Posts tagged inspiration for disabled

Set Your Standards Higher, to Fully Engage Your Abilities

Fantastic Frank - Recovering from TBI Trumatic Brain InjuryThe following quote caught my attention: “Nobody rises to low expectations.” by Calvin Lloyd.
If you or someone else sets your personal standards to the lowest of your abilities then you won’t be able to rise to your full potential.
When I came out of my coma, the doctors expected me to be a vegetable for the rest of my life. I wasn’t going to let that happen. I knew my brain was functioning enough to be able to relearn how to walk and talk again. I was very determined and I didn’t let the doctors’ low expectations limit my ability to recover. I knew that if I worked smart enough I could regain my independence.

Set your expectations for your personal standards to a level at what you want to achieve.
After Julie Sanderson had experienced a Traumatic Brain Injury, she thought she wouldn’t be able to return to her work as a police officer. Her expectations for herself were low. Julie’s Mom reminded her that she had been hurt and Julie would get better. Julie did get better and returned to her job because of hard work and determination. Her journey to wellness started when she raised her expectations to what she wanted to achieve. Julie Sanderson’s story is written in “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Recovering from Traumatic Brain Injuries” page 290; as is my story on page 283.

With love, joy, and determination you can achieve your goals by not limiting your expectations of yourself.

by Fantastic Frank Johnson
Author of “From Flawed to Fantastic”

PS – Do you need an Inspirational Speaker? Check out my site and get in touch to see if I have your dates available http://www.fantasticfrankjohnson.com/speaker/

Faith, Your Message, “The Day After”, and President Ronald Reagan

 

Some things can take the wind out of your sails – like having your passionate message met by a deadpan response, or ridicule. That has happened to me on occasion, as I strut about in my superhero costume!
Inspirational Speaker

 

What keeps me going? Well, did you ever have a negative initial reaction to a new idea, and then later (hours, months, years) come to the realization that you actually embrace that idea yourself? That may be what is going on with the person you are trying to inspire, or impact in some positive way. Just because on the surface it seems that you did not get the desired outcome, doesn’t mean that you did not make the impact you had intended.

Let’s take, for example, the 1983 Film “The Day After” which was a wake-up call as to the potential outcomes of nuclear war. Producer Nicholas Meyer was even ridiculed as a traitor by the New York Post, and labeled “unpatriotic” by the National Review… Yet years later it was revealed in President Ronald Reagan’s diary that it was upon watching a prescreening of the film, that Reagan resolved “to see there is never a nuclear war.”

 

Where would our world be today, if Nicholas Meyer had collapsed under the judgments made against them, and given up on the project?

 

Faith is sometimes compared to the mustard seed, which is very tiny, and yet grows into a tremendous plant. The response to your message may at times seem tiny to you – but oh, the difference you can make! You might never find out the impact of the seeds you plant. Keep faith in your dreams. Live by your passion. And love.

 

by Fantastic Frank Johnson
Author of “From Flawed to Fantastic”

PS – Do you need an Inspirational Speaker? Check out my site and get in touch to see if I have your dates available http://www.fantasticfrankjohnson.com/speaker/

“Fantastic Frank” Story by Michele Camacho in Chicken Soup for the Soul – Rochester In Focus Interview

WHEC, Rochester In Focus, interview with myself and Michele Camacho. Hear the endearing backstory of why “Marvelous” Michele wrote the story “Fantastic Frank”, which is published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Recovering from Traumatic Brain Injuries.

by Fantastic Frank Johnson
Author of “From Flawed to Fantastic”

PS – Do you need an Inspirational Speaker? Check out my site and get in touch to see if I have your dates available http://www.fantasticfrankjohnson.com/speaker/

Arsenio Hall Meets Fantastic Frank Johnson

Arsenio Hall and Fantastic Frank Johnson shake hands in the studio of the Arsenio Hall Show in Los Angeles.

Fantastic Frank Arsenio Hall

by Fantastic Frank Johnson
Author of “From Flawed to Fantastic”

PS – Do you need an Inspirational Speaker? Check out my site and get in touch to see if I have your dates available http://www.fantasticfrankjohnson.com/speaker/

Going Beyond Challenges for New Year’s

It’s New Year’s Eve and excitement is in the air! Why not start “ringing in the new” with new ways of going beyond challenges that sneak up at this time of year? Here are some ideas:

Do you fit any of these descriptions?

1) No idea whose New Year’s Eve offer to accept

2) No offers to accept!!!

3) No incentive or the drive to call up and ask someone what to do.

4) No way to be creative in getting yourself invited somewhere
(You feel like a party crasher, and maybe feel left out, and so you are lost)

5) No plans, as you may have let things go to the last minute (like I have done!!)

and finally

6) No desire to participate in celebration madness.

 

My suggestion for anyone who feels this way is to think out side the box like I have,
and come up with these ideas to energize your life this New Year’s.
Here are some possible solutions:

1) Listen to a Blog Talk Radio Show tonight and tomorrow,
and connect with people who are in the same boat as you are!!

2) Take care of yourself, mentally, spiritually and physically.

3) Make a list of your accomplishments or activities that I had fun doing through out the year.
This can be a challenge if you have not made up a list that you add to on a periodic basis!
Think of this as a game that you can do for yourself if you are alone, or with your partner.
Be sure you keep this record someplace easily accessible, to update throughout the new year.

5) Set your goals (which I call outcomes) for the next year.

6) Start your budgeting process for the upcoming year, with money allocated to your personal growth.
Most importantly, be optimistic about the coming year,
and have fun!!!

Don’t let your circumstances or your disability control your life!!

by Fantastic Frank Johnson
Author of “From Flawed to Fantastic”

PS – Do you need an Inspirational Speaker? Check out my site and get in touch to see if I have your dates available http://www.fantasticfrankjohnson.com/speaker/

A Way to Bring Happiness and Good Will Into the Holidays

It’s that time of the year when you are thinking about how to spend your time, money (or resources as I like to call them!!!)

Whether or not you have a traumatic brain injury (TBI), you may have these kinds of challenges: 

1) no money to buy gifts
2) no idea as to what to get the people on your list
3) no list
4) no way to be creative in writing out a holiday card.
5) you may have let things go to the last minute (like I have done!!)

and finally

6) no desire to want to engage in any of the holiday madness!!

My suggestion for anyone who feels this way is to think outside the box like the clients at the Freedom Center. We have decided to visit a nursing home in the area, and give not money nor purchases, but rather something more meaningful – we are giving our presence to people who are shut-ins.

You may be wondering how this will help you with other people like friends, family members, acquaintances, whom you may feel you have let down. I have the solution for that situation… when you give love by doing something like our group is going to do..take a picture of the event or incident, makes copies of it and give them away as “presents” to your friends, family members and acquaintances.

Because that is what Holiday Giving is all about – Giving Love!

Self Interest in Business and Life

Have you noticed that everyone does things for their own self-interest?

Think about this for a few minutes.

Even when we do a kind and generous act –
maybe we do it to feel good about ourselves,
or to get love or acknowledgement,
or to avoid a bad feeling,
or with the expectation that the favor will be returned,
or to look good in the eyes of others,
or to get a tax break
… the list is endless.

I am hopefully bringing awareness into your life,
because this becomes a problem in all kinds of relationships

Let’s take a business relationship, for example.
If you meet someone and instantly think
“What a dream – we are meant to work together!”

Realize that after the “honeymoon” phase is over,
there will be a lot of hard work and financial demands.

You and your “partner” may both have completely
different memories of the initial verbal agreement,
including who has rights to a new product and profits.

Here are some tips:

1) Take a step back and make sure you have a written agreement
in place with your business partner / fiancé / tenant / etc,
before investing your time, money, and ideas.

2) Have realistic expectations of yourself, and whomever you are interacting with.

3) Don’t expect things to always go the way that you want them to.

4) Don’t convince yourself that something is OK when you feel it is not.

5) If you feel you’ve been wronged, take a day or two to reflect on the issue before retaliating harshly
– you may decide to forgive the person,
and forget past difficulties or mistakes or even errors in your own judgments.

6) Have clear direction of who is running the show.
Is it you and are you flexible enough to adapt or grow?
Can you roll with the punches or jabs that might come your way?

7) Have you delegated critical work to that other person,
so that if they left you would not be as effective
as you had been when you were working together?
I know that I am guilty of doing this
and every time that situation arises I am lost as how to now proceed!

8) And if all these steps don’t work or no longer work
then its time to realize that the relationship has burned itself out
and you may have to seek legal council to extricate yourself from this quagmire that you find yourself in.

Think about this in your own life and whether you agree or disagree, I would love to hear from you!

Enter this contest and get on TV!

Do you remember me telling you about Clint Arthur’s Celebrity Launchpad got me on local TV all across the country?
How would you like the same opportunity, by winning a Scholarship with VIP trimmings – round trip air fare, limousine, 4 nights stay at the W Hotel in Hollywood – all paid by Clint Arthur?

All you have to do is enter the contest with “Fantastic Frank sent me” at the end of your comment.
Here’s the link: www.voteclintarthur.com  Note: This link will be active for a limited time only.

That’s it!

I want you to have the same opportunity I had:

With the segment proposal that Clint crafted for me,11 Celebrity Launchpad TV producers said “Yes” to me!
Within a very short time, the number 2&3 markets in the country, Los Angeles and Chicago, both did special segments on me!

You deserve the same chance!

Enter, and put “Fantastic Frank in your comment.  Go here: www.voteclintarthur.com

by Fantastic Frank Johnson
Author of “From Flawed to Fantastic”

PS – Do you need an Inspirational Speaker? Check out my site and get in touch to see if I have your dates available http://www.fantasticfrankjohnson.com/speaker/

 

Branding for Superheroes and You

Just as the Nike “Swoosh” trademark is recognized worldwide, so is the Superman Shield. In marketing this is called “brand recognition.”

Now globally known giants, these symbols had humble beginnings. The Nike “Swoosh” was created in 1971 for $35 by a graphic design college student, Carolyn Davidson. The Superman Shield started out as an “S” on a yellow police badge, and has gone through changes in how it looks and what it means.

Every superhero has an identity or brand. A powerful way for you to reinforce your own heroic nature and your unique talents, is to create your own superhero shield. No one else has to know what it means – it will be just as potent for you to have in your pocket, as long as you know it is there.

Find your own expression – you don’t have to wear a costume like me!

Just make it Fast, Visual, and Powerful.

Words are also part of branding. Nike’s slogan “Just Do It” is just as recognizable as their symbol. Our minds and bodies are affected by words. You may not realize it, but you are already branding yourself with words that you use to describe yourself. Understanding this is a key element in embracing being a hero.

If I live my life as “Disabled Frank”, that means I am disabled; it becomes my identity. When I live as “Fantastic Frank”, represented by the “FF” on my superhero suit, I am better defined. I encourage you to find your brand and have fun with it!

by Fantastic Frank Johnson
Author of “From Flawed to Fantastic”

PS – Do you need an Inspirational Speaker? Check out my site and get in touch to see if I have your dates available http://www.fantasticfrankjohnson.com/speaker/

Embrace What You Resist

Sometimes we reject our own talents. Be patient with yourself – some comic super heroes also initially rejected their unique gifts. “The Thing” comes immediately to my mind.

Before “The Thing” became “The Thing”, he was part of a team on a scientific mission to outer space. During that voyage, they were all bombarded with cosmic radiation, which resulted in the super powers that made them the “Fantastic Four.”

Some heroes have two identities – the one in which they look totally normal and blend in with society, and the one in which they are wearing their super hero suit.

“The Thing” transformed into a grotesque, huge, stoney looking character that looked that way all the time.

Over about 50 years of comic books, this character struggled with seeing the positive aspect of his abilities, because he felt ashamed by his appearance and struggled with his new identity for many comic book issues.

In the movie “The Fantastic Four”, The Thing also struggles, but relatively quickly gets to the epiphany where he embraces and even chooses his appearance as “The Thing” to help his team defeat Dr. Doom.

As is the way with superheroes, The Thing’s embrace of what he resisted sprung from compassion. He was in a unique position of being the only one who could help, and he put the lives of others above his own self interests.

Remember the Thing, and take a look at your own motives. Something you are rejecting may be exactly what will save someone else’s life.

by Fantastic Frank Johnson
Author of “From Flawed to Fantastic”

PS – Do you need an Inspirational Speaker? Check out my site and get in touch to see if I have your dates available http://www.fantasticfrankjohnson.com/speaker/

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