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The Homeless Man with the Radio Voice

5 Jan

When I was in college, I worked for a summer as DJ at a country radio station. I remember trying to sound like one of the seasoned radio DJ’s. He seemed to have a perfect voice for radio (though he always told me that I had the perfect face for radio). He was a natural. Though I really hated the twangy country music of that time, I LOVED using my voice even though I didn’t feel like I was a natural. It never occurred to me then that I would someday use my voice as a professional speaker.

I love it when I see someone who is a natural whether their talent is in sports, music, entertainment or voice. It’s even better when those “naturals” are discovered or rediscovered in unexpected places.  Ted Williams is a former voice-over artist who until recently was homeless. Though he two years drug free, he was once addicted to drugs and alcohol. He was recently discovered by The Columbus Dispatch in Columbus, Ohio as he showed signs to drivers asking for help.  His handwritten signs displayed a message to drivers that read, “I have a God given gift of voice. I’m an ex-radio announcer who has fallen on hard times. Please, any help will be gratefully appreciated.”

His street auditions led Ted to the viral title of  The homeless man with the radio voice. He’s become a YouTube hit and has been reportedly offered a job a voice over for the Cleveland Cavs. (who needs LeBron James when you have Ted Williams). Williams said “the voice became something of a development over years and I went to school for it. Then alcohol and drugs and a few other things became a part of my life. I got two years clean and I’m trying hard to get it back.”

Williams became interested in radio started at age 14. He met an announcer who told him that radio was   ‘theatre of the mind.’ A love affair was born. The love affair came full circle when Ted, the homeless man with the golden voice, took a risk, put aside his pride, and starting promoting his natural talent in the most unlikely of places.

Watch for Ted Williams, the man with the golden voice,  January 6th “On Air with Ryan Seacrest”. Ted Williams story was  “The Today Show,” and he’ll appear again tomorrow.

Inspirational Speaker Tim Richardson is a full-time 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

Facing Fear

31 Jul

Yesterday, I hiked Mount LeConte in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park with my friend Dr. Randy Small. Randy has set a goal to hike all 900 miles of Tennessee trails in the Great Smoky Mountains. Hiking the 2500 elevation change to the top of LeConte was one more notch on his belt. It was a beautiful hike to one of the highest mountains in the Smokies. There’s a reward at the top with breathtaking views and a lodge (Mount LeConte Lodge) for those who want to stay the night.

We talked about a lot while we were hiking including our families, politics, adventures, my job as an inspirational speaker, goals, and more. On the hike down, we talked about fear. Randy commented to me that he had a healthy respect for heights. In fact, he said his stomach got queasy when he climbed too high or was too close to a ledge with a sharp drop. He said when climbing a tower, he just had to start climbing without thinking. He told me that if he thought about it, he might just talk himself out of it. His responses made me think about my own fears. I thought about my experience only a day before on a high dive at a public pool. I started up the ladder to the high dive THINKING I would do a one and a half dive. When I got to the top, it seemed that all I could imagine was a less than perfect one and a half off the high dive. I actually saw myself going too far with the dive and landing on my back. I felt the pain of that and imagined the embarrassment that I would feel with my kids right there and friends standing nearby. I hesitated, looked around, then chose the safer swan dive. “Chicken”, was the first thought I had when I surfaced from the pool. BIG chicken.  Though I had successfully completed that dive many times, I let my fear take a stronghold on my actions. Instead of visualizing myself successful and seeing a picture of a well executed dive, I did the opposite and I waited. I didn’t heed the advice of my hiking buddy given to me just days before… dive right in. Of course, there are risks with diving right in but the downside is worse to me than the risks.

Food for thought:

1. Have a well executed plan. Practice and prepare before you perform, attempt, or act on a goal. See yourself as successful and eliminate the negative thoughts like “I can’t do this” or “what if I fail?”.

2. Think of the pitfalls BEFORE you get ready to do something so when you are ready to execute, you can “jump” with a healthy confidence, knowing you have already addressed the potential downsides.

3. When the moment comes to take the first step, don’t wait – just do it. Avoid the someday pitfall. The best someday is this day – TODAY.

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

No Phone Zone, no Facebook, no Twitter… no problem.

9 May

It’s time to take back some time. I’ve lost irretrievable time – sucked away into the black hole of technology. Of course, it’s my fault for not managing it better but I am claiming it back. Starting today on Mother’s Day until Father’s Day I am going cold turkey. No Facebook, no Twitter, no personal email and no other social media of any kind during this time. While I THINK there are some business benefits, I haven’t realized enough to warrant the estimated 4-6 hours a week I spend on it – hours I’ll now spend doing other things. Of course, there are some benefits of social media and technology but I think there is a great deal of time suck too. There are three things that inspired my action to go on a technology diet (which also includes a diet from the codependency I have with my cell phone).

1) An intense desire to connect more deeply and personally with family and friends

2) The hectic pace in which my life has been for most of this year (for which social media, in particular, has only contributed to the hurry)

3)  Efforts led by Oprah for a No Phone Zone (watch this video clip and print this No Phone Zone sign to put in your car).

The last few months I haven’t been helped but rather hindered by 24/7 access to email and social media. In the last month alone, I have witnessed or participated in the following:

- spending most of a 2 ½ hour flight from Denver online (while missing an incredible sunset outside.

- “complaining” to a flight attendant when Gogo (Delta’s in flight internet) wasn’t available on a short flight to Detroit last week.

-  stopping at a rest stop that had free wireless while driving from Iowa to Minnesota….just to try it out.

- twice seeing men in public restrooms texting while using the urinal

- conversing with a couple who, while she read Live The Life You’ve Always Wanted, he talked on his Crackberry Blackberry (he admitted in our conversation that sometimes at dinner with the family, he’d check email or respondto a text while waiting for the food to arrive).

I’ve had enough (at least for awhile). So I am quitting… cold turkey. Yeah, I’ll travel with my phone if I am away on business but I have taken the Oprah No Phone Zone pledge and have printed it out, both to post in my car and in my luggage, as a reminder to pull over IF I have an URGENT call. I figured I survived until my early forties without a cell phone so I certainly can make it for 41 days. Extreme measure? Perhaps. Unnecessary? I think not.

My technology avoidance may not work for everyone but it’s a needed step for me to re-connect. Here’s what I expect to happen while on my temporary social media and cell sabbatical:

- less neck and shoulder stress from losing 4-6 hours a week in computer time

- a more relaxed schedule . I believe some of the very things that are supposed to help us connect with others have actually made most of us connected less with those who matter most.

- more time for building lasting relationships and less time on digital relationships that probably don’t matter.

- fewer but deeper “conversations” with people for whom I don’t need web access for “talking”.

- more time to play with and read to my kids.

- time to play or listen to music.

- quiet. Nothing. Letting my brain rest and my body regenerate.

- taking slow walks with my wife and family.

- time to make a few fabulous dinners from recipes I have been collecting from Facebook (just kidding).

It seems to me that one on one communication has been replaced by communication with the masses. So IF you want to “connect” with me during my sabbatical, “friend” me, or Twalk to me, you’ll have to do it the old fashioned way via snail mail or a phone call. I’ve faced the fact that I won’t be on Facebook and I won’t be Twalking on Twitter, and will only use e-mail for business communications. As for my cell phone, the ringer will be off and I will only use to call my family OR in a REAL emergency. I’m unplugging and I’ve never been so excited about the possibilities for real connections.

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

Building memories, building relationships

25 Mar

One of the things I have done for each of my six kids is write them letters. I started when my first child was still in my wife’s tummy. Since I have been writing a lot lately, one of my kids likes me to read  something both from my new book and from the journals I wrote when they were all younger.  I stumbled across this letter written when my son was not even two. Now’s he 14 and would be totally embarrassed about this letter. It touched me though and reminded me yet again, of how quickly time passes. If you are fortunate enough to have little ones, enjoy each moment.

My precious little baby:

This morning you woke up very early due to  thunder storm. Either that or you were having a bad dream. Mommy brought you to bed and we cuddled together. Your heart was beating on top of mine seemingly sending a rhythmic message of love. You slept for awhile, then stirred and fell back to sleep for a few minutes. Then you put your little hands on my eyes to see if I was sleeping or awake. It was a moment to cherish and one I don’t normally have as you normally choose your mother if you need a comforting embrace.

I laid there soaking in the moment as if nothing else mattered. And at that moment, nothing else did. Nothing that I had to do could be as important as that seemingly long time together that now seems like a flash of lightning in a storm. Your childhood will be like that too I’m told. I’ll look back when you are a teenager someday and ask “where did time go”.

So the next time I see lightning, I’m going to use that as a reminder of how quickly time will pass. I’m going to take time out from whatever I am doing to play with you, to look deeply into your eyes, and try to see the wonder of the world through your eyes. I don’t want to have regrets about missing this precious time.

From Good to Great

5 Feb

I am writing this en route to Miami a few days before the Super Bowl. On the plane were a number of current and former NFL players, boxing great Evander Holyfield, and singer Usher. There was a lot of talent on that plane – people who were very good at one point before breaking through to greatness. Quite coincidentally, I had been thinking about the book From Good to Great by Jim Collins.  There’s no denying that many of the passengers had made that transformation. To be great in boxing, music or as an NFL player, takes more than being good, you have to be great. To play in the Super Bowl, an even higher level of greatness has to be achieved. As fate would have it, a former NFL player sat down in the seat next to me. In the course of our conversation, I learned that he played wide receiver for 15 years. He told me that his best years where his last few years before retirement. That made me curious as that is not always true for an athlete in their mid 30’s. He seemed interested in talking and I was interested in asking questions so I asked questions and he answered them. Below is part of our dialogue:

How do you go from Good to Great? It’s all about getting a chance to be great. I started my career with one team and I was labeled a C player. After a few years with that team, I was traded and with my new team I was given a chance to shine. My new teams belief in me and the chance I was given gave me confidence. When people believe in you and give you a chance, it boosts your confidence. Plus I knew that if I made a mistake they weren’t going to bench me. When people feel confident in you and your abilities you can achieve any greatness you desire. But someone has to give you that chance.

How does one obtain confidence? First you must work hard to learn your skill and be very good at it. Then you have to believe in yourself. Finally, you have to be prepared – mentally and physically when your chance comes.  You can’t be standing on the sidelines not paying attention. Sometimes getting a chance is like a fast ball that comes at you quickly. You can’t leave it to chance that you will be ready. You have to have done the hard work so you will be ready. Whether it’s business, sports, or life, you have to work on your skills, have the right attitude and not get down on yourself when you make a mistake.

Describe how your confidence and abilities changed in your career? In your early years you just try to make the team. Even if you just barely make the team, you are satisfied. When you are in your middle years, you have to be a starter. If you aren’t a starter by this point, it’s likely the team will get rid of you.  I tell everyone I was in the league five years before I became an ”every down player”. During those five years, I was watching and learning.

What advice would you give a rookie today? Watch the guys in front of you, particularly the ones that are successful. When I was a young player, I would watch how best players practiced. I would watch how they ran routes and how they prepared. I made it a point to take what they did and work to do it a little better. I believe if you do this, things will fall into place and you will achieve greatness.

 To what do you attribute to a long successful career? Three things:  Hard work, confidence, and attitude. It was during the last phase of my career that I had my best years.  As my skills began to diminish, I worked harder and played smarter. I kept my attitude in check and knew that because I had accomplished a great deal already, I could still get the job done. I think you achieve greatness when you are no longer in your prime and you can still get the job done at a high level.

Whether you are an asipring athlete, musician, artists, corporate manager or business owner, the journey of going from good to great starts today. Do something great today.

The great golf pro – an inspiration to all

22 Jun

I’m not a golf fan but I am a sports fan and I am a BIG fan of people who fight against all the odds and succeed. DJ Greggory is one of those people and an inspiration to both able bodied and physically challenged athletes. He’s one of my new hero’s too. Born with Cerebral Palsy, his parents were told he would never walk. Yet walk he did – 900 miles in one year and he did it because he was passionate about golf. I think passion and determination are two of the most enduring qualities for success in life. DJ has both in big doses. Watch this clip entitled Walk On maybe it will inspire you to do something that you might have never imagined. Walk on…

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

Twitter with Tim or get LinkedIn

Kids that Care

19 May

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

Twitter with Tim or get LinkedIn

Take this Job and LOVE it!

18 Mar

It’s so refreshing to see people who LOVE their job, particularly in today’s economic climate. It makes perfect sense to me that the people who are going to thrive today are the ones who give it their all, who are innovative in their approach to work, and who are passionate about what they do. Are you?

Check out this Southwest flight attendant rapping the preflight announcement. Look for ways to differentiate yourself today. Stand up and standout – it could very well make you RICH!

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

Twitter with Tim or get LinkedIn

Dear Abby

24 Nov

Lately, I feel like Dear Abby.  Because I can be found under the search term “The Richest People in America”, I get a lot of emails requesting help, usually requesting money.  This week there have been several including from somone who I imagine to be from a Developing World Country. He didn’t mention his country in the email but I would guess based on both how he wrote and what he said he lived in a very poor area. Those who contact me erroneously assume me to be a person of great material wealth. Alas, I am just a person who defines RICH a bit differently.  I was encouraged that he had a great goal even if he felt challenged by his ability to achieve it.  He asked for advice and below are the suggestions I gave him. As I re-read it, I wondered what some of my contemporaries would have suggested. I would love to know what you would have told him. (you can reach his email below – just as he wrote it). Here’s what I wrote followed by his intial email:

Dear Z (short for his real name):

I applaud your dreams/aspirations.  Below are a few suggestions:
1) Network with other like-minded, positive people. Sometimes the people who you associate with can determine your demise or your destiny.

2) Read uplifting, positive books every day (The Power of Positive Thinking, Think and Grow Rich, The Greatest Salesman in the World, and the Bible – even if you aren’t Christian, the principles in Psalms and Proverbs are universal and very wise words.

3) Write down you goals every night before you go to sleep and tackle the toughest one first the next day. Don’t ever feel like the number of goals you have is important. Keep it manageable but stretch yourself too.

4) Never give up -it’s when things they most dire that it is more important than ever to keep trying. The last few strides before the finish line is a great time to really kick it up a notch.

5) Realize that every step (even baby steps) you take toward you goal with more you in the right direction.
Dear Sir/Madam,

I am very happy when i read about your hand works in term of helping societies that  need  help  so much.
I am a young man of 27 years old and frankly speaking has a great deal of interest in helping the venerable and  needy  in my  society  and  beyond. It will be my greatest joy to one day have all it takes to be able to achieve something of the sort. It is an instinct that existed deep inside me that any time i see people in trouble due to the fact  that they are street children, it made me cry. I think God blesses us so that we can also be blessing to others who can not afford.

I am very serious about this project and will not hesitate to start it if the means is available.

The following are my Plans for the future.

* Build a Church and attach to the Church will be a School for the Orphans and street children in my society in the whole country. The School will be from the Kindergarten to  Senior  Secondary  Level and  the  School should  be in position to sponsor the qualified ones to the University level.
* Form a Football Club purposely for the Orphans and the Street Children From Second Division  to the  Premier  Division  level  in order  to build the hidden talent they have inside them and other sports will also be considered.
* Build a hostel as from the beginning to contain about  500 to 800 people and the School Class rooms also the same.

Sir/Madam, the problem I have is that i am not doing the best of work to see myself achieving all this very easily, meanwhile, it haunt me all day long to strive hard in order to be able to achieve all this plans. What  i am trying to say Sir, is that i am not asking you to give me money to do this projects but what i am trying to say is, that i need a push to be able to achieve it.

At the moment, my interest is in Football Development and any help from you to begin something that will help me to accomplish this mission sooner or later will very well be respected

Thank you very much for your anticipated reaction in this regard.

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

Phelps Fever – The Richest Olympian ever

18 Aug

Michael Phelps, the decorated U.S. Olympic swimmer, could become the richest Olympian ever. He has shown competitiveness, hunger to win, humbleness and a great team spirit.  According to an article I read today USA Today by Christine Breenan, Phelps isn’t talking endorsements and going to Disney World, he is talking spending time with his mother, two sisters and friends.  Associated Press writer Paul Newberry writes that Phelps is the antithesis of Mark Spitz who was aloof and arogant according to team mates. Phelps is very popular with his team mates hanging out with them and serving as the unofficial ambassador for first-time Olympians. Somehow I bet that will carry over to the fortune that will likely be his when the endorsements start to roll in. 

Interesting, another AP National Writer Pauline Arrillaga wrote a thoughtful piece entitled Joys, burdens of being best face Phelps now. Arrillaga’s article put Phelps among some pretty good company including Sir Edmund Hillary, Chuck Yeager,  Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Bill Gates,   Stephen Hawking, Oprah Winfrey, Lance Armstrong, Dr. Ben Carson, Barry Bonds, Pete Sampras, Carl Lewis and even fourteen year-old Sameer Mishra National Spelling Bee Champion.

I’m writing this post while at the Sheraton Hotel in Sioux Falls, SD. Believe it or not, a piece on Michael Phelps just aired on the CBS Evening news. Everyone stopped talking and tuned in to the segment. When it was over, conversations changed to Phelps and fellow U.S. Olympic swimmer Dara Torres. Phelps and Torres both have lots of richness that await them. We have all become richer with pride, astonishment, and admiration just watching them.

 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.

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