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Stories that challenge and inspire all kinds of audiences
Canada
Motivational speaker and storyteller best-known for his musical ability to play multiple instruments with his feet
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About Alvin
Keynote
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Alvin Law is one of North America’s most admirable inspirational speakers. Since the founding of AJL Communications Ltd. in 1988, he has brought his Attitude Revolution to over 2 million people on five continents around the world. Before, he already presented his life story publicly already sind 1981. He has earned the designation of Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), an honour possessed by less than ten percent of professional speakers worldwide. In 2009, Alvin was inducted into the Canadian Association of Speakers (CAPS) Hall of Fame.
Alvin’s road to become who he is today was long and difficult. Like 13,000 other babies born in the early 1960ies, Alvin Law suffered the direct consequences of Thalidomide – a drug prescribed to relieve morning sickness during pregnancy. He was born without arms. As Alvin’s deformity put his family in a seemingly hopeless situation, they gave him up for adoption.
Change would have it that he ended up with Hilda Law, a fifty-five year old foster mother who, along with her husband, Jack, took in neglected and abused children. They loved and encouraged them back from their hopelessness and, through social service programs, sent them to couples yearning for adoptions. They were truly special people.
Through hope, dedication and infinite belief, Hilda and Jack opened the world for Alvin and made it possible for him to build up a life by using his feet for hands. Alvin Law attended regular school and was lucky to have teachers who realized his talents.
When discovering his musical ability and starting to play multiple instruments, Alvin Law’s life took the final turn towards the amazing. Within an impossibly short time, he became an award winning musician and graduated from high school with honors. He then graduated, again with honors, from college… and he hasn’t slowed down since.
Aside from being a professional keynote speaker, Alvin Law is a qualified broadcaster and fundraiser, who has worked with non-profit groups, in advertising and public relations. Aside of this, Alvin Law has appeared in various media outlets.
Having Alvin Law as a keynote speaker will exceed your expectations. He will show any audience how to look beyond what they think is possible. They will learn that the only true obstacle, after all, is our own attitude – the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves and the people and situations around us.
See keynotes with Alvin LawKeynote by Speaker Alvin Law
Focus: leadership, for leaders, personal leadership
Format: opening or closing keynote
You’ve probably heard of The Butterfly Effect – a principle of chaos theory which states that a butterfly flapping its wings in New Mexico, at the right point in space and time, can cause a hurricane in China. It might take a while, but the connection is real. It’s an interesting way of expressing the fact that seemingly very small actions can have drastic effects.
The Attitude Effect works the same way. A leader with a poor attitude tends to pass it on to employees and co-workers, lowering morale and creating a negative work environment. The good news? Our attitude is the one thing we have complete control over. We can’t always choose what happens to us on a day to day basis, but we can choose our attitude.
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Keynote by Speaker Alvin Law
Focus: change management, culture, accountability
Format: opening or closing keynote
Alternate titles: There’s Always Something You Can Do; When Amazing is Your Normal
Companies and organizations are constantly facing change. You may need to implement a simple process change, or completely overhaul your organization’s overall strategy and policy. No matter what the change is, it’s never easy. Employees are confused, productivity plummets, opportunities are lost and morale bottoms out. “Change fatigue” sets in. Cynicism and resistance become the norm. The company stagnates. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
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Keynote by Speaker Alvin Law
Focus: team-building, employee engagement, employee appreciation/motivation
Format: opening or closing keynote; half-day workshop; breakout session
No matter who we are or what our job title is, one thing is true: we are all the leaders of our own lives. We are all creative problem solvers, and we all have unique value we bring to our personal and professional relationships. Thing is, we don’t always remember this about ourselves…or about our friends, family, co-workers, employees and team members. Caught up in the day-to-day grind, it’s pretty easy to forget. Personal leadership? Responsibility? Resiliency? They are attitudes. And these attitudes can be learned by anyone.
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Can you please briefly explain what the attitude effect is?
The “Attitude Effect” is a metaphorical mindset to explain to my audiences how this isn’t just about “positive attitude” that is in my opinion, it’s own cliche that all motivational speakers apply. The Attitude Effect is literal energy that we can give to another person in a personal interaction and since most corporate success is based on “relationships”, it can make the difference between success and failure.
It can also be an identifier for us. People form opinions of all of us and I believe that being remembered for having a positive energy makes an impact so people look forward to seeing you, working with you, buying from you etc. It can also be an “Effective” tool in our office culture and even extend to the bigger picture because it truly can create a ripple in our world. It has worked for me!
Despite your handicap, you have achieved a lot of things in your life that probably a lot of other people did not even dare to hope for. How did you find the motivation for this?
My personal motivation of overcoming having no arms is difficult to define. The simple answer is, my home and my family had a culture of positivity and belief that emanated from my/our mother. I grew up “knowing” life wasn’t easy and I was okay with that so when that philosophy becomes part of your being, it’s not really “motivation”, it’s a habit! It’s a habit that I teach people every day!
How do you provide your audiences with the motivation to embrace change?
I provide the motivation to embrace change because I am living the proof. I always speak to how I didn’t actually overcome having no arms…I was born this way! I overcame the 60’s and the 70’s and the sheer ignorance towards people like me. But I didn’t do it alone. I had key people in my life that gave me opportunities to change my life and that changed the small world I lived in.
I was the first “handicapped” child to attend regular public schools in the history of my hometown. That not only changed my life but blazed a trail for all the handicapped children that followed. We may see “change” as inevitable and that may be true but when we embrace change, it can’t beat us!
How much does humor factor into your keynotes and other speaking engagements?
To me, humour is not a strategy, it is in my DNA. Humour allows people to adjust to my physical differences, which creates a bond that allows people to stop staring and start learning. It also makes the entire experience fun because we need more fun.
Why should clients use you for their next event?
It is hard to answer this with humility but the simple truth is I can absolutely guarantee a successful segment that will create a powerful, positive connection to the entire event. I have complete strangers approach me everywhere around North America to tell me they heard me speak, sometimes over thirty years ago and they still remember me, 98% of the time even saying my name. I can comfortably and honestly say I am one of the most memorable speakers in the business. I’m also in the Hall of Fame, so that should speak for itself!
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