Jeff Vankooten | Motivational Keynote Speaker

Tactics for Tough Times: Don’t Go it Alone

mazeway@earthlink.net — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:23:20 +0000

Our country values the myth of the “rugged individualist”. We are enamored with the resolve of one person to succeed in the midst of adversity. We have been socialized through cultural influences to believe that we, too, must be a rugged individualist. In fact, popular culture perpetuates the message that you are the most important [...]

Is Depression worth it?

mazeway@earthlink.net — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:16:59 +0000

I read a very interesting article in the New York Times. It investigated a question I’ve asked for a long time: Is there an evolutionary advantage to depression? In other words, why is it still around? Does its hanging around confer an advantage to live stronger lives? Because of my bipolar disorder, I’ve lived with [...]

Tactics for Tough Times: Take time to think

mazeway@earthlink.net — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:09:05 +0000

There’s concern we’re googling more and thinking less. When an answer is an easy mouse click away, we don’t need to do the hard work of thinking through an answer ourselves. With an increasing amount of information being offered through an unending array of choices, we tend to become numb to it all. We can [...]

Tactics for Tough Times: Let go of what’s going away

mazeway@earthlink.net — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:21:19 +0000

There is always a renewed sense of purpose and resolve when we begin a new year. We try to put the stale year behind us and move forward into a new fresh one. But it isn’t always easy. In fact, we get pretty enamored with old, ineffectual ways of doing things. They become like our [...]

One of the greatest prank calls ever

mazeway@earthlink.net — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:08:12 +0000

I was nearly scammed on Craigslist when selling a piano. It’s a long story, but suffice it to say it was a pretty elaborate scheme involving a “certified check” sent overnight to me and other ruses. As I wised up to the deception, I wish I had the where with all to respond back in [...]

Tactics for Tough Times: Live with the Long View

mazeway@earthlink.net — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:34:26 +0000

Our biggest fear shouldn’t be failure but succeeding at something that doesn’t really matter… Dog tracks get the greyhounds to race by using a mechanical rabbit called “Rusty”. It is electronically released and propelled along a track to entice the dogs to chase and race. Every once in a while a greyhound will catch Rusty. [...]

Tactics for Tough Times: Make Full Use of the Present

mazeway@earthlink.net — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:00:45 +0000

One of my favorite jokes is about Big Chief Forget Me Not: An Australian travel writer touring Canada was checking out of the Vancouver Hilton, and as he paid his bill, he said to the manager, “By the way, what’s with the Indian chief sitting in the lobby? He’s been there ever since I arrived.” [...]

Tactics for Tough Times: Be Ready not to be Ready

mazeway@earthlink.net — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:13:01 +0000

Many people are taking this current moment of uncertainty to re-invent themselves and pursue a career that will bring them more meaning. Some are wallowing and retreating into a shell of self-preservation and depression. I’m committed to equipping THE THRIVERS and inspiring THE WALLOWERS with the resilient skills needed to be agile and vibrant in [...]

What I blogged on in November 2011

mazeway@earthlink.net — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:18:33 +0000

As some of you know, I speak, create content, blog and consult on the issue of resilience. More and more people I talk to are very interested in how they can strengthen their resolve to bounce back and thrive in these uncertain times. I try to stay on topic and focus on what I believe [...]

You’ll use everything

mazeway@earthlink.net — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:52:27 +0000

When I was younger I was interested in many divergent things. In elementary school I immersed myself in magic, learning complicated tricks and taking classes on sleight of hand. I could spend hours in a magic shop. Though there aren’t many around today, I still get a tinge of excitement when I see one. In [...]