I just returned from my son’s Boy Scout camporee (which basically means lots of boys, lots of testosterone, and lots of smelly clothes). When I was a scout, women were forbidden to come on camping trips –there are just some things that we just didn’t want them to know and it just would have ruined everything to have them there. Tonight, as in every troop event I have been on, there were women – gross me out! So I have been thinking both about women and my scouting experience. One aspect of scouting is Order of the Arrow, which is an elected leadership honor. The OA has a motto - WWW which means We Want Women (at least it did when I was a scout!). Actually, if I told you what it really meant, I’d have to kill you. So you’ll just have to keep with the teenage definition we gave it. In truth, I think scouting is probably better with women participating. Our troop has a boy with Downs Syndrome and his mother (or father) is with him at every event and our troop welcomes her and other women as well. If women had been involved in scouting when I was young, I probably would have never gotten a swirlie (if you don’t know what a swirlie is, you can ask a scout from my era. Trust me you are better off NOT knowing). Men leaders in my day either just let it pass (not referring to other things scouts do on campouts) or are just too full from Dutch oven cooked peach cobbler to walk around and see what REALLY happened to young scouts. So I am thankful for the difference woman make in scouting.My friend Kathy Roth, founder of the Jeff Roth Cycling Foundation, emailed me about other women making a difference - Women Writing for (a) Change.This is an organization, a writing center of sorts, located in Cincinnati founded by Mary Pierce Brosmer. Women Writing for (a) Change was initially started with the idea that, through writing and sharing their work, women might make systemic changes in their lives, and thus, the world. Over the past 15 plus years, it’s grown beyond that. There are writing workshops for families and men as well. In the summer, there are writing camps for girls. The biggest focus remains women.I also learned today about Lending Promise another very cool project that involves woman.  I must confess tonight, I feel like a womanizer and the great thing, is that my wife is okay with it….just for tonight.  

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 love the name Zig Ziglar (even though I just learned his real name was Hillary). It’s just fun to say. I love saying it almost as much as I love hearing him. He’s Living Rich in many ways! I have heard him speak several times in the years I have been a professional speaker. Two years ago, at age 78 he was the best I have ever heard him. Yes, he uses many of the same illustrations and stories that I have heard before. Yes, he gets down on one knee just as he did early in his speaking career. Yes, he emphasizes a word for dramatic effect. And yes, I think history will recognize him as one of the greatest motivational speakers of all time. So last month when I had the opportunity to hear him again, I decided I would take my son. He had a full day of activity including needing to be at Cub Scouts for his last meeting before moving up to Boy Scouts.But I thought that hearing Zig was important enough that I drove home during a lunch break in the program I was attending, picked him up, and brought him back with me to hear Zig and a few other speakers. It opened the door for some great conversation on the way home.

Like many parents, I believe my son has been gifted with some great qualities. He loves to learn (and frankly could probably score better on the SAT at age 11, than his father did at 17!); he is compassionate and caring; he is helpful; he is fun to be around; and he has some innate leadership qualities. It’s for the last reason that I brought him with me to hear Zig speak. Until I was an adult, I never heard a professional speaker, motivational speaker, inspirational speaker, or any speaker other than my teachers and ministers Since my mother was a teacher and my father was a minister, I became very skilled at tuning out anything disguised as lecture or advice giving. If one seed was planted that day that will help my son realize his dreams then it was more than worth it to bring him to meet and hear Zig. It’s likely, that Russell, like all of us, will need regular opportunities to hear great speakers and teachers. I think it’s a parents job to nuture the seeds of greatness that they see in their children. For without nurturing and direction, the path they travel down will be full of big zigs and big zags.

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 also is a leadership speaker, customer service trainer and sales motivator. For more information go to www.TimRichardson.com

I heard on Paul Harvey this week that the top airlines for customer service were Southwest and Continental. I am not surpised. In particular, Southwest has done an excellent job with word of mouth marketing. CEO’s, new start-up company leaders, professional speakers, customer service trainers, leadership speakers, business coaches, and many authors all have spread the gospel of Southwest.

There’s a new book out called Word of Mouth Marketing. It’s written by Andy Sernovitz. I haven’t read it yet but it’s on my list. Check out what Sernovitz says:

1. Happy customers are your best advertising. Make people happy.

2. Marketing is easy: Earn the respect and recommendation of your customers. They will do your marketing for you, for free.

3. Ethics and good service come first.

4. UR the UE: You are the user experience (not what your ads say you are).

5. Negative word of mouth is an opportunity. Listen and learn.

6. People are already talking. Your only option is to join the conversation.

7. Be interesting or be invisible.

8. If it’s not worth talking about, it’s not worth doing.

9. Make the story of your company a good one.

10. It is more fun to work at a company that people want to talk about.

11. Use the power of word of mouth to make business treat people better.

12. Honest marketing makes more money.

It seems like JetBlue has broken most of the above twelve in firing David Neeleman. Where is the reward for honesty? For fessing up when you mess up? For treating people with dignity and respect. I have to believe that it’s not very fun to work at Jet Blue right now and it’s probably not very fun to fly with them either. In fact, the University of Michigan released a study this week that reported that airline travel isn’t much fun these days. Go figure.

I read this statement by Adam Hanft on the Fast Company blog site:

“The JetBlue scenario follows exactly the script that I warned against back then, and I predict that the airline will gradually squander the emotional connection it has built via its relentless and joyous focus on the customer.”

It’s seems former CEO Needleman was punished for admitting to a mistake. Does this mean more cover up when mistakes are made? This is poverty thinking at it’s worst.

*****

Speaking of poverty thinking, have you been keeping up with the Food Stamp Challenge? When I read about it, I realized how excessive we can be in the USA. It made digesting a recent $45.00 dinner for one a little difficult. Living on $21.oo a week, isn’t Living Rich in the USA but it might be in developing countries. Wonder what would happen if our Food Stamp Challenge politicians lived on the meal plan of someone from a remote village in Africia?

To read how some congressmen are doing, check out Tim Ryan’s Blog and Jim McGovern’s Blog.

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 businesses,
professional associations, insurance companies, and health care
organizations. For more information go to www.TimRichardson.com

I just read something on my friend Eileen McDargh’s blog  about the Whole Foods Market CEO, John Mackey. It seems Mackey is donating all his stock options to two company foundations and working for only $1/year. This is an extraordinary example of leadership and service. As I was reading this, it reminded me of one of the most incredible leaders I have ever met - Richard Davis, the current CEO of US Bank. I met Richard before addressing 500 US Bank employees at their annual company meeting. Among the powerful points he told his managers that I would address later that day were:

Smash the Water Cooler
Bungee Jump
Get a Life!

OK that was MY interpretation. One of his first comments was “I need your help”. To the 400 or so gathered, he asked them to stop the rumors that were be discussed by the water cooler. It seems that some were saying that this #6 company in industry would be merged with or taken over by one of the 5 competitors that were bigger. It had even been inaccurately reported in the press…(imagine that?) One by one, he took each of these competitors and gave a most convincing argument as to why there wouldn’t be a merger or acquisition. His points were solid, his research was well documented, he did his homework AND I believe, he won his case. Why did he do this? He told his team, “I want your focus to be on improving on a fantastic year. I want you to do this without having to look over your shoulder and worry if you’ll have a job or not (I kind of wanted to make sure I’d have one too!)

So let’s get to work and while you at it, help me stop the unproductive gossip with those who report to you.”

WOW what a positive and powerful way to tell people to stop gossiping!

He next asked them to Bungee Jump off a 1000-foot bridge in Australia wearing a red wig and a clown suit …well that was my interpretation of his message on taking risk. He talked about their products were really commodities in their market and how once an innovation was introduced, their competitors were quick to emulate. He acknowledged the specific innovations that those in the audience had developed and praised the work of several people. He urged them for this to continue. He said “execution is almost as important as innovation and some of you will be executed if you don’t innovate”…well not really, BUT he did implore them to continue to think innovatively  and even told them NOT to come back from the morning break if they weren’t prepared to put it all on the table and take risks…calculated risks. In front this audience, he asked one of his EVP’s if he had ever said no when this EVP asked him for anything for which he had asked. Randy’s reply…not once.

He concluded with this “Get a life!” He shared how he had attended 14 of 17 basketball games of his teenage daughter (where he “quietly” coached from the stands). He spoke of shopping with his wife and daughter at the mall, and about how supportive the company was of charity and community organizations. He said that he felt like he was a better leader because he turned it off when it was time to turn it off. Somehow I suspect that when he is working, he REALLY turns it on!

I must confess I wondered how a man in charge of such a large company could really do this. Could he turn it off? He had to work Saturday’s at LEAST to check his email…so I sent him one early on a Saturday morning… He responded…on Monday morning at 8:13 am!

I learned a lot more from this man for whom I would love to be mentored. I hope you have learned something too. Here’s the Tim Take on all of this

1) When you hear people in unproductive talk, stifle it…in a positive way. If you can’t convincingly dispel the unproductive talk, ask lots of questions of those for whom you trust who can. Don’t let the Wally and Wanda Whiners destroy morale of others.

2) Take more risk… If you are not falling flat on your face, you’re probably too comfortable. Develop a new idea or an innovative approach. Bounce it past a coworker for whom you trust. Share it with a colleague or friend OUTSIDE your work world, and maybe most powerful of all … get input from someone with a very divergent viewpoint. When they are telling you what you DON’T want to hear…shut up…and listen … intently. Consider their feedback… all of it. Sleep on your idea and then ACT on it.

3) Live your life with a focus on what you value. When at the office, it’s hammer time. When you’re home, it’s homer time (and I don’t mean Homer Simpson). I am not sure if attaining perfect balance is possible but I know this “When values are clear, decision making is easy.”
You or I may never be a president of a company of the magnitude of my new friend Richard Davis. BUT we certainly can smash the heck out of the water cooler, bungee jump in a clown suit, AND most importantly, GET A LIFE…a rich one at that!

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

From www.CourierNewsOnline.com

Before the BIG game, Bears Coach Lovie Smith said - No motivational speakers required. Instead, they would get their inspiration from within during their final team meeting. Perhaps, Lovie should have as the Colts brought in a motivational speaker (according to the article, their speaker was not someone like Matt Foley, the late Chris Farley’s farcical motivational speaker who lived in a trailer down by the river). Their speaker was Former Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves. “Helio and I have gotten to become good friends,” Colts coach Tony Dungy said. “He actually let me in his pit when they were getting ready for the Indianapolis 500. I think it’s a big stage and the Super Bowl of their sport and he’s won a couple of them.”

Smith choose NOT to have a former player or inspirational speaker. “I’ll cut you off right there,” Smith told a questioner at Friday’s press conference. “We’re winners, we go through the same routine. I don’t really bring in a lot of outside people. We have coaches, we have players and that’s the way we do things. So we won’t be doing that.”

My question: Should he have? If so, who should he have brought in and why?

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 heard on the radio that January 23^rd is National Handwriting Day. The inspiration for this day was of course John Hancock.  You probably remember from history that Hancock was the first signer of the Declaration of Independence. His name was larger than anyone else who signed the document which is why when you sign your name to a document, it’s called giving your John Hancock. In memory and honor of John Hancock, and by the power vested in me by having access to great trivia and historical facts, I, Tim Richardson, official declare today, January 23^rd, as National Live Large Day. Here’s my insights on Living Large (I would love to hear what you think):

1) Be first at something - be a pioneer, an adventurer, a trend setter.  Think about the number of new innovations (Post-it Notes, E-bay, snowboarding) that you may have thought of first. Or how about investment opportunities (Google, Starbucks, Microsoft) that passed by you without action. Don’t you wish you hadn’t waited?  In my professional speaking business, some of my peers who were first in the web or blog world are getting more online exposure for their motivational speaking businesses than those who waited. Sitting back and waiting to see what everyone else does can hurt you. Don’t let indecision hold you back from acting, particularly when it involves your goals, your career, or your dreams for your life. 

2) Be a leader - John Hancock was a man who could accomplish big things. However vain he might have appeared, he had the good sense to surround himself with people who had great leadership potential. He commissioned George Washington as Commander and Chief of the Army of the united colonies in 1775.  He obviously knew something about human potential.  Be smart enough to recognize the strengths of those around you. Lead both by example and by being associated with others who possess skills you might not possess.  

3) Stand out - whether it’s signing your name to an important document for which you feel strongly or standing up to voice your views (even when they are in the minority), stand up by standing out. Be different. Don’t let the status quo rule your life. Just for fun, write you name somewhere today REALLY large  (not on the side of a building or bridge with a can of spray paint, please!).  Life’s too short to go unnoticed. Live Large today!