Bill Florence - Walt Disney: Entertainment Champion

Walt Disney: Entertainment Champion
by Billy Florence

Normally when we call people dreamers, we do not mean it as a compliment. We want them to get their heads out of the clouds, wake up and smell the coffee, be realistic. But there is no better word than “dreamer” to describe Walt Disney, the most influential and successful man in the history of media entertainment. And as far as he was concerned, there was no greater compliment we could have paid him.

“If you can dream it, you can do it,” he once said. Again, “All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.” And make dreams come true is exactly what he did. Disney produced the first animated film with sound, the first animated color film, the first full length animated film, and the first film combining animation and live action. He was also a pioneer of feature productions for television and children’s television programming. And along the way he invented the theme park. He had many dreams, and he had the courage to make many of them come true.

By Disney’s own testimony, his dreams were spawned by his insatiable curiosity. “Ideas come from curiosity,” he observed. “When you’re curious, you find lots of interesting things to do.” Like inventing a talking mouse that took a nation by storm, winning 19 Academy Awards, and turning a Florida swamp into the greatest entertainment complex in the world.

Disney’s curiosity caused him to wonder about everything he saw – why it worked the way it did, how it might work differently – and about things he didn’t see but only imagined – why they didn’t exist and what it would take to bring them about. He wondered and he dreamed and he acted. And he changed his world.

“Always remember that this whole thing started with a dream and a mouse.” – Walt Disney
To learn more about the life and career of Walt Disney, go to Disneydreamer.com.

About Billy and Peggy Florence:

Billy Florence is a veteran, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Billy Florence and Peggy Florence are frequently featured guest speakers on subject of business ownership, leadership skills, business development and personal motivation.

© 2007 Florence News reprint permission to Billy Florence Team Dream Chasers site.

Billy Florence - Message to Young Adults: Save Early

I'm sure most of you have played around with different retirement planning calculators or maybe talked with a financial planner. The law of compounding is an amazing thing. Interest can work for you or it can work against you. It can be your best friend or your worst enemy. So many young adults start their working career already in huge amounts of debt and have interest working against them. If you are in this situation, work hard to get out of debt as soon as you can. (Dave Ramsey offers some great advice on money management and getting out of debt in his books. Visit his website at www.daveramsey.com.) Start saving and planning for the future as early as you can in your working career.

When you get out of debt and start saving for the future early, it makes things so much easier for you. So many young adults think "I'll just wait and start saving later" but the later they wait the bigger percentage of their income they need to put away. So decide today to start saving early.

This article from CNNMoney.com talks about a young man who started stashing money away early and the advantages it gives him:

The reason our "What You Need To Save" calculator has come back with such a low savings rate in your case is that you've accumulated so much dough at a relatively tender age. Extreme saver you are, you've tucked away more than twice your income and you're barely in your 30s. Which is great. Saving big time early in your career vastly increases the odds that you'll have a large enough nest egg to fund a nice long and comfortable retirement.

Read the complete article at CNNMoney.com:

http://money.cnn.com/2007/05/25/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htm?postversion=2007052509

© 2007 Florence News reprint permission to Billy Florence Team Dream Chasers site.

Florence News: Theft By Copier; Identity Theft's New Face

Personal ID Theft By Copier

The newest potential threat to your personal Identity is emanating neither from mail box snatchers nor Internet Phishers and hackers. The newest culprit could be the unassuming photocopier. According to CBS News, more than 500,000 Americans will be robbed of their identities this year with more than $4 billion stolen in their names. Most people don’t find about the ID theft until they are turned down for a loan or credit card.

Before you begin scanning personal or confidential information at the nearest copy shop or self-serve copy station, remember to ask this important question: “Do your copier machines have data security installed?” If the answer is “no”, then copy at your own risk. This is also a question you should ask your tax preparer and office manager.

A few years ago, our only ID risk of using a copier was if we accidentally left our copies in the photocopier. Technology and times have changed, but less than half of American’s surveyed were aware that copiers now carry a data security risk. Most of the digital copiers manufactured in the past five years have disk drives. These are same type drives and data storage mechanism found in your computer to reproduce documents. The result of this memory capability is that new photocopiers can retain the data that you scanned and copied.

Two technical solutions can significantly lower the risk of someone with malicious intent being able to access private copied information. One is having the photocopier information disk protected by data encryption and the other is overwrite capability. Sharp was among the first to offer a security kit for its machines to encrypt and overwrite the information on its machines.

© 2007 Florence News reprint permission to Billy Florence Team Dream Chasers site.

Billy Florence - Vision Launched An Army

Billy Florence, “I’ve learned that the responsibility of vision casting is an important part of leadership. Both faith and vision are frequently described as being able to see what is invisible to others.” Florence continues, “In the early 1800’s in London, England the vision of William Booth and his wife launched an Army. That army was the Salvation Army. And the results of that visionary army is that it has brought millions of people to faith.”

Billy Florence Vision Favorite

“Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.” - Jonathan Swift

About Bill and Peggy Florence

Billy Florence and Peggy Florence are members of the IBO Association. IBOAI is the trade association serving and protecting the business interests of Quixtar IBOs. Billy Florence and Jody Victor both serve on the trade association board.

Keywords: Billy Florence Quixtar Quixtar IBO, Jody Victor

© 2007 Billy Florence Quixtar IBO permission given to Billy Florence Team Dream Chasers site.

Billy Florence: Who Makes What In America

It's only natural to be curious. Have the six figure salary earners suddenly become the majority? If you’ve noticed the person at the gym, the social gathering, and the person sitting beside on the airplane seems to be saying they are making six figures salaries, some of them may be expanding on their financial facts of life.

The actual list of America's top earners contains many expected results (chief executives and lawyers), as well as some that may come as a surprise (air traffic controllers, astronomers). And, of course, there's still plenty of proof that it pays to have an MD: surgeons and physicians dominate the list. Here's a look at some median salaries of America's highest-paying jobs, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Top Salaries

Surgeons - $177,690

Anesthesiologists - $174,240

Obstetricians and Gynecologists - $171,810

Orthodontists - $163,410

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons - $160,660

Internists, General - $156,550

Psychiatrists - $146,150

Prosthodontists - $146,080

Family and General Practitioners - $140,370

Chief Executives - $139,810

Pediatricians, General - $139,230

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers - $135,040

Dentists, General - $133,680

Podiatrists - $111,250

Lawyers - $110,520

Air Traffic Controllers - $105,820

Engineering Managers - $105,470

Computer and Information Systems Managers - $102,360

Marketing Managers - $101,990

Astronomers - $101,360

Source: Bureau Labor Statistics

Politicians

The public servant pay scale can be somewhat harder to pinpoint. In our search for government salaries, we found several states that pay their governors more than six figures. In our search for six figure political salaries we found that Mississippi’s governor’s salary is $101,800. Michigan, California, New Jersey and New York governors have annual salaries of over $150,000.

Congress receives regular pay raises. A cost of living increase takes effect each year unless Congress votes against it. The salary for the average member of Congress has more than doubled in the past 20 years. The current salary for rank-and-file members of the House and Senate is $165,200 per year.
How about the president paycheck? The president's salary is $400,000.

© 2007 Florence News reprint permission to Billy Florence Team Dream Chasers site.

Quixtar IBO Association - Service To Business Owners

Understanding the history of our IBO Association (IBOAI) gives confidence in the future of our business...

About the IBO Association: First the IBO Association was The American Way Association - then, with the formation of Amway, IBO Association became the Amway Distributors Association. As the business changed and Amway matured into Alticor, Amway, Quixtar, and their sister companies, so the Association matured – we became the IBOAI (Independent Business Owners Association International).

When entrepreneurs start businesses, they usually have no one but themselves looking after their own interests, but not Independent Business Owners (Quixtar IBOs).

The minute someone becomes an IBO he also becomes a member of the Independent Business Owners Association International (IBOAI) and gains the strength of an entire organization that exists solely to pursue his business interests. The IBOAI works tirelessly to improve all the factors influencing IBOs' businesses, minimizing their risks and maximizing their opportunities.

Specifically, the IBOA International (IBO Association) targets the areas where it can most improve IBO businesses.

“The official IBO Trade Association, IBOAI is dedicated to serving and protecting the interests of Quixtar powered Independent Business Owners (Quixtar IBOs) throughout North America,” says Jim Janz. Governed by a Board of Directors, the IBOAI:

Protects the best interests of IBOs and serves as an advocate in IBO issues.

Promotes and protects the integrity of the Independent Business Ownership Plan.

Ensures that the business opportunity today is as good or better for future generations.

Acts as an advisory group to Quixtar Inc. and Quixtar Canada Corp.

The 2007 IBOA Board of Directors Executive Committee includes Jim Janz, Chairman, Don Wilson, Vice Chairman, Bob Andrews, Brad Duncan, Kanti Gala, Randy Haugen, Bill Hawkins, and Kathy Victor. Governance and Oversight Committee includes Jody Victor and Billy Florence.

© 2007 Permission given to Billy Florence Team Dream Chasers site.

Jody Victor - Freedom Is The Victor

I just love Ronald Reagan. Jody Victor shares here one of his most famous speaches! It is so powerful!

Jody Victor, “Freedom leads to prosperity,” stated Ronald Reagan. He was absolutely correct.”

A Reagan Favorite from Jody Victor and Kathy Victor

In the 1950's, Khrushchev predicted: "We will bury you." But in the West today, we see a free world that has achieved a level of prosperity and well-being unprecedented in all human history. In the Communist world, we see failure, technological backwardness, declining standards of health; even want of the most basic kind -- too little food. Even today, the Soviet Union still cannot feed itself. After these four decades, then, there stands before the entire world one great and inescapable conclusion: Freedom leads to prosperity. Freedom replaces the ancient hatreds among the nations with comity and peace. Freedom is the victor.

There is one sign the Soviets can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace. General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!

Ronald Reagan, June 12, 1987

About Jody Victor & Kathy Victor

Kathy Victor and Jody Victor are members of IBOAI, independent business owners association international.

IBOAI, the official trade association of Quixtar Ibo’s, serves and protects the business interests of independent business owners. Association leadership team includes Jim Janz, Randy Haugan, Brad Duncan, Don Wilson, Billy Florence, and Jody Victor.

© 2007 Jody Victor and Kathy Victor. Reprint permission given to Billy Florence Team Dream Chaser site.

Billy Florence Team - Leaders Wisdom

I thought I'd share some of my favorite Leadership quotes from some true leaders. Leadership is an awesome subject to read and study. We can all improve our leadership ability. One the best ways to grow is to study other great leaders from history. These are all men who would be worthy of studying and learning from...

Billy Florence - Great Leaders Wisdom

Don't tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results. - George S. Patton

Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it. - Dwight Eisenhower

The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it. - Theodore Roosevelt

You will find the key to success under the alarm clock. - Benjamin Franklin

© 2007 Florence News reprint permission to Billy Florence Team Dream Chasers site.

Don Wilson & Nancy Wilson: Seed Of Opportunity

This is really great advice that Don Wilson and Nancy Wilson have shared...

Don Wilson, “Changes and challenges are a fact of life. We can run or whine or we can take the road less taken as Dr. L Scott Peck suggests. That road says we look for and grasp the opportunity that challenge or obstacle represents.”

Don Wilson and Nancy Wilson Leadership Lesson

Challenge is a dragon with a gift in its mouth…Tame the dragon and the gift is yours. - Noela Evans

About Don Wilson Nancy Wilson and IBOAI

Don Wilson and Nancy Wilson are members of IBOAI, independent business owners association international.

IBOAI, the official trade association of Quixtar Ibo’s, serves and protects the business interests of independent business owners. Association leadership includes Brad Duncan, Don Wilson, Jim Janz Billy Florence, Jody Victor.

© 2007 Don Wilson Nancy Wilson Quixtar IBO. All rights reserved. Permission given to Billy Florence Team Dream Chasers site.

Orrin Woodward: Roosevelt Leadership Wisdom

Leaders really are readers. Orrin Woodward is a great example of reading and constantly working to improve himself...

Orrin Woodward, “Theodore Roosevelt was a leader of accomplishment who loved to read.”

Orrin Woodward and Laurie Woodward Quick Quote Favorite:

“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows achievement and who at the worst if he fails at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” - Theodore Roosevelt (From a speech given in Paris in 1910)

About Orrin Woodward and Laurie Woodward

Orrin Woodward has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Manufacturing Engineering from GMI, and Business Administration training from the University of Michigan. Woodward holds four United States Patents, and an exclusive National Benchmarking Award for product analysis. Woodward has also been recognized in national trade journals. Co-founder of the Team (TEAM formerly Team of Destiny) and acting Chair of the TEAM Policy Council, Orrin Woodward and Laurie Woodward are also two of the most in-demand speakers in the industry.

Woodward’s highly popular Observations from Orrin appears monthly in Team News and Orrin observations are often featured in leading business news publication like Billy Florence’s (Florence Team DCI) Equad News.

With Chris Brady, Woodward is author of the book Launching A Leadership Revolution.

© 2007 Orrin Woodward All rights reserved. Reprint approved for Billy Florence Team Dream Chasers site.

Jody Victor: Belief Is Contagious

What Jody Victor shares here is so true. It is important to believe in yourself. Belief really is Contagious!

Jody Victor, “People who succeed in all walks of life, be it sports, entertainment, business or parenting, benefit by improving their own self image and attempting to live up to the person of character and diligence they want to be. Entertainment has a very low success rate, one entertainer, Liberace, whose career spanned generations, explained the thinking link this way…”

A Leadership Lesson From Jody Victor and Kathy Victor

Nobody will believe in you unless you believe in yourself.
Liberace (1919-1987) Pianist

About Jody Victor & Kathy Victor and IBOAI

Kathy Victor and Jody Victor are members of IBOAI, independent business owners association international. Jody Victor is a member of the prestigious president’s cabinet for the IBO association.

IBOAI, the official trade association of Quixtar Ibo’s, serves and protects the business interests of independent business owners. Association leadership includes Brad Duncan, Don Wilson, Jim Janz Billy Florence, Jody Victor, Randy Haugen, Joe Markiewicz, Fred Harteis


© 2007 Jody and Kathy Victor Quixtar IBO. All rights reserved. Permission given to Billy Florence Team Dream Chasers site.

Billy Florence - Leadership Development

One of the great things about many Quixtar Team Leaders is the Leadership Development programs they offer to their IBOs. Leadership skills are learned. Leaders aren't born. Leaders are developed. If you desire to be a better leader, get involved in a leadership development program or personal growth program. What is your personal growth plan?

"Leadership development is self-development.” - John G Agno

"Leadership development is not an event.” - John G Agno

"Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” - John Fitzgerald Kennedy

© 2007 Florence News reprint permission to Billy Florence Team Dream Chasers site.

Don Wilson - Leaders Are Responsible For Vision

Jack Welch was an amazing CEO. What he did at GE took real leadership. Welch is a great leader to study and learn from and certainly his ability to cast a vision was a big part of his great leadership.

Don Wilson, “Leaders must see and hold the vision in front of others to help them hold their focus.” Wilson continues, “One of the legendary leadership strengths of General Electric CEO Jack Welch is his acceptance of the responsibility for the vision he wanted his leaders to move toward.”

Don Wilson Nancy Wilson Leadership Nuggets

“Good leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision and relentlessly drive it to completion.” – Jack Welch

“Vision looks inward and becomes duty. Vision looks outward and becomes aspiration. Vision looks upward and becomes faith.” - Stephen S. Wise

About Don and Nancy Wilson

Don Wilson and Nancy Wilson are members of the IBO Association, IBOAI. Don Wilson and Nancy serve on the trade association board, serving and protecting the interests of Quixtar IBOs.

Keywords: Don Wilson Quixtar IBO , Nancy Wilson

© 2007 Don Wilson Quixtar IBO Information. Reprint permission given to Billy Florence Team DreamChasers site.

Billy Florence: Abraham Lincoln Testing Leadership

Billy Florence, “In my opinion, Abraham Lincoln was one of America’s greatest leaders. He faced adversity and focused on service and honor rather than power.”

Billy Florence & Peggy Florence Quick Quote Favorites

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." - Abraham Lincoln

"Never, for the sake of peace and quiet, deny your own experience or convictions." - Dag Hammarskjold, Stateman

About the IBOAI and Billy Florence: “The official Trade Association, IBOAI, is dedicated to serving and protecting the interests of Quixtar powered Independent Business Owners (Quixtar IBOs) throughout North America

The IBOAI leadership TEAM includes Jim Janz, Don Wilson, Billy Florence, Jody Victor and former president Fred Harteis. Governance and Oversight Committee includes Jody Victor and Billy Florence.

© 2007 All rights are reserved. Reprint permission given to Billy Florence Team Dream Chasers site.