The Champion’s Mindset: Leadership, Performance, and Teamwork — The Dodgers Way

Exactly one year ago, I stood at Dodger Stadium the day the Dodgers won the 2024 World Series in New York. Today, one year later, they’ve done it again — this time in Toronto — claiming back-to-back championships.

Two straight years. Two titles. And one defining constant: a culture of excellence.

In an era where success is often fleeting, the Dodgers remind us that true greatness is not a result — it’s a way of working, thinking, and leading. And repeating a title of this magnitude is nothing less than the natural consequence of discipline, trust, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

1. Culture Wins Championships

The Dodgers are more than a talented baseball team — they are a model organization that lives and breathes a winning mindset. From manager Dave Roberts to the last player on the roster, everyone shares the same vision: play to win, and win together.

Their greatest strength is consistency. While others celebrate one victory, the Dodgers are already training for the next. In sports, as in business, extraordinary teams don’t settle for reaching the top — they prepare to stay there.

“Excellence is not an act; it’s a habit.”
— Aristotle

That principle comes alive in every pitch, every play, and every quiet act of preparation that shapes a champion’s culture.

2. The Power of the Role: Every Player Counts

In Game 3 of the 2025 World Series, the Dodgers demonstrated what it truly means to perform as one. It was a game defined by character, precision, and synchrony — dominant pitching, sharp defense, and timely hitting combined to create a perfect display of teamwork. There were no individual heroes that night; instead, there was a collective commitment where every player knew their role and executed it flawlessly.

That performance captured the essence of a championship culture: clarity, trust, and alignment.
Each player contributed exactly what the team needed, showing that success at the highest level comes from shared purpose and disciplined execution. And it showed again on Game 7, an amazing game that LA won magically on extra innings.

Behind every home run and strikeout lies a greater truth:

A great team wins when every member understands that their effort,

no matter how small, shapes the final result.

From the bullpen to the bench, from veterans to rookies, the Dodgers embodied what high-performance organizations know:

• Clarity of purpose: everyone knows why they’re there and what success means.
• Consistency of effort: they don’t chase moments — they build habits.
• Collective mindset: they celebrate one another’s victories as their own.

That night, the Dodgers didn’t just win a game — they proved that unity, discipline, and shared vision turn talent into triumph. Because in baseball, as in leadership, no championship is ever won alone.

3. Leadership Under Pressure: The Calm of Yamamoto

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Japanese ace, became the heart of the Dodgers’ 2025 championship run. In Game 7 — pitching on just one day of rest — he took the mound and delivered a performance for the ages. Across the Series, Yamamoto threw nearly 18 innings, allowed only 2 runs, struck out 15, and earned a 1.02 ERA — earning him the World Series MVP.

But beyond the numbers, his true contribution was psychological. Yamamoto embodied poise under pressure, resilience, and self-mastery — the traits that define elite leadership.
His calm presence stabilized the team in moments of chaos, and his focus never wavered, even with everything on the line.

In the world of business and leadership, that kind of mindset translates to clarity amid uncertainty, adaptability in adversity, and confidence in execution. Leaders like Yamamoto don’t just deliver results — they inspire belief.

4. Teamwork in Action: Invisible Preparation, Visible Results

The Dodgers exemplify a key truth of high performance:

You win in public what you’ve earned in private.

Behind every highlight reel lies hours of invisible effort — film analysis, data review, conditioning, and team meetings. In business, as in baseball, visible success is built on invisible consistency.
Great teams prepare for pressure long before the moment arrives.

When the tension peaks — the corporate equivalent of Game 7 — only teams that have trained with purpose, clarity, and cohesion can rise to the challenge. The Dodgers’ preparation wasn’t about talent alone; it was about structure, systems, and shared belief.

5. Seven Lessons from the Champions

From the Dodgers’ back-to-back triumphs, we can extract seven principles that apply to leadership, teamwork, and personal excellence:

1. Culture wins championships. Shared values outlast individual talent.
2. Consistency beats intensity. Greatness is repetition, not bursts of brilliance.
3. Leadership is trust. Confidence multiplies performance.
4. Invisible preparation drives visible success.
5. Resilience is trained. Every challenge strengthens character.
6. Innovation anticipates change. The best teams adapt before they must.
7. Believe before you win. Faith in purpose precedes achievement.

6. Motitud: The DNA of High Performance

What truly sets the Dodgers apart is not only their technique, but their attitude — a blend of conviction, focus, and positive energy. It’s what I call Motitud: motivation, positive attitude, and an unshakable growth mindset.

A team with Motitud never gives up — it reinvents itself.
A leader with Motitud doesn’t seek excuses — they seek solutions.
And an organization with Motitud doesn’t just win once — it builds a legacy of excellence.

Conclusion: The Culture of a Champion

Watching the Dodgers lift the trophy for a second consecutive year is more than witnessing a sports victory — it’s witnessing a timeless truth:

Extraordinary results come from preparation, consistency, and collective belief.

Whether on the field, in the boardroom, or in life, success doesn’t depend on luck — it depends on the daily decision to improve. That is the real lesson of performance and leadership this team leaves us. And that is also the essence of Motitud:
to believe, to create, and to grow — until you win again.

Living Out Your Purpose Through Each Career Move

In a world where professional success is often measured by titles, promotions, and financial gain, it can be easy to lose sight of a deeper guiding force: your purpose. Your purpose is that core part of you that feels truly aligned with who you are and the impact you wish to make in the world. It's what gives meaning to your work and makes each day feel significant, no matter your role. With this in mind, how can you approach each career move as a step toward living out your purpose more fully? The answer lies in shifting your perspective on what a career should be.

When considering a new role, prioritize alignment over position. This requires looking beyond job titles, status, and even salary, and instead focusing on how well the role supports or enhances your ability to live out your purpose. Perhaps the company’s mission resonates deeply with you, or the role offers the chance to work on projects that reflect your values. Choosing a position based on alignment with your purpose ensures that each step forward is also a step closer to what fulfills you.

Every career move also offers an opportunity to expand your impact. If your purpose involves helping others, a new job can provide a broader platform to mentor, lead, or develop initiatives that positively influence lives. By viewing each role as a chance to touch more lives and make a greater difference, you shift from simply “doing a job” to making a meaningful contribution to the world.

In addition to expanding your impact, each role presents an opportunity for growth in purposeful ways. Career moves should not only advance your professional standing but also enrich you personally, adding skills and experiences that help you fulfill your purpose. This could mean honing leadership abilities, improving communication, or gaining expertise in areas that allow you to contribute more effectively. Growth, after all, is not limited to climbing the corporate ladder—it also involves becoming more capable, compassionate, and aligned with your values. Building a network that aligns with your purpose can also amplify your journey. Each career change introduces you to new people and new communities. By cultivating relationships with individuals who share your values and aspirations, you create a support system that can inspire, challenge, and encourage you. Your network becomes more than a list of professional contacts; it transforms into a circle of collaborators and mentors who understand your purpose and help you live it out.

Sometimes, the roles that challenge you the most can bring you closer to your purpose. By taking on positions that push you out of your comfort zone, you are often compelled to lead with integrity, empathy, or innovation. Such challenges become opportunities to embody your purpose in moments of growth and difficulty. Every time you lead authentically, treat others with compassion, or find creative solutions, you are not just fulfilling your job duties—you are living out your purpose in action.

Each career move can be seen as a new chapter in the story of your purposeful journey. When you reflect on your career, you should see not just a list of jobs but a narrative of intentional growth and alignment with your purpose. By the end of your professional life, the roles you took on will paint a picture of someone who didn’t just work to advance themselves but who also sought to make a meaningful impact.

Approaching your career with this mindset allows you to make every role, every responsibility, and every challenge part of a larger mission. You are not merely building a career; you are crafting a legacy, one that is deeply rooted in who you are and what you value most. In this way, your career path becomes more than just a series of jobs; it becomes an expression of your purpose and the difference you want to make in the world.

Ultimately, living out your purpose through each career move transforms your work from a means to an end into a meaningful journey of personal and professional fulfillment. Each new role, challenge, and opportunity is a step toward a more purpose-driven life, where your career not only reflects who you are but also the legacy you hope to leave behind.

The Power of Taking 100% Responsibility: Transforming Your Life and Career

In a world where external circumstances often seem to dictate the course of our lives, the idea of taking 100% responsibility can be both liberating and intimidating. Taking 100% responsibility means accepting that we are the main architects of our reality, responsible not only for our actions but also for our reactions. This philosophy involves deep introspection and a commitment to continuous personal and professional growth.

On a personal level, taking full responsibility means actively managing our emotional life, our financial decisions, our relationships, and our overall well-being. It means stopping to see others as the cause of our problems and starting to see every challenge as an opportunity to learn and advance. This attitude allows us to free ourselves from victimization and empowers us to make more conscious and proactive decisions. Professionally, this mindset translates into taking control of our career and performance. Instead of attributing our success or failure to external factors such as the economy or luck, it involves proactively seeking ways to improve our skills, expand our network of contacts, and take initiatives that bring us closer to our work goals.

The benefits of taking 100% responsibility are vast. It gives us greater control over our lives by transforming us from passive passengers to active drivers of our destiny. This not only increases our ability to influence outcomes but also enhances our self-esteem and sense of agency. Moreover, it helps us develop resilience, as by recognizing that our response to adversity is more important than the adversity itself, we can better manage stressful situations and learn from mistakes instead of crumbling before them. This mindset also fosters a continuous cycle of learning and personal improvement, pushing us to constantly seek ways to be better.

Implementing this philosophy in everyday life involves several steps. It begins with personal reflection, taking time regularly to consider how our decisions impact our outcomes. It also involves setting clear goals and formulating concrete plans to achieve them in different areas of our lives. Continuous learning is crucial; we must always be on the lookout for new skills and knowledge that strengthen us and better prepare us to face future challenges. Finally, effective communication is key, learning to express our thoughts and feelings openly and honestly both personally and professionally.

In conclusion, taking 100% responsibility is a powerful commitment to oneself, which not only transforms our own life but also has a positive impact on those around us. This path to success and personal satisfaction is paved with the responsibility that each one decides to take for their own actions and decisions. By adopting this philosophy, we place ourselves in a position of power and possibility, where the limits of what we can achieve are greatly expanded.

Your ABC's to Be 'POSITVE' in 2017!

Dear friends,

The start of a new year is a wonderful time to review your goals and objectives and keep working on your vision.

We all have challenges; but we have to think of new ideas and new approaches to solve them and take care of the many pressing issues we have today. In some parts of the world these challenges can be harder or stronger, but they should not take us away from our goals. 

They must be seen as mere obstacles (not simple ones though) that we must get through and solve in case of problems in order to continue.

So at the start of a new year decide on your ABC's:

- Act, 

- Be Positive

- Continue

As simple as it sounds; just do it. In other words, as we said in the title of a book I co-wrote: “Dare to Succeed”. I truly believe that: “Our own positive attitude and personal motivation are the key driving forces for everything we do.”

This is why I invite YOU to start improving your attitude and learn how to be motivated and be positive; then you can do wonders in your lives and help as many people you want. 

And to do it better, start with one very simple rule: SMILE 😄

To a wonderful and successful 2017: START TODAY!

Luis Vicente

# # # BE POSITIVE, BE MOTIVATED, BE INSPIRED # # #

# # # THINK POSITIVE, AND DO IT OFTEN! # # #

The One Law You Should Break...

The One Law You Should Break...

It'll Change Your Life for the Better!

The Law of Entropy states that all systems, if left unattended, run down. Unless new energy is provided, each organism deteriorates. What does this mean when applied to individuals, teams, relationships, organizations, and associations?

If these are left unattended, no new energy is provided and they will diminish.

In business, if we assume that our systems, relationships, operations, sales, and marketing can be left unattended and unrefreshed, they will break. Machines do not work without maintenance, repair, and tuning, nor will we or our companies.

Do you find that you’re asking yourself what to do to counteract personal and organizational entropy? Is there a way to make certain that your relationships with others, and with yourself, are well nurtured and thriving? Some ways to break the law of entropy include:

• Having and reviewing Goals,
• Exercising,
• Going on date nights with your significant other,
• Meditating,
• Reflective journaling, and
• Reviewing your metrics in business and your personal life.

If you would like to continue reading the article, please go to my December FocalPoint Newsletter

To your Success and Performance!

Luis Vicente 

Make your LIFE a SUCCESS

Realizing that life is a continuous move towards something we truly want to achieve allows us to see that it is our decisions that are going to lead us to be in that place and at that moment we so desire.

In doing so, we convince ourselves that the best way to live life is being happy, glad, and optimistic, and always being positive. It is true that we find adversities and difficulties daily, but we decide what we learn from each one of these moments, as we improve continuously, as we change to be better in everything we set out and ultimately, in achieving excellence in every single one of the activities we do every day and that will guide us toward those long-term goals we want to achieve.

A quote I use regularly in my seminars says that ‘Success is a journey, not a destination'. Let us make our life a journey, our journeys an adventure and enjoy our travels on the as we encounter all those destinations on our way every day.

Luis Vicente Garcia

‘Performing at Your Best: Mindset Evolution’: Celebrating Show #50

"Success is waking up in the morning and bounding out of bed because there's something out there that you love to do, that you believe in, that you're good at - something that's bigger than you are, and you can hardly wait to get at it again."
-- Whit Hobbs

With this beautiful quote I received this morning from a dear friend, I wake up to what will be an amazing day (as most are and should be). Today we are celebrating an incredible day as my radio show Performing at Your Best: Mindset Evolution with Luis Vicente Garcia on VoiceAmerica Business is reaching its first big milestone: I will be LIVE at 6 pm EDT this afternoon to celebrate our show #50.

It has been an incredible journey as I had never been a radio host before and one that I have truly enjoyed; particularly learning about new subjects on performance and mindset, and learning how to interview amazing people - my guests - who have been an integral part of our success. We are now listened to in 6 continents and over 70 countries, which shows all of us that our messages are needed and welcome and as such I would like to give a huge thanks to all of my listeners who week after week join us live or on demand to find out new ideas and insights that will allow them to grow and learn.

http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/2462/performing-at-your-best-mindset-evolution-with-luis-vicente-garcia

So to all of you, my incredible guests, the listeners all over the world and to the amazing VA Team, my most sincere thanks of appreciation for having shared with me and our audience your incredible thoughts, ideas, tips, suggestions and most of all your knowledge, which has been and will be the source of their new ideas, rides and journeys.

To all of you, my dear friends, my most sincere thanks and appreciation as I invite you to join us in this wonderful month of mindset and performance celebration.

Luis Vicente  

Your Personal Development in 2016

Personal Growth in 2016!

We have seen and heard that life happens. And of course it does so; it could not be otherwise because then it would not be life.

In many cases we go through it aimlessly; at other times we plan what we want to achieve. And along the way there are events that can never be predicted or planned. Everything will be then, the result of how we respond to these events and challenges and what they mean; it is, in other words, the value or experience that we attach to each occurrence, determining how we move through them and how we embark and head back to happier and better times.

Success is something only you define and then decide to reach.

I am often asked how are people able to achieve the levels of personal and professional success they enjoy? These questions come when we realize that many successful people come from being born into a working class or poor, or have had family issues or have not fared well in school or have had many difficulties in their lives.

The answer to how to achieve success is Personal Development.

It is continuous change, personal growth and development that has changed the lives of millions of people and continues to do so today.

Why do I say it continues to do?

Because the mistake many people make is thinking that for attending a single event or personal development seminar they are ready to advance and reach all their goals. This is not an issue of doing it once; it is a matter of doing it gradually and continuously. It takes time and effort and it requires discipline!

Successful people know that personal development is a continuous process.

In this way we set new goals and new objectives and that is when we decided to move into uncharted territory but determined to succeed. And so the decision to grow, learn and develop continuously is yours!

Start now to make your 2016 a very successful year in which you will really grow and develop personally and professionally, working on yourself and your future. And be sure to get ready to get many surprises along the way.

Start the year highly motivated, committed to your development and Happy 2016! To Your Success!

Luis Vicente Garcia

2015: Seven months of 'Performing at Your Best with Luis Vicente Garcia'

As we start a new year, I would like to thank the wonderful people that help me make my radio show a Success! 

When we started to think about it, Winston Price (now y Executive Producer on the Voice America Radio Network) and his team helped me create the many incredible parts to the show, such as the banners, the links, setting up the page, coming up with the Bio and creating the show’s name and page. And it was an amazing year. 

You can hear all of the shows on the Voice America Business Channel at Performing at Your Best: Mindset Evolution with Luis Vicente Garcia

Our first show was aired on June 2^nd so as we closed the year we  already did 32 shows, and getting ready later today for the second one of 2016. And the audio and technical people at VoiceAmerica have been incredible. Many thanks to all.

I have done several shows on my own and I have also had the most amazing guests. I interviewed my dear friends Margaret Maclay and Joan Detz; I interviewed incredible authors as Bob Burg and business colleagues as Ramon Palmero, Abel Calvo, Margarita Pasos, Tosin Ogunussi, Marc Kohler, Dr. Andreas Boettcher and Leeza Sipek. All are great friends, and they have shared with us and the incredible listeners - that week after week join us from several parts in the world - many amazing tips, new business ideas and they always give us this new perspective that we need to have in order to succeed in this fast changing world.

It was an incredible year of new and wonderful experiences. And today I want to share with you my top-5 shows of 2015 as reviewed by our listeners:

1. How to Boost Your Career and Building Your Business Through Public Speaking, with Joan Detz and Luis Vicente Garcia

2. Creating Magic in your Company

3. Conversations on Franchising with Abel Calvo and Luis Vicente Garcia

4. Grow by Empowering your Staff and Your TEAMs, with Tosin Ogunusi and Luis Vicente Garcia

5. Communication and Motivation - key factors for Business Success, with Margaret Maclay and Luis Vicente Garcia

All of the shows and interviews were incredible. Thank you so much to my incredible guests; to the VoiceAmerica TEAM who have been so wonderful through out the year and most of all, to all the listeners who are the ones that make this happen.

To all, my best wishes for a wonderful 2016 filled with joy, happiness, new opportunities and many learning experiences.

And have a wonderful and a very successful year!

Luis Vicente Garcia

FocalPoint Coaching: Training week 2015!

What will FocalPoint coaches and trainers have in common next week? We will all be dedicated to training and facilitating managerial and entrepreneurial growth throughout the world.

Yes, the week of November 16^th- 20^th will be dedicated to training business owners, entrepreneurs, executives and managers in many areas, from setting goals, to time management techniques to improving sales; also many of us will be training in personal and professional development and peak performance. This is what we - at FocalPoint Coaching -do all year round; however for the first time we are dedicating a full week to training and, more importantly, will do it all over the world.

Our goal is to help more people grow, achieve their goals faster and feel more empowered with engaged team members. This is why we are inviting as many people as possible to join us next week in the many places and cities throughout the world to grow both personally and professionally.  Now is the time to take massive action and go start unleashing your peak performance levels.

International Training Week is next week! We will also be donating 10% of proceeds to children's cancer research. This is why training is also very important to all of us as we contribute constantly to improve the lives of others as well.

We will be delivering training and coaching sessions in several cities simultaneously, like in different places in the US and Canada, and in cities as Sydney, London, Singapore and New Delhi, India. I myself will be training teams in my home city of Caracas, Venezuela on Monday and then will be flying to Nicaragua for a series of training and coaching events in Managua with Alejandro and Margarita Pasos from SuccessFactor in Nicaragua. A very interesting week indeed!

Start getting the new skills and learning you need and that will drive you forward for years to come.

If you are interested on learning more on what FocalPoint Coaching and Training can do for you and your company, please contact us at www.focalpointcoaching.com or myself at www.coachluisvgarcia.com

To Your Success!

Luis Vicente Garcia, FocalPoint Coach & Trainer.

Transition into your Q4

Every Company is entering the final quarter of the 2015 Calendar this week. Are you ready and prepared for it? Have you met your goals and objectives so far and have the energy to continue with the energy and enthusiasm these last three months?

As we enter this Q4 there are four tips I would like to suggest so that you get ready to FINISH STRONG your 2015!

1.       Review your results up to date: every business owner and manager need to understand where you are today. You have had a certain level of revenue and production; have engaged in new transactions, business relationships and made new clients; have had to pay your costs and expenses. Are you in the level or range which is acceptable to your company and industry? Do you know your metrics?

2.       Review your GOALS for Q4: now that you are here, today, you need to review your goals for Q4; do not change them, adjust them. Our goals need to remain the same. Only our strategies, actions or plans need to change and adapt. Maybe a new sales level (lower or higher); maybe a new product or service you have been working on through the year; or maybe a new marketing strategy. Develop them and see how the complement your current goals and then go and work on them;

3.       Share your stories of success. The people in your company have been working hard this year; and probably this will be the strongest quarter for your company as it is to many others throughout the world. You most probably have had very interesting stories these past nine months that are an immense source of ideas, vision, client testimonials and possibilities. Share them with your team; let them know what your clients say, what the management team is thinking; share these stories with your team members. They will get the energy to Finish Strong! 

4.       Celebrate your Success! Las weekend I had the chance to speak to a group of insurance brokers during their annual convention. One of my messages was: celebrate your successes. Usually we wait until the end of the year; or we wait until the completion of a certain level of sales or production. What if we start celebrating every significant accomplishment? What can we do to create a sense of pride in every action within our companies? This is why I suggest that you start celebrating your successes and accomplishments on a regular basis as they will make a difference in your companies.

To finish STRONG Start NOW! 

At the end it is your company, your team, your products and services, your people, your clients. Work with them, review your goals, understand the level of satisfaction and get ready to finish the final quarter of 2015 very strong!

Luis Vicente Garcia, Key-note Speaker at the United Nations!

Dear Friends, queridos amigos

It is my real pleasure to share with you the video of an amazing opportunity I had to speak at the headquarters of the United Nations last June. I was one of the founding members of the Global Economic Initiative where 30 entrepreneurs from seven different countries gathered to speak and discuss about some the issues that are affecting the world of business, education and economics today. It was an incredible event.

Luis Vicente Garcia speech at the 'Global Economic Initiative' at the United Nations

My message was that regardless of our circumstances, you need to be positive, be an optimist and have a strong personal motivation. Once you have these key-ingredients, you will be able to become a better entrepreneur and business owner, have more clarity and see things in a much better way.

We cannot leave everything that needs to be fixed to the governments we have in many countries, particularly in Latin America. This is why I call out to the local and regional entrepreneurs to:

a)      Be the ‘change factor’ we need to be and want to become;

b)      Generate the initiatives that are needed to empower our people and our teams – basically through training and education; and,

c)       Guide our countries to a higher level of growth and development.

We can do this and much more form the private sector and need to start working on these initiatives today, as taking ACTION today is a must.

Thanks to the National Association of Experts, Writers and Speakers and to the International Entrepreneur Foundation for such an incredible invitation to speak at this life-changing event on this magnificent institution in New York.

Luis Vicente  

An Entrepreneurial trip to ARMONIA

I can describe my trip to Oaxaca, Mexico earlier this year as a "Magical" life changing experience. Being part of the entrepreneurial team that went to visit ARMONIA near the mountains of Oaxaca was an inspiration. Representing the National Association of Experts, Writers and Speakers as well as the International Entrepreneur Foundation I felt that it was an honor, an incredible learning experience as well as a new big responsibility.

ARMONIA is the life work of Dr. Saul Cruz, who saw poverty not as the lack of money but as the lack of opportunity. Being in Oaxaca I felt that experience with energy and passion, learning that there is so much we can do - individually and as a group - to change poverty, inequality and unfairness in many parts of the world.  Having had the chance to travel with 3-time Emmy Award winning Director Nick Nanton and his team, as well as other members of these incredible organizations, allowed me to learn, develop as a person, make new friends and see the world from a different perspective.

Being from Venezuela I am confronted with many issues in my daily life: scarcity, insecurity, hyper-inflation and an increase also in the country's poverty rate; but it happens in many countries as well. Thus, this new and bigger responsibility comes from understanding really what poverty is: discrimination of any kind, the lack of vision, little or no opportunities, no education and having no future. When you add the lack of money, it turns into misery.

Travelling with a group of incredible entrepreneurs from all over the world to Mexico, to have the chance to make a difference onto others, allowed me to grow personally and also see my business in a different way. This is why I am now looking for new ideas and insights that will create new opportunities for others to prosper and have a better future. And being a part of the Celebrity Films crew that created an amazing documentary also called ARMONIA, and becoming one of its Executive Producers was something I had never dream of; and something I will always be grateful for. If you want to see the documentary trailer please visit the following link

If you want to help the ARMONIA idea and project grow, please contact me at coachluis@luisvicentegarcia.com 

I then would invite anyone who wants to change their lives and also the lives of so many other people, who are in need of guidance, inspiration and motivation, to do something different, to see new ways to help people and to envision new ideas to change the world. And if you have the opportunity to go on a trip like this one, I can assure you it will be the trip of your entrepreneurial career, a life changing event and an emotional connection with the people you will be helping for years to come.

Luis Vicente Garcia

www.luisvicentegarcia.com 

Caracas, Venezuela

Reaching 70,000 visitors on 'Motivando El Futuro'

I have been writing for years now. First on finance and franchising during the 90's to management and leadership today.

I started writing in Spanish, my native language. Over time I wrote in a second language, English, as I was invited in 202 to collaborate with a chapter for my first English book, 'Dare to Succeed', which featured Jack Canfield and many other international business leaders; and just three years later I have written for seven books and over a hundred articles that have been published in many magazines, journals and newsletters.

It just shows us that we can achieve anything we want, even in other languages or other fields. Just decide and act on it.

And I am writing about this as we are very happy, having reached the 70,000th visitor to my Spanish blog on Personal Motivation and Positive Attitude which is called 'Motivando El Futuro' (www.motivandoelfuturo.com). Please visit it and scam though it, even if you are not fluent in  Spanish. It is highly recommended.

In my 15 years as a writer I have to say you learn t enjoy the writing and the sharing of the messages. And specially when after so many years you have people commenting on a subject you touched upon some time ago. I invite you to do what you like, what you enjoy, see your passion, follow your dreams. It will be the beginning of something new and who knows, new opportunities will arise.

Thanks to the 70,000 people who have read my Motivando El Futuro Blog these past five years; I have sure enjoyed the ride.

To your success

Luis Vicente

How to Boost Your Career and Build Your Business through Public Speaking

After many years of study on different fields I see myself as having two possibilities: either learning something new or teaching something to others every single day. The best scenario? When you can do both at the same time! How do you see yourself?

Having my very own show at VoiceAmerica Business Channel (@voiceAmBusiness) has allowed me to do that, teach and learn and then learn and teach some more. Through my radio shows I have spoken about entrepreneurs and leaders, vision and goals. I have interviewed people on franchising and strategy. And today we learned a little more.

I had the pleasure of interviewing author and speaker Joan Detz (www.joandetz.com and @joandetz) and we had an amazing conversation about the importance of Public Speaking to your Business Success; and, to your personal success as well.

We all need to learn to speak better, communicate our message across, reach more people with our ideas and guide and help as many people we can.  If we can improve how we communicate through public speaking we can all do a much better and bigger job. Joan is the author of the book How to Write and Give a Speech which I do recommend to anyone, expert or amateur, who wants to learn or to improve how to speak in public; Joan teaches us many lessons and gives us many tips on how to create and deliver better speeches.

During our conversation Joan explained her ‘9-step Formula for Successful Presentation’ and you can listen to her on our show http://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/86533/how-to-boost-your-career-and-build-your-business-through-public-speaking-with-joan-detz-and-luis  

Start building your Public Speaking career and it will help you grow both personally and professionally.

Continue increasing your performace!

Luis Vicente

Our Business is entering the second semester of 2015: Are we prepared?

As we enter into the second semester of the year 2015, we need to understand what our business is doing in today’s market, which activities such as having better products, higher quality services and satisfying our customer’s needs we are doing. Also, we need to understand how we are doing them and how we are using our resources. It means understanding the new market trends while getting closer to our goals. Yes, we all have goals right? For those of us who have goals, keep moving forward towards them; for those who don’t, start having your own goals, create them and make them part of your daily routine.

Understanding our own business basics is today of critical importance. Business has been defined as a particular organization which encompasses all activities in the economy (primary, secondary and tertiary or more commonly named mining and agriculture, manufacturing and services). This means we buy certain goods from our suppliers and convert them into the goods and services that we and our companies provide to our customers. It provides a place for us to be creative and innovative and working to reaching our goals; one of them is that sales will be more than expenditures resulting in a profit.

Any enterprise then is that organization which is involved in the trade of goods and services to our consumers. However, regardless of your type and size of business or the industry you work in, you need to understand the basic concepts of Performance and Productivity as they will make the difference in today’s business world. And in doing so, you need to identify and use the measurements; information and metrics that come from your daily operations. Reporting figures and metrics in the right way will allow you, the manager and business owner to take the best steps and take the right decisions for your company’s future.

So are you ready to take on the second half of the year? Here are a few questions you would need to ask yourself and your team about your company’s performance:

-          How is your company in terms of revenue and profit if you compare it to the first half of 2014?

-          How far advanced are you in reaching your 2015 goals?

-          What new skills and knowledge have you developed?

-          How many more people have you met and how many new clients do you have?

-          Are you already thinking of new products or services? Or are you working on improving your current ones?

These are some of the many questions you should start asking yourself and your team and start working on making the second half of 2015 your best ever!!!

Luis Vicente Garcia

TEC: TEEN Entrepreneur College Summit

I am very honored to have been invited to be the Key-Note Speaker on the first ever TEC - Teen Entrepreneur College Summit organized by the Houston Community College @HCCDistrict

High School students form Houston and surroundings areas will be able to learn first hand form real entrepreneurs and college professors on the importance of 'Entrepreneurship' and embark in an entrepreneurial adventure.

In recognition of these high school students and future entrepreneurs, here is a new article to 'Start Early on Entrepreneurship!' 
- It's your TIME.

Luis Vicente

Start Early on Entrepreneurship!

Entrepreneurship is about daring, taking chances, not knowing where you are going and yet, taking action.

Entrepreneurship is about movement, using action verbs, about implementing strategies to fulfill your dreams. I say fulfill as you will reach them along the way and then you, the entrepreneur, will be looking for new ways to improve your company, your team, your performance; in the simplest way, to improve yourself.

As a business performance coach I meet regularly with business owners and entrepreneurs alike. And yes, there is a big difference in their definition. While business owners most times manage their companies, entrepreneurs look for ways to innovate, create and constantly improve their current and new ventures. You may agree or disagree with me on this definition, but put some thought into it. Most successful entrepreneurs I have interviewed have mainly one regret, not having started earlier. However, the good thing I tell them is that they have started already.

And the only way you will succeed in life and in business is if you put your heart and soul into making your team and your company, very productive.

This is what entrepreneurs do every single day. They start with a dream and then go working out of their way to see it become a reality.

As the title of this short article suggests, you need to start early.  And then start again and again until you get it right and do it right. Taking the first step gets you going and moves you in a direction. It may not be the right one; you might have to change courses from time to time; so you have to set your mind on your goals. Developing your goals and creating the strategies to implement them is of crucial importance.

Start early. Your idea does not have to be perfect; nor does your plan (and of course you do need a plan). But until you start you will never know what you will need to change, to adapt, to modify. Simply put, start and start early so that you can become the entrepreneur you have in you.

Start early on Entrepreneurship: It will give you a New and Brighter Future!

Luis Vicente Garcia

Earth Day 2015: Managing our Environment.

Earth Day has been celebrated on April 22^nd since 1970, when then US Senator, Gaylord Nelson, saw the oil spill off the coast of California and decided to do something about it. Raising awareness was his goal and already by 1990 had reached a massive turnout, mobilizing more than 200 million people in over 140 countries.

This year we are commemorating the 45^th anniversary of that first day when people decided to celebrate "Earth Day". A movement - perhaps as many - which failed at the beginning to see the extent it would have. For many, this is the starting date of the modern environmental movement.

Yes we do have events in many countries, states or cities; we have understood and probably changed our own judgments about what is good or bad for our environment. But this has to be something more. We all need to realize the importance of our natural resources and our precious Earth, understanding the use we give them, and more importantly the commitment we have to make not only for us but for future generations. It should be the ideal of a better, greener, less polluted and more livable world.

Since the 90’s, with creativity and getting various groups and institutions involved, different activities and movements worldwide have resulted. Among the many achievements we can cite the following:

- Home Recycling;
- The Conservationism movement;
- Major Environmental Commitment;
- Sustainable Agriculture auto;
- Promotion of local production rather than the big international chains;
- Changes on many topics related to Nutrition
- The development of organic replacing the synthetic;
- Understanding the consequences of global warming;
- Development of Energy "Clean";
- Efforts for reducing Carbon Dioxide.

There are many initiatives, programs, movements and ideas that have come out so far; but more effort is required. A joint effort of all and for all required; greater commitment on the part of companies and governments is required; more action is required. And this goes beyond planting trees or visiting a festival during Earth week. That of course has to be done; but our commitment must be in education, teaching, generating new ideas to improve the use of these precious resources and, of course, our active participation is required.

As for the past five years, around this date I do not write about attitude, motivation, entrepreneurship or leadership; I dedicate an article to the welfare of our environment. But if we think in a serious way, this is rather a matter of "ENVIRONMENTAL ATTITUDE". It means to be accountable for what needs to be done; creating different initiatives; and realizing the changes that we can generate for a better environment. I think we're just - still - starting out, and really need to do more. In other words we should be talking about ‘managing our Environment’.

Let's make Earth Day every day. 

This is the only way that will lead us to act in a different and more sustainable way.

In other words, let’s start 'Motivating' the idea of ​​caring for and improving our environment.

Luis Vicente Garcia.

Augustin Hadelich: An inspiring Performance!

I was not ready to see tonight’s concert and was not prepared for the wonderful musical experience I had. And now I must say I was very fortunate to see Augustin Hadelich’s amazing performance of Bartók’s Violin Concerto No. 2 (the first performance of the concert in 1939 has come to be regarded as one of the great 20th-century violin concertos, according to the LA Philharmonic).

When you attend a Classical Concert or an Opera you prepare yourself in advance. You see the program and learn about the concert; you read the biographies of the composer, the conductor and the concertist; and you buy the tickets in advance. Well, until today, as I decided to attend tonight’s concert by the Houston Symphony Orchestra only 40 minutes before it started.

As I have been travelling these past few months between Caracas and Houston, I have been able to see several performances by the Houston Symphony (@housymphony). Tonight I just simply read that the Orchestra would be playing Mozart and headed downtown Houston; and I was treated to an evening of sound, magic and excitement.

Tonight’s concert conducted by Gilbert Varga, was an incredible performance by the Houston Symphony which started with Mendelssohn’s Overture to A Midsummer Nights’ Dream and ended with Mozart’s Symphony No. 39. Beautiful, elegant, enchanting and melodic concertos that make you start dreaming as you listen to their first notes.

And then, violinist Augustin Hadelich played Bartók’s Violin Concerto No. 2. I have to say I had read about his concert at Carnegie Hall in New York in December last year, but as I started to enjoy this very powerful and fast paced concert, I realized I was seeing a very talented musician who commanded the scenario with strong energy and a compelling dynamism.

Very demanding of his 1723 Stradivarius Violin (that at times appeared to be talking to us), he transmitted a level of excellence that seemed beyond us at certain moments and that we very seldom seen today. And Bartok’s very challenging concert was played with ‘beauty’, which was how the Washington Post described Hadelich’s essence of playing. On my way back I read what the Houston Chronicle wrote about his previous performance at Jones Hall which indicated that Hadelich “exerted the kind of excitement that threatens to lift the listener right out of his seat.” And of course, we all got lifted again this time.

As a Business Performance Coach I started asking questions in my head. How do we get this kind of performance from our team members? How do you get that kind of performance in your companies? How do we leave audiences in ‘awe’? How do we get a standing ovation? We don’t if we do not prepare and work to achieve our goals, our purpose and our vision.

This is why we need to constantly generate new ideas, learn new skills, practice for perfection, and continuously train our co-workers and team members, including ourselves. Not an easy task, but if we want to give a level of performance that exceeds our customer’s expectations, we need to prepare, practice, train and develop the abilities and qualities of the individuals that surround us, that work with us and from whom we require the kind of excellent performance level I saw this evening.

Tonight’s concert by the Houston Symphony was incredible; and Augustin Hadelich’s and exquisite and distinguished performance was – simply – inspirational, after which the audience gave a long and deserving standing ovation, with sounds of ‘Bravo’ and ‘Bravssimo’ being heard, while the Orchestra musicians were applauding along (he came back to the delight the audience with a beautiful encore piece by Paganini; greeted of course with his second standing ovation of the evening). One of those concerts and amazing performances you will be able to cherish and remember forever.

Luis Vicente Garcia is a Business Performance Coach and Consultant, an international speaker and best-selling author. You can follow Luis Vicente at @lvgarciag and www.luisvicentegarcia.com You may also contact him at coachluis@luisvicentegarcia.com