THE STATION EXPRESS - A Junction Between Journey & Destination

DECEMBER RECAP:

?Nothing like the holidays to hunker down, experience a little quiet time and for families to come together. Enjoyed the opportunity to go off the grid for a spell but also make a guest appearance at the Innovate Cochrane event on December 11th. Hosted by energetic community builder, Nathan Klassen, these monthly forums are hosted at the charming Found Bookstore, an indie establishment with an ambience that feels straight out of ‘Notting Hill’. Great to see so many people come out on a cold winter night and warm up to a fascinating discussion on the origin of legends and how these insights apply to any business or non-profit enterprise.?

Another holiday highlight was a chance to hang out with Edmonton Oilers ambassador and 5-time Stanley Cup Champion, Barrie Stafford. After visiting his mother in nearby Banff, the former Alberta Golden Bear makes it a habit to swing by Cochrane to grab a coffee and catch up on things like what 2025 has in store for anyone who is curious about … “WINNING @ THE GREAT GAME OF LIFE!” ?

If you and your organization would like to schedule an in-person appearance from Barrie, just message me directly and I can connect you.

Single Take Stories: Down & Dirty In Brew City

?THREE LESSONS FROM A MILWAUKEE FOXHOLE!

It's been said, you can learn a lot just by watching. An eye-opening visit with "Squad Leader" Andy Weins from the Camo Crew Responsible Junk Removal. A Vistage Worldwide member, I met Andy on a recent swing through Wisconsin and it was illuminating to get a peek behind the camouflaged curtain. ?

Shot in a single take. NO edits, NO filters. NO A.I.

You can learn more about Andy and his highly skilled, responsible and mobile platoon here: https://camocrewjunkremoval.com/

COMMENTATING:

?"It's never too late to become who you want to be. I hope you have the strength to start over"? F. SCOTT FITZGERALD

?2025. New year. New beginnings. Fresh starts. Clean slates.

?Brimming with renewed optimism about peace and prosperity we all wish and hope for on the horizon of a new calendar year.

The great philosopher and baseball Hall-of-Famer Yogi Berra once said, “It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” And yet that’s what’s on many minds right now. Taking stock of the past to try and anticipate, predict and shape our personal 2025 futures. In that respect, the author of the explosive best-seller “Atomic Habits”, the impactful James Clear has three simple questions at this time of year anyone can benefit from. Three questions that offer a robust reflection on the year past and what can be carried over.?

1.??? What went well this year?

2.??? What didn’t go so well this year?

3.??? What did I learn?

In the spirit of doing this exercise, here are some personal reflections on 2024:

1.??? Too many highlights to pick from, but uppermost on the list was the showcase event for BIG LITTLE LEGENDS at historic Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI. Thrill of a lifetime and sharing the moment and the stage with fellow NFL Films junkie Bob Mueller was the big fat cherry on top of a green-and-gold sundae. The return trip to visit the WAVE business group in Taipei, TW was also exceptional and memorable with the chance to test new material and concepts designed to inspire magic! All told there were nearly 100 keynotes and workshops in different parts of the world including a memorable event before 400 people at the home of the NFL’s Denver Broncos, Empower Field at Mile High.

But, even better are the great people you get to work with and befriend along the way like Mary Hosmer, Sam Hutchison, Red Batty, Karen Gladney, Toni Blake, Lewis Johnson, John Demeter, Vered Kogan, Bud Carter, Frank Furness, Mervyn Byrd, Jennifer Keida, Mark DiMassimo, Luis Gonzales, Andy Bourey, Liz Morris, Mark Lee, Deb Milimaka-Miles, Mark Terrill, ?Mark Jankowski, Gerry Sandusky, Mark Taylor, Henry Biemann, Nathan Klassen, Tim Odom, Aviva Ajmera, Wayne Strickland and so many others who make criss-crossing the continent a lot more rewarding and a lot more fun! On a more personal note, the 6th annual M.G.A. Tour event in my hometown of Moncton, NB was especially rewarding as Dad and his great-grandson Cayden, aka “The Tartan Tornadoes” captured their 6th consecutive title. And for the third straight year, the M.G.A. Tour sailed the high seas just north of Regina with the Royal Saskatchewan Navy Golf Classic hosted by Rear Admiral Paul Martin and the high-flying Wing Commander Warren “Goose” Barry.? ??

2.??? Overcommitting and over scheduling which leads to that gnawing feeling of overwhelm. Never feeling caught up. Never feeling that you are doing enough to serve.?

3.??? Learned that systems do more than create structure. Systems bring freedom. Watch for more systems and documented structure as 2025 unfolds. As immortal business guru Peter Drucker once stated: “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” ?

How would you respond to those three questions? In what way are you taking full advantage of this clean slate to leave setbacks and regrets in the rearview mirror and focus on the bright windshield of the future??

LEGENDS IN THE MAKING:

?Grow With Honor.

?From Kelowna, BC, a young entrepreneur made a courageous decision to protect his family, their small business and secure the future. Ranjit Takhar has served notice there is a lot more than meets the eye at Evergreen Building Maintenance. Together with his sister, Navjot, Ranjit is on a mission that will deliver an impact far beyond the Okanagan region. This video says it all. ???

“What you do has far greater impact than what you say” STEPHEN COVEY

JANUARY HAPPENINGS:

We are barely out of the 2025 gate and rarely have I consumed more books in such a short amount of time. Current favourite is Atomic Habits from James Clear and his insights on why it’s so damn difficult to achieve discipline and structure. In his well-researched and most pragmatic literary opus, he points out, “You do not rise to the level of your goals.?You fall to the level of your systems”. Other current titles on the bedside night table include Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara, Brothers by Alex Van Halen and The Franchise by Craig Custance. This frenetic reading frenzy is still inspired by the commitment made to my friend Kim McMurdo from Calgary who gave me the nudge a year ago to create my own “24 In 24” program. The full story here:

READ: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/create-your-own-24-gair-maxwell-jtoac/?trackingId=fbr%2BLtj4Ts6%2Fe6GJBjGORA%3D%3D

?ONCE OVER LIGHTLY:

?Always good to have a chuckle or two. Or three and four! Like watching Jim Breuer apply the dark arts of heavy metal in an effort to save children’s music!

FROM THE MAILROOM:

“Hello and Happy New Year my friend. A quick word to let you know that I’m currently reading “Nuts, Bolts and a Few Loose Screews” I’m enjoying it. I think it is written and presented in a fun way. Although I realize that this comment takes away from the book itself; what I’m truly enjoying is re-living your presentations at the CBDC. Without a doubt, I can say then I think “branding” and “amazing performers/presenters” I think “Gair Maxwell”. I wanted to send you the compliment as I do think highly of you and continue to consider you as THE expert in the field. Thank you for your passion and here is to a successful, healthy and fun 2025 my friend!”

OLIVIER EDDIE, London, ON

LEADERS & LEGENDS:

When you think back to the recent holidays did you notice how your everyday language was sprinkled and frosted with words and phrases that include, ‘jingle all the way’, ‘Santa Claus is coming to town’, ‘bah-humbug’, ‘merry and bright’, ‘naughty or nice’, ‘dashing through the snow’ and ‘HO HO HO’? Another December to remember and conversations with fellow humans took a sharp turn for the better. Collectively, we have been repeating the sounding joy, for exactly 181 years. And nothing quite captured the spirit of modern-day peace on earth like the Five Greatest Christmas Commercials Ever Made! In case you missed it, here is 'Heart Strings For The Holidays' on a festive edition of Leaders & Legends.

READ ARTICLE: ??https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/heart-strings-holidays-gair-maxwell-mrorc/?trackingId=LSZ6bukmRuupXHDOwRBguA%3D%3D

THOUGHT PARTICLES:

?Juicy literary morsels from The Monday Morning Memo. Penned by New York Times best-selling author and founder of world-famous Wizard Academy in Austin, TX, Roy H. Williams. Roy's weekly memos have been read by people worldwide since 1994 and he has never missed a Monday!

?READ: https://www.mondaymorningmemo.com/newsletters/drifting-surfing-drowning-and-sailing/?

?QUOTABLE:

??“If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one” DOLLY PARTON

FIVE FASCINATING FACTZ:

• The iconic Ruby Slippers from The Wizard of Oz, worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 film, recently sold for a record $28 million at auction. It was expected that Dorothy’s slipper would fetch about $3 million before the bidding escalated to the point where it became the richest piece of entertainment memorabilia ever sold.
• The Eiffel Tower was originally supposed to be for the city of Barcelona. As legend has it, city officials rejected the famous tower because they considered it too ugly. But, what if its just a myth?
• As of September 2024, the U.S. has sent Ukraine over $174 billion in funding and equipment through military, economic, and humanitarian aid. Some of these funds will require repayment - with interest - after the war is concluded with Russia. ?
• TIME magazine named WNBA Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark as its 2024 Athlete of the Year. Similar to legends like Babe Ruth, Joe Namath and Wayne Gretzky, you would be hard-pressed to name another athlete who altered the trajectory of their entire sport within in five short months.
• The world’s most expensive Michelin-starred restaurant is not in Paris or anywhere in France. That distinction belongs to Ginza Kitafuku, in Tokyo, Japan, has a $2,130 tasting menu.

PICTURE THIS:

What do you see in this lone tree? Is it the sense of being alone and shutting out the noise? Is it a symbol of standing apart from all the nature that surrounds it? Does it represent strength and resilience in the face of adversity? Standing tall and facing challenges alone?? Just outside of Cochrane, AB, the Glenbow Tree elegantly frozen in time by frontiersman and cinematic film maker Eppo Eerkes.

?PODCAST PIK:

Michael Lewis, a New York Times bestselling author and the host of the podcast Against the Rules, joins Scott Galloway to discuss several topics. The state of sports betting, challenges faced by young men and the controversy surrounding his book, Going Infinite, which explores the rise and fall of Sam Bankman Fried.

FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH:

You are sitting rink side. Watching a morning skate. Casually chatting with hockey parents about their son.

Two words change everything.

Brain cancer.

Suddenly, whatever problems you were facing that day or that week shrink to the size of a snowflake. In a heartbeat, you are now observing an 11-year-old boy through completely different eyes. His parents, Jeff and Amanda recount the story of how Easton is determined to continue playing hockey – despite his diagnosis - and recently scored his first goal. He has also been taken under the wing of Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper who made sure Easton was working out with his NHL squad and available to speak with the media afterwards.

WATCH: https://www.nhl.com/lightning/video/jon-cooper-and-easton-beatch-pregame-12-12-24-6365917158112??

FEBRUARY SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS:

February 4 – Cambridge, ON February 11- Hartford, CT February 12 – Hartford, CT February 13 – Hartford, CT February 19 – Las Vegas, NV

Over the last several weeks, we have added 2025 dates for Tampa, Jacksonville, Miami, San Antonio, Phoenix and Toronto.? If you are planning an upcoming conference or event and would like to include a keynote or workshop featuring BIG LITTLE LEGENDS, reach out to Chief Efficiency Officer Maria Pegg at [email protected].

Thanks for taking time to reflect and refuel at THE STATION EXPRESS where fellow travelers relish the ride on the destination to exploration. Published on the second Wednesday of every month, sincerely appreciate when you share THE STATION EXPRESS with others. Also feel free to subscribe to our growing YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0V26Ma6o9euBdKgYZymg1g.

Get social and connect on?FACEBOOK, ?LINKED IN?or visit?www.gairmaxwell.com

“Your present situation is not your final destination. The best is yet to come” ZIG ZIGLAR