Last Friday, I spoke with a friend from Haiti who told me stories of surgeries happening without medicine, amputations being done with a hand saw, and people calling loved ones from under rubble to say goodbye. When tragedies happen like the recent earthquake in Haiti, it can be difficult to know how to help.  Sometimes we’re hindered by not knowing what to do or by thinking “what good will my small contribution make?”. Below are some cool ways people are thinking BIG to make Haiti help happen:

- Scott Harrison of Charity: Water is doing some cool things with social media like Facebook and Twitter. His office is also collecting supplies in Charity:Water’s New York office.

- In England, seven year old Charlie Simpson has raised over $240,000 (I think it was just $160,000 yesterday so he’s still on the move).

- Twitter’s Hope140 site give tips for using social media to help in Haiti

- Send A Nurse is helping to raise money to send nurses to Haiti

- Hope for Haiti Now is using the talents of pop music stars to raise money

- In my own profession, motivational speakers, keynote speakers, inspirational speakers and other business speakers are working on a February 1st event called Speak Out For Haiti. During this professional development day, all the speakers are donating their time along with members of an MPI (Meeting Professionals International) chapter to raise money.

Of course. there are the relief organizations and other charitable organizations like the American Red Cross, Habitat, UNICEF, Compassion, and many others that are making Haiti help happen too.  You can help too - even if it’s just by sharing the great stories you hear and forwarding cool links to others.

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

I don’t eat hotdogs but I would visit Felony Franks in a minute. I love it when an entrepreneur figures out a way to both help others while operating a for profit business. It seems like a win/win to me.  Of course, I might feel not feel as enthusiastic if my kids walked by Felony Franks on their way home from school.  It seems that there are lots of well-meaning people who want to help others but have the “not in my backyard” mentality. If Felony Franks is helping convicted felons start a new while keeping them crime free then I say - fantastic! Franchise freely.

Tim Richardson is an inspirational speaker who speaks about how giving affects employee engagement , morale,  productivity, turnover, and customer loyalty for Fortune 500 companies, associations, and health care organizations.  He is founder of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go towww.TimRichardson.com

On Father’s Day I was taking my children to play at a water park. In route, I was listening to the radio when a Michael Jackson song played. I listened briefly as I remembered an event from high school where the song was played. The event (and even the song) brought back happy memories. Though not really a Michael Jackson fan, I must admit the man could crank out the tunes and could shame any winner of Dancing with the Stars. He no doubt created many memories for those who loved his music and attempted to mimic his dance moves. 

When I heard the news of his death today, I was saddened - saddened for what his life had become and how it could have turned out differently. His greatest contributions were helping to pave the way for the celebrity philanthropic movement with his “We Are the World” and “Heal the World” hits. “We Are the World” reportedly raised over $60 million for children in Africa. Reading about his death, was a sad reminder of what could have been. I wonder what more Michael Jackson could have done had he focused more on using his talents to make a difference. What a bigger and greater legacy he could have created had he lived another 50 more years. Fifty is too young to die for the King of Pop, or for that matter, for a pauper who was helped by his incredible talent. He will be greatly missed.

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 am amazed when I read about the things kids do today. Yes there are some bad kids who are way worse than kids were when I was young but the good kids are SO much better. Zach Bonner is one of the good kids.  At age 11, Zach is walking from Timbuktu to Kalamazoo (actually Atlanta to Washington, DC) to raise money for homeless kids. He started his Little Red Wagon Foundation in 2005 and has raised nearly $50,000 in two previous walks (see the story of Zach Bonner in yesterday’s USA TODAY). What is amazing about Zach and the many kids like him who care, is the many ways they are giving back. I know when I was that age, I was more concerned with making my classmates laugh, trying to pull a prank on my teachers without getting caught, and other things equally as unimpressive.

Last week, when I was speaking in South Dakota, I had an epiphany. I was speaking to an audience member who told me she had moved from Southern California because of all the crime, drugs, and shootings. We talked about how to change things and her response troubled both of us (She told me she decided it was easier to move than to get involved). Our conversation lingered in my brain until I had the idea of developing a Kids that Care presentation. In it, I will talk to kids about other kids who are making a difference. My hope is that I can inspire another young “Zack Bonner” by telling his story. So, I’m looking for some kids that care and a school where I can talk about them …

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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Last weekend, I attended the 12^th annual Rayz Awareness Melanoma 5K run in memory of my best friend, Bill Walter. Bill was an incredible guy who lived more in a life cut short by cancer than many do who live twice as long as Bill did. To date, the Bill Walter III Melanoma Research Foundation has raised almost $500,000 and helped provide education awareness about the dangers of overexposure to the sun and provide financial assistance to those who can’t afford treatments. 

While I hate hearing stories of people suffering, I am inspired by young people who, like my buddy Bill, decide that they are going to make a difference while fighting with everything they have.

Today, I saw a Tweet on Twitter from professional speaker colleague Gina Schrek about a young man named Nathan White who , at age 15, is fighting cancer. While fighting he is also trying to make a difference and help others. Impressive – a teenager thinking about others while dealing with a life threatening cancer.  Check out his blog and follow his story on Twitter.

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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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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Today I thought about someone who impacted my life more than 30 years ago. I was reminded of him as I sat in the Boy Scout Sunday service this morning.  When I saw my son sitting in the front row, I started thinking about the positive impact the scouting program had on my life. My mind drifted back to when I was a scout. I am sure I attended a Boy Scout Sunday event but I don’t remember it. What I do remember is the impact that one of the adult leaders had on my life. His name is Bob Burgess. He’s a writer and adventurer and he’s one of the most interesting people I have ever met AND I had the pleasure of living across the street from him from age 8 through age 14.   When I first met Bob, he had a VW van that had a pop up camper on top. He also had a sailboat and a monkey. His coolest factor was OFF the chart! Bob would travel around in that camper writing magazines articles and camping in places where he was researching.  He had a small office outside his home with a Royal typewriter where he wrote. The office couldn’t have been more than 200 square feet but it was like a museum to me. Artifacts and pictures from his adventures adorned the walls. Right over his desk was the jaw of a large shark he had caught. I loved going over to see him because he always had a story. I lost touch with him for several years after we moved away from the small North Florida town where we both lived but reconnected when I moved back to nearby Tallahassee, Florida when I graduated from college. About twenty years ago, Bob invited me on a weekend trip to write a Huck Finn like story on living on a deserted island while eating only what we caught from the bay that surrounded the island. We stayed up until 4:00 am and I sat mesmerized by a star filled sky, the intoxicating sight of an open fire and Bob’s stories and adventures.

Bob has lived a life many can only imagine. He’s traveled all over the world, diving in some of the most beautiful places in the world. He spends two weeks each year living on his sail boat in the Keys while hunting lobster.  He and his wife Julia traveled in Europe for two years after they were married. Between his writing and traveling he made time to volunteer with our local Boy Scout troop where he brought his enthusiasm and zest for life to our outings. He taught me a lot about loving the outdoors, about being excited about life and what it meant to be a leader in scouting. His teachings came full circle when I interviewed him recently for the book I am writing. He told me he was impacted by a speaker he had heard at a high school rally more than 60 years ago. He told me the speaker said you can do anything you want to do provided you believe you can do it. He told me he still remembered that after so many years. He told me keep the following quote from Press on scotch taped it to my Royal typewriter:

Nothing in the World can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common and unsuccessful than unsuccessful man with talent. Genius will not - unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education alone will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.

Bob told me that Press On was his guiding creed for his life. Thank you, Bob for being a guiding force in my life.

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

Inspirational Speaker Tim Richardson writes…

Last night my family and I went shopping for Christmas presents.  We all had a blast filling two carts with gifts. We went to the toy aisle of our local Walmart and sent our kids our running. “Pick whatever you want”, we told them. They would run back with a gift and we’d throw it in the basket satisfied that they were so happy. Is that what Christmas is all about? Making kids happy?

For the second year in a row, our kids are helping other kids experience Christmas. And they are happy about it! They LOVED buying the presents even though the presents are for others kids. All the gifts they picked out are going to children who might not have a gift under the tree on Christmas Day.  Some of them might not even have a tree.  Tomorrow these kids will get a gift, a treat bag, make crafts and cookies AND if they’ve been good, a visit from Santa and one of his  elves.  The party we are hosting is part of Dreams for Kids, an organization that has been having similar parties for twenty years. If you haven’t yet bought a gift for someone you love, consider making a donation to an organization like Dreams for Kids instead of buying something that your family member or friend probably doesn’t even need. The are so many worthy cause. Two others that came across my radar screen just today are The blessing basket (watch the short video) and Ten Thousand Villages.

It’s so great to see so many worthwhile organizations creating change and making a difference. Won’t you?

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

This morning, I had a short “conversation” with my professional speaker buddy Jana Stanfield. Jana is in India with another speaker friend John Crudele. They posted a VERY short video on YouTube that will make just about anyone feel incredible rich and very grateful for what they have. I’ll be interviewing them and posting that interview here. What the clip and let me know what questions you would like me to ask Jana and John. www.youtube.com/user/JCLiveoutloud.

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