Things I am thankful for (but not necessarily in this order):

1) Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day.

2) Turkey with my wife’s homemade cranberry sauce.

3) Apple pie (I’ll share a Thanksgiving tribute to my grandmother tomorrow on what would have been her 96th birthday).

4) Family.

5) Faith.

6) A walk in the woods with my son on a rainy Thanksgiving Day.

7) Sweet, loving daughters.

A Wonderful wife.

9) A wonderful life (mine and the movie).

10) Friends (like the Leslie family for whom we shared a wonderful Thanksgiving!).

(not necessarily in this order!)

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

In preparation for a recent keynote speech for the National MS Society, I found a lady named Jo Franz who has MS. She, like me, is an inspirational speaker and author. She is NOT frightened by having MS, in fact she seems to embrace it. While she isn’t dressing up tonight, she might be able to give others a dressing down for complaining about the scary things they face with fear and trepidation. Life is too LONG to live in fear. Face your fears and overcome them… and have a Happy Halloween! (exert from her email below)

Well, you asked how often I volunteer for the National MS Society–as often as I can and am asked! I spoke locally for the Portland Walk to pump up those fund-raisers and was to speak for the Vancouver “unassuming heroes” luncheon, but they couldn’t get enough sponsors this side of the Columbia River so they had to cancel. (Portland is a much more booming business town.) We–the staff and I–were really excited about the new talk based on my book theme, SOAR, that I was going to give. I was asked to speak for the Seattle area bike ride but had another speaking engagement. The Portland chapter asked me to handle the entire upcoming spring Vancouver Walk event, but I knew it would take too much energy with my own speaking schedule and book promotion, so I had to turn it down. Having MS myself, I need to be careful NOT to overbook (and right now that’s a real priority since I’m trying to get the book out there–the initial months are crucial for a new book.)

As it is, my husband can hardly get me out of my office at 5:30 pm and is concerned for me because when I’m not speaking I need to veg, I’m so tired out! However, I can report that my neurologist is amazed at how well I’m doing. Four years ago he told me I was going into secondary progressive MS and this has been my best year in years! I believe God is empowering me for a fresh ability to get out there and encourage people!

Speaking as well as peer counseling, motivating others with MS is absolutely fulfilling for me. When I became a certified peer counselor in 1984, my husband of 15 years (who began an affair two years earlier with an older teenager) had left me and was filing a divorce I did not want. MS was part of his struggle. Learning that I was like others with MS, dealing with all the same emotions while still a Christian, helped me tremendously. So, I became what the Denver National MS Chapter said was “their best peer-counselor.” I know it was because of my faith, but I never spoke of that unless I was asked why or how I could be living like I was, with the attitude I had… then I could tell my “secret.”

While we lived in Orange County, CA, we were super-active with the MS Society. We rode our tandem in five tours and I spoke at the beginning of each ride where hundreds lined up, thanking them for raising funds… I spoke for a number of fund-raising events in the evenings, for sororities, support groups, gave Christmas concerts, and I peer-counseled while I continued my own speaking events.

I have ruined my thumb-joints from using forearm crutches since 1981, so I can’t ride the tandem in tours anymore, or ski (leaning into the outriggers is really tough on the and hands–did that ever bring a time of grieving the loss of a thrill!) I’m supposed to use a chair for distances instead of crutches so I don’t need thumb joint replacement surgery, which, after immobilizing me in casts for six weeks could render my arms and hands useless with MS.

But I have a joyful life of helping others through speaking, singing, and my book out there now. And Ray and I have found others avenues for adventure.

I am ALWAYS willing and wanting to motivate others to excel with whatever they have to soar unafraid through life!

HERE’S HOW TO CONTACT JO:
Soar Unafraid, Learning to Trust No Matter What
www.soarunafraid.com

www.jofranz.com
Inspirational & Motivational Speaker, Author, and Singer
360-687-1376

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

I am in Dallas where tomorrow I’ll address over 1000 attendees at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society National Conference. I’ll be on a program tomorrow night with Sue Thomas, a former FBI agent whose life was the inspiration for the PAX TV show. Also on the program is David “Squiggy” Lander from the 1970’s show Laverne and Shirley. Both live with MS.

I am as excited about this presentation as any I have ever done. In 1991, I started riding in the MS 150 bike ride in Northeast Florida. I rode on a bike that was as comfortable as a middle seat without a cushion on a cross-continental flight. I rode that year not to raise money but to have fun with my wife and a group of young friends. I continued to ride and eventually became one of the top fund raisers in the Northeast Florida Chapter. I raised thousands of dollars and rode hundreds of mile each year because of adversity – adversity faced by my sister-in-law and brother-in-law who lost men in their family to MS, adversity of friends and a neighbor who experienced the struggle of living with MS and adversity experienced by my dear retired motivational speaker friend Rosita Perez who inspired my annual “Ride for Rosita”. 

I didn’t know much about biking when I first started riding three years after knee surgery. Though I thought I trained well, within thirty miles of this first ride from Keystone Heights, Florida to Silver Springs in Ocala, I was off my 287 pound bike with a seat the size of postage stamp, praying for a sag vehicle and a treat. As I slowly and painfully walked, I observed a cyclist wearing the name of someone they loved on their bike jersey. I read the encouraging signs placed by MS volunteers along the road. I heard cheers and clapping as neighbors watched cyclist fly by. I made it to the rest stop and placed my knee on a glacier of ice and snuggled up to a Power Bar of Pain killer. I decided to continue to the lunch stop. On I rode, taking it one rest stop at a time until I finally finished the 79.5 miles of day one with a record setting average speed of 3.9 miles per hour, a police escort into Silver Springs at dusk and a crude certificate made by my friends that read, “Congratulations, you finished dead last!”

Last week marked the celebration of Customer Service Week. It was started in 1988 by the Institute of Customer Service. Customer Service Week is an international event devoted to recognizing the importance of customer service and honoring the people on the front lines of the service revolution. Having had a nightmare of an experience with a health care provider this week and an AWESOME experience with Randy at Expert Click.com today (and weekly for the last month), I felt compelled to write about great customer service providers.

Also, it occurred to me after reading about it, that some of the “hero’s” on the front lines are some of the same people who are making a difference in the world. People like my friend Barbara Gilbert who, as a waitress, raised almost $200,000 for the impoverished people of Jamaica and BJ Hart who makes his job a joy every day as he directs traffic onto a Ferry with such pizazz that people ride the Ferry just to watch him sing, dance, and turn a mundane job into an exciting one. We all see examples of people every day who turn a potentially exciting jobs into a mundane one. It’s all too common to see service provides who act like robots, are rules trolls (my name for those people who don’t have an ounce of flexibility in their body), or worse, those who are just plain rude. Randy, at Expert Click is the opposite of all those things. He’s cheerful, kind, helpful— the guy could have inspired the Boy Scout Law!

I suspect these are the people who are likely Randy who do good both on the job and who also work behind the scenes in their spare time to help others and make our world more rich in the ways that matter. Randy Rocks  -  who  do you know who rocks and why? Are they making a difference in their jobs and in their communities?
 

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

Only two more weeks until Make a Difference Day which also kicks off the World’s Biggest Blog Party.  So the staff here at the corporate headquarters all gathered in the conference room today for a major meeting. Among the many things discussed included the upcoming blog party. The dialogue went something like this:

Tim: Okay, who has an idea on how we can get 1000 bloggers to participate in our world’s biggest blog party?

Silence.

No one said anything.

So I asked the question again.

Tim (with more passion and volume): Who has an idea on how we can get 1000 bloggers to participate in our party?

Again, nothing. Nadda. Not one word. You could have heard a pin drop.

So I repeated (sometimes it takes awhile for people to REALLY comprehend when a rhetorical question is being asked or not).

Tim: (This time I cleared my throat for emphasis). “I’m looking for ideas, here. Come on folks this is an obtainable goal. Brainstorm. Let’s go.”

Of course, no one answered. It’s only me and when I talk to myself in the office, my wife worries. Plus I sound funny when anyone over hears me. So I decided that I’d have a contest. If we were to start now, Charles Brinkley would win … hands down. He’s been a great WBBP team member. But SOME might complain that he already had the momentum so we’ll start everyone together.  So the contest kicks off tomorrow and ends on October 26th. SO Start telling your blogger friends. I’ll do the fair thing and count myself out. Now the question is what to give away…cash? Too common and too difficult to come by. A gift certificate? Too impersonal.  One of my children? No, you would grow attached as I have. 

Just blue skying here - what about a free ticket to any location in the US or Canada. And if you are local (or VERY adventuresome) my wife and I will also treat you to a fabulous gormet dinner in our home or at a local restaurant). Perhaps a CD set of all Jana Standfields music. She’s a terrific singer and song writer. And a personalized copy of my buddy Greg Godek’s book 1001 Ways to be Romantic. But wait, there’s more - how about a ginzu knife set, a bamboo steamer, and the Ronco Chop-a-matic - it slices,  it dices, it purees.

Of course, all this will have to be run by the selection committee (who might just impose some rules).

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 attending an Eagle Scout ceremony with my son. The young man invited Congressman Jimmy Duncan, state senator Raymond Finney, and state representative Doug Overby. While each of them gave fitting comments for the occasion, the best and most enthusiastic words came from Dean Moss, long time scout master of Troop 81. He talked to this new Eagle Scout about things to pack with him along his trip in life and told him that the journey had started now, not ended. It had been 31 years since I had attended an Eagle Scout ceremony which was my own on June 6, 1976 (my 14th birthday). Lots of great memories came back to me that I hadn’t thought about since that day. I still have the letters written to me by Congressman Don Fuqua and other dignitaries who took the time to share their support. I’d write more but I have a REAL letter to write. To a young man who is flying high today…like Eagles should.

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 have made it a tradition the last few years to spend the 4^th of July at Lake Junaluska in Western North Carolina. There’s an old-fashioned 4^th of July arade, followed by a family picnic, and then the Junaluska Singers concert right before the fireworks. It’s a fabulous evening. It’s truly Living Rich…

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

Check out the new X-365 blog and join me in my effort to do some type of exercise every day for a year.

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

One of my best friends missed my birthday this year. My parents called a day late. My oldest brother forgot my birthday completely (he does most years so I expect it). My sister (who has a daughter born on June 6th as well) totally forgot my birthday this year. A few years ago, no one in my family called. I remember being a little bummed about the year of “the big birthday miss”.

Today would have been my best friend’s birthday. He’s not here to celebrate. The last birthday he celebrated was in 1998, the year he died of cancer. We had a great surprise celebration for him that year. A big group of us gathered at a restaurant on the ocean just north of Daytona Beach where many of us had attended High School. The surprise was on us, however. Bill walked into the restaurant wearing those disgusting looking Bubba teeth and had a wig and hat on. We all cracked up (except one friend who thought cancer had wreaked havoc on his dental work).

Bill had the ability to laugh even through adversity. I am convinced it’s why he extended his life more than four times longer than his doctors gave him to live. It was hell to watch him slowly die but heaven has benefited. After he died, his wife asked me to help in the task of going through some of his things. As I picked up one of his books, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, I noticed a Post-it note with Bill’s writing on it. If you have read the book, you know there is a section in the book where Covey asks the reader to think about his or her own funeral and to write down what they would like others to say about them. Bill had done this long before he knew he had cancer. This is what he wrote:

I want to be remembered as a person who:

• made people laugh and feel good
• was honest and sincere
• cared about others
• made the office a better place to work
• was a good communicator
• was ethical
• wanted the best for everyone
• made the home a happier place

Without question, Bill exemplified these things. He never had to work hard to achieve success in relating with people. It was part of his character naturally. Bill Walter lived more in a short life than most people do in a long one. He loved to laugh and enjoyed making others laugh. He was musical and athletic. He was a great father and a great son, He was a devoted husband and a fantastic friend. It’s been nine years since his last party. Missing a birthday is a bummer. A big bummer.

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

This short clip is worth a quick look. Watching this little boy hug his dad
reminded me of how I’d like to store up the great hugs my kids give me for
down the road when they’ll be less plentiful and less tight.

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