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John  O'Leary

John O'Leary

Two-Time #1 National Bestselling Author & Speaker

John O'Leary

Two-Time #1 National Bestselling Author & Speaker

Biography

In 1987, John O’Leary was a curious nine-year-old boy. Playing with fire and gasoline, John created a massive explosion in his home and was burned on 100% of his body. He was given less than a 1% chance to live.

This epic story of survival was first showcased in his parents’ book, Overwhelming Odds, in 2006. It was this book that first invited John to embrace his miraculous recovery and share it with the world.

Today, John inspires tens of thousands of people at more than 100 live and virtual events each year. He partners with companies and organizations across industries, such as: sales, healthcare, safety, marketing, finance, faith, education and insurance.

Consistently described as “the best speaker we’ve ever had,” John’s tireless schedule is a testament to the power of his message. His emotional storytelling, unexpected humor and authenticity make each presentation unforgettable.

John is a two-time #1 National Bestselling author. His first book ON FIRE: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life has sold 250,000+ copies and been translated into 12 languages. IN AWE: Rediscover Your Childlike Wonder to Unleash Inspiration, Meaning and Joy was published in May 2020 and was a crucial message during an unprecedented time.

His comprehensive Live Inspired Coaching program provides long-term engagement and a genuine, collaborative approach that takes his message from inspirational to transformational inside organizations. 
John’s award-winning Live Inspired Podcast has more than 5 million downloads and enjoys world-class guests like Brené Brown, Mitch Albom, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Shawn Achor.  

Regardless the professional accomplishments, John considers his greatest success to be his marriage to his wife Beth, their four children and his relationships with friends and family.

Speaker Videos

Speaking Reel

It's Happening... The Cast of On Fire the Movie!

Sales and Business Keynote Clips

Faith Keynote Clip

Speech Topics

In Awe

There was a time when we once joyfully raised our hand high to answer every question, connected more easily with others around us, believed that anything was possible and fearlessly jumped into new experiences; when we experienced our days, not as something to endure, but as a marvelous gift to absorb and savor; when we danced through our days In Awe of the ordinary moments of the day and eager for the promise of tomorrow.

Unfortunately, many of us experience life very differently today. The pace of change has never been so stunningly rapid, and it will never be this slow again. With engagement within our professional organizations waning and burnout rising, many of us find ourselves caught in a life of dogged responsibility and mind-numbing repetition, we feel disconnected and burned out. Social media reminds us we don’t measure up and mainstream media barrages us with constant negativity. The years of test-taking, relentless striving toward someone else’s goals, and the daily struggle to earn a living, have caused us to lose the sense of wonder that we once awoke with every day.

In his new book, In Awe, John O’Leary invites us to return to the joy of navigating life like a child. He identifies the five senses children innately possess, explains why those senses fade, and shares emotional, humorous and inspirational stories of how we can return to them.

Where John’s first book On Fire leveraged his life experiences and challenges as a mirror for readers to better navigate their own, In Awe specifically identifies the most substantial challenges readers face in living more fully. It then calls out the cause of those challenges, while providing practical and inspired solutions to address them.

Strengthened by the past, and empowered for the future, In Awe shows us how to seek fresh insights, reach for new solutions, and live our best lives.

OBJECTIVES

INNOVATION: 
Whether they want to play professional sports, think they can fly, or expect there is a solution to every problem, children are born with a naturally curious spirit that challenges the status quo. John invites us to explore what might happen when we no longer see obstacles as impossibilities, or rely on what has always been done, but reengage our natural curiosity that asks questions, pushes boundaries, and liberates us to innovate with new ways of thinking, solving, leading, and living.

COLLABORATION:
Many of us find ourselves in a society where we feel isolated, alone, and enduring an epidemic of loneliness. Yet, we once were in touch with our sense of openness. Kids are always looking to expand their world, see potential friends everywhere and aren’t afraid to start conversations with those around them. John invites us to stop building fences focusing on our differences, and instead show our vulnerability and need for others, which resuscitates the feeling of acceptance, belonging and community. Learn how to reignite an environment built on shared goals, values and focus.

EMPOWERMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY:
Despite our best exhortations, kids don’t like to play it safe, but are natural risk-takers and adventurers, dreaming big and boldly going after what they want. John invites to see what’s possible when we set aside the protectionism that keeps us safe, begin to own our choices, claim our power, and live again as if anything is possible.

On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite Your Radically Inspired Life

We live in a world where “accidental living” – mindlessly moving through routines, wasting countless hours on social media, or complaining about what’s wrong in our jobs, families and society – has become the norm. But John O’Leary reminds us that just because we got out of bed this morning, does not mean that we are truly living.

What would our day, impact and output look like if we lived a radically inspired life, every, single day?

Living radically inspired means you learn from past mistakes, rise above challenges and thrive no matter the circumstances. No one embodies this more than powerhouse inspirational speaker John O’Leary – who was nearly killed in a devastating fire at age nine. Today, John inspires 50,000+ people each year around the world.

In his #1 national bestselling book ON FIRE: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life, John has identified choices to transform your life and business.

John shares the critical truth that “inflection points” – moments in time that change everything that follows – occur daily. John will help you realize it’s your choice how inflection points affect you. Your life has much less to do with what happens to you, and much more to do with how you react to it. Are you ready to live on fire?

The Power of One: How One Attitude, One Action & One Person Can Change the World

Expected to die, John O’Leary now teaches others how to truly live.

John was a curious nine-year-old boy. Playing with fire and gasoline, he created a massive explosion in his garage and was burned on 100% of his body. Given less than 1% chance of survival, John is proof of the power of the human spirit.

His unlikely recovery meant a journey of pain and loss that could have easily been insurmountable. However, far from being an example of someone who simply endured tragedy, John is a luminous example of thriving through adversity.

Surprisingly, this “survivor” story isn’t focused on John – rather, it is a celebration of heroes who intimately served him and his family. From a dedicated Hall of Fame sports announcer to a visionary burn nurse (and countless others), every individual involved in this 1987 fire teaches us this truth: one person can make a profound difference in the lives of others.

With emotional storytelling and unexpected humor, John reminds audiences of the significance of daily attitudes, the power of gratitude, and the impact of serving others with courage. He reawakens audiences to realize the gift of today and the possibility of tomorrow.

John is consistently referenced as “the best speaker we’ve ever had” – earning five star reviews and inspiring 50,000+ individuals at 100+ events each year. His book, On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life was an instant #1 national bestseller, has sold 100,000+ copies and has been translated into 12 languages.

Be the Light: How to Follow Your Calling to “Be Light” in the Modern World

It is easy to feel like we are living in a period of darkness, with the current global tensions, political unrest, fragmented communities and intensifying violence.

Be The Light reminds us that light pushes back darkness, love destroys evil, God still reigns and the best is yet to come.

Most importantly, we’re reminded that as Christians, we are called to be the light. In his keynote, John shares 8 keys to empower you to fulfill this calling.

No one understands the importance of having light in a dark world more than powerhouse inspirational speaker John O’Leary – who was nearly killed in a devastating fire at age nine. Today, John inspires 50,000+ people each year around the world.

John’s poignant storytelling is a blend of emotion, humor and authenticity. His faith testimony beautifully illustrates the power of prayer and God’s presence during our times of greatest challenge.

Executive Leadership

How we live is how we lead.

Today’s business leaders face more complex challenges than ever before. Remarkably, John is able to cut through the haze and help executive leadership groups embrace the potential they have on their team, drive cultural change and positively impact the bottom line for their organizations.

Our clients love that John helps them:

  • Embrace the transformative power of servant leadership
  • Approach every challenge with positivity
  • Understand the why of their work and life

For executive leaders burdened by the pressures of running an organization, John offers a spark that energizes them to live more thoughtfully, more boldly and more inspired. This spark then spreads throughout their organization, growing into a movement and transforming employees to work with greater joy and purpose.

John’s executive leadership keynotes are a great fit for:

  • Professional Networking Associations
  • Leadership Councils
  • Executive Leadership Programs

Sales & Marketing

Joy. Contentment. Hope. All in a day’s work.

Sales and marketing professionals are the driving force of any organization, but often find themselves feeling overworked and under-appreciated. John O’Leary speaks to thousands of sales and marketing professionals every year, empowering them to shift their perspectives and embrace a culture of abundance, rather than scarcity.

Our clients love that John helps them:

  • Create a culture of communication
  • Foster accountability
  • Improve employee engagement
  • Remind employees of the importance of their work

John doesn’t share secrets for making “the big sale,” but rather the perspective that shifts audiences to live and work with a clarity that produces big results. From this clarity comes better alignment, better communication and better results for your bottom line. Sales and marketing professionals leave John’s keynotes eager to pursue their goals with a contagious energy.

John’s sales and marketing keynotes are a great fit for:

  • Sales departments & conferences
  • Marketing departments & conferences
  • Direct sales & network marketing groups

Insurance & Finance

Results beyond numbers.

It’s easy for insurance and finance professionals to get lost in the numbers and spreadsheets which can lead to feeling like cogs in a machine. John O’Leary reminds them that in addition to hitting those numbers—they have so much more to offer. His perspective on life provides a vital opportunity for these professionals to realize how important they are for the health and wellbeing of their clients.

Our clients love that John helps them:

  • Develop better work-life balance
  • Embrace gratitude and humility in their work
  • Navigate organizational change
  • Overcome adversity in the workplace

John and his family have experienced the incredible impact of financial planning and insurance coverage. In his keynotes, John sheds light on the importance of this work that often goes unnoticed until it’s needed and celebrates the professionals who make it possible. His audiences leave the room feeling emboldened to work with renewed purpose and passion for their clients.

John’s insurance and finance keynotes are a great fit for:

  • Client appreciation events
  • Employee recognition events
  • Regional & national conferences
  • Corporate trainings

Education

John has shared his message at administration conferences, student assemblies, and professional development / in-service workshops. John inspires audiences to fully realize the possibility of how one can serve, love and impact more profoundly. John’s message celebrates individual uniqueness, the power of everyday heroes, and the need for character and integrity. John’s message may be the most important gift your students, faculty, and staff receive this year!

Healthcare

As a former trauma patient and hospital chaplain, John is a popular speaker choice for hospital systems, healthcare associations, and medical/EMS conferences. He understands that the healthcare profession demands individuals who are dedicated to serving patients and families, often with limited resources and exhaustive schedules. John will reignite participants’ passion for their healthcare careers.

Safety

As John O’Leary so intimately knows, one poor decision can dramatically affect the rest of your life – and also your family, organization, and community.

Leading with a vision of eliminating all employee accidents, John challenges audiences in manufacturing, construction and utilities to improve their safety through personal accountability – one employee, one decision at a time. While many safety programs focus on what NOT to do, John focuses on what TO DO to cultivate a safe work place, lead and thrive in life.

Faith

Today’s world can seem so dark. All too often we are reminded of the pain and disappointment in our everyday lives. Faith doesn’t guarantee the avoidance of adversity, but it does share the truth that a loving God suffers with us in our pain, celebrates with us in our joy, and invites us into an eternal relationship with Him.

John O’Leary illustrates the incredible power of love, gratitude, forgiveness, purpose, courage and resilience. This program will empower you to shine your light of faith for all to see!

Associations

“John did an outstanding job captivating the hearts and minds of our attendees…at the business and personal levels and his talk was the highlight of the weekend.” – National Association for Electrical Distributors.

John has reinvigorated association members in all industries – he will share the intangible values of connecting with like-minded professionals, being part of something more and the truth that the best is yet to come.

Testimonials