Seventy-seven years ago today, my grandparents were married. They exemplify the rich life that I write about in this blog and aspire to as well. I have never known two people who were as generous as grandpa and grandma Richardson. In the years when people had to get sponsors to come to the US, my grandparents sponsored a dozen families or more. They helped pay for the educate of new Americans making it possible for them to pursue a life they never dreamed possible. For some, they paid for their four year degree, others they helped to pay for graduate school and one man, they paid for his doctoral studies which enable him to have a long career working for DuPont. The lives they touched were amazing.

From as far back as I can remember, Grandma had a sewing group that met weekly at her house. Five to seven ladies would come to my grandparents mountain home each week and sew school bags and clothes for children through and organization called Church World Service. When I visited my grandparents, it was rare to find my grandmother without something she was sewing in her hands. She always thought about others and what she could do to make a difference. I can remember semi truck loads of clothes and school supplies being shipped from Waynesville, NC to help children all over the world. She collected pencils, notebook paper, and other school supplies to fill these bags mad e from scraps of material.

Late in her life she was the caregiver for her wealthy older sister. When my great Aunt died, my grandmother inherited a large sum of money which she methodically gave away to causes she cared about including the Heifer Project, Compassion International, Habitat for Humanity, March of Dimes, and countless fine charitable organizations. My grandparents believed in giving others a lift in life.

As a present to my grandfather who served many years as a pastor, my grandmother started a college scholarship fund at a Florida Southern College for students pursuing a career in the ministry. Without my grandfather ever knowing, she raised money at church bazaars, through bake sales, and by asking for contributions from the people who knew and loved my grandfather over the years. On his 75^th birthday, she presented him with a certificate stating that over $100,000 had been put into an endowment fund to help young people get an education.

One of the greatest treasures I have are recordings of both of my grandparents talking about their lives from as early as they can remember even up to their last years. My grandmother loved to read and I loved to hear her read even long after I became an adult. She would Uncle Remus books and a very non-political correct book called Old Adam and his Chillin’. As she read, she would use a variety of voices for the different characters and races represented though their wasn’t a racist bone in her 5′0″, ninety five pound body. She loved all people and helped anyone who needed help who was willing to help themselves.

The blessing both my grandparents received over the years were tremendous. Many children shared the legacy of their names. Extended family members of those who were helped by my grandparents visited and stay in communication with her right up until her death in 2003 at the age of ninety-seven. To me, they represent the legacy of a life well lived and they truly were some of the richest people I have ever known.

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

Apparently, I blew it. Yesterday was National Underwear Day - so many choices, so little time. In the haste of all the celebrations (yesterday was my 20th Independence Day Celebration), I just didn’t get a chance to fully celebrate the day. However, somehow, somewhere the day got it’s justice. When I read about National Underwear Day (a day created by companies that sell underwear), I was reminded of another day- Sunday Undie Day - a day created by a philanthropist Henri Landwirth. This year, this event collected 77,557 pairs of underwear(why is underwear a pair anyway?) and diapers for poor and homeless families in North East Florida.

Look for Henri to appear on the Richest People in America list for this year. I would bet Henri didn’t pose yesterday in his underwear for anyone. So don’t feel bad if you missed it. You’ll probably feel better by donating some underwear than donning some and posing in public.

Tim Richardson is an inspirational speaker who wears his underwear in private only. He 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

Twenty years ago today, I was released from prison. This is not something many people know about me and frankly, I have not told too many people what today means to me. I served time in Tallahassee, Florida - three and a half long years. Each day was the same grind. I lived for weekends when the drudgery of the week was less. My prison was the IBM Corporation where I was employed right out of college. I truly was a fish out of water and yes some days I felt like I was incarcerated. The times that I was jazzed at work were after we had been given opportunities to attend training programs or motivational speakers. Some of the motivational speakers and corporate speakers I heard at IBM, helped me decide that professional speaking is what I would do in my own life. I was also heavily influenced by a few books I read.

The summer before I started at IBM, I had spent living with my brother in Chico, California. As fate would have it, an old roommate of his had left a box of books in the spare bedroom of my brothers apartment. There were two books on the top of the stack that I read cover to cover - The Magic of Thinking Big by David Swartz and How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. Those two books started me on a journey toward goal setting and having a positive attitude. They are books I will always treasure. After I graduated from college, a professor at Florida Southern College where I received my undergraduate degree, gave me the book The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandio. I didn’t start reading that book until I was in a very down place at work (almost getting fired can make most people a bit down). I credit that book as a life turning point. Those three books all contributed to my departure from IBM on this day in 1987. I remember my friends thinking I was crazy. My family didn’t understand. My co-workers thought I had lost it by leaving what Tom Peters called one of the best companies to work for in the world. Only my golden retriever dog seemed to understand. I remember taking her for a walk on decision day (the day I needed to tell management my career plans). I had applied for an educational leave of absence hoping to finish my masters degree at Florida State University. My plan was to take a year off IBM, finish a few remaining courses, while determining if I could make a go at it as an entrepreneur. I thought if it didn’t work out, I could go back to IBM in another position. The managers who reviewed my leave application did me the greatest favor ever by saying no to my plan (of course I didn’t know it at the time). I remember being in a big field with my dog as tears flowed down my face. I truly didn’t know what to do. I had just bought a house, a Jeep CJ7, and was on the verge of becoming president of a company that had no assets and no customers! As crazy as it sounds, I asked my dog (maybe it was God - I am a bit dyslexic) “What am I supposed to do?”. After our walk, I went home and stopped at the mailbox before going in my house. There in the box was my answer on the cover of Success magazine. The cover article was titled “IBM Renegades: Where are They Now?”. While I haven’t (yet) graced the cover of Success magazine, I do feel like a renegade sometimes. As I took the road less traveled. Independence can be bliss.

So tonight, I celebrate my 20th anniversary of leaving IBM and starting my own business. It’s been a journey with lots of twists and turns but worth the ride.

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It seems fitting today to introduce the latest project: The Worlds Biggest Blog Party. You are invited to party on. I hope you’ll join the fun.

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. He is founder of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com

We recently had friends in from out of town. Their kids are older than ours and they were telling us of their trials and tribulations (and there were many). It made a huge impact on my wife and me. We couldn’t stop thinking about their situation for days.

A day or two later, my son, age 11, was reading my bio for a proposal that was sitting on the kitchen table for my wife, Adele, to proof. When I wasn’t around, he said to her, “Gosh, Mommy, have you read daddy’s bio? It’s so long. He sure has done a lot with all the books he’s written (two). Do you think the president has heard about him?” 

Wouldn’t it be great if we could always live up to the pedestal our young children put us upon? W, are you listening?

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. He is founder of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com

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

Today I met Olive ….(well, over the internet). I would bet she is the oldest blogger in the world at 107. Does anyone know someone older? It would be interesting to find the youngest blogger in the world, the person blogging in the most remote area of the world, the person who has the most blog entries, etc.

Olive, you are invited to the Worlds Biggest Blog Party starting September 11th. Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

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. He is founder of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com