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The Promise Blog
Announcements

Taking Calculated Risks

  In the past week I have announced a few HUGE PROJECTS I’m up to, that are also HUGE RISKS, such as returning to my roots and putting together a string of public shows, not certain at all that people would still want to see me perform my one-man show at this stage of my career. I have been stunned by the outpouring of support (if you follow me on Facebook you can see HERE and HERE what everyone is saying, even buying tickets in bulk), and what is scheduled to be 9 shows over a 2 week run are in the process of nearly selling out a year in advance, in a world famous theater of ~450 seats, I am so grateful you would make it clear you’d be there. And of course it doesn’t hurt to have the support of of one of the greatest theaters on earth, Hale Centre Theatre! TIX are HERE if you haven’t gotten yours yet.       On Friday I announced a NEW YouTube Channel that launches this week, and YOU are the FIRST to get a sneak peek at it HERE – this is created with the intention of helping the

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August 5, 2023 10 Comments
Business

Cleaning Before Cleaning

I’ve always found it bizarre that I need to clean the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.   I mean, doesn’t that defeat the purpose of having a dishwasher? To do the job of that which should do the job! I’ve been told that our dishwasher can actually handle whatever we stick in there. I don’t buy it, and have yet to test this out, as I don’t trust that’s even slightly possible. Along with the fact that I have the habit of doing dishes regardless of how well the dishwasher may or may not clean them, since during my youth it was necessary to hand wash the dishes. And so, as an adult, husband and father, I have found great peace – yes, even happiness – in cleaning dishes before I fill the dishwasher, which I do every night.  Yes, apparently that makes me weird for enjoying that task, and yet, I’m not alone. I read an article that surprised me, in Inc. magazine, of the habits of some of the world’s richest men, Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos: Inc. says – “Bill Gates’s house is worth a cool $125 million. Jeff Bezos cashes in $1 billion a year in

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March 20, 2023 18 Comments
Business

Vanilla

Vanilla is plain. It is perfectly unoffensive, pristine, nearly flavorless, and the exact extract I wanted to be known for from the beginning of my career. Growing up in an extremely religious state, espousing the same beliefs as the majority, it became apparent quickly that my path to success among my people would be to ride the Vanilla wave of comedy, music, and entertainment in order to survive the driest community in the U.S. Making people laugh who don’t drink, don’t have outward vices, who LOVE vanilla, became my Signature Move and is a Promise I still keep to this day. Stepping on toes, insulting, belittling, cursing, going to the edge, none of that was, nor is, my style. I prefer VANILLA. And because I have chosen Vanilla, when I have softly served another side, dare I say – thrown in a heath chunk or sprinkled some gummy bears here and there on the precious Vanilla ice cream – there are people who are THRILLED! They LOVE when they see the “he adds flavor” part of me, and that’s what comes through mostly in private coaching sessions, small workshops, and occasionally, depending on how frustrated I am with an audience,

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January 27, 2023 22 Comments
Inspiration

The Final Testimony of Nathan Ricks

  On Monday, January 2, 2023, my friends, Nathan & Joyce Ricks, along with two others, took off in their private plane from Provo, Utah. Moments after takeoff the plane suddenly crashed, killing Nathan instantly, critically injuring the co-pilot, Brent Beardall, while Nathan’s wife, Joyce, and the other passenger, Dane Margetts, walked away with minor injuries, and thankfully survived. The story was covered nationwide, here is the story as reported by local Utah’s FOX13. Our prayers are with the Ricks Family facing the long road ahead as they pick up the pieces of losing the legend that is their father. I have known the Ricks family for 2 decades, as they were among the first in my career to utilize my performing for multiple family, business, and community events, providing our family with opportunities and blessings that have shaped our lives and greatest vacations.  Their generosity was unparalleled and the loss of this man stings for all who were touched by him.   I share this post for a few reasons: 1 – To honor a Great Man 2 – To give perspective as to how precious life truly is 3 – To highlight the power of words, and those

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January 3, 2023 6 Comments
Business

The Cookie Promise

Can you imagine how I felt when I showed up and my presentation had been turned into a COOKIE?   What kind of client does this? Only the awesome ones. This experience reminded me of being a kid at the local bakery with my Mom the day before my birthday! My nose to the glass, peering into the case of custom cake options that included Sesame Street, Care Bears, Superman, G.I. Joe, or Race Cars. 7-yr old me, carefully choosing which character I wanted as the theme of my birthday party, anticipating friends soon arriving for my special day, the cake had to be the perfect mood for our experience. Cookie Monster is the one I chose over multiple years!  Once chosen, I would excitedly point, my Mom would assure me it was a great option, and the baker would happily pull the pre-decorated cake out and, with squeezy-colorful-icing-writing-utensil, ask me how to spell my name. J-A-S-O-N Watching the baker of this very cake turn into the artist daVinci while writing my name with icing in perfect cursive was literally the icing on my cake! How proud I was when my friends would arrive, presents in hand, as they cheered upon

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November 3, 2022 4 Comments
Coaching

Can Accountants Laugh?

  Have you heard this one? How do you tell the difference between an introverted accountant and an extroverted accountant?   The extrovert looks at your shoes.  That joke has maybe been told to me about 457,682 times after gigs with accountants. Few things strike fear in the heart of a performer like hearing, “We need you to come perform and make us laugh during lunch, because we have had a tough year and are a group of accountants.” Yay.  Sounds like fun!  I’ll just go over here and jump in a pool of piranhas! While we’re at it, want to throw a few calculators at me while I’m on stage? Years ago I actually turned down accountant events, they had just been too demoralizing, regardless of the check always clearing. I also turned down any event suggesting I perform at lunch, since half the room has their back turned to you, and they have forks in their hands with food in their mouths. People would choke from laughing. Ambulances were summoned and it was my fault. Those settings make for the direst of comedy engagement situations. Maybe only second to a room full of….Accountants!   But over the past decade I have had

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October 25, 2022 2 Comments
Engagement

10,000 Educators

  In the past 2 weeks I have spoken to an estimated 10,000 educators all over my home State of Utah. Had you told me when I was in 3rd Grade sitting in the hall in time-out because I had disrupted the class again, that 35 years later I would be speaking to teachers who probably would have also sent me to the hall, I would have looked at you sideways and made a really weird face. In one of these sessions there was a chance for Q&A. It was a question from a teacher who asked: “What is your higher education and university background which qualified you to speak to us today?”  My answer: “To be honest, I didn’t go to college as you can probably tell! And so this is just as ironic for me to be here as it may be for you to know that!  But the truth is, that full-ride scholarship I mentioned before that I was offered to go to BYU for basketball, well, that ended up not being there after my 2-year mission to Brazil.  But, when we discover that which we are made to do, and can teach others how to discover

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August 19, 2022 8 Comments
Engagement

Putting The Promise to the Test

Can I pull back the curtain for a moment? Yesterday nearly did me in. In keeping a Promise to the Audience and my important client, I have paid for it over the last 30 hours, as I am now stuck in my bed, icing every part of my body, after doing an event outdoors. The set up was ambitious – 4,000 people gathered in an outdoor rodeo stadium. Stage set in the middle of the arena, on the dirt, with great sound and screens for my powerpoint, yet not enough room for me to sit and speak for this one. No shade in direct sunlight, it was 7:30-9:30 AM in the sun, in my black clothes, waiting on stage to begin my speech. I had to balance on my good leg which really hurt my hips and other body parts. By 10:30 AM I closed the speech, received a generous standing ovation, and slinked to my car after 3 hours in the sun. My leg was throbbing, my head pounding, sweat covered every inch of my body.     I have only left my bed a few times in the past month since my leg injury, and since it can’t

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August 12, 2022 12 Comments
Business

Your Favorite Part

“The Raptor Daddy Dinosaur routine!”  “TJ The Shuttle Driver – Yee-Haw!”  “The part where you took Facebook off your iPhone to be a more present Dad!”     These are some of the many responses I get following a presentation of “The Promise” when signing books and asking attendees what their favorite part was, or what stood out to them the most. What is most delightful is that pretty much every person has a different response.  It is astounding to me that so many different aspects of the same speech touch everyone in a unique way.  It is whatever way they needed for that moment.   “The fact that you were singing and not just speaking like most boring speakers we’ve had.”  “Your Broken Arms by Journey is now stuck in my head forever!”  “I loved the ICM Process and am going to utilize that in our team meeting next Monday with those I lead.”     Meeting strangers that are now lifelong members of The Promise Movement, committed to leadership at the highest level of commitment, who become immediate friends of mine, is one of the greatest joys of my life. Recently I came off stage following a presentation to Mille

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July 31, 2022 2 Comments
Announcements

Choosing Hope in Devastation: Jason & Kim Kotecki

  It is rare for me to have tears streaming down my face as I read a blog, but that happened to me last week. One of the most wonderful couples and families I have ever known shared the story of a rare “wind event” tearing through their backyard, ripping out hundreds of trees in a hurricane-force moment that left them reeling to figure out what to do with their now apocalyptic landscape destroyed by nature. Having just moved into their dream home on Lake Michigan, The Kotecki Family have inspired so many through 2 decades, finally able to achieve the great American Dream with their hugely successful company Escape Adulthood, while Jason paints & speaks, Kim runs the business details and homeschools their darling children, and found the perfect home on a property surrounded by trees, a majestic wonderland preserved for their joy. What you’re about to see is how The Promise can be put into action, just by your choice and attitude.   I would ask that you might watch this 6-min. video, as Kim shares the heartbreaking story, even with her Signature Smile, walks you through their yard, and candidly shares how their family, choosing hope in the

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July 3, 2022 No Comments

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