MICHAEL BERGDAHL
WITH IDEAS, INSIGHTS & INSPIRATION FROM
SHERYL BERGDAHL
JAICO PUBLISHING HOUSE
Ahmedabad Bangalore Bhopal Bhubaneswar Chennai
Delhi Hyderabad Kolkata Lucknow Mumbai
Published by Jaico Publishing House
A-2 Jash Chambers, 7-A Sir Phirozshah Mehta Road
Fort, Mumbai - 400 001
www.jaicobooks.com
Michael Bergdahl & Sheryl Bergdahl
HIGH EXPECTATIONS ARE THE KEY TO EVERYTHING
ISBN 978-81-8495-478-4
First Jaico Impression: 2013
No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in
any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any
information storage and retrieval system,
without permission in writing from the publishers.
Book Endorsements
A touching, inspiring personal story that reminds us all of what's most important in life, and challenges us to take responsibility for living our highest purpose. Treat yourself to a great read. I highly recommend it!
Scott Friedman,
CSP, Former President,
National Speakers Association
HEATKTE is one of the most refreshingly useful compilations of the essential drivers of success to come along in years. All those who read Michael and Sheryl Bergdahl's book will be inspired to reach higher and work harder to achieve the life of their dreams.
Robert B Tucker,
President,
The Innovation Resource Group
Michael Bergdahl has written another excellent book full of practical ideas to inspire you and improve your life. His premise is simple but powerful: high expectations are the key to everything. Raise your expectations by applying what Michael teaches, and you will enjoy increased personal success.
Mark Sanborn,
Bestselling Author of The Fred Factor,
Former President,
National Speakers Association
Every page of HEATKTE, Michael's and Sheryl's personal account of how they have turned a huge personal challenge into a springboard for achievement, became an inspiring wake-up call for me that reminded me of two very important things: 1) Appreciate what you have every day and, 2) Life's challenges are wonderful opportunities for personal growth.
Doug Lipp,
Former Head of Training,
Disney University,
Walt Disney Studios
Michael Bergdahl has written yet another winner! Read this book and you will learn principles that will enable you to go to the next level!
Don Hutson,
Bestselling Co-Author of
The One Minute Entrepreneur &
The One Minute Negotiator
To Heather and Paul,
our daughter and son:
Discover, accept, and learn to embrace the wisdom Contained in these fourteen 2 letter words, And you will always control your own destiny:
If it is to be
It is up to me
To go do it!
Foreword
I
am honored to write the foreword for this book. Michael and I first met in person while speaking at the same conference for a client. I was immediately impressed with his ideas and the way he delivered his message.
Michael is a deep thinker who can draw powerful insights from what he's done and observed. He has written books about Walmart and Sam Walton, two huge success stories in their own right. In this book, High Expectations Are The Key To Everything (H.E.A.T.K.T.E.), he makes it very personal. You'll gain insights from the challenges that confronted Michael and his wife Sheryl (the inspiration for this book). Best of all, you'll learn a perspective and specific practices that can help you deal with your own challenges and make the most of your opportunities.
I agree with Michael about the power of expectations. The truth is most people don't expect much because they don't want to be disappointed. I believe the greatest disappointment of all is living life beneath your capabilities; of never pursuing your potential.
We are better people when we expect more of ourselves. And we help others become better when we expect more of them. Think about it. Aren't you better for the positive expectations of your parents, coaches, mentors and friends?
HEATKTE will give you an advanced degree in how to benefit from high expectations. Michael communicates these great ideas with clarity and conciseness. Consider what he recommends in the pages ahead and do what he suggests.
With themes like strive to reach your full potential, seek a mentor, learn from the success of others, get out of your comfort zone, and be willing to take calculated risks, I wholeheartedly endorse what HEATKTE teaches. In this age of easy answers and quick fixes, Michael respects and cares enough for you, the reader, to tell you the truth about what it takes to triumph over circumstances and succeed.
It is one thing to know how to do business well but quite another to truly know how to live well. Michael and Sheryl are those extraordinary individuals who understand both, and they make excellent guides for you in this book.
Your destiny awaits!
Mark Sanborn,
Bestselling Author of
The Fred Factor
Former President,
National Speakers Association
Table of Contents
P REFACE
P ROLOGUE :
H IGH E XPECTATIONS A RE T HE K EY T O E VERYTHING
HEATKTE K EYS TO S UCCESS :
Key #1: V ISION & P URPOSE : I Will Pursue My Goals With Passion
Key #2: P LAN & S TRATEGIZE : I Will Control My Own Destiny
Key #3: E FFORT & E XECUTION : I Will Overcome My Fears & Obstacles
Key #4: A FFIRM & B ELIEVE : I Will Commit to Achieving Success
Key #5: A CHIEVE & S OAR : I Will Strive to Be the Best
Key #6: P ERSEVERE & A CCOMPLISH : I Will Never Quit
Appendix
- Tribute to Michael's Mentors
- Sheryl's Acknowledgements
Preface
M
y life and the lives of everyone in my family changed in an instant on July 7, 2003, at three o'clock in the morning. That was the moment my wife Sheryl, to whom I had been married for 27 years, had a catastrophic ischemic stroke; it was also the moment our lives would change forever. I called for an ambulance, which I then followed to the hospital a short distance from our home. I remember standing in the emergency room and later in the intensive care unit, contemplating why this had happened to us. Sheryl was only 48 years old at the time, and I had thought strokes only happened to old people; not active people like her. In the hours that followed, I was all alone as I contemplated the true impact of what had just occurred and the inevitable changes to our lives. As I leaned against the hallway wall outside the intensive care unit, I experienced for the first time in my life that feeling of being completely alone, and the feeling of being uncomfortable in my own skin. I thought about all that Sheryl had meant to our family; I was overwhelmed as I realized I did not have the strength to overcome the obstacles our family would now be facing. To be honest, I had low expectations, and I lacked faith in my own ability to persevere.
It took about 10 days in the ICU before the doctors would let Sheryl come out of her medically induced coma. I must say they were longest days of my life. The big concern at that point was the extent of her brain injury. While in the coma, the doctors had no way of discerning how much Sheryl's intellect, memory, personality, speech, and her physical capabilities would be impacted. In the days that followed, we received some bad news. Sheryl's stroke had caused permanent paralysis to the right side of her body. Her right arm, hand, and leg were now permanently paralyzed. That bit of news was particularly devastating, because Sheryl was right-handed.
