Rachel, Jessie & Charlie make holiday Magic
The incredibly talented J.K. Rowling is quoted as saying:
"We do not need magic to transform our world. We carry all the power we need inside ourselves already."
Rachel, Jessie and Charlie have never met each other. They live in different parts of the country and, in Charlie's case, an entirely different continent and era. Yet, all three have used the power of magic past, present and future to transform their world, their fortunes and the lives of others.
Charlie was a famous 19th-century novelist who released his books three chapters at a time, small pamphlets eventually bound together as complete books. As new volumes were published, crowds would gather to buy subsequent editions. Some bookstore owners would hire barkers with loud voices to stand outside their doors and recite Charlie's new chapters. This hubbub of activity generated buzz, got folks talking and inspired a frenzy of demand for Charlie's writings, similar to lineups for new iPhones or a "Harry Potter" release. In America, when the latest chapters arrived by boat, unruly crowds would riot at the dock, feverish to get their hands on Charlie's latest literary offerings.
But, in the fall of 1843, Charlie needed cash, and he needed it quickly.
He needed an incredibly formidable, universal idea that would resonate and stick.
An original, heart-felt conception that legions of readers would eagerly seek out and pick. With bank notes coming due, he crossed his fingers and hoped his latest fabrication would do the trick!
Without dawdle or delay, Charlie wielded the prodigious power of a fertile imagination and a mighty pen. He created one of the world's most enduring stories and brands in sixteen-hour days over six short weeks. One that Rachel, Jessie and a few billion others fully and completely understand. But, first, Charlie's backstory of hardship needs to be told.
The second of eight children, his 12-year world in Portsmouth, England, was turned upside down by a loud knock on the door. The boy watched in disbelief as a squad of stern and unforgiving men placed handcuffs on his Navy clerk father before hauling him to jail for failing to pay a debt. The rest of the family moved near Dad's prison address, leaving Charlie alone and fending for himself. Forced to work in a grimy shoe polish factory, Charlie and his fellow child laborers experienced treatment that fell between miserable and horrific.
By age 15, Charlie closed the book on factory life and wound up getting a job as an office boy, which led to becoming a court stenographer and, eventually, a reporter for two prominent London newspapers. His awe-inspiring work ethic and formidable writing talents produced a hefty income thanks to timeless works of art such as "Oliver Twist." But, Charlie's most enduring legacy traces back to an 1843 visit to Manchester, where he witnessed the most dreadful and deplorable conditions for the working poor. A largely uneducated population mercilessly exploited by factory bosses and shunned by proper society. Unable to look the other way, this already popular and financially successful self-made man with a social conscience took a stand against this threat to England's moral fibre being bred in the slums of the country's smoky industrialized cities.
In 1843, working on Christmas Day was just part of the everyday routine.
Thanks to Charlie, the tall tales he told his six children of the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future became what legends are made of. Between writing projects and desperate need of a few extra shillings, Charles Dickens invested six weeks in developing the characters of Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim as the hastily conceived project was completed – just in time for Christmas.
"A Christmas Carol" was an instant smash throughout the British Empire.
It's how Christmas, as we know it, came to be.
The season, the traditions, the brand. The entire Yuletide kit-and-kaboodle.
The beliefs of an entire planet were forever changed through far-fetched, fantastical ideas of one man with an iron will and sturdy quill. Charles Dickens single-handedly created the holiday enchantment and sacred traditions we now enjoy. Not a corporation, doctor, scientist or government. Not a rock star, superstar athlete, celebrity actor or advertising agency.
Rachel and Jessie are modern-day examples of applying Dickensian magic and touching hearts in the communities they serve. Originally from Regina, SK, Rachel Mielke reached back and found some holiday sparkle from a poem first published anonymously in 1823. Since authorship is disputed, it was originally and controversially known as "A Visit From St. Nicholas."
In Fredericton, NB, Jessie Yerxa and her husband, Andrew Phillips, drew inspiration several weeks ago from a mythical masterpiece that dates back to 1957. An author of more than 60 books, 53-year-old Ted was brushing his teeth on a December 26th morning and didn't like what he saw staring back in the mirror. A face and a frown that reflected being depressed and down. Something had gone wrong with the commercialism of Christmas that left Ted dour and sour. Inspired by Dickens and Scrooge, he rolled up his writing sleeves and created a fictional character who lived at the top of Mt. Crumpit to see if he could take his gloomy countenance and dump it.
As you can see, Jessie and Andrew have honored Ted with their latest video expression of joy and glee. Feel free to click and see if you agree!
Storytellers like Rachel, Jessie, Charles Dickens and Dr. Seuss provide essential services to remind us that we live in a world where people are not always kind, but kindness is still the most important thing. It's easy to allow our inner Scrooge or Grinch to surface during our darkest days. It demands a supreme test of leadership to discover light when little is to be found.
Is anything stopping you from doing something similar?
Could you apply the alchemy of your own words and actions to slay past demons and dragons? What if you could be that critical someone who speaks in a stirring fashion for those who have no voice? How could you conjure and create one story re-configure and re-shape your present and future?
As long as you have love in your heart and the courage to attack the keyboard, everything you require is at your fingertips. Just don't let those dastardly muggles get you down!
This is the final post for our 2022 publishing calendar, and I can think of no better gift to give yourself and the people you care about most. From our family to yours, we wish you Happy Holidays and look forward to reconnecting with you on the other side of 2023.
"Youth cannot know how age thinks and feels. But old men are guilty if they forget what it was to be young". J.K. ROWLING
p.s…. December always allows one to reflect on a year filled with fond memories of good friends and high adventure. For us, the late September re-location from London, ON, to Cochrane, AB, was both life and lifestyle changing. Over five days through 4 provinces with three dogs, Dana and I drove 3,798 km to land in our new home in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Gordon Lightfoot helped us enjoy Lake Superior's rugged beauty, and Paul Brandt has helped make the drives to Canmore, Banff and the majestic Lake Louise a lot more fun. The whole story of our Second Big Move is here:
I want to thank the TEC Canada and Vistage Worldwide chair community for another incredibly rewarding year. Once the pandemic passed and air travel resumed, it was a real treat to work closely with top-notch chairs like Greg Bustin, Dennis Howard, Oscar Benevides, Allison Gilbert, Becky Powell-Schwartz, Ed Burke, Jim Eckelberger and Mike Richards in Dallas, TX. Jeannette Hobson and I had a most "Rocky" experience in Philadelphia, PA, while Les Smolin and I had the honor of seeing genius emerge from the room in Washington D.C. William M. Niemi rocked the house in Sacramento, CA, and Rear Admiral Paul Martin of the Royal Saskatchewan Navy brought the spirit of the M.G.A. Tour to Regina, SK. And how about that night when sweet-talking David Woodley put on a most charming display of gentlemanly comportment at a southern Ontario eatery! Too many highlights to mention, and looking forward to many more adventures, stories and memorable moments in 2023.
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Please send us a note to schedule a Keynote or Workshop for your event.
“Heroes get remembered. Legends never die” BABE RUTH.
BIG LITTLE LEGENDS. : The Forbes Interview
Thanks to Vancouver-based Page Two Publishing, the little black book with the magical cover is steadily gaining traction with a global audience. The latest to join this groundswell of support is Forbes contributing writer Rodger Dean Duncan who published this interview on October 13th. Read here.
BIG LITTLE LEGENDS – How Everyday Leaders Build Irresistible Brands - is available 24/7/365 thanks to wonderful distribution partners like AMAZON, AUDIBLE and Wal-Mart.
YOUR BRAND. ON TRACK.
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