Just a few months ago, we had the blessing to have a new grandson adopted into our family. It’s been interesting for me to watch him grow. He’s now on his stomach and recently he was trying to crawl. There was a dog sitting a few feet away and he so badly wanted to touch that dog. So, on his belly, he started moving a little bit at a time. Finally, he figured out that he could stretch his way to touch the dog.
It’s been interesting to watch him as he struggles. Sometimes he gets getting frustrated because he can’t get the things he knows he wants. But he’s learning how to find a way to scoot on his belly and move to get what he needs, even though it’s really hard.
So many times, for all of us, we see things we want — things we might even need — and they could be really difficult for us to reach.
Sometimes, we have to get outside our normal selves. We have to understand what we’re capable of accomplishing. But it’s oftentimes not easy. It requires effort, it requires energy.
And as I watched this little baby learning how to crawl, it reminded me: It wasn’t easy to learn how to walk. It’s not easy to learn things in life that we take for granted right now.
That’s the way it will be for other things in our lives. We need to make the effort to stretch, to get outside of ourselves. If we can push ourselves beyond our perceived limitations, it will help us learn and accomplish things we never thought we could have learned or accomplished before.
We are nearing an important deadline. The USANA Foundation, which strives to provide immediate and long-term food relief for those in need, is seeking to raise enough money by Sunday (Feb. 28) to provide 250,000 meals globally.
The initiative began at the start of 2021 and is an ambitious one. Yet, it’s a target we know we must hit.
Already, the campaign’s raised a significant portion of its goal amount. But we’re not there quite yet.
Every donation, no matter the size, helps to provide potentially life-saving food and nutrition to families around the world.
Thank you to everyone who’s contributed to this important cause. If you’ve yet to donate, or if you’re able to donate additional funds, I encourage you to do so.
As Chairman and CEO of USANA, I believe strongly in our vision of creating The Healthiest Family on Earth.
The USANA Family stretches globally — far beyond the markets we serve and those who benefit from our nutritional supplements. It includes the individuals and families whose lives have been helped thanks to your donations to The USANA Foundation.
Since 2012, The USANA Foundation has provided more than 57 million meals and over $23 million in aid. We couldn’t do it without your generosity and ongoing support.
“I am so grateful for everything the USANA Family does to make an impact in the lives of families around the world,” says Brian Paul, president of The USANA Foundation. “It’s so awesome to see the generosity. We have a big goal, one that will make a significant difference for families who have been struggling. I know we can reach this goal if we really come together.”
Please join me in supporting The USANA Foundation’s 250,000 Global Meals initiative by making a donation before Feb. 28, 2021. And please share this article with friends, family, and professional colleagues who would like to make a difference.
Note: A version of this article went to email subscribers on Feb. 24, 2021. Are you on the list?
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 Guest2021-02-26 08:30:522021-03-08 11:34:44Help The USANA Foundation Reach its Goal
A country music superstar influences a global CEO to power through pandemic pressures. The relationship offers lessons for everyone during COVID-19. The following is adapted from a news release published on Feb. 2, 2021.
“After inviting country music superstar Collin Raye to perform at our company’s annual convention, I was invited by Collin himself to perform with his band on tour,” said Kevin Guest, author, musician, and CEO of USANA Health Sciences. “Collin said he saw my passion for music and wanted me to tour with his band part-time. I was astonished, thrilled, and terrified all at once.”
USANA’s full-time chairman and CEO was reminded of three aspects that can help today’s workers through the global pandemic:
Passion
Hard work
Performing
A Passion for Music
“I had a passion for music from an early age,” Guest said. “My dream as a kid was to become a rock star, to play music for adoring fans, maybe even to be heard on the radio. Creating, composing, and performing music was my passion.
Kevin Guest performs with Collin Raye at the 13th Annual HealthCorps Gala in New York on April 16, 2019.
“I daydreamed for hours, imagining myself on stage in front of tens of thousands of screaming admirers who loved my music. That dream was a driving force in my life, so performing with Collin Raye was a dream come true.”
The indelible lesson on Guest was “when you really want something, make it happen,” which Guests dubs “The Piano Principle” in his book.
“I really wanted to make this happen, so I worked my heart out to be flawless. It was Collin’s career and product I was presenting on stage,” he said. “I spent hours learning the music and honing my skills. Although I love to play music, that was hard work. And I honestly wondered if I had bitten off more than I could chew.
“So, instead of relaxing after working a full day at USANA, I learned how to play every one of Collin Raye’s songs.”
Get On Stage & Perform
Guest writes, according to psychology professor Angela Duckworth, extraordinary success is a combination of passion, perseverance, and grit, which she says is far more important to achievement than natural talent and is a better predictor of success than virtually any other quality or measurement.
“The next step is to perform. To get on stage and take your best shot. Whether that be to your boss, your team, or to larger audiences,” Guest said. “That act alone makes the preparation real and helps a person improve. Working with Collin Raye has allowed me to play with and meet some of the finest musicians on the planet in some of the most famous settings in the music world.
“I’ve performed with Collin when we shared the stage with Brooks and Dunn, Keith Urban, Diamond Rio, and many others, even playing at Nashville’sGrand Ole Opry more than once, something that would’ve never happened had I not taken these steps.”
Pursue Your Own Passion
With the pandemic influencing work and personal lives for months ahead, Guest recommends:
Pursuing your passion
Working hard to improve your skills
Performing in front of others for accountability
“When you combine those three steps, you’ll find your work not only becomes more enjoyable, but you get better at doing the things you’re passionate about,” he said. “In these times, that may be the best way to find harmony and balance in a less-than-normal daily schedule.”
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.svg00Tim Haranhttps://www.kevinguest.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Kevin-Guest-Logo-White.svgTim Haran2021-02-12 09:00:422022-03-09 15:42:49Country Music Star Influences Global CEO
