Successful Life Course Coming In For The Final Landing!
What a fun and joyful flight it has been! The SUCCESSFUL LIFE Course, an outgrowth of their other business activities, has been an exciting, enjoyable adventure for Ed Foreman and Earlene Vining. After their upcoming November class, they plan to devote their time and energies to a variety of other interests. They will no longer be marketing or conducting this popular, results-proven, time-tested, life-enhancing program. Although they’ve had some discussions with possible successors, nothing has been formulated for the program’s continuation. Ed and Earlene plan to continue to travel, speak, and do special events for some of their long-time partners and corporate entities; i.e., Institute for Management Studies; Global Information Network; B.E.S.T.; LabCorp; Shell Trading, a variety of universities and medical groups, et al.
The final 3-day SUCCESSFUL LIFE Course, conducted by Ed and Earlene, will be November 18-20, 2015. This class is still open; and we plan to endeavor to accommodate everyone who wants to participate, as a first-time attendee or as a refresher session; so if you have family, friends, business associates, or any others whom you feel would benefit from this unique habit-improvement program, you’ll want to be sure to get them enrolled as quickly as possible for the November session, checking in at the Canyon Inn in McCormick’s Creek State Park, Spencer, Indiana (55 miles southwest of Indianapolis) on Tuesday, November 17!
There are many who have made a habit of returning to enjoy a refresher session every two or three years, just to keep their life skills sharp and to rejuvenate and get back to implementing the successful daily living principles in any areas where they may have slipped. This is your opportunity to do so for the last time! The previous three classes this year have been outstanding, with some “repeaters” in each session…but also with many new participants, including some youngsters ranging in age from 10 to 17, who have embraced this improved lifestyle with enthusiasm and gratitude. Some of our longstanding clients such as Eagle Communications; BWI Companies, Inc.; Wolseley Industrial Group, Global Information Network, et al, as well as many individual participants, have been taking advantage of participating in these classes recently and enjoying the benefits of doing so.
If you, or someone you love and appreciate, wish to participate, you may do so by enrolling on line through our secure shipping cart at www.edforeman.com, or you may call Linda Barrett direct at 479-363-6588 to enroll by telephone. We’ll look forward to having you join us for a terrific “end of an era” finale!
Also, on-site programs, even including private SUCCESSFUL LIFE Course sessions, as well as all the products now offered as a follow-on to the class, will still be available on line or through our office; so let us know if we can assist in any way!
Keep Smiling and Stay Happy, Healthy and TERRIFIC!
Laugh, Live & Learn!
August 2013 SUCCESSFUL LIFE Course
The August SUCCESSFUL LIFE Course was an exciting, fast-moving, better ‘n ever experience!
We initiated many new twists, (1) shorter, abbreviated sessions; (2) more interactive participation with breakout sessions; (3) a sharper detailed instruction on Rx 1, 2, & 3; (4) a fun-filled, out-of-the-classroom exercise hay ride thru McCormick’s Creek State Park ending with a lively story session at the outdoor amphitheater; and (5) improved fresh & tasty buffets with attractive, healthy dining choices.
Participants included a few high school & college students, business leaders and/or spouses from Canada, Europe, Mexico, Brazil, and many US states. It was an international blend of dynamic people sharing ideas on happy, healthy, successful daily living!
Our next class will be conducted at the Canyon Inn, McCormick’s Creek State Park, Spencer, Indiana, 50 miles southwest of Indianapolis November 6-7-8, 2013.
New twist! A hay ride through the park
May Successful Life Class, Another Success!!
Seems unlikely, each class could be stronger, better, and higher-rated than the preceding class…but that’s been the trend! Almost perfect…attendance, participation, and evaluations…the weather was lovely, low of 57 degrees and high of 75 degrees…ideal for our refreshing morning walks and relaxing evenings under the stars!
Defender Direct, Williams Heating & Air Conditioning, Touchstone Merchandise Group, Stop-n-Go Markets, Atlas Van Lines, Bunch Wholesale Nurseries, Wolseley Industrial Group, Volvo Construction Co, Medical Specialists (5 doctors, RN’s, et al), chefs, high school and college students, social services, IT specialists, and others…ages 16 to 79…from throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico attended. Three CEO’s of sizable corporations mixed, mingled, learned, laughed, loved ‘n lived in an atmosphere of physical, mental and emotional growth with folks from a variety of educational and economic backgrounds.
The Rx #3 ritual of fear, jealousy, pain, worry, and anger release was spirit-lifting and life-renewing; as were the exercises on turning dreams into meaningful, achievable goals with realistic time lines.
A dynamic guest of a principal participant joyfully described her appreciation of her personal growth and mental rejuvenation, “I thought when he told me the company was hosting us for 3 days at this beautiful resort at no cost to us…there must be a “catch”; are they gonna’ try to sell us a condominium? Instead, they introduced us to a better, happier, healthier, more productive way of living!”
The August 6-9 class has 10 openings remaining…and November has only 24 vacancies…so if you’ve been planning to re-energize your life…NOW is the time to enroll. Enjoy life now…to the fullest…it has an expiration date!
Best Successful Life Class Yet!!
March 2013 Successful Life Course
What a powerful, dynamic class just completed at the Canyon Inn in Spencer, Indiana! The highest energy group ever to participate, rated the class “EXCELLENT” all the way around!
In addition to Defender Home Security’s energetic, family-friendly, high-performance team members from throughout the USA, we welcomed leaders representing Defender’s newest company complement to their home services team from Williams Heating & Air Conditioning!
Participants, ages 14 to 87, from Florida to California, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas, and Europe, representing a variety of organizations (BWI, AGCO, GIN, Wolseley Industrial Group, chemicals, medical, dental, financial, construction, architecture, government services, et al) listened, learned and practiced enjoyable, enriching, life-expanding lessons helping them to open up to an even stronger life of vitality, happiness, health, love, laughter, and real living!
Lively classroom sessions were interspersed with health and wellness exercises, relaxation sessions, goal-setting, problem-solving, time management, real-life communications challenges and resolutions, and yes…adventure walks along the trails, streams, and waterfalls of McCormick’s Creek State Park.
The next class, scheduled for May 7-10, is already more than 70 percent filled…so if you have an interest in getting a meaningful booster charge for your life, better get enrolled now! There’s only three remaining classes this year, and they fill up fast!
Successful Life Course, November 6-9, 2012
Canyon Inn, McCormick’s Creek State Park, at Spencer, Indiana, was alive and sparkling this past week with a dynamic group of leaders from throughout the USA as they fully and wholeheartedly threw themselves into the SUCCESSFUL LIFE Course. The “Family Friendly High Performance Team” from Defender Direct, plus enthusiastic participants from some of America’s most successful companies, ages 12 to 84, from students to corporate chieftains, men and women of diverse personalities and backgrounds, enjoyed practicing proven, mind-enriching techniques on:
- How to Turn Worry and Stress into Happiness and Success;
- How to Get More Done in Less Time;
- How to persuasively get others to buy their ideas, products or services;
- How to feel good physically, mentally and emotionally;
- How to relax, re-energize and achieve refreshing, rejuvenating vitality.
- and a myriad of other life-expanding lessons!
We enjoyed the colorful autumn foliage, walking the trails through the woods, observing the magnificent Canyon Creek walls of granite rising above a majestic creek and the roaring waterfalls. It was love, laughter, and learning in a mix that had us all expanding our horizons and appreciating our opportunities. We clarified our Mission in Life and enhanced our Vision of our personal, family and professional futures.
This Photographic Reflection at The Successful Life Course was generously and thoughtfully contributed by Alin & Lidia Negrila. There is also a high resolution version suitable for printing (721mb).
The four quarterly scheduled classes for 2013 are filling rapidly…the opportunity to attend NOW…you can register on line at www.edforeman.com, on the SUCCESSFUL LIFE Course tab.
August 2012 Successful Life Course
The 3-day SUCCESSFUL LIFE class just completed at the Canyon Inn, McCormick’s Creek State Park in Indiana was perhaps one of the strongest, best, most participative and enjoyable yet!
Participants from Defender, Caterpillar, BWI, Inc, Ferguson Integrated Services, and independent enrollees, including seven high school and college students, from all over the USA and Canada, listened, learned, laughed and grew in mind, body and spirit!
Special instructional contributors in addition to Ed Foreman and Earlene Vining included Rebecca Foreman, Blaine Athorn, Dr. Jerry Bane, Chris McGarahan, Dave DeFreitas, Bill Sutherland, et al.
We enjoyed exercising our minds, expanding our goals, learning new and happy ways of resolving difficult situations, and ways to reduce (and eliminate) stress, worry and frustration. We exercised and walked along the trails, through the woods, by the creeks, and through magnificent canyons in the rain and in sunshine.
We experienced relaxation, fun, and the enjoyment of LIFE!
Life is goood ‘n gettin’ goooder!
Does It Have Any “Long Term” Lasting Benefit?
According Paul Thayer, former Chairman and C.E.O. of LTV Aerospace Corp, it does!
PAUL THAYER
FOUR FOREST PLAZA
12222 MERIT DRIVE
SUITE 115O
DALLAS, TEXAS 75251
Dear Ed:
It’s hard to believe but it’s been almost a quarter of a century since we first met. In looking back on that part of my life, I must conclude that no other one person, other than my wife, Margery, has exerted such a positive influence on me, particularly during some pretty dark days that now we hardly remember. And, it’s about time I told you so.
In the late sixties not too long after we met, as you will remember, I accepted your invitation to spend a long weekend in Kerrville attending my first SUCCESSFUL LIFE Course. By Sunday afternoon, you and Earlene had managed to persuade me that I was not quite as motivated as I thought I was. The most impressive result of the entire three-day event, however, was to watch some rather shy, not-so-confident members of the class emerge as laughing, living, and loving personalities ready to take on all the challenges they had been holding in the background.
At this point, I was the Chairman of LTV/Aerospace Corp. and succeeded in convincing some of my associates that they too should plan to spend a weekend in Kerrville. Many of the executives were less than enthusiastic about the prospect before going but returned convinced. As the word got around and “I’m Terrific” became a password in the hallways, the follow-on groups got their own momentum. Needless to say, many of the problems that faced LTVAC in those days were met with much more force and finesse than before we were injected with “Foreman’s Formidable Formula.”
Then in June of 1970, I was “anointed” by the LTV Board to the Chairman and CEO of the parent company. I didn’t really want the job because I was having a lot of fun in the aerospace business. I was convinced it was the right change to make, however, when a couple of the Board members mentioned that if I didn’t accept their offer, they would have to hire me a boss and I might not like him.
Well as you know, at the time LTV had a lousy financial picture – roughly two billion dollars in debt; negative cash flow; under collateralized; unable to service debt and in technical default with the banks. So among other things, we exposed many of our management people to the “Foreman Magic” and two years later, we were profitable with most of our financial problems well on the way to being solved.
So, in looking back about 23 years, Ed Foreman, it’s clear that you have been a moving, tangible force in my life. And along with a few thousand others, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are a great and dear friend.
Cordially,
Paul Thayer
Mr. Ed Foreman, President
Executive Development Systems
14135 Midway Road, Suite 250, L.B. #7
Dallas, Texas 75244
Does Positive Leadership Training Really Work?
Is it Cost Effective? Any Measurable Results?
To answer those questions, here is a letter from F. D. Foster, Complex Manager for Shell Oil Company, Norco Manufacturing Complex, responding to a collegue…
Mr. Donald A. Melchert
Area Specialist
E. I. DuPont de Nemours & Company
Pontchartrain Works
P.O. Box 2000
LaPlace, LA 70069-1150
Dear Donald,
As requested in your letter of May 18, I would be pleased to address the question “What have been the benefits to Shell Oil Company, Norco, by using Ed Foreman’s Successful Life Course?”
We feel that our most important asset is our people. In general, everyone in our industry has access to similar technology and processing equipment. So the only way we can expect to secure a competitive edge is through development of our people resource to the highest level of their capability. The Ed Foreman Course is a major ingredient in attaining this goal for us.
It has been proven that a happier, healthier employee is a more productive employee. This translates to a human resource that is strong in body and positive in mind. Ed Foreman’s Course is the best I’ve ever seen in delivering people in this state regardless of the starting point; i.e., whether or not they are negative in thinking and sloppy in physical habits to begin with.
The feature of the Successful Life Course that sets it apart is the prescription Ed gives for perpetuating good health and positive thoughts. His regimen for a good day includes daily reading, exercise, self-talk, etc., that reinforces the overall positive attitude of the individual. This helps to keep the message evergreen for many months and years after being exposed to the original course.
Now, specifically, what has it done for us at Shell to affect the bottom line? Two manufacturing locations I’ve been associated with have used this approach to increase productivity and performance in every area by an order of magnitude. In the early 1970’s, we had a new Chemical Plant at Geismar, Louisiana, that was teetering on collapse. We had new hardware (and technology) that wouldn’t run and a workforce so negative toward management that we were close to walking away from the operation. I decided to install a new management system in a last ditch effort to recover the investment. Unfortunately, the workforce was very resistant to change, including the Shell senior managers. We had negative thinking key supervisory staff that would not work together and first-line employees with low productivity and a high “bitch” factor.
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I started by sending all senior managers to the Successful Life Course in Kerrville, Texas. Many of these people went through a complete change in attitude. They became more positive, but also seemed more cooperative, more productive, and more creative. Their self assurance went up and their capacity for job stress seemed to increase. These managers, who previously resisted change, went to work in restructuring the management system.
We sent more middle management people to Kerrville and followed with an in-house Successful Living Course that Ed conducted in Baton Rouge. We made this available to most all employees at the Plant. This was a resounding success. With a different attitude, the first-line employees embraced the management redesign and implemented it with enthusiasm. Performance in terms of safety, production costs, throughput, and product quality improved by order of magnitude. The plant went on to become the most profitable in Shell. The Geismar Plant has retained this positive, can-do image over the years of expansions and is now the benchmark in Shell for a high performing system with outstanding management/employee relations. I credit the Ed Foreman Course for turning that workforce around.
In more recent times, I have effectively employed the Successful Living Course at an older, larger installation at Shell Norco, a manufacturing complex of 1600 Shell employees. When I arrived in 1985, the organization was marked by a strong anti-management feeling among the Union employees and some dissention among the senior and middle management. I employed the same approach as mentioned above. We sent all senior managers to the three-day course and instituted an in-house program for any employee who wanted to experience the course. Again, all performance parameters improved markedly; i.e., costs, safety, environmental performance, quality, and profitability.
Further, Norco was voted the best operating location and the safest operating location in Shell in 1987. Again, I attribute a great deal of that success to the improved minds and bodies that result from the Successful Living Course. My files are filled with letters from course attendees who thank me for permitting them to have this experience.
One last example – as you probably know, we sustained a tragic explosion and fire in 1988 that had a traumatic impact on all employees at Norco. Mental condition of our employees was of great concern to us. Fortunately, the Ed Foreman courses were underway throughout this episode and feedback from the workforce convinces me the positive thinking taught in the course had a great healing effect on our people.
I would give an unqualified recommendation to the Ed Foreman Course in rendering our people happier, healthier, and more productive employees.
Sincerely yours,
{ORIGINAL SIGNED BY F. D. FOSTER}
F. D. Foster
Complex Manager
bc: Ed Foreman
BLAV9014502 – 0003.0.0
All Skills Are Improved
When you develop the right
ATTITUDE OF MIND
“Body & Mind Development? Are you crazy? We only invest in “Skills Improvement”…you know, things like safety, operations, technology, management techniques. We don’t waste time on that “Positive Attitude” stuff!”
Sound familiar? Unfortunately, there are some people who still espouse that philosophy.
Would you feel safer in the air with a happy, positive pilot or a disgruntled, negative, angry pilot? Would you prefer a happy, positive, relaxed physician/ mechanic operating on you/your aircraft or a frustrated, upset, stressed-out physician/mechanic? Would you prefer a constructive, helpful, considerate associate as your team member or a complaining, demanding, selfish associate? Would you prefer a cheerful, loving, thoughtful spouse or a critical, impatient, whining spouse? How about your son, daughter, student, employee, employer, client or supplier…one with a dependable, positive attitude, no matter what happens…or one that explodes at the first sign of difficulty?
“Positive Attitudes,” dependable, reliable, positive attitudes, can be developed in anyone in their daily performance. The SUCCESSFUL LIFE Course has been helping people do this for over a quarter of a century…thousands of people, of all temperaments, from hundreds of companies. This kind of personal life-enhancement translates to bottom line results in safety, job performance, profits and longevity. We guarantee it! If you don’t experience noticeable, appreciable improvement immediately, there’s no charge for our services!
Positive Attitude enhancement is a basic prerequisite curriculum for all personal and employment development programs. If a person’s attitude is substandard, results of all “skills” improvement training will be substandard. You can build a winning organization by developing the positive personal power of your individual team members. That’s what the SUCCESSFUL LIFE Course is all about!
CBS News 60 Minutes said, “We did not believe it was possible to significantly improve a person’s performance patterns in three days. Yet, upon participating in this program, we found that lives were significantly improved as a result of the special techniques of this unique program.”
This intensive personal development program helps individuals attain, recognize, and enjoy the art of improved personal living; attitude improvement; more vibrant physical, mental, and emotional health; improved self-awareness, appreciation and direction; personal, business, and family goals establishment and achievement; and, the art of happy, successful daily living. You’ll learn specific techniques on how to relax, re-energize, and get the equivalent of a 2-hour relaxing nap in 15 minutes. You’ll learn how to effectively and persuasively deal with “difficult” people; how to defuse conflict and toxic situations; assertive, positive situation control; improved communications; personality profile recognition for improved interpersonal relationships; understanding and more effectively dealing with family, friends and business associates.
Ed, Earlene and their professional Executive Development Systems team help you implement real world solutions to the challenges of today…not theory, dimensional repositioning, diagnostic psychoanalysis, or integrated models for internal trade-offs…just practical, proven, specific daily living techniques on how to enjoy life rather than endure it…how to make your personal and business life less stressful and more successful.
Defender Direct, Inc. Uses The Successful Life Course To Fuel It’s Astonishing Growth
Defender Direct, Inc., headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, is a privately held company that sells and installs ADT security systems and Dish Network Satellite TV to homeowners across the U.S. Its President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dave Lindsey started the business out of his home in 1998, making the transition to entrepreneur from security sales. He used $30,000 of his and his wife’s personal savings to fund the start-up, which he called Defender Security Company.
Since its humble beginnings in the Lindseys’ spare bedroom, Defender has become one of the largest security and satellite dealers in the Midwest, experiencing an average annual growth rate of 60 percent over ten years. In 2008, Defender generated $78.1 million in revenues, and earned the rank of 387 on the Inc. 500 list of “America’s Fastest-Growing Companies. With 1,500 employees, the company had a national footprint of 120 offices in 40 states.
Dave Lindsey explains, “Defender has grown faster than its peers not because we are better at selling and installing security systems, but because our people have grown. Our sales have doubled because the capacity and talents of our leaders have doubled. A few years ago we stopped trying to double our business and realized the way to grow was to double our team members’ enthusiasm, optimism and skills. Send people to seminars, leadership conferences and self-help programs. Build a culture on purpose, not by accident.”
Defender is now sending a total of 30 people (15 employees plus a spouse, significant other, parent, or other guest of their choice) to participate in each session of the SUCCESSFUL LIFE Course. Dave attributes Defender’s success to its culture, which he has built around each employee’s “personal growth.” As he says, “Another word is TERRIFIC. We talk about being terrific every day, and we choose to be that way. We coined a saying,
“Businesses don’t grow—people do.”
I don’t want this to become a cliché around Defender because it’s been our secret sauce. All of us had to grow. We’ve accomplished this reinvention through good books, good tapes and networking with good people motivated and inspired through the SUCCESSFUL LIFE Course. Our ability to forgive each other is one of our greatest strengths and it’s the glue that allows us to stay at this breakneck speed.”
The SUCCESSFUL LIFE Course can be the secret ingredient to inspiring your team to be and do all that they are capable of accomplishing. Other clients, including BWI Inc.; Ferguson Integrated Services; Quality Care; Rinderle Door Company, Caterpillar, Milliken Textiles, et al, have also contracted to send their people to each session of this life-enriching experience. Join us soon for a session to see for yourself why business leaders from throughout the world are so enthusiastic about the results they, and their teams, have achieved as a result of applying these successful daily living principles to their business and personal lives!
