right people?  Dan, with all the conviction and confidence one can have over the phone,  said, “Matt, I have chosen to follow Orrin Woodward because he has always delivered on his promises.  In fact, anything he has ever promised, he has delivered above and beyond that promise.”

I liked his answer.  Up until that time I never committed to anyone but me and I never bought into anyone elses vision except my own.  I was a rascal, alone and frustrated.  But Dan demonstrated humility to follow in the foot steps of someone else who has fruit on the tree.  He willingly set a new path for his life to grow and change and that encouraged me to do the same.

Dan recently shared one of his personal goals for 2013.

One of my goals is to continue to improve my writing and sharing through this [Dan Hawkins Leadership] blog. I believe in the principle Orrin Woodward teaches: “Ideas have consequences.”   The LIFE business and its founders have committed their  lives to bringing better ideas to the world to make a difference.

Now, Dan Hawkins’ leadership blog was selected by Evan Carmichael, from The Entrepreneur Blog, as one of the Top 50 Leadership Blogs to watch in 2013! 

Today, Dan pursues excellence in the areas that we call the 8F’s and has become a role model for thousands to follow- including me:).  Someday I believe Dan’s story will be written in book form and it will be hard to believe the transformation that has taken place in his life.  I joined Dan a few years in that transformational journey called leadership development and have “hooked my wagon to his train.”  My hope is to spread the “Dan Hawkins phenomena” and the cause for “leadership and transformation for the masses” as far as I can.

My question to you is this: Who are YOU following?  Do you have  mentors that have “fruit on the tree” in areas you are pursuing?  Are you humble enough to buy-in to another person’s vision?  Are you willing to follow their example long enough for you to develop your own extension of that vision — your own belief & commitment?  I have!

Godspeed on your journey to reach new heights of excellence in 2013!  Matt

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Jason and Diana Bruner – Turbo 25′s in the LIFE business model

Posted on July 18, 2012 | 5 Comments

I want to congratulate Jason and Diana Bruner for achieving the leadership rank of Turbo 25′s in the LIFE business powered by the TEAM training system.  Both Jason and Diana understand the importance of a strong work ethic which they have combined with a dream for pursuing the life they have always wanted – one of purpose, significance, time with family and their very own hobby farm (with lots of animals :) ).

Both Jason and Di come from families that owned small businesses.  Because of that, they have a deep understanding of the dedication and hard work necessary to achieve goals and dreams.  Jason is blessed to have a job as a staff accountant and earned a double major in accounting and finance from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire.  Diana works as a legal assistant and earned degrees in business management and finance also from UW- Eau Claire.  Although they recognize the blessing of having jobs in today’s tough economy, they want to maximize their potential of tapping into an additional income stream and helping others do the same.  Jason has a heart to help others stating:

“Helping others find a purpose for their lives through the LIFE opportunity is such a blessing as our friends, family, and business partners are making leaps and bounds towards living the life they have always wanted and may have never imagined possible.”  

Jason is seeing the benefits from being an excellent student; studying the TEAM training system to build compensated communities and using the LIFE personal development system to grow individually.

“We feel blessed to have such world-class information coming in on a regular basis to keep us moving positively upward and forward.  We are also extremely appreciative of the uplifting and encouraging people we have the privilege of associating with through the LIFE community. It is also inspiring to see the leaders’ close-knit families.  Children definitely notice when their parents are in the pursuit of excellence and it is obvious that the leaders’ children view their mothers and fathers as heroes.  That is exactly how we hope our future children (God willing) view us.”

Diana is quiet strength.  She epitomizes the statement, behind every great man is a great woman.  Diana is a professional in the workplace and in the home.  She is a completer to Jason and together they have dreams of a wonderful life together.  Diana recently commented:

“Now that I’m “grown up” I recognize the sacrifices my parents made as immigrant restaurateurs and I want to make their sacrifices worthwhile by carrying on that steadfast spirit.  I hope to exemplify the success story that I was able to watch firsthand, to my children and future generations.  One of the best resources of the LIFE opportunity is having the mentorship and guidance from leaders who have already gone through the minefield and are willing to coach you through the minefield as well. “

What most impresses me about Jason and Diana is they know how to get back up after falling down in life.  Not many people respond to challenges with steadfastness that the Bruners do.  Life Founder George Guzzardo once said, “I would rather have a Turbo 25 leader (one with 50 followers) that has made it through challenges and set-backs, then a leader with 200 people following them without any challenges.”

I couldn’t agree more.  Jason and Di are the next generation of leaders that are being groomed by the leadership development factory, created by Orrin Woodward and Chris Brady, known as the LIFE business.  They have been battle tested and are moving on to higher levels of leadership.  Godspeed Jason and Di, on your journey to make a difference in the lives of people you meet and to make a difference in our country.

Matt Mielke

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Eric and Miriam Schilling Brand New Turbo 50′s: Pig Farmer to Carpenter….Turned Entrepreneur with LIFE Leadership

Posted on February 27, 2012 | 3 Comments

One of my favorite parts of building LIFE leadership groups is watching the transformation that happens in an individual’s, or couple’s, life.  When starting out on the leadership journey, I remember hearing from LIFE founders Dan Hawkins, Orrin Woodward and George Guzzardo, “If you can help the new person win in life, you will be rewarded too.”

For the last few years, Michelle and I have had the privilege of working with a young couple, Eric and Miriam Schilling, from Watertown, Wisconsin.  I met Eric when he was a freshman in high school.  He is the son of Mike and Robin Schilling and Mike and I worked together in the pharmacy.  I was always impressed how Mike and Robin balanced many “hats”:  pharmacist, home-school mother, and pig farmers all at the same time.

Eric graduated from high school as an accomplished wrestler, entered the carpentry trade, and met his soon-to-be wife Miriam in their late teens.  When Eric and Miriam were introduced to an entrepreneur opportunity with the TEAM leadership training, they jumped on board.

Were they excited at first?  No!  But what we have witnessed first-hand is a man and woman transformed before our eyes.  Eric has gone from not liking people to learning how to become a compassionate listener and a man who appreciates relationships.  Miriam has changed from a mild, unconfident teenager into a extremely competent student and leader of many people.  Below is a selection from her LIFE testimony.

On average, in the U.S., a suicide happens every 17 seconds….. When I left high school, I had a deep sense of hopelessness for this life. When I was introduced to the information that LIFE has to provide, that feeling was lifted. In it’s place was a sure sense of purpose…..  The information I receive through the LLR series gave me a sense of personal responsibility for my community, showed me the role I could play in my country, and how my actions do effect the bigger picture.

Earlier in February, Eric and Miriam were recognized as new Turbo 50′s at a TEAM/LIFE leadership seminar.  That means they had at least 50 people in 2 different organizations each, learning and growing in a LIFE environment.  WOW!  How many 20-something-year-olds do you know that lead over 100 people?  They will be the first to admit that it couldn’t have been accomplished without the help of a tremendous team of developing leaders (see Josh and Kristina Meinel’s Turbo 25 recognition coming soon in a future post and Jeff and Kathy Wood’s Turbo 25 recognition).

I recently heard Miriam describe how the money they make from LIFE/TEAM leadership fills in the gaps when Eric’s job is slow during the winter season.  And they’re just beginning!!

We are so proud of Eric and Miriam for hitting this milestone and we know it’s just a mile-marker in their journey toward greater victories…Pig farmer becoming millionaire! Matt

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