Best Keynote Speech I've Ever Heard
A few days ago, I had the privilege of participating at a business plan competition at a university. Actually, I was not a competitor -- I was just a participant and part of the audience who got to enjoy the event. This particular event has gained notoriety over the past few years, where a large portion of the audience are the city's top business people. It was fun to be able to rub shoulders with the city's business elite -- however, that was not the highlight of the event.
The highlight was definitely the keynote speech. Why? Because the guy who gave the keynote was the least-qualified keynote speaker, and yet his speech was the most inspiring keynote speech I've ever heard! Puzzling? Let me explain.
I have heard many keynote speeches in the past -- all from industry leaders and people at the top of their fields. These are people who've made headlines and defined their specific industries. However, the guy who gave the keynote during the business plan competition:
1. was originally from a small town in Kentucky;
2. had a degree in Bible;
3. was originally supposed to become a P.E. teacher.
In other words, he almost had no business experience!! And yet, his speech totally floored me. The reason was because he glorified God all the way in his business, and that was extremely evident in his keynote speech.
The guy I'm talking about is Dwain Gullion of Magnet America. He became very very successful in just 1.5 years or so (and he didn't say it but I'm pretty sure he's a millionaire now), and I'm convinced that happened because he glorified God all the way. And he was absolutely the humblest guy in the room -- he said that he was not much of a keynote speaker, and that the university must be desperate for keynote speakers to have invited him!
Dwain's company sells those "Support Our Troops" yellow ribbon magnets that many people have on their cars. It was a very simple idea that he said he thought of while working in his family's Christian bookstore. So he quickly set up a website to sell those magnets, and he got his first order in just three weeks! Slowly the business grew and eventually things exploded. In June 2004, he received a million orders that month! He said things went so wild they were hiring anyone who knew anyone who needed a job (and he added, "yeah, that was pretty scary!") and his brother Chris had to answer all the calls to their toll-free number. Reporters came knocking and soon his company was on TV, the news, etc. Dwain said that this was all God's blessing.
His first Powerpoint slide showed his company name and a picture of his family. He said he had to put them there because his family has been through a lot; he had worked many late nights till 3am in the morning. Now, how many business presentations have you seen where the speaker puts his family photo on the first slide? It was amazing. I learned that he has a child and have adopted two children from China. And he travels frequently to China to support the orphanages there... he said that God has put it in his heart to help the little ones in that country. Even with his big business success, he still goes there regularly (in fact, his million orders per month happened while he was in China).
God has truly blessed Dwain tremendously. What really impressed me was that he was just a very regular guy. And it was super-amazing how humble he was, and how he acknowledged God in everything that he did... even in a secular business event! He said, if a guy from a small town in Kentucky who has a degree in Bible and was about to become a P.E. teacher can do it, anyone of you can! And that is so true. The best part of it is that his speech was not one of those "you can do it" positive-thinking self-motivation speeches... he acknowledged everything, everything, to God.
What a great testimony! Truly...
"The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
and humility comes before honor." - Proverbs 15:33 (ESV)
"Both riches and honor come from you [God], and you rule over all." - 1 Chronicles 29:12 (ESV)
The highlight was definitely the keynote speech. Why? Because the guy who gave the keynote was the least-qualified keynote speaker, and yet his speech was the most inspiring keynote speech I've ever heard! Puzzling? Let me explain.
I have heard many keynote speeches in the past -- all from industry leaders and people at the top of their fields. These are people who've made headlines and defined their specific industries. However, the guy who gave the keynote during the business plan competition:
1. was originally from a small town in Kentucky;
2. had a degree in Bible;
3. was originally supposed to become a P.E. teacher.
In other words, he almost had no business experience!! And yet, his speech totally floored me. The reason was because he glorified God all the way in his business, and that was extremely evident in his keynote speech.
The guy I'm talking about is Dwain Gullion of Magnet America. He became very very successful in just 1.5 years or so (and he didn't say it but I'm pretty sure he's a millionaire now), and I'm convinced that happened because he glorified God all the way. And he was absolutely the humblest guy in the room -- he said that he was not much of a keynote speaker, and that the university must be desperate for keynote speakers to have invited him!
Dwain's company sells those "Support Our Troops" yellow ribbon magnets that many people have on their cars. It was a very simple idea that he said he thought of while working in his family's Christian bookstore. So he quickly set up a website to sell those magnets, and he got his first order in just three weeks! Slowly the business grew and eventually things exploded. In June 2004, he received a million orders that month! He said things went so wild they were hiring anyone who knew anyone who needed a job (and he added, "yeah, that was pretty scary!") and his brother Chris had to answer all the calls to their toll-free number. Reporters came knocking and soon his company was on TV, the news, etc. Dwain said that this was all God's blessing.
His first Powerpoint slide showed his company name and a picture of his family. He said he had to put them there because his family has been through a lot; he had worked many late nights till 3am in the morning. Now, how many business presentations have you seen where the speaker puts his family photo on the first slide? It was amazing. I learned that he has a child and have adopted two children from China. And he travels frequently to China to support the orphanages there... he said that God has put it in his heart to help the little ones in that country. Even with his big business success, he still goes there regularly (in fact, his million orders per month happened while he was in China).
God has truly blessed Dwain tremendously. What really impressed me was that he was just a very regular guy. And it was super-amazing how humble he was, and how he acknowledged God in everything that he did... even in a secular business event! He said, if a guy from a small town in Kentucky who has a degree in Bible and was about to become a P.E. teacher can do it, anyone of you can! And that is so true. The best part of it is that his speech was not one of those "you can do it" positive-thinking self-motivation speeches... he acknowledged everything, everything, to God.
What a great testimony! Truly...
"The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
and humility comes before honor." - Proverbs 15:33 (ESV)
"Both riches and honor come from you [God], and you rule over all." - 1 Chronicles 29:12 (ESV)
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