David Neeleman, founder of Jetblue and Azul (updated)

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Updated August 2014

David Neeleman who has ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) struggled through school when he was young.  However, his ADHD turned out to be a gift when he directed his hyperactive creativity toward building something great for consumers while keeping costs low for them.  This allowed him to innovatively build four successful airlines.

Other Interviews and News with David Neeleman (Added on August 29, 2014)

David Neeleman talks about Azul and Embraer 

http://www.bloomberg.com/video/major-mergers-in-the-sky-pNESolzyQ2Ww6lVe7GjWMQ.html

http://www.bloomberg.com/video/embraer-s-big-bet-the-kc-390-fSypdnfXS827s8_nMXzPdg.html

Elite Interviews David Neeleman 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QybWxHdiSpk

David Neeleman Talks About "What Makes a Startup Soar" 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoWB8yN7SAE

Books About David Neeleman and JetBlue

Blue Streak  by Barbara Peterson

http://books.google.com/books?id=X8W4AAAAIAAJ&q=blue+streak&dq=blue+streak&hl=en&sa=X&ei=vhgAUpCTAuv94AP194DgDg&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA

Flying High  by James Wynbrandt

http://books.google.com/books?id=Eh1P-fJlniYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=david+neeleman&hl=en&sa=X&ei=qxMAUouvA_Gx4APxrYDgAg&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=david%20neeleman&f=false

What David Neeleman Learned as a Young Missionary in Brazil

http://books.google.com/books?id=VAfMJO11rWIC&pg=PA45&dq=david+neeleman&hl=en&sa=X&ei=qxMAUouvA_Gx4APxrYDgAg&ved=0CGIQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=david%20neeleman&f=false

Book Recommended by David Neeleman

The Mormon Way of Doing Business  by Jeff Benedict

http://books.google.com/books?id=wS34sBXb72YC&printsec=frontcover&dq=the+mormon+way+of+doing+business&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ChsAUvO_Drao4AOa7ICgBw&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=the%20mormon%20way%20of%20doing%20business&f=false

Other iconoclasts like (and unlike) David Neeleman can be found at 

 http://spirfit.org/Academy/iconoclasts

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How You'll Make It

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You are asking, how did it come to this?  How do I get out of this painful place?  You’re thinking, I don’t see how it’s possible.

I know this may sound cliché, but I strongly recommend that you talk to God.  Ask God for help.  What do you have to lose?  The times when I was in this place, I felt that there’s nothing left I can do and so, I talk to God.  If only people know how practical this is (and more than just a cliche.)

As you continuously talk to God, you will realize more and more of what you can do.  Then, you need to do your part.  If you don’t know what you can do, you should keep asking God for guidance and you need to keep establishing a relationship with Him.  As you establish a father-child relationship with God, start doing what you can do and God will do what you can’t do.  He will control what you can’t control.  As you go on with this, the sun will rise.

The sun is rising.

In an upcoming blog entry, I will show you something else you can do to get you to where you want to be or need to be.

More life reminders are available at  http://spirfit.org/Academy/#life

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LeBron Returns to Cleveland: Life Lesson from This

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Lebron James decided to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers.  If Cleveland is more important to him than winning another championship, that would be the right choice.  If winning another championship is more important for him, I would say that his chances of doing so in Miami are better (despite Miami’s loss this year).  The high performance battleship that is the Miami Heat will need to be rebuilt after these major parts (LeBron and possibly others) are gone.  (So, Miami will probably not win another championship any time soon.)  However, as long as Spoestra and Riley are the head engineer and captain, they can rebuild it into a ship just as good and possibly even better, in time.

Many endeavors in life are like the goal of winning a championship.  You need to build a vehicle (a high performance one) to get you there.  It will take time, hardwork, and collective effort.  It’s never only about just one star player (as good and essential as he may be).  Although they are pivotal to the success of a team, they are replaceable.  Although it may take some time to find the right stars, there are plenty of stars in the sky.  Nonetheless, it will take some time (and the right coaches and/or leaders) to get the potential stars to shine to their maximum brightness.  Kawhi Leonard, this year's MVP of the Spurs, is the perfect case and point.  This young star is shining so brightly because of all the mentors and coaches around him, in addition being on the right ship (for him and the right culture of that ship/team.)

New York Times  article about Lebron's decision - http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/12/sports/basketball/lebron-james-to-return-to-cleveland-cavaliers-leaving-miami-heat.html

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Don't Care What They Say; Whatever Works!

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When Michelle Wie switched to a putter that seems to be too short, people “started talking about it.”  They were talking about the weird or goofy stance she started assuming with the shorter putter.  However, Wie felt it was more effective for her despite what people said. 

Lesson #1:  Who cares what people say!  Whatever works!  Look how it turned out.  Michelle Wie won the U.S. Open this year.

Watch the video interview where Michelle Wie talked about her putter change at - http://youtu.be/YxJtgCuD3eQ?t=7m56s 

At the time of the putter change, some experts were saying that Michelle’s new putting stance did not seem to be good for her back.  However, her lower back actually felt better than the more acceptable putting stance she used earlier.

Lesson #2:  You know yourself the best.  Although you should hear what the experts have to say and recognize their expertise, ultimately you have to make the decision for yourself.

Another part of this message is for the experts, such as doctors.  Although you are the expert, you have to be conscious of the individuality and uniqueness of each patient.

"Just as important as finding out what kind of disease a patient has, is finding out what kind of patient has the disease."

As much commonality as you’ve seen in your profession, you must always be alert for the patient, client, or student who may be different than the common pattern you are familiar with.

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40 Years

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The forty years were over, and it was time to enter the Promised Land already.

The Israelites roamed in the desert for forty years before they entered the Promised Land.  It was their own fault because they let the yeast of worldly thinking to crush their own faith (when they saw the Nephilim giants) and they convinced themselves that it wasn’t possible to attain the Promised Land.  They doubted despite all the miracles God had performed in getting them out of dire circumstances.  Their doubt caused them to roam needlessly in the desert for forty years without getting in the Promised Land.

The forty years in the desert are over.  Let’s enter the Promised Land already.  You’ve witnessed God’s amazing abilities time and time again (even though you tend to forget).  Stop doubting and have faith to just go for it.  Stay away from the yeast of “normal” thinking or the yeast of worldly logic.  Do everything it takes to go for it, even if it seems very risky and even if it seems that you’d have a lot to lose.

Most likely, you would have less to lose than the Israelites.  The Promised Land was occupied by ancient giants who were at least two feet taller than them and were much bigger than them.  Also, the giants most likely carried much bigger swords than them.  These giants had a history of abominable practices.  By all worldly logic, these giants would devour the Israelites.  As the Israelites said faithlessly but understandably, “Our wives and children will be taken as plunder.  Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?”  If the ancient giants devoured them, their men would all be killed also. 

You see, the Israelites most likely had a lot more to lose than you.  Yet, they were still considered faithless because God was on their side as demonstrated in so many miracles.  Despite all the miracles, the Israelites didn’t trust God because of they had so much to lose and because of their fear.  Because of this, a whole generation of them died in the desert without seeing the Promised Land.

Most likely, you have much less to lose.  So, just go for it.  “Give it all you got.  Don’t hold nothing back.”  Make sure you have God with you and just go for it.  You can’t afford not to.  You can’t afford another 40 years in the desert.  You don’t want to die in the desert in your old age (metaphorically speaking), as did the whole generation of Israelites who doubted.  Stay away from the yeast of the norm.


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