John O'Leary

There was a time when we once joyfully raised our hand high to answer every question, believed that anything was possible and fearlessly jumped into new experiences. When we danced through our days in awe of the ordinary moments of the day and eager for the promise of tomorrow.

Unfortunately, many of us experience life very differently today. With engagement within our professional organizations waning and burnout rising, many of us find ourselves caught in a life of dogged responsibility and mind-numbing repetition at work and at home. We feel disconnected and depleted.

In this talk, based on his latest book In Awe, John:

• Invites us to return to the joy and creativity of navigating life like a child
• Defines the five senses children innately possess, explains why those senses fade, and shares emotional, humorous, and inspirational stories of how we can return to them.
• Identifies the most substantial interpersonal challenges we face in living more fully and calls out the roots of those challenges, while providing practical and inspired solutions to address them.

We live in a world where “accidental living” – mindlessly moving through routines, wasting countless hours on social media, or complaining about what’s wrong in our jobs, families, and society – has become the norm. But John reminds us that just because we got out of bed this morning, does not mean that we are truly living.

What would our day, impact and output look like if we lived a radically inspired life, every, single day? Living radically inspired means you learn from past mistakes, rise above challenges, and thrive no matter the circumstances. No one embodies this more than powerhouse inspirational speaker John O’Leary – who was nearly killed in a devastating fire at age nine.

In this talk, John:

• Shares the critical truth that “inflection points” – moments in time that change everything that follows – occur daily.
• Empowers audiences through mighty examples that life has far less to do with what happens to us, and much more to do with how we respond.
• Uses key questions to explore the difference between a victim and victor mindset, sharing tactics for how to apply them in ways that can catalyze transformational growth in life and in your organization.

John was a curious nine-year-old boy. Playing with fire and gasoline, he created a massive explosion in his garage and was burned on 100% of his body. Given less than 1% chance of survival, John is proof of the power of the human spirit.

His unlikely recovery meant a journey of pain and loss that could have easily been insurmountable. However, far from being an example of someone who simply endured tragedy, John is a luminous example of thriving through adversity. And surprisingly, this “survivor” story isn’t focused on John – rather, it is a celebration of heroes who intimately served him and his family. From a dedicated Hall of Fame sports announcer to a visionary burn nurse (and countless others), every individual involved in this 1987 fire teaches us this truth: One person can make a profound difference in the lives of others.

In this talk, John uses emotional storytelling and unexpected humor to:

• Remind us of the profound significance of daily attitudes, the power of gratitude, and the impact of serving others with courage.
• Revitalize engagement by reminding us that our work matters to our loved ones, our organizations and our communities.
• Reawaken audiences to realize the gift of today and the possibility of tomorrow.

With the current global tensions, political unrest, fragmented communities and intensifying violence, today’s world can feel dark sometimes.

No one understands the importance of having light in a dark world more than powerhouse inspirational speaker John O’Leary- who was nearly killed in a devastating fire at age nine. Today, John inspires 50,000+ people each year around the world at live and virtual events.

In his faith-focused keynote Be the Light, John reminds us that light pushes back darkness, love destroys evil, God still reigns, and the best is yet to come. Most importantly, we’re reminded that we are called to be the light. In his keynote, John shares the keys to empower us to fulfill this calling.

John’s poignant storytelling is a blend of emotion, humor and authenticity. His faith testimony beautifully illustrates the power of prayer and God’s presence during our times of greatest challenge.

In this talk, John helps audiences to:

• Energize their faith.
• Hear an outside perspective on religious concepts.
• Brainstorm ways to re-engage withdrawn community members.