Do You Have a "Ghost Story" Worth Sharing?

Charlie was the most famous novelist of his day.

His books were released three chapters at a time; small pamphlets eventually bound together as complete books. As the new volumes were published, crowds would gather to buy the next installments.

Market demand for Charlie’s product was no different than line ups we’ve witnessed for new iPhones or a "Harry Potter" release.

More adventurous and entrepreneurial bookstore owners would hire barkers with loud voices to stand outside their doors and read Charlie’s new chapters. This hubbub of activity generated buzz, got folks talking and attracted an audience. In America, when the new chapters would arrive by boat, unruly crowds would literally riot at the dock just to get their eager hands on the novels.

But, in the fall of 1843, Charlie needed cash. Needed it quick.

As 2019 draws to a close, you might be interested in knowing how Charlie wielded the prodigious power of his fertile imagination and the sharp strokes of his mighty pen over six short weeks to create one of the world’s most enduring brands. The impact of his ghostly writings will you to understand why the next several weeks will see you looking forward to a triple-whammy of gift giving, credit card debt and seeing your loved ones over the holidays with some holiday cheer to boot.

For leaders hoping to re-write the next decade of their business and personal lives, you might want to Craft Your Own Ghost Story on this edition of Leaders & Legends.

Born in 1812, Charlie was the second of eight children and attended school in Portsmouth until his world turned upside down when he was only 12-years old. There was a loud knock on the door and the boy watched in disbelief as a squad of stern, unforgiving men placed handcuffs on his Navy clerk father before hauling him off to jail for failing to pay a debt.

The rest of the family moved to live near the prison, leaving Charlie to live alone and fend for himself. Forced to take a job in a grimy shoe polish factory, Charlie and his fellow child laborers experienced treatment that fell somewhere between miserable and horrific.

Would it surprise you to know that the trauma of those hardships had a profound impact on that young lad?

At the age of 15, Charlie closed the book on factory life and wound up getting a job as an office boy. By 1832, the inquisitive and impish youth had learned so much about his craft as a stenographer at the law courts of London that he became a reporter for two prominent newspapers

Charlie’s awe-inspiring work ethic and formidable writing talents produced a hefty income thanks to timeless works of art such as “Oliver Twist”. Channeling the haunted memories of a childhood cut way too short, Charles Dickens most enduring legacy came after an 1843 visit to Manchester. His idea for A “Christmas Carol” originated when he spoke before a philanthropic organization for the working poor—a largely uneducated population being exploited by factory bosses and shunned by proper society. Already popular and financially successful, this self-made man with a social conscience decided to take a stand against what he saw as a threat to England’s moral fibre being bred in the slums of the country’s smoky industrialized cities.

It may seem shocking to us now, but in 1843, working on Christmas Day was just part of the normal routine.

Thanks to Charles Dickens, the tall tales he told his six children of the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future became the stuff legends are made of. He also happened to be between writing projects and was in desperate need of a few extra shillings to help put food on the holiday table. Within six weeks, the characters of Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim came tumbling out of his vivid imagination as the hastily conceived project was completed – just in time for Christmas.

The book was an instant smash.

Selling out one edition after another, the masses fell head over heels in love with this new vision of what Christmas could be. In rapid fashion, they started modeling their holidays after the one at the end of “A Christmas Carol”. Eventually, millions of people the world over would embrace the values that Dickens advanced – that Christmas should be a time of charity, of giving and of celebrating family. In effect, it is the power of the pen and a few drops of ink that have always inspired mankind to dream and think.

It’s how Christmas, as we know it, came to be.

The beliefs of an entire planet were forever changed through the ideas of one man with an iron will and sturdy quill who single-handedly created the magic and traditions we now enjoy and experience during our holidays.

Not a corporation, doctor, scientist or politician.

Not a rock star, athlete, actor or advertising executive.

The re-branding of the Christmas season occurred when a determined writer armed with a lifetime of real-life ghost stories pulled the trigger and made something happen.

What would happen if you borrowed a chapter from the Dickens playbook and did exactly the same thing?

Can you think of the traumatic events that defined you the most and find your own "ghostly" inspiration for the world you want to create in 2020 and beyond?

Charles Dickens reached back into one of the darkest periods of his tortured past and discovered light. Is there anything stopping you from doing the same thing?

What if you could use the power of your own words to slay demons and dragons from your most painful memories as a way to re-shape and re-configure your present and future?

Who would benefit if you decide to use your God-given abilities in this way? How could you intellect, influence and initiative be a catalyst for change? What if you could be the one who could speak for those who have no voice?

As we wrap up our publishing schedule before the holidays, I can think of no better gift that you could give to yourself and the people you care about most.

The late Steve Jobs was once quoted as saying that he wanted to put a “ding in the universe”.

The incredibly talented J.K. Rowling insists that, “We do not need magic to transform our world. We carry all the power we need inside ourselves already.”

Real magic begins once you start to write about the stuff that you really care about; raw truth that only you have lived and experienced.

As we approach the end of this decade, each and every one of us has an opportunity to reflect on the art that we are beyond privileged to create at work and home and how we can use it make the world a better place.

Happy Holidays and looking forward to connecting with you again in 2020 with new ideas on leaders, legends and what makes them tick.

"An idea, like a ghost, must be spoken to a little before it will explain itself" CHARLES DICKENS

NOW BOOKING FOR 2020 / 2021 ... BIG LITTLE LEGENDS!

The language of brand speaks to humans in a way that is metaphorical, meaningful, emotional and symbolic. The language of business communicates in a way that is logical, literal, mechanical and analytical. How then, does a business leader – in any industry – any product/service category become fluent in BOTH of these vitally important languages?

This unforgettable keynote/workshop (and preview of the forthcoming book) is designed to challenge accepted notions of how long-term brand-building really works these days. It forces leaders to re-think what's possible and the role they play in creating modern-day legacy. It's entitled BIG LITTLE LEGENDS - How Everyday Leaders Build Irresistible Brands.

Planning a Speaking Event?

The wheels of business turn faster each quarter and your company or industry association may be busy making plans to stay ahead of the lighting-fast relevance curve. In that spirit, we are knee-deep in booking events for 2020 and 2021 with organizations like Vistage International, Raptor Mining and the National Truck Equipment Association to dramatically rock their next conference with keynotes and workshops that inspire audiences to acquire “STADIUM-SIZED PERSPECTIVE”. For booking inquiries, feel free to reach out and contact us.

Other Resources for You to Explore:

If you are a CEO, Senior Executive or Business Owner who has attended one of our speaking events, consider this as an open invitation to schedule a 20-minute Discovery Session. It's a great, no-strings way to bounce ideas just to see where they land.

Purchase the critically-acclaimed, NUTS, BOLTS AND A FEW LOOSE SCREWS. Available at Chapters.ca and Amazon.com.

Get daily updates and continue the DISCUSSION on FACEBOOK or visit www.gairmaxwell.com

"Everything you can imagine is real"  PABLO PICASSO