Your Life is a Journey - But where is it taking you

You had friends and laughter, adventure and romance. Remember the halcyon days of your youth? But then the friends went away, the laughter faded, the adventure ended and the romance was over.

Do you ever feel like you're wearing ankle irons, condemned to row forever with the other galley slaves in the dim life below ship's deck? "I too have had my dreams: ay, known indeed the crowded visions of a fiery youth which haunt me still." - Oscar Wilde

One of the happy accidents of Wizard Academy is that students often rediscover who they were when they were young. They come to the academy to become better salespeople and scientists, journalists and educators, authors and ministers, business people and bar bouncers, ad writers and artists and we certainly make them those things. But somewhere along the way, students remember how to love their lives again and the dream-seed that fell into the ground during the dark days of winter breaks through the warm soil of spring to shout its message to the sky.

"Work is about a search for daily meaning as well as daily bread, for recognition as well as cash, for astonishment rather than torpor; in short, for a sort of life rather than a Monday through Friday sort of dying." - Studs Terkel

I want you to come to Austin on April 23. It's a Saturday. Tuscan Hall, our auditorium, is now complete except for the flagstone plaza and water features that will surround it and we'll certainly have those done before you get here. Likewise, construction is ahead of schedule for the April 23 opening of Chapel Dulcinea, the small, cliff's-edge structure that symbolizes the academy's heart and provides the fuel for its dreams.

What are the dreams of Wizard Academy? To build a school of discovery in the arts and sciences: in short, the Harvard of a brighter tomorrow. Our students, partners, and adjunct faculty are already changing the world of business through more persuasive ad writing, ‘New School' sales training, and revolutionary internet solutions. Additionally, my partner Sonja Howle will soon be taking the reigns of our Art Marketing Workshop to help artists in every discipline – all over the world – make a better living from their work because we are convinced their work is essential. We'll soon be adding a new course in visionary architecture taught by one of America's greatest living architects who, miraculously, has agreed to participate in our April 23 event to explain in detail all the symbolism and feeling that is woven into the very architecture of the school. Prepare to be amazed.

Now I need you to take a slow breath and sit down, okay? Because I'm getting ready to share with you a part of the dream that could easily sound delusional: It is our conviction that this school will exist and thrive for at least 500 years. That's why we've been careful to use only such construction materials and techniques that will withstand the wear of centuries.

Every organization closely tied to the identity of its founder dies shortly after its founder's passing. We don't want that to happen. That's why the academy is now a non-profit organization governed by a board of directors beyond my control. It must become independent of me long before I'm gone. I will not build a monument to myself. Look closely at any of my bestselling Wizard of Ads books and you'll see that my name isn't on the cover of any of them. This was my choice. My plan from the beginning has been only to kick open closed doors and point toward the horizon for an army of world-changers who will follow. Will you be counted among them?

The Academy's students, faculty and directors want the school's powerful, inside-out way of thinking to be passed like a torch from generation to generation, providing the fuel, the research and the inspiration to create constant improvement forever in every field of endeavor. And they're doing everything it takes to make sure it happens.

PS - An unrelated note for future discussion when next we're together around the campfire: I spent some time last week with Mark Sanford, Governor of South Carolina. I knew nothing about the man before we sat down together, but having gotten to know him, I've found myself hoping that he someday runs for president. - RHW

Everyone who seems to meet Governor Sanford has the same reaction: WOW!!! New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-selling author and advertising guru Roy Williams had never met Governor Sanford before and was more than ready to endorse his presidency after spending just a weekend with him. I just can't say enough good things about Governor Sanford.

Some information on Mr. Williams:

Who is the Wizard?

Roy H. Williams - The Wizard of Ads

Writing: His books and Monday Morning Memos are a constant source of fascination and entertainment for his students and friends around the globe. His first book, The Wizard of Ads, was voted Business Book of the Year in 1998. His second book, Secret Formulas of the Wizard of Ads, was named the Wall Street Journal's number one Business Book in America in 1999 and became a New York Times bestseller. The third book in the trilogy, Magical Worlds of the Wizard of Ads reached bestseller status again in late 2001. His fascinating fourth book, Accidental Magic, is a tightly condensed anthology of writing tips and insights, mixed with artistic examples provided by 106 of his amazing protégés. The Wizard's first fiction book, Destinae is a powerful allegory aimed directly at the heart of the reader.

Speaking: Once introduced as "the most magnetic and mesmerizing speaker in the world today," the Wizard has been trying to live up to those words ever since. Most attendees agree that his action-packed seminar, "Advertising: What Works, What Doesn't and Why" is perhaps the most entertaining and enlightening 3 hours they have ever experienced. The seminar begins with a detailed look at the architecture of the human brain, followed by the "Four Tugs-of-War," "What is Branding, Really?" and "The 12 Most Common Mistakes in Advertising."

Whatever your event requirements may be, the Wizard can tailor his presentation to fit the specific needs of your audience. The Wizard's speaking fee in the US and Canada is currently $US20,000 plus airfare, provided that the trip not require him to spend more than one night away from home. For more information email corrine@wizardacademy.com or call Corrine Taylor at (800) 425-4769 or (512) 295-5700. For events outside North America the Wizard's speaking fee is $US50,000 plus business class airfares.

Teaching: The brainchild of his wife, Pennie Williams, Wizard Academy® was founded as a way to get her husband off the road. "Instead of sending him to them for a few hours, why not let them all come here for a few days?" But not even Princess Pennie knew how well her idea would work. Since its launch in May of 2000, Wizard Academy® has attracted a roster of students that includes many of the world's most forward-thinking and successful CEOs, educators, journalists, inventors and consultants. The Wizard Academy® reunion each autumn is an event not to be missed.

Publishing: Created to be a publishing springboard to showcase the work of Wizard Academy® students, Wizard Academy® Press publishes primarily audio books with accompanying transcripts.

Consulting: For those wishing to have the Wizard review their advertising, help them plan an ad campaign, brainstorm with him, discuss a business possibility or bounce an idea off him, we've made a very limited number of days available in Austin each month at $US5,000/day. For more information email corrine@wizardacademy.com or call Corrine Taylor at (800) 425-4769 or (512) 295-5700.

CEO: As an advertising and marketing consultant, the Wizard has been using his secret formulas to create miraculous growth for his small business clients since 1987. Many of his earliest clients are more than 10 times the size they were when they entered into the relationship with the Wizard. A few are more than 40 times their former size.

A lifelong student of humanity, Roy H. Williams has spent a quarter-century asking, "What makes people do the things they do?" And he's been using the things he's learned to stimulate miraculous growth for his small business clients for more than 15 years.

With twelve branch offices in the US, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia, Wizard of Ads®, is now serving the advertising and marketing needs of business owners around the globe. Our fees are tied to your growth. The only way for us to make more money is to increase the size of your business. How's that for confidence? If you'd like to discuss adding your company to the growing list of thriving businesses being guided by a Wizard of Ads® branch office, call Corrine Taylor at 800-425-4769 or email Corrine@WizardofAds.com.

Mark Sanford is a man that is way before his time. All we need is for the state and the rest of the country to catch up to him. He has great supporting personnel but the problem lies with selfish individuals in government and the public not wanting to give up freebies and pork.
Government needs to be run like a business and not a kingdom,plus it needs to be held accountable and with the present system there are too many handouts for political favors. This causes all the good things to go where the greatest numbers are and leaves the rural communities to suffer and struggle.Unfortunately these are the areas that are the easiest to be fooled and follow the Democrats blindly. The system needs to be updated.
I don't know how far Mark can go but we will be a lot worse off without his type of politician. In my lifetime I have never seen anyone like him but honestly as a young person I never tuned in to politics the way I do now in the twilight years and that was my fault. I have more trust and faith in Mark than any politician on the scene today.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.