I did something kind of crazy this past Monday. I tried out for a new reality show called the Big Give. At the urging of a PR company who told me about the show, I drove to Nashville for my chance to be one of ten contestants who will be selected to travel through the U.S. completing tasks based around the community. It seemed like a perfect fit and a way to promote my Richest People in America project.

I arrived at the Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville at 6:30 am for a 9:00 am casting call. I thought there would be more people there but when I arrived, there were only ten people in line in front of me. The first person was a lady from Ohio who was a Mary Kay consultant. She had taken on the responsibility of passing out numbers to everyone and writing down all of our names. She was so organized we all thought she was part of the Harpo! Another lady I met was home maker from Utah who had also tried out for a Martha Stewart show. Then there were two ladies from Mississippi and Rhonda Grote from Florida who has a business called Think Thoughtful that helps people and companies give creatively. I met a Pierre Leger from Indiana whose organization helps pay the mortgage for victims of natural disasters. I met a college professor, a surgeon from my home town of Jacksonville, a sales rep who said she was tired of the emphasis placed on earning the big bucks and wanted to get back to making a difference and of course, another professional speaker. One of the more interesting people I met was a 23 year old man from Nigeria who came to the U.S. to become a doctor. He and his father have a foundation that helps people get plastic surgery for free. He also wants to dispel the reputation that Nigeria has about internet scams (you probably read one this morning about a multi-millionaire who had millions he wants to transfer to you in the U.S.)

All these people had a same dream as I did – appearing on the show. Unfortunately, most left after a quick two minute interview, with a real reality – they, like me, weren’t going to be getting a call back.

I knew my chances were slim but I also knew that if I didn’t go, I had no chance at all.

Life regularly puts opportunities in our path. Many think, “It will never happen” so they don’t even try. Sometimes I am guilty of that thinking as well. While I’ll have to wait watch the show (like thousands of others who submitted an application or went to a casting call), I don’t have to wait for my opportunity to “pay if forward”. I’ll probably get that chance today. Perhaps, you will as well. That’s the true big give.

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Today’s Triva: It’s the birthday of the late Dr. Suess. Eat some green eggs and ham to celebrate.

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, associations, and national conventions. He is the founder of the The Worlds Biggest Blog Party an event which will connect bloggers from all over the world to raise money for charity. He is also founder and president of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com