Mastering The Art Of Success

(^) Ralph Ford
Cavett is an icon in the speaking business and was actual ly
considered the founder of the National Speakers Association as well,
wasn’t h e?
FORD
That and much, much more. Most people don’t know he reinvented
himself many times over. His career started as a teacher, then a gas line
installer. After going back for a law degree, he became an attorney and
judge. He was once the assistant District Attorney to Thomas Dewey.
After moving to Arizona for his health, he becam e the spokesman for
Edison Power Company and his love of speaking was ignited.
The NSA was created to establish high ethical standards for the
professional. He was a loving man who was more interested in others’
succes s than his own. He was insistent that there were more
opportuniti es than people to take advantage of them, and we could all
learn from each other. He promoted his “OPE” (Other People’s
Experience), as a method to broaden our knowledge base to impact our
cl ients in a positive way. The highest award a professional speaker can
achieve is a gold statue of him, similar to an Academy Award, called, of
course, The Cave tt.
WRIGHT^
How has he as a mentor influenced your life experience?
FORD
If you had no other take away from your exposure to Cavett, you
would know this principle: “It’s not how much of the pie you get; but,
ra ther how big can we make the pie!” He once told me that clients are
more persuaded by the depth of our conviction than the height of our
knowledge and that we should sell from the heart. So in answer to your
question, I’d say he molded my philosophy to be afraid to die until I
contributed all I could to those who would seek my council and benefit
from any exposure to my experiences, and the OPE I could bring to the
table.