From the Field to the Boardroom: Building a Winning Team
Program Titles
- UNLOCKING YOUR TEAM’S POTENTIAL
- Success is not going to be given to you–you have to go get it!
J.J. Birden: Insights to empower leaders and teams to overcome challenges and seize opportunities! Inspire your team with JJ Birden, former NFL Pro and motivational speaker. His message of determination, resilience, perseverance, and positivity will inspire your team to success, and his tailored keynote presentations will give them tools and strategies for reaching the highest levels in business and life.
To appreciate the Hero’s Journey that is JJ Birden’s life, you must first know a few essential facts:
- Less than 6% of high school seniors go on to play college football
- Of the 150,000 draft-eligible college football players, only 253 (less than 1%) are selected in the NFL draft
- The average NFL career is less than two years
- The average NFL player is 6’2, 245 lbs.
The odds of making it to the NFL are staggering. The odds of staying in the NFL are even more impressive. The odds of doing both are astronomical when you’re undersized and play one of the sport’s most physical positions. It’s good that JJ Birden never cared about the odds of success.
Despite being Oregon’s #1 high school wide receiver, JJ didn’t receive a single D1 scholarship offer. He was fast enough for sure, but at 5’9 and 133 lbs., JJ was just too small to play with the big boys. At least that’s what the naysayers thought; JJ knew he was good enough, and he set his mind to achieving the impossible. All he needed was an opportunity, no matter how small, even if it meant making his own.
After receiving a scholarship to the University of Oregon for track & field, JJ earned a walk-on spot with the football team his sophomore year. He was at the bottom of the depth chart and nowhere near seeing actual playing time on the field, but his coaches and teammates didn’t know how hard he was willing to work. It didn’t take long for them to find out: JJ became a starter the following season, his junior year.
But JJ’s trials were beginning like all long-shot stories and underdog tales. The remainder of his college career was plagued with injuries and unimpressive stats. Still, JJ’s speed and toughness were enough to earn him an invite to the NFL Combine, a yearly gathering of the top 300 college prospects in the nation. Unsurprising to his teammates, coaches, and fans, JJ dominated the Combine. His performance earned him the 216th pick in the 8th round of the 1988 NFL Draft. That’s when the going got tough.
A series of injuries and failed physicals culminated in one of the darkest moments in JJ’s early career and one of the most challenging weeks imaginable for anyone: JJ was rejected by 4 NFL teams in 5 days. He could have left the game and given up hope despite impossible odds, but JJ didn’t flinch. Instead, he did what he’s always done when faced with adversity—he found a way to win.
JJ would go on to play nine seasons in the NFL (remember, the average career is less than a quarter of that) despite never being the biggest, most muscular, or most physical guy on the field. What kept JJ on the field for almost a decade wasn’t just how he played the game but how he approached every day like it was game day. JJ was willing to work and do whatever it took to improve.
Now a motivational speaker and performance coach, JJ shares lessons from his life that help audiences of all ages, backgrounds, and professions realize the most important thing about success—it is never given but consistently earned. JJ’s inspiring keynote presentations outline the principles and strategies that helped an undersized wide receiver overcome spectacular odds, the same principles and techniques that can help anyone perform at the highest levels in all walks of life.
JJ is a best-selling author, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, husband and father. He has been married to his college sweetheart, Raina, for 30+ years and has eight children (3 biological and 5 adopted nieces and nephews). He and his family reside in the Phoenix area.
JJ Birden is an engaging communicator, passionate presenter, and a leading authority on helping individuals seize their opportunities in life.
JJ Birden, UNLOCKING YOUR TEAM’S POTENTIAL
Many organizations struggle with teamwork, causing role confusion and difficulty balancing individual and collective success. This leads to demotivation and disconnection from the bigger picture. Without a clear team strategy and commitment, organizations face communication breakdowns, trust issues, conflicting work styles, and lack of collaboration, leading to failure. Effective teamwork is crucial for success and progress.
In this keynote, JJ Birden leverages his contrasting NFL experiences to provide actionable insights and deliver powerful lessons on building successful teams. He compares the 1993 Kansas City Chiefs, who nearly reached the Super Bowl, with the 1989 Dallas Cowboys, who struggled through a 1-15 season. Through these experiences, he illustrates essential strategies for creating winning teams in any environment.
JJ aims to empower organizations to achieve their goals and cultivate a high-performance culture by translating the principles that made his teams great. This keynote inspires leaders and teams to embrace change, foster growth, and create environments where everyone can thrive.
Key Takeaways:
- Growth: Through change, mentorship, and effective leadership, audiences will learn personal and professional development strategies. They will gain insights into how mentorship can transform team dynamics, inspired by NFL legend Joe Montana’s experiences.
- Retention: Attendees will understand how to create a winning culture that ensures long-term success. They will discover the importance of commitment and loyalty in fostering team cohesion and sustained performance, drawing parallels between professional sports and the corporate world.
- Teamwork: Participants will know how to employ methods to foster a supportive team environment where dynamics are optimized for success. They will learn the significance of sharing and celebrating team achievements to ensure everyone feels valued and motivated.
“I’ve been to 25 to 30 National Sales Meetings in my career, I’ve heard lots of motivational speakers, and JJ Birden was by far the best National Sales Meeting speaker I’ve ever seen.”
– Director of Global Government Sales
“I just had the wonderful opportunity to hear JJ’s message at our company’s recent National Sales Meeting. And wow, what an outstanding message it was! It was the most inspiring story I’ve heard during my 38 years here. His presentation captivated everyone, and he had an amazing way of connecting. It’s like he’s talking to everyone one-on-one. JJ’s message and tactics for success are simple and rooted in powerful concepts; his message will give you all the inspiration necessary to succeed personally and professionally.”
– Vice President & General Manager, Sales Division
“I want to extend our deepest appreciation to the phenomenal keynote speaker – JJ Birden! His presentation at our “Game On” fall conference was an absolute touchdown! His insights and strategies have empowered us to kick off our journey toward financial management success with renewed determination and enthusiasm. JJ – Thank you for sharing your expertise and motivating us to seize every opportunity that comes our way. We are truly grateful for your contribution to our chapter’s growth and success.”
Greater Heartland Chapter
“JJ was incredible! As a company with many different layers and complexities, JJ was the perfect speaker to bridge the gap between our diverse workforce and their needs. With his tenacity, upbeat attitude, and uplifting message, JJ left everyone feeling empowered and less shackled by their challenges or shortcomings. We appreciate JJ and his gift for translating a growth mindset into action that creates results and challenges others to live life to their fullest potential! Thank you, JJ, for all that you do!”
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“In these times of uncertainty, many associates feel a sense of chaos and stress with the unknown. Your messaging around what they can personally do every day was uplifting and will be referenced internally for years to come. The connection you had with our associates was outstanding. Thank you for being a part of the Virtual Summer Speaker Series; you were all and more than we had hoped for to encourage, inspire, and motivate the team deeply affected by COVID-19 in the hospital labs.”
– Senior Director, Talent Management –
“JJ spoke virtually for our Speaker Series. He is the best motivational speaker I have heard and believed in. Thank you!”
– Health Systems Account Manager,
“Every time he got onto the field, he took Advantage of the opportunity to do something special. He was meticulous in his preparation and never let his lack of NFL size stop him from finding a way to be successful. He has taken the same attention to detail, attitude, and hard work that allowed him to be successful in the NFL into life after the game and is sharing the lessons that helped him succeed.”
– Star Reporter who covered the Chiefs/NFL
“JJ Birden was the keynote speaker at our client appreciation event; his presentation was outstanding. His message was well received by our diverse group, which included clients and their guests from a wide age spectrum. His presentation was both energetic and entertaining. The feedback we received from our clients on his presentation was extremely positive. I would highly recommend JJ as a keynote speaker and presenter.”
– Wealth Advisors –
“JJ delivered a fast-paced, stimulating, informative, and, yes, motivational message to my group of community bank executives in Phoenix this past fall. The participants and their spouses were engaged as each one was focused on the front of the room until JJ wrapped up his session.
Birden provided amazing energy, excellence, and fun. Most impressionable of all was how he incorporated his football experiences and related the game’s strategy to business expansion and personal development. This is a tough group when it comes to motivational speakers, but they walked away smiling with ideas and tools that they could bring back to their communities and their banks.
I highly recommend JJ for your next event and look forward to engaging him again.”
– Program Executive
“JJ took the time to understand our industry and the personalities of the group and speak directly to our group. His energy kicked off our conference perfectly. He was the talk of the conference!”
MARKETING MANAGER
“I worked with JJ to coordinate speaking on Leadership and High Performance. He worked to prepare for our specific audience and brought energy and focus to the room, which was captivating for the duration of his message. JJ commanded a great stage presence that allowed the attendees to learn and relate to his message. The sale and signing of his book, When Opportunity Knocks, 8 Surefire Ways to Take Advantage!, was a great opportunity for folks to interact with him and gave everyone a takeaway to read and be inspired.”
CHAPTER PRESIDENT
“JJ was straightforward to work with and completely understood our ultimate objective. He connected so well with our audience that he had a line for over an hour of people waiting to purchase his book and thank him. What I appreciated the most was that he was so gracious with each attendee that came to the table to speak to him.”
EVENTS MANAGER
Books by J.J. Birden, (Former NFL Pro)
Book J.J. Birden, (Former NFL Pro) for your Event!