Lazarus Lives

Once upon a time, long long ago, before the start of this century, as far back as BG (Before Greenspan), when I was but a lad in Ireland searching for that pot of gold under the rainbow (I’m still searching!), I remember when Paul Volcker retired as Chairman of the Federal Reserve. He was ancient then. Hey 60 seemed ancient then!

Now I see him popping up regularly as an advisor to President Elect Obama who tapped Volker to head the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board. This big man (he is 6 foot 7 inches tall) looks phenomenal for 81 years of age and obviously in great mental health. Lazarus lives and I’m impressed.

Once upon a time, long long ago, before the start of this century, as far back as BW (Before Wagoner, Rick), when I was but a lad in Ireland searching for that pot of gold to buy my first car, Chrysler was about to go under. Then Lee Iacocca rode into Washington in 1979 and got his $1 billion dollar loan and saved Chrysler for another crisis. One of the key people involved in that turnaround was Gerald Greenwald. Greenwald held various executive positions with Chrysler including Chairman from 1985 to 1988. And now Lazarus like I see Greenwald regularly interviewed about the current Detroit bust. He looks great – well he is only 72, and I’m impressed.

What prompted this blog is the re-emergence of Leon Panetta (he’s only a kid of 70) as CIA Director. Do these guys ever go away and retire like our parents used to do? And then as I’m penning this, I notice that Tyson Foods – the world’s largest meat processor, has appointed a new interim CEO, who just happened to have retired from the company last century – 1998. Former former Chairman and Chief Executive Leland Tollett ( age 71)has been invited back to attempt a turnaround for a company that has failed to perform for quite some time.

You know as a key note speaker (foodservice, business growth, branding interspersed with a large dollop of Irish blarney), I regularly look to interesting, inspiring stories to gain the audience attention. Kudos to all these guys. They make me believe I haven’t even hit middle age yet!

So if you are looking for a humorous keynote business speaker who can present a keynote titled
Lazarus Lives, give me a call!