The Great Connector
About
My ONE WORD for 2022 is: OPTIMISM
His friends call him “The Great Connector,” a title befitting a man whose vast network of colleagues and acquaintances has spawned countless new business relationships across the southeastern South Dakota landscape.
The Great Connector, Tim Schut, needs a connection himself.
American Boy: The Story of Tim Schut
When community builder, connector, and family man Tim Schut realized his superpower, speech, was slowly diminishing, he didn’t suspect an extraordinarily rare degenerative brain disorder as the root cause.
He also didn’t expect to hear the doctor share a shortened life expectancy of ten to fifteen years. Yet this prognosis has not slowed Tim’s determination or drive to help others. Rather than hide from this disease, he’s choosing to share his story.
In this book, Tim has documented his life and the lessons he’s learned to benefit his children and future grandchildren. Today, Tim has a new superpower, optimism, and in these pages, he’s sharing the wisdom and perspective that has propelled him to incredible levels of family, community, and career success. Read this book and learn from the stories of a man deeply connected to the elements of life that matter most.
FEATURED BLOG POST
LEADMORE PODCAST
Since 2013, Tim Schut has picked a single word to serve as his annual theme. Last December, he chose the word courage. That was before he learned that Primary Progressive Apraxia of Speech, a rare neurodegenerative syndrome, would rob him of his superpower: speech.
While the odds are one in a million, he hopes to find and support others with the frequently misdiagnosed condition. In this special episode, Tim joins host John T. Meyer to share his story and how he’s preparing his family and friends for the impending loss of his voice, and the eventual loss of his light.
- The Discovery (2:40)
- What Happens Next (12:11)
- Tim’s Lessons and Legacy (18:10)
- Rapid-fire with Tim (25:03)
“I found this. It explains things in the way that I feel them. I had to get a letter from my doctor stating that I had PPAOS so when the authorities would pull me over they know that I am not drunk.”
—Tim Schut
Speechless Sponsors
Thank You To Our Partners
Blog Articles
Sioux Falls man writes book on rare disease robbing him of the ability to speak
Tim Schut’s life took an unexpected turn when in June 2021, the Sioux Falls man was diagnosed with primary progressive apraxia of speech (PPAOS) — a progressive brain disease that affects the ability to speak and limits life expectancy to a 10-15-year span. “Speech...
‘American Boy’: A Chester native’s story about slowly losing his ability to speak
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — A book signing in Sioux Falls Monday evening featured a local author and financial services professional who is losing his ability to speak due to a rare brain disorder. 46-year-old Tim Schut, a Chester, South Dakota native, is the author of...
American Boy: The Story of Tim Schut
BUY THE BOOK When community builder, connector, and family man Tim Schut realized his superpower, speech, was slowly diminishing, he didn’t suspect an extraordinarily rare degenerative brain disorder as the root cause. He also didn’t expect to hear the doctor share a...
RESGEN Giving Life Podcast
Tim Schut is a husband, father and business owner who was diagnosed with a life-altering disease, Primary Progressive Apraxia of Speech, a few years ago. In this episode of The RESGEN Giving Life Podcast, Tom and Tim visit about how he processed being diagnosed with a...
A Conversation with Tim Schut: An Inside Perspective on Living with Primary Progressive…
ANCDS · Ep. 20 - A Conversation with Tim Schut: An Inside Perspective on Living with Primary Progressive…
Tim Schut – Speechless
8 things we learned from Thursday’s TEDx Sioux Falls Talks for 2022
Morgan Matzen Sioux Falls Argus Leader Did you miss Thursday night’s TED Talks? Hundreds of people filed into the Washington Pavilion on Thursday night to hear from eight speakers on a variety of topics — anxiety, generational trauma, imposter syndrome and idiocy, to...
Bruce Willis has aphasia – My pal, Tim Schut has apraxia – Let’s sort this out
NSU ALUM IS MAKING CONNECTIONS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT RARE CONDITION
April 21, 2022 Pictured: NSU alum Tim Schut, left, sits in the NSU Avera Student Center during filming of his upcoming South Dakota Public Broadcasting documentary. At right is interviewer Lon Stroschein. ABERDEEN, S.D. – Every year, Northern State University...
Embracing optimism while losing the ability to speak
In the Moment airs live at 12CT/11MT. That audio is then attached to this webpage soon after the show airs. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, or Google Play. Have an idea for the show? Email us or text - 605-956-7372 (SDPB) LISTEN NOW On today's show...
Chester man doesn’t let adversity change his character
By MARY GALES ASKREN Staff Reporter | Feb 10, 2022 Updated Feb 10, 2022 Some things haven’t changed. Tim Schut still chooses a single word to focus on each year. In 2021, the word was “courage.” “My word for 2022 is ‘optimism.’ It has ‘Tim’ in it,” he says with a...
What Would You Do if You Could No Longer Speak With Tim Schut
https://crazygoodtalks.blubrry.net/2022/01/19/26-what-would-you-do-if-you-could-no-longer-speak-with-tim-schut/?fbclid=IwAR1-_biScEHj-ojL_c_R7UUML8zgdFwqY2r30c3N45FcCwMmH_ouMFjK28g What would you do if you could no longer speak? It’s unimaginable isn’t it? That’s the...
Facing rare brain condition, business leader prepares for future that will leave him ‘speechless’
Dec. 30, 2021 By Steve Young, for SiouxFalls.Business His friends call him “The Great Connector,” a title befitting a man whose vast network of colleagues and acquaintances has spawned countless new business relationships across the southeastern South Dakota...
Thanking the Leaders Who Inspire Us
LEADMORE PODCAST Thanking the Leaders Who Inspire Us with John T. Meyer Leadmore Podcast #77 Who are the leaders who inspired you? It’s the question John T. Meyer asks every Leadmore guest. While the responses are as diverse as the guests themselves, a single theme...
Jim Anthony – This Time (with Message)
Today seems like a great day to share some perspective. Who couldn't use a dose of that? This will be some of the best 8 minutes you will spend today. Maybe even in your life. I promise. This podcast and the song featured are not released yet (will be released on...
Man with rare apraxia copes with brain decline
Finding a New Superpower with Tim Schut
LEADMORE PODCAST Finding a New Superpower with Tim Schut OCT 21, 2021 SEASON 1 EPISODE 72 John T. Meyer Since 2013, Tim Schut has picked a single word to serve as his annual theme. Last December, he chose the word courage. That was before he learned that Primary...
The Journey
9/6/21 It has been over 2 months since the diagnosis and I still can’t believe it. It is surreal. What makes it scary is the unknown. What will the end look like? How will I make money when I can’t speak? Let’s go back to when it started…. In June of 2020, I...
Primary Progressive Apraxia of Speech PSA
Primary Progressive Apraxia of Speech PSA
Primary progressive apraxia of speech a distinct neurodegenerative syndrome
By the Mayo Clinic Apraxia of speech (AOS) is a disorder of speech motor planning or programming that affects the sequencing of sounds in syllables and words. It often results from left-hemisphere stroke where it rarely progresses and may even improve over time. But...