Yesterday, I hiked Mnt LeConte in the Great Smoky Mountains with my friend Dr. Randy Small. Randy has set a goal to hike all 900 miles of Tennessee trails in the Great Smoky Mountains. Hiking the 2500 elevation change to the top of LeConte was one more notch in his belt.

We talked about a lot while we were hiking including our families, politics, and fear. Randy commented to me that he had a healthy respect for heights. In fact, he said his stomach got quezy when he climbed too high or was too close to a ledge with a sharp drop. He said when in faced with that fear he just had to jump right. I thought about my only experience only a day before on a high dive at a public pool. It seems that I could only imagine a less than perfect one and a half off the high dive. Though I had successfully completed that dive many times, I let my fear take stronghold on my actions. I didn’t heed the advice of my hiking buddy to dive right in. What fears are you facing and how are you jumping right in?

If you follow this blog, you know I took about six weeks off from Facebook  and most other social media. I LOVED it. Just curious if any one wants to read more…

I am one week into my plan to give up Twitter, Facebook and other social media. That part is going well. It’s the giving up personal email and cell phone use while in the car that has me cheating a little. I did sign on to Facebook twice but only to get a number or email I couldn’t get somewhere else. As much as I yearn for more time away from technology, it has become a way of life (and in many cases improves productivity). Even though I didn’t meet all of my goals, I have felt good about some of what has happened. Since I started my plan on Mother’s Day, I have:

- prepared two meals and cooked out for the family twice

-  played my guitar four times this week

-  started to organize finances and investment info

- played more games and read more books to the kids than I had in awhile

- penned 8 - 10 letters in my own handwriting!

I like where this is taking me and look forward to a total Facebook free week and continued sabbatical from other social media.

I’ll post again in a week or so.

Tim Richardson is an inspirational speaker who speaks about how giving increases employee morale, lowers employee turnover, increases customer loyalty and creates higher profits for Fortune 500 companies, healthcare organizations and professional associations. He is president and founder of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com

It’s time to take back some time. I’ve lost irretrievable time - sucked away into the black hole of technology. Of course, it’s my fault for not managing it better but I am claiming it back. Starting today on Mother’s Day until Father’s Day I am going cold turkey. No Facebook, no Twitter, no personal email and no other social media of any kind during this time. While I THINK there are some business benefits, I haven’t realized enough to warrant the estimated 4-6 hours a week I spend on it – hours I’ll now spend doing other things. Of course, there are some benefits of social media and technology but I think there is a great deal of time suck too. There are three things that inspired my action to go on a technology diet (which also includes a diet from the codependency I have with my cell phone).

1) An intense desire to connect more deeply and personally with family and friends

2) The hectic pace in which my life has been for most of this year (for which social media, in particular, has only contributed to the hurry)

3)  Efforts led by Oprah for a No Phone Zone (watch this video clip and print this No Phone Zone sign to put in your car).

The last few months I haven’t been helped but rather hindered by 24/7 access to email and social media. In the last month alone, I have witnessed or participated in the following:

- spending most of a 2 ½ hour flight from Denver online (while missing an incredible sunset outside.

- “complaining” to a flight attendant when Gogo (Delta’s in flight internet) wasn’t available on a short flight to Detroit last week.

-  stopping at a rest stop that had free wireless while driving from Iowa to Minnesota….just to try it out.

- twice seeing men in public restrooms texting while using the urinal

- conversing with a couple who, while she read Live The Life You’ve Always Wanted, he talked on his Crackberry Blackberry (he admitted in our conversation that sometimes at dinner with the family, he’d check email or respond\to a text while waiting for the food to arrive).

I’ve had enough (at least for awhile). So I am quitting… cold turkey. Yeah, I’ll travel with my phone if I am away on business but I have taken the Oprah No Phone Zone pledge and have printed it out, both to post in my car and in my luggage, as a reminder to pull over IF I have an URGENT call. I figured I survived until my early forties without a cell phone so I certainly can make it for 41 days. Extreme measure? Perhaps. Unnecessary? I think not.

My technology avoidance may not work for everyone but it’s a needed step for me to re-connect. Here’s what I expect to happen while on my temporary social media and cell sabbatical:

- less neck and shoulder stress from losing 4-6 hours a week in computer time

- a more relaxed schedule . I believe some of the very things that are supposed to help us connect with others have actually made most of us connected less with those who matter most.

- more time for building lasting relationships and less time on digital relationships that probably don’t matter.

- fewer but deeper “conversations” with people for whom I don’t need web access for “talking”.

- more time to play with and read to my kids.

- time to play or listen to music.

- quiet. Nothing. Letting my brain rest and my body regenerate.

- taking slow walks with my wife and family.

- time to make a few fabulous dinners from recipes I have been collecting from Facebook (just kidding).

It seems to me that one on one communication has been replaced by communication with the masses. So IF you want to “connect” with me during my sabbatical, “friend” me, or Twalk to me, you’ll have to do it the old fashioned way via snail mail or a phone call. I’ve faced the fact that I won’t be on Facebook and I won’t be Twalking on Twitter, and will only use e-mail for business communications. As for my cell phone, the ringer will be off and I will only use to call my family OR in a REAL emergency. I’m unplugging and I’ve never been so excited about the possibilities for real connections.

Tim Richardson is an inspirational speaker who speaks about how giving increases employee morale, lowers employee turnover, increases customer loyalty and creates higher profits for Fortune 500 companies, healthcare organizations and professional associations. He is president and founder of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com

The Collapse of Distinction - Great title. Great book. And never more true than today. My professional speaker colleague Scott McKain has a strong point of view in this book and I really like (and agree) with what I have read so far. My main take-a-way: we’ve so standardized so much of business that the truly distinctive companies (and perhaps individuals) are becoming extinct. McKain writes about customer service. That’s his domain. I write and speak about being RICH in a way I like to think of as distinctive. McKain is in a good space as there will always be a need to point out how important it is stand out. I think I am in a good space too as there are a plethora of books (and motivational speakers) who claim to have the secret to becoming wealthy. But few talk about what it really means to be RICH. As I thought about McKain’s examples and my own experiences the last few days, I have had both RICH examples (people who both get customer service and have figured out the RICH life thing). Executive director Freddie Templeton, and the many of the wonderful audience members from the Colorado State Association for Health Underwriters (my Thursday client) get it. The GREAT team at the Grand Hyatt TOTALLY gets customer service and while I didn’t have conversations about their RICH lives, I am guessing they get that too. The staff at the REI Fort Collins store gets it – they’re living their dream working in a career that keeps them close to outdoor activities that they love. It’s easy to GIVE great service when your passionate about the product or service. Colorado State University business school Dean Ajar gets it . Colin Powell, he’s clearly passionate about making a difference and he is smart and funny too!  Loveland Pass ski area get the RICH part but totally missed the service part today. Finally Delta airlines, whose chair I am sitting in as I write this really miss the mark. Due to a string of poor customer service interactions, Delta has finally motivated me to patronize another major airline. As a company they don’t get it at all.

Being distinctive makes both giving great customer service easier and living RICH more attainable.

Tim Richardson is an inspirational speaker who speaks about how giving increases employee morale, lowers employee turnover, increases customer loyalty and creates higher profits for Fortune 500 companies, healthcare organizations and professional associations. He is president and founder of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com

As we run out of April, I am reflecting on my month and the significance of this month. April has been a pivotal month over the years. It was in April many years ago that I decided to leave my job at IBM to pursue my dream of being a motivational speaker. In particular, April 18^th is a big day for me. In addition to being both my brother Gerald’s birthday, it was also the birthday of my grandmother. On a grander scale it also is the anniversary of the day Paul Revere helped change the course of history with his infamous mid-night ride. Still grander (at least for me!), April 18th is the anniversary of my first date with my wife. The story: she asked me out (her mother suggested it). We spent the entire day from 6:30 am until 12:30 am, together, 18 hours (it started with an early morning triathlon I did in which I set course records for the slowest time recorded in triathlon history). After the tri, we spent the rest of the day at the beach then had a cook out at my house with friends before attending Kontiki - a beach themed Chi O party. This year we celebrate 18 years of marriage.

My first date and ultimately my marriage happened because of connector personalities (I met someone who introduced me to another friend who later introduced me to my wife). This all happened over a couple of years in which we had a friendly acquaintance. After attending a wedding with one of her friends, we spontaneously stopped by her apartment to show her my new Jeep. Her parents were there and they were ALL in their PJ’s (at 9:30 or 10:00 on a Saturday night!). A few days later, she lamented to her mother that her normal “date” and current boyfriend would be out of town for her final sorority party. Her mother said, “what about Tim?”

Now, 18 years and six kids later, we are traveling through this journey called life. While THINKING about writing (instead of actually doing it), I starting thinking about the significant of all the number 18’s and 8’s in my life.  I started writing this on April 18^th (see above).  My childhood history hero not only rode his historic ride on April 18th he also died in 1818 - which if you divide by the number of children I have (8) it equates to 303 (which is the area code, from which I write this with my daughter who is traveling with me. My daughter, while  born on the 9th day of the month,  in less than 8 years will be … you guessed 18! When she is 88, the year will be 2086 and I will be 86-ed if I don’t get my sleep and stop this fixation with 18. Have a gr8t weekend!

So you get SOMETHING out of this post, check out the info below:

www.gladwell.com/tippingpoint/index.html (scroll down to point # 6 or better yet buy the book). Paul Revere has always been one of my favorite people in American history. I learned reading Gladwell book that he alarmed the colonist because he was a connector. His connections and ability to inspire people to action changed the face of America history. Whether it’s first date or a historic and patriotic action, connections life and history changing.

One of the things I have done for each of my six kids is write them letters. I started when my first child was still in my wife’s tummy. Since I have been writing a lot lately, one of my kids likes me to read  something both from my new book and from the journals I wrote when they were all younger.  I stumbled across this letter written when my son was not even two. Now’s he 14 and would be totally embarrassed about this letter. It touched me though and reminded me yet again, of how quickly time passes. If you are fortunate enough to have little ones, enjoy each moment.

My precious little baby:

This morning you woke up very early due to  thunder storm. Either that or you were having a bad dream. Mommy brought you to bed and we cuddled together. Your heart was beating on top of mine seemingly sending a rhythmic message of love. You slept for awhile, then stirred and fell back to sleep for a few minutes. Then you put your little hands on my eyes to see if I was sleeping or awake. It was a moment to cherish and one I don’t normally have as you normally choose your mother if you need a comforting embrace.

I laid there soaking in the moment as if nothing else mattered. And at that moment, nothing else did. Nothing that I had to do could be as important as that seemingly long time together that now seems like a flash of lightning in a storm. Your childhood will be like that too I’m told. I’ll look back when you are a teenager someday and ask “where did time go”.

So the next time I see lightning, I’m going to use that as a reminder of how quickly time will pass. I’m going to take time out from whatever I am doing to play with you, to look deeply into your eyes, and try to see the wonder of the world through your eyes. I don’t want to have regrets about missing this precious time.

Dave Douglas is a new breed of entrepreneurs who wants to make a profit while making a difference. His business, Social Planet, is a global philanthropic network located in San Francisco, CA. They help companies that make a difference attract new customers. Social Planet feels that customers will want to support these businesses because of their social responsibility and fair trade policies.

I was impressed with Dave before I knew of Social Planet and now I am even more impressed. Dave has discovered the kind of RICH life that this book is all about. I met Dave a few years ago after a speech I gave in San Francisco. We connected for a few minutes after my speech and then shared a ride to the airport. We have stayed in touch via email, Facebook, Twitter, and phone calls.  In one of our many phone conversations, we have discussed Social Planet as well the project I am working on to find the REAL Richest People in America. Dave also kindly offered to review my book Living Rich in the early stages. A few weeks after he read it, I received an email from Dave that defined his RICH experience:

“I want to share something with you that made me realize how RICH my father was even though he was a pipe fitter working a blue-collar job in an oil refinery for 35 years. I’m not sharing this in hopes that you will put it in your book (you’re in Dave!), but more as an explanation of my personal “epiphany” of what it means to be RICH.

When I was 35 years old, my father passed away at the age of 71 on February 19th, 1995 after years of being ill. He lived with my mother in Tulsa, Oklahoma where my other three siblings lived.

With their blessing and excitement, I left home for a life of adventure when I was 18 and ended up living in California. I saw my family quite a bit, but in truth it was always a vacation - either they were visiting me in California or I was home for the holidays or some other event. It was great seeing everyone, but in truth I didn’t really know what went on in their day-to-day lives. I didn’t even know the friends that they had except for visiting their church when I would be back in Tulsa.

I kept a viewpoint of my father that I had had the last time I lived with him and saw his life up close and personal. I always respected him and was never ashamed of him. In fact, I wished I could be more like him. People always praised my father, but being a kid in high school I only could see us being “middle class” and not having the “big house” or “extravagant vacations”…my fondest memories now or my childhood are the very vacations that I thought were “second class” as a kid. We would spend TWO WEEKS camping at the lake fishing, swimming, boat rides, burgers, and campfires; God, how I miss that now.

I couldn’t believe how many people were there to pay their respects! The chapel in the funeral home and couldn’t hold everyone. People flowed out into the foyer and into the garden.

I was shocked to hear people that I didn’t know, people of serious wealth and influence in Tulsa, tell me how much they were going to miss “Pete”…(that was his nickname.) His legal name was Elza LeRoy Douglas. I can’t remember anyone calling him Elza except family members at our family reunions; and that was usually when they were giving him a hard time about something or other.

They would tell me about ways that he helped them at one time or another, they would tell me fishing stories, they would express how he touched their lives or supported them when they were down. I learned that my father was the president of the Tulsa Rockhound society. I learned how much he loved his small church and how devoted he was to its success. I found out that he still had friends from high school, even after 50 years. I met people that he worked with from 15 years earlier. There were so many people from so many walks of life and from so many levels of society that I literally had to take a moment and gather my emotions.

I realized that day that my father was one of the RICHEST people I have ever known and that he always taught me how to live my life…even in his death. I thought it would give you maybe a little inspiration to your writing to here that I’ve been trying to live RICH for about 13 years now and it took at least 5 years to get to the point of living RICH the way I wanted to. I basically retired from working for a living at 40 in 2000. For most of my working life, I pursued monetary riches. I was making nearly $500,000 per year, but it wasn’t until I saw what my father had accomplished through his life that I realized I was on the wrong track.

Dave is on track now. I know you’ll hear more about Dave and the great work he and a growing breed of social entrepreneurs are doing to change the world and make a living in the process.

“People have no idea how good they have it,” my cab driver said. I had asked him one question and somehow that turned into a sermon. I make it a point when I travel to engage my cab driver, shuttle bus driver or whoever I first encounter when I arrive at my destination. Inevitably, I get a quote, a useful tidbit, or insight into what is happening in the local area. Rarely do I get a speech, but I feel like I did today.

My driver’s name was Thierno Hamet Babb Ba and he was from the Islamic Republic of  Mauritania, a small country in West Africa.  He shared stories with me of hatred, prejudice and even slavery. What Thierno and his family and friends have experienced sure makes any troubles most of us complain about seem insignificant. If you have ever complained about not having enough money, driving a clunker, or not being able to afford having a bigger house, imagine living on $1.25 as 20% of Mauritania’s population does. To put that in perspective:

- A visit to  Starbucks would cost you about four day’s wages

- Admission to a movie would cost you eight day’s wages

- A $50 dinner out would cost you forty day’s wages

- A new I-pad would cost you 400 day’s wages

Most Americans and others living in democratic countries are so RICH by the world’s standards. Yet many of us complain about not having enough.  Thierno’s passion for his freedom was emphatic. It’s a privilege that is often overlooked. Freedom allows us both the opportunity to become rich monetarily, as well as in the way we live our lives.  Freedom allowed him to share openly with me about the RICH life he lives in the U.S. and to give me some advice to pass on to others.  I asked him what advice he would give others coming to the U.S. from other countries.

1. Anyone can make it.

2. Whatever you want to be, you can be or do.

3. Take every opportunity you get and make the most of it.

4. Work hard.

5. Don’t blame other people.

There are probably thousands of stories similar that cab drivers, lawn maintenance workers, hotel staff and others could share.  I would encourage you to engage someone in conversation at your next opportunity. You might just get an inspirational speech on living a RICH life.

I am writing this en route to Miami a few days before the Super Bowl. On the plane were a number of current and former NFL players, boxing great Evander Holyfield, and singer Usher. There was a lot of talent on that plane – people who were very good at one point before breaking through to greatness. Quite coincidentally, I had been thinking about the book From Good to Great by Jim Collins.  There’s no denying that many of the passengers had made that transformation. To be great in boxing, music or as an NFL player, takes more than being good, you have to be great. To play in the Super Bowl, an even higher level of greatness has to be achieved. As fate would have it, a former NFL player sat down in the seat next to me. In the course of our conversation, I learned that he played wide receiver for 15 years. He told me that his best years where his last few years before retirement. That made me curious as that is not always true for an athlete in their mid 30’s. He seemed interested in talking and I was interested in asking questions so I asked questions and he answered them. Below is part of our dialogue:

How do you go from Good to Great? It’s all about getting a chance to be great. I started my career with one team and I was labeled a C player. After a few years with that team, I was traded and with my new team I was given a chance to shine. My new teams belief in me and the chance I was given gave me confidence. When people believe in you and give you a chance, it boosts your confidence. Plus I knew that if I made a mistake they weren’t going to bench me. When people feel confident in you and your abilities you can achieve any greatness you desire. But someone has to give you that chance.

How does one obtain confidence? First you must work hard to learn your skill and be very good at it. Then you have to believe in yourself. Finally, you have to be prepared – mentally and physically when your chance comes.  You can’t be standing on the sidelines not paying attention. Sometimes getting a chance is like a fast ball that comes at you quickly. You can’t leave it to chance that you will be ready. You have to have done the hard work so you will be ready. Whether it’s business, sports, or life, you have to work on your skills, have the right attitude and not get down on yourself when you make a mistake.

Describe how your confidence and abilities changed in your career? In your early years you just try to make the team. Even if you just barely make the team, you are satisfied. When you are in your middle years, you have to be a starter. If you aren’t a starter by this point, it’s likely the team will get rid of you.  I tell everyone I was in the league five years before I became an ”every down player”. During those five years, I was watching and learning.

What advice would you give a rookie today? Watch the guys in front of you, particularly the ones that are successful. When I was a young player, I would watch how best players practiced. I would watch how they ran routes and how they prepared. I made it a point to take what they did and work to do it a little better. I believe if you do this, things will fall into place and you will achieve greatness.

 To what do you attribute to a long successful career? Three things:  Hard work, confidence, and attitude. It was during the last phase of my career that I had my best years.  As my skills began to diminish, I worked harder and played smarter. I kept my attitude in check and knew that because I had accomplished a great deal already, I could still get the job done. I think you achieve greatness when you are no longer in your prime and you can still get the job done at a high level.

Whether you are an asipring athlete, musician, artists, corporate manager or business owner, the journey of going from good to great starts today. Do something great today.