S2KM's "Interview with Randy Snow" continues an S2KM series titled "Growing the Structured Settlement Market". This S2KM blog post introduces Randy Snow and begins the interview. Subsequent blog posts will continue the interview and share Randy's thoughts about:
- Transition, change and growth in the structured settlement industry;
- The Games of the XXIX Olympiad which open in Beijing, China at 8:08 pm on 080808.
Randy Snow is a successful author, professional speaker, businessman and athlete. Randy is also a paraphlegic who has been unable to walk since age 16 when a 1000 pound bale of hay crashed down on him in a farming accident.
Following his injury, Randy experienced a traumatic, but ultimately successful, personal transition. Still paralyzed from the waist down, Randy now refers to his injury as "the best and the worst thing that has ever happened to me".
As an athlete, Randy was inducted into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame in 2004.
Randy's athletic achievements include:
- Representing the United States in three summer Paralympic Games;
- Competing in three different Paralympic sports (racing, basketball and tennis); and
- Winning medals in each of these three Paralympic sports.
Randy won two gold medals in tennis (singles and doubles) at the 1992 Paralympic Games in Barcelona, Spain becoming the only man in Olympic history to accomplish this dual tennis victory.
Randy received the Paralympic torch from President Clinton to launch the 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta.
Since retiring from competitive sports, Randy has achieved even greater success as an author, businessman and professional speaker. A successful healthcare professional and small business owner, Randy has worked in public, private, and governmental positions. For his continuing accomplishments, Randy has been featured on CNN, ESPN and in USA Today.
Randy currently is a popular, pragmatic and entertaining speaker with an impressive list of clients, audiences and presentations.
Patrick Hindert, S2KM's blog author, had the privilege of meeting Randy Snow and hearing Randy speak at the 2008 National Settlement Consultant (NSC) Annual Meeting.
Randy's presentation, titled "Pushing Forward When Things Change", espoused a "no excuses" approach to change and growth.
Randy's message - "attitude, accountability and action" - has value for all structured settlement stakeholders including recipients, professional associations and industry leaders.
S2KM Interview with Randy Snow - Part 1
S2KM: greetings, Randy. Thank you for participating in this S2KM interview.
Randy Snow: It is my pleasure to speak with you.
S2KM: Randy, what do you mean when you refer to your catastrophic injury as the "best thing" that ever happened to you?
Randy Snow: If offered the option to walk again, of course, I would accept that gift. The lessons I have learned, however, from working through a terrible loss and then discovering new ways to achieve goals, I wouldn't want to lose. I used to think that being able to walk was living and dying. But a priority shift occurred that gave me a transparent perspective toward all of my challenges. Once we overcome something difficult, we discover resilience. We learn how to achieve much more than we previously thought possible. We must embrace whatever has been placed in front of us. The "best thing" wasn't the accident. The "best thing" was what I learned about myself working through the setback.
S2KM: Following your injury, what were your greatest challenges?
Randy Snow: There were physical challenges and social incongruities to overcome. The real challenges for me were redefining myself and rekindling a belief in myself. Life had dealt me a less than glorious hand. When my accident happened, I fell into a downside and questioned my worth. When change occurs, we must redefine who we are, change our value of what is important and learn new priorities.
S2KM: What helped you to overcome those challenges?
Randy Snow: Continuing to dream. Developing goals. Putting together a plan to achieve those goals. A team of people who helped me and pushed me. An attitude that says: whoever I am and whatever I face, I will do my best and give my all.
In S2KM's next interview with Randy Stone, Randy will address transition, change and growth in the structured settlement industry.
Prior S2KM blog posts in this series:
- Growing the Structured Settlement Market - Part 1
- Changes impacting the structured settlement industry
- NSSTA's marketing study
- Professional association strategies
- Growing the Structured Settlement Market - Part 2
- Important industry issues
- Quotes about change and growth
- Growing the Structured Settlement Market - Part 3
- NSSTA's marketing study
- Towers Perrin's "2007 Update of U.S. Tort Cost Trends"
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