The Ask! Ask! Ask! article from two days ago generated such a great response that led me to Peggy Collin’s very helpful, “Ten Ways to Ask for Help Without Feeling Helpless.” I was so surprised that there was someone out there who actually specialized in teaching people how to ask for help!
Peggy’s list actually gave me an idea. While I’ve shown the following YouTube video before, I’ve never actually asked you to help me pass it along. According to traffic statistics at Adversity University, about 100 people a day stop by for a visit. If each one of you took a few minutes to forward this video to 5 people on your list, that you personally know would be inspired by its contents, that means at least 500 people could witness the power of three words that once tumbled out of a fifth grade teacher’s lips so many years ago.
As you will see in the video, Mrs. Jordan simply said three words, “THAT’S RIGHT, STEPHEN!”, forever causing a ripple effect that continues to expand even 30 years later. I have written a book with that title (which I expect to publish in 2008) and plan to do a bus tour that same year. By speaking of how much of difference she made in my life, this is my way of giving back to her and reminding current/future teachers that they are very much needed in today’s classroom.
Can you imagine if teachers knew the potential impact on their students the way Mrs. Jordan impacted mine?
Will you help me pay it forward? You are invited to do this a couple of ways:
1. Click the “Share” button at the end of the video and follow their instructions (YouTube provides three ways of passing this forward easily and effortlessly).
2. At the end at the very bottom of this post, there’s a “Share This.” Click on that and you’ll be able to forward the entire blog entry to people you think should see this.
If you liked this post and you want to be notified of the next one, subscribe via Email or Full Text RSS Feed. I would love to have you as part of the community!
Welcome! I'm the founder and professor of Adversity University specializing in personal development for spiritual beings having a human experience. To see a speaking demo tape and other information, please click 
6:03 pm on September 22nd, 2007 1
I was inspired by your articles, Stephen, before I even knew you were hearing challenged!
You are an accomplished writer!
Wonderful video. You must be thrilled with it. I was.
9:48 pm on September 22nd, 2007 2
Corrine:
Yes, I was thrilled with it after it was put together. Thanks so much for your continuing support and compliments about my writing and everything else. I really do appreciate it.
I hope that your network of friends also like it, assuming, of course, you passed it forward.
Stephen
7:20 am on September 23rd, 2007 3
That in an amazing and moving story. I have to tell you a little secret; I was once a teacher. I hope that something I did made even .1% of such a difference. Good teachers make an amazing difference. It is wonderful to see one recognized. These days I teach through my blog and my work. I will forward on your post to some people who I know will appreciate it.
7:46 am on September 23rd, 2007 4
Benjamin:
What a terrific comment, especially hearing that you were once a teacher. I love it! Thank you for stopping by.
I’m positive that you made much more than .1% of a difference! The funny thing is, you probably don’t realize the enormous impact you made on your students but trust me, if you are like Mrs. Jordan who really cared deeply for her students, you did (and I would venture to say CONTINUE to do so)!
I appreciate very much your willingness to pass this YouTube video forward to everyone you believe would be inspired, uplifted by its contents.
By the way, I’m excited to tell you that my former teacher, who is now in retirement, and I are still in touch (via email). Not only that, but she’s also agreed to write an introduction or foreward to my first book entitled THAT’S RIGHT, STEPHEN! How exciting is that?
Anyway, I’ll check your blog right now to find out what you’re teaching these days.
Stephen
6:43 am on September 25th, 2007 5
Stephen,
This video touched me deeply, especially your recognition of the teacher who changed your life. It is amazing what an impact a teacher - or any of us - can have.
I have posted the video on my blog.
6:17 am on October 15th, 2007 6
[...] via Email or RSS feed Welcome!In addition to asking everyone to help me pass forward a special YouTube video showing the ripple effect my fifth grade teacher made on me, I have more goodies for teachers [...]
6:13 pm on December 19th, 2007 7
Geez. You had me in tears. thanks stephen.
9:00 pm on December 19th, 2007 8
MichelleVan:
I’m grateful you had a chance to view it and I hope you forward it to as many people as you can to show them what a difference someone could make in a life.
8:16 pm on January 20th, 2008 9
[...] can I learn more? Go read his story Go watch his video Subscribe to his [...]
5:49 am on June 18th, 2008 10
the video is no longer available it says!…
is there any way to see it?
9:19 am on June 18th, 2008 11
Victoria:
I just visited this page myself and had no problem clicking on the “play” button?
Perhaps it’s an issue with your browser, I wonder?
If you come back to this post and still can’t play the video, go directly to YouTube and play it there at:
http://tinyurl.com/6xvej6
Thanks for alerting me to a potential video problem - I always appreciate it. But it seems to be working fine. Let me know.
3:35 pm on July 25th, 2008 12
I just wanted to let you know that I am a first year teacher who has many times wondered whether I could make any difference whatsoever for my disadvantaged students. It is life-changing for me to know that three words changed your life. Maybe I can do the same for someone along the way. Thank you for your story.
5:00 pm on July 25th, 2008 13
@ Mrs. Torrez:
Mrs. Torrez:
What an honor to have an actual teacher write in with a comment, letting me know the impact this video and other stories has had on you. You ROCK, Mrs. Torrez. We are so lucky to have dedicated teachers like you and Mrs. Jordan.
We all know you’re not in it for the money so why else would you do it? Because you truly want to make a difference. And I applaud and recognize you for that.
Thank you so much for telling me that the story of three words impacted you so much. It means a lot to me that this is finally reaching some teachers out there like yourself.