By Richard Gammill | PREVIEW Columnist
My friend Bob Pike has always been an innovator, blazing trails in new directions and changing lives with new approaches in teaching and learning techniques.
Thus, I was intrigued but not at all surprised with the announcement that Pike’s long-term battle with cancer had come to a point that he was putting himself under hospice care and his celebration of life would be held while he was able to attend rather than after he passed.
He said, “It does feel a little strange celebrating it while I’m still alive, but this is probably the best stuff about me that I’ll ever hear, so I’d like to hear it.”
Following his wishes, the National Speakers’ Association arranged the event, held in his home in the Phoenix, Ariz., area for those who could be present in person and also on Zoom so his friends and followers around the world could attend and participate virtually. Whether we were in Japan or somewhere in Europe or North America, we were together in his living room meeting or hearing from people whose lives and careers have been affected by this remarkable man.
Pike is known as the “Trainer’s Trainer.” He has written more than 35 books on training and performance and designed more than 600 training programs of a day or longer. His work has gone to more than 25 countries, where more than 150,000 trainers on five continents have graduated from his multiple-day “train the trainer” programs. The list of his achievements goes on.
During the celebration, several well-known authors, like Ken Blanchard (“The One Minute Manager”) and Mark Sanborn (“The Fred Factor”), either appeared live or their letters were read attesting to the influence of Pike on their own writing and speaking careers. They described him as a pioneer in the art of teaching and as a classic servant leader. The Bob Pike Group founded a class, “Adventures in Attitudes,” which gave birth to “Creative Training Techniques.”
One speaker said, “I want Bob to know what a gift he is to so many as he has impacted thousands who train and speak. I first met Bob when I was relatively new to the training field and his creative training influenced my own training and I still refer to his training ideas even today. But his friendship and shared faith is what I am most grateful for.”
Rich Hendrix, Pike’s pastor over a period of 20 years, said, “Bob came to believe that the things Jesus said about life and death and eternal life were true. He came to embrace them with his whole life, heart, mind and soul. ... Bob gave a lot of time and energy to helping people lead like Jesus. But he also knew that before you can lead like Jesus you must learn to follow Jesus, and following Jesus is the safest, sanest choice you’ll ever make in this life and the next.”
I have only known Pike since I moved to Mesa in April 2020. As I listened to these testimonials, I learned how he advanced the idea that when teachers and trainers engage their listeners, they will become more involved. If you are a speaker, get your audience involved, get them speaking, writing, doing. They will take more ownership and they leave with some ideas that can make a difference in their life. And today, it is no exaggeration to say that hundreds of thousands of trainers around the world are using these methods.
After more than an hour, Pike held the microphone for a last few words. “I challenge you to take a good look at Jesus. Because I would rather have five people here say I am in heaven because of Bob than have 5,000 say I’m a better trainer because of Bob.”
This column may include both fiction and nonfiction, and views expressed do not necessarily represent those of The SUN. Submissions can be sent to editor@pagosasun.com.
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