I just returned from my NSA convention in New York (not National Security Administration, not National Safety Association but National Speakers Association meeting). Over the next few days, I’ll be posting about some of the speakers I heard while there and some of the other RICH experiences I had. It was fabulous being in New York. I LOVE the energy of that city and the addition of almost 2000 professional speakers with a theme of NSA Rocks made it even more energizing. At our opening, our members were encouraged to dress like rock stars and we had lots of rock music playing throughout the weekend - thus the title of this post adapted from the ACDC song Back in Black.

Our closing speaker today was Cathie Black, CEO of Hearst Publishing and author of the new book Basic Black: The Essential Guide for Getting Ahead at Work (and in Life). She had a great message but unfortunately for the audience (and for her), it was obvious that someone else wrote the speech which she practiced a few times then read it to us. Now she read very well and occasionally wandered from her script with supportive examples but her speech wasn’t nearly as effective as it could have been had she prepared a bit more and trusted her gut. She is a very powerful speaker who no doubt can move an audience. She has proven herself over and over again with many successes including leadership of USA Today and launching Oprah’s O magazine. I have little doubt she could have stood up in front of our membership and spoken extemporaneously with great success. Right out of the gate she broke one of her own rules from her book:

#1 Take risk that are calculated not crazy. It wouldn’t have been crazy in my view for her to  have taken risk with us. What did she have to lose? She wasn’t paid for her speech, we weren’t a group of executives evaluating her presentation and we weren’t shareholders, board members or a leading client. Taking a risk in presentation style or delivery would have underscored a valuable point and driven it home. She choose the safe route. Most do which is why few rise to the top. There’s certainly more dialogue that could occur here and I invite some discussion. Here are the rest of her points which I thought were excellent.

#2 The worst-case scenario is rarely as bad as you think

#3 Go two steps beyond what you are asked to do

#4 Know when to give up control

#5 Never stop learning

#6 Don’t personalize things that aren’t personal

#7 Make your boss look good

When I first met my wife, the above phrase is what she would use to describe a day with beautiful weather or a day in which everything went just right. She said it with such vigor and enthusiasm too. It was one of the things that attracted me to her. Today was that day for both of us. For the second night in a row, we took an evening walk around our Mitford (the adopted name I used for the hamlet where we live). We reflected on our early dating years and how comfortable we were (and still are) with each other. We sat in our new favorite place - a swing overlooking the Great Smoky Mountains. We held hands as we watched the moon rise and stared transfixed by it’s glow. It was indeed a moment to exclaim, “What a GREAT day!”

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Book suggestion Triple Bottom Line: How Today’s Best Run Companies are Achieving Economic, Social and Environment Success and How you Can Too! I’m also reading a New York best seller entitled Marley. It’s the story of a dog and his owner. It’s quite humorous and well worth a read. What are you reading?

Last year, I had the pleasure of interviewing Shane Claibourne for my Richest People in America project. If you have been reading this blog, you know that each year, I release a list of the REAL Richest People in America, people who are rich because they give. Shane has the distinction of growing up in the East Tennesse town in which I now live (I call it Mayberry or Mitford from Jan Karon’s fictional books of the same name). Anyway, Shane is a radical kind of guy. A student of Tony Campolo for whom I recently wrote and a guy who is shaking up the political world. Part Obama supporter part McCain supporter, this guy and the movement he is leading could shake up the political process with his Jesus for President book tour. Check out the author of Jesus for President on CNN.

Today is National Bike to Work Day sponsored by the American League of Bicyclist. It’s also Elected Officials Appreciation Day. I have an idea: next year, combine the two - ride your bike to work WITH your elected official. They just might learn something from you and you just MIGHT be able to help them get a snapshot of your world. IF there happens to be anyone who rode their bike with an elected official to work today OR if you are an elected official and you rode your bike to work today, be the first to contact me by Friday May 23rd and I will send a fify dollar US Savings Bond to the charity of your choosing OR to a worthy college kid OR to the Jeff Roth Cycling Foundation. Bike on…I will tomorrow in Tour de Blount and off now to an appointment…on my bike.

BTW, I am speaking to a group of high school students tonight for their high school graduation. My topic is 18 Things to do BEFORE you turn 18. I have written the speech but have left 4 of the 18 open for whatever moves me at the moment. What would you tell an 18 year old to do in the next 18 years if you were giving the speech?  I am also giving them a list of some of 18 - 36 “must read” books. Many of the suggestions are from my own experience and some are coming from my professional speaker colleagues. What books would you suggest to an 18 that will shape their thinking, inspire them and challenge them to greatness?

Recently, at a speech for NAIFA Georgia, several of the participants recommended some of their “RICH” reads. These are books that impaced them and their business.  Check them out and add your suggestions.

It’s Easier to Succeed Than to Fail by Truett Cathy (founder of Chick-fil-A)

The Psychology of Winning by Dennis Waitley

What Makes the Great Great by Dennis Kimbro, Ph.D.

High Probability Selling by Jacques Werth

Made to Stick by Chip Heath & Dan Heath

Effective Listening Skills by Art James & Dennis Kratz

Trump:  The Art of the Deal by Donald J. Trump & Tony Schwartz

Heaven by Randy Alcorn

The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck

The Bible 

What I am reading now:

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow

On Good Morning America today, it was announced that Bill Clinton came out with a new book called “Giving”. Here’s the books blurb: “Giving is an inspiring look at how each of us can change the world. It reveals the extraordinary and innovative efforts now being made by companies and individuals—to solve problems and save lives both “down the street and around the world.” Then it urges us to seek out what each of us, “regardless of income, available time, age, and skills,” can do to help, to give people a chance to live out their dreams.”

Let me know what you think of this book (not what you think of Bill or Hillary). You can be the kind of person Clinton wrote about by participating in the World’s Biggest Blog Party.

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