Matt Holt, and the team at John Wiley & Sons, for your guidance and expertise, every step of the way, as we brought this book to life.
To Scott Hudson for reading the book and sharing your suggestions to make it better. Your support and leadership continue to inspire me to always stand for my brand.
Thank you to my outstanding teammates at Gallagher and Gallagher Bassett. Every interaction is proof that a unique and thriving culture can be created and maintained for over 90 years, when you hire, coach, and train people who are aligned in a common purpose. #TheGallagherWay
To Kurt Leisure for sharing your risk management wisdom, and for never not being a representative of your brand.
To the leadership teams at The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island and The Ritz-Carlton Orlando. I continue to share your stories of exceptional service, engagement, and customer experience.
To John Branciforte. Our conversation was a “wow” moment for me, and for this book.
To Katie O’Grady, my fellow outlaw. You were the first outsider I trusted with the book, and I thank you for your insights as a successful sales professional.
To Sheralyn Hartline and all of the nurses who bring their best to work every day. Your dedication to your patients and their families continues to amaze and inspire me to always give more.
Thank you to the many clients who have brought me into your companies and trusted me to speak, coach, train, and help inspire high performance, better communication, and personal accountability in your people and your teams. A special thank you to Lori Arndt for being one of the first, many years ago, to trust me with your business, and your brand.
To the meeting planners and executives who value my engaging style of visual, motivational keynote presentations. Thank you for choosing me to create memorable experiences for your most important audiences. It’s what I love to do most.
To The Johns Hopkins University Writing Seminars Program. It’s amazing where a great liberal arts education can take you.
I am also grateful for the authors and speakers that helped shape my career, and my business, with their words. As I think about this book one day sitting on someone’s shelf or desk as a resource and guide to a better career, I look at the many books in my own office and feel blessed to have them standing at the ready when I need encouragement to be the best leader, speaker, coach, writer, and person I can be. I don’t have personal relationships with most of these authors, but I want to thank them for sharing their expertise. Tom Peters, Pat Lencioni, Nancy Duarte, Ann Handley, Seth Godin, Dorie Clark, Dan Schawbel, Brené Brown, Daniel Pink, Carmine Gallo, Donald Miller, Jim Collins, John Medina, Michael Lewis, Malcolm Gladwell, Amy Cuddy, Randy Pausch, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Theodor Seuss Geisel, Ken Blanchard, Spencer Johnson, and Jon Gordon. Thank you for sharing your secrets to success. Your work has inspired and influenced me in ways you’ll never know.
Lastly, to my parents, Nancy and Joe. I miss you both, and wish you were here for just one more happy hour.
About the Author
Dave Gordon is an internationally recognized brand, marketing, and communications expert. He is an inspirational speaker, author, coach, and leader on a mission to help people identify, communicate, and deliver their unique value to build stronger personal, team, and corporate brands. Dave’s work has positively impacted leaders, teams, organizations, and associations in countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.
Companies, teams, schools, and associations that have benefited from Dave’s involvement include: The Ritz-Carlton, Marriott International, American Express, Novartis, PwC, Arthur J. Gallagher & Company, AutoZone, Gallagher Bassett, Alliant Credit Union, Southern Glazers Wine and Spirits, Samsung, Hospital for Special Surgery, Apple, Twin Peaks Restaurants, Quanta Services, VF Outlet, Manpower Group, Whole Foods, Oklahoma University—Price College of Business, Baylor University Center for Professional Selling, and the National Retail and Restaurant Defense Association.
Dave is the co-founder of Gordon Creative, a brand alignment and communications consultancy. He is also the Chief Marketing Officer of Gallagher Bassett, the premier global provider of risk and claims management services, dedicated to helping people face adversity and uncertain futures with confidence. Dave is a graduate of The Johns Hopkins University. He’s not a doctor, but he did play one on TV.
Dave invites you to visit at www.davegordon.net, follow on Twitter and Instagram @davegordon_9, or connect on LinkedIn.
Introduction
Your reputation is the most important asset in your career and your life. When nurtured and managed correctly, it can bring you limitless and lasting success. When ignored, you allow others to define your value, and control your future.
I was compelled to write TIP to help people who desire a simple way to take charge of their careers, improve their performance, manage their reputations, and enhance their lives.
TIP is for the professionals and high potentials who want a resource and a plan to help them make a name for themselves as valued stand-out performers for their teams and organizations.
TIP is for leaders, managers, and coaches who want to inspire their people and improve the productivity of their teams. TIP creates a common language of expectations and value, on which you can build stronger relationships and better results.
TIP is for young professionals and the next generation of talent entering the workforce who need a guide and a plan to build their career of a lifetime.
TIP is for anyone in any stage of work or life who needs the inspiration to remember, or discover, their passion for what is most important. You always have the power to create a new beginning for your own story.
Lastly, TIP is for my kids, and anyone who wants to help their kids have a positive future. In a world where we are judged by every word and every action, we must be strategic in how we promote ourselves today, and protect our reputations for tomorrow. TIP allowed me to have those conversations with my kids and encourage them to make the best decisions for lasting success. I hope it helps you to do the same.
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I believe in “infotainment.” We learn better when we are not bored. We remember more when we are entertained and engaged. As the late Last Lecture author and professor Randy Pausch said, “Don’t tell people how to live their lives. Tell stories. They’ll figure it out for themselves.”
Rather than a typical how-to book, TIP is a story and a strategy written to remind people in any position judged by performance that the only way to achieve high performance, and lasting success, is to consistently take accountability for your reputation and your results.
Based on personal experiences and the lessons I’ve learned as a C-level executive, brand strategist, communications coach, sales leader, motivational speaker, performance trainer, bartender, actor, husband, and father, TIP is meant to engage you as only a story can. It is also meant to help you remember that the lasting success you desire is dependent on one thing. You.
Your
