It’s been several months since I’ve posted about What I’m Reading. So I wanted to share with you one book that I’ve recently started but that I’m really enjoying. It’s The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company.
My kids know that I like to read, so they’re always trying to find something I might enjoy. My son actually gave me this book.
It’s lessons learned from Robert Iger, who spent more than a decade leading the Walt Disney Company.
I’m always excited to learn from other leaders. This book, in particular, lays out several real-life practical stories.
Iger also offers insight into certain decisions he made — some good, some bad — and the lessons he learned from each.
The Disney Experience
As you may remember, the USANA management team spent some time at The Disney Institute in 2019. We learned from their customer experience model.
Our challenge: Learn as much as we could from the Disney team. And then visit Disneyland the following day to observe their methods in action.
Finally, we regrouped as a management team and talked about how we can apply some of the Disney customer experience strategies in our own business. I believe it’s so important to learn from others, especially from others who have a proven track record in a certain area.
The Walt Disney Company definitely excels in customer experience. I’m learning even more about it as I make my way through The Ride of a Lifetime.
How About You?
What are you currently reading? Please drop a comment to let me know if there’s a book you recommend I pick up next.
https://www.kevinguest.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Kevin-Guest-Logo-White.svg00Kevin Guesthttps://www.kevinguest.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Kevin-Guest-Logo-White.svgKevin Guest2021-04-14 09:00:452021-04-14 09:58:18What I’m Reading: The Ride of a Lifetime
Applying New 3Rs Gets Workers through Pandemic, Global Author/CEO Says. The following is adapted from a news release published on March 17, 2021.
Applying the new 3Rs — resilience, recalibration, and relationships — will help today’s workers get through challenges brought by the pandemic, according to a global author and CEO.
Resilience
“The first thing to acknowledge is that every person who has made it this far through the pandemic is resilient, and that is a key strength that is going to carry us through to even greater heights,” said Kevin Guest, author, musician, and CEO of USANA Health Sciences. “Years ago, I met the most famous diamond in the world: the Hope Diamond. As I held this forty-five-and-a-half carat, deep blue diamond in my hands, it made me think of how resilient this rock is to have withstood the highly pressured environment in the earth.
“From about 90 miles deep in the earth, this rock was spewed out in a volcanic eruption, discovered, cleaned, polished, and prepared into a beautiful diamond. In a metaphorical sense, each one of us is a diamond, and through all of the pressures of the pandemic, we have strengthened our character and determination to make us unstoppable.”
“We have never been closer to the end of the pandemic than we are now,” Guest said. “Living in isolation is the perfect time to reconnect with your core values to determine who you really are, what life means to you, and what values will serve as your foundation going forward.
“In reality, most of us have never been given the gift of extended time to assess like we have now. Using this to determine what matters most to you is a huge life bonus. Recalibrating habits, thoughts, and daily duties to define who you are will benefit you and those around you for the rest of your life.”
Relationships
Drawn from a lifetime of networking and leading a global company, Guest cites the third “R” as valuing relationships.
“Nothing is more important than relationships,” said Guest, chairman and CEO of USANA Health Sciences (NYSE: USNA), a billion-dollar company operating in 24 markets worldwide. “Today I have friends and colleagues in countries and cultures around the world, and each is important to me. I learned long ago that treating others with the utmost respect and kindness is a key to success and makes life more harmonious for everyone.
“The pandemic has reminded us of things that matter most, and relationships with others is at the top of the list as we connect with God, family, friends, coworkers, and so forth. Over the last year, we have felt a loss of connection with others, and because humans are naturally social beings, relationship-building is one of the key factors that will help us emerge stronger from the pandemic.”
The 3Rs
Guest believes those simple patterns, the 3Rs, of behavior can help us power through the pandemic and lift each other to higher levels of harmony in life in a post-pandemic world.
“I’ve never seen Kevin make a selfish decision,” said country music star Collin Raye, who wrote the forward in All the Right Reasons and frequently invites Guest to play with his band on tour, including multiple times at the Grand Ole Opry. “He thinks of his family, his friends, and his associates at USANA and always tries to put others first.”
All the Right Reasons: 12 Timeless Principles for Living a Life in Harmony is available on Amazon. All proceeds benefit The USANA Foundation and its mission to feed hungry children. Each book purchase provides 40 meals.
https://www.kevinguest.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Kevin-Guest-Logo-White.svg00Kevin Guesthttps://www.kevinguest.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Kevin-Guest-Logo-White.svgKevin Guest2021-04-08 09:00:512022-03-09 15:41:37Applying New 3Rs Gets Workers through Pandemic
One of the greatest values of mentors, renowned author and speaker John C. Maxwell says, “is the ability to see ahead what others cannot see and to help them navigate a course to their destination.”
I’ve been fortunate to have had countless mentors in my life to help me navigate my course. I’ve learned and studied from brilliant individuals who have counseled and guided me personally and professionally.
One of my dearest friends and longtime mentors is Dr. Denis Waitley.
Over the past 25-plus years, we’ve spent hours talking about business, life, happiness, sadness, success, failure, and everything in between.
He’s mentored me as I’ve grown up in USANA.
Above all, he’s provided objectivity and honesty when I needed it most. I know I can count on Denis to offer wise counsel and to help me become a better version of myself—to get to where I want to be.
This notion of mentorship is something I’ve been thinking about lately, especially as I focus more on self-care. It’s so important to develop relationships with people who can help you grow.
Who Are Your Mentors?
For USANA Chief Sales Officer David Mulham, who talks about mentorship in some recent social media videos, Dr. Myron Wentz springs to mind (as he does for me, and as I’m sure as he does for many of you).
In a recent video, David asks: Who’s been significant in influencing the decisions in your life?
“It’s really important for people to know there are people out there, either directly or indirectly, that can really have an influence on you if you seek them out,” he says.
So who are the influential individuals in your life who have mentored you along the way? Please reply to this email to let me know.
A version of this article went to email subscribers on March 22, 2021. I invite you to subscribe here.
https://www.kevinguest.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Kevin-Guest-Logo-White.svg00Kevin Guesthttps://www.kevinguest.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Kevin-Guest-Logo-White.svgKevin Guest2021-03-29 09:00:192021-03-29 10:11:32Who Are the Mentors in Your Life?