“The path to success is to take massive, determined action.” Tony Robbins

This year’s ACTION themed annual Planet Beach & HOTWORX Convention is slated to take place July 22-24 at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.  The theme ACTION was chosen as a follow up to last year’s theme, VISION.  In business, defining your vision creates a sense of purpose and direction for the future. Vision is your why. Vision gives something direction, but you will never reach your destination without action. The vision only becomes reality with hard work, tenacity and implementation.  To execute and move things forward, it takes true grit and determination.  This year we welcome guest speaker, Lt. General Honoré, as he shares his no-nonsense approach to getting the job done.

Lt. General Russel L. Honoré helps organizations develop a culture of preparedness and problem solving with strategies for transforming individuals into take-charge leaders.  As the commander of Joint Task Force Katrina, he became known as the “Category 5 General” for his striking leadership style in coordinating military relief efforts in post-hurricane New Orleans. A decorated 37-year army veteran and global authority on leadership, Gen. Honoré is the go-to expert on CNN, Fox, MSNBC and CBS on emergency and disaster preparedness and Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria crisis management.  Drawing on his in-the-trenches experience managing conflicts of both the natural and man-made variety, his disciplined leadership takeaways inspire audiences in a range of fields, including business, management, government, military and education. His third book, Don’t Get Stuck on Stupid!, challenges society in the age of the new normal—a business environment where change and unpredictability are constants, and individual resilience is mandatory.

Lieutenant General Honoré is a native of Lakeland, Louisiana. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Vocational Agriculture upon graduation from Southern University and A&M College in 1971. He holds a Master of Arts in Human Resources from Troy State University as well as an Honorary Doctorate in Public Administration from Southern University and A&M College, an Honorary Doctorate in Laws from Stillman College, and an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Stillman College.

Prior to his command of Joint Task Force-Katrina – leading the Department of Defense response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana – General Honoré served in a variety of command and staff positions which focused on Defense Support to Civil Authorities and Homeland Defense.  As Vice Director for Operations, J-3, The Joint Staff, Washington, D.C., and, as the Commander, Standing Joint Force Headquarters-Homeland Security, United States Northern Command, General Honoré’s focus was Defense Support to Civil Authorities and Homeland Defense.  For four of the past six hurricane seasons, he supported the Department of Defense planning and response for Hurricanes Floyd in 1999; Lilli and Isidore in 2002 (both hit the Gulf Coast); Isabel in 2003; and Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne in 2004.

General Honoré also planned and supported the United States military response to the devastating flooding which swept Venezuela 1999 and Mozambique in 2000. As Vice Director for Operations, he led the Defense Department’s planning and preparation for the anticipated Y2K Millennium anomaly. As Commander and under NORTHCOM direction, he planned and oversaw the military response to the Space Shuttle Columbia Tragedy and the DC Sniper Shootings. Additionally, General Honoré participated in three TOPOFF (Top Officials) exercises as well as the United Endeavor series of Homeland Defense exercises.

General Honoré retired on February 29, 2008, following 37 years of active service with the United States Army. He continues to speak and consult nationally on Building a Culture of Preparedness and we are so honored to have him share his wealth of knowledge and experience with our Franchisees during the upcoming annual Convention.

In closing, I’ll leave you with one of General’s quotes, “Leadership means forming a team and working toward common objectives that are tied to time, metrics and resources.”

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Written By: Jodie Mateu, VP of Special Events & Productivity, and Franchisee