Travels from Georgia, USA
Dan Thurmon's speaking fee falls within range: $15,000 to $20,000
Dan Thurmon is the president of Motivation Works, Inc., where he has helped hundreds of organizations and individuals to implement action plans and move confidently through transitions. He is a renowned speaker and recognized expert in delivering peak performances, both in the workplace and on stage.
Dan began performing when he was just eleven years old in a one-man show consisting of comedy, juggling and acrobatics. He went on to graduate from the University of Georgia with a degree in marketing and management. He also studied personal development and created a unique methodology, which he teaches to audiences and clients.
Dan is the author of two books, including Off Balance on Purpose, in which he explains his philosophy that we will never achieve “perfect balance,” and should instead learn to embrace uncertainty and initiate positive changes that lead to growth. His programs have educated and uplifted Fortune 500 companies, young audiences and troops on the front lines of Afghanistan and Iraq, and recently earned him an induction into the “Speakers Hall of Fame.”
A teacher of peak performance, an author of impactful books and presentations, and a lifelong student of success, happiness, and achievement, Dan Thurmon is on a mission. To encourage attendees’ uniqueness and contributions. To discover a sense of purpose and greatness. To have meaning at work, and in their lives.
At an early age, Dan learned the power of performance, on stage and in the various parts of our life. When he was eleven years old, he encountered a mentor who taught him some amazing physical skills, but also gave him a channel for his bountiful energy. He quickly excelled as a variety artist, comedy entertainer, and entrepreneur. Even in his high school years, the connection between business awareness, high level service, and self-improvement became evident and fascinating.
Graduating with honors, his entertainment business paid for his business degree at the University of Georgia. He applied the lessons in sales, management, and marketing to his entrepreneurial ventures in real time.
Since that critical pivot of life and work, he has worked with organizations around the world, in every spectrum of business: Fortune 500 companies. Startups. Associations across hundreds of industries. Troops on the front lines. Students, teachers, and entrepreneurs. Through his presentations and workshops, Dan helps these organizations to accelerate improvement, facilitate true breakthroughs and enable and encourage greatness.
Inducted into the Speakers Hall of Fame and a member of the illustrious Speakers Roundtable, Dan also served as President of the National Speakers Association, leading their CEO, staff and 3,500 world-wide members in a profound transformation.
Dan believes deeply that the right words, presented in the right way, at the right time, can change everything. His lifelong study of language and presentation skills have enabled a mastery of landing the critical idea that will shift an individual…or an organization. His opening presentations enable more productive and transformational meetings. Or as a closer, he provides a call to action that elevates the experience and the ROI of a meeting investment.
Organizational change happens when people make breakthroughs. Dan’s presentations help organizations to become more of who they strive to be. When that happens, people become better. Companies become better. And the world becomes better.
In this presentation at TEDx PSU, Dan discusses the future of engagement and work-life balance. He begins by stunning the audience with his acrobatic skills by doing a handstand on a stool. He shows how he is not perfectly balanced on the stool, but constantly making adjustments while performing this feat. He uses the handstand to illustrate how “we’re engaged in the art, the process, of balancing throughout our lives, which is making those adjustments, making decisions, making corrections over time… but balance is something we will never obtain.”
Dan explains that no one “will ever achieve perfect balance,” and that “the pursuit of balance has a negative impact on our lives.” He encourages the audience to “live off balance on purpose.” He says that it is necessary to be off balance “in order to learn, in order to grow, in order to love or serve others, or improve yourself in any meaningful way.”
Dan draws on his lifelong performance skills to create high impact programs that teach concepts and skills in a highly engaging and entertaining manner. He motivates audiences with his personal philosophy that we should go beyond the pursuit of “success” and enhance our life experiences and professional endeavors with purposeful, positive contributions.
Every presentation Dan delivers is personalized to specifically address each audience, client objectives and desired outcomes. He often creates “synthesized” programs, pulling relevant themes and segments from his experience and body of work to create a unique presentation that is guaranteed to be exactly on target.
Keynote: Off Balance On Purpose A common challenge for organizations today is helping their employees bring more energy to work and not only embrace change but see it as an opportunity to lead.
Dan Thurmon believes the reason that people struggle with change is they think they have to compartmentalize their life and keep everything in balance. What if we lived Off Balance on Purpose? What if instead of resisting uncertainty, we leaned into it? And what if rather than bringing our “work-self” to the office, we brought 100% of who we are?
In this keynote, Dan excites his audience with an interactive performance while giving them a multi-dimensional view of success. He doesn’t stand behind a podium and talk about dealing with fear and change – he does handstands on the podium to demonstrate what being uncomfortable and living off balance on purpose actually looks like. Your audience will talk about this presentation for years to come!
As a result of attending this program attendees will: • Learn to take ACTION when it is uncomfortable. • Manage energy and time more effectively. • Adopt an Off Balance On Purpose approach as a realistic and empowering way to excel at work and life.
WORKSHOP: Off Balance on Purpose in Practice Your people are your organization. When individuals perform well, the organization does too. For organizations to truly thrive, especially with a millennial workforce, they need to provide hands-on opportunities for personal development and create a culture of personal performance.
“Change is hard. Motivation is only valuable if there is ACTION that creates change. That is why I created this workshop – to help you deliver real change for your teams.” Dan Thurmon
This workshop is interactive (each participant gets their own workbook), introspective and personal. After the course, participants will be equipped to better integrate all aspects of their life so each area is strengthened and fully developed. Participants will also take stock of what they should stop/start/continue and create an action plan for themselves. Enhancing personal performance is the new corporate strategy. Adding this workshop to Dan’s keynote on the same day will reinforce and solidify this year's goals for your organization.
Perform - Ability It isn’t really possible to “always be at your best because every moment counts” - some moments count much more than others. That’s why it’s more important to be your best when it matters the most.
In this keynote, peak performance speaker Dan Thurmon explores the reasons why some individuals fail under pressure, and why others seem to naturally rise to handle critical moments with ease and excellence. This isn’t an innate talent – it’s an ability that can be learned and mastered. Dan calls it “Perform-Ability.”
The key to being able to “perform,” or deliver excellence when it matters the most, is to prepare properly and understand the mindset and methods of top performers. Dan demonstrates these concepts in his signature high-impact style that includes juggling, acrobatics, and even a unicycle. Audiences leave this unforgettable session armed with new tools and the enthusiasm to tackle their biggest challenges.
As a result of attending this program attendees will: - Understand the three aspects of an effective performance. - Recognize critical moments to perform and rise to the occasion. - Adopt the mindset and methods of peak performers. - More rewarding experiences for team members and clients.
I have had a number of attendees tell me that Dan was the best keynote speaker they have ever heard. They were so impressed with his unique delivery, and his presentation contained a great deal of content which spoke directly to their needs. He takes his audience through a wide range of emotional experiences including fear, happiness, sadness, and amazement. He motivates people to set high goals, seek challenges, and strive to be who they were meant to be. Truly inspirational! Pam Goedde, SHRM Indiana
The feedback about your presentation has been absolutely outstanding. Even my “jaded” board of directors, who have seen many keynotes, told me you were terrific. You were the perfect combination of entertainment, personality with a strong and very relevant message. Please feel free to use me as a reference, should anyone wish to talk to a completely satisfied customer! Sue Wolk, Senior Director, National Court Reporters Association
Dan Thurmon was, by far, the highest rated aspect of our conference, based on attendee survey results. His presentation was inspirational, energetic, and captivating. Best of all, he took the time to understand our conference objectives and seamlessly wove them into his presentation. Highly recommended! Scott Frymire, Sr. Manager, Activant Solutions
We would like to convey our immense appreciation for your motivational performance. It was the highlight of our event!! Your extraordinary skill to inspire, entertain, and advance us all to the next level in life is simply incredible. Abraham Ekstein, VP Sales and Marketing, Brooklyn Financial Group
It was incredible!… one of the BEST, if not the VERY BEST we’ve ever had. It has been a couple months, and I’m still getting comments from our leaders on what a phenomenal job you did. You have such an inspiring message that it really hit home with everyone. Thank you again! Sandy Duncan, Leadership Development Chairman, Saint Francis Medical Center
I can honestly say I’m having difficulty finding the adjective that would best describe your presentation. A few do come to mind but I think the attendees’ comments on your evaluations really say it best:
They go on and on… and I couldn’t agree more. Yours is a wonderful message delivered in a unique, entertaining, eye-popping, thrilling format. Sally Scott, Assistant Director of Education National Apartment Association
The power behind your motivating speech helped our field force to make sure about the importance of attitude, take commitment with action and how looking up is superior to looking down! Elaine M. Acosta, District Sales Manager, GlaxcoSmithKline P.R.
The valuable strategies you were able to visually convey through presentation gave our participants a strong image and affiliation with our goals and objectives. Pam Elledge, Director of Business Development, Delta
Your presentation was absolutely the highlight of our Leadership Summit! Laura Missitzis, Manager, Executive Offices, National Association of Realtors
You took the issues, challenges, every day stresses and strains of our plant and turned them into part of an educational but entertaining action-packed message. Jack L. Murphy, General Plants Manager, Johnson Controls, Inc.
Your ability to put such a positive spin on something like multi-tasking—which many people dread—is a testament to your skill and ability. Miki Wilson, Regional VP, AIMCO
Your presentations at our eleven “In Focus Events” delivered an important and inspiring message, unlike anything out deals have ever experienced. Blane Haywood, Director, Shaw Flooring Alliance
This was the most vibrant reaction to a speaker and meeting I’ve ever been associated with both inside and outside the IBM Corporation. Denise Billups, IBM Corporation
After hiring you three times, I manage to still find tremendous nuggets of wisdom to take away from your exhilarating presentations. Reed A. Lynn, VP of Sales, North America, WILD Flavors, Inc.
I have heard numerous attendees say that you are the BEST presenter they have ever seen, and I would have to agree! Your energy and enthusiasm are evident from the moment you take the stage, and it’s infectious. Ellen H. Wentz, Marketing Associate, Deloitte
Well, once again you knocked their socks off! Your performance goes beyond motivation—you managed to stimulate everyone present to reach beyond their perceived limits and attain new levels of achievement and success in their personal and professional lives. Jack E. Middleton, President/CEO, SMC3
Wow! What a fabulous job… taking what you heard and incorporating the themes into your presentation. People still stop me in the hall to tell me what a wonderful job you did. I’m appreciative of your effort in contributing to one of the best Forums we have ever had! We have been hiring speakers three to four times per year for the past ten years. Far and away, your presentation received the highest ratings ever! Bryan Kindred, President/CEO, DCH Health System
Your session was the perfect end to a very successful day. I’m still getting positive feedback on your message four weeks later! Your session really hit home – as you are aware, my team has been struggling with prioritizing the demands of the new business sales, delivery on our existing portfolio, and their people management responsibilities. Your message and delivery really helped reinforce my priorities with my team. John Nyland, Managing Partner, IBM
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Off Balance on Purpose: Embrace Uncertainty and Create a Life You Love Every day, we are inundated with messages about the importance of finding “balance” in our lives. How does this make us feel? Overwhelmed, out of touch, and unfulfilled. The problem isn’t us—it’s the message. Perfect balance is unachievable and, upon closer inspection, undesirable. The perpetual quest for balance ends up limiting growth, progress, and the quality of life.
In Off Balance On Purpose, Dan Thurmon frees you from the “balance” dilemma and empowers you to adopt a new approach to creating a happy, fulfilling life: embrace reality, get aligned with your purpose, lean forward, and initiate positive changes. These steps will give you the knowledge, strength, and motivation to:
With an engaging style and a storyteller’s gift, Thurmon combines profound insight, humor, compassion, and practical examples to offer you a realistic path towards a rich and rewarding life.
Success in Action It can be said that this self-help book starts where others end. Instead of merely informing or inspiring you, this book will lead you to action. It is infused with hundreds of actionable suggestions that you can adopt immediately to create positive life changes. Success in Action blends Dan’s extensive experience as a professional entertainer and entrepreneur with stories from fascinating authors, athletes, and public personalities. The result is a well rounded and comprehensive treatment on the subject of getting things done.
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