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My Season’s Greenings Christmas Card

25 Sep

The day I write this blog it is exactly 3 months before Christmas. If you received a “Season’s Greenings” card in the mail from me, you probably know the story. If not, it’s below along with the top 10 reasons to send Christmas cards in any month but December.

Sending Christmas cards in December (and doing some other “Christmasy” things in December) may never appear on my to do list again. Some of the traditional things (those that cause rushing and hurry) are gone for good from my schedule – at least not in December. Eliminating or rescheduling those things for other times of the year will free up time to celebrate what’s really imporant and create memories together with those you hold dear.  I’m not being a Grinch, I LOVE Christmas and will do Christmas at odd times throughout the year. Why should the feeling of spreading “good cheer” be reserved only for a month that has the shortest day of the year and some of the coldest weather? So here’s my top 10 list of why you might consider adopting my policy of writing my Christmas cards in July or September or May or whatever month you want!

1) Be different – stand out.

2) Spend time making memories with family and friends around the holidays. Give up on the feeling that you have to be some kind of Norman Rockwell Christmas creator.

3) Eliminate stress. When we send cards in December, it usually meant staying up late, getting a cramp in your writing hand, and maybe messy handwriting because you are racing against the clock (okay, my handwriting is messy anyway!)

4) Mail delivery time is slower in December.

5)  Surprise people. We all like surprises and what’s more surprising than receving aChristmas card at an unexpected time (or in an unexpected way)?

6) Avoid the rush. I may be the only person buying Christmas stamps this time of year (and yes the postal service has them!)

7) Stimulate the economy. Do your part to keep the postal service in business year round.

8) Save money. Cards are cheaper on December 26th.

9) Save time. I get my cards done when I want to do them not when the calendar or advertisements tell me to do them.

10) Forget holidaze forever. “nuff said.

Don’t worry if you didn’t get a card – there’s still some to be mailed …when I have time to write a few. And they only go to people who live out of town and those I won’t see at Christmas. So Merry Christmas – and don’t forget there are only 91 more shopping days left.

*What are you doing to stand out in your market, career or community?

Just asking.

Tim Richardson is a professional speaker and author. Tim writes and speaks about how to build community (with customers, with co-workers, and in the community where you live). His programs focus on how to increase employee morale, lower employee turnover, increase customer loyalty and build a better sense of healthy community in cities, states, and countries all over the world. He is a community builder by volunteering in scouting, youth sports, and as a board member in several organizations including president and founder of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com

Facebook and Twitter sabbatical

16 May

I am one week into my plan to give up Twitter, Facebook and other social media. That part is going well. It’s the giving up personal email and cell phone use while in the car that has me cheating a little. I did sign on to Facebook twice but only to get a number or email I couldn’t get somewhere else. As much as I yearn for more time away from technology, it has become a way of life (and in many cases improves productivity). Even though I didn’t meet all of my goals, I have felt good about some of what has happened. Since I started my plan on Mother’s Day, I have:

- prepared two meals and cooked out for the family twice

-  played my guitar four times this week

-  started to organize finances and investment info

- played more games and read more books to the kids than I had in awhile

- penned 8 – 10 letters in my own handwriting!

I like where this is taking me and look forward to a total Facebook free week and continued sabbatical from other social media.

I’ll post again in a week or so.

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

April follies

30 Apr

As we run out of April, I am reflecting on my month and the significance of this month. April has been a pivotal month over the years. It was in April many years ago that I decided to leave my job at IBM to pursue my dream of being a motivational speaker. In particular, April 18th is a big day for me. In addition to being both my brother Gerald’s birthday, it was also the birthday of my grandmother. On a grander scale it also is the anniversary of the day Paul Revere helped change the course of history with his infamous mid-night ride. Still grander (at least for me!), April 18th is the anniversary of my first date with my wife. The story: she asked me out (her mother suggested it). We spent the entire day from 6:30 am until 12:30 am, together, 18 hours (it started with an early morning triathlon I did in which I set course records for the slowest time recorded in triathlon history). After the tri, we spent the rest of the day at the beach then had a cook out at my house with friends before attending Kontiki – a beach themed Chi O party. This year we celebrate 18 years of marriage.

My first date and ultimately my marriage happened because of connector personalities (I met someone who introduced me to another friend who later introduced me to my wife). This all happened over a couple of years in which we had a friendly acquaintance. After attending a wedding with one of her friends, we spontaneously stopped by her apartment to show her my new Jeep. Her parents were there and they were ALL in their PJ’s (at 9:30 or 10:00 on a Saturday night!). A few days later, she lamented to her mother that her normal “date” and current boyfriend would be out of town for her final sorority party. Her mother said, “what about Tim?”

Now, 18 years and six kids later, we are traveling through this journey called life. While THINKING about writing (instead of actually doing it), I starting thinking about the significant of all the number 18’s and 8′s in my life.  I started writing this on April 18th (see above).  My childhood history hero not only rode his historic ride on April 18th he also died in 1818 – which if you divide by the number of children I have (8) it equates to 303 (which is the area code, from which I write this with my daughter who is traveling with me. My daughter, while  born on the 9th day of the month,  in less than 8 years will be … you guessed 18! When she is 88, the year will be 2086 and I will be 86-ed if I don’t get my sleep and stop this fixation with 18. Have a gr8t weekend!

So you get SOMETHING out of this post, check out the info below:

www.gladwell.com/tippingpoint/index.html (scroll down to point # 6 or better yet buy the book). Paul Revere has always been one of my favorite people in American history. I learned reading Gladwell book that he alarmed the colonist because he was a connector. His connections and ability to inspire people to action changed the face of America history. Whether it’s first date or a historic and patriotic action, connections life and history changing.

Tim Richardson is a professional speaker and author. Tim writes and speaks about how to build community (with customers, with co-workers, and in the community where you live). His programs focus on how to increase employee morale, lower employee turnover, increase customer loyalty and build a better sense of healthy community in cities, states, and countries all over the world. He is a community builder by volunteering in scouting, youth sports, and as a board member in several organizations including president and founder of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com

I’m like so not 13

24 Jan
Last week, I received an email from my best friend’s widow asking that I share some advice for her daughter’s 13th birthday. Mind you, what I know about 13 year old girls, dates back to when I was about that age and can be summed up in one four letter word – HELP! I’ll have a 13 year old girl in two short years so I should have been the one asking her for advice as I am scared to death! I am scared of lots of things LIKE:
- Will I relate? My parents channel through me every time I comment on clothes she wears that I don’t like.
- Repetitious filler words. LIKE how many times can you LIKE say LIKE before I LIKE tell you that I LIKE don’t LIKE your LIKE Music. Whatever!
- The inflation adjusted age of today’s 13 year old. A 13 year old today is LIKE 17 years older than when I was a kid. LIKE, really.
- Boys – the cooties story will only work for so long. I am like running out of time…
- My Super Hero status (okay, I never had that but at some point she is not only going to realize there are LOTS of things I can’t do but also I that I might become obsolete).
I could go on but the more things I list, the more scared I become. Below is the advice that I actually sent.
- Be kind to everyone. Just do the opposite of the characters from that movie Mean Girls.
- Experience life. Look for ways to stretch yourself, try new adventures, walk the less traveled path. Carefully observe things around you as you live your life. There’s lots of cool stuff that you’ll miss unless you keep your eyes open.
- Help others. Always look for ways to be helpful in your school, with your friends, in your community and in our world.
- Trust others (this applies to everyone except BOYS ages 13 – 21).
- Laugh often. There’s no better prescription for a well lived life.
- Love freely. Love God, Love others, love yourself – it’s what makes the world go around.
Did I like miss anything?

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

Martin Luther King Day and Living for the Line

18 Jan

The piece below was sent to me by my professional speaker colleague, Sheryl Nicholson. Sheryl’s conversation with a total stranger named Sharin inspired my thoughts below on thinking differently about lines. Here’s Sheryl’s experience:

During a recent acupuncture treatment, I had an insightful conversation with a lady named Sharin. During my treatment, we talked about the fast paced world we live in, our families, our childhood, and even our moms.

Sharin said “I’m living for the line”. Sharin’s mom had passed away recently and she told me that there was a very long line out the door and around the funeral home three hours before the viewing. The funeral director  knew her mother so they stayed open many hours past normal closing time so everyone in that line could pay tribute and offer her family their condolences. “That’s what I want when I die”, Sharin said. I’m living for that line!”

“What made her mom so special?” I asked. Sharin explained that her mother worked at a small credit union in a small town and, of course, knew everyone. “When my mother saw a member drive up in the parking lot, she would pull up all their information and have it waiting on her computer screen before they even sat down. If you brought in your children or your pet, there was a snack for them as well. She knew the birthdays of every member, their spouses’ names and even the names of their children.” Sharin said her mother felt it was her privilege to serve members and do it well and with a warm heart.

*******

I think there are other potential lessons to learn from the words above. It might be about offering a higher level of service when your customer is in a line, thinking about what you can do or how you can act while you are in a line, or even what it takes to stand out from the rest of a line of people in the same job or career.

For some, the word “line” conjures up unpleasantness or feelings of irritation. Of course, good things can come from waiting in lines – front row seats at a concert, orchestra seating at the theater, or up closer and personal with a keynote speaker. Today, I am thinking of the line that Dr. Martin Luther King marched in, the line that stood to hear his “I Have a Dream” speech, and the line that followed his funeral procession. Imagine lining up every person who participated in an MLK celebration today with every person whose life was touched by Dr. King, a man who exemplified “living for the line”.

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

Book inspires career as professional speaker

16 Dec

Sitting to the left of my computer screen is a book entitled “The Greatest Salesman in the World” by Og Mandino. It was given to me as a graduation gift from Dr. Rob Tate, a professor at Florida Southern College where I earned my undergraduate degree. In the front of the book, Rob wrote the following:

Tim,

Please accept this book as a token of my appreciation for the friendship you have shown me. Thanks for providing a listening ear, a strong shoulder and an occasionally needed kick in the seat.  Maybe someday I can repay the favor.

He did…many times.

After I graduated college, I started working with IBM in a marketing branch office. It wasn’t a good job fit and over time I became less and less motivated about my career there. One day, after being put on a 60 day performance improvement plan, I picked up the book Rob had given me. I devoured it and read it exactly as Og suggested (reading the scrolls three times per day). I am convinced that the book not only helped me turn around a very difficult work situation, it also helped inspire me to start my career as a professional speaker.

Though I never actually had Rob as a professor, his simple gift had a profound affect on me and my life. Rob was a great and well liked teacher and influenced many young people including me. As you think about gifts this holiday season, think about giving something that will have impact and lasting influence and take time to thank people for both the tangible and intangible gifts you have been given.

Milestones

8 Jun

Having just celebrated a birthday, I have been thinking about milestones. Though it wasn’t a milestone birthday, for some reason this birthday got me thinking – thinking about getting older, thinking about the past, and just generally contemplating the stage of life I am in.  It seems the mirror isn’t as kind as it used to be. I see things in the mirror that I didn’t see in recent years. Until recently, I thought of myself as “young and hip” (though I am quite sure that the true young and hip wouldn’t think of me as either young or hip!).  In the weeks leading up to my birthday, I began to wonder about milestones and thinking a little about the aging process than I usually do.

To celebrate my birthday (and to prove my youth and hip-ness), I went camping and mountain biking with my son. After a few rainy days, I was excited to get on the trails when the sun broke through late Friday afternoon. In my haste to get biking, we took off on the longest trail possible. For some reason, I had thought the ride we were taking was the shortest and I had told my son that.  At every half mile, there was a mile marker indicating the distance we had ridden. After a few rigorous uphill sections, he began asking me to let him know when we got to a mile marker. The further we rode, the more frequently he asked about the mile markers. Finally, I told him that he would enjoy the ride so much more if he worried less about the mile markers. I think that is true about life too.  I think I’ll stop thinking about milestones and start enjoying the journey more.

My Mother’s Day tribute

10 May

I am not sure where I would be today if it weren’t for mothers. There are many women who played a role and are playing a role in my life. I’m so grateful for them all:

For my Mother –  who gave birth to me, raised me, taught me right from wrong, showed me God’s love, who helped me launch my career when, in 8th grade, I had to memorize a speech for which I was petrified (little did she know then that she also helped plant the seed for my career  as a professional speaker). I’ll forever be indebted to you, mom. 

For my grandmothers for whom I still think of fondly. They were as different as night and day and I so appreciated the contrast. My mothers mother was quiet but caring. She made blackberry cobbler every time I came to visit and she turned down the sheets on my bed – sheets that were crisp from drying in the sun. Love was the common ingredient in every meal she cooked. She was dependable, steady, predictable, cautious and despite what I thought when I was a young child, she was not only the meanest grandmother ever but the kindest. 

My fathers mother was rambunctious and outspoken. I can still hear her voice as she read to her grandchildren and great grandchildren. As an adult, I still loved to hear her to read. She loved to entertain with dialects and accents as she read classic old books and tales. She also loved to tell stories of her childhood. There was always something interesting to do at her house and she made sure to be in the thick of it. She modeling giving unlike anyone I have ever known and gave freely and regularly to many causes in her life. It was ingrained into her character and her generosity is still evident several years after her death.  

My best friends mother who took me under her wing for a year of my life when my parents moved before my senior year in high school. She made me eat vegees that I now love, laughed at my jokes, nursed me when I was sick and put up with my many teen allergies. She treated me like I was her own and asked questions when I didn’t want to give answers. 

My mother-in-law who raised my wife to be the loving and caring person she is and who loves me unconditionally despite my many faults. She never forgets a birthday or special occasion and makes me feel almost as comfortable in her home as I am in my own.

My wife who is my best friend, my confidant, my idea sounding board, and an incredible mother of our five children. She is witty, loving, caring, and is modeling so many positive character to young minds who watch her daily. She has a long memory of the good things I do and is quick to forget when I mess up. I hope my son is as fortunate as I when he finds his life long mate someday.

Thank-you mom. Thank you mothers. I love you all. Happy Mother’s Day!

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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Let’s Make History

20 Jan

With the inaguaration of Barack Obama today, history was made. While I haven’t been glued to a TV today and pretty much had a business as usual approach to my day, I have still been impacted by the fact that there’s new leadership, new excitement, and new hope for millions of people all over the globe. I can’t remember an election in my lifetime that has produced as much attention as this one and perhaps one with the biggest potential for change (some good and some not so good). There was quite a bit of conversation from my speaker colleagues today on President Obama and his speech (which isn’t a surprise since we call ourselves professional speakers). It’s likely that there are many organizations that will change leaders this year. While the reach isn’t as great, there will also be opportunities to others to make history too.  What kind of history are you committing to making? What changes are you inspiring in organizations for which you belong? What kind of hope are you rekindling in your family, your career, your business or your life.?  Perhaps it’s time to challenge yourself. Challenge the way you do business. Challenge traditions in organizations for which you serve. Mix it up, mess it up, and most importantly make history.

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

Learn, baby, learn

11 Jan

Most every year in this decade, I begin each year with a theme. I like to use that theme to guide the entire year rather than make a list of impossible resolutions that sometimes actually backfire (too many resolutions, too unrealistic, and TOO varied). After much contemplation, I have decided that my theme for my 2009 is LEARN. I have been causally twirling it around in my head since the last few weeks and more intently this weekend. Using the word LEARN as an acrostic, I’d like to invite you to resolve to learn along with me this year: 1) Love – Be more loving with family, friends and in your faith life. Exploring the depths of each of these relationships areas more fully will be the highest form of learning. Love life, love living, love fully. 2) Experience – This year, create new experiences that stretch your thinking, expand your horizons and cause you to look at the world with new lens. Attend more lectures, listen to pod casts that are intellectually stimulating, and do things that create lasting memories and impressions. 3) Alter – Doing things differently will help shape a new perspective. Read magazine and journal articles that you have never read. Follow a popular blog for a few weeks that has diametrical views to your own. Read a book or listen to music or go a performance that is completely outside your interest. 4) Renew – Commit to a hobby, interest, or activity that you once found enjoyable and learn something new about it. Take piano lessons, write poetry, learn to snowboard, visit a long lost friend. Start writing letters to elderly relatives. Ask them questions about life, happiness, faith, family, the future, their past, their heros… 5) Navigate – Commit to using one new technology productively this year that will help you in your business or personal life. Start a blog. Upload videos to Youtube. Take a computer class. I invite you to make 2009 a year to really learn. If you commit to learn more in 2009, as I hope to, do it with vigor. John Wesley, the founder of the United Methodist Church was a noted speaker in his day. He would amass large audiences of people because of the enthusiasm in his preaching. He once said, “I go out and set my self on fire and people come out to watch me burn.” Burn, baby, burn… and it will be a year worth watching. 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

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