John Duffy Inspiring Speaker Bronx to Hollywood

If you are an Event Planner looking for a unique Speaker with a incredible story of overcoming adversity and going from the Ghetto to Greatness and from the Bronx to Hollywood then I have a story and Speaker for you. 

I have to warn you that your audience will not be able to figure out where I'm from by listening to my accent. I usually challenge them to guess and most guess Boston. I say I moved to the West Coast but my accent moved up the East Coast to Boston and I'm trying to get it back.

I have a unique story growing up in the South Bronx in one of the toughest and poorest neighborhoods in America. I'm the son of two Irish Immigrants and I dropped out of high school at 15 and started my long journey that lead to my becoming a actor then a film producer, Professor, author and transformational speaker. It's a great against all odds story and I share it to encourage others to discover their greatness and overcome the adversities in their lives.
So I welcome you to contact me today at Duffsqfilm@gmail.com to arrange for me to speak to your company, association, group. 

Public Speaking:
Speaker - Notre Dame Event - Upcoming
VIP Speaker at NASA - You Mission Critical - Houston, TX
Key Note Speaker - PA 101 for Military Vets - Los Angeles 
Key Note Speaker - Los Angeles Film School "Salute to Military" - Hollywood 
Speaker - Film Panel Cerritos College 
Speaker - Reality TV Seminar - Triway "Attended by 17 Chinese Film Professors from PRC"
Intro speaker at Tony Robbins Video Sales Training program, 

Producer: 
*Produced and line produced over 30 feature films.
* Line produced 2 USMC training films 
* Directed 2 short films "The Flag" screened at GI Film Festival in Wash DC 

Writer:
Wrote memoir "Black Irish - Not Your Average White Boy"
Wrote two Blogs "The Glass is 3/4's Full" and "Duffy Square "

Professor:
Professor 3 Semesters at MBA Film Program John Paul the Great Catholic University 

Dual Citizen:
US and Ireland

Saturday's Motivational Video - 13 Rules of Leadership

Personal Ramblings - "The Great Drake"

I received this book from an old friend, Dee. She contacted me and mailed it to me as a gift to read. It was gift out of the blue and yet I am glad she thought of me and I had a chance to read this book,

It was written by her dad Mario Cappelli I read the book the first night I received it. Reminiscent of Jonathan Livingston Seagull it is a allegory that tells a tale of the Great Drake and the journey of his flock through the Great Storm. Yet it's about so much more including courage, character, vision and leadership and the role it plays in our life.

It's a small book and an easy read. i intend to read it again with my 11 year old daughter. it's a beautiful story and has a great message about leadership and doing the hard and right things especially when it isn't easy and maybe even dangerous. It's a story for today when the need of real leaders who look out for the greater good and not their own interest is needed more than ever. We need more servant leaders and this book is a reminder of that.

I recommend you find the book, read it, share it with your children and pass it on to a friend.

If you want to find the book or other books by Mario Cappelli

http://mariocappelli.com/





Thank you Dee Cappelli........

Saturday's Motivational Videos - Leadership

Bill Strickland @ TED



http://www.ted.com/

Saturday's Motivational Videos - Leadership

"Make the Impossible Possible" - Bill Strickland



http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/17/genius.html

http://www.manchesterguild.org/bio.htm

Book Review - "The Big Five For Life - Leadership's Greatest Secrets"

If you read only one book in 2009, read "The Big Five For Life".
John Duffy

I've read at least fifty good books this year on motivation, leadership, transformation, business, psychology and personal growth but this book stands out. I couldn't put it down. If you take away and use just one of the ideas in the book it will make a difference in your life.

If you are a business owner, leader or aspire to be a leader you NEED to read this book. it is a fictional book similar in style to "The Monk who Sold His Ferrari" and is a great read about life and leadership.

Some Take aways for the book:

Create a personal and business Purpose for Existing (PFE)
Create Your Big Five ( Things you want to do,see or experience in your life before you die) and go for them.
Make every day a Museum Day. This is a great one read it to find out.....

This book resonates with the experiences I have had in my life regrading leadership and it inspires me to step up even further....

(Click on book picture to go directly to amazon.com.)

Saturday's Motivational Videos - Leadership

Geoffrey Canada - CEO Harlem's Children Zone



http://www.hcz.org/what-is-hcz/about-geoffrey-canada

Thought For The Day - Lead Don't Follow

It is in times of turmoil, crisis and challenge that leaders and leadership are needed. Leaders are the ones that keep their head in the middle of the storm. They keep things in perspective and look to find solutions. Everyone of us has the potential to be leaders in our families and in our lives. Think and act like a leader and not a follower. Step up.

Thought For the Day - Leadership Is Influence

"He who thinks he leads, but has no followers, is only taking a walk". If you can't influence people then they will not follow you. And if people won't follow, then you are not a leader. That's the Law of Influence. No matter what anyone else may tell you, remember that leadership is influence - nothing more, nothing less.
John Maxwell

Thought For The Day - Lead From The Front

I just got back from a location scout at the Marine's OCS Officer Candidate School in Quantico, VA. I am going to be headed back for a few weeks of filming there. We met some dynamic and inspirational leaders there and got to learn about their leadership training for their lieutenant candidates.

They stressed their 5 Pillars of Leadership
1. Mindset
2. Martial Spirit
3. Mental Agility
4. Physical Fitness
5. Tenets of Leadership

My take away lessons:

Lead From The Front
Be a Servant Leader
Lead By Example
Be Exemplary
Be Courageous
Be Ethical
Be Honorable
Be Noble
No Better friend, No Worse Enemy

The Marines provide an example of exemplary leadership in uniform and in life as they move into other careers.

Below is a video of boot camp graduation at San Diego Camp Pendelton. I was there last year as part of an educators workshop and we had a chance to film the training and graduation of the recruits as well as following the educators as they learned about the Marines. A special form of leadership to learn from this 4th of July

The video below is a posting from someone on YOUTUBE

Thought For Day - Sing Your Song - Live Your Life

Robin Sharma

What I'm Reading - Books

Books I'm reading:

Rules for Renegades - Christine Comaford-Lynch (Entrepreneurship)
The Middle-Class Millionaire - Russ Allan Prince and Lewis Schiff (Entrepreneurship)
Old Friend From Far Away - Natalie Goldberg (Writing)
The Greatness Guide - Robin Sharma (Leadership) reading for 2nd time

Reviews will follow.....