Welcome to my leadership blog. Ideas have consequences and the goal of this blog is to discuss ideas of consequence. Some ideas you may agree with and some you may disagree. No worries. The only rules are that you post under your own name and that you think and discuss in a civil manner. People who attack others only prove they have reached the limit of their logic. The Bible states, "Iron sharpens iron" and we will sharpen one another by what we read, write and think. The goal of this blog is to help us identify and follow truth in all areas of our lives. I encourage you to join our leadership discussion and transform yourself and others through the renewing of our minds.
This is the blog where leaders come to learn with NY Times, Wall St. Journal, USA Today, Money & Business Weekly best selling co-author of Launching a Leadership Revolution & Top 25 Leadership Gurus List Best of the Rest Selection - Orrin Woodward. This blog is an Alltop selection and ranked in HR's Top 100 Blogs for Management & Leadership.
Today’s post is on one of the best communicators in America’s history, Charlie "Tremendous" Jones.I read Charlie’s book Life is Tremendous very early in my leadership journey and it made a significant impact.Charlie’s style of speaking is focused on helping you to think through the issues for yourself.After 14 years of knowing and learning from “Tremendous” Jones from afar, I was finally blessed with getting to know him personally.No communicator can lift me up when I am down like Charlie Jones!I bought a tape of his in 1998 and literally wore it out by listening to it nearly a hundred times.When I felt that I couldn’t go on, I would pop in Charlie Jones and he would tell me to quit quitting!!One of my favorite quotes was, “It is time to stop listening and memorizing and start thinking and realizing.” I listened to a greatest hits CD from Charlie Jones three times yesterday!The last time, I had my children listen to it also because it was so impactful. Charlie told all of us to stop having a hard heart and soft skin and learn to have a soft heart and hard skin. Life is too short to be offended all the time. Plus, offended people cannot serve others because they are too focused on themselves.
Charlie passed away a few months ago, but his message lives on in the hearts and minds of the millions of people that he affected in a positive way.The world needs more men like Charlie Jones, men who will stand for truth and encourage others to learn truth for themselves.Charlie was a true Christian and the lived his life by the principles of the Good Book.He fought cancer for over a decade, but you would never hear him complain.He thanked God everyday for another day to share his teaching with his fellow human beings.Charlie’s spirit of empathy for others would never allow him to have sympathy for himself.That is an attitude of gratitude and a spirit that all leaders must develop.If possible, I am going to get the best of Charlie Jones and offer it as a CD selection in the Team.It is too good not to share with the incredible leaders on the Team!
I thank you Charlie, for leading a life worth emulating. There will never be another Charlie Jones, but his example will inspire others to be an original in a world of copies.God Bless, Orrin Woodward
Re: Charlie "Tremendous" Jones - A Masterpiece Life
by
BTCG
on Fri 09 Jan 2009 09:01 AM EST | Permanent Link
I, too, was blessed with hearing Charlie speak in person, even though I never knew him personally. He was a great bear of a man, with a habit of hugging people, just to get them to smile. I remember him prowling the outside of the events, sneaking up and hugging people - especially guys, just to shock them out of their own world.
I loved his talks, and still have many of his tapes around. I was saddened to see that he had died in October. I am glad to see that SUCCESS magazine mentioned him in its latest issue.
I would like to hear more Tremendous commentary, Orrin, and I look forward to seeing his CD in the future.
Orrin,
So pleased you mentioned Charlie Jones. He was a favorite of ours thru the years and we were saddened to hear of his death. He could make you laugh, make you cry and make you think, all at the same time. I will always remember him for encouraging people to be readers. He loved books. I was one of the fortunate men that got a hug from Charlie. When you got hugged by Charlie, you felt a special warmth. It was one of those hugs that made your day. If only we could all love people like Charlie did, the world would be a better place.
Orrin,
Great comments on Charlie Jones. I love the CD that the TEAM distributed not too long ago. Listened to it several times. For Christmas I gave away his book, "Forgiveness is Tremendous." Several family members laughed at his name, but I believe this is one of the best books out there on forgiveness. Charlie has such practical wisdom, and we can all learn from him. I look forward to getting the best of his talks as well.
Re: Re: Charlie "Tremendous" Jones - A Masterpiece Life
by
SteelersFanExtrordinare
on Sun 11 Jan 2009 10:14 AM EST | Profile | Permanent Link
Orrin,
Thanks for sharing more Charlie Jones with us. I would have never heard of him if it was not for the Team. I read Life is Tremendouse early on in my journey with Team and it is an awesome read. I love the Team CD that was put out, and I love sneaking that in the mix with a new Team member. People will just crack up listening to him. I was sad to see he passed away in 2008 but his legacy lives on.
-Thanks, Mike/Michelle "Steelers Fan Extroidinaire" Wright part of the Patriot Revolution
Re: Re: Charlie "Tremendous" Jones - A Masterpiece Life
by
Linda S
on Sun 11 Jan 2009 12:41 PM EST | Permanent Link
Hi Orrin,
Wow!! Thanks so much for reminding me of how Tremendous he really was!! He'll live on in my heart forever, I too was unaware that he had passed on to heaven but I am sure he's blessing people up there too!! I was one of the priveleged that got to see him in person at a seminar in Tampa, in 2001. I was pregnant at the time & I was so mesmerized by his wisdom, enthusiasm, passion & his genuine warmth and sincerity that I decided to name my baby Charles after Mr. Charlie Tremendous Jones!! So my son is Charles, after a legendary man!! Thanks for the comments about his hugs, it sparked my memory banks from long ago that he hugged me too, and that hug had the same affect on my life, and I'm a woman!!! It's amazing how much of an impact one person can have on your life and just gives a huge reminder that we all need to remember that and imagine if everybody on the Team had half the servant heart as Charlie T., and all of our leadership!! Wow!! gives me chills!!
Linda
Re: Charlie "Tremendous" Jones - A Masterpiece Life
by
Trevor Kehoe
on Mon 12 Jan 2009 04:22 AM EST | Permanent Link
I look forward to hearing his best. Thanks for posting. Your seminar in Madison Saturday has me unable to sleep right now - which is a good thing.
I used the "soft heart, hard skin" Sunday with my daughter, who is 7. She made a comment that she wanted to change schools since there were so many mean kids. Thank you (and Charlie) for giving me words and perspective to uplift and encourage my daughter.
I posted links to your blog and Chris Brady's blog on my facebook. After watching another not so edifying and encouraging video link that was posted, I felt compelled to share.
