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Steve Gilliland
Business Speaker & Author
Steve Gilliland
Business Speaker & Author
Biography
A member of the Speaker Hall of Fame, Steve Gilliland is one of the most in-demand and top-rated speakers in the world. Recognized as a master storyteller and brilliant comedian, he can be heard daily on SiriusXM Radio’s Laugh USA and Jeff & Larry’s Comedy Roundup. With an appeal that transcends barriers of age, culture and occupation—plus an interactive and entertaining style—Steve shows audiences how to open doors to success in their careers, their relationships and their lives. Presenting to over 250,000 people a year, more than two million have now heard him speak, with audiences encompassing 51 industries. Steve has the distinction of speaking in all 50 states and in 15 countries. As one newspaper stated, “Steve is what happens when the humor of a stand-up comic collides with the inspiration of a motivational speaker.”
In addition to his brilliant speaking career, Steve is a prolific, accomplished author, evidenced by six of his books—Detour, Enjoy The Ride, Hide Your Goat, Making a Difference, The Cherry on Top and Turn the Page — perennially making the publisher’s bestseller list and his being named Author of the Year. His thought-provoking writing style makes his articles a favorite with prominent national magazines. He influences the lives of millions through his presentations, books, audio products and videos. An extensive array of these products has been utilized by small businesses, Fortune 500 companies, U.S. and Canadian government agencies, churches, school districts and nonprofit organizations. Speaking the language of active business leaders, his books and other resources identify practical lessons that grow people and their businesses.
Steve built a multimillion-dollar company from the ground up on the same philosophy he expounds to his audiences. If you continually learn more about your company, your industry, your customer and yourself, you will always be a leader. You will be purpose-driven rather than process-driven, and you will make a difference. His motto is straight¬forward: “If you take care of people, the business will follow.” He has been recognized by Who’s Who for Speakers and Business Professionals, and The Pittsburgh Business Times named his company one of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the region. Steve also serves on the board of directors for a financial institution, and he and his wife Diane launched the Gilliland Foundation in 2017 to provide funding that creates lasting solutions for causes they are passionate about.
Steve was born and raised in the Pittsburgh area, resides in North Carolina and travels throughout the world. He received his bachelor’s degree from Grove City College. He is a proud grandpa, devoted father of four boys and a loving husband to Diane. He learned great compassion for people and a commitment to a hard work and balanced life ethic at the knee of his highly principled Christian mother. Whether Steve is speaking at an event, writing about current issues that impact others or leading his own employees, he is not just a person who challenges people to change, he motivates them to do so. Steve’s personal vision is to wake up every morning and, through humor and inspiration, help others to discover and develop their potential and live life to fullness. Everyone who hears his message leaves with a renewed sense of enthusiasm for who they are and for what really matters.
Speaker Videos
Introduction Video
Speech Topics
Enjoy the Ride
A blueprint for getting the most out of life, Enjoy The Ride™ is a hilarious and brilliantly conceived keynote that causes people to examine where they are personally and professionally. It lifts people up and inspires them to evolve and appreciate, rather than simply maintain and exist.
Key Points
- Check Your Passion: Love what you do; never forget why you do it.
- Cure Your Destination Disease: Live more for today, less for tomorrow & never about yesterday.
- Refocus Your Attention: Decide what’s important & never take it for granted.
If you want to achieve true success and fulfillment, you must first discover an enthusiasm for your work and personal life. Decide where you are heading, get on the bus, choose the right seat and Enjoy The Ride™!
Making a Difference
Focusing on the conscious choices we make every day that impact the lives of others, Making a Difference™ is an eye-opening and heartfelt keynote detailing how to positively influence people in every imaginable way, regardless of position or status. Each of us has the potential to transform the culture of an organization through our actions and attitude.
3 Empowering Dynamics
- Purpose: It drives you!
- Passion: It fuels you!
- Pride: It defines you!
While we don’t always know what challenges face the people we meet every day, we do have the power to bring them hope. That hope can multiply a thousand times over and spread throughout the world exponentially. This is the essential, motivating truth behind Making a Difference™!
Hide Your Goat
Our fast-paced and stress-filled schedules open the gate to allow people and circumstances every opportunity to “get our goat.” HIDE YOUR GOAT puts into perspective how your daily life intersects with people of diverse backgrounds, opinions and personalities. In this eye-opening session, Steve Gilliland shows how to avoid being robbed of the opportunity to perform at peak performance because of negativity.
Key Takeaways
- How to head off conflict when negativity runs rampant & how to improve your own outlook
- How to deal with by-products of bad attitudes
- How to assign the right value to every situation & not give people permission to ruin your day
Detour
Whether you’re experiencing mild transitions now or will undergo massive reorganizations in the future, change is inevitable within every successful organization. DETOUR provides solutions to reduce stress, eliminate fear and increase performance during such times. Steve Gilliland reveals how to navigate life’s turns when you’re suddenly headed on a course you never planned and into a future you never imagined.
Key Takeaways
- How to feel more in control when the change is out of your control
- How to prepare for any kind of change, remain productive and use it to your advantage
- How to build resiliency & grit as you cope with change
Follow Me
Leadership is the single most important skill you can use to improve your business. FOLLOW ME explores how to grow yourself and your people through timeless principles that, when applied to your own life and the life of your organization, will influence positive change. Steve Gilliland is uniquely qualified to show you how to develop exceptional leaders and retain great employees.
Key Takeaways
- How to establish tangible, easily defined & monitored strategies to improve performance
- How to gain consensus & motivate people to work together efficiently & effectively as a team
- How to be confident & make tough decisions, unearth constructive solutions & stay focused while moving forward
The Cherry on Top
We all have different measures and definitions of what it means to be successful, and no one definition is right or wrong. We’re all familiar with the common success factors; however, the number one thing you can do to ensure success personally and professionally is to add value. This program is about how to develop and deliver value in everything you do. Organizations with great cultures add value to their people, their products and their services.
Key Takeaways
- How to step away from our own agendas and see what is necessary to add value
- How to differentiate yourself from others and be recognized as the best
- How to improve the efficiency of the process
Emerge
The challenges we face in life will test our courage and willingness to change. As individuals, it is not the mountains we must conquer, but ourselves. While we continue to face many unknowns, it is crucial we develop the right mindset to persist and emerge strong-minded from challenging times. EMERGE is a timely and eye-opening message that centers on how to navigate on a course that we never planned, into a future we never imagined.
Key Points
- How to feel gratitude when facing any challenge, a perspective from which we can view life in its entirety and not be overwhelmed by temporary circumstances.
- How to become better, stronger and more confident even when obstacles threaten your progress.
- How to stay focused on your ‘Why!’ in those stressful moments when nothing seems to be working right, and you’re tempted to retreat.
Now is the time to learn from yesterday, live for today, and emerge smarter, stronger, and more focused.
Moving Forward with Purpose
More than ever, people need to rely on cooperative strength, think differently and continue MOVING FORWARD WITH PURPOSE. This relevant and timely keynote speech reflects on where we’ve been and the powerful potential that awaits those ready to seek and secure it.
Together we are enduring a dramatic chapter in the real-life story of access, empathy, progress and well-being. If we fail to adapt, we fail to move forward. Life is about moving on, accepting changes and looking forward to what makes you stronger and more complete.
Key Points
- How to maintain patience and a positive attitude while teaming with others toward that next horizon.
- How to fuel your passion and enthusiasm for goals that push you beyond challenges.
- How to develop perseverance, that unwavering commitment and willingness to keep moving forward despite all obstacles.
Moving forward means living, as fully as we can, in the face of what we have experienced. Forward thinking with a positive outlook.
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