I Want to Thank the Members of the Academy
The Oscars are over. People crying, cheering, and reveling in their awards for excellence. Being known as BEST. Or at least best this year. Lot’s of people watched “to see who would win.” I admit I watched the last few minutes, and assorted hit or miss scenes.
I was also writing my anniversary column, preparing a talk, and responding to email. I was after my own Oscar, and had higher personal priorities.
All of us are capable of Oscar winning performances. Very few of us however actually win the real Oscar. No, not the statue, the Oscar within us. Why? Because we have failed to take lessons from previous Oscars. Besides the statue, there are several real life Oscars from whom you can learn all the criteria necessary to have your name read when the host says “May I have the envelope please”.
Most peoples envelopes contain a paycheck or a pink slip, and the only difference between one and the other is time on the job.
I challenge you to give yourself an Oscar. To do that it might be helpful to view other Oscars, who were in their own way winners, and take their lessons to earn your acceptance speech. And the Oscar winning question that follows each.
1. Oscar the Grouch. You can learn a lot from a person who always sees things from the “you can’t do it”side and is constantly proven wrong. At last count, Oscar the Grouch had given more than 1,000 incorrect lessons on Sesame Street. We all learned what not to do as a child but our memories tend to fade the day our business cards get printed. Oscar winners have a positive attitude. Would your attitude win an Oscar?2. Oscar Wilde. One of the most brilliant thinkers and humorists of the 19th century. Also one of the most quoted. “The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.” “To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.” “My own business always bore’s me to death; I prefer other people’s.” “A cynic is a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.” “Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.” “Alas, I am dying beyond my means.” What do you say that’s profound? Who’s quoting you?3. Oscar Madison. The famous slob in the Odd Couple. Many of us (me included) have somewhere between a little and a lot of Oscar in us. Ever spend an hour looking for something that should of been within arms reach? Oscar winners know where to find their important information even though they may not be neat freaks. Can you find what you need?4. Oscar Hammerstein. Tony’s and Grammy’s were a way of life for this great musical composer. What kind of music are you listening to? Music can change moods. Often music can bring back a memory within the first few notes of its playing. Sometimes you’ll hear a song that will make you remember time has gone by. Your first date, your first kiss, your first wife (just a joke). It’s a challenge to make your own music but when you do, it sounds real sweet (it’s also important to understand harmony). Singing out of tune is very evident to the listener, working out of tune is not. What kind of music are you making?5. Oscar Meyer. Some people just have to be a hot dog. I’m not saying being a hot dog is wrong but I am saying that being a hot dog attracts attention. Hot dogs are prepared before they’re served. Most real life hot dogs are not that well prepared. To be an Oscar winner you can’t be a whiner – wiener. 6. Matre’d Oscar. One of the world’s most famous servants started out a waiter dedicated to serving others. Learn to cook. He created one dish you may have heard of – Veal Oscar and one that you may not be aware he created – The Waldorf Salad. His memorial after 3 decades of serving the nobility and celebrities of all nations is Oscar’s Restaurant at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City where he worked to perfect his craft. Oscar would still be proud to eat in the restaurant that bears his name. What is named after you?7. Oscar De La Hoya. An example of a hot dog who is well prepared. He brags that he can beat people up. He goes to the gym, trains every day for months, steps into the boxing ring and kicks ass. World champions are the classic example of hard work makes luck. How hard do you work?8. Oscar DelaRenta. Sometimes on your way to success it helps if you dress the part. Well-dressed people always turn heads toward them and vice versa for slobs. Sometimes in order to look like a million you gotta spend a few hundred. You may also want to pick up a bottle of his perfume – it never hurts to have the sweet smell of success. What is the image you project?9. Oskar Schindler. People are willing to die for their principles. People are willing to fight for their principles and the heritage, persecution is the future generations foundation of strength and conviction. Stories and legends provide courage and pride for those who are willing to expose themselves to the past. Oscar winners are equally as proud of their heritage as they are of their achievements. Do you know your history?10. Oscar Robertson. The Big “O” Michael Jordon, before Michael Jordon was dribbling. A trail blazer who played for the Cincinatti Royals – every school yard kid wanted to be like the Big “O” – including Michael Jordan. Who are you patterning yourself after?
10.5 The envelope please…and the winner is….YOU if you’re willing to put in the hard work that makes winning the Oscar easy. The Oscar is awarded for being the BEST. Is that you? Most people who win the Oscar will always be honored by someone else saying the words, “He deserved it”. What do you deserve?
Free GitBit… Want to discover some more (Oscar) Wilde thoughts? Sure you do. Just go to www.Gitomer.com, register if you’re a first time user, and enter the word OSCAR in the GitBit box.
Jeffrey Gitomer is the author of The Sales Bible, and Customer Satisfaction is Worthless, Customer Loyalty is Priceless. President of Charlotte-based Buy Gitomer, he gives seminars, runs annual sales meetings, and conducts internet training programs on selling and customer service at www.trainone.com. He can be reached at 704/333-1112 or e-mail to salesman@gitomer.com
