Until a couple of days ago, Ted Williams was the type of person most people ignore or even avoid. He was a homeless beggar.
What stories do you make up in your head when you see a homeless person?
Maybe you decide he deserves what he got, or you figure he has no ambition or is an addict.
I know you’re storytelling inside your head when you meet someone. Everyone has an inner narrative and all kinds of snap judgments that happen without conscious thought.
Do you cross the street to avoid someone who is homeless? Or to avoid someone you consider the “wrong kind of person”?
Ted Williams stood on the street with a sign that proclaimed he would use his God-given voice in exchange for money. A local newspaper reporter recorded a brief exchange with the “vagabond” and uploaded it to YouTube.
The video became an instant sensation, receiving almost 12 million views in 3 days.
Consider what causes a message to spread. It’s not just the story of “some homeless person.” Ted has a true gift, and a little later I’ll share how he came to realize it.
The YouTube video description from ritchey reads,
Throwing this video from the Columbus Dispatch out there, hoping we can find this talent a place to call home.
The first update from Ritchey soon followed:He went beyond that first “touch”—that first step of collecting contact information from people with interview requests and job offers. He even purchased a Tracfone for Ted.
UPDATE-1: Many thanks go out to all of you who have been tossing phone numbers and e-mails my way for Ted’s sake. I went up to Hudson/I-71 (Columbus) today, but Ted wasn’t there. He is going to be on air tomorrow morning on radio station WNCI. I’ve left my contact info w/WNCI to call/e-mail me on a way to get your enormous opportunities over to him.
I’m going to give him a Trac phone (w/ample minutes) so that he can return calls to all of you.
Hopefully, in some way I’ll get in contact w/him. Peace.
Ted’s life became a whirlwind. He truly has an amazing talent—a true gift to share with the world.
That’s what sparked so much attention. Ted has a mellifluous voice, deep and resonant, that captivates people. He realizes he has a God-given gift now (though this was not always the case).
Two more updates to the YouTube viral video soon followed:
UPDATE-2: To all of those who have been writing in I have learned that the radio station interviewing him tomorrow (1-5-11) a.m. is going to make him a formal offer. Whether true or not, we’ll see.
Hope it works out well for him. That was the whole point of me posting this video. I cannot thank enough everyone who was willing to do their part in offering Ted their helping hand.
Whoever lands him is certainly getting much more than a memorable personality; they’re getting a great human being as part of their team.
My best to all.
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UPDATE-FINAL: Well everyone. You can give yourselves and Ted a high-five. He’s being given offers hand-over-fist over the air. He’ll be set for life.
My request to all. Whenever you run across a story such as this, don’t assume it’ll take a life of its own, on its own. It won’t. It can’t. There are too many other stories that drown out the one before it.
You need to spend time to get that story and its word out to many. If you care, you’ll do it.
Keep the faith, pay forward and always lend a hand; even if you’re the one who needs it.
God bless Mr. Williams. I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of him for sometime to come.
Ted Williams’s Story: From the Top to the Bottom
Ted had a career in radio, a family and success by all the usual standards. He also had a drinking problem, and then he became acquainted with cocaine. Unfortunately, he got very familiar with the drug and destroyed his life.
What do you think when you hear of someone who has abused drugs and essentially thrown their life away? Are you full of judgment?
It is so easy to say that Ted brought homelessness upon himself. Indeed he did. But does that make him an awful person?
No. Not at all. He is just a human being who made mistakes.
Fundamentalists would say he had fallen from grace, but I know deep in my spirit that nothing separates anyone from God, Great Spirit, The Universe, or however you personally name that power which is beyond all understanding. Nothing, that is, except your own perception.
We, who are flawed, glorious, and everything in between, are all One.
Ted Goes from the Bottom to the Top, Transformed
Clean and sober now for quite some time, Ted revealed on the Today Show that he used to take his deep voice for granted. He never thought of his beautiful voice as a gift.
Despite smoking and filling himself with drugs for over a decade, he has somehow managed to keep that amazing voice, and it will now change his life.
From the lowest of low to the scary heights he goes.
Ted is experiencing a transformation makeover of his life right now. He has numerous job offers all over the country, including in his hometown of New York. And with this transformation, he has a new skill to learn.
He can easily go back onto a destructive road. He will need to learn to breathe, center, and use good discernment. He will need support to continue to stay clean, sober and in the home he will undoubtedly soon enjoy.
Because so much success is coming to him so fast! Think of it. Just this week he was homeless on the streets of Ohio. Now his talent is bringing him offers from Kraft Foods, the Today Show, numerous radio stations and more.,
Ted has received offer after offer and has appeared on at least 2 national television morning shows.
How Can You Experience a Transformation Makeover like Ted Williams?
Ted Williams knows his gift and even as a homeless man knew that gift could earn him something, even if it was only a dollar or two.
Here are some ways you can transform any aspect of your own life.
- Know what change you want and, most importantly, know WHY you want it.
- Open your heart, mind and spirit to the possibility of change.
- Vision the transformation you are creating as if you already have it in your life. Get specific with that vision.
- Surround yourself with people who will support you every step of the journey.
- Eliminate negativity in all forms. Don’t listen to negative people or negative news.
One thing to recognize is that you have to make your transformation makeover stick. Just because you make a change doesn’t mean you will stick to it.
Think of alcoholics who have been sober for months or years and then fallen back into the habit of drinking. Think of people you know who lost a bunch of weight for a reunion or other event only to put it back on, with interest.
Big lottery winners frequently fall into deep debt or illness soon after they receive a windfall, because they don’t know how to handle it and are not prepared for the changes.
This brings up an important question:
What is the key to making any transformation last?
The keys to making any major change last are focus, determination and support.
Focus means you have to continue to focus your attention daily on moving forward in a positive way. You cannot for a moment let your vision of this new life falter
Determination means you must stick to the activities that keep you strong and growing as an individual. Personal development is not just something to do if you have a few spare minutes. It is a lifelong commitment. And it is worth the time and energy you invest in it.
Support means surrounding yourself with all the elements that will keep you strong. You need good people, good habits, good health, good news, and so forth. You cannot take any situation for granted.
Indeed, there is a chance that Ted Williams may fall back into addiction and poverty. However, the team at the Today Show and others are helping him get a support team in place. This will help him hold his forthcoming success with grace.
Your invitation to a new way of being starts now.
I invite you to embark on 7 secret missions that are both fun and revealing. These missions will surprise and delight you. They’re EASY to do and won’t take much time from your busy life.
Plus you can receive valuable gifts just for participating in the challenge and sharing your experiences.
