Olympic Motivational Speaker Ruben Gonzalez

Taddy Blecher is changing lives in South Africa

Entrepreneurs tend to bite off a little more than they can chew hoping they’ll quickly learn how to chew it.

Eight years ago, from his office in Johannesburg in South Africa, without any university buildings, courses or staff, he began faxing out a letter of invitation to 350 schools.

He asked the brightest and poorest students to apply for a new university - and promised them the “best business education in Africa”.

This was going to be South Africa’s first free university, created to serve talented youngsters from the poor black communities who could never afford to send their children to the established universities.

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I was just on a speaking tour in South Africa. My host Sean O’Keeffe of O’Keeffe & Swartz made sure I didn’t have a a dull moment. We visited one of Johannesburg’s many gold mines. This gold mine was 9000 feet deep! We descended to 750 feet and took a 45 minute tour.

Sean and his sons Kyran and Callan deep in the mine. The whole mine is blasted right out of the rock. The rock is taken up, smashed into dust, and then the gold is extracted.

Each of these carts holds one ton of rock. Three of these carts yield one whopping ounce of gold! Now I know why my wife’s jewelry is so expensive!

Before 1925, the workers worked by candle light. It was not romantic, it was brutal. They used picks and hammers to make holes in the rock. They put dynamite into the holes, left the mine, blasted the dynamite, then four hours later, after the dust settled, they went back in to haul the rock out.

Sean’s grandfather worked in the mines as a ventilation specialist and died in a rockfall in the mine.

Today they use the machine gun looking, high pressure water blaster to dig the dynamite holes.

This is tough work. Definitely hard labor. If you are working down at the bottom of the mine at 9000 feet, it takes 2 hours to get back to the surface. A tough commute!

African rickshaw driver outside the gold mine (you can see Sean’s boys in the back).

Next time you are not too happy with your job, remember, you could be working in a mine in South Africa!

Olympic Motivational Speaker Ruben Gonzalez
Motivational Speakers
Motivational Speakers

I have had the honor of sharing the stage with Charlie Tremendous Jones many times. I feel priviledged to be his friend. Charlie has a heart of gold and has spent the last 50 years sharing his wisdom around the world.

Charlie has been battling cancer for several years. He is losing his voice but not his spirit. Charlie Tremendous Jones is battling cancer in the same way he has lived the past 81 years.

Charlie has counseled some of the biggest names in politics, religion, and sports since 1950. He has sold millions of books and given away millions more. His voice is muffled now because of an inoperable tumor on his lung, but his message is not.

He still has his trademark optimism and says he is not sad about his cancer diagnosis.

“Some live their lives according to the calendar. I live my life according to experiences, so I think I’m about 1,800 years and I’m tired. I gotta get out of here,” he laughs.

In typical fashion, Charlie is uplifting and motivational to the end.

We love you Charlie.

Olympic Motivational Speaker Ruben Gonzalez
Motivational Speakers
Motivational Speakers

Jumping out of a perfectly good airplane.

I was just in South Africa where I got to speak for O’Keeffe and Swartz, and Alexander Forbes, two of South Africa’s most respected financial services companies.

The week before heading “down under,” I thought that Skydiving in South Africa had a nice ring to it. I figured I might as well check it off my bucket list while I was there.

I contacted the Johannesburg Skydiving Club and arranged to jump with Chris Grosch, a veteran skydiver who has jumped over 7000 times in the last 20 years. Chris was a trememdous guide. He kept me relaxed by telling me stories of his clients and by being relaxed himself.

The worst part of skydiving is everything that happens before the jump. The fear of the unknown. The climb to 11,000 feet takes about 12 minutes and that’s when you are nervous. That’s when you start thinking of everything that could go wrong.

Then, all of a sudden, everything starts happening really fast. The door in the back of the plane rolls open, the other six skydivers fly out the door, and the instructor has you kneel at the edge of the open plane.

That’s a good time to say your last prayer! Then, you feel a gentle push, and all you see is the ground. You are so high up that there is no sensation of falling. It’s actually a lot of fun after you jump. The fear is gone and all you feel is exhileration.

You fall for about 45 seconds and then the instructor opens the chute. Opening the chute is actually a letdown because the exciting part is over.

For the next 5 minutes you glide gently to the ground. There is absolutely no sensation of falling. You can actually steer the parachute left and right like an airplane. You can land it anywhere the wind and glideslope will let you.

The idea of skydiving is a lot more scary than the actual jump. It’s just like when you are a kid and the idea of jumping from the high dive in a pool is scarier than actually jumping. Once you do what you fear, the fear dissappears. Fear is a smokescreen. Don’t let fear of the unknown keep you from your dreams.

My skydiving instructor helped me overcome a fear. Find someone who has done what you fear and ask them to help you go for your dreams!

Olympic Motivational Speaker Ruben Gonzalez
Motivational Speakers
Motivational Speakers

Cait Pomeroy and I met about 3 years ago. Since then much has happened. Cait lost 95 pounds, finished TWO 100 mile kayak races,(she’s training for her third right now) placed second female solo in the 2008 Buffalo Bayou Regatta, placed first tandem in the 2008 Cornfields and Cottonmouths race.

As if that was not enough, Cait successfully fought breast cancer.

Cait was chosen by 24 Hour Fitness to be in the first group of REAL PEOPLE that any company in the fitness industry has ever used in commercials. From 17,000 stories of lives changed through fitness, it was narrowed down to 24…from those 24, 6 were chosen to have their stories filmed for both commercials and an interactive web site …from that 6, 4 where photographed for posters that are in every 24 Hour Fitness gym nationwide.

As Cait says, “It is such a trip to walk past yourself every time you walk into the gym!”

Cait’s latest endeavor will be her proudest yet. She is organizing Texas Paddle for the Cure , a 3 mile canoe/kayak race, October 25, 2008 with all proceeds to benefit The Rose, Houston’s leading non-profit breast cancer organization providing mammography screening, diagnosis, early access to treatment and support to all women regardless of their ability to pay.

Cait says, “I’m an ordinary person…but I can achieve extraordinary things.” I agree!

“Much of this journey has been that mental game…and that was very very new to me. Having never been athletic in my life, I thought you just went out and did the work and tried your best. But you are so right…so much of it is attitude…a winning attitude. Thank you for helping me find mine!!! Thank you for your continuing inspiration that keeps me on track!!! And along the way, I can inspire others!”

Cait, you’re the inspiration!

Olympic Motivational Speaker Ruben Gonzalez
www.TheOlympicSpeaker.com

These inspiring kids deserve our support!

If courage can be measured;
If dignity can be quantified;
If human achievement can be determined;
Not by speed or strength;
But by character;
Then it’s easy to see who the most amazing athletes really are.

If you are a fan of courage,
If you respect determination,
If you are impressed by grace under pressure,
If you can’t help but share in the joy of victory,
And admire being brave in the attempt,
Then you are already a fan of Special Olympics Washington.

I’ll be speaking for Special Olympics Washington three times this year to help them raise money for their tremendous programs.

Click here to learn how you can help this incredible organization.

Olympic Motivational Speaker Ruben Gonzalez
www.TheOlympicSpeaker.com

Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-A

I was just in Atlanta, hometown of Chick-fil-A. CFA was my first job in high school. I worked for them for 3 years. They are an incredible corporation with hardly any turnover.

Truett told us that the key of his success was taking advantage of opportunities. He does not plan too much. He merely jumps on all opportunities that come across.

He has a great little book called, “How did You do it, Truett?” I reccomend it highly.

Olympic Motivational Speaker Ruben Gonzalez
www.TheOlympicSpeaker.com

Ruben and his son Gracen at the FOX Business Channel Studio

A couple of years ago, Dave Ramsey, the author of the Best Seller “The Total Money Makeover” and I both spoke at a program in Phoenix. Dave and I hit it off and when he found out I had just written a new book, he invited me to his nationally syndicated show.

Dave is a great guy. He teaches people how to get out of debt and how to regain financial control of their lives by following solid principles. You owe it to yourself to read his book and to listen to his show. He’s a genuine guy who really cares about people.

Olympic Motivational Speaker Ruben Gonzalez
www.TheOlympicSpeaker.com

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San Juan Convention Center with Juan Estarellas

The University of Phoenix just flew me to San Juan, Puerto Rico to speak for their graduation on 900 business students. It was terrific. I had to do the presentation in Spanish. No problem since I was born in Argentina.

I spoke for 15 minutes but sat on the stage for a couple of hours as the graduates received their diplomas. I’ll be speaking at another U of P graduation in Ft. Lauderdale next month. English this time!

I spent a couple of days in San Juan with my good friend Juan Estarellas. Juan and I were teammates in the Houston Baptist University soccer team in the early 80’s. Juan played, I watched…

Olympic Motivational Speaker Ruben Gonzalez
www.TheOlympicSpeaker.com

Big sign outside the Palms HotelÂ

I just got back from the World Premiere of the motivational movie PASS IT ON. Six months ago we were talking about making a movie, 2 months ago we were featured at the Sundance Film Festival, and last week PASS IT ON became the biggest movie premiere in Las Vegas history.

The star-studded event started with a press conference, the actual showing of the movie to 800 people, and ended with a great party at the Moon Palace disco.

The movie is now available for purchase. Click here to get your own copy.

Robin Leach of “Life of the Rich and Famous” interviewing Ruben

Ruben and Rudy Ruettiger, inspiration for the movie “Rudy”

Rudy Ruettiger, the inspiration for the movie Rudy was there. Rudy shares some of his insights in PASS IT ON.

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Ex Heavyweight Champ Ken Norton

Ruben and Stealth Miller

Stealth is an amazing guy. He holds 5 strength Guiness Book of World Records. He speaks about overcoming challenges and possibility thinking.

Ruben and John Assaraf “The Street Kid”

John also appeared in “The Secret.”

Don’t miss PASS IT ON. You’re going to love it!

Ruben and his bride Cheryl walking the “Red Carpet” at the Premiere…

The premiere was packed with almost 1000 fans and media people.

Ruben definitely married up! He outmarried his punt coverage!

Ruben and his bride Cheryl…

You’re going to love PASS IT ON. Don’t miss it.

To get your own copy to share with your friends and family click here…

Olympic Motivational Speaker Ruben Gonzalez
www.TheOlympicSpeaker.com