About Rich William
Tragedy to Triumph
Richard William is a national public speaker who specializes in motivational and sales training seminars for corporations throughout the United States. His unique life experience serves as an inspiration to business professionals constantly exposed to disappointment, delay and rejection in their pursuit of success.
In the early 1980s Rich William was severely incapacitated after being hit by a drunk driver, leaving him critically injured, in a coma and unable to walk. His long road to recovery, which ultimately resulted in becoming a celebrated athlete, serves as an inspirational message to corporate America and all those striving to overcome challenges and obstacles that frequently prevents them from achieving their potential.
An active ten-year-old boy growing up in Melbourne, Australia, Rich spent his school day afternoons and weekends playing cricket, football and riding his bike with friends in the neighborhood. A gifted runner, Rich dreamed of one day joining the Australian Olympic team and even bringing home a medal. One lazy autumn afternoon, in a quiet residential neighborhood, while riding his bike, he was hit by a speeding drunk driver. Struck with such force that it shattered his skull, Rich was left with acute head injuries that propelled him into a coma. In critical condition and teetering on the brink of death, the prognosis was anything but positive. The extent of the damage to Rich’s brain left doctors uncertain he would survive, and if so, doubtful he would be able to resume a normal life. Unresponsive, the very real possibility of severe brain damage and being paralyzed hovered over him.
When Rich finally emerged from his coma, doctors’ quickly discovered he was unable to move. In the initial hours, it appeared he would also be unable to see. As time progressed, his vision began to return. Although blurry and unclear, it gave doctors hope that eventually his sight would be restored. Losing his ability to stand, balance, and walk, let alone run, Rich’s dreams of Olympic glory appeared dashed forever, driving him into a severe state of depression. As the weeks passed, Rich regained feeling and partial mobility, but the portion of his brain that controlled balance had been severely damaged. Doctors’ offered a grave prognosis for recovery. Wheelchair bound and limited, Rich was faced with a decision—spend the rest of his life as a victim confined to a wheelchair or break the chains that bound him and rise to face the challenge ahead.
With focus, determination and dedication, Rich developed solid principals of success that not only helped him learn to walk again, but go on to become a champion runner, receiving a full athletic scholarship to Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. Today, Rich travels America teaching others how to use the same principals of success that enabled him to rise from his wheelchair and reclaim his life and dreams. Inspiring and motivating, his message of hope and determination is merged with day to day practical steps that have enabled people across the country to overcome their perceived limitations, take responsibility for achieving their dreams and to excel personally and professionally.
