Madison #1

On Friday I was invited by the 8th grade staff of Madison #1 Middle School to speak to and entertain their eighth grade class. The school is located in Phoenix, Arizona. Friday was the last day of school. It was a half -day for the students and teachers really didn't know how many kids to expect.

Over 170 kids showed up for the last day and my program. It was 2.5 hours of fun. The program was held in the school library and it didn't look like much of a library after we were done.

The program "Good Luck In High School" was over two hours worth of games and some lecturing on what will make the students successful in High School and in Life. Prizes were given out to the students and I gave them little cards containing my "Good Luck 7." The "Good Luck 7" are 7 tips to success. The list is below.

1. Success comes from Hard WORK!
2. Have the right Attitude
3. A.S.K Questions (Always Seek Knowledge)
4. Develop your own Identity
5. Make strong and healthy relationships
6. Help each other (Help others)
7. Learn new Stuff

Speaking/Entertainment Calendar

After a tough couple of months, my speaking and entertaining calendar is starting to fill up again! I love putting smiles on people faces and the lack of work over the first four months of this year and really made me appreciate any opportunity I have or will have in the future.

2009-2010 are going to be great. I'm currently working with a comedian on a new show about dating and relationships for college students. I get really excited writing and creating. I've been asked to write articles for a women's magazine. I'll be on the road with my friend Rodger doing leadership and motivational talks and I'll be doing work with school kids locally in Phoenix. I'll still be working with people and audiences at the Phoenix Zoo, so I hope I don't loose my voice over the next twelve months.

Upcoming performances include:
Madison #1 Schools 5/22
Ohio Business 6/20-6/23
Various Colleges August 2009

I'm working on my website FrankKitchen.com. More show details will be up on the site in June.

I hope to see all of you on the road.

Thank you!

Hello Everyone,

I just wanted to say thank you for reading this blog. I'm quickly closing in on 500 blogs! I'll need something special to type about as that day gets closer.

Some of you are very loyal readers and to be honest, I'm always surprised to hear about all the people who read and enjoy reading what I have on my mind. I know my blogs have been sporadic lately, but after talking to my mom today; I'll be typing and blogging more.

One of my readers printed out all of my blogs (38 pages worth) and gave them to my mom read. Mom isn't as big on the internet as some people. I just wanted to write to Kat and say "Thank you" for sharing my stories with my mom. Thank you for reading the blog and I promise to keep the good stuff coming!

Frank

Frank Kitchen Enterprises, LLC

It's official my speaking and entertaining are an official business. As of January 1, 2009, I am the owner and operating member of Frank Kitchen Enterprises, LLC.

The mission of FKE is:

"To provide services that inspire, educate and entertain."

Here is my business address:

Frank Kitchen Enterprises, LLC 20118 N. 67th Ave. STE. 300-164 Glendale, AZ 85308

Congratulations and Good Luck Melissa!

Today my sister officially joined the US Navy. She's on her way to bootcamp to learn, sweat, work and most importantly protect our rights and freedoms. She has a tough nine weeks coming up, but I know she can do it.  It's easier to accomplish tough things with lots of support. If anyone would like to send her words of encouragement, please send me an e-mail and I'll forward your notes to her notes to her when I write her.

Good Luck Melissa! I'm proud to be your brother!

Happy Mother's Day

Just checking in to say "Happy Mother's Day" to my mom, grandmother and everyone I know who is a mother. Have a great weekend ladies!

Frank

Magazine Article

I was asked to write an article about success for a national magazine with my friend Rodger Campbell. We do a speech called "Are you a BAD Apple?" all around the country. We talk about success and how to achieve it. The magazine editors of College Store Magazine asked us to write about our program and what it means. We recently received copies of the magazine. Rodger wrote an article and I did too.

Here are our articles from the magazine.

Are you a BAD Apple?

By Frank Kitchen

I recently completed my very first marathon. While running the un-godly distance of 26.2 miles, a lot of thoughts went through my head. “Why am I doing this?” “Where is the finish line?” “I have an article due for the CCRA Conference!” “How do I explain what BAD means?” While I was running the race I noticed 10,000 BAD APPLES surrounded me.  We all had the same dream, to complete the marathon. We all had a BELIEF that we could finish without dying. We all took various ACTIONS to train for the race. When race day finally arrived we all had the DETERMINATION to fight through various mental and physically adversities to complete the race. We all rejoiced! We accomplished our goals and answered the question…..”Are you a BAD APPLE?”

 “What does BAD APPLE mean? When I travel the country with Rodger Campbell; we are constantly asked that very question. There are two of us, so people usually get two answers. We both believe people and organizations are like apples. They have to ability to grow into something ordinary, rotten, or extraordinary. Our goal is for everyone to become extraordinary! In order to do this you must become BAD. Don’t worry CCRA delegates, being BAD is good. We invite you to come to our presentation to find out why it’s good to be BAD.

BAD means to have belief, action and determination. We all have dreams in our lives, but do we really believe they can come true? My dream was to run and complete a marathon. ONE MARATHON!  In order for my dream to become reality I needed to believe I could complete the race. Without belief there is no action. A dream that doesn’t come true becomes a nightmare. Taking the first step to achieve a dream is the toughest part. You can only take that leap of faith when you truly believe.

Now that I believed, I needed to take action. My actions included: six months of training, consulting with running experts, buying the right equipment and putting down my non-refundable entry fee. As the race date approached, I started to have doubts. I considered changing my mind, until my last practice run. I ran over twenty miles with my girlfriend and I didn’t die! This marathon thing could really happen. I’m going to accomplish something extraordinary!

Race day arrived with a four o’clock AM beep beep beep from my alarm clock. I got up and got ready. Got my carbs, drank my fluids and took my ibuprofen. There was excitement as the race began. That excitement started to fade around mile thirteen. That’s when things really got tough.  By mile eighteen I thought about quitting when my leg cramped up.  The thought of not accomplishing my dream kept me going. I really didn’t want to have to run the race again. I mentally stayed determined. When muscles started to lock up, I found the first aid station to get treatment. When I thought I was the only one having issues, I looked around and saw hundreds of other people facing the similar difficulties.  The torment bonded us. As the finish line approached, I had several friends there to cheer me on. That inspired me more. When I crossed the line the celebration and my retirement began! Bags of ice on my knees, ibuprofen in my mouth and thank yous to everyone who offered encouragement to achieve my dream.

.            No matter what you or your organization want to accomplish; you must be BAD. First you must believe in the dream. Second you have to take the proper actions. Finally when the hardships arise you must stay determined to the end. Hardships will definitely test your beliefs. If you stay determined you can accomplish your dreams. We are here at the CCRA Conference to change attitudes. You can call us attitude adjusters! Attitudes are all about belief. One must believe in themselves. One must instill belief in others. Finally they need belief in the dream they want to become reality. When we accomplish our dreams, it’s more than ordinary. It’s special. We get sense of adulation and we can’t wait to conquer our next challenge. This is success!  This is being a B.A.D. A.P.P.L.E!

 By Rodger Campbell

BAD equals success. Success is what we are all after.  Success in life, in love, in business and everything we do. Success is rooted in accomplishing the basics.  We must crawl before we walk, and walk before we run. (Even a marathon!)  Fundamentals are keys to success in sports, in life, and in business. I enjoy watching and playing basketball.  I’ve noticed something that is true for basketball and all team sports; the most successful teams are not always the one loaded with great talent.  The teams which maximize the talent and skills available accomplish the most.  Hall of fame coach John Wooden has been quoted as saying; “Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.”  In order for us to be successful we must maximize what we possess.   We must be BAD! We should always be Building and Developing. Building indicates that we are constructing new areas or new environments, the creative part of success.   Developing is the enhancement of what is currently in existence or the maintenance portion of success.  We must be in a state of Building and Developing our capacity for success in three areas:   1) ourselves 2) those we care for   3) those we serve.   

Leaders build legacies, both personally and professionally. Our legacies flow from the well within each of us.   If the well is dry, we build a legacy filled with the dust of what could have been.  If it is full, our legacy is filled with life giving lessons.   Our legacy then flows to those around us.  Frank has shared his story of the race, but look at it another way.  He took time to build his body, he developed a strategy and challenged himself in such a way that others, like you and I, can grow from the lessons learned.   Take a moment and think about how you are growing?  Are we seeking new challenges professionally or personally?  Have we improved our individual capacity as a leader?   Are we managing the same way we’ve always managed?  Are we looking for new information to build?   Our legacy is being built not only by what we do, but also how we treat others. Only after we do some significant soul searching can we make the impact on others.

The best leaders are those who maximize the potential in front of them.   Coaches build capacity in their players.   They develop the individual players’ strengths in order to gain the desired results.  We must do the same.  Yes we must maintain an eye on the bottom line, and yes we must minimize our risks.  However, we gain the most out of individuals when they feel empowered, entrusted, and encouraged.   Can the people you lead say that you have invested in them with time and energy, not just a paycheck?  Building and Developing capacity in others is no easy task.  In fact it is the most difficult task.   Yet if we are not successful in building an environment for development of our employees, it will affect the people that we serve.

The fundamentals of any successful business venture are the same fundamentals of life; the way you treat people will determine how they treat you.  Daily we touch the lives of individuals with every look, glance, glare and conversation. Technology has improved our gathering of information, but it also has created a greater need for connection.  Customers are more critical than ever.  They are not just focused on the latest and greatest technology.  That is a given.  They are very critical of the care they receive.  Some may say it is an over sensitive generation, however, if they don’t enjoy the experience they will not purchase the product.   It is not just true of the products, but also of the personnel.  From the moment someone hits our doors they are sizing us up.  What is the experience of the customers the moment they hit your establishment or organization.   Do they feel something?  Is it positive? Do they want more?  We must build and develop the customer’s capacity for improvement through our products and services.

Yes these may be the basic items that everyone knows.  However, great teams don’t just show up on game day.  They are in the gyms running through plays in their heads, in the weight room pumping iron, in the film room watching every nuance of the game.   The great leaders know that games are won or lost in not executing the fundamentals.  In the daily grind, it is easy to lose sight of basics of caring for ourselves, our teams, our customers.  Yet these are the lifeblood of our existence. As we improve our selves, we improve the lives of those around us.   We must make sure that our well is full of life giving experiences, energy and endurance.  This will ensure that the proper legacy is crafted.  It’s not just about the accomplishment, but the process of how it was accomplished.   All BAD APPLES know that Building and Developing is a way of life. 

 

Quote of the day

Great things are possible you just have to ask!

Desert Botanical Garden

Kelly and I recently got a chance to visit the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. The have an exhibit called the Chihuly:Nature of Glass. The exhibit incorporates glass sculptures mixed in with the dessert vegetation. The exhibit is amazing. Look at the photos below to see. Kelly and I had a great time just walking around and taking photos. The exhibit runs until May 31, 2009. For more information, please click HERE!

Austin, Texas

View from outside our hotel room. The Austin Renaissance 

Downtown Austin from inside the room

Our super conference hosts Julie and Kelly

Last week I was in Austin, Texas with Rodger. We were invited to perform/speak at the Campus Computers Resellers Alliance Conference and Expo (CCRA). We had a great time presenting "Are you a BAD Apple?" as the conference Keynote Speech. We received a lot of positive comments and made a lot of strong business connections. We look forward to working with the CCRA in the future. We would like to give a HUGE thank you to Kelly Lynch. She and her committee members treated us like gold.

Speaking was great but the expo was amazing too. Rodger and I hung around the conference for an extra day to see all the new high tech computer gadgets hitting the market this summer and fall. We couldn't take any pictures, but all we can say is WOW!  We're in talks to sample and demo several products in the future. When things get finalized I'll be sure to post the info on this blog.

The comment of the conference came from the Apple Computer Reps. After our speech people attended their workshop. The were quoted as saying "We are the good Apples, not the BAD Apples!"

Looking for work?

A lot of people are looking for work these days. Either people have been laid off (companies won't say fired), left a poor employer or just wanted to find something more satisfying personally or fiscally.

There are plenty of jobs out there, but are they good jobs? There is a lot of crap out there too. I've recently began the process of rejoining the full-time workforce. I love speaking and entertaining, but we all have to pay our bills. The economy has seriously impacted many of the performers and speakers I know, including myself.

During my search, I've run into scams, con artists and a variety of false promises. It's amazing what you can find out about a company or employer during an interview. I had one interviewer get upset that I asked questions. He commented, "Are you interviewing us?" YES I AM WAS ALL I THOUGHT. Needless to say, I didn't accept the offer from the well known "online university."

To help everyone with their job searches, I suggest the following. REALLY RESEARCH THE COMPANY YOU CHOOSE TO WORK FOR. Remember it's your choice. The companies hold the advantage over many of the job seekers these days, because job seekers can't be very selective when they have bills to feed and mouths to feed.

One of the best ways to find out about a company is to talk to the companies employees and find out what they think, not the recruiters or sales people selling the company. I recently discovered a great website that give employees the opportunity to "vent" positive or negatively" about the company they work for. Just remember, no one is ever going to be 100% happy with the place they work for. I work at the zoo and I don't really enjoy sweeping goat crap they days I help in the barn, but overall it's a great job. Some jobs treat their employees like the crap I swept up at the zoo......unlimted amounts that can be thrown out at any time.

So click on the link below and find out if employees are venting about things that would make you want to work or not work for a company.

http://www.jobvent.com

March Photo Shoot

A few months ago I met a local photographer. We established a good relationship and two weeks ago we met up to do some work together. Her name is Kim and we both wanted to take some photos to add to our portfolios. Our creative minds got together and here are some of the results.
I'll be using a few of these for my promotional materials and new website.

Quote of the Day

I'm really inspired by quotes, comments and music lyrics. I've decided to start adding some of my favorites to the blog on the days that I'm having writers block or nothing really interesting to type about. Here is my first and be on the lookout for more!

The only way to predict the future is to create it! (author unknown)

East Coast Visit

Last month I was in Ohio to see some of my friends and also took a side trip to South Carolina to see my grandparents, my mother, my brother and my sister. Here are a few pictures from my trip.

My mom with her aunts and my grandfather

Me and my grandmother

My mom and my Aunt Emma

Me with my grandfather and my brother

Me with my family

My grandmother got all dressed up for my photo of her

Collecting Bling

Kelly and I have done a lot of running the last two months. One of the perks from our races are the medals you collect. We got a medal for completing the marathon. A few weeks later we got a medal in the mail that says "39.3" on it. It's a medal for running a half-marathon and a full marathon in back to back years. The 39.3 represents the total mileage from both races. Finally we collected a medal for participating in the Ragnar Relay. The medal has a "beverage" opener built in!

Video from my brother

My brother has been experimenting with some video editing programs. Here's something he worked on for me and Kelly. Enjoy

Want a Better Life?

A good friend of mine sent me an e-mail the other day. I thought I would share it with all of you! .......Thank you Maribel

Tips for a Better Life

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you need to.

3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today.'

4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants, and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blue berries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & amp; walnuts.

6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive, present moment.

8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone or anything.

11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

12. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree. Nor do you have to prove that you are right.

13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

14. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

17. Forgive everyone for everything. (Include yourself.)

18. What other people think of you is none of your business.

19. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

20. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick or hurting. Your friends will. Stay in touch!!!

21. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

22. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: 'I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.'

23. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

Ragnar Relay

Last weekend Kelly and I participated in the Ragnar Relay. It's one of several relay races help around the country. We ran the race with a team made up of friends and their friends. The twelve of us ran over 202 miles. The "Del Sol" race began in the mountains of Arizona and finished in the Phoenix suburbs.

Our team "The Rum Runners" completed the race in a little over 32 hours. Each team member ran 3 legs of different lengths and difficulty. When you get to the end of your leg, you exchange a bracelet with your teamate and they run the next leg of the race. Each team had two chase vans to keep track of their runners. Kelly ran a little over 14 miles. I clocked in just under 19 miles. Their were over 250 teams with a variety of themes and ability levels. Teams began the race at different times based on their predicted finishing times. The first team left at 7AM Friday morning. The last team left at 4 PM. Our team started at 8 AM. There were a few teams that finished the race in under 24 hours! Amazing!

The race was a lot of fun and we look forward to running in it again in the future!

For more information, click on the link below.

Ragnar Relay

New Website Page

Many of you know I'm represented in the College market by Coleman Productions. The company is owned by the David Coleman. David is known as "The Dating Doctor." The movie "Hitch" was based off of his talks and performances. The company has a new webiste. One of the new updates on the website is David giving each of his speakers/performers and personal plug.

Here is the link to the site. Enjoy!

Coleman Productions

Happy Birthday Melissa

Today (March 5th) is my sister's birthday. Happy Birthday Melissa!

I got to see her last week whenI was in South Carolina. It was good to see her! Have a great Birthday Melissa and good luck in the Navy!

Frankie