RICK DANFORTH NAMED TOPS PRESIDENT
MILWAUKEE – TOPS Club Inc. (Take Off Pounds SensiblySM), the original weight-loss support and wellness education organization founded in Milwaukee in 1948, announced that Rick Danforth has been named president. Danforth, who replaces Barb Cady, TOPS president since 2005, has been serving as the TOPS State Coordinator for Maine since 2011.
Danforth, who will be the first male president of TOPS, joined a chapter in Maine in 2003 weighing 321 pounds. “I’ve struggled all my life with obesity and tried many programs. I came to TOPS through my wife and decided to join her at a meeting,” he said. “It took me a couple of meetings to realize this is where I needed to be. There was no phoniness in the chapter and no promises that I was going to have instant success. It was real people struggling with real life issues and I could wrap my arms around that.”
In his first year, Danforth lost more than 100 pounds, earning a place in the TOPS Century Club. “I knew I had to lose the weight for me because I wanted to live longer and enjoy time with my eight grandsons,” he said.
Earlier this year, Danforth, who received a Bachelor of Arts degree in microbiology in 1980 from the University of Maine at Farmington, stepped down as the Quality Assurance Officer/Laboratory Program Advisor/Bioterrorism Officer for the state of Maine Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory, where he had worked since November of 1999. Prior to that, he worked as a microbiologist for MaineGeneral Medical Center for more than 19 years. He has also served as a Selectman in the Town of Chelsea for the past 25 years.
Working as a scientist assisted him in losing weight. “Specializing in microbiology, we deal in black and white. Working with the TOPS group, I used the same principles–keep it simple,” Danforth said. “Two basic principles of portion control and increasing physical activity were really what I needed.”
As his weight-loss journey requires constant perseverance, the support of the group has kept Danforth involved in the organization. “I stay with TOPS because I’ve learned over the years that when I’ve gained back some weight that I cannot do it alone,” he said. “Life sometimes wears you down and the best thing that can pick you up is the support of a friend. I’ve learned it is OK to take time for yourself by being more active and help others, so they can help you. I’m not afraid to ask for the help I need or to reach out to others in TOPS. We’re here to support each other.”
With TOPS celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2018, its mission remains to help and support members as they take off and keep off pounds sensibly. “I’m looking forward to being able to explain how good and supportive this organization is for its members,” Danforth said. “TOPS is the perfect tool for those seeking guidance in losing weight and maintaining the loss. We are proudly nonprofit and incredibly affordable for all people. We continue to be innovative and creative while remaining true to the original principles and philosophy established 70 years ago. I’m hoping I can bring to TOPS the passion and feeling that I had the first day I walked into a chapter meeting.
TOPS, the only nonprofit, noncommercial weight-loss organization of its kind, promotes successful weight management with a “Real People. Real Weight Loss.®” philosophy that combines support from others at weekly chapter meetings, healthy eating, regular exercise and wellness information. Weekly meetings include private weigh-ins and informational programs featuring current nutrition, fitness and wellness information, positive reinforcement, and motivation to adhere to food and exercise programs. TOPS has almost 125,000 members–male and female, age seven and older–in thousands of chapters throughout the United States and Canada.
As a leader in preventing and managing obesity internationally, TOPS has funded obesity and metabolic research at the Medical College of Wisconsin since 1966, providing more than $9 million to date from earnings and member contributions.
Visitors are welcome to attend their first TOPS meeting free of charge. Membership is affordable at just $32 per year in the U.S. and $44 per year in Canada, plus nominal chapter fees. To find a local chapter, view www.tops.org or call (800) 932-8677.
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Editor’s Note: Attached is a 2002 photo and a current photo of Rick Danforth.
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The Skill Set of the Future:
Seven Essential Habits to Own and Hone for Greater Success
In today's competitive business climate, you've got to work harder than ever to stay relevant and in demand in any industry. Author Paul G. Krasnow reveals the habits that will help you achieve your personal best and thrive in business and in life.
Edwards, CO (February 2018)—The business world gets more competitive every day. To stay in demand in this tough environment, you need to perform at a higher level than ever before. You have to get better results (and get them quickly), instantly recover from missteps, and garner the confidence to thrive in times of uncertainty. To do this, you need a modern-day skill set that gives you the edge over your competitors and helps you efficiently reach your goals. Successful businessman and author Paul G. Krasnow says there's no time like the present to start focusing in on the qualities that can make you more successful than you ever dreamed possible.
"In today's business climate, you've got to give your peak performance 100 percent of the time while upholding your values and building trust with your clients and associates," says Krasnow, author of The Success Code: A Guide for Achieving Your Personal Best in Business and Life (J & K Publishing, 2018, ISBN: 978-0-692-99241-8, $24.95). "It's no longer enough to just show up and put in your time at the office. Employers today expect more from you...and so do clients."
In addition to perfecting the hard skills you need for your industry, Krasnow says you must also focus on developing trust and engagement, two components lacking in many business interactions today.
"And there's absolutely no room for timidity or fear," adds Krasnow. "You must be confident enough to bounce back when things don't go as planned."
Krasnow—who doesn't believe in the word "try"—is no stranger to adversity and loss. Following early success in the clothing industry, he experienced a financially devastating bankruptcy that forced him to rebuild his life from scratch. He went on to join Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, where he created an impressive financial portfolio and won multiple "Top Agent" awards.
In The Success Code, Krasnow lays out the no-fail formula that took him to the top of his industry. The best thing about the habits he outlines? Anyone can master them. Whether you're just starting out in your career, looking for a better job, or already dominating in your industry, they will help you thrive and surpass your own expectations.
Keep reading to learn Krasnow's best practices that will bring you unprecedented success.
Finetune your focus. Today's employees have greater responsibility and less time to complete their work. This forces them to multitask, yet most people are terrible at multitasking. Plus, they are constantly interrupted by email, smartphones, and social media. Krasnow says success often comes down to your ability to tune out all of this "noise" and get focused.
"To help you stay disciplined, get rid of distractions and temptations until your work is finished," says Krasnow. "Turn off media, remove clutter from your desk, and limit office chitchat anytime you have a task to complete. This creates an environment that best allows you to serve your clients and get your work done."
Engage with your clients. Building and nurturing solid client relationships is the cornerstone of any successful business. To foster engagement, Krasnow says to commit to a personal code of integrity to ensure clients that you will work hard for them and that they are in good hands.
"Strive to be honest and authentic with your clients and your associates," says Krasnow. "People will always be able to tell if you're being friendly just to make a sale or establish a connection. You will earn your clients' trust if you are upfront about products they don't need and honest about the products they should use. Finally, show up for them in thoughtful ways. Get to know your clients and show genuine interest in their lives, and check in even when you have nothing to sell them."
Get some grit. From time to time, you will inevitably fail, lose, or experience some kind of a professional or personal setback. When this happens, Krasnow insists that you've got to deal with the loss and move on. There's no benefit in wallowing or succumbing to fear or anger.
"If you are resilient, you can bounce back from anything and get on with your life," says Krasnow. "You have to believe that you can overcome anything, and then put that belief into practice. Take a short amount of time to mourn your losses and process your emotions—just don't dwell on them. Next, take responsibility for where you are today and resolve to address any behaviors that need to be changed. Finally, get back to your normal routine, and do it better than ever."
Work smarter, not harder. Krasnow recommends doing an audit of how you currently spend your work time. Take a moment to identify your most important recurring tasks, determine how long they take, and identify tasks that could be completed more quickly. Then, learn to prioritize your daily goals. Create a to-do list and divide your tasks into three categories: critical, high-priority, and low-priority. Tackle each task in order of priority.
"Another good rule of thumb is to stop reinventing the wheel," adds Krasnow. "Make a habit of reusing and modifying resources already at your disposal."
Never stop competing...with yourself. Krasnow recommends using a practice he calls "the push-up principle" to achieve personal goals by starting at your current skill and ability level and consistently moving up from there. This process naturally leads to self-improvement through small, manageable steps.
"If you can do only five push-ups today, try doing six push-ups tomorrow," says Krasnow. "The push-up principle is incredibly simple, but it can create a long legacy of achievement. Set some reasonable goals and immediately start working to achieve them. Once you've proven to yourself how simple it is to execute your goals, your confidence level will begin to rise, and you can continually build on this momentum."
Hone an ideal image. Your appearance should reflect the quality of your services, says Krasnow. Therefore, it pays to think of your health and wellness as an investment in your success. Without a strong, fit body, it's difficult to have the stamina to do your best at work.
"Be sure you are getting enough sleep, eating healthy, exercising regularly, and have given up bad habits like smoking or excessive drinking," says Krasnow. "Then, once you've got your health under control, build a wardrobe that communicates the exact message you want to send to clients and associates. You don't have to spend a fortune, but your clothing should fit well, and your eyewear, briefcase, purse, phone, and other accessories should be stylish and contemporary. Remember, everything matters."
Become a whole person. Your success, and ultimately your happiness, lies in your ability to become a "whole person." Krasnow says this means having a balanced and rich life in all areas of your existence. No matter how much fulfillment you get from your career, you still need to expand your life and enjoy all it has to offer.
"When you are happy in life, it shows in your confidence and in your work performance," says Krasnow. "Make time to be present with your spouse, your kids, and your network of friends. Develop a few hobbies outside of work and find some ways to enjoy the fruits of your labor. If you want to give something back, you can even do some volunteer work. Another great way to round out your life and find deeper meaning: explore your spiritual side through worship, prayer, or meditation. It's a great way to connect to your purpose."
"No matter where you are in your career right now, you will absolutely benefit from adopting the habits that lead to a successful life and career," concludes Krasnow. "You really can unlock your potential and be as great as you dare to be. Stop waiting and start becoming the best you yet."
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About the Author:
Paul G. Krasnow is the author of The Success Code: A Guide for Achieving Your Personal Best in Business and Life. He is a financial representative at Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, where he has been a top producer for 40 years. Early in his career, Paul suf¬fered a financially devastating bankruptcy with a line of clothing stores he owned, but went on to join Northwest¬ern Mutual, where he has cre¬ated an impressive financial portfolio and a strong network of clients, many of whom have become lifelong friends. Paul regularly speaks for multiple life associations in the U.S. and has given seminars for law firms and CPA firms in the Southern California area.
For more information, please visit www.paulgkrasnow.com.
About the Book:
The Success Code: A Guide for Achieving Your Personal Best in Business and Life (J & K Publishing, 2018, ISBN: 978-0-692-99241-8, $24.95) is available from Amazon.
