He felt invisible in high school. He failed as a business owner. He worked in a cubicle for over a decade. Today he’s a world champion speaker. What made the difference for him can make a difference for you. After a failed business in 1992, Darren LaCroix took a dare and took the stage at an open mic night at a Boston comedy club. He bombed miserably. It was horrible. The headliner that night told him, “Keep your day job, kid.” Friends told him his dream of making people laugh for a living was crazy and stupid. He didn’t listen. He may have been born without a funny bone in his body, but Darren possessed the desire to learn and the willingness to fail. These were the essentials for achieving his dream. This self-proclaimed student of comedy is living proof that anything can be learned. Less than nine years later, in 2001, Darren LaCroix outspoke 25,000 contestants from 14 countries to become the World Champion of Public Speaking…ironically with a very funny speech. Some said it was one of the best speeches in the contest’s history. Since that victory, he has delivered keynotes in every state in the U.S. and 44 international cities. He is passionate about showing people that if you use the power of prayer, find the right mentors, and become a sponge, anything is possible. Darren is currently the only speaker in the world who is a CSP (Certified Speaking Professional), an AS (Accredited Speaker), and a World Champion of Public Speaking. In spite of this, Darren always reminds people, “The letters after your name are not as important as the professional you become in the process.” He is the author of the book 17 Minutes to Your Dream, the co-author of Deliver Unforgettable Presentations and the co-host of the Unforgettable Presentations podcast. Through his live workshops and Stage Time University.com, he helps good presenters become UNFORGETTABLE.
