Checkmate by Moritz Retzch There is an old painting by Moritz Retzch called "Checkmate". In the image, a young man plays chess with the devil for his soul while an angel looks on silently. For centuries, people viewed this painting as the very essence of hopelessness. The young man has fewer pieces than the devil, and he has obviously given up because there are no moves left. One day, an actual chess player named Paul Morphy saw the painting and caught the hidden message.

Recently, I read an email from a band that was calling it quits after over twenty years of music together. They were re-releasing their final album with a new bonus song entitled "End of an Era" to solidify the finality of the moment. The lead singer's words as he explained that final song really resonated with me because they were so profound. He said, "...it is time to move on and put a period on the end of what has been a beautiful sentence and musical chapter of our liv

Let me tell you my origin story. My journey into magic began when I was 22 years old. During a slow Thursday afternoon at work, one of my friends pulled out a deck of cards and began to do tricks for us. While I had seen David Copperfield make the Statue of Liberty disappear on television, I had never seen magic happen close-up and live before. That moment of wonder and awe changed my life forever. I left work and drove for half an hour to the closest bookstore. I bought the

The two pear trees in the picture are mine. As you can see, they are really showing fruit, and this should be a good year for me to get some pears. But let me tell you the story behind them... I planted those trees (and several others) about thirteen years ago for my neighbor. He wasn't in good health, so my son and I spent an afternoon planting them for him. I put them the right distance apart, dug a nice, deep hole for each, and made sure they would get the proper amount

Don't be easily broken. I recently received a package I'd been waiting on for weeks. It had to come from overseas, and it was supposed to be a really beautiful superhero statue. The packaging was in good shape, and I was excited to see what was inside. Unfortunately, as soon as I picked up the box, I heard rattling in it that I knew shouldn't be there. Sure enough, when I opened it, I was looking at the pieces of what was supposed to be something awesome. Did you know there

When was the last time you just enjoyed the day? My wife and I recently got to spend a couple of days in Gatlinburg while speaking at a conference there. When we first got married, we visited often, but hadn't had time to go back in years. There were so many new things to see and do there, along with the single most terrifying moment in years as my wife walked the Skybridge there with some friends (while he husband took pictures from a safe distance). The crazy thing was

If you've ever been to Disney World, you know what an amazing spectacle it is. It is an enormous place dedicated solely to the imagination. On the opening day of Disney World in Orlando, Roy Disney (brother of Walt Disney) was there to dedicate it. A reporter said, "It's really sad that Walt Disney never got to see this place." Roy replied, "If Walt didn't see it, we wouldn't be standing in it." Having vision is a powerful thing. I'm not talking about being able to see the

It's safe to say we all enjoy the comfort of familiarity. You have routines that you go through on a daily and weekly basis that you probably don't even think about anymore. There are even days we can drive a familiar route somewhere and be surprised when we get there because we weren't really focused on the drive. Muscle memory kicks in. John Maxwell says, "Change is inevitable, but growth is optional." Whether we like it or not, change is a part of life. Nothing stays the

When it comes to corporate events, the goal is clear: create an experience that sticks. You want your audience not just to listen but to feel and remember . That’s where interactive speaker strategies come into play. Imagine a keynote that feels less like a lecture and more like a conversation, a performance, or even a game. It’s about sparking curiosity, encouraging participation, and making every moment count. I’ve seen firsthand how these strategies transform events from

The story is told about the world's smartest man coming home to visit his father. The two decided to go camping. They set up the campsite, talked around the fire, and then climbed into the tent to sleep. In the middle of the night, the father woke his son, pointed to the stars above, and said, "What does that tell you?" Staring at the beautiful twinkling stars overhead, the genius said, "Astronomically, it tells me we are surrounded by billions of galaxies. Scientifically,

The Power of Perspective A few years ago, mentalist Derren Brown conducted a fascinating experiment about luck in the small town of Todmorden. He had his team circulate a rumor about a statue of a dog in a nearby park. This statue was said to bring good fortune to anyone who rubbed its head. At first, people were skeptical. However, as time went on, folks began rubbing the dog's head and soon reported incredible turns of luck in their lives. Some found money, others stumbled

Several years ago, I had a big change jar in the closet that I would drop my coins from the day into. Each day might have been a few cents, but they all were put in. Eventually, I decided to take the big jar out to see how much we had in there from my years of saving them. To my absolute amazement, I had accumulated over $900 in coins just a few cents at a time! Little things add up! I have a friend who recently got a divorce. They had a good marriage and three beautiful

When planning a corporate event, one of the most exciting decisions is choosing the right motivational speaker. But as you dive into the process, you might find yourself wondering: What exactly influences the cost of hiring a motivational speaker? It’s not just about booking a name or a face; there’s a whole world of factors that shape the price tag. Let’s explore these together, so you can make an informed choice that fits your budget and goals. Key Speaker Cost Factors to

When you’re planning a corporate event, one of the most exciting decisions is choosing the right motivational speaker. But then comes the question that often makes planners pause: How much does it really cost? Understanding the ins and outs of speaker pricing can feel like navigating a maze. I’ve been there, and I want to share what I’ve learned to help you make sense of it all. Motivational speakers bring more than just words to your event. They bring energy, inspiration, a

I recently read an article about the final pieces of advice given by senior citizens as they reflected on their lives. Here are some of the powerful things they said: I wish I'd lived the life I wanted rather than the one someone else planned for me. Don't sleepwalk through life. You'll miss the important things. You never know the value of a little moment until much later, when you realize how big that moment really was. I wish I had spent more time with my parents listeni

Imagine your next corporate event infused with energy, inspiration, and a touch of magic. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, it’s entirely possible when you bring the right motivational speaker on board. But how do you find that perfect fit? How do you ensure your event leaves a lasting impression, sparking growth and enthusiasm among your team? Let’s walk through the essential steps to booking a motivational speaker who will transform your event into an unforgettable experien

In 1939, a student named George Dantzig arrived late to his math class due to his work as a janitor at the school. The room was empty, but there were two detailed math problems written on the board, so he copied them down thinking they had to be homework. For some reason, these were especially difficult, and it took him several days to solve the problems. When he turned them in, he thought he was handing in a late assignment. He apologized to the professor, who barely even lo

Not every lion who chases the zebra catches one, but every lion who catches the zebra chased one. At the end of every year, I always like to take stock of what I did right and what I missed. This year, in particular, was a year of change and new experiences for me, and I wanted to share five bits of wisdom I learned. 1) Don't be afraid to chase the zebra. "Not every lion who chases the zebra catches one, but every lion who catches the zebra chased one." New experiences offe

I recently made a two-hour drive to speak in another city. Along the way, I decided to play a little game and count the Dollar General stores we passed. In that relatively short drive, we passed ten of them (and two DG Markets)! Sometimes, they were literally the only thing in the area besides the woods. That familiar yellow sign was just poking out among the trees. Dollar General is effective because their primary focus is to be available where there are few (or any) other

Do you have big dreams? I'm always surprised by how many people want to write a book. They might have an excellent idea for a novel, think their life story is interesting and others should hear it, or maybe just want to put something down for posterity. Whatever the reason, many people I meet want to write one. Likewise, I meet a lot of people who would love to travel. They want to visit a big city someday, see some amazing natural wonder, or just get a picture with a fam