Taking Dreams Seriously while Taking Yourself Lightly

When we were young we had BIG dreams. When we were young we had BIG fun. Then we grew up and things became serious. People tell us our dreams are silly or not achievable and we start to believe them. People tell us we have to take ourselves so seriously, we believe them and we never smile anymore. What we need to do is the opposite. Hold on to our dreams and take them seriously and taking ourselves lightly will do it. Be ready for a laugh-provoking insightful time and leave ready to get after your dreams while enjoying life now.

"From the planning perspective, your flexibility and creativity have established the benchmark for all of our future professional speakers."

Michael J. Martin - Executive Director
National Association for Pupil Transportation

Lighten Up and Laugh - For the Health of It

When you were 4 years old, you laughed over 400 times a day. Do you know what your LPD (Laughs per day) average is now? It most likely is less.... way less. Something happened. We have a hard time enjoying things, problems hit us, we become bummed out. Learning to laugh with others, (not at them) is something we all could use more of. See how a positive sense of humor can help us become more of who we are and bring out the best in others. Realize the benefits of "humorisks" and learn how a positive sense of humor can help us live a fuller, deeper life.

"Putting you on our agenda made me look like a genius.  Now I understand why you came so highly recommended."
Richard D. Dobbs - VP Sales & Marketing
CTB/McGraw-Hill

Student Workshops

Leadership: Sparking the leader in You- lighten your path to success

Leadership involves walking the talk. Today's student leaders bring out the best in others through empowerment and empathy. This workshop will provide young leaders with the tools necessary to reach their full potential and the skills needed to help others reach theirs. Be ready to have fun discovering the top ten qualities of dynamic leaders.

"As the person in charge of a conference with nearly 1,500 in attendance, it is a great feeling to start a conference with so many people complimenting me on my choice for a keynote speaker."
Jeff Collins - National Director
Delta Epsilon Chi - Postsecondary Division of National DECA

Communication: Talk, Listen, Laugh- communication skills for FBLA students

Effective communication is more than the words we speak. A greater part is how we listen. In this interactive workshop, you'll learn about the four types of listening and how we get stuck in ineffective patterns. Learn how it's not so much what you say as how you say it that gets results. Be ready to talk, listen, and laugh!

"His wit and extemporaneous dialog made each person in the audience feel as though he had an individual message just for them."
Lisa VanDeWege - Counselor
Bear Creek High School

Team Building: We is greater than I plus you- synergy in action

Working together can be both rewarding and productive. Learn how positive reinforcement is 3 times more effective than criticism. Experience how control will never be as effective as true empowerment. See why interdependence is only a choice independent people can make. Be ready for an action packed workshop that is as fun as it is informative.

"Your message had student on the edge of their seats - it was awesome!!"
C. Palmyre Dupre'
FBLA State Chair

Stress Reduction: Lighten Up or Burn Out!- taking work seriously while taking yourself lightly

Stress is the number one cause of burnout, illness, and decreased productivity in America. How many times do we need to hear these words of caution before we do something. We take our jobs seriously, we take our relationships with friends and family seriously, we take the challenging issues of our world seriously....... that's great.......BUT.......we don't have to take ourselves seriously. Learn how to take yourself lightly and you've learned to decrease stress substantially.

"Often it is difficult to find a speaker who possesses the oratory skills to connect with a culturally diverse groups of teens.  Your presentation is excellently crafted, well thought out and loaded with motivational messages."
Kelvin W. Davis - Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Director - Program Services

Creativity: Developing the Right Mind for Success- the innovative student leader

The formula for success in the 21st century is in the right brain! As future business leaders we tend to emphasize the analytical, logical left side of our brain. Creativity, innovation, and resourcefulness comes from our under used right side of the brain. See how fun, wacky right-brained thinking can increase your success in school and business.

"Craig is well received by both students and adults as he uses humor to relate a very powerful message.  Each year, the students that hear Craig are still talking about his presentation weeks and months later."
John H. Binning - Principal
Torrington High School

Drugs and Alcohol: Laughing Off Drugs and Alcohol

The main reason young adults abuse drugs and alcohol is to feel good, escape reality, lose self-consciousness, and have an excuse for being silly. Alcohol and drugs can be a substitute for genuine lightheartedness and open the door to humor without the need to learn specific skills. People drink to forget their problems, but problems are brought on by drinking. We can feel good, escape reality, lose self-consciousness, and act silly by substituting drugs and alcohol with healthy humor skills! You'll be surprised at how much more fun you can have without the booze!