My first encounter with Hugh “Goldie” Gouldthorpe was at a Cultural Competency Workshop in Virginia. He was the lunchtime speaker. I have always pitied the person who had to compete with the clinking of silverware, the restlessness of people trapped in an all-day seminar (noon meal included, oh boy!), the post-nourishment fatigue, and the feeding frenzy itself. No one really listens to the lunch-time speaker. Until Goldie.

Goldie burst onto the catered scene with an exuberance and garrulousness that did not permit him to be ignored. His booming voice, energy and sense of humor commanded that room. Goldie is a motivational speaker, author, and teacher of successful leadership, customer service and quality management. His business card states that he is “Head Cheerleader” but he is also known as the senior vice president of quality and communications at Owens&Minor, a medical/surgical supplier and Fortune 500 Company in Glen Allen, Virginia.

His presentation was fast-paced, with a PowerPoint of cartoons and very short sayings. He likes the phrase “Keep it Simple and Sincere” and for the lunch crowd this strategy worked. He told amusing stories about companies and people with whom he has worked in the past. His delivery and timing were brilliant and he left us wanting more at the end. Therefore, once I returned home, I purchased his two books, I’ve Always Looked Up to Giraffes (2002) and How to Make a Giraffe Smile (2004).

In I’ve Always Looked Up to Giraffes, Goldie theorizes that great leaders are comparable to giraffes. They stand above the crowd, everyone looks up to them, they can reach the sweetest fruit, they have good vision, they listen with compassion, they are friendly, the are not afraid to stick their necks out, they move competently, they are tireless, perceptive and they do not blend in with the crowd. In addition, giraffes are competitive and are able to kick in four different directions!

My favorite Goldie-ism defines Average as, “Where the best of the worst meets the worst of the best.”

The foreword in How to Make a Giraffe Smile is written by H. Ross Perot.
Goldie continues with very similar motivational cartoons and clever sayings that appear so simple that you feel anyone could be a good leader….which appears to be his purpose. One of his strongest recommendations is that integrity and ethics are the bases from which you conduct your business. He indicates that ethics is a one way street with clear established rules and that there is “no room on the road for those who don’t respect and follow the rules.”

He also describes the many uses of WD-40  as a way to exemplify being a leader. It is a multidimensional product, frees sticky mechanics (puts out fires right away), penetrates (every inch of the organization), eliminates the squeaks, and restores/rejuvenates others.

In both books, he stresses communication, role-modeling and a positive attitude as major leadership tools. Every cartoon, every witty saying, every acronym he uses makes good sense. The reading is light and will give you a chuckle. The books are good tools if you’re looking for some motivational inspiration for your leadership team but neither book can take the place of Hugh Gouldthorpe’s live presentation.