Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

My ?Little White Lie?

Mama explains to Forrest that promoting a ping-pong paddle was only a ?little white lie?.

Sixteen years ago, I started performing for the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. My job was to sit in front of the restaurant on a park bench talking to tourists and potential shrimp consumers. My task was pretty simple. I engaged people in conversation and created a gump-like experience for them. It was a soft sell: Come sit with Forrest, take a picture, enjoy yourself, and if you’re hungry we have great shrimp, burgers, etc. It worked perfectly.

Except … I was asked one question that initially I didn’t have a good answer. I tried telling the pure truth, but that didn’t work out so well. So I created my own ‘little white lie.’ You’ll remember in the movie when Mama encouraged Forrest to promote the Flex-O-Ping-Pong Paddle. She acknowledged that it was just a little white lie and wasn’t hurting anyone.

Here is the question that I was asked and the little white lie I created to better fulfill my mandate of creating a gump-like experience for the tourists visiting Cannery Row in Monterey, California.

Sixteen Years ? and Counting

Grand Opening Day in Monterey, CA (March 29, 1996).

It was March 29, 1996 … exactly sixteen years to the day.

That was the day that I first professionally performed as Forrest Gump.

It was the Grand Opening of the first Bubba Gump Shrimp Company Restaurant in Monterey, California.

Here’s an abbreviated list of highlights that have happened since that day.

Stories of Gumption ? Lyn Hanush

stories-of-gumption
Stories of Gumption is a regular column that profiles individuals who admirably demonstrate Gumption as we define it. These are the stories of real people who exhibit gumption in overcoming personal challenges, and validate the spirit of Gumption during their journey. Let?s take inspiration from those who seize 100% personal responsibility and show us how to live a life that exhibits Gump-like character traits worthy of applause!

During Christmas week I was gumping in Monterey at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. A grandmotherly looking woman approached with her husband, some family members, and other friends. We had a normal interaction as group pictures were taken, good-natured jokes exchanged, and lots of smiles and laughter lightened the day.

As the assemblage started to wind down, this same woman approached, looking as if she wanted to share something personal. She said, ?A lot of people compare me to Forrest Gump.? Now I?ve heard thousands of Gump stories in my fifteen years portraying Forrest, so I raised an eyebrow as if to prompt her, ?Go on with your story.? She proclaimed, ?People say I?m like Forrest Gump because I walked all the way across America.?

From Blaine, Washington, to Key West, Florida: 4,026.5 miles. One year, two months, eleven days, and six hours!

Now I?m frequently amused by people?s stories ? but rarely does a story launch me off the bench and make me plead, ?May I share your walk in my Stories of Gumption blog series?? She graciously consented.?

Here is Lyn Hanush?s Putting a Face On America, The Great American Journey?? the journey of three women who walked across America.

Being Gracious ? Gump-Style (part 1)

Being gracious is a worthwhile pursuit!

I?m often asked the question, ?How has Steve Weber changed as a result of portraying Forrest Gump for the past 14+ years?? The typical short answer has been, ?I don?t think I?ve personally changed.?? I?ve been able to see the world, meet millions of people that I would have never met, have sat and posed for over 3 million photographs, and had a ?heck-uv-a-lot-uv-fun? ? but I?ve always thought that I personally haven?t really changed.

I?ve worked hard at using my natural talents and interests while integrating them into my portrayal of the character. So there?s always been a lot of Steve in the Forrest that I portray.

But in the last 2 years, I?ve re-considered that question and my previous answer. I now believe that I?ve identified one very significant and specific example of how the character has changed me for the better. I am now a more gracious person.

Gracious comes from the Latin gr?ti?sus meaning amiable. Today the term is defined as pleasantly kind, courteous, and expressive of goodwill or kindly feelings. Forrest Gump has taught me to be more gracious. Today I am more amiable, patient and kind.

So what does this mean? Was I formerly ungracious? unkind? or even arrogant? Let?s take a closer look.

Run Fripp Run!

Patricia Fripp surrounded by the wacky crew at SF Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

A few weeks ago I wrote about attending the NSA Annual Convention. I listed 5 key themes that I brought home from the experience. Lesson #5 was to Follow Up. How have I done on my Follow-Up? A- for quality ? C for quantity. I still have a thick stack of business cards to complete, hence the merely average grade for quantity. The good grade for quality is based on the genuine effort I am making to really know the people I met; ?spend a few minutes looking at their website, understand their niche, their specialty, and their thought-leadership platform. The goal is not to amass 100 people?s names in a database that I have no knowledge of ? the goal is to have actually connected with at least 25 people.

This past weekend I made one of those special connections.? Patricia Fripp?and I had lunch at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co in her hometown of San Francisco. For those of you who don?t recognize her name, Patricia is an All-Star in the world of speaking. She was the first female president of the NSA in 1984-85. She has presented to NSA chapters across the country over 300 times. She?s built a world-class organization?where she specializes as a keynote speaker, executive speech coach and business presentation skills expert. Patricia?s Hall of Fame Bio?documents her accomplishments as a person and speaker.

Comparing her to Forrest Gump, Patricia just keeps on running! Here?s what I learned during our luncheon.

[Read more…] about Run Fripp Run!

Birthdays are Like a Box of Chocolates

Forrest-Gump-Movie-Poster ?

Is this a weird coincidence or some sort of strange karma or destiny or fate?

July 6 (1994) ? the movie Forrest Gump released
July 7 (1958) ? my birthday
July 9 (1956) ? Tom Hanks? birthday

It seems more than ironic that my birthday would be so closely sandwiched between those two dates. For 14+ years I?ve made my living off the movie Forrest Gump. And for 30+ years I?ve been compared physically to the actor Tom Hanks.

The human mind tends to see patterns where none exist. My guess is it?s just a coincidence ? albeit weird. But let?s examine the ideas of coincidence, karma, destiny and irony a bit more deeply to see if you agree.

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

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