Mike and his presentation were fantastic. We could not have asked for a better person to speak at our college. Can't say enough superlatives. Hope we can have him back someday!
Michael J. Tougias
NY Times bestselling author & Dynamic Speaker
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Fee Range
$6,500
Michael J. Tougias
Biography
A passionate decision-making expert and author of several national bestsellers, including The Finest Hours, which the Disney Corporation turned into major motion picture.
Tougias is a dynamic speaker who shares what he has learned from survivors and rescuers about decision-making, goal attainment and resilience. His presentations are inspirational and uplifting, and all include gripping slides that will have the audience on the edge of their seats.
He also has studied and written about President Kennedy’s deliberations during the Cuban Missile Crisis and reveals how we can all learn from JFK’s determination, conclusions and leadership. His book on the topic is Above & Beyond: John F. Kennedy and America’s Most Dangerous Spy Mission “This superbly written, tense, and sometimes sad account views the Cuban Missile Crisis from an unusual and telling perspective.” Booklist (Starred review!)
His latest book is Extreme Survival: Lessons From Those Who Have Triumphed Against All Odds. Tougias is known as one of the country’s leading experts on resilience and overcoming adversity, and he has interviewed over 200 extreme survivors and extraordinary first responders.
• Tougias has spoken in almost all 50 states to Fortune 500 companies, Associations, Colleges, and had keynotes dozens of annual conventions. (Endorsements are available)
• Author and co-author of 31 books, including Ten Hours Until Dawn, Fatal Forecast, King Philip’s War, Rescue of the Bounty, The Finest Hours, A Storm Too Soon and Extreme Survival: Lessons From Those Who Have Triumphed Against All Odds.
• Frequent guest on television & radio such as Fox & Friends, The Weather Channel, National NPR, and ABC’s 20/20. The Wall Street Journal has also featured Tougias.
• Recipient of the American Library Association’s Editor’s Choice, and the Independent Publisher’s “Best Book in its Class”.
Michael J. Tougias
Featured Videos
Current: "Decision Making Under Pressure: from Survive and Thrive" (Annual Meeting MA Library Association)
Time 09:13
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Michael J. Tougias
Featured Keynote Programs
Achieve Your Best Self & Overcome Adversity
Tougias relies on his many interviews with first responders, extreme survivors, and psychological studies to share techniques to live your best life, reach peak performance, handle change and overcome challenges. He shares the tips in story form and uses slides from some of the actual events he draws on for inspiration. This multi-media keynote is a positive and entertaining, meant to inspire and empower!
Survive & Thrive
Lessons From Those Who Have Triumphed Against All Odds
Having interviewed approximately 100 people whose survival stories are seemingly miraculous, Tougias has unlocked the mindsets and decision-making that allowed them to make it to the other side of life’s most daunting challenges. He shares how all of us can achieve far more than we think possible.
Tougias wow’s audience’s with his multi-media presentations of survivor stories and the lessons learned that we can all use in our day to day lives for peak performance under pressure, handling change and overcoming adversity. If the people featured in my slide presentation did the seemingly impossible, imagine what you could accomplish by using some of their techniques!
14 Steps To Strategic Decision-making
President Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis
In this multi-media presentation author and keynote speaker Michael J. Tougias provides you with the information you need to make winning decisions. Tougias first chronicles the thirteen harrowing days of the Cuban Missile Crisis and then outlines the steps President Kennedy made to reach a decision on a course of action. The information is based on Tougias’ upcoming book about the Presidend and the U-2 spy plane pilots titled Above & Beyond: John F. Kennedy and America’s Most Dangerous Spy Mission. Kennedy’s deliberate method of decision-making is a worthy case study for all those who face rapid change, increased competition, career choices or a significant personal challenge. JFK’s leadership and the manner in which he demanded teamwork during the crisis was spot on, and Tougias explains why.
The program lifts the audience up, so that they feel a sense of empowerment and positivity, when others can only see the negative.
The Finest Hours
Leadership, Teamwork and Resilience
Michael Tougias, co-author of The Finest Hours, chronicles the gripping story of Chatham Coast Guardman Bernie Webber and the incredible leadership he displayed in the most daring rescue in American history. Tougias describes the harrowing attempts to rescue the seamen on a sinking oil tanker, focusing on four young Coast Guardsmen who must overcome insurmountable odds to save the lives of 32 crewmen off Cape Cod. Tougias shares the teamwork, leadership and decision-making lessons from this event that can help all of us perform under pressure. The author also discusses how the true life hero of this story overcame adversity in his professional career to go on and achieve real success. In this edge-of-your-seat presentation, audiences will see slides of the storm, the sinking of two tankers, the rescues, the survivors and the heroes of this historic event.
Michael J. Tougias
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