STUMBLING BLOCKS TO STEPPING STONES

Incorporating "stories" of famous past "failures" such as General Douglas MacArthur, Elenor Roosevelt, Lucille Ball, Michael Jordan, William Faulkner, etc., this motivational presentation is three-fold:

• to examine and face "stumbling blocks in our own lives
  
• to determine ways and find tools to get past these blocks
  
• to find motivation to apply presented ideas for improvement in both our personal and professional lives.

Debra leaves the audience with the determination to be positive in the areas over which they have control, and to actually learn from past mistakes and even teach others to do the same!

ON FIRE OR BURNED OUT

This hard-hitting presentation is a "wake-up call" for each of us to make daily attitude adjustments. Learning how our physiological and intellectual responses are often dictated by our emotions, we learn to realize the enormous amount of time and energy we spend on the petty things that don't really matter. The "urgent vs. the important" is emphasized as well as learning how to "not sweat the small stuff". This is actually the first step to re-kindling enthusiasm. Debra gives practical tools for not internalizing situations, how to be proactive instead of reactive and strategies for personal fulfillment in the professional setting. We can learn to like where we are until we get to where we want to be. Great fuel for "burn out"!

UNIQUE BEGINS WITH YOU

In both our professional and personal lives, we waste so much time and energy trying to "fit the corporate mold" and "keep up with the Joneses". Once we realize that our personality types, our particular strengths and our weaknesses are all supposed to be different, we can learn to move on and up. Incorporating a brief overview of different personalities and selecting audience members for role-play, Debra demonstrates the importance of interpersonal communication skills and the necessity for teamwork. The most difficult co-workers, employees or students can be reached if we know the right and wrong ways to approach them. In a time when we supposedly celebrate diversity and individuality, why do we keep trying to put others in "the melting pot"?

LEADERSHIP IS NOT A LUXURY

Like it or not, each of us is called to be a leader in some capacity-in the home, the workplace, or the community. If leaders are "born" that way why do so many who achieve leadership status seem the most unlikely? Most great leaders have several traits in common: and most are acquired not innate. In this motivational presentation Debra teaches the audience how to play upon their strengths, find their niche, and develop the style of leadership best suited to them. From the head custodian to the president of a company, from a teacher leading a classroom to the superintendent leading a district, the measure of one's success as a leader, is not in what you get others to do but how well you can lead them to do it. Debra encourages the audience to realize that the particular leadership role we each hold, is both a responsibility and an exciting opportunity to encourage others as we lead them - as well as ourselves-to a higher degree of success!

THAT WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING

In addition to the topics listed on this website, Debra has an extensive list of others that she has presented. A more complete list is available on request. Also, each of Debra's presentations can be tailored to fit the particular needs of your group and the specific occasion. Debra has presented thousands of key note addresses, in-house seminars, in-service presentations, after dinner banquets, professional coaching, kick-off events and customized celebrations for businesses and schools throughout the U.S. Debra loves to custom-tailor each presentation by receiving advance information from you. She can incorporate names, "inside" knowledge, and even poke fun for you when applicable. For more serious presentations or consulting, Debra researches your issues of concern, your specific needs and goals to address the objectives you desire.