John Register
Olympic-class athlete, Combat Veteran and Amputee, to Paralympic Silver Medalist, John Register shows business executives how to Amputate Limitations and Amplify Expectations to win life's medals.
For organizations poised at the edge of transformation, eager to galvanize their teams, and surmount the challenges ahead, John Register presents an unparalleled opportunity. He doesn’t just speak on overcoming adversity; he walks through fire and comes out with lessons forged in the flames of experience.
Leaders are struggling with not only uncertainty but with employees' resistance to returning to a previous state of existence before the pandemic. The most common employee complaints are overwhelmed, burnout, and exhaustion. We are living in a new age where, as John states, "we cannot return to normal."
John Register is a speaker who doesn’t just talk about resilience and transformation but embodies these qualities in every stride of his life. He is not just and award-winning inspirational leadership keynote speaker; he’s a beacon of unwavering strength and a living testament to the power of the human spirit to surmount any challenge.
A celebrated athlete, a Persian Gulf War U.S. Army veteran, an amputee, and a Paralympic silver medalist, John's journey from adversity to triumph is nothing short of remarkable.
John's storied athletic career, marked by his tenure as a three-time track and field all-American and an Olympic trials qualifier, took an unexpected turn when he faced a life-altering training accident that resulted in the amputation of his left leg. Yet, instead of being defined by this incident, John redefined the meaning of victory. Embracing a “new normal” mindset, he not only returned to compete but also soared on the global stage of the Paralympics, claiming silver and etching his name in the annals of sports history.
Beyond the track, John has channeled his indomitable spirit into inspiring others. He founded the U.S. Olympic Committee Paralympic Military Sports Program which stands as a testament to his commitment to empowering those facing their darkest moments to find their light. This program was the impetus for the Department of Defense's Warrior Games as well as Prince Harry's Invictus Games.
John is a leader of leaders as he has advised three U.S. Secretaries of State on Foreign Policy issues and has also been the CEO of the Amputee Coalition.
As a professional speaker and global influencer, he captivates audiences with his compelling narrative of overcoming adversity (John points out that we DO NOT overcome adversity),
resilience, determination, and the audacity to amputate limitations and amplify expectations by leaping over life's hurdles through his contextual transformation model The Reckoning, the ReVision, and the Renewal. He also has earned the coveted Certified Speaker Designation which less than 10 percent of speakers have worldwide.
John's expertise in leadership and overcoming adversity is not only lived but also shared through his critically acclaimed book, "10 Stories to Impact Any Leader: Journal Your Way to Leadership Success." His insights offer invaluable lessons on navigating the hurdles of professional life with grace and courage.
Booking John for your next event is more than securing a keynote speaker; it’s igniting a catalyst for change, inspiring your team to embrace their challenges, amputate their fears, and, most importantly, win life's medals.
Experience the transformative power of John Register’s story and leadership insights at your next event. Let his journey from the depths of adversity to the heights of Paralympic glory and beyond inspire your team to envision a realm of possibilities where every hurdle is not a barrier but a leap toward success.
AMPUTATE TO AMPLIFY: TRANSFORM ADVERSITY INTO ADVANTAGE
It seems as if there are so many reports that stress, burnout, and isolation have become the hidden adversaries of progress; how do we cut through the noise and transform adversity into our greatest advantage? This question lies at the heart of an epidemic plaguing leaders and teams in today’s high-stakes business environment. Despite efforts to bridge the gap, a profound perception divide persists, underscoring a critical disconnect between executive actions and employee realities.
Enter “Amputate to Amplify: Transform Adversity Into Advantage,” a keynote designed to address this chasm and provide a potent solution. Come on a journey with award-winning keynote speaker John Register, CSP, who embodies resilience, transformation, and triumph. This presentation is a masterclass redefining the narrative of mental preparation and fortitude in the face of burnout, exhaustion, and extreme overwhelm.
Why do leaders often miss the mark on acknowledging the severity of workplace mental health issues? How can they effectively close the perception gap that undermines the very fabric of a healthy, sustainable organizational culture? These pressing questions form the crux of a timely and necessary discourse.
John Register’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. From an Olympic-class hurdler and Army combat veteran to becoming a Paralympic silver medalist following a life-altering amputation, John’s narrative is a testament to the indomitable spirit of human will. His keynote draws from this wellspring of personal challenge and triumph, offering an actionable blueprint for navigating the tumultuous waters of uncertainty, stress, and anxiety.
Through a compelling three-stage process—The Reckoning, the Revision, and the Renewal—John lays out a roadmap for embracing adversity as a catalyst for acknowledging our prior state, honoring our present situation, and committing to growth through innovation and adaptation. His approach dismantles the barriers of fear and resistance, urging leaders and employees alike to adopt a “new normal mindset” that views change not as a threat but as an invaluable opportunity.
Session Outcomes:
- Develop a “New Normal Mindset”: Participants will gain insights into embracing change as a cornerstone for personal and professional development, armed with the tools to turn the tides of uncertainty to their advantage.
- Transform Adversity into Advantage: Through the three-stage process of reckoning, revision, and renewal, attendees will learn to reframe challenges as opportunities, fostering a culture of agility, innovation, and success.
- Build Resilience and Perseverance: The keynote emphasizes the power of resilience—the courage to seek help—and perseverance as vital components for overcoming obstacles and achieving enduring success.
CHAMPIONS MINDSET: OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC LESSONS FOR BUSINESS SALES SUCCESS
If your company struggles with engagement and burnout due to the great resignation consider the mindset of the Olympian and Paralympic athlete.
In this keynote presentation sports celebrity John Register extracts lessons learned as a world-class Olympic trials candidate and two-time, and two-sport Paralympian.
Outcomes:
- Analyze the athlete's journey to the medal podium, and implement those lessons into current business culture and sales systems.
- Identify the ripples of disturbance that may derail your path to business growth.
- Discover the competitive advantage to give you plus one days (days you will press greater than your competitor).
Your team will extract lessons from the Olympic and Paralympic athlete journey and implement those lessons into your business culture and sales systems to reach the podiums you have set for your company.
John's learning activities coupled with his power of storytelling releases the champion spirit in your team and position you to be at the top of your industry.
DEI: HOW HIRING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ADDS BANK TO YOUR BOTTOM LINE
Are you having trouble navigating this fast-changing environment of diversity, equity, and inclusion?
Accenture finalized a report in Q4 2018 which stated if there were two alike companies and one hired, retained, and promoted people with disabilities and the other did not, the first would outperform the second 2 to 1 to shareholder returns.
With 15% of the world's population (or 1.2B people), and 7 trillion dollars of economic buying power companies cannot afford to look past this workforce.
John intersects with a company employee, business. and affinity resource groups on multiple levels. His intersections are as a person with a disability, a person of color, a U.S. Army combat veteran, and a Paralympic medalist, he navigates the inclusion intersectionality in the workspace through lived experienced.
In this highly interactive live or virtual presentation, John, a TEDx speaker on "Why Tolerance is Not Valuable," discusses the stigma of attitudinal barriers that continue to hinder the hiring of a dedicated and dependable labor force and explores key indicators that may play a role in those outcomes.
John offers 3 solution-oriented points for consideration in order to overcome these areas of concern and foster a work environment that values the contributions of all citizens.
Goal: To inspire your organization to attain greater victory by increasing the appreciation, talents and diverse skill sets, of all employees through the use of team-building techniques, storytelling, interactive collaboration, and accountability measures.
Summary: Diversity takes on many forms. Even seeing the word written on a person can conjure up emotional ties. We may often think of diversity in a very conventional way but when we take a closer look we find that diversity is all around us. Not only can it be our cultural differences in values, beliefs, and norms, but it can also take on the form of job skills and specialties in the workplace. Understanding and appreciating the differences from one's own culture can lead to richer and better solutions to goals and challenges.
HURDLING ADVERSITY: EMBRACE YOUR NEW NORMAL MINDSET - A VIRTUAL PRESENTATION
This virtual presentation I help people bounce back to life from a misstep. From Olympic track and field hopeful and Army Officer Candidate one day to an amputee the next.
We will walk through the process of what drives our fears, past the false summit of believing we need to rebuild our lives, to the freedom which comes from embracing our new normal by having a resolute mind.
MY STORY - YOUR STORY
Life can change with one wrong step.
While training for an upcoming competition, one misstep over a hurdle cost me my leg.
Despite my devastating setback, I hurdled my adversity and began winning again. Within 22 months post-injury, I competed on the United States Paralympic Swim Team in Atlanta, Georgia and anchored both the 4x100 meter medley and freestyle relays.
It was at those games in Atlanta I saw athletes with amputations running and jumping using prostheses. I knew I had to learn how to run on an artificial limb. I did so and four years later I returned to my first love of track and field and in Sydney, Australia at the 2000 Paralympic Games, I won the silver medal in the long jump setting the American record in the process.
I am the first to say that overcoming any obstacle no matter how great or insignificant one thinks it is, begins with having a resilient and renewed mind.
But how do you get it? Where does it come from? And, can it be taught and learned so everyone can respond better when facing adversity?
In this virtual presentation, you will discover steps you can take to stand strong. I share with you the pathway and the steps to win, again.
Whether you are an executive, a middle manager, or front employee, your life can change with one wrong step, but your life can also change with one right step.
Go forth and inspire your world.
John Register was an incredibly inspirational speaker at our annual First Responders Breakfast event! His story of pain and anguish during his most triumphant moment was heartbreaking. It was inspiring to hear how, even in the moment of intense pain, he had intense love for the first responders and people who came out to help him in his biggest time of need. His positive approach to life and perseverance attitude is a MUST hear. The way he beautifully weaves his stories and engages the audience is second to none. We HIGHLY recommend John as a keynote speaker!
K.H., PRESIDENT & CEO, WEST DES MOINES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
John delivered a keynote for our annual Strength in Security conference that was extremely motivating and well received by employees, clients and students. He mixes fun and laughter with some difficult topics to create an uplifting and inspiring presentation. You will never hear the word tolerate again the same way!
J.M., DEPUTY CHIEF INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER, BUSINESS SECURITY SOLUTIONS, U.S. BANK
John, Thank you for the "gift" of your presentation today. Your words were impactful and inspiring. You've challenged us to elevate our game and shift our focus. Thank you again!
G.S., SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, LINCOLN FINANCIAL
John keynoted at the BP 2015 Business Resource Group (BRG) National Summit. John and his message were at once - amazing, inspiring, and thought-provoking. As he told his message of life, adversity, rising to challenges and embracing the "New Normal" we were spell-bound and felt very fortunate that he was sharing it with us. His story is one to be heard. But that is not enough, The lessons are to be reflected upon and then utilized to demonstrate "how" we each want to intentionally have impact on this journey of life. Our team doesn't give compliments easily. John is impressive.
R.A., CHIEF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION OFFICER, BP P.L.C, BP
I have had the pleasure of hearing John speak several times over the years and will take advantage of any opportunity to hear him again. I have not seen many people 'shift' from live events to the virtual platform and keep audience engagement quite as well as John. John's commanding presence along with his gift in connecting with many people at the same time while incorporating his life experiences in a relatable and relevant manner is something not to be missed. John embodies the Olympic spirit, is a champion for diversity and will fuel the inner fire in you.
C.M., DIRECTOR OF SPORTS & SPECIAL EVENTS, VISIT COLORADO SPRINGS
This event was presented virtually
A virtual standing ovation for John Register If you desire an entertaining, relevant, and dynamic storyteller who presents really well on the virtual platform, then I highly recommend John Register who delivered an engaging, laughter-filled presentation as part of our 1st 2020 diversity, equity, and inclusion training. Using the platform "bluejeans" John quickly adapted and worked through the challenges of engaging an online audience. One of our participants enjoyed the session so much she attend both training sessions. John Register was everything we asked for and more!
A.P., SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER, TECHSTARS
John is a masterful and resourceful professional. When my University shifted to online classes and remote working conditions due to Covid 19, John was still able to accommodate our program. He delivered his presentation virtually via an online platform. I was concerned that the presentation wouldn't be the same. I was wrong. I was surprised at how engaging the virtual session was with John. His content was delivered perfectly and he was the same dynamic presenter that I have always known.
J.L.J., ACADEMIC COUNSELOR, FOOTBALL & MEN'S TENNIS, UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
I have attended many virtual trainings, but what John Register did was MAGICAL! He made a huge difference for my students and got them back on a positive trajectory after a tough week. If you are considering a dynamic virtual and interactive presenter your company can't afford to miss John's presentation, "Amputate Your Fear and Embrace Your New Normal.
A.C.B., THE FRAUD DOCTOR, FRAUD DOCTOR
All around standing ovation for John Register!" BOOKING! "Once we confirmed that John was speaking at the event for our employee resource group, he immediately began to take action to prepare. It was clear that he had a solid approach to handling engagements with customers based on standard offerings like a pre-video and a pre-meeting with key stakeholders. NOT LIKE OTHER SPEAKERS WE"VE HAD! John was very engaging right from the start and expressed interest in our corporate culture so that he could align the presentation with terminology that would resonate with our employees. DURING THE PRESENTATION While delivering his presentation, the audience was taken in by his flair for storytelling and interactive engagment. Afterwards, many audience members expressed interest in wanting to hear more from John. And, yes! Our employees and leadership honored John with a standing ovation! POST EVENT FOLLOW UP After the event, John continued to stay engaged and offered a post-video along with personalized notes of thanks. Overall the experience working with John was very positive and I highly recommend him as a keynote speaker.
L.K., CHANGE MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT, KIMBERLY-CLARK CORPORATION
John, you triggered innovative thinking in our group. They are still referencing the 'new normal' and looking at our situation in a different way, meaning you have helped ignite a change in mindset in our people. Thank you!
B.G., PROFESSIONAL SERVICES EXECUTIVE, PHILIPS
On behalf of WinnCompanies, I strongly recommend John Register as a motivational speaker. John recently served as the keynote for our annual corporate awards celebration to recognize exemplary performance by employees and employee teams across the company's 23-state portfolio. His talk inspired the 330-person audience. Based on a survey completed afterward, his speech ranked as the highest-rated keynote in the past 10 years of the yearly event. Nearly 85% of attendees described themselves as highly satisfied with his remarks, saying that they found the lessons of John's life story to be immediately relatable to the challenges and opportunities they face every day in their professional and personal lives. "John Register's speech was amazing. He made you truly feel something, learn something and get inspired," one attendee said in a written review that echoed opinions offered by many others. Not only did John work hard to understand our company's mission and workforce in advance of his speech, but he also was very generous with his time afterward. He was an an enthusiastic participant in the charitable, community service activity we held following his remarks and he also visited with us during a social event later that evening. John is pure inspiration. It's our pleasure to highly recommend him to other organizations.
P.A., PRESIDENT, WINNRESIDENTIAL
Many times I've attended seminars where the speaker speaks at or to me rather than with me. John Register spoke with us. He engaged us on a number of levels and encouraged our participation not just with him, but with each other. It was good to see a group so involved that they set aside their cell phones and actually paid attention. It was time well spent that passed by too quickly.
J.S., VICE PRESIDENT, GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, THE CARPET AND RUG INSTITUTE
First and foremost, Mr. John Register! Thank you! You brought it home. I know you are a great speaker and then I sit down and get immersed in your story and bam, you take us into a different universe. It was so good to see you, catch up, and know you impacted people on the way out. Thank you! You are golden!
S.B.R., EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ADAPTIVE SPORTS USA
John is a powerful communicator and passionate story teller! His presentation at GLATA19 on "Life's New Normal" was amazing. His message was inspiring and encouraging. He conveyed critical ideas simply and communicated difficult ideas in a personal and meaningful way. Perhaps most impressive was the amount of time he spent with his audience after the talk was over. John was personable and genuine and talked to everyone who wanted and gave his undivided attention and treated them all as if they were the only ones in the room! Thanks, John! Great job!!
C.S., ATHLETIC TRAINING PROGRAM DIRECTOR, BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY
I had the honor of working with John as the keynote speaker at a United States Olympic Training Center experience for a luxury automaker's national dealer meeting. Upon viewing his TEDx presentation, there was no doubt that John would be a great inspiration and provide a motivational spark for the attendees. I had no idea how fantastic he would be to work with in the period leading up to the meeting. From the start, John demonstrated deep commitment and enthusiasm for understanding the objectives of the meeting and the needs and interest of the audience, gathering input from several different stakeholders, customizing his message, and seamlessly integrating feedback to create an amazing presentation. Only a few weeks before the meeting, with a sincere desire to further increase the impact of his message, John proactively suggested adding an interactive exercise - getting the group on their feet to directly experience a point that could easily translate into action after the meeting. John's presentation was a resounding success, and dealer enthusiasm carried into the final night reception where many sought him out for a photo opportunity and further discussion. Clearly, I'm a fan and unconditionally recommend him for others seeking to inspire and motivate their attendees to face the challenge and thrive as they engage with their own "New Normal.
J.B., STRATEGY | QUALITATIVE INSIGHTS | POWERFUL SOLUTIONS : CX, ENGAGEMENT, BRAND ALIGNMENT, PERFORMANCE, BRAVIN LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES
One word sums up John Register: Wow! For business leaders wanting to energize your team to deliver exponential results, John’s amazing story of overcoming adversity is authentic; his delivery style commands the audience; his messages inspire and stick.
G.H., PROGRAM DIRECTOR, THE CONFERENCE BOARD
Times are tough & people have challenges and it has become easier for people to just give up. John's presentation is a fresh air of inspiration for those of us that believe that you can be successful in spite of what life throws at you. He has overcome great adversity and made a perceived weakness his strength. We can all learn from him. Great presentation, thank you!
A.J.V.R.C.A.C., PRESIDENT, PRUDENTIAL COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE JACKSONVILLE
John Register is an exceptional speaker who can work in a variety of settings ranging from small groups through keynote presentations. He embraces his audiences and captivates them through touching and entertaining personal stories about issues that impact all of us. His message is poignant and customized for each group and includes stories about life challenges, leadership, diversity and disability. I highly recommend John without reservation.
C.H.
John, Thanks for the great job at today's meeting. You were great! The message was great. The number of lessons learned in such a short period just blew me away. Your enthusiasm, delivery and context were really on point. You brought your A game and I'm really happy that you were there to get us off to a great start in the new year!
J.C.P., VICE PRESIDENT AND OAK BROOK BRANCH MANAGER., AXA- ADVISORS
Thank you for a talk that is reverberating in my head. I will remember the inspiration of basic human connection in the example of the woman coming up to you. Great lesson for her children and for all of us who heard you tell it. And I will never look at an overhead bin the same way again!
D.T., PRESIDENT, FORT LEWIS COLLEGE
John has been invaluable in his message of patriotism, teamwork, and overcoming adversity for a greater mission to our athletes. His training on presentation skills brought our athlete education program to a new level as he brought advanced presentation training to our athletes for the first time. I only wish I had tapped into John’s unique skill-set sooner, but we will definitely be requesting his services again.
D.S., CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, USA BOBSLED AND SKELETON
I have seen my share of motivational speeches in corporate America over the last 20 years. None was so moving and humbling as was John's message of overcoming adversity and capitalizing on the "New Normal." For our corporate message he taught that everything we do is tying and linking to a vision of where the company is going, and those are our "New Normals" that we are after. I highly recommend John for your organization's motivational and event speaker needs!
S.S., LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS - COUNSEL, LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS
10 Power Stories to Impact Any Leader
