GENERAL SESSION SPEAKER

Jon Gordon invites attendees
to ride 'The Energy Bus'

Leadership Conference General Session speaker Jon Gordon believes in the power of words.

One word, in fact, is all it takes to make a difference in this world, if the word is one that inspires a person to spread positivity.

“Life is a series of challenges, one after another,” Gordon said. “You deal with challenges in your occupation – you have to deal with different injuries coming in, different illnesses; you deal with the stress of your work and with co-workers who sometimes might not be too positive.”

As a character in his book The Energy Bus had to learn how to overcome overwhelming negativity to define himself and ultimately achieve success, Gordon said, “I believe that is a journey that we are all on, to overcome all the negativity and adversity. Being positive does make a difference. … One of the ways to get improvements in our emergency rooms and our hospitals is to create more positive emotions.”

Gordon encouraged everyone in the audience to think of a word – one word – that would inspire them to be positive and spread positive energy to others. One audience member said “passion” would be his word.

“I love that,” Gordon said. “He believed he can be more passionate about certain things, and the ‘why’ behind the word will give it the power. The purpose behind my word made all the difference for me.”

Gordon encouraged attendees to share their words with him through Facebook, Twitter (@jongordon11) and e-mail (info@jongordon.com).

“I really want to know your word, and I also want to know one thing you’re going to do to make a difference, one thing you’re going to leave here with,” he said. “Because as Edison said, ‘Vision without execution is hallucination.’”

“I hope you will live your word,” he added. “And that word is not allowed to be ‘retirement.’ That will not refuel you.”

Amy Carpenter Aquino