The Secret to Success: Don’t Be the Michelin Man

I grew up in Michigan.

The winters can be harsh there.

Bitter cold at times.

Enough to keep a lot of folks indoors.

But not us kids.

Schools are closed and there are snow mountains waiting to be conquered.

“Layer up,” mom would say.

So that’s what we did.

We put on layer after layer just as we were told.

Long johns. (Some of you may need to Google that)

Two pairs of socks.

Jeans.

A sweatshirt.

Snow pants (with suspenders).

A jacket.

Gloves.

And a knit cap that we could pull down over our whole face like Spiderman.

Although, the holes for our eyes and mouths never matched up.

Oh. And boots.

Okay, ready.

Off we’d go.

Running toward that hill. Pulling a plastic sled behind us.

We looked like the Michelin Man chasing a runaway tire.

Those were happy times.

We couldn’t wait to get back home and begin peeling off all those layers.

We were cold and wet.

And partially frozen.

Our noses were wind burned and our lips were numb.

We couldn’t feel our toes, but we sure had fun.

A warm blanket and hot chocolate would make everything better.

Um, that’s a cute story KB.

What does that have to do with success?

Turns out, a lot.

I was at a conference not long ago and their theme was Level Up.

In an instant, I could hear my mother’s instructions from all those years ago.

“Layer up!”

Don’t know why, but that’s where my brain went.

It made me smile.

Then I started thinking.

In business, we hear the term “Level Up.”

Meaning we should aspire to new heights.

To grow toward something more.

To not stay in one place too long.

To not be complacent.

As kids when we’d get to the top of those snow mountains, jump in our sleds and race to the bottom.

Then what?

Go find a bigger snow mountain.

We get it.

Keep chasing the next big thing.

But it was the “Layer Up” thing that was pestering me.

I realized that in life we tend to layer up just like kids in the snow.

Without the long johns and boots, though.

The layers we put on as adults are different.

As we grow, we add layer upon layer to protect us from the harsh elements around us.

Fake smiles.

Words we never use.

We say yes when we should have said no.

And instead of hello we often say nothing at all.

We get defensive.

Frustrated.

We become less of who we really are and more of who we think we should be.

More of what others expect us to be.

And, before long, we can barely move.

Like the Michelin Man chasing a runaway tire.

Following a keynote, I am grateful for those who linger afterward to visit.

There is one question I am almost always asked.

What is the “secret sauce” to your success as a motivational speaker?

I used to say there is no secret.

But as it turns out, there is a secret.

Setting aside the work and the hours grinding away to hone the craft.

Apart from the rigors and tolls of life on the road.

There is a secret.

And it’s the same secret that makes you a great anything.

Leader.

Parent.

Partner.

Friend.

Human.

Would you like to know what it is?

Here is what I tell the inquirers of the “secret sauce.”

The more I close the gap between who I am onstage and off, the more success I find.

In fact, it might be better stated to say the more success finds me.

Over time, I have slowly removed layers.

One by one, still a work in progress.

Peeling back the callousness that was intended to protect me.

Only to find that it was hiding the best parts of me.

My true self.

My vulnerable and free self.

The one who could most with relate to the people around me who are all writing their own stories in real-time.

Documenting their treks up and down the snow mountains of life.

I want to encourage you to close that gap between who you are on stage and off.

Whether your audience is one or one thousand, people want the real you.

Not the tired and worn-out one.

The people who matter most will be blessed and grateful to experience you.

To learn from your wins and your worries.

Your hurts and your fears.

Oh, it takes time, but I promise it’s worth it.

Leave those layers to the fine folks over at Michelin.

Find a warm blanket and some hot chocolate and everything will get better again.I grew up in Michigan.

The winters can be harsh there.

Bitter cold at times.

Enough to keep a lot of folks indoors.

But not us kids.

Schools are closed and there are snow mountains waiting to be conquered.

“Layer up,” mom would say.

So that’s what we did.

We put on layer after layer just as we were told.

Long johns. (Some of you may need to Google that)

Two pairs of socks.

Jeans.

A sweatshirt.

Snow pants (with suspenders).

A jacket.

Gloves.

And a knit cap that we could pull down over our whole face like Spiderman.

Although, the holes for our eyes and mouths never matched up.

Oh. And boots.

Okay, ready.

Off we’d go.

Running toward that hill. Pulling a plastic sled behind us.

We looked like the Michelin Man chasing a runaway tire.

Those were happy times.

We couldn’t wait to get back home and begin peeling off all those layers.

We were cold and wet.

And partially frozen.

Our noses were wind burned and our lips were numb.

We couldn’t feel our toes, but we sure had fun.

A warm blanket and hot chocolate would make everything better.

Um, that’s a cute story KB.

What does that have to do with success?

Turns out, a lot.

I was at a conference not long ago and their theme was Level Up.

In an instant, I could hear my mother’s instructions from all those years ago.

“Layer up!”

Don’t know why, but that’s where my brain went.

It made me smile.

Then I started thinking.

In business, we hear the term “Level Up.”

Meaning we should aspire to new heights.

To grow toward something more.

To not stay in one place too long.

To not be complacent.

As kids when we’d get to the top of those snow mountains, jump in our sleds and race to the bottom.

Then what?

Go find a bigger snow mountain.

We get it.

Keep chasing the next big thing.

But it was the “Layer Up” thing that was pestering me.

I realized that in life we tend to layer up just like kids in the snow.

Without the long johns and boots, though.

The layers we put on as adults are different.

As we grow, we add layer upon layer to protect us from the harsh elements around us.

Fake smiles.

Words we never use.

We say yes when we should have said no.

And instead of hello we often say nothing at all.

We get defensive.

Frustrated.

We become less of who we really are and more of who we think we should be.

More of what others expect us to be.

And, before long, we can barely move.

Like the Michelin Man chasing a runaway tire.

Following a keynote, I am grateful for those who linger afterward to visit.

There is one question I am almost always asked.

What is the “secret sauce” to your success as a motivational speaker?

I used to say there is no secret.

But as it turns out, there is a secret.

Setting aside the work and the hours grinding away to hone the craft.

Apart from the rigors and tolls of life on the road.

There is a secret.

And it’s the same secret that makes you a great anything.

Leader.

Parent.

Partner.

Friend.

Human.

Would you like to know what it is?

Here is what I tell the inquirers of the “secret sauce.”

The more I close the gap between who I am onstage and off, the more success I find.

In fact, it might be better stated to say the more success finds me.

Over time, I have slowly removed layers.

One by one, still a work in progress.

Peeling back the callousness that was intended to protect me.

Only to find that it was hiding the best parts of me.

My true self.

My vulnerable and free self.

The one who could most with relate to the people around me who are all writing their own stories in real-time.

Documenting their treks up and down the snow mountains of life.

I want to encourage you to close that gap between who you are on stage and off.

Whether your audience is one or one thousand, people want the real you.

Not the tired and worn-out one.

The people who matter most will be blessed and grateful to experience you.

To learn from your wins and your worries.

Your hurts and your fears.

Oh, it takes time, but I promise it’s worth it.

Leave those layers to the fine folks over at Michelin.

Find a warm blanket and some hot chocolate and everything will get better again.

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Kevin D. Brown is a branding and culture expert. He’s an award-winning motivational speaker, bestselling author, and the creator of The Hero Effect®. Follow him on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter/X.