PU B LI S H E R ’ S PI C K BOOK REVIEW BY PHIL CALHOUN
THE ART OF SIGNIFICANCE Achieving The Level Beyond Success
In his book “The Art of Significance,” Dan Clark asked readers: “What would you rather have — conventional success or a high level beyond success?” Dan, one of the world’s leading inspirational speakers and leadership trainers, vehemently opposes the conventional wisdom about success. He believes it is tragic and superficial to build our careers and personal lives around getting more money, bigger houses, cooler toys and fancier job titles. For health insurance professionals — those who fight to retain their clients and win new ones — the difference between success and significance can define you in your client’s eyes and create higher retention and more referrals from clients. Dan asks all of us, “What’s it all worth in the end? How many outwardly successful people still feel empty inside?” His answer is to push people, to challenge our thinking, to do the work to move toward significance. It is hard to put in a review all the points Dan makes on significance. You will need to read the book to get all of them, but I will share some thoughts that relate to health insurance professionals. Dan’s Extraordinary History Some background on a truly remarkable person is needed here. Dan has spent decades traveling around the world, interviewing famous and powerful people; consulting with presidents and generals, sheikhs and corporate leaders. He’s created a multimillion-dollar business; and — before any of the above — overcame a paralyzing injury with years of rehab and numerous hurdles. From his youth and into early adulthood, Dan was an accomplished athlete. He also had intelligence to match his physical skills. At age 12, Dan starred in a weekly CBS television series and was the voice of a cartoon character. As 36 | CALIFORNIA BROKER
a teenager, he was a four sport, 9-Time Varsity Letterman and was voted Outstanding High School Athlete three years in a row. Then he became a Golden Gloves Boxing champion, Alpine Ski Racing champion, Intermountain Moto Cross champion, Sunkist All-American Football Player and All-Star Baseball Pitcher, earning a full athletic scholarship to play both sports at the University of Utah. In 1982, Dan was named Outstanding Young Man of America and was sponsored into the National Speaker Association by world-renowned motivational speaker Zig Ziglar who personally mentored Dan for 25 years in the art and science of speaking, writing and storytelling! Dan Clark is a success by anyone’s definition, but he strives to be significant. His book provides a guide for all to use to move to Significance.
Dan quickly became one of the most sought-after speakers in North America and was honored by U.S. President Ronald Reagan with the Presidential Service Award as the primary speaker for Mrs. Nancy Reagan’s ‘Just Say No’ program. Dan has earned the highest ‘Certified Speaking Professional’ designation in the National Speakers Association; was inducted into the Professional Speakers Hall of Fame and has been named one of the Top Ten Motivational Speakers in the World. Having raised four extraordinary, talented, significant children, Dan was named 2012 Utah Father of the Year! Dan teaches “self is not discovered – self is created – and the only person you need to be better than is the person you were yesterday! This intention leads to significance.
Dan is an alumnus of the University of Utah (psychology); a university professor; podcast host; New York Times bestselling author of 35 books and a primary contributing author to the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. One of Dan’s famous
CalBrokerMag.com
NOVEMBER 2023
