Lead With Your Strengths

The Key to Leadership Excellence

Quick Summary 

Drawing from my  book, Presidential Leadership: Learning from United States Presidential Libraries & Museums, I emphasize the critical importance of identifying, improving, and leveraging your strengths in order to achieve greater success in leadership—and in all areas of your life. Using a selection of photos from my personal collection, I take participants on a virtual journey across America, visiting each of the fascinating storehouses of American history that preserve the presidential legacies. Along the way, I share stories and examples, focusing on carefully selected leadership strengths demonstrated by some of the most admired U.S. Presidents. Ending with a powerful call to action, I urge participants to carefully and purposefully identify and improve their own highest-impact leadership strengths as part of their continual pursuit of leadership excellence and greater success.

Presentation Outline

I begin by briefly explaining the history and significance of the United States Presidential Libraries and Museums and give my own personal account of visiting each one. I also establish the premise that regardless of your political leanings, great leadership principles can be learned from studying the members of the most exclusive leadership club in the world—the American presidents.

Using historical anecdotes and examples, I highlight important leadership strengths demonstrated by former U.S. Presidents whose legacies are preserved by the presidential libraries and museums.

I illustrate the entire presentation with photos I have personally taken at each library and museum, guiding participants on a virtual tour across America, visiting each of these unique storehouses of American history.

I conclude by briefly reaffirming the powerful impact of each of the featured leadership strengths that are evident in the lives of some of the world’s most powerful and influential leaders. I provide actionable strategies and additional resources for developing and nurturing these proven principles, and I end with an inspirational challenge to select two or three strengths to focus on in your own life and leadership.

Target Audience

Individuals and organizations who are committed to continuous leadership development—no matter their title or role. They realize the critical importance of leadership excellence in all areas of life and across all levels, welcoming opportunities to learn from some of America’s most successful and respected leaders.

This presentation is ideal for any group, organization, or association that is looking to add a refreshing break from the ordinary to their meeting program. Completely nonpartisan, this unique presentation about presidential leadership is interesting and relevant while also being entertaining, uplifting and inspiring.

Possible Formats

This presentation, which requires a projector and screen, can be delivered as a keynote or a leadership workshop. Length can range from 45 minutes to 2 hours, completely customizable to your group’s needs. The ideal keynote length is 50-70 minutes.

Intended Outcomes

• Participants will walk away with a new understanding and appreciation of what the United States Presidential Libraries & Museums are and what can be learned from them. Participants will also be inspired to visit one or more of these invaluable storehouses of American history for themselves.
• Participants will recognize the essential leadership principles that enabled these ordinary Americans to reach the extraordinary heights of attaining the presidency and leading the nation.
• Participants from all backgrounds and levels of leadership will be convinced that identifying, improving, and leveraging key leadership strengths in their own lives, careers, and organizations will reap huge rewards—and they will be challenged to do just that.
• Participants will be equipped with actionable strategies and additional resources to leverage in their personal and organizational leadership development.

Topic Authority

• I am the author of the books Presidential Leadership: Learning from United States Presidential Libraries & Museums and Be An Inspirational Leader: Engage, Inspire, Empower.
• I have been developing my own leadership skills throughout my life, of which over forty years have been spent in major leadership roles, including thirty years as CEO or founder, leading my organizations from the ground up (to see my full bio, please click here).
• I have always been intrigued by American history and fervently believe in learning from those who’ve gone before. In my lifelong journey of learning, I’ve had the opportunity to travel extensively across the nation and to carefully study the lessons of history.
• I am one of very few people in the world who have had the privilege of visiting, studying, and extensively photographing every United States Presidential Library and Museum in America.
• I firmly believe that everyone—no matter title or role—is a leader, and that intentional leadership development is an incredible strategy for success for every individual and organization. I know that priceless lessons can be learned from successful leaders if we simply take the time to study them, and then leverage what we learn.

What People Are Saying

United States Presidential Libraries & Museums

An Inspirational Tour Through American History

Quick Summary 

I am the author of the book, Presidential Leadership: Learning from United States Presidential Libraries & Museums, and am one of the very few people in the world to have visited, studied, and extensively photographed every United States Presidential Library and Museum in America. With this presentation, I am honored to guide participants on an extended inspirational virtual tour through each of these storehouses of American history. Using a selection of photographs from my personal collection, I take participants on a descriptive, visual journey across America, sharing my knowledge and passion for these unique institutions. This fun, uplifting, and memorable presentation is guaranteed to intrigue participants and kindle curiosity and interest in these fascinating historical places.

Presentation Outline

Introduction

• I begin by explaining a little bit about my background and how I came to discover the national treasures that are the United States Presidential Libraries and Museums.
• I then briefly describe the history and significance of the presidential libraries and museums and the role they play in America today.

Visual Tour

• Using a selection of my personal photographs, I take participants on a visual journey across America and through the 14 presidential libraries and museums throughout the nation. Along the way I narrate the tour with brief stories about the presidents and my own recollections from visiting and studying each of these unique institutions that preserve the presidential legacies.
• The journey starts in Hyde Park, New York with the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum, then continues through Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, California, Texas, Arkansas, and Georgia, before ending in Boston, Massachusetts with the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum.

Conclusion

• I reemphasize the incredible value of these unique institutions and what we can learn from them, and encourage participants to make plans to visit and experience as many of the presidential libraries and museums as possible.
• Time permitting, I conclude by engaging the audience in a fun and interesting Q&A.

Target Audience

Individuals and organizations who value history, and/or are specifically interested in the U.S. Presidents and the unique institutions that preserve their legacies.

This presentation is ideal for any group, organization, or association that is looking to add a refreshing break from the ordinary to their meeting program. Completely nonpartisan, this unique presentation is entertaining, uplifting and inspiring.

Possible Formats

This presentation, which requires a projector and screen, works best in a 45-60 minute time slot, but can be customized to meet your group’s needs.

Intended Outcomes

• Participants will walk away with a new understanding and better appreciation for what the United States Presidential Libraries & Museums are and what can be learned from them.
• Participants will have seen every presidential library and museum in America, viewed through the window of selected photographs from my personal collection.
• Participants will be inspired to visit one or more of these invaluable storehouses of American history for themselves. 
• Participants will be entertained and uplifted, having enjoyed a unique break from the ordinary.

Topic Authority

• I am the author of the books Presidential Leadership: Learning from United States Presidential Libraries & Museums and Be An Inspirational Leader: Engage, Inspire, Empower.
• I am one of very few people in the world who have had the privilege of visiting, studying, and extensively photographing every United States Presidential Library and Museum in America. I have visited each library and museum at least three times, usually spending two or more days touring, studying, and photographing during each visit.
• I have always been intrigued by American history and fervently believe in learning from those who’ve gone before. In my lifelong journey of learning, I’ve had the opportunity to travel extensively across America and to carefully study the lessons of history.
• I firmly believe that everyone should value and learn from history. I know that priceless lessons can be learned from history and historical leaders if we simply take the time to study and leverage what we learn.