A Vision in Motion, Motivational Speakers Bureau: Mike Patrick, Disability Awareness

Think About It

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Topics Include:

Importance of Positive Attitude

Disability Awareness

Anti-Bullying Strategies

Character Development

Leadership Cultivation

Overcoming Adversity

Personal Responsibility

Self-esteem Enhancement

Special Education

Suicide Prevention

Presentation Summary

Mike Patrick is a motivational speaker and health educator who has spoken to thousands of student, parent, teacher, business, community and religious groups throughout the country. His presentation entitled “Think About It” helps individuals overcome obstacles, creatively solve problems and perform successfully - at school, at work and at home. His message includes candor, wit and humor.

Mike begins his presentations with his personal story of overcoming obstacles. As a high school junior, he looked forward to a bright future. He was a National Honor student and a free safety on his high school football team. His world came crashing down in his first varsity game when he went in to make a tackle. His facemask caught on the ball carrier’s kneepad, breaking his neck and leaving him paralyzed from the chest down.

The basic premise, which underscores the entirety of Mike’s presentation, is “The problem isn’t the issue, the issue is how you deal with the problem.” Using the dramatic example of his accident and his adjustment to daily challenges, he describes how he struggled to develop a mental and emotional process for dealing with the twists and turns his life has taken over the years. Mike points out each and every member of his audiences has problems, obstacles loom before them. Issues that - with the right attitude - can be dealt with successfully.

Think About It!

Occupation: President and Owner of Patrick Communications, Inc.
Overcoming Adversity: Spinal cord paralysis as a result of an injury while playing football in high school. Mike went through the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. He believes that he still has not hit acceptance, because that signals, in effect, giving up. But he has adapted.
Education: Though I am a tenth-grade dropout, I attended the University of California at Berkeley (’74-’75) and received my Bachelor’s Degree in Health Education from the University of Minnesota in 1980. What I want to be when I grow up: I don’t have a clue!
Hobbies: Photography, watching sports, playing backgammon and chess; collecting antiques, quotes, and palindromes.
Favorite Quote: “Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you’re right.”-- Henry Ford
Favorite words: attitude, cool, sternocleidomastoid.
Goals: To get better every day - both personally and professionally; to learn at least one new thing every day; to never forget to be “childlike."
Greatest accomplishment: My biggest accomplishment happens every day when I reach someone in my audience. Like all professional speakers, I hope everyone walks or rolls out of one of my presentations with something. I know we all have different perceptions of the same things and I never know what those perceptions may be. I know I reach some of them by the stories they tell me; the hugs I get; the letters I receive; the referrals that come into my office; the requests for return visits; the chance meetings on the street; and the ovations I receive.
One letter stands out in my mind. After visiting a hospital locked mental health unit, a 17-year-old girl wrote, “I’ve tried to kill myself seven times and because of your program, I’ll never do it again. Thank you.”
I truly believe I am making a difference, especially with young people. That’s why I do what I do.
Describe your biggest challenge:
Because my day’s schedule may consist of an adult or high school audience followed by a visit to an elementary school, I am continually challenged to adjust the program to the age level(s) of my audience. I need to remember these small children may only have been in school for a few weeks or in one case only three days! They hadn’t yet learned to read, write, laugh at my jokes, or even sit still!
Switching gears between audiences can be very challenging and yet extremely rewarding when I pull it off. I think I achieved it at one conference when I received three standing ovations in a thirty-minute keynote.
Feedback from participants keeps me going. One adult wrote in an evaluation, “Mike Patrick is one of those people that care. What makes Mike special? Here is a man who will succeed at any endeavor. Why? Because he does not let his experiences limit his potential. He’s been there . . . and back, and is not only still smiling, but making others smile as well!”

Photo of Mike Patrick

"THANK YOU for coming to our school. You have a gift from God! Everything happens for a reason and we were blessed by having you come into our lives at the high school last night and inspire us all. My 15-year-old daughter came home and went right to her room. And what did she do? She went right to your web site! I was thrilled that she was so interested in what you had to say." -- Parent, Milbank, South Dakota

"You are definitely an inspiration and you touched my heart today. Thank you soooooo much and please, please continue to do what you are doing. I know you touched a lot of kids today.” ." -- Katie (Junior), Riggs High School, Pierre, South Dakota

"I was tired and ready to give up, but when you spoke, I was touched very deeply. You gave me the courage to keep on fighting for one last mile and to give my senior year football season everything I had. I am writing you today because I have just been named an all league football player.” -- Kevin (Senior), National Teen Leadership Program, San Bernardino, California

"At the beginning of this week, my English teacher asked us to write about our heroes. Most people wrote about Tiger Woods or Mia Hamm. They are both incredible people, but I can't relate to them and they are more like gods to my friends then people. You are a real person and you have an amazing attitude about your life. You are my hero. Thank you so much.” -- Laura (Junior), Highland Park Senior High School, St. Paul, Minnesota

How did I get started speaking?

My ninth grade speech teacher actually gave me my start in public speaking. She didn’t ask me to emcee the annual junior high variety show; she told me I was emceeing the show! I told her I didn’t want to do it and she said that didn’t matter. She said, “You’ll tell jokes. Everyone will laugh with you. You’ll have a good time . . . and you’ll be great. End of discussion!” She had a hard time getting me off the stage that day.

My professional career started when a nursing school instructor asked me to come and talk to her nursing students about spinal cord injury and my accident. After the initial five minutes of “cotton mouth” wore off, I was hooked. That was in 1975. I incorporated my business in 1987. Since then I have given more than 5,000 presentations to all ages and sizes of audiences all over the country. Speaking and selling the books I have co-authored keeps me busy. "I'm a tenth-grade dropout with a college degree!"

Mike Patrick graduates college

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