Amazing People

Tadd Giles and I have worked together for nearly 10 years. Tadd has always been a passionate man with bundles of infectious energy. He's purely amazing. He now manages the interaction design team for the Church.

When I first met him and hired him to come join a new group I was going to be managing he was a large man. When I saw him a couple of months later on his first day on the new job, he had become an exercize and "eating right" machine, and had shed many pounds.

Fast forward to today. Somewhere along the way he fell into old habits or whatever and put a few pounds back on. So what does Tadd do?

Tadd has started a contest he calls "Win a Shuffle." He will weigh himself on 12/31/06. He invites his co-workers, family and friends to do the same. He will then weigh himself on 3/31/07. Tadd will personally buy an ipod shuffle for anyone who loses more weight (as a percentage of total body weight) than Tadd during that period.

?!

You read correctly. Over 70 people and counting have signed up so far. This is amazing to me on so many counts. First, Tadd will probably win. He's just that determined. Second, he's not requiring anyone to weigh themselves in front of him. He's just trusting in people's good will. Third, he's willing to put his money where his mouth is, and it could frankly end up being a whole lotta money. Fourth, he has inspired many people to join him; and those people will lose weight along with him. If he wins, he wins! If he loses, he still wins!! That kind of inspiration is flat-out inspirational to me. He's even created a simple web site to track progress so everyone can help encourage one another. I love it! Finally, his creativity and charisma are astounding. Yes, he got the idea from the show The Biggest Loser, but who comes up with implementing the same idea in his own company with his own peers with a web site and a cash-out-of-his-own-pocket prize? Answer? Tadd.

I'm sorry. This has really nothing to do with technology at the Church. But I thought I'd share because I think it's pretty cool. Go Tadd! And go everyone who is joining in the endeavor!