Dan Clark

Biography

Dan Clark is an internationally recognized Professional Speaker, Certified Trainer, New York Times Best Selling Author, Songwriter/Recording Artist, CEO of Clark Success Systems - a multi-million dollar speaking, publishing, sports performance & business-consulting firm, and alumnus of the University of Utah (Psychology). Dan is the author of twenty of his own best selling books on leadership, management, team building, humor, public speaking, and personal development including "Common Ground" and "Forgotten Fundamentals," and is a primary contributing author to the "Chicken Soup For The Soul" series. Dan`s world famous story "Puppies For Sale" was made into an award winning film at Paramount Studios starring Jack Lemmon. As a master storyteller, Dan has been published in more than 30 million books in 30 languages & has been featured in Entrepreneur & Mayo Clinic Magazines & as the cover story in Millionaire Magazine. In 1982 Dan was named An Outstanding Young Man Of America, was then sponsored by Zig Ziglar into the National Speakers Association and became the youngest ever to earn his "CSP"-Certified Speaking Professional designation earned by only the top 10 percent of NSA members through a rigorous credential process measuring Professional Platform Skills, Business Management, Education, and Professional Association. In 1999, Acheivers North America & Acheivers Europe named Dan one of the Top Ten Speakers In The World, and in 2005, Dan was inducted into the National Speakers Hall Of Fame, receiving his "CPAE"-Council of Peers Award of Excellence. To date, Dan has spoken to over 4500 audiences, to more than 4 million people, in all 50 states & 40 countries, for clients including Microsoft, Boeing, Lincoln Financial, Penn Mutual, State Farm, ServPro, Harley Davidson, Marriott Hotels, Swissotels, Valero Refineries, OSHA, US Dept of Labor, VPPPA, United Dairymen, National School Board Assoc, National Secondary School Principals Assoc, American Bankers Assoc, National Realtors Assoc, Credit Union Leagues, American Medical Assoc, Coldwell Banker, Prudential, Wells Fargo, Verizon, Delta Airlines, NASA, Mayo Clinic, Macy`s, The Limited, Meeting Professionals International and the American Society of Association Executives.

Dan played American football for thirteen years until a paralyzing injury cut short his career. Sixteen doctors told Dan he would not recover, but recover he did, & has since appeared on over 500 television & radio programs including Glenn Beck, Oprah, Adam Carolla & Mancow. Dan has been the keynote speaker at the United Nations World Congress in Hamburg, Germany, at an International Collegiate Leadership Conference in Vietnam, at a Faculty/Student Leadership Convocation at the Abu Dhabi Women`s College, followed by a Commencement Address to the Masters Degree Program graduates at the High College of Technology, followed by an invitation by His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan to be an honored guest participant at His "Festival of Thinkers" - the internationally acclaimed educational conference with 15 Nobel Prize Laureates, attended by delegates from countries from the region hosted by the United Arab Emirates. Dan was also commissioned to write the theme song for the Festival. Since 2002, Dan has spoken to every class of newly commissioned officers at the US Air Force Squadron Officer College, and several times at the National Conference On Ethics at West Point Military Academy & the Air Force Academy`s Character & Leadership Development Symposium. Dan has conducted UN leadership training in Europe, Asia & the former Soviet Union, has spoken for over half of the Fortune 500 companies, was the main platform closing keynote speaker at Million Dollar Round Table, has spoken to Native American Nations in the U.S & Northwest Territories, has taught high performance team building to NCAA & Super Bowl Champions, & keynoted the USAF 4 Star Generals "Corona" who later sent Dan to inspire and entertain our combat troops in Iraq, Kuwait, U.A.E., Qatar & Afghanistan, speaking 23 times on 12 bases and on the USS Harry S Truman aircraft carrier. In 2008 and 2009 alone, Dan keynoted the Commanders Conferences for US Air Forces In Europe, US Forces Korea, USAF Material Command, US Air Mobility Command, to leaders in Pacific Command in Hawaii, and 7 times to our troops in the Middle East. As a committed patriot, Dan continues to speak at military & NATO leadership conferences all over the world and teach what he`s learned about Integrity, Trust, Urgency, Performance Under Pressure, Service Before Self, Teamwork, Duty, Honor, Country, and Commitment To Excellence In All You Do, to the most successful corporations on the planet. Dan`s international experience makes him a favorite speaker for global companies like KPMG, Honeywell, British Petroleum, Exxon Mobil, Int`l Petroleum Marketing Assoc, Global Industries, Cisco, L3 Communications, Northrup Grumman, KBR, Halliburton, Sotheby`s, IBM, NCR, McDonalds, PepsiCo, Cadbury, Great West Life, Sun Life, Celebrity Cruise Lines, and the elegant CUNARD Lines where Dan was the featured speaker on their Queen Elizabeth II World Cruise.

Dan overcame a cancerous throat abscess at age 8, acted in a weekly television series & was the voice of a cartoon character at 12, was a Golden Gloves boxing champion at 17, Moto-x racing champ, alpine ski racing champ, All-State baseball pitcher & Sunkist All-American football player at 18, & projected as a National Football League #1 draft choice at age 22. Dan has raced automobiles at Nurburgring, gone 200 mph with Al Unser at the Indianapolis 500, raced dogsleds in the Arctic spending the night in an igloo at 60 degrees below zero, ridden elephants in Thailand, camels in Morocco and UAE, cruised the Nile in Egypt, served on a US Olympic Committee and carried the Olympic Torch in the 2002 Winter Games, has conducted the Utah Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Beethoven`s 5th, & even has his own ghost story when he spent the night in the prison cell of the "Birdman of Alcatraz!" Dan has flown in Blackhawk helicopters at 100 feet off the ground at 100 mph over Baghdad, refueled jets in a KC-135 and KC-10, has flown B-1 & B-52 bombers, a C-130, C-17 and C-5, gone mach two in an F-18 climbing to 55,000 feet and then diving into a practice bombing run going 640 knots at only 500 feet off the ground, has flown F-15, F-4, T-38, & many F-16 fighter jets - especially with the US Air Force Thunderbirds catching 9.4 G`s, and as the honorary Wing Commander of the 388th fighter wing engaging in air-to-air combat exercises! Dan has flown in a U2 reconnaissance plane to over 70,000 feet where he saw the curvature of the Earth, has piloted the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf (later taking off the deck to fly to Qatar), has skydived with the US Army Golden Knights, been inside NORAD`s Cheyenne Mountain, onboard Air Force One, has toured the brutal North Vietnamese "Hanoi Hilton" Hao Lo Prison, has visited the "DMZ" Demilitarized Zone north of Seoul, where Dan stared down a North Korean soldier standing across the Demarcation Line, and rode his "Road King Screaming Eagle" Harley Davidson motorcycle across America with the Willie G. Davidson family and other corporate execs on Harley Davidson`s 100th Anniversary "Ride Home" to Milwaukee! Dan has been the Master of Ceremonies / Speaker for the "We Love New York City Day" honoring Walter Cronkite & Yogi Berra, the Kenny Loggins Telethon, the US/Canadian Military Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of NORAD, the NCAA Sponsors Day At The Final Four, the Kentucky Derby VIP Dinner, the OK Kids Lifetime Acheivement Award Benefit honoring US Senator Orrin Hatch, the retirement gala of NFL star Steve Young, the Hall Of Fame Induction Celebration gala for NFL star Bruce Smith, the 5 day economic development conference for Coronet Global & the 3 day convention of the International Customer Service Association. To give back, Dan serves on the International Board of Governors of Operation Smile, on the National Advisory Board for OK Kids Charities, on the Granite Education Foundation of his local public school district, teaches Public Speaking in the MBA Program at a university, helped coach Skyline High School to the Utah State 5A Football Championship, and in 2009 coached his daughter`s "Powder Puff" team to an undefeated tournament and All School Championship!

Publications

Puppies For Sale

This anthology of entertaining and emotionally uplifting stories is written and compiled by Dan Clark, one of the most popular contributing authors to the New York Times best-selling Chicken Soup for the Soul series. The eponymous story from which the author has taken the title Puppies for Sale comes from one of the most beloved stories from the original Chicken Soup for the Soul book. Starting with this story`s powerful message of understanding, Clark follows it with nearly 300 unforgettable tales that lift you up and pull at your heartstrings. These short but powerful messages will fill you with joy and love, whether you read one story each day or the entire book in one sitting.

Titles

Living A High Performance Life - The Answers Are In The Box!
This is Dan`s Most Famous And Requested Keynote Speech! Perfect Opening or Closing General Session Presentation where Dan teaches that what it takes to become a peak performing individual and increase productivity is already inside your people and within your organization. The Answers Are in the Box!

Living A High Performance Life (Part Two) - The Answers Are STILL In The Box!"
(Dan`s Message Will Be Fresh And Exciting Because Dan Always Is. No Other Speaker Customizes A Speech Like Dan!)

Most Organizations Want To Bring Dan Back Immediately! The Announcement And Anticipation Of Bringing Dan Back For A Follow Up Keynote Excites Your People For The Next Meeting!

Addressing the same topic of Motivation, Increasing Productivity and Getting Desired Results, this is the "Part Two" of Dan`s original presentation he previously delivered to your people. Why spend time, energy and money on finding a new face and personality, who may not click with your audience like Dan did or customize his or her speech and know your industry like Dan does? Remember, Dan relates to men, women and minorities! That`s why your people will love Dan the first time around and will be excited about his return for a second presentation. Your organizational needs are clearer to Dan, your people better know Dan`s sense of humor and Dan will be able to begin right where he left off at your previous meeting.

Make Winning Personal
Dan played American football for 13 years & learned it`s not all about team - teams lose. Companies are going bankrupt as you read this and they have a team. It`s about winning. There is no "I" in team, but there are two "I`s" in winning. The first "I" represents Independent Individual Preparation - a commitment to Clarity, Character, Confidence, Consistency, Change, Cause & Chemistry. The second "I" in winning represents Interdependent Collaboration - a commitment to Contribution, Cohesion, Conclusion. In this context it IS about team, but because it`s what you do when the coach is not around that makes you a champion, the teams that win have the greatest number of "I Players" on them who live all of these Ten Commitments in their personal and professional lives!

Wealth Flows Through You, Not To You
A General Session Keynote Speech or Breakout Session Perfect for Executives, Administrators and Managers where Dan teaches that you can get anything in life you want if you are willing to help enough other people get what they want. Your people will learn that the goal is for everybody to do the right thing simply because it`s the right thing to do - not because it`s expected by leadership, but because it is demanded of ourselves!

Leadership is not voded on, nor is it about power and authority. Leaders earn respect by rising to each occasion to create opportunities for other to succeed. They teach correct principles and let their subordinates govern themselves. They remind us we are not paid by the hour, but for the value we bring to that hour, determined by how we make others around us better, and how we leave our job in better shape than we found it. Leaders measure everything knowing that as we increase our frequency of feedback, everybody accepts responsibility to do whatever it takes to succeed!