Orrin Woodward
Through my good friend and business partner, Bill Lewis, I met Orrin Woodward (and Chris Brady) in October 1999.
I was 32 years old. At that time in my life, I had exhausted all wisdom that had been imparted onto me on my road to success. “Go to to school, get good grades, get a good job, and work hard.” had been the message that I had heard clearly growing up. Check, check, check, and check!! Did all those things, got 3 (THREE!!!) Masters Degrees, just to make sure, got a “great” job as an engineer where I made “good” money. However, after only 2 years in corporate America, it became very apparent to me that I could not be part of it for much longer, let alone, the rest of my life!! Let’s just say, I was “looking”. Enter Orrin Woodward, Chris Brady, and TEAM.
Ever since then, I have attempted to follow these two incredible leaders and model my life after their example. Here are 3 phenomenal articles about Orrin, 1) from my friend and business partner, Kirk Birtles, 2) from my friend and mentor, Bill Lewis, and 3) from TEAM legend Tim Marks, that really explain well what Orrin has done, will do, and who he is (very similar articles could be written about Chis Brady). If people complain that TEAM doesn’t work, I have only the following analogy in response: “If someone buys an exercise bike and does not loose any weight, it is NOT the fault of the bike!!” Also, I reference a post I wrote in November of 2011 about Orrin being a “scam-artist”.
Now, almost 13 years later, I call myself a “recovering engineer” and my life is amazing. Lindsey and I say to each other almost every day, how blessed we are. it is all due to applying the principles taught through the LIFE business and having mentors like Orrin and Chris.
Today’s The Day!!!
Holger
Today's The Day!!! 
Ideas truly have consequences. I am thankful to have been introduced to other man and women that do think rather than just regurgitate what they have been fed. When eating truth it will be sweet in the mouth but bitter in the belly.
Rory:
thank you for your response. You have been around TEAM and Orrin Woodward for a while. What impresses you the most about Orrin?
Tx H. 🙂
What is most compelling is the commitment to a cause. (The restoration of proper values) Those that have been historically proven to produce abundant societies. The TEAM led by Orrin has always been about educating people on the true principles of freedom.
What is most impressive about Orrin is the courage of his convictions. I’m sure that because of his study and contemplation that he is more resolved today than ever to see this calling through. Because where much is given much is required.
Amen!!! You are certainly affirming what Orrin always says, “The Purpose of the Team is to lead people to the Truth.”
Today’s The Day!!!
Holger, Thanks for this blog post. I really like how you communicate. You are very direct and to the point which leave very little questions. My wife and I have committed to following the leaders from TEAM. I am blessed to get to work with Steve Morgan; you both have taught me so much on what it take to be successful. Thanks Holger!
Nick:
Thank you very much, Dallin Larsen always says that when you are blessed, become a blessing. The most important blessing I can impart onto someone is the truth I have learned along life’s journey so far because it has been the greatest blessing to me. Like it says in the Good Book, “And you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” That certainly happened to me. How about you, what is the most important truth you have learned through association with Orrin Woodward?
Today’s The Day!!! 🙂
I have to say that my connection to Orrin Woodward is a thin one. None-the-less I still feel the power of his conviction to doing what’s right. With you (Holger) being my mentor and you having Orrin Woodward as am mentor I see a lot of his light shine through you and then on to me and into the life of my family. I would like to say thank you to you, Holger for being such an amazing student of a great man. Also a thanks to Orrin for committing his life to a planned attack on the status quo.
Thank you Leslie. What is the biggest change in your life your have seen since you started associating with the TEAM?
Tx H.
I find this a Pay it forward business. I have not experienced the older business but its like Leaders Orrin Woodward, Chris Brady, Holger Spiewak and a lot of other Leaders including my friends and Mentors Angela and Hector Martinez. Who gave me the belief that even me a factory worker of almost 28 years now, that I can be so much more- a leader like them and given the opportunity to be all that God has made me to be. I have a ways to go but love the journey I am on and thanks to the Leaders me ntioned above, my road is easier than theirs god bless the TEAM!! – Lynnette J. Rumsey
Lynnette:
You are hitting the nail on the head. How can an factory worker like you even think that you can be a leader?!? The answer is because that is the TRUTH!!! The truth that you don’t hear in our society, in the media, or anywhere else. The truth is that anybody can achieve greatness, make a difference, and leave a legacy. All the TEAM does is give people HOPE so that they are empowered to bring out the winner that has always been inside. What was the biggest breakthrough that helped you with this?
Tx H
I is amazing what the right information can do to change a life. Orrin’s leadership and influence has changed thousands of lives for the better. I am so thankfull for what he and the rest of the LIFE leaders are doing for this county.
Melissa:
Thank you for your comment. What is the most important lesson that you have learned from associating with TEAM an Orrin Woodward?
Tx H
Thank you Holger for being such an awesome example of integrity and Godly leadership. I know the men that Orrin and Chris are by seeing you and Bill Lewis. You are their leadership fruit! Today’s The Day!!!!!
Julie:
Thank you for the kind words, God certainly gets all the glory, as he put us in these positions and has blessed us beyond any expectations we could ever hope for. Besides seeing changes in us for the better, what positive changes have you seen in your life?
Tx H.
Hey Holger!
Great article! I have always felt that if there is anyone who is truly qualified to look at both education and business from a formal view and a self directed leadership view, it is YOU! If someone who has hardly any education to say that Orrin Woodward’s leadership model is the better than a college degree might not have a sound or compelling perspective. Well, tthat also depends on whether that particular person has great results (Take Chris Miller…an 8th grade education, and is now financially free from Orrin’s Team LIFE entrepreneurial education model) But he is a very rare case. However, if you take someone like yourself with just under 10 years of formal education and 3 Masters Degrees, to say that Orrin and Chris are the real deal after over a decade of partnering with them in business, I’d say that you are a credible source to compare!
I have heard other people say “It seems like you worship these guys and make them out to be Gods.” Even though Orrin and Chris both lead lives that are worthy of emulating, how would you explain to a viewer the difference between worship and, let’s say, Phil 4:8 (8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.)
I’m looking forward to gaining another perspective from you!
Thank you for all that you do, Mr Spiewak!
With Honor, Valor, Humility!
Today’s The Day!!!
Larry:
Thank you for your confidence and edification!! Great comment and great question. Perhaps I might appreciate how, from a superficial perspective, it might appear like we worship Orrin. However, the question is not what other people think of you, that is merely your reputation, and, ultimately that has no relevance. The only thing that truly matters is what God knows of you, what is in your heart, that is your character. As for the “worship” that we impose on Orrin, supposedly, the Good Book is very clear that we are “to give honor to whom honor is due.” After 45 years in this world, I don’t know anybody currently alive around the world in my family, my circle of friends, entertainment, sports, politics, church, or anywhere else (you name it) that deserves to be given honor more than Orrin Woodward. How do you feel about this?
Today’s The Day!!! 🙂
Holger
That’s a great point! I feel like the concept on friendship in the 95% world is based on social image consciousness and fear. At least it was for me! And when people are afraid that they have to “Abandon” their friends, they are really afraid of what their true self might look like; that their true colors will be revealed if their proverbial “paint coats” of their reputation is removed. Let me explain…
I have found out that many of my friends from high school and college were really based on a superficial existence. In other words, we would “party” together and have doing other activities. One thing I felt deeply in my heart was that their approval was very important to me! The problem is… our relationships never went beyond a surface level or common interests (such as music, sports teams, etc) so other than wanting them to like me, I had no other real reason to want their approval of my life so badly…
As soon as I found something that I felt was worthy of my very best efforts like the LIFE business, I started learning all these great new ideas about success, leadership and a combination of the 8F’s. Naturally, I wanted to share these with my friends and association. Not only did my “friends” not want me to share it with them, but they started treating me so differently as if I had 3 heads, fangs, and an IQ of a caveman. The illusion of what they thought was knowledge kept them from wanting to hang out with me! I was very good at not bringing up my profession of leadership development and was also very good at not forcing it down anyone’s throat. And yet, these so called friends of mine were the one’s who got weird on me, self deceiving themselves into thinking that they had a clue what I was doing, and shunned me for it! WOW! From someone with an untrained eye (95% of the population) this might sound like a horrible situation to be in… Here is what I found…
Isn’t a best friend someone who is supposed to bring out the best in you? Someone who loves you and respects you? Someone who is Loyal and non-judgmental? Someone who will help protect you, and be completely honest and trustworthy with you? Someone who is willing to forgive? Sure everyone makes mistakes and can violate these from time to time, but if someone completely betrays you, goes behind your back, spreads untrue rumors about you and turns into what Chris Brady would describe as a “Jackal” which is someone who goes turn-coat on you and starts firing darts in your direction, then this type of person is NOT your friend! AND, it is better to make sure they are not in your life now rather than later!
But even past that, I know the human condition of SIN well enough to know that I am who I associate with! I am a product of my association. I want to have a great relationship with my wife, a legacy of making a difference, thousands of best friends, enough money to outlast my children’s children, and such a humility about me that everyone will know that everything about my life came through the hand of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! This, by definition, cannot come by accident. It must be intentional. It must be a direct pursuit. And it must merit my very best efforts!
All my best friends now are ones who are aligned with me in common purpose. You being one of them!! And it took me to stop hiding under all my paint coats to let the real me show in order to move forward… knowing that I might lose some friends. But now that I have, I am SO glad that I did!!!
Here is a thought provoking poem that I read a long time ago that has helped me and others in situations when I felt awful about myself. It’s called the Paint Brush:
I keep my paint brush with me
Wherever I may go,
In case I need to cover up
So the real me doesn’t show.
I’m so afraid to show you me,
Afraid of what you’ll do – that
You might laugh or say mean things.
I’m afraid I might lose you.
I’d like to remove all my paint coats
To show you the real, true me,
But I want you to try and understand,
I need you to accept what you see.
So if you’ll be patient and close your eyes,
I’ll strip off all my coats real slow.
Please understand how much it hurts
To let the real me show.
Now my coats are all stripped off.
I feel naked, bare and cold,
And if you still love Me with all that you see,
You are my friend, pure as gold.
I need to save my paint brush, though,
And hold it in my hand,
I want to keep it handy
In case somebody doesn’t understand.
So please protect me, my dear friend
And thanks for loving me true,
But please let me keep my paint brush with me
Until I love me, too
God Bless!!
Today’s The Day!!!
Larry Allswede
Hi Larry:
Great response!! Upon getting started with Orrin and Chris, I went through a very similar path to the realization of the same truth. When people tell you, “Oh, when you get into ‘that THING’, you will lose all your friends.” The truth I discovered is that when I got in ‘that THING’, I found out who my TRUE friends really were and it wasn’t my drinking buddies that I used to meet at the local watering holes.
The Word says in Prov. 17:17, “A friend loveth at all times, …”. Hmmm, “a friend loveth at all times”, apparently, it does not say, “A friend loveth at all times, UNLESS you become involved with TEAM LIFE.”
Proud of you, Larry, keep up the good work!!!
Tx H. TTD!!! 🙂
Holger,
I, along with many others, am blessed that you were looking 13 years ago. When my wife and I were struggling in so many areas, trying to get it right, you and Lindsey were there to help find the one thing that was missing. You and Lindsey have worked to seek out wisdom and then apply it to yourselves so diligently that when we came into your lives you were prepared and willing to serve. Our lives and marriage have been growing better ever since that day. We are all blessed by the men and women who decide to take a stand and follow their calling. Men like you, Woodward, Brady, Radossa, Birtles, and all their wives are truly serving and living what they have learned and are teaching.
Thanks for all your inspiration and dedication,
Dan Pinkelman
Dan:
thank you for your comment. Would you share what the one thing was that was missing & how it made a difference?
Tx H. TTD!!! 🙂