Motivational Keynote Speaker
Unique Experiences
If It's Pizza, The War Must Be On
So what does it mean when the Pentagon starts putting in pizza orders en masse? For years, John held a permanent Pentagon pass making frequent visits. At mid-afternoon on January 17, 1991, he noticed a dramatic increase in pizza deliveries.... a clear indication that Pentagon workers would be burning the midnight oil. John quickly surmised that the Gulf War would begin within hours. A quick call to his broker assured his interests were covered. As it turned out, John's conclusion was on target. At 7 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, Operation Desert Storm was launched.
The Time Machine
To save time and avoid hassle, travelers always try to book the most direct flight. Once, when timing was crucial, John traveled across time. Impossible? Not really. Simply board the Concorde in London at 10:30 A.M. and enjoy an outstanding travel experience. Even better, sit near the rear of the aircraft and watch the plane's fuselage flexing in flight like a giant serpent. A good meal, a short nap, and you have crossed the Atlantic Ocean. Arriving at New York's Kennedy Airport at 9:25 A.M. the same morning, you have, in fact, broken the time barrier. Unfortunately, the Concorde no longer flies.... a victim of high oil prices.
Land Ahoy!
John enjoys the water and loves to sail. But, his first deep ocean sailing experience was nothing to brag about. Sailing with associates near Key Biscayne, he was basking in the warm sun, paying little attention to water depth. After all, they were miles from shore.
Suddenly, the boat ground to a abrupt halt and a loud scrape was heard from the direction of the keel. John and "crew" quickly jumped into the waist-deep water to free the stranded sloop. While her captain was enjoying the calm of a sunlit sea, the boat's keel had struck a hidden sandbar--five miles out from shore! So.... ignorance isn't always bliss.
All Stop for Tea
Everyone knows the British love their tea, but most people have no idea just how committed they are to this tradition. When John first began doing business with British companies, he was mystified by the practice known as 'Tea Time'. While his wife, Sally, is of British descent and drinks plenty of tea, in a professional setting, John found himself mildly frustrated by the disruption it caused. Nevertheless in the U.K. at that time, 'Tea' was faithfully observed within the home, workplace and even at major international industry exhibitions! It was not until John worked with a British tank crew and found their main battle tanks were fitted with a 'tea coil' for heating tea water that he finally gave in.
Today, most British companies have abandoned the ritual in exchange for the American compulsion for nonstop work. A pity. John's perspective is now quite the opposite; he would definitely agree, "It is the pause that refreshes." Surprisingly, John has been been informed by a reliable source that the younger generation may prefer coffee!
Island Adventures
Ever wonder what it would be like to purchase a magnificent $15 million oceanfront property on a warm tropical island? Sound incredible? Imagine posing as a buyer for the oceanfront property under an assumed identity in a foreign country, and wearing tape recorders to record every word spoken by your host. And what if your host, in this beautiful tropical paradise was actually an international criminal whose ownership of the property was artfully hidden behind a series of offshore corporations and trusts spanning several countries?
Sounds like a high adventure novel or maybe, a James Bond movie? Neither. At one time, John was asked by a European law firm to help with some rather unusual assignments — such as posing as a businessman interested in purchasing luxury properties in order to recover stolen funds.
Life on the edge is always an eyeopener, but sometimes it can get a little too exciting, especially when the bad guys get upset, find out where you live and protection in the form of a 9mm automatic and police protection becomes necessary. This development was extremely stressful for John's family. It's no fun when action dramas become the reality. Adieu action/thriller adventures!
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Worth recollecting...
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