May the 4th be with you!

We all have a force, an influence if you will. My mother was the biggest force in my life growing up. It seems fitting then that she passed away four years ago today on May 4th. Today I celebrate the positive force she was in my life. She influenced my love of travel, music, healthy living, family, and ultimately influenced my career as a professional speaker when she coached me in 8th grade to deliver a memorized speech I didn't want to make (read that story here)! It's also fitting, since today is national teacher appreciation day, that she was a teacher by training and influenced lots of young minds positively as an elementary school teacher and school librarian. She influenced many in the communities where we lived starting with speaking out against discrimination in the 1960s. She also influenced the lives of countless young people as a cub scout den mother, youth counselor, church camp volunteer, volunteer photographer, and more.

While many of the teachers I had from my younger days are gone, I also had a lot of other "teachers" and other forces that influenced and helped shape me. In college, Brian Lightle, Scott Crossman, Mark Fraser, Terry Derr, Bill Barnes, and others challenged me and were positive examples in my faith life. It was also in college that my friend, Amy Bardill, tried for four years - and finally succeeded - in influencing me to try out for my first ever theatrical performance. In my first job at IBM, I was fortunate to have met and been professionally influenced by Brian Andrew, Bill Rupprecht, Margo Jennings, and Don Oveson. When I took the Dale Carnegie course, John Graham and Rich Stanley were forces that recognized and encouraged me in speaking. Joan Helms hired me for my very first speaking engagement and hired me several more times putting her professional reputation on the line in hiring such a young "professional speaker". My first speaking mentor, Brian Lee, was an amazingly supportive and helpful teacher. I am so grateful to Bob Pike who hired me as a trainer for what was then called Creative Training Techniques, now The Bob Pike Group, when I was in my 20's. He along with Doug McCallum, Michele Deck, Rich Meiss, and others taught me how to train trainers.

My first mastermind members who challenged me and grow as a speaking professional included Phil Van Hooser, Richard Hadden, Dr. John Paling, Rosita Perez, John Beener, and Chuck Coker. They, along with fellow professional speakers, Dr. Terry Paulson, Lou Heckler, George Walther, Glenna Salsbury, Willie Jolley, Scott Friedman, Eileen McDargh, Dan Burrus, Scott McKain, Alan Weiss, Thom Winninger, Bruce Turkel, Greg Godek, Karyn Buxman, and so many others, coached me, referred business to me and or offered support and encouragement. This list could go on and on.

While these names may not be known to you, their positive influence was a force that helped shape me just at the right time. I'd encourage you to find your forces (influencers) and thank them on an important date like today. May your forces be with you as you help mentor and encourage others.

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