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Author Kelly Swanson

Last updated on May 3rd, 2018 at 10:27 pm

motivational speaker kelly swansonBE A SUCCESSFUL PUBLIC SPEAKER 

“I’m a motivational speaker, comedian, and author, which means I tell you that you can do anything. Then I tell you I’m just kidding.”

As you might guess, I’m an avid dreamer. I always have been. It just took a while for me to give them life and have the courage and permission to go after them.

For me, dreaming is not so much the issue. It’s the following through. When you have new ideas every day, it can get overwhelming trying to stay focused enough to bring one to reality.

I’m learning.

And it’s really cool that you are with me on this journey because that means we’ll learn together. And laugh together.

One thing you will quickly learn about me is that I don’t have a very good filter between what I think and what pops out of my mouth. I tend to say things that other people won’t say – admit things about myself you would probably leave private and speak before thinking.

I’m okay with that.

Good comedy shouldn’t be censored. And neither should our dreams. You can’t get the good stuff until you are willing to take off the face and get real. And so that’s me – putting it all out there for the world to see. Admitting my faults and my quirks in the hopes that yours won’t seem so bad. It is my hopes that you won’t let something like body image, or low self-esteem, keep you from going after the life you want.

I got tired of believing the lie that I wasn’t good enough, smart enough, talented enough, rich enough. Finally, I looked in the mirror and said, “I am enough.”

And so are you. Don’t believe it yet?

Don’t worry. You’ll get there. It’s a step-by-step thing, not a one-giant-leap thing.

I’ve got a lot of opinions and I’m usually convinced I’m right. And then the next day something makes me change my mind and rethink where I stood yesterday. I have a firm belief and conviction to live in a constant state of being willing to listen, willing to see another perspective, and willing to move out of the way and make room for you.

Because there is enough room for all of us to reach our dreams. And it’s so much cooler and easier when we do it together. It’s not a competition or a race. This is a journey of intersecting lines. And today, I’m glad our lines intersected. I hope they do again.

I make my living on stages–from tiny little churches in the middle of corn fields–to big convention halls–to cruise ships–to corporate boardrooms. It is exciting to see where this dream is going, and all the turns that it has taken.

I didn’t take the path of most motivational speakers, so I didn’t imagine much of what is coming my way. But I believe that sometimes you just have to close your eyes and jump. You visualize your dream, act on it, and then just trust the cape.

Kelly Swanson cartoons from www.kellyswanson.net

I love storytelling, and I love telling the stories of people I meet, or people I imagine. And I LOVE helping you find your story and share it with the world.

When I perform my shows, I never go alone. I bring with me a wacky cast of characters who live in Prides Hollow, my tiny little town about a mile and a hair past nowhere. From Bitsy parading through town in her bikini to Crazy Man Harry who sits on the corner of Rte. 29. They are never at a loss for something to say.

They’ll make you laugh, and sometimes they will pull on your heart. I take you to Prides Hollow to help you see, believe, and do your way to a happily ever after. And then I encourage you to go find your own Prides Hollow.

People think I’m lucky for having so many of my dreams come true. But luck has very little to do with it. I have worked my butt off to get here. This apparently isn’t hard enough, since last time I checked, there was still a good bit of junk in my trunk.

But the point is that I worked for it. Hard.

I listened to what my mentors told me to do, and I did it. Over and over and over. This didn’t happen in one giant step, it took a lot of tiny steps.

This journey has been filled with dips and valleys, triumphs and tears, twists and turns, fears and anxieties and failures. But good things don’t come to those who wait for them to be delivered.

They come to those who want it bad enough, and go after it. So if you’re in, I’m in. Let’s stay in this race.

My dream story post day is Friday.

There are many places where you can find me and hang out: my website, my Facebook Page, my Twitter Page, and my Kelly Swanson, Motivational Speaker YouTube Channel. There are lots of ways you can bring me to your house. Check out my books on Amazon.com under Kelly Swanson.

But the very best is when you can bring me in to speak to your group. Or attend one of my shows. How fun is that!

If you want to find out when I’m in your area, just get on my website and hit the “Track Kelly” button to sign up. You’ll get emails when I’m in your area. Other than that, I’ll see you right here, every Friday!

DREAMS ACCOMPLISHED TO DATE: Featured on The Fashion Hero TV show. Award-Winning Storyteller, Comedian, Motivational Speaker, Author of “Who Hijacked My Fairy Tale?” and “Land of If Only”, and many CDs/DVDs. Performed at the National Storytelling Festival. Featured performer for Holland America Cruise Lines. Launched the first Prides Hollow show with a concert pianist. We bombed, but we conquered our fear and we did it, and that’s a dream in itself. Next time we won’t bomb. Finally perfected hair extensions so that I can travel without them falling out in an airport. Kept my son fairly healthy, despite the fact that I just now found out we were supposed to be flossing his teeth. Hit a new record on airport pat-downs–thanks to metal clips in hair extensions. There are a lot of security guards out there who now owe me dinner. I’m just saying.

See ‘ya on the funny side!

Enjoy my books!

The Story Formula: Mastering the art of connection and engagement through the power of strategic storytellingThe Gutsy Girls Pocket Guide to Public Speaking Book One: Conquering Fear and Building ConfidenceStand Up and Stick Out.for Public SpeakersWho Hijacked My Fairy Tale

Click here for a collection of my dream stories on 8WomenDream

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  • LAUNCH YOUR DREAM
  • BE A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER
  • STARTING OVER MIDLIFE
  • HAPPINESS THROUGH ACTIVISM
  • TRAVEL THE WORLD
  • GET HEALTHY & FIT
  • BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE
  • BRAVE LIVING
  • WRITE WITH US


The 8WomenDream Dream Tote Bag

About the 8WomenDream Tote Bag
US – 10oz Cotton
Dimensions (External Dimensions)
• Height – 18″ (45.72cm or 457.2mm)
• Width – 15″ (38.1cm or 381mm)
Handle Dimensions (Internal Dimensions)
• Length – 29″ (73.7cm or 736.6mm)

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