June 10, 2009 by Kyle.

While in Washington DC recently for a speaking engagement, I went for a jog. My hotel was across the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia. I put on my running shoes and selected a random direction.

God pointed me to the south and east where I literally ran into the Arlington National Cemetery.

What an amazing place of honor. Over 300,000 people are buried there, including John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

You can’t help but be in awe of the magnitude of sacrifice of the men and women who rest there.

I had been preoccupied, thinking about an upcoming speaking engagement and inconvenient travel arrangements. Shame on me. I have no problems.

I get to live in and enjoy the tremendous freedoms bought and paid for by the heroes laid to rest at Arlington. We should all be extremely thankful.

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June 2, 2009 by Kyle.

SGMP Conference Brainstorm Results

I had the opportunity to speak recently at the national conference of the Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP) on the topic of “Good Enough for Government Work.”

The intent is to instill a culture of excellence and accountability within their agencies and not settle for “good enough.”

Hopefully, some of them will implement some of those ideas when they get back to their offices, including suggestions like:

— Fire someone who deserves it
— Insist on and reward excellence
— Find a way to instill pride and ownership in the team, in the mission, in the agency
— Stop lying to your employees on their performance appraisals. Call it like you see it!

In the meantime, click on the link above (Brainstorm Results) to see their ideas on how to improve and ensure quality service in the government sector.

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May 11, 2009 by Kyle.

In Washington DC for a speaking engagement recently, I had occasion to walk past this building. I thought it looked like a very impressive piece of architecture and so I looked to see what it was.

Wow! The Library of Congress!

And there I was without my library card…!

But then I had a few questions:

–Do you have to be a Congressman to be able to use the Library of Congress?
–How long can they check out books for?
–If they return a book late, do they have to pay a fine? How much? Does that just come out of our taxes, since we fund Congress?
–Do they have the same books you would find at some of the Presidential Libraries across the country, or are they different?

Hmmm…

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April 25, 2009 by Kyle.

I had the pleasure to be the closing speaker for the Excellence in Government Conference in Washington DC in April. I shared the speaking platform with journalist and broadcaster Cokie Roberts. She gave a great presentation at lunch about the wives of the Founding Fathers based on her book, Ladies of Liberty.

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March 24, 2009 by Kyle.

The Black Belt Speaker (me) will take the “good enough for government work” message to Washington DC (where they could use it) in April.

We’ll combine the message of Black Belt Performance - that is, to be the best at what you do - with the ‘good enough’ message at the Excellence in Government Conference in DC on April 20.

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March 9, 2009 by Kyle.

Have you heard that phrase, “Good Enough for Government Work?”

It implies a standard of performing just well enough to get by - nothing extra.

It should make you furious.

I’ve heard government employees use this phrase many times over the years - sometimes jokingly. But through our taxes and fees, we’re spending billions of dollars for government employees to provide services for us: from building roads to driving tanks in combat.

I’m not willing to settle for good enough for my dollars. My clients don’t settle for just “good enough.”

Watch for my new book in April entitled, Good Enough for Government Work - How to Squash Mediocrity in Government.

But be warned: As the graphic on the cover says, “Warning! Contents may cause irritation.”

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February 2, 2009 by Kyle.

I had the honor of preaching at my old church this weekend: St Matthew United Methodist Church.

There’s some pressure!

For a guy who was scared to death of public speaking as a kid and young adult, I’ve progressed to the point where I now earn my living as a motivational speaker. Go to BlackBeltSpeaker.com.

So corporate or government or association audiences are not too tough. But to preach the word of God! I certainly don’t want to let Him down!

The church service went well. People were very kind with their comments afterward. The message was taken from the passage in Matthew where Peter walks on the water toward Jesus.

It takes a lot of faith and willingness to step out of your comfort zone to walk on the water!

What are you considering in your personal life, your business, or your spiritual life that is outside your comfort zone? Go ahead. Try it! God assures us he’ll be there for us!

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January 6, 2009 by Kyle.

When I was speaking in Vancouver recently, I got a tour of the city from a couple of off-duty police officers. It’s a great city, but being cops, they’re also going to show you some sights a little off the touristy path.

I had picked up sightseeing brochures about the Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island and the Capilano Suspension Bridge (very cool).

However, I had not picked up the brochure about the Hookers and Drug Dealers Tour that I received from my 2 police officer buddies! Very informative.

It was even an interactive tour. A gentleman approached the passenger side of the vehicle we were in and offered me some rock cocaine. As much as I wanted to bring home a souvenir of my trip, I declined his offer.

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December 10, 2008 by Kyle.

Marketing expert Ford Saeks spoke to our chapter of National Speakers Association. He had commented to his mentor about his level of success.

That mentor assured him the same success was possible for him by telling him, “I represent the ideas and dreams you failed to take action on.”

Another way to put it. What will you do that others are unwilling to do? Not unable, but simply unwilling?

That’s where the prize is.

What will you do, what action will you take this week?

When all is said and done, there’s a whole lot said and very little done.

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December 10, 2008 by Kyle.

What a great job!

I get to paid to travel to fabulous cities, meet fascinating people, and talk to them!

Recently, I traveled to Vancouver to speak to a police department in Delta (suburb of Vancouver). From there I flew to Norfolk, Virginia to do a presentation for the US Navy as part of a leadership development conference!

From Pacific to Atlantic in 24 hours! How cool is that?

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