January/February 2001

One Lucky Duck

I feel like one of the luckiest Ducks® around. I have been blessed with a wonderful career. I have been surrounded by remarkable friends and mentors, a cherished family, and esteemed colleagues and associates. But I will let you in on my little secret: This wasn’t entirely accidental. While I’ve flown higher than I ever imagined possible, I also had to work on it. And just as importantly, I pursued my dreams every step of the way.

I believe each person has a dream within, whether it’s personal or professional, “wacky” or practical. And pursuing your dreams, no matter what the world says, is an essential part of living your life fully. Whether you achieve the dream is not necessarily the point. The point is the pursuit. This issue of Duck Tales™ is devoted to the heart’s fondest desires. Living with our heads will only get us so far. We need to live with our hearts and our heads.

So as you read this issue - this farewell issue from the retiring Duck® - try not to listen to that little voice inside that quacks on about our dreams, “but there’s no time for that” or “that’s ridiculous” or “what would people say?” When it comes down to it, people would say: “Wow, that’s the way to live!”

Courage and Persistence
While following your dreams is rarely easy, the rewards are immeasurable. Author Alex Haley knew this. He left a 20-year career with the Coast Guard to pursue his dream of becoming a writer. After a year of trying to prove himself, Mr. Haley still barely made enough money to buy food. Then one day he got a telephone call. An old friend offered him a job paying $6,000 a year - a lot of money in 1960.

“As the dollars were dancing in my head,” Mr. Haley later wrote, “something cleared my senses. From deep inside a bull-headed resolution welled up. I had dreamed of being a writer - full time. And that’s what I was going to be.” Mr. Haley politely declined the offer, soon afterwards feeling like a fool. He took everything from his cupboard and his pockets and put them in a paper bag. He had two cans of sardines and 18 cents. “That’s everything you’ve made of yourself so far,” he told himself, feeling lower than ever.

Things improved slowly. He began selling more articles and was eventually given a contract that would help support his research and writing of Roots. When the book came out in 1970, Alex Haley had the kind of success that few writers experience. One day he came across an old crumpled bag; it contained two sardine cans, a nickel, a dime, and three pennies. Not wanting to forget his humble beginnings, he had the items framed in Lucite. Mr. Haley kept the frame next to his Pulitzer Prize and his nine Emmys for the TV production of Roots. All his “trophies” were meaningful to him, but only one reminded him of the courage and persistence that helped him achieve his dreams.

Getting Motivated
For some of us, pursuing our dreams is simply a question of motivation. The reality is that it’s easy to procrastinate. We’ve all done it at some point. We’ll start that project tomorrow, we might say. Or, we’ll puruse that idea when we have more time. But we never seem to find the time. However, if you devote a mere 60 seconds to a few motivational techniques, says Willie Jolley, author of It Only Takes a Minute to Change Your Life, your goals can take flight. Here are some of Jolley’s no-nonsense tips:

(1) Respect your dream. We all have dreams, but sometimes we cast them aside as we get caught up in day-to-day details. As a result, we forget what we’d truly like to do. Jolley suggests imagining being told you have only one year left to live and then write down what you want to achieve during that time.
(2) Set a deadline. Jolley says, “A goal is nothing more than a dream with a deadline.” He suggests writing down your goals, then reading them three times a day—in the morning, afternoon, and before you go to sleep—to renew your commitment to achieving them.
(3) Guard your dream. Protect yourself from negativity, both internal and external, that can quickly kill your dreams. Use positive, affirming language when talking about yourself and your dream.
(4) Be open to change. Change brings uncertainty and risk, which can be unsettling to some people. But if you learn to act like you’ve already succeeded, the tasks become less formidable and you may find yourself looking forward to change.

Born to Be Great
Sometimes it’s not failure that we fear, but actually success. Former South African President Nelson Mandela put it best when he said: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.”

Mandela believes that each of us was born to be great. Shrinking away from our potential doesn’t help anyone. When we worry that we will be compared to others or perhaps even outshine others, we are only denying ourselves the opportunity to grow and flourish. But by letting our true spirit shine forth, we are actually doing a service to ourselves and those around us. Striving to reach our potential and rid ourselves of fear sets a good example for others.

And only then - when we live without fear - can we unlock all the treasures and potential we have within.

Breaking Away
Behind the greatest success stories often lie untold tales of failure and self-doubt. Take Alfred Adler, a well-known Austrian psychiatrist, for example. When Adler was a student, he got off to a bad start in arithmetic. His teachers were convinced he didn’t have the smarts to do well in math.

One day in class, the teacher put a difficult problem on the board and asked if anyone could solve it. No one responded—until one student raised his hand: Adler. His classmates looked at him and broke out in laughter, as did the teacher. But, you guessed it, Adler went to the board and worked out the problem, much to everyone’s amazement. What happened?

On that day in math class, Adler realized that he was better than the false image that had been created of him. People had told him over and over again that he wasn’t any good in math—and because he believed their words, he never had been. But once Adler saw that others’ perceptions were unfair and inaccurate, he was able to cast away his self-doubt and gain confidence in his abilities. When we let others’ ideas determine our self-worth, we sabotage our chances for success. Don’t let negative, self-limiting thoughts undermine your potential. Trust in what you know you can accomplish and you will be on your way to realizing your dreams.

Upward and Onward
I’ve tried at least two dozen times to start writing this last Duck Tales™ newsletter. The words just didn’t seem to come to this Old Geezer Duck® who is being sent out to the retirement duck farm after 37 years. It has been such a great career - so many great people - so many challenges - and such a satisfying feeling to know that, beyond my wildest dreams, this Duck® has had a chance to fly higher, see more and touch more people than I ever could have imagined in my wildest dreams.

Now comes “D” day. As I write this, retirement looms 24 hours ahead; and, when yesterday I was asked to sign a legal document signing off as an officer and director of Manco as of December 31, the full impact and finality of 37 years of planting the seed and building came to a sudden realization that it is over. Within seconds after that sudden sock in the stomach (which I should have seen coming), I counted my blessings, spread my wings, set my direction in service to others, chuckled to myself, quacked gently, and said, “Well, here goes, Mr. Duck®. You’re off and flying in a new adventure, this time to parts relatively unknown but with a memory bank full of love, respect, and gratitude.”

So, although this will be Old Geezer Duck®’s last message to his flock, I am pleased to tell you that number one son, John, will be the new Duck® in the Top Duck® formation. Look forward to his messages, as I will. I think you will see that the next generation of Ducks® are well trained, founded in great principles of service and compassion for others, and ready to share their heads and hearts and backs in service to their people and to their customers.

We have a cheer here at Manco that opens and closes our meetings. After we’ve spelled Manco and say, “Who’s Number One?” we yell loudly, “Partners and customers first, always, yes!” May it always be so.

Look for me in the sky - maybe leaning a little to the right or flying a little slower than I used to - but I guarantee that I’ll be up there with kindness in my heart for all of you. Special thanks to a gentleman named Bob Dorfmeyer, my mentor and the chairman of our advisory board, who recently went on to his reward. Dear Bob, without you, this Duck® could never have flown as high. And thanks to all of you for the memories!

Sincerely, Your Friend
Manco T. Duck