Teaches
Schussler Creative’s 11 Commandments
Apr 11th
My 11 Commandments for creating successful themed attractions, restaurants, and retail stores are Entertainment, Education, the Environment, Earning a Return on Investment and our Employees along with the five senses; Sight, Sound, Smell, Touch and Taste. The most important is PASSION. I talk about this in my book, It’s A Jungle In There: Inspiring Lessons, Hard-won Insights, and Other Acts of Entrepreneurial Daring.
The Dulcimer Medical Center had their 5 year anniversary and to celebrate, Dr. Parnell and his partner Dr. Denise Shavey closed their clinic for the day and provided a fun-filled day for their employees. They came to visit our Creative Laboratories to give their staff a unique experience and to energize them to make their own dreams become a reality.
Dr. Steven Parnell and his partner Dr. Denise Shavey have a passionately unique and creative approach to their center and utilizes the 11 commandments in their clinic. The name Dulcimer Medical Center was inspired by the musical instrument of the same name and comes from the root words dulce’ meaning ‘sweet’ and ‘melos’ meaning ‘song.‘ In skillful hands the hammered dulcimer produces beautiful music with sweet melodies and pleasing harmonies. As one of their core values, harmony is the inspiration for the center’s design and operation. Their focus is Harmony between the patient and the therapy prescribed, harmony in treatment options and locations, harmony in internal health and harmony among the staff.
Their environment enhances health utilizing entertainment, education and the five senses with each of their patient and procedure rooms in different and unique themes. Children love the Jungle, Dinosaur and Dr. Seuss rooms. Teens enjoy the sports room that highlights all the area schools. The Paradise Beach or The Garden of Serenity are ideal for relaxing. Dedicated to the overall well–being, along with being equipped with the latest technology, they have state of the art equipment, and a team of experienced professionals.
Congratulations to Dulcimer Medical Center on their 5 year anniversary. We see many more years of continued success due to The Dulcimer Difference, where Harmony enhances health.
Don’t Burn Bridges (Just Cross Them Carefully the Second Time Around)
Jan 27th
“Never cut what you can untie.” – Joseph Joubert
In Steven Schussler’s book, It’s A Jungle In There, Chapter 26 talks about bridges and crossing them a second time. At some point in your entrepreneurial life (maybe at many points) someboby is going to disappoint you or, possibly, take advantage of you. When this happens, should you just write this person off and decide to work with him again? To learn more about what Steven has to share on this topic in his book go to It’s A Jungle In There to order your autographed copy.
People – Have a Caring Attitude Toward All Living Things
Jan 17th
Chapter 20 of It’s A Jungle In There by Steven Schussler is about PEOPLE. Do you care about the feelings and needs of others and take active steps to help them achieve their personal goals? Think back for a moment and identify someone you really respect — somebody for whom, if he asked you to go to the ends of the Earth, you would make the trip. Chances are this somebody is a person who cared about you. Giving others the sense you care about them is one of the most important elements when it comes to make a positive impression on them. This and many more Inspiring Lessons, Hard-Won Insights and Other Acts of Entrepreneurial Daring are written in Steven Schussler’s book “It’s A Jungle In There”.
“I will pay more for the ability to deal with people than any other ability under the sun.” John D. Rockefeller
CCIM Speaking Engagement Success
Jan 7th
The CCIM Presentation last night was a huge success – what a great group! Thank you Carol Ebert, and Brad Pfaff for hosting this event and thank you Robert, Wendy, Brad, Gene, Carol and others for all your great questions! Thank you for your support of buying my book “It’s A Jungle In There” 100% of the sale of my book go to Smile Network International, a Minnesota-based humanitarian organization that provides reconstructive surgeries to impoverished children and young adults around the world.
Enjoy the read and the rollercoaster ride. Remember, “Sweat the Small Stuff”, “No is a Yes waiting to happen!” Steven Schussler
ROI Leader Forum Announcement for January 14, 2011
Dec 23rd
ROI Leader Forum Announcement for January 14, 2011
Topic: “A Guide to Entrepreneurial Success”
Speaker: Steven Schussler, Founder and CEO of Schussler Creative, Inc.
Entrepreneur, Motivational Speaker and Author of the National Bestseller “It’s A Jungle In There” Inspiring Lessons, Hard-Won Insights and Other Acts of Entrepreneural Daring.
Time:
7:30 a.m. – 7: 45 a.m. Continental Breakfast
7:45 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Presentation and Networking
Location: Lurie Besikof Lapidus & Company LLP
2501 Wayzata Blvd., Minneapolis, MN 55405
COST: Free!
To reserve your place at one of these seminars, please contact Jean LaPlante.
Passion and imagination—two of the most powerful engines of success—combined with persistence and an unwavering belief in his dreams, has compelled Steven Schussler for decades. Well-known as the creator of the Rainforest Cafe ®, A Wild Place To Shop and Eat™ launched at the Mall of America in 1994, Schussler and his team have built 45 Rainforest Cafes in seven years on three continents winning more than 40 awards in the process! A premier branding expert™, he founded Schussler Creative in 2000 and has recently published his inspiring lessons, hard-won insights, and other acts of entrepreneurial daring in a national bestseller, “It’s a Jungle in There.” Come listen to his tales about being a restaurateur, branding expert and creative consultant, as well as a speaker and author. Leave with insights into the Five P’s for Business Success: Personality, Product, Persistence, People and Philanthropy.
STEVEN SCHUSSLER, started his entrepreneurial career at age 9 with a paper route. He became a television and radio executive, and eventually embraced his passion for conceiving theatrical environments that appeal to the masses—in his restaurants, retail attractions, and entertainment venues worldwide. A living example of entrepreneurial social responsibility, Schussler is dedicating 100% of the authors sales benefit Smile Network International, a non-profit organization and their mission of surgically repairing cleft lips and palates of impoverished children and young adults worldwide. In addition, he teaches an entrepreneurial class at the UMN Carlson School of Business Management, and writes a monthly column, “Back Talk,” for Minnesota Business Magazine. For further information, visit www.schusslercreative.com.
Leading Blog: A Leadership Blog: It’s A Jungle In There
Dec 4th
Leading Blog: A Leadership Blog: It’s a Jungle in ThereBy Michael McKinney
Created by Steven Schussler, the Rainforest Café holds the record as one of the top-grossing restaurant chains in the world and was the first restaurant concept to be featured at every Disney theme park worldwide. Schussler shares in …
Leading Blog: A Leadership Blog – http://www.leadershipnow.com/leadingblog/
It’s a Jungle in There
Anyone that has ever been to the Rainforest Café, knows it’s a treat. Created by Steven Schussler, the Rainforest Café holds the record as one of the top-grossing restaurant chains in the world and was the first restaurant concept to be featured at every Disney theme park worldwide. Schussler shares in It’s a Jungle in There, what it takes to make it happen and the lessons he learned that can be applied to your dream.
Schussler embodies the five Ps of successful entrepreneurship—Personality, Product, Persistence, People, and Philanthropy—that he teaches in the He writes, “As a leadership quality, one’s own passion is what galvanizes others into action.” Passion and persistence has played a big part in everything Schussler has done. It’s “not going through the motions but going through with the emotions.”
Schussler says that he’s always wanted to create a rainforest themed restaurant but the problem was getting investors interested in the idea. To get their attention he turned his home into a tropical rainforest. “Over a period of a few years, my standard split-level home was transformed into a jungle dwelling complete with rock outcroppings, waterfalls, rivers, layers of fog, mist that rose from the ground, a thatched hut covered with vines on the roof, tiki torches, a twelve-foot neon and a full-size replica of an elephant near the front door.”
“In the bedroom, my bed was ‘paradise’ sign, constructed to look like it was suspended in a tree….Birds and animals moved freely through the area during showings of the house….Every room, every closet, every hallway of my house was a ‘scene’: an attempt to present my idea of what a rainforest restaurant would look like in actual operation….No venture capitalists were going to invest their money in my far-out concept without actually seeing it, so I transformed my house into my vision of what a rainforest restaurant would look like in order to make them believe in my dream.”
Naturally, this would catch the attention of your neighbors (and law enforcement) too. There were problems of all sorts as you can imagine. And Schussler writes, “Being passionate doesn’t totally shield you from moments of doubt.” But his passion finally won out.
“How far are you willing to go to see your dream realized?
In short, high-content chapters, he explains his guiding philosophy and backs them with concrete experiences. He has two quotes framed on the wall over his desk: “When you’re out of quality, you’re out of business” and “The noblest search is the search for excellence.”
He talks about looking for “enhancement gaps.” Those gaps between “what you are seeing and what you could create to make what you are seeing better by providing some product or service.”
He asks, “Are you willing to help other people succeed even when it’s not a requirement of your job to be of assistance?”
Self-control: “What you don’t want to do is say things and/or act in a manner that will create negative impressions and the unwanted consequences that are certain to follow.” You must know your audience.
Burning Bridges/Writing People Off: Don’t do it. “What I learned that day reconfirmed my belief that ego can be a killer, especially an unchecked ego. Most entrepreneurs need to have a healthy ego, but you also have to be realistic. That’s a very delicate balance—the kind of balance you need to cross a bridge you tumbled off the first time around.”
Anyone would benefit by reading and integrating the lessons offered
Business Cast – The Podcast for Entrepreneurs
Nov 30th
Business Cast – The Podcast for Entrepreneurs – Robert Gold and Andrew Brown…”Robert and I have interviewed dozens of business leaders, media insiders and business thought leaders. But, we’ve rarely spoken to an entrepreneur who has as much unbridled passion for entrepreneurialism as Steve Schussler. That‘s why for BusinessCast #177, we interviewed Steve who is best known for founding the wildly successful Rain Forest Cafe restaurant chain. Steve‘s newest venture is a book entitled, It‘s a Jungle in There that somehow effectively captures great stories of entrepreneurial daring, key lessons for today‘s business leaders and much of Steve‘s passion and homegrown wisdom.”
Listen to BusinessCast #177 and you will get a flavour for Steve‘s secrets of success.
Passion & Ambition
Nov 18th
Dear Mr. Steve Schussler,
My name is Dillon Nicely; I am currently 20 years old and am presently living in Newport Beach, California. Lately I’ve had trouble focusing and getting through classes at school. So I recently stopped going and have been trying to find a different approach or career I can follow through with. I have also been slacking at work as well and not performing to the best of my capabilities. My dream is to be my own boss like yourself and run my own business if possible. As of lately I’ve been really into Entrepreneur, Inc., and other magazines/books that give knowledgeable information regarding business. I came across your book It’s a Jungle in There and read the first few chapters. I got hooked immediately. It has truly given me a bigger motivation and willingness to do more with my ideas. Also I’ve turned around my performance at work and just got a promotion. I know that you should be driven yourself to get where you want. But there’s sometimes where you need some encouragement or insight from another man who made it like yourself. That’s what I loved about your book and the way you handled most situations. I personally just wanted to give you my thoughts on the book and what you’ve inspired me to do. I’m definitely going to recommend this book to others. I hope that you will be able to speak out in California sometime soon so that I could have a chance to hear you in person or even meet you. If not, thank you and hope you succeed in your next creative innovations.
Wish you the best,
Dillon Nicely
Small Biz America with Steven Schussler It’s A Jungle In There
Nov 12th
Listen to this episode http://www.smallbizamerica.com/sbb/detail/its-a-jungle-in-there-with-steven-schussler/
ajungleintherebook.com/endorsements”>Donald Trump says, “His story is not only compelling, it’s fun, inspiring and full of sound business advice.”
Harvey Mackay says, “If anyone is king of the jungle, it’s Steven Schussler. Entertaining and inspiring, a must-read for aspiring entrepreneurs!” -#1 New York Times best-seller….
Without a college degree, Schussler became the CEO of a company twice named by Fortune Magazine as one of the top 100 fasted growing companies in America.
Here are some of the questions guiding our discussions:
1. You had some major challenges in the beginnings. Tell us about the process that lead to the success of RainForest Cafes…
2. You have said the importance of researching a new product or service concept is paramount to success. How does an entrepreneur approach the matter of getting market validation for a new concept?
3. So much of doing business is about relationships. Let’s talk about the power of a first impression. I think you have a story to share around this theme.
4. We’re sitting together in late 2010. What is your sense about the current business-startup environment. How can entrepreneurs overcome the tight credit markets and low consumer spending headwinds.