TEACHING YOU TO STAND UP AND STICK OUT IN A CROWDED MARKET
Because nobody notices normal...

KELLY SWANSON is a Nationally Known Award-Winning Storyteller, Comedian, Motivational Speaker, Author of "Who Hijacked My Fairy Tale? How to hang on to humor when life doesn't go the way you planned" and creator of Pride's Hollow, with its cast of characters who have charmed audiences from coast to coast. She write programs and shows for business audiences, women's conferences, associations, corporations, general audiences, non-profits, and faith-based groups.

She has been described by Our State Magazine as one of North Carolina's funniest women. She uses hilarious comedy, powerful stories, and a wacky cast of southern characters to make people laugh, remind them of their value, and show them how to stand up and stick out in their lives, businesses, and communities by learning how to motivate themselves and others. Her shows have delighted audiences from coast to coast, from board rooms to cruise ships.

WHO IS KELLY?
I was the kid they threw things at on the bus-the one who never fit in. I spent my childhood and most of my adulthood trying to blend in and not be noticed. I thought success came when you looked like everybody else. But it's very tiring living according to other peoples' expectations. And very boring. So one day I dusted off those gifts I had been given, stepped out of my comfort zone and on to a stage. And I've never looked back. And guess what. As it turns out, it's not so bad being different after all. In fact-it's EVERYTHING. I have learned that it's not blending in that makes you successful-just the opposite. It's those who stand out among the crowd who are remembered. So now I want to share my journey with you-to take you from blending in to flying above your comfort zone. I want to show you the behaviors and mindsets that I had to break, the new attitudes I had to adopt, and the many ways I've found to set myself apart in a crowded market. Are you in? I hope so. Now get ready to STAND UP AND STICK OUT! Kelly Swanson

(Kelly's bureau-friendly YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/kellyswanson2 )

Ask Kelly about her CUSTOMER COMMERCIALS TO HELP GET ATTENDEES EXCITED ABOUT THE EVENT! Kelly will put together a video commercial with clips of her in action, a personalized message for your audience, details about your event, and music. Your own event commercial! How cool is that? Now that is how you stand up and stick out!

Kelly Swanson brought a thoughtful, heartfelt keynote address to our annual luncheon. Her ability to weave stories that are thought provoking throughout her talk is artistry in motion. Our more than 500 guests laughed until their sides hurt, but they also had moments where tears welled up in their eyes. Her message of following your dream and staying true to yourself rang true with our audience of primary women, but the men who were there enjoyed her as well. In fact, one even said that in the 13 years of holding this event, Kelly was our best speaker ever. Kelly's ability to customize her message for our audience and the time allocated was greatly appreciated. She's easy to work with and accommodating. I would definitely utilize her again, regardless of the size of the audience.
Anne-Marie Farrow
VP, Business Development and Marketing
Charlotte Parent & Piedmont Parent magazines

I want to thank you for the most wonderful job that you did for Columbus Regional at Spirit Girls Night Out. From beginning to end, you flat out delivered! Your willingness to work before the event (even en route to our city) with our media partners was awesome, and your media segments generated excitement about our event. What is truly noteworthy about you is that you not only commanded the stage during your performance, but you personally appeared and interacted with our audience during the event. Many of the women who attended the event commented on your wonderfully witty and personable manner. You warmed their hearts and inspired them before the performance even began! Your presentation of "Who Hijacked My Fairytale" had a truly raw and honest quality that was endearing and motivating. It was when the hands of many of the audience were raised and swaying, that I knew you had pulled on some heartstrings and touched some lives. The occasional "amens" after your "bless your hearts" and "I'm just sayings" only added to the inspirational and revival like atmosphere you created. Thank you again for sharing your stories with our audience and giving our event a fairy-tale ending.

LeDare Windham
Spirit of Women Coordinator
Columbus Regional Healthcare System

WOW!! Kelly was an amazing speaker and left everyone gasping for more. She has an uncanny ability to draw you into her stories as if you were there. She personalized her content so that her speech/performance not only related to our audience but our industry as a whole. Kelly leaves you with more than just a message, but with a renewed sense of energy. I would highly recommend Kelly Swanson to any group that is looking to learn, laugh, get energized and ready to take on the world!
Jill Settle
Univar USA
Ph. 678.927.6769

Motivational and Entertaining - Hilarious and HeartwarmingKeynotes, Breakouts, and More

All of Kelly's motivational shows are heavily customized to fit your audience. No matter what program you choose, Kelly will create something filled with laughter start to finish, powerful stories that make you sit on the edge of your seat, and the perfect amount of content and message to fit the event, audience, and time frame. Being a motivational speaker and entertainer, Kelly's shows are best suited for opening and closing keynotes, as well as general sessions. Kelly will offer breakout sessions, workshops, and other ways to fit what she does to what you need. Her goal is to help you make your event unforgettable.

We all reach potholes in the yellow brick road of life - where we get stuck between our vision and our reality. It's not the obstacle that brings us down, but how we choose to react to it. This hilarious and powerfully moving program follows Kelly's twisted journey to happier ever after. You'll laugh, get a renewed sense of purpose for who you are and what you do, and learn Kelly's See/Believe/Do approach to getting from where you are stuck to where you are going - laughing the whole way. Attendees will learn to:

• Assess problem areas
• Define goals and objectives
• Review negative mindsets and behaviors
• Learn to think more creatively
• Learn to motivate themselves to deal with stress and change
• Learn to motivate others to form stronger teams

Stand Up and Stick Out In a Crowded Market
Because Nobody Notices Normal

It's not about being better that gets you the business - it's about being different. In a crazy crowded world of noise and confusion - where the customer has a lot more choices - you had better find a way to stand up and stick out among the competition. Join Kelly Swanson as she takes you on another one of her hilarious and powerfully moving journeys to a happier ever after - by helping you find out what makes you unique, and helping you jump outside your comfort zone. Whether you are in sales, in marketing, in customer service, on the front lines or the back, own a business, want to write a book, or simply want to start living by your own list instead of someone else's - this is the program for you. Attendees will:

• Learn how to believe in themselves again
• Find the qualities that make them different, and set them apart from their competition
• Learn how to control their fears instead of letting their fears control them
• Learn how to ask for what they want
• Find the many hidden opportunities to be different
• Learn Kelly's Six Secrets that motivational speakers know about influencing others

Research tells us that facts tell, emotions sell. So your ability to make an emotional connection will directly affect the outcome of your success. No matter what your job, you will have far more impact and power of influence if you know how to create an emotional connection with your listener. One of your greatest tools is the story. Join us as motivational speaker Kelly Swanson takes us on another one of her hilarious and motivating journeys through the path of the story. Sit mesmerized as you meet the characters in her town, and experience for yourself what stories do that information can not. And, once again, laughing the whole way. Attendees will:

• Learn the power of stories
• Study the connection between the story and the listener as opposed to the connection between the information and the listener
• Learn how to find stories from real life
• Learn how to craft stories
• Learn how to tell stories
• Learn how to use the right stories to achieve the affect you want

The Money's In The Funny
Laughing Your Way To Success

There is no question that laughing feels good. And there is no question that laughing is good for your health. But did you know it can actaully make you money? And not just if you're a comedian. Research has proven that facts tell, emotions sell. So if you want to reach people emotionally - to help you sell better, influence better, lead better, connect better, manage better, and just be more fun to be around - then you don't want to miss Kelly's program on humor. Not only will you laugh, you will learn how to bring more humor into your life and into your line of work - not just as a tool to make you happy, but as a tool to get more business! Attendees will:

• Learn the value of humor
• Learn how to write and deliver humor
• Learn how to bring humor into your line of work
• See the opportunities where humor can impact your life

Laughing Your Way To A Healthier You
Learn to love the body you have, while working for the one you want

For many of us, it's not in knowing what to do where we fail - it's in actually DOING it! All the knowledge in the world will not help us reach a healthier state of being without being motivated to do it. So join us as Kelly Swanson takes us on another hilarious and powerfully motivating journey to a happier healthier self. Kelly will make you laugh a LOT (which burns calories by the way), cry a little, learn to love ourselves again (bulges and all), and cultivate a healthy attitude and a fresh perspective on how good health can make us happy. Attendees will learn how to:

• Motivate themselves to set realistic goals and reach them
• Love the body they have while working for the body they want
• Review the negative atttitudes that are holding them back
• Develop a fresh perspective
• Understand the connection between good health and living the life they want

TESTIMONIALS:

I want to thank you for the most wonderful job that you did for Columbus Regional at Spirit Girls Night Out. From beginning to end, you flat out delivered! Your willingness to work before the event (even en route to our city) with our media partners was awesome, and your media segments generated excitement about our event. What is truly noteworthy about you is that you not only commanded the stage during your performance, but you personally appeared and interacted with our audience during the event. Many of the women who attended the event commented on your wonderfully witty and personable manner. You warmed their hearts and inspired them before the performance even began! Your presentation of "Who Hijacked My Fairytale" had a truly raw and honest quality that was endearing and motivating. It was when the hands of many of the audience were raised and swaying, that I knew you had pulled on some heartstrings and touched some lives. The occasional "amens" after your "bless your hearts" and "I'm just sayings" only added to the inspirational and revival like atmosphere you created. Thank you again for sharing your stories with our audience and giving our event a fairy-tale ending.
LeDare Windham
Spirit of Women Coordinator
Columbus Regional Healthcare System

Kelly Swanson brought a thoughtful, heartfelt keynote address to our 13th Annual Moms@Work luncheon. Her ability to weave stories that are thought provoking throughout her talk is artistry in motion. Our more than 500 guests laughed until their sides hurt, but they also had moments where tears welled up in their eyes. Her message of following your dream and staying true to yourself rang true with our audience of primary women, but the men who were there enjoyed her as well. In fact, one even said that in the 13 years of holding this event, Kelly was our best speaker ever. Kelly's ability to customize her message for our audience and the time allocated was greatly appreciated. She's easy to work with and accommodating. I would definitely utilize her again, regardless of the size of the audience.
Anne-Marie Farrow
VP, Business Development and Marketing
Charlotte Parent & Piedmont Parent magazines

Kelly Swanson was a real treat at our Convention. She had the audience belly-rolling with laugher. She has a way to connect with people - not just with humor but also sympathy and encouragement. Kelly really learned about our industry and the people she was addressing. She even wrote us a poem that had everyone on their feet requesting a copy. There has been such bad news spread to so many industries this past year, but it was a delight to have Kelly at our conference to give them a boost. Honestly, the best speaker we ever had.
Amy Bryson
NC Association of Long Term Care Facilities

The presentation for military professionals was second to NONE! Kelly wrote a tribute especially for the military audience and they loved it! There were laughs, giggles, tears, and lots of applause! Kelly connected with our audience immediately, and they with her because they knew what she was talking about! Everyone recognized one of Kelly's characters whether it be family or friend! Finding humor in everyday life is sometimes challenging, but thinking back on some of the things Kelly said, laughter makes the challenge bearable! Finding that positive, new perspective on issues was a breath of fresh air. Kelly bestowed a great honor to our Service Providers who serve our military families - a great boost to a much deserving audience! Kelly - thank you again for a fabulous presentation! You made a lasting impact on my life, and am sure many others as well.
Military Client

We certainly had a fun time with you yesterday, and we appreciate all you did to make our event REMARKABLE.
Everyone was very awed and inspired by your presentation and information. You kept it lively for 75 minutes which is an unbelievable task.The top educator of Novant saw me afterwards and was very complimentary of your information relating to Novant's core values.She said you had them exactly. We did tell her we met with you beforehand and shared them. So THANKS for bringing them out.In the surveys I reviewed, you were the tops by far.
Beth C. Wilson
Executive Assistant to Janet Smith-Hill SVP/HR
Novant Health
Ph. 704-384-9478

I have to tell you about my experience watching Kelly Swanson. She was completely amazing and one of the funniest and motivating speakers I have ever seen. I have been to many seminars and the fact that she was down to earth, brought real life experiences and the creativeness of her style of learning into her program made the experience stick with me in a way I could understand and I could use. I could take her technique into other places besides work, I could use them in life itself. She made me laugh, she made me cry and she made me want to tell others all about her and to stay on the funny side of life. Thank you Kelly for 'deciding to dance' and become a professional storyteller and bringing us into your world.
Johnine Fregia
Nurse Recruiter
Presbyterian Healthcare