The government Shutdown continues, so I am “shutting down” comments about the government.
Jennifer Rogers and I are proud to announce…(drum roll)… we wrote a new little book, “Common Horse Sense from Will Rogers: Seven Timeless Tips for Leaders (and Everyone Else).”
Jennifer is Will’s great-granddaughter. She lives in Claremore, Oklahoma (across the street from the Will Rogers Memorial Museum) and is dedicating her life to promoting the legacy of Will Rogers. We’ve been friends for many years.
The book is filled with stories by Will about his servant leadership, plus ones we wrote. Will was a comforter. He put on shows to raise money for victims of floods, drought, earthquakes and deadly fires. Before one show, he wrote, “They will get every cent that comes in, even if there is nobody there but my wife – who will have to pay to get in.” Of course, the show was a sellout.
If Will were alive today, he would be preparing to raise money for the hurricane victims in Jamaica. (Should Jennifer and I do a fund raiser while I’m in Claremore and Tulsa next weekend?)
Can you relate to this? Will said a person “learns by two things, one is reading and the other is associating with smarter people.” Will is known for “All I know is what I read in the newspaper.” Will read several papers to get different views, and humor for his shows. He was friends with prominent leaders (smarter people) including Henry Ford, Franklin D. Roosevelt, The Prince of Wales, Gen. Billy Mitchell, and Charles Lindbergh. Who are you associating with in your community?
Will was an “Influencer” and “Thought Leader” before those terms were invented. He never held office or built a big business, yet he influenced presidents, comforted families and nations, and made the world laugh – on purpose. His syndicated newspaper columns (daily and weekly) were read by millions. He pushed for a pension for old folks (which became Social Security) and relief for the farmers (which led to the first Farm Bill). His unscripted radio show with a live audience on Sunday nights was the forerunner of our late-night TV shows. He developed techniques that professional speakers and comedians still use today.
Reminder: you don’t have to have a title, such as CEO, President, Principal, or Sales Manager, to be a leader. We wrote this book to give tips and ideas to serve others yourself.
You can order from “ShopWillRogers.com” for $4.95 each. If you are interested in a large number of books for gifts for family and/or business clients send me an email: .
This book is one of 37 “Life-Changing Classics” published by TremendousLeadership.com. They offer bulk sales.
Historic quote by Will Rogers:
“I joked about every prominent man of my time, but I never met a man I didn’t like.”