This week's Pep Talk Blog: "Lesson from a First Lady"

As she walked gracefully toward the lighted stage that was her destination, I sat there wondering, “What is former first lady Laura Bush going to say to more than 19,000 gathered for a “Get Motivated” seminar?

She stood behind a podium and, unlike the other speakers, read from prepared notes. She talked about the criticism of her husband’s presidency, calling it “the sacred music of democracy.” She also talked about September 11, 2001. Sadness over lives lost and fear running rampant. Bush talked about White House employees – upon learning their place of work was an intended target – removing their high-heeled shoes and running for their lives away from our nation’s most revered building. Back in the spotlight of a special event, she seemed relieved it was an exception to the relative quiet of the Bush’s retirement years in Texas.

At the end of her presentation, our former first lady told a final story about her husband. October 2001, at Yankee Stadium in New York, the Yankees hosted a World Series game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. President Bush was throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. Security was intense as the nation’s 43rd chief executive took some time before the game, under the aging stadium’s stands, to loosen his arm. As the president was warming up, Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter walked by. President Bush asked the future Hall-of-Famer if he should throw from the mound, or from just in front of it.

“Be a man,” joked the future Hall of Fame shortstop. “Throw it from the mound. But don’t bounce it up there. The crowd will boo you.”

Bush took Jeter’s advice, and according to his wife, threw a decent pitch – that did not bounce. Laura Bush’s message was this: “sometimes in life, you may feel like you’re all alone with many watching you. It’s then that you have to reach back, go for it and see what happens.”

Whenever I have the pleasure of giving a Pep Talk to a group, it’s what we talk about in encouraging others to “put fear and self doubt aside and allow wonderment to win.” It’s not always easy, sometimes can be frightening, but the rewards are often so worth the effort!

This week, have the courage – in healthy and productive ways – to climb atop your own hill, stand tall, reach back and fire away. The setting probably won’t be as dramatic as Yankee Stadium, that doesn’t matter.

What matters is what happens to you in attempting to become superior to your former self. As we head toward a new year remember, the constant pursuit of improvement will always make you a winner.