Mandalay Bay Resort, Las Vegas Nevada

If you follow my travels, you know I travel a great deal.  I stay in roadside motels, downtown hotels and resorts.  Having been in the hospitality business for years, I can't help but observe how staff and management handle problems, request and challenges. 

On my way from Little Rock Arkansas to Las Vegas, I had a poor experience at a Holiday Inn.  The employee at the front desk was the first person I spoke with and she set the tone, simply, we don't care at this hotel. 

When I spoke to the front desk manager the next day, she informed me that normally the owner of the hotel won't give more than a 10 or 20% discount on complaints.  The front desk manager said that their hotel does not offer a guarantee like Hampton Inn. 

I suggested that this hotel look into some coaching or training, since I stay at Holiday Inn Express hotels often and I have never experienced such poor attitude.


By comparison, I arrived at the Mandalay Bay Resort only to find the parking lot for oversized vehicles was blocked off for the Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction.  Even though I was told on numerous occasions that I could park the Life Coach Bus at the resort, the lot was not available. 

A really nice security guard Terrance, apologized and you could tell he really felt bad.  Then I spoke with a security guard, Gene, who escorted me to a parking space at the Excalibur, which is down the street.  Again, Gene was truly sorry for my problem.

The next day I contacted management of the Mandalay Bay Resort and to my surprise, management handled the matter in a very professional and customer service manner.  Management of Mandalay Bay Resort handled this problem to my satisfaction and Jeffrey and Marc at the valet stand went above and beyond to help me find the perfect spot to park the Life Coach Bus this week. 

I would like to personally thank Alice and everyone at the Mandalay Bay Resort for helping make my stay wonderful.  Life Coach Media was a sponsor of the ICF 2011 Conference held at Mandalay Bay Resort September 24th -27th, 2011.

Life Coach Media sponsor for the International Coach Federation 2011 Conference

For the first time, Life Coach Media is a sponsor of the International Coach Federation Conference. 

So much has changed in the 16 years since Thomas Leonard started the ICF.  This year, attendance was between 900 and 1,000 coaches.  I met coaches from so many countries, including four new friends from Japan.

Jeff Wasserman with Ayako Kunii

Jeff met with Ayako Kunii, Tensei Yoshida, Yoshiko Nojima and Hideko Tanida all from Tokyo Japan.

Interesting idea on my trip to Chicago

I go around the country talking to folks of all ages and all walks of life.  I hear people often say, but Jeff, you don't know how hard it is to make a living, let alone a fortune.  I understand, but I like to remind those who take the time to listen, that people are not climbing under fences, traveling hundreds of miles, risking their life, to get into Mexico or Iran, they are risking their life to get to America, the home of opportunity.

We forget that we live in the greatest nation on the earth.  Sometimes you have a run in with a police officer who forgets his job is to protect and serve or a building official who forgets his job is to help make buildings safer and more energy efficient, not try to make the obstacles in life more difficult.

On my trip to Chicago for the 2011 NAB Radio Show, I went out for a walk around the city and on the corner of Michigan Ave, there was the cutest puppet show built on the back of a bicycle. 

No begging for money, just providing entertainment and ingenuity.  When I walked past, there were people of all walks of life commenting and watching.  It had nothing to do with the quality of the entertainment or the pieced together bicycle show, it was the idea that one person stopped complaining and got out and did something to earn a living.

Then I noticed the best part...... this person has a website, Puppetbike.com. 

Again, it has nothing to do with street entertainers, it has everything to do with using your ingenuity, if you can dream it, you can build it.  If you have a minute, check out this guys website, it is amazing for a street entertainer.



LIttle Rock Arkansas - Radio Show # 10

On Wednesday & Thursday, August 24th & 25th, I visited Little Rock Arkansas.  I pulled into town and stopped at the Holiday Inn Presidential, in Downtown Little Rock.  I pulled the bus up to the door and went inside.  The staff was very nice and accommodating. 

This is a case of rules are in place, but sometimes, just sometimes, it is better off to use common sense than follow the rules.  I gave the man working the desk my Holiday Inn Priority number as well as my credit card with my name on it.  Then he asked for a photo ID.  I pointed to my picture on the side of the bus.  There was a 8 foot tall picture ID, but he did not find that amusing and required my drivers license. 

At Breakfast the next day, I asked to see the manager on duty.  I advised the lady at the front desk to ask a manager to come into the dining room and talk with me.  A few minutes later, a young man named Matt stopped at my table.  He was helpful and very professional.

Matt shared a great story with me.  When people ask me what I do, I usually tell them I am a Life Coach.  Then I often go into a short explanation, it may be everything from " helping people get more out of life" or " helping people find happiness and live their authentic life" on in this case, " I said, a little like Zig Ziglar."

What he said next really surprised me.  He said the owner of the hotel, Larry Carpenter has the original Zig Ziglar water pump in his office.  If you are a Zig Ziglar fan like myself, you understand what he is talking about.  Zig use to take a old fashion water pump on stage and pump and pump and pump, to demonstrate the work and perseverance required to get the job done, but if you give up, even for a second, you will lose the momentum you have and need to start over.

Matt checked with Larry and allowed me to broadcast my show from the presidential conference room, which made for a great recording studio.  Matt also gave me a very good suggestion.  He said that Larry asked if I had any cds I could leave so he would listen to some of my work.  I am now going to work on a sample cd for the radio show and my Life Coaching services.

Jeff Wasserman broadcasting from the Presidential Conference Room
at the Holiday Inn Presidential in Little Rock Arkansas

 

On Thursday, I went downtown Little Rock to visit the Riverwalk area.   I had lunch in the market and visited a few shops, but my real reason for going downtown was to find Bookends, a used bookstore run by the Little Rock library.  That was a real find, I ended up with two bags of books.  The prices are very reasonable, the selection is extensive, they even have a small coffee shop in the bookstore, but the real joy came from meeting and talking to the staff.  The ladies were friendly and very upbeat. 

Jeff Wasserman, downtown Little Rock

Listen to Life Coach Radio Show # 10

 



Talkers Magazine is proud to announce the Los Angeles Regional Talkers Forum.  For the first time, Talkers Magazine is offering a west coast talk radio forum.  Life Coach Media and Jeff Wasserman is proud to be a sponsor of the new Talkers LA Forum.

The new LA Regional Talkers Forum will be held on October 20th, 2011 from 9 am till 3 pm.  The Talkers Forum will be held at the LA Press Club in the Steve Allen Theater.

Jeff Wasserman and the Life Coach Bus will be at the LA Regional Talkers Forum.  Jeff is available for interviews and welcomes all media requests.

Day 3 - Life Coach Road Trip - Memphis Tn.

Today has been a very interesting day for me.  My first stop was at Harlow's Donut shop, at exit 25 on the outskirts of Memphis.  The donut shop is part of a gas station, so I stopped to fill up the bus and ran in for a quick cup of coffee and donut to go.  For some reason, the shop had a unique look to it.  When I travel, I go out of my way to try local restaurants and businesses.  I also like to meet and help out local mom and pop businesses.

When I walked in, I did not see an employee, instead I met a customer, Jamie.  He was waiting for his sandwich and donut.  Ashley was in the back preparing his order.  Jamie was very curious about the bus, about Life Coaching and asked if I am like Tony Robbins.  I explained to Jamie what I do and how Life Coaching could change a life.

Jamie asked me to tell him how he can make a million dollars tomorrow.  I asked him if he was really asking about standard of living or asking about quality of life.  I coached Jamie for a few minutes until Ashley came out from the back with Jamie's order.

He shook my hand and said he would watch for me on TV.

I played role reversal with Ashley and I was the donut salesman for the next customer.  I had a great time at Harlow's donut shop and all the customers had a great time as well.



Next stop was Memphis.  I stopped in Downtown Memphis on Riverside Dr.  I set up and broadcast Life Coach Radio Show # 9.  A Memphis Police Officer pulled up and watched, he sat in his car the entire time I was broadcasting.  The bus is a real attention grabber.  People are not sure what to make of it.

To listen to Life Coach Radio Show # 9, please visit http://lifecoachradio.blogspot.com/



Day 2 on the 2011-2012 Life Coach Road Trip

Day 2 started out in Manchester Tennessee, I needed to make a deposit at a local Suntrust.  I stopped at Suntrust in Murphysboro Tennessee.  I was thinking how times have changed.  When I was young, banks were only local or regional.  Today, I can make a deposit at a Suntrust branch in Orlando Florida or Murphysboro Tennessee and it is all online instantly.  Young people today don't understand why I even go to the bank, the next generation will do most of their banking online and seldom visit a branch bank.

As I was walking into the branch, the lady in front of me turned around and said, "Is that you on the bus," I said "yes mam" and we walked in.  I have received so many positive, complimentary comments.   This has been a life changing experience for me.

Next stop, Brentwood Tennessee.   I stopped in at Financial Peace Plaza, home to Dave Ramsey's media empire.  Dave is a great human being and you may often hear me quote Dave or comment on his success. 

Dave's success is his legacy with the people's lives he touches, including his staff, not in dollars and sense.  Dave's media empire is faith based and built on his personal financial setback 20 years ago.  Dave started over on his dining room table and has built a staff of over 300 great Americans.  Dave built his business using many of Larry Burkett's teachings.

( a side note, Larry Burkett and I have some very unique similarities.  We both went to  High School in Central Florida, we both went to college at Rollins College, we both studied Marketing, he moved to Gainesville Ga, I move to the next town, Dahlonega Georgia.  We both wanted to take our message to the people through mass media including radio. I had the pleasure of meeting some of his family members in Gainesville Georgia before he passed away in 2003.)

I am often asked if I am building a similar business to what Dave did.  While our businesses may appear to have similarities including helping people,  we have very different focuses. Life Coach Media is not faith based or affiliated with any organization or religion.  While Dave focuses on financial freedom, Life Coaching focuses on all areas of your life, including your happiness, emotions, relationships and health.

Dave deserves a great deal of credit for hiring team members who share his visions, his philosophies and his positive energy. Matt, Dave's engineer is a young man with a knowledge of the radio business equal to most radio engineers twice his age.

 A few years ago, Dave remodeled the lobby of Financial Peace Plaza and build in a small coffee shop, where he gives out free coffee and baked goodies.  This is a very nice touch, but more important is his selection for a greeter, Martha.  She shares her warmth, love for life and respect for Dave. 

Martha and Jeff at Financial Peace Plaza in Brentwood Tennessee
Dave should be proud, she sets the tone for guests and visitors.