The Circus Act

By Dr. Alvin Perry

No matter what the industry, we are ALL in the circus business. The question we should be asking ourselves is “what role are we playing in the circus business?” Are we Ringmasters? Are we tightrope walkers? Are we the clowns? Or are we simply sad and lonely circus elephants, bound by chains that we could easily destroy if we only recognized our true strength and potential?

Like a young circus elephant, we often find ourselves chained to pathetic circumstances that have surrounded us for most of our professional lives. When an elephant is brought to the circus as a baby, it begins life being chained to a stake in the ground or attached to a nearby post. While baby elephants are big as far as baby animals go, they are still no match for cold, hard, steel chains. After crying, pulling and struggling with all of its might for days, weeks and even months, the elephant begins to come to terms with the desperate situation. And, since an elephant never forgets, for the rest of its life, it will continue to find itself held back by those chains. Although the chains are well within its power to break, a baby elephant reaches adulthood, immobilized. It is not because the chain is stronger than the elephant, but because the elephant's mental conditioning is stronger than its need for freedom.

A majority of readers probably relate to those poor circus elephants. Despite our great inner strength we still find ourselves chained down to the same posts that have been holding us back all of our lives. We have a powerful potential to dream, possessing our own unique strengths and amazing talents. But, what if we could finally find freedom? What if all it took was a simple paradigm shift that could transform our Circus Act Prison into a Three Ring Success? You possess the willpower to relinquish your role as the suppressed circus elephant in exchange for the dashing, top hat-wearing Ringmaster with a million-dollar smile. Begin your transformation and the power to make it happen by embracing the concepts discussed in this book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dr. Alvin Perry
• Release date: Feb 9, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301625185

Dr. Alvin Perry

Alvin S. Perry, DBA, MBA is a proven leader with over 20 years of experience in the consumer products and consulting industries. His corporate experience consists of management positions with IRI, Colgate-Palmolive, NCR Corporation, the Pepsi-Cola Company, M&M/Mars and Wal-Mart. Dr. Perry has adjunct faculty experience with William Patterson University, Montclair State University, and Essex County College. He also has over 10 years of experience as an entrepreneur launching four startup companies. Dr. Perry is also an inventor, professional speaker, songwriter, author (7 Publications), and filmmaker. Dr. Perry possesses a DBA Degree in Entrepreneurship from Walden University, a MBA from Centenary College and dual Bachelors of Business Administration Degrees in both Marketing and Management, from Valdosta State University.

Book preview

THE CIRCUS ACT

By: Dr. Alvin S. Perry

Copyright 2013 Dr. Alvin S. Perry

SMASHWORDS EDITION

THIS IS A CRITICAL ZONE, INC BOOK PUBLISHED BY ALVIN S. PERRY, DBA, MBA

This is a work of non—fiction.

Copyright © 2013, Alvin S. Perry, DBA, MBA

All rights reserved.

Published in the United States by Dr. Alvin S. Perry, Critical Zone, Inc. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form whatsoever, whether digitally or in print, without express written permission of the publisher except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles.

The Circus Act: Unleash the Entrepreneurial Spirit in You!

ISBN: 9781301625185

February 2013

DEDICATION

This is dedicated to my father Clarence A. Pa Perry. I hope I continue to make you proud. I know you are in heaven smiling down on me. I also dedicate this to my wife FeFe and kids Keon, Camryn, and Coleman.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank my first entrepreneurial mentor, Jim Harris, for training me on this line of thinking. Your leadership has provided the foundation for my understanding of systems and processes.

Table of Contents

FOREWORD

ENDORSEMENTS

INTRODUCTION

Chapter 1: Welcome to the Circus!

Chapter 2: The Sunday School Show

Chapter 3: The Territory

Chapter 4: The Box Office

Chapter 5: The Regional Marketing Director

Chapter 6: The Ringmaster

Chapter 7: The Troupers

Chapter 8: The Take

Chapter 9: The Producer

Conclusion

Epilogue

About the Author

Additional Publications

FOREWORD

When asked by Dr. Perry to contribute the foreword to this book, I was honored and accepted without hesitation. I was introduced to Dr. Perry through a mutual friend, Chandra McQueen of Moona Inc. Having been impressed with Dr. Perry’s community work, he has demonstrated a clear focus on providing solutions to problems that can impede educational and entrepreneurial development.

As the Chairman and CEO of BCT Partners, our mission is to partner with our clients to build organizational capacity, strengthen communities, and improve the quality of life. Our vision is to be at the forefront of transforming neighborhoods into vibrant communities, empowering stakeholders to maximize their potential, and catalyzing change that is so lasting its effects are felt for generations to come. The Circus Act is a literary work that aligns with our mission and vision to be solutions oriented. Dr. Perry has been able to take the challenges of personal and entrepreneurial development and provide a systems—based approach that is extremely easy to follow while entertaining. By using the characters Purpose and Persistence to deliver the message, Dr. Perry has demonstrated the creativity needed to bring a self—improvement message to life.

I don’t know anyone who has not experienced failure at some point during her or his lifetime. While failure does not define us, it can shape who we are and provide the foundation for who we can become. I firmly believe we learn more from failure than we do from success and, in the words of Winston Churchill, Success is nothing more than going from failure to failure with undiminished enthusiasm. The opportunity lies in learning from our mistakes and using them as fuel to the fire of success.

If you need the tools and inspiration to break free from the mental chains preventing you from excelling and maximizing your full potential, then The Circus Act is a necessary read.

Dr. Randal Pinkett

Winner of NBC’s The Apprentice

Chairman CEO of BCT Partners

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ENDORSEMENTS

Dr. Perry’s The Circus Act has brilliantly provided each entrepreneur or potential entrepreneur with an empowering and inspiration roadmap to success.

Nicole E. Smith President and CEO — The Elocin Group

The Circus Act appropriately illustrates and remarkably tackles the issues faced by entrepreneurs every day.

Kevin McKinnon Chief Commercial Officer and Co—Founder, Smart House Calls, LLC.

I strongly endorse Dr. Perry’s book as a wonderful source to assist entrepreneurs in adapting the mental fortitude in getting from vision to victory.

Sherry Blue President, CEO, and Founder, Make It Happen Bail Bonds, Inc.

Dr. Alvin S Perry is a new thought leader in the world of business and entrepreneurship.

Tony Hayes, President and CEO, Blazin Fitness — Holistic Health & Fitness Coach

The book creatively uses the analogy of a circus to provide a powerful level of imagery to help readers connect and identify with the level of perseverance, determination, strategic thinking, and optimism required to be successful.

Dr. Darrell Norman Burrell Faculty, George Mason University

The Circus Act I believe is a must read for anyone who desperately wants to change careers, get out of a rut of working dead—end, unfulfilling jobs and finally experience what it’s like to have a purposeful, fulfilling, well paying, successful career.

Terrel Matchett, MBA — Licensing