My Parents were a bit concerned to say the least. I was only a few months into this business and was already traveling outside of the great state of Utah! If I wasn't already feeling alienated enough, I carpooled with a man i had only met the day before!

Im one of those... Sanguines... so obviously Louisville was going to be a blast. Before I even arrived in town, the trip was worth the expense. The man I was just traveling with turned out to be a genuis! listening to his stories, his ideas, the knowledge he had! When he wasn't teaching me, I was reading (roadtrips are the best time for reading) "How I Raised Myself from Failure to Sucess in Selling" By Frank Bettger. Was almost frustrating how i couldnt soak in the information fast enough. Then the Tornado warnings came... driving through Missouri was so crazy. I've never seen anything like it. Pitch black skies, flash of lighting and everything became as clear as day, then it was pitch black again. Rinse, lather, repeat! It was Awesome.

The first night was incredible, I sat by a lady named Tracy from Michigan, she helped me indentify who all the leaders on the TEAM were. so she was a big help, then when we'd have our little breaks I walked down and... walk by everyone she pointed out. O.k. i was too shy, but i did look kind of important being down in the with the group.

The speakers were amazing ten fold. and I'd have to say in my own humble opinion, that I rather enjoyed learning the Characteristics of Leadership, over talks of money and investments. Kind of like teaching a man how to make money, then teaching a man how much money he can make. If this makes any sense.

Im sure I've left out many details, but overall it was an unforgettable experience. even though I lost my shoe in a fountain...

John

Orrin,

I attended my first Major Convention in Louisville, Ky. The trip started off fantastic when all the great planning put into action by my perfect melancholy/powerful choleric personality caused me and my wife to miss our flight out of Houston. We managed to catch another to Cincinnati and drive and hour and a half to Louisville. The airline convinced
another couple on the Team on a later flight to go with us and we had an opportunity to get to know them better during the drive.
My highlight on Friday was Chris and Terry Brady. They are both fantastic speakers, and Chris's three legged turkey
joke was hilarious.
The folks from our local Team were scattered all over Louisville and staying at different hotels. When the event ended on Friday, my wife and I were so fired up that going to sleep was out of the question so we ventured out to mingle with the local natives.
The first place we walked into was like a strange time warp to a very distant past. There was a DJ ,sporting a mohawk, screaming profanity at the customers. I became very uncomfortable and told my wife we had to go.
After trying a few other places, we went back to our hotel. It was a strange feeling that I couldn't quite get a handle on.
Saturday arrived and we decided to go to the overflow arena. At one point during the day, after we were visiting the tool room, Mr. Orrin Woodward himself decided to pop in the overflow arena and chat with us a bit. Of course the crowd went berserk and during that speech I decided to continue to the mountain top. The view is not ok from here.
I want to reach the summit no matter what pain must be endured.
Later that night, during the keynote speech, it seemed to me, Orrin ,that you got as much out of that event as those of us in the audience. It had been a tough week for you I am sure. I was proud to be one of many holding you up.
I have seen a lot of speeches in my time, but what I witnessed that night was a grand slam. Out of the park.
It occurred to me later, upon some deep introspection, that the weird feeling I had on Friday night was about where I
am on this awesome journey. Mr. Mohawk is who I used to be. Mr. Woodward is the kind of Man, Mentor, Leader that I am striving to become.
All of the leaders who spoke carried themselves with dignity, posture, and grace.
I learned so much in one weekend that it is impossible to put into words. After listening to cd's and hearing people speak about hitchhiking across the country, or riding in a van with no exhaust system or heat, I understand why.
If you have never been to a Major Convention you can't imagine what you are missing. For those who worry about being able to "afford" to go... I can only tell you my personal opinion.
Some investments are so good, I can't "afford" to not make the investment.
I will be in St. Louis. If I have to hitchhike, ride in a freezing van with no heat or exhaust system, ice skate or cross country ski my way there. I will be in St. Louis.
Thanks Orrin and to all the Team Leaders for an experience I will never forget.
See you in St. Louis.
Ian from Texas

Hey Orrin! Merry Christmas! I hope you had an awesome Christmas day. I know I did. Anyway, all I can think about when i think of the major in Louisville is when you spoke and told the story of Winston Churchill and said " BRING IT!" OH MAN WAS THAT AWESOME! The energy in that stadium was phenominal. screaming at the top of my lungs and clapping. I felt like I was at the Super Bowl and my favorite team was winning. This is my favorite team and we are winning and we will keep winning the game of life. I think that everyone needs to experience something like that at least once in their lives. I hope that that talk will come out on cd so that when people who werent there could maybe even get a twinge of the feeling we all had that day. I cant wait until St. Louis. I think it will be just as awesome or even better.
God Bless
Devin Miller

I read a book in August (right around the time that everything was happening) called 'The Starfish and the Spider'. In it, the authors really explained why an organization like TEAM is unstoppable.
Reading is one thing, but seeing is another.
When I walked into the major in KY, I saw with my own eyes that we were really going to a million people and beyond! The power of the crowd, the character of the leaders, the information that was being given to us, all of it was an experience that I never felt before (even having been to other majors).
I am super charged up and excited about the next major coming up.
Thanks for leading,
Yoli

The Louisville Convention was best decision we've made in a long time - for our future. "The quest for growth is never done" was one of the statements that still resounds within myself and pours out to our wonderful group. "The only question is how are you going to live". Time to get real. My purpose,my legacy. I'm sure the convention was a lot of things to a lot of people. For us it was about freedom baby !! It always has been, but Louisville took us to a higher level. St. Louis is just the next step, expectation is high, and we'll be prepared. We are constantly filled with graditude for what you all are doin for us

Beth Johnson

OrrIn: Wow - how do you put into words the meaning and impact of any of the TEAM's major conventions, let alone the LOUISVILLE SLUGGER!!!?!?!? That major was phenomenal from the moment we got on the Team Infinity Bus heading out of Michigan. Walking into the Freedom Hall on Friday night - and seeing Larry & Marsie Van Buskirk in among the crowd - awesome! They are true servant leaders! Besides the roar and the rumble that night in the arena, which was electric, I think THE defining moment of the Major, was having you and Laurie come over the overflow arena and speak. On Sat. morning, when we saw the long line forming for the main building, we decided to get in the front of the line for the overflow building and it was so worth it. Ended up in the 2nd row - could look in your eyes and Laurie's eyes, and every other speaker that came to that arena. The electricity in the air when you came to that arena Orrin - it wasn't like anything else I have ever been a part of and I know I'll remember it throughout my entire life. I know for me and my husband, we knew we were part of something great, something huge, something that would have an impact on future generations, we were developing our place in our legacy and in the legacy of the Team. That's the great part of ANY Team major - knowing you have a hand in something that is bigger than you are; something thatcan change our country and our culture; something where I can have control of my destiny - be a captain on my own ship and help others along the way to find their purpose and the meaning God intended us to find in our lives.

There is something so special about seeing your teammates from around the country -and seeing how big we have become; to hear the strength in our roar- to see people you might only see at the Majors - and to know everything you've done to get there is so worth it! Indescribable- and yet so many words come pouring out. You watch the faces of the newest people there and wait to see the light come on where they decide for themselves that it was worth the sacrifice of getting there - and we all make some kind of sacrifice to get there.

We watch ourselves on our own journey - and we watch as others grow on their journey too - and you can't help but wonder, what will my grandchildren think one day when I tell them I was there when......

Rock On Team! Can't wait for St. Louis - February 2008. Bring on the Reinforcements! Look out world - HERE COMES TEAM!!!
To one million - and BEYOND!!

Orrin,

I have attended many majors, Louisville was the best of them all. The feeling was amazing. It almost felt like going to my first major, even though it wasn't. My husband and I went to the overflow hall with some of our leadership team mates the whole weekend. It was amazing see on screen the Freedom Hall maxed out with Team members was the most exhilerating experience I have ever had. The information that came out of that weekend was so filling. It helped me with all areas from personal to marriage to relionships, ect..... That is a weekend I will never forget. The breakthrough for me is to see the amount of people there and the overfilling of my cup of information.

For the individuals who have not been to a major yet, now is the time. The teaching that goes on at the major is unbelievable. You can't get that type of teaching anywhere else. Just think about going to a very large facility with oh about 40,000+ people learning together as a team. This is huge guys. The feeling you get when you are sitting in an arena with all the people around you is like you are part of a huge family. It isn't just the information, it is the association. We definately will be in St. Louis. I can't wait. We love road trips especially when we have team mates with us. I want to Thank Orrin and Team leadership for sharing their leadership knowledge with us. This leadership developement program is the best out there.
Thank You again and Happy New Year
Cindy H from Michigan

Louisville-went with a team from Connnecticut 50% were at their 1st major -each speaker added to the excitement and learning about Leadership development-one member accepted Jesus as his Savior(that is the most exciting moment for many)-Orrin had the house rocking with his History lessons-waiting in a line that was 1mile long and we were at the hall 1 1/2 hours before doors opened-seeing the auxillary hall take overflow after 'Freedom hall' filled with over 19,000people ready to make a difference in our society-meeting new people from many of the States and Canada-getting great information-having fun and making a difference--St. Louis is vital for those who are serious about being part of history that will affect themselves, their family,community and nation as one TEAM--be free coach

Louisville was my 2nd Major and I feel I got more out of the whole weekend the second time around. I barely got any sleep but I wasn't tired! One of the speeches that I utilized immediately in my life was Chuck Goetschel's mission statement exercise. I read it everyday and have it posted all over my house on a sheet with my goals and my Tri-Lateral Leadership Ledger ranking. Pastor Dickie's talk about character was another one that struck me because he asked the question "How much is your character worth?" Is it worth the 40 cents extra you recieved in line at the gorcery store? Do you go back in and give that small amount back to the cashier? If you don't, you just sold your character for 40 cents! WOW! There were so many little things I was doing that lacked good character and not even realizing it. Since then I have been focusing on this to improve myself. I told my parents about this character talk when i got home. My mom told me a story about how the bank had just given my dad an extra $200 cash at the drive thru window. When my dad got home and realized it, he called the main branch and asked them what they wanted him to do with it. He was willing to drive not just back to his local branch, but the main one that was 30 miles away. The bank was so pleased that he was honest because they wouldn't have known which customer was given that extra cash had my dad not come forward. This is an example of who my dad has always been. It made me appreciate my dad that much more. I found that the timing on it was perfect for the talk i had heard that weekend. It is not about whether or not one can afford to get to St. Louis. Its about investing in your future because you WILL get many nuggets out of it. The atmosphere of being around fellow honest people is enough all by itself!

Hey Orrin,

The Louisville leadership convention was amazing! I have been to and hosted many leadership conventions and have heard some of the most in-demand speakers on the subject of leadership. I have to say the talk you gave on Saturday night was something that I will never forget!!! I have never seen a speaker receive so many standing ovations during a talk! Your love and passion for everyone in that arena was shining through your eyes and was evident in the convictions of your voice. After I heard that speech I was speechless and sat still just thinking how blessed I was to learn leadership from mentors like you!

Another great talk was from Chuck Goetschel. His talk about creating a personal mission statement was definately I defining moment in my leadership walk. He is such a fabulous communicator on subjects that are hard to communicate! Chuck has been very inispiring to me and has always challenged me to be a better leader each time I hear him speak.

It is very hard to put in words what it means to be at the TEAM Leadership Conventions. Because there is something magical about being around other leaders. There is a sense that people you are speaking to and associating with during the event just "get it". I have told people it is like my anniversary, birthday, and attending a concert all wrapped up into 1 event! The association with everyone at the event challenges a participant to raise their level of leadership up a couple notches.

Thanks Orrin!

Best,
Matt

Orrin,
I have not missed a single leadership meeting since I have been involved with the team going on 3 years ago. I have loved each and every meeting I go to and wouldn't miss a one. Their was something magical about this last leadership in Louisville. I had a fabulous time connecting with my TEAM on the trip back. I have never laughed so hard and heard so many deep stories. To have the time to make friendships that much closer was key for my husband and myself. Then to step in the arena and see so many people support the TEAM and where we are going was unforgetable. It brings tears to my eyes thinking about it. I know I am in the right place at the right time with the right leaders and the right TEAM! I have never felt so excited about my future and so sure of what I am doing.
When I went to my first leadership meeting I was told that it was hard to explain and that you just have to get there. Boy, were they right. I think if you are still questioning after reading so many of these posting you just need to believe that you have to get there. It is the most incrediable thing I have ever done and it just gets better every time. A wise person told me don't miss a thing you don't know if that will be the nugget you were looking for.
I thank you and the leaders for stepping up and leading by example!
May God Bless you this New Year!
See you soon! (By boat, plane, car, bus, roller blades, whatever it takes you will know that we will be there supporting you)
Freedom in 2008
Sonja

Orrin
I really don't know where to start on the journey to Louisville, I decided to take my family to Indiana and to see where I grew up (Elkhart) and then spend quiet time with my DW Shari going to and from Louisville. When Chris and Terri spoke Shari and I laughed so hard our faces hurt, When Chuck spoke about the personal mission statement we implemented one that night in our hotel room, and Pastor Dickie's talk on what is your character worth? and your talk on Sir Winston Churchill just blew me right out of the water, it has just re-enforced our way of thinking. When we went to St. George and heard you speak, Shari and I knew we were on to something GREAT but, when we got to Louisville it reached the new level of understanding, and commitment, as Chuck says "this thing is huge" and we will reach a million people and more,my two brothers are ready and willing to come along on the journey, they are trying to get the time off work to join us in St. Louis.
May God bless you and comfort you and the Team as we head into 2008
See you in St. Louis
Mike D

Orrin,
This is going to be a very hard comment to write, because as a somewhat high choleric I have to admit how wrong (boy that word is hard to get out) my thinking has been and what a colossal blockhead I have been. You see, I missed out on so much at Louisville because I let my attitude be influenced by circumstances and I am only now beginning to see how not only could I have changed my attitude but by changing my attitude I could have even changed my circumstances.
It all happened this way: we got to Louisville with plenty of time to spare to get to the opening session at 5:00 when I had learned that Dean Frey was going to speak. I was really looking forward to this since this was the only time during the weekend when Dean spoke. Since there was plenty of time I decided to go to our motel about a half or three quarters of an hour away on the other side of Louisville and get settled in and still get back to Louisville in plenty of time to hear Dean. Here is where my wrong thinking came in. On the way to the motel traffic came to a near stand still because of a bad accident. My negative thinking kept me going on a track to do what I had already decided to do, get to the motel and settle in and then go to the arena. Only now finally looking back with the help of what I have even since Louisville learned from the system, I see that I had several choices. I could have got off of the freeway and tried to get to the motel by back roads, which I didn't do because I was afraid of getting lost. What I could have done and probably should have done was simply gotten off at one of the several exits, which we passed and turned around and went back to Louisville and go to the motel after the night sessions. But I was to too stubborn to even think of that possibility at the time.
Now the plot thickens (or at least my skull was thick) on Saturday on the way from the parking lot to Freedom Hall we got separated from the couple with whom we were sharing a motel room. They got into Freedom Hall and we ended up in the overflow arena. I was so angry that we could not get into Freedom Hall that I let it ruin my attitude and I did not get nearly as much out of the weekend as I could have. Because I figured that we would only be looking at a large screen I figured it did not matter where we sat, so we sat about as far back in the arena as possible (unlike Ann Clous who got good seats in the overflow) Imagine my surprise and regret when I realized that the TEAM leaders cared enough about the people who were in the overflow to give each speech twice so that each arena could hear everyone in person. My attitude so clouded my mind that as the talks from that weekend come out on CDs I am amazed at how much I missed. Just this week listening to the CD we just got by Claude Hamilton where the lady at the airline ticket counter chided him about his attitude and I realize that I heard that in person but I did not get the message until now because of MY bad attitude at the time. And Claude telling about the couple whom he met on the flight to Louisville, which I again don't remember hearing live because of my attitude, and later hearing the story from that couple (I think it was Ivan and Andrea Valentine). How much did I miss out on because of my attitude. Many others had much worse circumstances than I did but still kept a positive attitude. Now don't get me wrong, I did get a lot from Louisville, most notably Chuck Goetschel's personal mission statement and your history lesson on Churchill and Hitler, but I could have gotten so much more if I had taken control of my attitude. I hope that I was the only one in Louisville who lost so much opportunity, but I hope that my loss will be an example to help others to always gain as much as possible from each seminar that they attend.
DaveC

Hey Orrin! I have to say that the one thing that impacted me the most was seeing the Team united and strong together in one place, hanging on your every word when you came out to tell us about Winston Churchill. That time was magical. "Bring it!"

I just wish that man's (at least this man's) memory was better at recollection. The other thing that stands out was Chuck Goetschel's talk on our Personal Mission Statement. That helped me alot.

Paul

Hey there, Orrin!

My breakthrough moment about Louisville, outside of everyone else's comments (which I agree with completely! our "history lesson" was the best!), is what happened on a much deeper level than seeing a Team come together in one huge location. Well, it is exactly that.

This happened to be my 2nd Major. My first was the last of the 4 Majors in the summer, mine being in St. George, Utah. Compared to Louisville and the other majors I've heard about, St. George was rather small; very small, in fact. And while I was there, only 2 other people from my Team as well as a few others in my area (but on other Teams) were there. See, I happen to be on the long distance leg of my Team; the rest are based in the Indiana/Kentucky area; my leg is in California. So most of my Team went to the Detroit Major. So while I was among the numbers of people of the Team in St. George, I still felt a bit.. well.. alienated (lack of a better term) because like Chris and Terri for one event, the four were Team Us.

Onto Louisville.. The standout thing for me was the fact that it was physically held in the equivalent of my Team's back yard! Our group flew in knowing that the people that showed us this opportunity would be there, so we were relieved at that... but we were not expecting the numbers of people our group had! Coming from a small group of people in an area where there are huge numbers of another entire organization altogether, to being at a place where our group had the large organization, and seeing and meeting other large organizations, including our friends from those other groups in California. It was a totally humbling experience, as for the first time since being a part of the Team, I truly felt that we were not alone.

It's like you said on a CD that recently came out: It's wonderful to know that you're in an environment where other people (some of who you may not even know!) have your back, and you have their back, because they know that you're with the Team, and just by knowing that, they know the type of person you are, and the type of character you possess. Just knowing these people around you mean just as much as the words you and the rest of the speakers spoke at that convention... That on top of that we won't forget about Chris leaving out Nebraska in his roll call! It was all very exciting, encouraging, and awe inspiring.. and on a much grander scale than St. George!

If a group of some 30,000something people in black suits, white shirts, and red ties can fill an entire convention center and overflow hall, I can hardly fathom how many of us will show up and fill that dome in St. Louis! I'm totally looking forward to that.

Brad L.