Give Confidence With The Helping Hands Program

-Personal Odyssey about the Build-A-Hand Program by Bill John, President / CEO / Co-Founder of Odyssey Teams

March 11, 2019; South Africa – We had the most AMAZING day yesterday fitting hands on three people and leaving 15 hands for a clinic here in South Africa. Once a organization completes a Build-A-Hand / Helping Hands program, the staff at Odyssey Teams get the honor of hand-delivering the prosthetic arms to people in need.

This is Dellon, and he lost his arm in 2014 by broken glass from a window that lead to an infection. We met him in a room where about 15 others gathered to watch the fitting. Thank goodness we had the extension; I could only hope that he had enough residual limb for it to fit. He did. Because he has such a small residual limb, I discussed with him that the functionality would be limited but he could still carry items.

Dellon’s smiles were reserved but he warmed up fast and we had some good laughs talking about his new role as The Terminator. I told him that he could put on a long sleeve shirt if he wanted to cover it. The room started to buzz with excitement and I saw tears coming down the face of one of the older women. Then, Dellon’s sister spoke to us with the kindest words of gratitude that teared everyone up. Then, Dellon began crying. Happy tears.

All 15 of the people who came to watch were his family. All had shared this tragedy with him. They said the hospital could not help him any further. One of his aunts began singing and everyone joined in and followed up the song with the most amazing prayer – half sung, half spoken, ALL FEELING. Two hours later, on our drive back, we got a text that Dellon was still crying. He was so happy to feel more whole and complete. Then, the pictures started coming in of him with his new sense of confidence.

I hope this reminds you of how special all of this and Helping Hands is. There are so many stories like this that we may never get to hear. Dellon is my friend. He is a friend of all of us. And he is very happy.

For more information on the Helping Hands program, please contact Odyssey Teams at learn@odysseyteams.com or send us a note

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Pete Brunner, BCSI

“Thank you very much for your help in making my meeting so successful and connecting the dots to all of my key messages in such a meaningful way.”

Tracy Tannenbaum, Heritage Homes

“Much to our delight, our participants had a terrific experience with the Helping Hands activity… and spent the remainder of the conference talking about it! The program that Odyssey Teams has developed is by far the most memorable, fulfilling, and moving “teambuilding” experience we have participated in.”

Brandy L Szever, Vanguard

“Thank you and your team for two great days of training. I couldn’t be more pleased with the training team you assembled, the content and how the material was received by the participants. You listened to our challenges and geared a program that got right to heart of some of our key management/organizational development issues. It was amazing to sit back and watch the light bulbs go on for our managers. I look forward to them taking the learnings back to the work place and applying them.”

Christine Stout, Premier Retail Network

“So many employees have approached to say how moved they were by by the bike build. It was such a positive lesson on working together and asking for help. The afternoon left a mark on everyone who participated in such a positive way.”

Cindy Silva, Ariat International Inc.

“Thank you for putting together and facilitating a fabulous collaboration exercise in Orlando. We’ve done a lot of different team-building activities and other types of exercises through the years, but this one was simply extraordinary. I have lost count of how many participants have grabbed me or emailed me to tell me how impactful it was to them on a professional and personal level. I was showing my kids last night the pictures we took on our iPhones, and they were amazed.”

Elana McFann, United Healthcare

“Odyssey Teams touched our team members, and our team members are taking that feeling and making positive action.”

Gretchen Chismar, Honeywell

“We really had an opportunity to know each other better and to have some fun together in a way that increases our commitment to work together effectively. But the biggest payoff of all was the combined feeling of having accomplished something with such an impact to people around the world.”

Jean E. Deering, Wells Fargo

“Odyssey Teams touched 970 people who are at an impressionable point in their lives. I’m confident that the wisdom and emotion Odyssey shared will positively impact their entire careers.”

Jenna Ballestrino, Microsoft Academy for College Hires (MACH)

“Our team unanimously voted the 3 hours with Odyssey Teams was the most beneficial part of our entire meeting.”

Julie C., BCD Meeting & Incentives

“The Helping Hands event structure + the personal connection to the prosthetic hands have left a lasting impression on our team. Many people still reference the event 90 days later.”

Megan A. Westman, GE Lighting

“The mosaic exercise is one of my favorite things I’ve ever done in Corporate America! What a beautiful outcome from such a simple but effective exercise.”

Jen Matlock, AbbVie

“Mission accomplished! The Odyssey Teams session exceeded every expectation I had. It created a unity with our teams and connected people in meaningful and thought-provoking inner-soul searching ways.”

Michelle Stokes, Merck

“Odyssey Teams wowed everyone. Feedback from executives to new team members has been phenomenal and the lessons learned will be lasting.”

Ralph S. Henderson, AMN Healthcare

“We found that working together for a worthwhile cause gave us perspective on new ways to use our talents to use for the good of others while learning important lessons about our own capabilities. Thank you, Odyssey Teams.”

Tim Somers, Pernod Ricard USA

“In my opinion, Odyssey Teams’ keynote and facilitation set the foundation and tone for an impactful two-day, staff retreat—I’m not sure we would have gotten to that level without Odyssey Teams kicking it off!”

Megan Moser, University of Pennsylvania

“Odyssey Teams provided the perfect foundation and jumping-off point for what our meeting was designed to accomplish. Helping Hands became the metaphor for how our team aspires to work together.”

Julie Person, Shire

“We’ve sung Odyssey Teams’ praises to everyone we know. Odyssey Teams has the unique ability to impact a group at the core with the right amount of humor.”

My-An Le, Kaiser Permanente Great Los Angeles

“Since the program, I have caught myself being myself and working on being a better person, husband, father, co-worker and friend. Perspective is everything…”

Dan Link, SDCDA

“Having experienced team building events all over the world, I must admit that nothing will top the experience we had with Odyssey Teams. Building unity, teamwork, collaboration – seeing real people, extending beyond themselves to help others, has been priceless.”

Kristen Muckleroy, Fiberlink Communications

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WHY THE BEST COMPANIES HIRE ODYSSEY TEAMS

There are many reasons why 80% of our business is repeat or referred clients. Companies have been relying on us to power and inspire their workforce for decades.