HES NOT A VILLAGE HERO. HES AN EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW. . Welcome to the Renaissance Waverly Hotel. Can I help you with your bags? Those are the first words spoken to me by Rene Godefroy. As he put my bags onto the luggage cart he noticed my book, The Sales Bible.

Did you write that book? Yes I did. I smiled puffing out my chest a bit. How can I get a copy? he asked without hesitating. Ill tell you what, you can get one tonight. Would you rather have a book or a tip? Ill take the book! he responded with a big smile. Are you a member of the National Speakers Association? Rene asked. Yes, I am. How do you know about that organization? I was a bit taken aback by his question. How does a bellman know about the NSA? Im a member of the Georgia Speakers Association myself, and I plan to join the National this year. Cool. Are you a speaker? Yes, I am, he said with the self-assurance o a twenty-year veteran.

We then played the name-game for a few minutes. Do you know this guy, do you know that guy. Turns out he knew all the people that mattered, at least all the ones I knew. What are you doing working as a bellman? I wanted to know. Im not making a full-time living as a speaker, so I do this for extra money, he said as he smiled. This guy sure smiles a lot, I thought. I wondered how many other speakers in the vaunted National Speakers Association began their careers as bellmen. I think the answer is somewhere between not many and none. Anyway, this guy was kind of cool He had a sort of a foreign accent.

Where are you from? Haiti. Howd you get to America? Long story, he said. Ill tell you sometime. As it turns out, I gave him the book AND a tip. I also invited him to e-mail me if he needed any help in growing his speaking business. I often make that offer to new speakers, but usually no one takes me u on it.

The next morning, I got an e-mail from Rene asking my advice about Speakers Bureaus and bookings. That told me that he was serious and on top of his ambition. I love helping people who want it. Two months later, I was at the National Speakers Association winter workshop in Norfolk at some big Marriott; and there was Rene. He was wearing a suit, and he looked as dapper and as professional as he possibly could. We were happy to see one another. Did you give the bellman a big tip? I asked. Rene smiled. Im always happy when I see someone trying to make it and the first thing they do is become a student. We became better friends that weekend. Then the national convention came to Washington, DC. There was Rene. He seemed more excited this time. Whats going on? I asked. Im telling my story. Whens that going to happen? Monday morning on the main platform. They only gave me 30 minutes. Thats incredible. Do you need any help? Rene just smiled and said, Just pray that I dont mess it up! I think youll be fine, I said. I think youll be just fine. I got to hear the Rene Godefroy story: how he came to America overcoming every obstacle in his path using sheer determination, risking everything (including his life), and having an attitude of never quit. I was, to say the least, touched by his message and inspired by his unwavering desire to achieve the American dream. He crushed the audience. Standing ovation. As you read this book, please understand that theres more to it than Renes story. Between the lines are the lessons that seem to elude us a adults. As Americans, even after 911, we tend to take everything we have for granted.