“The Amazing Hondo” Hughes implemented a survival strategy when a primary need for connection with his parents became disrupted. He permitted himself to get his needs met outside of his family of origin. Mentors in sports, math, and magic encouraged Hondo to develop his gifts and talents and share them with others. Legendary Billy Peterson was Hondo’s baseball coach.  Facebook

Part of Hondo’s longevity is his innovative and creative marketing practices to leverage client relationships. When you are only as good as your next big gig, meaningful conversations can increase incoming calls by 50% and turn one gig into many. Business mentoring from Mark LeBlanc has also deepened Hondo’s business sense. A penny analogy underscores how to grow your business exponentially.

There are pearls of wisdom sprinkled throughout our conversation as Hondo talks about building a career through his craft of magic with a message. Three tips for building your portfolio are one example. And, imagining yourself where you want to be will increase the odds of getting there was a piece of advice from a mentor.

Hondo recalls a treasured memory of visiting Muhammad Ali at his home. Muhammad Ali said he was forming a comeback and jokingly says to Hondo, “With all your jive, I’ll take you in five.”

In his 40s, tragedy knocked on Hondo’s doorstep. Two police officers deliver the news of his youngest brother Mark’s death by suicide. The aspiration for Hondo’s magic came from Mark. Mark was a gifted guitar player, singer, comedian. Early in Mark’s life, he became interested in magic and took lessons at Eagle Magic Store with Al Schneider and brought Hondo to the store.

As if one tragedy weren’t enough, Hondo’s mother died of lung cancer two years before Mark’s death, and his Dad died a few years later. Each death prompted an inward focus and a ‘stop doing’ and ‘start being’ kind of human focus. His performances took on new meaning, and his audiences include Mark’s presence and Hondo’s gratitude.

I leave you with two exercises you can download and complete: Universal Human Needs Exercise and WeMentor Workaholism Quiz. And Cat Stevens’ lyrics to Where Do The Children Play. Tune in to find out why this song meant so much to Mark and Hondo. DOWNLOAD

Where Do The Children Play

by Cat Stevens

Well, I think it’s fine, building Jumbo planes

Or taking a ride on a cosmic train

Switch on summer from a slot machine

Get what you want to if you want, ’cause you can get anything.

I know we’ve come a long way

We’re changing day today

But tell me, where do the children play?

Well, you roll on roads over fresh green grass

For your lorry loads pumping petrol gas

And you make them long, and you make them tough

But they go on and on, and it seems you can’t get off

Oh, I know we’ve come a long way

We’re changing day to day

But tell me, where do the children play?

Well you’ve cracked the sky, scrapers fill the air

Will you keep on building higher

‘Til there’s no more room up there?

Will you make us laugh, will you make us cry?

Will you tell us when to live, will you tell us when to die?

I know we’ve come a long way

We’re changing day to day

But tell me, where do the children play? 

Please do the Conscious Attentive Leadership Mentoring (C.A.L.M.) Activities, below.