Have you ever faced a problem and felt paralyzed by the fear that nothing could be done? Let Rex Ziak tell you his personal story of how he overcame this fear and successfully accomplished exactly what needed to be done. This is the remarkable story of one ordinary citizen who saw some problems and decided to take action. This presentation will show how, with little more than some creative ideas and persistence, he changed the thinking of a major corporation and moved the federal government into action. Rex's first-hand account will demonstrate what you can accomplish when your convictions are combined with determination, and it will transform how you think about What One Man Can Do.

The Lewis and Clark Expedition is often cited as the most successful venture in American history. Credit for this goes directly to its leaders, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark whose management is often praised as a sterling example of leadership. What exactly did they do? What procedure did they use to promote new officers from within their party? How did they resolve major decisions when the party was divided in opinion? How did they evolve their leadership to cope with changing situations as the party penetrated new territories in the uncharted west? Lewis and Clark wrote 800,000 words in their journals. Along with descriptions of natural history and botany, these journals also provide us with a classic study of how to manage people and cope with the unknown. There is no better example of Excellence in Leadership.

John Jacob Astor arrived in America with only twenty-five dollars and 7 wooden flutes. At the time of his death his financial empire was worth approximately 110 billion dollars, as estimated by Forbes Magazine. Astor's life is the original “rags to riches” story and he is the poster-boy for business success in America, but unfortunately today his name is rarely mentioned. Who was this extraordinary businessman and how did he get his start? What were the three basic tenets he followed throughout his life to which he ascribed his success? How did he recover from the first truly hostile takeover and build an empire that spanned the globe? This lecture reveals the building-blocks that were the foundation of Astor's success. It will highlight the specific techniques and practices used by this Godfather of American Business.

Businesses are constantly confronted by the unknown—around the next corner lurks a hurricane or a product recall or media scandal. These problems are inevitable, but sometimes a bad situation is made much worse by a slow, uncoordinated response. Surprisingly, some of the best lessons in crisis management come from earlier centuries. In 1770, Captain James Cook struck the Great Barrier Reef with his ship. He was miles from shore and sinking. However, his calm and systematic response to this disaster saved his ship and crew, and also left us a timeless blueprint for crisis management. A close examination of Capt. Cook's brilliant response to his deadly predicament will teach anyone in any line of business how to respond when blindsided by a disaster. This lecture will show in detail how Capt. Cook analyzed information, determined priorities and executed plans, while constantly facing certain death. Crisis Management 101 will keep any audience on the edge of their seats while also providing a textbook example of leadership under duress that can be applied to any crisis.