Yesterday Forbes magazine released their annual list of the 400 Richest People in America.  Like every other year they have published their list, they missed A LOT of people. Almost every day I hear stories of some of the REAL Richest Americans, people who are RICH because they give back and make a difference in the lives of others. Some have started incredible philanthropies that have global reach. Others are doing things to make their communities better. There are a number of RICH people who have organizations that help kids and in many cases are started by kids. I am in total AWE of what young people today do to give back.

This month, I’ll be profiling some of these people who will never make the Forbes list but have internal richness like most rich (wealthy) people will never have. While most of the people I will be profiling will have organizations that are doing good, I also want to share some stories of people who are RICH because of how they handle adversity. My professional speaker friend John O’Leary (who has his own incredible story of overcoming adversity) shared the story below of  his father who has Parkinson’s disease. I think you’ll be en-RICHED by this story of someone who has put a positive spin on a very negative situation. Here’s an exert about John’s dad:

For almost two decades my Dad has battled against Parkinson’s disease.  It is a degenerative disorder that gradually impacts motor skills, speech and cognitive function.  In time, Parkinson’s disease rips away one’s ability to work, type, write, drive, walk, and speak.  As a result it becomes increasingly difficult to socialize with others or participate in personal hobbies.  As obviously difficult as this disease is for my Dad, it amazes me that I’ve never heard him complain.

I asked dad how he remains so positive when dealing with such difficulty. He responded that he couldn’t possibly be negative when he’s got so much to be
grateful for.   I then asked him to share with me three things he’s grateful
for as a result of Parkinson’s disease.  Dad responded immediately:

.         I am grateful it wasn’t a more serious disease
.         The time to reflect on who I am and who God is
.         The relationship I have with Mom  - we’ve grown even closer

Here is a disease that rips everything from the sufferer (and he is grateful it wasn’t worse); forces them into isolation (and he is grateful for the time to reflect); and causes them to be dependent on others (and he is grateful for that relationship).  More striking then the three answers was he said he had more:

.         I am grateful for medical technology - and those who provide it
.         For the empathy that comes from this disease for others with
challenges
.         When I can’t walk, I am grateful for the days I could
.         When I can’t speak, I am grateful for the days I could
.         When we drive, I am grateful for the handicap spot
.         For the time to write Overwhelming Odds
.         To still see, hear, learn, laugh, and love
.         And for being healed, even if not cured

As you go through your day today (a day that will absolutely come with its own challenges), are there things within it that you can be grateful for?
Remember, gratitude will turn ‘problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events.
Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.’

Now THAT is a RICH story.

BTW, I released a press release today about the project to find the REAL Richest People in America. Please pass it on…

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 towww.TimRichardson.com

Now that I am another year older (and wiser of course), I have some observations about living a RICH life. If you have been a reader of this blog, you probably know that when I write about rich I mean money driven and when I write about RICH I mean purpose-driven.

Last Friday, June 6th was my birthday and now that I am as old as Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, I am thinking I should have run for president! Actually, I am probably too dumb to offer much and too smart to want to put my family through what a politicial family experiences.  However, if Barack can talk about things for which he may not fully be knowledgeable, I am going to take that risk When I reach John McCain’s age, I may have the life knowledge but perhaps I won’t have the memory!  So here goes my stroke of insight pondered on my birthday (but NOT in my birthday clothes):

1. Listen. Thursday my wife and I flew to Daytona Beach, FL for the funneral of a 48 year YOUNG man. He was exuberant, intelligent, witty, a brillant musician, a talented dentist and a doting father of two young girls - an infant and a 2 1/2 year old.  Somehow in the midst of everything he had going for him, he felt he had nothing going for him. He took his life one week ago today. As I heard the words spoken about him at his memorial service, saw over 1000 people in attendance, and spoke with his many friends at the reception, I realized that there were probably some people, who IF they had reached out in love and with a listening and helpful ear, his death MAY not of occurred.  Listening to my best friend talk about it recently, I am convinced that listening is the key to many things, including healing.  Listen more. 

2. Go out on a limb.  Friday, I gave a speech to the Vermont Independent Insurance Agents. During the speech, I had an idea of something that would fit perfectly into my Living Rich speech. It was a concept I hadn’t intergrated into the speech before. It was a bit of a risk. I played the ”do it or not” tape in my brain a few times as I was speaking.  I choose “do it” and am glad I did. It worked and added value to a point I was trying to make.  Don’t let a potential fall keep you from going somewhere you haven’t been.

3. Travel the road less traveled.  Traveling to the Basin Habor Club where I gave my speech, the driver took the back roads. We could have traveled via interstate and made our trip a bit quicker.  Had we done that, we would have missed out on a tour through rural Vermont. We would have also missed  hearing some history about this great state.  Today on a bike ride in the rural area surrounding this beautiful place, I saw some incredible scenes and even met a few locals. The road less traveled was paved for me. How about you?

4. Live like you’re dying. Yesterday I met a retired physican. He is 57 years old and has esophageal cancer (which isn’t a cancer you want to have if you have to have cancer). I met Bob and his wife in the healthclub here at the Basin Harbor Club. He exercises everyday and lives an active life.  He bikes, kayaks, explores lakes, rivers and oceans by boat. Over a five year period, he and his wife canoed over 8000 miles across North America. He’s recently taken up golf.  He told me that he wasn’t afraid of death but he wasn’t going to let statistics ruin the life he had left to live. Today is the best someday to start living, particularly IF you feel like you aren’t living now.  

5. Breathe. That’s one reason I am here. To soak in the beautiful mountains and lakes of Vermont. I know there are three things that fuel me: 1) Time with my wife without our kids 2) Tim Time - taking time alone to renew, revitalize, and recreate and 3) Breathing - slowing down and smelling the roses. There’s a sign here at the resort that says “Slow Down and relax”. Nuff said. I’m off for a walk around the lake and back to my cabin on Lake Champlain. 

Note: This post title was inspired by a coment posted by a reader on my post about the Last Lecture.  He recommended I find out about Jill Bolte Taylor and her book My Stroke of Insight. Sounds like a good read. 

 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 and co-founder of the Jeffrey Roth Cycling Foundation. Click here for more information on professional speaker Tim Richardson.

News Flash: Today (October 4th, 2007): Katrina Krewe Founder, and Richest People in America recipient Becky Zaheri, was one of the speakers at the 2007 for Women in Austin, Texas, hosted by Governor Rick Perry and First Lady Anita Perry. Keynote speakers: Elizabeth Vargas (ABC’s 20/20), Carly Fiorina (Former CEO of Hewlett Packard, AT&T), Nancy Giles (CBS) and Mary Wilson (Supremes, and author of Dreamgirl). Two years and two months after Katrina and Becky and her Krewe are still working… If you’d like to help Becky, join the World’s Biggest Blog Party and help Keep it Klean!

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

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I am in Las Vegas today and it’s probably good that much of what happens here stays here. Every time I come here, I am immediately ready to leave. It’s just not one of my favorite places. I am speaking at the Sales Mastery Forum, a conference produced by Harris Hoopis who is one of the top agents in the Northwestern Mutal Life Insurance Company. Harry is rich in many ways and I suspect after I get to know him even better, I’ll find out how he is helping people in Chicago have more rich lives.

Before I come to a city to speak, I always like to find the names of people who are difference makers so I emailed several people who lived there before my trip. One person I contacted was a self-made entreprenuer who is known for flamboyant clothes and a flashy lifestyle. I asked her if she knew any REAL Rich People - people who were rich because they were making a difference, she replied with this:

Not in my crowd!!! If I do they are too subtle for me…also for Vegas.

It that’s true, it’s also sad. But perhaps the people who do make a difference here are so humble that they too believe…what happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas.

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Trivia and more:

Who was the person who made the statement for which this post is titled?  First correct answer will win a cheap and highly superficial prize!

One of my all time favorite Broadway shows Momma Mia is playing at the Mandalay Bay hotel where I am staying. If you ever get they chance, go see it, it’s truly one of the funniest shows I have ever seen. What’s your favorite Broadway play or musical 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

Friday, on Forbes.com the annual list of the 400 Richest People in America was released. 82 billionaires didn’t make the list (poor guys and gals). USA Today reporter Del Jones wrote that over a billion people worldwide live on no more than $1 a day. Unbelievable (to think I spent more tonight taking my wife out for dinner than some people have to spend for months. I am rich indeed!).

If you have been reading this blog, you know that I have been writing about “rich” people too. People who are rich not because of what they have but because of what they give. I figured someone like Del would want to write about it or a major TV show would want to tell the world. So I hired a PR firm to let CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, MSNBC, FOX, Good Morning America, The Today Show and all the stations in my local market know. While the PR firm did a great job writing the press release and they were a joy to work with, the result was no call from Katie, no email from Oprah, no letter from Letterman. Nothing. Nado. Zilch. Zero. The PR firm warned me that sending the release (below) might not result in a call and she was right. But as I told them yesterday, they certainly wouldn’t call if they knew nothing about what I was doing. So I’ll keep at it. In my own small way, I’ll keep spreading the word about the REAL Richest People in America in hopes that some day someone will think the stories are worth telling and the people are worth writing about.

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Forbes Releases “Richest Americans” List Today Tabulation calls into question who holds the real wealth in this country? Knoxville, TN

Forbes.com posted their annual list of the 400 Richest Americans yesterday. When so many have so little, we should all ask, what really makes a person rich? Is it their house? Is it their car? Is it the amount they have in the stock market?Author and inspirational speaker Tim Richardson says, “No!” to all these questions and calls attention to what really makes a person wealthy with the release of his list: The REAL Richest People. Tim is the author of, “Jump Starts: Wit and Wisdom to Super Charge Your Day,” and co-author of, “Transformation Thinking: Tools and Techniques That Open the Door to Powerful New Thinking.” His list is about the joy of giving back; using your time and resources to make a difference in the world. “True richness comes from the love of giving back to society, and that can happen whether you make $10,000 or $10 million a year,” says Tim. Believing that becoming rich has almost nothing to do with money and everything to do with personal and professional fulfillment, he shows your viewers how to:

• Alternatively view what rich really is

• Value not what you have, but what you give

• Get rich by giving

• Build customer and employee loyalty by making a difference

Nominees include a woman who has devoted her life to helping those suffering in war-torn countries, a twenty-something year old who founded an organization to education children all over the world, a coffee company that uses its profits to help educate people in the coffee growing regions of the world, and a former Microsoft VP who is setting up libraries in remote villages around the world.

The REAL Richest People list aims to redefine richness and focus attention on internal rather than external wealth. After all, according to Tim, “It’s not about how good you are, it’s about the good you do.”

For more information, and to arrange an interview with Tim Richardson, please contact him at: 865-984-2700, or tim AT TimRichardson DOT com

Note: If you are still reading and like what I am doing, feel free to do the following:

• copy this post and put in on your blog

• link to this blog site as well as www.TheRichestPeopleinAmerica.com

• join the blog party - 1000 bloggers connecting the glove for good

• call Katie

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

At 6:00 pm on September 20th, Forbes magazine will release their annual 400 Richest People in America list. The usual names you’ve seen the past few years. One name you won’t see on Forbes list is Ed Payne who has multiple sclerosis though he has never allowed it to deter him from improving the lives of others. Payne has worked tirelessly to help others who suffer from MS for nearly 40 years. Payne helped put Fairfield County on the map for having the largest MS Walk Team in Ohio, generating more than $400,000 for the National MS Society. He and his wife Cheryl even serve as co-chairs of the Lancaster MS Walk. Payne was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1963, but he’s never let his own struggles stop him from doing things for others, according to his wife, Cheryl Payne. Ed said he missed being around people after he retired as a doctor in 1994. He decided to volunteer full-time at the Fairfield Center for Disabilities and Cerebral Palsy. Now he gets to meet people every day. That’s why he’ll never stop volunteering as long as he’s healthy enough. He has no use of his upper leg muscles,” Cheryl said. “It makes it difficult for him to even get around from the bedroom to the kitchen. But he would never tell me that. He would never tell you that. But you know that it is.” Cheryl has not heard Ed complain during the 40 years they’ve been married. It makes her feel a little guilty about complaining when she’s sick. But she’s proud of him for it. Doctors told Ed’s mother he should drop out of Ohio University in Athens when he was a student after he was diagnosed with MS. She refused to tell her son because she wanted him to achieve his goal of becoming a doctor, Ed said. Ed went on to become a radiologist and later a community activist and volunteer after graduating from OU. That’s 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, 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

It never ceases to amaze me at the creativity of people who want to help others. I recently received an email nominating Giovanna Minotta as one of the REAL Richest People in America. Here is her story:

She was teaching Spanish classes when she had the idea of starting a non-profit organization to promote the Hispanic culture. Having recently moved to the United States with her family from Colombia, Minotta understood first-hand the need for a community-based organization intended to serve as a bridge between the Hispanic immigrant population and the English-speaking community.

In December 2000, she started researching on what could be done for her idea to become a reality. Finally, in August 2002, she founded the Be Latino Corporation while working part-time at a Dollar General store, and began organizing a bilingual musical show two months later to promote understanding between the cultures. This presentation, sponsored by Jacksonville State University, showcased 57 area schoolchildren who sang and danced Latin American music in spring 2003.

One evening, Minotta was approached by a Latino pregnant woman who only spoke Spanish and who was needing somebody to go with her to the hospital when she was ready to deliver her baby. Minotta agreed to go. The baby was born in February 2003. Two weeks later, Minotta was contacted by 10 more Latino pregnant women. In the following four months, she helped 40 more patients.

And so, this was the beginning of the programs “Give me a Hand” and “Operation Stork”, through which Be Latino has helped many individuals, pregnant women and their babies meet their different needs by providing a variety of services.

The Be Latino Corporation continues to expand their services recently adding Proyecto L.A.T.I.N.A. to fight against domestic violence within the immigrant Hispanic community. They also assist statewide shelter with interpretation service over the phone in emergency situations and support domestic violence advocates in their outreach work.

Tim’s note: Do you want to make a difference but don’t know where to start? Join the World Biggest Blogging Party. If you live near me, come to our kickoff party featuring singer/songwriter and inspirational speaker Jana Stanfield on Tuesday September 11th.

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

Seventy-seven years ago today, my grandparents were married. They exemplify the rich life that I write about in this blog and aspire to as well. I have never known two people who were as generous as grandpa and grandma Richardson. In the years when people had to get sponsors to come to the US, my grandparents sponsored a dozen families or more. They helped pay for the educate of new Americans making it possible for them to pursue a life they never dreamed possible. For some, they paid for their four year degree, others they helped to pay for graduate school and one man, they paid for his doctoral studies which enable him to have a long career working for DuPont. The lives they touched were amazing.

From as far back as I can remember, Grandma had a sewing group that met weekly at her house. Five to seven ladies would come to my grandparents mountain home each week and sew school bags and clothes for children through and organization called Church World Service. When I visited my grandparents, it was rare to find my grandmother without something she was sewing in her hands. She always thought about others and what she could do to make a difference. I can remember semi truck loads of clothes and school supplies being shipped from Waynesville, NC to help children all over the world. She collected pencils, notebook paper, and other school supplies to fill these bags mad e from scraps of material.

Late in her life she was the caregiver for her wealthy older sister. When my great Aunt died, my grandmother inherited a large sum of money which she methodically gave away to causes she cared about including the Heifer Project, Compassion International, Habitat for Humanity, March of Dimes, and countless fine charitable organizations. My grandparents believed in giving others a lift in life.

As a present to my grandfather who served many years as a pastor, my grandmother started a college scholarship fund at a Florida Southern College for students pursuing a career in the ministry. Without my grandfather ever knowing, she raised money at church bazaars, through bake sales, and by asking for contributions from the people who knew and loved my grandfather over the years. On his 75^th birthday, she presented him with a certificate stating that over $100,000 had been put into an endowment fund to help young people get an education.

One of the greatest treasures I have are recordings of both of my grandparents talking about their lives from as early as they can remember even up to their last years. My grandmother loved to read and I loved to hear her read even long after I became an adult. She would Uncle Remus books and a very non-political correct book called Old Adam and his Chillin’. As she read, she would use a variety of voices for the different characters and races represented though their wasn’t a racist bone in her 5′0″, ninety five pound body. She loved all people and helped anyone who needed help who was willing to help themselves.

The blessing both my grandparents received over the years were tremendous. Many children shared the legacy of their names. Extended family members of those who were helped by my grandparents visited and stay in communication with her right up until her death in 2003 at the age of ninety-seven. To me, they represent the legacy of a life well lived and they truly were some of the richest people I have ever known.

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

If your answer is Bill Gates, you’re off, according to an article in the New York Times this week. Measuring by a percentage of the US economy, the article lists the wealthiest Americans ever.

I’d love to see this type of article for the REAL Richest People in America - people who are rich because they give. Who would be included in the top five?

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

According to Wall Street Journal Robert Frank’s blog, the Wealth Report, the rich are in for a good summer. In a study that was done of 198 people who had a net worth of over 10 million, it was reported that they are going to spend more this summer - 56% more than they did in 2005. What’s on the top of their list? Yacht charters with $384,000 planned. Next, while they are out enjoying the “good life” they will be redecorating: adding a lap pool, home theater, or maybe updating the guest house. Regular readers here will be happy to know that they are going to give more too. Nearly all of the respondents (98%) in the study for Elite Traveler magazine plan to give to charity averaging $82,000. That’s after spending $56,000 on entertaining and $24,000 for wine for entertainment. Bless their filthy rich hearts to ante up almost 1% of their net worth to those in need.

How are you going to spend your summer?

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