Foreword xiii

Acknowledgments xv

About the Author xix

Introduction 1

1 The Biggest Day 5

2 The TIP Jar 11

Twelve Years Earlier . . .

3 A New Direction 15

4 Dear Valued Employee 21

5 First Impressions 29

6 The Offer 33

7 New Beginnings 43

8 What is a TIP? 49

9 Wake-up Call 57

10 Labels and Purpose 63

11 The Bear 83

12 Position Yourself 89

13 Communicate Your Brand 97

14 What’s Your Story? 111

15 Actions Build the Brand 115

16 Flow 127

17 Protect the Business, Protect the Brand 131

18 Day of All Days 139

19 Create an Experience 145

20 The Last TIP 153

Present Day

21 The TIP Jar (Continued) 165

22 Good Choices 171

23 Give More, Get More 177

Twenty Takeaway Tips For Success 183

Personal Accountability Model and Action Plan 187

Resources 199

Praise for TIP

"A team will only succeed, and a company will only grow, when each person on that team is responsible and accountable for their own results. If you want to consistently bring your best every day, you need to read this book and follow Dave's game plan for personal, team, and organizational success." —Jon Gordon, Wall Street Journal bestselling author, The Energy Bus and The Power of Positive Leadership

"I love this story and this book. It truly sends a powerful message and takes what I have learned from Dave Gordon to the next level. I am sharing this with everyone I know and telling them to read it—twice!" —Kurt Leisure, Vice President, Risk Services, The Cheesecake Factory

"Dave Gordon is a master at helping you see through the fog of adversity and setting the right course for your future. He helps you discover your brand and reminds you to always protect it." —Jon McGavin, Area General Manager, The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott Orlando, Grand Lakes

"Dave is an expert at aligning people with a purpose. Now he has taken his 'stand for your brand' principles and created a powerful resource with broad appeal and helpful guidance for any leader looking to build a world-class team or company." —Scott Hudson, President and CEO, Gallagher Bassett

"After reading TIP, you will have no choice but to look at your own career and relationships through a different lens; one that empowers you to never accept being 'average,' and to take control of your future with a simple plan for personal innovation." —Jenny Hutt, author, SiriusXM host of Just Jenny and cofounder of BunnyEyez

"Every great athlete, CEO, leader, teacher, and parent understands that greatness is a journey filled with the creative meaning of trying, falling, crying, laughing—and persevering, because the journey is what makes the difference. In TIP, Dave uses the power of conversation, of words, to compel you to cheer the hero along, all the while really cheering for yourself to become the best you can become." —Brian Hainline, MD, NCAA Chief Medical Officer

"How you feel about a brand or company often comes down to one individual who either cared deeply, and took accountability for the experience of a customer, or just didn't give a flip. TIP is a resource for anyone who wants to inspire their people to care more and have a positive impact on the future of their career, the success of the company, and the strength of the entire brand." —Ann Handley, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Everybody Writes, and Chief Content Officer of MarketingProfs

TIP is more than a story of one person's journey to recognition and growth in work and life. TIP is a strategy and motivational reminder to take personal accountability for your reputation, your results, and your value. TIP is an action plan designed to help people who desire a simple way to take charge of their careers, improve their performance, manage their reputations, and enhance their lives.

TIP is a timeless story filled with insights to help you become a standout performer, make good choices, give all you can, provide value to others, and be rewarded in return.

Based on author Dave Gordon's 30 years of professional experience and insights, TIP is the engaging and educational story of Brian Davis, an uninspired employee with a young family. One day, Brian is unceremoniously fired from his job without any notice. After spending a decade at the same job and never truly pushing himself to be more than average, Brian finds himself unemployed with no immediate prospects. Facing an uncertain future, Brian must choose between accepting another uninspiring job, or finally taking responsibility to control his own success and create his own unique value.

Faced with a crossroads in his life, Brian takes a temporary job in the restaurant and hospitality industry while he searches for his next, perfect role. Brian doesn't see himself as valuable to anyone at first. But, with the help of his new coworkers, insightful customers, and an unexpected mentor, Brian rediscovers the importance of purpose and passion in the delivery of standout customer service. He learns to add his own unique value by identifying his strengths and being known for the one thing that only he can bring. The more he gives of himself, the more he gets. Through his commitment and his consistency of beliefs, words, and actions, Brian gains a new reputation by creating memorable experiences for everyone around him.

TIP shows you that everyone has value, whether to another person, a community, a team, or an organization. When you know your value, everything you do in work and life becomes easier and more rewarding. The simple, yet powerful, strategy presented in TIP will help you take control of your career and your reputation and keep you on the path to sustained success.