Dean Lindsay Speech Topics | Premiere Motivational Speakers Bureau

How to deal with or relate to the stressful stimuli in this high-tech, low-touch world of speed-of-light change is a vital and important topic that desperately needs discussion.

Check this: Stress not only limits your progress; stress can and will kill you (if you don’t take action)!
- The American Medical Association says that stress is now the basic cause of over 60% of all diseases and illnesses (cancer, heart problems, etc.).
- Stress-related problems, according to the American Institute for Stress, are responsible for 75 % to 90 % of doctor visits.
- A study conducted by the University of London found that unmanaged reactions to stress were more likely to lead to cancer and heart disease than either smoking cigarettes or eating foods high in the bad kind of cholesterol.

Often, we invest so much time dealing with stress
that we don’t take time to progress.

Dean Lindsay's "From Stress to Progress" program based on his book, The Progress Challenge, offers tips and strategies fo go from stress to progress!!

“The Progress Challenge is a much needed kick in the pants for all of us. What an enlightening book!”
-- Ken Blanchard, coauthor of The One Minute Manager® and Leading at a Higher Level

“Personal Responsibility and Self-Reliance are desperately needed today. These traits are what The Progress Challenge is about. Read Dean's book and savor the stories and seeds of thought that will help you help those around you to be agents of...Progress, not just change. Don't just kick up dust, go out and make a difference.”
-- Jim Cathcart
Author of Relationship Selling

“The Progress Challenge should be mandatory reading. Dean is an inspiration for any business leader whether in the USA or in Europe - a true Progress Agent."
-- Birger Husted (Prague, Czech Republic)
Partner, UniqueConsult

Schedule your Progress Today!!

Be Progress

Based on Dean Lindsay's book ' Cracking the Networking CODE.

Recommended Reading by the United Professional Sales Association and Profit magazine.

"Perhaps the most powerful way to leverage and multiply your talent and ability is by expanding your personal and business network. THIS BOOK SHOWS YOU HOW."
-- Brian Tracy, Author, Getting Rich Your Own Way

"This is a book that everyone will wish they read 20 years ago." --Frank Bracken, President and COO, Haggar Clothing Co.

You can't achieve your best in ANY business without learning the all-important art of connecting. Dean Lindsay's rip-roaring programs based on his best selling book, Cracking the Networking CODE: 4 Steps to Priceless Business Relationships is filled with fresh profitable insights and practical tips on how to build meaningful, win-win relationships for your business and your life.

No matter where you are in your business life, you will enjoy Dean's humorous yet highly practical approach to meeting, connecting, and developing long-term relationships with others. The subject matter is practical and can be easily applied to all aspects of business life.

"This book is a hip, fun, easy read that is filled with specific tips for connecting and staying connected with others. It is also filled with enough trivia and “significa” to give you even more to talk about. Read, laugh, learn and improve."
-- Jim Cathcart, Author of Relationship Selling

Cracking the Networking CODE spent several weeks as one of the Top 100 Sales and Marketing Books on Amazon.com.

While Mastering the 4 Steps to Priceless Business Relationships...

You’ll Discover:
- The Top Ten Benefits of Networking
- 37 Questions for Defining a Powerful Networking Plan
- The Way Around the “Do Not Call” List
- 16 Examples of Proven Places to Network
- 16 Tips for Running a Successful Trade Show Booth
- 9 Strategies for Opening Face-to-Face Relationships
- 6 Often Overlooked Networking Strategies
- 20 Quick Tips for Delivering Solid First Impressions
- 10 Ideas for Creating a Series of Positive Impressions
- Insight on Business Cards and Note-taking

And...Learn How to:
- Be a Success in Your Own Eyes
- Conquer the FEAR of Networking
- Harness the Power in Numbers
- Gain Confidence Talking to Strangers
- Ask Progress-Focused Questions
- Listen As If Your Lifestyle Depended on It.
- Design Your Rise & Shine (30-Second Commercial)
And of Course How to …Crack the Networking CODE!!!

"For over three years, our entire sales team has benefited from Dean sharing his topnotch business-building insights, insights now found in his smart, engaging, and powerful Cracking the Networking CODE. While utilizing Dean's fresh insights, along with his personal coaching and mentoring, our sales professionals have taken their success to the next level! " -- J. Lee Ripley, Field Vice President, Pacific Life & Annuity Company

"Dean Lindsay is a true networking expert and his passion for being a 'Progress Agent' was demonstrated time and time again as he gave excellent suggestions to help people gain the confidence they need to build business relationships that will help them succeed."
- Jan Schleicher, Host of
"Inside Business Success"

"Whether you have a black belt in networking or are completely new to the concept, you will enjoy Dean Lindsay's humorous yet highly practical approach to networking. Dean presents an easy-to-follow blueprint that will teach you new networking skills and polish your existing ones. It's a winner! ”
-- Ginger Benedict
Executive Senior “Pink Cadillac” Sales Director
Mary Kay Cosmetics

“Dean Lindsay has captured the real secrets that make networking really work. This book is great. Read it! ”
-- Bill Brooks
Author of The New Science of Selling and Persuasion

" Dean Lindsay is a master of progress, and in this book will show you how to be the same. He’ll take you by the hand – a pleasurable experience, because the man is an awesome writer – and lead you into the land of networking nirvana."
-- Jay Conrad Levinson The Father of Guerrilla Marketing
( Brief Excerpt taken from Mr. Levinson's Foreword for Cracking the Networking CODE)

“Dean Lindsay’s easy-to-read Cracking the Networking CODE is filled with fresh insights and practical tips on how to build meaningful, win-win relationships for your business and your life.”
-- Gary Keller
Best-selling author of The Millionaire Real Estate Agent

“What a fantastic read on the ABC’s of networking. This page turner provides a very clear and concise system that will allow anyone, even the most introverted, to become a progress agent.”
-- Steve Wentz
Vice President, CB Richard Ellis

“Effective networking has locks that must be opened to create long-lasting business. Dean’s CODE is the set of keys you need to open those locks! Don’t just read this book – study and apply it to achieve success. I love it!”
-- Stephanie Saunders Ahlberg
Top-producing San Francisco Real Estate Broker
Author of the How May I Serve You? business column

“Cracking the Networking CODE cracked me up for all the right reasons. This book is tight, succinct, and full of wit. Dean Lindsay is one sharp and funny guy. I have been in the corporate arena for over forty years and we have needed Dean Lindsay’s unique voice for far too long. He makes common sense into common practice. Great book. Great message. Great reading. Enjoy.”
-- Max Derden
Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

“Dean Lindsay makes it fun to become a good networker, a ‘progress agent’ as he says. This book is a hip, fun, easy read that is filled with specific tips for connecting and staying connected with others. It is also filled with enough trivia and ‘significa’ to give you even more to talk about. Read, laugh, learn , and improve.”
-- Jim Cathcart
Author of Relationship Selling

“Cracking the networking CODE is a terrific resource for anyone who is in the business of meeting people. This book clarifies how to maximize networking opportunities"
-- Harry LaRosiliere, CFP
First Vice President-Investments, Morgan Stanley

“Dean Lindsay writes on the subject of networking and relationship building with conviction and authority. His writing, Cracking the Networking CODE, will be of immense and immediate value to anyone aiming for greater effectiveness in marketing and selling.”
-- Jack Kinder, Jr. and Garry D. Kinder
Speakers, authors, consultants

“Whether you are looking for a new job or thinking about changing careers, Cracking the Networking CODE is the book for you. It reveals what the human resource community has known and kept secret for years. Networking is the key to unlock the door to any position and this book gives you the combination to that lock.”
-- Gayle Ciupak
Manager, Human Resources, General Motors

“Dean Lindsay has redefined networking from the mindless, self-serving distribution of business cards to a connecting, collaborative, communicative process. Reading this book is an absolute necessity in today's changing environment.”
-- Helen Harkness, Ph.D.
Founder, Career Design Associates, Inc.
Author of Capitalizing on Career Chaos

“A terrific book that’ll show you how to build and nurture profitable relational capital. A keeper.”
-- Nido R. Qubein
Chairman, Great Harvest Bread Company
Founder, National Speakers Association Foundation

“I wish I had this book when I was starting my consulting business. This book will knock five years off your learning curve.”
-- Vince Poscente
Olympic speed skier
Author of The Ant and the Elephant: Leadership for the Self

“We present to our network every day…Let Dean’s powerful message on this subject help you grow your relationships.”
-- Tony Jeary, Mr. Presentation™
Author of Life Is a Series of Presentations

“Read this book ONLY if you plan to take action. Definitely not ‘shelf-ware,’ this book is chock-full of tips and tidbits – real, honest-to-goodness specifics wrapped around the CORE principles. Build or expand your network of relationships with this fun guide. Of course, making them pay off is the hard
part – but Deano makes it completely doable.”
-- Dianna Booher
Author of Communicate with Confidence,
Contact to Contract, and Your Signature Work

“Dean is energetic, passionate, and committed to success. If you read his book, you just might learn his secret.”
-- Joel Zeff
National speaker and humorist

“Every once in a while a GREAT book comes to my desk, and how I love it! Such a book is Cracking the Networking CODE by Dean Lindsay. I especially like the words in the title which make up the CODE, and his genius ideas about creating personal ‘Curb Appeal.’ You will want to buy a case – or several cases – of this great new book to give to your family and best clients. It is a true treasure!"
-- Dottie Walters, CSP
Author of Speak and Grow Rich
President, Walters International Speakers Bureau

“This is a great book, simply written and easily readable, that will definitely help you meet, connect, and develop long-term relationships with others. A must read for anyone who has to deal with people.”
-- Dr. Tony Alessandra
Author of The Platinum Rule and Charisma

“Dean Lindsay has taken an often misunderstood subject and turned it into a helpful resource for the reader. Anyone who wants to increase their business skills must first better understand the importance of people skills. This book is a must read in order to accomplish that objective.”
-- Dr. Robert A. Rohm
President, Personality Insights, Inc.
Author of Positive Personality Profiles

“What an important book! I have never seen anything like this in Sweden. Highly informative yet extremely entertaining, this is a book I would give to all my colleagues. It's perfect for any professional wanting to make his or her way in today's global business environment. An easy read – and a must read!”
-- Jonas Milton (Stockholm, Sweden)
President (VD) of Almega

“Wow! Dean Lindsay has hit a home run with his book, Cracking the Networking CODE! This is the best networking book I have read in a long time! I believe that networking is the best single factor in building a business, and Dean has written a book in a clear and concise manner that is fun to read, and that pinpoints the importance of networking effectively! This is sure to be a bestseller."
-- Jana L. High
Author of High-Tech Etiquette
Coauthor of The Princess Principle and The Service Path

“If you desire to become a better leader, I recommend you add Dean Lindsay's The Progress Challenge to your leadership toolkit." -- Ramon F. Baez, VP and CIO, Kimberly-Clark Corporation

“The Progress Challenge offers leaders solutions and better tools for inspiring positive action. This is the first book on leadership that I have read from beginning to end without putting down. Dean Lindsay challenges, fascinates and inspires the reader.”
-- Jonas Milton (Stockholm, Sweden)
President (VD) of Almega

“Stop the management fads and the ‘program of the month’. In The Progress Challenge, Dean Lindsay captures the issues and presents real, relevant, actionable solutions to the challenge of driving continual progress in business and life.”
-- Tim McRay
Executive Coach
Mercedes-Benz Financial

Businesses are increasingly being forced to deal with change while attempting to meet organizational goals.

Dean sees an important connection between sales, motivation, solid customer care and leadership. All are achieved by effectively positioning ideas, recommendations, solutions, products, services - even ourselves - as PROGRESS in minds of those we wish to inspire to action. All must be positioned as Progress and NOT Change.

It is natural to resist change but we embrace PROGRESS.

All progress is change but not all change is PROGRESS.

This program is designed to empower audience members to commit to continually taking steps towards personal and organizational goals, to formulate a healthy attitude towards change and to utilize the Six P's of Progress to sell themselves on the benefits of continual action. Participants are encouraged to continually Be Progress for co-workers, prospects and clients. Be Progress.

“Dean’s program was the perfect fit and one of the best we have ever had.”
-- Judi Phares, President and Founder, RTI/Community Management Associates, Inc.

“Dean is one of the best speakers I have ever seen: engaging, persuasive, and passionate.” -- Amy Dunker, Vice President Business Development, Western Union

In tough economic times, Customer service IS the difference between success and failure. This innovative program encourages participants to internalize three powerful insights about customers and introduces them to unique and powerful models for inspiring true customer loyalty.

This program also includes insight from Dean Lindsay's new book, The Progress Challenge!!

“This is a terrific and timely book with a simple but powerful message. With the right thinking and approach, we can make enormous progress in our organizations, with our families, and on our own goals and dreams. Dean's book shows you how, and provides the inspiration and advice you need to stay on track.”
-- Brad Cleveland
Senior Advisor and Former President / CEO
International Call Management Institute

Dean's innovative program introduces the unique and powerful MEND model for inspiring true customer loyalty.

MEND stands for:
Massage the Relationship with Solid Communication
Empathize with The Customer
Never Attack - Keep Cool / Lose the Battle to Win the War
Deliver HUGs - Heartfelt Unexpected Gestures

"Dean was TERRIFIC!! He did a lot of homework on World Kitchen and started his presentation by impressively naming off all of the brands we carry! Heck, some days I can’t even do that! He made a real connection with my troops and gave us some great philosophy and tips for our busy season on both Customer Service and Phone Sales. He was a great kick-off to our extended hours busy season and I give him an A plus for his presentation." -- Geri Barton, Director of Customer Service , World Kitchen LLC (The World Kitchen Brands are Baker's Secret, Chicago Cutlery, Corelle, Corningware, EKCO, Magnalite, OLFA, Pyrex, Revere, Vision)

Cherishing Customers is designed to motivate participants to:

-Implement new strategies that inspire amazing customer loyalty

-Internalize the three power truths about customers

-Establish a deeper understanding of personal responsibility in responding to customer needs

-View customer feedback (complaints) as the most inexpensive, available and useful forms of customer market data

-Create customer advocates by genuinely relating to concerns and wildly exceeding expectations

"Great Concepts. A Gut level approach to customer satisfaction. Dean Lindsay is smooth, clear, enthusiastic and knowledgeable."
- Tim Avirett, Manager, Raytheon

Quality Referrals are vital for progress in today's business market. Quality referrals can be cultivated and this session shows you how. A Quality Referral is BORROWED Trust and in Diving for Referral Pearls Dean hares proven ways to build that trust.

"A necessity for any salesperson."
-- Brian Cheek, Vice President, Grubb & Ellis

"Great stuff! Lots to absorb. A How to for boosting your referral based business." -- Bruce Harlan, Manager, Nortel

"Excellent techniques and ideas. Diving For Referral Pearls is how to rethink and get referrals." -- Marianne Elwell, Owner, Foley Flexible

The Three Keys to Diving for Referral Pearls:

1. Be BUZZWORTHY.
2. Give Quality Referrals (and whatever else you've got).
3. Ask for Referrals (but you have to know how and WHEN).

"Diving for Referral Pearls rejuvenates in your mind the importance of referrals. Dean rivets you to the topic. He is a must see." -- Kelley Akins, Sales Professional, Pacific Life & Annuity

Finding Progress in these times of change requires new processes, heightened performance, and traveling untrodden paths.

Dean Lindsay' Stop, BOP and Roll program, featured in his book, The Progress Challenge, offers the three keys to staying confident and productive through the necessary process of finding progress in change.

“The Progress Challenge is a much needed kick in the pants for all of us. Dean Lindsay’s witty words and questions will wake up your sleeping intentions and challenge you to move forward with purpose in your life. What an enlightening book!”
-- Ken Blanchard, coauthor of The One Minute Manager® and Leading at a Higher Level

“Finally a meaningful book with a workable process for progress.”
-- Gerhard Gschwandtner
Founder and Publisher
Selling Power Magazine

Every day, every hour, every minute, we're changing and so is our world. Some may feel resistant to change, and even claim to be personally unchangeable, yet the presence of change is one of the few constants.

Significant change can arrive like an Oklahoma twister, picking us up, shaking our sense of identity, and then dropping us way outside of our comfort zone. The ailing economy and the tough business climate (not to mention the real climate) make it easy to understand why so many people have trouble finding ways to get and stay moving toward progress. Yet, opportunities for progress still exist, even in the most challenging of times.

“Stop the management fads and the ‘program of the month’. In The Progress Challenge, Dean Lindsay captures the issues and presents real, relevant, actionable solutions to the challenge of driving continual progress in business and life.”
-- Tim McRay
Executive Coach
Mercedes-Benz Financial

Stop, BOP, and Roll your way to progress.

The business of sales is the business of ATTRACTION. We are attracted to products, services, ideas, and people that we TRUST can help us PROGRESS. Everyone profits when sales professionals focus on being progress, and being progress turns sales professionals into Business Attraction Magnets.

Be a BAM program is featured in Dean's new book, The Progress Challenge.

“If you're serious about the Sales profession and Sales leadership then this is the book for you. The Progress Challenge offers lots of helpful tips and ideas that will enhance your skills in the field of sales. Dean's style and sales examples keeps you engaged throughout the book. This is a quick read and one that I enjoyed.”
-- Dave Nostrand
Vice President, Sales - Eastern Region
Marriott International, Inc.

The days of the “Surefire Closing Statement” and the “Glad-handing Slick Salesman” are of course long gone. Today it is imperative for Progress Agents to truly get to know their prospects and help prospects get to know them. Selling is therefore a state of mind more than a series of steps. It is a dance, a buzz, a willingness to be involved, to connect, to attract. Those of us who make our careers selling are, by and large, outgoing, caring, and driven. We want to help others progress. We believe we can make a difference, that we can help. Being progress puts wind in our sails and in our sales.

Becoming a Business Attraction Magnet is about trust. The customer has a need, or a step they desire to take. They must trust we can meet that need and help them take that step. Customers and prospects need to trust our belief in ourselves, in our companies, and in our products and services.

Dean Lindsay's Be a BAM program, introduced in his book, The Progress Challenge, offers the Seven Keys to Being a BAM.

“Personal Responsibility and Self-Reliance are desperately needed today. These traits are what The Progress Challenge is about. Read Dean's book and savor the stories and seeds of thought that will help you help those around you to be agents of...Progress, not just change. Don't just kick up dust, go out and make a difference.”
-- Jim Cathcart
Author of Relationship Selling

All progress is change but not all change is PROGRESS.
Dean Lindsay sees an important connection between sales, motivation, solid customer care and leadership. All are achieved by effectively positioning ideas, recommendations, solutions, products, services - even ourselves - as PROGRESS in minds of those we wish to inspire to action. All must be positioned as Progress and NOT Change. It is natural to resist change but we embrace PROGRESS.

Dean Lindsay's The Progress Challenge program is always customized and features insight from Dean's latest book of the same name.

“The Progress Challenge is a much needed kick in the pants for all of us. Dean Lindsay’s witty words and questions will wake up your sleeping intentions and challenge you to move forward with purpose in your life. What an enlightening book!”
-- Ken Blanchard,
coauthor of The One Minute Manager®
and Leading at a Higher Level

“If you desire to become a better leader, I recommend you add Dean Lindsay's The Progress Challenge to your leadership toolkit. I especially liked the insight into the life and work of Viktor Frankl as well as Dean's use of humor throughout the book - a valuable and enjoyable read. The Progress Challenge is an honorable challenge that anyone aiming to make a positive difference should take.”
-- Ramon F. Baez
Vice President and Chief Information Officer
Kimberly-Clark Corporation

“If ever there was a right message at the right time, it's Dean Lindsay's book, The Progress Challenge. Dean is right that just changing isn't enough. We've got to make progress! Good ideas and practical examples.”
-- Joe Calloway
Author of Becoming A Category of One

“The Progress Challenge offers leaders solutions and better tools for inspiring positive action. This is the first book on leadership that I have read from beginning to end without putting down. Dean Lindsay challenges, fascinates and inspires the reader.”
-- Jonas Milton (Stockholm, Sweden)
President (VD) of Almega

“Dean Lindsay is thinking big. Read this inspirational book and you will too.” -- Michael Port
Author of The Think Big Manifesto
and Book Yourself Solid

“The Progress Challenge should be mandatory reading. In a time of economic slowdown, innovation and new approaches become even more important. Dean Lindsay gets it absolutely right and if we could all follow his advice the global business world would be a better place. Dean is an inspiration for any business leader whether in the USA or in Europe - a true Progress Agent."
-- Birger Husted (Prague, Czech Republic)
Partner, UniqueConsult

Schedule your Progress Today!!!

Note on The Progress Challenge from Dean Lindsay

I arrived at the concepts offered in The Progress Challenge after spending years aggressively researching the works of many of the world’s top minds on the subjects of motivation and commitment. In my studies I found myself leaning heavily on the work of Austrian psychiatrist and neurologist Viktor Frankl, the founder of Logotherapy. Along with the work of Viktor Frankl, I avidly studied the thoughts of Tom Peters, Seth Godin, Neil Rackham, Malcolm Gladwell, Leo Buscaglia, Tony Robbins, W. Edwards Deming, Tom Hopkins, John Maxwell, Wayne Dyer, David Allen, Stephen R. Covey, Robert T. Kiyosaki, Patrick M. Lencioni, Michael E. Gerber, Jack Canfield, Mark Sanborn, Marcus Buckingham, Mark Victor Hanson, Andy Andrews, Jim Collins, John Kotter, Jack Trout, Og Mandino, Ken Blanchard, Denis Waitley, and the one and only Mr. Zig Ziglar.

In an attempt to soak in their concepts subconsciously while I slept, I would even go to sleep with one of these superstars waxing poetic on my tape player (yes, tapes – this was a while ago). I don’t know if it helped. I do know it didn’t hurt, though it was a little odd to wake up to Leo Buscaglia shouting that he loved me. (He loved you, too. Leo loved everyone!)

"We don't find time or make it; we schedule time and take it." -- Dean Lindsay

Time is the great equalizer. What is an effective use of your time?
The answer is totally subjective because the value of the results is subjective. Each of us is, however, investing some of our time in daily activities that do not serve our goals.

Time Management is really Self-Management, with a respect for time.

Is procrastination a problem?
Do you need to exercise better “time management?”

Always Time to Progress offers fresh tips and insight into TAKING TIME to PROGRESS, insight featured in Dean's new book, The Progress Challenge.

“The Progress Challenge is a much needed kick in the pants for all of us. Dean Lindsay’s witty words and questions will wake up your sleeping intentions and challenge you to move forward with purpose in your life. What an enlightening book!”
-- Ken Blanchard,
coauthor of The One Minute Manager®
and Leading at a Higher Level

“Personal Responsibility and Self-Reliance are desperately needed today. These traits are what The Progress Challenge is about. Read Dean's book and savor the stories and seeds of thought that will help you help those around you to be agents of...Progress, not just change. Don't just kick up dust, go out and make a difference.”
-- Jim Cathcart
Author of Relationship Selling

“Stop the management fads and the ‘program of the month’. In The Progress Challenge, Dean Lindsay captures the issues and presents real, relevant, actionable solutions to the challenge of driving continual progress in business and life.”
-- Tim McRay
Executive Coach
Mercedes-Benz Financial

Schedule your PROGRESS today!

The hardest aspect of goal achievement is not in crafting a goal or even in knowing how to achieve it. The real challenge is staying connected to the passion and understanding of WHY. Understanding the reasons behind our goal channels the passion in the right direction, or at least in some direction.

This concept is simple, but not easy.

Don’t remind yourself about a goal.
Remind yourself of the benefits of the goal.

We don’t forget about our goals;
we forget WHY they are our goals.

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.”
-- Calvin Coolidge

Personal, professional, and social progress demands persistent action. The Progress Challenge Riddle (a classic)
If there are five frogs on a log and three decide to jump off, how many frogs are still on the log?
Answer: Five. Deciding is not doing.

And we can’t let a misguided desire for perfection stop us. We don’t have to be perfect to Be Progress. We can always improve our technique, improve our plan and our actions.

"Progress does not demand perfection, only persistence." -- Dean Lindsay

Excerpt from The Progress Challenge by Dean Lindsay

The Little Mind That Could

I was listening to my elder daughter, Sofia, reading Wally Piper’s classic The Little Engine That Could to her younger sister, Ella, one night and it occurred to me what a powerful little story it is. In his book, Mr. Piper shares the story of a little red engine pulling a train “filled full of good things for boys and girls” on the other side of a mountain.

When the little red engine breaks down, a toy clown hops off the little train and starts asking larger passing trains if they will help.

The first two trains refuse to help because they feel they are too big and important to pull toys and goodies.

A rusty third train relates that he is too old and tired to help, and chugs away saying, “I can not. I can not. I can not.”

Finally, a little blue engine passes by and stops immediately when she sees the clown waving. The little engine’s first words are, “What is the matter, my friends?”

The clown relays the challenge, and the little blue engine explains that she has never been over the mountain. She then sees the tears in the dolls’ eyes and thinks of the good little girls and boys who will not have any toys to play with or good food to eat unless she helps. She looks at the mountain and says, “I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.”

The little blue engine hitches herself to the little train and starts tugging and pulling and pulling and tugging. Slowly, the train moves forward.

“Puff, puff, chug, chug, went the Little Blue Engine.
‘I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.
I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.
I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.’”
-- from The Little Engine That Could
by Wally Piper

Up they go, ever so slowly to the top of the mountain. When they reach the top, the toys cheer. After coming down the mountain and unhitching the train, the little blue engine chugs away, saying happily, “I thought I could. I thought I could. I thought I could.”

The conviction that we have the power to progress is a major key to progressing. Remember, our brains want to be right. Whatever the mind believes, it will work to make true.
But, the little blue engine didn't say, “I think I can,” only one time. She said it over and over and over and over. Repetition, repetition, repetition.

What do you think that little blue engine will say next time she is asked to pull a train over a mountain?
Will she say, “I think I can”?
I think not. She will say, “Yes, I can.”

Also, the little blue engine did not say, “I think I can,” and then glide away. She said it and immediately hitched herself to the little train and started tugging and pulling and pulling and tugging. To progress in this world of change, there must be ACTION. No dallying!

The little blue engine had to tug and pull to reach her goal.
Will some of the progressive action steps that you and your company need to take to climb that mountain and reach your crafted goals be painful? Yes. Again, consider:
What is more painful to you, discipline or regret?

Finally, the little blue engine had strong reasons. She saw the tears in the dolls’ eyes and considered the little children, who would not have any toys or good food to eat unless she helped. She would feel pain if she didn’t help, and would gain pleasure, prestige, and power if she did.

Develop strong reasons for taking strong action. Remind yourself often of the personal benefits that reaching your and your company’s goals will have for your life. Help others develop strong reasons, so they too choose to take strong actions.

Progress is a step forward. Take today’s step. To change is human; to progress, divine.

Meet the Progress Challenge.

Be Progress.

Endorsements for Dean Lindsay's The Progress Challenge

“The Progress Challenge is a much needed kick in the pants for all of us. Dean Lindsay’s witty words and questions will wake up your sleeping intentions and challenge you to move forward with purpose in your life. What an enlightening book!”
-- Ken Blanchard,
coauthor of The One Minute Manager®
and Leading at a Higher Level

“Finally a meaningful book with a workable process for progress.”
-- Gerhard Gschwandtner
Founder and Publisher
Selling Power Magazine

“Part Drucker, part Dyer, part Dilbert — The Progress Challenge is an entertaining and practical guide on how to achieve success in business and follow your bliss."
-- Janet Gellici, CAE
Chief Executive Officer
American Coal Council