Kerrie Ferrell Motivational Speaker from Ann Arbor, MI

Offer a healthy, inspirational presentation for your employees, "Hall of Fame Catcher Rick Ferrell's Tips for Career Success," narrated by his daughter, author Kerrie Ferrell. Through the vehicle of professional baseball, these universal themes and inspiring stories transfer Ferrell's business strategies and practices from organizational athletics to the modern world of work. Employees - as workers of the world - are figurative, and perhaps literal, athletes in training, striving for efficient quality on a daily basis while meeting workplace demands of acceleration and change. However, examples of actual excellence for the modern employee can be few and far between. Sometimes history provides a character study so compelling, so incorruptible, so admirable that his influence inspires people through the decades. Rick Ferrell was such a leader with a life and lessons to benefit all of us in our quest to perform more efficiently in the 21st century. Part I of the presentation deals with the concept of self-management: self-discipline, education, training, business ethics, thinking outside the box, goal-achievement. Your audience will view historical baseball photos of Rick and others (Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Hank Greenberg, plus brother/pitcher Wes Ferrell), as he struggled to launch his 18-year American League catching career (1929 – '47, Boston Red Sox, Washington Senators) during the Great Depression and World War II . (Clue: He was one of baseball's first free agents and caught the first All-Star Game.) This segment of the program asks: In my quest for self-improvement, what traits can I borrow from an undersized farm boy who molded himself into a Hall of Fame catcher and executive? Part II of the presentation provides examples of how knowledge, leadership, diligence, and teamwork can inspire a win-win workplace with finely-tuned employees promoting an organization's highest level of cooperation, efficiency, and customer service. Rick's post-playing 43 years with the Detroit Tigers (1950-92) are related as he rose from coach/scout to general manager/vice president in the Tigers' front office, helping assemble both the 1968 and 1984 World Series championship teams. What traits made Rick stand out from the pack to ascend from the ball field to the Detroit Tigers front office as vice president? Learn how Rick faced the dramatic changes to the baseball business as unionization and exorbitant player salary demands became the norm in the latter 1900s. View Ferrell's 1984 Hall of Fame induction in Cooperstown, N.Y., still possessing the American League record for Most Games Caught. As employees, how can we emulate the qualities in our own work place that enabled Ferrell to help direct a smoothly-run organization for decades in an industry known for its career brevity? A team leader on the field and a quiet, smart authority in executive management, Rick Ferrell's daily habits, character traits, and overall excellence can be embraced by any employee to enhance his/her work/life success. OPTIONS: to enhance baseball theme and determine pricing: - Food: The program can have a food option of peanuts, Cracker Jack, popcorn, hot dogs, ("red hots"), Coca Cola, if you wish. - Music: Audience members can sing a rousing rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," plus "America the Beautiful", accompanied by Kerrie on acoustic guitar. Taped 20th-century background music can be played before and after the presentation to establish mood. - Handouts of presentation highlights for each participant. - Book sale and signing: This program is based on Kerrie Ferrell's biography, "Rick Ferrell, Knuckleball Catcher: A Hall of Famer's Life Behind the Plate and in the Front Office," (co-author: William M. Anderson, 2010). Kerrie can provide copies of her book for sale and signing after the event. For corporate/organizational meetings; birthday, anniversary, retirement parties; athletic, educational, or community events.