I love peer groups — groups that double as advisory boards, counselors’ offices, and idea factories. They allow me to see, hear, and discuss things I don’t usually think about, talk about, or even notice. They are also a great source for big ideas from someone not usually in your field of vision or attention.
For example, Genius Network brought in a titan of self-development, Les Brown. Les has been a speaker for over 50 years, has spoken to crowds of 80,000, and has been lauded by too many names to count. His podcast has reached over 2 billion downloads.
Not to mention how powerful his story is. From being adopted, to his school categorizing him as mentally challenged … to being a member of the House of Representatives in Ohio, a radio and talk show host, and more.
It was great to build a relationship with him over those two days.
Toward the end of the event, he graciously recorded a video with me. It’s short, but Les shares powerful quotes and nuggets of wisdom. We talk about staying heart-centered in an increasingly digital and distant world, how to work with A.I. instead of fearing it, and the power of hunger and purpose. Check it out.
Three things stayed with me.
- Staying heart-centered isn’t softness — it’s a discipline, and it gets harder exactly as the tools get better.
- The people doing best with A.I. right now aren’t the ones who trust it most or fear it most; they’re the ones who stay curious about what it still can’t do.
- And then there’s hunger … Les has been doing this for fifty years and still speaks like a man with something to prove. Most people lose that long before they lose the ability.
Fifty years in, he’s still hungry. What are you still hungry for?
For more from Les, check out his website or grab his newest book, You’ve Got To Be Hungry.
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