About Tom Mathei
Tom Mathei comes off as a regular guy blessed with exceptional talent for engaging and communicating with people from all walks of life. Recognized at an early age as a class comedian, history has proven he is much more than that. He is a natural leader with extraordinary vision, driven by passion, buffered with a keen sense of humor and belief in his audiences. His self-deprecating humor and love for people, allows him to share his vast life experiences with others who need to know the sun will come up tomorrow, regardless of the mistakes we make today. He will even assist you with setting a strategy, suggest tactics to bring your plan to a successful conclusion and all with a smile on your face.
His life has not been easy. He’s learned the hard way to plow through, climb over, dig under, or navigate around life’s barriers and challenges. He never fails to see the humor of any given situation, no matter how bleak. Twenty-five years ago, Doctors at the Mayo Clinic told him he would live the rest of his life in a wheel chair, as the result of severe rheumatoid arthritis. For several years after that, when he broke 80 on the golf course, he sent the signed score cards to his rheumatologist with a humorous note, and a challenge to meet him on the first tee of any golf course his doctor chose. Tom never complained or admitted to honking the horn to signal his family to help extricate him from his car, every time he returned from the golf course.
“Each time he spoke he left them in tears of laughter, and a serious actionable message about belief in the human spirit to overcome.”
His doctor finally asked him to speak to the local chapter of the National Arthritis Foundation. He regularly spoke to healthcare providers about living with and conquering chronic diseases. Each time he spoke he left them in tears of laughter, and a serious actionable message about belief in the human spirit to overcome. A few years after the speaking engagements ended, the foundation changed it’s tag line to “Take Control. We Can Help.” He’s often wondered where that came from.
Tom believes we all have what it takes to succeed. He also believes at times we all need a little assist to recognize our ability to overcome challenges and succeed at anything to which we are willing to commit. You should be encouraged to have Tom share his customized messages with your group soon. It always helps.