Inspiring Talks to Enrich Childhood Experiences and Engage Your Team

You've probably encountered the words: Transformation Through Shared Experience?

Our speakers draw from adventure and their own life experience to tell engaging stories and entertain, educate, bring the audience through a shared journey, and give them ideas and tools upon which to reflect days afterwards.

These talks are designed with a Story-Tell-Teach format in mind so that the audience carries the content of the talk with them. This approach captures attention through narrative, then delivers the intended message, ensuring the lesson is retained. These talks fall into 3 main categories:

(A) The Teacher: For Schools & Students

(B) The Guide: For Organizations

(C) The Phoenix: For The Self

(A) The Teacher: For Schools & Students

Bringing the spirit of adventure and connection into the classroom to inspire the next generation. These talks are tailored for kids in the classroom setting and are provided either remotely by video conference or in-person.

1. Discovering Another Way to Live

Speaker Names

Philip Michael Zeman, Teresa Nichta

Synopsis

This story is told from the perspective of being a kid visiting a place that is vastly different from home, and then brings us back to what kids in other places and kids from home have in common. We discuss the experience of learning with kids from Cuba in a classroom setting and in jungle and caves. We share some of what Cuba is experiencing now (power outages, basic supplies shortages, energy shortage) and how those families in Cuba are adapting. We will share photos with the class in our presentation and use this for telling our adventure story. We will make a point of connecting with the kids on the topic of "story telling" and its importance to make things happen in our world.

Take-Home Concepts

The knowledge that in other places, life is very different; to know that while electricity and resources are scarce in Cuba, kids there are still playing, climbing trees, laughing, and learning, and that they are available to make new friends. We illustrate that the only way people can know what is in your heart, mind, and imagination -- is to share it.

2. Communicating Unique Experiences: Describing what it is like to be deep underground in a cave

Speaker Name

Philip Michael Zeman

Synopsis

This talk confronts kids with the challenge of figuring out how to communicate something that they have uniquely experienced to their friends. And challenges their friends to not confuse their own unique experience with ones that seem similar.

Few people explore deep inside caves and know that that feels like, or encounter and interact directly with caves creatures such as bats and this poses an paradigm for learning how to communicate (and hold space for) unique experiences.

The talk explores concepts of "similar", "sameness", and "believing". We talk about shared experiences, such as being on the same caving expedition, one's own personal experience of that same expedition, versus comparisons and contrasts people will naturally make of their own experiences to assist in their understanding of the world and those around them.

Take-Home Concepts

Knowing the difference between: "similar", and "personal experiences" and how to listen, notice, and ask questions about perceptions. Knowing that there is considerable value in learning what other people are noticing.

(B) The Guide: For Organizations

Bringing together some practical tools to reveal blind spots that might be stagnating yourself or limiting others. Concepts are shared that stem from receiving our own professional coaching and experiences.

3. Small efforts can have big impact

Speaker Name

Philip Michael Zeman

Synopsis

Having lived much of my life in a 1:1 way -- a philosophy of getting out of life what I put into it, I found myself always learning new things, my my nose to the grind, and constantly on a treadmill. I've experience considerable growth, and feel accomplished, however I found myself lacking substantial human growth and having little time for deepening personal connection with others.

I was fortunate to meet a coach who taught me about "choosing one thing". That helped me feel less scattered, but life also seemed to slow and so did my impact. Upon encountering "system theory" models I learned about "second order impact" and that it is something that I can actually plan for. In other words, I can plan my "one thing" to have maximum second order impact and knock-on results -- how I can give a "small nudge", or put in a small amount of strategic time, and get compounding results.

Using stories of my own life as a backdrop, I'll share how this evolved and ultimately led to a greater understanding of how I can be more effective in my professional, and family life, and how I have been able to have more shared experiences that positively impact others.

Take-Home Concepts

This talk will leave you contemplating how you can notice and plan for second-order impact and how this relates to getting off the treadmill. You may find yourself reflecting on the question: "Does the end ever justify the means?"

4. Bringing what's needed: right now

Speaker Name

Philip Michael Zeman

Synopsis

It's a pattern that can't be unnoticed once a few blind spots are revealed.

Whether it is an organization seeking funding support, companies hiring employees, a product design teams making 'solutions', or parents/managers guiding others, the mis-match and resulting apathy or frustration becomes evident.

It reveals itself when the "needs now" are not known, or if they are simply not communicated. It reveals itself when layers-down conversations do not happen.

I'll tell a few stories to illustrate the topic, one being my commitment to attend every gala event and fundraiser I can find and notice how various organizations "ask" for help and at the same time limit the help they could receive. Many obscure what is really needed and create a barrier to getting it.

Take-Home Concepts

Ask for what is needed right now. Use words like, "how would you like to help". Labelling emotions and having the deeper conversation.

(C) The Phoenix: For The Self

The journey of letting go. We explore the relationship between integrity, confidence, and the courage to release what no longer serves you.

5. The relationship between integrity, confidence, and hubris

Speaker Name

Philip Michael Zeman

Synopsis

One of my beliefs is that when I can name something, I can better understand what it is and the impact it has. And then I can share that understanding with others.

At a pivotal point in my adult life, I was told that I was "not confident". I could not make sense of that statement because -- I didn't feel "not confident". Moreover, over the years I had seen what pop culture would say are "displays of confidence", for example, that man that races to the highest point in the field and declares as the top of is voice, "follow me! I know what to do!" I have never known that to be "confident" because I always felt an unexplained "irksomeness" around it.

Early in my career was told about hubris -- of my own. I had to look that one up. When I completed university in 2009, after 12 years of post-secondary education, I had challenges finding a job. People wanted 'employment proof' that I am (or would be) someone they could move forward with an rely upon.

Since those days, I've had a chance to pull this all apart (and myself) and rebuild an understanding of the interplay between these concepts. I learned that given a complicated new situation, I can say with integrity that, "I don't have the answer and I know we can figure it out and work through this together". I know that integrity feeds the confidence that others feel themselves when they are next to someone with integrity. And I know hubris is dealt with by stating clearly and upfront what is real, demonstrated, and understood, and acknowledging the newness of circumstances and the challenges ahead as they are discovered.

This story brings the audience through parts of my own journey and apotheosis and my discovery what is needed by those around me.

Take-Home Concepts

Confidence is not something we wear. It is something that others feel in the presence of integrity.

6. This may not be for you. I may not be for you.

Speaker Name

Philip Michael Zeman

Synopsis

On our last expedition and educational trip in Cuba, I paid special attention to our activities, events, and experiences -- what we encountered as adults, and what obstacles were encountered by the kids. While considering these it became clear the importance of making sure that other kids and parents that join us on these trips want these kinds of experiences. I found myself thinking of the disaster that might happen if we bring people with us who do not want to experience these things: delayed transportation, a blocked road, flies, a loud ill-provisioned city. And perhaps would not be present to feel the benefit from the environment and from those around: genuinely caring and protective guides, Cubans doing things 'their way within their culture', surrounded by curiosities, even new ways to use bathroom facilities. Even the absence of continuous electricity brought challenges and unexpected benefits related to one's on perceptions.

What struck me is how this analogy fits my own life and clarifies who I should invite (or pursue) during my precious time on this planet.

In this talk I'll share this story -- as vividly as possible.

I've since shifted our organisation's marketing and feel good when when I encounter someone who is not a fit. Knowing what isn't a fit leaves room (and time) for what will. There is a freedom and what feels like strength and integrity in that.

Take-Home Concepts (the elixir)

Matching the pair: bringing value vs being valued, integrity, and the Wheel of Consent