Ralph Hood

Biography

Ralph grew up among the marshes and beaches of coastal Georgia before becoming a commercial pilot and aircraft salesman/sales manager in Alabama. Along the way, he graduated from Clemson University, where he wrote for "The Clemson Tiger" newspaper, and where, he says, "Through grit, determination and superior intelligence, I was able to cram four years of college into only five years."

Today, Ralph is a full-time professional speaker and award-winning writer. He writes several regular columns for nationwide trade magazines. "My columns," he says, "are widely read by my wife." His books, The Truth & Other Lies, Southern Raised in the Fifties and Ground Clutter: The Book, have sold from Australia to England and across the U.S.A. Ralph, a CSP (Certified Speaking Professional), compares flying an airplane to life itself in his uniquely humorous style. His workshops, which have helped rocket engineers, salespeople, physicians, educators and health professionals with team building, motivation, customer service and sales, provide hardworking, bottom-line information that can be put to work in the real marketplace tomorrow morning. His humorous speeches? Well, after all, who are we to argue with Oprah?

Publications

Ground Clutter the Book
"Observations, comments, and other things I wish I'd never written!"

Ralph Hood`s regular column, Ground Clutter, has appeared in every issue ever published of Airport Business magazine and its predecessor, FBO, since the original issue in 1986. This book includes Ralph`s favorite columns... plus updates for each.

He brags when he was right, grovels when he was wrong - all in his uniquely humorous style.

Read it for the history or read it for the fun of it - but don`t miss it!

Titles

It`s Clear on Top
Perfect for luncheon, banquet, or keynote. Compares flying "On Top" of the weather to living and working "On Top" of life`s problems. Explosive humor, strong message, mixed to fit your needs. Has delighted audiences from Alaska to Puerto Rico and from Hawaii to Spain.

You Can`t Do It By Yourself
Personal team building that really works. Valuable for everyone who needs the cooperation of other people. Used often for managers or employees, or, perhaps best, both together. Learn the two most important concepts of motivating others to join, and excel on, your teams. Hardworking tools you can put to work tomorrow, delivered with humor that makes the points.

A Goal is Not a Goal Unless You Really Mean to Get There!
If pilots planned flights the way you plan to reach your goals, would you fly with them? Learn: To set and reach goals as pilots prepare and use flight plans; the difference between goals and dreams; to plan for emergencies and changes. Humorous examples make sure you remember the clear-cut steps to goal attainment.

You Gotta Have Standards - But They Gotta be The Right Standards!
Learn to set and live by standards of safety: the right standards. Learn the critical difference between standards and goals. Apply to your workplace the standard-setting methods that have worked so well in aviation. One major company called this workshop "right on target" for their safety managers.

The Least We Can Do!
We have standards for OSHA, EPA, EEOC, ad nauseam. But do we have standards for the customer? It`s the least we can do. Learn to set, implement, measure, maintain and improve upon standards for the most important person in your business, the customer. Humor nails down dead-serious methods and techniques that work with real customers.

Other Programs
Ralph builds custom-tailored presentations for any group. Just ask.