Internationally acclaimed motivational speaker Rick Rigsby is a living testament to making an impact.
Years before a 2017 graduation speech he made went viral and was seen by nearly 300 million people worldwide, he made a name for himself as an award-winning journalist and professor, teaching for several years at Texas A&M University. In addition to academic duties, Rigsby was hired by legendary football icon R. C. Slocum as chaplain and life skills coach for the Aggies football team.
Now a Wall Street Journal, USA Today and Amazon best-selling author, and president and CEO of Rick Rigsby Communications, Rigsby presents to top companies across the globe, as well as professional and collegiate sports organizations.
Today he’s bringing his commonsense wisdom for personal and professional growth to Emergency Nursing 2021 with his keynote address “Making an Impact.” His presentation at 1:30 p.m. Central time will be part of the virtual conference’s Opening Session.
Known for his conviction to help people realize their full potential, Rigsby will explore how individuals can rediscover what is important and meaningful to them.
In an era of smart devices, instant access to information and pervasive social networking, cultural critics argue society has dropped to new levels of shallow communication and superficial appearances to leave an impression. Rigsby’s speech, based on the philosophies of past generations, will inspire, motivate and empower the audience to go beyond making an impression and make an impact.
“Most people I meet are asking themselves the same unrelenting question, ‘I wonder how great I can actually be?’” Rigsby said. “What a privilege to help people make such profound discoveries!”
In 2006, Rigsby published “Lessons From a Third Grade Dropout,” a book that outlines advice he received from his father following a personal tragedy. A little more than a decade later, he gave a speech with the same name at a commencement ceremony in California.
In a video of the speech, shared online millions of times, Rigsby tells the graduates: “It takes knowledge and wisdom combined to grow your influence so that you‘ll make an impact, you’ll be [someone] others can count on.”
The viral video also includes timeless messages from the titular dropout, Rigsby’s own father, some borrowed from the world’s greatest thought leaders, including Michelangelo.
“I won’t have a problem if you aim high and miss,” Rigsby said his father would tell him. “But I’m going to have a real issue if you aim low and hit.”
Rigsby is regularly featured on national television and radio programs and hosts the podcast “How Ya Livin’?”