I Help You Challenge Assumptions so you can get unstuck.
Here’s how.
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Speaking
I absolutely thrive when I’m on stage. My mission is to engage, inspire, and educate people so they can change the way they think and act at work and at home. I present keynotes at conferences, trade shows, and team meetings all across North America. And I use magic as a visual metaphor to boost learning and retention (plus, it’s a whole lot of fun!)
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Workshops
My workshops help teams push past their assumptions so they can create powerful impacts on the world. I create a safe space and help people sit with their discomfort. This allows them to move beyond ‘the way we’ve always done it’ and discover new ways of thinking. As always, I use magic to create a playful and thoughtful tone which boosts the learnings.
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Coaching for individuals and teams
I believe that you have everything you need; and everything you have, you need. My job as your coach is to help you tap into your strengths to get more of what you want. You already are awesome. I’m here to help you figure out how to put that awesomeness to best use!
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Sophisticated Entertainment
In order to get unstuck, sometimes you just need some fun. When you and your team need to relax and have a good time, I give the gift of wonder at holiday parties, team celebrations, and private events. Whether it’s interactive close-up sleight-of-hand or an after-dinner stage show, I create a shared sense of fun and wonder that lives on long after the event is over.
The Unstuck Program
A Pathway to New Possibilities
Our world is evolving rapidly, and organizations often struggle to keep pace, leaving teams feeling stuck and unproductive. The Unstuck Program is designed to help your team break free from limiting assumptions, discover new possibilities, and take decisive action. This unique program combines a dynamic in-person keynote or workshop with six months of group coaching to sustain the momentum and foster lasting growth. The result? Empowered teams that drive performance and create sustainable success.
Step 1:
"We've Always Done It That Way" Keynote or Workshop –
In this interactive, eye-opening session, I use magic, storytelling, and optical illusions as visual metaphors to challenge participants' assumptions and spark a sense of wonder. By the end, your team will not only be thinking differently, but they’ll also be equipped with practical tools to approach challenges with fresh perspectives.
Whether it’s a high-energy keynote or an in-depth workshop, this session sets the stage for lasting transformation.
Key Outcomes:
Learn to escape the "same-old-thinking" rut and generate innovative solutions.
Identify and challenge the limiting beliefs that hold teams back.
Develop the ability to see challenges from new angles and gain actionable insights.
Keynote Details:
Audience Size: Suitable for groups of 30-3,000 (Note: Over 300 requires projection on large screens).
Duration: 60-90 minutes.
Workshop Details:
Audience Size: Ideal for 10-50 participants.
Duration: 90 minutes to half-day.
Step 2:
The Unstuck Group Coaching Program
Following the keynote, we transition into an intensive 6-month group coaching program for a selected subset of your team that builds upon the insights gained from the in-person event. This program is designed to empower teams to turn ideas into action, supporting them as they work toward their goals.
How It Works:
I work with leadership to establish clear goals and metrics, ensuring measurable outcomes.
Teams participate in monthly, 90-minute Zoom coaching sessions over six months, supported by a "Thinking Differently Thought Primer"—a short video and worksheet designed to spark fresh thinking before each session.
Each cohort of 5 members includes a diverse mix of roles and experiences, fostering cross-departmental insights and strengthening relationships.
Coaching Program Structure:
Session 1: Setting the Stage for Success – Define individual goals and establish expectations.
Sessions 2-6: The Work – Review progress, discuss Thought Primers, and engage in powerful coaching to propel each participant toward their goals.
Session 7: Looking Back and Forward – Celebrate achievements, reflect on growth, and define the next steps for continued development.
Key Outcomes for the Organization:
Increased openness to change.
Improved interdepartmental communication.
Stronger relationships and greater empathy within teams.
Key Outcomes for Individuals:
Progress on personal and professional goals.
Improved confidence in their roles.
Acquisition of valuable coaching skills such as active listening, asking insightful questions, and self-coaching
Speaking and workshops
Hire DAn to give your team a fresh perspective
Over the past two decades, I’ve been fortunate to present at over a thousand events for tens of thousands of people. Here are a few of my favourite topics which can be delivered as workshops for small groups or keynotes for hundreds at a time.
Once the keynote or workshop is over, you can keep the ball rolling with one-on-one or team coaching. This allows you to build upon the learnings and really apply them to your own situation.
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Challenge Assumptions and Get Unstuck
What you know for certain could be exactly why you’re stuck.
The thinking, processes, and attitudes that got you where you are have served their purpose. You’ve found lots of right answers and developed systems to get stuff done. That’s great as long as things are going as expected. But these past few years have taught us just how unpredictable the world really is. Now it’s time to shift our thinking and take the next steps to succeed.
By challenging our assumptions, we can move past our preconceived notions of the ‘right answers.’ Perhaps more than at any time in history, we need to find new ways of thinking and doing things.
As always I use eye-popping magic, stories, and optical illusions as powerful visual metaphors to create a sense of wonder and astonishment. This is not only thoroughly engaging and fun, but research shows that there’s a transformative power in wonder and awe. It empowers each person in the room to apply the learning to their own lives.
Keynote or workshop participants will learn…
… how to get out of the “same-old-thinking-rut” and find new solutions
… how to identify and challenge the limiting assumptions that hold us back
… how to see the world from new perspectives so they can get unstuck.
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The Key to Clear Communication and Compelling Leadership
Empathy is the key to creating a better world.
What if you could magically see the world through someone else’s eyes?
In our increasingly individualized society, it can be so easy to forget that your ‘truth’ isn’t universal. What’s obvious to you might be invisible to others (and vice-versa.)
With over 20 years of experience creating and delivering presentations for a wide spectrum of audiences; I understand the vital importance of seeing the world from others’ perspectives.
In this program, I use magic, optical illusions, and interactive exercises to illustrate the transformative power of empathy. I’ll demonstrate the fallibility of our narrow perspective and teach practical tools to widen our understanding of others’ needs and motivations.
This thought-provoking program will empower participants to see the world from fresh perspectives, unlocking new levels of leadership, communication, and collaboration.
Leaders, sales professionals, and anyone who works with others will learn…
…how to truly listen and ask better questions before offering solutions.
…how to overcome the barriers to empathy to create better relationships.
…how to build a bridge of understanding and collaboration.
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Thriving Through Positive Psychology
Based on rigorous scientific research, the field of Positive Psychology is devoted to the study of what makes for a flourishing life. In this fun and informative session, I will explain the PERMAH model (Positivity, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Achievement, and Health) and show how you can put it to use at work and home to help you not only survive but thrive.
In an increasingly complex and hectic world, people are becoming more and more stressed, depressed, and overwhelmed. Fortunately, the field of positive psychology provides us with tools to counter these trends so we can flourish.
Moving beyond the science, you’ll get hands-on experience with practical tools and techniques to help you not only survive, but thrive.
As always, I’ll use some powerful magic as a visual metaphor to illustrate the transformative power of this exciting field.
Positive Psychology is NOT ‘happy-ology’ or dry academic theory. Participants in this interactive program will learn…
… practical techniques to improve quality of life, mental health and physical vitality.
… how to identify and harness your strengths to produce better results with less effort.
… strategies to increase connection and collaboration at work at home.
(Click each topic to read a description)
Happy Speaking and Workshop Clients
Coaching
Work with Dan to move from where you are, to where you want to be
In addition to being a keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, I’m a certified coach. I work with coaching clients as their thinking partner, cheerleader, and assumption buster. I absolutely delight in seeing my clients achieve breakthroughs and crush their goals. Coaching is especially powerful when in conjunction with a workshop or keynote address.
(Click each topic to read a description)
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My approach to coaching is collaborative, non-judgemental, and supportive. My job is to help you go from where you are, to where you want to be in any area(s) of your life. In our sessions, you can focus on personal or professional issues. In fact, there’s certainly overlap between those areas of your life, so if we decide to work together, we’ll likely touch on both.
I believe that you have everything you need; and everything you have, you need. My job as your coach is to help you tap into your strengths to get more of what you want. You already are awesome. I’m here to help you figure out how to put that awesomeness to best use!
Coaching is done virtually over Zoom in 50-minute weekly or bi-weekly sessions. Most clients book a 10-session coaching package, but I’m happy to work with you to create what serves you best. Contact me to talk about working together.
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I love working with teams to help them increase their impact. Coaching helps teams align around a shared goal, formulate a plan, then stay accountable as they work toward the finish line. My specialty is in helping team members challenge their assumptions so they can push past limitations and obstacles.
Team coaching is especially powerful when combined with an interactive workshop. The in-person workshop sets the tone and lays the foundation of the coaching relationship, then online team coaching sessions keep the ball rolling.
Depending on the team’s goals and timeline, we meet bi-weekly, monthly, or quarterly. Contact me and we’ll work to create a plan.
Dan’s credentials
Pure Magic
GIVE YOUR GUESTS THE GIFT OF WONDER.
There are lots of ways to get unstuck. Sometimes you just need to have a good time. In addition to being a keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, I’ve performed magic at parties and events for over 25 years. Let's face it—awe and astonishment are often in short supply in our everyday lives so it’s easy to fall into ruts. However, when magic is woven into the fabric of an event, it has the power to turn the mundane into the extraordinary. Let's infuse your event with that magic touch and give your guests something amazing to talk about.
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Perfect for entertaining everyone at once, my magic show is a 45-minute interactive experience delivered from the stage. This is the perfect show for after-dinner entertainment because it brings everyone together for a shared experience of wonder. The show is certainly entertaining but it’s more than simple ‘entertainment.’ Your guests will laugh and experience stunning magic while having their assumptions challenged. It’s an experience that will leave them with unforgettable memories of your event.
I create a shared sense of wonder using comedy, sleight-of-hand, and everyday objects. The entire act fits in a briefcase, so all you need to provide is a P/A system and the audience!
For more intimate events, I present a smaller show that happens right up close to you and your guests. It’s a very interactive experience that’s perfect for house parties and small gatherings.
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Mingling with your guests and performing for small groups, I produce pockets of excitement and create a buzz throughout the room. This is the perfect choice for entertaining without disrupting the flow of your event. I perform sophisticated sleight-of-hand right up close for your guests. You’ve never had more fun at cocktail hour!
(Click each topic to read a description)
Happy Magic Clients
So, how does this work?
Maybe you need an experienced keynote speaker to open the minds and hearts of your conference audience. Or maybe you’re looking for a workshop to help your team confront the assumptions that hold them back. Or perhaps you need a coach who can empower you and your team to move from where you are, to where you want to be.
I work collaboratively with each of my clients to create the best approach for their unique situation. My clients see the most transformative results when I work with their teams over a period of time, but sometimes I just deliver a keynote or workshop. It all depends, so let’s talk. Drop me a message below.
