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I.
About Eating and Health
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For 30 years, Mr. Petty advocated a higher intake of protein
to improve the physical and mental abilities of people; but is was
not until Dr. Barry Sears introduced his Nobel prize-winning work in 1995
in his book called "The Zone" that Mr. Petty could demonstrate
the positive changes in life and living resulting from a higher protein
diet. This talk portrays the personal experiences of the speaker as he applied
the books’ principles about eating and how it relates to health |
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II.
Are You Entrepreneurial Material?
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Entrepreneurs are budding and blooming inside corporate structures
as well as outside on their own. Yet while some flower to maturity, others
wither and die on the vine. Can you know if you are entrepreneurial material?
Yes, and the fact is, you yourself may not really know unless you ‘go
it on your own’, by choice or by chance. Many characteristics are common
to the entrepreneurial spirit. How many of them do you have and can you
use? |
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III.
The Have's and Have Not's
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Class struggle, class envy, class warfare. Terms we have heard
all of our lives. The polarity of classes has led to very definitive political
and social doctrines. Extremely different philosophies of life and disciplines
of activity. Resulting from differences in those who have and those who
have not are strife and prejudice, envy and jealousy, crime and passion,
pity and resentment, killing and charity, life and death, good and evil,
empire and village, liberty and captivity, love and hate, lifting and falling,
helping and hindering. What do the ‘haves’ really have and what
are the ‘have nots’ really missing? What is common between them?
Which holds the advantage? Are both wrong? Are both right? Who are they
and what makes them who they are? |
| To Contact Don about speaking
for your organization click here. |
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IV.
A "NAAAP" (National Association for the Advancement of American
People)
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Native Americans are Americans, African Americans, are Americans,
Latin Americans are Americans, Italian Americans are Americans, AMERICANS
are AMERICANS! In Mr. Petty’s opinion, being an American is not just
a matter of citizenship; rather, it is a matter of Spirit. All over the
world, he has seen the true unresentful American spirit of liberty, pursuit
of happiness, spirit of freedom, entrepreneurial outlook, capitalist attitude,
and personal self-actualization. The associations that advance only a minority
cause are too narrow; all Americans should unite to form a way to advance
the ideas, life, hope, ambition, and aspirations of all Americans everywhere—those
with U.S.A. documentation and those with freedom in their hearts and minds
who may never see the States or own a passport of the States. What a way
to move the United States through the 2000s. All Americans marching side
by side. |
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V.
The Not-So-Ugly American
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The Ugly American was a fair depiction of the way Americans
‘earned’ the title around the world. We were overbearing, unkind,
impatient, intolerant, and unfairly demanding. That was in the past, and
many examples are apparent. But in latter years, the American abroad is
not so ugly. We have learned some lessons about international life and other
cultures and acceptance and non-judgmentalism that serve Americans and America
well. We are good and others should like us. Mr. Petty points out ways to
make that so. |
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VI.
Exploring Outer Space
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Always the sci-fi buff, Mr. Petty enumerates reasons for and
reasons against space exploration. From drawing space comics as a teenager;
to signing up with Pan Am in the 60s for a commercial space shuttle fight;
to following Neil Armstrong’s ‘giant leap for mankind’; to
majoring in all science courses and reading all space books; to watching
Tom Corbett, Space Cadet; Flash Gordon, Buck Rodgers, and Star Trek; to
reading NASA goals and objectives; Mr. Petty has developed a view of why
man should go to Mars and beyond, as well as reasons why it is money squandered.
‘Just because it’s there’ is one big reason not to go; but
it in fact is the one main reason why the drive in the spirit of man pushes
him into the far reaches. An exploration of the venture is given. |
| To Contact Don about speaking
for your organization click here. |
|
VII.
The Homeless: A "Y" in the Road
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The homeless cannot be allowed to ‘just die’. Mr.
Petty offers some challenging opportunities to get to the heart of the homeless
situation. Never one to simply ‘throw money at a problem’, he
lays down a foundation for success in combining business, academia, the
military, church, volunteerism, welfare, a charitable heart, and a willing
participation by the homeless. America, of all nations, should have
no one without a home, a roof, a friend, a change, a hope. Americans can
unite and solve the problem. Like most challenges; the circumstances present
a "Y" in the road. Mr. Petty’s approach to any "Y"
is to make your best choice and move. A move for the homeless is in order.
Between doing nothing and doing something, something is better. |
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VIII.
The Untimely Disappearance of Statesmanship
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When America, and the world, need them the most, statesmen
have all but vanished. Tiny sparks flicker but appear to go out. Always
the hope of a tiny hot ember rests in (only the most optimistic) hearts
of Americans. Statesmen—good sincere honest dedicated to the bipartisan
(or better unpartisan) good of the United States—must surely bear the
call to service. Are there none to answer? Must they all avoid the scrutiny
pressed on the seekers of high office? Are all the closets of potential
statesmen holding skeletons? Why do our real men and real women not rise
up and lead? Who has defeated them before they begin to serve? |
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IX.
Company Founder: Realistic View
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"If I can tell you ‘don’t’ and you won’t,
then don’t." Founding a company is easy; founding a successful
company is not. Given you are an entrepreneur, luck may make you rich, hard
work may even make you rich. But realistically, your chances of success
are, perhaps, 1 in 10. When you accept that real number, but burn to do
something on your own, then you are destined to try. It is for those who
will go on that this speech is dedicated. Some of the many emotions that
must be experienced and survived are talked about. Educating the listener
to prepare for emotional highs and lows and unknowns is the objective of
Mr. Petty in this speech. |
| To Contact Don about speaking
for your organization click here. |
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X.
Persevering in Writing a Novel
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"I’m gonna’ write a book" or "You
oughta’ write a book." Oft voice words. Flippant and light and
ignorant words. If (an only if) you like, really like hard
work, should you ever entertain the idea seriously of writing
a novel. This talk tells really how hard it is to write 300 pages of a sequential,
readable, interesting story. Although 3 pages a day will give you 4 novels
a year, the stick-to-it-iveness demanded is next to impossible for mortal,
average, educated, breathing man. "Heck, you just probably can’t
do it!" |
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XI.
Pushing New Envelopes
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"Pushing the envelope" is a nifty line. More deeply,
"Pushing new envelopes" implies a different sphere of thought
and endeavor. Ways to find new envelopes, pushing the right ones, continuing
the push, and concluding the push summarizes a task for only a select, chosen
few. Mr. Petty tells how. |
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XII.
Successful and Effective Consulting
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Good consultants are destroyed by bad consultants. This talk
discusses things that cause bad consultants and the necessary things for
good consulting: need, opportunity, traits, character, experience, relationships,
and the kind of drive and attitudes, as well as mechanics of marketing are
included as Mr. Petty tells all—good and bad. |
| To Contact Don about speaking
for your organization click here. |
|
XIII.
Humor in a Research Department
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This non-technical speech about funny things that happen during
research and new product development tests is amusing and entertaining.
It opens a small window and shines a bit of light on the often drab understanding
of slow, painstaking research. Most of the anecdotes are from Mr. Petty’s
personal experiences. |
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XIV.
Teaching in a Tehran Classroom
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In the years and months preceding the Fall of the Shah of
Iran in the late 1970s, Don Petty taught mathematics at Tehran American
School. The experience of that room gave him a great respect for the ability
of high school children, and at the same time a tremendous sympathy for
the young people of parents in the military and working in foreign lands
with strange cultures. As the crisis began coming to a conclusion (about
November 1978) the frequency of "incidents" increased and more
and more Americans departed Iran for the U.S. or other assignments. That
was the last semester of school, and the journalism students were hanging
on to complete the annual, knowing it would be a special edition—abbreviated,
incomplete, and the last one. The education in history, geography, current
events, and revolutionary thought in a hostile environment were far more
educational than the basics and standard class subjects. Some of the lives
touched Mr. Petty, and this speech tells of some of those people. |
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XV.
Hit By Thieves in Honduras
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It had been two years of hospitality among the people of Honduras.
On one dark, lightless night, two men accosted Mr. Petty lifting his wallet,
taking his money, returning the billfold with a nod as if to say "thank
you". Mr. Petty holds no ill feeling for the people in general, but
he really would like to have his money back. The speech highlights more
of the positive aspects of Honduras than the one 30 second incident. Honduras
is painted in a beautiful light as the colorful speech unfolds. |
| To Contact Don about speaking
for your organization click here. |
|
XVI.
Living With a Daughter of the American Revolution
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"Does the title sound ominous and trying? The sound,
I guarantee, is not as ominous and trying as the reality," Mr. Petty
declares with a wry grin. The speech is a declaration of faithfulness and
loyalty to his best friend, life-long partner, valued critic, and trusted
wife. Her real story is one of toughness and heart, principle and conviction,
will and determination, purpose and meaning. This is his most loved speech
to offer. |
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XVII.
Marketing Your Company
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Avoiding black eyes, doing good work, making the good work
known, reporting well the good work, asking for more work, accepting more
work, being just and fair, solving the problem, meeting objectives, exceeding
expectations, keeping reputation, maintaining character, driving on, working
hard for others, being wise with yourself, staying stable and consistent,
being predictable and reliable, thinking clearly, keeping principled, becoming
known for punctuality, remaining focused. All the above, Mr. Petty explains,
bodes well for a company and its marketing techniques. The methods are given
in the speech. |
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XVIII.
Making Panoramic Pictures Throughout the World
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"Dad, you should sell your pictures. You have a unique
camera (inexpensive panoramic), you travel all over the world (to exotic
places anyway), and you have a good eye for panorama," Mr. Petty’s
son told him. Already he had collected pictures from each new country and
enlarged them to 10" X 30" for mounting and hanging in his office.
Mr. Petty thought it over and now has many pictures framed and available
to the public in collections, a couple of which he calls "Desert Collection,
No. 1" and "World Wide Collection". How these pictures are
made and made available are explained in the speech, of interest to photo
buffs, lay and professional. |
| To Contact Don about speaking
for your organization click here. |
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XIX.
Building the World's Largest Lion Collection
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Mr. Petty admits he cannot be sure his collection
(603 in September, 2001) is the largest, but he is, at any rate, trying
to build the largest collection anywhere of miniature lions from around
the world. The speech is about the 30 year old collection, how it grows,
and some individual stories surrounding the lions of the "Don Petty
Collection". Some ‘myths’ show through. |
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XX.
The Writing of an Album of Music
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Mr. Petty’s travels carry him often into the Southwest
United States where he was inspired to write an album he called "Rhythm
of the Road". How it came to be, stories of the songs, and the singers
form a highly entertaining talk for music lovers and others. |
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XXI.
Meeting and Respecting Women
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Mr. Petty likes his family composed largely of women, and
his wife is his woman; however, he meets a lot of people including
business women and female friends. So often he hears how men "just
can’t meet women", and he hears how awkward they are when they
do meet women, he just decided to talk about it. This talk is very
informal and mostly for men’s groups about some good things to say
to and do for women, some things not to say and do, and some interesting
women he himself has met and with whom he has become good friends. |
| To Contact Don about speaking
for your organization click here. |
|
XXII.
Pay Attention, America
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When a foundation cracks and crumbles, even the strongest
framework and best rooms, and highest offices will not save the structure.
America was build on a foundation of the best materials—truth, honor,
faith in God, loyalty, freedom, strength of purpose, dignity of will, wisdom
of unity, vision for growth, commitment to the value of life, a plan to
use resources wisely, a powerful defense, domestic tranquillity, a strong
work ethic, and power to the people. Pay attention, America! The foundation
is being leeched away steadily. |
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XXIII.
On Being Raised a Texan
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Texans are not like anyone else. They have a view of bigness
of life and confident in fun, as well as persistent and tough in work. Mr.
Petty talks of the character his Texas upbringing and Texas parents instilled
in him. This serious but humorous mini-biography of his life allows him
some liberty to give his own point of view. He readily declares that he
leaves off some of the bad and amplifies the good, but somewhere in the
middle there is enough ‘fact’ to make the use of his attributes
of Texas believable and palatable. |
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XXIV.
Ups, Downs, Heartaches, and Stomachaches of a Dallas Cowboy Fan
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The first year the Dallas Cowboys played football, Mr. Petty
was in his early twenties living in a small town south of Houston, Lake
Jackson. He worked for Dow Chemical Co. and it was the beginning of the
Houston Oilers and the AFL (American Football League). Since the Petty family
was from the Ft. Worth-Dallas area, the NFL Cowboys play was of some interest.
But that first year George Blanda was passing the Oilers to an AFL championship
while Eddie LeBaron was struggling to even get one tie game in the 12 game
season. Sundays caught the young Petty flipping back and forth from Eddie
to George and that was before remote control days. There came the mid-sixties
when Dallas challenged Green Bay in the Ice Bowl when Danny Reeves was one
of the exciting things of football with the halfback pass. Later Toni Fritsch
kicked that onsides kick against San Francisco and Staubach passed for 2
touchdowns in the last 2 minutes of the game. But as the Cowboys would get
close, the cigar continued to elude them, and the fans would fall out in
the floor and need resuscitators to keep them breathing. Stomachs would
knot, all week when the Cowboys lost, the production of Dallas area businesses
went down. During time-outs and at half-times, the city water pressure went
down while all fans rushed to relieve themselves. Then came "America’s
Team". |
| To Contact Don about speaking
for your organization click here. |
|
XXV.
Stories From Behind a Convenience Store Counter
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During his college days, Mr. Petty worked as a clerk and night
manager of a convenience store—Super Handy in Sulphur Springs, Texas.
After he began working in his career in science, he wanted extra money for
different projects, so he worked at various stores called U-Tote-M, L &
M, and Stop N Go. The customers brought their stories to tell to the clerk,
especially women and especially at night, late. From one lady who never
worked for more than minimum wage to the lady entrepreneur who helped her
‘much-younger’ husband form, establish, and grow her computer
software-based program in the early 80s to become a millionaire. The woman
with the wandering eyes whose husband traveled a lot described "possibilities"
every-so-often. The doctor stopped by to ‘escape his phone’ while
he drank an orange soda. The Bible school teacher who came by to tell the
stock boy he missed him in church and always encouraged him to tell the
truth. The pilot mechanic offered Mr. Petty a flight…he took him up
on it and studied flying. The mechanic and garage owner always threw his
penny change across the store. The woman who read "Lady Chatterly’s
Lover" and underlined passages to tell the clerk what parts she liked.
The invitations of many kinds were extended to the clerk. The clerk was
used much like a bartender, he was a place to lighten the burden, drop the
load, empty the heart. His stories are a commentary on life. |
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XXVI.
Learning to Fly an Aeronca
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"You are ready to solo." The German flight instructor
shook Mr. Petty with those words, but that was what the objective was. The
solo was never to be, but the experiences before and after that day were
numerous and interesting. Mr. Petty relates his emotions during flying,
flights of memory, private plane trips, small plane experiences, and the
more exciting heavy plane flights. All are told from the point of view of
one who flies. |
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XXVII.
On Creating and Designing
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Like most creative people, Mr. Petty "designs" things
also. His mental aptitude was shown by testing at a major company Human
Resource examination battery that his balance of right brain left brain
outlook allows him to be both creative and realistic. He creates ideas and
designs uses for them. In a "creative mode" ideas "come to
him" rapid fire. Usually he gets them down on paper as quickly as they
come; then, he sorts them out, organizes them into a pattern, and lays out
plans for use. This is explained in this talk. |
| To Contact Don about speaking
for your organization click here. |
|
XXVIII.
On Vampires, Werewolves, Zombies, and Mummies
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From eight years of age, Mr. Petty saw all the supernatural
stories at the Tivoli theater in Ft. Worth, Texas. From all that input the
foundation of interest was thoroughly laid. It all culminated in a supernatural
novel. Mr. Petty brings to focus some lesser known qualities of these four
supernatural entities. Serious, eerie, and scary. |
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XXIX.
Teaching Dishonesty (Effectively!)
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Much of the dishonesty is systematically being taught to young
people by three of their most influential mentors and/or heroes—their
parents and their coach! The education, real and sure, is so subtle that
none of the ones involved may even know it. This exposure will reveal a
widely-accepted and organized program that will frame your child’s
philosophy of life. Mr. Petty puts some critical points under the scope
for a surprising peep. |
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XXX.
The Real Need for Morals in a Leader
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The Petty family is considered by those who know them to be
a family adhering to the higher morals of our society. There are no records
of drug abuse, incarceration, delinquency, crime, family abuse, alcoholism,
violence, or the like. The marriages have all proven to be strong, and their
faith in God is unquestioned. From that vantage point, Mr. Petty speaks
of the value of example of high morals in leaders; the outlook of strength
and confidence in a principled leader; and the willing followship a leader
with ethical conviction may expect. This speech extends from a family, to
a team, to a gang, to a church, to a company, and to the highest offices
in the land. |
| To Contact Don about speaking
for your organization click here. |
|
XXXI.
Inside Iran During the Fall of the Shah
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Mr. Petty taught mathematics at the Tehran American School,
taught the Bible in a mission, and taught the equivalent of a military S.O.A.P.
(Spectrographic Oil Analysis Program) to Iranian technicians. During these
years (1974-1979), the seeds were planted and their growth occurred to the
destruction of the Pahlavi Dynasty. Harrowing experiences forced the Americans,
including the Pettys, out of Iran after Khomeni returned from France to
the capitol. This is a tale of the revolution through Mr. Petty’s eyes. |
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XXXII.
A Health
Regimen
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Breathe air deeply and often, drink water much and regularly, exercise
thoroughly and frequently, then eat a nutritionally balanced diet. The
acronym from these four activities will have you AWED (air, water, exercise,
diet). Mr. Petty shows you his way of staying active, feeling good,
being healthy, and maintaining weight with low body fat. After this speech,
you may expect to live differently with an enhanced outlook the rest of
your life.
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Reference Letters
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Reference Letter One
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I heard Mr. Don Petty deliver a talk he titled, "A Hill Worth Dying On".
It was aimed to inspire committment to goals of highest priority.Following
Mr. Petty's presentation I spoke to the audience of about 450 to publicly
thank him, and my comment was, "That was excellent".
The illustrations he used from real life situations included the courage
of high school students standing their ground in the face of immorality,
and of military bravery and honor going up against great odds.
I remember a story of a girl who was willing to give up a trip to Cairo,
Egypt, to perform on stage if the play director would not remove a particular
vulgar passage in Plaza Suite to a phrase more suitable for a high school
audience. She made her point and....got to make the trip.
He asked his audience if they had a hill in their lives worth dying on.
We all had to take a peek inside ourselves.I can happily recommend Mr.
Petty as a public speaker.
-David Lusk, Minister, Mesa, AZ
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Reference Letter Two
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Don Petty spoke to 30 of our Irving, Texas, Rotaryannes on the topic
of "Raising Children in the Middle East". The speech was 30 minutes in
length and went deep into the hearts of the people of the Middle East.
The stories he told of his family living among those people in the muslim
cultures ranged the full spectrum of our emotions. From the depth of sadness
to the peak of exhuberance, tales he shared about his experiences and
those of his children opened our eyes to the reality of the wide feelings
of peoples of the deserts and in the towns.The disparity of so much of
the population contrasted with the hope and life of the more elite revealed
insights that could only come from true, real experiences he shared with
his wife and children in residence in those cultures.
The delivery was in the exact tone needed the year following the crashing
down of the WTC towers in new York. The muslim character was opened to
us in a deep voice of knowledge and understanding. We were pleased to
have Mr. Petty speak for us and recommend him to others.
-President, Irving, Texas, Rotaryannes
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Reference Letter Three
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I recommend Don Petty as a speaker in any speakers forum.
After he spoke to a class of graduating high school seniors in Dallas,
Texas, I asked for a copy of the speech to use as I delivered a speech
of my own. The challenging words he used charged the students to feel
the responsibility of their choices, as now they would learn a lot about
themselves living on their own away from home and parents and church and
friends. One senior called his words, "Awesome". After warning them against
some dangerous winds that would blow hard against them he told them to
expect to have to reach way down and bring up their best from within their
own hearts.
Mr. Petty closed his speech with a strong command to these tender, excited
people, "Now...go out and improve something".
-Bob Phillips, Plano, Texas
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Reference Letter Four
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Don Petty was the president of F.L.A.R.E. for two years. He spoke to
our association of Frito-Lay Retired Employees on 8 occasions over that
time.
His pointed talks were entertaining and informative, and generally ended
with a humorous point. Specifically, he told of his experience in a Navajo
sweat lodge in Arizona, the operative word, he said, was "survival". He
told of four-wheeling with friends in a Suzuki Sidekick in the mountains
around Silverton, Colorado, with "inches to spare" on either side of the
Sidekick. The seriousness of his short comments on the American Revolutionary
War made us feel proud, while the levity of experiences in our company's
research labs brought rolls of laughter. Mr. Petty's strong, booming voice
and wide smile kept our attention focused tightly on his words as he spoke.
I recommend him to anyone for an inspiring and moving talk.
-Lamar Lovvorn, CPA, Founder Frito-Lay Association of Retired Employees
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Reference Letter Five
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It was my pleasure to hear Mr. Don Petty speak to an assembly of 200
Foods Research and Management people in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for a
department of the Malaysian Government.
The topic was "Current Trends in Foods Research in the World", which
required much intensive research from sources involved in foods research.
Mr. Petty confided that he had contacted 36 experts to prepare his one
hour speech. His own work in research constituted a part of the information
he shared.
The speech covered a wide range of topics in the industry and was especially
applicable to the countries that were developing foods for export, primarily
to the United States. The speaker discussed ways the food scientists in
Malaysia could produce and package highly nutritional foods for use themselves
and for export.
The speech was very basic and designed perfectly for the audience. It
contained a touch of humor in good taste, revealing that the speaker had
studied his audience and knew his topic. It was entertaining and informative,
while the oratory was clear and to the point. It was a "fast hour".
I can and do recommend Mr. Don Petty as a speaker with something to share
and one who can verbalize thoughts into pictures. Without reservation,
I believe Mr. Petty will add a good new dimension to your organization.
-Sue Kint, President, Kint and Associates
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Reference Letter Six
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The American Institute of Baking for six years has invited Mr. Don Petty,
Consultant, to speak to the summer students on the topic of "Quality Tortilla
Chip Processing". Each year he has spoken for us the students rate him
high on his presentation - preparation, knowledge, and delivery.
He is invited again for the spring of 2003, and I fully expect him to
do the same fine job he has done in his 1 and 1/2 hour seminar explaining
the functional details of corn being processed into tortilla chips. The
humor, logic, and clear explanation combine to provide our students with
necessary information they take back with them to their respective companies
to use in the manufacturing plants across the world.
Without hesitation I recommend Mr. Petty as a technical speaker in a
highly sophisticated industry.
-Kirk O'Donnell, AIB Administrator, Manhattan, Kansas
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| Read
much more about Mr. Petty at the following link: FindCE.com |
