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Conquering Adversity:
Six Strategies to Move You and Your Team Through Tough Times

by Christopher Novak

Paperback,96 pgs; 2004
ISBN 0-9746403-8-7

Publisher: Cornerstone Leadership Institute (Dallas, TX)

Conquering Adversity is also available as a 2-disk
Audio-Book CD


Click on the image to view a 5-minute demo-video for "Conquering Adversity"
(Windows Media Player)

"I found the book incredibly powerful."
Vice President
Human Resources
Cornell University


        Have you read Conquering Adversity?
                  or
      Have you heard
         Chris speak?
If so, please sign our
          Guestbook!
            (Click on the icon)

Click on the image
to read an excerpt
from the book. (pdf file)

RECENT PRESENTATIONS: LANE CONSTRUCTION; RAPSA; BARRETT PAVING; HENDERSON JOHNSON COMPANY; UAB NURSING CONFERENCE; SOCIETY OF GOVERNMENT MEETING PLANNERS; NYS NATIONAL GUARD; NYS AHPERD; MARATHON GLOBAL; DEACONESS LTC; INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE (Gettysburg); BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY, BLOOMSBURG UNIVERSITY; UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE (Boston); CUPA-HR MIDWEST (Chicago); INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE (Atlanta); CAPITAL REGION HR ASSOC. (Albany); COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS (Atlanta); UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE (Gatlinburg); WATERTOWN CORRECTIONAL STAFF (Watertown, NY); NATIONAL ASPHALT PAVING ASSOCIATION (San Diego, CA)

Praise for the book:

"Personally inspiring. Professionally motivating. I am buying a copy for everyone in my region."
Vice President
Adecco Staffing

"I found it comparable to Covey's 7 Habits."
Assistant Director
Connecticut Education Association

Companies that bought
Conquering Adversity

Atlanta Public Schools, Bank of America, Boeing, Colgate University, Syracuse University, Harrah's Entertainment, Fidelity Investments, KPMG, Swissport, SC Johnson, Wal-Mart Walton Institute, Xerox, Sysco Foodservice, Sprint, Bank of the Pacific, Build-a-Bear, Borders, Dow Corning, Ironstone Bank, New York Life, Riceland Foods, Palm Harbor Homes, Pfizer, Tucson Unified School District, U.S. Dept. of State, West Virginia University School of Nursing and more.

HRCI APPROVED!
The "Conquering Adversity" keynote presentation has been approved for 1.25 hours of continuing education credit by HRCI

READ CHRIS'S ARTICLE IN SMART MEETING PLANNER (April 09):

Chris''s passionate style infuses energy and credibility to his inspiring kyenote -- 400 HR professionals ranked him the top speaker at the NY State SHRM Conference (2006) and 150 law enforcement professionals from federal, state and local agencies gave him a perfect 5.0 rating at their conference in Meridan, CT.

"His message was on-target, timely and energized our management team."
CEO
Crouse Hospital

“He was amazing again and I came away with even more than the first time I heard him. The conference evaluations spoke for themselves, Chris Novak was the hit of the conference …”
Law Enforcement Officer, TN

CONTACT:
Christopher Novak

Phone/Fax:
(315) 673-1323

Email:

Mail:
The Summit Team
P.O. Box 172
Marcellus, NY 13108

Other "Conquering Adversity" products:

Team Training Kit

Meeting Motivators DVD

Click to order any of the above items:

Other Books by Christopher Novak

Lead Like a Pirate!
Leadership Secrets of the Pirates of St. Croix

Paperback; 88 pages; 2007
ISBN-13: 978-09798009-1-7
ISBN-10: 0-9798009-1-9

Also available:
Lead Like a Pirate! Presentation complete with downloadable PowerPoint slides and Facilitator's Guide


Publisher:
Cornerstone Leadership Institute

AHOY!
Ask about our exciting on-site training module, "Pirates of St. Croix," based on the book, Lead Like a Pirate!

HRCI certified for 2.0 hours of continuing education credit.

   Click to learn more

"Lead Like a Pirate" was the featured "Master Series" training session at the 2008 Capital Region Human Resource Association Conference

Click cannon to view brochure

Contact us for details:



"You were fantastic !!!!!"
       Annette Guido
Sr. HR Generalist, NYISO
     Executive Director
New York State SHRM

Companies that bought
Lead Like a Pirate!:

Boeing, Safeway, Bridgestone Firestone, The Computer Merchant, Siemens Power Generation, Hawaii Carpenters Union, Seton Medical Center, Outback Steakhouse, Taco Bell, Perkins Restaurants, Boxely Materials, Auburndale Police Dept., Outerbanks Hospital, Harrah's, Hess, The Children's Workshop, Tulsa School District and more.

Praise for the book:

"A thoroughly enjoyable experience that teaches valuable lessons on leadership and teamwork - a great tool to use in team building!"
Treasurer & Director of Administration
Babbitt Bearings, Inc.

"This book captures the essence of managing an organization in today's ultra competitive and rapidly changing business environment ..."
Executive Vice President
Finance & Operations
WYNIT, Inc.

PRESS:

Chris was interviewed live on "Holder Tonight" hosted by Peter Anthony Holder; one of Montreal and Toronto's hallmark talk radio programs.

The half-hour show covered Chris's new book, Lead Like a Pirate, as well as his speaking and leadership training services.

Chris signing books at an event for Maureen Humphrey Cancer Foundation. More than 40,000 copies of Conquering Adversity are in print.

4 Circles of Good Business:
Plain Truth and Practical Solutions for Every Business Professional

Paperback; 106 pages; 2006
ISBN 13: 978-0-9788668-0-8
ISBN 10: 0-9788668-0-0

Publisher:
Core Concepts, Inc.

Praise for the book:

"A refreshing, common sense approach which helps to simplify and solve complex business issues."
Executive Vice President,
Business Development
United Therapeutics Corp.

"Finally, a business book with common sense and real bottom-line impact! The applications in our retail business are immediate."
Division Manager
Hess Corporation

Actual Evaluation Comments (April 2009):

Comments:

· The most inspirational speaker I’ve ever heard.

· Outstanding – you said what I needed to hear.

· Absolutely wonderful! Thank you – I’m going to try a jar and stones.

· Wonderful presentation: This was a terrific speaker

· Excellent & thought provoking – just what is needed for today! Thanks so much.

· Wonderful!!

· Loved it!! Very entertaining and inspiring!

· Very touching and had a great impact in me.

· Very good lesson, enjoyed.

· I almost stayed home in bed today! SO glad I came! Best speaker ever!!!

· Great!! Worth price of conference!!!

Remembering
September 11, 2001
Freedom is never free.

Number of Visitors:

5726

Administrator

Author, Motivational Speaker, Leadership Coach Christopher Novak

PREPARE TO BE INSPIRED!

UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS: Florida Public Personnel Association (St. Augustine, FL); Kalamazoo HR Management Association (Kalamazoo, MI); ECR International (Utica, NY); Herkimer Community College (Herkimer, NY); Chesapeake Human Resource Association (Baltimore, MD); Public Risk Management Association (Dallas, TX); New York State Crime Victims Board (Buffalo, NY); Society of Government Meeting Planners (Richmond, VA); Byrne Dairy (Syracuse, NY); New York State SHRM Conference (Turning Stone Casino)

"Chris's 'Conquering Adversity' message was a show-stopper."
Federal Administrative Officer, NY

Christopher Novak is one of today’s most dynamic presenters and a consistently top-rated keynote speaker with a unique, powerful and interactive message that will be the gem of your next conference, retreat or special event.

The author of, Conquering Adversity: Six Strategies to Move You and Your Team Through Tough Times, he brings a keynote speaking experience unlike any other – one that has inspired thousands of people both nationally and internationally.

Every good speaker gives the audience a story;

Chris inspires each person with their own story.

Conquering Adversity is a true-life, one-of-a-kind experience that inspires people as few messages can. Interactive and personalized, it gives something unique to each participant in its 75 minutes of inspirational insight. So unique and powerful, its impact has literally changed people’s lives and is ideal for any audience. Professional development or personal growth, there is something for everyone to embrace and celebrate.

Conquering Adversity is about the hero we all have inside.

It’s about finding and unleashing the untapped potential we each have for accomplishing the extraordinary. Against a gripping backdrop of personal crisis, Chris gives audiences six real-world strategies for moving forward through even the most challenging circumstances. Whether professionally or personally, all of us face adversity and all of us have what it takes to navigate those inevitbable storms. Truth is, there is a hero inside each of us.

Chris inspires a can-do attitude and promotes optimism, energy and real communication within your organization. He puts change, challenge and adversity into manageable perspective while emphasizing work-life balance, core values and teamwork. He knows there are many excellent speakers with true stories and inspiring insights but that the unique, high impact presenters set a conference ablaze by transforming a speech into an experience. That is what "Conquering Adversity" delivers because this isn't a job for Chris, it's his passion.

Isn’t it time your organization stopped asking for heroes
and started inspiring them?

Experience the power, energy and impact of Conquering Adversity!

CONTACT US TODAY

photo: Paula Hamada Summit

"Christopher provided a keynote session for our 2008 CUPA-HR Midwest Region Conference. He not only captivated our audience with his warm and endearing presentation style he had a powerful message that resonated with our audience. As the program chair, I had never had so many positive comments about a speaker within a matter of minutes of the session ending. I highly recommend Christopher as a conference speaker or to inspire your company or organization. He is a joy to work with."

Associate Director of HR, Illinois State University

1,200 education professionals packed the Showroom at Turning Stone Casino & Resort       on November 20, 2008 for the 71st annual NY State AHPERD Conference,
giving Chris's "Conquering Adversity" keynote a standing ovation.

Clients include:



DEMO-VIDEO CLIP

Click on the image above
to view a 5-minute demo-video
(Windows Media Player)

Contact us today about speaking at your next event:

“Chris was a keynote presenter at the 2006 NYS SHRM State Conference.

His keynote was a huge success as over 400 conference participants attended; his presentation style was dynamic; his message simple yet powerful.

Overall, conference participants gave Chris the highest scores of all

2006 Conference keynote presentations.”

Vice President of Human Resources
Hanford Pharmaceuticals

Clients include:







To hear Chris speaking at the
SHRM National Conference in Las Vegas;
Click the "Play" button

Identify core values as the bedrock to stand on in adversity.

Focus on what is and is not lost with change.

Would you like a reference from someone
who has experienced the impact of
"Conquering Adversity"?

Click on any of the links below and ask them what they thought:


Ken Fish                       Gwen Pernell                   Linda Perry
              Hess Corp.                             UAB Hospital                    Wilder Balter Partners

What people are saying about
"Conquering Adversity":

“Most fantastic presentation in 12 years of attending conferences!”
Federal Law Enforcement Officer (Meridan, CT)

“You were AWESOME !! Feedback has been wonderful.”

Chief Operating Officer
Hematology-Oncology Associates of Central New York

“He was incredible! I highly recommend Chris!"
Associate Vice President for Human Resources
Colgate University

Clients include:

“You were a huge value-added to this conference!”

Assistant Director
Federal Law Enforcement Agency, Columbia, SC

How do we move forward with purpose and passion in the face of adversity, challenge or setback? What are the strategies that can inspire us both professionally and personally to rise above the difficulties we face and create success? All of us face adversity – it is never a question of if, only a matter of when.

“Conquering Adversity” is about succeeding when the odds are against you. It is about the strength of our values, the support of our relationships and the power of communication to transform our most daunting challenges into milestones of accomplishment. This true-life story coupled with its practical, real-world insights serve as a powerful reminder of the hero inside each of us.

A one-of-a-kind, 75 minute presentation focuses on six strategies — affirmation, expectation, communication, locomotion, collaboration, celebration — and the impact of each in professional and personal development. Presented by the author, "Conquering Adversity" has inspired thousands of people across the United States, Canada and Europe. It is the perfect motivator for any training program, conference or special event

Chris's message about the hero inside each of us resonates with any audience. Here, he shares "Conquering Adversity" with several hundred high school students at SHAPE, Belgium.

       nyahsa


WHY BRING "CONQUERING ADVERSITY" TO YOUR EVENT?

The reality is that we are never far from adversity, never far from that moment that changes us forever. People are working harder, longer and under more dynamic conditions than ever before and all of us have – or will – face serious adversity; it’s not a question of if – it’s a matter of when.

So, how can an organization help?  Leaders know that every conference offers information but, in truth, that's not enough.  The gatherings people remember, the ones that make a real difference for the time people invest, are the events that not only provide information but more importantly inspiration!

So how can we prepare to meet a challenge we cannot yet define? How do we anticipate answers before we even know the questions? What steps can we take to ready ourselves, our colleagues or those around us to navigate the inevitable storms of our professional (and personal) lives?

Those are daunting questions but the good news is that there is a hero inside each of us!

"Conquering Adversity" is about discovering and unleashing that hero by applying Six Strategies – Affirmation, Expectation, Communication, Locomotion, Collaboration, Celebration. It's more than a keynote; it's practical, real-world insight and guidance on handling change, challenge or crisis in (and out of) the workplace!

The best conferences, retreats or special events leave participants inspired and energized. Contact us today about inspiring your group with this incredible message!


         More feedback on "Conquering Adversity":

               “WOW! I’ve never experienced anything like that before.
                                                  Simply fabulous!”

Director, Conferences and Meetings
College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR)

“You changed my life today.”

Law Enforcement Officer
Law Enforcement Conference, CT
Average speaker rating 5.0 out of 5.0

“Everyone raved about the presentation!”

Laboratory Manager
Rochester General Hospital

About Christopher Novak:

Chris’s background includes director of human resources at Cornell University and HR manager for a ceramic manufacturer. He has a BA in aeronautics-mathematics and a MS in business management.

In addition to Conquering Adversity, Chris is the author of 4 Circles of Good Business and Lead Like a Pirate!. In 2001, he founded, The Summit Team, a leader-to-leader professional development company specializing in innovative, interactive and informative training as well as executive coaching.

To explore more of our leadership development programs click the links below or the tabs "Pirates" or "Training" or "Workshop" at the top of this page.


Pirates                Frontline Heroes           Workshop

Chris's extended biography is on the "About the Speaker" tab at the top.


Las Vegas, Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, Jackson Hole, Baltimore, Tampa, Gettysburg, Columbia, Saratoga, Bloomsburg, Naples, Lewisburg, Rochester, Syracuse, Gatlinburg, Albany and many more are all locations that Chris has shared his inspiring message with thousands of professionals.

Bring "Conquering Adversity" to your next event!



"I saw Chris speak about two years ago at a HR conference at the Turning Stone Casino. His message is one that I carry with me each day; and yes, I still have my bag of marbles sitting in the office."
                         Director of Human Resources, Wilder Balter Partners

“Your presentation was very dynamic and as inspiring as you are.
You are a true professional.”

Program Director,
Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce

“… inspiring, moving, honest, engaging and encouraging …
I left feeling transformed.”

Staff Development Manager,
Ithaca College

“Everyone at the Firm has been talking about your presentation
and how it was the best one yet, so of course,
we would like to book you for next year.”

Benefits & Wellness Manager,
Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC

Press coverage for "Conquering Adversity"

Click on the image
to view a 5-minute demo-video
for "Conquering Adversity"

(Windows Media Player)

Make "Conquering Adversity" part of
your next conference, retreat or special event

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