Today I spoke for the New York Association of Homes and Services for the Aging. I shared this story with them given to me after speaking to a group of administrators at the American Health Care Association.  

I was in training at the beginning of my career. At the facility where I worked, there was a woman in a wheel chair that only stared. The staff said she hadn’t spoken since she became a resident several years before. This lady, Mary, who hadn’t spoken in years became my project. I was determined to get her to talk as there was no documented medical reason for her not to verbally communicate. Every time I saw her, I would get down on one knee and talk to her while patting her hand and smiling at her. After months of trying and without getting a response, I began to treat her the way the rest of the staff did which was to treat her like she wasn’t there.  Then I went to work for another facility and totally forgot about Mary and my goal.  After six months, I returned to my original position. As I stepped off the elevator onto the floor to greet the staff, Mary was there sitting in her wheel chair looking at me. I walked over and patted her hand and started to walk on by. Very unexpectedly, she reached for my arm. “Where the hell have you been?” she asked. I was speechless and floored with emotion. The staff went crazy. After that day, we couldn’t her to stop talking. She had very foul language but we welcomed her communication. She died seven months later. But she died back in touch with her family, the staff, and with me.

When you think you aren’t making a difference, don’t give up. That experience was a defining moment in my career. 

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

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I’ve noticed some silver lining in the current economic situation. More than one newspaper (like this San Francisco Chronicle article) or blog site I have read in the last week has reported that people who have lost their jobs are doing something about it - they are giving of their time to help others. How easy it would be for some to want to play the “poor me” card or have a daily pity party after losing their job. What a great thing it would if  those without work would find time to make a difference in their communities while waiting for work. Not a bad idea for those who have a job either.

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

Twitter with Tim or get LinkedIn

It’s so refreshing to see people who LOVE their job, particularly in today’s economic climate. It makes perfect sense to me that the people who are going to thrive today are the ones who give it their all, who are innovative in their approach to work, and who are passionate about what they do. Are you?

Check out this Southwest flight attendant rapping the preflight announcement. Look for ways to differentiate yourself today. Stand up and standout - it could very well make you RICH!

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

Twitter with Tim or get LinkedIn

I love making cool connections with people. Whether it’s the old fashion way of engaging someone in a live conversation or using social media, it’s fun to see the results of the connecting. Two examples:

1) About a year ago, I was sitting on a plane headed off for a speaking engagement. I happened to hear a guy sitting right across from me talking about FSU (where I went to grad school). After he ended his conversation, I asked him if he attended FSU which lead us to a great conversation on the flight. During our brief time together, Dr. Fritz Polite and I exchanged cards and agreed we needed to connect again. Last week, Doc “P” as he became to me, invited me to give my signature keynote speech “Living Rich: Giving, Working, and Leading for a Better Tomorrow” at the University of Tennessee where he is a professor. When I put a note on Twitter that I was speaking in a Sports Management class, Dr. Chrystal D. Porter, at Endicott College tracked me down. I later found out she also went to FSU (with Doc “P” as I now call him).  Somehow I think I’ll remain connected with two new friends for awhile.

2) Several months ago, I responded to a LinkedIn request from a lady named Lisa Cummings. Lisa is the founder of the International Assocation of MBA’s. She was looking for interviewees for her blog so I sent her an email. When she read my blog and Richest People in America website, she became interested in my views on becoming RICH. She then requested an interview which was recently posted on how MBA’s can become RICH. From that interview, I have met some interesting MBA’s who are using their skills to make the world a better place. I also have come to learn about MBA’s Without Borders that helps entrepreneurs in developing countries find MBA’s to help them with their businesses. I also found out about the Goodness500 which tracks the good deeds of big companies. Both of these “discoveries” came as a result of connecting with Lisa.  Incidentally, I introduced Lisa to Doc “P” so it’s come full circle.  So in addition to keeping your ears open on a plane, I recommend you Twitter to get LinkedIn. Who knows where it will lead you.

Twitter with Tim or get LinkedIn

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

Dear President Obama:

PLEASE do cut or eliminate wasteful spending but DON’T eliminate meetings that help businesses thrive. It’s at the very meetings some leaders want to cancel that businesses meet with prospective customers, develop new ideas, and expose company leaders, managers, and staff to speakers that educate, train, and fire up their employees. In my view, your job is to lead our country back on the road to economic recovery, NOT block people from having productive events that contribute to a thriving economy. Yes, please cut waste but don’t eliminate necessary meetings!

I am one of many who are very discouraged by the broad brush being used by some of the negative media. I am also in disagreement with the legislation that Sen. Kerry has introduced that bans Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) recipients from hosting, sponsoring or paying for conferences, holiday parties and entertainment events. How are these organizations going to turn things around if they aren’t educated, motivated, and challenged to make changes in their businesses? How are employees going to be productive when all incentives for doing great work are taken away from them? When people meet, amazing things happen. Also, celebrations are a good and necessary component for improving employee morale as an unmotivated workforce makes more costly mistakes and results in higher turnover. How would Congress get things done if there were no meetings held in 2009? Why would you want to further cripple the economy by eliminating productive meetings and conferences? I understand and share the concern that taxpayer funds are being used for questionable items, but Sen. Kerry’s comments and actions are part of a disturbing trend that paints company travel and events as a picture of lavish, unnecessary parties. When in truth, the vast majority of meetings, conventions and conferences are cost efficient, well planned tools used by companies to drive business and provide an economic boost to cities that host the meetings.

So please, encourage effective meetings, don’t eliminate them. Brainstorm ways businesses can help each other, don’t hurt them. If there is ever a time where it’s important to meet, it’s now. Do your part to help breathe life back into our economy. Don’t stifle it. You can support meetings by being a keynote speaker or by holding a town hall meeting as part of a convention or conference. Having politicians speak for industry events could help attendance while providing better insight into what happens there. Please help turn things around, but don’t hinder us. Our very future is in your hands.

Sincerely,

Tim Richardson

NOTE:  You can have a letter sent or emailed to President Obama, John Kerry, and to your congress rep and senator by going to the National Business Travel Association website.

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

Motivational Speaker Jessica Cox is an inspiration. I stumbled across this young lady and her story today. If you are feeling like you can’t do something today, watch this video of her flying a plane on You Tube.

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

Professional speaker and good friend Bruce Turkel is way cool. From his creative work at his Branding firm to his musical endeavors, Bruce ROCKS - literally. He posted a clip on his blog that is a good reminder of how good we have it (and how rich we are). Plus it’s funny too. Check out his post Everything is Amazing, no one is happy.

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