Frequently Asked Questions |
Q: Isn’t This Really Just Entertainment?
In a word: NO. All of David’s presentations are entirely content-driven.
Q: How Can a Presentation be Both Great Fun and Content-Driven?
It would be lying to say that David’s events aren’t lots of fun. And this is part of the reason for his effectiveness, since he is able to engage those who might not be enthusiastic about participating in most types of development training. But David’s presentations are always content-driven, combining his internationally-renowned skills as a teacher of applied psychology with your choice of material.
| “Our curriculum was based on half a dozen books (including Covey’s “Principle Centered Leadership,” Senge’s “The Fifth Discipline,” and Bolman’s “Reframing Organizations), plus hundreds of pages of articles on leadership and influence. David studied the material, (and) integrated the most important points into his daylong presentation...” |
— Pam Osik, Event Co-ordinator, Managing New York State Leadership Classroom: For Managers of Managers |
Content + Fun = TOTAL Participation, with Benefits for ALL Attendees!
Some people just don’t like to participate in training programs. But because David’s method of presenting material is so different, and so entertaining and user-friendly, even your most resistant employees will find themselves assimilating this exciting and crucial psychological information — without even noticing that they are doing so!
Q: My Group is Facing Serious Issues. Can This Help?
As mentioned elsewhere on this website, David has worked with energy companies facing deregulation, medical companies reacting to the HMO transition, manufacturing plants in the aftermath of a serious accident, financial management companies looking to change their perceived role with clients from “accounting-based” to “partnership/planning-based,” post-Enron CPA and legal groups, challenged dotcoms, forensic scientists dealing with the threat of bio-terrorism, and a variety of other companies and governmental or non-profit organizations facing rapid social, regulatory, technological, or “competitional” change. In addition, he works with people in hospice, nursing homes, or camps for children who are chronically or terminally-ill. If your group’s problems are substantially worse than the ones mentioned above, he may not be able to help. Otherwise...
Q: Are the Workshops for Management or Line Level Employees?
David regularly creates leadership training presentations for all-CEO groups such as the Young Presidents Organization, as well as Peak Communication™ workshops for entry-level phone service representatives. Often, he will work with an entire company, from newest employee to middle management to CEO — a great opportunity for team-building and mission alignment.o
Q: Does it Really Sound Good?
Yes! The harmonica is the only instrument that is always “in harmony” (that’s why it’s called the “harmony-ca”). As long as the group is breathing correctly — and David makes sure of this with his Harmonica Hand Signal Method™” — it sounds great. And the more, the merrier! You haven’t really lived until you’ve heard thousands of brand-new harp players playing Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, or a Chicago Blues! Listeners (from other groups, hotel guests, etc.) often break into spontaneous applause when walking by — no kidding!
Q: Haven’t I Seen David Somewhere?
It’s possible. In addition to his dozens of books, available in bookstores around the nation and the world (and with his face on the back), David has been featured many times on the QVC channel, as well as Good Morning America, The Evening News with Peter Jennings, The Crook and Chase Show, National Public Radio, and on lots of local tv shows, and in national and local magazines and newspapers.
Q: Does He Do Festivals? Company Picnics?
Although David’s events are content-driven, he is glad to do “entertainment” events which feature strong inspiration and motivational themes. He has entranced a number of large “festival-type” groups, with thousands of participants, although he hopes to “do a big one, one of these days.” He has even been inveigled into doing a wedding, with 250 guests toasting and roasting the bride and groom with blues songs, created in advance with David’s help! Below, he teaches close to three thousand girl scouts how to blow their blues away!
Q: Can One Speaker Really Do So Many Things Well? How?
It may seem as though David is offering to do just about everything — leadership events for your CEO groups, and training for your novice sales reps. Festivals and stress management. Motivation or mission alignment,. But since his interest and expertise both lie in the most general and basic of human skills — the ability to use the brain most effectively — he can apply what he does best to almost any situation. And he has!
Q: A Lot of David's Work Sounds So Serious. Does He Play for Fun, Too?
Sure does. Below left, he relaxes by jamming with a "friend" after the Seneca Lake Whale Watch Festival. No whales were sighted, but he taught 3,000 festival-goers to play. Below right, he jamms with rocker Michelle Shocked for a crowd of 40,000 at a concert.
