IMPACT:
A Crash Course in Leadership.

ARE YOU A LEADER?

Hi, I’m Elisa Hays.

I had a 30-year career as an actor, director, dancer, choreographer, teacher, inventor, and CEO of an entertainment company that impacted the lives of millions . . .

. . . but I wasn’t sure I was a leader.

Are you?

On an icy road near Blackwell, Oklahoma, the truth collided with me and two of my employees, and I got my answer.

MY STORY.

I was on a cross country business trip in the middle of a snowstorm, and the Ford F250 I was driving was hit by an 18-wheeler at full speed. My body was crushed in a number of ways, and I was badly hurt. My 30-year career in the entertainment industry was over.

But that accident propelled me into a new role teaching leaders to leverage adversity to create star performers, build powerful communities, and make an extraordinary impact.

I discovered that leadership isn’t about who you are. You don’t choose that. Leadership is about what you do—the choices you make . . . when you confront adversity.

Today I teach 4 specific actions that will empower you to turn problems into opportunities and catapult you from surviving to service, coping to courage, and toughing it out to triumph.

I show how these 4 actions when taken consistently in all things big and small will empower you to leverage adversity and transform you from simply someone in a position of authority to a genuine leader who makes an extraordinary impact.

WHO I WORK WITH.

I have delivered my talk, IMPACT: A Crash Course In Leadership, to doctors and nurses at Wesley Medical Center, to members of Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association, Romance Writers of America, PEO International, Oregon Fairs Association, International Association of Fairs, Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions, Western Fairs Association, and dozens of others.

TESTIMONIALS.

“The best leadership framework I have seen!”

Alan PhillipsDirector Shasta District Fair

“Great presentation, laughed and cried.”

Sarah PenceFair Coordinator, San Mateo County Fair

“I feel a whole lot more grateful for what I have.”

Melissa DeMonacoDirector of Sales L.A. County Fair

“Elisa is a lively, humorous, real person. The ability to laugh at herself is her greatest strength. We all could learn to be more humble.”

Mark SadlerDirector of Marketing

“This was the most inspirational talk I have ever been to.”

Jonathan WilesPresident, Western Division

WHAT I LEARNED.

I left my home in Puyallup, Washington headed to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. My company put on shows at state and county fairs around the country. Just as I crossed into Oklahoma, three vehicles collided with my truck. First an 18-wheeler, then a Toyota Sequoia SUV, and finally another 18-wheeler traveling 65 miles per hour hit my body as I attempted to run to safety.

Here’s what I learned.

Courage
In the moments before the impact, I got lesson number one in my crash course in leadership. I discovered what separates a genuine leader from someone in a position of authority. When faced with a choice, I put others first and in doing so risked my own life.
Comedy
I had broken ribs, a collapsed lung, punctured diaphragm, lacerated kidneys, broken hand, broken leg, head trauma. My pelvis was folded in half, shattered, and the tailbone pulverized. Shortly after waking from a coma, I understood intuitively that to reassure those around me, nothing works better than laughter. To become the leader people can’t resist, you must be willing to get a laugh.
Creativity
Solving almost any personal or business challenge requires creativity, and what fosters creativity, in my opinion, is a combination of adversity and curiosity. I have substantial experience with both. The simplest way for anyone, especially leaders, to generate more curiosity is to ask What if . . .
Compassion
Once I’m out of the hospital, in my nifty new wheelchair, I go to the closest coffee bar and order an iced grande latte with extra room in a venti cup, double cupped—so I can hold it between my knees in my wheelchair. The woman repeats the request to the barista who promptly puts the cup, full to the brim, on the high counter where I can’t reach it. I feel defeated and humiliated because I can’t even carry a cup of coffee. And then it comes to me. That barista believes her job is efficiency. It’s not. Her job, our job, is to make our customers feel great. Only when we focus on feelings can we create extraordinary experiences in our customers, clients and internal community.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

If you want to take part in a new kind of leadership, please invite me to your next event and allow me to share my story.

In a way, my keynote isn’t about me, but about how you can lead by leveraging any adversity with four powerful actions—put others first, get a laugh, ask what if, and focus on feelings. By using these simple actions you can transform your life, create star performers, and refashion your organization.

Put Others First

Get A Laugh

Ask What If

Focus On Feelings

BOOK ME TODAY.

I discovered that when life hits you hard, no matter what you lose and how much it hurts, there is a way back, not to where you were but to a new and more profound level of performance.

I would like to share my story, IMPACT: A Crash Course In Leadership, with your community or organization.

Want to know speaking fees? Please call so I can provide you a sweet proposal. Traveling from Seattle, WA.

Meeting Planners: for easy access to the essentials click these links for downloadable materials.

Call me today, and let’s have a chat.

Elisa Hays
ph: +1 253.278.6410
elisa@elisahays.com
www.ElisaHays.com

To schedule a booking, please contact me using the form below. And don’t hesitate to shoot me a question or two.

“I am still receiving amazing feedback!”

Suzanne Hankinsmeeting planner

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MEDIA.

BIO & AWARDS.

I began speaking, training and business consulting in 1999 while building Let’s Pretend Entertainment, a family-centric theater company. Going way back, I put in ten years acting in stage and film productions.

In 2012 I invented a new system for hand washing based on principles of play and imagination and received patents-pending in the U.S. and Canada. My company built and sold 3 large mobile attractions called Sudsy’s Barn™ that have received wide acclaim at events spanning North America. With my team at Hygienics Innovation, LLC we’re on a mission to make hand washing fun everywhere.

Service Member of the Year Award, 2015, Oregon Fairs Association for Innovation, Quality & Leadership in the Field of Service.
Merrill Award, 2014, Western Fairs Association in recognition of Innovation, Vision, and Excellence for design of Washington County Fair’s “The Growing Grove: Growing Healthy Kids.”
Barham Award, 2013, Western Fairs Association for outstanding entrepreneurship, presented in recognition of Innovation, Quality, & Leadership in the Field of Service.
Consumer Protection Award, 2012, International Association of Fairs and Expositions for Alameda County Fair’s hand washing education program featuring Sudsy’s Barn as the centerpiece.
Distinguished Service Award, 2011, Oregon Fairs Association for significant contributions to fairs and to the OFA.
Achievement Award, 2010, Western Fairs Association for “Ag-tion Ranch” at Solano County Fair.

“An important yet serious message conveyed in a fun and uplifting manner.”

Jo PhillipsManager, Sales

“I was an EMT for 10 years. People like you are why people like me donate our time.”

Larry SpencerEMT Technician

IMPACT: A Crash Course in Leadership.