Last Sunday, I saw an email plea from a new speaker buddy, Brad Montgomery who I had gotten to know this summer at my National Speakers Association convention. Brad was in a panic. Several months ago, he had been booked to speak in Utah to a group of teachers never imagining that there would be a mining tragedy in the area in which he was to speak.  So he reached out to his fellow Certified Speaking Professional community (of which I am proud a member). He posed a question for us all. He asked what to do? You see, Brad is a commedian, a funny man, a make-you-laugh-till-milk-comes-out-of-your-nose guy. Yet he was puzzled about how to use humor in this situation. Was starting with a moment of silence appropriate? Be less funny? Ignore it? What to do?

Our community responded in a big way for him and much of it was just support for Brad. This my response to him: 

As you saw from the responses we have all been there. I was the motivational speaker at a health care association meeting right after 9/11. Two years ago, I was speaking on the day of the London terrorist attack. It’s not a fun place to be but it’s your responsibility to give it your best. Reach inside and pull out stuff you didn’t even know you had. As I thought about your plight, I was reminded of someone I had interviewed for a big State Farm Agents rally. She consistently ranked in the top 1% of agents. Half way through her best year ever, her husband dropped dead of a heart attack. She was relating this story to me and told me, “On the other side of adversity is ALWAYS something better”. I have quoted her many times with adding that it’s normal to have grieving and a period of suffering but at some point a silver lining appears. Perhaps more miners will be saved in the future, there will be an increased emphasis on safety, other employment options will be pursued, etc. When I have asked audiences about the worst thing that they have ever experienced in their lifetime the most common answer is 9/11. Sometimes I have asked them to come up with at least 7 positive things that have happened as a result of 9/11….lists include increased patriotism, higher respect for law enforcement, closer family relationships, more civility, etc. While the comedians were quiet about 9/11 right afterward, at some point people began to laugh again and laughter as you know is healing (this month’s readers digest is dedicated to humor). So what do you do? I think you do a piece on adversity and talk about coping skills that are available in dealing with adversity and go into your best stuff. People do need to laugh and even if for the moment, forgot about their troubles. YOU are the man to make that happen!

Hillary was right about one thing, it takes a village. I’m glad for the many villages for which I am a part. Glad to be able to give advice and more often glad to receive it even if I sometimes means “mining” the business of others. Note: Click here to read about how Brad handled his challenge.

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