I had planned to introduce my blog readers to my new blog X365 in which I plan to do some form of exercise everyday for an entire year. I had also been thinking about blogging about my iDeas for Apple iProducts (after changing a diaper at 1:00 am and my wife changing another a few hours later, I am thinking the leading candidate is the iChanger). However I was caught red-handed (and now red-faced) yesterday afternoon right in front of the Last Chance strip club. I wouldn’t be writing about something as embarrassing as this had I not received the following email from my friend Randy Small:“I know I shouldn’t be asking you this, but just out of curiosity, what the heck were you doing at the Last Chance strip club on Friday afternoon???? I tried to honk my horn at you as I drove by, but my horn’s broken. (Randy haven’t you seen the bumper sticker that says, ‘Horn broken, watch for middle finger?’ ) Do we need to have an intervention?”Well, er, Randy (and anyone else who may have seen me). I was, er… um…. ah… I was changing my flat tire that just happened to occur right in front of the club. Don’t believe that huh? Okay, I was picking up trash. Yeah, that’s it. Keep Blount Beautiful. That’s my motto. Actually, I was campaigning to end adult entertainment in our area - Keep Knoxville Klean. Yeah, that’s the story. No, okay the real reason, I was going undercover to apply for a job (after all they were hireing) to expose (no pun intended) the unfair labor practices in the adult entertainment industry. Since I know the real reason will never fly with Randy and the group that will likely hear about this, I offer the excuses ideas above. The real story is that I was there for a friend. Yes, I was at the Last Chance as a photographer (and it wasn’t to take a picture of the 1 ugly lady advertised on the sign!). Before you tar and feather me, know that I went there to take pictures of the sign; I have been wanting to for several months. Late last year, I was speaking at a convention with my professional speaker colleague Mike McKinley. Mike uses hundreds of photographs in his program and I am going to see him next week at my National Speakers Association convention. Since I knew I would see Mike, I figured it was my last chance to get the picture at the Last Chance (since believe it or not, I just don’t frequent the Last Chance or even the area where it’s located regularly). As one of my favorite columnist Dave Barry says, “I am not making this up!”. The ‘funny’ thing about this situation is I remember thinking “What if someone sees me?” but then I thought, “What are the chances?”. Well it turns out the chances were pretty good. It was during rush hour traffic along one of the busiest highways in the area and I parked my car right under the sign! After my friend Randy sent the email, I imagined a few newspaper headlines:

Former Cub Scout Leader given too many chances

Father of Five kicked out of home: Wife: “I gave him one Last Chance”

Inspirational Speaker gets chance “inspiration”

No chance for future public office for Richardson

Living Rich is about not being afraid to standout even when it means taking some good (and not so good) natured ribbing. I knew there was a risk of being seen somewhere that I PROMISE I have never been before and now will NEVER go again. If I had only been X-ercising or perhaps waiting in line for an iPhone…fat chance.

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