Bob Dunwoody

May 4, 2007 2:47 pm

I had the opportunity to take a day out of production to attend a talk given by Bob Dunwoody. Dunwoody, who is billed as a motivational speaker, is more of a teacher than a motivator. But make no mistake, what he teaches will motivate you.

Dunwoody was a failure in our business until the day he realized that he could quit. With the burden of having to struggle in this business lifted he came another realization; if he quit, he'd be quiting as a failure. He decided he couldn't do that. He gave himself 3 years to reach what he considered to be the true measure of success in our business, a million dollars in production. The plan was to hand the manager the ticket putting him over the million dollar mark(tickets were written in those days) and his resignation at the same time. He did reach a million dollars in production. And he did it within his three year time limit. However, he didn't resign.

How did he do it and what did he learn? More importantly, what can you learn from him? For those answers you need to go to www.bobdunwoody.com and order his CD set. It'll cost you $500 bucks and this I promise you, it's worth every penny.

May 4, 2007 7:50 pm

[quote=BondGuy]

I had the opportunity to take a day out of production to attend a talk given by Bob Dunwoody. Dunwoody, who is billed as a motivational speaker, is more of a teacher than a motivator. But make no mistake, what he teaches will motivate you.

Dunwoody was a failure in our business until the day he realized that he could quit. With the burden of having to struggle in this business lifted he came another realization; if he quit, he'd be quiting as a failure. He decided he couldn't do that. He gave himself 3 years to reach what he considered to be the true measure of success in our business, a million dollars in production. The plan was to hand the manager the ticket putting him over the million dollar mark(tickets were written in those days) and his resignation at the same time. He did reach a million dollars in production. And he did it within his three year time limit. However, he didn't resign.

How did he do it and what did he learn? More importantly, what can you learn from him? For those answers you need to go to www.bobdunwoody.com and order his CD set. It'll cost you $500 bucks and this I promise you, it's worth every penny.

[/quote]

If you've already bought it, could I just borrow your copy? 

May 4, 2007 11:35 pm

I tried ebay, but no dice.

May 4, 2007 11:52 pm

[quote=mikebutler222]

If you've already bought it, could I just borrow your copy? 

[/quote]

Funny you should mention that. One of our product people saw it on my desk and asked if he could borrow it. Long story short I let him take it. Then I had to ask for it back, and when I got it back it was damaged. When I asked him to pay for it he told me he no intention of doing so. Lesson learned.  I bought a second copy of the CDs. They really are worth the money. Firms pay Dunwoody tens of thousands of dollars to personally deliver his programs. The reason? He's worth it. The CDs are a fraction of that cost and you'll absorb much more than attending one of his in person programs. Of course if you have the chance to see him in person, do it.

May 5, 2007 3:17 am

BG-

Would you you mind giving us your version of his "Top Ten"?  That might peak additional interest and get the cheap skates ready to write the check.....

[/quote]

Funny you should mention that. One of our product people saw it on my desk and asked if he could borrow it. Long story short I let him take it. Then I had to ask for it back, and when I got it back it was damaged. When I asked him to pay for it he told me he no intention of doing so. Lesson learned.  I bought a second copy of the CDs. They really are worth the money. Firms pay Dunwoody tens of thousands of dollars to personally deliver his programs. The reason? He's worth it. The CDs are a fraction of that cost and you'll absorb much more than attending one of his in person programs. Of course if you have the chance to see him in person, do it.

[/quote]
May 5, 2007 3:36 am

Bob Rocks.  I’ve seen him at speak 3 times.  Each time I pick up something a little different.

I need to blow the dust off my cd’s and give 'em a listen, too.

May 5, 2007 3:52 am

I’m curious what he says or does to set him apart from other motivational speakers.  Is it because he was in the industry, does he give advice on increasing production, is it general life advice?

May 5, 2007 6:03 am

[quote=bondo]I’m curious what he says or does to set him apart from other motivational speakers.  Is it because he was in the industry, does he give advice on increasing production, is it general life advice?[/quote]

yes!

May 5, 2007 1:46 pm

[quote=joedabrkr] [quote=bondo]I'm curious what he says or does to set him apart from other motivational speakers.  Is it because he was in the industry, does he give advice on increasing production, is it general life advice?[/quote]

yes!
[/quote]

Good.  I have been looking for something from someone who was in the industry and have been disappointed in my search.  How useful would it be to someone brand new to the industry?  Most of the stuff I have come across has been geared to people 10 years in.

May 5, 2007 2:30 pm

The CD set and workbook cost is $500.

Most of you will spend that same amount on a day or two of your vacation this coming summer. A vacation, which at this point, you have no way of knowing whether will be worth the money. Maybe it will or maybe they won't. Any number of factors could intrude on your good time ranging from over promised accommodations to an airline that fails to get you to your destination. You could even ruin your own good time by being in a bad mood. Yet, you have a VISION of yourself hiking in Shenandoah, or sitting on a beach on the big island. You are COMMITTED to the vision. You sat and PLANNED your vacation from start to finish. Your planning led to STRATEGIES and TACTICS to achieve your GOAL of a great vacation. And you are willing to chance the possiblities of all the factors that could intrude. You are committed! You are going!

As far as spending money on Dunwoody is concerned if you are not open minded to the possiblities that he could help your business then instead use the money for the $99 special airfare to AC. Spend the $11 to take a cab to the Borgata. Put another $11 in your pocket for the cab ride back to the airport. Walk up to the craps table and put the remaining $379 on the Pass Line. Why the Pass Line? Because betting on the Pass Line is betting against the house. Which is exactly the same thing you are doing as a business person running your own businss, which is who you are, if you are willing to spend $500 for one day of vacation but not make the same investment in your business. You are betting against the house.

Classic Dunwoody.

What you get out of Dunwoody is up to you. He can only show you the way.

May 5, 2007 7:43 pm

[quote=bondo]

[quote=joedabrkr] [quote=bondo]I’m curious what he says or does to set him apart from other motivational speakers.  Is it because he was in the industry, does he give advice on increasing production, is it general life advice?[/quote]

yes!
[/quote]

Good.  I have been looking for something from someone who was in the industry and have been disappointed in my search.  How useful would it be to someone brand new to the industry?  Most of the stuff I have come across has been geared to people 10 years in.

[/quote]

It is targeted at more experienced producers, but IMHO could still be very useful to you because it talks about philosophies and methods you can use to build your business from the ground up in an efficient fashion.

Put it this way, even if you're slaving away in a bank lobby at 30% payout, you only have to learn enough to do an extra 2200 gross to pay for the set, even after taxes.