Hi. This is Lenny Ravich, also known as the global guru of optimism perhaps because at 86, I have lived so long that no one else alive can make that claim. I own the privilege of being a very funny humorist story teller and keynote speaker. I believe that messages can be transmitted easier and more impactful through stories that make our hearts smile. I would like to share some of my discoveries as a humorous, inspirational and motivational keynote speaker in Hong Kong & London. So here goes:

Authentic Success

If you ask a thousand people what success is you’ll get a thousand different answers. Unless they are Jewish. Then you’ll get about 1,700 different questions.

It is my belief that there is only one true “authentic success”. That is the one where you go deep inside and ask yourself “what do I truly love and value? What could I do that would give me energy, love, happiness, humor, smiles, laughter and optimism and without it I would die?” Not, “How much money can I make?” If you do what you truly love and what you were meant to do, (your mission and purpose in life) money will flow to you. Trust me on that one. I can’t tell you just how much. Don’t worry. Enough to pay the rent and a diet drink, or two.

Dying While Living

There many kinds of dying. The kind I’m talking about is the worst kind: A spiritual and emotional death. That’s when your body is functioning but your soul is dead. That’s when you are doing what society tells you are “supposed to do” and “should be doing” in order to make lots of money or “ought to do” to be considered a successful person rather than asking yourself: What do I NEED to do for ME in the here and now that would offer happiness, and humorous energy to gush forth from me twenty-four hours a day for me and the people I serve? Well, maybe not 24 hours a day. You have to sleep once in a while.

By preventing yourself from doing what you really love, from the guts outward, you face the reality of spiritual and emotional death. This is the vilest kind. I know. I have suffered this form of non-life. This will make you sick, physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally. If you are there right now, I can still offer you hope.

We Are Nature

Look at a palm tree. The uppermost part is green. Those green leaves will eventually become brown and die. At the same time the tree will be sprouting more green leaves. Life and death go on at the same time. The palm tree is not interested in the dead parts. It lets those dead leaves be the memories of what once was. The palm tree is concerned with the green, alive parts that, with its organic intelligence, keep renewing itself upward as if following some inner code. The tree is not involved with defining what success is. It is only engrossed in listening to its inner voice that guides it to its next step.

Nothing is Lost

That is us too. Don’t ask yourself, “What if I invest all that time, money and energy in achieving my dream, and suddenly discover it’s not what I really want?” That’s perfect! All that you achieve will eventually die anyway. It’s supposed to. The only thing constant in our lives is change. Just keep listening to that inner power that will take you to the next step. Can you imagine butterfly mourning over the fact that she is no longer a cocoon?

Trust the Process

Ever read the Bible where God says to Abraham, “Go to a land that I will show you.”

Abraham: “Where is it?”

God: “Stop asking questions and just GO! Whatever happens, will happen. Trust that I will be with you.”

Get it? Trust the process. Oh, and yeah, enjoy it with a sense of humor and lots of laughs. You’re going to need it for this trip.

My ensuing step was getting in front of audiences as much as possible and becoming a global humoristic, funny keynote speaker. I just followed the Yellow Brick Road and let things happen as they were supposed to happen and take full responsibly for my responses to them.

Death or Death (What’s your choice?)

I always faced two types of death every time I got up to speak. The death of refusing to perform because of fear, or the death of stepping out and taking the risk. So you’ve got two choices: Death or Death. Isn’t life fun?

I love the sentence from Star Wars where Luke Skywalker’s is about to attack the “Evil Empire” and the image his teacher suddenly appears on his shoulder and announces: “Luke, turn off your computer. The Force is with you.”

Work becomes fun when you can speak to audiences as a funny, humoristic story teller and get your message across while hearing lots of laughter. Humor, laughter and keynote speaking engages your audiences, totally.

Good Luck. The Force is with you.

Look for my next installment “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” (Part Two)

Lennyravich.org