Keynotes

Every keynote address by Jim Warner is tailored to the demographics of the audience.

Listen to "Life is Like Driving a Bus." [772KB MP3]

Jim works closely with the event organizers to understand the fabric and flow of the event and how Jim's address can best complement the event goals.

Here's an example abstract for a keynote to a group of senior business executives and their spouses, attending a 3-day workshop.

Reclaiming Your Greatness

How High Achievers and Spouses Move From Disillusionment to Discovery to Destiny in Midlife

We have our names on the door, discretionary income and the envy of our peers. Our spouse is visible and vibrant, and our do-it-all kids are targeted for big things. Outwardly, we seem to have it all, but behind the scenes...

We spin in an endless cycle of obligations, lacking life purpose or peace. We feel driven to amass more wealth … because there is never enough. Our spouse and kids resent us for putting career ahead of family. We long for a spiritual connection, but don't know where or how to begin. We have few friends or mentors who will tell us the truth. Our lives may look good on the outside, but inside we're beginning to sense: This Isn't Working.

In this engaging session author and transition expert, Jim Warner, presents the common symptoms, patterns and stories of leaders and spouses who are navigating challenging life transitions. Based on his confidential and intimate retreat experiences with over 1,300 CEOs and 200 spouses, Jim offers tips, pitfalls and vignettes around facing the issues of Identity, Power, Money, Control, Destiny, Relationships and Spirituality.

Leaders and spouses will learn how to deal with their top issues, including specific tools for redirecting their lives toward sanity, purpose, and aliveness. Jim will also offer riveting stories from his executive retreats and transition seminars that will help you reconnect with your self, your soul, your family, others and Spirit.

Here's a synopsis of a workshop for executives in an industry setting.

Authentic Leadership: Of Your Enterprise ... Of Your Life

This evocative, and entertaining topic explores the fundamentals of Authentic Leadership, at both the enterprise level and the whole-life level.  We’ll outline the most common leadership challenges in high-growth, global enterprises, including: artificial harmony, entitlement, defensiveness, victimhood and fear of change.

Through eye-opening, experiential exercises you’ll take away specific tools for sustained, inspirational leadership.  These include ways to: address conflicts proactively, sense and navigate emotion, make clean agreements, and foster creativity and collaboration.  You’ll learn the ten probing questions that, when answered, unlock empowerment and accountability.

On the personal side, you’ll learn how to be authentic, curious, appreciative, caring and direct in all your relationships – in the workplace, with friends and family, and with yourself.

Here's a synopsis for a keynote address delivered at a company-wide gathering.

Aspirations to Greatness:
Navigating from Entrepreneurship to Enduring Excellence

 Fewer than 10% of all entrepreneurial endeavors achieve ongoing stability.  Your company is in this elite 10%. Yet sustaining your success constantly requires re-tooling strategy, organizational makeup and even leadership.  You’ve graduated from survival, to owning your niche and choosing where to expand.  The swashbuckling of your start-up days now demands complementary systems and procedures.  You’ve added branch offices and international operations to your once small and close-knit organizational family.  You’ve teamed seasoned professionals transplanted from big companies with your original associates.  As the founder of a thriving enterprise, you start to ask, “Where are we going?  What is my role?  Where do I fit in?”

 Aspirations to Greatness will outline the tensions, challenges and opportunities faced by successful entrepreneurial companies moving to enduring professional management.  The transition can be either a painful gauntlet or an enlivening adventure.  The latter requires perspective, courage, candor and inspiration from company leadership, plus commitment, trust and patience from every person at your organization.