Leaders and Followers

Leaders and Followers
by Donna M. Carbone

There’s a voice I keep hearing in my head. It’s my mother saying, “If all your friends jumped off the George Washington Bridge, would you jump, too?” I don’t imagine there is anyone over the age of ten who doesn’t recognize the reason for mom’s question. Growing up, any act of stupidity on my part was always explained by wailing, “Everybody’s doing it!” That statement is a common defense used by children worldwide because children haven’t experienced enough of life to know better.

The universe is filled with leaders and followers. A recent story out of San Francisco detailed motivational speaker Tony Robbins unique approach to empowerment, which included convincing 6,000 people to walk across 10 foot long lanes of hot coals burning at 2,000 degrees.

According to the Associated Press article, twenty-one people sustained burns severe enough to be treated at a hospital. Twenty-one out of 6,000 isn’t so bad, but I’m less concerned about those with toasted tootsies then I am with the fact that 6,000 people actually participated in this stunt. There has to be a better way to boost self-confidence than imitating a marshmallow at a barbeque.

From time to time I’ve met people who have attended seminars like those offered by Robbins. Most were doctors or lawyers whose practices were dwindling from the loss of patients/clients. These professionals needed someone to tell them that they would succeed. Education, ability, self assurance be damned. Money talks or more accurately motivational speakers talk for a price. 

The one constant with these self-proclaimed gurus is that they are extremely charismatic. By combining theatrics with the gift of gab, they deftly cover up the fact that they are experts in nothing but pitching themselves. How many of you remember the 1960’s singing group Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs? Their best known songs were Wooly Bully and Li’l Red Riding Hood. Sam, whose real name is Domingo Zamudio, would appear on stage wearing a camp robe and turban. The group’s popularity was short lived, so when Sam’s career as a singer began to wane, he looked for another means by which to support himself. He became a motivational speaker. 

Practicality rarely plays a part in empowerment programs, but sometimes attendees do receive a nugget of good advice. A doctor friend of mine attended a seminar some time ago. He was told that to increase his patient base, he needed to wear over the knee socks so that when he crossed his legs, his skin didn’t show. Advice definitely worth the $2,500.00 price tag, wouldn’t you agree?

The hundreds/thousands of dollars’ cost of these workshops provide a temporary high for the participants and a fat bank account for the organizers. Building self-confidence is expensive if you don’t know how to do it yourself. Truth be told, the only motivational speaker guaranteed to bring you success is YOU. Believe you can and you will!