To paraphrase the American Egg Board, “Our mission is to increase demand for eggheads and egghead products on behalf of all egghead producers.” True, there are eggheads and then there are quotable eggheads. Meet Steve Lishansky.
Our mission was accomplished a hundred times over when we met Steve. If you’ve been to one of our workshops you already know him. We rarely miss the chance to feature this Lishansky quote:
The hardest people to work with are those who’ve been reasonably successful doing unsustainable things.
And, that’s Steve Lishansky. If you spend any time with him you’d better bring a notebook. He’s a walking Bartlett’s – only they’re all his quotations, not Mark Twain’s or Thomas Edison’s.
Steve will be speaking at the Colorado chapter of the National Speakers Association this Friday, March 6. He’s speaking about “Getting Paid What You Are Worth.” Bring a notebook, but you won’t be able to write fast enough.
Just a Few Samples
Here is Steve on how speakers attempt to place a price tag for their appearances.
They’re trying for a gig rather than being a force for what they’re passionate about.
Or, a related quote that strikes right to the heart of today’s obsession with information (and speaks to the pricing issue):
I’d rather be an example than an explanation.
We have to warn you, though. He’s gonna’ get in your face about your desire to have a career as a speaker:
Are you being driven by hope and aspiration or passion and commitment?
I suppose we should tell you that Steve Lishansky is the Chief Executive Optimizer at Optimize International.™
Yet another reason we like him. He runs a company about optimizing your brain – not your web site. In the long run, which do you think will help your career more?
Oh, and it says here, his office is on Whits End Road. Not true. Much wit. Much quotable wit. Bring a notebook.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Please note the grammatical error in the initial quotation: The hardest people to work with are those who’ve been reasonable successful doing unsustainable things.
It’s not “reasonable,” it’s “reasonably.”
Sorry I’ll miss you Friday at the Colorado meeting.
Enjoy,
Dee Dukehart
Thanks Dee,
Not a problem with Steve. Steve is very grammatical. I just sometimes hit the wrong keys on the topewriter!
Steve Lishansky is a breath of fresh air. He will cause anyone in his audience to look at their situation from a totally new perspective. Having worked closely with Steve, I can tell you that he deserves to be called the Chief Executive Optimizer!
Nice point Dick,
These days we hear a lot of stuff from a “totally old perspective.” Maybe that’s because so many people just get up and speak about what they used to know. The one thing that we know about Steve is that he’s always willing to learn new things. Scary that’s become rare these days.
So glad to see your posting. Steve is absolutely fantastic! We’ve been working with him for several years, to great result.
You did leave out my favorite quotes:
“If you are the only one who sees the VISION for your organization, it’s not a VISION its an hallucination.”
and
“Being RIGHT is insufficient for being SUCCESSFUL.”
They aren’t just quotes, they are milemarkers for all executives who want to drive their organizations to optimal success.
Hi Nancy,
You put your finger on the problem with Steve – he’s got way to many quotes. He could be a Starbuck’s coffee cup program all on his own. Thanks so much for adding those – excellent.
A.) Tell Steve to quit talking about me. They are too sustainable and
B.) Tell me again, why am I carrying that Bartlett’s around if Steve isn’t in it?
C.) What brain?
All seriousness aside you actually make me want to go to the NSA chapter meeting…
I had several opportunities to meet Steve and I agree that he is a breath of fresh air! He has a unique and refresing approach to business and he articulates it in a clear and simple way. I am looking forward to additional opportunities to work with and get to know Steve!
Thanks Tom and Linda,
Tom – all I can say is that Gray Matters.
Linda – great to hear that Steve actually works with anyone! Just kidding, of course.
Appreciate both of you taking the time to comment.
Lishansky Rocks! I’ve known the guy for more than a decade through the Executive Coaching Summit and he’s not only consistently quotable, he’s one of the great creative minds in the field! His enthusiastic energy is contagious, and his messages on every topic are insightful, powerful, and always relevant. Can you tell I’m a fan?
Hi Suzi,
We’re a fan back of yours too. We’ve written about Suzi on this blog – and she’s been gracious enough to write a guest blog article here also. Thanks!
I have had the opportunity to work with Steve for the past 6 months and as an executive in the financial world there has not been a better time to be the recipient of his wisdom and guidance. He has an innate ability to teach you to distill complex issues into their basic components and focus on what is really impactful.
Any chance we can get him to work with those on capitol hill???
Now you’re talking, Mike,
Let’s send not only Steve, but Suzi Pomerantz, Dee Dukehart, Dick Bruso and other speakers, trainers and coaches to Washington. Have this mess cleaned up in no time!
What a treat to have so many of my favorite people responding to your blogpost Michael. The real key to success is surrounding yourself with great and talented teachers and friends, and keeping yourself open to learning from everything that they and life present. I have learned a great deal from my interactions with you and these wonderful people, and share my favorite quote of all time (at the top of my 100 favorite quotes): “The Best Is Yet To Come!” Let’s all keep moving onto the great human ‘elevators’ of our love, passion and wisdom, and keep avoiding the nasty and disruptive ‘trapdoors’ of doubt, fear and negative judgements. Imagine what the world could look like then…. and I guarantee you it is doable when we join together and create the critical mass. All Aboard!
Steve,
Great presentation at the NSA Colorado meeting on Friday!
I have known Steve for more than 15 years and had the honor of working with him on many occasions. and I can tell you that he delivers value to organizations and individuals that far exceed any price tag. He’s a man of exceptional integrity, brilliant in his ability to transform leaders and organizations, and a great mentor to many.