Kevin W. McCarthy

And the Winner of the Contest Is... Me!

Jeevan Sivasubramaniam of Berrett-Koehler Publishers produces the weekly BK Communique.  An occasional feature is a puzzler.  His final contest of 2009 caught my eye.  Here it is:

Drum roll please, I won the contest.  Here is Jeevan's most recent posting:

"I issued this challenge. Some people came close, but no one answered correctly.  The answer? You should definitely not take my bet -- here's why.

"Kevin McCarthy submitted a response that was just so, um, creative that I had to give him a free book. (And he kindly sent me a copy of his book.) You can read Kevin's response to the challenge here.

Dear Jeevan,

No, I will not accept your bet in A Game of Cards.   Here's why:

After reading the challenge, I easily recognized it as a probability and statistics question.   Upon the thought of engaging in the calculation of the odds of winning versus the payoff, I felt this knot in my stomach – the same one I used to feel in undergraduate and graduate school when I had to take probability and statistics classes.   My mind swirled with permutations, methods, and calculations as to how to attack and solve your challenge.  My competitive juices began to kick in because I had to be the first to solve it in order to win a book and have a shrine in the lobby.  Fortunately, I'm on the East Coast so I have an advantage over those later risers in the Central and Western time zones. 

Recognizing this strange mix of competitiveness and cards, I immediately converted from worshiping in an Episcopal church to an ultra conservative Baptist church with Pentecostal and Charismatic leanings.   This means I can neither play card games nor gamble.  Because I don't smoke, drink, or dance (lack of any sense of rhythm per my wife) anyway, my transition ten minutes ago to my new Thursday morning church is going along fundamentally well.   Never doubt the power and practicality of my conversion and the values of my new denomination.  The knot in my stomach is gone - healed in an instant!  Here is proof of the peace that passes all understanding as it washed through me.  PTL! 

Sure, you were likely expecting some brainiac to give an answer to the challenge using math.  I, however, have claimed the high moral ground in a triumph of faith over math to come to the answer.  Finally, should this be the winning and timely response, then I will accept a book but must decline the shrine in the lobby.  I can have no part in false idols.

Be On-Purpose!

Kevin

Kevin W. McCarthy
CEO, On-Purpose Partners, LLC

Here was Jeevan's notice to me of being the book winner:

"Never has an answer been so blatantly wrong and yet seemed so right.  So, what the hell, for sheer audacity and creativity, you win a book."

Cover via Amazon

Jeevan was true to his word and sent me The New Organizational Wealth, the book of my choice.  He was a good sport so I sent him The On-Purpose Person.

The Christmas Gift of Being On-Purpose!

Are you looking for the ideal Christmas present - a gift of a life time?  Give The On-Purpose Person to those who need the gift of knowing their life can make a difference and matters profoundly even if their present circumstances may indicate otherwise.  

When you order the book online with us, be sure to use the comment section if you would like to have the book personalized and autographed.   This offer expires on Monday, Dec. 21 at noon. 

Book Me To Speak At Your Event

Kevin W. McCarthy is the author of The On-Purpose Person and The On-Purpose Business.  He is one of the world’s leading authorities on the meaningful integration of life and work.  More than just an author, Kevin is a natural leader in business and civic endeavors.  Kevin’s goal with audiences is to stir their hearts, advance their thinking, and inspire them to action.

He is a professional member of the National Speakers Association, the CEO of On-Purpose Partners, and a highly respected business advisor for middle market organizations and a personal coach to CEOs, Executive Directors, and Company Presidents.  Authentic, original, good humored, and engaging are the qualities most often attributed to this thought leader by his peers, clients, and audiences.  He has traveled from Hungary to Hawaii since 1992 inspiring audiences as he carries the message of being on-purpose into the hearts, minds, and lives of people. 

Kevin’s intelligent and easy speaking style mixes light and spontaneous humor with a life-changing message and stories.  His uplifting keynote addresses and programs appeal to those with true aspirations and more responsibilities than time.  These people long to make a difference through ethically building a business, career, and life of significance.  There’s an authentic spirit to his words and way that captivates audiences.

Kevin shows up at the event to work.  He invests himself in your event and people.  Every engagement is tailored to the audience, company, and industry at hand.  Not one to “show and go,” Kevin considers it a privilege to reasonably meet and greet your participants, to sign books, and to answer questions.  He wants to bring value to your event.

To learn more, please call our office at 407.657.6000.

Fall In Love With Your Life

Maria Carter and I met at an On-Purpose Person workshop I conducted in San Diego around 1995.  She bubbled with enthusiasm for life and people.  She has a voice and spirit that is positively uplifting.

At the time we met, Maria had a dream of helping people learn to love themselves more fully.   I'm proud to recommend her book, Fall In  Love With Your Life Forever.  This work is an expression of her purpose and is true gift to women who struggle with their inner critic.  Go to her website and order the book today. 

Guys, it is a great gift to give to women in your life.  Wives, daughters, and mothers alike will benefit from calming their self critical voice and allowing their true selves to emerge on-purpose.  Not only will her life be better, but so will yours.   If momma is happy, then everyone is happy.  ; )   

Jim Weiss Radio Interview

My family and I have been great fans of Jim Weiss of Greathall Productions for many years.

Greathall Productions helps to produce Great Minds!  Our children, Charles and Anne, grew up listening to the amazing story telling of Jim Weiss.  Here's a man whose voice wraps around a character's personality to bring it to life.  Jim's ability to capture the essence of meaning of a story in a few choice words is remarkably educational and entertaining.  We read to the kids when they were little tykes.  Afterward, we would often put on a Jim Weiss tape to lull them to sleep.  We continued the practice until they got older and could read on their own.  Their interest in our reading to them waned but
their desire for a good bedtime story never ceased.   As teens I would often pass by their rooms at night and hear Charles or Anne listening to  Jim's soothing voice and fabulous tales as they drifted off to sleep.  Now donning headphones, I haven't a clue what they're listening to and I'm going to bed before they are!

A cool story about Jim reveals how he owns his stories.  He was a guest on my radio show.  Rather than impose upon him to tell a story on the air, I brought into the studio an audio tape of Robin Hood.  I gave it to the audio engineer to play coming out of a break so listeners could hear Jim.   The tape played for about 15 seconds and then jammed.  Jim offered to finish the story live.  He picked it right up, went into character, and delivered it flawlessly.  You should have seen the eyes around the studio; Alan, my co-host on the show was blown away... as was I.

Jim Weiss is truly a treasure for every generation in your family.  Grandparents and parents alike will enjoy sitting with the kids listening to Greathall Productions and discussing the stories.   Do yourself a
favor, visit Greathall Productions, and buy a CD or ten!

You can listen to Jim's talent using the link below.  The incident mentioned above can be heard at around 5 minutes into the interview.

Download 03 Jim Weiss Radio Interview 3

Learning to Lead Starts With Yourself

Watch this video interview I did with Factor77 to gain insight into on-purpose concepts.  Some of the questions asked and answered are below.

• Was there something you went through personally that made you write your book?
• What is your methodology for taking a step back in today’s world and being able to figure out what the heck you're doing?
• Why do you say a balanced life is a myth?
• So if you're doing what you love there should be no balance?
• How do you go out and find the right people to keep you motivated?
• How do you know when it’s time to stop and look around at what you're doing and take that first step?
• How do you feel satisfied at the end of the day instead of stressed out?

The On-Purpose Person: An Online Book Review

Tom Fillinger, the CEO of IgniteUS, Inc. shares his online book review of The On-Purpose Person. IgniteUS provides Pastors and local churches with the process and resources that God uses to produce transformation. This begins with the leaders, and is an inside out process.

See Kevin's Interview on The Good Life

Watch The Good Life with Ken Mikesell and Barbara Beck. 

Kevin's interview airs on March 2nd & March 5th at 7:30AM, 12:00PM, 3:00PM, & 8:00PM on station WTGL.

The Good Life is on channel 45 in the Central Florida area.  For Brighthouse customers, tune in to channel 19.

For those not in Central Florida, you can see the interview on WTGL's web site after the episode airs.

What's My Next Step?

You've read The On-Purpose Person and have realized the benefits of living your life on-purpose.  Now you want to go back through the steps of the man and begin applying this life transforming process to your life.  Here's exactly what you need!

Check out Discovery: Beginning On-Purpose.  In this guidebook, you will learn to:

• Capture in writing the desires of your heart
• Create order and clarity out of confusion
• Cut through your mental clutter and fog
• Determine what truly matters the most
• Set a new and positive direction
• Gain a greater sense of who you are
• Figure out what you should do
• Learn to manage your time so it matches your priorities
• Begin leading your life on-purpose
• Tap more deeply into who you are

Along with instructions, you will get a complete set of Want Lists and Tournaments per Life Account plus prompters.  Other forms included are the Main Draw, Reverse Tournaments per Life Account, Ideal On-Purpose^® Day, and Give List and Tournament.  This is a great step-by-step guide without necessarily rereading The On-Purpose Person.  All of this for only $7 and it is printable.

Not sure if you need this workbook?  You can check out a FREE Preview.  The Preview gives you a customizable Want List and Tournament Form.  Instructions for how to use the form are included.  And if you like what you see, there are convenient links to purchase the full product.  What have you got to lose?

To get started with your life discovery, Click Here to go to our online bookstore and buy the full version or get the Preview of Discovery: Beginning On-Purpose.

Mac users: Click here to download Discovery: Beginning On-Purpose PREVIEW (PDF).

Whom Do You Know Who Needs To Be On-Purpose?

Sure, you have friends, family members, and colleagues at work who could really benefit from being on-purpose.  Now you can introduce them to this modern parable for free. 

It is as simple as forwarding a free preview of the first four chapters of The On-Purpose Person.  Download your free preview and forward it today or pass along a link to this posting.  You'll make a difference in their life and yours.

PC Users click here to Download your Free Preview. (.exe file)

Mac OS users click here to Download OPP Ebook PREVIEW . (PDF)

PS - The full version of The On-Purpose Person as an ebook is available as well for only $20.  For a limited time, you can save $5.  Use the coupon code "LAUNCH" during checkout.  This coupon expires on February 28, 2009.   

More exciting ebooks are coming your way this year.