Neal Petersen’s life journey has taken him from a poverty-stricken childhood in Apartheid South Africa to a round-the-world yacht race in a craft he built himself, giving him a firsthand view of the seemingly insurmountable barriers that face us in life. An award-winning author, world-class solo racing yachtsman, and global investor, Petersen shares real life examples of how he overcame his own daunting challenges by always turning “perceived” disadvantages into advantages—and then into opportunities.
No Barriers—Only Solutions
Neal Petersen tells the tale of his riveting life story in a way that challenges audiences to identify and learn to overcome the barriers they face in their journeys to achieve success and unleash their potential. Petersen’s treasure chest—which accompanies him on stage—contains the symbols of his own barriers, and through these symbols he enlightens his listeners with the inspiration and information they need to break down the walls—real and imagined—that are in their way. He attacks adversity head-on and demonstrates a determination and hard work that people need to achieve their goals.
Navigating the Storm
The author of the award-winning book Journey of a Hope Merchant, Petersen’s captivating and empowering customized keynotes demonstrates how success is realized—through innovation, balancing risk against return, and being flexible enough to adapt to constant shifting winds. Petersen has challenged thousands to prevail against their own formidable barriers and setbacks and to turn them into treasures. Neal has “wowed” international audiences with his story and how he related it to their challenges, which typically ends with a standing ovation.
How to Alter Your Course
In these challenging times of uncertainly, fear and insecurity rise, Petersen shows audiences how to stop feeling like solo sailors, adrift, grasping for survival—he lays out the importance of a clearly communicated vision and direction, followed by detailed planning, preparation, passion and execution. Petersen impresses on audience members the need to innovate, to change—all by recognizing and removing the personal barriers that stand in the way. He shows that the walls we bump up against are only obstacles if we stay on a collision course with them. Petersen shows audiences how to chart their own, obstacle-free course through life.
No Barriers, Only Solutions
Opening or Closing Keynote
If you are seeking a powerful, engaging speaker with a unique story and delivery, consider Neal Petersen. To obtain the best value for your investment, contract Neal as the opening keynote speaker. Neal has faced many challenges in life – poverty, discrimination and other insurmountable barriers – and he always responded by looking for opportunities and solutions. Neal completed the “Around Alone”, a 27,000 mile yacht race, 9 months at sea, alone, via Cape Horn and in the smallest yacht he designed and built himself. This keynote is the real-life story of what one person can endure in order to realize his life time dream, inspiring audience members to seek not just success, but to create a life of significance. Using unique symbols from a treasure chest to his red sailing jacket, Neal shares the tools that enabled him to face immense odds and how he not just navigated the high seas, but the challenges that each person may face in their own journey to achieve success.
Neal’s messages include:
* The importance of realizing goals; perseverance, determination in reaching them.
* The role of social responsibility in corporate America.
* Turning “perceived” disadvantages into advantages:
* The power of positive attitude and how it affects one’s performance.
* With choice there are consequences – choose wisely.
* Change is constant – it’s how you play the cards you are dealt.
Follow this unforgettable keynote with a question and answer period, a book signing and possibly a breakout session. Neal Petersen’s autobiography “Journey of a Hope Merchant” won the National Outdoor Book Award for best book. A great gift and fast read that Neal will be willing to personalize for attendees.
Neal is engaging, interactive and is there to support your attendees. After appearing on your stage, you will find him in on-going discussions with your delegates, joining them for meals and events to help them maximize their experiences.
The Skippers Briefing for Leaders
A Breakout Session
This program is an add on to Neal’s keynote address, or can be done as a seperate breakout or workshop.
Neal’s highly interactive leadership program includes a 5 day summit he conducted for health care leaders, or could be a 3 hour event. He may be a solo sailor, but to gain the support of a team of volunteers to support this extreme 27,000 mile ocean yacht race demands a strong support team. Drawing on the lessons of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his own global travels, Neal challenges groups in an interactive dialog to open their eyes to different viewpoints, long term choices and how to create a lasting legacy for one’s community and next generation. Today as a global investor, Neal focus on issues from health care with medical tourism, the impact of immigration and migration on US GDP and the role of education for the development of employees and consumers. These issues along with the understanding of political ideology are critical for leaders today to make key decisions, open new markets and deploy capitol in order to mitigate risk.
Audience members must be willing to engage in the discussions, answer questions and work on exercises that they will be challenged to create and to share. These breakout sessions and workshops have so far been conducted for health care leaders, technology startups and political leaders.
Neal is engaging, interactive and is there to support your attendees. After appearing on your stage, you will find him in on-going discussions with your delegates, joining them for meals and events to help them maximize their experiences.
I have heard many keynotes and frankly, Neal is the only one I will remember on my death bed. He is phenomenal. He always ends up with a standing ovation. He can speak to a group of 10 or a group of 10,000. He has a great way of personalizing his keynote to the industry to which he is speaking. He does a great amount of research and gets to know his audience prior to his keynote. He also will stay around for the remainder of the meeting or convention and offer small group discussions and be involved with the attendees.
I have no personal gain, I just feel passionately about Neal’s message and I have seen him in action and it is phenomenal.
We always like to hear from speakers who have accomplished the unimaginable and Neal certainly fits this description. He delivered his powerful message in a unique and compelling way that captivated our audience. His story of overcoming barriers resonated with our attendees and provided them with the motivation needed to tackle daily obstacles. The research he conducts on the company in advance of the key note allowed him to connect in an even deeper way. Overall, well worth the investment.
“I have been very fortunate to work with Neal Petersen – we brought him in to speak to 3 of our top producer meetings. He is a great speaker and he has found ways to help financial advisors take Neal’s experiences and to apply it to their practices in such a way to grow their businesses through the tough times and enjoy the good times.”
